Authorities in Sylhet have recovered approximately 100,000 cubic feet of stolen stone, though the total looted volume is estimated to be over 1.5 crore cubic feet.

On Friday, the district administration launched raids on crusher mills in Companyganj, seizing large stones and measuring the stockpile. Officials reported that the mills were deserted during the operation. Processed stone already in the supply chain will also be confiscated.

The latest recovery comes after 40,000 cubic feet of stone was seized in Dhaka’s Demra area on Thursday night, and another 60,000 cubic feet was retrieved from Sylhet over the past two days.

In an unusual diplomatic exchange, former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly asked Norway’s finance minister for a Nobel Prize during a phone call meant to discuss trade tariffs.
Norwegian daily Dagens Næringsliv reports that last month, Trump phoned Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg while Stoltenberg was walking through the streets of Oslo. The former president allegedly shifted the conversation from tariffs to his desire for the prestigious award.
Stoltenberg stated that the call, which took place before Trump’s separate conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, also covered economic cooperation. Several senior White House officials, including the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative, were reportedly on the call.

Delhi’s iconic 16th-century Mughal monument, Humayun’s Tomb, has partially collapsed, sparking fears that several people may be trapped under the debris. Authorities confirmed that 12 people have been rescued so far, with five fire engines deployed to the scene.
The collapse occurred at the historic mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, ascended the throne in 1530 after the death of his father, Babur.
According to Indian media reports, at least 10 people were initially believed to be trapped. The Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call around 4:30 p.m., and rescue operations are ongoing.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has declared that the upcoming national election will be held in February, as announced by the Chief Adviser, and no force can delay it. Speaking in Magura after visiting the graves of martyrs Rabbi and Al Amin, he said the entire nation and all election-related institutions are already preparing. Once the monsoon ends, election fervor will spread to every neighborhood, he added.

On the occasion of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s birthday, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus sent a floral tribute to her residence in Firoza on Friday afternoon. His private secretary Sajib M. Khairul Islam and office director Mohammad Nazmul Islam delivered the bouquet, which was received by Khaleda’s personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, who later conveyed thanks on her behalf.

Malaysian authorities have charged two Bangladeshi nationals — Mamun Ali and Refat Bishat — over alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Prosecutors claim Mamun, between July 28, 2023, and April 30, 2024, used a Facebook account under the name “Sahifullah Islam” to support IS. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or up to 30 years in jail plus fines. Refat, 27, is accused of possessing IS flag images on his mobile phone at a house in Larkin Industrial Estate on July 10. This offense carries up to seven years’ imprisonment or fines, along with confiscation of related materials.

Comilla’s Muradnagar upazila was rocked on Thursday after a video showing students brandishing knives during class at Kamalla DRS High School went viral. Authorities expelled four tenth-grade students — Obaidullah (16), Faysal (16), Saim (16), and Ananda Roy (16). The alarming footage quickly sparked panic among locals. School officials first learned of the video on Wednesday night. The next day, three of the accused students were discreetly detained on campus and handed over to Muradnagar police. Officer-in-Charge Zahidur Rahman confirmed that the students were released to their guardians after signing undertakings, while efforts are underway to recover the knives seen in the video.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has stated that Adviser Farida Akhter “spoke incorrectly” regarding the government’s decision not to disclose the draft tariff agreement with the United States. Earlier, Akhter had voiced concern over the lack of public disclosure.

Alam clarified that withholding draft texts of bilateral agreements is a “long-established diplomatic practice.” He emphasized that the interim government remains committed to transparency and will request the US to lift confidentiality restrictions once the agreement is finalized.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned an incident in Noida where a man and his child were denied hotel accommodation for speaking Bengali.
“This man was not from Bangladesh, but from West Bengal. Yet he was refused a room,” Banerjee said, questioning why respect for languages is not mutual. She praised the sweetness of the Bengali language and urged people never to forget their mother tongue or Bengal’s historic role in India’s independence and social reforms.

Police in Bamunshikra, Paba, Rajshahi, discovered the bodies of four members of the same family hanging from ceiling fans on Friday morning. The deceased are Minarul Islam (30), his wife Sadhina Begum (28), their son Mahim (13), and 18-month-old daughter Mithila.
Authorities suspect family conflict may have led to the tragedy, but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The investigation is ongoing.

Although water levels in Lalmonirhat’s rivers have fallen slightly, low-lying and char areas remain submerged. On Thursday, the Teesta River at Dalia Barrage was flowing 18 cm above danger level; by Friday, it had dropped below that mark.
However, 20 villages in Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, and Sadar remain flooded, leaving at least 7,000 families marooned. Many have taken shelter on embankments or in schools with their livestock. Croplands remain underwater, and 44 sluice gates of the barrage are open to maintain normal water flow.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in an interview with CNA in Malaysia, emphasized that his interim government is committed to holding a fair and celebratory national election — but warned that reforms and justice must come first.
“If we start with elections, there will be no need for reforms or justice. Everything will be handed back to the elected, and the old problems will return — potentially leading to authoritarian rule again,” Yunus said.
He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s good relations with Pakistan and China, and expressed his intent to strengthen ties with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, envisioning the ‘Seven Sisters’ region as a strong economic bloc.

Since August 10, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has rolled out an online General Diary (GD) service in all its stations, enabling citizens to file GDs from home.
Through the “Online GD” app, available on Google Play Store, users can submit reports using their smartphone by following simple instructions. Applicants will receive a GD number and updates just like in-person filings. Authorities say the system ensures privacy by verifying mobile numbers and national IDs, while improving police transparency and saving citizens’ time. Traditional GD services will continue alongside the online option.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a new directive significantly increasing allowances for government training programs. Under the revised policy, officials at the Joint Secretary level and above attending subject-specific internal training sessions will receive 3,600 taka per hour, while Deputy Secretaries and lower-level employees will receive 3,000 taka.

Previously, third-grade officials or those at Joint Secretary level earned 2,500 taka per training hour. Fourth- and fifth-grade officials or Deputy Secretaries earned 2,000 taka per hour; the new rates now provide 3,600 and 3,000 taka, respectively.

Daily training allowances have also been increased: Grade 9 and above employees now receive 1,200 taka per day (up from 600), and Grade 10 and below receive 1,000 taka per day (up from 500). The honoraria for course directors have risen from 1,500 to 2,000 taka per day, course coordinators from 1,200 to 1,500 taka, and support staff from 500 to 1,000 taka.

This move reflects the government’s effort to better incentivize participation and acknowledge the contributions of trainers and staff involved in professional development programs.

A 45-year-old man, Mozaher Ali, was brutally beaten to death in Purboboroghona, Banshkhali on Thursday night. The victim’s family alleges that relatives of defendants in a previous case carried out the attack.
Months earlier, Mozaher’s home had been set ablaze, leading him to file a case against 23 people. Three suspects were in jail, and their bail was denied earlier in the day. On his way back from court, Mozaher was allegedly ambushed. Police have deployed forces in the area and sent the body for autopsy. A manhunt for the attackers is underway.