Under the façade of political programmes, BNP and its allied political parties, including Jamaat, militant groups, fundamentalists and conspirators at home and abroad, have lately resorted to terrorist acts trying to destabilize the country, leaving at least 30 police officials injured. In disguise of sit-in programmes, such militant groups led by BNP and Jamaat put barricades on the roads at all the entrances to the capital city as part of their pre-planned attempts to disconnect the capital with the rest of the country. Meanwhile a call by Tarique Rahman – the acting chief of BNP convicted in a litany of cases including money laundering and the 2004 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina – from London that “the fate of the country will be decided on the streets” has triggered criticism from rights activists and minority community leaders.

A recent rally held in the northern part of Bangladesh has witnessed a record turnout with members from minorities and transgender communities turned up in droves expressing their solidarity with the call of the premier to keep Awami League in power for another term. A festive mood had been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district for the first time in five years since she last visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018. Meanwhile, she inaugurated 27 newly constructed development schemes and laid foundation stone of five others in the district.

During the first 28 days of July, Bangladeshi remitters sent home nearly $1.75 billion, marking a hopeful sign for the economy amid the ongoing dollar crisis. According to the latest central bank data released on Sunday, Bangladeshis working or living abroad sent an average daily remittance of $62.5 million in the first month of FY24. The country has been grappling with an acute dollar shortage since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to high import bills and rapidly depleting foreign currency reserves. Remittances and exports, both economic mainstays, are expected to play a critical role in protecting these reserves.

A remarkable surge in mango growth and exports from the country has been witnessed lately that has surpassed all previous records. During current season, the country has exported a substantial amount of the fruits weighing some 2,700 tonnes, marking an impressive increase of 1,000 tonnes compared to last year's export volume of 1,757 tonnes, according to agriculture ministry. The global demand for Bangladeshi mangoes has soared, prompting exports to 34 countries this year, a notable increase from the 28 countries in the previous year.

The country's export earnings in the first month (July) of the current fiscal year (FY24) witnessed a healthy growth of 15.26 percent totaling $4,592.92 million. The export earnings in July of the last year were $3,984.82 million. According to the latest statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the export earnings in July were also 2.50% higher than the strategic export target of $4,481 million set for the month. According to EPB data, the export of RMG items in July this year experienced a healthy growth of 17.43 percent fetching $3,953.74 million. Out of that, the single-month export of knitwear bagged the highest amount of $2,266.48 million with a 22.24% growth while the export of woven garments received $1,687.26 million having a growth of 11.54% .

Recalling the trauma of gang-rape and subsequent stigmatization during the BNP-Jamaat government in 2001, Purnima Rani Shil labelled BNP leader Tarique Rahman “a disease.” Speaking at Awami League’s peace procession, Purnima, who still recalls the doomsday-like incident – then just 14, when a group of 30-40 men attacked her home in Sirajganj district – asked: “Where is Tarique Rahman now? How do you talk about humanity? Don’t you have any shame?”. The unthinkable brutality Purnima experienced made headlines after a group of men raped her in Ullahpara of Sirajganj on October 8, 2001.

The government will distribute Tk 270 crore as cash incentive to some 200,000 returnee expatriate workers who have been going through a tough time since their return to the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will be disbursed through welfare centres, which will be set up in 30 districts of the country. Thirty welfare centres will be set up in different districts for reintegrating the returnee expatriate workers. Apart from DNCC and Gazipur, the centres will be established in Dhaka South City Corporation and Narayanganj district. Cash incentives, self-employment assistance, loan assistance, counselling, entrepreneurship training assistance, skill certification, technical training assistance and other welfare assistance will be provided to expatriate workers through the welfare centres.