Prominent lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam has clarified the distinction between constitutional reform and amendment, stating that certain fundamental pillars of the constitution cannot be altered even by parliament. He explained during a television talk show on Thursday night that while the Supreme Court protects these core structures through its rulings, reforms can still be undertaken. He warned that major changes made solely through parliamentary amendments could face future legal challenges, citing the annulment of the Fifth Amendment as an example.

Tajul Islam emphasized that amendments bring only superficial changes and cannot address the nation’s deep-rooted issues. He recalled that the July revolution aimed for a complete overhaul of the state system, leading to proposals for forming a Constitutional Reform Council or Constituent Assembly. According to him, the current government, formed after a violent uprising outside the existing constitutional framework, required a separate order for reform, which has gained moral and political legitimacy through a public referendum.

He added that the BNP prefers the amendment route instead of supporting the proposed Reform Council, opposing its name and approach.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has renewed allegations of Israeli influence over U.S. foreign and domestic policy, criticizing Washington for allowing such sway. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that Israel uses American taxpayers’ money to silence its critics and accused the U.S. administration of being drawn into an unwinnable conflict due to Israeli influence.

He referred to a Time magazine report alleging that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale ran a pro-Israel operation targeting supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement. Araghchi asserted that the situation was even worse because Israel was allegedly using U.S. funds to suppress dissenting voices, adding that the truth would soon be revealed.

According to the report, neither the United States nor Israel has issued an immediate response to Araghchi’s accusations, which were reported by Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. Authorities are currently investigating allegations of Israeli involvement in a private residential community in the southern state of Johor. The statement was reported by Anadolu Agency and Free Malaysia Today on July 17, 2026.

Anwar stated that relevant agencies are conducting the investigation and that the government will not show leniency if the allegations are proven true. He emphasized that Malaysia does not recognize Israel and therefore does not allow Israeli passport holders to enter the country without special permission.

The investigation was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the Johor state government called for a federal probe into the alleged involvement of an Israeli individual in a Johor-based startup community network related to a school project.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that more than 50,000 American military personnel are currently deployed across the Middle East. In a statement, CENTCOM said US forces carried out airstrikes in Iran for the sixth consecutive night, using precision-guided weapons to target coastal surveillance and air defense installations, military logistics infrastructure, and naval assets at multiple Iranian sites.

In a separate statement posted on social media platform X, CENTCOM reported that US naval forces altered the course of three commercial vessels, disabled one ship, and boarded another for inspection. These actions were described as part of an ongoing naval blockade against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, highlights the continued escalation of US military operations in the region, underscoring heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government is tirelessly distributing relief to flood-affected people, but ensuring their rehabilitation will be the biggest challenge. He made the remarks on Friday, July 17, 2026, while speaking to journalists after distributing relief at West Amirabad Government Primary School field in Lohagara, Chattogram. The minister stated that around 700,000 people in Chattogram district have been affected by the floods, and relief has already reached about 100,000 individuals through coordinated government efforts.

He emphasized that the government is focusing on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, housing, and health sectors to restore livelihoods. Efforts are underway to assist farmers, fish farmers, and poor families whose crops, livestock, and homes were damaged. Measures are also being taken to ensure medical treatment for those suffering from flood-related diseases.

The minister praised charitable individuals, social organizations, and voluntary institutions for their contributions and urged everyone to continue supporting rehabilitation activities as part of their humanitarian responsibility.

Iran has claimed that its military forces carried out an attack on the United States’ Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), this was the fifteenth round of such strikes. The IRGC stated that the assault destroyed a long-range radar system and several US aerial refueling aircraft. The information was reported by Iran’s state media outlet IRIB.

In a statement, the IRGC warned that US forces and their regional hosts should understand that any violation involving attacks on people or civilian infrastructure would face severe consequences. It added that if such actions continue, Iran’s response would be even more destructive and remembered in the history of warfare.

As of now, there has been no independent confirmation of Iran’s claim from either the United States or Qatar.

Comilla Police Superintendent Md. Anisuzzaman stated that he had been involved with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Dhaka long before others, during a discussion meeting held on July 16 in the district commissioner’s conference room to mark National July Martyrs’ Day. His remark came in response to comments from former Comilla Metropolitan JCD president Fakhrul Islam Mithu, who accused the police of not arresting alleged fascists in the area.

In reply, Superintendent Anisuzzaman said the meeting was not a political platform and that criticism of the police force was inappropriate. He added that some people were labeling their own rivals as fascists. The superintendent further commented on the state of the police and government, noting that the current administration was only four months old and needed time to stabilize.

The event was attended by Comilla Deputy Commissioner Rozi Akter, City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu, CDA Chairman Udbatul Bari Abu, BNP leader Ashiqur Rahman Mahmud Wasim, and other political and administrative representatives.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided not to visit India for now, according to senior officials of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic sources. The visit was considered highly important and sensitive, but the current lack of trust between Dhaka and Delhi has halted all discussions. The Modi government has not responded to Bangladesh’s request to extend the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December, nor taken steps to advance bilateral cooperation. Reports also cite India’s negative reaction to Rahman’s recent China visit and incidents at the border as contributing factors.

Diplomatic and political analysts have welcomed the decision, saying the prime minister made the right call given India’s perceived interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. A senior diplomat noted that unresolved issues such as border killings, trade imbalance, and water-sharing disputes make the relationship politically challenging. The source added that India’s recent actions, including alleged pressure tactics and attempts to influence domestic politics, have made it impossible for the visit to proceed under current conditions.

The postponement underscores the fragile state of Bangladesh-India relations and the growing complexity of regional geopolitics.

Armed individuals have seized control of a chemical tanker named Asana near Yemen’s southern coast, according to maritime security sources cited by Reuters. The report indicates that unidentified armed men boarded the vessel and took control of it. The tanker’s flag state remains uncertain, and tracking data shows its next destination as Bosaso port in Somalia.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) earlier reported that unauthorized persons boarded a vessel about 65 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Al Mukalla port while it was heading east through the Gulf of Aden. The incident adds to ongoing maritime security concerns in the region, where commercial vessels have faced repeated threats.

No group has claimed responsibility for the seizure, and further details about the crew or cargo condition were not immediately available.

Iran has launched new attacks targeting US military assets in the Middle East. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the 13th phase of its ongoing retaliatory campaign included strikes that destroyed a US air control radar in Oman’s Ghanim region and a maritime surveillance radar near the rocky area of the Hormuz Strait separating Iran and Oman. Iranian state media also reported that US warplanes in Jordan were attacked following an earlier strike on a US command center in Syria’s Al-Tanf district.

The IRGC stated that additional attacks in Kuwait damaged a missile defense radar, several weapons depots, and two HIMARS surface-to-surface missile launchers. The group described these operations as retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, including telecommunications and rail networks.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates a continuing cycle of military escalation between Iran and the United States across multiple regional fronts, with no immediate sign of de-escalation.

Twelve years after the killing of Fulgazi Upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram, the case remains unresolved in the High Court. Ekram, also president of the Fulgazi Upazila Awami League, was brutally murdered in broad daylight on May 20, 2014, when attackers stopped his car, detonated explosives, shot and hacked him, and set the vehicle on fire. The murder shocked Feni residents and became one of the country’s most notorious political killings.

In 2018, a Feni court sentenced 39 people to death and acquitted 16 others, including BNP and Awami League leaders. Sixteen of those sentenced remain fugitives, while others are in various prisons. The High Court’s death reference hearing has been delayed repeatedly due to bench dissolutions and scheduling issues, most recently after political unrest in 2024. Police say efforts continue to arrest the absconding convicts.

Family members of Ekram remain fearful and reluctant to speak publicly. His brother has urged the government to ensure the fugitives are captured and the verdict executed so that justice is not stalled.

China and Pakistan have jointly called on the United States and Iran to stop hostilities and return to dialogue, warning that renewed conflict threatens the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war. The appeal came after a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization conference in Shanghai.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, both sides expressed concern over the deteriorating situation and urged all parties to cease hostilities, reduce tensions, avoid external interference, and resume communication toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Wang Yi described the initial memorandum between the US and Iran as a hard-won achievement reflecting global cooperation and praised Pakistan’s indispensable mediating role. China reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to advance peace talks.

The call came amid renewed exchanges of attacks between the US and Iran, including reported strikes on civilian infrastructure and retaliatory drone attacks. Tensions have also risen over the Strait of Hormuz, where both nations have imposed new restrictions following recent escalations.

In Bogura district, 19 out of 21 installed lightning arresters have been found inoperative, heightening public safety concerns amid rising lightning-related deaths. Over the past five years, 73 people have died in lightning strikes across the district, including five this year. The devices were installed in March 2021 across six upazilas under the district relief and rehabilitation department, each costing 680,000 taka. However, due to lack of maintenance, most have become nonfunctional, leaving only two operational units in Shibganj upazila.

Engineers noted that the effectiveness of lightning arresters depends on proper installation, grounding, and annual maintenance, especially before the monsoon. The devices in Bogura have not been inspected in the past five years, according to officials. A recent technical inspection, prompted by a directive from the disaster management department in April, confirmed that 19 units were out of order.

Local officials have informed higher authorities about the malfunctioning equipment and requested further action. Experts suggest that at least 120 devices are needed to adequately cover the district and protect farmers working in open fields.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Friday that 24 militants allegedly backed by India were killed in a security operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The statement said the operation targeted members of the group Al-Kharizira, which had recently increased attacks against police and civilians in the area.

According to ISPR, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead militants, who were described as being involved in numerous terrorist acts and civilian killings. The operation was conducted jointly by intelligence and security forces to eliminate the group’s presence in the region.

The ISPR added that the counterterrorism campaign will continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice, signaling an ongoing effort to curb militant activity in Pakistan’s northwest.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy reported that a recent Iranian attack damaged a power generation and seawater desalination facility in the country. The ministry said the strike caused a fire and partial infrastructure damage, which was later brought under control by firefighters. Technical teams are now repairing the affected units and monitoring the stability of the national power grid. Authorities have urged residents to use electricity efficiently during the recovery process.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in Kuwait, asserting that its forces destroyed U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) platforms and missiles. The IRGC also alleged that U.S. troops and Israel-backed fighters were stationed at the targeted sites and that several opposition fighters and American special forces members were killed. The group said retaliatory operations were still ongoing.

However, the report noted that none of the IRGC’s claims have been independently verified so far, leaving the full extent of the incident unclear.