Rising water levels in the Padma River have caused severe erosion, threatening Dighirpar Market in Tongibari Upazila, Munshiganj. Four shops have already collapsed into the river, forcing traders to relocate goods and dismantle structures. Locals report strong currents over the past few days, and a shifted geo-bag triggered sudden erosion on August 12. Authorities, including the Water Development Board, are coordinating emergency measures to prevent further damage, highlighting the need for permanent embankments to protect the market.

Dhaka — The father of Shaheed Adil has filed a case against 31 journalists alleged to be aligned with the Awami League, accusing them of aiding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in committing mass killings during the July uprising.

A court has taken the case into cognizance and instructed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to conduct a probe. Among the accused are prominent media figures such as Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Abul Kalam Azad, Farida Yasmin, Omar Faruk, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Shyamal Dutta, Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, and Sohel Haider, among others.

The case details the alleged scope and nature of Sheikh Hasina’s “fascism” and outlines the media’s “anti-people, fascist role” in enabling it. Specific reference is made to a July 24 meeting at Ganabhaban, where the journalists allegedly encouraged Hasina to commit atrocities, and to July 27, when they purportedly labeled the pro-uprising public as “militants” while holding protest programs in support of the regime.

Prime Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has returned home after a three-day state visit to Malaysia. According to the Prime Adviser’s Press Wing, his flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:10 pm on Wednesday. Dr. Yunus departed Kuala Lumpur for Dhaka at 7:30 pm local time. The visit, which began on August 11, was made at the invitation of Malaysia’s Prime Minister.

At least 10 people were injured when a passenger bus of Gorai Paribahan overturned into a pond in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, on Wednesday afternoon. The accident occurred around 1:00 PM in Keyabagan when the Jessore-bound bus from Kaliganj lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle. Locals and firefighters rescued the injured and took them to the Upazila Health Complex. Police confirmed there were no fatalities.

Following the large-scale plundering at Sadapathor, illegal stone extraction has now spread to Jaflong in Sylhet — not only during the day but also under the cover of night. Large boulders have already been removed from the Zero Point area, damaging both the beauty of the tourist hotspot and the environment. Visitors have expressed outrage, while authorities claim patrols have been increased to curb the theft. Sadapathor itself has been left almost barren due to open looting.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into large-scale illegal stone extraction from the Sadapathor tourist site in Sylhet. A nine-member ACC team visited the area on Wednesday, collecting evidence and speaking with locals. Police and administrative officials are also inspecting the site. Environmentalists and traders claim around 15 million cubic feet of stone worth over Tk 200 crore have been looted in the past year. ACC officials say a detailed report will be prepared, and action will be taken against those found guilty.

A court has withdrawn the temporary injunction on Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader’s political activities after senior co-chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, the plaintiff, dropped the case. The suit had alleged that Quader’s appointment as chairman in 2019 violated party rules and that he unlawfully approved a new constitution later that year. The dispute deepened after the removal of 10 presidium members from all party posts in June 2025, leading to the lawsuit filed in July.

Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) has reduced the prices of 33 essential medicines by 10–50% by dismantling market syndicates and downsizing unskilled staff, said Managing Director Samad Mridha. He revealed that the previous government had nearly 2,000 more employees than needed, most of them unskilled, with 722 already laid off and overtime halted. Cost-cutting measures have enabled significant price drops for drugs including omeprazole capsules, ketorolac injections, ondansetron injections, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime. Montelukast tablets were reduced from Tk 10.67 to Tk 5. Prices of 22 of the 32 medicines supplied to rural clinics have also been cut.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has left Kuala Lumpur for Dhaka following a three-day official visit. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the Bangladesh Biman flight carrying Yunus and his delegation departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 7:30 PM local time. Yunus visited Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, engaging in high-level meetings and a bilateral discussion with the Malaysian premier during his stay.

Distinguished academic and theorist Professor Jatin Sarkar passed away on Wednesday at 2:45 PM in the ICU of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He was 90. Sarkar had been under treatment for the past two and a half months after suffering a right femoral neck fracture in a fall on June 5. His son-in-law Rajib Sarkar confirmed the news of his passing. His younger brother, Professor Matindra Sarkar, said the body is being brought to his home in Netrokona, where people from all walks of life will pay their respects before the final rites. Professor Sarkar was a recipient of the Bangla Academy Literary Award.

The International Crimes Tribunal has scheduled August 21 to deliver its order on framing charges in the Ashulia case, in which six people were killed and their bodies burned during the 1971 Liberation War.

Earlier on Wednesday, police brought the accused to court in a prison van. On July 28, the tribunal appointed two state-funded lawyers for absconding defendants.

The prosecution formally submitted charges against 16 people on July 2, prompting the tribunal to issue arrest warrants for eight fugitives.

Attorney General M. Asaduzzaman has claimed that the High Court’s verdict on setting a minimum age for recognition as a freedom fighter was politically biased.

During Wednesday’s appellate hearing, the Attorney General argued that the case has stalled the verification process for freedom fighters. Previously, the minimum age was set at 12 years and 6 months, but a High Court ruling declared the related gazette and legal provision invalid after a petition challenged their legality.

The state later appealed, leading the Appellate Division to stay the High Court’s verdict.

Teachers from MPO-listed private educational institutions have given the interim government a one-month deadline to announce steps towards nationalizing their jobs.
Speaking at a rally at the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon after meeting the education adviser, leaders of the Nationalization-Seeking Teachers’ Alliance warned that if “visible and logical” progress is not made, they will launch a full-day work stoppage across all educational institutions on September 15.

Testimony has begun in three separate corruption cases against Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq over alleged irregularities in Purbachal land allocations.
Earlier on August 11, testimonies began in three similar cases against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul.
According to Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor Moinul Hossain, RAJUK plots are intended for Dhaka residents without existing property. However, the Hasina family allegedly submitted false affidavits claiming they had no land or houses in the capital, despite ACC findings to the contrary. The family is accused of misusing power to obtain a 60-katha plot, an offense punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Iranian police arrested nearly 21,000 “suspects” during a 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States in June, according to police spokesperson Saeed Montazerolmahdi. Public tip-offs rose by 41% during this period, leading to the arrests.
Although the spokesperson did not specify the alleged crimes, espionage charges were among Iran’s claims. Authorities detained 2,774 undocumented migrants, investigated 30 high-security cases through phone inspections, and arrested 261 people on suspicion of espionage along with 172 for unauthorized video recording. Seven men convicted of espionage have been executed. Many detainees have since been released.
During the war, Iranian police handled more than 5,700 cybercrime cases, including online fraud and unauthorized withdrawals.