After talks and negotiations, the Trump administration has reduced the US tariffs on Bangladeshi products to 20 percent from the initially proposed 35 percent. The US had initially announced an additional 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi products, which was supposed to take effect on Aug 1. Until now, Bangladeshi products entering the country had an average tariff rate of 15 percent levied against them. As part of its negotiations to lower the tariff, Bangladesh announced duty exemptions on 626 US products in the national budget. These steps, in addition to a new trade package, were part of the Bangladeshi delegation’s efforts to ease the trade talks.

Of them, five -- on constitutional reform, electoral reform, judiciary, Anti-Corruption Commission and public administration -- submitted 166 recommendations. Once finalised, the draft will be signed by the heads or representatives of political parties, Yunus, and other members of the Consensus Commission. Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said: “The very concept of a National Consensus Commission is flawed. I’ve said this again and again.”Farhad believes the government should have engaged directly with the people instead of going through political parties. “But those in power have ignored this.”According to Farhad, sitting down with political parties was itself anti-people.

At least nine people were killed in political violence across Bangladesh in July, according to rights group Manabadhikar Sanskriti Foundation (MSF). Among the BNP deaths, three resulted from internal party conflicts and one during a clash with Jamaat-e-Islami activists. Beyond those figures, MSF reported that four more BNP members were killed by assailants, and another activist’s body was recovered under circumstances police described as “suspicious”. How will they avoid responsibility for this intelligence failure?”BNP DEATHSOf the nine political deaths in July, four were tied to the BNP, excluding the Gopalganj deaths. On Jul 16, BNP activist Mubin, identified with a single name, was injured in a turf war in Mathbaria, Pirojpur.

Police recover Tk 300,000 ‘extortion money’ from flat of ex-Students Against Discrimination leaderPolice have recovered nearly Tk 300,000 from the rented flat of Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman Riyad, a dismissed student leader of the anti-discrimination movement, claiming it to be part of Tk 1 million allegedly extorted from the home of former MP Shammi Ahmed. The money was found Thursday morning in a room Riyad used in a shared apartment at Dhaka’s Badda, Gulshan police chief Hafizur Rahman said. Riyad, who was arrested on Saturday, had been living in one room of a three-bedroom flat shared with several others. The cheques, issued by a company called Trade Zone, include two for Tk 10 million each, and one each for Tk 1.5 million and Tk 1 million, he added. Police say they will show Tk 298,000 as recovered evidence and are now investigating a Southeast Bank account registered to Riyad.

A resident stands next to a car and an apartment building damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Jul 31, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoA resident stands next to a car and an apartment building damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Jul 31, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoRussia launched waves of missiles and drones on Kyiv before dawn on Thursday, killing 12 people including a six-year-old boy, and wounding 135 others, officials in the Ukrainian capital said. Yurii Kravchuk, 62, stood wrapped in a blanket next to a damaged building with a bandage around his head. Ukrainian air defence units downed 288 drones and three cruise missiles, the air force added.

Bangladesh joins third round of US tariff talksBangladesh has entered the third round of negotiations with the United States in Washington to bargain over President Donald Trump’s proposed supplemental tariffs on Bangladeshi goods. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman remains confident that the tariff talks will produce a positive outcome. The Bangladeshi delegation, led by Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin, also includes National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur, and Additional Secretary Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury. “The commerce advisor has gone with the package. Instead, they are expected to hold side talks with American companies about increasing imports of wheat, soyabean oil, and cotton.

Four leftist parties walk out of reform talks over proposal to drop key constitutional tenetsFour left-leaning parties have staged a walkout from the consensus talks to protest a proposal by the National Consensus Commission to replace Bangladesh’s four founding constitutional principles. Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD), the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSad), and BaSad (Marxist) walked out of the meeting around 9:20pm. The parties took part in the talks hosted by the commission at the Foreign Service Academy from 10:30am. CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, JaSaD leader Mushtaq Hossain, BaSad General Secretary Bazlur Rahman Firoz and BaSad (Marxist) Coordinator Masud Rana jointly briefed the media. The leftist bloc further warned that if such proposals persisted, their continued participation in the consensus dialogue would be at risk.

‘Force’ used in Gopalganj but no lethal weapons, says Army HQThe Army Headquarters has claimed that although troops were compelled to use “force” in Gopalganj during clashes around a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally two weeks ago, no lethal weapons were deployed during the incident. The Army HQ reiterated the same position after 15 days at the briefing. “Many leaders of that political party were under threat in Gopalganj. The Army intervened to protect lives -- that was the only objective.”“We have no bias towards any particular group,” he added. “We’ll provide full details once it concludes.”He said the Army has arrested 5,576 individuals for their involvement in extortion and drug-related activities.

The Indian Border Security Force has reportedly pushed in 17 people through two borders in Panchagarh, 15 through the Darshana border in Chuadanga, and 10 through the Dhamoirhat Upazila border in Naogaon. Later in the afternoon, the BGB handed over the 10 detainees to Sadar Police Station and the other seven to Tentulia Model Police Station. Darshana Police Station chief Shahid Titumir said the BGB handed over the 15 detainees to the police. NAOGAONThe BSF “pushed in” 10 people through the Dhamoirhat Upazila border in Naogaon. On Tuesday, they handed the detainees over to members of the Haribangshipur BSF camp in India.

People injured in the July-August uprising have taken to the streets, blocking the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka to demand the implementation of a July Charter. The protesters gathered at the busy intersection around 11:00 am on Thursday, bringing traffic to a halt, said Shahbagh Police Station chief Md Khalid Mansur, according to a bdnews24.com report. “At least 400 people, including those injured in the uprising, are protesting at the Shahbagh intersection,” he said. “As a result, traffic is at a stop around the Shahbagh intersection, leading to traffic jams on nearby roads.”He added that additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the area.

Cracks among parties surface as Consensus Commission endorses PR system for upper house of parliamentThe National Consensus Commission has decided to establish a 100-seat upper house of parliament based on proportional representation (PR), where seats will be allocated according to the share of votes each party secures in the lower house election. Under the commission’s proposal, the upper house will have no independent legislative authority. If the upper house fails to act within one month, a bill will be considered approved. If rejected, it will return to the lower house with suggested amendments, which the lower house may accept or reject partially or fully. They argue upper house seats should be distributed based on lower house results and also object to its powers.

A private tutor in the Indian city of Mumbai has allegedly burned the hand of an 8-year-old student with a candle as punishment for poor handwriting, police say. The incident occurred on the evening of Jul 28 at the residence of Rajshree Rathore, a tutor based in JP Decks Building in Malad East, reports NDTV. The victim, Mohammad Hamza Khan, is a third grader at Lakshadham School and attended regular evening tuition sessions at Rathore's home from 7pm to 9pm. At around 9pm, Rathore contacted Khan, informing him that Hamza was crying uncontrollably and needed to be picked up immediately. Upon returning home, Hamza revealed that his teacher had held his hand over a lit candle as punishment for his handwriting, resulting in severe burns to his right palm.

As political pressure builds on the interim government to announce a timeline for national polls, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said the date for the general election will be revealed “in a few days”. “The chief advisor tells us this regularly,” Nazrul said on Thursday at a press briefing at the Secretariat, where he discussed ongoing legal reforms. “The government intends to hold the best election in Bangladesh’s history.”Nazrul also claimed the administration had spared no effort to ensure the election moves forward as planned. Asked how the upcoming election would earn international legitimacy, especially given past controversies, Nazrul challenged the framing: “I must disagree with your premise. The 2008 election, held under a military-controlled caretaker government, brought the Awami League to power in a landslide victory.

Independent theatre collective Spardha is launching its inaugural drama festival this year, offering a series of productions, workshops, and public discussions. The festival will run from August 8 to September 20, unfolding in three chapters designed to spotlight emerging talent and provoke meaningful dialogue through performance. The festival will begin with "Purbo Ranga" (August 8–30), a chapter that features five intensive workshops conducted by young theatre-makers. Titled "Tracking Experiential Paratheatre", this immersive event will merge performance, movement, and environment in a durational journey through lived experience. Speaking to bdnews24.com, Sohel Rana said, "Spardha's festival is not just a celebration of theatre—it's a platform for young voices, political questions, and radical aesthetics."

As the suspects are absconding, arrest warrants were issued against them, said ACC Counsellor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. In one case, Sheikh Hasina and 11 others were accused. In another, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina and 15 others, and in the final case, Saima Wazed Putu, Sheikh Hasina, and 16 others have been accused.”August 11 has been set as the first day for recording witness testimony. The ACC filed the three cases in January, accusing Hasina of abusing her power as the head of the government to benefit her family. The graftbusters said Hasina allocated 10 katha of land to each of her family members despite their not being eligible.