The United States and Bangladesh named their respective new ambassadors for each other. US President Donald Trump nominated Brent Christensen, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, to serve as the next US ambassador to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has appointed Tareq Md Ariful Islam, a career diplomat, as Bangladesh's next ambassador to the US. Ambassador Islam was serving as the permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices in Geneva.

Christensen's name was unveiled in a slew of appointments and nominations that included the nomination of the current State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, as ambassador to the United Nations. He has previous experience in Bangladesh, having served as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy here from 2019-2021, according to his official profile on the State Department's website. His nomination is subject to approval by the Senate. Meanwhile a senior official at the Foreign Ministry told UNB that Tareq has already moved out of Geneva to Washington, DC.

The Election Commission finalised the draft of the revised Representation of the People Order, proposing to bar fugitives from elections and introducing a 'No Vote' option in single-candidate constituencies to avoid uncontested polls. It has now been sent to the Law Ministry for vetting. In the draft law, the definition of law enforcement agency has been expanded to include the armed forces - Army, Navy and Air Force, which pave the way for the armed forces to act as law enforcing agencies in the election like other traditional agencies including police, armed police battalion, Rab, Ansar, BGB and coast guard.

As per the proposed amendments, a candidate must submit their income tax returns, probable sources of income both home and abroad, and list property owned by them or their dependents both at home and abroad. Furnishing false information could lead to them losing their parliamentary seat at any time. It also made it mandatory for alliance candidates to use their own party's symbol, not allied party's symbol.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict that acquitted BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, and 47 others in two cases over the August 21, 2004 grenade attack in an Awami League rally that killed 24 people. A six-member bench of the Appellate Division dismissed the appeal filed by the state challenging the HC verdict. The Supreme Court expressed doubts about whether the confessional statements of the accused in the cases were made voluntarily.

It noted that the statements of three accused were recorded on a single day during the lower court trial, which it described as highly unusual. The apex court also expunged the High Court's observation suggesting that the Home Ministry could conduct a fresh investigation. Additionally, it directed the authorities to release any accused still in jail in connection with the cases. Tarique Rahman, the BNP's acting chairman, has now been cleared in all the cases against him.

A person was killed, and at least seven others were injured as law enforcers opened fire during a clash with workers at the Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nilphamari. The deceased was identified as Md Habib, 21, an employee of Equ International -- a knitting factory. According to EPZ Executive Director Abdul Jabbar, the workers of Evergreen Products Factory (BD) Ltd -- a wig factory at the EPZ -- had been demanding termination benefits after authorities laid off around 50 employees.

This week, factory authorities suddenly announced a two-day holiday. Enraged by the sudden closure, the workers blocked the nearby Nilphamari-Saidpur highway. They said the factory authorities terminated workers without paying benefits, while many more were in line to be laid off. Police, BGB, and army personnel rushed to the spot and tried to disperse them. Workers alleged that the law enforcers opened fire, at which time Habib was shot dead. Although the EPZ reopened later in the week, Evergreen remains closed till its owners sign an agreement ensuring the fulfilment of most of the workers' demands.