Bangladesh recorded 16,065 motorcycle crashes between 2020 and July 2026, killing 15,712 people and injuring 14,143, according to a Road Safety Foundation report released Saturday. The report said 2025 had the highest annual totals, with 3,029 crashes and 2,671 deaths. Through July this year, 1,311 crashes had killed 1,177 people.

Heavy vehicles striking motorcycles accounted for 6,314 crashes, or 39.30 percent, while loss of motorcycle control caused 5,497 incidents. Freight vehicles were identified as responsible for 6,481 crashes, and motorcycle riders alone for 5,831. Regional roads recorded the most crashes, 6,689, and 58 percent of those affected were aged 13 to 35.

The foundation cited reckless riding, traffic-law violations, weak enforcement, poor road infrastructure, limited technology and monitoring, inadequate public transport and severe congestion as contributing factors. It recommended safety and monitoring technology, mandatory quality helmets, stricter enforcement, awareness campaigns, safer road infrastructure and affordable, passenger-friendly public transport.

Dhaka ranked 171st among 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2026 Liveability Index, placing Bangladesh’s capital as the world’s third least liveable city. Copenhagen, Denmark, retained first place for a second consecutive year, according to the list published on August 8. Copenhagen scored 98 overall, while Dhaka scored 42, leaving a 56-point gap between the two cities.

Other cities in the top 10 were Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, Vancouver and Tokyo. The index evaluates cities across five areas: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Dhaka’s weakest result was infrastructure, with a score of 27. It received 45 for stability, 42 for healthcare, 41 for culture and environment, and 67 for education.

The report said Asia’s average liveability score rose to 74, but Dhaka remained 32 points below that level. Dhaka University professor Mohammad Shafi Ullah called for controlling air pollution, reducing waste and polythene use, changing public habits, and enforcing laws. He identified vehicles and waste as major sources of air pollution and said effective frameworks and enforcement could help improve civic behaviour and liveability.

Umair Ibn Zahir, who grew up in Gazipur, has been elected vice president of the student union at Al-Bukhary International University in Malaysia. The report, published on August 8, 2026, says he first won a general seat and then completed further nomination, voting and interview stages to assume the vice-presidential role. He applied for a university scholarship in May 2024, received the offer letter in November that year, and began his new academic journey in December.

Umair studied at the Tongi branch of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah and was involved with cultural and volunteer organisations, including Turag Shilpigosthi. The university has students from more than 65 countries. Candidates must undergo reviews of academic performance, behavioural records and other matters before becoming eligible to contest. Umair said the institution's five core teachings—Aqidah, Akhlak, Adab, Amanah and Amalan—have strengthened his thinking, leadership and ethical values.

During his campaign, he pledged to address student problems, support personal development, build leadership and skills, and promote mental well-being. He also promised to create an effective bridge between students and university authorities. Umair said he sees himself as a representative of Bangladesh and wants to work on academic excellence, co-curricular participation, ethical values and mental well-being for international students.

In an article published on August 8, 2026, educator Dr Shahjahan Khan called for values-based higher education in Bangladesh as an urgent strategy to address corruption and violent social crime. He cited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s repeated emphasis on traditional family values and morality-based education. The article places the appeal amid concerns over extortion, corruption, youth drug addiction, mistreatment of elderly parents and sexual assaults on children.

Khan wrote that Bangladesh has expanded higher education to more than 170 public and private universities, but questioned whether institutions are producing people of sound character alongside qualified graduates. He argued that universities have given comparatively less attention to integrity, justice, accountability, empathy and social responsibility. The article cited Finland, Japan, Singapore and Australia as examples of education systems incorporating trust, discipline, character building, citizenship and ethics.

The author proposed integrating ethics across all curricula, enforcing academic-integrity policies, providing mandatory teacher training, encouraging service learning, ensuring transparent appointments and administration, strengthening counselling and supporting research on ethics. He called for a coordinated national framework and said universities are best placed to lead the change.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Toronto-Rome-Dhaka flight BG306 was grounded at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, after a fault was detected in its pressurization system. The 256 passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft after about seven hours. Airline sources said the problem was found during a technical inspection after the plane landed in Rome, and the flight cannot depart until repairs and required safety checks are completed.

Passengers were disembarked at about 2:30 p.m. local time, but visa complications prevented their immediate transfer to hotels. Food allocated for passengers on the aircraft was supplied on the ground. One stranded passenger said they had remained inside the aircraft for a long time before being taken off around 8:30 p.m. Bangladesh time, when hotel-transfer arrangements began. The passenger also complained of insufficient assistance from airport authorities.

Biman said it is arranging to send engineers and necessary parts from Dhaka to Rome for further inspection and repairs. It has arranged accommodation, food and other support for BG306 passengers in Rome, but said the departure time for Dhaka remains uncertain. BG305, the Dhaka-Rome-Toronto service operated by the same aircraft, will also be delayed, with a new departure time set for 1 p.m. on August 8.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ BG306 flight from Toronto to Dhaka was held for more than seven hours at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy after an unexpected technical fault. The problem emerged at about 7:20 a.m. local time on Friday during a routine refuelling stop. Passengers said 260 people were still aboard the aircraft while it remained at the airport.

The flight departed Toronto at about 5 p.m. local time on Thursday for Dhaka, with a scheduled refuelling stop in Italy. After landing in Rome, passengers were told that the aircraft had developed a technical problem requiring repairs. As of 1:30 p.m. local time, the flight was still at the airport, and authorities could not confirm when it would resume its journey.

Biman said technical inspections and corrective work were under way to protect passenger safety and security. BG306 will leave Rome for Dhaka after the fault is fully resolved and required safety checks are completed. The airline said BG305, operating the Dhaka-Rome-Toronto route with the same aircraft, would also be delayed. Accommodation, meals and other necessary support were arranged for BG306 passengers in Rome.

Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa) founder Ilias Kanchan said Bangladesh can significantly reduce road accidents through coordinated action, political will, effective law enforcement, science-based planning, modern technology and public participation. He made the remarks on Friday at Nischa’s 11th Grand Rally 2026 at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.

The organisation welcomed the government’s ongoing initiatives and submitted a practical national action plan along with a 12-point recommendation paper. Kanchan said establishing safe roads is not the responsibility of any single person or institution, but a national duty and a basic human right. He called for joint work by the government, elected representatives, administration, law enforcement agencies, transport owners and workers, engineers, researchers, teachers, students, media and the public.

Chief guest Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury stressed the roles of values, education and a culture of obeying laws in road safety. He urged the use of drama, film, music, folk culture, media and social media to spread safety messages. Nischa said governance, accountability, technology, research and citizen participation could help build a safe, sustainable and humane transport system.

The Sitakunda section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway faces safety concerns linked to design weaknesses, poor maintenance and illegal U-turns, according to a report published on August 7, 2026. The Namar Bazar underpass, built nearly 16 years ago under the four-lane development project, continues to cause public hardship through monsoon waterlogging and obstacles to emergency vehicles.

The Sitakunda bypass road and Namar Bazar underpass were built in 2010 under package 9 of the project by Chinese contractor Sinohydro Corporation. However, the relevant offices reportedly cannot locate the project’s original designs, technical specifications and cost documents. Fire Service assistant director Anwar Hossain said the low underpass would prevent specialised heavy rescue vehicles from passing during a major incident, potentially delaying rescue work.

More than a hundred illegal crossing points have reportedly been created by cutting or moving concrete highway dividers in several areas. Road Safety Foundation chairman Md Saidur Rahman called for planned U-turns, service roads and safe crossings. Roads and Highways Department officials said they were reviewing the missing documents and working on possible technical solutions, including measures to ensure emergency vehicles can travel without obstruction.

Dhaka University authorities have activated air conditioning at the university’s central mosque, according to a statement posted on August 7, 2026 by Sadiq Kayem, vice president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, known as DUCSU. The announcement was made in the evening, and said the administration had taken the step following strong demands from DUCSU.

Kayem wrote that the university administration finally switched on the air conditioning system at the central mosque in the face of DUCSU’s intense demand. The source does not provide further details about the demand, the system, or any response from university authorities.

The DUCSU vice president also shared a video clip with his statement. The footage showed the mosque’s air conditioning switched on, while several worshippers were seen performing prayers inside the central mosque.

Four coaches of the Dhaka-bound Jamalpur Commuter train derailed near Shibganj rail crossing as it was about to enter Gafargaon railway station in Mymensingh on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 9am and suspended train services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route for nearly eight hours. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Witnesses said the train shook with a loud sound shortly before entering the station, after which the four coaches behind the engine derailed and were thrown beside the tracks. Passengers were alarmed by the sudden incident. The closure of the Gafargaon-Shibganj rail crossing also temporarily stopped traffic on the Bhaluka-Gafargaon road, causing hardship for passengers, drivers and local residents.

Station Master Hanif Ali said railway rescue personnel began recovery work immediately. The four coaches were recovered with a relief train around 4pm, and services resumed at 4:55pm after track repairs. Intercity and commuter trains on the route faced major schedule disruptions, with many running hours late. Railway authorities advised passengers to use alternative road routes, while an investigation committee inspected the site to determine the cause and recommend necessary measures.

Authorities in Tembilahan, in Indonesia’s Indragiri Hilir Regency of Riau province, captured a wild monkey accused of carrying out attacks over several weeks that injured at least 17 people. The animal was caught in a joint operation involving police, military personnel, firefighters and wildlife officials on Thursday. Authorities had set traps in the area after attacks began on July 25.

Indragiri Hilir police chief Doni Eko Listiyanto said Riau’s natural resources conservation agency, BKSDA, placed three traps at locations where the monkey was believed to hide. One of them caught the animal. Officials believe the detained monkey was responsible for the incidents, which began after a group of long-tailed macaques was seen in Tembilahan.

The reported victims include children and older people. Attacks occurred on roads, outside homes and inside several houses, and some injured people required stitches. Officials had suspected a large adult male monkey. They said the captured animal’s size, aggressive behavior and a distinctive facial mark matched descriptions provided by victims and witnesses. All schools in Tembilahan district had been ordered to suspend in-person classes for three days and begin online learning from Wednesday for safety reasons.

Jinjira Pir Mohammad Pilot Girls’ High School in Keraniganj, Dhaka, faces allegations of prolonged leadership vacancies, teacher factionalism, financial irregularities and rule violations in appointments. The report published on August 7, 2026 said parents and local residents believe the situation is negatively affecting administration and educational activities at the school, which has about 2,600 students.

Local sources said the head teacher post has remained vacant since former head teacher Abu Raihan was suspended in 2023. The assistant head teacher post has reportedly been vacant for two years and the physical education teacher post for four years. Despite senior teachers being employed, dress-making teacher Tahmina Akter is serving as acting head teacher, while concerned parties claim she does not meet requirements under teacher appointment rules.

The report also cited allegations concerning school income and spending, management of its bank account, and development work conducted without tenders. Tahmina Akter denied that any work was done without tenders. She declined to disclose the amount in the school fund or spending details, saying she would not show income and expenditure accounts to anyone outside the school management committee.

A severe traffic jam developed on the Cumilla section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Friday, stretching nearly 30 kilometres from the Cantonment area to Miah Bazar in Chauddagram upazila. Passenger buses, cargo trucks, covered vans and other vehicles were stranded for hours, causing major hardship for drivers and passengers. Patients travelling to Dhaka from the southeast region were reported to be particularly affected.

Abdul Mumin, officer-in-charge of Cumilla Mainamati Highway Police Station, said ongoing road repair work by the Roads and Highways Department at Amtali Bishwaroad was disrupting traffic. Large potholes had formed about one kilometre east of the Cantonment area after several days of rain, and repairs were under way. The congestion began early Friday and extended beyond Chauddagram by noon, described by authorities as the largest traffic jam in recent years.

Hundreds of buses and other vehicles used the old road via Chaura-Gomti and Amtali Bishwaroad to avoid the jam, increasing pressure on alternative routes. Highway police deployed multiple teams to ease congestion. Police Superintendent Mohammad Shahinur Alam said traffic ahead was moving slowly, so normal conditions would take time to return. An ambulance driver carrying a patient to Dhaka said he had been stuck for an hour.

National University has released the results of its 2023 master's final examinations. The results were formally announced at 6pm on Thursday, August 6, according to a press release.

A total of 181,992 students from 181 colleges took part in the examinations. The published pass rate was 60.97 percent.

Candidates can obtain detailed results through the National University's official results websites: https://result.nu.ac.bd/ and http://103.113.200.8/.

The government has appointed Ms Kazi Jesin as director general, Grade-1, of Bangladesh Television (BTV) on a contractual basis for one year. The appointment will take effect from her date of joining, according to a report published on August 6, 2026.

A notification on the appointment was issued on Thursday by the Contracts and Foreign Appointment Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration. The notification cited Section 11(2) of the Bangladesh Television Authority Act, 2001 as the basis for the appointment.

Under the stated condition, Jesin must sever employment relationships with any other profession, business, or government, semi-government, private institution or organization before joining the BTV post. The notification said the remaining terms of the appointment will be determined through a contract agreement.