Residents of Algi and Hamirdi unions in Bhangha Upazila have blocked the highway in protest after a government gazette transferred their areas from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 constituency. The blockade, which began at 8 a.m., has disrupted traffic between southern Bangladesh and Dhaka, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded.

Locals argue that the decision disregards the interests and historical ties of Bhangha residents. They demand an immediate reversal and have warned that protests will continue if their demands are not met.

Bhangha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman confirmed discussions with the Deputy Commissioner regarding the protesters’ demands and assured that higher authorities will address the issue promptly.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan again on Thursday, the third tremor to shake the region since Sunday.

According to local authorities, the epicenter was in Shiba district, near the Pakistan border, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Initial reports indicate damage in Bar Kashkot area.

Earlier quakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces left hundreds of villages destroyed, displacing hundreds of thousands, and injuring over 3,600 people. Rescue workers confirmed that Thursday’s quake raised the death toll to 2,205, with at least 3,640 injured.

The UN and aid agencies have warned that emergency supplies of food, medicine, and shelter are rapidly running out, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Another group of Bangladeshi nationals has been deported from the United States over allegations of undocumented stay. This time, 30 Bangladeshis were sent back under the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. Their flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 11:30 pm on Thursday. Among them were 29 men and one woman.

Since President Trump’s re-election for a second term, U.S. deportation drives have accelerated, sending back citizens of multiple countries, including Bangladesh. So far, 187 Bangladeshis have been deported in three separate phases.

During a military parade in Beijing, Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, along with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, were spotted walking together. Reports suggest Putin discussed how modern biotechnology, including organ transplants, could extend human lifespan. Xi’s interpreter added that humans could potentially live over 150 years this century. The parade also included 24 other world leaders. Analysts suggest the joint appearance may send a message to Western nations, while former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the meeting.

Bangladesh is set to become the first country in Asia to introduce AI-powered portable ultrasound machines, in what is being hailed as a major leap for the nation’s healthcare sector.

The initiative comes from US-based company Exo Imaging, whose co-founders Yusuf Haque and Sandeep Akkaraju met with the Chief Adviser on Thursday.

The devices—already FDA-approved and in use in the United States—will first be rolled out in top hospitals before expanding to rural and community health centers.

“This technology will make advanced diagnostics accessible even in remote areas,” Haque said. Akkaraju added that Bangladesh’s adoption of the technology marks a pioneering step for the region.

The Chief Adviser welcomed the move, calling it a “significant milestone towards universal healthcare.”

The National Consensus Commission on Thursday continued discussions on finalizing and implementing the July National Charter 2025.

The meeting, chaired by Vice-Chairman Prof. Ali Riaz, reviewed linguistic accuracy, analyzed political party feedback, and considered practical strategies for execution.

The Commission is expected to hold expert consultations next week before sending the finalized charter and recommendations to political parties for endorsement.

The Finance Division has approved the procurement of 220 vehicles—including 195 Mitsubishi Pajero QX-2427cc SUVs and 25 microbuses—for deputy commissioners’ offices and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to ensure smooth functioning during the upcoming national elections in February.

Each SUV will cost Tk 1.69 crore, while each microbus is priced at Tk 52 lakh, bringing the total expenditure to over Tk 343 crore.

The approval comes with conditions: the new vehicles will be used as replacements, and the old ones must be declared unserviceable by BRTA inspectors before disposal.

Earlier, on August 21, a proposal was also placed for 280 vehicles, including 60 earmarked for ministers, advisers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the next elected government. The Finance Division has now given its nod to that proposal as well.

Following the Chief Adviser’s directive, Bangladesh is dispatching emergency relief to Afghanistan after a devastating earthquake struck the country’s eastern region on September 1.

The aid package—set to be flown today (Friday) on a Bangladesh Air Force special aircraft—includes dry food, baby food, blankets, winter clothing, tents, drinking water, and essential medicines.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 2,200 people have been killed, over 3,000 severely injured, and at least 8,000 homes completely destroyed in the quake. Describing the disaster as a major humanitarian crisis, officials said the relief underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to standing by Afghanistan in this critical hour.

UN Resident Coordinator Gwenn Lewis met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to discuss ongoing reforms and development priorities. Lewis praised strong UN-interim government collaboration and reiterated full UN support for the general elections in February, calling them vital for Bangladesh’s democratic transition. They also reviewed preparations for the upcoming UN General Assembly and the end-of-month Rohingya conference, expressing concern over declining humanitarian aid. Yunus emphasized the urgent need for sustainable international support for the Rohingya.

Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser, has inaugurated passport services at the Citizen Service Center in Gulshan.

According to Special Assistant Faez Ahmad Tayyeb, this marks the first time in Bangladesh that passport applications and renewals are being offered outside traditional passport offices — through citizen service hubs driven by private entrepreneurship.

By the end of this month, 10 pilot citizen service centers will be operational simultaneously in key areas including Gulshan-1, Uttara Sector 6, Nilkhet, Ramna, Mohammadpur, and Banasree. Already, centers in Gulshan-1, Uttara, and Nilkhet are fully functional.

Currently, the citizen service program is running pilot and learning operations with over 400 government services, spanning passport issuance, driving licenses, birth and death registration, national ID, and land record documentation — across government offices, upazila parishads, and district councils.

Plans are also underway to establish a National API Connectivity Hub through Citizen Service, integrating services from all government offices to provide a one-stop, hassle-free experience. This will be Bangladesh’s first-ever Citizen Service Connectivity Hub, consolidating essential public services under one platform.

Masud Alam, Deputy Police Commissioner of the Ramna Division, reported that several former law enforcement officers are committing robbery while impersonating members of the Detective Branch (DB) or other units. “Last night, based on confidential intelligence, seven fake DB members were arrested near Golap Shah Mazar while preparing for a robbery,” he said. The police recovered vehicles and equipment used in the planned crime. Alam noted that the suspects had previously carried out crimes under the guise of DB officers. The police are investigating the root of these impersonations and advised citizens to contact local police stations if they encounter suspicious incidents.

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday published the final gazette after redefining boundaries for 300 parliamentary seats. The changes include the addition of one seat in Gazipur (Gazipur-6) and the removal of one in Bagerhat (Bagerhat-4), with Morolganj and Sharankhola upazilas merged into Bagerhat-3.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tauhid Hossain stated that BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman is free to return to Bangladesh whenever he wishes. “So far, he has not applied for a passport or any travel documents at the Bangladesh mission in London,” Hossain said. He added that the government will take appropriate action if Tarek submits an application, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot act proactively on its own.

On election observation, the adviser mentioned that the European Union has expressed interest, but the Election Commission will decide on the matter. Regarding the positions of friendly nations and development partners on participatory elections, any comment at this stage would be speculative. Hossain also noted that India has previously received a single letter requesting the return of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; any further communication will be announced officially.

The court rejected bail petitions for Abdul Latif Siddiqui and journalist Manzurul Alam Panna in a terrorism-related case filed under Shahbagh Police jurisdiction.

The case stems from a disturbance at a “Roundtable 71” event organized by a group on August 28. Sixteen participants were detained, and SI Amirul Islam later filed the case under anti-terrorism laws, resulting in the arrest of the accused.

The 41st meeting of the Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, approved draft policies in three key areas.

The approved drafts include the “2025 Renewable Energy-Based Commercial Power Production Policy” by the Power Division, the “2025 Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy” by the Posts & Telecommunications Division, and the “Third Amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Ordinance, 2025” by the Law and Justice Division. Final approval will follow vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.