As Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani charges into the general election, allies and opponents are mobilizing behind new super PACs—one to propel him to City Hall, the other to stop him from getting there—amid growing unease in the city’s business circles. A pro-Mamdani PAC named “OneNYC” was filed on Thursday, according to state campaign finance records. The independent expenditure lists Yasser Salem, a partner at the private investment group Hira Ventures, as its treasurer.

“Campaigning and mobilizing provides a massive platform to elevate community capabilities and culture, collectively and individually,” he wrote on X just days before the June 24 primary won by Mamdani. “After the primaries, we should reflect on this together and think hard on establishing and well-oiled machine/operation #nycmuslimvotesmatter.” Salem did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mamdani’s campaign denied any previous knowledge of the PAC.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist Queens Assembly member, also benefits from the support of a separate PAC named “New Yorkers for Lower Costs” that formed during the primary. It raised over $1.3 million during the Democratic contest, state records indicate, and reportedly will continue operating during the general election.

At the same time, a group of business honchos dead-set on stopping Mamdani formed their own PAC — “New Yorkers for a Better Future Mayor 25” — on Tuesday, according to a Wall Street Journal report and state records. The group is reportedly planning to raise $20 million against Mamdani.

The PAC’s treasurer, Jeffrey Leb, is a managing partner at Capitol Consulting LLC, according to his LinkedIn page. Many in the city’s business community are alarmed by Mamdani’s mayoral bid, citing his plan to fund affordability initiatives by raising taxes on corporations and high earners—measures that would require approval from state lawmakers. He has proposed raising the state’s corporate tax rate from 7.25% to 11.50%, in line with New Jersey’s, and adding a flat 2% income tax increase for those earning over $1 million a year.

Mamdani, who has been meeting with business and real estate leaders worried about him becoming mayor, said on Thursday that while he holds firm in his beliefs, he has no intention of driving them out of the city.

“My vision of this city is not one where any business leader leaves this city, where any real estate developer feels as if they have no place in this city,” Mamdani said during an unrelated July 10 news conference. “It is a vision of this city where everyone stays, everyone thrives, and we actually make enough room for more to join us.”

However, the group has yet to pick a Mamdani challenger in a field that includes incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and possibly former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who will both appear on the ballot as independents.

Adams and Cuomo are both calling on the other to drop out of the race, each believing they are the one best positioned to take on Mamdani in November. Each faces an uphill battle against Mamdani, who soundly defeated Cuomo by roughly 13% in the primary, after ranked-choice tabulations, and has been leading both by double digits in a string of recent polls.

During the primary, hedge fund manager and President Trump-ally Bill Ackman contributed half a million dollars to Fix the City, a super PAC that supported Cuomo in that race. Fix the City ended up spending over $22 million to flood the airwaves and line mailboxes with Mamdani attack ads — a massive expenditure that appeared to be in vain given Mamdani’s margin of victory.

Fix the City has reportedly continued to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars since the primary, aiming to back a candidate capable of defeating Mamdani in the general election. Ackman announced last week that he is switching to support Adams in the general election after determining the current mayor stands a better chance at overcoming Mamdani than the former governor.

The new PACs formed as establishment Democratic pols and groups have begun coalescing around Mamdani in recent days. Just this week, Mamdani was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx) and the Manhattan Democratic Party, both of whom backed Cuomo in the primary, as well as the United Federal of Teachers, which declined to back a candidate in the Democratic contest.

The second-round negotiation between Bangladesh and United States over tariff issue ended on Friday at about 4:00pm in the US capital Washington DC keeping several issues unresolved. Washington wanted Dhaka to keep distance with companies under the sanctioned-hit list from the US while Dhaka sought necessary time to meet the US demands, said an official who attended the meeting.

Both the parties agreed to carry on negotiation to solve the unresolved issues, added the official. The second-round negotiation was convened following the US president Donald Trump’s announcement of imposition of 35 per cent tariff on Bangladeshi export goods from August 1.

Saima Wazed Putul, the World Health Organisation’s regional director for South-East Asia, has been placed on indefinite leave, four months after the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh filed two cases against her on charges of fraud, forgery and misuse of power, according to the Health Policy Watch. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision in a brief internal email, stating that Wazed would be on leave starting Friday (July 11).

He also said WHO assistant director-general Catharina Boehme would assume responsibility as officer-in-charge of the SEARO office in Wazed’s absence. Boehme is expected to arrive at the SEARO headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 15).

Saima Wazed, daughter of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina who fled the country last August after protests, took office as regional director in January 2024. The charges against Saima Wazed stem from her bid to be appointed regional director. Her campaign was shadowed by claim that her influential mother used her influence to ensure her daughter’s election.

According to the formal charges, she is alleged to have provided false information about her academic record during her campaign for regional director, violating Section 468 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 471 (forging a document).

The ACC also alleged she misrepresented her qualifications by claiming an honorary role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, which the university disputes, to secure her WHO position. Saima Wazed is also accused of having misused her power and influence to collect about $2.8 million from various banks for the Shuchona Foundation which she used to head.

The ACC case did not provide complete details on how the money was then used. Those charges include: allegations of fraud and misuse of power under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947. Since the charges were laid, Wazed has been unable to travel properly in the SEARO region as she faces arrest in Bangladesh, it said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday questioned whether the attackers, clearly seen on video fatally assaulting a scrap trader in front of Mitford Hospital, have not yet been arrested due to the silent support or the interim government’s indirect indulgence.

‘In yesterday’s incident, we were very surprised to see clearly on the screen who were killing (the trader), but they have not yet been arrested. Should we assume that those trying to create mob violence and unrest are being secretly supported or pampered by the government or some officials in the administration?’ he said.

Tarique made the remarks while virtually exchanging views with the families of the 142 martyrs of the July mass uprising.

He said both BNP and its affiliated organisations have always demanded justice, no matter who commits the crime. ‘A wrongdoer is a wrongdoer. Justice must be served according to the law. No wrongdoer should have the identity of any political party.’

The BNP leader said people across the country are asking why the government authorities remain silent and why proper legal action is not being taken against those trying to create chaos.

‘Many incidents are happening in different places, and we are watching closely those who are trying to disrupt a peaceful environment,’ he said.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal organised the event at a hotel in the capital to mark the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising and to honour the memory of the brave martyrs of Chhatra Dal.

It was a deeply emotional occasion as the families of the fallen shared their sorrow and grief. They recalled their loved ones with heavy hearts.

Many also called for justice and demanded that those responsible for the killings be held to account.

Tarique urged the families of the martyrs to raise their voices loudly over the delays in the trials of those responsible for killing their loved ones.

He also warned them to be vigilant against those trying to create mobs to delay justice.

The BNP leader assured that if his party returns to power, it will prioritise ensuring the trials of those who killed innocent people during the mass uprising and democratic movement.

‘All I can say is that if BNP forms the government with the support of the people in the coming days, we will do our utmost to ensure justice for those who lost their lives defending the rights of the people,’ he said.