Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association President Chowdhury Mazhar Ali, known as Shiva Shanu, said he feels ashamed when artists mock July, emphasizing that true artistry requires emotion, conscience, and awareness. He made the remarks on Thursday at the National Film Archive in Agargaon, Dhaka, during a discussion organized by the July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation to mark July Martyrs’ Day.

Shanu assured the families of July martyrs that many artists, including himself, remain committed to supporting the nation, its people, and the families of those who sacrificed their lives. He recalled his participation in anti-autocracy movements, saying that although many activists faced imprisonment or persecution, they stood firm for democracy and human rights. He urged everyone to uphold the spirit of the martyrs by working for a just and democratic Bangladesh.

Calling for a corruption-free and autocracy-free nation, Shanu said the change must begin within individuals. He pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to serving the July fighters and their families, expressing deep emotion over memories of the movement and its sacrifices.

The ongoing 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations under the Chattogram Education Board have been suspended indefinitely. The announcement was made on Thursday night through a notice signed by Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee. Examinations under other education boards will continue according to the existing schedule.

According to the notice, the decision was taken after reviewing the overall post-flood situation in affected areas, the physical and mental condition of students, discussions with stakeholders, and the difficulties in transportation due to damaged roads. The suspension applies to all remaining subjects of HSC, Alim, HSC (BMT), HSC (Vocational), and Diploma in Commerce examinations under the Chattogram Education Board, Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board, and Bangladesh Technical Education Board in the Chattogram region.

A revised schedule for the postponed examinations will be announced later through an official notice.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government has launched an emergency assistance program to restore agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors in five flood-affected districts of the Chattogram region. The initiative includes distribution of 327 metric tons of paddy seeds, vaccination of 151,599 livestock, and allocation of 3.5 million taka for animal feed. The announcement was made Thursday night at a press briefing held at the Chattogram Circuit House.

According to preliminary field data, the floods caused losses exceeding 2 billion taka in the fisheries sector and about 770 million taka in the livestock sector. The minister said data collection is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage. He added that the government has sufficient seed reserves and will immediately supply seeds to farmers whose land is ready for planting, while emergency seedbeds are being prepared on government land for others.

Livestock vaccination will begin immediately and is expected to be completed within 15 days. The government has prioritized assistance for the most affected unions to ensure no farmer, fish farmer, or livestock owner is left out of the relief program.

Three young men were killed and two others seriously injured in a road accident in Ajmiriganj upazila of Habiganj district on Thursday evening. The collision occurred around 6:30 p.m. on July 16, 2026, at the Jalsukha area of the under-construction Ajmiriganj–Shalla regional highway, when three speeding motorcycles lost control and collided head-on. One rider, Tanvir Thakur, died on the spot, while four others were taken to Habiganj Modern District Sadar Hospital, where two more were declared dead at around 7:30 p.m.

The deceased were identified as Abidul Laskar, 23, son of Nurul Laskar of Amirkhani village; Tanvir Mia, 18, son of Ful Mia of the same village; and Antor Das, 25, son of Chandan Das of Paharpur village in Ajmiriganj. The injured, Bachchu Mia, 25, and Mizan Mia, 22, were later transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital as their conditions worsened.

Ajmiriganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Akbar Hossain confirmed the incident, stating that police visited the scene and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Former state minister Sohel Taj has alleged that a powerful family and its associates have destroyed Bangladesh’s democratic system through repression, corruption, and large-scale money laundering. He made the remarks on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in a post on his personal Facebook account, claiming that the group is now abroad inciting ordinary party members.

In his post, Sohel Taj wrote that the family and its close circle have harmed the nation through killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, particularly during the July-August uprising, which he said resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities. He further alleged that massive sums of money were smuggled abroad, weakening the Awami League as an organization.

According to his statement, those currently living overseas are monitoring the situation from afar, sitting on the wealth they allegedly laundered, and attempting to reassert control over the country through local supporters.

Professor Dr. Md. Ainul Islam, newly appointed dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Jagannath University, left his office on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following protests by several student organizations and general students. Demonstrators from the JnU units of Chhatra Dal, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, and others staged a sit-in outside the dean’s office, demanding the cancellation of his appointment, which they described as a “rehabilitation of fascism.” Amid slogans and growing tension, Dr. Islam exited the office, escorted by university proctors.

Protesting students alleged that Dr. Islam had taken a controversial stance during the July 2024 movement and criticized the decision to appoint him to a key administrative post. Leaders of the student groups argued that his past actions were inconsistent with the university’s values and the spirit of the July movement. University Proctor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin confirmed that the administration would review the allegations.

Dr. Islam stated that his appointment was legally valid and that the accusations were old and politically motivated. He said he left the office respectfully, considering the situation, and expressed confidence that an investigation would clarify the facts.

Md. Riazul Islam, vice president of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JCC), has been appointed as the central student rights secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. At the same time, JCC general secretary and Jagannath University branch Shibir president Abdul Alim Arif has been selected as a member of the organization’s central executive council. The announcement was confirmed on Thursday, July 16, by the university branch of the organization following a partial update of the central secretariat’s leadership list earlier in the week.

According to organizational sources, the appointments are part of a new distribution of responsibilities within the central body. Riazul Islam said the central leadership of Islami Chhatra Shibir changes annually through a systematic process and sought prayers to fulfill his new duties with honesty and dedication. Abdul Alim Arif described his appointment as a trust and a test from God, expressing his intention to perform his responsibilities with accountability.

The new appointments reflect the continuation of the organization’s internal leadership rotation process, as confirmed by its representatives.

The Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that the monthly car maintenance allowance for government officials, from deputy secretaries to top-level officers, will remain at Tk 50,000. A previous initiative to reduce the allowance by half, to Tk 25,000, has been withdrawn. The decision was confirmed through an official circular issued by the ministry.

The allowance applies not only to civil government officials but also to officers in the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the armed forces. Over the past week, the finance division and the Ministry of Public Administration exchanged letters regarding the proposed reduction, which reportedly caused dissatisfaction among many officials.

The finance division sent a letter to the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday afternoon instructing that no further action be taken on the earlier proposal made on July 9. As a result, the existing monthly car maintenance allowance of Tk 50,000 remains unchanged.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh does not want a return to political violence where people die from gunfire. He made the remarks on Thursday at the National Film Archive in Agargaon, Dhaka, during a discussion organized by the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation to mark July Martyrs Day. He emphasized that the nation cannot forget the July martyrs and described the current government as one that upholds the spirit of July and the Liberation War.

Dr. Rahman said the government has a moral responsibility to stand beside the families of those killed or injured during the July uprising. He added that the struggle for human dignity and social justice, envisioned during the Liberation War, remains incomplete. Other speakers, including JSSF CEO Kamal Akbar and Professor Dr. Shah Md. Nistar Jahan Kabir, highlighted the need to preserve the memory of the martyrs and warned against external conspiracies.

Cultural figures such as actor Helal Khan and Film Artists Association President Chowdhury Mazhar Ali also spoke, urging artists to uphold national consciousness and respect the July movement’s legacy.

Renowned Islamic scholar and researcher Allama Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani from India is currently on an eleven-day educational and religious visit to Bangladesh. During his stay, he is participating in various seminars, youth-oriented programs, and meetings with scholars in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar. On Friday, he will deliver a pre-sermon address at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, focusing on Islamic thought, contemporary challenges facing the Muslim world, knowledge, and the future responsibilities of the Ummah.

As part of his visit, Allama Nomani will serve as the chief guest and keynote speaker at the “Imam Shah Waliullah Dehlavi (R.A.) Conference” on July 18 at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail. The event will also feature the unveiling of a commemorative book on Imam Shah Waliullah Dehlavi. Organizers expect the conference to contribute significantly to Islamic scholarship and intellectual exchange in Bangladesh.

His itinerary also includes visits to leading religious institutions in Hathazari and Patiya, Chattogram, reflecting his engagement with traditional centers of Islamic learning.

A new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has prompted forecasts of widespread heavy rainfall across Bangladesh from July 20 to 25, according to the national meteorological department. Although the system may not intensify into a strong depression, it has already made the sea rough, leading authorities to issue local cautionary signals for maritime and river ports. Coastal areas including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist signal number three.

Meteorologists said the low pressure has developed into a well-marked system over the northwest Bay and adjoining Odisha–West Bengal coasts, which could bring gusty winds and thunderstorms to southern and southwestern regions. Experts noted that monsoon activity will strengthen after July 20, causing heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country, particularly in Rangpur, Barishal, Chattogram, Mymensingh, and Sylhet.

Private weather observers warned that continuous rainfall could raise river levels above danger marks and trigger landslides in hilly areas of Sylhet and Chattogram. Authorities have been advised to take precautionary measures in advance.

The Third International Mother Language Journalism Conference 2026 will take place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from August 9 to 12. The event is organized by the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ) in coordination with the Newa National Forum of Journalists and the SAARC Journalists Forum. A preparatory meeting in Kathmandu’s Nayabazar announced the initial plans and programs, with FONIJ General Secretary Samir Balami presenting the detailed work plan.

According to the organizers, journalists, media professionals, and researchers from around 40 countries involved in mother language journalism will participate. The four-day conference will feature panel discussions, research paper presentations, and working paper sessions focusing on the global status, challenges, and future directions of mother language journalism. A colorful cultural parade with representatives from participating countries will also be held.

The program includes visits to Nepal’s historical and tourist sites and opportunities to experience traditional local cuisine. Organizers stated that the conference aims to professionalize mother language journalism, highlight its policy importance, and showcase Nepal’s achievements in this field while promoting cultural preservation and research.

The Bangladesh Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved a proposal to celebrate National Youth Day on November 1 and International Youth Day on August 12 each year. The decision was made during the 13th cabinet meeting held on Thursday afternoon at the Bangladesh Secretariat. A press release from the Cabinet Division confirmed the approval and outlined the reasoning behind the change.

Previously, both days were observed separately until an interim government advisory council decided to merge them into a single celebration on August 12. The first joint observance took place in 2025. However, due to monsoon conditions, organizing youth rallies, assemblies, and fairs proved difficult, limiting opportunities for youth entrepreneurs to display and sell their products.

The Cabinet noted that holding youth fairs outside the National Youth Day period failed to attract sufficient public participation or commercial success. Considering these factors, the government decided to revert to separate observances to ensure better organization and engagement.

A commotion broke out at Khulna’s Shaheed Suhrawardy College during a July Martyrs’ Day discussion meeting after a teacher’s remarks on freedom of speech. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the college’s teachers’ lounge. Lecturer Moniruzzaman Morol from the Management Department said that the July uprising restored freedom of speech that was absent under fascist rule. Some teachers reportedly mocked his comments, leading to a heated exchange.

Moniruzzaman alleged that Assistant Professor Imran Hossain Azam Khan from the Accounting Department criticized him loudly and that two other teachers, Raihan Hossain and Ayesha Abu Bakkar, supported Imran with inappropriate remarks. He further claimed Imran was a former leader of a banned student organization and had avoided the college for months after the July uprising. Imran denied the allegations, saying Moniruzzaman often provokes disputes and personally insults him.

Principal Ruma Nandi stated that the dispute was personal and not related to the July discussion, describing the incident as minor. She added that since August, the college has avoided assigning Imran to speak at events.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said the July uprising represented a united public resistance against oppression, injustice, and autocracy. Speaking on Thursday evening at the party’s Dhaka North office in Baridhara during a discussion and prayer meeting marking July Martyrs’ Day, he emphasized that Islam teaches protest against injustice and called for building a justice-based Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July.

Professor Mujibur Rahman stated that Jamaat achieved victory when it refused to bow to injustice and accepted the gallows instead. He alleged that the Awami League destroyed democracy through the 2024 election and committed mass killings in July. He urged all political parties claiming to be democratic to implement the verdict of the July uprising, warning that any government ignoring the people’s verdict would lose public acceptance.

Dhaka North Jamaat Ameer and DNCC mayoral candidate Mohammad Selim Uddin said the people would never abandon the ideals of July and vowed to resist all conspiracies against it. The event concluded with prayers for the martyrs and the recovery of the injured.