Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the party has already formed a shadow cabinet and is training its members. He said the names of the shadow cabinet members will be formally announced soon. Rahman disclosed the information on Monday during an exchange with editors at the official residence of the leader of the opposition on Minto Road in the capital.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and joint convener of the National Editors Council, said journalists had advised the opposition to form a shadow cabinet. He said the opposition leader praised the proposal and confirmed that such a cabinet had already been formed and was undergoing training.

Mahmudur Rahman said a shadow cabinet could ensure that designated people speak on specific subjects, rather than politicians commenting on every issue. He said it could create continuous constructive pressure on the government while helping the opposition prepare for future governance. He also said editors pledged that media outlets would not lean toward any political party and would perform their duties professionally.

Residents in Harirampur, Manikganj, held a broom march and human chain on Monday against upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Molla Shahin, alleging extortion, land grabbing and other irregularities. Hundreds of people began the march from the upazila premises at about 12:30pm and headed toward Harirampur police station.

Protesters alleged that Shahin’s supporters obstructed their procession and that cocktail explosions and gunfire occurred at the time. No immediate information on casualties was available. After returning to the upazila premises, participants in the human chain demanded an investigation into the allegations and swift legal and punitive action.

In a counterprogramme, Shahin’s supporters, led by Shahin and Gala Union Parishad chairman Shafik Biswas, staged a sit-in and protest in front of the police station. Tension persisted around the rival programmes, while law enforcement personnel remained alert. Harirampur police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Afzal Hossain said police went to the scene, brought the situation under control, and that it remained under police control.

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday for a visit focused on discussions over regional peace and stability. He met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni after reaching the Iranian capital, according to the report. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is accompanying Field Marshal Munir on the trip.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that Munir is scheduled to hold discussions with senior Iranian officials during the visit. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement issued Monday that the trip is part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

ISPR said Munir will also focus on advancing efforts for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Middle East conflict during his visit. The source did not provide details of the talks with Momeni or specify which additional Iranian officials Munir is expected to meet.

Chinese students’ interest in learning Bangla and Bangladeshi culture at the University of Dhaka has increased, with enrollment in a special Bangla course rising from 15 in 2024 to 26 in 2026. The university’s Institute of Modern Languages said the increase represents about 73 percent over three years. On Monday, Chinese students studying Bangla paid a courtesy call on Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam in a meeting room beside his office.

The vice-chancellor said language and cultural exchange could deepen communication, understanding and friendship between Bangladesh and China. He described China as one of Bangladesh’s major development partners and said the university wanted to emphasize Chinese and other third-language education. He also called for expanding opportunities for Chinese students to learn Bangla and Bangladeshi culture at Dhaka University.

In 2024, 15 students from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Yunnan Minzu University joined the course. The number rose to 19 in 2025, when students from Yunnan Minzu University, Yunnan University and Beijing Foreign Studies University participated. This year, 26 students from Yunnan Minzu University, Yunnan University, Communication University and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies are enrolled. Students also raised issues involving food menus, Wi-Fi, housing and other services, and the vice-chancellor pledged to consider action.

Mohamed Salah scored twice as Trabzonspor defeated Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 at home at Papara Park in the Turkish Super Lig. The Egypt forward produced an impressive display in his first match in Trabzonspor’s starting lineup, helping the hosts secure victory.

Salah opened the scoring early by intelligently taking the ball from Basaksehir goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer. Eldor Shomurodov then levelled for the visitors from a penalty before halftime, leaving the match tied 1-1 at the break.

After the interval, the 34-year-old struck from 10 yards following a well-crafted pass from Ernest Muci to put Trabzonspor ahead. Salah received a late yellow card for an alleged dive and had an injury-time effort from about 45 yards ruled out for offside, denying him a hat-trick. He joined Trabzonspor on a two-year deal this summer as a free transfer, reportedly earning £280,000 a week, and this was his third match for the club.

A viral Facebook audio clip allegedly featuring Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khondkar Mahmudul Hasan has triggered debate after he was heard making a disparaging remark about journalists. The clip spread on Monday, though its recording date could not be confirmed. Some local journalists described the alleged wording, which compared journalists’ growing numbers to goats, as insulting to their profession.

Journalists working in Satkania said concerns about professional standards, misuse of press identification cards or unqualified people using journalist identities can be discussed and criticised. However, they argued that comparing an entire professional group with an animal undermines the dignity of journalism. Satkania Press Club President Shahidul Islam Babor said an UNO should use more restrained language because cooperation between the administration and media is important for sharing public information.

Efforts were made to obtain Khondkar Mahmudul Hasan’s response, but no comment was available by the time of reporting. He was withdrawn from Satkania and assigned to Dhaka Division under an August 23 public administration ministry notification. He had joined as Satkania UNO on July 29, 2025.

Iran said countries have no reason to fear Tehran unless they allow parties involved in aggression against Iran to use their bases, facilities or equipment. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference on Monday, responding to reports that European-based US installations could become targets if European countries again joined aggression against Iran.

Baghaei said Iran had also heard reports that several KC-135 tanker aircraft had left Bulgaria. The reports said the aircraft departed amid Tehran’s stern warnings about third-country support for aggression against Iran and local protests. He said Iran had previously made its position on Bulgaria clear.

According to Baghaei, some Bulgarian citizens and politicians had described allowing national facilities to be used for US attacks on Iran as contrary to international law. He said Iran had no dispute with the Bulgarian people, while characterizing participation in actions targeting the Islamic Republic as aggression. He also asserted that Iran has the right to take countermeasures against sources of attacks on its territory and would not show flexibility in defending its territorial integrity and security.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has travelled to Iran as discussion grows over whether Iran-Pakistan dialogue could reshape security arrangements around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian journalist Reza Afzal Samir said Pakistan holds an important place in Iran’s strategic calculations because it has the capacity to take effective action and help create a practical path toward peace.

Samir said Pakistan should use its influence rather than remain silent and inactive. He said progress in Hormuz discussions could accelerate following Munir’s visit, adding that a deadline for a final agreement between Iran and Oman on the strait may be approaching.

Samir said that if Munir succeeds in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table, Iran and Oman could issue a new announcement on the strait soon afterward. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King’s College London, was more cautious, saying a meaningful outcome would be assurances that Iranian security agencies comply with any Hormuz agreement and restrain escalation through Yemen or Iraq if Qatar can secure reciprocal steps from the United States.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is working mainly from the official residence beside the Prime Minister’s Office, using it as a regular workplace to increase working time and efficiency. She moved into the residence last December and says its location allows her to respond quickly in emergencies without losing time travelling. Built in 1929, the building once served as Japan’s prime ministerial office.

Takaichi said office facilities at the residence have been expanded, allowing in-person and online meetings with officials. She also works there after office hours when necessary and takes documents home to read, describing the residence as another workplace. She spends much of her time there at night and on holidays.

Her long working hours have drawn criticism after she said she sometimes sleeps from zero to three hours a night while managing work pressure and household duties. Critics say this may send a wrong message on work-life balance and gender equality. Her popularity has also fallen amid criticism over a proposed imperial-law change and delayed economic measures despite rising living costs.

Akklpur উপজেলা BNP has permanently expelled Raykali Union BNP joint general secretary Mizanur Rahman Babu over allegations that he forcibly occupied the home of Belal Hossain, general secretary of the local Awami League unit. The expulsion order was published on Sunday night in Akklpur, Joypurhat, following allegations of house occupation and other activities deemed contrary to the organisation.

The order said Babu had been given seven days from July 21 to vacate the house but did not do so. Local sources and the complaint say Belal Hossain’s two-storey brick house stands on about four decimals of land in Raykali village. He had mortgaged the house to Agrani Bank’s Jianganagar branch for a Tk12 lakh loan. After August 5, 2024, Belal went into hiding and his wife later left the house, after which Babu allegedly took possession.

Belal’s wife Shahnaz Begum submitted a written complaint to Akkelpur police station. Police visited the site and spoke with Babu, who denied forcibly occupying the home and claimed the land was his family’s ancestral property. The officer in charge said an SI was assigned to investigate, while the SI said Babu did not attend a proposed meeting at the police station.

Oman has announced that expatriate workers aged over 60 will no longer receive new work permits or renewals of existing permits. Several expatriates said employers’ renewal applications had been rejected in recent weeks, while a senior official confirmed that permits are currently not being issued to foreign workers above the age threshold.

The decision has created uncertainty for many expatriates who have worked in Oman for a long time. In January 2022, the Omani government had allowed work permits for expatriates to be renewed after they turned 60, with retaining experienced and skilled workers among the stated aims of that policy.

The latest move effectively reverses that earlier approach. Although Oman’s Labour Ministry website continues to offer a work-permit renewal service for expatriate workers, it currently provides no clear information about an age limit. The report cited Gulf News as its source.

Two suspects arrested over the killings of four members of a family in Rangpur city gave confessional statements before a court, police said. Mugdha Das, 23, and Siddhartha Das, 19, were produced before the Rangpur Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court at about 5pm on Sunday. Judge Md Rafiqul Islam recorded their statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and ordered that they be sent to jail.

Investigating officer Milon Chatterjee said the two suspects admitted their involvement in the killings, eliminating the need for further remand. Both are residents of the area around the victims’ home and are related to each other. Police recovered the bodies of retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, their school-age son and postgraduate student daughter from their home in Kamal Kachna Machhuapara on Saturday night.

Police said the suspects were detained from the Machhuapara area early Sunday. At a news conference, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud described an alleged sequence of events involving the suspects entering the home’s roof via a neighbouring building. The investigation officer said the defendants described the alleged killings in their court statements.

Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday ordered the removal of judicial powers from Mamunur Rashid, the then judge of Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, over his handling of the widely discussed Nusrat murder case. The bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja also directed that he be attached to the Law Ministry.

The court said the trial court had imposed death sentences indiscriminately, causing a devastating effect on each family. After hearing death references, appeals and jail appeals, the High Court upheld death sentences for former Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula and Shahadat Hossain Shamim.

Four accused—Umme Sultana Popy, Mohammad Nuruddin, Shahadat Hossain Javed and Iftekhar Hossain Rana—received life imprisonment. The High Court acquitted 10 accused, including Mohammad Shamim, Ruhul Amin, Afsar Uddin, Maksud Councillor, Hafez Abdul Kader, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Imran Hossain Mamun, Mohiuddin Shakil and Kamrun Nahar Moni. Senior lawyers represented the accused, while Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Deputy Attorney General Syed Ejaj Kabir appeared for the state.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said Bangladesh’s economy has seen some positive changes during the new government’s first six months, but negative trends remain more pronounced overall. At a Monday media dialogue titled “The New Government’s First Six Months: An Economic Review,” CPD projected a revenue shortfall of Tk130,000 crore to Tk140,000 crore in the current fiscal year. It also reported that 95 factories permanently closed in three major industrial zones between January and August 2026, costing 61,881 jobs.

CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said the government took office amid structural economic problems and an unfavourable global environment. He said the absence of a consolidated, data-based document on the economy inherited by the government makes it difficult to assess official claims and progress. CPD said expectations of economic recovery, inflation control, investment growth, job creation and improved governance have faced some discomfort.

The report said the Tk695,000 crore revenue target requires nearly 42 percent growth, while NBR revenue growth fell to 11.1 percent. Total tax revenue growth declined to 4.9 percent, government reliance on bank borrowing rose to 53.8 percent, and net foreign aid fell to $734.3 million. Industrial and manufacturing growth both fell to zero.

BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned party leaders and activists not to engage in unethical activities in the party’s name. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon after paying tribute at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Rizvi visited the graves with party members after taking charge as acting secretary general.

He said his main responsibility would be to run the party in an orderly and coordinated manner and ensure that organizational activities directed by party chairman Tarique Rahman are completed properly. Rizvi said those involved in wrongdoing using the party’s name after August 5 had faced strict action from the chairman.

Rizvi urged activists to remain involved in constructive work, strengthen the party and work as representatives of the public. He said activists should help implement and explain government programmes to people, describing them as focused on public interest, welfare, social protection and infrastructure development. He also said accountability had been ensured in implementing every government programme and that BNP would not work outside the public interest.