Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam delivered a firm message to those who believed they could escape justice for committing genocide in Bangladesh or disrupt the judicial process through counter-revolutionary acts: no one will be spared.

Speaking at a press briefing in the tribunal premises, Tajul affirmed that the prosecution process will continue unabated. He highlighted the sacrifices of young freedom fighters who secured Bangladesh’s second liberation and emphasized the state’s commitment to justice for over 1,500 victims through witness testimonies.

Meanwhile, prosecution statements were presented in the ongoing trial regarding the killing of six individuals, including student Anas, during the mass uprising at Chankharpul. Anas’s father, Shahriar Khan Palash, began testimony as the first witness, accompanied by the victim’s mother.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh’s first, is preparing for nuclear fuel loading in November, with power generation expected to start by year-end. A 14-member IAEA pre-OSART mission is inspecting the project’s safety and readiness until August 27. Most safety tests, including hot and cold tests, are complete. Once approved, 163 fuel assemblies from Russia will be installed in the reactor core. The $12.65 billion plant features two VVER-1200 reactors, each with 1,200 MW capacity.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night at 7:50 PM local time for a three-day official visit to Malaysia. He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2 PM Bangladesh time aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.

On Tuesday, Professor Yunus is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya. Key topics expected to dominate discussions include Rohingya repatriation, labor market expansion, sustainable deep-sea resource use, agriculture, and strengthening bilateral trade. Bangladesh will urge Malaysia and ASEAN countries to take a more active role in Rohingya repatriation efforts.

Education Advisor Professor Dr. C.R. Abrar has hailed the 2025 implementation plan for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a milestone for Bangladesh’s workforce development. The plan aims to transform the sector into a globally competitive and forward-looking system.

Dr. Abrar emphasized rising demand for TVET graduates in the service sector and the urgent need to equip youth with industry-relevant skills. Developed after nearly two years of nationwide consultations by the Directorate of Technical Education, the plan includes 87 strategic steps across six key result areas focusing on quality, relevance, access, institutional capacity, funding, and industry-education linkage. It will be implemented with EU-funded support under the HCDP-21 budget program.

UK Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq has described the accusations against her—related to land allotment in Dhaka’s Purbachal area and alleged embezzlement linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project—as “completely ridiculous.” She said she feels trapped in a Kafkaesque nightmare, facing overseas prosecution without knowing the exact charges.

Siddiq, a relative of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stressed she is not defending her family but demanding justice for the Bangladeshi people. She called herself “a scapegoat in the Yunus-Hasina conflict” and acknowledged that some people in Bangladesh have committed wrongdoing and deserve punishment.

Seven police officers have been promoted to the newly created supernumerary posts of Additional Inspector General (Addl. IG). Previously, these officers held the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG). The promoted officials are: DIG Md. Ali Hossain Fakir of the APBN, DIG G.M. Azizur Rahman of the SB, Additional Police Commissioner Md. Sarwar of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, DIG Md. Mostafa Kamal of the Armed Police Battalion, DIG Kazi Md. Fazlul Karim of the Police Headquarters, DIG Md. Rezaul Karim of Highway Police, and DIG Ahsan Habib Palash of Chattogram Range.

The government notification states that these seven supernumerary posts were created specifically for these promotions. The posts will automatically be dissolved if vacancies arise due to promotion, retirement, removal, or other reasons, with a validity period of one year from the date of creation. The promoted officers will continue their duties in their current roles while holding the new rank.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam confirmed that in the upcoming national parliamentary elections, alongside police and Ansar forces, over 80,000 military personnel will be deployed to ensure security. Naval, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) units will also be present on the ground. Body cameras will be used by police officers during the polls. After inspecting polling centers, the adviser urged political parties and citizens to cooperate for a smooth process. He noted improvements in law and order since July and stressed that no innocent individuals would face harassment despite previous politically motivated cases. Alam expressed confidence that the current security environment is conducive for free and fair elections, although acknowledging that such stability is unprecedented since Bangladesh’s independence.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus left Dhaka on Monday afternoon for a three-day state visit to Malaysia. He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2 PM on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Yunus is scheduled to meet Malaysia’s Prime Minister in Putrajaya on Tuesday for bilateral talks focusing on Rohingya repatriation, labor market expansion, sustainable deep-sea resource management, agriculture, and trade enhancement. Accompanying him are senior officials including the Foreign, Energy, and Legal Advisers.

Shami Kaiser has secured bail from the High Court in an attempted murder case filed over attacks on students during the recent mass uprising. The case pertains to an incident on April 9 in Uttara, where Zubair Hasan Yusuf, an honors student at Tongi Government College, was shot in the left shoulder near Azampur while protesters were targeted. Zubair survived after receiving medical treatment. Shami had been named in the case following this incident.

Witness testimonies have commenced in the high-profile Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) land allocation corruption cases involving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul, and others. The proceedings started Monday at Dhaka’s 5th Special Judge Court. The prosecution has already summoned defendants in three cases, including Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Salahuddin, Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, and SM Rashedul Hasan. The court had framed charges on July 31 and issued arrest warrants against the fugitives.

On Thursday, France’s Constitutional Council annulled the law permitting extended detention of immigrants, a move that brings relief to irregular migrants, including many Bangladeshis residing in France. Previously, the law allowed detention of serious offenders for up to 210 days instead of the earlier 90 days. The constitutional court ruled this extension unconstitutional, emphasizing the protection of personal freedom and dignity. With nearly 100,000 Bangladeshis living in France—many in irregular status—this ruling eases widespread community concerns. In 2024, around 40,000 immigrants were held in administrative detention centers. Human rights group La Cimade welcomed the ruling, though some political figures from the Interior Ministry argue it undermines public safety.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Turkey’s Balıkesir province early Sunday morning, leaving at least one person dead and 29 others injured.

The quake, centered in the Sindirgi district, caused 16 buildings to collapse and damaged two mosque minarets. Tremors were felt as far away as Istanbul, nearly 200 kilometers from the epicenter, home to over 16 million people.

According to Turkey’s interior minister, an elderly woman who was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Sindirgi later succumbed to her injuries. Several aftershocks followed, including one measuring 4.6 magnitude.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences and well wishes for the injured, posting: “May Allah protect our country from all calamities.”

Following the lead of the UK, France, and Canada, Australia has announced plans to officially recognize the Palestinian state. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this decision will be taken after receiving commitments at the United Nations General Assembly and from the Palestinian Authority. He emphasized, “A two-state solution remains humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and end the suffering, conflict, and famine in Gaza.” Albanese further revealed that the recognition comes after assurances from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas will have no role in any future state. This decision follows discussions over the past two weeks with leaders from the UK, France, New Zealand, and Japan.

An Israeli strike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza has killed five Al Jazeera journalists—reporters Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Quraikah, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
The group was in a press tent when it was hit. Al Jazeera called the attack a “deliberate and blatant assault on press freedom.” The IDF later admitted targeting Al-Sharif.
Since the start of the war in October, Israel has killed 186 journalists, according to Al Jazeera.

BSF and Meghalaya state police have arrested four Bangladeshi nationals from Rongdangai village, across the Tahirpur border in Sunamganj. Locals assaulted the men before handing them over.
The detainees include Jahangir Alam, ex-police constable Marfur Rahman, Sayem Hossain, and Mehfuz Rahman. They are accused of attacking and attempting to abduct a local resident, Balsang A. Marak, who was seriously injured.
One suspect claimed he was hunting tokay geckos, while the others said they fled to India seeking refuge from political cases due to their involvement with the Awami League.