Bangladesh’s current BNP government is facing bureaucratic complications in fertilizer imports, a system inherited from the previous Awami League administration. Without verifying the actual cultivated land area, officials have advised purchasing 100,000 tons less fertilizer than the target for the 2026–27 fiscal year. Although the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) director said procurement follows high-level policy decisions and no crisis is expected, field-level experts warn that ignoring real demand could cause serious shortages.

Farmers and agricultural economists have expressed concern that reduced allocations of urea and DAP fertilizers could repeat past crises. In Kishoreganj, local authorities reported receiving significantly less fertilizer than requested, prompting formal appeals to increase supply. Similar complaints have emerged from other districts. Experts caution that such shortfalls could lower food production and undermine the government’s positive initiatives for farmers.

To address the situation, the government has formed a 15-member National Fertilizer Coordination and Advisory Committee led by the agriculture minister to review production, import, and distribution. However, the minister and secretary did not respond to media inquiries about the issue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed the request in an interview with Axios, saying their relationship remains strong and that Netanyahu “knows who the real boss is.” Trump said the meeting could take place at the White House after the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7–8, though an Israeli official suggested it might occur the following week. Netanyahu’s office stated that the two leaders recently spoke by phone and agreed to meet soon in the United States.

If held, this would be Netanyahu’s first U.S. visit since February, when he reportedly presented Trump with a plan for war against Iran. Since then, tensions have grown between the two over regional issues, including Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and Trump’s decision to extend a ceasefire and pursue new nuclear talks with Iran. Despite disagreements, Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the U.S. 250th Independence anniversary and reaffirmed plans for their meeting.

The meeting is seen as crucial for Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming October general election, where polls show him trailing.

Large numbers of people continued to gather in Tehran on Sunday for the final farewell ceremony of Iran’s Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The event marked the third day of funeral proceedings. Security forces, emergency services, medical teams, and volunteers were deployed to ensure smooth management, with arrangements made for transportation, medical aid, food, and rest facilities.

The mourning ceremony began early Sunday at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, the city’s main prayer venue, drawing mourners from across the country. The area turned into a sea of grief as citizens paid their last respects to the leader who had guided Iran since 1989. Khamenei, aged 86, was killed on February 28 in an attack attributed to the United States and Israel.

Authorities maintained heightened security across the capital throughout the weeklong observances, deploying armored vehicles, heavy machine guns, and snipers around the ceremony site.

A government-built luxury guesthouse near the Karnaphuli Tunnel’s Anwara end in Chattogram remains unused despite being constructed at a cost of Tk 450 crore. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has issued a third tender to lease the facility commercially after two previous international tenders in July and September last year failed to attract suitable bids. Only a few local firms showed interest, but their offers were below the authority’s estimated value.

Officials said the guesthouse is a state asset and the new tender aims to secure maximum revenue. The selected lessee will operate and maintain the property, paying rent in four annual installments. The lessee will have full freedom to set prices for services such as accommodation, dining, travel, conferences, and spa facilities but must seek approval for any structural changes. The guesthouse, built as part of the Karnaphuli Tunnel project, covers about 72 acres and includes a VIP bungalow, 30 additional bungalows, and 48 motel units.

The Bridge Authority expects the lease to help generate revenue for the tunnel project, which has been operating at a loss since its opening in October 2023.

An opinion piece published on July 5, 2026, discusses the evolution and strategic importance of foreign policy in global politics, emphasizing how nations shape their policies based on self-interest and changing geopolitical realities. The author highlights that Bangladesh’s guiding principle of “friendship to all, malice toward none” may not fully reflect its national interests in the current context. The government’s revised “Bangladesh First” policy is described as a pragmatic attempt to adapt to modern challenges, though its implementation remains questionable.

The article contrasts Bangladesh’s foreign policy with Vietnam’s post-1975 approach, noting that Vietnam’s independent and strategic policy helped it achieve progress across governance, infrastructure, industry, and education. In contrast, Bangladesh’s policy weaknesses, particularly in managing relations with India, have delayed fair outcomes such as the Teesta River water-sharing agreement. The author argues that a more competitive and strategic stance could strengthen Bangladesh’s position in trade and regional diplomacy.

The piece concludes that Bangladesh must overcome external pressure and prioritize its own interests to ensure true independence in policymaking and sustainable national development.

Two years after the 2024 July uprising in Chattogram, most of the 151 cases related to killings and violence remain under investigation. Of the 69 cases filed with police stations, only one has reached the charge sheet stage. Police officials said investigations are nearing completion and charge sheets will be submitted gradually. Victim families, however, allege that the judicial process is moving slowly and that communication with them has declined under the new government.

According to police and court sources, the 69 police cases name 21,906 accused, including 15 murder cases. Among them, 13,450 are named individuals and around 30,000 are unidentified. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner stated that 90–95 percent of investigations are complete and that reports are being prepared carefully to avoid weaknesses in court.

Families of victims claim that after the BNP government took office, official follow-up and assistance diminished. Some families, such as those of slain student leaders Wasim Akram and Faisal Ahmed Shanto, report uncertainty about justice and financial hardship despite limited support from other political groups.

The Bangladesh government has announced a plan to create 10 million new jobs within the next five years to address the country’s severe employment crisis. Each year, around 2 to 2.2 million young people enter the job market, but limited opportunities leave many unemployed or underemployed. The plan, led by the General Economics Division (GED), aims to generate about 8 million jobs domestically and 1.5 million through overseas employment, with the private sector driving most of the growth in services, industry, and agriculture.

Officials said investment-led production expansion will be the main strategy, supported by a 60,000 crore taka fund, tax reforms, and renewable energy initiatives. Prime Minister’s adviser Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir emphasized policy continuity and infrastructure improvements, including railway modernization. However, economists and business leaders warned that fragile financial conditions, high inflation, and energy shortages could hinder investment and job creation. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority acknowledged that resolving the energy crisis could take up to two years.

Experts from universities and research institutions stressed that sustainable employment growth requires stronger financial institutions, macroeconomic stability, and reliable labor data. They also noted that private investment has stagnated at around 23–24 percent of GDP for over a decade, limiting job expansion.

In a commentary published on July 5, 2026, journalist M Abdullah argues that Bangladesh’s former authoritarian regime under Sheikh Hasina relied not only on state power but also on a network of cultural collaborators who legitimized repression through art, academia, and media. The article claims that these 'cultural fascists'—including intellectuals, artists, and bureaucrats—helped normalize state violence and suppress dissent during fifteen years of rule.

The author warns that even after the regime’s fall following the 2024 July uprising, many of these figures remain active, attempting to rewrite history and rehabilitate the fallen order. Some are accused of using media platforms to question the legitimacy of the uprising and to portray the previous regime more favorably. Such narratives, the article contends, risk eroding public trust in ongoing democratic reforms and could psychologically prepare the ground for authoritarian resurgence.

The piece concludes that safeguarding the revolution’s achievements requires confronting these cultural and intellectual enablers of fascism to prevent its ideological and institutional return.

US President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the massive turnout of mourners at the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said he had thought people hated Khamenei but was astonished to see millions crying. He also remarked that he could have eliminated everyone at the funeral but refrained, noting that both sides agreed to pause discussions until the ceremonies concluded.

The funeral and mourning events began in Tehran on Friday, with religious rituals and processions continuing for seven days across Iran and Iraq. Iranian authorities expect 15 to 20 million people to pay their respects in Tehran alone. Foreign dignitaries from several countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, China, and Turkey, attended the ceremonies. Security measures were tightened, with road closures and restricted airspace.

Khamenei, who ruled Iran for over three decades, was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28. Following a temporary ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, Iran and the US are now pursuing permanent peace talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed strong disapproval of rebel members’ attempt to take control of the party’s Metropolitan office. Speaking in a Facebook Live, she criticized the locking of the office by rebels claiming to represent the 'real Trinamool.' Banerjee presented documents and receipts to counter allegations that the building was ownerless or rent unpaid, insisting that all dues were regularly paid by cheque.

She explained that the Metropolitan office had been temporarily rented because the party’s original Kalighat office was under renovation. Banerjee questioned the rebels’ use of central forces to seal the premises and declared that while a building could be locked, people’s hearts could not. She reaffirmed that her residence at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street had always been and would remain the party’s true headquarters.

The dispute followed a meeting led by Ritabrata Banerjee and other rebel legislators who locked the office gate. Senior leader Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all organizational posts amid the tension, while Kunal Ghosh filed a police complaint. The confrontation has intensified political conflict within West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress.

Leaders of the organization Rastro Songlap Forum have filed a written complaint with Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka against six individuals, accusing them of making misleading and objectionable comments about the July uprising on social and mass media. The complaint names journalist Anis Alamgir, TV presenter Soma Islam, lawyer and model Jannatul Piya, former student leader Momin Mehdi, Maria Kispotta, and actress Shamima Tusti. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman confirmed the filing on the night of July 4, 2026.

According to the complaint, forum member Millat Hossain lodged the report after noticing various online statements and videos on July 3 at Hadi Chattar in Shahbagh. The complaint alleges that the accused made derogatory and confusing remarks about the July movement, its participants, and the victims, and engaged in politically motivated activities aimed at tarnishing the movement’s image.

The complainant requested a proper investigation and legal action against those involved. Police said the matter will be examined further.

An eleven-party alliance held a protest march in Satkhira on Saturday afternoon demanding the implementation of the July National Charter to establish democracy, justice, good governance, and fairness. The march began at Abdur Razzak Park and moved through the main streets of the city. The event included a brief rally before the procession.

During the rally, Satkhira-2 Member of Parliament and Jamaat-e-Islami central organizational secretary Muhaddis Abdul Khalek stated that the July National Charter must be implemented to ensure democracy and justice. He criticized the government for failing to meet public expectations and urged it to carry out necessary reforms reflecting the people’s aspirations. The rally was presided over by district Jamaat chief Shahidul Islam and conducted by district secretary Maulana Azizur Rahman.

Leaders from Jamaat, NCP, AB Party, and other allied groups participated, along with activists from district, upazila, municipal, and union levels, as well as people from various professions.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed is set to travel to New York to attend the fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UN-COPS 5) at the UN headquarters. According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the two-day summit will take place on July 7 and 8, 2026. The minister will lead a five-member delegation that includes Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir.

During the summit, Salahuddin Ahmed will participate in the opening session and three plenary discussions focusing on the future of UN policing, innovation and new technologies in UN police operations, and strengthening international cooperation to address transnational challenges. He is also scheduled to attend a high-level dinner on the sidelines of the event.

The minister will hold bilateral meetings with UN Under-Secretaries-General Atul Khare, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and Rosemary A. DiCarlo, as well as with several other home ministers. Discussions will cover Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peacekeeping, police capacity building, deployment of specialized units, and future priorities in peace operations. He is expected to depart Dhaka on July 5 and return on July 12.

At least 22 people were injured in a violent clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over the formation of a mosque committee in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah district. The incident occurred on Saturday night in Uttar Mirzapur village under Kancherkol Union. The conflict reportedly stemmed from disputes surrounding the formation of the Eidgah committee three days earlier, which had already created tension among local groups.

According to local sources, after the Maghrib prayer, supporters of BNP leader Insan Ali Babu allegedly attacked followers of Ward No. 8 BNP General Secretary Biplob Mia. The attack left 22 people injured, including Kancherkol Union Jubo Dal Joint Convener Apel Mahmud, who was reported to be seriously hurt. The injured were taken to the upazila health complex for treatment, and tension spread throughout the village following the incident.

Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla confirmed that police were deployed to the scene and that the situation was now under control.

Dhaka South Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and MP Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul strongly condemned a violent attack on businessmen preparing for an anti-extortion rally in Gulistan’s Fulbaria area on Saturday evening. Speaking at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after visiting the injured, including severely stabbed businessman Kabir, he demanded that police identify and arrest the attackers using video footage. Bulbul warned that if no action is taken, the business community might take to the streets against the police.

He alleged that the assault, led by individuals named Dalim, Tito, Faruk, Swapan, and Ronju, left several people critically injured, including Enamul, Omar Faruk, Sultan Uddin, and Parvez. Bulbul criticized the police for failing to act after the attack, calling their silence suspicious and accusing them of siding with extortionists instead of protecting citizens.

He urged the government to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism and extortion to restore law and order, emphasizing that students and the public are united against such crimes.