Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP said the BNP could not be called a democratic party after allegedly disregarding the verdict of a referendum in which, he said, 70 percent of people voted. He made the remarks on August 1, 2026, at a rally held at Baitul Mukarram North Gate in Dhaka to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

Mujibur Rahman said a democratic party accepts public opinion and accused the BNP of pursuing partisan politics. He said Jamaat would continue its movement until the referendum verdict was implemented through the July Charter. He added that the party was pursuing its demands in parliament, but the struggle would move to the streets if the government did not accept the referendum result and implement the charter.

Other speakers, including Dhaka South Ameer Md Nurul Islam Bulbul MP and Mobarak Hossain, also called for implementation of the July Charter. Bulbul said people wanted constitutional reform rather than constitutional amendment. After the rally, participants marched from Baitul Mukarram North Gate through Paltan, the National Press Club and the High Court area before concluding in front of Matsya Bhaban.

Sea-truck operations on the Kutubdia Boro Ghop-Magnama route in Cox’s Bazar have remained suspended for five days after a pontoon at Boro Ghop jetty was damaged. Published information on August 1 said the sea-truck cannot berth at the jetty, halting passenger crossings. Authorities have not specified when the service will return to normal, prompting frustration among passengers.

Three pillars of the pontoon, installed only six months ago, have broken, disrupting safe crossings. Old Danish boats and speedboats are still operating at the ghat, but passengers considered the sea-truck a comparatively safer means of transport. Passengers Shawkat Osman and Rezaul Karim expressed anger over the suspension during the monsoon season after finding the vessel anchored in the channel.

ST Nijhum Dwip master Ekramuzzaman said passenger service could resume once the pontoon is repaired. A BIWTA engineering team inspected the damaged facility last Thursday, and repair equipment is expected within one or two days. BIWTA said repairs may take one to two months, while the Kutubdia UNO said officials would discuss possible alternative sea-truck arrangements with the leaseholder.

All India Students’ Association president Neha said demands for Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation will continue following alleged police repression of an anti-question-paper-leak protest in Delhi on July 20. She also called for the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and the release of arrested students, saying nationwide programmes would continue. In an interview with PTI, Neha said the campaign had expanded beyond exam paper leaks to demand accountability over policing and the central government’s conduct.

After a 23-day hunger strike, Neha said action against lower-level officials would not be sufficient, arguing that political responsibility lay with Shah and the police commissioner. She alleged that police used excessive force, including pellet guns, tear gas and baton charges, during a march towards Parliament. Delhi Police denied the allegations, while the central government said security personnel acted according to law.

The movement initially sought an investigation into alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Its first phase was suspended on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and assurances were given on several demands. A government bill aimed at preventing paper leaks and examination irregularities was later passed in the Rajya Sabha on July 30 amid an opposition walkout.

International Islamic University Chittagong began a three-day training programme on Saturday to prepare for accreditation by the Bangladesh Accreditation Council. Speaking as chief guest at the opening, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Azadi said falling behind in obtaining accreditation could create an existential crisis for the university. He described accreditation work, documentation, file preparation and responsibilities beyond teaching and research as essential conditions for a university’s continued operation.

Azadi said degrees without BAC recognition would lack professional acceptance and their value could fall close to zero. Citing approval requirements in pharmacy and law, he said a similar reality would apply to general and other academic departments in the near future. He also said parents and talented students now consider whether a university and its departments are accredited rather than looking only at large campuses.

The programme, organised by IIUC’s Institutional Quality Assurance Cell, is being held for the first time and is scheduled to end on August 3. Sessions cover BAC rules, processes, external quality assessment guidance, curriculum adaptation under the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework, accreditation standards and assessment indicators. The university administration will consider departments’ accreditation progress when allocating budgets, infrastructure and other facilities.

At a discussion marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution, National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam said strong democracy is essential to ensure communal harmony. The event, titled “Harmony in July: Contributions of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Communities in the July Uprising,” was held at the DRU auditorium in the capital on August 1. He said the party still upholds the vision of a discrimination-free and inclusive society raised during the uprising.

Islam said people of all religions and communities participated in the uprising, which he described as secular in character from its beginning. He said at least nine people from minority communities were martyred. He accused the former fascist government of using minority communities as a political card and said minorities should maintain relations with all political parties rather than being linked to one party.

He urged the government to seriously consider the demands of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities and ensure justice for disappearances, killings, land grabbing and other attacks. Islam also said institutional reforms and an independent, impartial judiciary would benefit everyone. Leaders from Buddhist and Christian organizations, NCP representatives and leaders of various communities attended the meeting.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain conducted a surprise inspection of hospitals in Bhedarganj upazila of Shariatpur on Saturday afternoon. He visited the Upazila Health Complex and several private clinics, taking immediate action over irregularities. Modern Clinic and Diagnostic Centre and New Popular Diagnostic Centre and Clinic were temporarily closed because they lacked required documents.

Two doctors were issued show-cause notices over allegations that they provided services at private clinics during government office hours. The minister toured service departments at the health complex, spoke with admitted and outpatient patients about the quality of care, and inspected the quality of food supplied to patients. He later exchanged views with doctors, nurses and other staff and gave directions aimed at improving health services.

During the inspection, the minister warned officials to ensure proper departmental operations, treatment services, cleanliness and a patient-friendly environment. He said there would be no leniency toward irregularities or negligence and that quality healthcare for the public must be ensured. He also said the government plans to establish cancer, physiotherapy and kidney dialysis units in every upazila, and to build one children’s hospital in every district.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, called for a serious assessment of Bangladesh’s development as a nation over the past 55 years and for a clear definition of national identity. Speaking as chief guest at a University Teachers Link seminar at Dhaka University’s Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on Saturday, he also urged efforts to free higher education from partisan influence and to help teachers develop students into human resources.

He said universities are not only institutions for distributing knowledge but can help shape the future of the state and nation. Rahman called for deeper research into the historical development of Bengali identity and Bangladesh’s national identity. He raised concerns that qualified people have been denied jobs and opportunities at universities because of political affiliation, and urged teachers’ organisations to work together for a merit-based environment.

Rahman said teachers could serve as a strong intellectual pressure group by preparing a clear national roadmap. Lawmaker Engineer Mardia Mumtaz called for regular training and classroom evaluation for university teachers. Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan described UTL’s work during its first year as encouraging.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said the appointment process for 14,384 candidates recommended as assistant teachers in government primary schools is expected to begin by October 29. The ministry is moving to complete a recruitment exercise that had been stalled for a long period because of investigations and procedural complications. An emergency virtual meeting on teacher recruitment was held at the ministry on August 1.

The meeting discussed recruitment progress and ways to accelerate investigations and administrative procedures. Primary and Mass Education Secretary Md Sakhawat Hossain said the government was treating the joining of the recommended assistant teachers as an important matter. He said delays resulted from investigations and procedural lengthiness, while expressing hope that the joining process would start within the stated deadline.

Ministry sources said the 14,384 candidates were recommended after a lengthy recruitment process, but subsequent investigations and administrative verification delayed their appointments. The delays created uncertainty among recommended candidates and prompted calls for faster joining. The ministry said government primary schools under the Directorate of Primary Education have faced a long-standing teacher shortage, which could be eased to some extent when the new teachers join.

Indian Muslim leaders have voiced deep concern after Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on Thursday. The measure makes deliberate disrespect for or obstruction of the national song Vande Mataram an offence, punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. It gives Vande Mataram legal status equal to the national anthem Jana Gana Mana.

In a statement released Friday, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said the law runs counter to the Constitution, secularism and democratic values, and seriously harms citizens’ religious freedom. Its spokesperson, Dr S. Q. R. Ilyas, said any attempt to make Vande Mataram compulsory for people of all religions and communities was objectionable and contrary to fundamental constitutional principles.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani similarly called the bill contrary to the Constitution and religious freedom, describing it as an effort to divert attention from people’s real problems for electoral politics. He said Muslims do not object to anyone singing or reciting the song, but some sections do not align with Islamic belief and Muslims cannot be compelled to sing or accept it. The board said only its first two verses were adopted nationally after Constituent Assembly discussions.

Authorities and the BNP are making extensive preparations for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to flood-affected areas of Banshkhali in Chattogram. The prime minister is scheduled to visit on Sunday, August 9. Security has been strengthened, while preparations are under way for possible visit locations and transport arrangements.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Superintendent of Police Masud Alam, and South Chattogram district BNP senior joint convenor Mishkatul Islam Chowdhury Pappa inspected the helipad area at Baharchhara sea beach. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ruhul Amin, Banshkhali police station officer-in-charge Md. Rabiul Haque, and other senior administrative officials also joined the inspection.

During the visit, officials reviewed the proposed venue, security arrangements, communications and overall preparations. Pappa said the prime minister was coming to stand beside people affected by flooding. He also said residents of Banshkhali were waiting to welcome the prime minister. Local enthusiasm has been reported around the planned visit, and authorities and relevant stakeholders are continuing preparations to ensure it is orderly and successful.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami held a mass procession and brief rally in Ranishankail, Thakurgaon, demanding implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict. Organized by the party’s upazila unit on Saturday, the procession travelled through several streets in the town before ending at Shibdighi July Square, where leaders addressed the gathering.

Mizanur Rahman Master, former amir of Thakurgaon district Jamaat, spoke as chief guest. The event was chaired by Upazila Jamaat amir Vice Principal Rafiqul Islam. Speakers included upazila secretary Minnatullah Pathan, district Workers Welfare Federation president Matiur Rahman, upazila youth division president Mokarram Hossain and district Chhatra Shibir president Amir Ahmed, along with other organizational leaders.

Speakers said implementing the July Charter would close avenues for corruption, money laundering and irregularities. They alleged that a group opposed its implementation and did not want to accept the referendum verdict. Calling on the government to act immediately, they said 70 percent of people had supported reforms in the referendum and claimed that delays in implementing reform proposals had created public disappointment.

Youth and Sports State Minister Md Aminul Haque called for broader sports participation to help children become healthy, values-driven citizens. Speaking on Saturday at an award ceremony for scholarship-winning students in Pallabi, Dhaka, he urged families and educational institutions to work together to reduce children’s excessive dependence on mobile phones and digital devices and encourage them to spend time on playing fields.

The event, organised by the Bangladesh Kindergarten Association, honoured students from Pallabi police station area for the 2025 academic year with certificates, cash awards and crests. Aminul Haque said parents should also participate in exercise and sports. He said giving children opportunities to play could produce future national-level athletes, while time on fields could keep them away from technology addiction and social harms such as drugs.

He said online registration for the “Notun Kuri Sports” programme began on July 1 for children aged 10 to 14. The government is taking steps to ensure playing fields in every union in phases. He also said sports will become compulsory from Class Four in the upcoming curriculum, including practical field assessments in football, cricket, swimming, martial arts and other activities.

The 8th Armed Police Battalion arrested 166 people in operations centred on Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, from May 2025 through July 2026, according to APBn sources. The arrests were made in 71 cases and included 22 suspects in murder cases, eight in arms cases, 12 in abduction cases and 43 in narcotics cases. Police also said 13 abducted women, men and children of different ages were rescued alive and safely.

The operations recovered 204,031 yaba tablets, a submachine gun, a pistol, a revolver, seven one-shooter guns, two single-barrel guns, ammunition, locally made weapons and narcotics. Other seized items included 37 stolen or lost mobile phones, a walkie-talkie set, Tk30,000 linked to bKash fraud and Tk1,434,500 described as proceeds from drug sales and other sources.

Police said the campaign also made progress in controlling group clashes, weapons displays, child marriage, direct and online gambling, and domestic violence in the camps. APBn commander Riaz Uddin Ahmad said intelligence-based planned operations would continue to maintain order and suppress crime.

Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Wednesday that he is dissolving his Future Party, or Gelecek Partisi, and stepping back from politics. In a Turkish-language statement posted on X, Davutoglu attributed the move to Turkiye’s “dirty political climate,” saying it was not a surrender but a moral decision to distance himself and a call to rethink politics.

Davutoglu said corruption, favouritism and a lack of accountability were eroding moral values. He also criticised the normalisation of politicians changing parties and the appointment of government trustees, known as kayyum, instead of elected officials, calling these practices a blow to democratic ethics. He warned that the presidential system introduced in 2018 had opened the way to authoritarianism and removed checks and balances.

A former key adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Davutoglu was foreign minister from 2009 to 2014 and later prime minister. Political differences with Erdogan led to his replacement by Binali Yildirim in 2016. Davutoglu left the AKP in September 2019 and launched the conservative, pro-democracy Future Party that December. The party received 0.11 percent of votes in the 2024 elections.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal held a protest procession in the capital on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the mass uprising. The rally protested what the organisation described as anti-national conspiracies by fallen fascists and political practices outside accepted norms. The procession began in Fakirapul, travelled through major roads in Dhaka, and ended in Kakrail. Central committee vice-president Kazi Zia Uddin Basit led the march.

Leaders and activists from different levels and units of Chhatra Dal joined the demonstration. Participants chanted slogans against the alleged anti-national conspiracies and called for maintaining a democratic environment and political decorum.

Basit said the organisation remained united on the streets to uphold the spirit of the mass uprising and resist all conspiracies against the country's independence, sovereignty and democracy. He also pledged that Chhatra Dal would remain vocal against what it termed anti-national activities and political conduct outside accepted norms. The procession concluded in Kakrail after passing through important city roads.