Islami Andolon leader Yunus Ahmad has expressed frustration over the failure of political parties to reach consensus on electoral reforms, particularly on the proportional representation (PR) system.
He said the public had expected a shift toward fairness after the July uprising, but instead, old patterns of violence and mistrust are reappearing. Ahmad noted that for nearly every election in Bangladesh’s 54-year history, fraud, ballot-stuffing, and violence have undermined public will, pushing the country toward authoritarianism, most starkly visible in the last 15 years.
He vowed that Islami Andolon will actively resist electoral malpractice: “If anyone tries to cast illegal votes or use muscle power, they will be stopped. Our organizational branches must prepare responsibly.”

Health and Family Welfare Ministry Adviser Nurjahan Begum has visited the Goalkhali BSCIC Chemical Industrial Park in Sirajdikhan to inspect the proposed sites for a vaccine project and new pharmaceutical facilities.

During the visit, she stressed the importance of establishing the projects in line with the government’s official roadmap. “Once operational, these initiatives will not only enhance public healthcare but also create employment opportunities, reduce unemployment, and bring direct benefits to the local community,” she said.

Officials noted that the projects, once implemented, would mark a significant step toward strengthening Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical and vaccine production capacity while boosting regional economic activity.

Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) has strongly condemned recent remarks by Adviser Asif Nazrul regarding “unnecessary medical tests and treatments” in private hospitals, terming his comments “derogatory” and “disrespectful.”

In a statement, DAB leaders urged Asif Nazrul to reconsider his words and either clarify or issue a public apology in the interest of transparency. They argued that such remarks undermine the dedication, hard work, and sacrifices of physicians, and could erode public trust in healthcare services.

The association highlighted that despite inadequate salaries and allowances, doctors across Bangladesh continue to serve tirelessly. While acknowledging that constructive criticism is a hallmark of democracy, DAB emphasized that such critiques must be fact-based and respectful.

“Casting aspersions on the entire medical community dishonors thousands of honest and devoted doctors, damages the doctor-patient relationship, and discourages future generations from entering the profession,” the statement read.

China’s Director of Political Affairs, Zhong Jing, has said that work on the long-awaited Teesta Mega Project may begin as early as January 2026, provided all preparations stay on track.
A Chinese delegation recently met with political leaders, organizations, and Teesta basin residents.
The Tk 12,000 crore project will span 10 years, focusing in the first phase on irrigation, erosion control, and permanent embankments. Officials say it will bring relief to nearly 20 million people and shield northern Bangladesh from India’s “unjust water policies.”
Currently, annual floods and river erosion cost residents of five northern districts more than Tk 100,000 crore in damages.

Two suspects arrested in the killing of businessman Rahat Hossain Rabbi (31) have confessed that the murder stemmed from a turf war over dominance inside the “360 Degree Shisha Lounge” in Banani.
RAB reported that Rabbi had long-standing disputes with the accused over control of the lounge. The suspects were arrested in Cumilla and placed on remand by a Dhaka court.
Police have confirmed that the accused are linked to the notorious Patali Group, with extensive criminal networks in Mohammadpur.

Azizur Rahman, a rickshaw puller who was beaten while paying respects at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s memorial in Dhanmondi 32, has been shown arrested by police in an attempted murder case.
The case, filed on April 2 at Dhanmondi Police Station, relates to an August 4 shooting incident in Dhaka’s Science Lab area. Following his arrest, Azizur was sent to jail by court order.
Before being detained, Azizur said: “I don’t belong to any political party. I only came because I love Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I did not come for Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League. I brought flowers bought with my own hard-earned money.”

Prominent filmmaker and government adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki suddenly fell ill during his stay in Cox’s Bazar and was flown to Dhaka by helicopter on Saturday night.
According to Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Salahuddin, the helicopter carrying Farooki departed the coastal city around 10:40 p.m. Family sources said he had been suffering from abdominal pain since the afternoon, for which specialists provided initial treatment. Later, on the family’s decision, he was shifted to Dhaka for advanced care.
Farooki had arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Friday afternoon on a private flight to attend several government programs scheduled until Tuesday.

Government agencies including the ACC, CID, and BFIU have launched investigations into three former Bangladesh Bank governors—Dr. Atiur Rahman, Fazle Kabir, and Abdur Rauf Talukdar—over unprecedented looting in the banking sector during the Awami League’s 15-year rule.
They stand accused of enabling loan scams, bank takeovers, reserve theft, and printing money to bail out weak banks, much of which was allegedly siphoned abroad.
The probe also targets former deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury and ex-BFIU chief Masud Biswas.

Sudden floods and landslides in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district have devastated villages, particularly Beshantri, leaving houses destroyed and many residents missing. Local imam Maulana Abdul Samad and several families were swept away, with multiple deaths reported. Rescue teams from neighboring villages and authorities are struggling to reach the affected areas. Heavy rainfall has also impacted Swat, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram. In Bajaur, an aid helicopter crashed, killing five crew members. Thousands remain displaced and in urgent need of assistance.

Onion prices in Hili, Dinajpur, have dropped by Tk 10 per kilogram within two days following news of imports from India. Increased supply of local onions and the release of hoarded stock have contributed to the decline, bringing prices down to Tk 60–65 per kg from Tk 70. Buyers are purchasing more in larger quantities. Authorities continue monitoring markets to prevent artificial shortages, while low-income consumers welcome the price relief as the government facilitates further imports.

Dr. Reza Kibria criticized the interim government for betraying the blood of the July–August uprising martyrs and failing to deliver promised reforms. Speaking at a National Press Club discussion, he called the current administration dishonest, incompetent, and semi-educated, warning that many in power may flee the country. He questioned the fairness of upcoming elections and stressed that only a neutral government can ensure proper leadership, honest governance, and meaningful reform in Bangladesh.

The National Consensus Commission has sent a draft of the National July Charter 2025 with an eight-point commitment to political parties for review. The Charter, containing 84 provisions, seeks to institutionalize the people’s will expressed in the July 2024 mass uprising. It ensures constitutional incorporation, judicial authority for interpretation, legal validity, reforms in governance and justice, recognition of the uprising, justice for victims, and immediate implementation of applicable provisions before the next national election. Parties must submit feedback by August 20.

Islamic Foundation’s Director General, A. Salam Khan, has dismissed as “entirely false” the BNP’s claim that employees were told their jobs depended on becoming members of a particular organization.
Khan, a senior district judge and respected Islamic scholar, insisted he never made such statements, suggesting BNP leader Kabir Rizvi was misinformed.
The Foundation condemned the allegations as “malicious and politically motivated.”

NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwary has warned that ignoring history will condemn leaders to “stay abroad and online.”
He accused the Chief Adviser of bowing in London and returning with a “divine command” to hold elections in February, insisting the first vote must be for a Constituent Assembly.
Patwary stressed that this is the only way out of the current crisis. He pledged not to return to politics if corruption allegations against him were ever proven.
He also accused India of conspiring “under the banner of nationalism” and noted that 60% of Bangladeshis demand reforms.

Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has called on Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to secure the release of Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners. Detained for opposing the war or expressing dissent, these individuals include activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens. Navalnaya emphasized the need for an irreversible step, citing past prisoner exchanges and urging immediate action to free those imprisoned for anti-war statements or social media posts amid Russia’s strict military censorship laws.