Chinese-owned Huaran Tex Company Limited will invest 30 million US dollars to establish a textile manufacturing factory at the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The land lease agreement between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Huaran Tex was signed on July 16 at the BEPZA Complex in Dhaka. The factory, to be built on 36,000 square meters of land, will produce 24,000 tons of yarn and 20 million meters of grey woven fabric annually once fully operational, creating employment for 580 Bangladeshi workers.

The agreement was signed by BEPZA Member (Investment Promotion) Md. Tanvir Hossain and Huaran Tex Managing Director Mr. Bin Wang, with BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain witnessing the ceremony. Senior officials from BEPZA and representatives of the company were also present.

During the event, the BEPZA Executive Chairman thanked Huaran Tex for choosing the BEPZA Economic Zone as its investment destination and reaffirmed BEPZA’s commitment to providing a secure, modern, and business-friendly environment for investors.

Bangladesh’s Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) aims to strengthen its geopolitical, economic, and business relations with China. Speaking at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, he said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China had further deepened the existing ties between the two nations.

The event, titled “Long Live Bangladesh-China Friendship,” was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen as guest of honor. Mirza Fakhrul highlighted that BNP’s relationship with the Communist Party of China has been longstanding, continuing even during periods of political repression. He emphasized that China maintains relations not only with the ruling Awami League but also with other political parties, including BNP.

He added that Bangladesh seeks Chinese technological assistance in infrastructure, solar and green energy, and technical education. Mirza Fakhrul expressed optimism about future cooperation, noting ideological and business alignment between the two countries and BNP’s interest in maintaining balanced relations with China, India, and the United States.

Three suspended leaders and activists of the Chhatra League have been accused of assaulting an imam after breaking into a mosque in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola. The incident occurred on Friday at the Tofayel Member Bari Jame Mosque in Gangapur Union’s Ward No. 6. The accused are identified as local ward president Labib and activists Sabnur and Hossain. According to the complaint, they broke the mosque door, entered inside, and beat imam Al-Amin, leaving him seriously injured. Locals rescued him and admitted him to Borhanuddin Upazila Health Complex.

Following the attack, locals organized a protest march and rally demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. Speakers at the rally strongly condemned the assault and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Mosque committee president Selim Member expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling for a fair investigation and strict punishment. Vice president Md. Bokul said such an act inside a mosque was unacceptable and legal action should be taken promptly.

Reporters visited the accused persons’ homes but could not locate them, and their comments could not be obtained.

The National Sports Council (NSC) announced new ad-hoc committees for 27 sports federations on Saturday, according to a circular signed by its Executive Director, Daulatuzzaman Khan. The decision was made under Section 21 of the National Sports Council Act, 2018 (amended 2026), which led to the dissolution of the existing ad-hoc committees. The previous committees were dissolved for failing to hand over responsibilities to newly elected bodies. The new ad-hoc committees have been made effective immediately.

The circular further stated that, under Section 14(3) of the same Act, each new ad-hoc committee must organize elections within three months and transfer responsibilities to elected committees. The announcement has generated mixed reactions in the sports community. Analysts noted that some members from the previous committees remain in the newly formed bodies, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

The NSC’s three-month deadline aims to ensure democratic management within sports federations, but the inclusion of former organizers in the new committees has prompted debate over the credibility of the reform process.

Israeli forces reportedly disrupted dawn prayers in Husan village of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on July 18, 2026. According to the Wafa news agency citing a security source, soldiers raided a mosque, prevented the call to prayer and the performance of prayers, and forced worshippers out of the building. The occupying troops then fired stun grenades and tear gas at the people gathered outside.

The Palestinian news agency further reported that Israeli forces closed all entrances and gates to Al-Arqub village, located southwest of Bethlehem. They also attacked a resident of Nahalin city while he was crossing the main gate that separates the city from the rest of the governorate.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, did not mention any casualties or official responses from either side, leaving the extent of injuries or arrests unclear.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government has adopted long-term plans, including the construction of sustainable embankments, to minimize losses from floods and tidal surges. He said the government’s primary goal is public welfare and that as an elected administration, it is committed to standing by citizens during any disaster. He made the remarks on Saturday at an event in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, where 100 houses are being built for flood-affected families under the Shamsul Haque Foundation’s initiative.

The minister stated that assistance programs have been introduced for affected farmers, fishers, and livestock owners, including the distribution of fertilizers, seeds, and other agricultural materials. Damaged educational institutions, roads, and other infrastructure will be repaired quickly. He added that local administrations and representatives, not the Water Development Board, will manage sluice gates to ensure timely water drainage.

Ahmed emphasized that floods and tidal surges are natural realities in coastal areas but said strong, permanent embankments and new sluice gates are being planned across Cox’s Bazar to reduce future damage.

The Department of Architecture under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has issued a recruitment notice to fill 33 positions across nine categories. According to the announcement, applications opened on July 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will remain open until August 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. Interested candidates must apply online, and both men and women are eligible. The appointments will be made on a temporary basis, and selected candidates may be posted anywhere in the country.

Applicants must be between 18 and 32 years of age as of July 1, 2026, though departmental candidates for position number five may apply up to age 37. Affidavits will not be accepted as proof of age. Applications must include a scanned photograph sized 300×300 pixels and a signature sized 300×80 pixels. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.

Application fees must be paid through Teletalk pre-paid SIM within 72 hours. The fee is 168 taka for positions 1 and 2, 112 taka for positions 3 to 8, and 56 taka for position 9.

A BNP leader in Langadu upazila of Rangamati has been served a show-cause notice after allegations surfaced on social media that he sold trees worth about Tk 2.4 million from a teak garden owned by an Awami League leader. The notice was issued on July 17 by the upazila BNP, signed by its president Md Tofazzal Hossain and general secretary Abul Kalam Azad, asking member Abdur Razzak to explain his actions.

According to party sources, a video circulating online showed Razzak claiming that after the political change on August 5, the upazila BNP sold the trees from the garden owned by Awami League leader Fayezul Azim Fayez. The video went viral, sparking widespread discussion locally. The upazila BNP has dismissed the allegation as false and politically motivated, saying it was intended to damage the party’s image.

Razzak has been asked to submit a written explanation with evidence within three working days. The upazila BNP warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to permanent expulsion and further organizational or legal action under district BNP directives.

Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, stated that Hindutva and Hinduism are distinct concepts and that Hindutva’s foundation lies in hostility toward Muslims. Speaking as chief guest at a book unveiling ceremony at Dhaka University’s R. C. Majumdar Auditorium on Saturday, he said India, as Bangladesh’s largest neighbor and a major regional power, should be engaged intellectually rather than militarily or economically. The event marked the release of two books published by Bedouin Publications: A. M. Abdullah’s “Bangladeshe July Biplob” and the Bengali translation of Syed Sadatullah Husaini’s “Hindutvabadi Extremism: Ideological Conflict and Muslims.”

Rahman emphasized that Hindutva is a political ideology, not merely a religious identity, and must be countered through intellectual and political discourse. He argued that the Muslim world has fallen behind due to a lack of research and intellectual leadership, urging renewed focus on knowledge and critical study. He also stressed preserving historical accuracy, promoting reading habits, and encouraging research-based publications to strengthen intellectual leadership among the younger generation.

He concluded by urging students to debate, question, and research before forming opinions, asserting that intellectual strength is essential to confront ideological challenges.

Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States, threatening a full-scale military operation if US bombings continue. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser, declared that no political borders would remain safe should the attacks persist. He emphasized that Iran would no longer limit its response to proportional retaliation.

Rezaei stated that the era of negotiations during wartime has ended. He explained that until now, Iran’s focus had been on deterrence and ending conflict rather than expanding the war or pursuing aggression. According to him, Iran’s capture of Hormuz was aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.

The warning comes amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, with recent reports of Iranian attacks on key oil facilities in Kuwait and a US airbase in Jordan, as well as continued violence involving other regional actors.

An elderly man who had been missing for six days in Banshkhali, Chattogram, was found dead on Friday morning. Police recovered the body of 75-year-old Md. Nur Siddiq from a hilly stream in the Pairang Godarpara area of Saral Union around 10 a.m. He was a resident of West Chechuria Ghonapara in Bailchhari Union and the father of Mannan and Munaf Soudagar.

According to family members, Nur Siddiq went missing six days earlier after leaving home during continuous rainfall to visit his daughter’s house. It is believed that he was swept away by flash floodwaters. Despite informing the police and searching several areas, the family could not locate him until his body surfaced.

Officer-in-Charge Md. Robiul Haque of Banshkhali Police Station said locals spotted the body floating in the stream and alerted police, who later recovered it. After filing an unnatural death case, the body was handed over to relatives and buried at the family graveyard following funeral prayers at 3 p.m.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad said the government will always stand by the people in times of crisis, describing it as their ideal, purpose, and commitment. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while visiting flood-affected areas in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar.

The minister noted that floods, tidal surges, and natural disasters are regular realities in riverine and coastal regions. He emphasized that the government’s main goal is to build sustainable and strong embankments to better protect coastal areas. Ahmad also said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has introduced a policy prioritizing Bangladesh and its people before power.

He added that the government will assist those who lost their homes in the recent floods and urged wealthy citizens to support the poor. The visit and remarks came as part of the government’s ongoing disaster response efforts in affected regions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning to Middle Eastern countries that host United States military bases, urging them to prepare for potential retaliation. According to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC advised these nations to activate civil defense units and move civilians away from possible military targets, claiming their territories are being used for attacks against Iran.

The report further stated that the IRGC carried out drone and missile strikes on a US military logistics center at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, alleging casualties among American troops. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, asserting that the base’s radar system was disabled and that a weapons maintenance hangar and drone facility were destroyed.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, did not include independent confirmation of the IRGC’s claims or details of any US or Kuwaiti responses to the alleged attacks.

Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India for nearly two years, has expressed her intention to return to Bangladesh in December with her party members and surrender to court. Her remarks, made in a Reuters interview, have stirred reactions in both Bangladesh and India. Indian officials maintain that New Delhi neither invited Hasina to stay nor is forcing her to leave, saying she is free to decide based on circumstances.

Analysts and former diplomats in Delhi view Hasina’s statement as a strategic test rather than a firm declaration. They believe her return will depend on how Bangladesh’s political situation and international attitudes evolve in the coming months. Observers agree that Hasina’s comments likely carry India’s tacit approval, as her move could ease Delhi’s diplomatic discomfort whether she returns or not.

Former Indian envoy Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty suggested that Hasina’s return is crucial to preserve the Awami League, while discussions between Dhaka and Delhi on her security cannot be ruled out. Among Awami League members in India, reactions remain mixed, with uncertainty over how many will accompany her back.

Seven prison guards, including three matrons and four female warders, have been temporarily suspended after a convicted female inmate escaped from Kashimpur Central Women's Prison in Gazipur. The prison authorities confirmed that the disciplinary action was taken following preliminary evidence of negligence in duty. The suspended officials are identified as matrons Laila Anjuman Sumi, Merina, and Rehena, and warders Shayla, Sharmin, Jemi, and Asma Akter.

According to prison sources, the escape occurred on Thursday evening while 40 inmates were engaged in work inside the prison. Taking advantage of the supervising matron’s negligence, the inmate, Rimpa, aged 21, climbed over the boundary wall near the administrative building. CCTV footage later confirmed her escape. Rimpa, from Meherpur’s Gangni upazila, had been serving a three-month sentence in a Dhaka CR case.

Following the incident, a general diary was filed at Konabari Police Station, and law enforcement agencies have launched operations to recapture the fugitive. An investigation is underway to determine how the escape occurred despite strict security measures.