Tensions have emerged in Beanibazar উপজেলার of Sylhet over a boat race planned for August 28 on the Sunai River. The event is being organized by young people from the Lauta-Bahadurpur area, while two sides have taken opposing positions over whether it should proceed.

Posts seeking cancellation of the competition have circulated on Facebook. There are also allegations that a group using the banner “Tawhidi Janata Lauta Union” demanded cancellation at Barigram Bazar Mosque on Thursday. Local residents said boat races have been held on the Sunai River for a long time and traditionally draw large crowds along both riverbanks.

Concern has increased because a killing occurred in connection with last year’s boat race. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Habiba Majumdar said organizers had not informed the administration or sought permission or assistance. She said the administration is treating the matter seriously and a discussion is scheduled for Saturday.

In an article published on August 22, 2026, writer Husain Hanif praises poet Hasan Robayet for poems and slogans associated with Bangladesh’s July 2024 mass uprising. The article says Robayet wrote against authoritarianism from 2018 and portrays his work during July as supporting unarmed people facing killings, injuries, arrests and repression. It cites several dated writings from July and August 2024 and discusses his poem “Sinthi,” which the article says was later included in a Class Seven textbook.

Hanif argues that Robayet’s poetry is distinguished by its political courage, emotional directness and broad subject range. The essay describes themes including personal identity, relationships, state repression, disappearances, crossfire, borders, Palestine, religion, language politics and history. It also highlights Robayet’s religious references, use of colloquial language and dark humour.

The writer says Robayet’s earlier collection “Emon Ghonghor Fascibade” protested authoritarianism in 2018, citing poems titled “Atharo Sal” and “Fascist.” Hanif concludes that Robayet has not received adequate public or state recognition despite what the author describes as his role in the uprising.

Dhaka South City Corporation held a traditional boat race on the Buriganga River on Friday, 21 August, as part of its month-long “Hridoye Dhaka 416” festival marking 416 years of Dhaka as a capital. Six teams from different parts of the country raced from Kholamora Ghat to Wise Ghat. A prize-giving ceremony was later held aboard the century-old traditional steamer PS Mahmud, anchored at Sadarghat.

Thousands of spectators gathered along both riverbanks from midday, while hundreds more arrived with families on boats and trawlers. Road Transport and Highways Division, Shipping Ministry and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the government was working to free surrounding rivers from encroachment and pollution and ensure safe, uninterrupted navigation. He praised the city corporation’s effort to revive Bengali heritage for younger generations.

The team of Dhaka-7 lawmaker Hamidur Rahman Hamid won first prize, followed by former ward commissioner Mosharraf Hossain Khokon’s team and Madaripur’s Anisur Rahman’s team. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said the festival also includes a mini marathon, cycle rally, theatre festival and film festival.

A traditional boat race was held on the Ichamati River in Kolakopa, Nawabganj, Dhaka, on August 21, 2026, bringing together nine ghasi boats and four kosha boats. The event was organized by the Kolakopa Boat Race Organizing Committee and managed by the National Committee for the Protection of Boat Race Heritage. Dhaka-1 MP Khandakar Abu Ashfaq attended as chief guest and called for organized races at all former points along the river.

The race created a festive atmosphere on the riverbanks, with local residents and visitors from surrounding areas watching the boats move to the rhythm of their oars. Organizers said the competition is an integral part of Bengal’s long-standing rural culture. Member secretary Nazrul Islam said people traveled from distant places as well as nearby communities to enjoy the event.

Organizers said boat races once took place at about 30 points on the Ichamati in Nawabganj, but declining water flow has put the tradition at risk. Rashim Molla, general secretary of the heritage committee, called for a sluice gate at the Sonabaju-Kashiyakhali embankment near the river’s origin. He said restoring navigability and natural water flow could support boat racing and revive the river and nearby settlements.

Alberto Giovannetti, charge d’affaires at the Swiss Embassy in Bangladesh, urged young people to become more active in protecting human rights at an award ceremony for the third National Human Rights Olympiad. The event, organised by the Human Rights Support Society, was held Friday, 21 August, at Dr Abdullah Faruk Auditorium of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Business Studies.

Giovannetti said human rights extend beyond laws, courts and state institutions and are closely linked to daily life. He called on youth to uphold others’ dignity, equality and freedom, reject discrimination and challenge injustice. He also urged responsible use of digital platforms, noting their potential for information-sharing and awareness while warning of misinformation, harassment, hate speech and privacy violations.

Former National Human Rights Commission members Md Nur Khan Liton and Professor Md Shariful Islam stressed universal human rights values, justice and early education on the issue. Participants from educational institutions in four divisions attended, and selected competitors received prizes and certificates. HRSS said the Olympiad aims to raise awareness, develop humane values and encourage students to practise human rights, including through an active youth network.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, or DUCSU, held an award ceremony for its 2025 essay competition titled “From Titumir’s Bamboo Fort to the Resistance of Unarmed People in July.” The event marked the martyrdom anniversary of Syed Mir Nisar Ali Titumir and took place at 4:30pm on Friday, August 21, at the auditorium of the July Martyrs Memorial Building at Dhaka University.

Guests presented cash prizes and certificates to the competition’s winners. The first-place winner received Tk10,000, the second-place winner Tk7,000, and the third-place winner Tk5,000. Certificates were also awarded to 26 winners. Dhaka University student Suhail Mahdin conducted the programme, while DUCSU literature and cultural affairs secretary Musaddik Ali Ibn Mohammad delivered the welcome address.

Musaddik said Titumir’s struggle and sacrifice were an important chapter in Bengali resistance history. He linked the Bamboo Fort resistance with the resistance of unarmed people during the July Revolution of 2024, saying both drew inspiration from resisting oppression. He said research-based writing on such history should expand among younger generations. A commemorative book featuring selected research-based essays from the competition will be published soon.

Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, Md Shafikur Rahman, proposed a regular annual cultural and creative exchange programme involving artists and cultural workers from both countries. He made the proposal on Wednesday at the opening of the “Beautiful Bangladesh” International Photography Exhibition 2026 at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Basantapur, Kathmandu, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The exhibition was jointly organised by Nepal’s National Forum of Photo Journalists and the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association under the Bangladesh-Nepal Photo Journalist Exchange Programme. Held to mark World Photography Day, it displayed images of Bangladesh’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, historical structures and everyday life. The ambassador said photography is a powerful medium of communication and expression, and highlighted cultural and linguistic similarities and shared values between the two countries.

Rahman suggested joint photography exhibitions, cultural programmes, film festivals, photography exchanges and workshops in Bangladesh and Nepal. He also called for more effective use of digital platforms and contemporary media to promote cultural heritage and tourism destinations. The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu said it was ready to provide maximum possible support for such initiatives. Organisers said photography exchanges could support professional experience-sharing and cultural understanding.

A traditional boat race in Khejurtala, Char Bishnupur Union of Sadarpur upazila in Faridpur, was held ceremonially with only one large boat on Wednesday afternoon because the Chaitar canal lacked sufficient water. The annual event has been held for about 200 years on 1 Bhadra, but organisers said a competitive race could not be arranged this year.

Residents said the race normally creates a festive atmosphere around Khejurtala canal, with competitors bringing different boats from distant places and thousands gathering along both banks. Despite the absence of a competition, people of all ages crowded an approximately 500-metre stretch of the venue. Some spectators also watched while floating on boats in the canal.

Hundreds of temporary stalls selling toys, food, sweets, spicy snacks, clothing and other goods were set up on both banks. Organising committee president and union parishad chairman Md Moazzem Hossain said the one-boat event was held to preserve the tradition. He said organisers would try to arrange a larger race if the canal has adequate water in the future. Locals called for steps to maintain the canal’s navigability.

Bangladeshi Hafiz Nuruddin Zakaria has won first place in the fourth category of the 46th King Abdul Aziz International Quran Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation Competition in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The result was reported on August 20, 2026. Zakaria surpassed hundreds of contestants from 133 countries to become the top performer in his category.

Zakaria is a student of Ar Rayhan International Madrasa in Bangladesh’s capital. The fourth category assesses contestants’ memorization of 15 parts of the Quran, accurate recitation and tajwid skills. He advanced through the competition’s stages before securing the top position under evaluations by Saudi and international judges.

The competition, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, featured 334 participants across five categories. A total of 50 winners will receive prizes, while the event’s total prize fund was 12.6 million Saudi riyals. Zakaria said the Quran had brought him from a small village to the holy city of Mecca, and described competing with participants from different countries at Masjid al-Haram as a major honor and memorable achievement.

Traditional pottery is steadily disappearing in Cumilla as artisans struggle to sustain their livelihoods and move into other occupations, according to a report published on August 20, 2026. Potters in several areas, including Bijoypur, Kamarkhola, Aodhata, Kartala, Saitala, Atapur and Nuritala, once regularly produced earthen household goods but now only a handful of families continue the inherited work.

Clay pots, pitchers, plates, bowls, banks, dolls and stoves were once widely used in rural homes for cooking, serving food, storing water and decoration, as well as at weddings, religious festivals and social events. Their use has declined as aluminium, steel, plastic, melamine and ceramic products have become readily available, reducing both demand and the market space for traditional clayware.

Artisans say costs have risen at every stage, from collecting quality clay to making, drying, decorating and firing products, while sale prices do not match production costs. Nimay Pal said many workers have changed professions, while Sunil Pal said young people are unwilling to enter the trade and skilled labour is increasingly difficult to find. Gauri Rani Sharma said households now prefer plastic and steel products, making it hard to support families through pottery.

The government has directed all universities and other educational institutions in Bangladesh to observe Eid-e-Miladunnabi on August 26. The day will be marked with due dignity and religious solemnity, according to the announcement published on August 19, 2026.

Institutions have been instructed to arrange discussions on the life and works of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), as well as Islam’s messages of peace, progress, harmony, tolerance, global brotherhood, human rights and women’s dignity. The directive also calls for prayer gatherings, hamd and naat performances, recitations of original poetry, cultural competitions and quiz contests.

District Shilpakala Academies, Shishu Academies, other cultural institutions, the Islamic Foundation, the Office of the Waqf Administrator, and Hajj offices in Dhaka and Jeddah will follow the same programme. As part of the state programme, divisional, district and upazila administrations, city corporations, municipalities and the Armed Forces Division will organize discussion meetings and prayer gatherings within their respective jurisdictions.

Bangladesh will observe Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi on August 26, with the government announcing nationwide programmes to mark the occasion with religious solemnity and enthusiasm. The plans were finalized at an inter-ministerial meeting on August 13 chaired by Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad. The president and prime minister will issue separate messages, while national flags will be hoisted at public, semi-public, autonomous and private institutions and armed forces installations.

Dhaka’s major traffic islands, light posts, roads and other locations will be decorated with national and coloured flags and banners carrying Kalima Tayyiba. Prayer gatherings will be held at the Bangladesh Secretariat Mosque and mosques across the country. Divisional, district and upazila administrations, city corporations, municipalities and the Armed Forces Division will arrange discussions and prayer gatherings within their respective jurisdictions.

The Islamic Foundation will organize religious gatherings, seminars, talk shows, recitation and cultural competitions, a souvenir publication and a month-long Islamic book fair at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Educational and cultural institutions have been directed to arrange programmes on Prophet Muhammad’s life and Islamic values. Authorities will provide improved meals at specified hospitals, prisons and care facilities, while missions abroad will also observe the day.

Nearly 25,000 students took part in the written examination of a reading competition in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on Monday as part of the ongoing book reading festival. Organised by the upazila administration under the slogan “Read books, build minds,” the event was inaugurated on July 21 at Sreemangal Government Girls’ High School. It aims to draw students away from mobile phone and internet addiction, build reading habits, and develop knowledge and intellectual capacity.

The festival is being held with coordination from Sreemangal Recitation Festival and reading support from Uttaran. About 25,000 students from 38 secondary-level and higher educational institutions in the upazila are participating. Students from secondary, higher secondary, postgraduate and open university levels are competing in four categories. Alongside prescribed titles, participants can read stories, novels and other types of books.

Based on the written test results, 10 participants will be selected for the second stage, from whom the best three will advance to the final round. Fourteen books have been selected for students at different academic levels. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ziaur Rahman has visited 15 educational institutions and held several meetings with journalists, civil society members and other stakeholders to support the festival.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced 2,000 free Broadway tickets for high school students in a video message delivered in clear Bengali. The report, published on August 17, 2026, said the video has become a major topic of discussion on social media. The initiative will offer students a chance to attend renowned Broadway productions without charge.

The tickets will be distributed through a lottery in partnership with the Theatre Development Fund. Students selected through the lottery will be able to watch seven Broadway shows for free. The report said the programme aims to introduce students to New York’s own culture, as Broadway ticket prices can be difficult for ordinary people to afford.

Special discounts will also be available for tickets to other shows. The report linked Mamdani’s Bengali-language message to New York’s sizeable Bangladeshi and Bengali-speaking immigrant population, particularly in Parkchester and Westchester Square in the Bronx. It added that he had received substantial votes from those areas in the mayoral election and has previously spoken in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu.

Singapore Bangladesh Society (SBS) held a festive Community Family Day for Bangladeshi expatriates amid celebrations of Singapore’s 61st National Day. The daylong event took place Sunday at the seaside East Coast Park, bringing together members of the Bangladeshi community, their families and guests from different countries.

The programme included family-oriented entertainment, sports, cultural performances and activities for children. Organisers also conducted a beach-cleaning programme as part of environmental and social responsibility efforts. The activities highlighted the Bangladeshi community’s engagement with wider Singaporean society and its sense of social responsibility.

The main attraction was the traditional mezban of Chattogram, Bangladesh’s port city, which drew nearly 1,000 local and foreign attendees. The event presented the centuries-old culinary tradition and Bangladeshi culture to participants abroad. Since 1981, SBS has worked as a non-profit organisation on welfare, social and cultural activities for Bangladeshis in Singapore, while seeking to strengthen mutual understanding, friendship and cultural ties between the people of Bangladesh and Singapore.