Bangladesh Navy Chief Vice Admiral Khandker Misbah Ul Azim has been promoted to the rank of admiral, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate statement issued on Sunday morning. The announcement was published on August 23, 2026. He formally assumed duties as chief of the Bangladesh Navy on July 23.

A government notification signed by Defence Ministry Deputy Secretary M J Arif Beg appointed him Navy chief for three years, until July 22, 2029. Azim joined the Bangladesh Navy on January 1, 1987, received a commission in the executive branch in 1989, and completed initial training with distinction in the Royal Malaysian Navy. He also holds a PhD in maritime governance.

During nearly four decades of service, he held command, staff and training roles, including commander of the Chattogram and Dhaka naval areas, commander submarine and commandant of the Bangladesh Naval Academy. He served in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was most recently Bangladesh’s ambassador to Oman. His awards include the Navy Medal, Naval Efficiency Medal and National Integrity Award.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said Bangladesh will take steps to establish a postgraduate university modelled on those in developed countries. He made the announcement on Saturday at the closing ceremony of a two-day vice-chancellors’ dialogue at BRAC CDM in Savar, organised under the University Grants Commission’s Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation project.

The minister said Bangladesh has established many public and private universities but has not yet created a postgraduate university, unlike neighbouring countries and others that conduct world-class research. He said the prime minister had expressed interest in such an institution and that the government would support new universities built to international standards. He also said the education budget has reached 2 percent of GDP, with plans to raise it to 3 percent next year and gradually to 5 percent.

Milon urged universities to update curricula for labour-market needs and said the UGC was instructed to identify private universities failing to provide quality education. UGC Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed said a draft five-year strategy for higher education had been prepared and would be finalised after stakeholder consultation. He also announced an initiative for mandatory internships, including financial support for students.

Bangladesh ranked 127th among 147 countries in the World Happiness Report 2026, according to an article published by Amar Desh Online on August 22, 2026. The report places Bangladesh below conflict-affected Palestine, which ranked 108th, Pakistan at 109th and Somalia at 122nd. The article describes Bangladesh’s position as disappointing and says the findings renew questions about how comfortable and satisfying ordinary people’s lives are behind development and growth statistics.

The ranking is based on people’s overall assessment of their own lives through the Gallup World Poll. Participants place their current lives on an imagined ladder from zero, representing the worst possible life, to 10, representing the best possible life. Rankings generally use averages from three years of data. Researchers examine links with income per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of freedom from corruption.

No Muslim-majority country was among the top 20 in the 2026 report. The United Arab Emirates ranked 21st, Saudi Arabia 22nd, Kuwait 30th and Kazakhstan 43rd. Researchers cited in the article say religious identity should not be directly linked to happiness; safety, effective institutions, social trust and optimism about the future are more important considerations.

The deaths of 10 workers after exposure to toxic hydrogen sulfide gas at Ferdous Shipyard in Bhatiary, Sitakunda, Chattogram, have pushed Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry into a multifaceted crisis, according to the report published on August 22, 2026. The workers were affected while working in the ballast tank of the vessel MT Rashi on August 14; one additional worker later died during treatment.

The incident has raised questions about whether gas testing, gas-freeing, ventilation and emergency rescue arrangements were adequate before entry into the tank. The report says hydrogen sulfide dissolved in water accumulated at the tank bottom may have been released into the air during drainage. It also says poor safety standards could discourage international shipowners from sending old vessels to Bangladesh amid obligations linked to International Maritime Organization standards and the Hong Kong Convention.

Industry representatives called the tragedy a warning but opposed shutting down the sector. They urged modern gas detectors, quality protective equipment, ventilation, rescue systems, strict safety audits and training. A yard owner said any proven negligence should be addressed under state law, while warning against unnecessary harassment of entrepreneurs. The sector supplies raw materials for steel, re-rolling and construction and supports wider economic activity, employment and government revenue.

Jumman Tapadar, a Bangladeshi-origin young man from Khatra Bilwai in Ward No. 3 of Hajiganj municipality, Chandpur, has joined the United States Army. The report, published on August 22, 2026, said his achievement has brought joy to his family, relatives and local residents.

Tapadar is the youngest son of Billal Hossain Tapadar and Shahnaz Begum and comes from the Tapadar family of Khatra Bilwai village. His five-member family includes two sisters and one brother. He travelled to the United States in June 2023 in search of a livelihood.

While in the United States, he worked hard and completed the required process to join the US Army as part of efforts to build his future, the report said. Local people described the achievement as a matter of pride for Hajiganj and offered wishes for his future and career. His entire family currently lives in the United States.

Residents of Cumilla’s Burichong upazila say the roughly 10-kilometre road linking Rampur with the upazila headquarters remains badly damaged after years without meaningful repairs. The route is important for connections to Cumilla Cantonment, the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and the Cumilla-Sylhet regional highway. The report, published on August 22, 2026, says passengers, traders, patients, students and transport workers face daily hardship.

Pavement and stone layers have eroded in several sections, creating large potholes, while parts of both road edges have collapsed. Rainwater collects in the holes during even light rainfall, worsening travel conditions for CNG-run autorickshaws and goods vehicles. Regular commuter Monir Hossain called for prompt repairs, while driver Abul Hossain said vehicle parts are repeatedly damaged and much of his income is spent on maintenance.

The poor road condition is also affecting nearby industrial activity. About 12,000 workers of local Jihan Group use the route daily, and owner Shahzada Roni said workers pay double fares while company vehicles suffer damage. Upazila Engineer Alif Ahmed Akshar said the contractor, Jakaullah and Brothers, was penalised and its work order cancelled over delays. UNO Tanvir Hossain said authorities would inspect the road, discuss the matter and take steps for quick repairs.

Train services between northern Bangladesh and the rest of the country resumed around noon on 22 August 2026, about three hours after the Barendra Express became stranded at Puranapail in Joypurhat. A coil spring and part of the train body were damaged after the Rajshahi-bound train reached the area, disrupting broad-gauge rail communication with the northern region.

A relief train from Santahar Junction Station was sent to the scene after the incident was reported. The rescue team carried out temporary repairs to the damaged spring and moved the train to Joypurhat railway station. Services on routes to Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Panchagarh and Chilahati restarted at about 12pm.

Train director Chanowar Hossain said the fault was detected quickly and the train was stopped, preventing a major accident. Several passenger trains were held at stations including Joypurhat, Santahar, Parbatipur and Phulbari during the disruption. Long-distance passengers experienced some inconvenience before operations returned to normal.

Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) dismissed eight building inspectors on July 6, five months after they joined in February, declaring them ineligible. The 18 recruits had passed written and oral examinations held in January and were assigned to departments after joining at grade 16. The dispute centres on the eligibility terms in CDA’s recruitment notice and whether the authority’s 1990 service rules had been updated.

The affected workers say they held four-year diplomas in engineering, surveying technology, which they contend are equivalent to higher secondary education. They say their certificates were reviewed several times before appointment, and some had left jobs at the city corporation, WASA and elsewhere to join CDA. Nine recruits had also faced delayed salaries, while one worker from Kurigram left after not receiving pay.

Bangladesh Survey Institute principal Mobarak Hossain told CDA that institutions have not issued a “Survey Final” degree since 2004, instead awarding four-year diplomas in engineering. CDA Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain said the dismissals followed ministry instructions and that the eight appointments were illegal because the candidates lacked required qualifications. He said an investigation committee has been formed to identify those involved and take action.

The Chilahati-to-Rajshahi Barendra Express, train No. 732, broke down in the Puranapail area of Joypurhat on August 22, 2026, after a coach’s coil spring and body reportedly broke and dropped down. The train became stranded on the railway line, temporarily cutting rail links between the northern region and the rest of the country.

Train guard Anwar Hossain said the crew quickly detected the broken spring and body and stopped the train immediately. He said the timely action prevented a potentially major accident and protected hundreds of passengers. Local and railway sources said the failure occurred shortly after the train crossed the Puranapail rail gate area.

Train operations on routes toward Parbatipur, Santahar, Rajshahi and Dhaka, as well as other northern services, were completely suspended. Several passenger trains were left stranded at nearby stations, causing hardship for travellers. Authorities requested relief trains from Parbatipur and Santahar junction stations, and rescue trains had already departed for the site. Railway authorities could not immediately confirm when services would return to normal.

Rajshahi University’s central library lacks basic accessibility facilities for students with disabilities, despite operating since 1964, according to a report published on August 22, 2026. The library has more than 500 seats across reading rooms, discussion rooms and a reference room, but no ramps for entry, lifts to reach the second floor, or disability-friendly washrooms. As a result, students using wheelchairs or crutches have limited access to its services.

More than 30,000 students study at the university, including about 300 with physical disabilities across different departments. Law student Rifat Rahman, who uses a wheelchair, said he has reached the library veranda many times during four years on campus but has never been able to enter. Visually impaired history student Naim Hossain said there is no dedicated corner or suitable reading environment, and no Braille system.

Raksu social welfare secretary Abdullah Al Masud said he had submitted a list of required items and believed a budget may have been approved, though purchases had not begun. Library administrator Habibul Islam said the administration had been informed. Vice-Chancellor Faridul Islam called the situation regrettable and said funding had been allocated for work, including washroom arrangements across campus.

Residents and reports cited by Amar Desh allege that work on two roads and five bridges under the Local Government Engineering Department in Jhalakathi has slowed amid alleged close ties between LGED officials and Awami League-linked contractors. Several projects have passed their scheduled completion dates while contractors have withdrawn substantial payments, according to the report published on August 22, 2026.

The 5.7-kilometre Basanda Bridge-Himanandakathi-Bermahal road, budgeted at Tk28 crore, began in May 2024 and was due by November 19, 2025. LGED said 40 percent was complete, while residents disputed that assessment; Islam Brothers had withdrawn Tk5 crore. In Nalchity, the 730-metre Khairabad Bridge, budgeted at Tk123 crore, was reported 20 percent complete after its April deadline, with Tk20 crore withdrawn.

Other delayed works include roads in Nalchity, an iron bridge in Rajapur, and bridges in Kathalia. LGED Executive Engineer Kazi Mahmudullah said he was newly posted and had not yet learned all details, but contractors behind slow work had been orally instructed and could face necessary action if they failed to proceed.

In an opinion essay published by Amar Desh on August 22, 2026, teacher Mohammad Burhan Uddin Noman argues that Bangladesh’s examination-driven education system is failing to provide meaningful learning, employable skills and ethical grounding. He says rising enrolment, pass rates and university numbers can conceal “learning poverty,” in which students hold certificates but struggle with age-appropriate reading or basic mathematics.

The writer attributes the problem partly to an inherited system designed to sort people rather than develop them. He argues that coaching centres and guidebooks deepen inequality, while young people’s views are rarely included in education policymaking. According to the essay, the longstanding promise that good grades guarantee good jobs no longer reflects reality, as many young people enter the labour market without market-relevant skills while jobs remain unfilled.

Noman warns that unemployment and frustration can feed violence, political muscle power and extremism, while violence can deter investment and worsen joblessness. He calls for education that combines practical, market-oriented skills with moral education centred on honesty, justice and social responsibility. He also urges greater youth participation in curriculum development and greater support for employment and entrepreneurship.

Residents of about 30 villages in Kulaura upazila, Moulvibazar, are relying on an unstable bamboo footbridge after a concrete bridge over the Fanai River on the Palgram-Mukundapur road collapsed and was submerged by floodwaters. The disruption affects people in three unions and hundreds of school, college and madrasa students, according to the report published on August 22, 2026.

Locals said the bridge, built 10 years ago, was swept away by floodwater five years ago. Villagers later financed the bamboo crossing, but it too goes underwater during sudden floods and hill runoff in the monsoon. Students use the route to reach Longla Modern Degree College, Master Sharafat Ali High School, Chowdhury Bazar Alim Madrasa and other institutions.

Vehicle movement has stopped on the route, affecting ambulances, wedding vehicles and transport of rice, cattle, buffaloes and vegetables. Residents are using much longer roads instead. Students said crossing the bamboo structure puts their lives at risk and has discouraged some from attending classes. Upazila নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা Sanzida Akter said she was newly posted and would look into the matter to arrange bridge construction as soon as possible.

A 24-kilometre road from Sanuhar through Dhamura to Satla in Uzirpur, Barishal, has fallen into severe disrepair after years without major maintenance, affecting nearly 200,000 people across five unions. The August 21, 2026 report said potholes, broken pavement, standing rainwater and mud have made travel hazardous for motorcycles, easy bikes, vans, buses and freight trucks. More than 35,000 people use the route daily to reach the উপজেলা headquarters, hospital, police station, banks, markets and government offices.

Residents said the road has not received major repair work in eight years, while inadequate drainage has worsened damage, particularly around Eidgah Market. A hearse-carrying ambulance, an autorickshaw and a bus were recently stranded in potholes, halting traffic for hours. Drivers cited accident risks, vehicle damage and reduced earnings, while students said rain makes their school journeys difficult.

LGED had tendered three packages in 2023-24 for about Tk45 crore. Work on an eight-kilometre section is ongoing, while a newly awarded Tk24.2 crore package must be completed within a year. Tendering for the remaining eight kilometres has not begun because it is not included in the DPP.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury urged authorities to weigh government priorities, employment prospects and entrepreneurship opportunities before establishing new universities or introducing new departments and subjects. He also advised the University Grants Commission chairman against recommending unplanned university approvals. The remarks came Friday at the opening day of a two-day vice-chancellors’ dialogue under the UGC’s Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation project at BRAC CDM in Savar.

Chowdhury said higher-education curricula must align with economic needs and labour-market realities, with universities preparing students for employment and entrepreneurship rather than certificates alone. He said the government had increased education allocations despite an economic crisis and was working to raise education spending gradually to 5 percent of gross domestic product. He stressed transparent and effective use of funding for quality, research and skills.

Speakers called for stronger university-industry collaboration, practical research, curriculum updates and career support. UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed said graduate unemployment and employers’ difficulty finding skilled workers remained major challenges. He said the UGC was preparing a five-year strategy for sustainable transformation of higher education.