Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the government will provide women with free education through honours level and bear all related costs. He made the announcement on Sunday afternoon in the Mirzapur Chairman Bari Ghat area of Pakundia upazila, Kishoreganj, during an event for National Fisheries Week 2026 involving the release of fish fry in the Old Brahmaputra River, distribution of fry to local fishers, and exchanges with residents.

Rahman said women’s education had previously been made free through intermediate level when Khaleda Zia was in office. Noting that women make up half of the country’s population, he said national progress would not be possible while leaving women behind. He also said government stipends would be arranged for girls who achieve good results and urged them to study attentively and lead the country in the future.

The prime minister said the government plans to provide about 12 million children from poor rural families with school bags and uniforms alongside new books every year. He said family cards are being distributed gradually to women-headed households, with a goal of reaching every home within five years; the programme is being inaugurated in Kishoreganj.

Discussion over BNP’s next secretary general has intensified after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was announced as a presidential candidate on August 13, a move expected to leave his party post vacant. The report, published on August 16, says Fakhrul’s election as president is considered nearly certain because BNP holds a parliamentary majority. Several names are being discussed as possible successors.

Under BNP’s constitution, a permanent secretary general is elected through a national council, while a leader may serve temporarily or in an acting capacity beforehand. Standing Committee member Selima Rahman said senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi would become acting secretary general under the party’s rules. However, BNP has not formally announced anyone for either the acting or permanent role.

Rizvi said no formal announcement had been made and that he was waiting for the party’s decision. Party sources said a permanent secretary general could be chosen at the national council or around that time, with chairman Tarique Rahman’s decision expected to be central. Some media reports have also mentioned Salahuddin Ahmed, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, though Rahman said there had been no internal discussion on those names.

Police have arrested two people, including a journalist, over an attack and vandalism targeting the vehicle of BNP-nominated Sirajganj-3 lawmaker Aynul Haque. Sirajganj Additional Superintendent of Police for Raiganj Circle Saiful Islam Khan confirmed the development on the night of August 16. The detainees are Raiganj Press Club general secretary and municipal Jubo Sebok Dal member secretary Md Golam Muktadir, and Alamgir Hossain.

Police said Golam Muktadir was named in the case’s first information report and was detained in an operation by the district detective branch. Alamgir Hossain was arrested at about 4:45 p.m. during an operation at Cafe Fast Food near Dhangara Mohila Degree College in Raiganj upazila headquarters. A case was filed on Saturday night by Shamimul Hasan, naming 15 people and listing another 30 to 40 unidentified accused.

Local BNP leaders said tensions arose at a municipal BNP meeting in Dhangara Bazar over the proposed location of a Technical Training Centre. They said the vehicle was attacked as the lawmaker was leaving after proposing a committee to select the site. BNP blamed local Jamaat and NCP leaders, while district Jamaat secretary Professor Zahidul Islam denied involvement and condemned the incident.

A resident student of Dhaka University’s Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, Md Ibrahim, has accused provost Professor Dr Ilias Al Mamun of detaining and mentally harassing him after he shared social media posts critical of hall issues. Ibrahim alleged that he was summoned to the provost’s office on Sunday, August 16, held for about one and a half hours, deprived of his mobile phone, threatened, and forced to sign a written statement.

Ibrahim said staff members prevented him from leaving the room, checked his phone, and threatened cancellation of his residential seat and studentship, as well as a cyber case. He also alleged that he was compelled to write that hall union representatives had influenced his Facebook posts. Residential students later protested, demanding the provost’s resignation.

Professor Mamun denied allegations of physical and mental abuse, saying Ibrahim had been called in to explain comments made without knowing the facts. He objected to the student recording their conversation, acknowledged calling Ibrahim’s mother, and said Ibrahim admitted his mistake before being given refreshments and allowed to leave. Dhaka University’s deputy vice-chancellor for administration said the university was aware of the matter and would investigate competing accounts from the student and hall administration.

Bangladesh’s Local Government Division has issued a show-cause notice to Hossain Shahid Sohrawardy Gronet Babu, chairman of Kishoreganj Sadar Union Parishad in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, asking why he should not be temporarily suspended. The notice followed an investigation that found allegations of illegally occupying government khas land, abusing authority and using Union Parishad public funds for personal interests to be substantiated.

The notice was signed by Ziaur Rahman, deputy secretary of the UP-1 branch of the Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. It states that the alleged actions constitute offences under sections 34(4)(b) and 34(4) of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009.

Gronet Babu has been directed to submit his reply through the Nilphamari deputy commissioner to the Local Government Division within 10 working days of receiving the notice. A report published by Daily Amar Desh online on 23 May prompted an instruction for the district administration to investigate. The deputy commissioner later formed a five-member committee, whose field investigation report found the allegations true, according to the notice. Kishoreganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arifur Rahman confirmed the notice.

Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh’s Revolutionary Workers Party, alleged that responsibility for the worsening power crisis is being shifted onto rickshaw workers. He made the remarks on Sunday at a rally in Purana Paltan intersection in the capital, organized by Biplobi Rickshaw Workers Solidarity over five demands of rickshaw workers. Haque said the government, wealthy people and the middle class should first use energy more sparingly to address the crisis.

He said the government must meet the survival demands of neglected working people, including rickshaw workers, to prove that it is worker-friendly. Haque added that democracy would hold no meaning for workers unless humane living conditions were ensured. He also said no one speaks about the human rights of rickshaw workers.

Haque demanded an immediate end to indiscriminate impounding of battery-powered rickshaws and extortion from their drivers. He called for the release of all seized rickshaws within 72 hours, warning of broader action to protect workers’ livelihoods otherwise. Other speakers said many people depend on battery-powered rickshaws but face uncertainty from impoundment, police harassment and other abuse.

Assistant Attorney General Md Nurul Karim has resigned amid discussion surrounding allegations of his involvement with Awami League politics. He submitted his resignation letter on Sunday, August 16, 2026, citing personal reasons. In the letter, he said he could no longer continue performing his duties for personal reasons.

Karim was appointed assistant attorney general on July 30, 2026, according to his resignation letter. He stated that he had properly carried out the responsibilities assigned to him since taking office. His resignation came 17 days after his appointment.

On July 30, the government appointed 86 deputy attorneys general and 179 assistant attorneys general to conduct cases for the state. At the same time, all previous appointments at the Attorney General’s Office were cancelled. The Solicitor Wing of the Law and Justice Division under the Law Ministry issued separate notifications under the President’s order, signed by Solicitor Sana Md Mahfuz Hossain.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj said Bangladesh could bring visible and qualitative changes to its primary education system within the next two to three years. Speaking as chief guest at a training workshop in Mymensingh on August 16, he said the government was working in a planned manner to implement the vision and responsibility assigned by the prime minister.

The workshop addressed school management, students’ rights and facilities, community engagement and effective leadership, he said. A similar programme was previously held in Sylhet division, with workshops planned in the remaining six divisions within the next few weeks. Hajjaj said the primary education sector had made notable progress in the government’s first 180-day planning, piloting and implementation efforts, prioritising curriculum development, teacher training, a new teacher policy, values-based education, culture, sports and technology-based learning.

He said initiatives include nutritious mid-day meals, free uniforms, shoes and bags to keep every child in classrooms. The next curriculum will introduce an English speaking test alongside written examinations. The government is also planning an integrated IT ecosystem with unique IDs for every student and intends to place necessary wash blocks within school buildings.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, political affairs adviser to the prime minister and a BNP standing committee member, said no one in the world matched Sheikh Hasina among fascists. He made the remarks on Sunday at the National University Senate Hall in Gazipur during an event titled “The Spirit of July and Bangladesh’s Future.” The university organized the programme to mark the second anniversary of the 2024 July mass uprising.

Rizvi said students led the July movement, with contributions from pupils from primary school through university, while the public supported them. He said workers, rickshaw pullers, hotel cooks and journalists were also killed alongside students. He described people from different social and professional groups joining a student-led movement against what he called severe misrule.

He said Bangladeshis had repeatedly protested and resisted misrule and did not have a history of tolerating it. Rizvi also discussed Khaleda Zia’s leadership, imprisonment and alleged mistreatment. National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A S M Amanullah chaired the event. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Lutfor Rahman delivered the welcome address, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Treasurer Professor Dr Md Nazmul Hossain also spoke.

Shahid Suhrawardy Medical College unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal distributed high-quality Braille copies of the Quran to 50 visually impaired madrasa students to mark the 82nd birthday of late former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The programme was held on Sunday, August 16, at Al-Markazul Islam Academy, where participants also distributed lunch to the students.

Central Chhatra Dal vice president Dr Touhidur Rahman Awal attended as chief guest. Dr Sheikh Touhidul Islam Soikot, founding president of the college unit, and general secretary Dr Md Imran Hossain attended as special guests. Senior joint convener Khandakar Sifat Ul Haque chaired the event, while member secretary Iftekhar Ahmed Shihab conducted it.

In his remarks, Dr Awal described the Braille Quran gift as a fulfilment of a dream for visually impaired people. He referred to the establishment of Suhrawardy Medical College in Khaleda Zia's name and thanked the organisers for bringing what he called the light of the Quran to visually impaired religious students. Several former and current college-unit and metropolitan Chhatra Dal leaders were also present.

Police arrested 15 people, including a journalist, at a meeting of the banned Awami League in the Monsurabad area under Chattogram city’s Double Mooring police station. The arrests were made on Saturday night, according to the report. Police said Awami League leaders and activists, along with members of its affiliated organisations, had gathered to discuss 15 August.

After receiving information, police conducted an operation on Saturday afternoon on the fifth floor of Haji Fazlul Karim Chowdhury’s ‘Royal Touch’ apartment, adjacent to Monsurabad Wapda Colony. Those present were initially detained and later shown as arrested. Five of the 15 detainees are women.

Those arrested include Advocate Umme Habiba, local government affairs secretary of the central executive committee of Bangladesh Krishak League; Iskandar Mirza of Halishahar Thana Awami League; and journalist Jishu Roy Chowdhury. Double Mooring police station Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Alam confirmed that case number 12 was filed over the incident. He said the arrested individuals were sent to court after questioning.

BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy said Bangladesh must proceed under its existing constitution, with any obstacles addressed through constitutional amendments in the national parliament. He made the remarks on Sunday at the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, after meeting Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin during scrutiny of presidential election nomination papers.

A BNP delegation led by standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan met the chief election commissioner, with National Parliament Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam present. Goyeshwar said BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had been declared a valid candidate for Bangladesh’s 23rd presidential election. He said the party would now await the election on August 20.

Responding to a question on Article 70 of the constitution, Goyeshwar said raising it before the presidential election was irrelevant and would create confusion. He said constitutional amendment could be considered collectively by the next parliament. The nomination of 11-party alliance candidate and LDP chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed was also accepted as valid. Candidate withdrawal closes at 4pm on August 18, while voting is scheduled from 2pm to 5pm on August 20 in the parliament chamber.

Australia will begin a major gun buyback programme in New South Wales on November 2 following a deadly shooting at a Jewish religious festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan, under which members of the public can surrender rifles and handguns to the government. Compensation of up to A$1,000 will be available for each weapon returned.

The initiative follows the December 14, 2025 shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, in which 15 people were killed. The government moved to tighten gun laws nationwide after the attack. Government data showed Australia had a record 4.1 million firearms last year, including more than 1.1 million in New South Wales, the country’s most populous state.

Albanese said the number of weapons is now higher than it was during the 1996 buyback following the Port Arthur killings, which left 35 people dead. The new plan is being viewed as Australia’s biggest gun return programme since then. New South Wales has also capped individual firearm ownership at four weapons and tightened licence checks and measures against hateful activity.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors were harmed by the lack of proper policy and planning under the Awami fascist government. She made the remarks on Sunday afternoon as chief guest at a National Fisheries Week event organized by the upazila administration and fisheries office in Nagarkanda, Faridpur.

Shama Obaid said agriculture and fisheries had been given the highest priority since the formation of the government. She said the current government was working for the welfare of farmers, fishers and ordinary people, and had taken various effective measures to improve the living standards of farmers and fishers and increase production.

The event was chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rezwana Afrin and attended by Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Mazharul Islam, Zila Parishad administrator Afzal Hossain Khan Palash, Police Superintendent Shahriar Mohammad Miajy and other officials and political leaders. After a discussion meeting overseen by Upazila Fisheries Officer Abdullahil Abrar, awards were distributed to individuals and institutions for special contributions to fisheries. Fish fry of different species were released earlier into the Upazila Parishad pond.

Jamaat-e-Islami has asked the government to disclose progress on a 10-point energy plan it says opposition members submitted three months earlier, as Bangladesh faces an ongoing power and fuel crisis. Speaking at an emergency press conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on August 16, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the party viewed the prime minister’s call for effective opposition proposals positively but wanted implementation details.

Porwar said opposition members submitted written recommendations to a parliamentary special committee on the energy crisis on May 21, and the energy minister presented its report in parliament on June 7. The proposals included workovers at existing gas wells, connecting gas from Bhola, Jamalpur and Zakiganj, expanding exploration, operating the single point mooring facility, digital supply monitoring and rooftop solar expansion. Jamaat also alleged that consumers continued to suffer from ghost electricity bills.

The party proposed actions within 90 days, including publishing priority well lists and inactive-well data, interim transport arrangements for Bhola gas, action against illegal connections, public gas-distribution schedules and faster SPM implementation. It called for a joint implementation structure and a progress report to parliament after 90 days.