Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has canceled her planned tour to Bangladesh and four other Asian nations. The decision was officially communicated to the Bangladesh government on Thursday.

Meloni was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 30 at the invitation of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, with a bilateral meeting planned for the following day.

According to diplomatic sources, Italy is playing a crucial role in NATO’s ongoing engagement over the Russia-Ukraine war. The mounting international responsibilities are believed to have led Meloni to postpone her Asia trip.

On his very first day in office, Sylhet’s newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sarwar Alam inspected the Sadapathar tourist site and uncovered evidence of illegal stone extraction.

Visibly angered, the DC warned: “Anyone trying to remove stones from here will pay dearly. We will seize every truck carrying these stones, no matter where in Bangladesh it is found.”

Alam said stone smuggling under the cover of legal imports was a premeditated act and vowed zero tolerance. He further pledged to prioritize law and order, environmental protection, tourism, education, and healthcare while ensuring sustainable development in the district.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a blistering attack on the Indian government, saying if it is serious about deporting illegal Bangladeshis, it should “start with Sheikh Hasina.”

Owaisi urged New Delhi to recognize Bangladesh’s recent popular uprising and build ties with the new government.

He criticized the treatment of poor Bengali-speaking citizens in West Bengal, who are being picked up from Pune, flown to Kolkata, and dumped in no man’s land without verification of nationality.
“Anyone speaking Bengali is branded a Bangladeshi. This paranoia is unacceptable,” Owaisi said, condemning the exclusion of Muslims from voter rolls.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has handed over the deed of a three-katha plot in Purbachal to Mahir Sarwar Megh, son of slain journalists Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi.

The plot was originally allotted to Sagar Sarwar in 2005 after an application in 2004. Despite full payment in 2009, the previous Awami League government failed to deliver possession.

At the handover ceremony, Yunus inquired about the stalled murder investigation of Sagar and Runi, instructing authorities to expedite the process.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has canceled the temporary allocation of 270 under-construction flats for its staff following recommendations from an investigation committee.

The probe uncovered irregularities in construction and allotment practices. The decision was made at a board meeting attended by Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan and other members.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has strongly condemned the murder of Bangladeshi journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin, urging swift justice.

She emphasized the importance of protecting journalists who work on local issues from retaliatory attacks. “Perpetrators of crimes against journalists must not escape punishment,” Azoulay said.

Tuhin, 38, was hacked to death by assailants on August 7 in the Chandna Chowrasta area. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom and journalist safety.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has blacklisted 71 chief examiners and examiners for the current year’s SSC exam marking, citing irresponsibility and negligence. These individuals will be barred from performing related duties for the next five years.

A board notification stated that lapses in exam marking jeopardize students’ futures, and strict measures are necessary to ensure accountability. The board confirmed that this policy will continue.

Most of the blacklisted educators were involved with the English first and second papers. Among them are assistant teachers, headteachers, and principals, including Md. Ishak Ali of Muraid Garbazar Ideal High School, Md. Abdul Mannan of Arabaria High School, Shishir Kumar Bala of Haji Pande Ali High School, and Md. Mostak Ahmed of Manikganj Government High School.

Adviser Asif Mahmud announced Thursday that Bangladesh’s secondary school textbooks will undergo major revisions in the 2026 academic year.

The updated curriculum will highlight the July 2024 uprising and include Sheikh Hasina’s name as a “perpetrator of mass killings.”

Mahmud emphasized that the new textbooks aim to ensure future generations learn about the July-August 2024 people’s movement and the nation’s long struggle against authoritarianism. The curriculum will also feature information on Bangladesh’s four most recent national elections.

BRACNet, backed by World Bank funding, will establish advanced network infrastructure and cloud-based Wi-Fi in 27 public universities across Bangladesh, benefiting over 60,000 students, teachers, and researchers. Key institutions include Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Project Director Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman highlighted the initiative’s potential to enhance research and education to global standards, while BRACNet emphasized transparency, accountability, and technical excellence in implementing the project.

Students of Dhaka College and City College in Dhaka clashed again on Thursday morning in the New Market area, leaving three to four students injured. The cause of the confrontation is yet unknown. Police are present at the scene to control the situation. Both institutions have a history of repeated clashes over minor incidents, with previous conflicts this year injuring dozens of students and pedestrians in January, February, and March. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah has indicated that the Election Commission may provide a briefing on the election roadmap next Sunday. “We have begun meetings to finalize our action plans. Since there are many issues to discuss, the process may not conclude today; we might need to wait until Sunday or Monday,” he said.

Sanaullah explained that after consultations with commissioners and senior officials, overall progress will be reported to the Chief Election Commissioner. He also confirmed that a formal announcement will follow only after the final plan is ready. Today’s meeting, which began at 2:30 pm, included all four election commissioners and senior officials from the EC Secretariat.

Around 25,348 students failed to secure a college seat in the first phase of 11th-grade online admissions, including 5,765 students with GPA-5. A total of 1,073,310 students applied, submitting nearly 5.93 million college preferences, while 1,047,962 were selected. Some colleges received no applicants, and competition in popular institutions left even top scorers without seats. Students who did not get admission will automatically move to the second phase, where they can adjust their preferences. All students are expected to be accommodated.

The High Court has recognized the United Nations’ report on the July-August genocide as a historic document. The court also directed that the report be officially gazetted as the ‘July Revolution-2024’ within three months. The petitioner’s lawyer, Md. Tanvir Ahmed, stated that the petition seeks to preserve the UN report for future generations’ research and knowledge.

The Ministry of Education has proposed increasing the house rent allowance for teachers and staff of all MPO-registered private educational institutions to 20% of the basic salary, along with a 1,000 BDT medical allowance. Officials indicated that approval from the finance division is required. While teachers had initially demanded a 45% housing allowance, the proposal represents a partial concession. If approved, teachers will suspend any ongoing protests.

Jahangirnagar University witnessed the release of various wildlife species, including 42 parakeets, 4 green pigeons, 7 vultures, 2 black kites, and several turtles. The release took place at the Botanical Garden area, conducted by the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit. The unit noted that many animals were rescued from illegal trade or recovered in a sick state and rehabilitated. Inspector Asim Mallik emphasized ongoing efforts to curb wildlife trafficking and raise public awareness, while wildlife researcher Johra Mila highlighted legal penalties under the Wildlife Act 2012, including up to one year in prison, a 100,000 BDT fine, or both.