Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain alleged that two MRI machines in Faridpur and Barishal have remained unused for nine years despite being bought at a stated value of Tk18 crore. Speaking as chief guest at a coordination meeting in Manikganj on Monday morning, he said the machines were acquired without technicians or manpower and may now only be sold as scrap.

The minister alleged that the previous Awami League government bought equipment and left it unused, claiming that large sums were stolen through such purchases. He also called for uncompromising action against narcotics, saying people involved in drug activities and those who shelter them should be brought under the law. He said repeat offenders released on bail should be rearrested where necessary.

Hossain said sustainable district development requires security, healthcare, education, employment and improved living standards alongside infrastructure. He urged attention to medicine, equipment and staffing shortages at public hospitals in Manikganj, and said the government was working toward major changes in the health sector within three years. Food Minister Afroza Khanam Rita also called for coordinated work among government offices and urged BNP leaders not to engage in factionalism.

Operations of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) have collapsed across all 10 unions of Badarganj in Rangpur, amid allegations that crores of taka were misappropriated. The programme, launched in 2011 to organize and provide loans to women from poor and disadvantaged households, is now inactive in every local association. Many offices have been abandoned, overgrown, or damaged, while some are reportedly being used to store crops, fuel and livestock.

The project was funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, with land purchased and association offices built at union level. Local residents alleged irregularities and corruption in land purchases and construction. Members were expected to deposit instalments collected by association presidents into the project’s own bank, but activities weakened after about a year and eventually stopped in most associations. Several members said they have not recovered savings deposited with the groups.

Sources said about $600 million was invested in the SDF project, which began in 2011 and was scheduled for three years before activities ended around November 2015. SDF officials did not provide requested records or comments on spending, land purchases, construction, loan disbursement or recovery.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur said the government is working to arrange overseas employment for 10 million working-age young people over five years. He made the remarks while answering journalists’ questions during a visit to Barishal Government Brojomohun College campus at 12:30 pm on Monday, ahead of a freshmen reception.

Nur said loans of up to Tk300,000 without collateral are being provided to 1 million students seeking to go abroad and to expatriates. He said overseas employment policy is placing importance on skills, arguing that certificate-based education alone cannot ensure jobs in the current labour market.

The state minister said textbooks, syllabuses and curricula are being assessed to align with areas of demand in the job market. He also said the cyber law would soon be amended to make social media safer, and stated that the government has taken a strong position against drugs. Later, he attended a freshmen reception organised by the BM College unit of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.

Four people died from mosquito-borne dengue fever in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, while 1,163 newly infected patients were admitted to hospitals. The admissions figure is the highest recorded in a single day this year. The Health Directorate’s Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room released the update in a dengue bulletin on Monday, August 31.

With the latest deaths, the country’s dengue death toll for the year rose to 97. Total infections reported so far this year reached 35,846, according to the bulletin. The update identifies hospital admissions among newly infected patients during the latest 24-hour reporting period.

On Sunday, August 30, three people died from dengue and 1,097 people were infected in one day. The latest daily admissions therefore exceeded the previous day’s reported infection figure, while the cumulative totals were updated following the four additional deaths and new hospitalizations.

Nagorik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Monday, August 31, called on the government to clearly present its specific plan for addressing Bangladesh’s energy and electricity crisis. Speaking as chief guest at a discussion titled “Energy and Life Security” at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he said the government’s actions in the sector appeared to show populism rather than a defined roadmap.

Manna said irregularities and mismanagement in the power and energy sectors over the past 15 years had affected public safety. He questioned why the government was saying that meaningful action could not be completed within two years, warning that a prolonged power crisis could threaten the economy, garment sector and other industries. He also cited claims that solar generation by Dhaka garment owners could produce 1,700 megawatts.

Referring to United Nations information, Manna said solar panels in major cities could potentially generate about 6,000 megawatts, while the current shortfall was 3,500 megawatts. He urged rapid alternative measures and called for an investigation into allegations that none of six expected LNG cargoes arrived. He said the government should explain the causes of the shortage and its timetable for improvement.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized seven sacks of Indian sarees valued at an estimated Tk 1.92 million during an operation in Khagrachhari. The Khagrachhari Battalion, 32 BGB, confirmed the seizure in a statement issued on Monday afternoon. The goods were intercepted while they were allegedly being smuggled.

According to BGB, the operation was conducted on Sunday night at a border-area location known as Janmaratila Down. Suspected smugglers fled into hilly forest areas after noticing the presence of the patrol team, the force said.

The sacks contained 160 pieces of Indian silk and Jamdani Katan sarees. Lieutenant Colonel Md Shahriar Rajib, the battalion commander, said Border Guard Bangladesh remains actively engaged around the clock in border security and in preventing drug trafficking and smuggling.

The National Editors Council (NEC) held its first general meeting at a hotel in the capital on Monday, attended by editors of 29 daily newspapers published in Dhaka and other regions. Jaijaidin editor Shafik Rehman was elected president for an interim period, while Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman became secretary general. Wada editor Shafiqul Alam was elected treasurer. Participants approved the council’s constitution with amendments.

Editors discussed press freedom and improving professional standards. Mahmudur Rahman said the organisation aimed to expand communication among journalists and help editors remain united for independent journalism. Shafik Rehman said journalists had an important role in maintaining peace and stability and called for cooperation to bring editors nationwide onto one platform.

Jugantor editor Abdul Hai Shikdar proposed an award named after Kazi Nazrul Islam for contributions to journalism, and the meeting accepted the proposal. The council decided to award the Nazrul Medal annually for journalism. Other participants called on the NEC to work toward press and freedom of expression and to become a voice for editors across Bangladesh.

A police officer testified before International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday about the February 21, 2015 deaths of two BNP leaders, Tipu Howlader and Kabir Mollah, in an alleged crossfire in Agailjhara, Barishal. Ali Ahmed, now a CID police inspector in Barishal, appeared as the 15th witness in the case against four people, including former Barishal MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity in connection with the incident.

Ahmed said former Barishal superintendent of police A K M Ehsan Ullah visited Uzirpur police station on the night of February 20, 2015, before the officer in charge instructed him to issue special-operation deployment orders for ASI Jasim Uddin and ASI Mahbul. The next morning, he saw television headlines reporting that the two men had died in a gunfight with police in neighboring Agailjhara.

He said the two ASIs were kept off duty for 10 days and later requested another 10 to 15 days away from duty. Ahmed said he later learned they acted under the SP's instruction and supervision, and heard they received a Tk25,000 reward for the crossfire.

Three Bangladesh Air Force members were killed and four others injured after a military pickup truck lost control and fell at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The crash occurred at about 10:20pm on Monday, August 31, inside the terminal area. The vehicle was reportedly travelling on a flyover on the second floor while carrying out security duties for the third terminal.

The deceased were identified as Warrant Officer Mahmud, Corporal Piyas and LAC Jubaidul. Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate Director Lieutenant Colonel Sami-ud-Doula Chowdhury confirmed the incident. According to the initial account, the pickup lost control before falling, and the three personnel died at the scene.

The four injured personnel include Corporal Sifat Abu Sayeed, Corporal Mahbub, LAC Ahad and another person whose name was not provided. They were quickly rescued and taken to the Combined Military Hospital. Corporal Sifat Abu Sayeed, Corporal Mahbub and LAC Ahad were reported to be in critical condition. Lieutenant Colonel Chowdhury said preliminary information indicated the deaths resulted from an accident, with further details to be released later.

Doping test results for Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das, accused in the killing of Ganapati Chakraborty and his family in Rangpur, have returned negative, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Sanatan Chakraborty confirmed on Monday afternoon. A court has also allowed investigators to question each accused for two days and three hours at the gate of Rangpur Central Jail.

Chakraborty said the tests found no presence of drugs. The accused had said in statements recorded under Section 164 that they used yaba. Police sought the tests following those claims and the recovery of certain evidence from the scene.

Samples were collected through Rangpur Medical College Hospital and sent for testing, but testing could not be conducted on the day of their arrest. Samples were taken 10 days after the incident, and Chakraborty said detecting drugs in samples after that period is generally very difficult, with experts better placed to explain. The investigation remains ongoing. Police and a medical team collected the samples from the central jail on Sunday afternoon.

Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team began its Asia Cup campaign with a commanding 71-run victory over Indonesia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Led by Nigar Sultana Joty, Bangladesh made 129 for eight after losing the toss, then dismissed Indonesia for 58 in 17.3 overs.

Bangladesh’s innings recovered after Juairiya Ferdous Joyita fell for eight in the third over. Dilara Akter Dola scored 27 from 31 balls and shared a 40-run second-wicket stand with Sobhana Mostary, who made 40 from 42 balls. Captain Joty scored 10, while Shorna Akter provided a late lift with an unbeaten 31 from 18 balls, including three fours and a six. Ni Kadek Ariani took three wickets for 28 runs for Indonesia.

Indonesia struggled throughout the chase, with Marufa Akter taking two wickets during the powerplay. Nahida Akter finished with three for 15 in four overs, while Marufa returned two for six, including a maiden. Sanjida Akter Meghla and Fahima Khatun claimed one wicket each. Maria Korazon top-scored for Indonesia with 12. Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka at the same venue next Sunday.

National University has released the results of its 2024 Honours fourth-year examinations, reporting an average pass rate of 65.10 percent. The results were announced Monday by the university’s Controller of Examinations office. A total of 232,624 candidates from 881 affiliated colleges took part in the examinations.

The university said the results were published within 47 working days of the examinations ending, describing it as a new record in its examination administration. Last year, publication of Honours final-year results took 89 days. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A S M Amanullah said faster procedures from conducting examinations through publishing results were intended to consider students’ time and future.

The 2024 Honours final-year, or fourth-year, examinations began on April 30 and ended on June 15. Candidates can view their results from 5pm on the National University results website, https://results.nu.ac.bd. The university said it retains the authority to correct any detected inconsistencies or errors in the published results, or to cancel results entirely if necessary.

National University has announced a new date for the suspended 2025 first-year honours examination. The examination, held under the university, will take place on September 22, according to a press release issued by the institution on Monday.

The rescheduled examination is listed under examination code 2201. It is scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm. The university did not provide further details in the announcement about the reason the examination had been suspended.

The duration of the examination will be determined by the time stated on the question paper. Students sitting the examination are expected to follow the revised schedule and the instructions indicated in their question papers.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said the planned timing of next year’s Secondary School Certificate examinations was changed because of Ramadan. Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon at the Technical and Madrasa Education Division meeting room of the Education Ministry, he said authorities considered the overall calendar before setting the schedule.

Milon said a January start would have kept examinations running for about a month, extending into the first week of February. Ramadan is set to begin on 10 February and continue until 10 March, making examinations impossible during that period, he said. He added that the government aims to hold public examinations at fixed times and considers February the most suitable month for SSC examinations in Bangladesh.

The minister had said on 14 May that the examinations would begin on 7 January, a plan criticised by candidates and guardians because Ramadan and Eid would fall during that period. On 2 June, he said the timetable could be revised if stakeholders wanted it. The schedule released on 24 August sets written examinations from 14 March to 15 April.

Leaders of Islami Oikya Jote paid a courtesy call on BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon. The visiting delegation greeted Rizvi with flowers during the meeting.

The delegation was led by Islami Oikya Jote Joint Secretary General Maulana Md Ilias Athari. Others present included Dhaka metropolitan General Secretary Nazmul Haque, Joint General Secretary Mufti Humayun Kabir, Islami Chhatra Samaj central President Hafez Belal Hossain, Secretary General HM Barkatullah and Dhaka metropolitan Publicity Secretary Mufti Al Amin.

During the courtesy meeting, Rizvi said unity between Islamic and nationalist forces had no alternative for moving the country forward. He alleged that associates of fascism were trying in various ways to destabilize the country. He called for united efforts to advance the country, strengthen Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s hand and institutionalize democracy. Rizvi later extended greetings to the Islami Oikya Jote leaders.