Chattogram district detective police arrested two people during an operation in a remote hilly area of Kelishahar Union in Patiya and later recovered four firearms, locally made weapons and two mobile phones, police said. Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam disclosed the information at a news conference at the Chattogram district police office at noon on Saturday. The detainees were identified as Md Delwar Hossain, 54, and Md Mohsin, 33, both residents of Innapara in Kelishahar Union.

According to the police superintendent, a DB team conducted the operation on Thursday afternoon after receiving confidential information. Police said the raid was carried out despite difficult terrain and the risk of possible armed resistance. A later search of Delwar Hossain’s home in Innapara recovered six kirich blades, five ramda machetes, one damada, an iron-cutting tool and two mobile phones from beneath a bed.

DB police then raided a tree garden belonging to Afsar in Chativanga of the same union and recovered two single-barrel guns and two locally made LG firearms that had been hidden there. Preliminary police findings say the firearms and other weapons were stockpiled for use in terrorist and criminal activities. Investigations and operations are continuing to identify other associates, the source of the weapons and possible armed groups, while legal action is being processed.

An essay by Khorshed Mukul assesses “Bangali Musalmaner Shatrumitra,” an anthology of Al Mahmud’s essays edited by Muhim Mahfuz, as an important intellectual document of Bengali Muslim self-identification and cultural resistance. Published on July 25, 2026, the article notes the collection’s subtitle, “Selected Essays to Confront Cultural Autocracy,” and describes it as evidence of an intellectual struggle extending across several decades.

The writer says Al Mahmud wrote for four decades against cultural autocracy, intellectual monopolisation, and tendencies to marginalise the history and heritage of the Bengali Muslim majority. The article links renewed attention to his work with the July 2024 mass uprising, when several of his poems were recited and used in wall writing.

The volume contains 78 essays, prioritising writings in which Al Mahmud directly addressed Bangladesh, Bengali Muslims, culture, literature, history and political rights. The essay characterises his prose as poetic, sharp and resolute, bringing together history, culture, literature and contemporary issues. It argues that readers need not agree with all his views, but that reading him is important for understanding post-independence Bangladesh’s cultural debates and the history of identity formation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday for a three-day visit, marking the first trip to the country by a UN secretary-general since Syria’s civil war began in 2011. Syria’s state news agency SANA said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed Guterres and his delegation at Damascus International Airport. The report was published on July 25, 2026.

Guterres is expected to reaffirm UN support for Syria’s political transition. The country entered a new political phase after the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa removed longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad from power in December 2024. The previous visit by a UN secretary-general was made by Ban Ki-moon in 2009.

The civil war began two years after Ban’s visit, killing more than 500,000 people and leaving Syria in conflict for a prolonged period. During the current trip, Guterres will meet President al-Sharaa and exchange views with civil society representatives and members of nongovernmental organizations working on women’s rights. He is also scheduled to address Syria’s recently established interim parliament.

Persistent rain and adverse weather have driven vegetable prices sharply higher across markets in Cumilla, with most items selling for Tk100 or more per kilogram on Friday morning. Retail green chilies were selling for Tk400 per kilogram, while shoppers, particularly low-income residents, said they were struggling to manage household food costs amid the increase.

Vendors said farmland, including areas around the Gomti char, had been submerged, damaging crops and preventing timely harvesting and transport to markets. Supply shortages have raised prices of eggplant, cucumber and other vegetables by Tk50 to Tk80 per kilogram within a week. Market prices included eggplant at Tk120, bitter gourd at Tk150 to Tk160, okra at Tk120, ridge gourd at Tk130 and tomatoes at Tk140 per kilogram.

Rajganj market seller Liton Mia said farmers were not bringing enough vegetables to market and retailers had to charge more after paying higher purchase prices. Cumilla consumer rights official Kawsar Mia said inspections were underway and action would be taken against attempts to charge excessive prices. Traders said prices could fall if weather normalizes and supplies increase, but may rise further if rain continues.

A 1992 pledge by former prime minister Khaleda Zia to nationalize Jinjeera PM Pilot High School in Keraniganj has not been implemented after 34 years. Zia made the announcement at a public meeting in Keraniganj on May 22, 1992. On July 28 that year, the Prime Minister’s Office informed school authorities that steps would be taken, but the nationalization process did not advance.

Local residents expressed anger and disappointment over the delay. They said the issue saw no progress despite the Awami League and BNP each returning to state power several times and several elected representatives from Keraniganj serving as ministers or state ministers. School section head Mizanur Rahman said local personal interests prevented implementation of the declaration.

Founded in 1922, Jinjeera PM Pilot School and College is among Keraniganj’s older educational institutions. It was upgraded to a college in 2003. The school section has 2,636 students from classes three through ten, while the college section has about 600 students, for a total of 3,236. Following BNP’s formation of government after the 2026 national election, residents have renewed their demand for nationalization.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi directly blamed the United States for instability in the Strait of Hormuz and regional security during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kazakhstan. In the report published on July 25, Araghchi described US treaty violations as the sole cause of the current tension, uncertainty and insecurity.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi strongly condemned what he called “barbaric attacks” by the United States on Iran’s vital infrastructure and alleged “war crimes.” He said the US administration had created obstacles preventing Iran from fulfilling its commitments under Article 5 of the Islamabad agreement.

Araghchi said Iran remained fully committed to defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity against US military aggression. He also called on all countries not to accept the abuse of power or the use of military force as a normal practice in international relations. The report did not provide details of any agreement, joint statement or further steps from the meeting.

Bangladesh Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, said it blocked an alleged attempt by India’s Border Security Force, or BSF, to push seven Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the West Sahebnagar border in Parshuram, Feni. Local sources said the incident began around 2:30am on July 25, and the BSF later took the seven people back inside India at about 10am on Saturday.

The group was reportedly assembled near the ML garden area adjacent to Rajnagar in India, close to border pillar 2145, an area under the responsibility of BGB’s Sripur BOP. After receiving information, members of the BGB Sripur camp went to the scene. The report said personnel from the Rajnagar BSF camp attempted to cross the border line and bring the individuals into Bangladesh.

BGB members lodged a strong protest and obstructed the attempt, after which the BSF suspended it and returned the group to India. BGB said preliminary identification found all seven to be Indian nationals, including six women and one boy. Feni Battalion commander Lt Col MM Zillur Rahman confirmed the incident and said BGB remained alert to prevent any untoward situation along the border.

Akij Aviation Limited, an associate of Akij Group, has launched commercial helicopter services in Bangladesh, according to information published on July 25, 2026. The service is intended for corporate and business travel, tourism and industrial use, private journeys, and medical services. The company said passengers would receive faster travel, modern and comfortable journeys, and reliable service.

The operation is being run under the supervision of experienced pilots and a skilled aviation team to provide rapid travel across different parts of the country while ensuring safety. Akij Aviation has initially deployed three helicopters: one Bell 505 for patient transport and two Robinson 66 helicopters for passenger services.

A free air ambulance service is also operating for emergency healthcare for poor and disadvantaged people in the Khulna division. Akij Aviation runs that helicopter service under the supervision of Ad-din Foundation. The company said demand for helicopters has increased for emergency rescue, transport of critically ill patients, urgent travel, drama or film shoots, political leaders' visits, wedding-party transport, and personal travel.

Indian educator and social activist Sonam Wangchuk has alleged that he was treated like a prisoner after being taken from Jantar Mantar in Delhi to a hospital on July 18. In a video posted late Friday night, the Ladakh-based activist said the hospital felt like a military camp and a prison, rather than merely a medical facility.

Wangchuk said he was kept in a separate room and was not allowed to leave it. He alleged that mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices were not permitted, police guarded him at all times, and visitors were barred from entering. According to him, only three relatives were allowed to stay with him.

He also claimed that relatives who travelled from Ladakh to meet him were sent back after return flight tickets were arranged. Wangchuk said he secretly wrote messages on tissues because he was not given paper or pens, and that such messages were seized and destroyed if noticed. He further alleged that, despite a court order, he was made to wait from 2pm until 7pm before being released from the hospital.

Several sections of an LGED road linking Rajabari and Jilbari in Baldia ইউনিয়ন of Nesarabad upazila, Pirojpur, have collapsed into a canal after several days of heavy rain. The report, published on July 25, said traffic by auto-rickshaws, vans and other light vehicles has completely stopped. At least 30,000 residents of five villages are facing severe disruption as a result.

Major subsidence was observed along roughly two kilometres of road, from in front of Mahiyuddin Chairman’s house in Rajabari through Binna Bazar to Jilbari. A significant portion of the road had already been lost to canal erosion over about 18 years, while recent rain created deep holes in the remaining sections. Residents have placed wooden planks and small temporary footbridges across damaged areas to allow limited motorcycle movement.

The route serves seven villages in Baldia Union and three villages in neighbouring Nazirpur upazila. Students, patients, older people and workers have been particularly affected. Union Parishad Chairman Md Saidur Rahman said an earlier repair tender was not implemented. Housing and Public Works Minister Ahammed Sohel Monjur Suman MP, after visiting the site, said repair work would begin soon.

Brazilian star Neymar Junior has drawn criticism after missing Santos' 4-1 win over Universidad in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana playoff and appearing at a poker tournament in Sao Paulo on the same day. The episode followed the 2026 World Cup and prompted some fans and football analysts to question his commitment and priorities toward the club.

Amid the criticism, Neymar posted four Instagram photographs showing him at a poker table with cards and chips. He captioned the post, “Life is a joke,” and disabled comments. Many believe the cryptic message was aimed at his critics. Neymar had suffered an injury before the World Cup but made Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad, playing only two matches because he was not fully fit.

He scored Brazil's only goal from a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 32. After the World Cup, he returned to Santos for rehabilitation and fitness work. Santos head coach Cuca said Neymar's rest was entirely planned, with the player on an intensive training programme to build physical strength before four matches in 10 days.

BNP and its affiliated organizations held a celebratory procession in Lalmohan, Bhola, after Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram assumed the duties of acting president. The procession began in front of the upazila office after Friday evening, July 25, 2026, and travelled through major roads of the municipal town before ending at Lalmohan Chourasta intersection.

A brief gathering was held at the intersection after the procession. Speakers described Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram's assumption of the acting president's responsibilities as a matter of joy for Bangladesh. They said residents of Lalmohan were especially proud of him.

According to the speakers, he was elected Speaker of the National Parliament after becoming a member of parliament and later took on the acting president's role. They thanked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Those present included Lalmohan upazila BNP president Md. Jafar Iqbal, general secretary Shafiqul Islam Babul, former joint secretary Shafiullah Hawlader, youth wing president Shahinul Islam Kabir Hawlader and general secretary Kazi Hasan, along with other local BNP and affiliate leaders.

The UN General Assembly renewed Volker Türk’s mandate as high commissioner for human rights for another four years on Friday, despite strong objections from the United States, Russia and Israel. Acting on a proposal by Secretary-General António Guterres, 144 countries voted in favour, 10 opposed and 13 abstained. Türk’s new term will begin on October 12, 2026.

Russia had proposed a shorter extension only until December 31, 2026, but the alternative was rejected by a large margin. A US request to postpone the vote was also not accepted. US ambassador Jeff Bartos, the representative for management and reform, criticized the decision on procedural and policy grounds and alleged that Guterres had rushed the process.

French ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont praised Türk as a “voice of conscience,” saying he had served with firmness and impartiality in his first term. The Austrian lawyer has held the post since October 2022. During his tenure, he has spoken on human rights conditions linked to Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

Facebook is unlikely to open an office in Bangladesh at present, its director of network operations, Dr Hayat Shahid Shipon, told Amar Desh. The report, published on July 25, 2026, says Facebook had previously discussed establishing an office in Purbachal near Dhaka with the former Awami League government, but did not proceed after its conditions were not addressed further.

Facebook reportedly sought security for its office and senior officials, prompt responses when it applied to the government, and protection from intervention when users expressed independent views on the platform. Bangladesh has about 130 million internet users, including 40.5 million Facebook users, nearly 20 million TikTok users and 30.5 million YouTube users, according to the report.

Users said the lack of local offices limits access to quick remedies for fraud, hacked accounts, false identities, harassment, cyberbullying and objectionable content. Telecom-related sources said Facebook believes a local office would have to manage a large volume of customer complaints. The report says the current government is reconsidering the establishment of Google and Facebook offices and has begun work under guidelines while holding discussions with domestic and foreign technology companies.

Bangladesh’s 22nd president, Md Shahabuddin Chuppu, resigned on July 24 after serving for three years and three months. He cited “serious physical illness” for stepping down with one year and nine months remaining in the constitutionally prescribed five-year term. Chuppu had taken office on April 24, 2023, during the Awami League government.

He remained in office after the Awami League government fell in August 2024, and members of the interim government took their oaths before him. Calls for his resignation arose several times over the following year and a half, but the BNP supported his remaining in office amid concerns over constitutional and political crises. In an interview with Reuters last December, he said he felt “humiliated” because of the interim government and wanted to resign after the next election.

After the BNP won the February 12 national election and formed the government, Chuppu administered the oath to its members. His resignation adds him to the list of Bangladeshi presidents who did not complete their terms, including leaders removed amid political upheaval or military intervention, those who resigned, and those killed in military coups.