Law enforcement agencies have submitted 26 charge sheets in connection with cases filed during incidents that occurred amid the recent mass uprising.

According to the Police Headquarters, eight of these cases are murder charges from Sherpur, Feni, Chandpur, Cumilla, Kurigram, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police. The remaining 18 relate to other criminal offenses in Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Jamalpur, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Barishal Metropolitan Police, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, and the Police Bureau of Investigation.

A total of 1,153 individuals have been charged in the murder cases, while 682 stand accused in other cases. Authorities stated that investigations into remaining cases are ongoing, with a commitment to bring all perpetrators to justice under close supervision of senior officials.

Sub-Inspector Sheikh Afzalul Haque has applied to become a state witness in the Ashulia case involving the killing and burning of six victims.

On Thursday, he submitted his petition to the International Crimes Tribunal-2, which also ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against eight accused in the case.

The tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, directed that the hearings begin after the accused were produced before the court earlier in the day. Among the 16 accused, former lawmaker Saiful Islam and seven others remain absconding. The tribunal has appointed lawyers to represent them.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will announce its verdict on September 4 regarding the state’s appeal against the acquittal of all accused in the August 21 grenade attack case, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar.

The fifth day of hearings on the appeal was held this morning under the leadership of the Chief Justice.

In 2018, a lower court sentenced Babar, BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, and 17 others to death, while 19—including Tarique Rahman—were sentenced to life imprisonment. Eleven others received varying prison terms.

However, on December 1 last year, the High Court acquitted all accused, prompting the state to file a leave-to-appeal petition on March 19 this year. The Appellate Division granted the appeal but did not stay the High Court verdict.

The European Union’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley (Michael Miller in local reports), held a meeting on Thursday with Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission.

The discussion focused on the commission’s activities, objectives, and achievements. Riaz briefed the envoy on the dialogues held with political parties, efforts to build national consensus, and progress in implementing the National Charter announced in July.

Ambassador Whiteley praised the commission’s work, expressing optimism that its ongoing efforts would be successfully completed.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against former MP Saiful and 15 others in connection with the Ashulia mass killing case, where six bodies were burned during the uprising.

The tribunal also issued arrest warrants for eight fugitives linked to the case.

Prosecutors allege that on August 5, 2024, five victims were killed and set ablaze, while another injured man was also burned alive. A day earlier, on August 4, another individual was shot dead outside Ashulia police station.

The formal charges are supported by 313 pages of documents, 62 witnesses, 168 pages of evidence, and two pen drives.

Sukhranjan Bali, a controversial witness in the war crimes trial of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, has lodged a formal complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal alleging abduction and torture.

Bali claimed that in November 2012, as he attempted to testify in Sayeedi’s favor, plainclothes police abducted him and held him in secret detention for two months and 17 days, before forcing him across the border into India, where he was imprisoned for five years.

His petition names 32 individuals, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, and several senior figures in the judiciary and prosecution.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, carried out an attack in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, injuring several Israeli soldiers. The assault reportedly involved anti-personnel shells.

According to the Israeli military, around 18 armed fighters launched a raid on an army camp early Wednesday, leaving at least three soldiers wounded, one critically. Palestinian media, however, claimed that as many as seven soldiers were injured.

Meanwhile, in Syria’s Golan Heights, seven Israeli soldiers were injured while attempting to defuse bombs.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has directed heads of institutions to submit August salary bills by August 23 in order to disburse payments to MPO-enlisted teachers and staff via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).

The circular warns that delays in online bill submission will prevent salaries from being sent through EFT. Heads of institutions must download copies of submitted bills, signed by both the head and governing body president, for recordkeeping.

Since January 2024, MPO salaries have been transferred directly to individual bank accounts through EFT. From August, however, monthly MPO payroll submissions by institution heads have been made mandatory to ensure accuracy in cases of retirement, resignation, or death.

Special Assistant Fayez Ahmed Tayeb announced that expansion work on the National Data Center and Disaster Recovery Data Center will be completed within the next six months.

During his visit to the IT Park, Tayeb reviewed site designs, operational facilities, and instructed officials to ensure overall quality improvements. He urged IT Park authorities to organize hackathons, ideathons, startup development programs, and science fairs involving students from local schools and colleges, thereby strengthening the startup ecosystem pipeline.

He also emphasized the need for regular seminars on cybersecurity, digital verification, and cyber literacy. Later, Tayeb visited the operations of Sheba.xyz and Chaldal.com at Jessore Software Technology Park and assured investors that rent reduction demands would be considered.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that 58% of Americans believe all UN member states should recognize Palestine as an independent state. In contrast, 33% oppose the move, while 9% remain undecided.

The six-day survey shows 78% of Democrats support recognition, whereas 53% of Republicans oppose it. Additionally, 65% of respondents said the U.S. should take steps to help Palestinians facing starvation in Gaza, with 28% disagreeing—most of them Republican.

Analysts suggest the findings indicate a troubling decline in U.S. public support for Israel, posing diplomatic concerns for Tel Aviv.

A total of 175 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya’s Ganfuda Detention Center in Benghazi with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

They arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, along with embassy officials, supervised the repatriation process.

Expressing gratitude to the Libyan authorities and IOM, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of pursuing legal and safe migration pathways. He urged returnees to take legal action against human trafficking networks and assured continued embassy support in this regard.

At least 81 Palestinians were killed in a single day of Israeli attacks on Gaza, while 30 others died while attempting to collect humanitarian aid.

The Israeli military has launched a ground offensive to seize Gaza City, where nearly one million people remain trapped in dire conditions.

Meanwhile, three more Palestinians died of hunger on Wednesday, bringing the total starvation-related death toll to 269—including 112 children.

The World Food Programme (WFP) warned: “This is not just hunger—it is starvation.” The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that one in three children in Gaza City now suffers from malnutrition.

Israeli human rights group Gisha accused the government of deliberately blocking aid and using starvation as a weapon of war, while attempting to deflect blame through false justifications.

The US has introduced a new policy requiring immigration officials to assess visa applicants’ “attitude towards America.” Those found expressing anti-American sentiments may be denied entry.

This includes monitoring applicants’ activities on social media. Evidence of anti-American views, ties to terrorist organizations, or involvement in antisemitic activities could disqualify applicants.

The revised guidelines from USCIS have raised concerns among immigration rights activists and lawyers, who fear the measure could be misused.

CNN reports that the US State Department has already canceled more than 6,000 student visas this year under tightened scrutiny.

In a bid to sustain business momentum, Bangladesh Bank has relaxed its lending guidelines, allowing banks to distribute loans without implementing the Internal Credit Risk Rating Systems (ICRRS).

Banks can now disburse loans based on their own risk assessments to safeguard institutional interests.

The central bank explained that the earlier mandatory ICRRS-based lending policy was causing delays due to lengthy audits and financial scrutiny of entrepreneurs. To cut through such complications, a new circular has been issued.

India has successfully tested its indigenously developed Agni-5 missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.

The medium-range ballistic missile can strike targets up to 5,000 kilometers away and is the most advanced in India’s Agni series. Weighing 1.5 tons, it is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing it to deliver multiple warheads to different targets with a single launch.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the test met all operational and technical standards, marking a major boost to the country’s strategic defense capabilities.