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All roads now lead to Turkey for Bangladesh’s military troops.

Bangladesh’s defence ties with Turkey are undergoing a marked deepening, signaled by a series of high-level visits and expanding military cooperation. Just days after Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan departed for official engagements in Turkey and Russia, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan has left for Istanbul to meet his Turkish counterpart and attend the International Defence Industry Fair. These visits follow the July trip of Turkish Defence Industry Secretary Haluk Gorgun to Dhaka, during which he met key Bangladeshi military leaders and discussed joint ventures, including the possible establishment of defence production complexes in Chittagong and Narayanganj.

Since 2018, Bangladesh has ramped up acquisition of Turkish military hardware, procuring howitzers, rocket systems, and drones, and is considering a further expansion of its arsenal. The growing partnership comes as Dhaka appears to recalibrate away from reliance on Chinese defence supplies, underlined by the recent cancellation of the Army Chief’s planned visit to Beijing. This evolving dynamic is expected to culminate in a formal agreement and an institutional framework to coordinate collaborative defence projects between the two countries.

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One person is killed when a Bangladesh Air Force fighter plane crashes into a school in Dhaka, Uttara.

A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara area on July 21, killing one person and injuring at least four others while classes were underway. The crash caused significant panic, with thick smoke seen rising from the site as emergency services, teachers, and Army personnel scrambled to rescue students and staff. Over 30 people required treatment for burns and injuries at local hospitals. The government has announced a full investigation into the cause of the accident, which is the second crash involving a Chinese-made F-7 aircraft in the region this year.

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The deadline for the Bangladeshi tribunal’s investigation into the murders from the previous year is October 15.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered investigators to complete probes into seven major cases linked to last year’s deadly anti-discrimination protests by October 15. The cases, arising from violent clashes during the July–August 2024 student movement, name 45 individuals as accused, including several senior figures from the former Sheikh Hasina administration: ex-law minister Anisul Huq, ex-education minister Dipu Moni, former industry adviser Salman F Rahman, and former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The directive was issued during a recent hearing led by ICT Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, following a request from Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam for additional time. According to the Dhaka Tribune, 39 of the accused were produced in court on the day of the hearing. The tribunal initially began with two cases in December last year, naming 46 individuals—including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—but has now expanded its investigation to seven cases, all tied to the violent unrest sparked by demands to reform the government job quota system. Over 200 people were reportedly killed during the confrontations between law enforcement and predominantly student protesters.

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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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Barak Bolchhe!

State

Assam severs financial links with Shyamkanu Mahanta and prohibits him from attending any state functions.

State

The PRO at Tezpur University resigns during a crisis, saying, “Can no longer be part of a system that stifles our voices”.

State

Bengaluru honours Zubeen Garg, an Assamese legend.

Regional

Mizoram CM examines NHIDCL projects and notes the pressing need for road maintenance.

Regional

Since 2022, 3,518 foreign nationals have been arrested in Tripura: Chief Minister Manik Saha.

Regional

Following the “missing” of 4,000 MT of coal, Meghalaya ordered a further inspection.

Regional

Meghalaya considers other states’ transportation models to settle the tourist taxi dispute.

Regional

Despite environmental objections, the centre approves the Oju hydropower project in Arunachal.

State

Students’ requests to award Zubeen Garg with a posthumous honorary doctorate are accepted by Tezpur University.

Regional

Meghalaya: NPP criticises Jharkhand’s imprisonment of minors, charity workers, and a Catholic nun.

State

37 illegal Bangladeshis are pushed back by Assam: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma.

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES SEIZES CONTRABAND ITEMS IN CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM

Regional

ASSAM RIFLES CONDUCTS CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN KAIMAI, TAMENGLONG DISTRICT

Regional

Imphal East district seizes weapons and ammo, holds militant in manipur.

National

The rich history of the Northeast is on exhibit during PM’s Mementos e-Auction 2025.

Regional

Sushanta Chowdhury, the minister of Tripura, requests the center’s assistance for programs aimed at promoting tourism.