Indonesia is in turmoil as mass protests spiral into a nationwide uprising following a controversial decision to increase MPs’ allowances.

For over a week, demonstrations have erupted across the country—women in pink uniforms marched with brooms, protesters torched regional parliament buildings, and violent clashes with police left casualties.

The spark came on August 25 in Jakarta but escalated after a 21-year-old motorcyclist was killed on August 28, run over by a police vehicle during clashes.

Despite apologies from President Prabowo Subianto and the police chief, unrest continues. Protesters say MPs already earn over 100 million rupiah ($6,150) per month—30 times the national average—while ordinary citizens struggle with rising costs. Experts warn the uprising could reshape Indonesia’s political system.

Thousands of Israelis marched in Jerusalem against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza. Protesters lit fires and clashed with police outside his residence.

Another crowd gathered in front of the Knesset, while demonstrators blocked train tracks before being dispersed with water cannons.

Critics accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political gain at the expense of hostages still held by Hamas. “He is risking their lives to serve his own agenda,” one protester said.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Appellate Division has upheld the acquittal of Tarique Rahman, former State Minister Lutfozzaman Babar, and others in the August 21 grenade attack case.

The devastating 2004 attack on an Awami League rally left dozens dead and injured hundreds. A trial court had issued harsh sentences, but the High Court overturned them on December 1 last year, acquitting the accused.

Following the High Court’s detailed verdict, the state filed appeals, which the Appellate Division has now dismissed, keeping the acquittals intact.

A Bangladeshi national has died while attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Italy. His body was recovered late Monday from a migrant boat near Lampedusa, according to the Italian Coast Guard and Financial Police.

The vessel, which departed from North Africa, carried 52 migrants—51 of whom were rescued alive. Authorities suspect the Bangladeshi died from inhaling toxic fuel fumes. His identity remains unknown.

Survivors from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Syria, Sudan, and Bangladesh reported that another migrant had fallen overboard during the journey and could not be saved.

Italy says 43,860 irregular migrants have landed by sea so far this year, including 13,271 Bangladeshis—the largest national group.

A violent attack targeted the Sohag Paribahan ticket counter and the adjacent residence of its owner, Palash Talukdar, near Malibagh Railgate late Wednesday night.

Around 11:15 PM, a group of 60–70 men stormed the counter, smashing property and launching a brutal assault. Palash Talukdar sustained injuries, while his driver Mamun was critically wounded by sharp weapons.

Palash’s brother, Majedul Haque Nadim, alleged that members of the ruling party’s volunteer wing carried out the attack. Police confirmed that a team rushed to the scene after receiving a 999 emergency call.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act, has withdrawn his bail application, according to his lawyer Mohsin Reza.
The withdrawal was made from the relevant branch of the CMM Court.

Meanwhile, of the 15 others arrested in the same case, six — Golam Mostafa, Zakir Hossain, Tousif-ul Bari Khan, Amir Hossain, Shafiqul Islam, and Abdullahil Qayyum — also applied for bail, but their petitions were rejected by the court.

Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud confirmed that the much-anticipated taskforce report will not be submitted today.
Speaking at a luncheon with Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) officials and taskforce members on Wednesday, he said:
“The taskforce will submit their report directly to me, but not today. I am here mainly to share lunch with everyone, not for any official discussion. I haven’t yet seen what is in the report.”

Taskforce member Zillur Rahman noted, “It’s not the right time for detailed questions. Once we officially submit the report, everything will be disclosed. We’ll hand it over once the adviser sets a convenient date.”

Earlier, the government had said the taskforce was working on implementing the recommendations of the Public Administration Reform Commission, including establishing an independent statistics commission to counter past data manipulation.
According to officials, the report is expected to be formally submitted on September 10.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun a public investigation into widespread looting of valuable white stones from mines, following allegations of official complicity.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain said enforcement operations had earlier uncovered police and political involvement. “Based on the report, the Commission decided to launch a full-fledged investigation to assign responsibility,” he explained.

Documents suggest at least 53 individuals—including police officers, political leaders, and government officials—were implicated in receiving commissions from illegal stone traders.

The ACC’s open probe aims to hold accountable those found directly complicit in the large-scale resource theft.

Police have filed charge sheets in nine cases linked to violent attacks on student demonstrators in Rajshahi during the recent mass uprising.

Two of the cases are murder trials in which former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and Rajshahi Mayor A.H.M. Khairuzzaman Liton are among 244 accused individuals.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Gaziur Rahman confirmed that detectives investigated all nine cases before submitting the charge sheets to court.

The cases stem from the killing of two students, Sakib Anjum and Ali Raihan, who were shot dead on August 5 last year during protests in Rajshahi.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has urged policymakers to expand their vision beyond deep-sea port development and focus on building a sustainable Blue Economy.

At a meeting with BIDA, Yunus said:
“This will not just be a facilitating zone. A new city will rise there, connected to the world through the sea—our highway to the globe.”

BIDA Chairman presented a detailed plan for the Maheshkhali-Matarbari project, which will be executed in three phases. Once completed, it is expected to create 2.5 million jobs and contribute $150 billion to GDP.

Yunus also emphasized the need for international expertise, academic research, and conferences on ocean economy, while highlighting environmental protection as a core priority.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for a strict international legal framework to prevent the laundering of stolen wealth abroad.

In a meeting with Transparency International chief François Valérian, Yunus criticized global financial institutions for their “double standards,” accusing them of knowingly accepting illicit deposits.

He revealed that during years of autocratic rule, at least $16 billion was smuggled out of Bangladesh annually. Despite knowing the sources, banks often treated these as legitimate transfers, he said.

François praised the government’s efforts but stressed the need for stronger international cooperation. Yunus urged TI to play a more proactive role, including establishing an international forum on illicit finance.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique has filed a bail petition in connection with an anti-terrorism case lodged at Shahbagh Police Station.

Six others accused in the same case—Golam Mostafa, Zakir Hossain, Tousif-ul Bari Khan, Amir Hossain, Shafiqul Islam, and Abdullahil Kaiyum—have also applied for bail through lawyer Kayes Ahmed.

Latif Siddique, who was presented in court last Friday, had previously refused to sign legal papers, citing a lack of trust in the judiciary. However, from prison he authorized his lawyers to proceed with the bail application.

Three witnesses have filed complaints with the tribunal, accusing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 39 others of coercing them into giving false testimony against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.

The complainants—Mahbubul Alam Hawlader, Mahtab Uddin, and Altaf Hawlader—alleged they were tortured and forced to testify. The accused include former tribunal chairman Justice Nizamul Haque Nasim, ex-law minister Shafique Ahmed, former state minister Kamrul Islam, Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, and Pirojpur MP AKM Awal, among others.

Lawyer Parvez claimed that in 2009, MP Awal pressured Mahbubul to file a case against Sayeedi. When he refused, Awami League activists detained him at the then-PP office, tortured him, and held a gun to his head, forcing him to give false testimony linking Sayeedi to war crimes. The other two witnesses reported similar accounts.

This follows a recent complaint by witness Sukhranjan Bali, who accused Hasina and 32 others of abduction and torture in connection with the same case.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md. Sanuallah has announced the abolition of the provision for submitting nomination papers online under the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

He clarified that the presiding officer’s decision at a polling center will now be final, reverting to the earlier system. Previously, election commencement was subject to law enforcement reports, but the amendment has been rolled back, restoring full authority to presiding officers.

Journalists and observers’ access inside polling booths will also be regulated solely by presiding officers.

Sanuallah further stated that candidates may spend up to Tk 10 per voter, with a maximum cap of Tk 25 lakh. The Election Commission has sent the draft RPO (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to the Ministry of Law for vetting, which includes provisions such as introducing “No” votes in constituencies with a single candidate. Once approved, it will be published in the gazette.

Former US Ambassador to Bangladesh and current Strategic Advisor to LNG company Excelerate Energy, Peter D. Haas, visited Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday morning.

Arriving at 9:30 a.m. with two associates, he traveled to Maheshkhali by speedboat and visited the “Excelerate Hope Hospital,” a joint initiative of Hope Foundation and Excelerate Energy.

He was welcomed with flowers by Hope Foundation’s country director and toured the hospital’s facilities.

Earlier rumors had circulated about a secret meeting between Haas and NCP leaders in Cox’s Bazar, though no evidence confirmed the claims.