Political adviser Asif Mahmud has announced he will resign from government duties before the election schedule is declared, citing his active involvement in politics since 2018. Speaking on Khaled Muhiuddin’s program Thikana on Tuesday, Mahmud stressed that election-time governments should not include politically active figures, to avoid any conflict of interest.
Mahmud dismissed speculation that he would contest from Muradnagar, stating that his political focus remains at the national level and that Dhaka is his preferred political base. He also denied confirming whether he would join the NCP, though acknowledged close ties with its former wing, Janak. Additionally, Mahmud labeled allegations against his father involving corruption and sheltering criminals as smear campaigns, vowing legal action.

Severe wildfires and an intense heatwave have claimed at least three lives in southern Europe, forcing thousands to evacuate. Temperatures have topped 40°C across Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, with red heat alerts in place. Spain’s weather service warned of highs reaching 44°C in Seville and Cordoba. In Tres Cantos, near Madrid, a stable worker died after flames—fueled by 70 km/h winds—spread into residential areas. Over 1,000 troops have been deployed to fight the fires. Portugal is battling three major blazes, while Sardinia saw the death of a four-year-old Romanian child found unconscious in a car. France has heat warnings in three-quarters of the country, and Greece is fighting over 150 active wildfires.

Students of Rabindra University have blocked railway lines in Ullapara, Sirajganj, demanding the construction of a permanent campus. Joined by faculty and staff in solidarity, they began their protest at 9 a.m. Wednesday, halting rail services between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh. Protesters noted that despite nine years since the university’s founding, it still lacks a permanent campus, depriving students of quality education and facilities. They warned of tougher action if demands are not swiftly met.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed that India will never be allowed to take “a single drop” of Pakistan’s water. “If you try, you’ll be taught a lesson so harsh you’ll be made to stand holding your ears,” he warned. Former minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier called the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty an “attack on the Indus civilization,” pledging provincial resistance if war was imposed. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in June that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty, reaffirming on Monday that western rivers must flow freely for Pakistan’s use. India has rejected the PCA’s jurisdiction and verdict.

The latest US State Department human rights report, released Tuesday, states that Bangladesh’s human rights situation has remained stable since August last year. Citing the July uprising, Sheikh Hasina’s flight, and Muhammad Yunus’s assumption of office as Chief Adviser, the report lists past abuses under the previous government—including killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on free speech and media, censorship, journalist detentions, and labor law violations. It noted that while the Hasina administration failed to prosecute offenders, the interim government has since detained those involved in rights violations.

On Wednesday morning, Malaysia’s Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia awarded an honorary doctorate to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus. Addressing students, Yunus said the youth-led uprising of July–August 2024 had given new meaning to the nation’s future hopes. The government, he stressed, is working toward holding a free, fair, and transparent election in February 2026 to transfer power to true representatives of the people. He reiterated that peace, stability, and reforms aimed at building a “New Bangladesh” remain the interim administration’s core objectives.

A government-appointed probe committee has begun investigating the July 16 violence in Gopalganj linked to the National Committee for the Protection of People’s Rights (NCP) march. On Tuesday evening, Additional Secretary of the Public Security Division, Khondker Md. Mahbubur Rahman, urged journalists to share more information during a media briefing. Earlier in the day, committee members visited the scenes of clashes, including Ulpur in Gopalganj Sadar, the district prison, the deputy commissioner’s residence area, and the NCP rally venue. The interim government formed the six-member body on July 24, led by former Justice Dr. Md. Abu Tariq.

A Bangladeshi man from Jhenaigati upazila was beaten to death by locals in Meghalaya’s Khasi Hills district over allegations of border intrusion and an attempted abduction. Akram, injured in the assault, died on Tuesday.
Locals alleged that at least eight Bangladeshis tried to kidnap a resident of Rongdangai village on Monday and vandalized homes during the attack. Villagers captured six Bangladeshis, severely beating them before handing them over to authorities. Police recovered a revolver, ID cards, three wireless sets, and a magazine. Three detainees have been produced in court, while two others remain hospitalized.

Adviser Farida Akhter stated that Bangladesh’s vast marine resources could significantly enhance food security, yet only 30% of the country’s required fish is currently sourced from the sea—far below its potential. By contrast, inland water bodies provide about 50%.
She called for effective initiatives to harness marine wealth for economic growth, community development, and foreign currency earnings through exports. Farida stressed that marine fish are vital for nutrition but remain less popular than inland varieties, except for hilsa, which enjoys widespread demand.

Five senior officers of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have been promoted to the ranks of Deputy Police Commissioner and Assistant Police Commissioner. Among the promoted, A.F.M. Anwar Hossain Khan has been assigned to the City Research and Development Division, while Mohammad Morshed Alam will serve in the City Intelligence and Analysis Division. Additionally, Shirin Akter has been posted to the PR and HRD Division of the Detective Branch (DB), Jannatul Ferdous to the Intelligence, Cyber, and Special Crime (North) Division, and Monwara Akter Rifat to the Women Support and Investigation Division.

A small single-engine plane crashed into parked aircraft while landing at Kalispell City Airport in Montana, sparking fires on several planes. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time on August 11. Authorities said the pilot lost control before the crash. Two people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. The Socata TBM 700 turboprop had originated from Pullman, Washington. Fire crews contained the blaze after it spread to nearby grass. The aircraft was built in 2011 and owned by Meter Sky LLC.

Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser, has urged Malaysia to keep its labor market open to Bangladeshi workers in the long term. Speaking at a joint press conference, Yunus expressed gratitude to Malaysia for welcoming Bangladeshi workers as friends and family, highlighting the mutual benefits of labor cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the vital contributions of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia’s development, affirming Bangladesh as one of Malaysia’s key partners. To maintain workers’ family ties and ensure workplace safety, Malaysia has introduced multiple-entry visas for Bangladeshi laborers, further strengthening bilateral relations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Malaysia, along with several regional partner countries, will jointly dispatch a delegation to Myanmar. The mission’s objectives include fostering peace and ensuring humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh. Anwar stressed that establishing peace in Myanmar is a top priority, alongside delivering immediate humanitarian aid to victims, including refugees and earthquake survivors. The Malaysian Foreign Minister is expected to coordinate the Myanmar mission in the coming weeks, with participation from foreign ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Anwar expressed concern over the heavy burden Bangladesh bears in hosting a large number of Rohingya refugees. According to UN data, nearly 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in the past 18 months due to escalating violence primarily targeting the Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine State.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent a letter to Interpol requesting a five-year extension on the red notice for fugitive money launderer Prashanta Kumar Halder. The current notice is set to expire this December. Earlier, on July 5, Interpol notified the ACC through the Police Headquarters, seeking Bangladesh’s position on whether to withdraw or extend the notice. Halder, currently imprisoned in India, was sentenced to 22 years in a Bangladesh court and is under investigation in over 50 cases by the ACC. The move aims to ensure continued international cooperation in his pursuit.

Eight engineering students have fallen ill while on a relentless hunger strike demanding the establishment of an independent education board modeled after the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The protest, aimed at securing academic and administrative autonomy, has now surpassed 42 hours. Over a hundred students from engineering colleges in Mymensingh, Barisal, Faridpur, and Sylhet are participating. Despite the worsening health of the students, authorities remain silent. The protesters emphasize that engineering education forms the backbone of the country’s industry, technology, and economy and urge the government to support their demands to safeguard the future of engineering education. Although several organizations, including the National Council of Private Institutions (NCPI), have shown solidarity, no response has come from any relevant department or ministry. The students call on officials to witness firsthand the helplessness and suffering their peers are enduring.