At a virtual presentation of the Livestock Department in Rangpur, attended by Adviser Farida Akhter, images of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina were displayed alongside their quotes. The presentation, delivered by Project Director Golam Rabbani, drew controversy when the photos appeared prominently on-screen.
Farida Akhter criticized the move as “disrespectful,” saying:

“At this interim period, displaying their photos over the sacrifices of so many lives is unacceptable. Fascism has many faces—we must act whenever we recognize it.”
She noted that the project director admitted it was an error and apologized, but assured that she would look deeper into the matter and take necessary action.
Shifting focus, Farida highlighted the ministry’s key responsibility: controlling livestock diseases and preventing transmission to humans. She said the government is working with the World Health Organization and has set targets for vaccine production.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that the ongoing protest in Bhanga, Faridpur, over the exclusion of Algi and Hamerdi unions from the Faridpur-4 constituency, has caused suffering in several districts and “will not be tolerated.”
“If the blockade is not lifted by Sunday evening, legal measures will be taken,” he said.
He also revealed that the government has long been considering reducing prison sentences, prioritizing elderly inmates. Women who have served 20 years may be released, while criteria for men are yet to be finalized.
On upcoming festivals, he said committee disputes over Puja must be resolved to ensure smooth celebrations. He praised law and order during recent DUCSU and JUCSU elections and confirmed preparations are underway for the national polls, including recruitment and training.

Police have arrested M.M. Siddiqi Manji, chairman of Algir Union Parishad, who was the chief coordinator of a three-day highway blockade set to begin Sunday in Bhanga, Faridpur.

Detectives detained him late Saturday night from his home. In response, authorities deployed armed vehicles, water cannons, and intensified patrols on the highways to avert unrest.

The blockade is part of ongoing protests against the government’s decision to redraw boundaries, merging Algir and Hamridi unions from Faridpur-4 constituency into Faridpur-2.

Despite previous demonstrations, Manji announced a fresh three-day morning-to-evening blockade on Saturday evening—hours before his arrest.

Romania’s Defense Ministry reported that a Russian drone entered its airspace during an assault on Ukraine, heightening regional tensions.

Following detection, Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and two Eurofighters, while civilians were warned to take shelter. The drone disappeared from radar near Chilia Veche village, close to the border.

The incident follows Poland’s closure of an airport in Lublin and the deployment of fighter jets after similar drone threats earlier in the week. NATO allies in Eastern Europe remain on high alert as Russia intensifies its drone warfare against Ukraine.

The Hostages’ Families Forum accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately sabotaging peace efforts, following Israel’s strike in Qatar last week.

“Every time peace is within reach, Netanyahu destroys it,” the forum said, blaming his “inaction” for the deaths of 42 hostages and putting the lives of the remaining 48 at risk.

They added:
“The Qatar operation proved beyond doubt that Netanyahu is the only obstacle to bringing the hostages home and ending the war. His excuses serve only to cling to power.”

The accusations come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel. Rubio noted before departure that President Trump was “not satisfied” with Israel’s Qatar strike but reaffirmed that US-Israel ties remain “very strong,” with Washington’s top priority being the return of hostages and ending the Gaza conflict.

Amid the ongoing Gaza war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Israel on Saturday to discuss the latest developments and regional security.

According to a State Department statement, the visit will “underscore America’s priorities regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security.”

The visit follows Israel’s controversial airstrike in Qatar earlier in the week, targeting Hamas leaders during peace talks. The move angered Qatar and other key US allies. Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani has since met with former President Donald Trump and also held talks at the White House with Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

Two more bodies—a 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman—were recovered from the Dhanua River in Khaliajuri, Netrokona, following Friday’s speedboat collision with a fishing boat.

The victims were identified as Laila Akter (7) and Shirin Akter (18). Earlier, the body of Ushamoni (7) had been recovered. One child, Samia Akter, is still missing.

The accident occurred when a speedboat, rented for a wedding party, took 15 passengers on a pleasure ride before the official journey began. The boat capsized, leaving four people missing—three of whom have now been confirmed dead.

Adviser Farida Akhter has declared that those using illegal fishing nets are “enemies of the country,” as they are depriving people of food.
She called for strict action not only against users but also against factories producing and selling such nets. “Raids must be conducted to shut down illegal net production,” she said.
Highlighting the need for more fish sanctuaries, she urged increased government allocations to support fish breeding. She stressed that agricultural diversification could also boost production and that new projects would be launched in the future.
Akhter emphasized inter-ministerial coordination—between the ministries of fisheries, water resources, and shipping—for effective conservation. She acknowledged that despite extensive government drives to protect jatka and conserve hilsa, low rainfall and reduced river navigability have hindered the migration of hilsa from sea to river this season, leading to lower catches.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed the submission of information to prepare the gradation list for assistant teachers who joined in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Schools have been asked to send two hard copies of the required documents by September 30. These include copies of personal applications, service records, attested academic certificates, regularization orders, appointment and joining letters, and certifications regarding departmental or criminal cases, as well as audit objections.

Adviser M. Sakhawat Hossain has confirmed that national elections will take place in February, emphasizing that there is “absolutely no doubt” about it. He stressed that even within the advisory council, there is no uncertainty regarding the polls.
“The Election Commission will oversee the elections, not us. Whoever assumes power through that process will govern the country in the democratic spirit,” he said.
He also announced the launch of a new paddle steamer service in October for passengers traveling from Barishal to Dhaka, blending tradition with modernity. “This initiative will not only enhance passenger services but also boost tourism,” he noted.
Hossain praised local authorities for restoring canals in Barishal and mentioned ongoing efforts to secure Tk 850 crore for the construction of the Mirganj Bridge and embankments in Hizla-Muladi. Discussions are also underway to bring Bhola gas to Barishal.

A US trade delegation is arriving in Dhaka on Sunday for a two-day visit to discuss the 20% counter-tariff imposed on Bangladeshi goods in the American market.
The delegation will be led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia. Although tariffs have been reduced from 35% to 20%, no formal agreement has yet been signed. A draft deal is prepared, and discussions will focus on finalizing it and potentially reducing tariffs further.
During the visit, the delegation will meet with the Ministry of Commerce, Chief Adviser, Foreign Affairs Adviser, and Foreign Secretary.

Economic Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin has said that Bangladesh has the potential to transform into a “goldmine” if its human capital is properly nurtured.

Speaking on Friday, he highlighted that while the country lacks sufficient raw materials for large-scale industrial production, this shortfall can be overcome through education, innovation, and knowledge acquisition by students.

He explained that ensuring labor productivity, utility proportion, logistics excellence, cost efficiency, access to finance, and market access would allow Bangladesh to offset raw material shortages and drive economic growth.

Bashiruddin further stressed the importance of uninterrupted product supply in market management. He pointed out that during the last Ramadan, coordinated efforts by the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, and the Ministry of Commerce kept supply chains stable, resulting in lower commodity prices.

Addressing past challenges, he revealed that several members of so-called “syndicates” had fled the country, making it difficult to stabilize the supply side. “Through collective efforts, we managed to overcome that crisis,” he noted.

Reflecting on recent economic progress, Bashiruddin said, “After Sheikh Hasina’s fall, our reserves stood at around $10 billion against liabilities of $6 billion. Under the Chief Advisor’s leadership, we cleared those liabilities. Today, reserves have risen to $30 billion.”

Looking ahead, he emphasized that if future governments adopt a coordinated, democratic approach to market regulation and implement impartial reforms, Bangladesh’s market system will be strengthened, ensuring equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Election System Reform Commission, warned that partisan politics driven by loyalist students and faculty is damaging the education system. “We are paying the price for politics carried out by partisan teachers and students,” he said, urging political parties to demonstrate the goodwill necessary to end such practices.

Badiul argued that to stop the emergence of authoritarianism, students and teachers must act primarily in their educational roles — students as students, teachers as teachers. He added that reforms are needed to ensure free, fair, and impartial parliamentary elections, but that implementation ultimately depends on political parties’ willingness to cooperate.

The Election Commission began formally announcing results for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Voting had taken place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, and counting started around 10:15 p.m. that night. The manual vote-counting process contributed to delays in publication of results.

The elections faced a boycott by four panels, including Chhatra Dal, and five independent candidates. Allegations of an uneven playing field and irregularities prompted the resignation of four BNP-affiliated faculty members, including one election commissioner.

Intelligence police arrested former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) AKM Nahidul Islam on Saturday from his home in Dhanmondi, authorities confirmed. Nahidul Islam faces charges at the International Crimes Tribunal, and an arrest warrant had previously been issued in relation to those proceedings.

The government placed him on compulsory retirement on July 28. Officials have not yet released further details about custodial arrangements or next steps in the tribunal process.