The government appointed internationally renowned human rights advocate Irene Khan as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations, granting her the status of a state minister. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Wednesday (Jul. 8) awarding Khan the rank of state minister. According to the notification, she will receive the salary, allowances and other benefits attached to the post while serving in the position.

Khan will replace Bangladesh's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, who is likely to be appointed as foreign secretary. She currently serves as the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Previously, she served as secretary general of the UK-based international human rights organisation Amnesty International. Meanwhile, BNP Information and Technology Secretary AKM Wahiduzzaman is likely to be appointed Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York.

Eight people were killed and several others injured when a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall struck a madrasah in a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar on Wednesday afternoon. Four of the deceased were sisters Umme Nesat, 13, and Umme Salma, 11, Kausna, 11, and madrasah teacher Shamsul Alam. Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter said a large chunk of mud collapsed onto the roof of a madrasah amid incessant rain.

Locals recovered the bodies of five deceased from the scene and rescued several others trapped under the debris. Of those rescued alive, five were admitted to a local hospital in a critical condition, where three of them succumbed to their injuries, the UNO said. The incident occurred three days after nine people, including seven members of two families, were killed in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in the district in the early hours of June 6.

Parliament formed the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, making Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher as its chair. This marks the first time a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP has been appointed chairman of a parliamentary standing committee. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the formation of the 15‑member committee, which was later adopted unanimously under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.

Other members are Amanullah Aman (Dhaka‑2), ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan (Lakshmipur‑4), AKM Fazlul Haque Milan (Gazipur‑5), Md Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola‑2), AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon (Noakhali‑1), Md Jalal Uddin (Chandpur‑2), Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman (Mymensingh‑7), Sk Azizul Baree (Khulna‑4), Md Monjurul Islam (Dinajpur‑1), Md Fazley Houda (Naogaon‑3), Mohammed Zakir Hossain (Mymensingh‑5), Syed Joynul Abedin (Dhaka‑4), Md Ruhul Amin (Chuadanga‑2) and Md Anwarul Islam (Kurigram‑1). The Public Accounts Committee is considered one of the most important parliamentary committees. Its responsibilities include oversight of state expenditure, audit objections, and accountability in public accounts.

The Finance Division issued a fresh set of austerity measures, including a ban on the purchase of vehicles under the development budget for the 2026-27 financial year, aimed at ensuring better utilisation of public funds. However, the ban will not apply to vehicle purchases under development projects approved before the issuance of the new directives, according to a notification issued by the Finance Ministry.

The notification also relaxed the ban on procuring vehicles and vessels under the non-development budget, allowing ministries and their agencies to replace vehicles that are more than 10 years old. It said the replacement vehicles must be fully electric. The notification also said block allocations made in the non-development budget would remain frozen. The fresh directives also retain bans on overseas trips with the public fund while keeping studies on master degrees and participating in fellowship by overseas fund open. The notification also retained bans on interest free car loan availed by the government officers from the deputy secretary level.