Three police officers have been withdrawn from their posts following allegations that they failed to perform field duties — opting instead to eat and rest — while deployed to stop a march by the activity-banned Awami League.

The officers are: Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur) Mehedi Hasan, Inspector Abdul Alim, and Duty Officer SI Masudur Rahman. The decision followed an inspection by DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam on Friday, who recommended administrative action. DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali signed the withdrawal order.

According to police sources, prior intelligence had warned of the Awami League’s programme across the city and officers were instructed to remain on duty. Inspectors later found four to five police vehicles parked at a station, with officers absent from their posts — some away for lunch and others reportedly resting. DMP spokesman Talebur Rahman said, for administrative reasons, the assistant commissioner has been transferred to DMP headquarters while the inspector and duty officer have been attached to the Central Reserve Office.

Heavy rainfall upstream and flash floods have caused water levels in the Jamuna River and other internal rivers, including Baral, Hurasagar, Fuljor, Kartoa, and Ichamoti, to rise in Sirajganj. Low-lying riverine areas and wetlands are inundated, putting winter vegetable crops at risk. Over the past six days, water levels have increased significantly but remain below danger levels. Authorities have assured there is no immediate flood risk, though water levels may continue rising for the next few days.

The U.S. Department of State has provided eight key recommendations aimed at improving financial transparency in Bangladesh. According to its financial transparency report, the current Bangladeshi government largely follows the budget framework set by its predecessor, though it has taken some important reform measures to enhance economic transparency.

The recommendations include:

Publishing year-end financial statements within a reasonable timeframe.

Preparing budget documents in line with international standards.

Separately presenting executive office expenditures.

Providing a comprehensive picture of government revenue and spending in the budget.

Ensuring the independence of the supreme audit authority according to international norms.

Granting the audit office full access to budgetary information.

Timely publication of audit reports with detailed proposals and explanations.

Disclosing key information on natural resource contracts and government procurement.

The report also noted that while the previous government made budget proposals and approved budgets publicly available online, they were not published within a reasonable timeframe. Although the information was generally reliable, it did not fully comply with international standards, such as disclosing the government’s debt levels in the budget.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam has said that those who opposed the July uprising and its symbolic graffiti will never return to power.

Visiting a graffiti mural at the Mawa end of the Padma Bridge, Jahangir emphasized that the sacrifices made during the uprising would not be forgotten. “Future governments will honor the July sacrifices in their governance,” he said.

According to him, the murals—“July Heroism” and “July Sacrifice”—aim to remind the younger generation of how students and ordinary citizens gave their lives for democracy and justice. “The uprising was not just a movement, but a struggle for truth against injustice,” he added.

After inspecting the mural, the adviser observed a minute’s silence in memory of those who were killed during the July student-led mass movement.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly expand global trade over the next 15 years. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), AI could lower business costs and increase productivity, potentially raising trade in goods and services between countries by 34–37%. WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill described AI as a “bright opportunity” for global commerce but cautioned that without proper policies, it may worsen economic inequality worldwide.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to depart Dhaka late Sunday night for New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Senior Assistant Press Secretary Fayez Ahmed, Yunus will arrive in New York on September 22 and deliver his address to the General Assembly on September 26. He is expected to return to Dhaka on October 2.

Accompanying him on this trip are four political leaders: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Akhtar Hossain, and Humayun Kabir.

Additionally, on September 30, Yunus will join a high-level meeting titled “High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar”, chaired by the President of the UN General Assembly.

The Bangladesh Railway has announced that four pairs of special trains will operate on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka-Chattogram routes to manage the surge in passengers during the Durga Puja festival. The special services will run from September 30 to October 4, 2025.

Among these, three pairs of “Puja Special” trains will run on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route, and one pair will operate on the Dhaka-Chattogram route. Each special train will have 18 coaches, offering 834 seats for daytime trains and 789 seats for nighttime services.

Ticket prices will align with those of regular services such as Subarna Express, Sonar Bangla Express, and Cox’s Bazar Express. However, passengers will need to pay an additional 30% for AC seats and 20% for non-AC seats during this period.

The railway authority urged passengers to book tickets in advance to ensure smooth travel during the festive rush.

The United Arab Emirates has not officially announced any suspension of work or tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the UAE, Tarek Ahmed, said in response to viral reports. He noted that the website which circulated the story is not an official UAE government site.

News first appeared on a website called “UAE Visa Online” on 17 September and, after coverage in several Bangladeshi outlets on Saturday, went viral on social media. The Bangladesh embassy said it will contact UAE authorities after the weekly holiday and asked people not to pay attention to visa-related rumours until an official statement is issued.

A fire at the Power Grid’s T-3 transformer in Binerpota, Satkhira, caused a two-hour nationwide blackout in the district on Saturday after 11 a.m.

Sanat Kumar Ghosh, General Manager of Satkhira Rural Electricity Cooperative, reported that the fire was contained within 20 minutes by the fire service. Power supply has now been restored. Swab Hossain, Executive Engineer of Satkhira OJOPADIC, confirmed that the cause of the fire remains unknown. “The entire district experienced a two-hour power disruption. Any remaining minor outages will be restored shortly,” he said.

Chinese tech giant Huawei aims to build the world’s most powerful AI computing cluster within two years, relying on lower-power domestic semiconductors due to U.S. export restrictions. At its Shanghai conference, Huawei revealed timelines for Atlas 950 and Atlas 960 SuperPods, set for 2026 and 2027, which will combine into SuperClusters capable of running advanced AI models. Analysts see this as a major push for self-reliance, with Huawei’s roadmap including Ascend 950, 960, and potential 970 chips to strengthen its computing architecture.

Financial advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stressed that children should grow up with proper education and strong ethical values. Highlighting the growing influence of billionaires, he expressed concern over Brahmanbaria’s underdevelopment and the reluctance of doctors to work outside Dhaka. He called on local leaders to prioritize collective progress, urged district associations to focus on community interests over personal gains, and encouraged awareness to prevent conflicts among locals, emphasizing that holistic education and honesty are essential for future generations.

A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, a provider of check-in and boarding systems, disrupted operations at major European airports including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin on September 20. Automated systems went offline, causing flight delays and cancellations. Airports implemented manual check-in and boarding procedures while the provider works to resolve the issue. Frankfurt and Zurich airports were reportedly unaffected. Passengers are advised to confirm flight status with airlines before traveling.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Mohammad Nazrul Islam has stressed that resolving the Rohingya crisis is a national responsibility and an integral part of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. He noted that blaming only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the lack of resolution would be “unfair.”

Speaking on the issue, Dr. Islam highlighted that the prolonged crisis is discouraging foreign investment in areas such as Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali. He underscored the importance of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting, where Bangladesh will continue to press for a peaceful, non-confrontational solution.

Other speakers at the discussion emphasized that geopolitical willpower remains the most critical factor in resolving the crisis. They noted that not only Bangladesh but also other regional and global players must take active roles in addressing the issue.

At least 78 people were killed and 20 others injured when a drone strike hit a mosque in Sudan’s El-Fasher city, escalating the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF, which has been locked in a brutal power struggle with the army for over two years, has recently intensified efforts to seize El-Fasher. Reports also emerged of attacks on nearby displacement camps, much of which are now under RSF control.

The UN has warned that the conflict is increasingly taking on ethnic dimensions, with the RSF accused of targeting non-Arab communities in areas under its control—allegations the group has consistently denied.

The Trump administration has approved a $6.4 billion arms package for Israel, including 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and 3,250 infantry assault vehicles.

According to U.S. officials, the helicopters are valued at $3.8 billion, while the vehicles are priced at $1.9 billion. An additional $700 million has been allocated for spare parts and ammunition.

The deal comes as Israeli forces, under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s orders, intensify their ground operations to seize full control of Gaza. Analysts believe the new weaponry will be used in the ongoing offensive.

Meanwhile, France and Saudi Arabia have called for an international conference in New York on September 22 to push for recognition of Palestine as an independent state.