China has strongly opposed planned new US economic sanctions against Iran and parties maintaining commercial ties with Tehran, saying it will take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the sanctions plan on Monday.

Lin described the proposed US actions as unilateral and illegal sanctions that China does not support. Bessent warned that any country maintaining financial relations with Iran could face efforts to isolate it from the global economic system. China is Iran’s largest buyer of oil, although US sanctions and pressure concerning Iranian ports have recently affected oil trade between the two countries.

Lin said China-Iran cooperation has long been conducted in accordance with international law. He added that no outside party should interfere with or obstruct normal trade and cooperation between China and Iran. China said it would adopt measures as needed to safeguard national interests.

Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation central president Atikur Rahman alleged that a vested group is trying to exploit workers through syndicates in the labour market. Speaking at a Tuesday human chain outside the National Press Club, he demanded an end to alleged efforts to hand Malaysia’s Bangladesh labour market back to syndicates, alongside action on factory closures, layoffs, prices and minimum wages.

Rahman said Malaysia is an important destination for Bangladeshi workers and remittance earnings. He said syndicates and politicisation under the previous authoritarian government had closed the market, and about 17,000 workers could not travel from Dhaka airport on May 31, 2024 because of different syndicates. He welcomed the initiative to reopen the market after the prime minister’s Malaysia visit but criticised the government for allowing only 25 recruiting agencies to operate there.

He said syndicates could impose costs of Tk700,000 to Tk800,000 on each worker travelling to Malaysia. Rahman also said gas and power shortages had shut more than 300 factories and cost about 62,000 workers jobs in six months. He called for national and profession-based wage boards, lower oil and gas prices, reliable electricity, market-price controls and wage revisions across sectors.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Fayzul Karim visited the grave of Mujahidul Islam Bulbul, vice-president of the Bandar police station branch of Islami Jubo Andolan Bangladesh, in Bandar, Narayanganj. Bulbul was killed in an attack by assailants described in the source as terrorists. On Tuesday, Fayzul Karim also met Bulbul’s family members and conveyed condolences and sympathy.

Fayzul Karim said the people who killed Bulbul were identified terrorists and alleged that Bulbul had sought legal action against them. He blamed administrative negligence and inaction for Bulbul’s death, while welcoming the police action to detain suspects after the killing. He said earlier intervention could have prevented the death and spared Bulbul’s young children from becoming orphaned.

The Islami Andolan leader urged senior administrative authorities to take action against officials who did not act against a person identified as Sheikh Sifat despite a case being filed. He said his party would monitor the case and demanded punishment for Bulbul’s killer. Joint Secretary General Maulana Nesar Uddin, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Ahmad Abdul Qayyum, and district and metropolitan leaders were present.

A collection of speeches by Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi was launched at the July Martyrs Memorial Building auditorium of the University of Dhaka on Tuesday, in an event organised by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU). Daily Wada editor Shafiqul Alam said few people had articulated Bangladesh’s freedom in the manner Hadi did, adding that Hadi believed July had not ended and that people’s struggle was fundamentally cultural.

Alam said Hadi opposed what he described as Mujibist cultural aggression and believed genuine liberation would come through cultural awareness. He called for continuing Hadi’s ideological struggle against the Awami narrative. Lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Masud demanded justice for Hadi’s killing, while NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said political parties had often not given adequate importance to Hadi’s thoughts and advice.

Other speakers urged critical analysis of Hadi’s views and action on issues they linked to national sovereignty. DUCSU Vice President Sadik Kayem said Hadi’s vision for change should be realised through action, while General Secretary SM Farhad said his podcasts, interviews and other statements reflected a coherent perspective on society, the state and July’s aspirations.

A mobile court in Satkania, Chattogram, sentenced 24-year-old Fahim Uddin to one year of simple imprisonment and fined him Tk 50 over allegations that he assaulted and abused his parents. The action was taken on Tuesday morning in the upazila’s Daimarkhil area. Fahim is the son of Nazrul Islam of the same locality.

According to the report, Fahim had allegedly been assaulting and abusing his parents at different times over a long period. Police were informed about the matter on Tuesday morning, detained him from the scene and took him to the Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office.

Satkania UNO and Executive Magistrate Khondkar Mahmudul Hasan conducted the mobile court and issued the sentence and fine. Office assistant Shahadat Hossain Rabbi at the UNO office confirmed the matter. The UNO said misconduct, assault or abuse of parents was unacceptable, and stated that stricter action would be taken if such incidents occur in the future.

A US-registered Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday, prompting questions over the purpose of the flight. The Kremlin said it had no information about the aircraft, while details about its cargo, passengers or reason for arriving in Moscow were not known.

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft, tail number 07-7181, landed in Moscow at about 7 a.m. local time after flying directly from Riga, Latvia. Reuters said it could not independently verify whether the plane was carrying passengers or cargo. Flightradar24 data also showed that the aircraft arrived in Riga from Camp Springs air base near Washington, DC, on August 23.

The report said the most recent direct flight by a US-registered aircraft from Europe to Russia was in January. At that time, US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Moscow for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war. US-Russia discussions on the war have since effectively stalled, and no official explanation for Tuesday’s flight has been provided.

Qatar has called for diplomatic talks rather than sanctions to ease ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Ansari said at a press conference that recent US sanctions were unilateral and that dialogue was the only route to a lasting resolution. Qatar is also acting as a mediator alongside Pakistan and other regional countries.

Ansari said the sanctions were not imposed under a decision by the United Nations or any multilateral institution, and said those who imposed them should answer questions over their justification. He urged all parties to participate actively in the ongoing mediation efforts, saying dialogue offered an effective way out of the crisis.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Ansari said an Iranian move to close the waterway would not be consistent with internationally recognized freedom of navigation. He said Qatar’s armed forces were prepared to respond to threats, while stressing the importance of normal shipping, resumed exports, global food and energy security, and functioning international supply chains. The source also reported Iranian attacks on Qatar’s gas facilities and the US Al-Udeid military base, alongside Iran’s claims over downed aircraft and detained pilots.

A confrontation occurred between local residents and members of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in the Bonchouki border area of Hatibandha upazila, Lalmonirhat, at about 4pm on Tuesday, August 25. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered two shotguns and a walkie-talkie that BSF personnel allegedly left behind during the incident. Tension has persisted in the border area since the confrontation.

Local residents alleged that several BSF members crossed the border into Bangladesh and assaulted farmers. An argument followed between residents and the BSF personnel, escalating into a scuffle. Locals said the BSF members went back toward India after more Bangladeshis gathered at the border, leaving the two shotguns and walkie-talkie behind.

Lieutenant Colonel Mehdi Imam, commander of Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion, arrived at the scene after receiving information about the incident. The recovered items were taken into BGB custody. He said discussions with the BSF were under way, and further information would be provided after a commander-level discussion and a flag meeting. Work on a press release regarding the Bonchouki BOP incident was also ongoing.

Police recovered a skeleton from a sugarcane field near Jitarpur Mor in Khetlal, Joypurhat, on Tuesday, five days after easy-bike driver Farid Hossain, 41, went missing. Farid’s family said the remains were his. He was described as having an intellectual disability and was a resident of Hopirhat village in Khetlal upazila.

Farid left home with his easy-bike at about 10am on August 20 and did not return, according to police and local sources. His father, Abdul Quddus, filed a general diary at Khetlal police station after his disappearance. Police recovered Farid’s easy-bike from a garage in the Pakarmatha area of Joypurhat Sadar upazila on Monday afternoon, using information technology.

Police arrested two people, identified as Rabiul and Jakir Hossain, in connection with the incident. Investigating officer Abdul Karim said Farid’s parents identified the skeleton through clothing found with it, but said confirmation that the remains are Farid’s must await DNA testing. Senior police officials visited the scene, and the skeleton was taken to the police station.

A 16-year-old New Zealand citizen, Albert, is missing after a boat built by his family capsized at the Nazirartek-Sonadia estuary in the Bay of Bengal off Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday at about 9:30am. Three other members of the same family were rescued alive after all four people aboard fell into the sea.

The survivors were identified as John Edward, 74, Bela, 36, and Ralph, 13. Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station officer-in-charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali confirmed the incident. He said the family had been travelling at sea in their self-made boat when it sank accidentally.

Local fishermen spotted the group and rescued the three survivors before handing them over to the Coast Guard. Coast Guard personnel and Fire Service divers are continuing a search operation for Albert. Authorities said no immediate information was available about when the New Zealand citizens arrived in Bangladesh or when they came to Cox’s Bazar. The Coast Guard said it could not provide further details at this time.

Bangladesh is not starting any new government-funded environmental projects because of financing constraints, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said on Tuesday at a National Press Club seminar in Dhaka. Projects with less than 30 percent progress have been stopped, while those exceeding 50 percent completion are continuing, he said.

The minister said the government needs cooperation because it faces serious funding and capacity problems. Despite the constraints, he said environmental protection remains a priority, citing an ongoing programme to plant 250 million trees. More than 30.5 million trees have already been planted this year, he added.

Faridul Islam identified waste management as a central concern and said regular branding was needed to address it quickly. He said pollution sources had been identified and work had begun, with regular updates from Environment Department operations. He also proposed switching off billboards after midnight to save electricity and curb visual pollution, while saying alternatives to polythene are being developed for shops and markets.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and joint convener of the National Editors Council, said martyred Sharif Osman Hadi was targeted because he sought to establish a distinct Bengali Muslim identity. He made the remarks on Tuesday as chief guest at the launch of a DAKSU-published collection of Hadi’s speeches at the July Martyrs Memorial Building auditorium of Dhaka University.

Rahman said Hadi described Bangladesh’s Muslims as the country’s largest cultural minority despite their numerical majority. According to Rahman, Hadi believed a deep identity crisis persisted and had not been clearly resolved by the country’s scholars, historians or philosophers. Rahman said Hadi had deeply understood the distinct identity of Bengali Muslims.

He said firmly establishing this identity and Bengali Muslim culture could consolidate and protect Bangladesh’s independence, while helping avoid external dominance. Rahman said Hadi had advocated a “cultural revolution” to achieve that goal. The event was attended by several members of parliament, editors, academic representatives, DAKSU leaders and Inqilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber.

Bangladesh is observing Eid-e-Miladunnabi today, the 12th of Rabiul Awal, marking the birth and death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The day is a public holiday, and Muslims are expected to observe it through Quran recitation, increased Durood recitation, charity and voluntary worship. Some people also keep voluntary fasts.

The source says Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in 570 in Mecca’s Quraysh clan and died in 632 at the age of 63. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and BNP acting secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi issued messages on the occasion. The president called for rejecting hatred, division and injustice to build a just society based on peace, harmony, equality and humanity.

National flags are being raised at government, semi-government, autonomous institutions and armed forces installations. The Islamic Foundation has arranged a fortnight-long programme, including religious gatherings, seminars, cultural competitions, calligraphy displays and a month-long Islamic book fair at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Barishal Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed has called for more effective, high-quality child safety, care, protection and institutional management. He made the appeal on Tuesday as chief guest at the closing ceremony of a three-day workshop on institutional management and children’s psychosocial protection, organized by the Barishal regional office of the Department of Social Services.

Speaking at the event chaired by Regional Training Centre Principal Sazzad Parvez, Ahmed said people should not face discrimination based on birth, religion, race or social identity. He said all people have the right to live with equal human dignity and urged participants to value people first as human beings. He also called for mutual respect, empathy and harmony rather than social division.

Ahmed said training can strengthen responsible and humane conduct toward children, protect their rights and build capacity for effective action in risky situations. He urged efforts to ensure children grow up in safe, protected settings and that institutions become places they can trust. Thirty trainees joined the programme, and prizes were awarded to three top trainees at the closing event.

Dhaka South City Corporation plans to modernize the Sayedabad Bus Terminal to provide improved facilities for air-conditioned bus services and passengers, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and bring order to traffic management in the capital. The initiative follows the Prime Minister’s directive and includes a redesigned terminal plan developed after review with Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the bus owners’ association.

A meeting on Sayedabad AC bus terminal management was held Thursday at Nagar Bhaban, chaired by DSCC Administrator freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam. Senior DSCC officials, the DMP additional police commissioner for traffic, and leaders of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association attended. The new plan provides for additional space, AC bus servicing, passenger boarding and alighting, and modern terminal management.

The administrator directed that the work be implemented as quickly as possible. The bus owners’ association will submit a proposal for faster implementation, as conventional tendering could take time. Planned works include expanding a building for AC bus counters, widening access, building walkways, improving drainage, adding benches, constructing a new counter shed, and preventing rainwater from entering existing sheds.