The Chattogram Education Board has announced that the postponed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for 2026 will resume on July 27. The decision was confirmed in a notice issued on July 23, following weeks of suspension caused by continuous heavy rainfall and flooding across several districts under the board’s jurisdiction.

Earlier, the examinations in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban were postponed multiple times due to worsening flood conditions, disrupted road communications, and safety concerns for students. The board had eventually declared an indefinite suspension before reassessing the situation.

According to the latest notice, the remaining exams will be held in coordination with other education boards following the previously announced schedule. The first exams to be held on July 27 include Political Science and Good Governance (1st paper), Biology (1st paper), Food and Nutrition (1st paper), and Business Organization and Management (1st paper). The board has requested all examinees, center secretaries, and institution heads to complete necessary preparations. A separate notice will later announce new dates for the postponed practical exams.

Abhijit Deepak, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, fell ill while protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He announced on social media that despite high fever and body pain, he had continued the protest with painkillers but would take a short break. Deepak stated he plans to return to the protest stage by Thursday evening.

The protesters, including Deepak, are demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deepak accused police of brutality after officers allegedly used batons and tear gas on demonstrators Wednesday night, while police claimed protesters had thrown stones and bottles as they moved toward Parliament Street.

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a fast-track court to ensure strict punishment for those involved in the exam paper leak case. He said the government is committed to protecting the future of the country’s youth, a move that received full support from top NDA and BJP leaders.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region Chief Organizer and Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah said that the recent disappearance in Mongla represents a dark chapter for the current government. Speaking at the NCP’s “July March” program in Mongla on July 22, he claimed that enforced disappearances have reemerged in Bangladesh after 2024, raising new concerns about human rights and the rule of law.

The incident involves Miraj Sheikh from Joymoni area of Mongla, who reportedly went missing after being taken away by individuals identifying themselves as Coast Guard members. The High Court has ordered that he be produced within 15 days. Abdullah criticized the government for failing to implement the promised disappearance commission and accused the ruling party of opposing its formation despite past victimhood claims.

He emphasized that such incidents are unacceptable and called for impartial investigations and legal action against those responsible. Abdullah also announced Molla Rahmatullah as the NCP’s mayoral candidate for Mongla Port Municipality during the event, which was attended by senior party leaders who stressed the need for state reform and accountability.

FIFA has rejected allegations of match-fixing during the 2026 World Cup, calling them baseless. In an official statement, the global football governing body said that after extensive monitoring throughout the tournament, no evidence of suspicious betting or match manipulation was found. The Integrity Task Force, comprising the FBI, Interpol, UNODC, and international betting monitoring agencies, reviewed data from all 104 matches and confirmed the absence of irregularities.

Despite the clean findings on match-fixing, the tournament saw several refereeing controversies. The Egyptian Football Association protested strongly after their 3–2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, accusing referees of serious errors and demanding their expulsion from the World Cup. Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan also made a controversial gesture during the match and later alleged that FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to remain in the tournament, sparking widespread debate.

FIFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina dismissed these claims as unfounded, while senior integrity manager Liam Rich praised the task force’s effectiveness and confirmed that similar monitoring systems will continue in future tournaments.

Hundreds of Jewish settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem after the start of the Jewish religious festival Tisha B’Av. Among them was Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who also entered the compound under heavy Israeli security. According to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, more than 2,300 settlers took part in the incursion. Palestinian officials said Israeli forces imposed strict restrictions at the mosque gates, preventing many Palestinian worshippers and students from entering and assaulting several of them.

The Palestinian administration in the Jerusalem Governorate described Ben-Gvir’s visit as a dangerous escalation, saying it showed direct support from the Israeli government for actions previously carried out by extremist right-wing groups. Jordan and Hamas both issued strong condemnations of the incident. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry warned that such actions violate the historical and legal status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites and urged international pressure on Israel to stop these violations. Hamas said the aggression would bring consequences upon the occupying forces and settlers, vowing that Palestinians would not remain silent in the face of such desecration.

The government has appointed Professor Dr. M. Atikur Rahman as the new Vice Chancellor of Chandpur University of Science and Technology (CHSTU) and Professor Dr. Mohammad Lokman Hossain as the Pro-Vice Chancellor. The Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division issued two separate notifications on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, confirming the appointments.

According to the notifications, Dr. Atikur Rahman is a professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Chittagong, while Dr. Mohammad Lokman Hossain serves in the Department of Chemistry at Jagannath University. Their terms will last four years from the date of joining or until their retirement, whichever comes first. They will receive salaries and benefits as per regulations, and the President and Chancellor of the university retain the authority to cancel the appointments at any time.

Teachers, students, and stakeholders of the university expect that under the new leadership, academic, research, administrative, and infrastructural development activities at CHSTU will gain new momentum.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has emphasized the necessity of establishing a proper authority to determine who qualifies as a journalist in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday at the Secretariat during the 34th meeting of the Press Accreditation Committee, which was also the first meeting of the newly formed committee.

In his directive speech, the minister advised committee members to ensure that every decision reflects the constitution, existing laws, and regulations. He urged them to act with foresight, wisdom, and inclusiveness so that decisions are widely accepted. Swapan also reminded members that as representatives of an elected government, they must work responsibly for all citizens, not from a partisan standpoint.

He further noted that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is politically sensitive and that even minor decisions could have significant political and social impacts. Therefore, he called for long-term thinking and careful judgment in decision-making. The meeting was chaired by Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad and attended by senior ministry officials and committee members.

The government has retired 17 senior officers of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Police) cadre under the provisions of the Public Service Act, 2018. The decision was announced on Thursday, July 23, 2026, through a notification issued by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The order, signed by Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, stated that the retirement was made in the public interest under Section 45 of the Act.

Among those retired are three Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), thirteen Additional DIGs, and one Superintendent of Police. The DIGs include Md. Abdullah Al Baki of Highway Police, Md. Walid Hossain of Sardah Police Academy, and Sana Shaminur Rahman of CID. The notification confirmed that all officers will receive retirement benefits as per regulations and that the order takes immediate effect by directive of the President.

The announcement marks a significant administrative move within the police force, reflecting the government’s use of legal provisions to manage senior-level service positions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for September in New Delhi. The information was disclosed by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam during a briefing with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. She confirmed that the invitation letter from India had reached the ministry and was forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The 18th BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 12–13. Although Bangladesh is not a member of BRICS, Prime Minister Modi extended the invitation to Tarique Rahman to participate as a special guest. The invitation highlights India’s outreach to regional partners during the high-level international gathering.

Further details regarding Bangladesh’s response or the Prime Minister’s participation have not yet been disclosed.

BNP leader S M Zakaria has claimed he was removed from his party post in Gazipur’s Kapasia after participating in the campaign of his elder brother, Jamaat-e-Islami leader and chairman candidate Maulana S M Cholaiman, ahead of the Chandpur Union Parishad election. In a Facebook post, Zakaria expressed emotional disappointment, saying his 45 years of political dedication and sacrifices were disregarded over a single incident.

Zakaria stated that he had been involved with the BNP since its founding, serving in various roles within the Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Chandpur Union BNP. He said he had endured imprisonment in 1983 and 2018 and faced multiple political cases but never abandoned the party’s ideals. Despite losing his position, he reaffirmed his belief in BNP’s principles and his commitment to truth, justice, and democracy.

Local BNP leaders in Chandpur Union acknowledged Zakaria’s long service but said his participation in his brother’s campaign was inappropriate during the election period. They added that the decision to relieve him of his duties was made by the party’s higher leadership.

A Dhaka court has scheduled August 30 for submission of the investigation report in the murder case of renowned film actor Salman Shah, whose full name was Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar Emon. The case accuses his wife Samira Haque and ten others of premeditated murder. The report was due on July 23, but the investigating officer failed to submit it, prompting Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana to set a new date. The case was filed on October 21 of the previous year at Ramna Police Station by Salman Shah’s uncle, Mohammad Alamgir, under Penal Code sections 302 and 34.

The accused include Samira Haque, industrialist and former film producer Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Latifa Haque Luchi, Don, Debit, Javed, Faruk, Ruby of Mayfair Beauty Center, Abdus Sattar, Saju, and Rezvi Ahmed Farhad. Several unidentified individuals were also named. The case follows a 1996 unnatural death report after Salman Shah was found dead at his New Eskaton residence. Later, a Dhaka court reclassified it as a murder case upon a revision petition by the plaintiff.

According to the case statement, family members found Salman Shah dead with marks on his neck and body, leading to allegations of planned murder. The investigation report will determine the next legal steps.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), whose demonstrations have recently stirred unrest in New Delhi and other Indian cities, is now planning to hold a protest march in Kolkata. According to a report by Anandabazar, the group has emailed Kolkata Police seeking permission to organize the event this Friday.

The email, sent on July 19 and July 21 by a person named Dedipya Gangopadhyay who identified himself as a CJP member, requested approval to march from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Road at 4 p.m. on Friday. The message also mentioned an expected gathering of about 1,500 participants. Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the email but stated that permission for the march has not yet been granted.

The planned demonstration marks the CJP’s first attempt to extend its movement to West Bengal following widespread protests in the national capital and other regions.

Deputy Speaker and Netrokona-1 MP Barrister Kaiser Kamal announced that any corruption in the farmer card distribution process will result in direct dismissal of responsible officials. Speaking on Wednesday night at a mechanized paddy seedling planting and distribution event at Lengura School and College field in Kalmakanda, he said no bribery or irregularities will be tolerated in the Kalmakanda-Durgapur area. He emphasized that he was elected to serve the people and would neither engage in nor allow corruption.

Kamal expressed strong dissatisfaction over nepotism and irregularities in the earlier family card distribution in Lengura Union. He criticized data collectors for favoritism, saying that influential individuals received cards while poor and disabled residents were excluded. He urged those involved to repent and warned that similar misconduct in the farmer card program would lead to termination, not just transfer.

Highlighting future agricultural goals, Kamal said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman plans to export rice to several Asian countries, aiming to earn foreign currency like the garment industry. He also praised the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute for developing early rice varieties to protect crops from flash floods.

Bangladesh is set to host the National Semiconductor Symposium and BEAR (Bangladesh Emerging Advanced Research) Summit on July 25 and 26 in Dhaka. The event will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on Saturday morning at the Novo Theatre. The announcement was made by Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain at a press briefing in Gulshan Club, Dhaka. The two-day summit is jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), and the Silicon River Bangladesh program.

According to the organizers, the summit aims to position Bangladesh as a globally connected hub for semiconductor and deep-tech innovation. Policymakers, global semiconductor executives, researchers, entrepreneurs, university representatives, investors, and expatriate Bangladeshi experts will participate to help formulate the country’s long-term semiconductor and deep-tech strategy. The event will feature 11 plenary sessions and exhibitions showcasing biotechnology, engineering, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

The Science and Technology Ministry emphasized that technology-driven economies are key to prosperity and reaffirmed its commitment to building Bangladesh into a high-tech capable nation and promoting the commercialization of research.

M Ali Ashraf, who joined as Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bahubal Model Police Station in Habiganj on July 21, was withdrawn just a day later and attached to the district police lines. The order, signed by Superintendent of Police Md Tarek Mahmud, also appointed Mohammad Ruhul Amin Talukder as the new OC of Bahubal.

Following Ashraf’s appointment, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations expressed anger on social media. Posts circulated showing images and videos of injuries from earlier clashes involving police and ruling party activists, along with a 2022 statement from central Chhatra Dal leaders condemning police attacks. Injured Chhatra Dal leader Maruf Mia criticized the decision, calling Ashraf a controversial officer responsible for past repression.

According to reports, Ashraf had previously served in Chunarughat, where he was accused of arresting and suppressing opposition activists. He joined the police as a sub-inspector after the Hasina government took office and later held several positions before his recent posting to Bahubal.