Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told the National Parliament on Wednesday that the country’s health system had been deliberately destroyed to benefit a particular foreign nation. He added that the education system had also been undermined for the same reason. At the beginning of his speech, he paid tribute to the Shapla martyrs and thanked opposition members for supporting the government’s family card project.

Rahman further stated that to prevent authoritarianism in the future, the nation must build both political and economic strength. Earlier in his address, he recalled the sacrifices made during the Liberation War, lamenting that successive governments had failed to prepare a complete and impartial list of martyrs. He said political interference had repeatedly obstructed this process, despite the martyrs’ sacrifices being the foundation of the country’s independence.

His remarks in Parliament linked historical grievances with current governance priorities, emphasizing national unity and institutional reform.

Police in Dhunat upazila of Bogura have arrested Jubo League leader Atikur Rahman, 37, in connection with a case over a cocktail attack on a Jubo Dal leader. Atikur, the joint general secretary of Dhunat Sadar Union Jubo League, was detained from his home in Ullapara village on Tuesday night and sent to Bogura District Jail through court on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the case, on February 17, 2025, around 7:30 p.m., leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations gathered at the Shaheed Minar square and brought out a torch procession chanting slogans. When Jubo Dal leader Ripon Sheikh and his supporters tried to obstruct the procession, tension erupted, and the procession participants allegedly detonated cocktails targeting Ripon Sheikh, causing panic in the area.

Following the incident, Ripon Sheikh, former general secretary of Ward No. 2 Jubo Dal of Dhunat Municipality, filed a case on February 19, naming 96 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates as accused. Police said Atikur Rahman was arrested as an unidentified accused, and efforts to arrest others are ongoing.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed reaffirmed that the court-issued death sentence against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be executed once she is brought back to the country from India, where she is reportedly taking refuge. Speaking on Wednesday at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Dhaka University’s TSC auditorium, he emphasized the government’s determination to prevent any resurgence of fascism and to strengthen national unity formed through the anti-autocracy movement.

The minister said arrest warrants had been issued through Interpol to bring back fugitive ministers, MPs, and officials of the former government, citing the arrest of former IGP Benazir Ahmed as an example. He criticized the Awami League for showing no remorse over past violence and accused the party of attempting to re-enter politics. Ahmed also stated that legal amendments now allow both Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League to face trial under the International Crimes Tribunal Act and anti-terrorism laws.

He urged all citizens, especially the youth, to work together to build a safe, democratic, and autocracy-free Bangladesh, in line with the “National July Charter” signed by political parties.

After being closed for eight days due to adverse weather conditions, all tourist destinations in Sajek Valley and across Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati have reopened. The district administration announced the withdrawal of the travel ban through a public notice issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the notice, the earlier directive issued on July 7 was revised to allow tourists to visit Sajek Valley and other local attractions. The administration urged tourists, vehicle drivers, and residents to remain highly cautious while traveling during the current season and to strictly follow all official instructions.

The public notice was signed by District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, confirming the formal reopening of the region’s tourism activities.

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam has said that the sacrifices of those who were martyred, injured, or disabled in the July uprising made it possible to dream of a new Bangladesh and to restore the people’s political rights. He emphasized that without the July movement, the current political reality would not exist, and therefore, realizing the aspirations of July is now everyone’s main responsibility. He made these remarks on Tuesday at the closing session of the organization’s second general meeting of the central executive council held at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the event was attended by senior leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, including opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, and other former Shibir presidents. The meeting reviewed the central committee’s half-yearly report, approved district setups, analyzed campus and national political situations, and outlined future plans. Nurul Islam also announced the names of 12 newly elected members of the 2026 executive council and administered their oath.

He called for strengthening national unity and building skilled, ethical, and responsible manpower through training to achieve the vision of an equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.

An investigation by the International Crimes Tribunal’s probe agency has uncovered information that bodies of many martyrs from the July Revolution were dumped into a nearby river from a hospital in Dhaka. Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam disclosed the findings to reporters on Wednesday after visiting a mass grave of July martyrs near the Rayerbazar Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard. He said those involved, including hospital authorities, would be identified and brought to justice.

The prosecutor stated that the investigation is progressing by cross-checking evidence from new mass graves, hospitals, and other sources. According to a United Nations report, a list of 1,400 martyrs has been obtained, and efforts are underway to identify each victim through family interviews. So far, 834 bodies have been identified, and DNA testing has confirmed some reports. Islam added that several hospitals are being examined for their role in concealing victims’ identities by registering them as unclaimed bodies and avoiding autopsies.

The tribunal team plans to visit more mass graves across the country to continue identification efforts, which may increase the confirmed number of July martyrs.

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested three people, including two women, in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar for allegedly smuggling yaba tablets in a private car bearing a Home Ministry sticker. The operation took place around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday along the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway near the Rubber Garden area. Authorities seized 6,000 yaba tablets, the Toyota C-HR car, and four mobile phones from the suspects.

The detainees were identified as Sabbir Hossain from Cumilla’s Chauddagram, Sima Islam from Narayanganj’s Rupganj, and Urmi Akter Usha from Dhaka’s Darus Salam area. According to the DNC, the drugs were found inside three packages wrapped with scotch tape and tissue paper. The seized items also included the car’s fitness certificate and tax token.

Cox’s Bazar DNC Deputy Director Somen Mondal said a case had been filed under the Narcotics Control Act. He described the use of a government sticker for drug trafficking as highly concerning and confirmed that investigators are probing how the sticker was obtained and whether others were involved.

On the 136th day of the U.S.-Iran war, President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose heavy tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for American protection. Within hours, he reversed the decision after strong protests from Arab allies, highlighting growing disarray in the White House’s handling of the prolonged conflict. The war, initially expected to last only four to six weeks, has stretched into its twentieth week with no clear resolution.

Experts cited in the report describe Trump’s Iran strategy as impulsive and lacking coherent direction. Analysts from Johns Hopkins University, Brookings Institution, and other think tanks argue that Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience and over-relied on military power and social media threats. They note that his administration ignored experienced advisers and failed to anticipate Tehran’s resistance.

A recently collapsed 60-day ceasefire had aimed to open dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program but quickly fell apart. Facing domestic opposition to the war, Trump has ordered a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened strikes near Iran’s nuclear facilities, though analysts say he now appears trapped by his own inconsistent policies.

President Md. Shahabuddin stated that the July uprising was an outburst of long-suppressed public anger against inequality, corruption, enforced disappearances, killings, and fascist misrule. In a message marking July Martyrs’ Day, he recalled the events of July 16 in Rangpur, where Abu Sayeed was shot dead, and similar sacrifices by several young people across the country that gave new momentum to the movement.

The president said the uprising began through the detention and repression of public university students and the active participation of private university students and the general public. He paid deep respect to the martyrs and injured participants of the 2024 July uprising, emphasizing that the movement was not the achievement of any single person or group but a collective struggle for democracy and justice.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring recognition, welfare, and rehabilitation for the martyrs and injured, as well as justice for related killings. The president urged all citizens to work together to build a democratic, accountable, and equitable Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July.

Bangladesh Bank has handed back control of Al-Arafah Islami Bank to its previous owners, reinstating 14 entrepreneur directors to the bank’s board. The central bank issued an official letter to the bank’s managing director on Wednesday confirming the decision. Five independent directors appointed earlier by Bangladesh Bank will remain on the board.

According to Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, the decision was made because the bank’s financial condition has improved compared to before. He noted that while other banks with dissolved boards have not been able to locate their original entrepreneurs, Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s situation is different, allowing the return of control to its previous owners.

The reinstated entrepreneur directors include Badiur Rahman, Selim Rahman, Ahamedul Haque, Rafiqul Islam, Imadur Rahman, Nazmul Ahsan Khaled, Khalilur Rahman, Anwar Hossain, Abdus Salam, Liaquat Ali Chowdhury, Enayet Ullah, and representatives from KDS Garments, KDS Textile, and KY Steel Mills.

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) achieved record performance in investment and employment during the 2025–26 fiscal year, overcoming global economic challenges and a national export decline. BEPZA contributed 17.51 percent to Bangladesh’s total exports of 48 billion US dollars, with exports from its eight EPZs and one economic zone reaching 8.41 billion dollars. While national exports fell by 0.58 percent from the previous year, BEPZA’s exports grew by 2.2 percent.

A total of 36 companies from countries including China, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and Bangladesh signed lease agreements with BEPZA, proposing investments worth 717.71 million US dollars—the highest in its history. These projects are expected to create about 75,744 jobs once fully operational. Actual capital investment reached 286.46 million dollars, while net FDI inflow stood at 221.58 million dollars, accounting for 19.61 percent of the national total.

BEPZA’s managed zones now employ 558,691 workers, up from 533,527 a year earlier, marking its highest employment level. Its 451 operating industries export to 129 countries, diversifying Bangladesh’s export base beyond garments.

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in recent attacks, looting, and extortion targeting internet service providers across the country. The association warned that if the perpetrators are not arrested within seven days, customer support services will be suspended. The demand was made during a human chain organized by the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday.

ISPAB President Aminul Hakim said that internet service is no longer a luxury but a vital part of banking, education, healthcare, government, and digital communication systems. He expressed concern over the growing number of attacks on internet infrastructure, offices, and workers, citing recent incidents in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi and Chattogram. ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan added that ensuring the safety of the internet business is the responsibility of the state and urged the government to take effective measures.

Speakers at the event emphasized that attacks on the internet sector go against national interests and called for swift government action to protect the industry.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), and Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer for the northern region, visited the graves of the July martyrs in Bogura. The visit took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Namazgarh cemetery in the city, where they offered prayers for the souls of the martyrs.

Several central and regional NCP leaders were present during the visit, including joint member secretary Saif Mostafiz, joint chief organizer Sakib Mahdi, joint member secretary Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir, Rajshahi divisional organizational secretary Imran Imon, Bogura district convener Engineer M S A Mahmud, and district member secretary Sultan Mahmud. Also attending were joint member secretary Abdus Sabur Sumon, National Student Power Bogura district convener A M Z Shahriar Juhin, member secretary Soikat Ali, and other party activists from district and upazila levels.

The gathering reflected the party’s respect for the July martyrs and its continued engagement in commemorative activities in the Bogura region.

A Khulna court has sentenced eight people to life imprisonment in the double murder case of Haidar Ali and Tarikul Islam Piku in the city’s Sonadanga area. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Nusrat Jabin, judge of the Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-1. Each convict was also fined 50,000 taka, with an additional one-year rigorous imprisonment in case of non-payment. Among the convicts, only Faruk Sheikh alias Gari Faruk was present in court, while seven others remain absconding, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants against them.

According to the prosecution, the murders took place on February 28, 2010, due to previous enmity. Haidar Ali’s brother, Taiyeb Ali, filed the murder case at Sonadanga Police Station, naming 17 accused. Police submitted the charge sheet on October 3, 2010. After a lengthy trial, the court found eight defendants guilty and acquitted nine others due to insufficient evidence.

The ruling concludes a prolonged legal process that began over fifteen years ago, bringing partial closure to the victims’ families while efforts continue to apprehend the absconding convicts.

Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Islam informed the National Parliament that a total of 1,334 train accidents occurred across Bangladesh over the past 15 years. Of these, 1,051 incidents took place in the eastern region and 283 in the western region. The minister presented the data during a parliamentary question session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal.

He explained that most accidents resulted from faults in railway lines, points, and crossings, which caused derailments. Other contributing factors included wheel flange issues, gauge mismatches, and natural causes such as track bending or subsidence. The minister added that maintenance and new railway line construction are ongoing to prevent future accidents, and disciplinary or legal actions are taken against responsible individuals or departments.

The disclosure highlights the persistent safety challenges facing Bangladesh Railways and the government’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and accountability within the sector.