Ahead of a planned third round of talks with India’s central government on Saturday, the protesting Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) said discussions would be meaningless unless the Modi government agreed to remove Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a Saturday morning post on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the party would not withdraw its demand for Pradhan’s resignation.

The second round of talks was held Friday at Constitution Club in New Delhi between CJP representatives and central ministers J. P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. CJP presented three main demands: Pradhan’s resignation, assurance that protesting students would face no legal action, and compensation of one crore rupees each to families of students who died by suicide in the NEET paper leak case. The centre reportedly gave in-principle consent to the latter two demands.

Nadda said the meeting, lasting nearly two hours, also covered five proposals on examination reform, with the government due to communicate its final position at Saturday’s meeting. NDTV, citing government sources, reported that Pradhan’s resignation was unlikely. The government has announced fast-track courts, tougher penalties, a change of education secretary, dismissal of 47 National Testing Agency officials, and a commitment to fully restructure the agency.

Mohammad Kamal Uddin, known in Chattogram as a leader of Bangabandhu Soldiers League, attended a dinner at the state guest house Jamuna with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to a report published on July 25. A photograph of the two shaking hands prompted questions over how he was invited and whether his political background was properly vetted. The report says he is also known locally as “Bakery Kamal.”

A document obtained by the newspaper states that Kamal Uddin applied to attend the event as vice-chairman of Gono Dal, using a Dhaka address. He was invited after verification in Dhaka, the report says. Chattogram Police Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali said the address used was in Dhaka and was not verified from Chattogram. Dhaka Metropolitan Police said it handled event security but did not select guests or issue invitations.

Unnamed security and intelligence sources said an internal review began after the matter became public. Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said local input could have provided relevant information on guests’ political and organizational identities. Kamal Uddin said he would send a statement, while the report says he did not deny involvement in Awami League-supported activities mentioned in questions put to him.

The formal trial in the case over killings at a Hefazat gathering at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka, on May 5, 2013, is scheduled to begin on Monday. International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam announced the development on Saturday morning. The tribunal is investigating the incident with importance, according to the report.

An investigation report naming 41 people as accused has been submitted to the prosecution. The International Crimes Tribunal investigation agency submitted the report on Sunday morning, July 19. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, described as absconding in India, has been named as the principal accused in the case.

Other notable accused include former army chief General Aziz Ahmed, former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, and former inspectors general of police Benazir Ahmed and A K M Shahidul Haque. Retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan and the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner are also among those accused in the investigation report.

As crowds continue to grow at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, India, over demands for the education minister’s resignation, the entire protest site has been placed under CCTV surveillance. At least three mobile surveillance vans have been deployed, and police are also using facial-recognition technology, according to the report published on July 25, 2026.

Live video and images collected through the surveillance system are being matched against police databases to identify and separate people with criminal records. The measures have renewed concerns over personal privacy, civil rights and the ethical use of such technology.

Separately, disability-rights organisations have called for a ban on pellet guns and electric shock batons for all police forces in the country. Doctors’ organisations, individuals and concerned citizens have strongly condemned allegations that such weapons were used against protesters during the “Chalo Parliament” programme held in New Delhi on July 20.

Martyr Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inqilab Mancha, was a leading figure in student-public protests demanding the resignation and arrest of President Md. Sahabuddin Chuppu after Sheikh Hasina’s fall and flight on August 5, 2024. The report says Chuppu remained in office while the speaker, chief justice and Baitul Mukarram khatib appointed under Hasina left the country.

Protests intensified after comments attributed to the president in a newspaper interview regarding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter. Hadi called for demonstrations, describing the remarks as a betrayal of revolutionaries’ blood. On October 23, 2024, he led thousands from Dhaka University, the Raju Sculpture and the Shaheed Minar toward Bangabhaban. Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwary and Sarjis Alam were among other movement leaders involved.

Protesters blocked roads in front of Bangabhaban and near Shapla Chattar, while Hadi issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the president to resign voluntarily. At a Shaheed Minar gathering the following day, he formally presented five demands, including the president’s resignation and reforms. Hadi was shot in Dhaka on December 12 last year and died in Singapore on December 18. The report says Chuppu resigned seven months and six days after Hadi’s killing.

A report published by Amar Desh on July 25, 2026 recounts violence surrounding the quota reform movement on July 25, 2024. It says hospitals across Dhaka were treating people with gunshot wounds and other injuries while morgues received bodies. The report makes strong political allegations regarding then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her government's response to the unrest.

The report says at least 867 injured people received treatment at public and private hospitals in Uttara between July 18 and 25, while 29 bodies were brought in. It says Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hospital received 265 injured people and eight bodies, and Uttara Adhunik Medical College received 263 injured people and 11 bodies. Citing Anjuman Mufidul Islam, it also says 21 unidentified bodies were buried.

According to the report, Hasina visited the Mirpur-10 metro station on July 25 and sought justice over vandalism. It says about 700 protesters and leaders of different parties were arrested that day, including Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Andaleeve Rahman Partho. The report adds that Amnesty International expressed concern that day and alleged the government was using lethal weapons to suppress protests.

A Malaysian investor delegation has expressed interest in investing in the Debiganj Economic Zone in Panchagarh, Bangladesh. The group is initially assessing the feasibility of a 100-megawatt solar power project and has also indicated interest in establishing agriculture-based industries. On Friday afternoon, the delegation met State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad before visiting the economic zone to review infrastructure, industrialisation prospects and employment potential.

Azad said the government places special importance on development in the northern region and is showing the Debiganj Economic Zone to domestic and foreign investors for that purpose. Delegation head Mr Sim described the zone as highly promising for industrial investment. He said the proposed solar project, if implemented, would add renewable energy to the national grid, while agro-based industrial development also has considerable scope.

Officials cited improved road connectivity, easy availability of agricultural products and comparatively lower production costs as factors attracting investors. An agreement to establish the economic zone was signed on 24 August 2020. The planned area was revised to 250.85 acres, including 240 acres for the zone and 10.85 acres for a connecting road. BEZA has received settlement of 185.86 acres, while acquisition of the remaining land continues.

US military forces disabled an oil tanker near Iran’s border after firing into its engine room, according to a report published on July 25, 2026. The incident occurred amid concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Iran’s boundaries and develop into a regional war.

US Central Command spokesman and Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Al Jazeera that the tanker’s crew tried at least four times to move forward through an imposed blockade. He said the crew ignored repeated warnings and orders, prompting US forces at the scene to fire at the vessel’s engine room. The tanker’s journey toward Iran has now been halted, Hawkins said.

Military analysts said Washington may present the action as enforcement of its military blockade, but viewed it as a clear sign of a widening conflict. International relations analysts also said the United States and Saudi Arabia could carry out further military strikes to remove the Houthi blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Atlantic Council senior fellow Thomas Warrick said additional military measures could be taken to change the Houthis’ position.

Reports in Indian media have put Thalapathy Vijay’s pay for the globally released film Jana Nayagan at about Rs 300 crore. The report, published on July 25, 2026, says the payment for the lead role would be a record in Indian cinema if confirmed. The film, directed by H. Vinoth, has also drawn attention for its reported box-office performance after release.

According to the reports, Vijay was paid the amount directly and did not have an agreement to share in the film’s profits. Neither the makers nor Vijay had issued an official statement on the claim. H. Vinoth reportedly received Rs 30 crore, while music composer Anirudh Ravichander was paid about Rs 15 crore. Lead actress Pooja Hegde reportedly received Rs 10 crore and Bobby Deol about Rs 12 crore.

Other reported payments include Rs 7 crore for Prakash Raj and Rs 5 crore each for Priyamani and Gautham Vasudev Menon. Jana Nayagan, described as a political action thriller, is said to have cost about Rs 500 crore to make. Box-office trackers estimated Indian pre-sales near Rs 30 crore and first-day worldwide earnings between Rs 107 crore and Rs 112 crore, but these figures remain unconfirmed officially.

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed through a vote by the Assembly of States Parties over allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision was reported on July 25, 2026, nearly two years after the allegations first became public. The 56-year-old British barrister had stepped aside from his duties in June, while member states later approved his removal.

Khan’s legal team said a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation found no evidence of misconduct or dereliction of duty, and said an independent judicial panel unanimously reached the same conclusion. Lawyer Tayab Ali called the process unfair and politically motivated. However, an oversight panel of the Assembly of States Parties had concluded that Khan committed “serious misconduct.” The woman identified only as Sarah alleged to CNN that Khan’s conduct became increasingly intimate and aggressive; Khan has consistently denied the allegations.

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the episode as part of a broader attack on the ICC. The removal has no immediate effect on arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as only ICC judges can withdraw them. Deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang will jointly run Khan’s office pending a new election, which is unlikely before next year.

The protesting Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is set to hold another round of talks with India’s Modi government on July 25, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over an alleged question-paper leak. The party has been staging continuous protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, with the demonstrations also spreading to other Indian cities.

On Friday, a two-member CJP delegation met central ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Party spokesperson Saurav Das said the delegation reiterated that it remained firm on its demand for the education minister’s resignation.

The CJP also demanded a public apology to protesters who it said were subjected to a police attack on July 20. It further sought compensation of one crore rupees for the families of people who died by suicide after the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test was cancelled on May 3. The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Saturday.

Microloan installment collection has been suspended for three months in flood-affected areas of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari after severe flooding and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage. Dr Mohammad Zakaria, director general of the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the measure in a report published on July 25.

He spoke while visiting flood-hit South Jaldi, Ashkaria Para and Saral areas of Banshkhali on Friday and distributing relief supplies among people affected by flooding. According to Zakaria, loan recovery will remain halted in the affected areas for the next three months under instructions from the Microcredit Regulatory Authority.

During the visit, Zakaria discussed the overall condition of affected families with relevant officials and received updates on ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. He also heard accounts of hardship from flood victims and took part in humanitarian assistance activities. Local residents expressed hope that coordinated government and private initiatives would quickly ease suffering and strengthen rehabilitation work.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party and chief whip of the opposition in parliament, urged the head of government to ensure genuine employment rather than relying on card-based assistance. He made the remarks as chief guest at a July March roadside meeting in Tengapara Station Field in Mohanganj municipal town, Netrokona, at 7pm on Friday. The meeting was organised by Mohanganj উপজেলা NCP.

He questioned whether assistance cards would reach genuinely distressed people or party affiliates, saying social security programmes and government benefits had previously gone to partisan beneficiaries while poor people were excluded. He called for administrative oversight to ensure eligible people receive cards. Referring to 30 kilograms of rice provided to fishers during seasonal fishing restrictions, he said such support was insufficient to sustain livelihoods.

Islam called for a special government plan for the haor areas of Netrokona, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj, including development of fisheries and tourism. He also demanded implementation of the July Charter and reforms to police, courts and the constitution. He said his party would oppose the government on reasonable grounds while assisting it when national interests required, but warned that cooperation would not be possible if reforms were not implemented.

Bangladesh national football team coach Thomas Dooly has outlined a plan to reshape the side by combining the football philosophies of Spain, Argentina and France. The German-born former United States player, appointed on a two-year deal in May, observed football supporters’ enthusiasm in Dhaka during the 2026 World Cup and said such passion is seen in very few countries.

Dooly said he wants Bangladesh to keep possession, play in one or two touches and make opponents run, following Spain’s style. He also wants a team in which players fight for one another, the national badge and supporters, drawing on what he described as Argentina’s spirit. Against stronger opponents, he aims for Bangladesh to be dangerous in fast, precise counterattacks similar to France.

Matches during the September-October FIFA window will provide the first stage for testing Dooly’s new blueprint. He has called supporters the team’s twelfth player and said he wants to see their roar in the stands when Bangladesh play. The coach hopes the football emotion shown for foreign teams during the World Cup will also surround the national side.

Indian educator and social activist Sonam Wangchuk has rejected allegations that he ended his hunger strike under a deal with the central government. In a 24-minute, 22-second video message posted on social media on Friday night, he said his focus was on securing justice for students and meeting their demands. He was receiving treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

Wangchuk had begun the fast in support of ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar over question-paper leaks. He ended the 26-day strike at midnight on Thursday in the presence of central ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. He said he withdrew the fast after receiving assurances from the government and members of various political parties, but critics alleged that he had reached an agreement with the government.

Questioning the criticism, Wangchuk said that after fasting in Delhi's heat after coming from Ladakh's cold, he was being asked to prove his integrity and the sanctity of his protest. He said many people called him on Friday morning asking about his work and any possible agreement. He thanked supporters and said he would try to answer questions raised outside politics.