The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, has sought special payment relief for garment factories facing financial losses amid severe gas and power shortages. In a letter to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem requested that gas and electricity bills for July and August be paid in 12 equal instalments instead of a lump sum.

BKMEA said production at most garment factories was seriously disrupted during July and August because of shortages of gas and electricity. It said the suspension of natural-gas supplies to industries through open cylinders or cascade cylinders prevented many factories from maintaining normal production. To keep operations running, factories had to rely on alternative fuels.

According to the association, many firms purchased diesel, LPG and other fuels at higher prices with cash, increasing production costs and straining cash flow. BKMEA said lower output and additional fuel expenses have caused significant financial losses, making one-time bill payments difficult. It urged relevant ministries and agencies to issue necessary instructions, saying instalment facilities could ease financial pressure and help maintain production and export operations.

Iran has not made a decision to resume talks with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on the latest status of the Islamabad ceasefire memorandum. He said the memorandum declared an “end to the war,” rather than a ceasefire that required extension. The statement was published on August 15.

Araghchi said the memorandum provided 60 days for talks toward a final agreement. He accused the United States of violating that opportunity and restarting the conflict. Qatar and Pakistan are only exchanging messages and maintaining contact as mediators, he said, stressing that such communication does not amount to negotiations with Washington.

The foreign minister said Iran’s discussions with Oman are separate and concern detailed strategic matters, including maritime boundaries and shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Previous routes are no longer effective, and Iran is designing a temporary route that would later become a final route. Araghchi added that strategic talks with Oman and reopening the strait are different matters; even after a route is set, reopening would depend on other conditions that the United States must meet.

Pineapple growers in Naogaon and Rangamatia unions of Fulbaria upazila in Mymensingh expect bumper production and sales this season. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, farmers may earn more than Tk125.64 crore by selling Jaldubi, Calendar and Honeyqueen pineapples. The area, adjacent to Madhupur upazila, relies heavily on pineapple cultivation as a source of farmers’ income.

The upazila agriculture office recorded pineapple cultivation on 750 hectares this season: 315 hectares of Jaldubi, 425 hectares of Calendar and 10 hectares of Honeyqueen. Jaldubi cultivation rose by 65 hectares from last year. Farmers are increasingly choosing Jaldubi because it requires less time, land and production cost while offering higher returns. It produces a full crop within one year, compared with about one and a half years for Calendar and Honeyqueen varieties.

Production from 315 hectares of Jaldubi is projected at about 25.2 million fruits, valued at Tk63 crore at an average Tk25 each. Calendar pineapple sales could generate Tk61.2 crore, while Honeyqueen and other varieties may bring Tk1.44 crore. Farmer Solman Sarker said he sold Tk11 lakh worth of fruit from three acres planted with 60,000 seedlings.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said ensuring access to justice is part of guaranteeing human rights, and the state must enable citizens to exercise their inherent and universal rights. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at the opening of a two-day coordination meeting in Rajendrapur, Gazipur, for the “Accelerating Digital Legal Aid Services in Bangladesh” project, attended by judges, legal aid officers and other stakeholders.

The meeting discussed how to effectively deliver digital legal assistance to disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Participants focused on strengthening and coordinating 57 upazila legal aid committees and 413 union legal aid committees across nine districts. The effort aims to help poor people, women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups obtain legal advice and assistance, including opportunities to resolve disputes through mediation before going to court.

The minister directed steps to recognise eight outstanding legal aid officers, one from each division, and 20 judicial officers nationwide. He said Bangladesh has about 4.5 million pending cases and aims to reduce the number significantly within a year through combined use of legal aid, mediation, digital technology and judicial work. The second day on August 16 will discuss training, records, reporting and areas for improving digital services.

A reported exchange of gunfire occurred between police and alleged drug dealers during an anti-drug operation in the Chashara area of Narayanganj city. The incident took place around 3:15pm on Saturday in front of Urban School, near Tolaram College under Fatullah police station. A man identified as Jasim, 24, was shot in the thigh, and police later arrested him and Mohan, 23.

Police said a Fatullah police team launched the operation after receiving information about drug dealers in the area. Officers attempted to detain Jasim, Mohan and several others, after which the situation became tense. Police alleged that shots were fired from a pistol toward officers. Sub-Inspectors Md Rafiq and Nandan Chandra Sarkar then fired in return for self-defence, according to the police account.

Police said Jasim was injured during the exchange and detained at the scene, while Mohan was also arrested. Several others who were with them fled, law enforcement officials said. Jasim was sent to hospital for treatment, though details of his condition were not available. Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehdi said efforts were under way to identify and arrest others involved and to examine the recovery of weapons and drugs.

Police arrested former Jhenaidah-1 Shailkupa member of parliament Nayeb Ali Joardar from his home in the Arappur Jamtala Model Mosque area of Jhenaidah town. Family members confirmed that he was detained at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday night. He was sent to jail through a court on Saturday afternoon in connection with a sabotage case.

According to his family, police led by the Shailkupa police station officer-in-charge surrounded Joardar’s Arappur residence during the night before taking him away. The report said the former Awami League MP, whose party’s activities are described as banned, was detained under instructions from police headquarters.

Another reliable source alleged that Joardar had been in regular contact with Sheikh Hasina and was planning to create unrest in the area. The officer-in-charge of Shailkupa police station, Humayun Kabir Molla, declined to comment when contacted by phone about the arrest.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the party must overcome both external and internal challenges in running the organisation and addressing the country’s crisis. Speaking as chief guest at a three-day training camp for the Rangpur-Dinajpur region in Saidpur, Nilphamari, published on August 15, he urged party officials to play constructive and effective roles.

Porwar called for strengthening ties with Allah, building knowledge and wisdom, and increasing leadership acceptability through adherence to ideals and conduct. He also urged caution and responsibility in using social media. The camp was chaired by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional director Maulana Abdul Halim.

Referring to the 11-party alliance’s programme, Porwar said the alliance had called for a road march and a grand rally in Dhaka in November, protesting what he described as the government’s reluctance to implement a referendum verdict of 70 percent of people. He urged coordination with local alliance partners, prioritising public welfare, tolerance in handling differences, and opposition to corruption and abuse of power.

Industries Ministry Secretary Abdun Naser Khan said action will be taken under law and regulations if negligence is found in the gas leakage incident at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Sitakunda, Chattogram. He made the remarks to journalists after visiting the affected yard on Saturday morning. Khan said the investigation committee had been instructed to prioritize establishing the actual cause of the accident and submit its report within the stipulated time.

He said any negligence by the yard authorities or other relevant parties would be addressed if established by the investigation. Faults or deviations in the factory's safety arrangements will also be identified and followed by necessary measures. The inquiry will examine why workers were working on Friday, a holiday, and why injured workers were not taken to hospital quickly after the incident.

Three separate investigation committees have been formed by the Industries Ministry, Chattogram district administration, and the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, or BSBRA, to review the cause and the yard's safety system. Following an application from the yard authorities, BSBRA formed a five-member technical committee on August 14, chaired by technical adviser Captain Anam Chowdhury. BSBRA secretary Nazmul Islam is serving as member secretary.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the BNP keeps its promises and implements its election manifesto, claiming the party delivers beyond its 31-point programme. He made the remarks on Saturday at an event to distribute retirement and welfare benefits to private teachers and employees at the Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital.

Ahmed said payments to retired teachers in this form were not included in the manifesto, describing them as a 32nd commitment. He called the provision of school uniforms a 33rd commitment. He also referred to initiatives attributed to Ziaur Rahman to improve education, promote productive learning and turn students' hands toward work, including technical education.

The minister said Khaleda Zia had introduced retirement allowances for teachers. In addition to the Teachers' Welfare Trust, each person will receive retirement benefits of five to seven lakh taka, he said, describing the amount as significant for poor schoolteachers living in villages. He added that the money would be deposited into recipients' bank accounts through a digitalised system while they remain at home, without any need to pay bribes.

A case has been filed in Chunarughat, Habiganj, naming 64 leaders and activists of the upazila Awami League and affiliated organisations. The case also lists 20 to 30 unidentified people as accused. Chunarughat police station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam confirmed the matter on Saturday afternoon, saying Sub-Inspector Suman Mia filed the case as complainant.

According to the first information report, the accused were allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to destabilise the country at the home of Union Parishad chairman Manik Sarkar in Purba Pakuria village, Mirashi union, at about 1:30am on Friday night. Police conducted an operation after receiving information and arrested Manik Sarkar, while the other accused fled, the report said.

Named accused include Awami League organising secretary Manik Sarkar, president Akbar Hossain Jitu, general secretary Anwar Ali and vice-president Md. Rajab Ali. The complaint also names leaders and activists from the upazila Jubo League, Chhatra League, Swechchhasebak League, Tanti League and various union-level units.

Thirteen students were injured in a clash between two groups at the Bangladesh Sweden Polytechnic Institute in Kaptai, Rangamati. The incident occurred in the student hostel from about 10:30pm to midnight on Friday. Institute sources said an argument began between the groups over a regional forum and a status posted on mobile phones, before escalating into a confrontation.

Nine injured students received primary treatment and left, while four were being treated at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Institute authorities arranged to send the injured students to hospital at about 1am. Police led by Kaptai police station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan Rubel reached the scene and brought the situation under control, dispersing students from both sides.

The institute has formed a seven-member investigation committee led by Automobile Department head Engineer Rahmat Ullah. Acting principal Jahangir Hossain visited the injured students at hospital on Saturday and said necessary action would be discussed after the investigation report is received. Hostel Superintendent Abdul Mannan said the situation is now normal, while vigilance has been increased on campus because end-term examinations are under way.

Farmers and potato traders in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat are facing losses as weak demand and lower-than-expected prices discourage them from releasing potatoes stored in cold facilities. As of the second week of August, potatoes sold at cold-storage gates for Tk920 to Tk960 per 60-kilogram sack, against an estimated production, transport, sorting and storage cost of about Tk1,400. The average loss is about Tk460 per sack.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension, only about 22 percent of potatoes kept in cold storage had been released by the second week of August, while around 78 percent remained stored. At the same time last year, about 45 percent had been released. This year, potatoes were cultivated on 39,330 hectares in Joypurhat, producing about 930,000 tonnes. The district’s 22 cold storages hold about 215,982 tonnes.

Farmers need funds for land preparation, seedlings, fertiliser and labour during the aman rice season, but say their capital remains tied up in storage. Traders reported losses of Tk4,000 to Tk5,000 per truck and Tk50 to Tk55 per sack in some cases. Exporter Md Sujaul Islam said overseas demand was also weak. An agricultural official said higher-than-needed production had lowered prices and authorities were coordinating to improve the market.

Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali, arrested former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Zakir Hossain Farazi on Saturday afternoon over allegations that he seriously injured lawyer Md Samiul Alim with a machete. He was detained from his home in the Subidkhali area of the upazila headquarters. Police said Farazi was also wanted under an arrest warrant in a drug case.

Farazi, 44, is a former general secretary of Mirzaganj Upazila Chhatra Dal and former joint convener of Swechchhasebak Dal. Alim filed a case at Mirzaganj police station on Saturday naming Farazi as the main accused, along with four to five unidentified people. Police and the complaint said Farazi had been arrested with yaba tablets on February 7 and was the sole named accused in the subsequent narcotics case.

Alim had been appointed as Farazi’s lawyer in that case. A court issued the warrant after Farazi failed to appear on August 9. Alim alleged Farazi attacked him at a tea stall after being informed of the order. He received initial treatment locally and was later admitted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Police said the attack case is under process.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the country may take about two years to build the infrastructure needed to address its gas shortage. Speaking in Sylhet on August 15 after a workshop, he said conditions would become largely normal within the next two years once the required infrastructure is completed. He described the hardship facing industrial factories because of gas shortages as a long-standing inherited problem.

Muktadir said resolving the crisis requires increasing the capacity for gas imports and supply infrastructure. He said initiatives are being taken to raise liquefied natural gas imports. According to the minister, the coming two years are important for the industrial sector, and the government is also examining whether solutions beyond emergency and conventional arrangements can be used.

He cited a possible initiative involving Malaysia’s state energy company Petronas, under which LNG could be brought on large vessels and transferred at sea to smaller ships to increase supplies. The remarks followed a workshop on preparing district-level annual work plans for fiscal year 2026-27 and evaluating the previous year’s implementation under an agricultural development project using modern technology. Agricultural Department officials at different levels attended.

The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday has risen to 38, according to an official from the country’s disaster management agency. The update was reported on August 15, 2026.

Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said at a news conference that 38 deaths had been confirmed. He said two people were seriously injured and 11 others sustained minor injuries in the earthquake.

Nearly 2,000 people moved to safer locations on their own after the quake, Suharyanto said. The reported death toll had previously been lower. Rescue and search operations remain under way, and authorities fear the number of fatalities could rise further.