Staff Correspondent, New York: BNP Member of Parliament from Dinajpur-1, Monzurul Islam, has warned that a “difficult time” awaits Nasiruddin Patwary, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), stating that the beating he has faced so far is only the beginning.

“The beating of Patwary has just begun. The real beating hasn’t even started yet,” said the BNP lawmaker. “Speaking as an MP, a very difficult future awaits him.”

He made these remarks on Friday during a civic rally organized at the Bangladesh Consulate in New York, USA, to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising. According to Monzurul Islam, Nasiruddin Patwary’s remarks crossing the boundaries of freedom of speech regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his family are unacceptable.

“Not only the Prime Minister, but when he speaks about his wife and daughter, we cannot tolerate it because they are not a part of this. Yet Patwary is doing this constantly,” he added.

Staff Correspondent, New York: A documentary screened at the Bangladesh Consulate in New York on August 7 to mark the second anniversary of the “July-August Mass Uprising” sparked intense controversy and tension. Nur Hossain, an expatriate who identified himself as a “July fighter,” was ejected from the venue after protesting that the documentary distorted history.

During the event, a documentary focusing on the July-August uprising was shown. Immediately following the screening, Nur Hossain stood up in strong protest, pointing his finger at the Consul General, Press Minister Golam Mortuza of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, and other officials present. He stated, “The July revolution is the harvest of BNP’s 17-year movement. Yet, BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir himself said that the fall of fascism is the harvest of the students’ movement. Didn’t we fight? History has been distorted in the documentary.”

His remarks triggered immediate anger and backlash among the BNP and affiliate leaders attending the event. Heated arguments ensued between Hossain and several leaders. As the situation quickly escalated, he was pushed out of the venue, and consulate security guards barred him from re-entering.

Despite the high tension, the consulate’s scheduled program continued, and the event concluded as planned. Among others, Member of Parliament Monjurul Haque delivered a speech.

Amidst the commotion, Democratic Party District Leader-at-Large and Attorney Moin Chowdhury took the microphone to calm the attendees, urging them: “Brothers, do not be unruly. This is a government institution.”

Strongly criticizing the incident, Gias Ahmed, a member of the BNP Central Executive Committee, remarked, “For 40 years, we have been in continuous movements in this country against Ershad, against 1/11, and against fascist Sheikh Hasina. We have never seen this person before. He is an agent of fascist Hasina. It seems he has no idea about the July movement and its success. In the future, we must ensure that such covert intruders cannot enter such events.”

Meanwhile, Golam Faruk Shahin, a member of the Advisory Committee on Foreign Affairs to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, described the situation as “unwanted.” He stated, “Under the banner of US BNP, all of us were vocal in the movement to oust fascism. There is no scope for arguing over this.”

DHAKA: The Election Commission (EC) today announced the schedule for the presidential election. EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the election schedule at the Election Commission Bhaban at Agargaon in the city.

According to the schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is August 13. Voting will be held on August 20 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) session hall. Nomination papers must be submitted at the office of the Chief Election Commissioner between 10:00am and 4:00pm on August 13.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held at the EC Bhaban from 10:00am on August 16. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is until 4:00pm on August 18. Speaking to journalists, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “In accordance with Section 5(3) of the Presidential Election Act, 1991, I am announcing this schedule for the presidential election after discussions with the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad.”

He said, voter list for the Presidential election has been prepared. Other remaining administrative procedures will be completed before the election, he said.

New York: Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, has emerged as the city with the highest crime index among major South Asian cities while also ranking as the least safe in the region, according to the 2026 Crime and Safety Index published by global data platform Numbeo.

According to the report, Dhaka recorded a Crime Index of 62.2, the highest among South Asian cities surveyed. Its Safety Index stands at just 37.8, placing it at the bottom of the regional rankings for public safety.

The findings indicate that major cities in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal all scored better than Dhaka on safety. The report also suggests that many residents of Dhaka feel unsafe walking alone at night and frequently express concerns about crime.

Globally, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was ranked the world’s safest city, with a Crime Index of 11.1 and a Safety Index of 88.9, highlighting the significant contrast with Dhaka.

Crime and Safety Index of Major South Asian Cities

In the global rankings, Dhaka placed 59th among major cities with the highest crime levels, putting it among the top 15 percent of cities worldwide for crime and lack of safety.

Among South Asia’s safest cities, Mangaluru in India recorded a Safety Index of 74.4, followed by Islamabad in Pakistan at 68.6. The report also indicates that cities such as Karachi—often associated with security challenges—received higher safety scores than Dhaka.

Numbeo is an international crowd-sourced database that regularly publishes comparative indices on cities and countries, covering topics such as crime, cost of living, housing, healthcare, traffic, and quality of life. Its 2026 Crime and Safety Index underscores growing concerns over law and order and public safety in Bangladesh’s capital.

Michigan, USA: Progressive politician and physician Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic Senate primary in the important battleground state of Michigan. In a closely contested race, he defeated moderate Democratic candidate Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

El-Sayed’s victory is being viewed as a major achievement for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Michigan’s Senate seat is considered one of the most competitive races ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate elections.

During his campaign, El-Sayed focused on issues including healthcare reform, reducing the cost of living for ordinary Americans, and addressing economic inequality. His campaign attracted strong support from young voters and progressive activists.

Meanwhile, Haley Stevens was backed by established Democratic leaders and moderate voters. The contest between the two candidates highlighted the broader debate over the future direction of the Democratic Party.

El-Sayed will now face Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the general election. Political analysts believe the race could have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, as Michigan remains a key swing state.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s primary victory is being seen as a sign of the growing influence of progressive politics within the Democratic Party, sparking new discussions in national politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

NEW YORK: A violent clash erupted between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Jackson Heights, Queens, leaving one senior leader seriously injured and another arrested by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on August 3 during an event held on 73rd Street, commonly known as “Bangladesh Street,” in Jackson Heights.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, a heated verbal altercation broke out between members of the two factions over longstanding organizational disputes and leadership rivalry. The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical fight, resulting in a bloody clash.

During the violence, several people at the scene were heard shouting warnings that a weapon or firearm might be present, prompting panic among attendees. Multiple videos of the incident later circulated widely on social media, drawing significant attention and concern within the Bangladeshi-American community.

Mohammad Shihab, Joint General Secretary of the United States Bangladesh Chhatra League, was reportedly assaulted during the clash and sustained serious injuries. Local residents and bystanders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical treatment.

Responding to emergency calls, officers from the NYPD arrived promptly at the scene and brought the situation under control. Based on allegations of assault, police detained and later arrested Zakir Hossain Rahul, also a Joint General Secretary of the United States Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Local party members said the violence stemmed from longstanding internal divisions within the organization, including demands for the resignation of the recently appointed president of the U.S. unit, Mahmud Hasan, and disagreements over the current leadership committee. They alleged that the clash was the result of escalating political rivalry and a struggle for organizational control.

The incident has drawn criticism from many members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, who expressed disappointment over the outbreak of violence involving a prominent student organization on U.S. soil.

Following the incident, the President of the United States Awami League, Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, and General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad issued a joint statement urging party leaders and activists to remain calm and exercise restraint.

In the statement, Dr. Rahman said those responsible for the violence would be investigated and that strict organizational action would be taken in accordance with the party’s constitution. The leaders also urged supporters to refrain from spreading rumors or misinformation on social media and to rely only on verified information regarding the incident. The NYPD investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

New Jersey: Two Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested in New Jersey after allegedly posing as bank security officials to scam a woman out of $25,000 and attempting to collect an additional $30,000, according to police. The suspects, identified as Mohammad N. Islam, 48, of Egg Harbor, and Mohammad Z. Islam, 58, of Westville, were arrested Friday by the Riverside Township Police Department. Authorities said N. Islam is originally from Narail, Bangladesh, while Z. Islam is from Mirsharai in Chattogram.

According to a spokesperson for the Riverside Township Police Department, both men have been charged in connection with fraud and deception offenses.

Police said the investigation began after a local woman reported that she had been targeted by a sophisticated scam. According to her complaint, fraudsters falsely claimed that her computer had been infected with a virus that was compromising the security of her Wells Fargo bank account. They also warned that the FBI was investigating the matter and threatened that she could face serious legal consequences if she failed to cooperate.

The woman was then instructed to call a phone number provided by the scammers. During the call, she was told that paying $25,000 in cash would resolve the issue. She was further instructed to withdraw the money, place it in a Wells Fargo envelope, and hand it over to a person posing as a bank security employee, who would collect the cash from her residence.

Believing the claims to be legitimate, the woman withdrew the money from her bank and handed over $25,000 to an individual who arrived at her home.

Shortly afterward, the scammers contacted her again and demanded an additional $30,000. At that point, the woman became suspicious and contacted police.

Following police instructions, she agreed to have the suspects return to her home to collect the second payment. Officers, who had been waiting inside the residence, arrested the two men when they arrived.

Investigators said the suspects later appeared in court and were released pending further court proceedings.

Riverside Township Police are urging residents to remain vigilant against similar scams and to contact law enforcement immediately if they receive suspicious calls demanding money or claiming to represent banks, government agencies, or law enforcement.

The case follows another fraud-related arrest involving a Bangladeshi national earlier this year. In February, police arrested Niamat Ullah, 31, a resident of Buffalo, New York, in connection with a spam-call scam. Authorities said he allegedly impersonated a member of the Norton Antivirus support team and threatened a victim into paying a large sum of money. Police recovered gold coins and more than $100,000 in cash from his vehicle. He faces multiple felony charges and was lodged at Tygart Valley Regional Jail, according to law enforcement.

NEW YORK: To mark the month of national mourning in August, the World Awami League has launched an initiative to release seven songs over seven consecutive days, highlighting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s history, and various contemporary political themes.

According to the organization, the songs are being released sequentially during the first seven days of August on its official YouTube channel @worldawamileague.

The seven songs featured in the special musical arrangement are: “Shokaboh August” (Mourning August), “Ponero August” (August 15), “Mukhosh Vangar Gaan” (Song of Breaking the Mask), “Neel Nokshar Kalo Jal” (The Black Web of a Blueprint), “Itihasher Rajkannya Sheikh Hasina” (Sheikh Hasina: The Princess of History), “Amar Jonno Kendo Na Bangladesh” (Bangladesh, Do Not Cry for Me), and “Itihasher Bari Dhanmondi 32” (Dhanmondi 32: The House of History).

Organizers said the songs portray different aspects of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s life and ideals, the tragic events of August 15, and various chapters of Bangladesh’s history and national consciousness. The initiative also aims to present historical events to the younger generation through music.

The World Awami League said one song is being released each day on its YouTube channel, making the musical collection accessible to Bengali-speaking audiences around the world.

The organization has invited viewers and listeners to follow the official YouTube channel @worldawamileague and join the special musical tribute commemorating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of August 15 during the month of mourning.

NEW YORK: At the first moment of August (12:01 a.m.), the US Awami League and its affiliated organizations held a candlelight vigil and remembrance meeting in honor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the family members who were killed on August 15, 1975.

The program took place at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Queens, where leaders and members of the US Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, and Swechchhasebak League gathered to pay tribute.

US Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad and Member of Parliament Nazrul Islam Babu.

Participants lit candles and observed a moment of remembrance in tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely recognized as the architect of Bangladesh’s independence, as well as all those who lost their lives in the August 15, 1975, assassination.

In brief remarks, speakers condemned the killings of August 15, 1975, and called on Bangladeshis living abroad to remain united against what they described as conspiracies targeting the nation’s history and ideals. They also emphasized preserving the spirit of the Liberation War and the legacy of Bangabandhu.

The observance created a solemn atmosphere at Diversity Plaza, where members of the Bangladeshi community gathered to mark the beginning of the month of mourning with candlelight and prayers.

Dhaka: Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, will arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday for a three-day official visit from August 4 to 6, US Embassy Dhaka acting spokesperson Mara Bird said on Monday. During his visit, Admiral Koehler is scheduled to meet senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss the longstanding US-Bangladesh defence partnership and opportunities to expand cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and professional military education, she said.