Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sarwar Alam announced that authorities have so far seized nearly 2.6 million cubic feet of stone in ongoing drives against illegal stone looting. He confirmed that from Wednesday, a strict operation will begin to recover the remaining looted stones.

On Tuesday, after the district’s three-day ultimatum for traders to return looted stones expired, DC Sarwar Alam, accompanied by the Superintendent of Police, visited the Sadapathor area.

He reported that out of the seized amount, traders themselves returned around 600,000 cubic feet of stone, while authorities confiscated an additional 1.9 million cubic feet during raids. Among the recovered stones, 1.2 million cubic feet have already been reinstated in the Sadapathor area.

The interim government has granted policy approval to shorten the procurement process for printing, binding, and distributing free textbooks in 2026, citing urgent state needs. The approval came during the 27th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired virtually by Economic Affairs Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. Officials said the decision, based on a proposal from the Secondary and Higher Education Division, will be executed under Section 83(1)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2008 to ensure timely textbook distribution.

Sheikh Bashiruddin, an advisor in the interim government, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Currently, Bashiruddin is serving as Advisor to the Ministries of Commerce, and Textiles & Jute—a role he assumed on November 10 last year. Expanding his responsibilities further, he was also entrusted with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on April 15 this year.

With his new role at the helm of the national flag carrier, Sheikh Bashiruddin is expected to play a key role in strengthening the airline’s operations and future growth.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan has urged tolerance and unity ahead of the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

He emphasized that both candidates and voters belong to the same “DU family” and that conflicts and divisions must not be prolonged.

“If tolerance is not maintained, third parties may take advantage of the situation and create further unrest. They will try to fish in troubled waters,” Dr. Khan warned.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university administration has been engaging in continuous dialogue with all parties but clarified that it is now working under the authority of the Election Commission.

Highlighting the significance of the election, he added:

“We are moving towards DUCSU in a festive and joyous atmosphere. Winning or losing is not the central issue here—the real goal is to activate and strengthen this democratic institution.”

Meanwhile, the final list of candidates has been published. A total of 471 candidates have been confirmed to contest the election, with 39,874 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Dr. S.M.A. Faiez has assured that the Higher Education Excellence and Transformation (HET/“HIT”) Project has been finalized solely on merit, without political bias.

Addressing allegations of favoritism, Faiez emphasized transparency in the process. The World Bank had considered withdrawing due to slow progress, but after leadership changes following the July Movement, the project was revived.

A total of 151 sub-projects have been approved, with contracts set to be signed tomorrow.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is gradually moving away from tax exemptions, as the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio continues to decline—a trend that has raised concerns, said NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan.

He urged businesses and citizens to pay taxes regularly.

CPD Research Director Dr. Golam Moazzem said unfair tax distribution persists, with telecom companies bearing the heaviest burden, followed by banks, financial institutions, and the cement industry. He noted Bangladesh’s VAT rates remain higher than many countries, calling for a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 15 percent to sustain growth.

A Cox’s Bazar court has handed down the death penalty to Md. Solaiman for raping and killing a six-year-old girl in Maheshkhali. In addition, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for concealing the child’s body.

Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Titu said Solaiman had been living at the victim’s uncle’s house as a tenant while working at the Matarbari Power Plant. On November 30, 2022, he lured the child home with chocolate, raped her, and strangled her to death. He later stuffed the body into a suitcase and dumped it in a salt field in Pekua.

The victim’s family and state prosecutors expressed satisfaction with the verdict, while the defense confirmed they would appeal to a higher court.

Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Ministry has dismissed reports claiming that Brazil would supply beef to Bangladesh at Tk 120 per kilogram.

The ministry clarified that the government has made no decision to import beef from abroad, including Brazil. Officials highlighted that livestock farming in Bangladesh is not only vital for meat production but also for women’s empowerment, self-employment, poverty reduction, and economic growth.

More than 1.5 million small farmers and 600,000 seasonal farmers rely on cattle rearing during Eid-ul-Azha. The ministry also warned of potential health and preservation risks associated with importing foreign meat.

Returning Officer Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani has announced strict three-tier security measures for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

At least 200 BNCC members and faculty members from the Proctorial Body will oversee the first security layer. Police will guard polling centers as the second tier. The third tier will involve army deployment at seven university entry points.

The army will act as a striking force, ready to intervene within five minutes in case of unrest. After voting, centers will remain under army cordon until results are declared.

Authorities have also declared that no unauthorized individuals will be allowed on campus on September 8–9. The Dhaka University metro station will remain closed during the election period.

A five-member government probe committee from the Cabinet Division has begun inspecting the site of large-scale white stone looting in Sylhet.

On Tuesday, officials spoke with local tourism operators and sought to identify those responsible, as well as to examine whether there was negligence by local authorities.

The committee, formed on August 20, was given 10 working days to submit a report pinpointing those involved and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN, has warned that political parties will ultimately suffer if they continue to resist essential reforms.

Speaking at a citizens’ dialogue on the results of a public opinion survey regarding a draft national charter, he noted that nearly 90% of respondents favored making the Anti-Corruption Commission a constitutional body.

Additionally, 87% supported amending Article 70 of the constitution, while 89% agreed on limiting the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years.

Majumdar said following the example of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership could help parties increase accountability. Other speakers noted that repeated calls for greater female representation in parliament have been consistently rejected by political parties.

Bangladesh Prisons will soon be rebranded as Correction Service Bangladesh, with greater emphasis on rehabilitation and correction, according to Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain.

Speaking after finalizing the draft of the Correction Service Act 2025, he said the government has already approved new staff recruitment to address acute manpower shortages, with an additional demand for 1,500 posts submitted.

Plans are also underway to establish a central prison hospital in Narayanganj. The IG added that inmates occasionally call him directly, highlighting the need for improved communication and oversight.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has completed its hearing on multiple review petitions challenging the verdict that abolished the caretaker government system in Bangladesh.

Petitions were filed by BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, SHUJAN, and several other groups. The next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow before a bench led by the Chief Justice.

The caretaker system was scrapped in May 2011 when a majority verdict from the Appellate Division, led by then–Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque, declared the 13th constitutional amendment null and void.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of providing false information on mortgage loan documents.

Trump claimed that Cook falsely declared two separate properties—one in Michigan and another in Georgia—as her primary residence within weeks of each other. “It is hard to believe you were unaware when signing the second document,” Trump wrote.

The unprecedented move marks the first time in the Federal Reserve’s 111-year history that a board member has been dismissed in such a manner. Trump has recently intensified pressure on the Fed, particularly Chairman Jerome Powell, accusing the central bank of reluctance to lower interest rates.

The 56th Border Conference between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) began Tuesday at the BGB headquarters in Dhaka.

The 21-member Bangladesh delegation, led by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, sat across from an 11-member Indian delegation led by BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary.

Key issues on the agenda include curbing border killings, illegal infiltration, smuggling of drugs and weapons, prevention of unauthorized construction within 150 yards of the international border, and safeguarding riverbanks and water-sharing rights.

The conference will also address tension created by anti-Bangladesh narratives in sections of the Indian media and explore steps to ease bilateral strains.