Ahead of the parliamentary elections, the Election Commission (EC) will publish an updated draft voter list on Sunday. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the list will exclude around 4.45 million voters who were dropped from the rolls and remove deceased voters. The supplementary voter list will cover all voters registered up to June 30, 2025, who were born on or before January 1, 2007. Applications for inclusion, removal, transfer, or correction must be submitted by August 21. The final list will be released on August 31.

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid has strongly refuted allegations made by former government official ABM Abdus Sattar against unnamed advisers. In a statement, Rashid said such accusations—without evidence or identification—are irresponsible and harmful to public trust. He stressed that the administration remains committed to transparency, integrity, and accountability, urging anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to present it to legal or investigative authorities.

India’s Air Force Chief A.P. Singh has claimed that during a military clash with Pakistan in May this year, Indian forces downed five Pakistani fighter jets and one large military aircraft. Singh said most of the aircraft were destroyed using Russian-made S-400 missile systems, and presented electronic tracking data to support the claim. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has outright rejected the statement.

After a two-month pause, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will resume selling subsidized oil, lentils, and sugar via trucks from Sunday for one month. While TCB already sells these products at reduced prices to low-income families with smart cards, the truck sales will target the general public without cards. From August 10 to 31, except Fridays, TCB trucks will serve about 500 people per day per truck. Prices will be set at Tk 230 for two liters of edible oil, Tk 80 for one kilogram of sugar, and Tk 140 for two kilograms of lentils. Prices for smart card holders will remain unchanged.

Two bodies have been recovered after a fishing trawler sank at Chattogram port’s outer anchorage, leaving eight fishermen missing. Locals found the bodies near Patenga’s 18 No. Jetty on Saturday evening before police arrived. Authorities have yet to identify the deceased. The trawler, Anika, left Chattogram’s Fishery Ghat on Thursday morning with 19 fishermen but was struck from behind by another vessel, causing it to sink. Eleven crew members managed to escape on a nearby boat, while eight remained missing.

Three UK-based companies controlled by former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, with combined assets of Tk 2,318 crore, are on the brink of bankruptcy, according to British outlet BizNow. On July 29, accounting firm Grant Thornton was appointed as administrator for ZTS Properties Ltd, RukhMila Properties Ltd, and New Ventures Ltd. Chowdhury faces allegations of money laundering and large-scale corruption. Earlier this year, administrators were also appointed to three other companies under his control, with combined assets worth £29 million, now in the process of being sold. UK authorities have already seized assets worth £170 million from his estimated $500 million property portfolio.

In the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, Bangladeshi expatriates will, for the first time, be able to vote using postal ballots featuring candidate symbols. The ballots will be sent abroad before finalizing candidate lists, displaying reserved symbols for registered parties and an additional ten symbols for independent candidates. Expatriates will have three weeks to register to vote. Critics warn that if a party does not field a candidate, its symbol will still appear, potentially causing confusion. Election experts, including Jesmin Tuli, have suggested amending the law to allow at least 30 days between finalizing nominations and voting to ensure ballots reach expatriates in time.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain has announced that a new Mosque Management Policy has been finalized and will soon be published in the government gazette. Speaking at the National Conference of the Shane Sahaba National Khatib Foundation, he said the policy will ensure mosque committees operate free from political influence, while empowering imams and khatibs to help resolve community issues.
The adviser also noted that the policy will establish organized and efficient mosque management nationwide. He further revealed that the government has allocated Tk 190 crore for the renovation of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, focusing on aesthetic improvements and repairs while preserving its original structure. “In the new Bangladesh, there will no longer be room for belittling imams and khatibs,” he said. Later, foundation leaders presented him with an 11-point demand, including an increase in salaries and benefits.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed that Ukraine will not surrender even an inch of its land to occupying forces. His remarks came after Donald Trump suggested that ending the war might involve territorial concessions as part of a peace deal with Russia.
Trump indicated that he plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss the conflict.
Zelensky stressed, “Any negotiation or settlement without Ukraine’s involvement will be contrary to peace.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, it has occupied about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, though neither side has made significant territorial gains in recent months.

Bangladesh will close land ports that see minimal import-export activity and operate at a loss, said Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain during a visit to Hili port. Four of the country’s 24 land ports have already been shut, while only 12–14 of the remaining 20 are functional. Larger, active ports are being modernized, and some river ports will be handed to the private sector. The adviser also inspected facilities and discussed infrastructure improvements with customs officials and traders.

Asif Mahmud, Adviser to the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, has inaugurated 12 projects in Rajshahi under the ministry’s ongoing programs. The projects, with a total budget of Tk 35 crore, include:

Widening of the Kashem Bazar–Baya road

A new four-storey building for Lakshmipur Government Primary School

Construction of the Pantapara–Kadomshahar Bhaghail Bridge

Foundation laying for a one-storey land office in Bagmara upazila

Inauguration of the new second market building at Haripur Hat

New buildings for Dhorsa Government Primary School and Sonadighi Government Primary School

Foundation laying for a two-storey building at Birkutsha Hat

Inauguration of the new building at Chak Chhatari Government Primary School

Launch of silt removal works at the Nimpur–Habibpur canal

Inauguration of the new second floor of Harogram Natunpara Primary School

Opening of the Rajshahi Central Eidgah.

Following the ceremonies, Asif Mahmud departed for Natore to inaugurate a mini stadium and other development projects.

During a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington has no plans to recognize Palestine as a state. Instead, the US sees the destruction of Hamas as a top priority.
Vance said, “Recognition is an issue we need to discuss. Naturally, the UK will make its own decision. But as President Trump has made clear, given the current situation in Israel and Gaza, we have two clear objectives: first, to ensure Hamas can never again attack innocent Israeli civilians, which is only possible through its complete destruction; and second, to address the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has deeply concerned the President.”
Earlier, the UK had indicated it might recognize Palestine in September if relief efforts were obstructed and the war continued.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) reported that one of the prime suspects in journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin’s murder, identified as Swadhin, has confessed to his role. RAB Commander K.M.A. Mamun Khan Chishti said Swadhin admitted that Tuhin was killed for filming a robbery attempt. A total of seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder. They were detained in raids across the city late Friday night and will be presented in court on Saturday.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police DIG Dr. Md. Nazmul Karim Khan has apologized for failing to protect journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin, who was murdered while filming a robbery attempt. He promised to submit a charge sheet within 15 days. The DIG said professional criminal gangs targeted Tuhin for recording the incident. He noted that many factories in Gazipur have closed due to the July protests, leaving many unemployed and leading to increased crime. Police have arrested seven suspects, including Faisal alias Ketu Mizan, his wife Golapi, and others.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin said law and order will improve as the election nears, and the Election Commission is fully prepared to handle any security challenges during the vote. Speaking after a meeting with Rangpur division election officials, he said individuals previously linked to election irregularities will be excluded from the process wherever possible. The CEC emphasized that the EC is working to fulfill the chief adviser’s promise of free and fair elections and has taken measures to address the use of AI in election campaigns. The election schedule will be announced two months before polling day.