The government has drafted a new Haor Master Plan to ensure sustainable development in Bangladesh’s wetland regions. Prepared by the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board through a comprehensive survey, the draft is now open for public feedback from August 24.

The report is available on the Ministry of Water Resources website (www.mowr.gov.bd) and the Haor Board website (dbhwd.gov.bd). Comments and suggestions can be submitted by September 23 via email to dbhwd.hmp@gmail.com

Five young men have been arrested for attempting to illegally enter India through the Kalmokanda border in Netrokona. They were sent to jail on Friday.

According to officials, three individuals were handed over to the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) by the Border Security Force (BSF) after being intercepted at the Kochugura border point on Friday afternoon. Earlier, on Thursday night, a BGB patrol team apprehended two others attempting to cross via the Bolmath border.

Sources confirmed that a BGB operation, conducted based on secret intelligence, saw three of the youths flee into India, where they were later detained by the BSF and returned to local BGB custody.

Stone extraction at Madhyapara Granite Mine in Dinajpur has been temporarily suspended due to a shortage of ammonium-based explosives, imported from India. The German contractor Trust Consortium, responsible for mining and maintenance, halted operations yesterday. The mine typically produces 5,500 tons of stone daily, worth around 15 million Taka, leading to significant daily financial losses during the halt. Authorities expect shipments of explosives to arrive within 2–3 days, after which extraction and development activities are likely to resume.

Government primary school teachers are organizing a mass rally in Dhaka on 30 August, calling for three main demands: raising assistant teachers’ salaries to the 11th grade, ensuring promotions for all teachers, and resolving complications in higher-grade promotions after 10 and 16 years of service. The “Assistant Teachers’ Organization Unity Council,” representing six teacher groups, announced the event. Over 100,000 teachers from all 64 districts are expected to participate. Political party representatives will also attend to show support.

At the opening of the Bengal Delta Conference 2025, The Wire’s founder-editor Siddharth Varadarajan praised Bangladesh’s handling of US-imposed tariffs on India and Bangladesh as indicative of its economic transformation. Former Malaysian Education Minister Prof. Mazli bin Malik noted that the recent people’s uprising restored democratic culture, with the government consulting stakeholders—a positive reform step. The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam reflected on Bangladesh’s historic struggle to build strong institutions, while Nepal’s ex-minister Dr. Deepak Gawali urged youth to address global climate challenges responsibly.

Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited (NESCO) announced a six-hour power shutdown on Saturday from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat for repairs to damaged conductors on 132kV transmission lines. Approximately 120 MW of load will be affected in these districts, with 20 MW in Rangpur city. Roamari and Rajibpur in Jamalpur will not be affected. NESCO expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience.

No bail petition was filed on behalf of Abdul Latif Siddiqui in the anti-terrorism case, as he refused to sign the lawyer’s authorization. Lawyer Saiful Islam Saif said Siddiqui stated, “Why ask for bail from a court that has no power to grant it?” Other accused parties did seek bail. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque denied bail and ordered the accused sent to jail, with the prosecution represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Suman.

In Sreepur, Gazipur, armed assailants attacked police multiple times to snatch Suman Mia, an accused involved in several cases. During the incident near Tengra Road, seven officers were injured, and attackers also targeted two police vehicles. Suman was initially detained by the Detective Branch near Trimohoni Bridge but forcibly taken after repeated assaults in Bormi, Satkhamair, and Tengra Dibar Par areas. Local BNP and Jamaat activists protested the incident, alleging links between the criminal and NCP leaders, while police intensified efforts to recapture him.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained 122 boatmen and crew members in the Naf River for allegedly fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters. The operation, conducted from Mohona to Jaliapara on Friday morning, involved 19 fishing boats. Among those detained, 29 were local residents and 93 were Rohingya.

Officials noted that Bangladeshi fishermen are often detained by the Arakan Army for crossing maritime boundaries, prompting heightened vigilance and strict enforcement by the Coast Guard.

Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, challenging his attempt to remove her from office. In her legal petition, Cook has requested the court to declare Trump’s dismissal order “illegal and null.”

The lawsuit also names Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as a co-defendant. Trump has accused Cook of providing false information regarding her mortgage records and claims that the Constitution gives him the authority to remove her from her position.

Cook has previously stated that there is no “legitimate legal basis” for her dismissal under U.S. law. According to reports from the BBC, the move by Trump comes amid his dissatisfaction with the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to lower interest rates. As a member of the board responsible for setting U.S. interest rates, Cook’s role places her at the center of this high-stakes confrontation.

Amid rising U.S. tariff pressures, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Tokyo to attend the two-day annual summit beginning Friday.

The visit is expected to strengthen strategic relations between Japan and India, with discussions focusing on rare mineral partnerships and Japanese investment in high-value sectors in India. Meanwhile, both countries plan to discuss enhanced cooperation under the regional security alliance framework. Modi’s visit is also seen as a key step in strengthening the Quad alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.

A Tk 35.5 crore project in Bhangaura Municipality, Pabna, aimed at providing arsenic-free drinking water, remains non-functional more than a decade after its launch. Substandard materials and widespread corruption prevented its operation, yet six employees continue to receive salaries, costing the municipality nearly Tk 20 lakh annually. Investigations confirmed irregularities, but no actions were taken. Residents remain deprived of clean water, while authorities cite lack of funds to repair pump houses and continue other municipal duties.

The United Kingdom has repatriated 15 Bangladeshi nationals accused of violating immigration laws. The returnees were sent on a special charter flight from London’s Stansted Airport via Islamabad, arriving in Dhaka on Friday. The passengers included both men and women, some with valid passports and others with expired ones, hailing from districts such as Sylhet, Comilla, and Dhaka. The UK authorities, coordinating with Bangladesh, are taking strict measures against illegal immigrants, with repatriation forming part of their enforcement efforts.

The Directorate of Madrasa Education has issued an urgent directive requiring full cooperation in the recruitment, joining, and MPO inclusion process of NTRCA-recommended teachers at private madrasas. Letters have been sent to principals, acting heads, and other officials of MPO-registered institutions. Complaints have emerged about delays due to absent committees or heads. Institutions must follow proper procedures through acting principals, ad hoc committees, or local administration. Non-compliance may result in suspension of MPO benefits and legal action under relevant regulations.

A sudden cloudburst late Thursday night unleashed massive landslides in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, sweeping away houses and flooding villages. The Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers are flowing above danger levels, inundating temples and homes. Several people are missing, while rescue efforts by NDRF, SDRF, and the army face challenges due to collapsed mountain roads. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured ongoing relief measures. Authorities issued an orange alert in multiple districts, warning of more heavy rain and worsening conditions.