Police have submitted a charge sheet against three individuals in the murder case of Jagannath University student and Chhatra Dal leader Zobayed Hossain. The accused are his student and girlfriend Barjis Shabnam Barsha, her boyfriend Mahir Rahman, and Mahir’s friend Fardeen Ahmed Aylan. Investigators said Mahir was the main attacker, Barsha planned the killing, and Aylan assisted. The charge sheet was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Ashraf Hossain of Bangshal Police Station at a Dhaka court after nearly nine months of investigation.

According to the report, Zobayed was killed on 19 October last year at a house in Armanitola, Old Dhaka, where he had gone to tutor Barsha. He was stabbed on the ground floor and later found lying in a pool of blood on the stairs. The investigation found the murder was premeditated, involving a month of planning and surveillance. The motive was allegedly linked to fears that intimate photos and videos of Barsha and Zobayed might be leaked.

The prosecution lawyer said the charge sheet includes DNA evidence matching Mahir and his confession under Section 164. The document is under review by higher authorities before being presented to the court.

Public health experts in Bangladesh have called for the rapid introduction of front-of-package labeling (FOPL) to reduce health risks linked to rising consumption of ultra-processed foods. The call came on July 15 at the closing session of a two-day workshop titled “Front-of-Package Labeling in Bangladesh: Necessity, Progress and Way Forward,” held at the Bangladesh Medical Association building in Dhaka. The event was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), and attended by 25 journalists from print, television, and online media.

Speakers emphasized that clear health warnings on the front of food packages would help consumers easily identify products high in salt, sugar, or saturated fat, enabling healthier choices and helping prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). They noted that NCDs account for about 71 percent of deaths in Bangladesh, with 19 percent being premature. Officials from the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority said the draft regulation for mandatory FOPL would be finalized soon.

Participants highlighted that effective labeling could raise consumer awareness, encourage policy action, and contribute to long-term reductions in diet-related health risks.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that students unable to attend HSC exams due to adverse weather will be allowed to sit for the postponed subjects under the Chattogram Board on the same date set by the Ministry of Education. The announcement was made in a statement under Rule 300 in the National Parliament on Wednesday. Additionally, full marks will be awarded for two erroneous questions in the first paper of Physics.

According to the minister, a total of 1,270,583 students participated in the HSC examinations nationwide. Heavy rainfall and bad weather led to the postponement of exams in five districts under the Chattogram Education Board—Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban. Some students in other districts, including Dhaka, were also unable to attend due to similar conditions.

The minister stated that those missing exams for unavoidable reasons will be able to take them on the same date as the rescheduled Chattogram Board exams. He emphasized that the HSC exam is a crucial stage in students’ lives, warranting this special consideration. Officials responsible for the Physics paper errors have been temporarily suspended.

Police in Bhola have arrested Mostak Ahmed Shahin, the former district president of the now-banned Chhatra League, early Tuesday morning from his home in Ward No. 8 of Bhola Municipality. The joint operation was conducted by Bhola Sadar Model Police Station and the District Detective Branch (DB). Shahin was detained in connection with a 2019 case involving the vandalism of the Bhola district BNP office.

According to Bhola Sadar Model Police Station’s investigation officer Ziauddin Ahmed, Shahin was presented before the Bhola court on Wednesday morning. The court subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail custody. The arrest followed the enforcement of restrictions on the organization’s activities in the district.

The report did not include further details on the case proceedings or any official reactions from political groups or authorities beyond the police statement.

HSC students in Pirojpur staged a protest on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. The demonstration began around 2 p.m. after the examination at Pirojpur Government Women's College center. Students marched through several streets of the town and later blocked the road at the Sadar Upazila premises, chanting slogans calling for the minister’s resignation.

To maintain law and order, additional police forces were deployed at the scene. The situation remained under control as security personnel monitored the protest. Around 3 p.m., Pirojpur District Chhatra Dal president Salauddin Talukder Kumar and other leaders intervened and persuaded the students to calm down and disperse peacefully.

The protest ended without reports of violence, and normalcy was restored in the area following the intervention of local student leaders and law enforcement.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the current government has initiated the process of preparing a complete and impartial list of martyrs from Bangladesh’s Liberation War. He made the statement in parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, while responding to a question from ruling party MP Ruhul Amin Dulal. The Prime Minister said that those responsible after independence failed to prepare an accurate list and instead politicized the process. The government now considers this task a sacred responsibility.

Rahman explained that the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has already begun work to fulfill the government’s election pledge by organizing expert meetings, consulting stakeholders, and drafting a detailed action plan. He emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure proper recognition and honor for all who sacrificed their lives during the war.

In related parliamentary discussions, the Prime Minister also addressed questions about verifying fake freedom fighters and confirmed that a committee of experts is working to identify genuine ones. He reiterated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government is committed to honoring the Liberation War and its martyrs.

Security measures at the Bangladesh Secretariat were intensified as HSC examinees launched a long march toward the complex demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon and two other conditions. The protest, held on Wednesday, followed a brief road blockade at the Science Laboratory intersection before students began marching toward the Secretariat.

Authorities deployed additional police personnel at gates 1, 2, and 5, enforcing stricter identity checks and searches. Law enforcement remained on alert throughout the area, while Secretariat staff continued their regular duties under heightened security. The students’ three-point demand includes postponing HSC and equivalent exams until weather conditions normalize, arranging retests for those unable to attend the July 13 exam due to adverse weather, and the minister’s resignation.

As of the latest reports, law enforcement maintained a vigilant stance around the Secretariat, continuing necessary measures to keep the situation under control.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the United States next Saturday, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Reuters. During the trip, Netanyahu is seeking to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear whether Trump will agree to hold the meeting. Netanyahu will also attend a memorial service for the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, whose funeral date has not yet been announced.

The visit comes at a time of renewed conflict between the United States and Iran, adding a layer of geopolitical tension to Netanyahu’s trip. The Israeli leader’s planned participation in the memorial event and his potential meeting with Trump are expected to draw attention amid the ongoing regional developments.

Further details about Netanyahu’s itinerary or the possible agenda of discussions with U.S. officials have not been disclosed.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began his speech in the national parliament on Wednesday by remembering the Shapla martyrs. Before delivering his main address, he paid tribute to them and acknowledged the opposition for supporting the government’s family card project. He emphasized that to resist authoritarianism in the future, the nation must strengthen its political and economic capacities.

Earlier in his remarks, Rahman reflected on the sacrifices made during the Liberation War, noting that countless people were victims of genocide. He criticized the failure of those responsible after independence to prepare a neutral and complete list of the martyrs, saying that political interests had interfered with the process. He added that despite repeated attempts, the compilation of an accurate list has faced persistent obstacles.

The Prime Minister’s comments linked the historical struggle for independence with the need for unity and institutional strength to safeguard democracy and national progress.

The fifth death anniversary of Advocate Maulana Mohammad Nazrul Islam, a senior lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, was observed on July 15, 2026. He passed away on this day in 2021 at the age of 81. Colleagues and well-wishers from the legal community prayed for his departed soul and called for remembrance of his contributions to the country's judicial system.

Nazrul Islam was known for his efforts to promote the Islamization of law in Bangladesh. He played a key role in founding the Islamic Lawyers Council and the Bangladesh Islamic Law Research and Legal Aid Center, serving as president and founding general secretary respectively. Born in 1940 in Chauhali, Sirajganj, he studied at Pabna Edward College and later earned postgraduate and law degrees from Karachi University. He was imprisoned several times during his student activism.

Beyond law, he was involved in education and social service institutions such as Ibn Sina Trust, Tamirul Millat Trust, and Bangladesh Publications Limited. Politically, he served as the Narayanganj district chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and contested several national elections.

An online petition demanding Argentina’s expulsion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has gathered more than 7.5 million signatures, according to NDTV citing the South China Morning Post. The petition, hosted on a website called ‘ArgentinaOut.com’, alleges that FIFA and match referees have shown favoritism toward Lionel Messi and the Argentine team, undermining fair competition for other nations.

The campaign claims that Argentina’s victories are influenced by biased officiating, calling for the team’s removal to ensure equal opportunity for all participants. However, no evidence has been presented to support these allegations, and FIFA has not issued any comment or announced an investigation. The movement is therefore being viewed as a fan-driven online initiative rather than an official complaint.

The controversy emerges as Argentina prepares to face England in the World Cup semifinal, a matchup already steeped in historical rivalry. England captain Harry Kane dismissed the off-field debate, saying his team is focused on competing against a strong and tactical opponent.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. The statement came after allegations surfaced that an Israeli individual was involved in the operations of a private residential community in Forest City, located in the southern state of Johor. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, and Anwar emphasized that the government will not compromise if the allegations are proven true.

According to local media reports, Malaysia’s Home Ministry has launched an investigation into claims related to a Johor-based startup community called Network School. The Immigration Department stated that all 266 foreigners inspected in the Forest City international community possessed valid immigration documents. Malaysia does not recognize Israel as a state, and Israeli passport holders are generally prohibited from entering the country without special government approval.

Forest City is a large mixed-use development built on artificial islands near the Singapore border in Johor, and the investigation is ongoing.

A Dhaka court has postponed the submission date for the further investigation report in the Hadi murder case for the 18th time, now setting it for August 20. The decision was made on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah after the investigating officer, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan, failed to submit the report. The prosecution’s Sub-Inspector Ruknuzzaman confirmed the development.

Earlier, on January 15, 2026, the complainant Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Moncho, expressed dissatisfaction with the charge sheet submitted by the Detective Branch and filed a petition for further investigation, which the court granted. The DB had previously filed a charge sheet on January 6, accusing 17 individuals, including former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused.

According to the case details, Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, was shot on December 13 in Motijheel while traveling after Friday prayers. He later died in Singapore on December 18 after being transferred there for advanced treatment.

Two farmers were killed by lightning strikes in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh on Wednesday around noon. The incidents occurred separately in the sadar and Dandopal unions. The deceased were identified as Mamun Islam, 30, of Sonahar Malchandi Paschim Telipara area, and Akabbar Khan, 60, of Shimultali area. Both were working in their fields when the lightning struck.

According to local sources, Mamun Islam was cutting jute in his field when he was struck by lightning and seriously injured. He was taken to Debiganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. In another incident the same day, Akabbar Khan died on the spot while working in his field during rain in Shimultali area.

Debiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Musa confirmed the deaths, saying the bodies would be handed over to the families after inquest reports. Two separate unnatural death cases are being processed.

HSC examinees in Dhaka continued their second day of demonstrations on July 15, 2026, demanding the resignation of the education minister and changes to the examination schedule. The students began a long march toward the Secretariat from several key points, including Uttara, Science Laboratory intersection, and Mirpur, after staging sit-ins and road blockades. They said the current exam routine was hastily prepared and placed severe mental pressure on them.

As the march advanced toward the Ministry of Education, law enforcement agencies tightened security around the Secretariat. Witnesses reported that all entry gates were locked and reinforced with heavy chains, while large numbers of police officers were deployed at Zero Point and near the Press Club. The heightened security and student march caused temporary traffic paralysis across major city routes, leaving commuters stranded.

The students also presented six demands, including opportunities to retake exams disrupted by disasters, fair grading for re-examinations, full marks for flawed questions, a short break before exams to reduce stress, reconsideration of sudden question format changes, and ensuring a student-friendly environment at exam centers.