The government has suspended former Detective Branch (DB) chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid along with 17 other senior police officials.

A Ministry of Home Affairs circular stated the officers were charged under Section 3(g) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, for “offenses punishable by dismissal due to desertion.”

The suspended officials include three Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), six Additional DIGs, four Superintendents of Police (SPs), four Additional SPs, and one Assistant SP.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has released a full verdict ordering the reinstatement of 85 Upazila election officers dismissed 18 years ago.

The court ruled that the Election Commission’s action was unconstitutional, restoring the officers’ full rights and benefits. They had been terminated on September 3, 2007, by the caretaker government, which accused them of being politically appointed during the alliance government’s tenure.

Last year, the officers filed appeals and review petitions challenging earlier verdicts. The Appellate Division has now sided with them, ending a long legal battle.

A police constable named Omi Das has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive walkie-talkie communications from Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz.

Das, posted at Khulshi Police Station on deputation, faces charges under the Official Secrets Act. On August 12, Commissioner Aziz had ordered officers over radio to “shoot on sight” armed attackers, following the assault on a Bandar Police Station officer by ruling party activists.

A recording of the message was leaked online, sparking controversy. Investigators later traced the leak to Das, leading to his arrest.

At least 23 people have died and 160 others have fallen ill in Kuwait after consuming illegally brewed alcohol containing methanol, authorities confirmed.

Kuwaiti officials have arrested 67 individuals in connection with the incident, including the alleged mastermind — a Bangladeshi national. Police said they had raided and shut down 10 illegal factories operating across residential and industrial areas.

Under Kuwait’s Islamic laws, the production and import of alcohol are strictly prohibited.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait reported that nearly 40 Indian nationals were hospitalized in recent days, though the exact causes were not disclosed.

Yemen’s armed forces claim to have carried out a “special operation” targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport with a ‘Palestine-2’ hypersonic ballistic missile.

The strike forced the suspension of all flights and sent millions of Israelis rushing to shelters in panic.

Military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attack was “a response to the genocide and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, as well as aggression against Yemen.” He condemned the wider Muslim world for failing to act against Israeli atrocities:
“For two years, Gaza has been bleeding, yet the Islamic world has taken no effective measures. Our operations will continue until the war ends and the blockade of Gaza is lifted.”

Just hours before his scheduled White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that peace with Russia requires Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions — and give up hope of ever reclaiming Crimea.

“Crimea will never return to Ukraine. Russia took it more than a decade ago,” Trump wrote. His remarks sparked sharp criticism, with analysts saying the U.S. president’s stance echoed Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric.

In a separate post, Trump celebrated the gathering of European leaders at the White House, calling it “a big day” and an honor to host so many leaders together for the first time.

Indian police in Hyderabad have rescued a Bangladeshi teenager who was trafficked and forced into sex work.

Authorities confirmed this was not an isolated case. In recent years, Bangladeshi women have been rescued from brothels in Khairatabad, Chaderghat, and Bandlaguda. Victims also come from Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

An Indian official explained that trafficked women from Bangladesh often cross the border illegally with the help of agents, either by land or river. “The trafficking networks are powerful, operating on both sides of the border, preying on poverty and luring victims with false promises of livelihood,” the official said.

A study by the Childline India Foundation (CSWB) revealed that 2.7% of women subjected to commercial sexual exploitation in India are Bangladeshi nationals.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder has clarified that the interim government has been discouraging the use of official portraits since its inception under an unwritten “zero portrait” policy.

However, he stressed that no government office or mission has received any written instruction to remove the president’s photographs. “Still, some individuals took it upon themselves to display such portraits. The idea that written orders were issued to remove them is incorrect,” he wrote.

Majumder criticized political overreaction: “Now that elections are approaching and political maneuvering is narrowing, even trivial issues are being inflated into mountains to stir controversy.”

Israel witnessed nationwide strikes and protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza occupation plan. On Sunday, nearly half a million demonstrators gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, carrying Israeli flags and photos of hostages.

The rally, organized by the October Council, demanded the release of hostages held by Hamas and an immediate halt to Israel’s Gaza offensive. When protesters attempted to march toward Netanyahu’s residence, they were stopped by security forces, leading to at least 40 arrests.

The protests spread beyond Tel Aviv, with demonstrations reported in Jerusalem, Haifa, and nearly 300 other locations across the country.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has emphasized Bangladesh’s push to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, highlighting the country’s vast economic potential and untapped resources.

“With over 170 million people, Bangladesh can provide ASEAN with a huge market and skilled workforce,” Yunus told Malaysia’s Bernama. “There are unexplored investment sectors, particularly in fisheries. Despite having access to a vast sea, Bangladesh has not tapped into deep-sea fishing. Partnering with Myanmar could open opportunities for joint ventures in this sector.”

He noted that Bangladesh has been engaging with ASEAN since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Dhaka visit in October last year. “Some member states may raise objections, which will take time to resolve, but we will not give up. Our logic is strong—we are a neighboring country, and we already have supporters within ASEAN.”

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Fakhrul Islam has dismissed rumors about mosque construction at the historic Chandranath Temple site.

He stated that a social media post claiming such a move had come to their attention, prompting immediate investigation.
“Chandranath Hill and its temples are a revered pilgrimage site for Sanatan (Hindu) devotees across the subcontinent. Sitakunda has always been an example of communal harmony, and no attempt to disrupt that will be tolerated,” the UNO affirmed.

He confirmed that administrative inspection found no evidence of mosque construction in the area and assured devotees that no permission had been granted. He also warned against spreading misinformation designed to incite unrest.

Rail communication between Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi has been suspended after five wagons of an oil-laden train derailed near Amnura station on Sunday evening.

The train, carrying 27 wagons of fuel, was en route to Amnura Power Plant from Khulna when the incident occurred. The derailment took place after the seventh wagon from the engine.

Authorities have dispatched a relief train to the site, expected to begin recovery operations between 10 and 11 p.m. Officials hope train services will resume by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, two passenger trains—the commuter service from Rahanpur to Ishwardi and the Purnobba Express bound for Rajshahi—were disrupted due to the accident.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has urged officials at Bangladesh’s foreign missions to serve expatriates with dedication and integrity, emphasizing the need to preserve the civil service’s reputation.

“Civil servants must not engage in corruption or act as appendages to political parties. Any activity that harms the country’s dignity must be avoided,” he stated.

Highlighting the contributions of migrant workers, who are the backbone of the economy through remittance, he said officials in passport and visa services must demonstrate professionalism, courtesy, and cooperation to ensure a positive environment at embassies and missions abroad.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed has highlighted significant progress in judicial reforms over the past year, citing the first-ever granting of broad powers through new judicial appointment and structural regulations.

He revealed that efforts to establish a specialized commercial court are advancing rapidly. In July, a dialogue between the Supreme Court, BIDA, UNDP, and the EU gathered key input from lawyers and business leaders, with the final draft now set for government implementation.

Currently, Bangladesh lacks a dedicated forum for resolving commercial disputes, leading to mounting case backlogs and harming investment confidence. Over 25,000 cases remain pending in financial loan courts alone as of March 2025.

The Chief Justice noted that once established, the commercial court will feature specialized training for judges, integration of mixed legal practices, and annual reporting for greater accountability.

Renowned filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has successfully undergone appendix surgery, confirmed his wife and actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha.

In a statement, Tisha said:
“Following the decision of the medical board this afternoon, Farooki underwent appendix surgery. After nearly two hours, doctors confirmed that the operation was successful, Alhamdulillah. He is now under post-operative care and steadily recovering. We ask for everyone’s prayers for his quick recovery.”

Earlier, on Saturday, Farooki fell ill during a visit to Cox’s Bazar and was later airlifted to Dhaka for treatment.