A fire broke out at the official residence of Pakistan’s high commissioner in Baridhara, Dhaka, on Thursday, August 6. The Fire Service said the blaze began in the television room at about 4:55am following an electrical short circuit. High Commissioner Imran Haider and his wife, Naima Imran, were injured by smoke and admitted to Continental Hospital in Gulshan.

According to Fire Service sources, two units from Baridhara were dispatched after receiving the report. However, people at the residence extinguished the fire before the units reached the scene. Fire Service media cell official Anwarul Islam Dolon said the incident caused no significant damage.

The high commissioner and his wife sought hospital treatment at about 9:30am. They are receiving care under Dr Amina Sultana. Their physical condition was reported to be stable, and both were said to be out of danger.

A Sylhet court has sentenced Zakir Hossain, the main accused in the murder case of four-year-old Fahima Akhtar, to death and fined him Tk 500,000. Judge Abu Ubaida of the Sylhet Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal delivered the verdict at about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Two other accused, Zainal Abedin and Md Abul Kalam, were acquitted after the allegations against them were not proven.

Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor Advocate Badrul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the verdict. He said the court ordered that Zakir be executed by hanging. The judgment stated that the death sentence would be carried out subject to approval by the High Court.

According to case records, on May 7 Zakir, a neighbour, allegedly took Fahima from Sonatola village in Sylhet Sadar upazila to his home on the pretext of bringing cigarettes. The allegation says she was raped and strangled after losing consciousness. Her body was allegedly hidden in a suitcase for two days and later dumped in a pond in the Badaghat area. A murder case was filed at Jalalabad police station on May 8, and police submitted charges against Zakir and his two brothers 33 days later.

An investigation by The Descent found at least 51 Facebook pages using the name, logo or branding of Daily Amar Desh, the newspaper edited by Mahmudur Rahman. The report, published on August 6, said the pages were spreading fabricated quotations, fake photo cards and misleading political information in the names of public figures and political leaders. Daily Amar Desh’s official Facebook page is “Daily Amar Desh,” opened on November 2, 2024, with 1.7 million followers.

One page named “Amar Desh,” opened on March 19, 2025, has 138,000 followers. The investigation said it regularly promoted Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat while disseminating misleading posts involving the government and ruling BNP. A quote attributed to Sheikh Hasina in a photo card posted on August 6 was found to be false; it originated from a Facebook post by online activist Sadikur Rahman Khan.

Another page, “Daily Amader Desh,” allegedly copied the outlet’s logo, cover image and photo-card design. A statement attributed to Mahmudur Rahman was also found false and was denied by the official page on August 5. Online editor Mohammad Morshedul Alam said readers were being misled, adding that the outlet had applied for verification and remained in contact with Meta.

National University has released the results of its 2023 master's final examinations. The results were formally announced at 6pm on Thursday, August 6, according to a press release.

A total of 181,992 students from 181 colleges took part in the examinations. The published pass rate was 60.97 percent.

Candidates can obtain detailed results through the National University's official results websites: https://result.nu.ac.bd/ and http://103.113.200.8/.

A latest opinion poll in the United States found that most Americans oppose President Donald Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran. The report, published on August 6, 2026 and citing Al Jazeera, said the findings further clarify a continuing trend that has emerged in recent times.

Nearly 60 percent of voters identifying as Republicans also opposed Trump’s decision, according to the report. Poll participants were additionally asked which political party they considered more capable of dealing with war and terrorism. In the latest survey, 38 percent placed Democrats ahead on that issue, while 37 percent considered Republicans more capable.

Support for Republicans on the same question had been about 10 percentage points higher in 2024. Analysts said the shift in voter views on national security, war and counterterrorism signals a significant turn in the US political landscape. With midterm elections scheduled for November, the poll result is being viewed as an important political message for Trump and the Republican Party.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry administrator Md Fazlul Haque welcomed the successful signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, between Bangladesh and South Korea. In a Thursday press release, he said the agreement would expand business and trade between the two countries and strengthen their economic relationship. He also congratulated the commerce minister and relevant officials for completing the agreement quickly and successfully.

According to the FBCCI administrator, bilateral import-export trade between Bangladesh and Korea stands at $1.39 billion. Bangladesh imports goods worth $903 million from Korea and exports goods worth $492 million, leaving Bangladesh with an estimated trade deficit of about $411 million.

Haque said nearly 97 percent of Bangladeshi products, or 8,428 items, would be able to enter Korea's developed market duty-free under the agreement. He expressed hope that exports of garments and other products would rise substantially and help Bangladesh address its post-LDC graduation situation. He also cited opportunities for leather goods, footwear, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, alongside increased technical cooperation. South Korea imports about $12 billion in garments annually, with only 3 percent currently sourced from Bangladesh, he said.

The government has appointed Ms Kazi Jesin as director general, Grade-1, of Bangladesh Television (BTV) on a contractual basis for one year. The appointment will take effect from her date of joining, according to a report published on August 6, 2026.

A notification on the appointment was issued on Thursday by the Contracts and Foreign Appointment Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration. The notification cited Section 11(2) of the Bangladesh Television Authority Act, 2001 as the basis for the appointment.

Under the stated condition, Jesin must sever employment relationships with any other profession, business, or government, semi-government, private institution or organization before joining the BTV post. The notification said the remaining terms of the appointment will be determined through a contract agreement.

Turkey’s olive oil exporters have raised concerns that possible US taxes and trade barriers could create new challenges for the country’s exports in international markets. They called for swift action, warning that olives, described by Turkish farmers as “green gold,” are a valuable agricultural product and a key part of the sector.

Industry businesses said additional tariffs or taxes in the US market could raise the price of Turkish olive oil and weaken its position in international competition. The United States is one of the important markets for Turkey’s olive oil, meaning such a decision could place significant pressure on exporters.

Exporters said the industry involves not only large companies but also thousands of farmers and small producers, so barriers in export markets could affect the broader production system. Turkey is among the world’s important olive and olive oil producing countries and has been trying to expand export markets in recent years. Exporters described maintaining access to the US market as strategically important and urged rapid diplomatic and commercial initiatives to address potential tax barriers.

International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat Bangladesh’s Dhaka District North Savar Zone held a discussion meeting in Savar to help make the national ulema-mashayekh conference scheduled for August 15 successful. The meeting took place after Zuhr prayers on Thursday at Savar Blind Market Mosque, where organisers called on religious scholars and the public to ensure broad participation in the conference.

The meeting was chaired by Savar Zone president Maulana Ali Azam. The organisation’s secretary general, Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani, attended as chief guest, while Maulana Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani was a special guest. Speakers presented their position on the belief in Khatme Nabuwat and demanded that the Qadiani community be declared non-Muslim by the state, with its publications and promotional activities banned.

Haqqani said the August 15 national conference would deliver a message concerning the Qadiani community. Ali Azam said the Savar Zone would undertake full preparations to make the conference successful. The event was moderated by assistant general secretary Maulana Khandakar Kaisar and included speeches from central and local leaders.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) said the ongoing 2026-27 budget centers on easing government controls on businesses and adopting investment-friendly policies. The measures were outlined on Thursday at a briefing titled “Investment Related Budget Outcome for Fiscal Year 2027-27” at BIDA’s conference room in Investment Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka. Prime Minister’s adviser Rehan Asif Asad attended as chief guest, while BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun chaired the event.

BIDA said businesses can be started within 14 days through a single-window system, with automatic approval if service-level agreement deadlines are exceeded. The budget identifies tax policy as a tool to support an investment-production-employment cycle and prioritizes export diversification, local value chains, renewable energy and technology use. Ten new export sectors, including motorcycles, speedboats and handicrafts, can import duty-free raw materials through bank guarantees without bond licences.

The budget removes turnover tax for startup sandboxes and provides a Tk500 crore startup fund. Import tax on electric vehicles priced below $25,000 has been reduced from 94 percent to 64 percent, while charging stations receive full duty exemptions. BIDA also cited duty-free solar components, zero income tax for solar-power businesses, lower advance income tax on cotton imports, and customs-duty exemptions for specified pharmaceutical raw materials.

The Thanchi উপজেলা administration in Bandarban has temporarily suspended two tourist guides over allegations that they defied administrative instructions. Separate office orders, reported on August 6, imposed the measures against Abul Hossain and Garden Tripura. Both guides have been directed to refrain from all tourist-guide-related activities until further instructions are issued.

An order signed by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdullah Al Faisal suspended Abul Hossain, guide ID No. 2, for allegedly taking tourists on a trip in violation of administrative directions. The order issued on Thursday bars him from all guiding activities from August 6 through August 20.

In an earlier separate order, Garden Tripura, guide ID No. 34, was suspended from guiding activities for an indefinite period. The administration said the action followed allegations that he took tourists to a prohibited area and an incident in which a tourist died in a boat capsizing. It said regular monitoring is being conducted to ensure tourist safety and enforce government instructions, and that necessary action will be taken against violators.

West Bengal Police ordered 1,276 mosques and 199 temples to remove loudspeakers during a two-day statewide drive over allegations of sound levels exceeding prescribed limits. The report, published by Amar Desh Online on August 6, 2026, said nearly 1,500 religious institutions were affected. The information was attributed to a report by The Times of India.

Senior police officials said the action was taken equally against religious institutions of all faiths and without discrimination. In what was described as the state’s first such operation, police encouraged management committees at places of worship to remove microphones and comply with noise-pollution rules.

Under West Bengal’s Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2000, prior police permission is mandatory to use loudspeakers between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sound limiters must also be used, with noise levels kept strictly between 50 and 75 decibels. Representatives of several mosque and temple committees told the media that local police issued only verbal directions to remove loudspeakers, with no written instruction provided.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the forces of fascism and their allies fled the country on August 5, 2024, but their “black shadow” remains. Speaking on Thursday afternoon at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna, Dhaka, he called for countering that influence through culture. He was the chief guest at the July Cultural Festival 2026, organised by Deshiya Sangskritik Sangsad.

Rahman described the July 2024 mass uprising as a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s democratic aspirations, cultural consciousness and national dignity. He said the spirit of July must be sustained and that all people should work together to build the country. While acknowledging differences of opinion and ideology, he urged unity on national interests and said those seeking to divide the nation are enemies of the country.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer ANM Shamsul Islam and Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP attended as special guests. The programme featured Quran recitation, recitation, jari, music, qawwali, gambhira and acting. A special play, Raktakto July, portrayed the sacrifices, struggle and mass awakening of the July movement.

The Trump administration has returned nearly $100 billion to importers in the United States after courts struck down a major portion of tariffs imposed on goods from various countries using emergency powers. Al Jazeera reported the figure, citing US customs authorities. The report was published on August 6, 2026.

In February this year, the US Supreme Court voted 6-3 to invalidate a major part of the administration's tariff policy. The court said imposing tariffs at such high rates through emergency economic powers was not lawful. Before the ruling, the administration had collected about $166 billion in tariffs from importers. Lower-court judges subsequently directed US Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, to begin the refund process.

In a court filing submitted Tuesday, CBP said it had accepted refund claims exceeding $128.68 billion for processing, with more than three-quarters already returned. Trade lawyer Ted Murphy and analyst Walker Livingston expressed surprise at the speed of the refunds. US lawmakers, however, alleged that the money is largely going back to large companies rather than consumers and small businesses that ultimately bore the higher tariff costs.

Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after the student-led 2024 uprising, expressed a firm desire to return to Bangladesh despite the risk of arrest, imprisonment or death. In an audio address to journalists from New Delhi on August 6, the 78-year-old said fear could not determine her duty to the people. The address marked the second anniversary of the end of her 15-year rule and was hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.

The report says Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death last November after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity over more than 1,400 deaths during the 2024 uprising. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested her extradition from India, while New Delhi says the request is being examined. Protesters burned her effigy in Dhaka, and an angry crowd attacked former cricketer Shakib Al Hasan’s ancestral home in Magura after his attendance at the New Delhi event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government voiced strong anger over permission for the event, warning it could worsen diplomatic ties. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry called India’s provision of territory for attacks on the Bangladeshi state an affront to sovereignty. Indian spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government was not involved in the event and did not agree with the remarks made there.