The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 11 projects totaling BDT 9,361.92 crore, including five new initiatives, two revised plans, and three projects with extended duration. Key projects cover sustainable agriculture in Rangpur, modernization of power sub-centers, Rabindra University establishment, medical facilities expansion, multi-storey government housing, water supply improvements, and telecom network development in Chattogram’s Mirersarai Economic Zone. Funding includes BDT 6,677 crore from government sources, BDT 2,428.04 crore from loans, and BDT 256.89 crore from agency contributions.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an inquiry into allegations that former IGP Javed Patwary and 122 others received money and apartments in exchange for ghostwriting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Unfinished Memoirs.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain confirmed the matter, saying intelligence operations have begun.

Though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier said the book was published from her father’s old notebooks after editing, recent reports claim it was authored by Patwary with the help of over a hundred team members, who allegedly received government positions, cash, and flats as rewards.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has clarified that the “No-Vote” option was never a demand from his party but rather a proposal from certain distinguished individuals. “We have no particular comment on its current implementation,” he told reporters after a meeting with the Election Commission.

The BNP delegation primarily sought clarity on constituency boundary redrawing and election-time security. On expatriate voters, the CEC informed them that only those with NID and e-passports would be included in the voter list. The BNP, however, demanded voting rights for all expatriates, including ordinary passport holders.

Nazrul added that the party has not yet discussed seat-sharing, which will be taken up after the election schedule is announced.

BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal has emphasized that democracy thrives on differences of opinion and healthy debate. “Without disagreements, society becomes stagnant. But debates must never harm national interests,” he said.

Alal warned against any attempt to rehabilitate fascism, urging all parties to stand firm on safeguarding democracy. On the upcoming elections, he suggested creating a structural framework first to guide future electoral methods.

He also hailed Bangladesh’s freer press, saying journalists no longer face the same restrictions or political patronage pressures. “The current media openness didn’t happen overnight — people are finally seeing what was long hidden under censorship,” he remarked.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher has stressed that free and fair elections are not possible without introducing a proportional representation (PR) system. “Those who depend on black money and muscle power are the ones opposing PR,” he said.

Taher also hinted at a possible political consensus excluding the BNP, accusing anti-democratic forces of siding with fascism. He urged for inclusive, transparent, and festive elections that reflect people’s opinions.

Meanwhile, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar dismissed the July declaration as illegitimate, warning that an election without legal reforms could “create another Sheikh Hasina.” He added that most people support PR, as confirmed by multiple surveys, but alleged that some parties are misleading the public by conflating PR with EVMs.

The National Consensus Commission has finalized the draft of the July National Charter 2025, outlining presidential election, pardon, and impeachment procedures. The charter grants the president significant powers, including appointing key commission members, while ensuring impeachment is possible for treason, serious misconduct, or constitutional violations through a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Political parties have until August 20 to submit feedback before finalization. The draft also establishes the charter’s legal supremacy, with interpretation disputes reserved for the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Eight Nordic and Baltic countries have reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine following the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. In a joint statement, leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden emphasized that any steps toward a just and lasting peace must involve Ukraine directly. They called for credible security guarantees, continued arms supplies, and strengthened European defenses to prevent future Russian aggression, underlining that no decisions about Ukraine should be made without Ukraine’s participation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized Moscow’s commitment to resolving disputes peacefully while respecting the U.S. administration’s stance on ending conflicts swiftly. After returning from a high-level summit in Alaska with President Donald Trump, Putin met with top Russian officials to review the talks’ outcomes. He described the visit as “timely and highly effective” and highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis, stating that eliminating these underlying issues should form the foundation for a lasting solution.

After a one-day closure for Janmashtami, Dinajpur’s Hili land port resumed import and export operations at 1 pm on Sunday, 17 August. Ferdous Rahman, president of the Hili Customs C&F Agents Association, confirmed that trade halted on Saturday due to the public holiday but picked up again on Sunday, restoring activity at the port. Ariful Islam, acting officer of Hili Immigration, noted that passport-holding passengers continued to cross the border between the two countries without interruption.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by August 22. The move follows Trump’s three-hour meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he reportedly proposed a peace plan involving a Donbas concession and ceasefire. Zelensky confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday. European leaders have also been invited, though Russia has not publicly committed. Reports suggest the talks aim to ensure security guarantees for Kyiv and Europe.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has instructed all seaports — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra — to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3 following the formation of a low-pressure area over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining northwest regions.

The system is expected to move west-northwest and may intensify further, causing strong winds and rough seas. Fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay have been advised to remain close to shore and proceed cautiously until further notice.

Southern Europe is reeling from one of its worst wildfire seasons, with blazes sweeping from Greece to Portugal. At least four people have died—three in Spain and one in Portugal—as thousands are evacuated and nearly 100 injured. Spain faces the heaviest damage, battling more than 14 major wildfires that have destroyed 390,000 acres. Transportation has been disrupted, with highways closed and rail suspended. The EU has deployed firefighting aircraft, while Portugal fights seven large blazes with 4,000 firefighters.

Md. Sarwar, 33, allegedly posed as a coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) to secure government contracts worth crores of taka and arrange officials’ transfers for bribes. He used multiple identities and even worked on projects under rented licenses. Locals recall he was once a teacher accused of raping a student in 2022, leading to his dismissal. Student leaders confirm there is no central NCP leader named Sarwar, calling him an impostor exploiting people for personal gain.

Students, teachers, and staff of Rabindra University broke into celebrations as news spread that the government has approved the establishment of its permanent campus. The decision came during an ECNEC meeting chaired by the Chief Adviser, where 10 major projects worth Tk 6,506 crore were cleared.

Following the announcement, hunger-striking students ended their protest, with Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Suman Kanti Barua personally offering water to them. Expressing gratitude to the government, the university community announced that classes would resume from tomorrow. Teachers, students, and staff had been staging continuous protests demanding a permanent campus prior to the approval.

Israel announced plans to forcibly evacuate Palestinians from Gaza City to the south, declaring the city a battlefield. The move follows its pledge to capture Gaza’s largest urban center. The army said the UN and aid groups would provide tents and shelters through the Kerem Shalom crossing, though the UN has not confirmed its role. Palestinian group Islamic Jihad condemned the plan as a crime against humanity. Recent Israeli air and tank strikes have intensified around Zeitoun and Shujaiya.