United News of Bangladesh

The number of wild elephants roaming the Garo Hills of Sherpur appears to be growing but the forests they depend on are steadily shrinking. As trees are felled, forestland is occupied, sand and stone are extracted illegally, and streams and waterfalls dry up amid climate change the elephants are losing both habitat and food sources. Hungry and thirsty herds are venturing out of the forests and into settlements and farmland in search of food and water, resulting in growing struggle for space between humans and elephants — a conflict that is proving deadly for both. On World Elephant Day, observed on Aug 12, conservationists say the challenge is no longer simply to protect elephants from people but to create conditions in which the two can coexist. The problem has been compounded by human ignorance and, more recently, what conservationists describe as the aggressive behaviour of some content creators who enter elephant habitats to film the animals, sometimes provoking or disturbing them. As elephants raid crops and damage homes and other property, people have been killed or injured. At the same time, elephants themselves are being shot, attacked with sharp weapons or killed after becoming trapped in electric fences. From migrant visitors to permanent residents For decades, herds of Asian elephants crossed the border from the forests of India’s Assam and Meghalaya and moved through the forests of Sherpur. But the elephants now found in the Garo Hills are no longer simply seasonal or “migrant” visitors. A significant number are now believed to live and breed permanently in the area, making the conservation of their habitat an increasingly urgent priority. Environmentalists and nature lovers said the time has come to establish a dedicated elephant sanctuary in the hill areas of Sherpur to protect the animals and reduce conflict with local communities. This year’s World Elephant Day campaign carries the theme “United Around the World to Save the Lives of Elephants.” The campaign highlights qualities displayed by elephants in the wild — compassion, wisdom, strong family bonds and resilience — while encouraging people to embrace those values and promote responsible stewardship of wildlife. In Sherpur, programmes were held in the three hill upazilas — Jhenaigati, Sreebardi and Nalitabari — to raise awareness about elephant conservation, coexistence and conflict prevention. “Hati-r Khabarakhabar o Sachetanata” group, Sherpur Bird Conservation Society, the Forest Department and other organisations. Elephant numbers rising About a decade ago, an IUCN survey estimated that 120 to 125 elephants were present in Sherpur’s forests. All of them were classified as migrant elephants that crossed into Bangladesh from India. Today, however, forest officials believe the population in the Garo Hills has increased significantly. According to a Forest Department sources, at least 55 elephant calves are estimated to have been born in the area over the past three years. While around 100 to 120 elephants were previously seen roaming the Garo Hills, officials now estimate the number at between 180 and 200. The increase is being attributed largely to continued breeding in the area. Although Asian elephants are under severe threat of extinction in Bangladesh, officials see the presence of calves in several herds as a positive sign for the species in the Garo Hills. A recent drone survey reportedly spotted eight to 10 calves among a herd of 34 elephants inside the forest. Forest officials said elephants generally give birth at intervals of about four years, but the availability of suitable habitat and food in parts of the Garo Hills appears to be supporting reproduction. At the Balijuri Range in Sreebardi, elephants have been observed moving in three herds through relatively dense forest. Each herd is estimated to contain 30 to 35 elephants, including seven or eight calves. Calves have also been spotted among herds roaming Batkuchi, Daodhara Katabari, Burunga, Kalapani and Madhutila in Nalitabari. Sixteen years, 47 human deaths The rise in elephant numbers, however, is taking place against a backdrop of intensifying human-elephant conflict. According to Forest Department data, 47 people have died in human-elephant conflicts in the hill areas of Sreebardi, Jhenaigati and Nalitabari between 2010 and 2026. Elephant attacks have also destroyed homes, trees, crops and other property worth several crore taka. During the same period, 35 elephants have died. Most were killed by gunfire, sharp weapons or electric traps. The latest human casualty occurred on Jan 7 this year, when a man collecting firewood in the Newatila area of Balijuri Hills in Sreebardi was killed in an elephant attack. In another incident, on July 5 last year, a 15- to 16-year-old female elephant was found dead in the Katabari Hills of Nalitabari after apparently being killed by an electric trap. Hunger and thirst drive elephants into settlements Sujay Makar, president of the Sherpur Bird Club, said a fully grown elephant needs roughly 140 to 270 kilograms of food and 200 to 300 litres of water every day. But deforestation, the drying up of streams and the encroachment of traditional elephant corridors have deprived the animals of essential resources, he said. “As the forests lose their food and water sources, hungry and thirsty elephants are becoming disoriented and coming down into the plains,” Makar said. The Forest Department estimates that around 120 elephants currently roam the 8,330-acre Balijuri Range. But officials acknowledge that the present condition of the forest is far from ideal for sustaining such a population. The tendency of elephants to enter settlements has become particularly acute over the past 10 to 15 years, further escalating conflict.  

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unbeaten on 65 as Bangladesh reached 417 for 8 at lunch on the third day of the first Test against Australia on Saturday, stretching their lead to 219 runs. Miraz and Taskin Ahmed added 45 without being separated in the morning session, putting on their fifth partnership of more than 40 runs in the innings. Miraz has faced 152 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Taskin is 12 not out from 22 balls. Australia managed only two wickets in the 23-over session, both taken by Josh Hazlewood. Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam were dismissed as Bangladesh lost their seventh and eighth wickets. Australia also missed two chances off Pat Cummins. Steven Smith and Travis Head both put down catches. Miraz finished the session in style, hitting Cameron Green for six over the boundary. His partnership with Taskin has taken Bangladesh closer to a lead of 250. Bangladesh resumed the day on 351 for 6 after Tanzid Hasan’s 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 84 and Mominul Haque’s 49 helped them build a strong position. They had started the innings 102 runs behind Australia, who were bowled out for 198 on the first day. Australia now face the prospect of having to chase a large deficit in their second innings, with Bangladesh still two wickets away from completing their first innings.  

Dhaka's air quality remained moderate on Saturday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 94. The capital ranked 16th among the world's most polluted cities at 9:11 am, according to the AQI scale. Indonesia’s Medan and Jakarta and Bahrain’s Manama occupied the first three spots on the list with AQI scores of 174, 171 and 167, respectively. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate" with an acceptable air quality while AQI between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while a score between 151 and 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. AQI readings between 201 and 300 are termed ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks. The AQI is a daily indicator of air quality, showing how clean or polluted the air is and the possible health effects people may experience. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution. Air quality usually worsens during winter and improves in the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.  

A series of shootings in Michigan resulted in the deaths of five victims and the suspected shooter on Friday, authorities said. Police conducted an extensive search across two residences and a nearby wooded area before locating the suspect. Michigan State Police said officers were called shortly before noon to a home in Missaukee County, roughly 170 miles northwest of Detroit, after receiving reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found three people dead and another person critically injured. The injured victim was transported to a hospital. Police identified the suspected shooter as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, who had left the residence before officers arrived. Authorities launched a large-scale search and later discovered a fourth deceased person at another nearby home. Police warned residents through a post on X that Hickman was believed to be armed and dangerous and urged people not to approach him. Investigators eventually located Hickman’s vehicle in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake. The search led officers to the bodies of Hickman and another deceased person, bringing the total number of deaths to six, including the suspect. “This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” Lt. Ashley Miller said. She added that investigators would continue working through the night to examine and process each of the crime scenes. Authorities asked residents to stay away from the locations connected to the shootings while the investigation continued. Police had not immediately released the identities or ages of the victims because their families had not yet been notified. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she had been briefed about the incident and was closely monitoring developments. “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community,” Whitmer said.

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s coast early Saturday, damaging homes and other buildings, killing at least two people and leaving others injured. The strong shaking sparked panic in an area frequently affected by major earthquakes. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning and instructed people living near the coast to move to higher ground. The warning was later canceled after Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency reported no major changes in sea levels that could threaten coastal communities. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers in the Flores region at 5:58 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was located roughly 68 kilometers northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. Several aftershocks were reported following the main earthquake. Indonesia’s disaster management agency said preliminary information from the Maumere Search and Rescue Agency indicated that at least two people had died and two others were injured. Several structures reportedly suffered serious damage or collapsed. Television footage showed patients being moved out of hospitals as a precaution. Medical workers transported beds, oxygen cylinders, IV equipment and other supplies outdoors and established temporary treatment areas to continue caring for patients safely. Strong Shaking Felt Across FloresThe earthquake was felt throughout large parts of Flores island, where initial assessments indicated significant damage. Yohanna Embu, a resident of Sikka in East Nusa Tenggara, said the powerful shaking damaged numerous buildings and caused frightened residents to rush toward higher ground. She reported that part of the waiting area at the Maumere port terminal had collapsed. At St. Peter Major Seminary in Sikka, students attending morning Mass fled after the roof of an assembly building gave way, according to seminary rector Rev. Guidelbertus Tanga. The institution, commonly called Ritapiret Seminary, is located on predominantly Catholic Flores island. Tanga said students and nuns escaped as the roof began collapsing. He also reported that at least one priest broke a leg after jumping from the second floor during the earthquake. The initial tsunami warning covered parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi. Residents were advised to stay away from beaches and riverbanks while officials monitored the situation. Indonesia’s Long History of Deadly EarthquakesIndonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because the country sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an extensive zone of active faults and volcanoes. Flores has experienced devastating disasters in the past. A major earthquake-triggered tsunami in 1992 killed around 2,500 people on the island. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia and generated a destructive local tsunami. Severe ground liquefaction also caused parts of Palu to turn into mudflows, destroying entire neighborhoods. More than 4,400 people died in that disaster. The Mentawai Islands off Sumatra were struck by a roughly 3-meter tsunami in 2010, just minutes after a powerful offshore earthquake. More than 400 people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed. One of Indonesia’s worst natural disasters occurred in December 2004, when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake near Sumatra triggered a massive Indian Ocean tsunami. The disaster killed approximately 230,000 people across a dozen countries.

Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Hawaii’s Big Island this weekend, potentially bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, flooding and increased wildfire risks. The National Hurricane Center said Lala could reach hurricane strength as it nears the Big Island early Saturday. If the storm makes landfall, it would mark the island’s first hurricane landfall since 1871, when a Category 3 hurricane struck its northeastern area. A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island, while Maui County—including Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe—is under a tropical storm warning. Authorities have prepared shelters and canceled several events as residents brace for the storm. Forecasters expect 8 to 12 inches of rain across Maui and the Big Island, with some parts of the Big Island potentially receiving up to 25 inches. Other islands could see 4 to 6 inches. Officials warned of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge, dangerous surf and rip currents. State Rep. Jeanné Kapela urged residents, particularly those living in rural and remote areas, to take the threat seriously and move to safer locations before conditions worsen. She expressed concern for people living in off-grid or unauthorized structures in southern areas of the Big Island. Farmers are also worried about the possibility of heavy rainfall arriving in a short period, especially those still recovering from severe flooding earlier in the year. Coffee and cattle operations in rural parts of the island could face additional damage. Strong winds may also increase wildfire concerns. Although no red flag warnings were in effect Friday, officials said the dry and windy conditions could still create dangerous fire conditions. Residents remain especially alert after the devastating 2023 Lahaina wildfire, which occurred during powerful winds associated with a hurricane passing south of Hawaii. By Friday afternoon, Lala was about 275 miles east-southeast of South Point on the Big Island. The storm had sustained winds of around 65 mph and was moving west-northwest at approximately 14 mph. A Category 1 hurricane requires sustained winds of at least 74 mph. University of Hawaii professor Steven Businger, whose research identified historical evidence of the 1871 hurricane, advised residents not to panic but to remain prepared. He said Lala could still produce damaging winds, although forecasts had been shifting the storm’s path farther south. The Big Island is particularly vulnerable because of its position at the southeastern end of the Hawaiian island chain. Historically, however, Kauai has experienced more hurricane landfalls. In 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai as a Category 4 storm. That year, like the current year, was influenced by El Niño, a Pacific warming pattern associated with increased hurricane activity.

A housewife reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in Beanibazar upazila of the district on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ripa Akter, 24, wife of Russell Ahmed and daughter of Abdur Rahman of Poilgram in Charkhai Union. SCC worker electrocuted, 2 others injured in Sylhet According to police and locals, Ripa's husband returned home around 1:30 p.m. to find the door of their residence locked from the inside. After receiving no response to his calls, he, along with neighbors, forced the door open and discovered Ripa hanging from a ceiling fan with a scarf (orna) wrapped around her neck. Believing she might still be alive, they immediately rushed her to the Upazila Health Complex, where the attending physician pronounced her dead. Abu Jafar Md. Mahfuzul Karim, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Beanibazar Police Station, said the body has been sent to the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Rapid Action Battalion -13 members have arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of rickshaw garage owner Abdur Rahman in Rangpur city. The elite force claims the murder was a planned act stemming from long-standing disputes over marriage, divorce, and financial transactions. The arrests were made during raids conducted within 24 hours of the incident. Rickshaw garage owner found dead in Rangpur The arrestees were identified as Dulal Mia, 45, of Mahiganj, Firoza Begum, 55, of Lalmonirhat, and Rezaul Islam, 55. Biplob Kumar Goswami, Additional SP, Senior Assistant Director of RAB-13, the suspects provided significant information regarding the murder plot during initial interrogation.

At least 16 people were killed and approximately 40 others injured early Friday following a collision on the Yaounde-Bafoussam highway in Cameroon. The accident took place at Nomale in the Ndikinimeki subdivision of the Mbam-et-Inoubou division, located in the Centre region. According to police and eyewitness, a passenger bus slammed into a parked truck loaded with planks. Among those killed were seven members of the same family who were traveling to attend a funeral. State broadcaster media said the number of injuries, while local police confirmed that formal investigations have been launched to determine the precise cause of the crash. Road accidents are a common occurrence in Cameroon, frequently attributed to reckless driving and poor infrastructure. Data from the Cameroonian Ministry of Transport reveals that approximately 1,500 people die annually in road-related incidents across the central African nation.

Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Opposition Chief Whip, on Friday warned that the government would not be allowed to remain in power if it continues to fail to provide essentials like gas and electricity. Addressing a massive public rally in the city’s Jatrabari area, the NCP leader attributed the ongoing national fuel and energy crisis to governmental mismanagement, corruption, and "unprecedented looting". The rally, organized by NCP’s Dhaka Metropolitan South unit, presented several demands, including the implementation of the public mandate, a reversal of fuel-gas price hikes, and an end to political oppression. Opposition leader urges acting president to convene special parliament session over power, energy crisis "If this government cannot supply gas, reduce prices, or stop the extortion hindering businesses, we will not let them stay in office," Nahid said.

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday urged the Acting President to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the ongoing severe power and energy crisis and the deteriorating socioeconomic and law-and-order situation in the country. He made the request in a letter sent to the acting president, according to a press release issued by Mujibul Alam, Senior Publicity Assistant of the party's Central Publicity Department.  Jamaat demands immediate suspension of moves to increase private sector participation in fuel sector Copies of the letter were also sent to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Parliament Secretariat. In the letter, Shafiqur Rahman said a severe power crisis is currently prevailing across the country. He said rampant load-shedding has made people's lives unbearable while seriously affecting industrial production, business and commerce. The direct impact of the power and energy crisis has also contributed to rising prices of essential commodities and a severe deterioration in the overall law-and-order situation, pushing people into extreme uncertainty, he said. “As representatives of the people, we cannot remain silent during this crisis,” the opposition leader said, stressing that meaningful discussion in parliament and finding an immediate solution are essential to address the situation. He urged the acting president to immediately convene a special session of parliament to find swift solutions to the power and energy crisis and other related problems across the country. The letter was sent to the acting president on Friday, according to a press release issued by the central publicity department of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Police arrested three individuals for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a CNG-run autorickshaw driver while posing as Detective Branch (DB) officers in Bogra. According to a press release issued by the District Detective Branch (DB) on Friday, the victim, Rafiqul Islam, 43, was forcibly abducted by a group of unidentified men on Wednesday night. He was held captive at a residence in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, where he was stripped at gunpoint and tortured. The kidnappers also looted Tk 15,000 from his possession. Rickshaw garage owner found dead in Rangpur The arrestees were identified as Md. Sajib Ahmed, 32, Md. Lojim Pramanik, 40, and Md. Sohan Sheikh, 18. They were apprehended during a special raid on a two-story house in the city’s Puran Bogra area on Thursday night. The captors then contacted the victim's wife, Hazera Begum, posing as DB police. They demanded a ransom of Tk 1 lakh within 20 minutes to avoid "sending him to court." When the family hesitated, the kidnappers played recordings of Rafiqul’s cries and screams over the phone. Unable to pay, Hazera Begum reported the matter verbally to the DB office on Thursday night. Acting on the complaint, a DB team raided the home of a fugitive suspect named Mehedi Hasan Shihab, arresting the three suspects and rescuing the driver. Police also recovered four mobile phones and Tk 2,000 in cash from the scene. Rafiqul was rescued with injuries and provided primary treatment at Bogra Mohammad Ali Hospital . Md. Iqbal Bahar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bogra District DB, said legal action against the arrested suspects is currently underway.

A young man died after falling between two coaches of a Titas Commuter train while trying to get down from its roof at Narsingdi Railway Station on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Md Amir Hossain, 28, son of the late Shamsul Haque of Nagar Baniadi village in Narsingdi Sadar upazila. The accident occurred around 7:30am as the train was leaving the station, railway police, witnesses and the victim’s family members said. Amir had gone to the Kella Shah shrine in Akhaura, Brahmanbaria, with two friends on Thursday afternoon. They stayed there overnight and returned to Narsingdi on the roof of the Titas Commuter train on Friday morning. When the train reached Narsingdi station, people travelling on the roof began getting down amid heavy crowds. As the train started for Dhaka, Amir apparently lost his balance while hurriedly getting down and fell between two coaches. The moving train dragged him for about 30 yards, witnesses said. People at the station rescued him and took him to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, where an emergency department doctor declared him dead. Farida Gulshanara Kabir, resident medical officer of the hospital, said Amir was brought to the hospital dead. His body was handed over to railway police. Amir’s friend Akram Hossain said the three friends had travelled together to the Kella Shah shrine. “We could not get inside the train because of the crowd when we boarded it at dawn, so we climbed onto the roof. After reaching Narsingdi, two of us managed to get down, but Amir could not. He fell between the coaches after the train started moving and died,” he said. Sub-Inspector Dilip Chandra Sarker of the Narsingdi Railway Police Outpost said the body was handed over to the family without an autopsy following their request.

The government has a plan to develop playgrounds wherever open spaces are available as part of its move to establish careers in sports as a profession field for the country's citizens, according to State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque. “The government has started working to establish sports as a profession. There is a plan to build playgrounds wherever open spaces are available. Sports will be made compulsory from the grade-IV in the next academic year,” he said, while attending a "Shadow Parliament" debate programme in the capital on Friday.  The state minister addressed the programme marking International Youth Day 2026 as the chief guest. In collaboration with CARE Bangladesh and SOS Children’s Villages Bangladesh, Debate for Democracy organised the debate on ‘Private sector engagement is more important than the government in Building Skilled Manpower’ at the FDC.

A new committee of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is likely to be announced anytime soon as the existing committee, led by Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir, is at its fag-end. Party sources said the new JCD committee would be declared after receiving the final green signal from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. On Thursday night, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an urgent meeting with the five top JCD leaders at the chairman's Gulshan political office. After the meeting, outgoing JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir posted emotional farewell messages on Facebook, signalling the end of their tenure.

Summit LNG Terminal has resumed supplying around 550 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to Bangladesh national gas grid after a brief disruption caused by rough seas on Thursday. The increased supply is expected to help improve gas availability for industries, power generation and other consumers, supporting economic activity and reducing pressure on the country’s energy system, according to a statement from Summit Group. Summit LNG remains committed to maintaining safe and reliable operations and maximising gas delivery within the technical capacity of the terminal and the national transmission system. Summit believes that ensuring adequate and uninterrupted energy supply is essential for Bangladesh’s industrial growth, employment and economic development. The company will continue working closely with Petrobangla and the Government of Bangladesh to support the country’s energy security and help alleviate gas shortages, it added. The country’s gas crisis deepened following the suspension of gas supply from the Summit LNG terminal in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar at around 5pm on August 13, as rough seas prevented an LNG cargo from being connected to the terminal. Earlier, a fire at Excelerate Energy’s LNG terminal cut its gas supply capacity by half.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Friday has announced a two-day programme of milad and prayer sessions to mark the 81st birth anniversary of former BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. According to a press release issued by JCD on Thursday, milad and prayer programmes will be held at all universities, districts and metropolitan areas across the country on Saturday (Aug 15). JCD congratulates successful SSC candidates The press release was signed by Md Jahangir Alam, JCD’s Office Secretary (holding the rank of Joint Vice-President). Similar programmes will be organised at all educational institutions across the country on Sunday (Aug 16), it said. JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir announced the programmes. The organisation called upon its leaders and activists at all levels to participate in the programmes and pray for Khaleda Zia.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday said the BNP government has implemented most of its electoral pledges and programmes earmarked for its first six months in office. He made the remarks at an emergency press conference at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan in the afternoon. Mindset change needed for strengthening democracy: Rizvi Rizvi claimed that the government has met its targets in most areas, with implementation reaching 100 percent in some cases and 90-95 percent in others. “According to the targets set for six months, more or less all of them have been fulfilled. Some may not have reached 100 percent, but there it is 95 percent or 90 percent. In some areas, it has reached 100 percent,” he said. He said it took some time to put in place the necessary structures and administrative preparations for implementing the programmes. Rizvi expressed hope that the government’s programmes would be implemented more vigorously and swiftly during the next six months. He said a detailed written account or booklet outlining the government’s achievements over the past six months would soon be made available to journalists. The document will contain detailed statistics on various government programmes, including the Family Card, Farmer Card and canal excavation initiatives, he said. Asked about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s resignation from his party post after being nominated for the presidency, Rizvi said there was no legal requirement for him to resign from a party or government post before taking the oath of office. “However, the decision to resign from the party’s secretary general post was taken on ethical grounds,” he said. At the beginning of the press conference, Rizvi highlighted various aspects of former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s political life. He said Khaleda Zia had never deviated from her commitment to independence, sovereignty and establishing democracy. “For this reason, she had to endure sorrow, pain, persecution and repression throughout her political life,” he said. Rizvi said BNP would organise prayer programmes at party offices across Dhaka and elsewhere in the country on Saturday to mark Khaleda Zia’s birthday. A prayer programme will be held at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan at 11am, while another will be held at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office after Asr prayers, he said. Asked whether any organisational change was imminent following a Facebook post by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, Rizvi said he had received no such directive. “I have not received any such directive today. No directives or instructions have come to me,” he said. Rizvi said he was not aware of any discussion on the matter between the party high command and others. “If there is any final decision, it will be announced through a press release,” he said. BNP Joint Secretary Generals Khairul Kabir Khokon and Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Assistant Office Secretary Md Munir Hossain, BNP National Executive Committee member (in charge of office affairs) and Prime Minister’s Research Officer Abdus Sattar Patwari, among others, were present at the press conference.

Security has been beefed up in the Indian capital after the Delhi High Court, Indira Gandhi International Airport, and several other key installations received bomb threats via email on Friday, just a day before the country’s 80th Independence Day celebrations. The threatening email, titled "Blast Delhi High Court @2:11 PM" and sent in the name of the separatist movement "Khalistan," detailed plans to blow up multiple locations across the city. The message claimed that members of the movement, which seeks to create an independent sovereign state for Sikhs, have already reached Delhi. According to the email, a bomb is set to explode at the Delhi High Court on Saturday afternoon at 2:11 PM, followed by blasts at various district courts an hour later. The message asserted that the attacks are a response to cases being heard in Delhi courts, alleging that the judiciary only hears cases against Sikhs. Beyond the courts and IGI Airport Terminal 3, threats were issued for six other locations: Jamnagar House, the Jhandewalan building, the Saket office, the District Magistrate's Office, and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Office in Delhi Cantt. The email also threatened the Delhi Metro and trains bound for Ambala. Indian authorities have dispatched fire tenders and security teams to all mentioned sites. While intensive investigations are currently underway, officials confirmed that nothing suspicious has been found so far. With inputs from  NDTV

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken extensive security measures across the capital ahead of August 15 to maintain law and order and ensure public safety. The entire capital has been brought under heightened security to prevent any untoward incident and address any possible threat to public safety. As part of the security measures, police have set up pickets and checkpoints across the capital, while checking and search operations at all entry points to Dhaka will remain intensified. Members of the Detective Branch (DB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) will remain deployed for operational activities. SWAT, Bomb Disposal Unit and K-9 Unit members will conduct sweeping operations at important locations and public gathering places. Important installations have been brought under special security plans and will remain under surveillance through CCTV cameras and drones. Members of the City Special Branch (CTSB) and Intelligence Analysis Division (IAD) will continue intelligence activities and information gathering in plainclothes. Additional teams from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will also be deUNN-yed to strengthen overall security. Adequate Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will remain ready and deployed to respond swiftly to any emergency situation. In addition to regular deployment, extra officers and forces will be deployed at key points, event venues, metro rail stations, bus terminals, launch terminals, railway stations, shopping malls and other sensitive areas to ensure tight security. All senior DMP officials will remain in the field and supervise security arrangements within their respective jurisdictions.

The government has taken an initiative to transform the country’s shipbuilding and ship-recycling industries into safe, environment-friendly and sustainable sectors. Separate meetings were held in the Secretariat on Thursday to review the existing laws, rules, policies and challenges facing the two industries and formulate recommendations for their sustainable development, said a PID handout on Friday. Bangladesh playing key role globally on climate, environment issues: Mintoo Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo chaired the meetings held at his ministry’s conference room. Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan attended as the special guests. The meetings discussed various aspects of sustainable development of the shipbuilding and ship recycling sectors, including environmental protection, workers’ safety and compliances with international standards, technological modernisation, development of skilled manpower and expansion of financing facilities. During the meeting, a presentation on the ship-recycling industry highlighted the economic importance of this sector and employment generation, raw materials supply to the country’s steel industry and its potential to contribute to the circular economy. The presentation also emphasised compliance with international environmental and safety standards, safe management of hazardous waste, wastewater treatment, air pollution control, soil restoration and biodiversity conservation. It also underscored the need to establish and effectively operate a national Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF), improve hazardous waste treatment, install incinerators, promote material reuse and protect coastal and mangrove ecosystems. The presentation further stressed the need for skilled human resources through training, establishing testing laboratories, ensuring financial support and strengthening coordination among relevant institutions. On the shipbuilding industry, another presentation identified Bangladesh’s geographical location, comparatively low labour costs, technical capabilities, domestic market and export potential as competitive advantages. It highlighted the need for modern dry docks, modular shipbuilding, export-oriented shipyards, technological modernisation, research and development, and development of skilled manpower to strengthen the industry. The meeting also discussed the need for Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry to adapt to emerging changes in the global maritime sector. The presentation cited major global trends, including the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework, alternative and low-carbon fuels, liquefied natural gas (LNG), green steel, carbon trading and smart shipyards. The meetings highlighted the need for enhanced financing facilities, including green finance, government guarantees, public-private partnerships and export credit, for the long-term development of the industry. They stressed the need to identify existing problems and obstacles, formulate practical recommendations, ensure compliance with international standards and prepare future action plans by prioritising environmental protection and workers’ safety. The two meetings underscored the need for coordinated efforts to make Bangladesh’s ship-related industries more environment-friendly, technology-driven and safe, while enhancing their competitiveness in the global market. Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, representatives of relevant ministries, divisions, departments and agencies and stakeholders of the two sectors attended the meetings.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India is emerging as a key test of efforts to move Dhaka-Delhi relationship onto a more constructive footing, with the two sides stepping up consultations but yet to finalise the timing of the visit. “Everything, I’m reading - not only here in India, but also in Bangladesh - they are all saying possibilities. So I think these are all speculation in the absence of an official confirmation. Nobody clearly knows yet. However, there appeared to be interest on both sides in making the visit happen,” a diplomatic source told UNB, stressing that India is ready to host the Bangladesh Prime Minister anytime. If the visit takes place, it would be Tarique Rahman's first trip to India as Bangladesh's Prime Minister who visited Malaysia and China in June this year. “We have extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit. We've also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a visit to India for the outreach session of the BRICS Summit,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday evening. “So, these invitations have been extended, and I shall keep you updated if there is any progress in this regard,” he added. On Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visits to India and Japan have not yet been finalised, saying the timing will depend on the Prime Minister's schedule and the progress of discussions between the countries. "The government is busy, the Prime Minister is busy," she told reporters, referring to the government's ongoing domestic programmes and upcoming constitutional activities. Asked whether the Prime Minister would attend the upcoming BRICS Summit's outreach session or make a bilateral visit, the State Minister said there is still sufficient time to make a decision. "A lot can happen in a month," she said. Multifaceted Relations Responding to a question on energy cooperation with Bangladesh, the MEA Spokesperson said they have an ongoing arrangement with Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, and this continues. Regarding the additional request, Jaiswal said this will be examined keeping in mind their own requirements, refining capacity, as well as the availability of diesel in their country. "We import diesel from India through the pipeline, and we have requested them to supply more," Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said August 6. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter to his Bangladesh counterpart in February said he looks forward to working closely with the Bangladesh Prime Minister to strengthen their “multifaceted” bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation, and advance their common goals in wide-ranging areas of connectivity, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He invited the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman to pay a visit to India at a convenient time, noting that, “A warm welcome awaits you in India.” India Ready to Host PM Asked about preparations for a high-level visit, a senior official said the process would normally begin with the two sides agreeing on dates, followed by formal confirmation of the programme by the host government and confirmation of the Prime Minister’s availability by the visiting side. Media reports suggest different possible dates - August and September - while preparations are being made to accommodate the visit even at short notice. “Before any kind of high-level visit, there is a certain amount of time needed for preparation. You don’t have enough time if you want this visit to take place next week,” a source told UNB, adding that there is always an option for an exceptional approach. Officials need to establish what the leaders are actually going to discuss and whether there are issues that need to be resolved beforehand. Sources said the proposed visit would require adequate preparation on the Bangladeshi side, particularly if substantive issues are expected to be discussed. “Five days are not enough to negotiate even a simple agreement,” a diplomatic source told UNB. “From our side, we are ready to host him (PM) anytime,” a source in New Delhi told UNB, adding that it is unclear whether any conditions had been attached to the proposed visit. He expressed hope that the situation would become clearer soon and that the visit, if confirmed, could take place as planned. There are issues like former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition request; border management and killings; trade and transit; energy; people-to-people movement; water-sharing of common rivers; security cooperation; and regional and global issues. Regarding Hasina’s extradition request, the Indian government said the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. A bilateral visit by the Prime Minister to India would require the two sides to first settle the dates, agenda and political understandings on several sensitive issues, with recent high-level consultations suggesting that groundwork for such an engagement is already under way. Bangladesh and India appear to be moving fast toward renewed engagement despite fresh tensions over Hasina’s virtual activities in India and Dhaka’s demand for her extradition. The latest round of diplomatic engagement came after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi held a series of meetings in Dhaka, including with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The High Commissioner met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and shared the message he carried from Dhaka after his three important meetings with the Bangladesh leadership. Trivedi sought guidance from the Indian Prime Minister on further strengthening the multifaceted and enduring relationship between the two neighbours in a constructive manner with a people-centric approach, the source said. The High Commissioner returned to Dhaka on Friday, a diplomatic source told UNB. On August 4, India confirmed that an invitation has been extended to the Prime Minister to attend the BRICS Summit as the BIMSTEC Chair, while a separate bilateral invitation has been in place since February this year. India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, focusing on global cooperation, trade and sustainable development. "You would be aware that a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, he said India has separately extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. "The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner," the MEA spokesperson said. During the courtesy meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman and the intent to work together with the government and the people of Bangladesh in a "positive, constructive and forward-looking" manner. They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh with a people-centric approach. During his meeting with Home Minister Salahuddin, they discussed areas of common interest, including security cooperation between the two countries and ways to further strengthen bilateral relations. The High Commissioner conveyed India’s willingness to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains, based on mutual interest, mutual benefit, and mutual sensitivities.

Persistent ash from Mount Etna has shuttered Sicily’s largest airport, Catania, for a fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of travelers during the peak Ferragosto holiday week. The airport is expected to remain closed until early Saturday. Researcher Boris Behncke from the Etna Observatory noted that while the volcano often interrupts flights, this emergency is the longest since 2002 due to unusually sustained emissions reaching Malta and North Africa. Behncke warned that volcanic ash poses a severe risk of stalling aircraft motors. Air India makes dope tests mandatory for all pilots From August 6-12, airport operator SAC reported that 36% of nearly 2,000 scheduled arrivals were canceled, with over 600 flights diverted to Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and Lamezia Terme. To ease pressure, Trenitalia added six trains on the Palermo-Messina-Catania route. The disruptions have sparked price-gouging complaints regarding taxis and car rentals, prompting the Codacons consumer association to file a formal complaint. Meanwhile, the federation of travel agencies (FIAVET) has called for a task force to coordinate responses, with President Gian Mario Pilieri urging a review of airline management and passenger assistance.

A child went missing after a sand-laden shallow-engine vehicle overturned and fell into the Padma River in Kumarkhali upazila on Friday. Three other children who were in the vehicle were rescued alive. The accident occurred around 10am near the Shilaidah Ghat area of Kasba Mouza in Shilaidah Union, adjacent to the river. One child missing after Padma riverbank collapse in Kushtia The missing child was identified as Md Alif, 08, son of Mansur Pramanik of Kasba area in Shilaidah Union. According to locals, Jihad and Omar Faruk got onto the sand-laden vehicle from a nearby block-making yard in the Kasba area. As the vehicle was passing along a narrow road, the driver reportedly tried to give way to a motorcycle. The vehicle then slipped and overturned, falling into the Padma River. The driver managed to climb out of the vehicle, while locals immediately rescued three of the children from the river. However, Alif could not be found. A team of Kumarkhali Fire Service and Civil Defence began a rescue operation around 11:10am. Efforts by locals to locate the missing child were hampered by the strong current in the river. The vehicle was later recovered with the help of locals and Fire Service personnel. Nasir Uddin, station officer of Kumarkhali Fire Service and Civil Defence, said they had launched the rescue operation after receiving the news. “Three children were rescued alive with the help of locals, but one remains missing,” he said, adding that a diving team from Khulna had been informed and would join the search operation.

More than 1,000 people formed a human chain in Belkuchi upazila on Friday demanding an end to alleged extortion, abductions and terrorist activities on the Jamuna River. Boat owners and workers, along with residents of 27 villages in Belkuchi, Tangail Sadar and Chauhali upazilas, took part in the programme in the Khidra Champia area of Belkuchi. The participants accused a group known locally as the “Salam Bahini” of creating fear in the area and carrying out extortion and other criminal activities on the river. Speakers alleged that Salam and his associates Rubel, Kawsar Alam, Masud and Habib have been conducting armed patrols on motorised boats on the Jamuna after dusk. They also alleged that the group has been collecting extortion money from bulkheads, boats and other vessels operating on the Sirajganj-Dhaka river route. Boat workers and employees are allegedly beaten if they refuse to pay the demanded money, the speakers said. “We are holding this human chain to seek protection from the harassment of the Salam Bahini,” they said, urging the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure safe navigation on the Jamuna. The programme was chaired by Abu Sayed. Yusuf Molla, Kasher Uddin, Sumon and Bakkar Molla, among others, spoke on behalf of boat owners and workers. The participants urged the government to take effective measures to ensure security on the river route.

Three schoolgirls, including two sisters, drowned while bathing in a pond in Bagherpara upazila of Jashore on Friday. The deceased were identified as Lamia, 13, and her younger sister Sultana, 10, daughters of Nisar Ali of Dakkhinpara in Jamdia village, and their neighbour Fahima, 9, daughter of Ashik. Lamia was a Class-VI student at Jamdia Secondary School, while Sultana and Fahima were Class-IV and Class-III students, respectively, at Jamdia Government Primary School. According to family members, the three girls went to the nearby Ekram Molla pond to bathe around noon as their schools were closed. They drowned while bathing in the pond. When the girls did not return home for some time, their families began searching for them and later recovered their bodies from the pond. Officer-in-Charge of Bagherpara Police Station Mohammad Shahjalal Alam said an unnatural death case was filed over the incident.

Four children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 894 this year. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified all four latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths, with no confirmed deaths from the disease reported during the period. With this, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 795, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 99. A total of 972 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 141,048. Meanwhile, 187 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 17,730. Since March 15 this year, a total of 122,794 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 118,540 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

The Rangpur Divisional Women’s Sports Complex has finally begun operations, more than three years after its inauguration. The complex began its activities on Thursday afternoon with a three-day divisional skating training camp for schoolgirls. Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam inaugurated the training camp. Shahidul Islam said activities at the women’s sports complex could not be launched earlier due to funding constraints. “After various initiatives, we have finally been able to start its activities. I hope the complex will never have to close again because of a lack of funds,” he said. The divisional commissioner urged the trainees to receive proper training and make Rangpur a champion in skating. He also stressed the importance of good health and education, saying children should grow up to play a leading role in society. After the inauguration, the girls took part in skating training. The trainees expressed happiness at getting the opportunity to train at the complex after a long wait. The National Sports Council took the initiative in 2017 to build the complex on 10 acres of land in the Uttam area of Rangpur city to promote and develop women’s sports in the eight districts of the division. It was officially inaugurated on August 2, 2023.

A group of young volunteers from BD Clean on Friday took part in a voluntary cleanup drive to remove garbage that accumulated on the railway track at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka.  

The 9th book by teacher, writer and organiser Pranab Kanti Deb, Jana Pathe Ajana Prantare, has been published by Abhra Prakashan, with the cover designed by acclaimed artist Dhruba Esh. Rather than a conventional account of places and journeys, the academic travelogue traces Deb’s experiences in education, research, international conferences, professional networking and his continuing pursuit of knowledge. The book offers an account of the professional and intellectual journey of a teacher whose travels have been closely connected with learning, research and academic exchange. Deb is currently an associate professor in the Department of English at Sylhet International University. Since the beginning of his career, he has regularly participated in seminars and symposia, seeking to bring new ideas and perspectives into his teaching. He has attended nearly 50 conferences at home and abroad and presented his research at many of them. In the book, he revisits those journeys, bringing together experiences, observations, personal reflections and insights from conferences, seminars and other academic events. The book’s contents reflect the range of his academic travels. They include his first BELTA conference at the beginning of his teaching career, his first international conference in Nepal and academic visits to various universities in India. It also recounts his participation in IATEFL, the world’s largest conference for English language teachers, held in England, and the TESOL Convention in the United States. Among the other experiences documented in the book are his participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) at the invitation of the US government and his observations on Bangladesh’s education system. The book presents travel writing through the lens of education and intellectual inquiry. While conventional travel writing often focuses on places, landscapes, people and cultures, Deb’s narrative connects travel with academic experiences and knowledge-seeking. By placing personal experiences within broader academic and cultural contexts, he offers a different perspective on the familiar genre of travel writing. Deb has long been involved in higher education, English language and literature, research and various academic and organisational activities. Alongside teaching, he has encouraged students to engage with knowledge and creativity and sought to connect them with the wider international academic community through his writing and organisational initiatives. With the publication of the book, his total number of published books in Bangla and English has reached nine. Apurba Sharma, publisher of Abhra Prakashan, said the book is both an addition to Deb’s work as a writer and a record of his long academic journey as a teacher. According to Sharma, the book reflects a spirit of curiosity — a desire to move beyond familiar paths in search of the unknown, learn from new experiences and share knowledge with others. He said that spirit is reflected in both the title and the substance of the book. The publisher expressed hope that the book would appeal to teachers, students, researchers and readers of travel literature.

As heatwaves sweep across China during the summer, the country's southwestern karst regions are turning their naturally cool caves into unconventional tourist attractions, offering visitors a respite from the heat while creating new business opportunities. Guided by a local expert, tourist Chang Ting recently entered a natural cave in Guizhou Province. After walking about 100 metres along a narrow, rocky passage, she lost mobile phone reception. “It felt like stepping into a crack in time, and all the noise faded away,” said Chang, who is from Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province. Cave exploration has emerged as a new summer tourism trend among young Chinese travellers. The growing interest is providing visitors with novel sightseeing experiences while helping boost local consumption. Videos featuring cave exploration in Guizhou have gone viral on major lifestyle and short-video platforms, collecting more than 5 million likes, while related topics have attracted hundreds of millions of views.

A drug-addicted man allegedly killed his mother after she refused to give him money to buy drugs at Shyamkur village in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah district early Friday. The deceased was identified as Shoker Banu, 60, wife of late Zeker Ali, of Paschimpara in the village. According to locals, the accused, Ikhlas, had been addicted to drugs for a long time and often subjected family members to physical and mental abuse for money to buy drugs. On Thursday night, he reportedly got into an argument with his mother over money to buy drugs. Later, in the early hours of Friday, he allegedly attacked his sleeping mother with a sharp weapon and slit her throat. In the morning, the wife of the deceased’s younger son went to Shoker Banu’s room to give her breakfast and found her mother-in-law lying on the bed in a pool of blood. Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to the scene and informed police. Police later recovered the body and sent it to the morgue of Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Soon after the incident, local residents chased and caught Ikhlas and handed him over to police. Maheshpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan said legal proceedings in the matter are underway.

A “Dhaka Heritage Cycle Rally” was held in the capital on Friday morning as part of a month-long festival aimed at highlighting Dhaka’s rich history, heritage and cultural legacy, and strengthening citizens’ sense of ownership and responsibility towards the city. The rally was organised by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), starting at 7:00am from the historic Dhaka Gate. State Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and Railways Habibur Rashid Habib inaugurated the rally as the chief guest, while Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman attended as a special guest with DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam in the chair. Around 300 citizens took part in the cycle rally arranged as part of “Hridoye Dhaka 416” festival, being held from August 1 to September 5 to mark the 416th anniversary of Dhaka. Starting from the Dhaka Gate, the rally passed through TSC intersection, Shahbagh intersection, Bata Signal, Science Lab intersection, Nilkhet intersection, Azimpur intersection, Etimkhana intersection, Dhakeshwari Temple, Madrasah Education Board, Bakshibazar intersection, Central Shaheed Minar, Secretariat, National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Bangabazar intersection before ending at Nagar Bhaban.  

BNP will hold doa and milad mahfils across the country on Saturday to mark the 81st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The programme was announced in a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday morning. According to the release, the doa and milad mahfils will be held at party offices or mosques across the country. In Dhaka, the programme will begin at 11:00am at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. The party urged its leaders and activists and those of its affiliated organisations to observe the programme with due respect. Khaleda Zia was born on August 15, 1945. She died on December 30 last year. She served as Bangladesh’s prime minister three times and remained BNP chairperson until her death. Khaleda’s elder son Tarique Rahman is currently leading the BNP and serving as Prime Minister after securing a mandate in the 13th parliamentary elections held in February this year.

A new central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) is expected to be announced within the next one or two days, as outgoing President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir posted separate farewell messages on Facebook on Friday, wishing best wishes for the next committee. In his post, Rakib expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah, saying the best chapter of his life is coming to an end in a highly respectful and cordial environment. He expressed gratitude to BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for giving him the opportunity to serve in the JCD central committee and at Dhaka University for a long period. Rakib also thanked outgoing BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, the party's senior leaders and former JCD leaders. He said he personally tried to promote positive student politics on campuses out of special respect for students of all educational institutions. The JCD leader said he paid particular attention to ensuring that no general student faced an unwanted situation on campus because of JCD activists. Even when students outside his organisation approached him with various problems, he tried to resolve them from his position, he said. He also thanked leaders of fellow student organisations for their role in the anti-fascist movement. Assessing the performance of the Rakib-Nasir committee, the outgoing president said its major success was formulating programmes in coordination with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the July uprising and playing an effective and heroic role on the streets. He said after August 5, 2024, they had to confront hundreds of mob incidents at educational institutions while also continuing to lead the organisation despite persistent bullying on social media. Rakib said after leaving office, he wants to start a new life and develop himself into a more refined, humane and honest person. Admitting that nobody is free from mistakes, he said he might also have made mistakes during his long tenure and requested those whom he may have hurt to forgive him. He also expressed hope that everyone will warmly welcome the upcoming new JCD committee. Meanwhile, outgoing JCD General Secretary Nasir said his political career began during the difficult period of the 1/11 political crisis and that, after 17 years of uncertainty, they were now standing in a different Bangladesh. He said the journey has not been easy and has marked by struggle, sacrifice, repression, enforced disappearances and killings. He paid deep respect and expressed gratitude to all leaders and activists who were victims of enforced disappearance, murder and repression during the period, saying their sacrifices had laid the foundation for the organisation's present position. Saying Thursday was his final day as JCD general secretary, Nasir described the end of his tenure as the conclusion of a long, difficult, eventful and glorious chapter. He said more than 2,000 organisational committees were formed during their tenure, describing it as the collective result of the hard work of activists at all levels rather than the achievement of any individual. However, Nasir admitted that there were some shortcomings. He expressed full confidence in the incoming leadership and said he will remain by their side as before if they need him.

The government has sent seven assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and 49 inspectors into mandatory retirement from public service. The decision was announced in two separate notifications issued by the Police-1 and Police-2 branches of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday. According to the notifications, signed by Senior Secretary of the ministry Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, the 56 officers serving in the Bangladesh Police had completed 25 years of service. They were sent into retirement from government service in the public interest under Section 45 of the Public Service Act, 2018.

Yash-starrer action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is set to arrive in cinemas on August 26, with the film securing an 'A' certificate from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film was certified by the CBFC’s Bengaluru regional office on August 13, 2026. According to the certification details, Toxic is in Kannada and has a certified length of 194.12 metres. The official synopsis describes the film as the story of a gangster grappling with loyalty, morality and the search for redemption in post-independence Goa, where violence and jealousy dominate. Set against a dark and atmospheric backdrop, the film features intense action and morally conflicted characters while exploring the sacrifices involved in love and the pursuit of redemption. Toxic is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, with Geetu Mohandas directing. The film has been written and filmed in Kannada and English and will also be released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. The movie features an ensemble cast led by Yash and including Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. #Source: NDTV

Nine workers, including two siblings, died and 13 others fell ill after inhaling leaked gas during shipbreaking at a yard in Bhatiary of Sitakunda upazila on Friday morning. The deceased were identified as Sani Jaldas, Palash Jaldas, Mansur Ali and his brother Nasir Uddin, of the Bhatiary area, and Khokon, Abdul Alim, Rana, Habibur Rahman and Matiur Rahman. Witnesses said a gas pipeline was accidentally severed while workers were dismantling a ship at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries around 11:15am, located along the Bay of Bengal coast west of Bhatiary Railway Station. Leaked gas spread through the shipbreaking yard, causing several workers to inhale it and fall ill. Locals said two workers died on the spot while 20 others fell sick after inhaling gas. The affected workers were rescued and initially taken to Bhatiary BSBA Hospital. Some of them were later shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where seven more died during treatment. The shipbreaking yard, owned by Ziri Subedar Group, witnessed a similar incident on September 16 last year, when eight workers were burnt in an oil tank explosion. In another incident at the SN Corporation Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda on September 7, 2024, 12 workers were injured. Six of them later died after reportedly inhaling leaked gas.

Facing acute labour shortages, an ageing population and long-standing productivity problems, Japan would appear to be an ideal environment for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Yet AI use in Japanese workplaces remains relatively slow and cautious compared with the United States and the United Kingdom. Japan’s response to AI is beginning to resemble one of the country’s traditional, slow-moving Noh plays. Everyone on stage agrees that urgent action is needed, and the message is repeated with solemnity, but the actors remain largely frozen in place. While that may build dramatic tension, it does little to address the country’s immediate economic challenges. Data on workplace AI use suggests Japan is lagging behind. Only 8.4% of Japanese workers use AI in their jobs, according to a report published late last year by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The figure compares with 50% in the US and 32% in the UK. In Singapore, where AI adoption is reportedly among the highest in the world and the highest in Asia, 56% of workers are said to use AI several times a week. So why is Japan moving so cautiously? Austin Xu, co-founder of US start-up Kuse AI, attributes the slow adoption to the conservative and risk-averse nature of many Japanese companies. His company recently opened an office in Japan to market its AI systems to local businesses. “Some organisations genuinely take a long time to make decisions because of their process and consensus-driven culture,” he says. “Tolerance for AI mistakes is close to zero, particularly in client-facing roles. Some would rather leave a position vacant than allow a machine to handle it.” Xu says the approach is very different in the US, where some companies are already giving AI agents greater freedom to improve productivity. In many American workplaces, he says, AI systems are introduced as assistants and gradually become part of normal workflows, with managers willing to test them and correct mistakes along the way. Japanese companies, by contrast, often require more evidence before trusting AI, he adds. Parrisa Haghirian, professor of international management at Kyoto University of Advanced Science, also believes risk aversion is a major factor. “The challenges of adopting AI are similar to those involved in introducing any kind of change in Japanese firms,” she says. “This is why AI use remains limited and cautious, particularly in workplaces.” Haghirian contrasts Japan’s approach with the more entrepreneurial culture in the US, saying Japanese companies are particularly sensitive to errors, uncertainty and reputational damage. Because generative AI is still not completely reliable, she says, Japanese companies mainly use it for relatively low-risk activities such as writing, summarising documents and gathering information. Its use remains much more limited in core operations, decision-making and broader business-process improvements. Japan’s healthcare sector is considered especially slow to embrace AI. Some hospitals have yet to fully digitise patient records. “Paper documents accumulate at a staggering scale,” an employee at a Japanese hospital, who requested anonymity, says. “It’s like the Stone Age.” The Japanese government is aware of the broader problem and is seeking to encourage businesses to adopt AI. Last year, parliament passed the country’s first AI Promotion Act, which uses a light-touch regulatory approach aimed at encouraging greater investment in AI. Tokyo has pledged to make Japan “the world’s most-friendly country for developing and utilizing AI.” The government sees AI as a potential tool for improving productivity, an area where Japan continues to perform poorly compared with other G7 economies. Japan’s Ministry of Finance says business adoption of AI has increased substantially, with 75% of companies now using the technology, compared with just 11% five years ago. Critics, however, say the headline figure masks the limited use of AI within many companies. Only a small proportion of employees may actually use the technology, and even those users often rely on it for only a narrow range of tasks. Prof Yasushi Ogasawara, an expert on Japan’s social system and technology at Meiji University, says the country also lacks enough workers with strong technology skills. “Although Japanese people like using gadgets such as smartphones, digital literacy is low here,” he says. The problem is underscored by a report earlier this year estimating that Japan could face a shortage of nearly 800,000 IT professionals by 2030. Many Japanese companies also continue to rely on outdated computer systems, with around 60% reportedly more than two decades old. Ogasawara says companies also face pressure to avoid contributing to unemployment, making them more cautious about developing AI that could replace human workers. “The government is talking about AI, reskilling and digital skills, but in reality it is difficult to adapt human resources to digital skills because the top priority is maintaining full employment,” he says. There are signs of change, however. Some companies are beginning to prioritise “AI literacy” when recruiting new graduates. Larger private-sector firms such as major trading company Kanematsu are hiring graduates with strong AI skills. Uta Yamaguchi, who joined the company in April, says she frequently uses AI at work, as do many of her colleagues. She uses it to draft emails for her boss, summarise complex documents and record and summarise meetings. However, she says AI systems capable of independently handling multi-step tasks remain virtually unheard of in Japan compared with the US. Her employer, known for being forward-looking, has now begun introducing such systems. Ogasawara says the pace of change in Japan remains limited. “Japanese society expects painless reform, so I think it can be said that drastic reform is difficult, to say the least,” he says. Disruption may remain an uncomfortable concept in Japan, but without greater willingness to embrace change, the productivity gains the country urgently needs from AI could remain out of reach. #Source: BBC

Sylhet, Aug 14 (UNB) - Two children died with measles-like symptoms in Sylhet division in the 24 hours until Friday morning, raising the combined measles and suspected measles-related death toll in the division to 133 this year. The two children, aged 17 months and six months, died while undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, according to a report from the Office of the Divisional Director (Health) in Sylhet. Of the 133 deaths recorded so far, six were confirmed to have been caused by measles, while the remaining deaths involved patients who had symptoms of the disease. The Directorate General of Health Services also reported 28 new confirmed measles cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the division this year to 942. Meanwhile, 119 people with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals across the division during the same period. Of them, 48 were admitted to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, 57 to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, three to North East Hospital and two to Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital. The remaining patients were admitted to different district and upazila hospitals. Sunamganj has recorded the highest number of deaths in the division, with 55, followed by Sylhet with 48, Habiganj with 17 and Moulvibazar with 13.

Thakurgaon has erupted in celebration following the nomination of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the party’s candidate for the presidential election, with party leaders, activists and many local residents hailing the development as a matter of pride for the district. Processions and sweet distribution were held at different places in the town after the ruling BNP announced his nomination on Thursday. In Thakurgaon, the name Mirza Fakhrul now dominates conversations at tea stalls, political gatherings and on social media. From serving as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality to becoming a central figure in national politics, Mirza Fakhrul has travelled a long political road. His nomination for the presidency has brought a fresh wave of excitement among people in his home district. The celebrations spread from the district BNP office to villages across Thakurgaon. Many locals see the development not merely as the nomination of a politician but as the prospect of someone from their own district occupying the country's highest constitutional office. For many residents, it is also a moment of pride for the northern region. Mirza Fakhrul grew up in Thakurgaon. After completing his higher education in economics at Dhaka University, he worked as a teacher at Dhaka College and government colleges in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. He later served in senior positions in the education administration before leaving government service in 1988 to enter politics. His career as an elected representative began with his election as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality. He subsequently played a key role in organising BNP in the district before rising through the party's central leadership. Mirza Fakhrul was elected an MP from Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 2001 general election and later served as a state minister. He eventually became BNP's acting secretary general before being appointed secretary general in 2016. Throughout his political career, he has faced arrests, cases and political challenges while remaining involved in the party's activities. For residents of Thakurgaon, his nomination is therefore being viewed as the culmination of a long political journey. Ramzan Ali, a farmer from Akcha union in Sadar upazila, said the development has brought him immense joy. “Fakhrul is one of our own. After years of struggle and sacrifice, hearing that he is now receiving the country's highest honour has made us very happy,” he said.

A vegetable trader was killed in a road accident on the Magura-Jhenaidah highway in Magura town early Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Mohiuddin, 45, of Uttar Narayanpur village in Sadar upazila. According to police and local sources, Mohiuddin went to Faridpur to sell vegetables. After selling them, he was returning home in his ‘nosimon’, a three-wheeled motorised vehicle. A covered van coming from behind hit his vehicle in front of the District Police Lines shortly after 3:30am. Mohiuddin was thrown onto the road by the impact, and the covered van ran over him, killing him on the spot. On receiving the information, police recovered the body and sent it to the morgue of Magura 250-bed General Hospital for an autopsy, said Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Amin. Police were working to trace the vehicle involved in the accident and take legal action against its driver, he said.

Tanzid Hasan hit his maiden Test century on Friday as Bangladesh took a commanding 88-run lead over Australia at tea on the second day of the first Test in Darwin. Bangladesh reached 286 for 3 at tea, with Tanzid’s 101 off 197 balls playing a key role in putting the visitors firmly in control after Australia were bowled out for 198 on Thursday. Tanzid reached 100 from 188 balls, pushing Nathan Lyon to long-off for a single. He was out soon after for 101 from 197 balls, with eight fours and a six. It was only Tanzid’s second Test, but he played with little sign of being overawed by Australia’s attack. He resumed on 32 not out after Bangladesh had finished the first day on 96 for 1, 102 runs behind Australia’s 198. Tanzid and Mominul Haque put on 102 for the second wicket before Mominul fell for 49. Their partnership came four runs short of Bangladesh’s highest second-wicket stand in Australia, the 108 between Habibul Bashar and Hannan Sarkar in Cairns in 2003. Tanzid reached his fifty from 102 balls, hitting five fours. He needed only 86 more balls for his second fifty, adding three fours and a six. He drove well, played confidently off the back foot and twice took on Beau Webster, including a six down the ground. There was one let-off. Tanzid was on 62 when Steven Smith could not hold a chance at slip Smith had described the pitch as “tricky” after Australia were bowled out for 198 on Thursday. Bangladesh’s batters have so far offered little evidence of that, with Tanzid, Mominul and Najmul Hossain Shanto all batting comfortably.  

Cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh can expand the access to safe drinking water for communities across Bangladesh, particularly those in climate-vulnerable areas, through public-private partnership, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris Van Bommel has said. He made the observation while speaking to journalists during a visit to the Building Water Business programme of Max Foundation in Barishal on Thursday. The envoy visited the facility at Dudholmou in Bakerganj to see how smart, low-maintenance piped water systems, combined with digital payment solutions, enable efficient operations, transparent revenue collection, and a financially sustainable water business in climate-vulnerable contexts. Joris Van Bommel said the two countries have much in common when it comes to water management, as both are shaped by deltas, rivers and the sea. “Water, delta, sea and rivers provide a strong basis for cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh,” he said, stressing that water cooperation should also ensure access to drinking water for everyone. The ambassador said his visit was aimed at examining how the “last mile” of water connectivity could be addressed so that communities could receive piped water at their homes. He said access to tap water is important not only for improving the quality of water but also for reducing the burden on women and girls, who often have to travel considerable distances to collect water. Joris Van Bommel said the experience in Barishal demonstrated that sustainable water services could be developed through cooperation among the government, private sector and communities. “We sincerely believe that is a sustainable solution to make sure that every household in Bangladesh does get access to water in the house, but also that it’s affordable in a public-private partnership perspective,” he said. Max Foundation Founder and Director Joke Le Poole said the organisation had started working more than two decades ago, initially focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene as essential means of preventing child deaths. She said the organisation chose Bangladesh because of its high needs and population density and began its work in Barishal with water wells. Many of those wells, she noted, were still functioning after 15 to 20 years. Max Foundation Bangladesh and Nepal Country Director Dr ATM Tariqul Islam said Max Foundation and Max Social Enterprise had developed a business-based solution for piped drinking water in Barishal and Patuakhali. Unlike aid- or donation-dependent projects, the model is designed to operate through a market-based solution to water supply. Customers pay in monthly basis for the water they receive, he added. Dutch Embassy First Secretary (Water and Climate) Klaassen Inge, Senior Financial Advisor Aminul Islam and Max Social Enterprise Managing Director Yameen Farook were present during the visit.

A nearly three-kilometre earthen road from Dhali Bazar to Naluabagi Secondary School in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali has remained in poor condition for years, causing severe hardship for thousands of residents, including schoolchildren, farmers, patients and traders. The road in newly formed Naluabagi union becomes almost impassable after even light rain as it turns into a muddy stretch. During the monsoon, vehicles can hardly use the road, while pedestrians struggle to walk through knee-deep mud. Residents said the road has repeatedly become unusable during the rainy season, but no effective initiative has been taken to pave it. Despite repeated demands to local representatives and the authorities concerned, a permanent solution is yet to come. A recent incident highlighted the severity of the problem. Locals said relatives of an elderly sick man, Mahtab Farazi, faced extreme difficulty while taking him to hospital because of the muddy road. He reportedly had to be carried on a bier, normally used to transport corpses, as no regular vehicle could easily pass through the road. Farmers said they have to spend extra money to transport paddy, jute and other agricultural produce to markets during the rainy season. Vehicles often get stuck or overturn on the muddy road, causing financial losses.  

Police have arrested 53 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations in the capital’s Vatara area. They were arrested from a flat in Bashundhara Residential Area around 9:05pm on Thursday, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Niaz Mehedi of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). He said the leaders and activists of the Awami League, which faces a ban on its activities, gathered at the flat to hold a preparatory meeting and organise a flash procession on the occasion of August 15. Niaz Mehedi said police raided the flat and arrested 53 people from the spot while they were allegedly chanting anti-state slogans and carrying placards and banners. Legal proceedings against those arrested are underway, he said. The DMP said it is continuing surveillance and operations across the capital to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.      

A mobile court has jailed a young man for 15 days for allegedly posing as a journalist and demanding extortion money at the Alamdanga Upazila Land Office. ASM Shahnewas Mehadi, assistant commissioner (land) of Alamdanga upazila, said legal action was taken against Md Sabuj Sheikh, son of Qazed Ali of Chuadanga municipality, on Thursday. According to land office sources, Sabuj, accompanied by an aide, entered the office claiming to be a journalist and later demanded money, saying he was collecting funds to mark the founding anniversary of a newspaper. Sensing something suspicious, the assistant commissioner asked him to provide details of his identity and the name of the editor of the newspaper he claimed to represent. However, Sabuj failed to provide the required information, including the name and details of the editor, the sources said. During questioning, he reportedly admitted that he entered the office by falsely identifying himself as a journalist. An identity card bearing the name “The Bangla Independent” was also recovered from him, the sources said. Later, the mobile court sentenced Sabuj to 15 days in jail and released his aide on bond.

The death toll from Monday's 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has risen to 281, with 3,971 people injured and 379 missing, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said Thursday. The quake now affects 44,936 families and 102,105 people in 15 departments and 426 municipalities, the agency said.

Dhaka’s air quality remained moderate on Friday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 97 at 9:20am. With the score, Dhaka ranked 20th among the world’s most polluted cities at the time. Uganda’s Kampala topped the list with an AQI score of 186, followed by Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur with 179 and Indonesia’s Jakarta with 176. An AQI score of 50 to 100 is considered ‘moderate’ and generally indicates acceptable air quality. A score of 101 to 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151 to 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. AQI readings of 201 to 300 are considered ‘very unhealthy’, while scores above 301 are classified as ‘hazardous’ and may pose serious health risks. The AQI is a daily measure of air quality that indicates how clean or polluted the air is and the potential health effects associated with pollution. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.  

Researchers in Australia have discovered why breast cancer treatment stops working for some patients, uncovering an unexpected role of a key cancer-fighting protein. The study, published in Nature, found that the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, long viewed as a natural brake on cancer growth, can unexpectedly activate genes that respond to the hormone estrogen. Some of these genes can help cancer cells withstand treatment and retain the ability to regrow, according to a statement released Thursday by Australia's Peter MacCallum Cancer Center. The research team found that Rb does more than switch off genes that drive cell division. It can also "switch on biological programs that partially work against its own protective effects," said Peter Mac Associate Professor Shom Goel, the study's senior author. The findings help explain why medicines known as CDK4/6 inhibitors work particularly well with endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common subtype. "The CDK4/6 inhibitor activates Rb to stop cancer cells dividing, while endocrine therapy blocks the unwanted estrogen-driven signals that Rb can also trigger. Together, they allow the tumor-suppressing effects of Rb to dominate," Goel said. However, when cancers become resistant to endocrine therapy, the estrogen-related gene program continues despite treatment, reducing the effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors, researchers found. "Understanding this previously unknown role of Rb gives us an important new way to think about drug resistance," Goel said, adding the discovery could guide new combination therapies that keep these treatments working for longer and improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. 

Air India has ordered a mandatory dope test for all its pilots days after a captain, found responsible for mid-air turbulence, tested positive for marijuana, multiple local media reports said Thursday. According to local television news channel NDTV, the dope test is mandatory for both Air India and Air India Express pilots. The tests will be conducted concurrently with training at the Gurugram academy, post-flight at Air India's flight briefing centers and offices, the media report said. Earlier this month, 17 people, including four cabin crew members, onboard an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi were injured after experiencing turbulence. The aircraft lost approximately 300 feet in altitude, triggering a mid-air scare among the passengers. On Wednesday, the pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana during a confirmatory test for psychoactive substances. Reports said he had earlier tested positive in a dope test conducted immediately after the flight landed.

Aug 14 (AP/UNB)--Clashes between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and government forces in Yemen raged overnight and into Thursday, raising fears that the country's civil war could reignite and open another front in the Middle East. Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Yemeni soldier killed in clashes with Houthis At least one government soldier was killed and another critically wounded in clashes with the Houthis in the mountainous province of Taiz, Yemeni military officials told The Associated Press. The fighting came as part of a spate of recent Houthi attacks on government-held areas across the country. Dozens of government troops have been killed since last week, the Yemeni military said. The Houthis also said they launched another drone attack on an Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials did not immediately comment on the reported attack in the city of Jazan. Last weekend, the Houthis fired drones at the refinery, where the Saudi Energy Ministry reported a fire but no casualties. Last month, the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, threatening another key trade route in the region. US carrier heads toward Middle East after issues reported on long-deployed USS Lincoln The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and its deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Thursday that reports of trouble on the carrier were “completely misrepresented.” Speaking during a trip to Panama, he said the U.S. military could maintain the blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely, “because we’ll rotate ships in and out, as we have and we’ll continue to.” The USS George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, a Navy statement said. The carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, have since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait. A Navy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive ship details, confirmed that the Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian oceans and puts the carrier on a course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Washington would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East. The move would leave the waters of the Pacific without a U.S. carrier presence for an unknown period of time. — Konstantin Toropin in Washington Peace laureate calls for UN pressure to resolve Yemen conflict Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, told the U.N. Security Council in a video briefing Thursday that Yemen is at greater risk of returning to large-scale conflict than at any time since a 2022 truce paused the fighting. Yemen faces “catastrophe” from rising hunger and from health services crumbling amid the fighting, said U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. He said 6 million people in Yemen face emergency levels of food insecurity bordering on famine, “the highest number globally.” Yemeni Nobel peace laureate Tawakkol Karman told reporters outside the chamber that Houthi rebels bear the primary responsibility for the “collapse of the state” in her home country. But the human rights campaigner also blamed Iran for backing the Houthis, Saudi Arabia for its intervention on behalf of the government ousted by the Houthis, the United Arab Emirates for its involvement in the conflict and the international community for its failure to do enough to protect civilians. Karman was invited to brief the U.N. Security Council as an independent civil society voice on Yemen, but was blocked from speaking because of “strong opposition,” Danish Deputy Ambassador Sandra Jensen Landi said. Instead, Karman spoke to reporters outside the council chamber. Iran and Oman working to clean oil spills off their coasts Oil spills spreading off the coasts of Iran and Oman are raising concerns about environmental damage as oil shipments have come under fire in the Iran war. Iran said Thursday it's working to clean up an oil spill off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Images distributed by Iran’s semiofficial news agency ISNA showed oil fouling the island's beaches. While Iran hasn't said what caused the spill, the firm TankerTrackers.com says it appears to have started with an Iranian attack on a bulk carrier off Oman. Iran has repeatedly attacked shipping in the strait since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Oman is responding to another spill in the Arabian Sea, coming from a tanker grounded off its southern coast. The tanker Caroline Bezengi — a sanctioned vessel believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — has been grounded since reporting an explosion in June. No party has claimed responsibility and the cause is unknown. A British maritime risk and response company said Thursday it has been hired to salvage the tanker and stop the oil leak off Oman. Oil from the ship has been spreading for weeks, reaching shores hundreds of kilometers (miles) north of the vessel. JD Vance says Iran war will end with US in stronger position Vice President JD Vance appeared to be lowering expectations for the Strait of Hormuz to return to the way it was before the war. He predicted in an interview on Fox News Channel that the war will end with the U.S. in a stronger position, with Iran not having a nuclear weapon, and with the Strait of Hormuz “returned to a place where oil and gas prices are stable for the American people.” He did not say anything about the strait being open and toll-free for transiting ships, as he had in the past. Vance’s comments also seemed to suggest that the administration was more acutely focused on the economic impact of the war than the original aims of the war itself. “That’s goal number one: keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country,” he said. The second goal, according to Vance, is to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon. Kushner will head to Middle East for talks on Gaza President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator Jared Kushner will travel to the Middle East next week to try to advance plans for an end to the conflict in Gaza after a deal recently announced by the Trump administration ran into Israeli opposition. An official with the Board of Peace, the body Trump established to oversee the fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, said Kushner, board high representative Nickolay Mladenov, and executive board member and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would arrive in Israel on Sunday. The group will then travel to Cairo, where meetings of a Palestinian technocratic group set to assume control of Gaza under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal have been taking place for the past several months, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because planning for details of the trip has not yet been finalized, The trip was reported earlier by Axios.

The heads of six Arab soccer federations expressed their “full support” and “confidence” in Gianni Infantino on Thursday as the embattled FIFA president fights to keep his job after his failed World Cup private investment plan. The backing came from 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, with four of the signatories being FIFA council members. “We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the statement read. “We deeply appreciate Mr. Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together.” The statement said the signatories “look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football, expanding opportunities and further enhancing Arab football’s contribution to the global game.” Infantino is facing a revolt after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. He withdrew the $20 billion proposal after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA, which has warned of a boycott of all FIFA games and events. UEFA teamed up with CONCACAF — the confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean — and the Asian Football Confederation — and issued an open letter Monday saying Infantino’s plan was a “fundamental breach of trust” and described it as “deception.” And on Thursday, the Football Association of Ireland said in a statement it has withdrawn its support for Infantino to be re-elected as FIFA president in March, saying “recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.” The soccer federations in England and Wales did the same last week, while Northern Ireland said it was backing UEFA's stance. New Zealand Football, which is part of the Oceania confederation, issued a statement Friday local time saying it had withdrawn its support for the candidature of Infantino and was seeking an independent review of steps taken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. New Zealand soccer's governing body said it “formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.” Schism in Asian bloc over Infantino support By expressing support for Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon aligned against the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino’s official Instagram account previously has posted letters of support from several member federations, including Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The four FIFA council members among the signatories were Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya. The other two were Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Moatasem Gafar, president of the Sudan Football Association. Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next year in Morocco. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.

North Korea on Friday threatened to exercise its right to self-defense in a statement that slammed the upcoming U.S.-South Korean military drills as a war rehearsal that would be more provocative than last year. The U.S. and South Korean militaries are to start their annual large-scale drills Monday and have described the scope of this year’s training as similar to past years. The allies have said the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are meant to strengthen their readiness against North Korean threats and reiterated that they are defensive in nature. The North Korean warning signals the country could conduct more weapons tests in coming days after its neighbors detected two ballistic missile launches off North Korea’s east coast in the past week. North Korea hasn’t commented on the launches, but outside experts assess they were likely meant to protest the U.S.-South Korean drills or upgrade weapons systems. In a statement carried by state media Friday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the U.S.-South Korean training “a rehearsal for an aggressive war” that is triggering a different level of instability in the region. “It is our consistent principle of ensuring security to respond to a new level of a threat with a new level of a deterrent,” the statement said. North Korea “will more clearly express its stance on the enemies to cope with any threats and challenges through the responsible and decisive exercise of the right to legitimate self-defense.”  

At least 10 people were injured as residents of two villages clashed over a dispute stemming from a football match in Shibganj upazila on Thursday evening. Among the injured, two people — van driver Kawsar and Naim — were receiving treatment at Shibganj Upazila Health Complex. The clash broke out around 7:30pm in the Binodpur Khaserhat Bazar area, with two cocktail bombs exploding during the confrontation. The dispute reportedly began on Wednesday when two players got into a scuffle after colliding during a football match at Ismail Memorial High School ground in Kaliganj Bazar. The same dispute led to a young man being beaten at Eradatola Bazar on Thursday morning, locals said. Later in the evening, residents of Chandshikari village clashed with people from Eradatola and Pankatola villages, triggering the violence. Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Motiur Rahman said cocktails were exploded during the incident. “Several people were injured in the clash. The situation is now under control,” he said. Legal action will be taken after assessing the situation, the OC added.

A court on Thursday sent Babul Mia, the prime suspect in the killing of three members of a family in Sylhet city’s Raynagar area, to jail. Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khan Md Mainul Zakir confirmed the development in the evening. Police said their investigation found that the triple murder stemmed from a personal dispute between Babul and the family’s domestic worker, Tahmina. Babul was arrested Wednesday afternoon from a colony in the Rajbari area of Raynagar. During preliminary questioning, Babul reportedly admitted that he entered Nikunja Villa, a house in Mitali Residential Area, on Wednesday morning and got into an altercation with Tahmina. At one point, Babul allegedly stabbed Tahmina with a knife. When elderly couple Abdus Sattar and Suraiya Begum came forward to save her, he allegedly attacked and killed them as well, police said. Based on information provided by Babul, police recovered the bloodstained knife allegedly used in the killings on Thursday morning. Abdus Sattar was a former director of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a local Awami League leader. All four of the couple’s children — three daughters and a son — live abroad. Two daughters arrived in Sylhet from the United Kingdom on Thursday afternoon and received their parents’ bodies from Osmani Medical College Hospital. Their son Arif Iftekhar, who lives in the United States, is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on Friday. A case will be filed after his arrival, according to the family. Police security has been tightened around the house following the killings.

Two businesses were fined Tk 10,000 in total during a consumer rights monitoring drive in Feni city on Thursday for selling unauthorised fake Indian basmati rice and charging customers more than displayed prices. The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection conducted the drive at different kitchen markets in the city to monitor prices of essential commodities. Assistant Director of the Feni district office Md Asadul Islam led the drive in the afternoon. “Messrs Abul Khayer Traders” was fined Tk 5,000 for selling rice at prices higher than those displayed on its price list. Another Tk 5,000 fine was imposed on “Messrs Salam Store” for selling unauthorised and counterfeit Indian basmati rice. Officials also inspected stocks, supply and purchase and sales receipts of essential commodities, including eggs, green chillies and vegetables, at different markets to help keep prices stable. Assistant Director Asadul Islam said traders would not be allowed to engage in unfair practices in the essential commodities market. The consumer rights authority will continue monitoring markets in the public interest and to help control commodity prices, he added. A team of the district battalion Ansar provided security and assistance during the drive. Awareness leaflets were also distributed among buyers and sellers at the markets.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested five people for their alleged involvement in an organised racket operating online betting and gambling websites in Narsingdi. A special team of the Cyber Investigation and Operations Unit of CID’s Cyber Police Centre conducted raids in different parts of Narsingdi from Tuesday evening to Wednesday and arrested them, said a CID press release on Thursday. The arrestees are Rafiqul Islam, 46; Md Sohel, 37; Md Shafiqul Islam, 27; Md Rubel Mollaya, 33; and Ayub Hossain Ripon, 48. All are residents of Narsingdi. Rafiqul was arrested from the Railgate College Market area under Raipura Police Station, Sohel from the Moulvi Bari area of Noaadia village under Monohardi Police Station, and Shafiqul and Rubel from the Raju Tower area in front of Monohardi Police Station. Ayub was arrested from the Noyadarakandia area under Monohardi Police Station. CID said it seized nine mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, cheque books of different banks and other important evidence from their possession. According to the case statement, CID’s Cyber Police Centre detected during cyber monitoring that an organised group, with members operating both inside and outside Bangladesh, had been running online betting and gambling websites under different names for a long time. The websites allegedly facilitated betting on international cricket, football and other sporting events in exchange for money. The group also promoted and advertised the gambling platforms through social media and other online platforms, CID said. The investigation found that users of the betting sites were required to make top-ups or deposits to participate in online gambling. The sites instructed users to deposit money through mobile financial services such as bKash, Nagad, Rocket and Upay, as well as bank accounts and cryptocurrency. After deposits were made, equivalent amounts of e-money or “bot money” were reportedly credited to users’ betting accounts for use in gambling. CID said the group used MFS agent numbers and bank accounts to facilitate deposits and withdrawals, frequently changing the numbers and accounts. The group allegedly recruited agents in different parts of the country to collect MFS numbers and bank account details and then supplied the information to betting website operators through Telegram and other communication platforms. According to the preliminary investigation, money collected through illegal electronic transactions was pooled by agents, who retained commissions before transferring the remaining funds through bank accounts and converting them into cryptocurrency for possible transfer abroad. CID filed a case with Paltan Model Police Station under Sections 20(2), 21(2), 24(2) and 27(2) of the Cyber Security Act 2026.

Five police members of Shahrashti Model Police Station in Chandpur have been temporarily suspended over allegations of involvement in drug-related activities. Chandpur Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman issued an office order on Tuesday suspending them. The suspended members are Sub-Inspector Arif Hossain, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shahidullah, Constable Sharif Uddin, driver Nazrul Islam and Constable Ishtiaq. On July 28, locals detained alleged drug trader Mizanur Rahman at Aynatali Bazar in the upazila. His mobile phone reportedly contained information, including conversations and financial transactions involving police members. The issue sparked widespread discussion and criticism. Following an investigation ordered by the police superintendent, a preliminary inquiry found the allegations against the five police members to be true. Additional Superintendent of Police Md Lutfur Rahman and Assistant Superintendent of Police A. Hai Chowdhury told UNB that the five were suspended after the preliminary investigation substantiated the allegations. Lutfur Rahman said departmental action would be taken against them if the allegations are established in the final investigation.

A suspected member of a robbery gang was shot and injured in a gunfight with Detective Branch (DB) police in Aftabnagar under Badda Police Station on Thursday night. The injured man was identified as Md SM Ariful Islam Pavel, 30. He is from Bakerganj village in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh. He had been living in the Goran area of Khilgaon in Dhaka. The incident occurred around 8:45pm in the East & Housing area of Sector 5, M-Block, Aftabnagar. Gulshan DB Inspector Anwar, who was involved in the operation, said police launched a drive around 8:30pm after receiving information that an armed gang was preparing to commit a robbery in the area. Sensing the presence of DB police, Pavel allegedly pulled out a pistol and attempted to fire at the officers. In self-defence, police fired one round from a shotgun, hitting him below the right knee, the officer said. Police then arrested Pavel and recovered a pistol and three rounds of ammunition from his possession. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency department around 10pm and is currently receiving treatment. Legal action, including filing a case with Badda Police Station, is underway.

Bangladesh and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) on Thursday underscored the need for concerted efforts to diversify and expand trade and investment flows, recognising that the existing level of bilateral trade remains below its considerable potential. Both sides also agreed to encourage greater business-to-business engagement, including exchanges between the respective national apex chambers of commerce and industry. Lao PDR expressed particular interest to deepen cooperation on pharmaceuticals and agricultural products of Bangladesh. The issues were discussed at the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Vientiane, marking a significant milestone in the 38-year-old diplomatic relationship established in 1988.

Allegations of politicization and nepotism have surfaced over the recruitment of supervisors and data collectors for the Family Card census in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. Locals alleged that the wife of a local BNP leader, the upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president and relatives of BNP leaders and activists were given preference despite assurances that recruitment would be based on merit. The issue has also drawn criticism on social media. According to the Mithapukur Upazila Social Services Office, a notice was issued on July 25 for recruiting supervisors and data collectors in 17 unions. A total of 670 people applied for supervisor posts and around 3,243 for data collector positions. The selection was supposed to be based on practical skills, GPA, conduct and viva performance. The final results, published on Aug. 10, selected 214 data collectors and 21 supervisors. An investigation found that Tajmun Nahar, wife of Mithapukur upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Mojahidul Islam, was selected as supervisor in Ranipukur Union. Upazila JCD President Md Mahmudul Hasan was selected in Durgapur Union, while Md Miraj Ahmed, cousin of upazila BNP President Golam Rabbani, was selected in Bara Hazratpur Union. Other supervisors included journalist Bablur Rahman Bari in Kafrikhal Union; Rezwana Sharmin Prapti, daughter of Pairaband Union BNP President Abdur Rouf Sarker; Sumaiya Khatun, sister of anti-discrimination student movement leader Awlad; and Mojahidul Haque, former vice-president of the Rangpur metropolitan unit of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, in Chengmari and Bhangni unions respectively. Several people linked to BNP and JCD were also selected as data collectors. They included Rangpur district JCD member Shafiul Islam Shimul and Fahmida Akter Mim, Mehedi Hasan Fuad and Fahima Akter Lima, nephew and niece of BNP leader Golam Rabbani. Nine people from Chithli Dakshinpara village alone were selected. Other selected data collectors included Nowrin Jahan Nizum, daughter of BNP leader Hazrat Ali; two nieces and a sister of Nilphamari Water Development Board office assistant Shafiqul Islam; and Alpana Begum, wife of an office assistant at the UNO’s office. Mahmudul Hasan denied political considerations, saying he was selected on merit. Shafiul Islam Shimul also said he qualified on merit and denied that Fahmida Akter Mim was his girlfriend, calling the allegation baseless. Golam Rabbani denied recommending relatives, saying Chithli Dakshinpara is a large, densely populated village and that the administration made the selections entirely on merit. Ordinary applicants alleged that they were deceived by assurances of merit-based recruitment and that the process was politicized. Abdul Hakim, member secretary of the selection committee and Upazila Social Services Officer, said the results were based entirely on merit. He said 34 officials conducted viva examinations through 17 boards. Attempts to contact UNO Md Parvez for comment were unsuccessful. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message. Rangpur-5 MP Gholam Rabbani said the UNO had assured him that recruitment would be based entirely on merit. “I have heard that 11 people from a single village were selected. I will speak directly with the UNO to find out what happened,” he said.

Power distribution authorities in Kushtia have requested the Superintendent of Police (SP) to bolster security at key electrical installations, citing fears of sabotage and public unrest due to severe load shedding. The West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCO) and Kushtia Palli Bidyut Samity sent separate letters to the SP office on Monday and Tuesday . Additional SP (Crime and Ops) Faisal Mahmud confirmed the receipt of the letters on Thursday morning, noting that copies were also sent to the District Commissioner and other relevant departments. In its letter, WZPDCO expressed concern that the power production shortage—affecting the entire country—has created significant public discontent. The authority warned that "vested quarters" might exploit the situation to carry out sabotage at Key Point Installations (KPI) and other critical electrical sites. Amzad Hossain, Executive Engineer of WZPDCO Kushtia, emphasized that increased police deployment is necessary to ensure safety and maintain uninterrupted service. Meanwhile, the letter from Jahangir Alam, General Manager (Additional Charge) of Kushtia Palli Bidyut Samity, highlighted a nationwide production deficit of approximately 3,500 MW. This shortage has led to intense load shedding in Palli Bidyut areas, severely impacting students, farmers, businesses, and industrial units. The authority warned that the disruption of official activities and daily life is fueling public anger. Additional SP Faisal Mahmud stated that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have already been alerted to increase surveillance around these vital installations. "Police regularly monitor important facilities for security reasons, and we have now instructed increased vigilance to prevent any untoward incidents," he added. 

The government has withdrawn Trishal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Arafat Siddiqui following an alleged assault on an employee of a sand quarry leaseholder. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Thursday, attaching the UNO to the ministry. The move comes a day after Arafat Siddiqui allegedly assaulted the sand quarry leaseholder’s employee on Wednesday, with CCTV footage of the incident going viral on social media. The roughly one-minute footage appears to show the UNO slapping a man several times and hitting him with a stick. Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Mahbubur Rahman and members of law enforcement agencies were also present at the scene. According to the leaseholder, the incident took place around 1:59pm on Wednesday at a sand sales point in the Kulurbaria area of Kalirbazar under Kanthal union of the upazila. The leaseholder claimed that its employee Sarwar Jahan alias Bachchu was assaulted after he asked the officials who arrived to conduct an operation to identify themselves, leading to an altercation. The CCTV footage shows a team, led by the UNO, accompanied by members of Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), arriving at the sand sales point. The UNO is seen asking for documents, while Sarwar Jahan, manager of Srishti Enterprise, asked the visiting officials to identify themselves. At one point, the UNO allegedly slapped Sarwar several times. A RAB member then appeared to try to take away Sarwar from the scene. The UNO allegedly took a stick from the RAB member and hit Sarwar several times with it. Mahbubur Rahman is seen trying to stop the UNO.

The National Fisheries Fortnight 2026 will begin on August 16, with 14 individuals and institutions set to receive National Fisheries Awards (gold medals) in 13 categories. The fortnight will be observed under the theme “A self-sufficient country with silver fish, Bangladesh first.” The event aims to highlight Bangladesh’s growing success in fish production, conservation of fisheries resources, safe and quality fish production, improvement of fishermen’s livelihoods and strengthening the country’s position in international markets. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid disclosed the details at a press conference at his ministry on Thursday. He said the central opening ceremony will be held on August 16 at the George Institute Mini Stadium in Acmita union of Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the National Fisheries Fortnight 2026 and distribute the awards, the minister said. He said the fisheries sector’s contribution to the country’s economy, food security and nutrition is increasing steadily. The sector currently contributes 2.58 percent to the national GDP and 22.03 percent to agricultural GDP. Around 2.06 crore people, including a significant number of women, are directly or indirectly involved in the sector, Aminur said.

Experts on Thursday  stressed  that cutting buildings’ electricity use alone is not enough; embodied carbon from construction materials must also be addressed and greater use of low-carbon and bio-based construction materials as the country seeks to make its rapidly expanding infrastructure sector more sustainable and climate-friendly. Bangladesh needs to look beyond energy efficiency in buildings and account for the carbon emissions generated throughout the lifecycle of construction materials, including their production, transportation and use, experts said at a seminar in Dhaka on Thursday. The remarks came at a seminar titled “Engineering Low-Carbon and Bio-Based Buildings: From Material Characterization and LCA to EPD and Building Performance”, organised by the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at the Shaheed Engineer Bhaban at IEB headquarters in Ramna, Dhaka. Engineer Khan Manjur Morshed, IEB vice-president (Academic and International), chaired the seminar. Technology must serve humanity In his opening remarks, Khan Manjur Morshed said scientific research and technological innovation have significantly improved human life, but the benefits of any invention depend largely on how and for what purpose it is used. Citing the example of dynamite, he said the technology once brought major changes to mining, road, railway and infrastructure construction, but was later also used in warfare and destruction. He also highlighted the social consequences of excessive and uncontrolled use of information technology. “Technology has made our lives easier, but excessive dependence on it can weaken social interaction, family bonds and direct human relationships,” he said. IEB Honorary General Secretary and Dhaka WASA Chairman Prof Dr Engineer Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan delivered the welcome address. He said construction materials and material engineering would become increasingly important in the future practice of civil engineering. He said concrete, steel, bricks and cement remain the dominant materials used in permanent buildings in Bangladesh, while lightweight houses made of tin, bamboo, timber and other locally available materials remain common in rural areas. “Against the backdrop of climate change and the global need to reduce carbon emissions, we need to rethink our conventional construction practices,” he said. Tanvir Manjur pointed out that significant carbon dioxide emissions are generated during cement production, particularly through limestone calcination and the high-temperature kiln process involved in clinker production. The cement industry is associated with around 7–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, he said. National Housing Authority Chairman Mosa Ferdous Begum was also present at the seminar. Carbon assessment should begin at design stage Dr Eshrar Latif, associate professor at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK, presented the keynote paper. He said buildings consume substantial amounts of energy and raw materials not only during construction but throughout their operational lifecycle. “Assessing only electricity consumption during the operational stage does not provide the full picture of a building’s carbon footprint,” he said. The seminar was moderated by Engineer Nesar Uddin, secretary of IEB’s Civil Engineering Division. Engineer Muhammad Ahsanul Russell, IEB honorary assistant general secretary (Administration and Finance), members of the IEB Central Council, leaders of engineering divisions and engineers from various government agencies and departments also attended the event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Thursday blamed the government’s “mismanagement, inefficiency, lack of foresight, widespread corruption and politicisation of various institutions” for the worsening power and gas crisis in the country. In a statement, he expressed deep concern over the severe shortage of electricity and gas and the resulting public suffering, and strongly condemned what he described as the government’s failure to manage the power sector. Porwar said the country has recently been experiencing a severe power and gas crisis, with a significant gap between demand and supply causing widespread public suffering. He said the country was hit by extensive load shedding since August 9. According to the statement, the electricity shortfall stood at 3,671 megawatts on August 9, 3,757MW on August 10, 3,465MW on August 11 and 3,382MW on August 12. “This shows that the country has faced an average power shortage of around 3,500MW in recent days,” the Jamaat leader said, adding that people and the industrial sector were bearing the brunt of the crisis. He also said on Wednesday, gas supply stood at 2,030 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against a demand for 3,800 mmcfd. “The power and gas crisis has reached an extreme level due to the government’s mismanagement, inefficiency, lack of foresight, widespread corruption and politicisation of various institutions,” Porwar said. He said public anger is growing as the energy crisis deepened, referring to a letter sent by the Bangladesh Palli Bidyut Association to the Police Headquarters on Wednesday, seeking enhanced security at 80 rural electrification co-operatives amid the deteriorating situation. The Jamaat secretary general said the move reflects the government’s failure in managing the power sector. Citing media reports, he said Nilphamari in the northern region was receiving 45-55MW against a demand for 80MW, while Kushtia was receiving 85-95MW against a demand for 155MW. “Such a situation exists across the country, prompting power-sector officials to seek enhanced security,” he said. Porwar said the crisis has worsened because the government has failed to take long-term decisions on power management. Production at industries is being disrupted, while people are struggling to carry out routine household activities, including cooking, because of shortages of electricity and gas, he said. Students are also facing disruptions to their studies, he added. “Overall, people’s lives have become miserable,” the Jamaat leader said, accusing the government of failing to take effective measures to address the crisis and describing it as an indication of its irresponsibility towards the people. He expressed concern that the government could further deepen the crisis by providing renewed benefits to old oligarchs in the name of privatising the energy sector. To ease public suffering, Porwar demanded that the government increase gas supplies, stop gas theft in industries, reduce leakage and system losses, formulate necessary policies and facilitate the import of equipment for energy conversion, and take measures to prevent oil smuggling. He also called for arrangements to import crude oil through government or private initiatives and urged the authorities to take effective measures to improve the skills of those involved in electricity generation and distribution. To address the existing crisis and ensure energy security, the Jamaat leader said it is essential to step up domestic gas exploration by bringing in capable foreign partners for onshore reservoir management, including the use of new technologies, as well as drilling new exploration and development wells. “If the government fails to take initiatives to meet the basic and everyday needs of the people, it will have to bear responsibility for any situation that may arise,” he said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam hosted a luncheon in honour of the delegation of the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) and exchanged views on strengthening Bangladesh-US economic and commercial relations. She underscored the importance of continued engagement between Bangladesh and the US business community.  Members of the delegation and Bangladeshi business leaders exchanged views and shared experiences on opportunities and challenges relating to trade, investment, and business operations in Bangladesh. The discussions covered a range of areas, including energy, technology, digital economy, healthcare, agriculture, and financial services, reflecting the broad scope of Bangladesh-US economic engagement. The event, held at a city hotel, provided a platform for business leaders from both countries to interact and explore potential partnerships. The luncheon was attended by Ambassador (Retd.) Atul Keshap, President of the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Oliver Simpson, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Excelerate Energy, along with the USBBC delegation, senior government officials and prominent business leaders from Bangladesh. The 45-member USBBC delegation, representing 25 leading U.S. companies across energy, technology, financial services, healthcare, and agriculture concluded their three-day visit on Thursday after exploring avenues for deepening bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Leading American companies across energy, technology, agriculture, and finance explored opportunities.  

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the anniversary of the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM), will be observed in the country on August 26. The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Islamic Foundation Conference Room at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Thursday evening with Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad in the chair. The meeting informed that as the moon of Rabiul Awal of 1448 Hijri was not sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on Thursday. Prophet Muhammad (SM) was born in Makkah of Saudi Arabia on the 12th of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar in 570 AD. He also passed away on the same day in 632 AD.

The government has moved to review the previously approved export quotas for aromatic rice amid an unusual rise in prices in the domestic market. The Ministry of Commerce has asked companies that received permission to export aromatic rice to submit details of the actual quantities they exported within three working days. The directive was issued in a letter issued by the Export-2 branch of the ministry on Thursday. According to the letter, the ministry has decided to reconsider the approved export quantities in view of the current market situation and increased domestic demand for aromatic rice. Companies that failed to export their full approved quotas or exported only part of the permitted quantities are likely to have their unused quotas reviewed. A high-level meeting on the aromatic rice market was held at the ministry on August 2, chaired by Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir. The meeting reviewed rice production, domestic demand, market conditions and the actual export situation. Based on the recommendations from the Ministry of Food, the Ministry of Commerce had approved exports of 45,270 tonnes of aromatic rice for 278 companies in two phases – 211 companies on May 13 and another 67 companies in the second phase. The August 2 meeting found that many of the companies failed to export rice according to their approved quotas, while some exported only part of their allocations. As a result, a significant gap has emerged between approved quotas and actual exports. The ministry is now collecting updated, company-wise export data to assess the situation. Business representatives have alleged that the country’s 10 largest rice mill owners are holding large stocks of aromatic rice and creating an artificial shortage by withholding supplies from the market, resulting in higher prices. Following discussions with stakeholders, the ministry decided to strengthen market monitoring to prevent artificial shortages and excessive profiteering. The Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection and other relevant organisations have been instructed to intensify market monitoring. The government will also review whether it is justified to retain unused quotas for companies that received export permission but failed to ship the approved quantities. After verifying the information, the government will decide whether to reduce or adjust the approved export quotas. The move is aimed at maintaining adequate supplies of aromatic rice in the domestic market while ensuring that genuine exporters continue to have access to export opportunities.

A four-year-old boy was killed after a wall of an under-construction building collapsed on him in the Khilbarirtek area under Vatara Police Station in the capital on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mahid Islam, son of Habib Hossain. Hailing from Ratanpur village in Bhola Sadar upazila, the family currently lives at Hazari Goli of Khilbarirtek. The victim’s father said the wall suddenly collapsed around 3:00pm, trapping Mahid underneath. Locals rescued the child and took him to a nearby hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where the on-duty doctor declared him dead around 4:30pm. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue.

A Class-IX madrasah student was killed after being run over by a train in Chandpur town on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Tayeba Akter, 14, a student of Bishnudi Islamia Senior Alim Madrasah and daughter of Tajul Islam. According to locals, the Chattogram-bound Sagarika Express hit Tayeba near the Chhayabani level crossing around 3:00pm when she attempted to cross the railway track, leaving her dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body. Rajib Kor, officer-in-charge of Chandpur Railway Police Station, said the victim’s parents reached the police station and the body was handed over to the family after completing the necessary legal formalities.

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and the Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) separately paid tribute to filmmaker Tareque Masud and ATN News CEO Mishuk Munier thin evening, marking 15 years since the road crash that killed them along with three colleagues on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Manikganj on 13 August, 2011. Candles were lit at the Tareque Masud-Mishuk Munier memorial sculpture near Dhaka University's TSC, attended by family members, road safety activists, lawyers and BLAST officials. Following the event of BLAST, DUFS organised a film screening at the same monument, showing "Muktir Gaan" and "Fera" by Tareque Masud. The organisation said it holds such a screening at the site every year in memory of the two filmmakers.

A former scientific officer of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Faria Azad who is studying abroad has alleged that she was subjected to harassment and derogatory discussions by some of her colleagues in a WhatsApp group. Faria said she had received screenshots of what she described as “indecent and distasteful” conversations about her in the group and shared the screenshots with UNB. She also emailed his complaints to the chairman of the authority to investigate the issue. She complained against Chinmoy Pramanik, food safety officer in Rajshahi; Abu Naser Mohammad Shafiullah,  food safety officer in Jamalpur; Syed Sarfraz Hossain,  food safety officer in Sylhet Metropolitan; Md Lokman Hossain, food safety officer in Rangpur; Md Shakib Hossain, food safety officer in Moulvibazar; and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a drug supervisor at the Directorate General of Drug Administration’s headquarters. She has also raised the issue publicly through her social media account, naming several current and former BFSA officials and colleagues. In her social media post, Faria expressed her disappointment over the alleged discussions and said she now understood why a former BFSA colleague, Laboni, had removed her former colleagues from her social media friends list after leaving the organisation. “Today I understand why she did that. She was the wiser one,” Faria wrote. Addressing Md Sakib Hossain, she said she could not recall ever causing him any harm and claimed that she had helped him about six months ago when he sought assistance regarding a scholarship. She also questioned comments allegedly made by Lokman Hossain, saying she had never had any disagreement with him and that she remained on his Facebook friends list. Faria criticised another colleague, Sarfaraz Sunny, over what she described as comments concerning the reasons for her divorce. “Extra-marital affair is not the only reason people get divorced,” she wrote, urging him not to make comments about others without knowing the facts. She also called on the BFSA employees who remain on her Facebook friends list to remove themselves, saying she did not wish to maintain contact with those involved in the alleged discussions. Referring to the screenshots, Faria questioned Chinmay Pramanik about allegedly sharing her photograph in the WhatsApp group and asked him why her picture had been posted there. She also mentioned several other individuals in her post, including Mohammad Ali Zinnah and former BFSA employee Shakil Ahmed, making comments about their alleged involvement in or connection with the discussions. Faria said she was considering sending the screenshots to the higher authorities so that the matter could be investigated and those responsible could face consequences. “I am thinking about sending the screenshots to the higher authority. They need to go through some kind of consequences for their … conversations. That's why I posted this publicly,” she wrote. The allegations could not immediately be independently verified. It was also not immediately clear whether the BFSA had initiated any inquiry into the matter. "It is terrifying to realize how many 'educated' men walk among us wearing masks of decency. It’s scary to think that any female colleague could be the target of such disrespect. they act so respectful to your face, it really makes you question who you can actually trust," another female colleague of hers Farzia Huq said. "Md Lokman Hossain, Md Sakib Hossain and Syed Sarfaraj Hossain were apologizing for their act but they would never apologize if this conversation was never out in the public. That's why I don't think they deserve an apology," she said.  She also filed a complaint against the Assistant Director of  Department of Narcotics Control Bangladesh in Joyopurhat Shakil Ahammed to the respective authority.  UNB verified the identities of all participants allegedly involved in the dis discussions. Mehedi Hasan, a friend and former departmental batchmate of Azad, raised the allegations in a social media post , saying screenshots of conversations in the group showed what he described as “highly indecent, sexually suggestive and derogatory” comments about Azad. According to Hasan, Azad completed her higher studies at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and is currently working as a toxicology specialist. She previously served as a scientific officer at BFSA. He alleged that some officials used Azad’s personal photographs in the WhatsApp group and made offensive comments about her appearance, clothing and personal life. Hasan called on the BFSA and the Directorate General of Drug Administration to investigate the allegations and take appropriate departmental and legal action if the claims are substantiated. He also referred to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, and relevant High Court directives concerning sexual harassment in workplaces. Azad has publicly spoken out against the alleged harassment and shared information concerning the incident on social media, according to Hasan. Hasan urged the BFSA, DGDA and the Ministry of Public Administration to form an impartial inquiry committee and ensure a safe, respectful and harassment-free working environment for women. He said allegations of this nature should be investigated through due process and that those found responsible should face appropriate disciplinary and legal action. Food Safety Officer of Sylhet Syed Sarfaraz Hossain denied the allegations against him.  Abu Naser Mohammad Shafiullah, food safety officer in Jamalpur also told UNB he was not part of this crime.  BFSA Chairman Md Shafiqul Islam said he has received a complaint regarding the matter and is taking it seriously. He said the complaint would be investigated properly and that strict action would be taken against those concerned if the allegations are found to be true. He also said necessary measures would be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed has directed police to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to drug-related crimes, take effective measures to prevent illegal activities at hotels and spa centres, and maintain round-the-clock surveillance in snatching-prone areas. He gave the directives at the monthly crime review meeting for July 2026, held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh in the capital on Thursday. The DMP commissioner instructed police to strengthen intelligence activities alongside regular drives against drug dealers and others involved in drug-related crimes. He also directed officials concerned to take necessary measures to prevent illegal activities at hotels and spa centres within their respective police station areas. “If information about such activities is received, immediate legal action should be taken while maintaining regular surveillance,” he said. To prevent snatching, Mosleh Uddin instructed the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and Detective Branch (DB) to maintain round-the-clock field presence in coordination with the Crime Division after identifying snatching-prone areas. He also ordered stronger intelligence surveillance, patrols and operations in those areas and directed the units concerned to work in coordination to bring the criminals to justice. The DMP chief further asked the officers-in-charge of the relevant police stations and senior officials of the Crime Division to visit the scene of every crime. He stressed the importance of visiting crime scenes in person, collecting necessary evidence and properly examining the circumstances surrounding incidents to establish the facts and make investigations more effective. Mosleh Uddin also directed field-level police officials to discharge their duties with the highest professionalism, responsibility and dedication to control crime and ensure the safety of city residents.

The government is working to introduce a unified regulatory policy for battery-run rickshaws (e-rickshaws) across city corporations, municipalities, upazilas, and union parishads across the country, said State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday. He made the announcement during an inter-ministerial meeting at the conference room of the Local Government Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat according to a PID Handout. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam presided over the meeting. A policy for the management of e-rickshaws is being formulated in accordance with the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, and the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act 2026, the handout said. Mir Shahe Alam said, “Initiatives will be taken to update existing regulations and designate a unified licensing authority for city corporations, municipalities, upazila and union parishads. The smooth and effective implementation of this policy would play a significant role in controlling urban traffic, bringing traffic discipline, and ensuring road safety. At the same time, the systematic licensing and registration processes conducted through local government bodies would generate revenue for the state exchequer, he added. The Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026, has already been revised to facilitate e-rickshaw registration and driver licensing followed by the Local Government Division's gazette notification of the E-Rickshaw Operation Rules in December 2025. The meeting featured a detailed discussion on taking effective measures regarding urban management, traffic discipline, road safety, and the management of battery-operated e-rickshaws in light of current realities. Relevant stakeholders presented various opinions and recommendations on the matter. At the meeting, BUET civil engineering professor Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman provided expert opinion on the relevant subject.The meeting brought together DNCC administrator Safiqul Islam Khan and DSCC administrator Md. Abdus Salam among others.

The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and there was some concern about “AQIS trying to exploit Bangladesh” to establish cells, said the biannual report from the UN Security Council’s monitoring team for sanctions on al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS, not listed) continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity; it established logistics and financial networks, working in decentralized small, scattered cells instead of large units. Thirty-eighth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2734 (2024) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. Regional tensions in South Asia remained high as cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued, said the report. “The threat level remained broadly unchanged. However, it intensified in the Sahel and South Asia. Al-Qaida senior leadership remained marginalized. Its capability and intent to conduct external operations remained unclear,” said the report in its summary.  The death of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki was a blow to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, Q.115, hereinafter “ISIL (Da’esh)”), which may further affect its ability to communicate across its global network. In the Sahel, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM, QDe.159) launched a surprise attack in conjunction with the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) against the Government of Mali and announced its intention to blockade Bamako. There was a resurgence of violent rivalry between JNIM and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, the latter receiving increased support from Islamic State West Africa Province; this was the most intense direct confrontation globally between an Al-Qaida branch and an ISIL (Da’esh) affiliate. Al-Shabaab (SOe.001) appeared to shift towards more targeted and strategic operations, while ISIL in Somalia (not listed) remained under counter-terrorism pressure. Cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated, provoked by a high number of attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP, QDe.132) against Pakistan. ISIL (Da’esh) tried to exploit the closure of detention camps in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP, QDe.129) took advantage of the security vacuum in southern Yemen in early 2026 to strengthen its capabilities. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, CDe.001) operated at a heightened level of lethality, while simultaneously expanding their territorial reach, extending their presence as far north as Haut-Uélé Province. Al-Qaida and ISIL (Da’esh) continued to prioritize kidnapping for ransom, to generate revenue and delegitimize local security forces. The de facto authorities (Taliban) continued their support to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which escalated attacks against Pakistan, provoking military exchanges. The Taliban continued publicly to deny harbouring any terrorist groups. Member States expressed concern that the conflict could create opportunities for terrorist groups, generating additional security challenges for the region. The terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan remained largely unchanged. The ability of numerous terrorist groups to operate in Afghanistan constituted an enduring threat to neighbouring countries and the Central Asian region. Despite efforts by the de facto authorities to combat Islamic State in Iraq and the LevantKhorasan (ISIL-K, QDe.161) and contain other terrorist groups, the authorities were unable to suppress the terrorist problem.

Dhaka University has formed a three-member committee to investigate the activities of certain teachers allegedly involved in ‘anti-state covert activities’, determine the appropriate course of action, and make necessary recommendations. Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) has been appointed convener of the committee, while Dean of the Faculty of Science and the Dean of the Faculty of Law as members, according to a press release issued today. Two DU male students expelled from hall over alleged ‘homosexuality’ The committee will examine all relevant aspects concerning the teachers in question, determine the appropriate course of action, and submit recommendations. The committee has already begun its work. The press release mentioned, “It may be noted that the Dhaka University authorities recently came across a report published by various media outlets concerning the alleged covert activities of 404 teachers from 22 universities across the country, reportedly aimed at bringing fugitive convict Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death, back to Bangladesh and reactivating a political party whose activities have been banned.” The report stated that 92 Dhaka University teachers were involved in such covert activities. So far, the identities of 58 of those teachers have been identified. If the names of any additional teachers are identified, the committee will also investigate their cases and make necessary recommendations.

The ruling BNP and the 11-party opposition alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, submitted nomination papers for their respective candidates to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday for the presidential election slated for August 20. BNP filed a nomination paper for its candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while the 11-party combine submitted two nomination papers for its candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmad. A BNP delegation, led by its Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, submitted the nomination paper to CEC AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the returning officer of the presidential election, in the Nirbachan Bhaban at 2:24pm. In the nomination paper, Moyeen Khan is the proposer of Mirza Fakhrul while Gayeshwar Chandra Roy is the seconder. As BNP has an absolute majority in Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul is widely expected to be elected by the MPs in the race for Bangabhaban, the President’s official residence and office. Earlier, BNP announced party's Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul as its presidential candidate. The announcement came after a high-level meeting of the party with its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Meanwhile, Mirza Fakhrul resigned from the post of BNP secretary general and the party's Standing Committee. The delegation members include BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, whips Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, GK Gouse, ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Rakibul Islam and Akhtaruzzaman Miah, BNP joint secretaries general Habib Un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Abdus Salam Azad. Meanwhile, two separate delegations of the 11-party alliance submitted as many nomination papers for its presidential candidate Oli Ahmad to the CEC. In the first nomination paper, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman proposed Oli Ahmad as the presidential candidate, while National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin seconded the proposal. In the second nomination paper, NCP lawmaker Mahmuda Alam Mitu is the proposer while Jamaat lawmaker Abdul Baten is the seconder. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed later confirmed that three nomination papers were submitted for the presidential election – one for Mirza Fakhrul and two for Oli Ahmad. Addressing a press briefing after the deadline for submission of nomination papers expired, he said the nomination papers will be scrutinised from 10am on August 16, with a representative from the Parliament Secretariat present to verify the signatures of the candidates’ proposers and seconders. Replying to a question over two nomination papers filed for Oli Ahmad, the EC secretary said, “We will scrutinise them. If the first one is rejected, we will scrutinise the second one.” After submitting Mirza Fakhrul’s nomination paper, BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy welcomed the participation of the 11-party alliance in the presidential election. “We welcome them. This is by no means an election merely to fulfil a formality. What is supposed to happen under the Constitution and the RPO is happening. Everything is being done by following the rules,” he said. Chief Whip Nurul Islam said, “The beauty of democracy is that we are contesting and being elected.” He said the current Parliament was formed through a neutral election after 17 years of movement and BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to fulfil the expectations of the people. Following the submission of the first nomination paper, Jamaat leader AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said the 11-party alliance is contesting the presidential election despite lacking a majority in Parliament in order to uphold the “beauty of democracy” and restore democratic practices to the right track. “We want to create a new trend in democratic practice in Bangladesh,” he said. “This is not about whether we will win or lose. We do not want any election to be held without contest. That is the beauty of democracy. We have taken this decision to restore democracy to the right track,” he added. Describing Oli Ahmad as a decorated freedom fighter, Azad said he is a nationally respected figure who has remained above controversy and made significant contributions to the country over a long period. “The nation is viewing this positively and appreciating the decision of our 11-party alliance,” he said. However, the Jamaat leader said constitutional provisions (Article 70 of the Constitution that bars MPs to cross the floor) has created an obstacle to democratic practice in the presidential election. Under Article 70 of the Constitution, lawmakers cannot vote against their party’s decision. The 11-party alliance delegation members include Jamaat MPs Nurul Islam Bulbul, Nazibur Rahman and Mardia Momtaz, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, NCP MPs Abdullah Al Amin and Mahmuda, Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party Vice-President Rashed Pradhan. The EC on August 6 announced the schedule for the presidential election, fixing August 20 for voting. The CEC convened a meeting of the Members of Parliament (MPs) at the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban for voting from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on August 20. According to the election schedule, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 18. A total of 349 MPs are voters in the presidential election as the Chattogram-4 parliamentary seat remains vacant. The voters include 247 BNP lawmakers, 77 Jamaat MPs, eight NCP lawmakers, eight independent MPs, three Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis MPs, and one each from Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Khilafat Majlis, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party. Four parliamentary parties – Jamaat, NCP, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party – are the components of the 11-party alliance, giving the coalition a combined strength of 89 votes. This will be the first presidential election in 35 years, which is going to involve more than one candidate. So, the voting is set to be held in the presidential election after 1991. On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting President. According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the President must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang concluded a five-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday, advancing consultations on the bank’s next Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) and discussions on key reforms, investment priorities and the Integrated Growth Network Development (IGND) initiative. “Bangladesh is entering an important phase of its development journey, with a growing need to strengthen competitiveness, mobilise private investment, and build resilience,” Yang said. ADB delegation discusses banking sector reforms, financial stability with BB chief He said the discussions during his visit reaffirmed the strength of the ADB-Bangladesh partnership and highlighted the need to translate strategic commitments into sequenced reforms, bankable investments and effective implementation. As a government-led initiative, IGND provides a framework for aligning reforms, investments and institutions to unlock opportunities across regions, strengthen connectivity and productivity, and support Bangladesh’s long-term growth ambitions, he said. The visit followed ADB President Masato Kanda’s visit to Bangladesh in May. The government and ADB have identified an annual ADB pipeline of more than $1 billion aligned with the IGND initiative and begun investment promotion consultations with private sector representatives. Yang also discussed Bangladesh’s potential to emerge as a regional hub for transport, logistics, energy and digital connectivity through stronger regional cooperation and integration. During a meeting with Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, discussions focused on aligning the next CPS with the government’s medium-term reform and development framework, promoting private sector-led economic diversification and strengthening resilience to shocks. They also reviewed progress and next steps for IGND implementation, including priority growth-node planning and project pipeline readiness. Banking and capital market development, renewable energy and private investment mobilisation were also discussed. In Chattogram, Yang delivered the keynote address at a national dissemination seminar on IGND, highlighting the initiative’s potential to strengthen links among growth centres, markets and regional and global value chains. He said integrated investments in infrastructure, logistics, energy, urban development and human capital could raise productivity, attract investment, create quality jobs and expand economic opportunities across regions. Yang also held consultations with senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, think tanks and other stakeholders on the next CPS. The discussions focused on private sector-led diversification and resilience to external and domestic shocks, including the reforms, investments and implementation arrangements required to deliver these priorities. During his visit, Yang met Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman; and Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, among others. The meetings covered banking and capital market reforms, renewable energy, private sector participation, climate-resilient investment, digital transformation and the role of Chattogram as Bangladesh’s principal maritime and economic gateway. Yang also met bilateral and multilateral development partners to discuss complementary programming, cofinancing, technical assistance and coordinated policy dialogue. He discussed using IGND as a platform to align development pipelines and address financing and implementation gaps. In meetings with private sector representatives and think tanks, he discussed reform priorities, implementation constraints, investment barriers and opportunities to mobilise private capital under IGND. The feedback will inform the next CPS and ADB’s future operations. In Chattogram, Yang also visited activities supported under ADB’s Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program and reviewed how industry-linked training can contribute to employment, productivity and industrial competitiveness.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Home Ministry on Thursday called for stronger and coordinated efforts to eliminate drugs, curb crime and further improve the country’s law and order situation and public security. The call came at the first meeting of the committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with committee chairman Zainul Abedin, MP, in the chair. The meeting identified drugs and gambling as among the country’s major problems and stressed effective measures to eliminate them. It also called for increased public awareness and a more effective and coordinated role by all concerned in combating drugs, says a press release . The meeting was informed that the Home Ministry has already taken several measures to curb drugs, including conducting mobile courts and establishing tribunals and courts with jurisdiction. The committee also reviewed the overall law and order situation and measures taken to ensure public security. A presentation on the overall activities of the Home Ministry was made before the committee. It was informed at the meeting that complete transparency had been maintained in police recruitment over the past six months without any political influence or partisan approach. The meeting was also informed about the sector-wise allocation and expenditure plans of the Ministry and its subordinate agencies for the 2026-27 fiscal year, as well as detailed sector-wise budget and expenditure allocations for all agencies under the ministry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The ministry’s total proposed budget for FY2026-27 is Tk 31,099 crore, including Tk 28,638.79 crore as operating budget and Tk 2,460.21 crore as development budget. The committee stressed the need for continued necessary support and effective oversight to ensure improved law and order, public security, drug control and crime prevention. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, MP; Parliamentary Whip Rakibul Islam, MP; Parliamentary Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, MP; Mir Shah Alam, MP; Md Kamruzzaman, MP; Md Monwar Hossain, MP; Shirin Sultana, MP; Md Nurul Islam, MP; and Md Abdul Baten, MP, attended the meeting. The senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, inspector general of police, directors general of departments under the ministry, a brigadier general and other senior officials, heads of relevant agencies, and concerned officials of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat were present.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir has called upon police officers to perform their duties with courage and dedication, inspired by patriotism, to maintain law and order in the country. He made the call at a special meeting on law and order with senior police officials held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in the city's  Rajarbagh Police lines on Thursday. The IGP said maintaining normal law and order in the capital is essential for the stability of the entire country as people from all walks of life, including foreign and local diplomats, live in Dhaka. He stressed the need for increased direct monitoring by senior officers and proper supervision to make field-level policing more dynamic, saying effective supervision encourages police personnel at lower levels to work spontaneously. “You will work in the national interest and for establishing peace among the people without bowing down to injustice,” the IGP said. However, he warned that the police force would not take responsibility for intentional mistakes or attempts to serve personal interests, and strict action would be taken in such cases. Emphasising political neutrality and professionalism, Md Ali Hossain Fakir said, “Irrespective of political beliefs, the identity of the police is one—we are servants of the law and the people.” He said the police would maintain a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. The IGP also said cybercrime, rumours and misinformation and disinformation on social media have emerged as major challenges for police compared with traditional crimes. He urged all concerned to remain alert against attempts to make the police ineffective and against misleading information. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Additional IGP Khandaker Rafiqul Islam and officials from different levels of Bangladesh Police attended the meeting.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday evening held a meeting with BNP leaders from Rajshahi division to discuss organisational matters. The meeting was held at the BNP chairman’s office in Gulshan, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. “BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held the meeting with leaders from Rajshahi division, district and metropolitan units on organisational matters. This is part of a series of such meetings,” he said. Rumon said the Prime Minister earlier held meetings with leaders from different districts and divisions over the past month, adding, “This is a continuing process.” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu and leaders from different districts of Rajshahi division were present at the meeting.

A severe gas shortage has gripped most areas of Cumilla city for the last two days, with residents facing either very low pressure or no gas at all, disrupting cooking and daily life. The crisis has forced many households to rely on alternative fuels, increasing their expenses and causing additional hardship. At the same time, restaurants and eateries in the city are experiencing a surge in customers. Golam Kibria, a resident of Nazrul Avenue, said there had been no gas supply to his home for more than 31 hours. “We have stopped cooking at home and have had to buy food from restaurants. But many eateries are also struggling to meet the increased demand,” he said. Banker Abu Solaiman said he bought food from a restaurant the previous day but could not do so on Thursday due to the shortage. “City life has almost come to a standstill because of the gas crisis,” he said. Housewife Sumaiya Akter said she managed to cook on an electric stove the previous day, but there was no electricity on Thursday. “I was forced to make a makeshift stove in the courtyard and cook there. How can people live like this?” she said. The gas shortage has also increased pressure on restaurants and eateries in the city. Sohel Rahman, manager of a restaurant, said they were struggling to cope with the surge in customers. “We are finding it difficult to serve so many customers. From rice and bread to bakery biscuits, we can hardly keep up with demand,” he said. Meanwhile, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL), in an emergency notice, said gas supply has fallen abnormally across the country as LNG supplies from floating storage regasification units have declined due to adverse weather. As a result, low gas pressure was prevailing in the BGDCL distribution areas, like other parts of the country, it said. The situation has affected Cumilla, Noakhali, Chandpur, Feni, Lakshmipur and Brahmanbaria districts under the BGDCL distribution network. The company apologised to customers for the temporary disruption and sought their cooperation in dealing with the situation. It asked customers to contact its hotline at 16513 regarding gas supply and complaints. Local residents, however, said those responsible for cooking were bearing the brunt of the disruption to gas supply. Many have been forced to use alternative fuels, incurring additional costs and facing further inconvenience. They demanded an immediate resolution to the crisis. BGDCL General Manager Engineer Md Solaiman said he could not say when gas supply will return to normal. “There is no good news about gas supply at the moment due to the adverse weather. We cannot say when the situation will return to normal,” he said.

The e-bail bond system has been introduced in 12 more districts to reduce hassles in the bail process, bringing the total number of districts where the digital system is operational to 28. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman inaugurated the system in the new districts at a programme held at the conference room of the Law Ministry at the Secretariat on Thursday. No syndicate to be allowed to hold farmers hostage: Law Minister According to the ministry, the e-bail bond system had earlier been introduced in 16 districts in three phases. Following the success of the system in those districts, the digital service was launched simultaneously in 12 more districts in the fourth phase. The ministry plans to introduce the e-bail bond system gradually in all 64 districts of the country. Compared with the conventional bail bond system, the e-bail bond has simplified the submission and verification of bail documents. The ministry said the system will reduce the suffering of litigants and create opportunities for people to secure bail and release from custody more quickly. Speaking at the inauguration, Law Minister Asaduzzaman said the e-bail bond system was first introduced in Narayanganj during the tenure of the interim government. Later, the system was launched in seven districts, including Bogura, after the election of the Prime Minister. He said around 120,000 bail bonds had been submitted through the e-bail bond system in the 16 districts covered in the first three phases, with the process running smoothly. “Previously, 12 steps were required to process a bail bond. Now, with just one click, a lawyer can submit a bail bond while sitting in his chamber or anywhere else, even from a car, using a smartphone,” he said. The minister said an OTP is sent immediately after the bail bond is received, allowing the sender to confirm that the document has been received. “This process will greatly reduce the suffering of litigants, particularly those facing imprisonment,” Asaduzzaman said. He said the government wants to establish the rule of law, ensure justice and promote good governance rather than subject people to unnecessary harassment. “We have said that this is the good governance commitment of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government. We do not want to harass people; we want to establish the rule of law, justice and good governance,” he said. Law and Justice Division Secretary Liakat Ali Mollah said the e-bail bond system had already had a significant positive impact in reducing the difficulties faced by litigants in the 16 districts where it was introduced. Judges, leaders of lawyers’ associations, government and public prosecutors, police and local administration officials, and prison authorities from the 12 newly included districts joined the inauguration programme virtually.

BNP leaders on Thursday denied that the party held a meeting at the Secretariat on the nomination of its candidate for the presidential election, rejecting criticism from opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. “There was no meeting today. Since Tarique Rahman is the prime minister and our party chairman, we had entrusted him with the responsibility of choosing the candidate. He called us and informed us of the decision. There was no meeting there,” BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said. He was speaking to reporters after submitting the nomination paper for BNP’s presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to the Election Commission in the Nirbachan Bhaban. The BNP leader was responding to a question about Jamaat's criticism over the announcement of Mirza Fakhrul as the BNP's presidential candidate following what was described as a party “meeting” at the Secretariat. A BNP delegation, led by its Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, submitted the nomination paper to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the returning officer of the presidential election, at 2:24pm. In the nomination paper, Moyeen Khan proposed Mirza Fakhrul as a presidential candidate while Gayeshwar Chandra seconded his candidacy. Responding to the criticism, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, also a delegation member, reiterated that there was no meeting at the Secretariat in this regard. “What took place at the Secretariat today was not a meeting. We held discussions there. Discussions can take place anywhere in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was nominated and elected from a party. The chief whip said the decision on the presidential candidate had already been taken and Tarique Rahman just announced it now. PM’s adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also claimed that it was not a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee as it had earlier authorised Tarique Rahman to select the party’s presidential candidate. Earlier in the morning, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and coordinator of the 11-party alliance AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad questioned the holding of a BNP meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat to select its candidate for the presidential election. “The Secretariat is an executive place. A top-level political meeting has been held there! We are not aware of any such precedent. Yet they are doing it. So, how do they view democracy?” he told reporters after submitting the nomination paper for their alliance’s presidential candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmad to the CEC. During the briefing, Gayeshwar Chandra welcomed the 11-party alliance’s participation in the presidential election slated for August 20. About the participation of both BNP and Jamaat-led opposition camps in the presidential election, Moni said, “The beauty of democracy is that we are contesting and being elected.” Noting that this Parliament was formed through a neutral election after 17 years of movement, he said BNP Tarique Rahman is working to fulfil the expectations of the people. The delegation members include Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, whips of Parliament Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, GK Gouse, ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Rakibul Islam and Akhtaruzzaman Miah, BNP joint secretaries general Habib Un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Abdus Salam Azad.

Three Bangladeshi women have returned home through a special travel permit after serving a jail term in India, where they had been trafficked with promises of well-paid jobs at beauty parlours. The women were handed over to Benapole immigration police by Indian immigration authorities at Petrapole on Wednesday evening. The returnees are Riya Khatun, 25, Shilpi Khatun, 26, and Shimla Khatun, 26. They are from Satkhira, Narail and Pabna districts respectively. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police Saifur Rahman said the three women had illegally crossed the border and travelled to Mumbai about two years ago after being lured by brokers with promises of well-paying jobs at beauty parlours. They were later arrested by Indian police while working at beauty parlours and produced before a court. The court sentenced them to one year in prison for illegal entry into India. After completing their sentences, an Indian human rights organisation took responsibility for them and accommodated them in a shelter home. He said the women were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station after completing immigration formalities. Justice and Care, a human rights organisation, later took them into its custody and placed them in a shelter home after receiving them from Benapole Port Police Station. They will be handed over to their respective families on Thursday, said Muhit Hossain, senior programme officer of Justice and Care.

Representatives of 250 local and international NGOs have been urged to take effective steps to bring eligible employees under the Universal Pension Scheme, particularly the ‘Progoti’ scheme, to ensure their long-term financial security. The call was made at a discussion organised by the NGO Affairs Bureau on Thursday, with senior officials from the National Pension Authority, Finance Division and NGO Affairs Bureau, along with representatives of registered NGOs, attending the meeting. National Pension Authority Executive Chairman Dr Md Suratuzzaman made a detailed presentation on the overall structure, objectives and benefits of the Universal Pension Scheme, highlighting the relevance of the Progoti scheme for people working in the NGO sector. He said the Universal Pension Scheme is a state-guaranteed social protection programme aimed at ensuring financial security for citizens in old age.

Speakers on Thursday called for coordinated action to implement the National Urban Policy 2025 and translate its commitments into more liveable, inclusive and climate-resilient cities, noting that more than one-third of Bangladesh’s population, living in urban areas and cities, contributes nearly 65 percent of GDP. The call came at the national dissemination workshop on National Urban Policy 2025, organised jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Local Government Division (LGD) with support from the UK Government at BCFCC in Dhaka. The workshop brought together representatives from government ministries and agencies, local government institutions, development partners, academia, research institutions and the urban development community. The government of Bangladesh approved the country’s first National Urban Policy 2025 as a national framework for more planned, inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient urban development. Speaking at the workshop, Md Mahmud Ali, Director (Additional Secretary), Urban Development Directorate, said urban development is not one ministry's job alone, it needs coordination across sectors, with active participation from ministries, public and private institutions, development authorities, academia, professionals, and urban residents themselves. Md Samsul Islam, Joint Secretary, Local Government Division, stressed that the next priority is to move from policy to implementation. “We want the National Urban Policy 2025 to go beyond being a policy document and become an effective tool for real change in urban planning, management, infrastructure development and service delivery,” he said.  

A Chandpur court on Thursday sentenced a youth to death and another to life imprisonment for the murder of a gold trader in the district’s Matlab South upazila. The convicts are Joy Biswas Anik ,21, son of Arjun Biswas of Munshiganj, who received the death penalty, and Hridoy Sutradhar ,21, son of Gopal Sutradhar of Matlab South, who was sentenced to life in prison. Both were also fined Tk 10,000 each, with an additional two-year rigorous imprisonment in case of default. Man accused of attempted rape dies in police custody in Chandpur Md. Kamal Hossain, Additional District and Sessions Judge (2nd Court) of Chandpur, delivered the verdict in the noon. Joy was present during the sentencing, while Hridoy remains absconding after going into hiding while on bail. The victim, Omar Sarkar ,45, was a gold trader at Narayanpur market and the son of Rabi Bhakta. According to the case details, on the night of February 21, 2022, the convicts intercepted Omar on his way home from his business, "Madhabi Shilpalay," and slit his throat with a sharp weapon. To divert suspicion, Joy himself informed the victim's father about the murder that night. Rabi Bhakta and his elder son eventually found Omar's bloody body in a nearby courtyard, just 80 yards from their home. Police arrested Hridoy and Joy on February 23 and 24, 2022, respectively. The then-investigating officer, SI Md. Habibur Rahman, submitted the charge sheet on May 10, 2022. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Salma Begum said that the court reached the verdict after examining 21 witnesses and reviewing the defendants' confessions. Advocate Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan represented the defense as a state-appointed lawyer.

Police have arrested two people, including a senior official of Agrani Bank, in a case filed over the missing of Tk 4.38 crore from the vault of its Laldighi East Corporate branch in Chattogram. The arrestees are Md Kamrul Hossain, 41, senior officer and cash in-charge of the branch, and Md Jafrullah Tanvir, 25. They were arrested after the bank authorities filed a case with Kotwali Police Station. Bank's General Manager Mostak Ahmed filed the case naming Kamrul and Jafrullah as accused along with several unidentified others. According to the case statement, Kamrul was responsible for the branch's cash and vault. A discrepancy was detected on August 9 while officials were reconciling the cash transactions of the day with the cash kept in the vault after regular banking operations. Subsequent scrutiny of the accounts, vault records and relevant documents revealed a shortage of Tk 4.38 crore. When questioned about the shortage, Kamrul allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. The bank alleged that Kamrul, with the assistance of Jafrullah and unidentified others, removed the money from the vault. Inspector (Investigation) Md Iqbal Hossain of Kotwali Police Station, who is investigating the case, said the two named accused were arrested over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 4.38 crore belonging to bank customers. A court later sent them to jail, he said. Police seized two mobile phones from them, along with a 64GB pen drive containing WhatsApp communications and screen recordings, the investigation officer said. The missing money was deposited by different customers, according to the bank authorities.

A modern automatic traffic signal system was inaugurated on a pilot basis at Shahbagh intersection in the capital on Thursday as part of an initiative to modernise traffic management and reduce congestion. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the system as the chief guest. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Salam said severe traffic congestion is one of the major problems facing the capital, wasting valuable working hours of millions of city dwellers every day. He said a special pilot project had been undertaken to make vehicular movement more orderly and efficient through a technology-based automatic traffic signal system. Initially, the modern signal system is being implemented at 20 important intersections, he said. The system has been installed with technical assistance from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as part of a special initiative of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Under the DSCC, the pilot system has been installed at eight important intersections -- Banglamotor, InterContinental Dhaka, Minto Road, Kakrail crossing, Matsya Bhaban, Kadam Chattar, Shikkha Bhaban and Shahbagh. The DSCC administrator said the initiative will be expanded further, with plans to introduce the modern signal system at another 50 important intersections across Dhaka within the next few months. Of these, the system will be introduced at 22 more intersections under the DSCC soon, he added. Urging motorists and pedestrians to strictly follow traffic rules, Salam said traffic police will no longer need to manually control signals at intersections once the automatic system becomes fully operational. He also called for an end to illegal roadside parking and urged drivers and pedestrians to refrain from violating traffic laws and signals. DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman, Prof Dr Moazzem Hossain and Dr Muhammad Hadiuzzaman of BUET, and Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Anisur Rahman, among others, attended the programme.

High Commissioner of the Maldives to Bangladesh Shiuneen Rasheed on Thursday visited Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, operated by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). During the visit, the High Commissioner toured the academy and its facilities. She also met Medad Ali Virani, President of the AKDN Centre Bangladesh, and its management, according to the Maldivian High Commission in Dhaka. They exchanged views on AKDN’s programmes, initiatives and projects aimed at supporting Bangladesh’s economic and community development.

Fourteen prominent domestic companies and industrial conglomerates have expressed keen interest in investing in closed and loss-making state-owned factories and submitted 86 investment proposals to the government, according to official sources. Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is currently scrutinising the proposals, said its Public Relations officer Md Abu Hanif on Thursday. 5 private banks brought on board BIDA's One-Stop Service platform Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan said, "We have received investment proposals from various business houses. Following the passage of the Invest Bangladesh Act 2026 last month, the models for handing over closed state units—whether through long-term lease, profit-sharing, or other mechanisms—will be finalised once the framing of guidelines under the new law is completed." He expressed optimism that the process would be finalised shortly. The interested conglomerates have proposed ventures spanning agriculture and agro-processing, electric vehicles and motorcycle manufacturing, data centers and digital infrastructure, food and water processing, light engineering, and renewable energy. The government initiated efforts in June to restart closed state-owned manufacturing units. BIDA initially shortlisted 44 state-owned enterprises eligible for private sector handover. These include 13 units under the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC), 12 under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), 10 under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), five under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), and four under the Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC). When BIDA invited expressions of interest (EOI), four standalone companies and 10 major industrial groups submitted 80 investment proposals, which later expanded to 86. Both Paragon Group and Kazi Farms Group have submitted proposals to invest in Thakurgaon Sugar Mills. Meanwhile, Nabil Group, BRAC Seed & Agro Enterprise, and Milk Vita have all expressed interest in taking over Setabganj Sugar Mills. The revival initiative gained momentum following a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on July 4, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed authorities to expedite the process of reopening non-profitable state-owned factories through domestic and foreign investments. Subsequently, on July 8, Industries and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Industries, where participating companies presented their viewpoints, leading to a decision to form an effective committee to finalise the investment frameworks. Major Conglomerates and Their Investment Plans- PRAN-RFL Group: Leading the pack with 35 investment proposals covering 16 state-owned factories. Their plans include single and joint investments in automobile assembly, eco-tourism, agro-industry, construction materials, ready-mix concrete, paper mills, solar power, footwear, furniture, poultry, and dairy farming. PRAN-RFL has already revived Rajshahi Textile Mill and Rajshahi Jute Mill under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), employing 3,500 people, and recently secured leases for Star Jute Mills in Dighalia, Khulna, and National Jute Mills in Sirajganj on August 11. Akij Resource Group: Submitted 12 proposals through two subsidiaries. Akij Agro & Livestock submitted three proposals for agriculture, solar power, and cold storage at three sugar mills, while Akij Electric & Electronics submitted nine proposals across light engineering, furniture, rubber, electric vehicles, power, and IT sectors. TK Group: Placed 10 proposals focusing on manufacturing automobile parts, electric vehicle assembly, leather footwear, and solar panel glass under long-term leases. BRAC Seed & Agro Enterprise: Submitted nine proposals for long-term leasing of Setabganj Sugar Mills to set up research and development, fruit and vegetable processing, organic fertilizer production, seed-potato multiplication, cold storage, and solar energy generation. Kazi Farms Group: Submitted four proposals targeting land acquisition or long-term lease of Khulna Newsprint Mills, Dhaka Leather, Pragoti Industries, Thakurgaon Sugar Mills, and Panchagarh Sugar Mills for agro-processing, corn starch, food processing, and beverage production. Transcom Group: Submitted three proposals for new investments across closed units of four state agencies. Nabil Group: Submitted two proposals targeting Rajshahi Sugar Mills and Setabganj Sugar Mills for sugar beet, integrated farming, and agro-processing projects. Paragon Group: Proposed establishing agro-processing, animal feed manufacturing, solar power plants, and rice/maize cultivation on sugar mill lands. Square Food & Beverage: Interested in agro-processing and setting up small-scale cold storage facilities. Milk Vita: Proposed installing a modern refinery with a daily capacity of 30,000 liters at Setabganj Sugar Mills. Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK): Submitted three proposals targeting electric vehicles, agricultural machinery, and sericulture. Active Fine Chemicals: Submitted a joint-venture proposal to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and biopharmaceuticals. Excellent Ceramics Group: Submitted three proposals focusing on EV assembly, battery systems, engineering, tiles, sanitaryware, and tableware manufacturing. Bengal Meat Processing Industry: Submitted proposals targeting the agro-food sector. Nahian Rahman, Executive Member of BIDA, said, “Following the Prime Minister's meeting on July 4, we formulated a draft policy within three weeks to transfer closed state units to private management.”  “We held consultations with private entrepreneurs on July 28, and we expect the policy framework—encompassing long-term leases, profit-sharing, or other models—to be passed within a month,” he added.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said Singapore has long had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at Chattogram Port, which came up for discussion during her recent visit to the country. "You know that the Singapore government has had a proposal for a Bay Terminal at our Chattogram Port for a long time. They have talked about that," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaed said they also visited one of the projects where they have a waste-to-energy and they have shown how they produce energy by managing waste. During her first official visit to Singapore, the State Minister met Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and its State Minister for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim separately and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also visited the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), where she met Regional CEO, Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Türkiye, PSA Vincent Ng, and senior officials. The State Minister was briefed on PSA’s global operations and its use of automation and advanced technologies to develop efficient, sustainable and smart ports. Vincent Ng expressed PSA’s interest in participating in the Bay Terminal project in Bangladesh, noting its potential to significantly enhance Chattogram Port and Bangladesh’s trade and connectivity, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister welcomed PSA’s interest and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in port development, logistics, technology transfer and capacity building, in line with Bangladesh’s priorities of industrialisation, infrastructure development and connectivity. "We discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including expanding trade and strengthening our energy partnership. We are also making good progress on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, which will create more opportunities for businesses in both countries," said the Foreign Minister of Singapore. He said Singapore and Bangladesh share a longstanding partnership and close people-to-people ties. Bangladesh and Singapore on Tuesday expressed hope for the early conclusion of the Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and emphasised stronger business-to-business engagement. The two countries also exchanged views on energy security, including risks to energy supplies, shipping and global supply chains, as well as climate change, water security, and illegal and irregular migration.

Police recovered the throat-slit body of a rickshaw garage owner from his establishment in Rangpur city on Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahman, 65, who owned a garage in the Tajhat Ansari intersection area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tajhat Police Station Rafiqul Islam said Abdur Rahman lived alone in a house adjacent to the garage. Locals noticed bloodstains outside the closed shutter of the garage on Thursday morning and alerted the authorities. Upon arriving at the scene, police broke open the shutter and discovered the throat-slit body inside. The body was later sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Miscreants might have killed Abdur Rahman sometime at night for looting, the OC said, adding that they were investigating the incident.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting with a 50-member delegation of the US-Bangladesh Business Council on Thursday to discuss ways to increase US investment in Bangladesh, create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Bangladesh Secretariat around 9:30am. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin described the discussions as “highly productive and effective”, saying detailed and positive talks were held on how the US private sector could help boost foreign investment, create new employment opportunities and accelerate Bangladesh's economic progress. PM urges US businesses to ‘invest with confidence’, build long-term partnership Representatives from leading US businesses took part in the meeting, which focused on expanding US investment in Bangladesh and further strengthening the long-standing trade and economic ties between the two countries. ​Mahdi Amin, also Prime Minister’s adviser, said the meeting also discussed how the US private sector could contribute to implementing the government's election manifesto and various policies. The US businesses expressed interest in helping accelerate economic growth through job creation. He expressed hope that the visit by representatives of leading US businesses will further deepen Bangladesh-US economic ties. “We firmly believe that this successful meeting with the Prime Minister will take us one step closer to our vision of building a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh,” the PMO spokesperson said. Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Excelerate Energy Oliver Simpson and President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce Ambassador (retd) Atul Keshap led the delegation. Speaking to reporters, Keshap said US companies are proud to be Bangladesh's largest foreign investment partner and expressed confidence in the country's economic potential. He said they listened carefully to the Prime Minister's visionary outlook for the future of this great country, including his commitment to harnessing the tremendous potential of Bangladesh's people and human resources. Referring to the government's vision of transforming Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2034, the US-Bangladesh Business Council president said the private sector could play a powerful catalytic role by bringing technology, global experience and capital to accelerate people's welfare and economic prosperity. “Bangladesh is truly a country of tremendous potential,” he said, adding that several US companies have built partnerships with Bangladeshis over decades, contributing to job creation, revenue generation and overall economic progress. Keshap said the US business community has been encouraged by the government's focus on social development, public welfare, job creation and maintaining balance in macroeconomic indicators. “We will take this positive message back to our respective companies and the US business community through the US Chamber of Commerce,” he said. The US-Bangladesh Business Council president also thanked the Prime Minister, government members, secretaries, advisers and others concerned for their hospitality, expressing hope that the partnership between Bangladesh and the United States will continue to grow in the coming decades. The US business delegation included senior executives from US-Bangladesh Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce, Excelerate Energy, Chevron, Meta (Facebook), Visa, US Soybean Export Council, MetLife, Boeing, Uber, Asia Group, APR Energy, Venva, VF Corporation, Corteva Agriscience, Salesforce, Ulka Semi, Pathao, Cisco, Abbott, Metrotac, HSBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Anchorless and Drinkwell. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister's advisers Humaiun Kobir and Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, among others, were present at the meeting.

The everyday and often invisible barriers that hold women back from leadership are at the heart of ‘Bihan’ (The Beginning), a new fiction film produced by Oxfam in Bangladesh under its ‘Rise & Lead’ initiative. Directed by Hemanta Sadeeq and featuring Dilruba Hossain Doyel and Nishat Priom in the central roles, the film follows two working women whose professional ambitions are shaped by expectations surrounding behaviour, care responsibilities, confidence and power. The film will be released on Oxfam in Bangladesh’s social media platforms on August 14 at 8pm, according to a media release issued on Thursday. Developed under the supervision of Md Sariful Islam and written by Shawon Koiri, the film also features Bappy Ashraf, Nazmul Hasan, Aadnan Chowdhury, Prionmoyi Prio and Sayan Rahman.

A 25-year-old man was hacked to death by a group of miscreants in front of the regional passport office in the Maskanda area of Mymensingh city on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Rabbi Ahmed Riyad, son of Mobarak Hossain Bhutto of Dakkhinpara on the Maskanda High School Road. Police and locals said Rabbi was standing in front of the regional passport office around noon when several youths carrying locally made weapons swooped on him. Rabbi ran into a nearby shop for shelter, but the attackers followed him inside and hacked him indiscriminately with sharp weapons before fleeing the scene, leaving him critically injured. Locals rescued him and took him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Hossain Ali, an uncle of the deceased, said Rabbi went to a shop in front of the passport office. “He was hacked in broad daylight while hundreds of people were there. Nobody protested, and now people are afraid to speak. We want justice for this killing,” he said. Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Shibirul Islam said police initially learned that Rabbi had a dispute with Khalek and Sabbir over the supply of rods, cement, sand and other construction materials for a house being built in Mistri Para. The two sides had reportedly agreed to share the supply of construction materials, but Khalek and Sabbir were unhappy with the arrangement. “Based on our preliminary findings, Khalek, Sabbir and their associates carried out the killing out of this resentment,” the OC said, adding that they were working to arrest those responsible.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Water Resources was informed on Thursday that strong assurances have been received regarding the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India, commonly known as the Farakka Treaty. The committee was also informed that the main implementation work of the Teesta Master Plan is expected to begin next year. The first meeting of the committee on the Ministry was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with committee chairman Mohammad Shofiqul Haque Milon MP presiding. The committee discussed various initiatives including advance preparations to prevent river erosion and tree plantation programmes. The meeting was informed that the Padma Barrage Project has already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). A presentation was made before the committee on the overall activities of the Ministry of Water Resources including ongoing development programmes, project progress, implementation periods and allocations. According to the presentation, 93 development projects are currently being implemented under the ministry. A total of Tk 7,832.80 crore has been allocated for these projects in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The committee called for completing the development projects within their stipulated timelines, ensuring proper and efficient use of allocated funds and taking more effective measures to improve public services. The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was signed by Bangladesh and India on Dec 12, 1996 for 30 years and is due to expire in December 2026. The treaty provides for sharing Ganges water at India’s Farakka Barrage during the dry season from Jan 1 to May 31 each year on the basis of a 10-day schedule. Under the agreement, when the flow is 70,000 cusecs or less, Bangladesh and India receive 50 percent each. If the flow is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh receives 35,000 cusecs and India gets the remainder. When the flow is 75,000 cusecs or more, India receives 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh gets the remainder. With the treaty approaching expiry, its renewal has emerged as a key water-sharing issue between the two countries amid concerns over declining dry-season flows, climate change, rising water demand and downstream ecological impacts.