Information and Broadcasting Advisor Mahfuj Alam has been targeted with eggs and water bottles by expatriate activists of the Awami League while entering the Bangladesh Consulate in New York. The advisor went there to attend a discussion marking the July Uprising Day. The protestors were later removed by New York police, reports bdnews24.com. The consulate organised the event on Sunday evening, with Mahfuj Alam as chief guest. Forewarned by Awami League leaders the previous day, more than a hundred members of the party and affiliated Jubo League and Bangladesh Chhatra League gathered around the consulate from 6:00pm, waving party flags and shouting slogans including “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu”. As Mahfuj exited his vehicle at 7:00pm, he was pelted with eggs and water bottles, and one protester kicked the consulate’s glass door, causing damage. Even after he entered the building, demonstrators continued shouting until police intervened following a consulate call. Participants included US Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman, Samad Azad, Abul Hasib Mamun, Mahiuddin Dewan, Haji Enam, Misbah Ahmed, Farid Alam, Imdad Chowdhury, MA Karim Jahangir, Shahnara Rahman, Momtaz Shahana, Khan Shawkat, Darud Mia Ronel, and Zahid Khan. Bangladesh Embassy Press Minister Golam Mortoza, attending from Washington DC, lauded the overthrow of the Awami League government through the student-led mass uprising, calling the party’s rule a “monarchy”. “You, the student and people’s leaders, shed blood to topple that monarchy and drive it out of the country. Now, it is only natural that someone will throw eggs, hurl insults, or demand the fall of Mahfuj Alam,” he said. At the event, Mahfuj expressed gratitude for diaspora engagement, saying their contributions would be acknowledged in the July Charter. He emphasised that he is non-partisan and urged future leaders to uphold July’s principles, ensure a corruption-free and accountable administration, and prioritise the country over personal political agendas. During the Q&A, a participant called for closing Indian media in Bangladesh, to which Mahfuj responded that he does not support censorship and always advocates for positive alternatives. He is scheduled to remain in the United States on official duty until Aug 27.

Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza on Monday killed at least 20 people, including three journalists, one of whom worked for Reuters, Palestinian health officials said. Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, one of the journalists killed in the strikes according to the officials, was a contractor for Reuters. Photographer Hatem Khaled, who was also a Reuters contractor, was wounded, the officials said. The Israeli military and Prime Minister's Office both had no immediate comment regarding the strikes. Other world leaders and journalist groups reacted to an Israeli strike on Monday at Gaza Strip's Nasser hospital that also killed five journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and others. COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS: "The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Israeli strikes that killed five journalists in Nasser hospital in southern Gaza and calls for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its continued unlawful attacks on the press." PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS SYNDICATE: "The Syndicate affirmed that this heinous crime represents a dangerous escalation in the direct and deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalists and confirms without a shadow of a doubt that the occupation is waging an open war on free media, with the aim of terrorizing journalists and preventing them from carrying out their professional mission of exposing its crimes to the world." US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: “When did this happen?” “I didn't know that. Well, I’m not happy about it. I don't want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare.” FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON: "This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict." QATARI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: "In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the occupation forces' targeting of journalists and relief and medical workers requires urgent and decisive international action to provide the necessary protection for civilians and ensure that the perpetrators of these atrocities do not escape punishment." UNITED NATIONS SPOKESPERSON STEPHANE DUJARRIC: "The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killing of Palestinians today in Israeli strikes that hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Those killed in addition to civilians included medical personnel and journalists. "These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict. "The Secretary-General recalls that civilians, including medical personnel and journalists, must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt, and impartial investigation into these killings." JEROME GRIMAUD, MSF EMERGENCY COORDINATOR IN GAZA: "For the past 22 months, we have watched as healthcare facilities have been levelled, journalists silenced, and healthcare workers buried beneath the rubble by the Israeli forces. As Israel continues to shun international law, the only witnesses of their genocidal campaign are deliberately being targeted. It must stop now.” RAVINA SHAMDASANI, CHIEF SPOKESPERSON FOR U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VOLKER TURK: "The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world – not into stunned silence – but into action, demanding accountability and justice." WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS: "While people in #Gaza are being starved, their already limited access to health care is being further crippled by repeated attacks." "We cannot say it loudly enough: STOP attacks on health care. Ceasefire now! UNRWA CHIEF PHILIPPE LAZZARINI: "Silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently and #famine with the world’s indifference & inaction is shocking....Let us undo this manmade famine by: - opening the gates without restrictions - protecting journalists & humanitarian + health workers Time for political will. Not tomorrow, now." JERUSALEM-BASED FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION: "We demand an immediate explanation from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. We call on Israel once and for all to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists....We appeal to international leaders: do everything you can to protect our colleagues. We cannot do it ourselves."

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday categorically said it is high time to take pragmatic steps and transform their legal and moral commitments into concrete actions to stop the Israeli military aggression and genocide against the people of Palestine. Regarding the recent indication of recognition to the Palestinian statehood from a number of Western countries, Hossain said this could be the least they could do to acknowledge the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the occupying forces of Israel. He made the remarks during his intervention at the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Reiterating Bangladesh’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine and the latter’s just struggle to attain self-determination and freedom, Adviser Hossain called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and credible and irreversible path to the two-State formula following the 1967 borders. He expressed any unconditional support from the government and people of Bangladesh which might be tabled by OIC or the Muslim Ummah aimed at the emancipation of the brotherly people of Palestine. On the sidelines of the Extra-ordinary Meeting, Hossain met Foreign Minister of the Gambia Sering Modou Njie. They discussed the current status of the ICJ case against Myanmar on the Rohingyas and also decided to hold next foreign office consultation in Dhaka at a convenient time. The Gambian Foreign Minister informed that he plans to visit the Rohingya camp soon. Additional Foreign Secretary M Forhadul Islam and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the OIC MJH Jabed accompanied the Foreign Affairs Adviser during the ministerial and meetings on the sidelines.