Sub-Inspector Sheikh Afzalul Haque has applied to become a state witness in the Ashulia case involving the killing and burning of six victims. On Thursday, he submitted his petition to the International Crimes Tribunal-2, which also ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against eight accused in the case. The tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, directed that the hearings begin after the accused were produced before the court earlier in the day. Among the 16 accused, former lawmaker Saiful Islam and seven others remain absconding. The tribunal has appointed lawyers to represent them.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will announce its verdict on September 4 regarding the state’s appeal against the acquittal of all accused in the August 21 grenade attack case, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar. The fifth day of hearings on the appeal was held this morning under the leadership of the Chief Justice. In 2018, a lower court sentenced Babar, BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, and 17 others to death, while 19—including Tarique Rahman—were sentenced to life imprisonment. Eleven others received varying prison terms. However, on December 1 last year, the High Court acquitted all accused, prompting the state to file a leave-to-appeal petition on March 19 this year. The Appellate Division granted the appeal but did not stay the High Court verdict.

The European Union’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley (Michael Miller in local reports), held a meeting on Thursday with Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission. The discussion focused on the commission’s activities, objectives, and achievements. Riaz briefed the envoy on the dialogues held with political parties, efforts to build national consensus, and progress in implementing the National Charter announced in July. Ambassador Whiteley praised the commission’s work, expressing optimism that its ongoing efforts would be successfully completed.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has strongly criticized a section of poets, writers, and actors, accusing them of expressing grief on August 15 without genuine emotion. Speaking at a public gathering, he alleged that many of these figures have aligned themselves with fascism out of material greed rather than standing by democratic values. Rizvi claimed that during the past government, the position of the country’s top police officer was awarded to someone merely for writing a book on the ruling party’s founder. Similarly, flats near the runway were allegedly given to cultural personalities as rewards for loyalty. Highlighting the July Revolution, Rizvi described it as an “epic event” and said every martyr, injured, and participant holds historical significance. “The July movement was the collective expression of all forms of rebellion,” he added. He further accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of spending public funds for personal gain while in power, sparking widespread resentment. At the same event, Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur stated, “We want to see a Bangladesh where the state and law enforcement never stand against the people.”

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against former MP Saiful and 15 others in connection with the Ashulia mass killing case, where six bodies were burned during the uprising. The tribunal also issued arrest warrants for eight fugitives linked to the case. Prosecutors allege that on August 5, 2024, five victims were killed and set ablaze, while another injured man was also burned alive. A day earlier, on August 4, another individual was shot dead outside Ashulia police station. The formal charges are supported by 313 pages of documents, 62 witnesses, 168 pages of evidence, and two pen drives.

Sukhranjan Bali, a controversial witness in the war crimes trial of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, has lodged a formal complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal alleging abduction and torture. Bali claimed that in November 2012, as he attempted to testify in Sayeedi’s favor, plainclothes police abducted him and held him in secret detention for two months and 17 days, before forcing him across the border into India, where he was imprisoned for five years. His petition names 32 individuals, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, and several senior figures in the judiciary and prosecution.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, carried out an attack in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, injuring several Israeli soldiers. The assault reportedly involved anti-personnel shells. According to the Israeli military, around 18 armed fighters launched a raid on an army camp early Wednesday, leaving at least three soldiers wounded, one critically. Palestinian media, however, claimed that as many as seven soldiers were injured. Meanwhile, in Syria’s Golan Heights, seven Israeli soldiers were injured while attempting to defuse bombs.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has directed heads of institutions to submit August salary bills by August 23 in order to disburse payments to MPO-enlisted teachers and staff via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). The circular warns that delays in online bill submission will prevent salaries from being sent through EFT. Heads of institutions must download copies of submitted bills, signed by both the head and governing body president, for recordkeeping. Since January 2024, MPO salaries have been transferred directly to individual bank accounts through EFT. From August, however, monthly MPO payroll submissions by institution heads have been made mandatory to ensure accuracy in cases of retirement, resignation, or death.

Special Assistant Fayez Ahmed Tayeb announced that expansion work on the National Data Center and Disaster Recovery Data Center will be completed within the next six months. During his visit to the IT Park, Tayeb reviewed site designs, operational facilities, and instructed officials to ensure overall quality improvements. He urged IT Park authorities to organize hackathons, ideathons, startup development programs, and science fairs involving students from local schools and colleges, thereby strengthening the startup ecosystem pipeline. He also emphasized the need for regular seminars on cybersecurity, digital verification, and cyber literacy. Later, Tayeb visited the operations of Sheba.xyz and Chaldal.com at Jessore Software Technology Park and assured investors that rent reduction demands would be considered.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that 58% of Americans believe all UN member states should recognize Palestine as an independent state. In contrast, 33% oppose the move, while 9% remain undecided. The six-day survey shows 78% of Democrats support recognition, whereas 53% of Republicans oppose it. Additionally, 65% of respondents said the U.S. should take steps to help Palestinians facing starvation in Gaza, with 28% disagreeing—most of them Republican. Analysts suggest the findings indicate a troubling decline in U.S. public support for Israel, posing diplomatic concerns for Tel Aviv.

All major political parties have jointly requested the Appellate Division to expedite the review hearing on the caretaker government system. The court has set August 26 as the date of hearing. Lawyer Shishir Monir pointed out that a long court recess is approaching but the review petition has yet to be heard, despite appearing on the cause list. The Chief Justice responded that while time is limited, efforts will be made to conclude proceedings. The debate stems from the 2011 verdict, when a seven-member Appellate Division bench struck down the 13th constitutional amendment that had institutionalized the caretaker government system. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul filed a review petition last October, following similar appeals from civil society members and Jamaat’s Secretary General Prof. Mia Golam Porwar.

A total of 175 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya’s Ganfuda Detention Center in Benghazi with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, along with embassy officials, supervised the repatriation process. Expressing gratitude to the Libyan authorities and IOM, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of pursuing legal and safe migration pathways. He urged returnees to take legal action against human trafficking networks and assured continued embassy support in this regard.

The Dhaka University Students’ Rights Council has announced that Rashed Khan, the General Secretary candidate in the 2019 DUCSU elections, will attend today’s meeting of the inquiry committee formed to investigate alleged vote rigging. The session is scheduled for 12:30 PM. Earlier, Rashed Khan submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor demanding punishment for teachers accused of siding with authoritarian practices, and cancellation of DUCSU posts held by banned Chhatra League leaders. He alleged that widespread irregularities and fraud in the 2019 election—facilitated by then VC Akhtaruzzaman—led to Golam Rabbani being declared General Secretary.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has departed for China on an official visit, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Thursday. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet senior Chinese military and civilian officials to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation. The Army Chief is expected to return to Dhaka on August 27.

At least 81 Palestinians were killed in a single day of Israeli attacks on Gaza, while 30 others died while attempting to collect humanitarian aid. The Israeli military has launched a ground offensive to seize Gaza City, where nearly one million people remain trapped in dire conditions. Meanwhile, three more Palestinians died of hunger on Wednesday, bringing the total starvation-related death toll to 269—including 112 children. The World Food Programme (WFP) warned: “This is not just hunger—it is starvation.” The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that one in three children in Gaza City now suffers from malnutrition. Israeli human rights group Gisha accused the government of deliberately blocking aid and using starvation as a weapon of war, while attempting to deflect blame through false justifications.