Speaking at a street rally in Jamalpur on Monday, Dr. Tasnim Zara, a key leader of the National Citizens' Platform (NCP), declared that Bangladesh must decisively move away from the authoritarian state structure that allowed enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings by security forces in recent years. "We refuse to return to a system where absolute power is concentrated in the hands of one Prime Minister," said Dr. Zara. "The system that permitted citizens to be abducted and killed by state forces must be dismantled. We will not go back to that dark past." Earlier in the day, fellow NCP leader Nahid Islam visited families of local martyrs, toured the Harijan community, and engaged in discussions with students at a madrasa.

Senior Joint Convener of the NCP, Samantha Sharmin, emphasized that the July Declaration and Charter must be given legal recognition without delay. Speaking at a rally in Mymensingh’s Town Hall Square, as part of the ongoing July March, Sharmin said, "We envisioned a renewed Bangladesh. The first 15 days of our march went smoothly. Now, however, the NCP is facing disruptions. This is unacceptable." She reiterated the party’s firm stance that the promises of reform made in July must be upheld legally and without compromise.

Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organizer of the National Citizens’ Platform (NCP) for the southern region, made a strong statement against extortion practices within politics during a public rally in Mymensingh. Speaking at the Town Hall Square on Monday afternoon as part of the ongoing "July March to Rebuild the Nation," Hasnat said, “We openly speak out against extortion. We want a new political framework, but some of you still want to protect extortionists. We will not tolerate this.” He further emphasized, “We don’t need millions of committees or an endless number of leaders and activists. The NCP will not become a refuge for extortion. That is not the kind of politics we believe in.” The rally was part of a broader nationwide campaign aimed at calling for political reform and institutional accountability.

Following the tragic plane crash that killed Lamia Akter Sonia, BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury visited her family in Diabari. Lamia died after being severely burned while picking up her daughter from school. She was later identified via DNA testing. Speaking to her husband and daughter, Khasru said, “This tragedy must serve as a lesson. The incident has exposed critical weaknesses in our healthcare system. We still lack the infrastructure needed to properly treat the injured in such emergencies.”

Continuous rain and tidal surges triggered by a low-pressure system have caused flooding in parts of Char Fasson upazila, damaging fish farms and crops. A 300-foot section of the Khejurgachhia embankment has developed cracks, putting thousands in Hazirganj and Jahanpur unions at risk. Locals blame poor emergency repairs and low budget allocations. Authorities have begun urgent repairs, with two contractors assigned. Officials assure the embankment will be permanently restored soon, although fears remain as water pressure in the Meghna River continues to rise.

Engineering college students demanding the end of Dhaka University affiliation and the formation of a separate BIT board were stopped by police while marching toward the Education Ministry in Dhaka. Police attempted to redirect them to a peaceful protest site, but when students continued, officers used mild baton charges and chased them away. The clash occurred near the National Press Club, leaving around 20–25 students injured. Students had planned to begin a hunger strike in front of the ministry before the confrontation.

Milestone School and College has extended its holiday for the third time after a tragic military plane crash on its Diyabari campus. The incident, which killed 33 people and injured over 150, led to an initial three-day closure, later extended to July 27, and now until August 2. Administrative activities will continue during the closure. Officials have communicated with students and guardians, who are eager to resume normal classes soon. The institution hopes to reopen for regular educational activities shortly.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end their five-day border conflict. The ceasefire will take effect from midnight Monday local time, following a meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called the agreement a step toward restoring normal relations. The talks involved mediation by Malaysia, with the support of the US and China. Earlier, US President Trump urged both leaders to reach a swift ceasefire.

The Ministry of Public Administration has directed all government departments to include passport numbers in official travel orders (GOs) for employees traveling abroad. This new rule aims to improve transparency and verification of foreign trips by ensuring it is clear which passport is used. The directive, issued on July 27, addresses previous difficulties in confirming travel documents and expects to streamline the process of monitoring and managing government officials’ overseas travel.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to take until late 2027 to deliver a final verdict on genocide allegations against Israel in Gaza. Despite credible evidence and urgent humanitarian needs, political pressures and procedural complexities have prolonged the process. Israel was supposed to respond on Monday to the genocide allegations made by South Africa. However, the court has extended the deadline by six months. The ICJ previously issued emergency orders which Israel largely ignored. Legal experts warn that although the ruling is delayed, Israel’s actions already meet the genocide criteria, urging the global community to act without waiting.

Russia has initiated regular commercial flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang, with the first flight operated by Nordwind departing from Sheremetyevo Airport to Seoul carrying over 400 passengers. Monthly flights will run based on demand. This follows the resumption of flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang earlier in 2023 after pandemic suspensions. North Korea is gradually easing restrictions and reopening borders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently visited North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma resort, meeting Kim Jong Un and promoting tourism. Military and economic cooperation between the two nations has also grown significantly.

Google has launched a new AI-driven feature called ‘Web Guide’ to make search results smarter and more organized. Using Google’s Gemini AI model, the feature highlights key websites, provides AI-generated summaries, and categorizes results by topic. Currently in experimental mode via Google Search Labs, it aims to help users find accurate information faster while reducing misinformation. Traditional search results remain accessible, but the ‘Web Guide’ will be integrated into the AI tab in the future, especially benefiting younger users.

Saudi Arabia has extended an invitation to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to attend the ninth Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh from October 27 to 30. This marks the first time a Bangladeshi government leader has been invited to the annual event, held regularly since 2017. The invitation was delivered by the Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka. Professor Yunus thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for the honor and expressed his intention to actively consider participating. He also appreciated the invitation to visit Bangladesh for the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The government has ordered the mandatory retirement of four Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank police officers. The officers—Atika Islam, A.K.M. Nahidul Islam, Md. Mahbub Alam, and Md. Monir Hossain—were serving in the Dhaka Range DIG office, Police Telecom, Railway Police, and Industrial Police respectively. This decision was made in the public interest under government service law provisions. The retired officers will receive all due benefits, and the order is effective immediately as per notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 28.

The government has approved the 10th grade pay scale for headteachers of all 65,502 government primary schools in Bangladesh. This decision follows a Supreme Court directive and aims to improve financial benefits and social status for headteachers. Previously, they were in the 11th and 12th grade scales. The move is expected to boost motivation, enhance teaching quality, and ensure a more dynamic education system at the primary level. An official notification has already been issued by the Ministry of Finance.