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Bangladesh Army officers force the Gopalganj corpses to be buried and cremated quickly without an examination in an attempt to hide the truth.

A day after at least four people were killed in army firing in Gopalganj, south-central Bangladesh, the military hastily buried the bodies without conducting mandatory autopsies, despite the presence of mortuary facilities at Gopalganj General Hospital. Unofficial reports suggest the death toll may be as high as 19, with at least nine others injured and hospitalized. Video evidence and eyewitness accounts point to the use of excessive force by the 55th Infantry Division, whose commanding officers were identified as having authorized the firing on unarmed civilians and Awami League party cadres. Despite mounting evidence, the Army’s public relations wing claimed the firing was in “self-defence.” The incident has sparked public outcry, particularly over the lack of medico-legal procedures and transparency in handling the aftermath.

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Five officers from the 55th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army are reported to be directly involved in the Gopalganj shooting.

On July 16, clashes in Gopalganj between Bangladeshi Army troops and Awami League supporters turned deadly, resulting in at least four confirmed deaths and multiple injuries. The Army’s 55th Infantry Brigade, led by Major General J M Imdadul Islam, reportedly authorized the use of live fire to disperse protesters blocking roads in the Awami League stronghold. Videos surfaced showing soldiers firing directly into crowds following verbal orders from officers. The incident exposed deep political tensions, with allegations of coordination between the Army and opposition groups, while neither the Army chief nor the interim government expressed regret over the violence. A curfew was imposed as authorities sought to regain control amid widespread unrest.

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Bangladesh: The rise of People Power in Gopalganj.

On Tuesday, Gopalganj witnessed a tragic loss as twenty brave sons fell victim to organised violence when the army acted against them. This was not just a clash but an expression of People Power rising against an unconstitutional regime that, over the past year, has waged a calculated assault on Bangladesh’s hard-won history and heritage. Since the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, the nation has endured political repression, imprisonments, assassinations of activists, and systematic attempts to erase the legacy of the 1971 War of Liberation.

Amid demolitions of historic sites, bans on nationalist slogans like Joi Bangla, and the legitimization of collaborationist factions, the people of Gopalganj stood firm. Their resistance was a decisive rebuke to fascism and a powerful assertion that the nation’s dignity and history will not be desecrated. Despite curfews and crackdowns, this spirit echoes the vibrant People Power that once fueled the liberation struggle — a reminder that no repression can silence the quest for justice and freedom in Bangladesh.

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India offers assistance in rebuilding and implores Bangladesh to reevaluate demolishing Satyajit Ray’s family home.

India has expressed deep regret over the demolition of the ancestral home of iconic filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The century-old property, once home to Ray’s grandfather and renowned 19th-century writer Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, is being razed to make way for a semi-concrete structure to house a Shishu Academy. Calling the house a symbol of the Bangla cultural renaissance, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has offered support for its restoration and proposed converting it into a museum of literature to honor shared cultural heritage. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also appealed to the Bangladeshi government to preserve the historic site, emphasizing its deep cultural significance.

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A rights group is suing over claims that minorities in Bangladesh are being harassed.

The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bangladesh Supreme Court, seeking urgent intervention against what it describes as a pattern of legal harassment and false criminal cases targeting religious minorities. The petition highlights the misuse of First Information Reports (FIRs) to intimidate and dispossess minority communities, with a focus on the ongoing detention of monk and social reformer Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari on allegedly fabricated charges. The HRCBM calls for judicial reforms, including mandatory preliminary investigations before filing FIRs in sensitive cases and disciplinary action against officials involved in malicious prosecutions. The PIL warns that the weaponisation of false cases represents a dangerous evolution of anti-minority violence in Bangladesh. The High Court is yet to schedule a hearing on the matter.

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The Bangladesh Case: Investigative Journalism’s Crisis, Media Ethics, and Disinformation. (Part 2)

In 2024, Bangladesh found itself drawn into a new kind of war—not of weapons, but of words. Where previous generations fought for independence and secularism, today’s struggle is against the insidious spread of disinformation and narrative manipulation. The recent BBC Eye report, centered on an 18-second audio clip allegedly implicating former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, exemplifies the dangers of selective storytelling and omission. Released without full context or transparent forensic authentication, the clip has been used to fuel unsubstantiated claims and undermine democratic institutions.

This episode is part of a broader pattern: inflated death tolls, decontextualized data, and weaponized narratives have been wielded by political and extremist groups to erode trust, delegitimize governance, and rewrite history. When international media amplifies such claims without rigorous verification, it risks legitimizing those who seek to destabilize Bangladesh’s secular and democratic foundations.

In this war of narratives, truth demands more than good intentions—it requires precision, accountability, and unwavering commitment to context. Anything less threatens not only the integrity of journalism, but the very soul of Bangladesh’s democracy.

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A Context-Free Headline: The BBC’s Bangladesh Report Leaves More Unanswered Questions.

On July 9, 2025, the BBC published an investigative report alleging that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina authorized the use of lethal force, based on an 18-second leaked audio clip. While the BBC claims the audio was forensically verified and unedited, the report’s reliance on a single, context-free excerpt raises questions about its journalistic rigor. The article provides no details about the conversation’s participants, circumstances, or the broader context of the Prime Minister’s remarks. Despite the audio’s verification, the absence of a full recording and the lack of clear sourcing undermine transparency. The timing of the report—amid economic turmoil and rising unrest in Bangladesh—further suggests possible strategic motivations behind its release. Ultimately, the report reiterates longstanding allegations without offering new or comprehensive evidence, highlighting the need for responsible journalism that prioritizes context, accuracy, and accountability over sensationalism.

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The Awami League claims that Islamists are planning to make Bangladesh the “Next Afghanistan.”

Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League has warned of a radical Islamist agenda to transform the country along the lines of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In a statement Thursday, the party accused the Jamaat–Char Monai alliance of plotting to dismantle democratic norms, curtail women’s rights, enforce a strict religious code, and impose nationwide jihadi training if brought to power. Citing a recent interview, the Awami League highlighted Islami Andolan Bangladesh leader Muhammad Faizul Karim’s pledge to introduce Sharia law and restructure governance after the models of Afghanistan and Iran. Karim’s assurance that Hindus would be given “rights” under Sharia drew sharp criticism from secular and minority groups. The Awami League questioned the silence of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and raised concerns about rising attacks on minorities and women, citing disturbing statistics on violence and a collapse of secular values under the current regime.

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Bangladesh’s continuous suppression of press freedom is denounced by foreign journalists and scholars.

A joint statement by 88 expatriate Bangladeshi journalists, writers, researchers, and rights activists has strongly condemned what they describe as a systematic and escalating persecution of journalists under the current interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The group expressed deep concern over the deterioration of press freedom since August 2024, citing the arrest of 39 journalists, travel bans on over 300, frozen bank accounts for more than 100, and the loss of jobs for 1,000 media professionals. The statement also highlighted the revocation of press accreditation for 168 journalists, cancellation of press club memberships, and the killing of 10 journalists during last year’s protests. Calling the crackdown “unprecedented in the country’s democratic history,” the signatories demanded an immediate end to harassment of the media and restoration of press freedom in Bangladesh.

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Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, received a six-month term for contempt.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a contempt of court case. The verdict was delivered by a three-member bench headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, according to reports by The Dhaka Tribune. This marks the first time Hasina, ousted from office and living in exile, has been convicted since fleeing Bangladesh nearly a year ago. Alongside Hasina, Shakil Akand Bulbul of Gobindaganj in Gaibandha was also sentenced to two months in prison in the same case, highlighting the tribunal’s ongoing efforts to address charges linked to recent unrest.

Earlier in June, the ICT formally charged Sheikh Hasina with crimes against humanity related to her alleged role in orchestrating a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests during July and August 2024. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and his team accused Hasina of being the chief instigator behind the systemic attack on mass protests against her government. The protests, which erupted into widespread violence, saw curfews imposed and an intense government response. According to a UN rights office report, approximately 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15, 2024, during retaliatory violence that extended even after the regime’s collapse.

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Barak Bolchhe!

Regional

Due to a failing highway, truckers bring the Mizoram government to court.

International

Five officers from the 55th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army are reported to be directly involved in the Gopalganj shooting.

International

Bangladesh: The rise of People Power in Gopalganj.

State

In the follow-up to a forest eviction in Assam’s Goalpara, violence breaks out, resulting in one death.

Regional

Over 1,700 kg of banned single-use plastic seized in Meghalaya crackdown.

Regional

In Siaha, Mizoram, Union Minister George Kurian establishes the framework for two important projects.

State

Assam: To guarantee error-free voter rolls, Barpeta provides thorough BLO training.

International

India offers assistance in rebuilding and implores Bangladesh to reevaluate demolishing Satyajit Ray’s family home.

State

In Dibrugarh, Assam, OIL finds hydrocarbons: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma.

State

In Assam, a new species of day gecko named after Brahmaputra was found.

State

Assam: Farmers and cattle in Mechagarh are impacted by ONGC pipeline leaks

State

To improve connectivity in Assam, a second rail-cum-road bridge at Saraighat has been approved.

State

Assam: A man is detained for reportedly using a stone slab to kill his wife.

National

India is alarmed as China starts building a contentious mega project on the Brahmaputra.

State

Assam CM: PM Modi will travel to Assam on September 8.

State

Guwahati: Residents of Hatigaon express their outrage over the complete excavation of a major road without prior notice.