Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh presented a nine-point set of demands to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at a meeting in Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Sunday afternoon. The demands were raised during a meeting and exchange of views with the group’s ameer, Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari. They include legislation carrying the maximum punishment for insulting Allah, Prophet Muhammad, the Quran and Islam, and a call not to pass laws conflicting with the Quran and Sunnah.

The organisation also sought exemplary trials over killings at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, during the 2021 anti-Modi movement, and in July-August 2024. It called for implementation of master’s-equivalent recognition for Dawra-e-Hadith qualifications from Qawmi madrasas, including their recognition in government recruitment notices for religious teachers. It further demanded compulsory Islamic religious education for Muslim students from primary through higher secondary levels.

Other demands include declaring the Qadiani community non-Muslim, banning Hizb ut Towhid, and stopping what it described as missionary activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Hefazat also demanded withdrawal of cases it called false against religious scholars and continued clerical oversight of Tablighi Jamaat activities and the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum on Sunday afternoon and said much important history of the anti-fascist movement had not been properly preserved. The museum was established to preserve memories of the July mass uprising and anti-fascist movement. Senior leaders of his party accompanied him. Speaking to journalists afterward, he said the exhibits portray a grim picture of oppression, killings and brutal treatment of bodies.

Haque described the museum as an educational institution for people from all walks of life, particularly state rulers. He also urged authorities to take swift effective measures to improve security and preservation, saying important equipment and memorabilia were being displayed in an ordinary manner and many valuable items were within visitors’ reach. He said history should be preserved on the basis of truth and reality rather than according to any side’s preferences.

He said the museum had not adequately recorded the 2013 killings, the 2015-16 movement, or the 2021 anti-Modi movement. He also called for preserving memories of border killings and Felani’s killing, warning that removing her image could create public anger. Haque alleged discrimination in recognition of participants and suggested depicting Shapla Chattar martyrs and events without facial images.

Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board has published a revised schedule for postponed 2026 Alim examinations, with the rescheduled tests set to begin on August 20. The examinations had been suspended because of floods and adverse weather. The timetable was posted on the board’s website on Sunday under the signature of Examination Controller Professor Md. Faruk Ahmed.

Under the revised schedule, Bangla second paper will be held on August 20, English first paper on August 22, English second paper on August 24 and Arabic second paper on August 27. Hadith and Usulul Hadith is scheduled for August 29, while Information and Communication Technology will be held on August 31. Several subjects are set for September 5, followed by Al Fiqh first and second papers on September 7 and 9.

The board said practical and oral examinations must be completed by August 18. Marks for both practical and oral examinations must be submitted online to the education board by August 25. Officials or their representatives have been instructed to submit practical answer scripts, signature sheets and other documents to the Alim branch. A separate notice said this year’s Dakhil examination results will be published on Monday.

An analysis published on August 9, 2026, citing Middle East Eye, argues that Israel’s military dominance in regional politics has not become leadership based on neighbouring states’ consent, trust and cooperation. It says prolonged wars, international criticism and reliance on the United States are weakening the foundations of Israel’s regional position despite its military capabilities.

Using Antonio Gramsci’s distinction between domination and hegemony, the report says Israel can compel others but has not built voluntary regional acceptance. It cites military actions since 2023, including damage to Hamas infrastructure, killings of Hezbollah leaders and military presence in parts of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. The analysis also points to international legal proceedings, UN scrutiny and negative public opinion as evidence of a growing legitimacy problem.

The report further highlights Israel’s technology sector, its integration with US capital and security systems, and concerns over skilled workers leaving the country. It says the United States, rather than Israel, was the central link in regional air-defence coordination. Saudi Arabia and other regional states have not made their foreign policies dependent on Israel, the analysis says. It concludes that military dominance may endure with a strong patron, but has not made Israel an accepted regional leader.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, or BAPA, called for waste to be treated as a resource, energy source and economic opportunity rather than a burden at a seminar at the National Press Club’s Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall on August 9. Speakers said Bangladesh needs integrated, low-cost and locally manageable solutions for municipal waste management. The seminar was chaired by BAPA President Professor Dr Nur Mohammad Talukdar.

In the keynote paper, waste-management specialist Dr Nasir Uddin Khan said the existing system is largely based on collection, transport and dumping, leaving recycling, resource recovery and energy generation opportunities underused. Large volumes of waste end up in open spaces, wetlands and water bodies, increasing pressure on the environment and economy. He cited methane emissions, pollution of rivers and water bodies, waterlogging, air pollution, dengue and other public-health risks.

Speakers stressed simple technology, domestic investment and local participation. A Dhaka North City Corporation official said its waste-to-energy project could receive 3,000 tonnes of waste daily when fully operational and could generate 42 to 45 megawatts of electricity. BAPA also called for a national roadmap for overall waste management.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the 1,200-megawatt ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, on August 9. He said Bangladesh needs to diversify energy sources while meeting rising electricity demand. The prime minister also said economic capacity, environmental impacts and the public’s long-term interests should receive the highest priority in power generation and management of major infrastructure.

He stressed integrated development around Matarbari, covering power, energy, a deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure. Planned and effective use of these facilities could play an important role in energy security, industrialisation and overall economic activity, he said. Project officials briefed him on the plant’s current status, generation and operational activities, production capacity, fuel supply and management, operating efficiency, maintenance, safety arrangements and future plans.

Arriving by helicopter at 10:45am on Sunday, the prime minister attended a briefing from 11am to 12:15pm and planted a neem sapling in the project area. Officials also outlined a proposed solar power project and showed him sites earmarked for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a metrochemical project and a new refinery. He later inspected the coal jetty and observed the deep-sea port, LNG terminal and other plant facilities.

Residents of three villages in Tajpur union of Osmaninagar, Sylhet, say their main access road remains unpaved 55 years after independence. The route begins at the Rangia-Durajpur road near Gausul Alam’s house in West Kashikapan and connects with the Goashpur-Kashikapan road. Thousands of people face disruption as even light rain leaves the road muddy and waterlogged.

Students of schools, colleges and madrasas, teachers, traders, employees and other residents use the road daily. It becomes dusty in the dry season and muddy during rains, while large potholes in some sections make vehicle movement difficult. Patients, pregnant women, elderly people and those travelling for emergencies are particularly affected. Students must also cross mud to reach their educational institutions.

On July 1, a delegation led by Naser Bakht, Oliur Rahman and Mawlana Nazmul Islam met Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir to request paving of the road. The residents submitted a written application citing LGED road ID 691085323. Mawlana Nazmul Islam said the adviser accepted the application and assured necessary steps, raising hopes among residents of the three villages.

A human chain was held in Amtali, Barguna, demanding justice for Iman, a ninth-grade science student at Amtali AK Government Pilot Secondary School. Students, teachers, employees, parents and members of the public joined the programme at the Amtali AK School intersection at 10am on Sunday. Participants called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing.

Speakers included the school’s acting headteacher Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, physical education teacher Babu Putul Chandra, and students Mihad Khan, Oliullah and Junaid. Iman’s brother Imran, Rakib, Mushfiq Rashid Hira, president of the AK School Chhatra Dal branch, and Abdullah, vice-president of the Amtali Government College Chhatra Dal branch, also spoke at the event.

On July 29, Amtali police recovered an unidentified body in a sack beside the sluice gate of Pashurbunia canal in R Pangashia Union of Amtali upazila. Family members later identified the body from the shirt, trousers and shoes. Inspector Sagar Bhadra said police had initially found leads on people involved, but were withholding details for the investigation and hoped to make arrests quickly.

Former lawmaker Shamim Osman appeared publicly at an Awami League workers’ meeting in New York on August 9, 2026, nearly two years after he was last seen in a public political programme. His public whereabouts had been discussed following the July-August 2024 mass uprising, and he was not seen publicly after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

At the meeting, Osman spoke in a self-critical tone about his political role, saying, “I have failed.” He urged Awami League leaders and activists to overcome divisions and unite, saying the question of who is a big or small leader was not important. He also said his political focus had been on groups that do not accept Bangladesh’s independence, and commented on the BNP.

Osman said he met then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on the night of August 2 and proposed withdrawing the army from the field, lifting the curfew, and holding a large gathering in Narayanganj. The report said serious allegations were raised against him over clashes and shootings in July. Trials involving Osman and Awami League leaders are ongoing at the International Crimes Tribunal over killings and violence linked to the uprising.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has raised the price of jet fuel used by aircraft in Bangladesh. The commission announced the revised rates in a notice issued on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026. Under the new pricing, jet fuel for domestic-route flights will cost Tk159.52 per litre.

For international-route flights, the new jet fuel price has been set at $1.0358 per litre. The revised rates are higher than the previously fixed prices for both domestic and international services. The notice reported the increase but did not state a reason for the adjustment or specify when the revised rates would take effect.

Previously, jet fuel for domestic flights was priced at Tk130.99 per litre. For international flights, the earlier price was $0.8556 per litre. The new BERC decision therefore increases the cost of aircraft fuel across both categories of flight routes.

Dhaka University held an awareness discussion on Bangla QR on August 6, aimed at supporting a cashless and smart Bangladesh. The university’s Accounting Department organized the event at the Professor Abdullah Faruq Multipurpose Conference Hall in the MBA Building, with support from Bangladesh Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank. Teachers, students and staff were briefed on Bangla QR use, its benefits and interoperable digital payment systems.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman attended as chief guest, while Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A. B. M. Obaidul Islam inaugurated the programme. The governor said a single QR code can enable secure, simple and interoperable digital transactions among banks, mobile financial services and other payment providers. The vice-chancellor said such initiatives could increase student awareness of digital payments and help expand the use of digital financial services.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Managing Director and CEO Md Ehteshamul Haque Khan said digital transactions save both time and money. The event included a live transaction demonstration, an awareness presentation and a question-and-answer session. Organizers said such programmes are important for broadening awareness and use of safe, simple digital transactions.

Residents in Lalmonirhat formed a human chain on the morning of August 9 to protest an attack on college instructor Ariful Islam, 35, whom they say was targeted for opposing drug use and gambling. The demonstration took place on Mogalhat Tempo Stand Road in Sadar upazila, with participants demanding the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. Ariful is an instructor at Lalmonirhat Government Technical School and College and a 41st BCS non-cadre officer.

According to the case complaint, Ariful was ambushed on August 1 while returning home from work. The complaint alleges that Rohidul Islam, Hasan Ali, Masud Ali and others from Gandhamarua in Durgapur union, Aditmari upazila, had long operated online gambling and casino activities in the area. Ariful had reportedly raised awareness against gambling, urged those involved to stop, and warned that he would inform police if it continued.

The complaint says attackers beat him with iron rods and struck his head and body with sharp weapons, leaving him seriously injured. His father said Ariful had not regained consciousness after nine days and was receiving critical care at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. A case names 10 people, including six online gambling operators, but police had made no arrests after seven days. The officer in charge said raids were under way.

A Sirajganj court sentenced two young men to life imprisonment in two cases under the Narcotics Control Act. Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Laila Sharmin delivered the verdict on Sunday afternoon. The convicted men are Shariful Islam Bulen of Malshapara in Sirajganj municipality and Sohel Rana Sumon of Uttar Babu Kha village under Kotwali police station in Rangpur district.

Each defendant was also fined Tk10,000, with an additional two months of simple imprisonment in default of payment. Additional Public Prosecutor Shamchujjoha Shahanshah confirmed that both accused were absconding when the verdict was announced. He said the two cases were heard by the same court and received identical orders.

According to the charge sheet, police from Sirajganj town's No. 2 police outpost detained Bulen during an operation on March 9, 2020, and seized yaba and heroin. Sub-Inspector Faruk Sarkar filed that case. In the other case, Hatikumrul Highway Police seized Indian-made anesthetic injections from Sumon on January 30, 2018. The court imposed the sentences after hearing evidence in both cases.

Residents in Chitalmari, Bagerhat, protested on Sunday demanding the removal of উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা Khadija Akhtar and উপজেলা সমাজসেবা কর্মকর্তা Ranjit Biswas over alleged irregularities, discrimination and corruption in recruiting data collectors and supervisors for the Family Card household database. Protesters gathered outside the উপজেলা পরিষদ administrative building from 9am to 12pm, carrying banners, placards and brooms while chanting slogans against the two officials.

They alleged that the recruitment notice promised preference for candidates with prior Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics digital survey experience and additional educational qualifications, but said those criteria were not properly followed in appointments to the two posts. Witnesses said operations at several offices, including the UNO office, social services, education and fisheries departments, were halted during the demonstration. Additional police were deployed around the উপজেলা পরিষদ area.

BNP leader Kapil Krishna Mondal of the Bagerhat-1 constituency and local party activists expressed solidarity with the protest. Mondal said the Family Card programme was Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election pledge and that irregularities and corruption would not be accepted. On Saturday, Akhtar said in a Facebook-posted letter that the appointments announced on August 4 had been suspended. She did not answer calls on Sunday for comment.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has disposed of the state’s application against a High Court order barring the arrest or harassment of former chief justice A B M Khairul Haque without a specific case. A four-member bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued the order on Sunday, leaving the High Court’s protection in place for Haque, according to lawyers involved.

After obtaining bail from the High Court in separate cases, Haque was shown arrested on March 30 in two murder cases filed at Jatrabari and Adabor police stations in the capital. His son, lawyer Ashik Ul Haque, filed a writ petition on May 13 challenging the legality of the process of showing him arrested in this manner. On May 17, the High Court issued a rule and an interim order.

The state sought a stay of the High Court order and filed a leave-to-appeal petition, which reached the Appellate Division’s regular bench through the Chamber Court. Police arrested Haque from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 last year. He was later shown arrested in the murder case of Jubo Dal worker Abdul Kaiyum Ahad in Jatrabari and has remained in jail in various cases since then.