Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said Rohingyas are becoming involved in various forms of crime, including drug smuggling, and that their presence is contributing to environmental destruction. He made the remarks on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a three-week Capstone Course at the National Defence College in Mirpur Cantonment.

Speaking as chief guest, the army chief said course participants could play a role in addressing the Rohingya and border crises. He also identified challenges in the hill region and the energy sector as areas where participants could contribute to solutions.

Senior military and civilian officials from the armed forces, government and private institutions attended the concluding event. National Defence College faculty members and other distinguished guests were also present at the ceremony.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after he was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president on August 20, 2026. In a Facebook post published after the result was announced, Shafiqur Rahman offered his sincere congratulations to the newly elected president.

The Jamaat leader said the 23rd presidential election was held on August 20, 2026. He expressed hope that Mirza Fakhrul, as guardian of the state in the coming days, would use his highest competence and wisdom in carrying out his responsibilities.

Shafiqur Rahman said he hoped the president would work to establish justice, uphold democracy, and protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. The report did not provide further details about the election result or any response from Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with red roses, according to an Amar Desh Online report published on August 20, 2026. Mirza Fakhrul, the ruling BNP candidate, won the presidential election with 255 votes.

His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after voting was held from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three members of parliament were absent: Mirza Abbas of Dhaka-8, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent Brahmanbaria-2 MP Rumin Farhana. The report identified Mirza Fakhrul as the candidate of the ruling BNP.

Ruling BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president after receiving 255 votes in the presidential election. His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Voting was held on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm, and Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three members of parliament were absent: Mirza Abbas of Dhaka-8, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana of Brahmanbaria-2. The reported vote totals for the two candidates were 255 and 88 respectively.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the day after the election. National Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said preparations had been made for the elected president to take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7:30pm on August 21.

Bangladesh Student Union alleged that activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal attacked its members after they protested the alleged harassment of three female Fine Arts students at Dhaka University. The incident occurred near TSC and behind the Raju Sculpture on Wednesday night, August 19. The three students later submitted a written complaint to the university proctor, while Student Union members held a protest march toward the proctor’s office at about 11pm.

According to the students and the Student Union, several youths made offensive remarks as the women were getting into a rickshaw. Union members who came forward for their safety were allegedly assaulted after an argument. The group said its central general secretary Shimul Kumbhakar, private university unit president Ontu Orindom and Dhaka University unit general secretary Md Mustakim were injured. Kumbhakar was taken to the National Institute of Ophthalmology for treatment.

Assistant Proctor Israfil Ratan said the political identities of those present could not be confirmed. He said CCTV footage had been reviewed initially and legal and administrative procedures would be followed. Chhatra Dal leaders said they did not know details and would investigate whether the attackers were affiliated with the organisation.

India’s central government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that several Bengali-speaking people previously sent from West Bengal to Bangladesh had been brought back to India. Following the submission, the court disposed of the related cases, saying there was no immediate need to continue them because the individuals had returned. The court, however, left unresolved broader legal questions concerning citizenship and deportation.

The Calcutta High Court had earlier ruled illegal the central government’s decision to label several people, including Sunali Khatun and Switi Bibi from Birbhum district, as “illegal immigrants” and send them to Bangladesh. It ordered their return within one month. Families alleged that Sunali, her husband and child were detained and sent to Bangladesh, while similar allegations concerned Switi and her children. Some were reportedly detained by local police after arriving in Bangladesh.

On May 22, the government said it would verify the returned individuals’ claims to Indian citizenship under special circumstances and said the move would not set a precedent. Their lawyer said all had returned following the solicitor general’s intervention. The Supreme Court said it could address the legal issues later.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said Tarique Rahman could visit India only after an appropriate environment is created through mutual trust, respect for sovereignty, diplomatic dialogue and a respectful invitation. In an August 17 interview at his official residence on Minto Road in Dhaka, Kabir said Bangladesh would not rush into a high-level visit before the BRICS summit scheduled in New Delhi on September 12-13.

Kabir described Indian media reports about the prime minister’s possible visit as speculative and unfounded. He said New Delhi needed to understand the reality of Bangladesh’s July uprising and clarify the basis on which it seeks relations with the elected government. He also objected to what he described as political or media space in India for Sheikh Hasina and other convicted or fugitive accused persons, saying Dhaka had lodged a diplomatic protest.

The adviser said Bangladesh is pursuing a “Bangladesh First” and balanced foreign policy. He cited possible engagement with a Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkey framework, planned progress on a Riyadh visit, stronger trade diplomacy with the United States and European Union, and deeper strategic ties with China. He also said efforts were under way to reopen Malaysia’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers.

Emigration from Israel is rising rapidly ahead of the next election, with studies indicating that many of those leaving are young, highly educated and relatively high-income citizens. An Israeli tax authority study found departures increased in 2023 and 2024 compared with previous years. Tel Aviv University estimated that about 270,000 Israelis left over the past three years, including 86,500 in 2023 and about 91,500 in 2024, with a similar figure in 2025.

Analysts link the trend to uncertainty over the future among educated and liberal Israelis, citing the right-wing policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, efforts to reduce judicial independence, political polarization and prolonged war. Large protests were held in 2023 against the government’s judicial reform initiative. Demographer Sergio Della Pergola said concerns about long-term insecurity and the country’s political direction appear to be the main drivers.

Experts warn that the loss of young and skilled citizens could pose economic risks, particularly for technology, research and development. Researcher Lilakh Lev Ari said the situation is worrying but not yet cause for panic. Opposition politician Gilad Kariv called it a “tsunami,” while analyst Shir Hever said attention should also include nurses and other essential workers leaving the country.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Advocate Shishir Monir said there was no celebration surrounding Thursday’s presidential election because its result was already known to everyone. In a Facebook post published on August 20, 2026, he described the election as lacking the atmosphere of a public occasion despite the presidential vote taking place.

Monir said the situation was not supposed to unfold this way. He said there had been an expectation that Article 70 would be reformed and that everyone would be able to exercise their voting rights independently. His remarks focused on the electoral process and the absence of what he described as a meaningful sense of participation.

The statement by the Jamaat central executive council member was also published on the Facebook page of the party’s media wing. The source identifies his comments as a reaction to the presidential election but provides no further details about the vote, its candidates, or the declared result.

Acting President Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram left Bangabhaban at 1:25pm on Thursday, August 20, 2026, according to a video sent from the presidential residence. Officials at Bangabhaban bid him farewell with flowers as his motorcade departed under strict protocol.

Before leaving, Ahmed received a guard of honour from a smartly turned-out armed forces contingent. He inspected the guard and received its salute, then exchanged farewell greetings and courtesies with those present. The chiefs of the three services, the president's military and civil secretaries, and senior government officials attended the farewell ceremony.

Ahmed wished for peace and progress in the country and success for the government as he departed. Voting to elect a new president was scheduled to begin at 2pm the same day, with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and opposition alliance candidate Oli Ahmed contesting. Ahmed had assumed acting presidential duties under Article 54 of the constitution after President Md Shahabuddin resigned on July 24 for health reasons.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh’s Constitution will be amended to change Article 70, and the next presidential election will be held under the revised provision. He made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Thursday, August 20. He said the country is holding a constitutionally competitive presidential election after about 35 years.

Ahmed said the current election includes a candidate from the opposition party and that presidential elections should be conducted in this manner. In his view, such a contest will give people in the country an opportunity to see the democratic practice they expect.

The minister said the opposition has not yet joined the committee formed to work on constitutional amendments, but changing Article 70 remains part of the process. Under the current provision, a member of parliament loses their seat if they vote against their party’s decision. The article has recently prompted political and constitutional debate around the presidential election.

Voting has begun for Bangladesh’s 23rd presidential election on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Under the Election Commission’s schedule, voting started at 2pm in the parliamentary chamber at the National Parliament Building and will continue until 5pm. The election process was initiated after President Md Shahabuddin resigned, leaving the office vacant.

The Election Commission has prepared a list of 349 members of parliament eligible to vote. Lawmakers will cast their ballots from their respective seats using ballot papers, with three transparent ballot boxes arranged for the vote. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin is serving as the returning officer for the presidential election.

The commission said preliminary results will be announced in the parliamentary chamber after voting ends, followed later by publication of an election gazette. The election schedule was announced on August 6, setting August 13 for nomination submissions, August 16 for scrutiny and August 18 as the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy. Until the new president takes office, the Speaker of Parliament is serving as acting president.

Bangladesh’s 349 members of parliament are scheduled to vote on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm in the parliamentary chamber to elect the country’s 23rd president. The election marks a presidential vote after 35 years, according to the report. BNP and like-minded parties have nominated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while a Jamaat-led 11-party alliance has nominated Dr Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram.

The winner, chosen through direct voting by lawmakers, is due to take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7:30pm on Friday. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, serving as speaker, will administer the oath. Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed is expected to formally hand over responsibilities to the new president immediately after the ceremony, in keeping with convention.

The Election Commission says preparations have been completed. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, the returning officer, said campaigning would not be permitted during the election. Voting will be counted immediately after polls close at 5pm, and the candidate receiving the highest number of valid votes will be declared elected. The Election Commission will subsequently publish a gazette of the result.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has issued nine instructions for members of parliament voting in the presidential election on Thursday, August 20. Voting will run continuously from 2pm to 5pm in the National Parliament. BNP-nominated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Colonel (retd) Dr Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, nominated by the 11-party alliance, are contesting the election.

Lawmakers must carry identification cards supplied by the Parliament Secretariat, collect ballots after taking their seats, and write their full names on the ballot counterfoil before returning it to an assisting official. To cast a vote, they must write their full names in the specified blank space opposite their preferred candidate’s name and place the ballot in the designated box.

No campaign activity, speeches or statements will be allowed during the meeting for voting. Damaged ballots must be shown to the election officer before being placed in the box. Counting will begin immediately after voting ends, with valid, invalid and unused ballots first recorded. The candidate receiving the most valid votes will be declared elected, followed by publication of the result in an Election Commission gazette.

Former education minister Dr Dipu Moni was released on parole from Munshiganj District Jail and sent to Dhaka on Thursday morning, according to jail superintendent Md Jannat-ul Farhad. The parole was granted for 12 hours, with the authorised period set from 6am until 6pm.

Her daughter, Tani Dipabali Nawar, submitted an application to the district administrator seeking her mother’s parole, the jail superintendent said. The application resulted in the temporary release of the former minister. The source did not specify the purpose of the parole request.

Dipu Moni left Munshiganj District Jail for Dhaka at 6:15am under police escort and tight security, following prison procedures, Farhad said. She is scheduled to be returned to the jail after the authorised parole period ends.