Patiya lawmaker Enamul Haque Enam called on people to remain alert to propaganda and rumors allegedly spread by secret and banned organizations. Speaking as chief guest at a free seed and fertilizer distribution event in Patiya, Chattogram, on Saturday afternoon, he said such groups were using social media to spread misinformation about fertilizer, gas and electricity. Enam said some members of banned organizations were attempting to provoke people by circulating rumors. He urged the public not to maintain any form of connection with those spreading such propaganda, adding that those who incite others would not be spared. At the event, organized by the Mabila and Syed Foundation, 250 farmers received seeds of tomato, radish, pumpkin, red amaranth and chili, along with two kilograms of fertilizer each. Enam also said the prime minister was providing farmer cards for marginal farmers in villages and that people without land could cultivate vegetables on vacant roadside areas and uncultivated land, with government support available.

Barishal entrepreneur Jannatul Ferdous has developed natural food colors using extracts from local fruits, vegetables, tree bark and flowers, drawing praise as an alternative to chemical-based food coloring. Her products have been used to make items including pitha, laddoo, cakes and candy. The Barishal divisional Department of Agricultural Marketing supported the initiative, and officials discussed it with Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed. Ferdous, president of the Barishal district branch of a women entrepreneurs’ development organization, began block-batik work after Youth Development Department training in 2006. She later trained in food processing at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute in Gazipur in 2024. In 2025, she opened a women’s training centre and established J Tasty Nest in Barishal’s Kaunia area, producing colors from ingredients such as dragon fruit, butterfly pea flowers, carrots, hibiscus, beetroot, spinach and Malabar spinach. Her natural colors currently have a maximum shelf life of 10 days, after which their quality deteriorates. Ferdous said technology and research assistance are needed to extend preservation. Commissioner Ahmed promised administrative support, while agricultural marketing officials said local natural colors could support safer food and reduce spending on imported artificial colors.

A college in the remote Shambhupur Union of Tajumuddin upazila in Bhola has launched its own bus service to make travel easier and safer for more than 450 students. The institution, established in 2013 near Khaser Hat Bazar, said the initiative is intended to improve access to education for students travelling from distant areas. Students previously depended on hired autorickshaws and other transport, often facing difficulty reaching the college on time and returning home safely. Twelfth-grade students Sravanti and Ikra said transport shortages had sometimes made them late for classes. They said the dedicated bus would help them attend lessons punctually and travel home more safely. Lecturers Mizanur Rahman and Khaled Saifullah said the service could ease students’ longstanding travel difficulties, raise classroom attendance and encourage greater interest in higher education. Principal Md Muinuddin Howlader said the bus was provided by the Mohammad Shahe Alam Foundation and would reduce travel fatigue, allowing students to focus more on their studies.

Alliance Française de Dhaka will open “Untold Story,” a group art exhibition curated by artist Fariha Jeba, on Tuesday, 1 September, at La Galerie in Dhaka. The exhibition explores intimate and often unspoken human experiences through artists’ books and contemporary artworks. Frederic Inza, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of France in Bangladesh, and Tanvir Ahmed, managing director of Sheltech Group and Envoy Legacy, will attend the opening as guests of honour. The works use painting, drawing, collage, stitching, textiles, collected materials and experimental book forms to address memory, identity, heritage, loss, desire and lived experience. Participating artists are Esha Ahmed, Fauzia Mahin Chowdhury, Kazmin Samia, Sulekha Chowdhury, Sumona Akter and Surabhi Akter. Guest artists include Alia Kamal, Arpita Singh, Mahmuda Siddika, Rafia Mahzabin, Rituparna Saha and Venisa Kaiser. Seven group artists worked on the theme through artists’ books for a year, while guest artists explored it in their own visual languages over a shorter period.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel’s “war-mongering” government of disrupting stability and peace in the Middle East through what he described as provocative actions. In remarks made amid continuing regional tensions, Erdogan also called for stronger cooperation among countries in the Muslim world. The source did not specify the location or date of his speech. Erdogan said the Zionist government posed a threat to the peace of its neighbours and alleged that Israel was targeting people who stand for humanitarian values. He also criticized the international community, saying its response to what he called Israel’s unlawful policies within a “genocide network” had not been sufficient. Turkey is working to strengthen alliances and cooperation with Muslim-majority countries while regional tensions persist, Erdogan said. His comments came weeks after an Israeli air strike on an airbase in Syria. At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was intended to prevent the deployment of Turkish troops at the base.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh assistant secretary-general Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf alleged that the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum is presenting a partial account of the uprising as a complete history. He made the comments on Saturday after visiting the museum with leaders of the party’s Dhaka South unit, calling the display an attempt to distort history. Maruf said the uprising sought a new national arrangement rather than a repackaging of the old system. He alleged that Islamist participants were being erased from its history and said the role of the party’s ameer, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, had not been adequately presented. He also said museum displays omitted activities held after defying Section 144 on August 3, 4 and 5, as well as the slogan demanding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Dhaka South city secretary KM Shariatullah questioned the museum’s management, citing what he described as poor ticketing and checking systems and selective historical presentation. He urged the government to protect the history from distortion and take effective action quickly. Several other Dhaka South leaders joined the visiting delegation.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has instructed its district units to form convening committees in every upazila across the country by September 28. The directive, signed on Friday by NCP northern region chief organiser Sarjis Alam, aims to increase organisational momentum and prepare for local elections. Where full committees cannot be established immediately, district units have been told to announce interim committees. An interim upazila convening committee may have 11 to 15 members and must form a full 51-member committee within 15 days. Existing and newly formed upazila committees have also been directed to begin forming union-level convening committees. The party said upazila conveners must be over 40, while member secretaries should preferably be over 35 and cannot be below 30. The guidance allows priority for people who have run, or are considered potential candidates, for upazila chairman posts. At least one of the convener and member secretary must live in or near a town. Committees must ensure at least 5% women’s representation and proportional representation of religious and ethnic groups. District conveners and member secretaries must submit written progress reports by September 29.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Barrister Iftikhar Gilani was sworn in on Friday as the 17th prime minister of Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Gilani won the prime ministerial election through a vote of assembly members in Muzaffarabad, while his Pakistan Peoples Party rival, Sardar Mukhtar Khan, received 14 votes. The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly met to elect the new prime minister, with Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq presiding. Both candidates were present during voting and shook hands before the ballot in what was described as a cordial atmosphere. PML-N’s Azad Kashmir chapter president Shah Ghulam Qadir was absent, while senior party leader and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider attended. After taking the oath, Gilani said his government would work with everyone to build an Azad Kashmir that could serve as an example to the world. He cited governance problems, employment opportunities and hospital standards as priorities. Gilani said the administration would be a government of the people and expressed hope that citizens and government employees would see the benefits of change.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer and Bogura regional director ATM Azharul Islam MP said the party was compelled to take to the streets because the government was delaying implementation of the referendum verdict. He made the remarks on Saturday, August 29, at a meeting of the Dhaka-to-Rangpur long march implementation committee near Hatikumrul roundabout in Sirajganj. Azhar cited electricity and gas shortages, other social crises, and what he described as a worsening law-and-order situation, saying these had created a crisis of public confidence in the government. He said voters had backed forming a government and constitutional reforms after the fall of an authoritarian fascist government, and that the referendum supported reforming provisions that could enable fascism. He said two roadside meetings would be held in Sirajganj and Bogura, described as gateways to Rangpur, with leaders of the 11-party alliance expected to speak. He called on people from Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna and nearby areas to attend by 11am on September 19, urged peaceful and orderly arrangements, and sought cooperation from law-enforcement agencies.

US Congress member Yasamin Ansari has sharply criticized the military operation in Iran and called for the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a post on X, she said President Donald Trump had launched an “illegal war” against Iran and demanded that the conflict be stopped. No date or location beyond Iran was provided in the report. Ansari alleged that a US military attack on a school killed 120 children after the war began. She also said 18 US service members had been killed and that people in the United States were facing record-high fuel prices. The report attributes these claims to Ansari’s social media post. She further alleged that Trump and his sons benefited through investments in defense technology companies while US citizens endured high gasoline prices. Ansari said neither Trump nor Hegseth had achieved any objective in the war, adding that service members, children and innocent civilians had died without reason. She reiterated her call to end the war and impeach Hegseth.

Qaumi Chhatra Oikya Parishad withdrew its planned programme in Brahmanbaria on Saturday after NCP leader and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah expressed regret over remarks he made in parliament about the district. The group announced the withdrawal after talks with NCP leaders at about 2:30pm. Hasnat said in a Facebook post that a misunderstanding had arisen with Brahmanbaria residents and expressed sorrow for his parliamentary comments. The NCP’s Brahmanbaria district committee had planned an organisational coordination meeting and political workshop at the district Shilpakala Academy auditorium at 4pm. Madrasa students, under the Qaumi Chhatra Oikya Parishad banner, demonstrated late Friday and said they would resist the NCP event unless Hasnat apologised. The group had also called an Islamic cultural programme at the venue for 3pm Saturday. Committee member Abdul Khaleq said there would be no obstruction to the NCP programme following Hasnat’s expression of regret. However, District Commissioner Md Abusaid said the academy could not host the NCP event because political gatherings are not permitted there.

Construction of a new central library at Jahangirnagar University has been delayed by repeated work stoppages and complications in releasing funds. Built under the university’s further development project, the six-storey facility was initially expected to open in December 2024 but remains unfinished. Project officials say it could be completed within six months if funds are released in full, while the current pace could push inauguration to December 2027. The approximately 250,000-square-foot building is estimated to cost Tk101.86 crore and is planned to accommodate 5,000 to 7,000 students at a time. Its design draws on the circular form and columns of Rome’s Colosseum. The university’s existing central library, opened in 1985, has only 447 seats for more than 14,000 students, leaving many unable to find a place daily. The new library is planned to hold about 300,000 volumes and provide e-library access, international databases, research software, workstations, recording facilities, VR and GIS spaces. Officials cited delays in approving the revised development project proposal, while university authorities said funds have now arrived and contractors have been urged to speed up work.

A court in Habiganj has taken cognizance of an extortion case against Madhabpur Upazila BNP president Shamsul Islam Kamal and four others over allegations that they demanded Tk20 lakh from an expatriate family after disrupting house construction. Sunny Alam Srabon, son of US expatriate Shahin Mia, filed the case on Thursday before Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Alam of the Habiganj Speedy Trial Court. The complaint alleges that Kamal and others stopped construction on land owned through purchase in the Dattapara area of Dharmaghar Bazar on August 16. They are accused of assault, issuing death threats and demanding money. Shahin Mia said he had earlier paid Kamal Tk50,000 and later Tk100,000 to prevent obstruction, but alleged that construction was still blocked and Tk20 lakh was demanded. Kamal denied the allegations, saying the land is disputed and has three heirs, while the entire 31 decimals were allegedly registered from one heir. He said he visited the site only to resolve the matter. The court ordered the CR 52/2026 case to be treated as an FIR at Madhabpur police station within three working days, and Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana said it has been recorded.

Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has been elected the new secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC. Foreign ministers from the bloc’s 57 member states selected him on Thursday. He will assume office in November, when the term of incumbent Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha of Chad, who took office in November 2021, ends. Ahmed said he would place the Palestinian issue at the top of the OIC’s priorities, covering its political, humanitarian and cultural dimensions. He also pledged to strengthen efforts against Islamophobia, including countering hate speech against Muslims, promoting dialogue and mutual respect, and building broader partnerships with the international community. His candidacy received African support early in the process, and the African Union formally backed him in February for the 2027-2032 term. The 66-year-old has more than three decades of international diplomatic experience, including roles as Mauritania’s foreign minister from 2018 to 2022 and UN special envoy for Yemen from 2015 to 2018. Under the OIC charter, the secretary-general serves a five-year term that can be renewed once.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said the government had failed to show even minimal progress on its pre-election commitments after six months in office. Speaking on Saturday at the party’s district representatives conference at the BMA auditorium in the capital, he said the BNP leadership had pledged 10 million jobs, improved living standards and public security before the election. Karim said conditions had instead become more fragile in several areas. He claimed that around 20,000 people had become unemployed in the RMG sector over the past six months, while an average of 10 people were being killed daily. He also cited excessive load-shedding and an energy crisis, arguing that these developments demonstrated the government’s failure. He said arrests after killings were not followed by justice, and that even lower-court verdicts were not implemented. Addressing the government, he called for public safety, reduced load-shedding, solutions to the energy crisis and control of commodity prices. He also criticized the government’s position on reforms and said it had not followed a national consensus on presidential election issues in the July Charter.