Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, emphasized that programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovative technologies are essential forces for national development in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He made the remarks on Saturday at the closing and award ceremony of the National High School Programming Competition held at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The minister said the world has entered the age of AI, creating global opportunities for talented individuals. To remain competitive, he urged young people to prepare themselves with modern technological and scientific knowledge. He added that technology-skilled youth will build a prosperous Bangladesh and that developing human resources in AI, programming, and innovation is vital. The competition, organized by the ICT Division and implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council, registered 17,839 students across five categories, with 832 finalists reaching the national round.

Acting ICT Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan stated that young people will lead the country’s technology-driven future, and the government is implementing initiatives to nurture their creativity and innovation.

A young man died in a road accident while participating in a motorcycle rally of Brazil football supporters in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in front of Monsur Ali Dalal’s house at Togbi Union along the Bhola-Charfassion road. The deceased was identified as Md Ismail, aged 25, son of Md Maksud from Kunjerhat Chowkidar Bari. Witnesses said the rally had started from Borhanuddin upazila in support of Brazil during the World Cup, when Ismail lost control of his motorcycle and fell off the road.

He was rescued and taken to Borhanuddin Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. According to the residential medical officer Dr Rezwanul Islam, the cause of death was excessive bleeding.

The report did not mention any further investigation or official statements regarding the incident.

BNP leaders and activists carried out a cleanliness drive in Dhaka’s Uttara-12 area near Rupayan City on Saturday, led by Dhaka North BNP joint convener Afaz Uddin. The initiative targeted a canal flowing beside residential areas from Uttara-10’s Swiss Gate, which had long been clogged with waste, causing pollution and waterlogging. Despite heavy rain, the team worked throughout the day using an excavator to remove garbage and pile it for city corporation disposal.

Afaz Uddin said the effort was part of BNP’s declared weekly cleanliness program and that he has continued such social activities before and after elections. He expressed his intention to help transform Uttara into a modern, pollution-free city and called for intervention from relevant authorities, including the Prime Minister.

He also proposed developing a planned lake park in the Diabari area modeled after Dhanmondi and Hatirjheel, with facilities for children, the elderly, and youth recreation. Additionally, he announced the start of a tree-planting campaign in the area.

A confrontation erupted in Rangpur after the death of a patient led to allegations that doctors withheld the body in the morgue. Relatives of the deceased and local residents blocked the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway demanding the release of the body, causing a traffic jam stretching about five kilometers on both sides. The blockade was lifted around 3 p.m. after the body was handed over.

According to hospital and family sources, Nur Nahar Begum from Jumma Para in Rangpur fell ill early Saturday and was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Her relatives claimed doctors delayed providing oxygen and insisted on admission first, during which her condition worsened and she died. Angry relatives reportedly attacked a doctor, after which the body was kept in the morgue and the emergency department was closed for two hours.

Hospital Director Brigadier Ashiqur Rahman described the incident as regrettable, stating that the patient had arrived in critical condition and that a case would be filed to ensure legal action.

A farmer was killed by lightning in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the canal area of Brojoboksa village. The deceased was identified as Abdul Hamid, also known as Jhoru, aged 35, son of the late Haidar Ali of the same village.

According to his cousin Anwar Hossain, Abdul Hamid had returned home from fieldwork and was heading to the Brojoboksa canal to bathe when he was struck by lightning and died on the spot. The officer-in-charge of Kalaroa Police Station, H. M. Shaheen, confirmed that police had visited the victim’s home after receiving information about the incident.

Local authorities have acknowledged the death and conducted an initial inspection at the site, but no further details were provided in the report.

A half-hour spell of heavy rain on Saturday afternoon submerged most major roads in Dhaka, causing severe waterlogging and traffic paralysis across the city. The rainfall, recorded at 35 millimeters within thirty minutes, led to flooding in key areas including Mirpur, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Malibagh, and Motijheel. Even areas near the Prime Minister’s Office and Jahangir Gate were inundated. Although the water gradually receded by evening, residents faced major disruptions, with commuters and students struggling through flooded streets and transport shortages.

According to the Meteorological Department, the day’s rainfall was slightly less than the previous day’s, yet the waterlogging was worse due to poor drainage. Experts attributed the situation to unplanned urbanization and the city’s weak sewage system, citing clogged drains and encroached canals as key reasons for slow water discharge. Despite repeated assurances from Dhaka’s city corporations, the problem persists every monsoon.

The weather office warned that monsoon rains are likely to continue over the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding in low-lying areas of the capital.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on every citizen of Bangladesh to plant at least one tree sapling, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a pollution-free environment for future generations. He made the appeal on Saturday after inaugurating a nationwide program to plant 250 million trees at the Dulahazara Malumghat reserved forest. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and cleaner air across the country.

During the event, the Prime Minister recalled his election pledge to launch a large-scale tree planting campaign if elected. He reaffirmed the government’s target of planting five crore trees annually, totaling 25 crore over the next five years. Rahman urged all citizens to participate actively in the campaign to transform Bangladesh’s air into a cleaner and healthier atmosphere.

He also directed district administrators to take initiatives to turn their respective areas into green sanctuaries. The Prime Minister expressed hope that collective efforts would ensure a safe and pollution-free environment where future generations could breathe freely.

Speakers at a discussion marking World Day Against Child Labour emphasized that birth registration is a powerful tool to prevent child labor in Bangladesh. They noted that registration establishes a child’s identity, protects rights, and ensures access to state services. Without registration, many children remain vulnerable to exploitation and early entry into the labor market.

The event highlighted that only 50 percent of births in Bangladesh are currently registered, and among children under five, the rate is just 40 percent. Experts proposed amending the Birth and Death Registration Act 2004 to make all health facilities legally responsible for registering births. Since about 67 percent of children are born in such facilities, this reform could significantly raise registration rates and strengthen child protection.

Speakers added that improved registration would help Bangladesh achieve full civil registration by 2030 under the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which targets the elimination of child labor and all forms of child exploitation.

Sabbir Ahmed Sadan, a student leader from Madan upazila in Netrokona, was fined Tk 500,000 after attempting a second marriage without disclosing his first. The incident occurred on Friday night in Sonakanda village of Kendua upazila. Sadan, president of the Tioshree Union unit of the student wing, had secretly married Aymona Akter, daughter of his neighbor Dhanai Mia, in 2022. When he went to marry the daughter of Shahjahan Mia, president of the local farmers’ wing, his first wife’s family revealed the earlier marriage, leading to his detention and assault by the bride’s side. He was released after paying the fine.

Following his release, Sadan’s associates allegedly attacked Aymona Akter’s house on Saturday, injuring her elder sister Sumona Akter, who received treatment at Madan Upazila Health Complex. Police intervened after a 999 call from Aymona’s family and brought the situation under control. Local leaders and police officials confirmed the incident, stating that further legal action would follow if a written complaint was filed.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Bangladesh would be embarrassed if the prime minister continued to make inappropriate remarks. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing a grand rally organized by the 11-party alliance at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram.

During the same event, National Parliament’s Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam alleged that there were attempts to hand over Islami Bank to S. Alam, warning that the public would not accept it. Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury also spoke, saying that martyr Osman Hadi had spoken for justice and that it would be unacceptable if the BNP failed to ensure justice after coming to power.

The rally reflected growing criticism from opposition figures over government actions and political accountability, highlighting tensions between ruling and opposition parties in Bangladesh.

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has alleged that efforts are underway to hand over Islami Bank to S Alam Group, warning that the public will not accept such a move. He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance in Chattogram.

At the same event, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury said that martyr Osman Hadi spoke for justice and fairness, and that the BNP must ensure justice if it returns to power. Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman arrived in Chattogram to attend the rally at Laldighi Maidan.

The 11-party alliance organized the gathering to press for several demands, including implementation of the people's mandate, control of commodity prices, improvement of law and order, and establishment of citizens’ rights.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the grave of martyr Md. Wasim Akram, the first martyr from Chattogram Division in the 2024 mass uprising, on Saturday afternoon in Pekua upazila. He personally drove to Wasim’s village home, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and the minister’s wife Hasina Ahmed. After offering prayers at the grave, the prime minister met Wasim’s parents and brother, expressed his condolences, and handed over a savings certificate worth Tk 2 million to the family.

Md. Wasim Akram was killed by gunfire on July 16, 2024, during an attack on protesting students in Chattogram’s Bahaddarhat area amid the anti-discrimination movement. At the time, he served as joint convener of the Chattogram College unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. The prime minister’s visit highlighted official recognition of Wasim’s sacrifice during the 2024 movement.

The gesture is seen as part of ongoing efforts to honor those who lost their lives in the 2024 uprising and to support their families through state assistance.

Heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff caused flooding in low-lying areas of Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila on Saturday morning, as the Maharshi River overflowed into the Jhenaigati town market and nearby areas. Roads were submerged, and local residents and traders faced severe disruption. The extent of damage could not be immediately confirmed.

Residents complained that the absence of a protective embankment leaves the market and surrounding lowlands vulnerable to flooding every monsoon. Traders reported water entering their shops, forcing them to protect goods and disrupting normal business activities. In Nalitabari upazila, the Chellakhali River at Batkuchi point flowed two centimeters above the danger level, raising concerns of worsening conditions along riverbanks.

Officials from the Water Development Board said rainfall was recorded at 24.50 millimeters in Sherpur, 35 millimeters in Nalitabari, and 180 millimeters in Nakugaon. Local authorities noted that water levels began to recede by midday. The area’s Member of Parliament stated that a proposal for a permanent embankment on the Maharshi River has been raised in the national parliament to reduce future suffering.

Bangladesh national team spinner Nayeem Hasan was detained and harassed in Chattogram following a late-night police operation based on a WhatsApp message. The message, sent at 1:28 a.m. by a sergeant of a special agency’s Khulshi zone, claimed that a specific CNG auto-rickshaw was being used for gold smuggling. Acting on that unverified tip, police intercepted the vehicle near Lalkhan Bazar and detained Nayeem and his companions without confirming their identities or checking for illegal items.

According to police and investigation sources, the message lacked details about the alleged smuggling, including who was involved or where the gold was located. Despite this, the second officer of Khulshi Police Station forwarded the message to a mobile team instead of informing his superior. After Nayeem was brought to the station, the officer-in-charge recognized him and released him when no evidence of smuggling was found. A subsequent search of his belongings also revealed nothing illegal.

Police later acknowledged procedural errors, and the sub-inspector responsible for the operation was removed from duty pending further investigation.

In Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat, Sheikh Tarek, a long-time activist of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, announced his resignation from the party after performing a symbolic ritual bath with milk and water. The announcement took place on Friday, following the Jumu’ah prayers, marking the end of more than a decade of his political involvement with the party.

According to family and local sources, Sheikh Tarek had been associated with Jamaat for about 14 to 15 years as an active member of ward number 5 in Mansa Bahirdia Union. His public declaration of departure, accompanied by the ritual act, drew significant attention in the area and quickly spread on social media, sparking discussion and debate among locals.

Local Jamaat leader Farhad Hossain stated that Sheikh Tarek was not a party officeholder and suggested that he might have misunderstood something, adding that efforts were being made to clarify the situation. The specific reasons behind Tarek’s decision to leave the party remain unknown.