A fire at the Power Grid’s T-3 transformer in Binerpota, Satkhira, caused a two-hour nationwide blackout in the district on Saturday after 11 a.m.

Sanat Kumar Ghosh, General Manager of Satkhira Rural Electricity Cooperative, reported that the fire was contained within 20 minutes by the fire service. Power supply has now been restored. Swab Hossain, Executive Engineer of Satkhira OJOPADIC, confirmed that the cause of the fire remains unknown. “The entire district experienced a two-hour power disruption. Any remaining minor outages will be restored shortly,” he said.

Financial advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stressed that children should grow up with proper education and strong ethical values. Highlighting the growing influence of billionaires, he expressed concern over Brahmanbaria’s underdevelopment and the reluctance of doctors to work outside Dhaka. He called on local leaders to prioritize collective progress, urged district associations to focus on community interests over personal gains, and encouraged awareness to prevent conflicts among locals, emphasizing that holistic education and honesty are essential for future generations.

A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, a provider of check-in and boarding systems, disrupted operations at major European airports including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin on September 20. Automated systems went offline, causing flight delays and cancellations. Airports implemented manual check-in and boarding procedures while the provider works to resolve the issue. Frankfurt and Zurich airports were reportedly unaffected. Passengers are advised to confirm flight status with airlines before traveling.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Mohammad Nazrul Islam has stressed that resolving the Rohingya crisis is a national responsibility and an integral part of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. He noted that blaming only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the lack of resolution would be “unfair.”

Speaking on the issue, Dr. Islam highlighted that the prolonged crisis is discouraging foreign investment in areas such as Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali. He underscored the importance of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting, where Bangladesh will continue to press for a peaceful, non-confrontational solution.

Other speakers at the discussion emphasized that geopolitical willpower remains the most critical factor in resolving the crisis. They noted that not only Bangladesh but also other regional and global players must take active roles in addressing the issue.

At least 78 people were killed and 20 others injured when a drone strike hit a mosque in Sudan’s El-Fasher city, escalating the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF, which has been locked in a brutal power struggle with the army for over two years, has recently intensified efforts to seize El-Fasher. Reports also emerged of attacks on nearby displacement camps, much of which are now under RSF control.

The UN has warned that the conflict is increasingly taking on ethnic dimensions, with the RSF accused of targeting non-Arab communities in areas under its control—allegations the group has consistently denied.

The Trump administration has approved a $6.4 billion arms package for Israel, including 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and 3,250 infantry assault vehicles.

According to U.S. officials, the helicopters are valued at $3.8 billion, while the vehicles are priced at $1.9 billion. An additional $700 million has been allocated for spare parts and ammunition.

The deal comes as Israeli forces, under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s orders, intensify their ground operations to seize full control of Gaza. Analysts believe the new weaponry will be used in the ongoing offensive.

Meanwhile, France and Saudi Arabia have called for an international conference in New York on September 22 to push for recognition of Palestine as an independent state.

A new executive order signed by Donald Trump has raised the application fee for the popular H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers to $100,000 annually—a dramatic increase from the previous average of $1,500.

The order argues that the program has long been abused, negatively affecting American jobs. However, business leaders including Elon Musk countered that the H-1B system attracts top global talent critical to U.S. innovation.

Alongside the hike, Trump introduced a new “Gold Card” program, allowing certain immigrants to fast-track visas by paying fees starting at £1 million. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the move, saying, “Big companies have agreed, and now it’s time we train our own youth.”

Legal experts, however, warn the move could be devastating for startups and small businesses. Immigration attorney Tahmina Watson described it as “the final nail in the coffin” for many. Analysts predict the sharp increase will disproportionately affect Indian applicants, who make up the majority of H-1B recipients.

Police have arrested former Keronkhal Union Parishad chairman Suman Bhuiyan in connection with an attack on the convoy of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Dr. Redwan Ahmed. He was sent to jail through a court order on Friday.

The case stems from an incident on May 9, 2022, when Dr. Ahmed was heading to a post-Eid reunion at Chandina’s Redwan Ahmed College. His car came under gunfire and attack. On August 26, 2024, Ahmed filed a case naming former MP Pran Gopal Dutta and 52 others. Bhuiyan is one of the listed accused in that case and faces charges in another case as well.

An air-conditioner explosion inside a Jatrabari apartment has left four members of the same family severely burned. The victims—Md. Tuhin Hossain (38), his wife Iba Akter (30), and their two sons, Tawhid (7) and Tanvir (9)—were rushed to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in critical condition.

The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Friday night on the seventh floor of the building. Neighbors reported that the family was asleep when the AC exploded, instantly setting the room on fire. Nearby tenants managed to extinguish the blaze and rescued the family before taking them to the hospital. Doctors have described their condition as extremely serious.

Police have blamed former MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon for disrupting law and order in Bhanga, Faridpur, through provocative remarks.
The police headquarters said unrest began after the inclusion of Algi and Hamirdi unions into Faridpur-2 constituency, sparking protests since September 5.
According to police, Nixon capitalized on the agitation, posting inciting messages on social media and even declaring the interim government and Election Commission “illegal” in a September 9 video message.
On September 15, his loyalists infiltrated the protest and allegedly vandalized government establishments, including Bhanga police stations and the UNO office.
Police urged citizens not to be misled by instigators and assured that no innocent individuals would be harassed in connection with the cases filed.

The Malaysian Immigration Department has detained 55 foreign workers in Johor during a special operation codenamed “Ops Selera” targeting six restaurants on Thursday.
Immigration Director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the raid uncovered multiple offenses, including employment without valid permits.
Those arrested include 46 Myanmar nationals, six South Koreans, and three Bangladeshis aged between 18 and 53, suspected of working illegally as waiters and cooks.
Authorities also detained four restaurant managers—three locals and one foreign national—for facilitating the violations.

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces targeted another Venezuelan drug-laden vessel, killing at least three people onboard.
He alleged that the boat was headed toward the United States, marking the third such strike in recent weeks against suspected drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela.
In a statement, Trump said the operation was carried out in the Southern Command region, which spans 31 countries across South and Central America and the Caribbean. Intelligence reports, he added, confirmed the vessel was using a notorious smuggling route intended to poison Americans with narcotics.

Religious advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has called for Muslim unity to establish global peace, stressing that divisions within the Ummah must end.
“Your political party may differ, your Pir may differ—but for the greater cause of Islam, we must stand united under the Kalema,” he told a gathering.
Dr. Khalid emphasized that 2025 presents a historic opportunity for the Muslim Ummah after Bangladesh’s independence. “If we fail to seize this chance, we could fall behind by another hundred years,” he warned.
He envisioned a new Bangladesh built in the spirit of the Prophet’s (PBUH) teachings and the Rashidun Caliphate—free from inequality, corruption, and oppression, where fundamental rights are ensured for all.

Students at Rajshahi University staged protests and rallies against the reinstatement of the “offspring quota” in undergraduate admissions.

Following Friday prayers, a procession began from the central mosque and culminated in a rally at Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Square. Demonstrators chanted: “The offspring quota is a settled issue—it cannot be reinstated under any circumstances. We will shed blood if needed, but we won’t let it return to this campus.”

They accused university authorities of plotting to create divisions between teachers and students ahead of the elections.

Earlier this year, on January 2, Vice-Chancellor Saleh Hasan Naqib announced the cancellation of the quota following student protests, pledging not to allow even a 1% reinstatement. However, in recent weeks, teachers, officers, and staff launched a fresh movement demanding restoration of the quota, which led the administration to revisit the decision in a Thursday meeting.

British MP Tulip Siddiq has accused Bangladeshi authorities of fabricating documents for political purposes, alleging an attempt to falsely portray her as corrupt.

According to a report in The Telegraph, Siddiq once held a Bangladeshi passport (issued in 2001, when she was 19) and a national ID card (issued in 2011). She also reportedly applied for passport renewal at the Agargaon Passport Office. The ID card listed her address as her aunt Sheikh Hasina’s residence, despite Siddiq never having lived in Dhaka.

Her family maintains that she used a Bangladeshi passport only once as a child and never as an adult. The ID card in question was an older version, not the newer smart card.

In the past, Siddiq referred to Bangladesh as “our country” during a 2015 visit to Dhaka. However, when questioned in 2017 by a UK journalist, she firmly stated: “I am a British MP. Do not call me Bangladeshi. I am not Bangladeshi.”