A court in Chattogram granted 10 days’ remand to alleged top criminal Mobarak Hossain Iman, also known as David Iman, and four others in two separate cases under murder and arms laws filed at Fatikchhari police station. Chattogram Judicial Magistrate Mutasim Billah issued the order on the afternoon of August 2. Iman, 25, is from Kanchannagar in Fatikchhari upazila.

Additional Superintendent of Police Kazi Md Tarek Aziz of Hathazari Circle said police had sought seven days’ remand in each case, for a total of 14 days, against Iman. He and four others were arrested on July 29 from the Jhumjhumpur area under Kotwali police station in Jashore.

Chattogram district police said Iman’s location was identified through information obtained during the investigation into the June 13 killing of Maksudul Haque Chowdhury in the Pahartali area and subsequent intelligence operations. Acting on information from arrested accused, police recovered a foreign pistol, two locally made LG firearms and other local weapons from an abandoned house in Manikpur, Kanchannagar Union, on July 30. Police say Iman faces 13 cases, including murder, arms and extortion allegations.

M Nasir Rahman, member of parliament for Moulvibazar-3 and a member of the BNP national executive committee, has alleged that fake, manipulated and obscene videos made using AI are being circulated on social media. In a Facebook post on August 2, he described the material as politically motivated propaganda and announced legal action against those involved.

Rahman said his facial image had allegedly been attached to another body to create the false video using AI technology. He alleged that the content was then spread online to demean him politically and to create controversy around both him and his political party.

He said necessary legal measures had already been taken, while digital evidence was being preserved and technical analysis and identification of those involved were under way. According to Rahman, a specialised government agency was also working to identify the accused and bring them under the law quickly. He urged the public not to share or circulate unverified AI-generated videos, images or information, warning that distributing or redistributing such content could be punishable under information technology laws.

US European Command chief General Alexus Grynkewich warned the Pentagon that the United States lacks sufficient military resources to protect Israel from missile attacks amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Washington Post reported on August 2 that Grynkewich sent the warning in an urgent message to senior Pentagon military officials.

He said that without the rapid deployment of another US Navy destroyer, Washington could eventually have to choose between protecting its own forces and defending Israel. Five US Navy destroyers are deployed in the eastern Mediterranean for Israel’s air defense. After five months of continuous operations, missile stocks are declining and the ships require urgent maintenance.

The Pentagon assesses that US forces have fired more than 200 THAAD interceptor missiles in the conflict, nearly half of total stocks. Navy destroyers have also launched more than 100 interceptors. A CSIS analysis said the United States has used about 45 percent of precision strike missiles, at least 50 percent of THAAD and Patriot interceptors, and about 30 percent of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said police are not the enforcers of any special party or group and that the government follows a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. He made the remarks on Sunday morning, August 2, at the 27th BCS Police Batch training graduation parade at the Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi. He also called on police personnel to remain vigilant.

Ahmed said the government has taken various measures, including increasing manpower, to restore police morale and build the force into an efficient, modern law-enforcement institution. He identified the introduction of a policy of rewards and reprimands as a key measure. Police members are being rewarded for bravery and commendable work, he said.

The minister added that action is being taken against police personnel involved in disciplinary violations and crimes. He described controlling the law-and-order situation to establish public comfort and peace as the government’s main priority. Ahmed said police have a leading role in establishing the rule of law and stated that, like other institutions, the force was harmed during the previous fascist government.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he would formally designate Qatar an “enemy state” if he returns to power. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, cited in a report published on August 2, 2026, Bennett claimed Qatar is currently more dangerous to Israel’s security than Iran.

Bennett said that not formally declaring Doha an enemy state so far was an “unforgivable mistake.” Comparing the perceived threats, he said Iran openly acknowledges that it wants to destroy Israel, while alleging that Qatar secretly financed “Nukhba” militants involved in the October 7, 2023 attack.

The former prime minister also alleged that Qatar-based Al Jazeera is conducting what he described as poisonous propaganda against Israel around the world. He expressed concern over Qatar’s international influence, claiming it has expanded its influence at leading universities in the United States. Bennett further claimed that this covert influence extends beyond foreign countries and educational institutions to Israel’s most sensitive security areas, including the prime minister’s office, and accused Qatar of seeking to weaken Israel from within.

Iran has accused the United States of pressing for diplomatic talks through private channels while publicly threatening to expand military conflict. Hassan Gashghavi, spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy and a senior lawmaker, made the remarks before US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned attack, according to a report published on August 2, 2026.

Gashghavi said navigation through the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be controlled solely according to Tehran’s decisions regardless of how the ongoing conflict develops. He criticized what he described as US double standards, saying Washington speaks publicly about escalation while seeking negotiations through existing secret channels. He said Iran’s policy governing passage through the strait would remain the only option whether the situation moved toward conflict or talks.

Majidreza Hariri, head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, wrote on X that Washington lacks the courage to attack Iran’s energy and electricity infrastructure. The report said Iran has about 150 power generation facilities in a decentralized electricity system. Experts cited in the report said the broad network would make it nearly impossible to deprive the entire country of power simultaneously through air strikes.

England’s Football Association has called for a full investigation into FIFA’s leadership and governance after FIFA President Gianni Infantino withdrew the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise investment plan. The FA publicly backed UEFA’s position, according to a report published on August 2, 2026. Infantino announced the plan’s withdrawal early Saturday after mounting opposition.

The proposal sought to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, with member countries approving it within a specified period set to receive additional funds. UEFA and football federations around the world opposed the initiative. UEFA said FIFA’s current leadership had lost the trust of many in the global football family, alleging the process was handled secretly and was intended to be imposed on member associations.

The English FA said a rigorous review was needed to ensure transparent management of world football, protect the interests of FIFA’s 211 member countries and support the sport’s long-term development. Fifty-five European football federations opposed the plan, while CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also raised objections. Candidate nominations are due to be finalized in November, ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran has become much more willing to enter talks on its nuclear programme and the strategic Strait of Hormuz because of continuing US military strikes. Rubio made the comments in an interview with Fox News, published on 2 August 2026. He said the United States was approaching negotiations from a position of strength rather than weakness.

Rubio again claimed that US attacks had completely destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, missile-defence systems, launchers and weapons-manufacturing factories. He said Iran’s overall defence capability had been severely damaged. At the same time, Rubio said Iran still possessed some missiles and drones and retained the ability to inflict a limited degree of damage.

According to Rubio, Iran no longer has the conventional military shield behind which it had previously operated. He said this shift had changed the course of the conflict. The military pressure, he argued, had made Iran willing to reach an agreement on nuclear matters and important straits, with Tehran appearing especially eager in some instances.

Rajshahi University became a major centre of resistance during the anti-discrimination student movement, with events from July 16 to 20 reshaping the campus political landscape, according to the report. On July 16, students marched into the campus and clashed in pursuit and counter-pursuit with Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, who later retreated. About 1,500 female students joined the march near women’s halls. Participants said those days helped lay groundwork for the later national uprising.

Students besieged the administration building on July 17. Normal academic activities were effectively halted on July 18, when students announced five demands in protest over attacks on students elsewhere in the country. They held a symbolic funeral prayer for the vice-chancellor and administration, citing unmet demands and objections to the university administration’s role. Students also blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway during a “complete shutdown” protest.

After a nationwide curfew and army deployment on July 19, surveillance increased around campus and public programmes became difficult. Former coordinators cited fears of raids, intelligence monitoring and arrests. Movement participants said students reorganised from mess accommodations, while Rajshahi University and Rajshahi College students coordinated on legal assistance, security and communication with families.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie MP said the “36 July” was the result of united movements and struggles, whose foundation was built through 16 years of anti-autocracy activism. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion organised by Jagroto July Forum at the Central Kochi-Kachar Mela in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. The event was titled “The Martyrs’ Sacrifice, Our Responsibility and a New Bangladesh.”

The minister said the united efforts of students, teachers, poets, writers and people from all walks of life reached a successful conclusion when “fascist Hasina” fled on 5 August. He said students who gave their lives to establish people’s rights had left the nation indebted. He called for repaying that debt by ensuring political and economic empowerment and building a democratic Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity and social justice.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh should move forward by respecting differing views rather than pursuing conflict, adding that constructive criticism is democracy’s beauty. He said there could be no compromise on the July issue and recalled the prime minister’s commitment to implement the July Charter. State Minister Nurul Haque Nur MP attended as chief discussant, while State Minister Ishraq Hossain MP was a special discussant.

The government has appointed Dr Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan, a professor in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s water resources engineering department, as the new chairman of the Dhaka WASA Board. The Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives issued a notification on Sunday announcing the appointment.

He has been appointed for a three-year term under Section 7(1) of the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Act, 2025. Dr Khan teaches in BUET’s Water Resources Engineering Department and has worked as an expert on more than 50 national infrastructure projects during his professional career.

His cited project experience includes the Padma Bridge approach road, Payra seaport and the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive. He is also currently serving as general secretary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, known as IEB.

Bangladesh has hired a law firm in Dubai to pursue cancellation of former police inspector general Benazir Ahmed’s bail, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday, August 2, 2026. He made the comments after an event at the Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi, while answering journalists’ questions.

The minister said he learned of the bail while seated on stage and immediately spoke with the home secretary. According to him, the home secretary then contacted Bangladesh’s UAE ambassador. He said the government had hired the law firm several days earlier specifically for this matter and instructed it to pursue cancellation of the bail.

Ahmed confirmed reports that Benazir Ahmed had been released. He said the former senior police official was granted bail on the condition that he would not leave the UAE. The minister said he had asked for a certified copy detailing the conditions and that the law firm had been directed to proceed with the cancellation effort. The government hopes to cancel the bail and bring him back as quickly as possible.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed said discussions are under way with the United Arab Emirates to bring former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed back to Bangladesh. Speaking to journalists at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel on August 2, she said the government hopes to return him soon and complete his trial.

Obaed said the two governments have remained in contact and exchanged documents. The UAE requested specific information from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry and Foreign Ministry, and Bangladesh has provided it, she said. Asked about reports that Ahmed had received bail in Dubai, she said the matter was being handled under UAE law and that Bangladesh’s government and Home Ministry would discuss possible next steps with Emirati authorities.

Police Headquarters spokesperson A H M Shahadat Hossain said it had no information confirming reports that Ahmed received bail in the UAE. In June, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that Ahmed had been arrested and would be brought back quickly. On June 16, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said diplomatic channels were being used despite no extradition treaty, and that investigations were under way into about six to seven cases of crimes against humanity against Ahmed.

A Shahjalal University of Science and Technology student was held at knifepoint, robbed and injured in Sylhet’s Goabari tea garden area at about 9pm on Saturday. Local residents helped detain one of the three alleged robbers, who was later handed over to police. The victim was identified as Md Habibullah Mesbah, a 2021-22 academic session student in the university’s statistics department.

University administration sources said Mesbah had gone to teach private tuition in Kucharpur, Goabari, at 7pm. While returning after the tuition, he was stopped near the foreign, Nepali hostel of Ragib-Rabeya Medical College. Three assailants allegedly took him into a nearby tea garden and stole his mobile phone, wallet and cash. Mesbah said they also struck him with a sharp weapon after taking his money and phone.

Mesbah said he sought help from locals while injured, leading to the immediate detention of one suspect. No case had been filed by the time of reporting, although the university proctor, Professor Mokhlesur Rahman, said steps were being taken to file one. Jalalabad police station officer-in-charge Shamsul Habib said legal action would follow if a case is lodged.

A memorial meeting and honours ceremony for martyrs, injured July fighters and their family members is scheduled for August 3 at 6:30 pm at the National Music and Dance Centre auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Organisers said it aims to pay respect and gratitude to those whose sacrifice, blood, pain and courage elevated the July mass uprising in history.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roychowdhury, MP, is expected to attend as chief guest. State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, MP, and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser on policy and strategy for the information and broadcasting and cultural affairs ministries, will attend as special guests. Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Kaniz Mowla will chair the meeting, while Shilpakala Academy Director General poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, known as Rezauddin Stalin, will deliver the welcome address.

The programme will open with a collective instrumental rendition of “Muktir Mondir Sopan Tole,” followed by a minute of silence for those killed in the July uprising and a documentary screening. Performers include Ethun Babu and Friends, Monir Khan, Pial Hasan and Yusuf Ahmed Khan. Recitations will be presented by Enamul Haque Jewel, Sima Islam, Iqbal Ahmed, Farzana Eli and Tito Munsi, before Academy vocalists perform a collective song.