Bangladesh has received a positive response from the United States regarding tariff reductions during the third round of bilateral trade talks held in Washington, D.C. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed productive discussions and expectations of significant tariff cuts on Bangladeshi products. The talks aim to address the U.S. plan to impose a 35% counter-tariff starting August 1. Bangladesh is negotiating to increase imports from the U.S. and secure a favorable tariff arrangement to protect its export interests.

The third round of formal tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States began at 2 PM local time in Washington. Informal discussions had started earlier at 12:30 PM and will continue until 5:30 PM. Talks will resume tomorrow morning. The Bangladeshi delegation is led by Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, with senior officials from the commerce ministry. The U.S. side is headed by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch. The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C. is coordinating the negotiations.

The government has removed Md. Ali Afroz, the personal secretary (PS) of former Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Siddiqur Zobair, amid allegations of corruption and irregularities. This follows the secretary’s earlier withdrawal due to student protests. Afroz has been transferred to the Economic Relations Division and must report by August 4. Previously, two other officials were also released from the education ministry for overstaying and alleged misuse of power, raising concerns over influence and favoritism within the ministry.

Dhananjay Kumar Das, former Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry and later transferred to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, has been dismissed from government service. The Ministry of Public Administration issued the order after he remained absent without permission since September 3. Despite being attached to the ministry again, he failed to report back. His actions were deemed as "absconding" under service rules, and a criminal case was filed against him. He did not respond to official notices, leading to his dismissal in the public interest.

After nearly four decades, two Bangladeshi swimmers — Nazmul Haque Himel from Kishoreganj and Mahfizur Rahman Sagar from Pabna — have successfully crossed the English Channel. The duo completed the 12-hour swim on Tuesday after training for ten days in the UK. This marks the first such achievement by Bangladeshis since Mosharraf Hossain in 1987. Prior to that, Brojen Das, the first Asian to cross the channel, did it six times between 1958 and 1961, followed by Abdul Malik in 1965.

In a court statement, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun disclosed that Barrister Arman was secretly detained in the TFI cell under orders from the Prime Minister’s military advisor, Tariq Siddiqui. Mamun stated that many abductions and illegal detentions were executed through intelligence agencies without his knowledge or approval, even during his tenure as IGP. He admitted knowing about Arman’s detention but took no action, citing pressure and direct orders from higher authorities, bypassing the police command chain.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that starting August 1, a 25% tariff will be imposed on Indian goods entering the American market. While calling India a “friendly nation,” Trump expressed concerns over India’s trade relations with Russia and China and cited high tariffs on American products in India as justification. He also mentioned an additional unspecified fine on India but did not provide further details.

Students, teachers, and guardians in Narayanganj protested against a government directive that restricts the primary scholarship exam participation to only government school students. The move excludes private, kindergarten, and MPO-registered school students, causing disappointment and claims of rights violation. Organizers demanded immediate cancellation of the directive to ensure equal opportunity for all primary students. They warned of a stronger movement if their demands are ignored, emphasizing the importance of inclusive education for the future of children.

Four earthquakes, all above magnitude 4, hit near Port Blair in the Andaman region of the Bay of Bengal within 90 minutes on Tuesday night. The first quake measured 5.0 at a depth of 10 km, followed by three others ranging from 4.6 to 5.0 magnitude. No casualties or tsunami warnings have been reported. Meanwhile, a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting tsunami alerts across the Pacific region.

Faruk-e-Azam, adviser on the Liberation War to the interim government, revealed discrepancies in the official lists of those injured and killed during the July movement. Some individuals who were not involved have been mistakenly included as martyrs. The government is working to correct these records by verifying information with relevant ministries and local authorities. Efforts are also underway to ensure monthly stipends and rehabilitation support for the injured. The aim is to preserve the memory of July accurately and respectfully.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has mandated that individuals with more than 10 SIM cards registered under one national ID must de-register the extra SIMs by October 30. Previously, up to 15 SIMs were allowed, but the limit has been reduced to 10 to align with international standards and enhance national security. Customers can check their registered SIMs by dialing *16001#. Around 2.6 million users will need to deactivate a total of 6.7 million SIMs as part of this new regulation.

Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Deputy Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, emphasized that the reform proposals agreed upon by political parties can lead to qualitative change if properly implemented. He expressed disappointment over the draft charter's lack of clear timelines and legal backing. Taher stressed the importance of legally binding reforms to gain public trust and warned that without this, the proposals would be symbolic and meaningless. He called for discussions with legal experts to ensure enforceability.

Discussions between political parties and the National Consensus Commission are nearing completion, but fundamental disagreements remain. BNP seeks parliamentary debate on caretaker government formation if the ranking system fails, while Jamaat and NCP oppose some proposals, calling the July Charter draft incomplete and risky. Legal frameworks and implementation methods, including ordinances or referendums, are major points of contention. The commission aims to finalize the charter by July 31, incorporating agreed issues and awaiting party feedback in the next two days.

Education Advisor C.R. Abrar revealed that during the Awami League government, secret deals were made with representatives of a neighboring country on critical state matters without ministry officials present. He criticized the past 17 years for political subservience, abductions, and lawlessness, crediting youth movements for reclaiming citizens’ rights. Abrar emphasized the need for political neutrality in universities and highlighted ongoing efforts to improve education quality and provide accurate textbooks. The remarks were made during Sylhet Agricultural University’s orientation program.

A massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake near Russia's eastern coast has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific. Waves up to 13 feet are expected in parts of French Polynesia, particularly the Marquesas Islands, prompting evacuations to higher ground. Colombia has also issued alerts for its Pacific coast, urging people in Chocó and Nariño to move inland. The tsunami has reached the U.S. West Coast, causing sea level rise in Washington, Oregon, and California, though no damage has been reported. Alerts have eased for Hawaii and Guam.