Dhaka – The interim government has extended the term of the seven-member National Consensus Commission by one month, now set to expire on September 15. The commission, led by the Chief Adviser and with Prof. Ali Riaz as vice-chairman, was formed on February 12 to develop recommendations for constitutional reforms. The original six-month deadline was due to end on August 15. Members include Abdul Mueed Chowdhury, Safar Raj Hossain, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Emdadul Haque, and Dr. Iftekharuzzaman.

Austin, Texas – Three people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside a Target store in Austin on Monday. Police have detained a suspected shooter, described as a white male wearing shorts and a Hawaiian-print shirt. Emergency services said they assisted four individuals but did not provide further details. Authorities are still securing the area, and the investigation remains ongoing.

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that both Ukraine and Russia should cede some territory to reach a peace deal. Speaking Monday, Trump said this would be the main topic in his upcoming Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“I’ll tell Putin—this war must end. You have to do it,” Trump said, claiming he could gauge in “two minutes” whether Putin is interested in a deal.
Trump hinted at a possible future three-way meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and plans to consult European leaders after speaking with Putin.
Russia currently occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, while Ukraine holds virtually no Russian land. Both countries have previously rejected Trump’s land-swap proposal.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam has presented the transcript of a July 14 phone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal before a tribunal.
In the call, Hasina said, “We executed the Razakars; now we’ll do the same to you. I won’t spare a single one.” The discussion touched on political unrest, security concerns, and plans to take strong measures against perceived opponents. Kamal also mentioned that some Chhatra League leaders had taken shelter at his home and that he intended to expel movement leaders from the university.

Following bilateral talks with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced that Bangladesh is prepared to hold national elections in mid-February.
At a joint briefing, Yunus expressed gratitude to Malaysia for supporting education and employment opportunities for Bangladeshi youth and invited Malaysian businesses to invest in Bangladesh.
Calling the Rohingya situation a “major crisis,” he sought ASEAN’s assistance in resolving the issue. Anwar Ibrahim praised Yunus for his role in promoting peace in Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya during his official visit to Malaysia.
The meeting featured a red-carpet reception and a guard of honor before the leaders held private talks. The two countries signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in defense, energy, halal food, and other sectors.
Discussions also covered resolving issues related to Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, strengthening cooperation in trade, higher education, agriculture, the blue economy, ASEAN initiatives, and the Rohingya crisis.

Authorities in Tamil Nadu have shut down one of the units at India’s largest nuclear power plant for scheduled maintenance, raising concerns over potential electricity price hikes in the south.
The 1,000-megawatt unit has been offline since August 3 and will remain shut for 65 days. If electricity demand surges, the state may be forced to purchase power from the market.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen said in Joypurhat that the government gives no protection to corruption, regardless of who is accused.
Addressing public concerns, he stated: “If the ACC has specific allegations against anyone—even our advisers—we will not spare them.” Momen also urged scrutiny within the ACC itself, stressing the need for integrity among its own officers.
He expressed hope of making Joypurhat the country’s first corruption-free district and assured residents during a public hearing that all complaints would be investigated and resolved.

A Dhaka court has once again postponed the submission of the investigation report in the 2012 murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi—marking the 120th delay. The new date is set for September 14.
The couple was killed at their rented apartment in Dhaka’s West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012, while their four-and-a-half-year-old son Megh was at home. The case involves multiple accused, including security guards and acquaintances of the couple. Some remain in jail, while others are out on bail.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to remove homeless people from Washington, D.C., drawing sharp criticism from the city’s mayor. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said, “We’ll give you a place to stay, but far from the capital. Criminals will be sent to prison, where they belong. This will happen very quickly.”

Trump argued the move was part of his crime-fighting plan. However, the mayor countered that crime rates are not currently rising. Despite this, preparations are underway to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops in the city. Sharing images of tents and garbage, Trump wrote, “No gentlemanly posturing— we want our capital back. Thank you for your attention!” The mayor firmly opposed his decision.

Engineering college students from Mymensingh, Faridpur, Sylhet, and Barishal are staging a hunger strike in front of the National Press Club, demanding an independent education board to ensure academic and administrative autonomy.
The protest entered its 30th hour on Monday, with two students already falling ill. The students claim they have not received any government response.
They have been boycotting classes and exams since May 20, shifting their protest to the Central Shaheed Minar on July 27. A nine-day ultimatum issued on July 31 expired without resolution, prompting the indefinite hunger strike.

From January 1 to July 31 this year, at least 111 people in Bangladesh have been killed in incidents of mob violence, according to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).
In a statement, the rights body condemned the August 9 killing of two men in Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila, where they were beaten to death on suspicion of stealing a van.
ASK stressed that “taking the law into one’s own hands is a clear violation of the rule of law, the Constitution, and human rights” and also breaches international human rights law. The organization warned that the culture of impunity surrounding mob killings is eroding social harmony and public security, calling for strict identification and prosecution of perpetrators.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus received a red-carpet welcome upon arrival in Malaysia, greeted by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Yunus inspected a guard of honour by the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
On Tuesday, he will be formally welcomed at the Perdana Putra Complex before holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. His visit includes a state dinner, a public address, and receiving an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Business from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
The trip is expected to see the signing of several MoUs in defence, energy, strategic and international research, semiconductor capacity building, and trade promotion.

Police in Sunamganj have arrested mosque imam Sajidur Rahman, 40, on allegations of raping a child student. The incident reportedly took place Monday at Islampur Jame Mosque in Doarabazar upazila.
Police stated that the imam lured the child to his room under the pretext of sweeping and then assaulted her. The victim informed her family, who alerted the authorities. Preliminary investigations have confirmed the allegations, and the child has been sent for medical examination. Legal proceedings are underway.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah has confirmed that the Election Commission (EC) will no longer use EVMs in the upcoming parliamentary polls but will reinstate the provision for a “No” vote. In constituencies with a single candidate, the contender must face a “No” vote challenge rather than win unopposed.
The EC’s authority to cancel election results has been restored, along with provisions for punitive measures against violations of the electoral code of conduct. Journalists will be allowed to observe vote counting but cannot leave midway.
The commission also decided that if a political party is barred from political activities, its registration may be revoked. Importantly, candidates who submit false information in affidavits can face EC action even after winning.