US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin fail, India could face additional secondary tariffs.
The US has already imposed a 25% fine and a 25% tariff on India for purchasing oil and weapons from Russia. Bessent urged European nations to join in on secondary sanctions, saying they should “stand together” in pressuring Russia. Today’s Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, will focus on a Ukraine ceasefire.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned an incident in Noida where a man and his child were denied hotel accommodation for speaking Bengali.
“This man was not from Bangladesh, but from West Bengal. Yet he was refused a room,” Banerjee said, questioning why respect for languages is not mutual. She praised the sweetness of the Bengali language and urged people never to forget their mother tongue or Bengal’s historic role in India’s independence and social reforms.

A sudden cloudburst in Kishtwar district’s Chashoti village, Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered flash floods, killing at least 46 people. Over 200 remain missing, and the toll is expected to rise.
Within an hour, more than 100 mm of rain fell, sweeping away pilgrims heading to the Machail Mata temple. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the disaster-hit area.

Police in Bamunshikra, Paba, Rajshahi, discovered the bodies of four members of the same family hanging from ceiling fans on Friday morning. The deceased are Minarul Islam (30), his wife Sadhina Begum (28), their son Mahim (13), and 18-month-old daughter Mithila.
Authorities suspect family conflict may have led to the tragedy, but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The investigation is ongoing.

Although water levels in Lalmonirhat’s rivers have fallen slightly, low-lying and char areas remain submerged. On Thursday, the Teesta River at Dalia Barrage was flowing 18 cm above danger level; by Friday, it had dropped below that mark.
However, 20 villages in Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, and Sadar remain flooded, leaving at least 7,000 families marooned. Many have taken shelter on embankments or in schools with their livestock. Croplands remain underwater, and 44 sluice gates of the barrage are open to maintain normal water flow.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in an interview with CNA in Malaysia, emphasized that his interim government is committed to holding a fair and celebratory national election — but warned that reforms and justice must come first.
“If we start with elections, there will be no need for reforms or justice. Everything will be handed back to the elected, and the old problems will return — potentially leading to authoritarian rule again,” Yunus said.
He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s good relations with Pakistan and China, and expressed his intent to strengthen ties with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, envisioning the ‘Seven Sisters’ region as a strong economic bloc.

Since August 10, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has rolled out an online General Diary (GD) service in all its stations, enabling citizens to file GDs from home.
Through the “Online GD” app, available on Google Play Store, users can submit reports using their smartphone by following simple instructions. Applicants will receive a GD number and updates just like in-person filings. Authorities say the system ensures privacy by verifying mobile numbers and national IDs, while improving police transparency and saving citizens’ time. Traditional GD services will continue alongside the online option.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a new directive significantly increasing allowances for government training programs. Under the revised policy, officials at the Joint Secretary level and above attending subject-specific internal training sessions will receive 3,600 taka per hour, while Deputy Secretaries and lower-level employees will receive 3,000 taka.

Previously, third-grade officials or those at Joint Secretary level earned 2,500 taka per training hour. Fourth- and fifth-grade officials or Deputy Secretaries earned 2,000 taka per hour; the new rates now provide 3,600 and 3,000 taka, respectively.

Daily training allowances have also been increased: Grade 9 and above employees now receive 1,200 taka per day (up from 600), and Grade 10 and below receive 1,000 taka per day (up from 500). The honoraria for course directors have risen from 1,500 to 2,000 taka per day, course coordinators from 1,200 to 1,500 taka, and support staff from 500 to 1,000 taka.

This move reflects the government’s effort to better incentivize participation and acknowledge the contributions of trainers and staff involved in professional development programs.

A 45-year-old man, Mozaher Ali, was brutally beaten to death in Purboboroghona, Banshkhali on Thursday night. The victim’s family alleges that relatives of defendants in a previous case carried out the attack.
Months earlier, Mozaher’s home had been set ablaze, leading him to file a case against 23 people. Three suspects were in jail, and their bail was denied earlier in the day. On his way back from court, Mozaher was allegedly ambushed. Police have deployed forces in the area and sent the body for autopsy. A manhunt for the attackers is underway.

Tensions flared at Dhanmondi 32 on Thursday evening when three individuals, suspected of supporting a banned organization, were detained by curious onlookers and handed over to police. Witnesses say the suspects were beaten before being taken into custody.
With August 15 approaching, security has been tightened in and around Dhanmondi 32 to prevent any untoward incidents. Ramna Division DC Masud Alam confirmed that barricades were placed at entry points from the afternoon, restricting vehicle and pedestrian movement. Additional police forces have been deployed, and authorities say legal action will be taken after verification.

Audio recordings from Patiya police reveal SI Hanan threatening a teenager’s mother, warning her to bring her son to the station within an hour or be forcibly taken. The officer stated that a GD (General Diary) had been filed against her son for allegedly threatening someone. The mother, Shahina Akter, claims the officer may have filed the GD intentionally to protect a favored party and subsequently threatened her via phone. Patiya OC Mohammad Nuruzzaman acknowledged the behavior as a violation of police conduct, noting that he had no knowledge of the GD filing.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz has instructed officers to open fire instantly if anyone draws a weapon—whether a firearm or a sharp blade—before an attack occurs.

The directive, issued via wireless communication on Tuesday night, followed an incident in Ishaan Mistry Ghat where SI Abu Saeed Rana was injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Awami League members. Despite being armed with shotguns, two constables present at the scene did not use them.

Commissioner Aziz stressed that reliance on rubber bullets is insufficient, urging full use of government-issued ammunition. Citing sections 96 to 106 of the Penal Code, he emphasized that police officers have the legal right to self-defense, stating:
"Shoot the moment a weapon is drawn—aim for the head, chest, or back if necessary. Ensure optimal use of government bullets."

Palestinian Ambassador Yusuf Ramadan has announced that Palestinian students will no longer study at universities funded by Israel or its allied nations. He alleged that even the architectural design of the Asian University for Women was done by an Israeli national, prompting the decision to boycott the institution.

According to the ambassador, the interim government has revoked visas for the concerned university at Palestine’s request. He also revealed that the previous Education Minister, Dr. Dipu Moni, had initiated a project to enroll Palestinian women in the Asian University for Women. Ambassador Yusuf expressed gratitude to the current administration for withdrawing from that initiative.

A lighter vessel named Chandtara-8, carrying 18,500 bags of cement, sank in the Meghna River near Chandpur’s Dokanghar area early Thursday.

The ship’s master, Mamun Sheikh, said the vessel had been anchored overnight alongside another ship, Jaman. As both set off around 4:30 a.m., strong currents caused a collision, tipping Chandtara-8 and sending it under with its cargo. All eight crew members were rescued by local fishermen. BIWTA has been informed and will conduct a salvage operation, police said.

The Election Commission will unveil the roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election next week, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed.

While the content and methodology of the roadmap remain under discussion, Ahmed noted that talks are ongoing about facilitating expatriate voting. So far, 318 applications to observe the election have been received, which are currently being vetted.