Md. Sarwar Alam officially took charge as the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet on Thursday morning. He was welcomed at the DC office by district officials in the presence of senior administration leaders, including the Divisional Commissioner. A 27th BCS administration cadre officer, Alam previously served as Private Secretary to an advisor at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Widely recognized for his anti-adulteration drives as RAB Executive Magistrate, he has now been appointed Sylhet’s DC.

A devastating fire broke out at a CNG fuel station in Auskandi, Nabiganj on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway early Thursday morning. The blaze, triggered by an explosion while refueling a bus, spread rapidly, destroying 10 CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a bus. Six people, including station staff and drivers, were critically injured and rushed to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after 30 minutes. Initial estimates suggest damages of around Tk 200 million.

The Netherlands is deploying 300 troops along with a Patriot air defense missile system to Poland to protect NATO territory, secure supplies to Ukraine, and deter Russian aggression, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said. The move follows a suspected Russian drone incident in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Germany has also deployed Eurofighter jets to Poland and Romania ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises. No casualties were reported from the drone incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hamidur Rahman Azad has stated that there is no objection to holding elections in February. However, he stressed that a level playing field has not yet been ensured ahead of the polls. “Our demand is that elections must be conducted under the National Committee for Observing Rules (NCOR),” he said after meeting the Election Commission (EC).

Azad added that Jamaat has urged the Chief Election Commissioner to consider all stakeholders’ opinions regarding the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries. He emphasized that proportional representation (PR) is essential to prevent election-related violence and irregularities. “Not everyone may favor this system; even the caretaker government had reservations. But a PR-based election is ultimately in the nation’s interest. If the people demand it, it must be implemented,” he said.

Azad affirmed that Jamaat will campaign vigorously for the PR system while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming elections. “We have always been sincere about fair elections. We believe this system will benefit the country. We are fielding candidates for all 300 parliamentary seats and are actively engaging with the public to shape opinion,” he added.

Former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley has cautioned President Donald Trump not to view India as a competitor like China amid escalating tensions over U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and oil imports from Russia. Haley emphasized that issues like tariffs or U.S. involvement in India-Pakistan ceasefires should not divide the world’s two largest democracies. She urged Washington to recognize India as a valuable democratic partner and warned that undermining decades of strategic cooperation would be a serious geopolitical mistake.

NCP Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the party aims to amend the constitution through a People’s Assembly before holding national elections. He emphasized that while many focus only on parliamentary elections, the government must decide on the full reform agenda to ensure proper timing and implementation. Akhtar has been actively distributing campaign materials across Rangpur to raise public awareness on reform, justice, the People’s Assembly, and national elections.

From exile in India, former state minister Mohammad A. Arafat says his only mission is to overthrow Muhammad Yunus’s “illegitimate” government and bring Sheikh Hasina back. Arafat claims he works day and night for the Awami League, with no time for leisure. Reports note that over 2,000 Awami League leaders, officials, and journalists fled to India after Hasina’s fall, many settling in Kolkata’s New Town. Some ex-MPs live together, pray regularly, exercise, and adjust to life in exile.

The government has appointed three new members to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), raising the total number to 18. The newly appointed members are Dr. Md. Mahiuddin, Dr. Muhammad Shaheen Chowdhury, professor at the University of Chittagong, and Dr. M. Amzad Hossain, professor at the University of Rajshahi. According to the gazette, the President made the appointments under Article 138(1) of the Constitution. They will serve for five years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first.

The US Navy’s plan to develop an autonomous drone fleet to counter China is facing multiple challenges, including technical failures, accidents, and leadership changes. Recent incidents saw drones collide or malfunction during exercises, highlighting software flaws and human errors. The Navy’s acquisition unit is under review, with restructuring possible. Experts stress the need to reassess strategies, as decades-old traditions and bureaucratic hurdles slow adoption of advanced autonomous systems intended to operate in coordinated groups without human control.

A court has granted relief to 65 BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul, in a case under the Explosives Act filed at Ramna Model Police Station. The court accepted the final report on Thursday. Among those exonerated are BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, and others. The case stemmed from allegations that party members caused vehicle damage, obstructed police duties, and detonated explosives during the BNP’s pre-announced mass rally on October 28, 2023.

Bangladesh has launched major reforms in banking, taxation, and trade, targeting weak banks, oligarch influence, and U.S. tariff impacts. The central bank is reviewing assets for mergers, while NBR is restructuring staff and processes to simplify business and improve revenue policy. Trade facilitation, port upgrades, and financial support for key industries aim to maintain competitiveness post-2026 LDC graduation. Ongoing reforms also include digital financial systems, anti-corruption measures, and incentives for SMEs to strengthen industrial growth and employment.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a meeting with a delegation from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan. Led by Standing Committee member Abdul Moin Khan, the BNP delegation discussed the country’s post-uprising situation, reform initiatives, and upcoming parliamentary elections. The IRI delegation, headed by Asia-Pacific Director Stephen Simmer, also included Deputy Director Matthew Carter and Senior Program Manager Amitabh Ghosh. BNP shared its future plans, while IRI has previously engaged with other parties including Jamaat-e-Islami.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been granted bail in eight cases linked to attacks on military installations in May 2023. The Supreme Court approved his appeal against the Lahore High Court’s rejection of his bail requests. The 72-year-old will be released unless accused in other cases but remains in prison for a corruption conviction. Several PTI leaders have faced similar convictions. The 2023 unrest followed Khan’s arrest, with protesters vandalizing military sites in Rawalpindi.

The Appellate Division will announce its verdict on September 4 regarding the state’s appeal against the acquittal of Tareq Rahman, Lutfuzzaman Babar, and other accused in the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack case. In 2018, the lower court sentenced several accused to death, life imprisonment, and varying jail terms. The High Court later acquitted all, but the state filed an appeal. The 2004 attack killed 24 people, including Ivy Rahman, and injured nearly 300, narrowly missing Sheikh Hasina.

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, has announced plans to cut nearly half of the agency’s workforce and reduce its annual budget by $700 million as part of a major restructuring. The move aims to streamline operations, merge teams, and ensure impartial, timely intelligence. Hours earlier, she revealed that the Trump administration would revoke security clearances of 37 current and former officials accused of politicizing intelligence, though no formal evidence or charges were presented.