US-Bangla Airlines Managing Director Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun said Bangladesh cannot become a developed nation without strengthening its aviation sector. He made the remarks on Sunday at a press event in Cox’s Bazar marking the airline’s tenth anniversary. Mamun emphasized that aviation ensures connectivity and should be a national priority. He criticized high cargo export costs and the lack of government support during crises such as the pandemic and fuel price hikes, describing the sector as operating under a “go-it-alone” policy.

He noted that nine airlines have shut down in recent years due to high landing, parking, and fuel costs, heavy taxes, and policy complications. US-Bangla plans to expand to 30 destinations in 20 countries by 2027, adding 21 new aircraft and developing Chattogram and Sylhet as regional hubs. Mamun urged journalists to promote domestic airlines and report responsibly on technical issues.

He also announced plans to build a healthcare city on 1,000 bighas of land, send students abroad for pilot training, and establish a data center and software park, all funded without bank loans.

The Board of Administrators appointed by the President of Bangladesh has reported extensive irregularities and corruption involving the former trustee board of the European University of Bangladesh. The administrators, who took charge on July 7, 2026, released preliminary findings on Sunday, revealing financial discrepancies, asset misappropriation, and administrative misconduct. The report noted that the university’s educational activities had been severely disrupted due to internal conflicts and mismanagement.

According to the press release signed by coordinator Mohammad Tanvir Rahman, the administrators found that the previous board lacked proper registration with the RJSC and faced credible allegations of forgery. The investigation uncovered misuse of university assets, including a 9,000-square-foot floor in a Shyamoli building valued at Tk 30 crore and a ten-story building in Mirpur-2. The administrators also identified tax and VAT irregularities, unauthorized admissions, certificate trading, and favoritism in recruitment and promotions.

The Board of Administrators has invited the Anti-Corruption Commission, National Board of Revenue, BFIU, and CID to conduct independent investigations. They expressed confidence that with cooperation from students, teachers, and staff, the university’s academic environment could be restored and a new trustee board established.

A rare species of dead marine fish, identified as a unicorn leatherjacket or filefish, washed ashore on Kuakata’s Char Gangamati beach in Patuakhali on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The fish, locally known as 'jacket fish' or 'potka fish', was first spotted by a local resident, Abdul Jalil, who noticed the unusual creature lying on the sand. The discovery quickly drew attention from residents and tourists, who gathered to see the rare specimen.

Local environmentalist K.M. Bachchu described the incident as exceptional, noting that such fish had not been seen in the area before. Experts explained that the filefish, scientifically known as Aluterus monoceros, typically inhabits deep-sea environments and feeds on algae, sponges, jellyfish, shrimp, and other small invertebrates. According to researcher Md. Bakhtiar Rahman from the “Healthy Ocean” project, the fish may have drifted ashore due to environmental changes, stormy weather, or illness, though such occurrences are very rare.

Senior fisheries officer Apu Saha emphasized that when rare marine species appear on the coast, authorities should be informed for preservation and research purposes.

Three people were killed in three separate accidents on road and rail within one hour in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Sunday morning. A passenger bus lost control and overturned on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway near Chhoto Kumira, killing passenger Prokash Basu, 37, and injuring six others. Shortly afterward, an unidentified bus struck and killed a young man, Md. Imon, 20, while he was crossing the highway near the Royal Cement factory in Bara Kumira. Around the same time, an elderly man, Nizam Uddin, 75, died after being hit by the Udayan Express train while crossing the railway line near Sitakunda station.

Police and local sources confirmed the incidents, stating that the injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. The victims were residents of different districts who had come to Sitakunda for work or travel. Authorities recovered the bodies and sent them for autopsy.

Local residents expressed concern that reckless driving, unsafe pedestrian crossings, and lack of road safety measures on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway are increasing the risk of fatal accidents in the area.

The district administration of Bogura has announced new names for three unions in the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency, represented by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam. District Commissioner Md. Taufiqur Rahman declared the new names—Betgari, Jagannathpur, and Rahbal unions—during a meeting at his office on Sunday morning, where a resolution approving the changes was passed. The proposal will now be sent to the Ministry of Local Government for final approval and gazette publication.

Earlier, a government notification on June 14 had created four new unions named Mirbari, Simanta, Diganta, and Swarnagram. The first three names drew criticism because they matched the minister’s family names—his ancestral home and his two sons. The issue sparked public and online criticism and was raised in Parliament by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shafiqul Islam Masud.

Following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive, local authorities held public hearings on June 23 and 25 to rename the unions. The new names were selected based on those hearings to address public concerns and ensure administrative neutrality.

A joint operation by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and Dhaka Customs House recovered at least 16 kilograms of gold bars hidden inside fruit crates at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The seizure took place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, following intelligence information that led to the discovery of the concealed gold shipment.

Authorities suspect that a smuggling network attempted to bring the gold into the country under the cover of imported fruit consignments. The gold bars were found using a special concealment method inside the crates, according to officials involved in the operation.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those connected to the smuggling attempt. Officials stated that further details about the source of the shipment and the network behind it will be disclosed later.

A 'Unity Conference' marking Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day 2026 was held on Sunday at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in Dhaka’s Paltan area. Organized by the Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day Implementation Committee, the event was themed 'Memory, Struggle, and Future Aspirations.' Speakers paid tribute to the teachers, students, and scholars of Qaumi madrasas for their role and sacrifices during the July uprising. They called for official state recognition of Qaumi contributions and demanded that July be declared as Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day.

Liberation War State Minister Engineer Ishraq Hossain attended as chief guest and announced August 2 as the tentative date for the observance, expressing hope that the Prime Minister would attend. He also assured sincere efforts to implement the conference’s logical demands. The event featured discussions on the heritage, struggles, and educational contributions of Qaumi madrasas, emphasizing the need for proper evaluation and national acknowledgment of their role.

Representatives from around 17 Qaumi organizations participated, including leaders from various student and religious groups, highlighting unity within the Qaumi community.

A case has been filed against three individuals, including a lawyer from Barguna, for allegedly forging the signature and seal of a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate to create a fake marriage affidavit. The case was lodged at Kotwali Police Station by Khalid Hossain, an office assistant and computer operator of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court’s Nazarat section. The accused are identified as Nayon, Rima, and Advocate Tarikul Islam Farazi, along with several unidentified persons.

According to the case details, on July 19, a magistrate ordered verification of a marriage affidavit submitted by Nayon and Fahima Islam Riya. Court records revealed no such entry, confirming the document was fabricated using a forged signature and seal. Investigations found the group attempted to use the fake affidavit to file a false case against the magistrate in Barguna, which was later dismissed for irregularities.

Preliminary findings suggest the accused operated as part of an organized forgery ring that had long been deceiving people by falsifying court documents. Police said efforts are underway to arrest the suspects.

Police detained twelve brokers, including two women, during raids at two government hospitals in Narsingdi on Sunday morning. The operation was conducted by RAB-11 in the areas surrounding Narsingdi Sadar Hospital and the District Hospital. Following the arrests, a mobile court sentenced eight individuals and released four others with warnings based on the severity of their offenses. The sentenced group included two women and six men.

The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Sarowar Alam and RAB-11 Narsingdi Camp Commander Md. Ariful Islam. According to sources, the detained brokers had long been active near the main gates of the 100-bed District Hospital and the Sadar Hospital, targeting patients for illicit activities. The authorities took the action to curb the influence of these broker groups operating around the hospitals.

The arrests and sentencing mark a continuation of local efforts to maintain order and protect patients from exploitation in public healthcare facilities.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 4,328 people have been killed and more than 12,000 injured since Israeli attacks began on March 2. The rising number of casualties has deepened concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, uncertainty remains over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has arrived at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to a post from the president’s office on X, the visit marks the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese president since 2009. Aoun is also scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

The visit takes place amid U.S.-supported direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. Just days earlier, officials from both countries concluded another round of negotiations in Rome under American mediation, according to Al Jazeera.

A female prisoner who escaped from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area. The detainee, identified as Rimpa, had fled the prison on July 16 in the evening and was captured on Sunday following a targeted operation based on intelligence information.

According to the prison headquarters’ AIG (Media) Jannatul Farhad, RAB confirmed Rimpa’s location using intelligence and technology before conducting the arrest. Authorities stated that she had been in hiding since her escape. After completing necessary legal procedures, she will be handed over to the relevant authorities.

The escape had previously sparked widespread discussion across the country, leading to administrative action against several prison officials and staff accused of negligence in duty.

A 23-year-old gold medalist engineer in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide after failing around 50 government job examinations. Police recovered the body of Anand Kumar from his rented apartment in the Gujaini area under Govind Nagar police station on Friday, July 19, 2026. A five-line note found at the scene repeatedly apologized to his father, stating he had tried 50 times for a government job but could not succeed.

Anand completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 2024 from a reputed Kanpur college, where he ranked third in the state and received a gold medal from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on August 13, 2024. His father, Rajkumar, a retired private employee from Bihar’s Buxar district, lived with him in Kanpur. During the incident, Anand’s father and grandfather were away in Bihar finalizing his elder brother’s marriage.

Police said Anand had been preparing for government exams while working in a private job but was under mental stress due to repeated failures.

Authorities in Bhangura upazila of Pabna conducted a joint operation on Sunday afternoon, seizing banned Chinese fishing nets worth Tk 260,000. The nets were confiscated from several water bodies in Chakdigar, Satbariya, and Boidyamorich areas and later destroyed by fire. The drive was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman, with the participation of the upazila fisheries officer Md. Ali Azam and local police personnel.

According to Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman, the Bhangura region, once rich in native fish species due to its proximity to the Chalan Beel wetlands, is now facing a decline in indigenous fish resources. The use of prohibited nets has been identified as a major threat to local fish populations and aquatic biodiversity.

The operation reflects ongoing efforts by local authorities to protect aquatic ecosystems and enforce fishing regulations in the region.

The Bangladesh Army and the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) have begun a joint military exercise titled 'Exercise Tiger Lightning (TL)-2026' at the Para Commando Brigade in Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet. The opening ceremony took place on Sunday, attended by US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen and Bangladesh Army Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Md Mainur Rahman. The 13-day exercise will continue until July 31, 2026, under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army’s specialized Para Commando Brigade.

According to the participants, the exercise aims to strengthen operational capabilities, enhance mutual understanding, and deepen the long-standing military partnership between Bangladesh and the United States. Ambassador Christensen described the training as a foundation for growing strategic cooperation and a symbol of shared commitment to a free, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Lieutenant General Rahman emphasized its importance in advancing bilateral defense relations.

The exercise includes 91 participants from the US Army Pacific and Oregon National Guard, and 93 from the Bangladesh Army. It builds on existing cooperation in regional security, counterterrorism, disaster management, and humanitarian assistance.

Bangladesh concluded their tour of Zimbabwe with a T20 series win, defeating the hosts by four wickets in the third and final match in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 143 for seven, with Myers contributing 73 and Bennett 47. For Bangladesh, Saifuddin took two wickets. In reply, Bangladesh reached 144 for six in 19.4 overs, led by opener Tanzid Hasan’s unbeaten 66 off 58 balls. Captain Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon each added 24 runs. Tanzid Hasan was named player of the match.

The victory sealed the three-match series 2–1 in Bangladesh’s favor, marking a strong finish to a challenging tour. Earlier, Bangladesh had lost the only Test by an innings and the ODI series 2–1, and they also dropped the opening T20 match before bouncing back to win the last two games. The T20 success came despite the absence of key players Liton, Mustafiz, and Miraz.

The series win provided Bangladesh with a morale boost and a positive conclusion to their Zimbabwe campaign.