Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the government needs cooperation from all sides to reach a reasonable point in its reform agenda. Speaking as chief guest at a Center for Governance Studies discussion at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Monday, he said the government views constructive criticism positively and wants to move forward through review, advice and consultation.

He said citizens have the right to criticize the government, which it is constitutionally obliged to protect, and described political parties’ criticism as a normal part of democracy. The minister said efforts are being made to move away from a past culture in which writers, journalists, cartoonists and others faced harassment or arrest for expressing views. He added that laws and policies can be amended when implementation shows a need for change.

On constitutional reform, Asaduzzaman said the government is proceeding with the July Charter in mind while preserving the constitution’s basic structure. He called for consultation with political parties and stakeholders, said opposition and other political representation was sought on the reform committee, and urged constructive participation. He also highlighted judicial independence, accountability in human-rights complaints, a new Anti-Corruption Commission, and transparent state institutions.

Bangladesh and India are working to finalise the timing of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said. Speaking to a private television channel on Monday after assuming his office following the distribution of responsibilities at the Foreign Ministry, he said the schedule would be determined through discussions between the two countries.

Kabir said the visit date would be fixed at a time convenient for both Dhaka and Delhi. He described Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on Bangladesh-India bilateral relations as positive.

The new state minister said one of his key responsibilities would be maintaining balance in diplomacy while protecting Bangladesh’s national interests. He said bilateral relations would be based on equality and fairness. No date, itinerary or further details of the proposed India visit were provided in the remarks.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the party has already formed a shadow cabinet and is training its members. He said the names of the shadow cabinet members will be formally announced soon. Rahman disclosed the information on Monday during an exchange with editors at the official residence of the leader of the opposition on Minto Road in the capital.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and joint convener of the National Editors Council, said journalists had advised the opposition to form a shadow cabinet. He said the opposition leader praised the proposal and confirmed that such a cabinet had already been formed and was undergoing training.

Mahmudur Rahman said a shadow cabinet could ensure that designated people speak on specific subjects, rather than politicians commenting on every issue. He said it could create continuous constructive pressure on the government while helping the opposition prepare for future governance. He also said editors pledged that media outlets would not lean toward any political party and would perform their duties professionally.

Residents in Harirampur, Manikganj, held a broom march and human chain on Monday against upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Molla Shahin, alleging extortion, land grabbing and other irregularities. Hundreds of people began the march from the upazila premises at about 12:30pm and headed toward Harirampur police station.

Protesters alleged that Shahin’s supporters obstructed their procession and that cocktail explosions and gunfire occurred at the time. No immediate information on casualties was available. After returning to the upazila premises, participants in the human chain demanded an investigation into the allegations and swift legal and punitive action.

In a counterprogramme, Shahin’s supporters, led by Shahin and Gala Union Parishad chairman Shafik Biswas, staged a sit-in and protest in front of the police station. Tension persisted around the rival programmes, while law enforcement personnel remained alert. Harirampur police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Afzal Hossain said police went to the scene, brought the situation under control, and that it remained under police control.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is working mainly from the official residence beside the Prime Minister’s Office, using it as a regular workplace to increase working time and efficiency. She moved into the residence last December and says its location allows her to respond quickly in emergencies without losing time travelling. Built in 1929, the building once served as Japan’s prime ministerial office.

Takaichi said office facilities at the residence have been expanded, allowing in-person and online meetings with officials. She also works there after office hours when necessary and takes documents home to read, describing the residence as another workplace. She spends much of her time there at night and on holidays.

Her long working hours have drawn criticism after she said she sometimes sleeps from zero to three hours a night while managing work pressure and household duties. Critics say this may send a wrong message on work-life balance and gender equality. Her popularity has also fallen amid criticism over a proposed imperial-law change and delayed economic measures despite rising living costs.

Akklpur উপজেলা BNP has permanently expelled Raykali Union BNP joint general secretary Mizanur Rahman Babu over allegations that he forcibly occupied the home of Belal Hossain, general secretary of the local Awami League unit. The expulsion order was published on Sunday night in Akklpur, Joypurhat, following allegations of house occupation and other activities deemed contrary to the organisation.

The order said Babu had been given seven days from July 21 to vacate the house but did not do so. Local sources and the complaint say Belal Hossain’s two-storey brick house stands on about four decimals of land in Raykali village. He had mortgaged the house to Agrani Bank’s Jianganagar branch for a Tk12 lakh loan. After August 5, 2024, Belal went into hiding and his wife later left the house, after which Babu allegedly took possession.

Belal’s wife Shahnaz Begum submitted a written complaint to Akkelpur police station. Police visited the site and spoke with Babu, who denied forcibly occupying the home and claimed the land was his family’s ancestral property. The officer in charge said an SI was assigned to investigate, while the SI said Babu did not attend a proposed meeting at the police station.

BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned party leaders and activists not to engage in unethical activities in the party’s name. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon after paying tribute at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Rizvi visited the graves with party members after taking charge as acting secretary general.

He said his main responsibility would be to run the party in an orderly and coordinated manner and ensure that organizational activities directed by party chairman Tarique Rahman are completed properly. Rizvi said those involved in wrongdoing using the party’s name after August 5 had faced strict action from the chairman.

Rizvi urged activists to remain involved in constructive work, strengthen the party and work as representatives of the public. He said activists should help implement and explain government programmes to people, describing them as focused on public interest, welfare, social protection and infrastructure development. He also said accountability had been ensured in implementing every government programme and that BNP would not work outside the public interest.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan met US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen at the minister’s office this morning to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. The meeting focused on partnership opportunities in local government and development sectors, with State Minister Mir Shahe Alam also present.

The minister expressed interest in using US experience and technical expertise for improved water management, waste management, renewable energy and agricultural cold storage. He said exchanges of experience and joint programmes in these areas could make Bangladesh’s development activities more effective and sustainable. He also said the government was working with special emphasis on the country’s economic prosperity.

Christensen congratulated Khan on assuming his new responsibilities and highlighted the importance of the local government ministry’s work for ordinary people in Bangladesh. He expressed interest in continued US support in the sector. Officials said the government is taking initiatives to strengthen local institutions, while waste management is a priority for urban management and environmental protection. Both sides voiced hope that longstanding friendly ties could create new opportunities in the local government sector.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday an initiative to legislate a ban on social media use by children and teenagers under 16. Under the proposed law, social media companies could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue if they fail to enforce the restriction.

The proposal would require platforms to take necessary steps to verify users’ ages. It would allow the use of digital identity documents, facial-recognition technology and information from users’ existing accounts. Luxon said the measure was needed to protect young people from harmful content, addiction and social pressures they are not yet prepared to handle.

Luxon also claimed that social media negatively affects children’s family life, mental health, sleep and studies. Passage of the bill remains uncertain after coalition partner New Zealand First opposed it. Its leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said such legislation could take the country in an undesirable direction, called Australia’s similar ban a failure, and stressed parents’ role in regulating children’s social media use. Luxon acknowledged enforcement would not be easy or completely effective.

National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam alleged that the BNP government turned state institutions into “party clubs” within six months of taking power. Speaking at a Monday press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he presented what he described as the government’s failures over 180 days.

Nahid said party-aligned vice-chancellors had been appointed at 19 to 20 universities, while party figures were installed as administrators in 11 city corporations and 63 district councils. He alleged that these posts had become rehabilitation centres for candidates denied nominations or defeated in elections. He also said 830 incidents of political violence occurred over six months, alleging BNP was responsible for 670, and said NCP activists were attacked in different areas.

He further accused the government of rejecting the referendum verdict and misleading the public. Nahid cited fuel shortages, record fuel-price increases, a 43 percent gas shortfall, electricity price rises, load-shedding and alleged burdens from ghost bills and capacity charges. He also raised concerns over fertiliser access, bank lending growth, health-sector conditions and attacks on dissenting views in educational institutions.

Fellows who recently participated in the National Defence College’s Capstone Course paid a courtesy call on newly appointed State Minister for Religious Affairs Shamim Kaiser Lincoln. The meeting took place on Monday night at the minister’s residence in Malibagh Jowardar Lane.

During the meeting, the Capstone fellows greeted Lincoln with flowers and congratulated him on receiving his new responsibility. The newly appointed state minister thanked the fellows for visiting and expressed deep gratitude for their goodwill.

Lincoln said he hoped the cordial relationship and mutual cooperation among the Capstone fellows would continue in the future. On behalf of the NDC Capstone fellows, participants also offered special thanks and appreciation to the state minister for giving them his valuable time.

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman held a discussion with editors of national daily newspapers at his official residence on Minto Road in the capital on Monday. The meeting began at around 12:15pm, according to the report published on August 24, 2026.

Participants included Jaijaidin editor and National Editors Council convener Shafik Rehman, Amar Desh editor and NEC joint convener Mahmudur Rahman, The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, and Prothom Alo managing editor Sajjad Sharif. Editors and representatives from several other newspapers, including Inqilab, Naya Diganta, Bonik Barta, Protidiner Bangladesh, Ittefaq, Kalbela, Ajker Patrika and Dhaka Mail, also attended.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, and MP Shafiqul Islam Masud were present at the meeting. The source did not provide details of the discussions or any decisions reached.

Amnesty International says Indian police and paramilitary forces used pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas grenades, batons and electric shock devices against demonstrators during Gen Z protests in New Delhi on July 20. Thousands had blocked Parliament Street while demanding then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over examination-paper leaks and other alleged irregularities. More than 100 students were injured, according to the report, which cited verified videos, photographs, witness accounts and hospital records.

Amnesty’s Evidence Lab said it verified footage of a Rapid Action Force officer firing a shotgun toward crowds near Connaught Place and Parliament Street. The group said the use of birdshot was inherently inaccurate and dangerous, and alleged that police gave no public warning before firing pellet guns. It also said tear gas grenades were launched directly at protesters, and verified claims that lathis were used to beat demonstrators.

Delhi Police rejected reports of pellet injuries as false, while the Modi government said security forces acted with restraint. Amnesty said its evidence contradicted those denials, and an internal paramilitary inquiry reportedly found personnel fired at least seven rounds containing metal pellets. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi demanded Home Minister Amit Shah answer questions, while injured student Sahil Lochab filed a complaint after a sit-in by Gandhi.

Singapore’s government is launching a new SG Child Support Package to ease the financial burden of raising children and provide long-term assistance to families. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that support for each child from birth to age 17 will total nearly S$70,000, according to the report published on August 24, 2026.

The government values the new package at S$62,000. When combined with an existing S$5,000 medical grant for newborns and annual education contributions at primary and secondary levels, total state support for a child is expected to reach about S$70,000 by age 17.

Under the current system, children receive between S$27,500 and S$56,500 in government assistance depending on birth order. The new arrangement will remove differences based on birth order, placing all children under the same type of support. The report cited The Japan Times, The Straits Times and Reuters as sources.

BNP chairperson’s adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal urged the government to give greater attention and care to gas, electricity and law-and-order conditions, describing them as acute national problems linked to unfinished work from the past. He made the remarks on Monday at the founding anniversary programme of the Janatar Odhikar Party at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the National Press Club.

Alal said he did not see a lack of sincerity in the government, but argued that coordination and internal coordination should be strengthened. He described Bangladesh as the motherland and said citizens have significant responsibilities toward it. He said the government was already paying attention to the three issues, while calling for more focus on them.

The BNP leader praised the prime minister’s simple lifestyle and said it had opened a new chapter in Bangladesh’s politics. He cited reduced official protocol, fewer vehicles, work on Fridays and Saturdays, and a donation of 10 percent of the prime ministerial allowance to the government’s zakat institution. Alal also called for scrutiny of people he described as remnants of past fascists in law enforcement, the secretariat, educational institutions and other public offices.