Teachers assaulted in anti-quota movement

Students seeking quota reforms in civil service have so far been at the receiving end of the wrath of Bangladesh Chhatra League. But on July 15, even teachers were not spared as they stood by their students. Three teachers of Dhaka University were assaulted by some members of the pro-Awami League student organisation when they tried to save their students from attacks. They are Prof Fahmidul Haq and Associate Professor Abdur Razzaque Khan of Mass Communication and Journalism and Associate Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan of International Relations. The three had joined demonstrations of students demanding a safe campus and immediate release of detained leaders of the quota reform movement. The assaults sparked outrage on social media and condemnation from Ain o Salish Kendra, Gonoforum and Pahari Chhatra Parishad, among others.

Hasina assures Indian Home Chief "zero tolerance" for terrorism

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that Bangladesh doesn't allow its territory to be used by any terrorist, terrorist group or entity against any state or people, and always favours resolving any issue with neighbours through talks. During a meeting with the visiting Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh at her official residence Gono Bhaban on July 14, the PM said Bangladesh strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms. "In line with its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and violent extremism, Bangladesh doesn't allow its territory to be used by any terrorist individual, group and entity against any state or people," she said. Stating that Bangladesh is in favour of holding dialogue to mitigate any problem, she said, "We're always in favour of holding dialogue to mitigate any problem. We've resolved many issues like the land boundary disputes through this process."

Tigresses quality for WT20

The Bangladesh women's cricket team qualified for the Women's World Twenty20 for the third time by outclassing their Scottish counterparts by 49 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier semifinal in Amstelveen, Netherlands on July 12. Middle-order batter Nigar Sultana set up the clinical win by scoring 31 in Bangladesh's score of 125 for six, and that was followed by miserly bowling from all-rounder Rumana Ahmed who took two wickets for 10 runs from four overs to help restrict Scotland to 76 for seven in 20 overs. The Tigresses had previously participated in World T20s in 2014 at home and in 2016 in India, but failed to make it out of the group stage on either occasion.

EC will hold fair elections: Minister

The Election Commission, with the support of all political parties, the administration and other stakeholders, will be able to hold an "inclusive, fair and neutral" general election by the end of this year, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said. He made the remark while addressing as the chief guest at a reception marking the French National Day on July 15. French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin also spoke on the occasion. The state minister said Bangladesh considered all human rights as universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing. "The fundamental rights envisaged in the constitution of Bangladesh reflect many of the human rights prescribed by international human rights law," he said.