The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwari and four others in a case filed over the alleged staged killing of seven madrasa students in Gazipur.

The case stems from an incident in October 2016, when seven young men were killed during a police raid in Noagaon Patartek area. Before their deaths, they were allegedly picked up and disappeared. Authorities at the time claimed the raid targeted militants linked to the newly-formed JMB faction.

Then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who was present at the scene, had insisted that all those killed were involved in militant activities and were attempting to regroup the outfit.

The ICT has set October 15 as the date for submission of the investigation report in the case.

Hundreds of teachers, recently dismissed from NGO-run schools in Ukhiya, staged a protest on Monday by blocking the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf regional highway.

The teachers alleged that around 1,250 of them were abruptly laid off a few weeks ago, with NGOs citing a shortage of funds as the reason. They said they had repeatedly held discussions with local authorities regarding reinstatement but no effective measures had been taken.

“We were left with no choice but to take to the streets again,” said one of the protesting teachers.

The blockade caused severe traffic disruption along the busy highway, leaving vehicles stranded for hours.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has urged Bangladeshis to protect natural resources and work collectively to expand the fisheries sector. Speaking at National Fisheries Week, he highlighted the growing role of farmed fish in meeting the nation’s protein demand.

However, Yunus criticized unchecked pollution, saying:

“We dump all our waste into rivers. We talk about controlling rivers, but no one talks about nurturing them.”

He emphasized the need for a fisheries industry built on scientific research, coastal protection, and sustainable practices, warning that unplanned infrastructure and environmental destruction are making healthy living increasingly difficult.

At the event, awards were presented: 9 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals for contributions to the fisheries sector.

The Bangladeshi Embassy in Kuwait has dismissed reports that a Bangladeshi national was behind the recent toxic liquor production and distribution scandal that killed several people.

British daily The Times had claimed the ringleader was a Bangladeshi named “Delora Barkash Darazi.” The embassy investigated, finding the name inconsistent with Bangladeshi origins.

Kuwaiti police confirmed that none of the 67 arrested, nor any of the dead or injured, were Bangladeshi. The embassy condemned the report as “factually wrong and biased,” warning it could harm the reputation of Bangladeshi workers abroad.

The government has suspended former Detective Branch (DB) chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid along with 17 other senior police officials.

A Ministry of Home Affairs circular stated the officers were charged under Section 3(g) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, for “offenses punishable by dismissal due to desertion.”

The suspended officials include three Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), six Additional DIGs, four Superintendents of Police (SPs), four Additional SPs, and one Assistant SP.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has released a full verdict ordering the reinstatement of 85 Upazila election officers dismissed 18 years ago.

The court ruled that the Election Commission’s action was unconstitutional, restoring the officers’ full rights and benefits. They had been terminated on September 3, 2007, by the caretaker government, which accused them of being politically appointed during the alliance government’s tenure.

Last year, the officers filed appeals and review petitions challenging earlier verdicts. The Appellate Division has now sided with them, ending a long legal battle.

A police constable named Omi Das has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive walkie-talkie communications from Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz.

Das, posted at Khulshi Police Station on deputation, faces charges under the Official Secrets Act. On August 12, Commissioner Aziz had ordered officers over radio to “shoot on sight” armed attackers, following the assault on a Bandar Police Station officer by ruling party activists.

A recording of the message was leaked online, sparking controversy. Investigators later traced the leak to Das, leading to his arrest.

At least 23 people have died and 160 others have fallen ill in Kuwait after consuming illegally brewed alcohol containing methanol, authorities confirmed.

Kuwaiti officials have arrested 67 individuals in connection with the incident, including the alleged mastermind — a Bangladeshi national. Police said they had raided and shut down 10 illegal factories operating across residential and industrial areas.

Under Kuwait’s Islamic laws, the production and import of alcohol are strictly prohibited.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait reported that nearly 40 Indian nationals were hospitalized in recent days, though the exact causes were not disclosed.

Yemen’s armed forces claim to have carried out a “special operation” targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport with a ‘Palestine-2’ hypersonic ballistic missile.

The strike forced the suspension of all flights and sent millions of Israelis rushing to shelters in panic.

Military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attack was “a response to the genocide and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, as well as aggression against Yemen.” He condemned the wider Muslim world for failing to act against Israeli atrocities:
“For two years, Gaza has been bleeding, yet the Islamic world has taken no effective measures. Our operations will continue until the war ends and the blockade of Gaza is lifted.”

Just hours before his scheduled White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that peace with Russia requires Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions — and give up hope of ever reclaiming Crimea.

“Crimea will never return to Ukraine. Russia took it more than a decade ago,” Trump wrote. His remarks sparked sharp criticism, with analysts saying the U.S. president’s stance echoed Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric.

In a separate post, Trump celebrated the gathering of European leaders at the White House, calling it “a big day” and an honor to host so many leaders together for the first time.

Indian police in Hyderabad have rescued a Bangladeshi teenager who was trafficked and forced into sex work.

Authorities confirmed this was not an isolated case. In recent years, Bangladeshi women have been rescued from brothels in Khairatabad, Chaderghat, and Bandlaguda. Victims also come from Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

An Indian official explained that trafficked women from Bangladesh often cross the border illegally with the help of agents, either by land or river. “The trafficking networks are powerful, operating on both sides of the border, preying on poverty and luring victims with false promises of livelihood,” the official said.

A study by the Childline India Foundation (CSWB) revealed that 2.7% of women subjected to commercial sexual exploitation in India are Bangladeshi nationals.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder has clarified that the interim government has been discouraging the use of official portraits since its inception under an unwritten “zero portrait” policy.

However, he stressed that no government office or mission has received any written instruction to remove the president’s photographs. “Still, some individuals took it upon themselves to display such portraits. The idea that written orders were issued to remove them is incorrect,” he wrote.

Majumder criticized political overreaction: “Now that elections are approaching and political maneuvering is narrowing, even trivial issues are being inflated into mountains to stir controversy.”

Israel witnessed nationwide strikes and protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza occupation plan. On Sunday, nearly half a million demonstrators gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, carrying Israeli flags and photos of hostages.

The rally, organized by the October Council, demanded the release of hostages held by Hamas and an immediate halt to Israel’s Gaza offensive. When protesters attempted to march toward Netanyahu’s residence, they were stopped by security forces, leading to at least 40 arrests.

The protests spread beyond Tel Aviv, with demonstrations reported in Jerusalem, Haifa, and nearly 300 other locations across the country.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has emphasized Bangladesh’s push to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, highlighting the country’s vast economic potential and untapped resources.

“With over 170 million people, Bangladesh can provide ASEAN with a huge market and skilled workforce,” Yunus told Malaysia’s Bernama. “There are unexplored investment sectors, particularly in fisheries. Despite having access to a vast sea, Bangladesh has not tapped into deep-sea fishing. Partnering with Myanmar could open opportunities for joint ventures in this sector.”

He noted that Bangladesh has been engaging with ASEAN since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Dhaka visit in October last year. “Some member states may raise objections, which will take time to resolve, but we will not give up. Our logic is strong—we are a neighboring country, and we already have supporters within ASEAN.”

The Bangladesh Bank has instructed financial institutions to present a clearer picture of their actual liquidity status starting next month.

In a circular sent to the chief executives of finance companies, the central bank stated that although firms are required to submit monthly liquidity reports, the data currently provided fails to reflect their true position. With expanding investment avenues now available, companies have greater opportunities to grow. However, the lack of accurate liquidity reporting is obstructing proper risk assessment.

To address this, a new reporting format has been developed by Bangladesh Bank. Finance companies will now be required to submit detailed liquidity information using this format. Each month’s data must be submitted to the central bank by the 7th of the following month.