U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of being responsible for the recent escalation of attacks between the two sides. He claimed that during the week-long funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian leaders requested a 'timeout' from the United States, asking that no attacks be carried out during the ceremonies.

Trump stated that the Iranian side wanted to attend Khamenei’s funeral, and he agreed to allow them that opportunity. However, he alleged that soon after, Iran launched missile strikes. He described the situation as 'madness' but added that the killing of Khamenei should also be considered in understanding the events.

According to Trump, Iranian leaders also asked the United States not to target or kill them during the funeral period, and he said the U.S. had assured them that no such action would be taken.

US President Donald Trump said the United States could launch new strikes on Iran on Wednesday night, following Tuesday’s attack that he claimed had a “massive impact.” Speaking to reporters in Ankara before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a NATO summit, Trump warned that the US would deliver a “hard hit” against Iran. He said the latest strike destroyed Tehran’s radar system, though he provided no evidence for the claim.

Trump added that the US might target Iran’s power plants and desalination facilities if necessary, saying the goal was to make Iran nuclear-free. He expressed frustration with Iran’s negotiation team, accusing them of lying about closed-door discussions, and suggested that Washington could achieve its objectives without a formal deal. He also hinted at reimposing sanctions solely on Iran.

In response, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, blamed the US for reigniting conflict in the Gulf region. He warned that Iran’s “finger is on the trigger” and that any act of aggression would receive an immediate response.

On July 8, 2026, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party launched a fully digital selection process to send skilled women workers to Moldova through its Welfare Trust. The initiative began with 139 female members from the Dhaka Metropolitan Ansar North and East zones participating in the first phase at the Ansar headquarters. Candidates completed self-declaration forms and took live written tests using Google Forms under strict supervision, followed by physical assessments and interviews before a jury board.

The process, guided by Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure merit-based selection through five oversight committees. A specialized software automatically compiles evaluation results, minimizing human interference. The second phase, involving 161 candidates from the South and West zones, follows the same transparent digital procedure.

Selected candidates will receive advanced training to adapt to European work environments and enhance professional skills. The program seeks to create a sustainable model for safe, legal migration, empowering Bangladeshi women while strengthening the country’s reputation and economy through skilled labor exports.

The youth wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), known as National Youth Power, has strongly condemned the arrest of its central joint organizational secretary Arif Moon along with five other activists. According to a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the arrests were made in connection with a case filed on Monday at Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station. The organization described the case as baseless and intended for harassment.

In its statement, National Youth Power said such actions go against citizens’ legitimate rights, democratic practices, and the freedom of political activities. The group called for an impartial review of the case and demanded that the legal rights of the detained activists be ensured in the interest of justice and the rule of law.

The organization further expressed hope that all concerned parties would handle the situation with respect for the constitution, law, and democratic values, and take effective measures to ensure justice.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam on Wednesday afternoon at the adviser’s office in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting focused on enhancing defense cooperation, modernizing military training, and expanding mutual experience sharing between Bangladesh and Italy.

Both sides recalled the longstanding friendly and sincere bilateral relations between the two countries. They discussed expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi armed forces personnel to receive training at Italian military institutions and explored potential Italian support for the modernization of Bangladesh’s armed forces. The discussion also highlighted the significant contributions of both nations to United Nations peacekeeping missions and their shared commitment to global peace and security.

According to an ISPR press release, the defense adviser emphasized Bangladesh’s high regard for its military and diplomatic ties with Italy and expressed optimism about further cooperation. The Italian ambassador praised the professionalism of Bangladesh’s armed forces and voiced confidence that defense collaboration would become more effective in the future.

Germany’s Münster University has established Europe’s first independent Islamic theology faculty at a public university. The faculty will be part of the under-construction Campus of Religions, which will also house Catholic and Protestant theology departments. The campus, located in the western German city of Münster, is scheduled to open in 2027, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

Founding dean Mohanad Khorchide described the initiative as a historic milestone and expressed gratitude for being part of it. Formerly head of the university’s Center for Islamic Theology, Khorchide said the new faculty will promote a liberal and enlightened interpretation of Islam and will be able to grant its own PhD and research degrees. The faculty’s policies emphasize compatibility between Islam and democracy, contemporary Quranic interpretation, and interfaith dialogue, while opposing extremism and antisemitism.

The university expects the number of students to exceed 500 in the coming years. A new master’s program titled “Islam and Social Work” is planned for 2027 to train professionals for youth services, hospitals, and elder care. Officials and academics have called the initiative a milestone for academic theology in Europe.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested a total of 468 people in regular and special operations across the capital aimed at controlling crime, combating drugs, and apprehending wanted suspects. According to a press release issued on Wednesday by the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, 432 individuals were detained in regular drives, while separate special operations in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mohammadpur, and Turag police stations led to the arrest of 36 more.

The DMP reported that the arrests were made across several divisions, with Mirpur recording the highest number at 107. During the operations, police seized 16.54 kilograms of cannabis, 446 yaba tablets, 32 grams of heroin, and various weapons and equipment, including a motorcycle and several machines. The special drives targeted crime-prone areas based on intelligence information.

Authorities stated that legal action has been taken against the detainees, and 54 cases were filed during the regular operations. The DMP confirmed that both regular and special drives will continue to maintain law and order and strengthen anti-drug and anti-terror efforts in Dhaka.

The Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh’s National Parliament, Kaiser Kamal, suspended the ministerial question-and-answer session midway on Wednesday after three ministers were found absent. The suspension occurred shortly after the Asr prayer break, when the session resumed at 5:26 p.m. The absent ministers were Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, and Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. The Deputy Speaker announced that the question session would be tabled and moved on to the next agenda item under Rule 71.

Earlier in the day, the parliamentary session began at 3:30 p.m. under Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, with the Prime Minister’s question session followed by ministerial questions. Before the Asr break, the three ministers had been present and responded to multiple questions from members of parliament. After the suspension, the floor was given to several MPs to speak on points of order, including issues such as waterlogging in Chattogram and disaster management.

The incident highlighted procedural challenges in maintaining ministerial participation during parliamentary question sessions.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that Bangladesh will begin exporting jackfruit to China. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said that during his recent visit to China, an agreement was signed to facilitate the export. Rahman noted that Bangladeshi jackfruit is very popular in China and expressed optimism about the trade potential.

The announcement came in response to a supplementary question from Mymensingh-6 MP Kamrul Hasan Milon, who highlighted the agricultural potential of Fulbaria, where lemons, pineapples, and jackfruits are produced in large quantities. The Prime Minister also shared that during his earlier visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that Malaysia exports durian worth one billion dollars annually to China. Rahman said Bangladesh could similarly earn significant foreign currency through jackfruit exports.

He further mentioned that the government plans to reopen a closed pineapple processing factory in Fulbaria but currently has no plan to establish a separate industrial zone there.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has reported that around 6,000 sailors are stranded aboard hundreds of ships in the Gulf amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, Dominguez condemned recent attacks on several vessels crossing the strait over the past two days, warning that such incidents have placed innocent seafarers’ lives at severe risk.

He stressed that no sailor should face danger merely for performing their duties and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and work to de-escalate the situation. Dominguez called on flag states, shipowners, and operators to avoid transiting the strait if crew safety cannot be guaranteed.

According to the IMO chief, the recent attacks have intensified fear, uncertainty, and psychological stress among the roughly 6,000 sailors unable to leave the Gulf. He reaffirmed that ensuring the safety of seafarers must remain the top priority.

Continuous heavy rainfall has flooded several low-lying areas in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari, disrupting road connections with Baghaichhari, Sajek, and Longadu in Rangamati. As a result, more than 450 tourists have been stranded in the hill resort town of Sajek. The flooding began on Wednesday morning when parts of the Dighinala–Sajek road, particularly the Kabakhali section, went underwater, halting all vehicular movement.

In Merung union, roads and multiple villages were submerged, cutting off direct road communication with Longadu. Rising water levels in the Maini River have started flooding nearby lowlands, raising concerns among residents. The upazila administration has opened 20 shelters to assist affected people, while the district administration has opened 135 shelters and arranged dry food and other relief measures.

According to the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners Association, stranded tourists are being accommodated with utility bill-based lodging and discounted meals at local restaurants as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

The Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has issued a strict directive urging everyone not to spread or share any misleading or unverified information regarding the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The warning came through an emergency notice released on Wednesday, following the circulation of a fake announcement on social media claiming that the Chattogram Education Board’s exams would begin at 1 p.m. on July 8 as per the original schedule. The committee clarified that the notice was entirely false, fabricated, and intentionally misleading, and that neither the Chattogram Board nor the coordination committee had any involvement with it.

The official statement advised students, parents, teachers, heads of institutions, examination center officials, and the general public to verify any exam-related information before believing or sharing it online. It emphasized that all legitimate updates, notices, and instructions are published only on the official websites and verified Facebook pages of the Ministry of Education, the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, and the respective education boards.

Authorities have urged everyone to remain alert and refrain from spreading rumors in the public interest.

Four Indian citizens who were previously pushed into Bangladesh by India's Border Security Force (BSF) have returned to India through the Sonamasjid immigration point in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila. The return took place on Wednesday afternoon after completing necessary immigration formalities. The four individuals—Danis Sheikh, Sweety Bibi, Kurban Sheikh, and Imam Dewan—are residents of Dhritara village in Birbhum district, West Bengal, according to Sonamasjid Immigration Police in-charge Jamirul Islam.

The group alleged that in June 2025, BSF forcibly pushed six Indian nationals, including two children, into Bangladesh through the Kurigram border. They were later detained by police in Chapainawabganj and sent to jail before being released on bail after about three months. Earlier, two other members of the same family, Sonali Bibi and her child, had been taken back by India, but the remaining four were not accepted at that time.

Following legal proceedings in India’s High Court and Supreme Court, the six were confirmed as Indian citizens, prompting India to issue travel passes. The four expressed gratitude to the people and authorities of Bangladesh for their support before returning home.

A new partial convening committee of the National Chhatra Shakti has been announced at Jamalpur University of Science and Technology (Jabiprabi). The one-year approved committee names Liton Akand, a student of the Management Department (2020–21 session) and central co-coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, as convener. Mamunur Rashid has been appointed as member secretary, and Monir Ahmed as chief organizer. The approval was confirmed through a notice signed by the organization’s central president Zahid Ahsan and general secretary Abu Bakar Mojumdar on Monday, July 6.

According to the notice, Liton Akand played a significant role in organizing movements at the university during the July 2024 mass uprising. Mamunur Rashid is a student of the Fisheries Department (2022–23 session), while Monir Ahmed studies in the Computer Science and Engineering Department (2021–22 session). The committee also includes Riyad Hasan and Tariful Islam Sharif as senior joint conveners, Ananta Ashraf Uddin and Mujahid Sarkar as senior joint member secretaries, Sajib Islam as joint member secretary (office), and Limon Bhuiyan as joint member secretary (media).

The newly formed committee has been instructed to submit a full committee to the central council for approval within seven working days.

The Al-Quran Foundation Bangladesh has called on the government to organize national-level Qirat and Hifz competitions under official initiative. The appeal was made by the foundation’s secretary general, Maulana Qari Golam Mostafa, who emphasized that regular government-backed events could help more Bangladeshi Qaris and Hafizes showcase their talent internationally.

According to the foundation, Bangladeshi participants have achieved remarkable success in global Qirat and Hifz competitions over the past four decades. From 1980 to 2025, a total of 37 Bangladeshi Qaris and Hafizes have won 180 international awards. The country’s first international recognition came in 1981 when Qari Hafiz A. Haque secured fourth place in Libya, followed by Golam Mostafa’s second-place finish in Saudi Arabia in 1982.

The foundation also urged the government to formally honor internationally awarded Qaris and Hafizes, stating that such recognition would inspire the younger generation to pursue Quranic education and enhance Bangladesh’s image abroad.