Awami League leader A K M Bahauddin Bahar and his daughter, former mayor Tahsin Bahar Suchona, were released by Kolkata police after spending a night in custody.

They had been detained on Saturday night by Rajarhat police but were later freed reportedly with assistance from Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Sheikh Hasina.

Bahar, a former MP from Cumilla-6, and his daughter are controversial figures in India, accused of persecuting Hindus in Bangladesh and voicing strong criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many in West Bengal’s BJP and local communities harbor resentment towards them, raising fears of mob retaliation. Bahar was also blamed by some for the violence during Durga Puja in Cumilla in 2021.

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) in six districts: Patuakhali, Kushtia, Kurigram, Meherpur, Netrokona, and Khulna.

According to the notification, Dr. Md. Shahid Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has been posted to Patuakhali. The current Patuakhali DC, Abu Hasnat Md. Arifin, has been transferred to Kushtia.

Other reshuffles include:

Meherpur DC Sifat Mehnaz → Kurigram DC

Home Ministry Deputy Secretary Dr. Md. Abdul Salam → Meherpur DC

Land Records Zonal Settlement Officer Md. Abdullah Al Mahmud Zaman → Netrokona DC

Kushtia DC Md. Toufiqul Rahman → Khulna DC

Government adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan has revealed that road construction costs have risen by 30%, prompting the formation of a review committee to reduce expenses.

Speaking on Sunday, he said around 1,500 kilometers of roads and highways are currently in poor condition and will be repaired by December. “We apologize to the public for the suffering caused. Repairs will begin after the monsoon and be completed between September and December,” he said, assuring that repairs would not be superficial.

Faozul added that unfit and outdated vehicles are being removed to restore discipline. Owners of scrapped vehicles may receive soft loans if necessary. Discussions are underway with the commerce ministry to reform car import policies, while illegal electricity use by auto-rickshaws for charging is being addressed. “We must also consider alternative livelihoods for those dependent on this sector,” he stressed.

Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Mexico, has condemned the recent attack and vandalism at the Bangladesh Consulate in New York, allegedly carried out by Awami League-backed miscreants.

He urged immediate legal action against the perpetrators and expressed confidence that Bangladeshi diplomats in the U.S. would work with relevant authorities to ensure accountability.

“The host country is responsible for ensuring the security of all Bangladeshi missions abroad,” he said, adding that such “shameful assaults by supporters of fallen autocrats” are unacceptable on U.S. soil, a key partner in Bangladesh’s democracy and development. Ansari assured full cooperation to colleagues in addressing the incident.

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Towhid Afridi in connection with the killing of Asadul Haque Babu during the recent mass uprising. Afridi was produced at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court at 2:25 PM and placed in custody.

Investigating officer Khan Md. Erfan had sought a seven-day remand, while defense lawyers petitioned for bail and dismissal of the remand request. After hearing both sides, the court approved a five-day remand.

On August 5, Babu joined demonstrations on Jatrabari’s main road, where he was shot in the chest and side. He later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The case lists Nasir Uddin as accused no. 22 and Towhid Afridi as accused no. 11.

The second day of hearings on objections and demands regarding the redemarcation of parliamentary constituencies is underway at the Election Commission building on Sunday. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin and other election commissioners are present.

Today’s proceedings cover disputes over 20 constituencies. By midday, hearings had been held on objections to the draft boundaries of seven constituencies in Satkhira, Jashore, and Bagerhat. After the hearings, petitioners explained their positions to the press.

In the afternoon, objections concerning 13 constituencies in Jhalakathi, Barguna, Pirojpur, Chattogram, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts will be heard. The four-day hearing process will continue until Wednesday, after which the revised gazette for all 300 constituencies will be published.

Awami League supporters attempted to harass Adviser Mahfuz Alam as he entered the Bangladesh Consulate in New York on Sunday evening. Protesters reportedly threw eggs at him and damaged the glass door of the consulate building. Golam Mortoza, Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, compared the protest to the fall of monarchies in history, saying that movements fueled by student leaders’ blood sacrifices naturally attract resistance. Information Adviser, addressing expatriates later, thanked the diaspora for their role in the July Movement, assuring their contributions would be recognized in the “July Charter.” Responding to calls for banning Indian media in Bangladesh, he said he opposed blanket bans, advocating instead for promoting better alternatives.

A group of demonstrators associated with the “July Movement” staged a sit-in outside BNP leader Fazlur Rahman’s Segunbagicha residence on Monday, demanding his arrest. Protesters, who also performed midday prayers at the site, rallied under the banner of “Revolutionary Student People” along with leaders from several other organizations, including the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council. Police remained on alert at the scene. The controversy stems from Rahman’s recent remarks on the July uprising, which prompted the BNP to issue him a show-cause notice.

France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after a letter published in The Wall Street Journal accused President Emmanuel Macron of failing to curb anti-Semitism and violence in Paris. The letter also criticized France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the allegations, reaffirming France’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism. It accused Ambassador Kushner of violating diplomatic norms by interfering in France’s internal affairs. The US State Department, however, defended him, saying he was effectively representing US interests. Notably, Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, son-in-law and former adviser to ex-President Donald Trump.

BNP leader and freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman alleged that a mob gathered outside his Segunbagicha residence, chanting slogans to kill him. He claimed that orders for his assassination were issued from abroad and accused Jamaat-e-Islami activists of orchestrating the threats. “As a freedom fighter and lawyer, I have the right to live with dignity in this country. Death does not frighten me, but I do not deserve a dishonorable end,” he said emotionally. Rahman urged people to listen to his full speech before passing judgment on his remarks regarding the July uprising. He added that if he had committed any mistake, he was willing to apologize and respond formally to his party’s show-cause notice.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam announced a reward scheme for the recovery of missing firearms. Authorities will offer Tk 50,000 for pistols or shotguns, Tk 100,000 for Chinese rifles, Tk 150,000 for submachine guns, Tk 500,000 for light machine guns, and Tk 500 per bullet recovered. He assured that informants’ identities will remain confidential. Alam also pledged strict measures against corruption in law enforcement recruitment and called for public reporting of irregularities. Speaking in Gazipur, he confirmed disciplinary action against a police commissioner over traffic disruptions and said a Bangladeshi officer detained in India would be brought back via Interpol or existing border agreements. He stressed that election fairness ultimately depends on the people and political parties.

BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan said Bangladeshis are eagerly waiting to cast their votes in February’s national election, with the Election Commission already announcing a tentative date. Speaking after paying respects at the grave of former president Ziaur Rahman, Moyeen Khan emphasized that only a free and fair election can restore democracy in Bangladesh, giving citizens the right to elect 300 representatives of their choice. He also criticized the Awami League, claiming it had failed to play its role during the Liberation War, while asserting that Ziaur Rahman was the one who declared independence.

The United States has praised Bangladesh for sheltering displaced Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, while also commending other host countries in the region. In a press statement issued Sunday, the US State Department reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Myanmar, including the persecuted Rohingya and other ethnic minorities. Washington thanked the Government of Bangladesh for providing refuge and acknowledged the significant humanitarian burden it continues to bear. Since the 2017 military crackdown in Rakhine State, over 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, bringing the total refugee population in the country to more than 1.3 million.

Diplomatic missions in Dhaka issued a joint statement marking eight years of the Rohingya crisis, condemning the escalating violence and human rights abuses by Myanmar’s military junta and other armed groups. The statement highlighted that over 1.1 million Rohingya remain in Bangladesh, many of them forced to flee during the 2017 crackdown. It emphasized that Rohingya refugees are still determined to return to their homeland and reaffirmed the international community’s steadfast support for both the Rohingya people and Bangladesh. Diplomats also reiterated their commitment to working toward a sustainable solution to the crisis.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus urged the international community to step up efforts to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, presenting a seven-point proposal for their safe and dignified repatriation. Speaking at the International Rohingya Conference in Cox’s Bazar, he recalled Bangladesh’s decision to open its borders on humanitarian grounds despite major challenges, saying it was a moral duty to stop armed forces from carrying out genocidal campaigns. Yunus stressed that Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army must ensure no further Rohingya influx into Bangladesh. “The crisis originated in Myanmar, and the solution lies in Myanmar,” he said. On the national front, he noted that Bangladesh is now stable and fully prepared for elections, scheduled for early February.