Opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman MP said any prime ministerial visit to neighbouring India should be based on equality, equal dignity and friendship. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at the Rajshahi metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami member conference at the Rajshahi District Council auditorium, according to the report published on August 21, 2026.

Rahman said people in Bangladesh would no longer accept domination by anyone and wanted relations with India founded on friendship, equality and mutual dignity. He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as both head of government and party chief, could act against extortion, corruption and bribery, adding that whether he wanted to do so was the key question.

Addressing party workers, Rahman described Jamaat-e-Islami as an ideological organisation that had worked over a long period to promote Islamic values and build an ideal society and state. He instructed activists to stand beside people in the upcoming local elections and work to safeguard voting rights so that no one could seize votes. He later attended a Rajshahi district Jamaat member conference as chief guest.

India’s presidential office withdrew a notice that had suggested preparations for a possible visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The notice, published on Friday, August 21, said the regular Change of Guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s forecourt would not be held on Saturday, August 22, because of a rehearsal for the formal reception of an honoured state guest.

The Press Information Bureau published the statement at 2:25pm, but it was withdrawn before the afternoon ended. Around 3pm, the presidential office issued a new message saying the press release announcing that the Change of Guard would not take place on Saturday had been withdrawn. It remains unclear whether the withdrawal signals a change in a visit schedule or a procedural problem in issuing the notice.

The report says this was expected to be Rahman’s first India visit after taking oath as Bangladesh’s prime minister, though neither Dhaka nor New Delhi had formally announced it. State or government leaders visiting India are formally received at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with a guard of honour, national anthems and the presence of the president and prime minister. A full rehearsal is generally held the previous day.

Leaders and workers of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) were allegedly attacked while travelling to inspect a government primary school in Rampura Kanwarpura village, in Jaipur’s Bagru assembly area of Rajasthan, on Friday. CJP blamed local ruling BJP leaders and workers, while BJP denied the allegation and said local residents had objected to the party entering the village.

A team led by CJP co-founder Ashutosh Ranka was stopped at the village entrance before an argument reportedly escalated into violence. Videos circulated on social media showed an agitated crowd chasing CJP workers and beating several people. The party said attackers used labels including “urban Naxal,” “anti-national” and “Pakistani,” forcing its members to leave without visiting the school.

Ranka alleged that the school has long operated from a cowshed and that residents had invited the team. He said vehicles and phones were damaged, a woman member was assaulted, his shirt was torn and another member suffered a broken hand. BJP MLA Swami Balmukundacharya said villagers opposed CJP activity, while Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasara blamed BJP for the incident.

Former interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus attended the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected 23rd president, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Friday evening, August 21, 2026. The event was held at the historic Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, where Yunus and other guests arrived before the scheduled 7:15pm start.

The ceremony also included the induction of four ministers and two state ministers into Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s cabinet. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered the oath to the incoming cabinet members.

The new ministers are BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan MP, Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha MP, Bandarban lawmaker Sachin Prue Jerry, and M Rashiduzzaman Millat, a former civil aviation and tourism minister. The state ministers are Humayun Kabir and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln. The prime minister, cabinet members, civil and military officials, and prominent individuals attended the event.

The banned Jagannath University Chhatra League hung a banner at the university’s fourth gate early Friday, August 21, 2026, commemorating those killed and injured in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally. The banner included images of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and scenes from the attack, with the words “Dreadful August 21” prominently displayed.

The banner was reportedly installed on the initiative of Mostafik Hossain Musa, joint general secretary of Jagannath University Chhatra League. Musa said the organisation offered humble tribute to victims of what he described as a brutal grenade attack intended to kill Sheikh Hasina, adding that the group had always been active on the streets and would remain so.

Acting university proctor Professor Azam Khan said he had not known about the matter. He said a banned organisation was attempting to destabilise the environment in this way and that authorities would remain alert, identify those involved and take action. The 2004 attack occurred at an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital, causing casualties among party leaders, activists and others.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, amir of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka North unit and a mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation, said people are not receiving necessary treatment and diagnostic services properly at government hospitals. He made the remarks on Friday morning at a free medical camp and medicine distribution programme at National Bangla High School ground in Mirpur-2, Dhaka.

Selim Uddin said many people also cannot afford costly treatment and tests at private hospitals because of financial hardship. He stressed that healthcare should be guaranteed as a basic right and said Jamaat organises free medical camps in different places throughout the year to provide services to poor and low-income residents.

He said that, if given responsibility, initiatives would be taken to improve care standards at Dhaka North City hospitals, ensure necessary equipment and provide government treatment at lower cost. He also spoke of bringing hospitals under rapid surgery and other essential services, building international-standard hospitals and reducing the need for people to travel abroad for treatment. The day-long camp served people from Mirpur and nearby areas.

Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, said the president has no constitutional scope to act independently beyond visiting shrines and praying at a mosque within Bangabhaban. He made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, according to the report published on August 21, 2026.

Ahmed said Bangabhaban currently contains three shrines and one mosque. He expressed hope that a future sitting of parliament would bring a balance of power to the state. His comments framed the president’s role as constitutionally constrained and linked expectations for institutional balance to the convening of parliament.

At the press conference, Ahmed congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on becoming president. He said they had worked together for a long time and that he expected positive contributions from him. Ahmed said he hoped the president would rise above all considerations and work for the country’s welfare. He also thanked those who supported him in his election assessment.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sworn in as Bangladesh’s 23rd president on Friday evening at Bangabhaban. Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal administered the oath. The prime minister, cabinet members, civilian and military officials, and other distinguished guests attended the ceremony. The report was published on August 21, 2026.

The presidency became vacant after former President Md. Shahabuddin Chuppu resigned on July 24, citing health reasons. Under constitutional provisions, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed assumed presidential duties on the same day. Mirza Fakhrul was elected president by members of parliament on Thursday.

In the parliamentary vote, Mirza Fakhrul received 255 votes out of 349, while the 11-party candidate, retired Colonel Oli Ahmed, received 88 votes. Six lawmakers from the government and opposition did not vote. The ruling BNP held more than a two-thirds majority in parliament, making its candidate’s victory certain, although voting was held because there was a challenger. The report says this was the first presidential election vote in 35 years, after presidents had previously been elected unanimously.

Bangladesh’s BNP-led government is set to make changes to its cabinet, with a swearing-in ceremony for new ministers scheduled for Friday evening at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. The Government Transport Department has prepared six vehicles for incoming cabinet members, according to a senior official who confirmed the arrangement to media.

The official said the Cabinet Division had requested six vehicles and that they had been sent accordingly. However, the Cabinet Division alone could confirm how many of the vehicles would be used on the day. At least four prospective new cabinet members have been identified: BNP standing committee member and lawmaker Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Jatiya Party chairman Barrister Andaleeb Rahman Partha, Bandarban lawmaker Saching Prue Jerry, and Gaibandha-4 lawmaker Mohammad Shamim Qaiser Lincoln.

Cabinet Division sources said the new members’ oath-taking would take place immediately after the newly elected president is sworn in on Friday evening. BNP formed the government after winning an absolute majority in the 13th national parliamentary election, initially establishing a 50-member cabinet including the prime minister, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.

Veteran Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore said the first two verses of India’s national song, “Vande Mataram,” are sufficient when considering people of all religions in the country. In an interview with news agency IANS on Thursday, she said some portions of the song may be difficult and uncomfortable for people who believe in one creator, and may not align with everyone’s religious beliefs.

Tagore said India is home to people of different faiths, including many who believe in one God. She noted that later verses of the song mention several Hindu deities. For such believers, she said, phrases including “Bande Kali” or “Bande Durga” can be uncomfortable to recite. She argued that using the first two verses would be better and more acceptable if all religious communities are to be included.

Her comments have added a new dimension to an ongoing political debate over “Vande Mataram.” The Congress party supports singing the song’s first two verses at party events, while BJP leaders have criticised Congress over the issue. Debate over the song’s performance and historical interpretation intensified after India’s Independence Day celebrations.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called on Iran to prepare to confront and overcome what he described as cruel sanctions, following a United States announcement of its toughest sanctions against Iran. Speaking during a visit to Iraq on August 21, 2026, Ghalibaf said Iran needed a plan to deal with the current situation.

According to remarks published on Ghalibaf’s Telegram channel, he said Muslim countries’ resources and raw materials were being targeted by their enemies. He said Iran must plan for harsh sanctions in order to overcome them. Ghalibaf also urged greater cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.

Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington would impose its most severe sanctions yet on Iran. Recent reports said the United States was planning to increase economic pressure on Iran. Against the backdrop of the ongoing war, Ghalibaf renewed his call for stronger cooperation between Iran and Iraq during his visit.

US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, but Pyongyang has responded coolly, according to Reuters. Trump said on Wednesday that he expected to meet Kim within the year after reducing the scale of joint US-South Korean military exercises, which he described as hostile to North Korea.

A source familiar with US and South Korean discussions said Trump wants to restart talks with North Korea and secure a diplomatic achievement internationally. South Korea has privately shown a positive attitude toward the approach, the source said, although officials in Seoul remain doubtful about reducing the joint drills. Trump may attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, later this year, where a meeting could be possible if North Korea becomes interested in renewed talks.

The US State Department said Washington was prepared to talk with North Korea without preconditions. Kim Yo Jong rejected the view that scaled-back drills represented goodwill, said US policy remained hostile, and denied recent contact between the leaders. South Korea's military said North Korea launched about 10 ballistic missiles toward its eastern coast on Thursday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in at Parliament Marg police station in Delhi on Friday, accompanied by student Sahil Lochab, who was allegedly injured by pellet shots during a July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar. Gandhi demanded that police register an FIR and investigate allegations that pellet guns were used against protesters. He said he would not leave the station until a case was filed.

Priyanka Gandhi, a Congress member of parliament, joined Gandhi at the police station. They visited the office of the deputy commissioner of police to ask about progress in an inquiry into the alleged use of pellet guns. Congress said an earlier complaint filed on behalf of the injured student had not resulted in an FIR.

Speaking to journalists, Gandhi said Lochab was injured while protesting peacefully. He showed reporters injury marks on the student’s body by lifting his T-shirt. Gandhi alleged that Lochab had more than 200 pellets in his body and three pellets in his eye.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Public Administration has appointed A J M Salahuddin Nagari as secretary of the Public Division at the President’s Office on a contractual basis. Nagari had been serving as chairman, with secretary status, of the Land Reform Board. The appointment was announced in a notification issued on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The notification was issued by the Senior Appointment Branch-1 of the Ministry of Public Administration. It states that Nagari has been posted to the President’s Office as Public Division secretary under a contractual arrangement.

Senior Secretary Md. Barman Hossain signed the order on behalf of the President. According to the notification, the order was issued in the public interest and will take effect immediately.

Four new members are set to join the cabinet led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Bangladesh, according to Cabinet Division sources cited on Friday. President-elect Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to administer their oaths at Bangabhaban’s Durbar Hall tonight. The incoming members are BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan MP, Jatiya Party chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partha MP, Bandarban lawmaker Saching Prue Jerry, and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaisar Lincoln.

Cabinet Division sources said further changes to the cabinet may follow. Possible changes were indicated in the ministries of aviation, agriculture, food, power and energy, local government, and information and broadcasting.

Preparations at Bangabhaban’s Durbar Hall have been completed for the president-elect’s swearing-in ceremony. Presidential Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said all arrangements were complete and the Cabinet Division was managing the event. More than 1,200 guests have been invited. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is due to take the presidential oath at 7:30 pm, administered by acting Speaker Kaisar Kamal, while Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani will conduct the ceremony.