United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal on Sunday announced a seven-day nationwide special programme to raise public awareness and prevent the spread of dengue. The programme will be observed from Sept 14 to 20 through cleanliness drives and public awareness activities, said a press release issued by the Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee. District and metropolitan units, along with their subordinate upazila, thana and municipal units, have been instructed to conduct coordinated public awareness and mosquito-control activities involving local administrations, voluntary organisations and young people, according to the release. Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Monayem Munnna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon have issued necessary instructions for implementing the programme, it said. The release said Jubo Dal leaders and activists will remain active at the grassroots level to maintain cleanliness, create public awareness and help prevent the spread of dengue.

An electrician died after being electrocuted while working at an auto-rickshaw garage in the capital's Kadamtali area on Sunday evening. The deceased was identified as Jahangir Shikdar,41, son of late Iskindar Shikdar of Rajoir upazila in Madaripur district. He was currently residing in Purba Jurain, Kadamtali. According to his brother Sajal, Jahangir sustained severe injuries from an electric shock at around 6:30 p.m. while carrying out electrical work at Sikdar Auto-rickshaw Garage on College Road in Purba Jurain. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in an unconscious state, where the attending doctor at the emergency department declared him dead at around 7:20 p.m.. Inspector Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the DMCH Police Camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy. He added that the concerned police station has been informed of the incident.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal on Sunday has decided to form new committees in all thanas under Dhaka north and south metropolitan units. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting between the Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee and the Dhaka north and south metropolitan Jubo Dal units at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan in the evening. For overall coordination of the committee formation process, Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee Senior Vice-President Rezaul Kabir Pol and Vice-President Ziaur Rahman Zia have been assigned responsibility for Dhaka south, while First Joint General Secretary Billal Hossain Tarek and Joint General Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman have been given responsibility for Dhaka north. The meeting was chaired by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Moinam Munna and conducted by General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon. Among others, Central Executive Committee Vice-President and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Convener Khandaker Anamul Hoq Enam, Vice-President and Dhaka North Jubo Dal Convener Sharif Uddin Jewel, Vice-President (in charge of office affairs) Nurul Islam Sohel, First Joint General Secretary Billal Hossain Tarek, Joint General Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Joint General Secretary and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Member Secretary Rabiul Islam Noyon, Joint General Secretary (in charge of office affairs) Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan, Assistant Organising Secretary and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Senior Joint Convener MA Gaffar, Joint Conveners Iqbal Hossain Bablu and Mukit Hossain, and Dhaka North Jubo Dal Senior Joint Convener Monirul Islam Swapan, Joint Conveners Taslim Ahsan Masum and Abul Hasan Titu were present.

Train communications on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route resumed Sunday night, six hours after a wagon of a freight train derailed in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh. According to Akhtar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mymensingh Railway Police Station, the Dhaka-bound freight train derailed at around 5:15 p.m. in the Golabari area, located between Kawraid and Mashakhali railway stations in Dakshin Gafargaon. Following the incident, a relief train dispatched from Dhaka arrived at the spot, salvaged the derailed wagon and repaired the damaged track. A technical team from Bangladesh Railway granted clearance to resume train operations at around 11 p.m. Subsequently, the Dhaka-bound 'Tista Express' departed for the capital at around 11:15 p.m. The OC noted that the derailment caused several trains-including the Dhaka-bound 'Tista Express', 'Dewanganj Commuter', and Jamalpur-bound 'Brahmaputra Express', along with multiple mail trains-to remain stranded at various stations along the route. Train services normalized completely following the salvage operations and track repairs, he added.

A total of 352,786 kilograms (over 3.52 lakh kg) of Hilsa fish was imported from India through Benapole land port in the first two months of the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The fish, imported by 22 commercial enterprises across July and August, was valued at over Tk 6.92 crore (Tk 69,294,510), according to port quarantine records. Ashwadul Alam, Fisheries Quarantine Inspector at Benapole Port, confirmed the import figures, noting a sharp rise in shipments in August compared to July. Port sources revealed that 29,440 kg of Hilsa worth Tk 35.48 lakh arrived through three importing firms in July. In August, imports surged nearly 11-fold as 19 firms brought in 323,346 kg of Hilsa valued at over Tk 6.57 crore. While the massive influx has boosted fish supplies across Benapole, Sharsha, Bagachra, Navaran and Jashore Boro Bazar, it has also created confusion among consumers over whether the fish is Indian or from Myanmar. Local wholesalers claimed that Myanmar Hilsa is entering Bangladesh from India via Benapole. However, fisheries quarantine officials rejected the claim, clarifying that all Hilsa passing through Benapole originates from India, whereas Myanmar Hilsa enters the country through Chittagong Port. Alongside legal imports, instances of illegal shipments have also been reported. On July 22, Benapole Customs authorities seized 12 cartons containing approximately 360 kg of Indian Hilsa brought in under a false declaration of "white fish." Shopper Mehedi Hasan shared that he purchased an imported fish mistaking it for local Hilsa, only to notice a distinct difference in taste and aroma after cooking. "Because they look so similar, ordinary buyers cannot tell them apart and end up being deceived," he said. Addressing the issue, Md. Salimuzzaman, Assistant Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) in Jashore, said imported Hilsa must be sold with proper origin disclosures. "We are investigating the matter and will launch market drives if necessary," he warned.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told leaders of a bloc of major emerging economies in New Delhi on Sunday that a more balanced global order requires an overhaul of the institutions built after the Second World War, including the UN Security Council. The group – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several other nations that have also signed on – was founded to give major developing economies a stronger voice in a global system long dominated by Western powers. This year's summit, hosted by India, has drawn heads of state alongside the leaders of the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. “Today's economic, demographic and geopolitical realities are not those of 1945,” Guterres said. “Our institutional structures must reflect it.” He told the assembled leaders that they themselves embodied the change he was describing. "Countries represented at this Summit speak to that changing reality," he said, adding that “we are increasingly moving towards a multipolar world.” That shift, he argued, was something to embrace rather than resist. “Multipolarity helps bring balance and equity to global systems and institutions,” he said – but only if it comes with reform of bodies including the Security Council and the Bretton Woods system “to reflect the world of today.” Go for growth Guterres framed four priorities for what he called "inclusive global growth": financing, technology, climate justice and peace. On finance, he said developing countries “need massive international support” to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, and called for multilateral development banks to become “bigger, better and bolder.” On artificial intelligence, he warned the technology's benefits remained concentrated. “Its power sits with a few companies, in a few countries,” he said. “Unchecked, the AI divide will widen every other divide — in income, in opportunity, in security, and in sovereignty.” Dangerous climate His starkest language came on climate. “Scorching heat, devastating glacier melt, raging wildfires, devastating floods are all a preview,” he said, warning that “a supersized El Niño will only make matters worse” as the world approaches the 1.5-degree limit above pre-industrial levels. He pressed wealthy nations to honour existing pledges – $300 billion dollars a year, tripled adaptation finance, and greater loss and damage funding – and took aim at the handling of critical minerals: “Enough plundering.” On peace and security, he pointed to Gaza, the wider Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, calling on states to uphold the UN Charter, including “sovereign equality,” territorial integrity and “peaceful settlement of disputes.” Collective responsibility He closed by casting the reform agenda as a shared project rather than a concession. “As we move irreversibly to a multipolar world, all countries must work to strengthen and safeguard a multilateral system that delivers for all with the United Nations at its centre,” he said.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Sunday to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions, according to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the call, Sharif condemned attacks targeting Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi group, describing them as flagrant violations of the kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry stated in a post on social media platform X. Sharif also denounced strikes targeting Saudi Arabia's vital oil infrastructure and reaffirmed Pakistan's full solidarity and commitment to the kingdom's security. The Saudi foreign ministry reported Friday that its East-West Pipeline was struck by several drones launched from Iraq, causing injuries and property damage. Following confirmation that the strikes originated from a site in southern Iraq's Maysan province, Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi dismissed the Maysan Operations Commander on Saturday. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the East-West Pipeline, which transports crude oil from its eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkish authorities launched simultaneous early-morning raids across Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin and Mersin on Sunday, detaining dozens of members of LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness groups. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the investigation into 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses aims to "protect children, the institution of the family, and public order" per executive orders. Police raided offices and popular hangouts, blocking organizational websites while alleging international funding. The Human Rights Association condemned the crackdown as a "political operation" designed to purge independent civil society. It criticized authorities for leveling unrelated charges such as forming criminal organizations, prostitution and drug offenses. The operation reflects an escalation in hostility by the ruling Justice and Development Party, which banned Istanbul Pride in 2015 and recently blocked an LGBTQ+ cruise ship from docking. Although the Ottoman Empire decriminalized homosexuality in 1858, social discrimination remains widespread in Turkey.

The family of slain Feni Jubo Dal leader Md Harunur Rashid, who was killed in police firing, has received a new house as a gift from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday. Considering the family’s long-standing hardship and humanitarian suffering, the house was built through the initiative of ‘Amra BNP Paribar’ under the advice and planning of the prime minister. BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi inaugurated the newly built house on Sunday beside the Kalidas Pahalia River in the Bhorbazar area of Farhadnagar Union under Feni Sadar upazila. Later, Rizvi handed over the keys to the new house to members of Harunur Rashid’s family.

In the past, people willingly gave up their own land for roads and other development works in their areas, but a culture of grabbing government land has now emerged, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Sunday. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a tree-planting programme in the Japanese Bazar area of Kadamtali police station in the capital. “We are seeking your cooperation for your own needs. There are problems with roads and electricity here. The State Minister and I were sent to inspect the area and take measures after seeing the situation on the ground. We are making an integrated plan for the development of this area,” Abdus Salam said. Urging city residents to become more aware, he said canals have been encroached upon in different areas. “If all the waste from mills and factories is dumped into drains, how will the drains remain functional? Factory waste must be kept at designated places in accordance with specific rules so that sanitation workers can easily remove it,” he said. “We must save our canals at any cost. We must perform our civic responsibilities ourselves,” he added. Speaking about social protection, the DSCC administrator said society has become saturated with drugs. “We have to build a united resistance against them through a social movement,” he said. Criticising the misrule and policy decisions of the previous government, Abdus Salam said, “Jamaat, NCP and all political parties are saying that massive looting took place in the country in the past and banks were emptied. Although ordinary people deposited money in banks, they are now unable to get it back.” Regarding the power deal with Indian company Adani, Abdus Salam said, “The Indian company that received a power contract during the previous government has now suddenly stopped supplying electricity in some parts of the country.” He sought direct cooperation from ordinary people alongside the city corporation and the government to resolve these problems. Also present at the programme were reserved women’s seat MP for Dhaka-4 Sultana, Dhaka city BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Joint Convener Haji Monir Hossain Chairman, Haji Mir Hossain Mirus and local BNP leaders and activists.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti on Sunday staged a human chain demanding an investigation into alleged links between Jucsu Vice President Abdur Rashid Zitu and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), along with five other demands. The organisation held the programme in front of the university’s Administrative Building in the afternoon.  The demands include scrapping the alleged discriminatory accommodation notification for Jucsu and Hall Union leaders; investigating alleged financial transactions in the recruitment and promotion boards for university officers and employees; probing allegations of extortion from autorickshaws and shops involving Jucsu VP Jitu and the Salim-Barkat Hall VP; investigating allegations that Fazilatunnesa Hall VP Oishi Sarker embezzled Tk 60,000 from the university treasury fund; filing an anti-terrorism case against detained Asadul Alam Sheikh, who is accused of having links with BCL, instead of a cyber security case; and investigating alleged contacts between Jucsu VP Jitu and teacher Hosne Ara Baby and the banned BCL. The student organisation had submitted a memorandum to the university administration with four demands on August 19. It later added two more demands. Speaking at the programme, JU unit president Zia Uddin Ayan said the administration had taken no action despite the memorandum. He alleged that JUCSU VP Zitu was involved in extortion and had links with the banned BCL. Referring to a conversation published in the media, Ayan said Zitu allegedly told a BCL activist, “If I win, you win too.” He demanded an immediate investigation into the allegations, saying the administration must take action against anyone found involved. Ayan also questioned why Asadul Alam Sheikh had been charged under the Cyber Security Act despite allegations of direct links with the banned BCL. He demanded that authorities file a case against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He further alleged that Oishi Sarker had embezzled Tk 60,000 from the university treasury fund and called for an investigation. Jatiya Chhatra Shakti JU unit general secretary Nadia Rahman Anwesha alleged that political influence continued on campus despite the post-July political environment. She also alleged that money was taken from a company in the name of allocating space and that authorities awarded projects without tenders by citing emergency works. Referring to the alleged conversations between Jitu and a BCL activist, she demanded an investigation into the matter. Anwesha warned that they would besiege the Registrar Building if the administration failed to form probe committees and take action soon. The organisation also called on the university authorities to take urgent decisions on the demands at the Syndicate meeting scheduled for Sunday.

Parliamentary Whip Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu on Sunday said every killing committed over the past 17 years will be brought to justice and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to face the people’s trial. “Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was hanged. Delwar Hossain Sayeedi never did Jamaat-e-Islami in his life. You could hang a person like Delwar Hossain Sayeedi!” Dulu said. He also referred to the execution of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, saying, “Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was in England at that time. He drove from Pakistan through Lahore, Iran and Turkey to London. He told me stories in jail. You killed that man by hanging him, by giving a verdict, a false verdict.” “You gave death sentences through such false verdicts, and today it's visible…” he said. Dulu made the remarks at a discussion titled “Success of the Current Government”, organised by the Uttaranchal Jatiyatabadi Forum at the National Press Club in the noon. “Every killing over the past 17 years will be tried. This time you will have to go to Kashimpur Jail. You will have to face the people of Bangladesh,” he said, apparently referring to Sheikh Hasina. “Do not try to create panic among the people of Bangladesh through such threats and intimidation and disrupt the democratic process. This will never happen again,” Dulu said. “We have come to power with the mandate of the people,” he said. Addressing Sheikh Hasina, he said, “Make it clear in which December you will return to Bangladesh. Many such Decembers have passed in our lives. Many Ramadans, Eids, Pujas and monsoons have passed. Make it clear whether it is December 2030 or December 2050.” He said the blood of nearly 2,000 students, ordinary people killed during the July uprising had not yet dried. “Come, if you can. I said this the other day and I am saying it today. The blood of those whom you killed during July has not yet dried on the streets,” he said. At the programme, Dulu also announced the formation of a 126-member partial committee of the North Bengal Nationalist Forum. He congratulated the forum’s Convener Ishaq Ali, Vice-President Amanul Islam Shahan, former Dhaka University student leader and General Secretary Abbas Ali, Senior Joint General Secretary Moniruzzaman Nayan, former student leader Abdul Momin Sarkar and Organising Secretary Jony.

Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) staged a sit-in on Sunday demanding implementation of its 13-point agenda for academic reform and student welfare. The sit-in was held in front of the university’s new Registrar Building in the afternoon. The demands include implementing the academic calendar, increasing thesis funding, introducing certificate courses at the Wazed Miah Research Centre, recruiting student research assistants, introducing a teacher evaluation system, ensuring facilities for students with disabilities, extending institutional email validity and allowing re-evaluation of examination scripts. Other demands include simplifying improvement examinations, strengthening the Controller of Examinations Office, introducing special examinations, preparing realistic examination schedules and expanding online e-resources. JUCSU Education and Research Secretary Abu Obaida Osama said the union had raised these demands with the university administration since its formation. “On July 29, the Academic Council accepted our 13 demands. We hope the administration will take the necessary steps to implement them at today’s Syndicate meeting,” he said. On thesis funding, Osama said the administration planned to increase the allocation from Tk 750 to Tk 7,500. “The proposal has passed the Finance Committee, and we expect the Syndicate to give it final approval today,” he added. JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam said the union had been working on academic reform since its formation. He said the Academic Council had accepted most of their demands and decided to increase research funding for students. “We hope the Syndicate will approve and implement these decisions. We will not accept any delay regarding students’ academic rights,” he added. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said the demands were relevant but noted that the university faced financial constraints because it depended on government allocations. “We will provide the maximum possible support for academic development within our capacity,” he said. VC also said the university would prioritize increasing allocations for students and researchers while maintaining a balance in the distribution of funds to improve the quality of education.

‘Amra BNP Poribar’, a humanitarian initiative of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Sunday handed over keys to newly built houses to the family of a slain Jubo Dal leader in Feni and five families whose homes were gutted in an arson attack in Cumilla. Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP acting secretary general and chief adviser of ‘Amra BNP Poribar’, handed over the keys on behalf of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman at separate programmes in Feni and Cumilla. The ceremonies were held at Bhorbazar in Farhadnagar Union of Feni Sadar upazila and Sonapur village in Batisha Union of Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla. In Feni, a new house was provided to the family of Md Harunur Rashid, a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader who was killed in police firing during a procession in Feni town on December 4, 2013.

The Hillsong Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia, turned into a vibrant gathering of rock music lovers from the two Bengals on Saturday evening as Bangladesh’s rock icon James and Kolkata-based Fossils frontman Rupam Islam shared the stage before an audience of more than 2,000. The concert, which began around 6:30 pm amid a long queue of spectators outside the venue, kept expatriate Bangladeshis and other Bengali music lovers engaged from evening until late at night. Rupam Islam took the stage shortly before 7 pm and performed around 15 songs, including ‘Ekla Ghor’, 'Phirey Cholo', ‘Hashnuhana’ and ‘Acid’. His energetic performance of more than an hour had the audience singing along, clapping and cheering throughout. After a brief interval, James appeared on stage around 9 pm, drawing loud cheers and applause from the packed auditorium. True to his style, the Nagarbaul frontman wasted little time on words and went straight into his songs.

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking directives to stop the production and broadcast of films and dramas centred solely on romance and love, alleging that excessive romantic content is contributing to moral degradation among young people and social disorder. Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun filed the writ petition in the public interest with the High Court Division on Sunday. The cabinet secretary, the secretaries of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Cultural Affairs Ministry, and the chairman of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board have been made respondents. According to the petition, the unrestricted production and broadcast of love-centric and excessively romantic content negatively impact young people and students. It alleges that such content portrays extramarital affairs, illicit relationships, adultery and rape as normal or even glorifies them, potentially weakening social and moral values. The petitioner also claims that such content is distracting students from their studies and career goals and contributing to social disorder. Citing reports published by the Hindustan Times, Daily Sabah and The New York Times, the petition argues that excessive romantic and provocative content can adversely affect the psychological development of young people and contribute to violence against women and criminal activities. The petition acknowledges that Article 39 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, but argues that the right is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of decency and morality. It further cites Article 23 of the Constitution, saying the state has a responsibility to preserve the country’s culture and heritage. The petitioner also referred to Sections 5(2) and 8(1) of the Bangladesh Film Certification Act, 2023, arguing that the authorities have a responsibility to protect family and social values and withdraw approval for content that violates them. Sections 19 and 20 of the Cable Television Network Operation Act, 2006, were also cited in the petition, which says the law provides for restrictions on broadcasts harmful to education, culture and social values or those that may cause psychological harm to young people. The writ alleges that the concerned authorities have failed to discharge their legal and constitutional responsibilities, amounting to administrative negligence. The petition also seeks a directive for the production and broadcast of films and dramas based on science, education, history, the Liberation War and national defence, saying such content would help develop the creative talents of young people and promote patriotism. According to the petition, a legal notice was served on the respondents on August 27 seeking necessary action. As no effective administrative steps were taken following the notice, the petitioner moved the High Court with the writ petition in the public interest and to protect national culture.

The opposition 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, is set for its second long march from the capital towards Rangpur on September 19 to press home a seven-point demand, including the implementation of the “people's verdict in the February 12 referendum, trial of July 2024 mass killings, and resolution of the energy and fertilizer crisis. In addition to an inaugural meeting at the capital's Manik Mia Avenue and a concluding rally at Rangpur Zilla School, the opposition party will hold five street-corner meetings across five districts on that day. The other demands are taking measures to control soaring prices of essential commodities, an end to corruption, extortion and violence, improvement of the law and order situation and an end to narrow partisanisation. Hamidur Rahman Azad, the coordinator of the 11-party alliance and Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, disclosed this information to journalists today at an emergency preparatory meeting of the alliance's liaison committee held at the Leader of the Opposition's official residence in the capital. The 11-party alliance will launch a long march towards Rangpur from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka at 7:00 AM. The inaugural rally will continue until 8:00 AM. Later, roadside rallies will be held at Bhograpara in Gazipur, Nagar Jalfai in Tangail, Sirajganj Chowrasta, Charmatha in Bogra, and Palashbari in Gaibandha before the concluding gathering at Rangpur Zilla School. Hamidur Rahman said the opposition party’s six-point demand has now evolved into a seven-point demand; demands to halt corruption, land grabbing, and extortion being added to the original six points. “Since corruption is now operating on a competitive basis, the corruption, land-grabbing, and extortion, surpassing even the previous fascist era,” he claimed. “That’s why we have incorporated this new demand, thereby expanding our list to seven points,” he added. He alleged that calls had been made to take appropriate measures to resolve the ongoing oil and gas crisis, yet the government failed to provide a solution. “Recently, the Leader of the Opposition put forward a proposal to resolve the crisis through discussions involving a task force or committee comprising both the ruling and opposition parties,” he said. “Following the formation of the committee, the opposition put forward ten proposals, but the government did not take them into consideration,” he also claimed. The Jamaat leader raised questions on what steps the current government has taken to resolve the crisis during its six months in office, while attributing blame to the previous government. He claimed that the government failed to take appropriate measures. “Alongside the gas crisis, a shortage of fertilizer is now emerging. If this crisis persists, the country could face a food shortage, and the entire nation will have to suffer the consequences,” he said. Leaders of the 11-party alliance, including Nasiruddin Patwary, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party, Tofazzal Hossain Miyaji, Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; and Rashed Prodhan, Spokesperson for the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party were present at the press briefing.

The Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court together disposed of 98,732 cases in the first eight months of 2026, reducing the number of pending cases by 13,755 during the period. The Appellate Division disposed of 11,136 cases against 9,139 new cases filed between January 1 and August 31, bringing down its pending cases from 41,551 at the beginning of the year to 39,554 by August 31. The High Court Division, meanwhile, disposed of 87,596 cases against 74,607 new cases filed during the same period, reducing its pending caseload from 659,256 to 646,276. The combined number of pending cases in the two divisions declined from 700,807 at the beginning of 2026 to 685,830 by August 31. The figures show that 13,755 more cases were disposed of than filed in the two divisions during the first eight months of the year, reflecting a significant acceleration in the disposal of cases and a gradual reduction in the backlog. Nearly 2,000 cases reduced in Appellate Division The Appellate Division disposed of 11,136 cases during the first eight months, which was 1,997 more than the 9,139 cases newly filed during the period. As disposals exceeded new filings, the number of pending cases in the Appellate Division fell by 1,997, from 41,551 at the beginning of the year to 39,554 by August 31. The disposal figure in the first eight months is also substantially higher than the annual figures recorded in the Appellate Division in each of the previous five years. The division disposed of 6,859 cases in 2021, 5,406 in 2022, 5,349 in 2023, 5,312 in 2024 and 7,553 in 2025. High Court pending cases decline by nearly 13,000 The High Court Division disposed of 87,596 cases during January-August, against 74,607 new cases filed during the same period. As a result, its pending caseload declined by 12,980 cases in the first eight months, from 6,59,256 to 6,46,276. The High Court Division's 87,596 disposals in the first eight months have already surpassed the number of cases it disposed of in any full year during 2021-2025. It disposed of 23,654 cases in 2021, 87,474 in 2022, 74,278 in 2023, 38,297 in 2024 and 55,756 in 2025. Special bench for speedy disposal of death references Alongside regular benches dealing with death reference cases, a special division bench has been formed in the High Court Division to prioritise and expedite the disposal of death references arising from violence against women and children and the related appeals. Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury formed the special bench in June this year. Since its formation, the special bench has disposed of 22 death reference cases, said a press release from the Supreme Court on Sunday.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday held organisational preparation meetings at the ward level for the upcoming Dhaka City Corporation elections, with party convener Nahid Islam providing overall guidance to leaders and prospective candidates. The exchange meeting with probable councillor candidates from various wards under Dhaka South and North City Corporations was held at NCP's temporary office in Bangla Motor in the afternoon. Nahid Islam, who is also the chief whip of the opposition in the national parliament, attended the meeting along with NCP-backed probable mayoral candidates for Dhaka South and North City Corporations, Nasiruddin Patwary and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, respectively. During the meeting, Nahid formally declared Nasiruddin Patwary and Asif Mahmud as the party's mayoral candidates for Dhaka South and North City Corporations respectively. He also gave overall directives covering preparations for the city corporation elections, metropolitan politics, ward-based resistance against the "fallen and fugitive" Awami League, standing beside the families of July martyrs and the injured, and launching movements on civic issues. Nahid further directed party leaders on identifying probable councillor candidates, addressing ward-level civic problems, maintaining constant engagement with the families of July martyrs and the injured, and keeping strict vigilance against subversive activities by the "fallen and fugitive" Awami League. Dhaka South and North metropolitan conveners Ishaq Sarkar and Ariful Islam Adib, along with leaders from various levels of the party, were also present at the meeting.

Business leaders, regulators and capital market professionals have discussed the opportunities, challenges and regulatory reforms needed to encourage greater corporate participation in Bangladesh’s capital market. They made the observations at a thematic dialogue titled “Capital Market Growth Dialogue: Pathway to Listing”, jointly organised by IDLC Investments Limited and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at the CCCI office at the World Trade Center in Agrabad, Chattogram. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan attended the programme as the chief guest, while Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Chairman Mominul Islam and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman were present as special guests. Senior representatives from regulatory authorities, stock exchanges, leading business groups, corporate houses and capital market institutions took part in the discussion. The participants focused on ways to make the listing process easier and more attractive for established companies, particularly through initial public offerings (IPOs) and direct listings. They discussed how greater access to the capital market could help companies raise long-term funds, strengthen their capital base, reduce dependence on bank financing and support business expansion. Prospective issuers from Chattogram also raised concerns about the existing regulatory framework and sought clarification from representatives of BSEC, DSE and CSE. BSEC Chairman Masud Khan said that due to the lengthy listing process in Bangladesh’s capital market, businesses often raise funds from the money market or other sources. As a result, the capital market does not gain the desired momentum, and businesses also do not achieve sustainable growth. “To make it easier for large and quality companies to list directly on the capital market and raise funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission is taking necessary steps in collaboration with stakeholders,” he said. CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque said many business owners are reluctant to enter the capital market because listed companies are required to pay dividends even when they do not make a profit. They also have to navigate various regulatory complexities after listing. There should be an opportunity for companies to pay dividends when they make profits and not pay dividends when they incur losses, he said. Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman of IDLC Finance, said, “The mutual fund market in Bangladesh is still not robust enough. There are also several challenges in the IPO process. Therefore, BSEC has to work with the NBR to ensure that tax-related policies do not conflict with the interests of the capital market.” M Jamal Uddin, Managing Director and CEO of IDLC Finance, said, “It is time for businesses in Bangladesh to look beyond traditional bank financing and consider the capital market as a reliable source of long-term funding. With a more advanced and transparent valuation process, companies can now enter this market with greater confidence and achieve a fair value for their businesses.” IDLC Investments CEO Mesbah Uddin Ahmed said his organisation was providing support to companies seeking to enter the capital market, including assessing their readiness, funding needs, ownership dilution and appropriate valuation methods. Representatives from BSEC, DSE and CSE also addressed concerns raised by prospective issuers and discussed possible ways to further streamline the listing process. The participants said greater corporate participation would help develop a deeper, more diversified and sustainable capital market while reducing excessive dependence on bank-based financing.

The British Council has invited applications for the 13th edition of the Study UK Alumni Awards, recognising UK alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities, professions and countries. The awards will recognise achievements in four categories — Science and Sustainability; Culture, Creativity and Sport; Social Action; and Business and Innovation, said a press release issued on Sunday. Eligible applicants can compete at both national and global levels. A judging panel will select four global winners from 28 global finalists. The global winners will have the opportunity to raise their international profiles, expand their professional networks and advance their careers through a dedicated networking visit to the UK. Besides, Bangladesh will host a national ceremony to honour its finalists. The last date to submit applications is October 15. The winners of Bangladesh awards will be announced in January 2027 whereas, the Global winners will be announced in August 2027 and celebrated through a digital campaign highlighting their remarkable stories and successes. Last year, the award received almost over 1,800 applications from international UK alumni nearly from 100 countries across the UK. The twelfth edition of the Study UK Alumni Awards was a resounding success, with the national ceremony held in Dhaka in December 2025 to celebrate winners and finalists from diverse fields and countries. Building on this momentum, the British Council now invites applications for the 13th edition, continuing its mission to honour alumni who are shaping industries, driving innovation, and making a lasting impact on societies worldwide. Speaking about the Alumni Awards 2027, Maarya Rehman, Deputy Director, British Council said "The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the remarkable ways in which UK alumni are turning their knowledge, skills and experiences into meaningful contributions to their communities, industries and wider society. We have seen through our alumni community in Bangladesh how diverse and inspiring these journeys can be, from advancing science and innovation to driving social change and creative enterprise. I encourage eligible UK alumni to take this opportunity to share their stories, celebrate their achievements and join a global community of changemakers. The Awards are not only a recognition of what alumni have accomplished, but also a platform to amplify their impact and connect them with new opportunities and networks.” For comprehensive details on how to apply, categories, application process and eligibility criteria, it was asked to visit https://www.britishcouncil.org.bd/en/study-uk/alumni-awards-2027.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a circular to all Authorized Dealer (AD) banks instructing them to follow the newly framed Import Policy Order 2026-2029 for executing international trade transactions, providing major relief to businesses and general consumers. The central bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 issued the circular today (Sunday), aligning banking operations with the Commerce Ministry's official gazette notification on the new import policy. The updated policy order came into immediate effect and will remain valid until December 31, 2029. Under the revised regulations, industrial and commercial importers can now import all allowable goods through sales contracts without the requirement of opening Letters of Credit (LCs). The policy also introduces the Open Account payment method to streamline international trade procedures. To support export-oriented industries and local supply chains, the policy enables exporters to procure production raw materials locally in Bangladeshi Taka through back-to-back LCs or on a Free-of-Cost (FoC) basis. Furthermore, provisions regarding Bonded Warehouse facilities have been updated to optimize raw material sourcing for exporters. The BB instructed bank management to ensure strict compliance with foreign exchange regulations and the new policy framework, while requesting all stakeholders to take necessary operational measures immediately.

Yemen's government forces said Sunday that more than 500 soldiers were killed and nearly 1,500 injured during month-long clashes with Houthi rebels along the country's western coast, as the insurgent group executed a major advance toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. In a statement broadcast on media, the government's National Resistance Forces reported that the casualties were recorded between Aug. 9 and Sept. 10. The forces also claimed that over 1,000 Houthi fighters were killed and thousands more wounded, though these figures could not be independently verified. Military officials said the fighting began with Houthi missile, drone and explosive-boat strikes before expanding from Hays, in the southern part of Hodeidah province along the Red Sea, to multiple battlefronts in neighboring Taiz province in the southwest. The casualties follow a sweeping offensive launched by the Houthis on Sept. 3 that rapidly redrew front lines along Yemen's Red Sea coast, resulting in the capture of several government-controlled areas across Hodeidah and Taiz provinces. Rebel forces captured the strategic port city of Mocha on Thursday before pushing south into the Bab al-Mandab area on Friday. They seized Mayun Island in the center of the strait, tightening control over the crucial shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Houthi troops subsequently advanced farther south toward neighboring Lahj province, where retreating government troops had regrouped, bringing active combat closer to Aden, the temporary seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government. Yemen's civil conflict originally erupted in late 2014 when Houthi forces captured the capital, Sanaa, along with large portions of northern Yemen. The takeover prompted a Saudi-led military coalition to intervene in March 2015 to support the country's internationally recognized government.

State Minister for Land Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin on Sunday urged field-level administration officials to work sincerely as servants of the people and ensure civic services reach people’s doorsteps in remote areas. “The administration of this government will by no means play the role of a ruler. Rather, it will work as a true servant of the people,” he said at a coordination meeting with divisional commissioners and officials of the Land Ministry at Secretariat. The state minister said the current democratic, political and elected government is committed to ensuring delivery of civic services to people in remote areas through the field administration. He directed all officials involved in field administration to remain sincerely committed to serving people. Referring to the government’s goal of serving people under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Mir Helal urged the divisional commissioners to work through mutual cooperation, coordination and complementarity to discharge their responsibilities effectively. Reminding government employees that the country’s 18 crore people are its true owners, he said officials should always keep in mind that they are servants of the people. Mir Helal also called for collective efforts to build a corruption-free land management system by developing a service-oriented mindset among officials. Land Ministry Senior Secretary AS M Saleh Ahmed chaired the meeting, attended by divisional commissioners from all divisions and senior officials of the ministry.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday decided to investigate the fresh allegations of money laundering, widespread irregularities and financial transactions involving transfers against former interim government adviser and National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan. The allegations include laundering a large amount of money abroad and building assets in Portugal, Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Swiss bank. ACC Public Relations Department Assistant Director Md Tanzir Ahmed disclosed the information at the commission’s regular media briefing at its Segunbagicha headquarters in the capital in the afternoon. Tanzir said there are allegations against Asif Mahmud over financial transactions during his tenure as an adviser in connection with the appointment of the Dhaka North City Corporation administrator, postings of Deputy Commissioners (DCs), tenders for development projects under various city corporations and the Ministry of Local Government, as well as recruitment, transfers and promotions. “There are also allegations of embezzling money by inflating costs in rural infrastructure development, bridge construction, the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant and Sheikh Russel Mini Stadium projects,” he said. “Allegations were made that a large amount of money was laundered abroad and assets were built in Portugal, Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Swiss bank,” Tanzir Ahmed said. He said allegations have also been brought against Asif Mahmud’s father, his assistant private secretary (APS) and private officer (PO) over controlling a contractors’ syndicate, lobbying for bribe transactions and abusing power. “After verification and scrutiny of the complaint, the commission has decided to incorporate it into the ongoing inquiry and conduct an investigation,” he said. “You know that an allegation is already under inquiry. This complaint will be investigated by incorporating it into that ongoing inquiry,” he added. However, Asif Mahmud denied the allegations against him, describing such accusations as a “media trial” and “character assassination”. At a press conference titled “Allegations vs Reality” at NCP central office at Banglamotor in the afternoon, Asif Mahmud spoke about the allegations. Asif Mahmud said, “An inquiry is being conducted against me over promotions and transfers that took place during the BNP’s time. I mean, there should be a limit even to a circus. Clearly, I am being subjected to a media trial.” “If you find anything abroad during the investigation, just give me 10 percent. I’m struggling to get by,” Asif Mahmud said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday stressed the need for reducing Bangladesh’s dependence on imports of agricultural and food products by increasing domestic production of crops that can be grown in the country. He also asked officials of the Ministry of Agriculture to take effective measures to boost the production of locally viable agricultural commodities, while ensuring food security and making farming more productive and profitable, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. The Prime Minister gave the directives at a meeting with officials of the ministry at its conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat in the afternoon. He directed officials to focus not only on increasing agricultural productivity but also on reducing farmers’ production costs and ensuring fair prices for their produce. “We must gradually reduce our dependence on imports of agricultural and food products that can be produced domestically. To this end, we need to put greater emphasis on increasing domestic production by quickly taking research findings, improved varieties, modern technologies, irrigation facilities and mechanisation to farmers,” Tarique Rahman said. Earlier, the Prime Minister walked from his office to the agriculture ministry and took the stairs instead of using the lift to reach the ministry’s conference room. At the meeting, officials presented the overall situation of the agriculture sector, ongoing activities of the ministry and its future plans. The ministry informed the meeting that mustard production has increased significantly as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imported edible oil. Mustard production rose from 8.24 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 15.34 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 and 15.41 lakh tonnes in 2025-26. The meeting was also informed of initiatives to increase onion production and storage capacity. “Measures include introducing air-flow technology for onion storage at farmers’ level and expanding summer onion varieties.” The ministry is also working to expand climate-resilient crop varieties tolerant to salinity, drought and waterlogging at the field level. Highlighting progress in agricultural research, officials said a total of 1,090 crop varieties have so far been developed, including 155 rice varieties. More than 1,000 agricultural technologies have also been developed, according to the presentation. The meeting stressed greater emphasis on agricultural mechanisation to reduce labour and production costs while increasing productivity. The government is working to increase domestic production of agricultural machinery and make equipment such as combine harvesters, reapers and rice transplanters available to farmers at affordable prices. The expansion of solar-powered irrigation was also discussed. There are currently 2,617 solar irrigation systems in the country, and expanding renewable energy-based irrigation could help reduce farmers’ irrigation costs and dependence on conventional fuels, officials said. The meeting also reviewed the Farmers’ Card programme aimed at ensuring direct delivery of government support to farmers. The agriculture ministry has set a target of bringing 43 lakh farmers under the card programme in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Preparations are underway to distribute cards to around 1.10 lakh farmers in the first phase, the meeting was informed. The meeting also discussed canal excavation, tree plantation, and storage and marketing of farm produce.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has realised Tk 1,77,500 in fines from 28 cases after Aedes mosquito larvae were found in several households across various areas under its jurisdiction. DNCC executive magistrates conducted mobile court drives in different areas on Sunday as part of a three-month-long mosquito eradication programme, imposing the fines after detecting Aedes larvae on the premises of various homes. The cases were filed in Mirpur-10, Rupnagar, Uttar Pallabi, Agargaon, Uttara Nikunjo and Baridhara areas , DNCC said.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expected war with Iran to end this year, possibly after midterm elections due in the United States in November. "It'll end right after the midterms. Gasoline's going to drop like a rock," Trump told reporters during a visit to Ireland. "Iran wants to make a deal so bad. They are calling constantly. They want to make a deal. They've got to make the right deal. I'm not going to make a deal that's no good," he said. On June 18, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on ending the war in the region. Under the memorandum, they were scheduled to hold negotiations within 60 days, which ended on Aug. 17, to reach a final agreement, but the fate of the talks remains unclear following the recent escalation of hostilities between the two countries.   

In a major regulatory shift aimed at restoring governance and financial discipline, Bangladesh Bank (BB) has introduced a comprehensive 100-mark evaluation framework to assess the performance of Managing Directors (MDs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in all scheduled banks. Under the newly issued "Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Framework," issued on Sunday by the Banking Regulation and Policy Department (BRPD), the performance of bank MDs will now be judged across five crucial categories totaling 100 marks. The 100-Mark Evaluation Breakdown: Bank Solvency and Liquidity Lens (25 Marks): Evaluates capital strength, including Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR), Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), and liquidity shock buffers. Asset Quality Lens (25 Marks): Focuses heavily on reducing non-performing loans (NPLs), managing stressed assets, and recovering defaulted or written-off loans. Governance and Internal Control Lens (25 Marks): Assesses compliance with central bank directives, AML/CFT compliance, supervisory risk ratings, and ICT security. Inclusion, Customer & Market Conduct Lens (15 Marks): Measures progress in financial inclusion, digital banking adoption, customer dispute resolutions, and CMSME/green financing. Profitability Lens (10 Marks): Evaluates Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), net interest margins, and operational cost efficiency. An overall score of 75 or above will be rated ‘Above Average’, 65 to below 75 ‘Average’, while scores below 65 will be rated ‘Below Average’ and will require immediate improvement. The Board of Directors of each bank will set targets and compute the score, whilst Bangladesh Bank will approve the targets and review the outcome. The central bank made it clear that MDs failing to achieve at least 50 percent of targets in critical sub-indicators—such as gross NPLs, defaulted loan recoveries, and credit outreach—will face severe penalty deductions from their overall final score. If performance falls below 50 percent on a specific KPI, zero marks will be awarded for that component. Banks’ Boards of Directors must set 3-year rolling targets based on these indicators and submit annual and semi-annual review reports to Bangladesh Bank. The final evaluation score will directly dictate the tenure extension, reappointment, and compensation packages of bank MDs.

American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) and the government have agreed to work jointly to facilitate an additional $5 billion in American direct investment into Bangladesh over the next five years. The target was highlighted during AmCham's 30th Anniversary gala evening held at a hotel in the capital on Saturday, according to a press release. Speaking at the event as chief guest, Commerce, Industries, and Textiles & Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir reiterated the government’s full support for AmCham’s initiative to attract $5 billion in fresh US investment. He emphasised that incoming investments should translate directly into employment generation, technology transfer, and expanded economic opportunities for Bangladesh. Highlighting the need for an investor-friendly environment, the Minister stressed the importance of policy predictability, consistency, ease of doing business, and efficient trade facilitation. He acknowledged that AmCham’s increasingly vital role in policy advocacy and as a bridge between the government and the private sector. Speaking as a Special Guest, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen praised AmCham's 30-year legacy of advancing bilateral commercial ties. “I am confident that as Bangladesh delivers on its commitments in the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, we will see even more positive outcomes in the next 30 years and beyond,” he said. Earlier in his opening remarks, AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal highlighted the Chamber's evolution into a robust platform for business and bilateral economic partnership. Outlining future priorities, Kamal stressed the need for a clear 2-year energy roadmap with six-month milestones, an enabling investment climate, stronger intellectual property rights, cybersecurity measures, and the tangible implementation of regulatory reforms.  The milestone event also marked the launch of the "AmCham Excellence Award," announced by AmCham Vice President and MetLife Bangladesh CEO Ala Uddin Ahmad, to honor outstanding contributions across sectors.  AmCham Executive Committee Member Habib Bhuiyan delivered the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to participating dignitaries, member companies, and partner institutions for their three-decade-long support.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has said  the ongoing dengue situation in Dhaka and other districts could take a more alarming turn over the coming months, urging citizens to remain vigilant from now. "The risk of dengue may increase further in the coming months, so everyone needs to become aware from now," Tuku said while addressing a views exchange meeting with lawmakers and administration on the overall law and order situation and development activities in Dhaka district, held at the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner's conference room. Public awareness, cleanliness key to preventing dengue: Tuku The state minister said public representatives, the administration and local residents must work together to combat dengue through cleanliness drives, destruction of mosquito breeding grounds and heightened public awareness. On law and order in the capital, Tuku said maintaining law and order is not the administration's responsibility alone. A safe and stable society, he said, can only be built through the coordinated efforts of political leadership, the administration, law enforcement agencies and the general public. Noting that the government is working to keep the country's law and order situation normal while advancing development activities, he called for effective coordination among the district administration, police administration and public representatives, adding that obstacles to development work must be identified and addressed alongside maintaining law and order. He stressed the need for special surveillance to prevent various criminal activities in the capital and its surrounding areas, particularly in crime-prone zones, calling for increased law enforcement activity and greater political and social awareness in those areas. Describing drugs as a major threat to society that is drawing in people from all walks of life, Tuku said the administration, public representatives and social organisations must play a more active role in curbing the spread of narcotics. Addressing government officials, the state minister said that as state functionaries, they must carry out their duties giving top priority to public welfare and state interests, stressing that all administrative activities should be conducted in the interest of the state and the people, not any individual or group. The meeting was chaired by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom. State Minister for the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain attended as special guest. Also present were Chief Whip of the Opposition Nahid Islam, Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon, reserved women's seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen, representatives of various law enforcement agencies, local government officials, public representatives and members of the district law and order committee.

The Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the university vice-chancellor demanding measures to prevent dengue and ensure cleanliness on the campus. The memorandum was submitted as part of the party’s nationwide “Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign-2026,” launched by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman. DU JCD submits six-point proposal to improve campus cleanliness and environment A delegation led by Dhaka University Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon met Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Obaidul Islam at his office. After submitting the memorandum, Chhatra Dal leaders distributed awareness leaflets among students from the VC Chattar to TSC. Earlier, speaking at a brief press briefing, DU Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon said they had urged the university administration to conduct regular and effective campaigns to prevent dengue and maintain environmental cleanliness on campus. “We have also urged the administration to implement the specific demands mentioned in the memorandum we submitted to the vice-chancellor on August 4, including the installation of dustbins and ensuring regular cleanliness drives,” Shipon said. President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas said the organisation would continue implementing dengue prevention and cleanliness programmes on its own while also offering voluntary support to the university and hall administrations if they undertake larger-scale initiatives involving students. He said the organisation’s hall units would submit memorandums to their respective hall administrations and hold discussions on the issue from Monday, while distributing awareness leaflets among residential students.

Police have arrested two people, including a constable, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of 40 bhori of gold from a businessman in Chapainawabganj. The arrested are police constable Zakir Hossain, 35, and Mohammad Ali, 38. They were arrested on Saturday night, ANM Wasim Firoz, additional superintendent of police in Chapainawabganj, said on Sunday. Zakir was posted at the officers' mess under Chapainawabganj Sadar police outpost. He is from Debipur village in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi, while Ali is from Alampur in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. ASP Wasim Firoz said allegations were raised on the afternoon of August 8 that Zakir, Ali and another person had taken 40 bhori of gold from a businessman in the Kalinagar area of Sadar upazila, claiming that they were conducting a raid. The businessman, identified as Nijhum, a gold trader from Rajshahi and owner of the missing gold, filed a case against the three at Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station on Saturday. Police arrested Zakir and Ali later that night and recovered 20.5 bhori of gold from Ali, Wasim Firoz said. Efforts are on to recover the remaining gold and arrest the other accused.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Sunday said there is no alternative to enhancing the skills and capacity of police personnel to combat cybercrime. He made the remarks while inaugurating a 10-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course on investigation of cybercrime cases at the Police Staff College Bangladesh in Mirpur in the city on Sunday. “Artificial intelligence, deepfakes, encrypted communication systems and cloud computing have opened new avenues of opportunities, but at the same time created new challenges for law enforcement agencies,” the IGP said. He said criminals are abusing technology to commit cyber-based fraud, online financial crimes, data theft, hacking, online harassment and digital extortion. “Changes in the nature of policing have become a demand of the time to tackle the growing cybercrime. Developing investigation capacity to combat cybercrime is extremely essential for modern policing,” he said. Addressing the police officers attending the training, the IGP said the course would help them acquire not only technical skills but also training and communication skills. “The knowledge and skills gained through the training must be disseminated among other investigators,” he said, adding that effective training of other investigators would multiply the number of cybercrime case investigators. The IGP thanked the Training Wing of Police Headquarters and the Police Staff College Bangladesh for arranging the timely training and stressed the need for regularly organising such training and updating training materials and modules. Police Staff College Bangladesh Rector and Additional IGP Kazi Md Fazlul Karim presided over the programme, while CID chief and Additional IGP Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain attended as a special guest. DIG (Training) Md Ekramul Habib delivered the welcome address, while Additional DIG (Training-2) Dr Mosammat Shehela Parveen presented the roadmap and implementation strategy for cybercrime investigation training. Faculty members and resource persons of Police Staff College Bangladesh were also present. The Police Staff College Bangladesh organised the 10-day course at the initiative of the Training Branch of Police Headquarters. A total of 332 police officers participating in the ToT course will, in phases, provide training to field-level investigators of cybercrime cases.

A court in Habiganj on Sunday sentenced two persons to death for killing a teenage girl after violating her in Nabiganj Upazila of Habiganj in 2021. Judge Syeda Minhaz Um Munira of the Habiganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal handed down the verdict on Sunday. The court also fined Tk 20,000 each. The convicted individuals are Khalil Miah, son of Mirash Miah, and Golam Hossain, son of Ishad Ullah; both are from Haripur village in Nabiganj Upazila. According to case details, on the night of December 26, 2021, the accused abducted 17-year-old Juba Akter—daughter of Sufi Miah from Bagaura village in the same Upazila—from her home. They took her to a nearby paddy field where Khalil raped her. When Golam Hossain subsequently attempted to violate her, the victim resisted; the accused then killed her by slitting her throat. Following the incident, Sufi Miah filed a case against unknown persons at Nabiganj Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. Police arrested Khalil after examining the call list on the victim's mobile phone. Upon interrogation while on remand, he confessed to the incident and gave a statement to a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. After the investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against the accused. The judge framed charges under Sections 302 and 34 of the Penal Code and delivered the verdict after hearing the testimonies and cross-examinations of 14 witnesses.

A faction of Tabligh Jamaat followers loyal to Maulana Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi on Sunday demanded separate dates to hold their Bishwa Ijtema at the Tongi ground, along with several other demands. “The date for the upcoming Bishwa Ijtema to be held by the followers of Maulana Saad at the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema grounds must be announced immediately,” a speaker said while reading a written press release. These demands were made at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city arranged by representatives of the Saad faction. They said the Tongi Ijtema ground is government-owned and should be accessible to both factions of Tabligh Jamaat. “The ownership of the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema ground rests entirely with the government; it does not belong to the Zubair faction under any circumstances,” a speaker said. He said the Saad faction would have no objection if followers of Maulana Zubairul Hasan held their Ijtema at the venue several times a year, but insisted that the Saad faction should also be allowed to hold its programme there. “An alternative venue is not possible by any means,” he added. Referring to a decision of the previous interim government on Feb 9, 2025, the speakers claimed that an official letter had allowed the Saad faction to hold its Ijtema at Tongi from Feb 14 to 16 that year. They also claimed that no undertaking or bond was signed barring the faction from using the venue for future Ijtemas when the ground was handed over to the authorities. Their demand comes after Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Sept 3 that the Bishwa Ijtema would be held in two phases at Tongi from Jan 8 to 10 and Jan 15 to 17. The Minister also said the government was considering a separate proposal from the Saad faction to hold another Ijtema at the same venue. The speakers also demanded that the government ensure both factions can conduct Tabligh activities across the country without obstruction and take steps to resolve the dispute over the Kakrail Mosque. The dispute within Tabligh Jamaat in Bangladesh intensified following the death of its leader Maulana Inamul Hasan, with the movement subsequently divided between followers of Maulana Zubairul Hasan and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi. The two factions have been involved in clashes at the Tongi Ijtema ground, including in 2018 and 2024.

Eight people, including two minors, were killed in a head-on collision in South Africa's northeastern Mpumalanga Province early Sunday morning, local authorities said. The crash, involving a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen sedan, occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time (2330 Saturday GMT) on the N17 toll road between Ermelo and Davel, near the Ermelo Toll Plaza, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said. It said that seven of those killed were traveling in the Volkswagen, while the eighth victim was the driver and sole occupant of the Toyota, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Authorities said reckless or negligent driving had not been ruled out as a possible factor.

In a major push to foster self-employment and drive grassroots economic growth, Bangladesh Bank on Sunday issued a comprehensive guideline titled "Udyog: Upazila-Driven Youth Opportunity for Growth". The program aims to hunt, identify, and finance prospective young entrepreneurs across all upazilas in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank awarded in two categories by global financial inclusion platform  Issued by the SME and Special Programmes Department, the circular directs Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of all scheduled banks to immediately implement the scheme. The policy covers a wide array of legal ventures—including tech startups, agriculture, food processing, light engineering, renewable energy, and handicrafts—prioritising both new innovative ideas and existing business models. To ensure funding reaches genuine and capable young creators, Bangladesh Bank established specific eligibility guidelines: Age Limit: Applicants must be adult Bangladeshi citizens aged up to 28 years on the final date of application submission. Local Residency: Candidates must be permanent residents of the respective upazila. Clean Credit History: Applicants must not be loan defaulters. Any default status revealed during Credit Information Bureau (CIB) checks will result in immediate cancellation. Furthermore, anyone who has previously taken a business loan from any bank or financial institution is ineligible. Employment Status: Public, semi-government, and autonomous institution employees are excluded from applying. No Collateral Required: To alleviate barriers for youth, loans under this program can be disbursed without collateral support. The framework offers a maximum blended financing package of up to Tk20 lakh per selected entrepreneur, evaluated strictly against business requirements and proposed cost plans, according to the circular. The funding is split equally: 50 percent bank loan (Up to Tk10 lakh) and 50 percent matching grant (Up to Tk10 lakh) If a business needs Tk12 lakh, for example, the applicant receives Tk6 lakh as a bank loan and Tk6 lakh as a grant. The grant and loan portions will be disbursed simultaneously into the recipient's bank account. However, failure to repay the loan or misuse of funds will automatically convert the grant portion into an interest-free debt, recoverable under standard recovery laws. Bangladesh Bank will nominate one Lead Bank for each upazila to execute and coordinate the program. Any branch of scheduled banks will collect application forms. On the working day following the application deadline, branches will forward all applications to the respective Upazila Lead Bank, which will then channel them to the District Lead Bank and eventually to Bangladesh Bank’s departmental offices. A multi-stakeholder panel comprising central bank officials, scheduled bank representatives, successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and academics will evaluate business plans, market feasibility, and employment potential to make final selections. Designated banks must sanction loans within 15 working days of final selection, adhering to their internal credit rules and central bank regulations. All participating banks will also provide financial literacy training, mentoring, market linkage support, and assistance with business registrations to ensure long-term sustainability for the newly minted enterprises.

Overnight drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine killed civilians and damaged vital energy and port infrastructure on both sides on Sunday. In Russia's Tatarstan region, Ukrainian drones hit the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk, killing two people and injuring 12 after a drone struck near a parked car. Local officials reported a fire at an enterprise in the city, which houses major oil and petrochemical plants. Kyiv also claimed a drone strike on a major oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar, which local authorities said injured three people and damaged a pipeline. Russian forces shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to Moscow's defense ministry. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) agency said its drones struck a key oil processing unit and the refinery's tank farm overnight, sparking a massive blaze visible from dozens of kilometers (miles) away. Meanwhile, Russian strikes targeted Ukraine’s main Black Sea port hub of Odesa, injuring at least nine people in a massive overnight barrage. That followed a Saturday drone strike on an Odesa high-rise that killed two and injured 26. Russian attacks also hit western Ukraine, igniting a petrol station near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing with Poland. Moscow continues targeting Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter, while Kyiv pursues long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure.

Six people died of dengue and 1,561 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 149 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new deaths were reported in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Mymensingh divisions, it said. Since January 1 this year, a total of 51,837 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 48,093 have been discharged after recovery, according to the DGHS.  

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday said an effective local government system is required to deliver government services to the doorstep of people. “An effective and strong local government system is particularly important to deliver government services to the doorstep of people in a densely populated country like Bangladesh,” he said. The minister made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at his office at Secretariat. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was present at the meeting. Dr Moyeen said there is no alternative to strengthening local government to institutionalise democracy and ensure people’s participation and accountability. “The foundation of democracy needs to be strengthened at the grassroots level; otherwise, it will not be possible to consolidate the overall democratic structure of the state,” he said. He also stressed the need to transform the country’s huge population into skilled human resources and enhance the financial capacity of local government institutions. The minister said genuine decentralisation is necessary to effectively strengthen local government. He said local government institutions can be made more effective by increasing people’s participation and expanding opportunities for decision-making at the local level. During the meeting, various issues, including further strengthening the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland, strengthening democracy and the local government system, the local government election process, increasing rural women’s participation in economic activities, and addressing the impacts of climate change came up for discussion. Ambassador Renggli referred to the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in various fields. He stressed exchanging mutual experiences in areas such as enhancing the capacity of local government institutions, increasing accountability to people and women’s empowerment. Briefing reporters after the meeting, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said they discussed various aspects of further strengthening the local government system and institutionally consolidating democracy.

The Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) has hosted a pre-departure reception for eight students of the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research (NITER) selected for a technical training programme in China. The reception was held at the BCCCI office in Gulshan on Saturday, ahead of the students' departure for Zhejiang Agricultural Business College in China, said a press release issued on Sunday. Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, ndc, attended the programme as the chief guest. He also praised the initiative taken by BCCCI President Mohd Khorshed Alam to develop skilled manpower for Bangladesh's textile sector. He said the initiative, undertaken personally by BCCCI President Mohd. Khorshed Alam, is a commendable and timely effort that could play a significant role in the development of Bangladesh and its textile sector. Such initiatives by private-sector leaders create valuable opportunities for practical learning and should inspire other business leaders to undertake similar programmes in the national interest, he said. The commerce secretary also thanked BCCCI for organising the programme and expressed hope that the initiative would serve as a model for strengthening industry-academia collaboration and providing Bangladeshi students with greater international technical exposure. He also described the programme as a practical step towards bridging the gap between policy discussions and implementation, saying that Bangladesh's future industrial competitiveness would increasingly depend on skilled human resources, hands-on learning and a more business-friendly environment. Speaking at the programme, BCCCI President Md Khorshed Alam said the initiative reflects the chamber's commitment to developing Bangladesh's future textile professionals through international exposure and hands-on learning. Drawing on his experience of visiting industries in 46 countries, he stressed the importance of adopting global best practices in clean production environments, workplace safety, energy efficiency and modern manufacturing technologies. He encouraged the students to make the most of their training in China, learn from its industrial practices and bring back practical knowledge to contribute to the development and modernisation of Bangladesh's textile and garment sector. The programme also featured a documentary presentation on the initiative, along with reflections from the participating NITER students ahead of their departure. NITER Director, Ashikul Alam Rana, External Faculty of Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Hamidur Rahman, BCCCI Secretary General, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, directors, chamber members, media representatives and other distinguished guests were present.  

Three children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday, raising the country’s combined number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 1022 this year. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified all three latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths. With these, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 922, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 100. A total of 905 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 171,543. Meanwhile, 63 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 20,069. Since March 15 this year, a total of 151,024 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 145,252 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Sunday said Bangladesh wants to “reset” its bilateral relationship with India after what he described as an uncomfortable relationship over 15 years under an “authoritarian, corrupt and exploitative” regime. “We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” Kobir said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Responding to a question, he said, “Breakfast in India, lunch in India, dinner in India - then when will you eat your own food?” “We have to get out of the India fascination. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it,” Kobir said. He said his earlier remarks specifically referred to India and the need to rebuild bilateral relations through direct bilateral engagement. “What I said was mainly applicable to India. We want to build a good working bilateral relationship with India,” he said. Kobir said Bangladesh’s first engagement with a country with which it wants to develop better relations should ideally be through a bilateral visit rather than a meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral forum. “That was said only in the case of India. I never said that whenever we attend a multilateral event, we will not meet anyone,” he said. He clarified, however, that this does not mean Bangladesh will avoid meeting countries on the sidelines of international forums. Asked about recent incidents along the Bangladesh-India border, Kobir said the government would address such issues through diplomatic channels. “We will resolve these issues through diplomatic discussions,” he said. He said Bangladesh would raise its concerns with India at every appropriate level while adhering to international law, border protocols and agreements between the two countries. Asked about the reported review of 101 MoUs, Kobir said the agreements were being scrutinised and reviewed through the parliamentary process. The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will once again bring together world leaders to revitalise global cooperation, give a critical push to the Sustainable Development Goals and drive collective action for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. The State Minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave for New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and will stay there until September 26. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly, where he will present Bangladesh’s new vision and highlight the country’s democratic transition and aspirations for the future. “He will share his thoughts and vision for the future of Bangladesh with world leaders,” Kobir told reporters. “He will have a very busy schedule in New York,” Kobir said, adding that the Prime Minister would hold meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Asked whether the UN Refugee Convention would be discussed during the visit, Kobir said Bangladesh would organise a sideline event focusing on the Rohingya crisis. “There will be a high-level discussion or meeting on the Rohingya crisis as part of the visit. It is a major priority for us,” he said. Asked about the possibility of a sideline meeting between the Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump, the state minister said such meetings are often decided at the last moment during major international conferences. “The primary focus of the Prime Minister’s visit is to address the UN General Assembly,” he said, adding that details of the sideline meetings would be known in due course.

A passenger ship that had lost contact in Indonesia's Java Sea has sunk, the country's National Search and Rescue Agency said Sunday, with around 130 people still unaccounted for. Around 110 people have been rescued and at least one person has died, according to the latest available figures. The Chinese Consulate General in Surabaya confirmed to Xinhua that there were no Chinese nationals aboard the ship, citing information verified with relevant authorities of the Surabaya city government. The passenger ship, Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people when it lost contact at around 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday after encountering bad weather, according to the search and rescue agency. The vessel had departed from Surabaya in East Java province on Saturday and was heading to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province. The cause of the accident remains unclear. Indonesian search and rescue authorities have deployed personnel, ships and a helicopter to waters near the vessel's last known position to conduct search and rescue operations. Indonesia, an archipelagic country with around 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries and other forms of sea transportation to connect its islands and facilitate travel. Maritime accidents occur from time to time due to factors including weather conditions, sea conditions and vessel safety.  

Two minor cousins drowned in a fish enclosure while picking water lilies in Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat district on Sunday morning. The deceased were identified as Jannati Akter, 10, daughter of Mustain Sheikh, and Lamia Akter, 9, daughter of Mostak Sheikh of Dariyala village in the upazila. Both of them were students of Paschim Dariyala Government Primary School. Officer-in-Charge of Mollahat Police Station Md Shahadat said the two children went to a fish enclosure, around 200 metres from their home, at around 7:00am to collect water lilies. At one stage, both of them fell into a deep part of the enclosure and drowned. Later, they were rescued and first taken to a local hospital, from where they were taken to Mollahat Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday joined a meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Secretariat to discuss the overall situation of the agriculture sector and various issues related to the ministry’s ongoing activities. The meeting began at the conference room of the ministry in the afternoon, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. The Prime Minister walked up the stairs instead of using the lift to reach the sixth floor of the Secretariat to attend the meeting. The meeting is discussing the overall situation of the agriculture sector, the ministry’s ongoing activities and other related issues, Roni said.  

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called for strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in trade, business and investment, air connectivity, education and training, and other areas of mutual interest. He made the call when Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told UNB. During the meeting, the envoy reiterated an invitation from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to President Mirza Fakhrul to visit Pakistan. The President thanked him for the invitation and also invited the Pakistani President to visit Bangladesh at his convenience. Mirza Fakhrul said Pakistan is an important partner of Bangladesh in various fields, adding that expanding trade and economic activities between the two countries will benefit the people of both countries. He stressed the need to increase contacts between businesspeople and entrepreneurs of the two countries and explore new trade opportunities. The President said Pakistani ready-made garments, particularly women's clothing, are quite popular in Bangladesh. He emphasised the need to tap the potential for exporting Pakistani ready-made garments, cotton yarn and other products to Bangladesh while making bilateral trade more balanced. Imran Haider said a trade fair featuring Pakistani products will be held in Dhaka in October. He also called for organising a similar trade fair in Pakistan featuring Bangladeshi products. He said Pakistani entrepreneurs are interested in undertaking joint ventures with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in manufacturing footballs and other sports equipment. Referring to the resumption of direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Karachi this year, the high commissioner said the connectivity is playing a positive role in promoting bilateral trade and business, medical tourism and people-to-people contacts. He stressed the need to increase the number of flights between the two cities. Praising the quality of tea produced in Bangladesh, Imran Haider called for increasing tea exports from Bangladesh to the Pakistani market by utilising the existing duty-free facility. The President said there is considerable scope for increasing exports of Bangladeshi ceramic products, betel leaf and other agricultural products, medicines and other quality goods to Pakistan. He said closer contacts between the relevant authorities and business communities of the two countries are needed to tap the potential. The Pakistani envoy said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh. He said his country is working to further strengthen bilateral trade, investment and mutual cooperation between the two countries. Mirza Fakhrul also stressed the need for exchanging training programmes between members of the armed forces and civil administrations of the two countries and expanding opportunities for higher education in science, engineering, technology and medicine. Imran Haider sought the President's cooperation in discharging his diplomatic responsibilities in Bangladesh. The President assured him of full cooperation and expressed hope that relations between the two countries will become more productive and multidimensional in the future through increased cooperation in trade, education, culture and training, as well as greater people-to-people contacts. Senior officials from the President's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant departments were present during the meeting.

The High Court on Sunday declared any strike or hartal called in protest against a court verdict or order illegal. The HC bench of Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faysal Hasan Arif passed the order after hearing a writ petition. It also asked the authorities concerned to take action against bus owners' associations and transport workers' organisations if they call such programmes. The HC also directed the home secretary, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to take action under criminal law if any strike or hartal is enforced against a court verdict or order. In its observation, the HC said the verdicts and orders of courts are binding on everyone under Article 112 of the Constitution. Although there is a legal avenue to appeal against a verdict, calling a hartal or strike in protest against a court verdict or order is illegal and contrary to the Constitution, it said. Five people, including filmmaker Tareque Masud and journalist Mishuk Munier, were killed in a road accident in Ghior upazila of Manikganj district in August 2011. A case was filed against the bus driver over the accident, and Manikganj Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced the driver to life imprisonment on February 22, 2017. Protesting the court order, the transport owners reportedly went on a strike. Later, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a human rights organisation, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking necessary legal intervention in the public interest. Following the writ petition, the High Court issued a rule in 2017 asking as to why enforcing any strike or hartal against any court verdict should not be declared illegal. It also asked the persons concerned to withdraw their strike within 24 hours and ensure movement of vehicles on road.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has described the appointment of recently resigned Saima Wazed Putul to a senior position at the World Health Organization (WHO) as “very unfortunate”, alleging that she lacked the qualifications, experience and expertise required for such a high-level post. “It was not a surprise. Someone without any credible qualification, any credible expertise, just because she happens to be the daughter of (former PM) so-and-so, was given the appointment,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs questioning the appointment.  The State Minister described the appointment of Putul, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as regional director for Southeast Asia as a “shame” for international organisations and stressed the need for greater seriousness and scrutiny in selecting people for senior positions. “You need people who can lead the organisation. We need to be very serious about these appointments,” Kobir said. The State Minister said Bangladesh would support a candidate with appropriate qualifications in future, mentioning a candidate from the Maldives who, he said, has a good track record and strong credentials. “We hope that in the near future the organisation will be led by competent people,” he said. He said international organisations should not appoint individuals simply because they are connected to a particular political family or regime. “People should not be appointed simply on the grounds of being connected to a family or a regime,” he said, adding that such organisations have important institutional responsibilities and their leadership should have the necessary expertise and credentials. Referring to the WHO, Kobir said the organisation is highly important and therefore requires people with appropriate professional expertise to lead it. “If you put any kind of unqualified people in those positions, the outcome for the region and the world is not going to be good,” he said. The State Minister also referred to a candidate from the Maldives, saying he hoped that a person with stronger credentials would be selected for the position in the future. Kobir said that if irregularities or corruption were involved in appointments, such matters would eventually come to light. He reiterated that the credibility, experience and expertise of candidates should be carefully examined before making appointments to senior positions in international organisations. “Someone without credible qualifications, experience and expertise should not be appointed to such a high-level position,” he said. He said allegations of corruption, manipulation and concealment of information surrounding such appointments would eventually come to light. “The smell of corruption can never be suppressed; it will eventually come out,” Kobir said. Referring to the WHO, Kobir said the organisation plays a crucial role in global public health, particularly recalling its importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asked how many countries the government is working with to recover the huge amount of money allegedly siphoned out of Bangladesh, Kobir said the government is working with international partners to bring back laundered assets and funds. “We are working with international partners to recover the assets and money that have been siphoned out,” he said. He said Bangladesh has already established a partnership with the United Kingdom in this regard. The government is also in discussions with countries that have legal and forensic expertise to help trace and recover the assets, he said. “We are determined to bring back the people’s stolen money and assets through legal and diplomatic processes,” Kobir said. He said the recovered assets should be used for the welfare of people rather than ending up in the pockets of individuals.

State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin on Sunday said the government wants to resolve the country’s power and energy crisis in a way that will reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on others in the future. “People of the country are facing problems with oil, gas and electricity. The Prime Minister and members of the government have repeatedly expressed regret to the people over these problems,” she said. The state minister made the remarks at a meeting of the district law-and-order committee at the Natore deputy commissioner’s conference room in the morning. She said the people will assess how much confidence the government has been able to gain in the first seven months of office. “The BNP went to the people seeking votes with its 31-point programme, and the current government has addressed each of those points to some extent,” Farzana said, adding that seven months is too short a period to assess the performance of a government. Regarding the upcoming local government elections, she said they will be more transparent than any previous local government elections and will be held without party symbols. “The local government system has been destroyed. That is why the upcoming local government elections will be transparent, and there will be no party symbols,” the state minister said. She said the government wants to restore the local government system by appointing qualified, educated and capable people who can make it fully functional. Deputy Commissioner Mst Shumoni Aktar chaired the meeting, attended by officials from different government departments in the district.

A high-level delegation from Chevron met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday and discussed the US energy giant’s potential investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector, particularly gas. President of Chevron’s Base Assets and Emerging Countries Javier La Rosa led the delegation during the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office at Bangladesh Secretariat in the morning, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. During the meeting, the delegation discussed increasing Chevron’s investment in Bangladesh’s existing and mature gas fields, as well as exploring opportunities for investment in new gas fields. The discussions came amid the government’s efforts to strengthen domestic gas production and attract investment to the energy sector to meet the country’s growing energy demand. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Chevron Bangladesh President and Managing Director Shu Xiong and senior officials concerned were present.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said democracy must be institutionalised and local government must be strengthened to make democracy stronger. He made the remarks when administrators of 33 district councils met him at Bangabhaban in the afternoon, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told UNB.  Describing local government the biggest strength of democracy, the President instructed the district council administrators to remain active and vigilant to break away from the corruption left behind by the fascist regime. During the meeting, the district council administrators placed various demands before the President, including enhancement of their status. Mirza Fakhrul assured them that steps will be taken promptly to resolve their problems, saying the present government is a government of the people. He also said the government is working with due importance to strengthen the local government system as part of its efforts to decentralise power. The President recalled with gratitude the active participation of the district council administrators in restoring democracy and in the long struggle against fascism. He also gave the administrators necessary directives to accelerate development activities of the district councils, ensure citizen services at the local level and maintain administrative transparency.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Sunday said the government is not pursuing a policy of revenge and does not want to do so in the future. “We have not become vengeful, nor do we want to be,” he said while speaking at an exchange of views on law and order, corruption control, drug prevention, good governance and accountability at Satkhira Deputy Commissioner’s office. Responding to questions from journalists, the law minister said police were used to file politically motivated cases. “There is not a single example of the police filing politically motivated cases after Aug 5,” he said. He said police cannot refuse to register a case if an individual submits a complaint but they must investigate the allegations. “We have reached a position of balance. There are no more false ‘ghost’ cases like before,” he said. Asaduzzaman said the police force had been turned into a tool of political servitude. “After August 2024, we had to give the police mental strength and courage. They are now trying to work impartially and continuing their efforts,” he said. On drug control, the minister said drug trafficking is not being carried out solely by a handful of people in Bangladesh as consignments were also entering the country from a neighbouring state. Addressing corruption, he said, “Financial corruption is one thing. Another is intellectual corruption, when someone sitting in a position of authority thinks about how to harm people instead of ensuring justice,” “We must stop both forms of corruption,” he added. The minister said the government would continue working under the prime minister’s guidance to ensure good governance for the people. “We are speaking out against drugs as well as political thuggery,” he said. Members of Parliament from the district, the district council administrator, the deputy commissioner, officials of law enforcement agencies, political leaders and prominent citizens attended the meeting. Participants discussed various problems and prospects of the district. The minister is scheduled to attend a meeting with party leaders and activists at the district Shilpakala Academy in the afternoon.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury on Sunday said misdeeds will not go unpunished even if committed outside the country, stressing that both “evil and good” forces exist at home and abroad. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after a law-and-order committee meeting and an exchange of views with heads of government offices at the deputy commissioner's conference room in the morning. Regarding the harassment of actress Azmeri Haque Badhan in Italy, the minister said the government has taken strong steps over the incident. “The state minister for foreign affairs made a landmark statement in Parliament on the issue. I have also spoken to Badhan personally. Justice will be ensured for what happened to her,” he said. Nitai Roy said the government has never sought to evade responsibility over incidents of harassment involving artistes, either inside or outside the country. Earlier, at the law-and-order committee meeting and the discussion with heads of government offices, the minister focused on measures to curb various crimes. He also warned against irregularities in the education, health and agriculture sectors. Reserved-seat MP Newaz Halima Arly, Chuadanga Deputy Commissioner Lutfun Naher, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ruhul Kabir Khan, Lt Col Nazmul Hasan, commanding officer of Chuadanga-6 Border Guard Bangladesh, and Zila Parishad Administrator Md Sorifuzzaman, along with officials from various government offices and BNP leaders, attended the meetings.  

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is set to hold its third meeting of the 2026-27 fiscal year on Wednesday, with a 15-project agenda spanning transport, defence, health, water resources and land management sectors, according to a notice issued by the Planning Division. The meeting will be held at 10:00am at the Cabinet Room of Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman, according to the notice. Under the Physical Infrastructure Division, the committee will examine Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5): Southern Route, to run from September 2026 to August 2033 under the Road Transport and Highways Division. Also on the list are upgradation of district highways under Rajshahi Road Zone and under Chattogram Road Zone in its third phase ,both under the same division. Defence-related infrastructure proposals include the second phase of Barisal Cantonment establishment (July 2026-December 2030) and construction of accommodation and other facilities for naval personnel in the Khulna Naval Zone (July 2026-June 2029), both proposed by the Ministry of Defence. The Khulna Drainage System Development Project (first revised), running since July 2020 through June 2027 under the Local Government Division, is also listed, alongside two railway projects from the Ministry of Railways: the Implementation of Electric Traction Along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur Section of Bangladesh Railway and the first-revised project for a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj. Under the Industries and Energy Division, ECNEC will review the Improved Working Condition and Social Protection for Workers in the Textile and Leather Sector project from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the first-revised upgradation and expansion of the electricity distribution system in Manpura island area under the Power Division. Three proposals fall under the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division, all from the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Financial Institutions Division: Health System Strengthening through MNCH Services Improvement and NCDs Control ,Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Bangladesh ,and Financial Sector Support Project-II or FSSP-II. Rounding off the approval list under the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division are the construction of the Musapur Regulator with integrated flood and river management and drainage improvement of the Chhoto Feni and Bamni rivers, part-1 from the Ministry of Water Resources, and the second-revised Digital Land Management System project, covering digital land surveys in three city corporations, one pourashava and two rural upazilas (July 2018-December 2028) from the Ministry of Land. The notice also lists 15 additional projects already approved by the minister concerned to be placed before ECNEC for information. These include the second-revised Automation of Land Management project and the first-revised construction of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society's national headquarters, both from the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief respectively. Also featured are the first-revised Establishing Green Belt at Bhasan Char and Reforestation of areas affected by Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, from the Ministry of Environment and a project on strengthening research, conservation and development of indigenous poultry from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Infrastructure items on this list include the first-revised establishment of a telecommunication network in economic zones, replacement of ageing and risky bridges in the Rangpur zone, construction of an RDA building from the fifth to tenth floor, construction of a quarter guard and ancillary infrastructure at Jalalabad Cantonment, and preparation of a Digital Elevation (3D) Model of Sylhet division to enhance flood forecasting capacity. Education, social welfare and sports-related projects for information include infrastructure development at Cantonment Public School and College, Saidpur; further infrastructure development at Military Collegiate School, Khulna; the first-revised Strengthening Social Protection for Improved Resilience, Inclusion and Targeting (SSPIRIT) project; and development works at the Barguna and Dinajpur district stadiums. Besides, second-revised drilling of the Sylhet-10 exploration well, under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday held a meeting with a delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI), with discussions focusing on preventing cybercrime and online bullying, and the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act 2026. The courtesy meeting took place at the minister's office at noon. The delegation was led by IRI Resident Programme Director John Fluharty. Helen Jerin Khan, MP, IRI Technical Adviser Ruksana Haque, and young politicians and IRI trainees Chamon Faria and Mohammad Prince were also present. During the meeting, Fluharty briefed the minister on IRI's ongoing programmes aimed at developing youth leadership and promoting violence-free political practices. He said young people and political activists in Bangladesh are currently facing harassment and defamation due to cyberbullying and organised disinformation. Fluharty called for a consensus-based policy and legal protection for both the government and opposition parties in this regard. The minister assured the delegation that the government is aware of citizens' freedom of expression and personal security. “Under Article 39 of the Constitution, every citizen has the right to express opinions and engage in constructive criticism, subject to reasonable restrictions. However, constructive criticism is not the same as character assassination or abusive language for political purposes,” he said. Salahuddin said the government has been seeking opinions from the international community, media personalities, senior editors and civil society stakeholders for the past two months as part of efforts to revise the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act. He said the main objectives of the law is to restore civility in the digital space, protect women and young people from cyberbullying and ensure professional protection for journalists while preventing any misuse of the law. The minister said the government will welcome constructive recommendations from both international and local stakeholders to strengthen digital security and establish a violence-free political environment. Additional Home Secretary (Political and Immigration Wings) Dr Ziauddin Ahmed and Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch Rebeka Khan, among others, attended the meeting.

Police recovered the body of a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader from a branch of the Padma River in Ishwardi upazila on Sunday, 38 hours after he went missing when a picnic boat collided with a girder of the Hardinge Bridge. The deceased was identified as Rakibuzzaman Rocky, member secretary of the Shailkupa municipality unit of JCD in Jhenaidah district. Khandaker Shafiqul Islam, in-charge of the Laxmikunda River Police Camp, said police recovered the body from near Aktater Ghat in the Charkurulia area around 10:30am. Locals spotted the body floating in the branch river around 9:00am and informed the river police, said Selim Reza, a schoolteacher of Charkurulia village. Rocky, along with two others – Md Liton, 38, and Md Wahab, 45 – fell into the river around 9:15pm on Friday when a boat carrying 123 passengers collided with a girder near Pillar No. 5 of the Hardinge Bridge. Liton and Wahab were rescued alive, but Rocky remained missing. Fire service divers and river police conducted a rescue operation but failed to trace him. The 123 passengers set out on a picnic by boat from Katlagari in Kushtia on Friday morning and were returning at night when the accident occurred.  

A two-day “Nazrul Dance Festival 2026”, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy as part of the Nazrul Barsha celebrations, is underway at the academy featuring dance performances inspired by the works and philosophy of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The festival, which began on Saturday, will conclude today with the final day’s programme starting at 6:30pm at the National Music and Dance Centre Auditorium. Different dance groups are presenting performances based on Nazrul’s songs and creative works, exploring themes of rebellion, love, equality, humanity and beauty. The festival aims to explore Nazrul’s multifaceted creative world through dance and present his spirit of humanism, communal harmony and resistance in contemporary dance language. Culture Affairs Secretary Yasmin Begum, who presided over the inaugural session on Saturday, said Nazrul always stood beside the oppressed and helpless people and sought to revitalise society through his works. “We want to remember him in this way through various forms of art,” she said. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed (Rezauddin Stalin), in his welcome address, said Nazrul occupies a significant place in the tradition of classical music and that the festival was organised around dance based on his songs. “Love and separation of the people of Bengal find expression through rhythm and dance. Rhythm is present in every stage of life. Dance influences our lives and expands our imaginative world,” he said.  

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned that growing geopolitical tensions, disruptions to supply chains and climate-related crises are increasingly affecting people around the world, and called for stronger cooperation and support among countries of the Global South. Addressing the BRICS summit on its second day in New Delhi, Modi also cautioned that the "weaponization of technology and critical minerals" could hamper global development and shared prosperity. BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, has expanded to 11 members, representing about half of the world's population and a significant portion of the global economy. The grouping has pushed for greater representation of developing countries in global institutions and promoted alternatives to Western-dominated financial systems. "The number of conflicts and tensions in the world is continuously increasing, and this is having an increasingly negative and far-reaching impact on the lives of ordinary people," Modi said in the presence of bloc leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. "Pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions have shown that in today's interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region," Modi said. He also announced that BRICS members had agreed to establish an integrated early warning system for infectious diseases to strengthen preparedness for and responses to future outbreaks. In a joint declaration issued Saturday, the group expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and Sudan and called for disputes to be settled through dialogue and diplomacy. The bloc reaffirmed its support for a multipolar world order and called for reforms to the United Nations, including its Security Council, as well as international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. BRICS leaders opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures and criticized sanctions that have not been authorized by the United Nations. They also criticized increasing tariffs and nontariff barriers, saying such measures undermine global trade and supply chains. The bloc supported greater use of local currencies in trade and stronger cross-border payment systems, while also calling for cooperation in food security, energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and climate action. The joint declaration marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough, as reaching consensus among Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — which have competing positions on major regional and geopolitical issues — posed a complex challenge amid ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said China's 15th Five-Year Plan is not only a blueprint for the country's own development but also offers a range of cooperation opportunities for countries around the world. Xi made the remarks while attending the second day of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. Noting that China is launching its 15th Five-Year Plan this year, Xi said the country would continue to pursue high-quality development and expand high-standard opening up. China will also implement the Global Development Initiative, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and share development opportunities with countries around the world, he said. Xi said China seeks to work with other countries to create greater prosperity and share the opportunities arising from its development.

Swedish voters are heading to the polls Sunday in a parliamentary election that will decide whether Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson secures a second term and whether the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats enter government for the first time, or the center-left returns to power. Kristersson is seeking another four-year term leading the European Union's newest NATO member, while former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is seeking to bring the center-left Social Democrats back to power. The campaign has largely focused on which parties can form the next government rather than policy issues such as healthcare, with experts describing it as fragmented and lacking coherence. “Crime has come down, inflation has come down. So these topics are not really what people discuss,” said Zeth Isaksson, a sociologist specializing in electoral behavior at Stockholm University and a political scientist at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. “People discuss who is going to be in government, and that’s what the election is about,” he said. Kristersson has governed since 2022 through a three-party center-right coalition that depends on support from the Sweden Democrats to maintain a parliamentary majority. The Sweden Democrats, an anti-immigration party with far-right roots that has moved closer to the political mainstream, are expected to receive Cabinet positions if the right retains power. Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats, previously served as prime minister from 2021 until her party lost power in the 2022 election. The Social Democrats have historically dominated Swedish governments, leading most administrations since World War II. Swedish politics is broadly divided into two four-party blocs, one on the right and another on the left. The key question is therefore which bloc can secure enough support to form a government. Parties must win at least 4% of the vote to gain seats in parliament. The Sweden Democrats won 20.5% of the vote in 2022, making them the largest party on the right. Kristersson announced in April that his Moderate Party would allow the Sweden Democrats to join the government if the right wins a majority. He also said he would remain prime minister even if the Sweden Democrats emerge as the strongest party in the bloc. The Sweden Democrats were founded in the 1980s by members of right-wing extremist groups, including neo-Nazis. Under leader Jimmie Åkesson, who has headed the party since 2005, it has moderated its rhetoric, expelled openly racist members and grown from a marginal political force. The party's potential role in government has gained added attention amid the rise of populist and far-right movements across Europe, including the far-right Alternative for Germany's first-place finish in a regional election on Sept. 6. More than 8 million people in Sweden, which has a population of about 10.6 million, are eligible to vote for the 349-member Riksdag, the country's parliament that will determine the next prime minister. The Swedish Election Authority said the first preliminary results are expected around 9 p.m. local time Sunday, or 1900 GMT.

Renowned cardiologist and Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) Vice President Dr Zubaida Rahman on Sunday said the healthcare system must identify health risks and diseases before they become severe, stressing that healthcare is not a privilege but a basic human right. “Our healthcare system cannot be built around treatment alone. We often say prevention is better than cure, and that remains true. The healthcare system must identify risks and diseases before they become severe,” she said. Zubaida made the remarks while addressing a special international seminar titled “Health Innovation for All: Expanding Access to Affordable and Inclusive Care” as the chief guest on the second day of the three-day “Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026” at Novo Theatre in the capital's Agargaon. The session focused on technology-driven ways of delivering modern healthcare at affordable costs to marginalised communities. Zubaida said the sophistication of hospitals or the advancement of technology could not be used alone to judge the level of healthcare in a country. She said many people reach specialist hospitals only after their conditions have become complicated, while patients often travel long distances because necessary services are unavailable closer to their homes. “Modern tertiary healthcare has also become extremely expensive. But this is not only for Bangladesh; many advanced countries are facing this worldwide,” she said. The ZRF vice president said the goal should be to make healthcare accessible even in the remotest villages of Bangladesh. “We want to make healthcare accessible to the remotest villages of our country. More than 90,000 villages in our country should receive accessible healthcare for every citizen of Bangladesh,” she said. Zubaida called for strengthening dengue awareness programmes and encouraging measles vaccination so that no one misses it. Describing cardiovascular diseases as one of the major causes of disability and death in Bangladesh, she said, “Simple lifestyle preventive measures combined with excellent treatment facilities can change this scenario.” The ZRF vice president also called for extensive cancer awareness programmes. About diabetes, she said though Bangladesh has internationally reputed institutions and expertise in healthcare, many people continue to live with diabetes without knowing it. Zubaida stressed that every screening programme should be connected to confirmatory diagnosis, counselling, treatment, medicines, monitoring and referral. She said Bangladesh could also begin preparing for the health needs of an ageing society, including dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other diseases affecting geriatric populations. The cardiologist said the country’s health vision should be based on a clear principle that quality healthcare should not be a privilege determined by income, location or social status. “It should be accessible to every citizen in every part of Bangladesh,” she said. She said the vision includes strengthening primary healthcare, bringing care closer to home, expanding preventive programmes, developing the health workforce and gradually increasing public investment in health towards 5 percent of gross domestic product. “The planned recruitment of 100,000 health workers, particularly, gives an opportunity for women and can create the human foundation for this transformation,” Zubaida said. She said the health workers could support screening, maternal and child health, health education, chronic disease management and referrals within communities. “In our country, women travel miles in inadequately equipped transport in the late stages of pregnancy or in cases of preeclampsia. Prematurely born babies have no proper facilities to thrive,” Zubaida said. She stressed the need for a smooth referral system to move patients from community and primary care facilities to district and specialist hospitals. The ZRF vice president also called for a nationally coordinated system covering voluntary blood donation, safe collection, infectious disease screening, component separation, storage, transportation and complete traceability from donor to patient. “We need to move towards establishing a national plasma transport technology,” she said. She said innovation will be central to all these efforts, but innovation does not always mean inventing an expensive machine or launching another application. “The most valuable innovation is the one that solves a real problem for patients around the country,” she said. Zubaida said Bangladesh already has many of the institutions needed to make such a transformation possible. “We have respected researchers, a strong pharmaceutical base, experienced clinicians, expanding digital capability, community-level organisations, and an energetic generation of entrepreneurs,” she said, adding that what is often missing is the connection between them. The ZRF vice president said research could connect with validation, validation with regulation, regulation with responsible procurement, and innovation with service delivery. She said the next chapter could connect Bangladesh’s innovative capacity with an inclusive national healthcare system that finds illness earlier, brings care closer to home, guarantees the foundations of safe treatment and protects families from avoiding financial hardship. “Let us use this innovation fair not only to discuss what is possible, but to agree on what we will begin doing now,” she said. The three-day fair, being held under the theme “Innovate to Market”, will end on Monday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the event on Saturday, with research teams from various universities and research institutions across the country participating alongside innovators.

The Election Commission (EC) will decide whether teachers of private educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facilities will be allowed to contest local government elections, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Sunday. “The Election Commission formulates the election rules and determines the eligibility and ineligibility of candidates. Now the Election Commission will consider our laws and the policies of the Ministry of Education and decide whether MPO-listed teachers can participate in the elections,” he said. The state minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a courtesy meeting between Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli and LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan at the Secretariat. He also said there is no age restriction for candidates in local government elections. The remarks came against the backdrop of the EC’s recommendations for amendments to local government laws, including provisions aimed at barring MPO-listed teachers from contesting local government elections. The proposed restrictions have drawn criticism from opposition parties. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami recently demanded that the EC withdraw the proposed provision barring MPO-listed teachers from contesting local government elections.    

The Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and the election scheduled for September 17, 2026, aimed at forming the Managing Board of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), have been postponed. Concurrently, the three-member Election Commission formed to conduct this election has also been dissolved. This decision was announced on Thursday through two separate notices signed by the Chairman of the Society, Barrister Md. Abdus Salam, said the BDRCS in a media release on Sunday. According to the notice, the management has felt that additional time is required to ensure full transparency, representative participation, and institutional acceptability by keeping the election process entirely consistent with PO-26 of 1973, the BDRCS election guidelines, and established rules and regulations. A separate notice informed that the Election Commission, formed on August 23, 2026, has been dissolved, as the postponement of the September 17 election became necessary to ensure a smooth election process. Farhad Ahammad Khan was serving as the Chief Election Commissioner in this commission, alongside Mushfiq Ahammad and Dr. Md. Emdadul Haque as Election Commissioners. Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Barrister Md. Abdus Salam said, "In order to uphold the integrity, credibility, and legitimacy of the electoral process, the upcoming Managing Board election will be held at a convenient time in the future." The new date for organising the election and the subsequent steps will be communicated in due course following necessary consultations with all relevant stakeholders. He believes that this decision will further consolidate the Society's long-term interests, reputation, organizational stability, and robust democratic framework.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday highlighted Bangladesh’s interest in diversifying exports to France, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, leather, ceramics and jute products, and encouraged greater French investment in these areas. She reaffirmed Bangladesh’s zero-tolerance policy towards irregular migration and human trafficking and expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to work closely with France to prevent irregular migration. The issues were discussed when a delegation of three French senators met her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussed issues and ways to further strengthen political engagement between Bangladesh and France. They also discussed bilateral and multilateral issues during the meeting. Senators Guillaume Chevrollier, Pierre-Alain Roiron and Olivier Henno arrived in Dhaka on Saturday night on a three-day official visit. Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and Head of the Political Wing of the Embassy Christian Bec accompanied the senators during their meeting with the State Minister. During the meeting, both sides held wide-ranging discussions on Bangladesh-France relations, with emphasis on strengthening cooperation between democratic institutions of two countries. The State Minister welcomed the delegation and expressed Bangladesh’s interest in further deepening engagement with the French Senate including through greater interaction within the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). She appreciated France’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition, socio-economic development and highlighted the potential for further cooperation in trade and investment, education, culture, migration and mobility and other areas of mutual interest.  

An Iranian commercial vessel was struck early Sunday near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one person dead and three others wounded, Iranian state media reported. The vessel was hit off Qeshm Island, according to the reports. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately said a vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but provided no further details. There was no immediate comment from the US military. US forces have previously targeted Iranian-flagged vessels as part of an ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. The incident came amid heightened tensions around the strategic waterway, which Iran says had been regarded as an international route before the United States and Israel launched their war on Feb. 28. Iran said Saturday that foreign ministers from regional countries would meet to discuss efforts by Iran and Oman, located on opposite sides of the strait, to manage shipping through the vital waterway.

The water level of the Padma River in Chapainawabganj fell by 6 centimetres in the 24 hours to 6:00am on Sunday, but the overall flood situation in the district has not improved significantly. Low-lying areas of five unions in Sadar and Shibganj upazilas remain inundated, leaving several thousand people affected by the flooding. Meanwhile, water levels in the district’s other two major rivers, the Mahananda and the Punarbhaba, rose further. According to data from the Chapainawabganj office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), the Padma water level fell by 6 centimetres over the past 24 hours and was flowing 32 centimetres below the danger level as of Sunday morning. The Mahananda rose by 3 centimetres and was flowing 1.02 metres below the danger level, while the Punarbhaba rose by 4 centimetres and was flowing 1.98 metres below the danger level. WDB Executive Engineer SM Ahsan Habib said the flood situation is expected to start improving after remaining at the current level for another three days. Earlier, some low-lying areas in Narayanpur and Alatuli unions of Sadar upazila and Panka, Durlabhpur and Ujirpur unions of Shibganj upazila were inundated due to the rise in water levels of the three reivers following an onrush of water from the upstream, leaving around 4,350 families waterlogged.

Green technologies, intelligent equipment and smart mining solutions showcased at the 2026 China Mining Conference and Exhibition are highlighting China's growing role in the global mining industry's shift toward greener and more sustainable practices. The conference and exhibition, held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from Thursday to Saturday, featured autonomous mining trucks, real-time data systems and advanced mineral processing equipment aimed at improving efficiency while reducing energy use and environmental impacts. At the Xinhai Mining booth, a sand-table model demonstrated a smart green mine, with a central control screen displaying real-time data on ore hoisting, equipment loads, tailings pond levels and personnel locations. “Staff can monitor and control the mineral processing plant remotely from a computer screen,” said Zhang Yunlong, chairman of Shandong Xinhai Mining Group Co. Ltd. The company's whole-process smart mining solution has been used in more than 100 countries and regions. Zhang cited a gold mine project in Zimbabwe with a daily processing capacity of 500 tonnes, where a clean-energy supply system covering 100,000 square metres has reduced costs by about 75 percent compared with diesel-based power generation. A new large magnetic separator also attracted attention at the exhibition. Without changing processing capacity or beneficiation requirements, the technology reduces equipment size by about 50 percent and operating energy consumption by around 30 percent, while improving beneficiation indicators by about 20 percent. Beneficiation involves a series of processes through which raw ore is converted into a concentrated product with greater economic value. Li Chaopeng, deputy general manager of LONGi Magnet Co. Ltd., said the equipment has been deployed in more than 70 countries and regions, most recently at an iron ore project in Brazil. “Our equipment uses less energy, recovers more resources from tailings and reduces iron ore waste, better meeting the mining industry's demand for automated and intelligent development,” Li said. The approach has drawn attention from mining professionals outside China. “When I speak to many of our Chinese clients, they take sustainability very seriously. They have very strong sustainability standards,” said Andrew Thake, an Australian mining industry practitioner and divisional director at Beacon Events & Exhibitions. He said China's green mining practices, developed over more than a decade, provide useful examples for pursuing sustainable development under different resource conditions and levels of economic development. China has established institutional, standards and evaluation systems for green mining and has promoted technologies including backfill mining, comprehensive use of solid waste and clean-energy substitution in mining areas. Chinese mining companies are also applying these practices through overseas projects. Zijin Mining, for example, has developed green mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on China's ecological civilization practices. Its green mine in Serbia has also contributed to improved environmental management in mining areas. “I appreciate the efforts China has made in green development and environmental restoration,” said Patricia, a Zimbabwean geospatial analyst. “I have followed some of the environmental restoration projects that have been carried out in China and I think they have been done quite well.” Dmitry Tetenkin, deputy minister of natural resources and environment of the Russian Federation, described green and intelligent industrial development as an urgent priority for the mining sector. “Digital technologies, innovations, rational use of resources and reduction of environmental burden are no longer issues of the distant future, but necessary conditions for the modern mining industry,” he said. “Technological progress must work simultaneously for production efficiency and responsible attitude to the environment.” China's green mining approach also extends to ecological research and conservation. Under the International Big Scientific Plan on Resources and Environmental Effects of Global Karst Dynamic Systems, China has worked with several countries on resource and environmental surveys, carbon-cycle research and ecological protection in karst regions. The efforts have gradually contributed to a global karst monitoring network and explored ways to balance resource development with ecological protection. In Tanzania, a Chinese technical assistance project at the Ngorongoro Lengai geopark has helped improve infrastructure and promote the integrated development of geological research and tourism. Orkotete Lesongoyo, a resident of a village at the foot of Mount Lengai, became a local geological guide after receiving training organized by the geopark. He now introduces visitors from around the world to the geological features of the Lengai volcano. “This project has raised the international profile and influence of Tanzania's tourism resources and created new livelihoods for surrounding residents,” said Ren Junping, director of the Southern Africa Geological Survey Cooperation Center at the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey. From green mining and environmental restoration to community development, Chinese practices are providing practical examples for the global mining industry's green transformation, Ren said. The transition toward green and low-carbon development has become a key direction for high-quality growth in the global mining industry. The Tianjin Declaration on Green Development of the Mining Industry, issued at the conference, called on countries, international organisations and other stakeholders to accelerate the industry's transition toward green and low-carbon development and contribute to global sustainable development. Mohamed Noorain, CEO of Kossel Sudan mining enterprises, said China's technologies, standards and management experience in green mine development offer valuable lessons. He expressed hope for stronger exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, including Sudan, in green mining so that more environmentally friendly technologies and practices can be implemented and contribute to sustainable development in the sector.

Indonesian rescuers launched a search operation Sunday after losing contact with a passenger ship carrying more than 240 people in the Java Sea while it was traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan, officials said. The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan on Borneo island, said it received a report about two hours after contact with the Virgo Transport 8 was lost at around 2 a.m. Sunday. The vessel had departed Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city in East Java province, for Banjarmasin. "The ship's operator reported the incident to authorities after receiving information that the vessel had encountered bad weather," said I Putu Sudayana, head of the Search and Rescue Office, during a video briefing. Initial information showed that the ship's last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometres (92 miles) from a pier in Banjarmasin. According to the vessel's manifest, it was carrying 241 passengers. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The ship's operator, PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, reported the loss of contact and said the vessel had left Surabaya at 10:13 a.m. local time Saturday. Following the report, a rescue team was deployed to the Basirih Search and Rescue pier in Banjarmasin, while a rescue vessel headed toward the ship's estimated last known location. Sudayana, who is coordinating the search operation, said authorities were mobilising all available personnel and resources because of the large number of passengers and crew aboard the vessel. He said the search was being conducted in coordination with maritime authorities and other relevant agencies, while officials were closely monitoring weather conditions in the area.

India's Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over 10 Bangladeshis to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) following their rescue from the Padma River after a boat carrying 12 passengers capsized in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila on Saturday. They were handed over to BGB around 10:00pm on Saturday at the Faridpur border following a company commander-level flag meeting between the two border forces. Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of 53 BGB Battalion, said members of Khandua BSF Camp rescued the 10 Bangladeshis from the Padma after the boat capsized and informed BGB of the incident. Following the flag meeting, BSF formally handed over the rescued Bangladeshis to BGB, which later reunited them with their relatives in the presence of local public representatives. The rescued Bangladeshis were identified as Russel, 26, Ibrahim, 50, Sawdagar, 40, Ibrahim, 60, Sakhina, 45, Nilufa, 35, Tania, 22, her 20-day-old infant, Sanaullah, 9, and Al Amin, 9. All are residents of Jahurpur Bokripara in Narayanpur union under Sadar upazila. Earlier, around 5:00pm on Saturday, the boat carrying the 12 passengers left Bakherali Ghat for Jahurpur. About 20 minutes into the journey, the boat capsized amid strong winds and strong currents, according to police and locals. Patrolling BSF personnel from Khandua Camp rescued 10 passengers alive and took them into Indian territory. Another passenger, identified as Wasim, 25, managed to swim back to Bangladeshi territory, while Mostafa, 60, remained missing. Police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene after receiving the news, while BSF subsequently notified BGB of the rescue.

Rescuers recovered more bodies from a passenger ferry that was engulfed by fire in the Philippines, raising the death toll to 76, while 13 people remained missing on Saturday. Forty-three passengers survived Wednesday night's blaze, which broke out while 132 people were aboard the vessel. The ferry had departed Manila and was about 39 kilometres (24 miles) from its destination in Coron, southwestern Palawan province, when the fire broke out. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. However, a coast guard spokesperson said a survivor reported that it may have started in the cargo hold. The survivor said they heard a blast before smoke and flames rapidly spread through the vessel, helped by strong winds, officials said. Tents were erected at the Port of Borac in Coron as body bags were brought ashore from a ship that had transported the recovered remains from the burned ferry. Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, a coast guard spokesperson, said authorities were searching for the vessel's captain, who reportedly survived the incident but was not included on the list of survivors. She said a multiagency maritime safety and criminal investigation would examine all aspects of the incident, including any possible liability of the captain and crew. According to Cayabyab, survivors said the fire spread so quickly that they had no time to put on life jackets. She also said a tarpaulin covering the ship's open areas to protect passengers from rain "may be a possible contributing factor," although investigators could not yet determine whether anyone was trapped inside. Investigators will also determine whether proper emergency procedures were followed, including whether the captain sounded an alarm or issued warnings and instructions, and whether crew members helped passengers evacuate, she said. Ferries are a common means of transportation across the Philippine archipelago, where maritime accidents frequently occur due to storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote provinces. In 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, killing more than 4,300 people in what remains the world's deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.

More than 50,000 spectators gathered along both banks of the Titas River on Saturday to enjoy a traditional boat race organised by the district administration of Brahmanbaria after a two-year hiatus. The race, suspended in 2024 and 2025 due to various circumstances, was held this year to preserve the traditional rural Bengali heritage. The 1.5-kilometre race started at 3:30pm from the Shimrailkandi Gaongeram point in Brahmanbaria municipality and ended at Medda Government Shishu Paribar. A total of 10 boats from Sadar, Nabinagar and other upazilas took part in the competition, with four boats advancing to the final after winning their respective heats.  

Four people, including a woman, were killed and six others injured in a collision between a covered van and a microbus in the College Bazar area of Karnaphuli upazila of Chattogram early Sunday. The deceased were identified as Ferdous Alam, 62, Morshed Alam, 18, Mifta, 17, and Munna, 32, the microbus driver. All of them were residents of North Maizpara area under Eidgaon union in Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila. They were returning to Cox's Bazar from Chattogram after attending a wedding ceremony when the accident occurred. According to witnesses, the covered van, coming from the Shah Amanat Bridge, was making a U-turn at high speed in the College Bazar area on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway when it collided with the microbus travelling from Ukhiya towards Chattogram around 1:20am. The accident left two people dead on the spot and eight others injured, police said. On information, police and a Fire Service team rushed to the scene, rescued the injured and took them to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), where two of them, including the microbus driver, succumbed to their injuries. Officer-in-Charge of Karnaphuli Police Station Nur Ahmed said the accident disrupted vehicular movement on the highway for some time.

US President Donald Trump's childhood home in New York City has been sold for $1.93 million following an extensive renovation that transformed the once-neglected property into a modern residence. Trump lived in the Tudor-style house in Queens until he was 4. His father, real estate developer Fred Trump, built the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in 1940 in the affluent Jamaica Estates neighborhood. The Trump family has not owned the property for years. The sale price appeared on real estate websites Friday after an undisclosed buyer entered into a contract for the property in July. The seller, developer Tommy Lin, bought the house last year for $835,000 after it had remained vacant and fallen into disrepair. Lin subsequently spent about $500,000 on an eight-month renovation, adding features including a chef's kitchen, herringbone wood flooring and spa-style bathrooms, according to the New York Post. The property has changed hands several times in recent years. It sold for $2.14 million in 2017, a few months after Trump became president, according to Zillow. The buyer at the time was an entity called Trump Birth Home LLC. The property was briefly listed on Airbnb and marketed with Trump-themed items, including life-size cardboard cutouts of the president, copies of his book The Art of the Deal and a framed People magazine cover featuring Trump. The house was put back on the market in 2019 with an asking price of $2.9 million but remained unsold until Lin purchased it. In the intervening years, the property deteriorated significantly. The Post reported that a burst pipe caused water damage and mold, while a colony of feral cats had taken shelter inside the home where Trump spent his earliest childhood years. Trump, now 80, built his fortune through real estate, including the development of Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he lived for decades, before using his fame and wealth to enter politics. As president, Trump is also overseeing major changes to his current residence, including the addition of a large ballroom at the White House and the installation of gold-plated fixtures in the Oval Office that reflect the style associated with his properties.

China is aiming to bring about 500 grams of Martian material back to Earth by 2031, potentially beating NASA in the race to return the first samples from Mars, as the US space agency currently has no clear plan or funding to match the timeline. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to launch its Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission around 2028 using two Long March 5 heavy-lift rockets, the workhorse launch vehicle that has already been used for both of China's Chang'e lunar sample-return missions. The rockets are scheduled to lift off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China's southernmost province. The timing is crucial because launch windows to Mars open only once every 26 months. Tianwen-3 is targeting the window from December 2028 to January 2029, leaving little room for delays if China is to achieve its goal of returning samples by 2031. Five-part mission The Tianwen-3 spacecraft will consist of five major components: a lander, an ascender, a service capsule, an orbiter and an Earth reentry module. Finding evidence of life is a key priority of the mission. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of Tianwen-3, told state-run news agency Xinhua that scientists will examine the returned samples for microbial traces resembling early life on Earth, while also keeping open the possibility of discovering something more unusual. Hou made the remarks on the sidelines of the International Deep Space Exploration Conference, an annual gathering in Hefei organised by China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, also known as the Tiandu Laboratory. The conference drew participants from more than 40 countries this year. Even if the mission finds no signs of life, the samples would still have immense scientific value, Hou said. "Regardless of whether signs of life are found, the returned Martian samples will have irreplaceable scientific value," he said. According to Hou, microscopic, molecular and isotopic analyses of the samples could provide important insights into Mars' geology and help determine whether the planet was ever habitable. The mission's hardware has already entered the prototype development stage. Hou told state broadcaster CCTV that work on the mission is progressing, with teams across China working to address the various technical challenges involved. Landing site under consideration Selecting an appropriate landing site remains another major challenge. China expects to finalise the site by the end of 2026. In preparation, researchers are developing a next-generation geological map covering the entire planet. Potential landing sites are being assessed based on several factors, including geological age, evidence of past water, habitability and the likelihood that geological conditions would preserve possible biosignatures. Bringing Martian material back to Earth will also create a separate and highly complex challenge: ensuring the samples are safely contained. China plans to establish a planetary protection laboratory during the first phase of Hefei's Deep-Space Science City, the flagship campus of the Tiandu Laboratory that is currently under construction. The facility will handle the sterilisation, unsealing and processing of the returned samples, as well as biological risk assessments. Scientists say the laboratory will follow protocols established by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the international scientific body whose planetary protection guidelines serve as the standard for spacefaring nations. The protocols are designed to work in both directions — preventing Earth-based microbes from contaminating Mars while also ensuring that any potentially hazardous material returned from Mars remains safely contained. Source: Agencies 

While the season for popular mango varieties such as Amrapali, Fazli, Gopalbhog and Himsagar has ended, Katimon mangoes are keeping Naogaon’s markets active in the off-season. At Sapahar, the district’s largest mango market, farmers are bringing fresh Katimon from their orchards and buyers are continuing to purchase the fruit even after the traditional mango season. A visit to the Sapahar market on September 10 and 11 found the market bustling with Katimon mangoes. Farmers arrived with their produce in vans, while buyers gathered to purchase the fruit. Local residents said the busy market looked much like the peak mango season, although other popular varieties are no longer available. Mangoes are traditionally associated with a particular season in Bangladesh. Amrapali usually arrives early, followed by varieties, including Nak Fazli, Himsagar, Haribhanga, Gobindabhog, Langra and Gopalbhog. By the end of the regular season, mango supplies normally decline sharply. Katimon, however, has changed that pattern. Commercial cultivation of the variety has expanded in Naogaon in recent years because it can produce fruit several times a year. Mansur Ali, a farmer from Haripur, said he cultivated Katimon on 5 bighas of land and is happy with the yield. “I asked for Tk 8,000 per maund, while traders offered Tk 6,500. I will sell if I get Tk 7,000,” he said, adding that prices vary depending on the quality of the fruit. Farmers Rezaul and Siddiqur Rahman of Balukadanga said demand for Katimon remains strong because other varieties are unavailable at this time. The weather was favourable and the yield was good this year, they said, hoping of expanding their cultivation in the future. Consumers are also happy to find fresh mangoes in the market at a time when the regular season has ended. Pradip, a local buyer, said he has never seen such a busy Katimon market before. “Mangoes are not usually available at this time. Seeing such beautiful fruit makes me want to buy some for home,” he said.  

Decades after his death, the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan continues to find new audiences through Bollywood, as filmmakers and musicians repeatedly revisit his timeless qawwalis and ghazals. Widely known as the “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali”, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan transformed the traditional Sufi musical form of qawwali into a global phenomenon, taking it from small gatherings in Pakistan to major international stages and Western music festivals. His extraordinary vocal range and innovative approach have inspired generations, while his compositions continue to return in films through recreations, adaptations and samples that often add emotional weight to key scenes. Nusrat's latest Bollywood appearances One of the latest examples is Saanson Ki Mala, featured in Mirzapur: The Film. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's original vocals were blended with new renditions by Madhur Sharma and Vaibhav Pani, giving the song a renewed energy. The track appears in a mid-credit sequence involving Beena Tripathi, played by Rasika Dugal, and a chapter from her past. The composition has also appeared in earlier Bollywood films, including Jeet (1996) and Koyla (1997), which starred Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan. Another recent adaptation is Jaan Se Guzarte Hain in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar 2. The song draws from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 1977 classic Dil Pe Zakhm Khaate Hai and was reimagined by Shashwat Sachdev, featuring vocals by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sachdev. The qawwali complements the film's intense themes of love, betrayal and emotional resilience, adding further tension to its dramatic narrative.  

A 35-year-old man was shot and injured in the capital’s Uttar Badda area on Saturday night. The victim was identified as Md Rana, son of late Abdur Rob. Hailing from Noakhali’s Maijdee, he has been living in the Kazibari area of Natun Bazar under Vatara Police Station and works as a driver. The victim said he went to the house of his brother Joy at Moynarbagh behind Hossain Market in the afternoon. Around 10:00pm, someone knocked on the door, he said, adding that when they asked who it was, there was no response from outside. Rana said Joy opened the door and, finding no one outside, moved towards the main entrance. At that time, Tamim and two others suddenly entered the house through an inner door and verbally abused him before shooting him in the right leg above the knee. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting, he said, alleging that Tamim, a resident of the same area, shot him. Rana was later taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Rana’s relatives alleged that Tamim demanded extortion from a business owned by Rana’s elder brother. They said Rana told Tamim that no extortion would be paid and suspected that the shooting may have been carried out over the refusal to pay. Inspector Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the matter was reported to the police station concerned.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces have traded strikes as fighting intensifies around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The escalation comes as Houthi forces have seized Mayun Island, also known as Perim, giving the group a strategic position in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and strengthening its control over Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. US President Donald Trump said the Houthis had contacted Washington and asked it not to intervene in the conflict involving Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The developments came amid wider regional tensions after Iraq temporarily closed three border crossings with Iran following a drone attack launched from Iraqi territory that targeted Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia suspended the pipeline as a precaution and has so far held off on an immediate response. Meanwhile, Iran is expected to meet Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to promote regional security. Houthis gain strategic foothold Mayun Island, a 13-square-kilometre volcanic island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, divides the waterway into two channels and overlooks one of the world’s most important maritime routes. The Houthis also control nearby coastal areas, including the port city of Mocha, strengthening their ability to threaten shipping through the strategic waterway. Security analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera that the Houthis now have “the real capability to shut down any maritime traffic through Bab al-Mandeb if they want to”. However, maintaining control of the island could prove more difficult than capturing it. Andreas Krieg of King’s College London said the Houthis are in a strong position to defend Mayun in the short term because of their control of nearby territory, but the island could be difficult to defend against an amphibious assault over a longer period. The Bab al-Mandeb is a major global shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, making control of the waterway strategically important for regional powers and international trade.

Dhaka ranked 11th among the world’s cities with the worst air quality on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 108 at 09:15 am. According to the AQI scale, the city's air quality was classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”, poses health risks to children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases, while the general public is mostly unaffected. Kinshasa of Democratic Republic of the Congo topped the global pollution ranking with an AQI of 184, followed by Indonesia’s Jakarta with 166 and Malaysia’s Kuching with 156. An AQI reading of 101 to 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151 to 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is categorized as ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks. The AQI provides a daily indication of air quality by measuring the level of pollution and its potential impact on human health. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone. Dhaka has long faced serious air pollution problems, with air quality generally deteriorating during the winter months and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution contributes to around 7 million deaths worldwide every year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for the artificial intelligence industry to slow its rapid development, warning that safety measures need more time to keep pace with increasingly capable AI systems. Amodei said that without a slowdown, AI could within six to 12 months become capable of directing a swarm of AI agents powerful enough to potentially take over the internet. In a post on his website, Amodei proposed stronger checks on frontier AI development, including measures that would require cooperation among technology companies and governments. “I believe that if slowing down bought us even an extra year or two before models reach critical levels of capability, and we used that time to advance alignment, we could greatly reduce the risk that something goes seriously wrong,” he said. His warning comes amid growing concerns over AI systems that can perform increasingly complex tasks but may also be misused or behave in unexpected ways. Former AI safety workers have also raised concerns that companies are caught in a race to develop increasingly powerful systems. Former Anthropic employee Joe Benton said Friday that safety researchers often feel pressured to continue developing AI because stopping could allow less cautious competitors to take the lead. Jacob Coxon, another former Anthropic employee, recently resigned and accused Anthropic and OpenAI of racing toward self-improving superintelligence without adequate safeguards. Anthropic said earlier this week that it had blocked attempts to use its AI models for malicious activities, including cyberattacks, surveillance and research that could contribute to biological weapons. OpenAI also disclosed in July that one of its AI systems independently hacked another company during an evaluation, an incident the company described as unprecedented. UN human rights chief Volker Türk has urged governments to establish strong safeguards for AI before it becomes too late. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Saturday that his company would not launch an initial public offering this year, citing the need to focus on AI safety and alignment and cooperation between the industry and governments. Altman also said OpenAI would adopt one of Amodei’s proposed safety measures, while Elon Musk posted on X that “Dario is right.” Amodei said he continues to believe AI could deliver major benefits, including helping develop cures for serious diseases. However, he warned that AI’s growing ability to improve itself and develop the next generation of systems could eventually outpace humanity’s ability to understand and control it. Among his proposals, Amodei urged frontier AI companies to give independent outside evaluators ongoing access to their operations so they can monitor safety practices. He said Anthropic plans to provide such evaluators with office access, desks and company laptops. Altman also quickly backed the idea. Other proposals include allowing US AI companies to coordinate on safety standards without violating antitrust laws and encouraging democratic governments to coordinate with authoritarian countries to prevent a global race toward more powerful AI systems. “The measures I propose to advance the frontier at a safe pace will not be easy,” Amodei said. “But I believe we owe it to humanity to try.”

Elena Rybakina defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to win her first US Open title and complete her rise to the top of the women’s world rankings. Rybakina had already secured the No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals, but capped her campaign by claiming the trophy Sabalenka had won in the previous two years. “It’s still so difficult to process what happened,” Rybakina said. “Too many achievements these few weeks.” The victory gave the 27-year-old her third Grand Slam title and second of the year. She also defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this season. Rybakina ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open. Sabalenka had not lost at Flushing Meadows since the 2023 final against Coco Gauff. Rybakina earned $5.5 million, the biggest prize in Grand Slam history, and joined Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva as the only players with three tour titles this season. Sabalenka, who received $2.8 million, was seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012-14 to win three consecutive US Open titles. She smashed her racket after briefly embracing Rybakina at the net. “I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today,” Sabalenka said. “Not good enough.” Although Rybakina struggled with her first serve, she consistently pressured Sabalenka with her returns. She earned 12 break points and converted three, enough to secure the victory. Rybakina’s win was the first time the lower-ranked player prevailed in a US Open women’s final between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds since 2000. Sabalenka had occupied the top ranking for 99 consecutive weeks, but Rybakina will take over on Monday. Born in Russia, Rybakina represents Kazakhstan. She won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2022 and now needs only the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam. Sabalenka acknowledged Rybakina’s powerful serve and ability to dictate play, particularly on the fast US Open courts. Rybakina had struggled at the US Open in previous years, never advancing beyond the fourth round before this tournament. She also briefly stopped playing during a quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati because of a foot injury but recovered in time for New York. “I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years, and it was never successful — nothing close to that,” Rybakina said. “It’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more.” Sabalenka had reached the US Open final four straight times and the semifinals six times, but her impressive run at Flushing Meadows ended with Saturday’s defeat. The Belarusian had won both of her previous meetings with Rybakina this season, at Indian Wells and Miami, and leads their career rivalry 10-8. Rybakina took the opening set after Sabalenka struggled with her serve and became increasingly frustrated. Sabalenka recovered in the second set, breaking Rybakina late to level the match, but Rybakina quickly regained control in the decider and completed the biggest victory of her career.

Lionel Messi scored his 19th MLS goal of the season, but Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by Eastern Conference leaders Nashville on Saturday night. Messi put Miami ahead 2-1 with a left-footed strike in the 62nd minute, but Nashville’s Sam Surridge scored his second goal of the match in the first minute of stoppage time to secure a draw. The result extended Nashville’s unbeaten run against Miami to four matches this season and kept the club nine points ahead of second-placed Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference. Nashville took the lead in the fourth minute when Surridge converted Andy Najar’s pass for his 14th goal of the season. Miami equalized in the 19th minute when Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting put the ball into his own net from a corner. Messi went close in the 27th minute when his shot from outside the box was blocked, before sending a free kick wide. Rodrigo De Paul then set up Messi outside the penalty area in the second half, and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner curled a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner. Miami were seeking revenge after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Nashville on Aug. 15. Nashville had also knocked Miami out of the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this season. Nashville will host Chicago Fire next Saturday, while Inter Miami will face Liga MX champions Cruz Azul on Wednesday in the Campeones Cup.

BRICS leaders on Saturday expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and condemned unilateral sanctions not authorized by the UN Security Council. The leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, voiced concern over “deliberate attacks” on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under UN safeguards, stressing that nuclear safety and security must be protected during armed conflicts. The joint statement called for the elimination of such sanctions, saying they undermine international law and the principles of the UN Charter. The summit, hosted by India, brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pezeshkian and leaders of the other BRICS members. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BRICS “is not against anyone” and called for turning the bloc’s unity into concrete outcomes. He also proposed a BRICS seafarers’ network to improve the safety and welfare of maritime workers amid disruptions to maritime trade. Putin called for expanding the UN Security Council to give greater representation to Asia, Africa and Latin America, while Xi said China would work with BRICS members to promote peace in the Middle East. India also used the summit to seek better ties with China. Modi and Xi met on the sidelines, with Xi calling for a “strategic and long-term” approach to bilateral relations. Modi stressed that peace along the disputed border was essential for broader ties. The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with US-China tensions, have tested BRICS’ ability to maintain unity among members with differing geopolitical interests.

Russian strikes killed eight civilians and wounded dozens in Ukraine on Saturday as President Vladimir Putin warned that deploying European troops would mean “a war with Russia.” Two people were killed and one wounded in Zaporizhzhia, while one died and three were wounded in Kryvyi Rih, officials said. In Odesa, 35 people were wounded in a “massive attack,” regional head Oleh Kiper said. A residential high-rise was hit, destroying its upper floors. Three people were killed when drones struck cars in Kramatorsk, while two others died in an attack on a grocery store in Zhytomyr region. Ukraine faces an intensifying Russian air campaign involving ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, including attacks on its power grid ahead of winter. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck chemical facilities in Russia’s Samara and Perm regions. Russian officials did not immediately comment, while Astra reported drone attacks on plants there. Putin, speaking at the BRICS summit in India, denied threatening Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of Russian provocations after attacks near Ukrainian border crossings with Moldova and Poland. Zelenskyy said he would meet Putin at December’s G20 summit in Miami if both were invited. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said attendance had not been discussed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zelenskyy could meet Putin in Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow remains ready for negotiations but would not suspend its “special military operation” during talks.

A gang of thieves disabled CCTV cameras and stole high-value medicines worth an estimated Tk 25 lakh to Tk 30 lakh from a pharmacy in Barhatta upazila town of Netrokona on Friday night. A written complaint was lodged with Barhatta Police Station on Saturday afternoon following the incident at 'Barhatta Medical Hall' located at Hospital More in the upazila town. According to the complaint, Utphal, an employee of the pharmacy, locked the shop around 10:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday morning, another employee, Joy, arrived to open the shop and found the lock on one of the shutters open. Upon entering, he discovered that almost all expensive medicines were missing, leaving behind only some basic syrups. CCTV footage reviewed prior to the cameras being destroyed showed masked individuals carrying sacks entering the shop at around 2:30 a.m.. Complainant Md. Iftekhar Tanvir Khan said, "Thieves took almost all the expensive medicines from the pharmacy, worth around Tk 25 lakh to Tk 30 lakh. This happened despite having CCTV cameras installed."   Champak Dham, Barhatta Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said police visited the scene and collected the available CCTV footage. "Efforts are underway to analyze the footage and identify those involved," the OC added.

Irish President Catherine Connolly met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Dublin on Saturday, emphasizing the Irish people's "strong commitment" to international relations, the United Nations and their pride in "Ireland’s contribution to UN peacekeeping since 1958". In a statement released following her meeting with the U.S. president, Connolly said she "conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted". "As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict," she said. She told Trump that Ireland would "strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence". With inputs from Al Jazeera

BNP will finalise its candidate for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election on September 18 following a decision by the party’s nomination board, BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said Saturday night. The by-election to the Thakurgaon-1 constituency will be held on October 29. Rizvi disclosed the decision after a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee at the party chairman’s Gulshan office in the capital. The meeting was chaired by BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. This is the committee’s third meeting since the party formed the government on February 12 this year. Rizvi said the by-election will be held in the Thakurgaon-1 seat of BNP former Secretary General and incumbent President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on October 29. “Those who want to contest the election will collect nomination forms from the BNP central office in Nayapaltan on September 15, as per the party’s decision. The collected nomination forms will be submitted the following day, September 16. The candidate will be finalised on September 18 based on the decision of the nomination board, which is the party’s National Standing Committee,” he said. Rizvi, however, said no discussion was held at the meeting about the party council. Rizvi also said the BNP Standing Committee took several decisions to prevent dengue. He said BNP will conduct extensive publicity campaigns across the country to raise awareness about dengue. “Mosquito nets will be supplied to district- and upazila-level hospitals. Besides, a leaflet prepared with the help of renowned doctors and experts on dengue prevention will be distributed across the country, including Dhaka,” he said. Rizvi said, according to the meeting’s decision, awareness-raising measures on dengue prevention will be disseminated through social media, mass media, radio and television. “The meeting also discussed arranging bins for disposing of garbage at schools, madrasas and marketplaces,” he said. He said BNP will take all necessary initiatives to raise awareness and prevent dengue. Rizvi said the meeting also discussed several organisational issues. “One of the organisational issues discussed was that in many of our party committees, some members have died, while others are no longer with the party for various reasons, including expulsion. There are vacant posts in those committees,” he said. He said the party would consider promoting those immediately below the vacant posts in accordance with the provisions of the BNP constitution. “Whether those who are immediately below them can be promoted to those vacant posts will be considered, and necessary measures will be taken in accordance with the provisions of the party constitution. This was also discussed at the meeting,” Rizvi said. BNP Standing Committee members Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP Chairman’s Political Adviser Mirza Abbas MP, Dhaka-3 MP Gayeshwar Chandra Roy,  BNP Chairman’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, and Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury were present at the meeting. Also present were Begum Selima Rahman, Amanullah Aman, Dr Farhad Halim Doner, Ismail Zabihullah. The BNP Standing Committee last met on August 1 at night.  On August 15, BNP included four new members in its National Standing Committee. This is the first meeting of the committee with the new members. The new members are Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Amanullah Aman, Dr Farhad Halim Doner and Ismail Zabihullah.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel rescued 10 Bangladeshi nationals after a boat carrying 12 passengers capsized in the Padma River in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon. One passenger managed to swim back to Bangladeshi territory, while another remains missing. Police and locals said the boat carrying 12 passengers departed from Bakherali Ghat for Johurpurtek at around 5 p.m. Approximately 20 minutes into the journey, the vessel overturned due to strong winds and intense river currents. Patrolling BSF members from Khandua BSF Camp rescued 10 passengers from the river and took them into Indian territory. One passenger, identified as Wasim, 25, managed to swim ashore to Bangladesh, while a man named Mostafa remains missing. The identities of the 10 rescued Bangladeshis have not yet been confirmed. Upon receiving the news, police and Fire Service personnel dispatched teams to the scene.   Meanwhile, BSF officially notified Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) regarding the rescue of the 10 Bangladeshi nationals. Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of 53 BGB Battalion, said   "Process is currently underway to bring the 10 rescued Bangladeshis back to Bangladesh. Efforts to trace the missing Mostafa are currently ongoing."

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has said there is no alternative to public awareness and cleanliness to prevent dengue. The next three months are particularly critical as the risk of dengue outbreaks remains high, he said while speaking to journalists after attending a rally organised by the Tangail District Administration as part of the Nationwide Dengue Prevention and Cleanliness Campaign 2026. “Aedes mosquitoes breed in stagnant water around homes, leading to the spread of dengue. Everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that water does not accumulate anywhere in or around their homes,” he said. He urged people not only to keep their own surroundings clean but also to encourage others to take part in cleanliness activities. Tuku said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman envisions building the country through collective efforts, adding that preventive measures can help protect people from dengue and other diseases. “Awareness must not stop with ourselves. We must also make people around us aware and fulfil our individual responsibilities,” he said. He stressed that the government alone cannot prevent dengue and called for active participation from the public. “If everyone works together to raise awareness and maintain cleanliness, the prevalence of dengue can be brought under control,” he said. Tangail Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar, former member secretary of the District BNP Mahmudul Haque Sanu and Sadar Upazila BNP President Azgar Ali attended the rally. Officials and employees of the district administration and leaders of the BNP and its affiliated organisations were also present.

In another major step aimed at expediting long-pending insurance claims and rebuilding public confidence in the sector, the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) has taken an initiative to disburse Tk 23 crore to 5,868 policyholders. With the latest move, the regulator has so far initiated the settlement of claims worth Tk 37.54 crore (Tk 37,54,60,117.58) for a total of 8,417 policyholders across two consecutive phases. Earlier in the first phase, IDRA arranged the payout of Tk 14.51 crore (Tk 14,51,03,146.58) to 2,549 policyholders who had been waiting for their legitimate dues from seven troubled life insurance companies. According to IDRA, the remaining valid and unpaid insurance claims will be verified, processed, and settled in phases. The regulatory body reaffirmed its commitment to continuing this drive until the legitimate rights of all policyholders are fully ensured and public trust in the insurance industry is restored.

Fourteen leading Bangladeshi companies from the apparel, textile, and leather sectors are participating in "Ready to Show," one of Europe’s premier international trade sourcing exhibitions, which kicked off in Milan, Italy, on Saturday. The three-day professional business-to-business (B2B) trade show will run through September 14, according to a press release of EPB. Bangladesh’s participation is financially supported by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and managed jointly by the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome and the Bangladesh Consulate General in Milan. According to a press release issued by EPB Director (Fair and Exhibition Division) Mohammad Wares Hossain, the initiative reflects Bangladesh’s ongoing commitment to diversifying and expanding its export markets, promoting value-added garments, textiles, and leather goods, attracting international buyers, and deepening bilateral commercial ties with Italy and broader European markets.

Two people died of dengue and 1,056 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 143 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new deaths were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation, it said. Since January 1 this year, a total of 50,276 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 46,699 have been discharged after recovery, according to the DGHS.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Saturday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, marking the latest effort by the rival neighbors to repair relations damaged by a deadly border clash six years ago. Xi said that China views its relationship with India from a "strategic and long-term perspective," calling on both nations to draw on each other's strengths, support one another and pursue common development. Urging "high-quality cooperation," Xi said China and India, as major members of the Global South, should promote a more multipolar world and contribute to global peace and stability. BRICS world's most influential platform for emerging markets cooperation: Xi Modi thanked Xi for China's cooperation in hosting the summit, noting that China will host the event next year. The leaders previously held talks in China last year when Modi attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional political, economic and security bloc founded by Beijing. The summit marks Xi's first visit to India since 2019 and represents a cautious thaw six years after a 2020 military clash in the cold desert region of Ladakh left at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese dead. Although both nuclear-armed powers have taken steps to ease tensions, deep mistrust persists over unresolved border disputes, India's substantial trade deficit with China, restrictions on Chinese investment and technology, and competing Asian strategic interests. Additionally, India has significantly expanded military infrastructure along the disputed frontier, while Beijing has constructed roads and defensive positions on its side. Xi's visit is expected to test whether recent progress can lead to broader diplomatic stabilization. Since their 1962 war, both economies have expanded substantially; however, China has far outpaced India and maintains a large trade surplus, fueling economic rivalry alongside territorial and strategic friction. Seeking to leverage China's rising labor costs and Beijing's strained ties with the United States and Europe, India is positioning itself as an alternative base for foreign manufacturers. New Delhi also views China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative with concern and remains strongly opposed to it. Conversely, India's growing strategic partnership with the U.S. has raised concern in Beijing, which views the alignment as an effort to counter China's rise.

The DMP Educational Scholarship is not merely financial assistance but recognition of students’ merit, hard work, perseverance, dreams and future potential, DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said Saturday. “The success of DMP members’ children is a matter of great pride and joy for their families as well as the DMP,” he said. The commissioner was speaking at the ‘DMP Educational Scholarship-2025’ distribution ceremony at the Rajarbagh Police lines Auditorium. He said DMP members work day and night to ensure people’s security and often have to stay at their workplaces during important family occasions while performing duties in rain or shine, late at night and during different festivals. “The contribution of police families is also very important behind these responsibilities,” he said, adding that their children’s success was one of the biggest sources of inspiration for their sacrifices. Addressing the scholarship recipients, Mosleh Uddin urged them to take the recognition as inspiration for greater achievements and build themselves as a source of inspiration for others. He said today’s meritorious students would lead Bangladesh in different fields in the future, create new knowledge, serve people and contribute to the country’s development. A total of 437 meritorious children of DMP members received the ‘DMP Educational Scholarship-2025’. Of them, 249 students at secondary and higher secondary levels received merit scholarships, while 188 received higher education support scholarships. The DMP commissioner handed over the scholarship money to the students as the chief guest. He congratulated all the recipients and wished them a bright future, a beautiful life and overall success.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury on Saturday urged journalists to remain vigilant and responsible in countering misinformation, rumours and AI-generated misleading content circulating on social media. He said journalists should highlight government errors and shortcomings, but must do so through fact-based reporting rather than smear campaigns or misinformation. The state minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a certificate distribution ceremony following a three-day training workshop on multimedia journalism, fact-checking and AI for journalists in Hossainpur upazila. “There is hardly any popular or well-known figure in Bangladesh who has not been targeted by smear campaigns on social media. Even our mothers and sisters are being humiliated through misinformation and impersonation. This amounts to a violation of human rights,” he said. He said the training was aimed not simply at awarding certificates but at developing journalists’ skills in fact-checking and dealing with misinformation and disinformation. “Journalists play a crucial role in curbing the spread of misinformation in Bangladesh,” he said. Yasser said smear campaigns are not limited to professional journalists, as many people posing as journalists spread rumours and false information. Some also use AI to manipulate images and create videos that are circulated on social media, damaging the reputation of genuine journalists. He said the government is creating opportunities for genuine journalists to receive advanced training, including two-year master’s programmes and AI-based journalism courses. “A list of genuine journalists will be prepared through press clubs, and they will subsequently be brought under the training programmes,” he said. The state minister said various forms of support are being provided to journalists through the Journalist Welfare Trust. He also said a proposal had been made to the Prime Minister to increase support for journalists and that the process had begun at the Ministry of Finance. “I am not only a minister for the Mymensingh Division; I am a minister for the entire country. The ministry works for all of Bangladesh. However, it is only natural to have a special concern for the people of the surrounding areas,” he said. Yasser said the first phase of journalist training programmes had been organised in the Mymensingh Division, Bogura, Feni and districts surrounding Dhaka. The programme will gradually be expanded to other parts of the country, he added. Talking about the country’s development, the state minister said the government did not want to make unrealistic promises. “We do not wish to offer false or hollow assurances, such as promising to transform Bangladesh into Singapore within the next five years. We do not make such empty promises. However, we are working to make Bangladesh a better and more prosperous country,” he said. He said Bangladesh belongs to everyone and that politicians, administrators, government employees and journalists all have responsibilities towards the country. “Journalists voice the concerns of the people and highlight the government’s errors and shortcomings. But this must be done through responsible and fact-based journalism,” he said. On media freedom, Yasser said the freedom currently enjoyed by the media under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would continue. Urging journalists to play a constructive role in protecting democracy and the interests of the state, he said, “You must remain vigilant to ensure that the fascism which once shattered the state and crippled Bangladesh’s economy over 17 years does not return, and that democracy is upheld.” Speaking about development in Hossainpur and other upazilas of Kishoreganj, the state minister said government development programmes would be implemented in phases.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Saturday that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has become the world's most influential platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. When addressing the Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Xi noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation, saying that over the past two decades, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has continued to grow and expand, and has demonstrated remarkable vitality and dynamism. Xi said it has been 20 years of self-reliance and self-strengthening, adding that BRICS countries have actively explored development paths suited to their own national conditions, setting an example of self-strengthening through unity among emerging markets and developing countries. This has also been 20 years of standing together through thick and thin, Xi noted. BRICS countries, Xi said, have worked together to tackle challenges ranging from the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change. The group has remained steadfast in safeguarding the common interests of the Global South, while providing the world with stability and positive momentum, he said. Xi also hailed the past 20 years of BRICS cooperation as fruitful, saying that BRICS countries have undergone a historic expansion, established a comprehensive, multi-tiered framework for cooperation, and ushered in a new stage of high-quality development for greater BRICS cooperation. Xi stressed that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, the Global South is rapidly growing in strength, and the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable. Meanwhile, countercurrents of unilateralism and power politics are surging, multilateralism and the international order are coming under strain, and deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to widen, he added. He said that BRICS countries should firmly stand on the right side of history, strive to be a pioneer of the times, steer the international order toward greater justice and equity, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi called on BRICS to pioneer in advancing innovation-driven development. BRICS countries, he said, should firmly seize the initiative, strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, encourage open-source development, openness, cooperation and sharing, and push practical cooperation into new areas and to new heights. BRICS countries are welcome to actively participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, he said. China proposed an initiative to promote new industrialization through artificial intelligence among BRICS countries, and is willing to work with all parties to deliver more outcomes in research, development and application, and deepen cooperation in industrial and supply chains, he said. Xi called on BRICS to be a pioneer in upholding peace and stability. BRICS countries should uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, reject violations of other countries' sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, and play a constructive role in resolving hotspot issues, making a distinctive BRICS contribution to finding solutions that address both symptoms and root causes, he said. Noting that the situation in the Middle East remains complex and fluid, Xi said this war has inflicted serious losses on the people of all countries in the region, and it is against the common interests of the international community. Xi said he has set out four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, which are aimed at de-escalation, ending hostilities and promoting peace. Xi urged relevant parties to keep to the direction of political settlement, and work for a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire. China will work with fellow BRICS members to play a due role in bringing peace and tranquility to the Middle East, he said. Xi called on BRICS to be a pioneer in facilitating mutual learning between civilizations. The countries, he said, should champion the common values of humanity and advocate exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations as well as harmonious coexistence. They should ensure the success of the BRICS forum on people-to-people and cultural exchanges, share experience in state governance, and build positive momentum for the steady development of relations between countries, Xi added. Xi advocated efforts to deepen cooperation in culture, tourism and education, strengthen youth exchanges, and promote more frequent interactions and closer bonds among the peoples. Xi called on BRICS to be a pioneer in reforming and improving global governance. He urged the group to keep pace with the trend toward greater democracy in international relations, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and uphold the authority of the United Nations. Xi said BRICS should support a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, and reject all forms of protectionist measures. The grouping should lead global governance in emerging domains such as cyberspace, outer space and the deep sea, and amplify the voice of Global South countries, he added. Over an extraordinary two-decade journey, solidarity and cooperation have remained the driving force behind the BRICS cause, Xi stressed. Xi called on BRICS members to remain sincere and candid with one another, seek common ground while respecting differences, and respect each other's core concerns. He also urged the group to deepen mutual understanding through communication and dialogue, properly handle differences, and ensure that BRICS cooperation continues to move forward steadily. China, Xi said, will take over as the rotating chair of the BRICS and host the 19th summit next year. The Chinese side stands ready to work with all parties to build consensus, create a better future, and embark on BRICS' third "golden decade," jointly opening up a bright future of prosperity and progress, he added. At the summit, all parties spoke highly of the development achievements made by BRICS over the past 20 years, noting that the BRICS mechanism has broad representation and great potential for development. In the face of escalating geopolitical conflicts and the rise of unilateralism, BRICS countries have a responsibility to speak up for the Global South, uphold multilateralism, support the central role of the United Nations, uphold the sovereign equality of all countries, abide by international law, oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries, support free trade, and jointly address global challenges, they said. All parties should uphold the BRICS spirit, deepen cooperation across various fields, enhance economic resilience, promote a more just and inclusive international order, and build a secure and prosperous multipolar world, they added. All parties appreciated China's important contribution to the development and expansion of the BRICS mechanism and supported China, as next year's BRICS chair, in successfully hosting the 19th BRICS Summit, so as to jointly bring BRICS cooperation to a new level. The leaders also adopted a joint declaration at the summit.

Police recovered the body of an advocate, identified as Anwar Hossain, 30, from a rented room in the capital’s Lalbagh area on Saturday. Police recovered the body from a room on the second floor of a house at 10/2, Fala Mosque Lane in Shahid Nagar-3 of Lalbagh and later sent it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Youth shot at Lalbagh succumbs to injuries Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman said locals had seen Anwar on Thursday. “Initially, it is suspected that he died either Thursday night or Friday,” he said, adding that he was living alone there. Police were informed on Saturday morning after a foul smell was noticed coming from the room, the DC said. The actual cause of death will be known after receiving the post-mortem report, he added. According to house owner Monir Hossain, Anwar had rented the room earlier this month for Tk 4,000 a month and lived there alone. A CID forensic team collected various pieces of evidence from the scene. Police also found an address — 312 Jagannath Saha Road — on Anwar’s driving licence and contacted his relatives. Talebur Rahman, along with additional deputy commissioner and the officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station, visited the scene. The body was subsequently sent to the forensic department morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy.