BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders expressed anger after they were not invited onto the stage during an honorarium distribution for July Revolution martyrs and injured people in Satkhira on Wednesday. The incident occurred at a discussion and award ceremony marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution at the Satkhira District Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

According to eyewitnesses and party sources, honorariums were provided to 95 July fighters: families of eight martyrs and 87 injured people. Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Kaisar Aziz and Superintendent of Police Abu Saleh Md. Ashraful Alam went on stage for the distribution, while top leaders of the political parties present were not called to participate.

Jamaat district amir Shahidul Islam Mukul said political leaders left because they were not called to the stage. BNP district convener Rahmatullah Palash said they left before the programme ended under the leadership of District Council administrator Habibul Islam Habib. However, Deputy Commissioner Kaisar Aziz denied that any political leaders left, saying all remained until the end and that he and the police superintendent handed honorariums to families of eight martyrs.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Mir Kashem Ali was his friend and that they served time together in Kashimpur prison. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a reception and discussion for July martyrs’ families and July fighters at China Friendship Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, he said Ali had told him he returned to the country because otherwise his son would be taken away.

Ahmed said he listened attentively to people who voiced protests at the event and acknowledged those who coordinated the July movement from the front and behind the scenes. He said much of the field leadership was in prison, disappeared or in hiding at the time. He also said the movement might have been organized more effectively if the prime minister had not been in exile for a long period.

Recalling his own detention, Ahmed said he spent 61 days in Aynaghar and that a person could not remain there even for 24 hours. He said authoritarian rule had destroyed not only individuals but also families, urging unity based on those experiences. He said the July uprising resulted from long preparation, sacrifice and struggle, and should never be turned into a partisan matter.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said a new low-pressure area may form over the central Bay of Bengal on August 10 and later deepen into a depression. Its effects could bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country from August 14. Meteorologist Dr Omar Faruk said rain would continue nationwide on Thursday, then ease from Friday through August 9 before increasing again on August 10 and 11.

Active monsoon conditions brought rain across Bangladesh on Wednesday and may continue on Thursday. The Bangladesh Weather Observation Team said a partial rain belt called “Nirjhar” could make rainfall most intense on Thursday. By 6 pm Wednesday, Netrokona recorded the highest rainfall at 141 millimetres, followed by Hatiya with 140 millimetres and Cox’s Bazar with 136 millimetres.

The department forecast rain or thundershowers with gusty winds in most places across all eight divisions on Thursday, with moderately heavy to heavy falls in some areas. Water levels at Dalia on the Teesta and Fenchuganj on the Kushiyara were above danger levels. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned of flood risks in several districts within 24 to 48 hours and possible inundation of low-lying areas in several basins within 48 to 120 hours.

Students at Cumilla University criticized what they described as a limited observance of the second anniversary of the July mass uprising on August 5. The university administration began its programme with a rally at 10:30am on Wednesday, followed by a discussion at the Business Studies Faculty conference room. Abdul Kaiyum, described as the university’s sole martyr of the uprising, received a posthumous honor. Prayers and tabarruk distribution for the martyrs were also arranged at the central mosque after Zuhr.

Students said the campus lacked lighting, feast meals, cultural events, exhibitions and other participatory activities they said were held at many public universities. They also alleged that tabarruk was insufficient, leaving some students without it. Students Jubayer Hasan Rafat and Md Iqbal said the administration should translate its “Student First” policy into more inclusive and dignified arrangements.

Chhatra Shakti organizer Naim Bhuiyan called for larger future observances that honor the uprising’s spirit and cultural dimension. Chhatra Shibir president Mozammel Hossain Abir questioned the programme’s scale and criticized the lack of visible action against those accused of attacks on students during the movement. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M. M. Shariful Karim said the administration would continue initiatives to preserve martyrs’ memories and present their sacrifices to new generations.

An Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese town of Tibnin killed one person and injured 11 others, Lebanon’s state news agency reported. The report, published on August 5, 2026, said the strike targeted the roof of a prayer hall at a cemetery, causing the casualties.

Earlier, the agency said an Israeli drone strike in Tibnin caused a fire to spread through nearby woodland. Shortly before the attack, the Israeli military announced strikes in southern Lebanon and issued a warning for residents of the village of Al-Mansouri to evacuate forcibly.

The NNA also reported that Israeli forces deliberately set fires in woodland on the outskirts of the Kfarchouba area. It further said several people were injured by unexploded Israeli weapons that detonated in Tibnin. The report did not provide any official response or further steps following the attacks.

Saudi Arabia has decided to introduce mandatory Nusuk food vouchers for Umrah pilgrims arriving from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Egypt. According to a report published on August 5, 2026, the rule will take effect from the first day of Rabi al-Awwal. The cost of the food voucher, valued at about 20 Saudi riyals per day, will be directly included in the total Umrah visa fee.

Under the new system, hotel bookings, transport, food and other services for Umrah pilgrims will be managed through an integrated digital platform. Around 10,000 restaurants in Mecca and Medina have been linked to the Nusuk app as part of the initiative. Each pilgrim will receive a unique code linked to their visa, allowing them to collect meals from approved restaurants covered by the app.

The initiative is intended to ensure quality and orderly food services for pilgrims, discourage unauthorized providers and improve overall management. However, the policy is expected to raise the overall cost of Umrah packages to some extent. Travel agencies in Pakistan and other affected countries have already begun reviewing their Umrah packages and pricing in response to the planned change.

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom said the government was elected by the people and should receive necessary respect. He made the remarks on Wednesday as chief guest at a reception and discussion for July martyrs’ families and July fighters at the China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. He said the government would bear the consequences of its mistakes but wanted to correct them collectively.

He said the way the event ended was not intended and that a national programme had failed to demonstrate national unity. He also said the situation created in front of foreign guests had harmed the country’s image. The acting president criticised chants of “fake, fake” during speeches at a state function. He cited the prime minister inviting Professor Yunus to sit beside him as an example of showing respect to everyone.

Ahmed said ensuring dignity for injured July fighters, along with their treatment and rehabilitation and the maintenance of families who made sacrifices in July, was the government’s sacred duty. He said the July uprising had created an opportunity to rebuild the state. He described the goal as building a democratic, justice-based and corruption-free Bangladesh where every citizen enjoys equal rights and dignity.

Sunamganj-3 lawmaker Kaysar M Ahmed said development and progress in Jagannathpur-Shantiganj would no longer be neglected. He also pledged to raise issues affecting Bangladeshi expatriates in the national parliament and work for their welfare. He made the remarks as chief guest at an exchange meeting in a local hall in the Perry Barr area of Birmingham, United Kingdom, at 11pm on Sunday.

Residents of Jagannathpur and Shantiganj upazilas living in Birmingham organized the meeting. Mawlana Eklasur Rahman chaired it, while Rafiqul Rahman Rafu and Awlad Hossain jointly moderated. Ahmed said he wanted to work not only as the representative of the Sunamganj-3 constituency, but also for Bangladeshis living in countries around the world.

He said he had already raised development matters concerning Sunamganj-3 as well as expatriates' demands and interests in parliament, and would continue doing so. Recalling expatriates' contribution to the movement for democracy, he urged them to remain active for the interests of the country and democracy. He also thanked expatriates who voted by postal ballot, registered as voters, or travelled to Bangladesh to support election activities.

National Citizen Party chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said Tarique Rahman could not deliver anything good for Bangladesh and had no future, speaking at an 11-party alliance rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on August 5, 2026. The gathering was organised to mark the second anniversary of the 2024 mass uprising and demand implementation of the referendum verdict.

Patwary claimed that Tarique Rahman would not remain in power and that his downfall had already begun. He said the public would judge Tarique Rahman as it had judged Sheikh Hasina, adding that there would be no negotiation on the matter. He also said his side would move forward by implementing the goals of Bangladesh’s “second independence war.”

Referring to the July movement, Patwary said Tarique Rahman was not in Bangladesh at the time, while farmers, labourers, rickshaw pullers, homemakers, Islamic scholars and students were on the streets. He said Tarique Rahman had begun making decisions after returning to Bangladesh before fully understanding the situation, and argued that implementing the referendum verdict was necessary to remain in power.

Palestinian rights advocate and physician Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination in Michigan, defeating Congresswoman Haley Stevens in results announced Wednesday. With 92.9 percent of votes counted, El-Sayed received 48.7 percent, compared with Stevens’ 47.3 percent. The contest was described as one of the most expensive and closely watched primaries in U.S. history.

According to an NBC News report cited by the source, total spending in the race approached $65 million, with much of it aimed at stopping El-Sayed’s victory. The source said the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC spent more than $30 million to support Stevens and defeat El-Sayed. State legislator Mallory McMorrow, who had earlier left the race, backed El-Sayed after his victory.

Speaking to supporters in Detroit, the 41-year-old said a larger fight lay ahead. He will face former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in November. During the campaign, El-Sayed called Israel’s military operation in Gaza “genocide” and argued that U.S. military aid to Israel should instead be invested in healthcare, housing, education and infrastructure.

Khulna University held a photo exhibition titled “Gonoabhuthan 24 in Newspaper Pages” to present the memories, struggle and sacrifices of the July mass uprising to a new generation. The Communication and Journalism Discipline organized the daylong event on Wednesday at the university’s central cafeteria premises, marking July Mass Uprising Day.

The exhibition featured photographs of key moments from the uprising, including different stages of the movement, spontaneous participation by students and the public, protests, resistance and sacrifice. Teachers, students and people from different walks of life visited the exhibition and viewed the photographs throughout the day.

Student organizers said the images were not only memories but important historical documents, and that preserving significant events was part of journalism’s responsibility. The university vice-chancellor highlighted the media’s role in preserving historical events and presenting them to younger generations. Organizers said the exhibition aimed to preserve the uprising’s course of events, highlight the media’s historical role, and foster historical awareness and responsibility among students.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said on Wednesday that Pakistan continues to mediate in maintaining indirect, behind-the-scenes communication between the United States and Iran. In an interview with Russia’s state news agency TASS, he described Pakistan as a channel of communication between the two countries.

Tirmizi said Pakistan believes in diplomacy and wants to work with all regional stakeholders involved in establishing peace in the region. He stressed the importance of involving regional powers in conflict resolution, saying those with direct interests or who are part of the region must remain engaged. He added that Pakistan has consistently supported resolving conflicts through dialogue.

According to the report, Pakistan has been among the main mediators in efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict since February 28 this year. A ceasefire agreement took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding in June. Both agreements were described as fragile from the outset, and conflict and hostilities between the two sides intensified again in July.

Detective Branch police arrested Mushfiqur Rahman Milton, an accused in the murder case over the killing of Chittagong University student Farhad Hossain during the July uprising. Police detained Milton in an operation in Jaria village of Sreepur upazila, Magura, on Monday. A court ordered him sent to jail after he was produced before it on Tuesday afternoon.

Milton, 45, is the general secretary of the Awami League’s Sabdalpur union unit. He is the son of late Siddik Molla of Mokordomkhola village in Sabdalpur union, Sreepur. Police said he is named as the 13th accused in the first information report filed in the Farhad Hossain murder case.

Farhad Hossain, 22, was the son of Golam Mostafa of Raynagar village in Sreepur upazila. He was shot dead near Parnanduali Bridge in Magura town on August 4 during the anti-discrimination student movement. Magura District Detective Branch Sub-Inspector Mehedi Hasan said Milton had been arrested and sent to jail through the court.

A major fire broke out at a British American Tobacco cigarette warehouse in the Nalam area of Ashulia, Savar, on Wednesday morning. The blaze began around 7:30 a.m., according to the report. Fire Service personnel deployed six units to the site and fully brought the fire under control by about 1 p.m.

Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Hafizur Rahman said four units from the Zirabo Fire Station initially began firefighting operations. Two additional units from the DEPZ Fire Station later joined them after the situation was assessed. The teams worked to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the warehouse.

The Fire Service said the presence of combustible materials in the warehouse made the operation take some time. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage were not immediately known. Authorities said an investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Yemen’s Houthi group said it has attacked eight Saudi oil tankers since the start of a maritime blockade, according to a statement by its military spokesperson reported on August 5. The spokesperson said the latest attack targeted a Saudi oil tanker named Wafa, with several ballistic missiles launched at the vessel.

The spokesperson claimed the strike hit its target “accurately.” The report did not provide information on damage, casualties, the tanker’s condition, or any response from Saudi Arabia. The claim was presented as part of the group’s account of operations following the blockade.

According to the spokesperson, the attack was part of efforts to enforce a declared maritime blockade by Yemen’s armed forces. He said the blockade began on July 22 and that eight Saudi oil tankers had been attacked since then. He also claimed that 29 Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea had been prevented from reaching their destinations and forced to turn back during the same period.