Testimony has begun in three separate corruption cases against Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq over alleged irregularities in Purbachal land allocations.
Earlier on August 11, testimonies began in three similar cases against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul.
According to Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor Moinul Hossain, RAJUK plots are intended for Dhaka residents without existing property. However, the Hasina family allegedly submitted false affidavits claiming they had no land or houses in the capital, despite ACC findings to the contrary. The family is accused of misusing power to obtain a 60-katha plot, an offense punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Newly appointed South African High Commissioner to Dhaka, Anil Sooklal, has said his country is committed to opening an embassy in Bangladesh as soon as funding is allocated. He noted that Bangladesh and South Africa face similar challenges, including poverty, inequality, and unemployment, and that his country is eager to share its development experience.
Sooklal revealed that the idea of establishing an embassy was first proposed by Nelson Mandela during his 1997 visit to Bangladesh. He added that if a new mission opens in the region, it will be in Bangladesh. The envoy expressed interest in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical, garment, and agricultural sectors, and is working to arrange a high-level bilateral visit.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has dismissed claims that party activists extorted money from a Chattogram-based doctor whose live-streamed complaint went viral. Speaking to reporters, Rizvi said the doctor faced legal action for constructing a building without approved plans, not due to extortion, and alleged the doctor staged his injuries to smear BNP members.
Rizvi accused a religion-based political group of orchestrating the propaganda to cover its own misdeeds. He also condemned the mob killings of two Hindu men in Rangpur, calling for laws to prevent vigilantism.
Additionally, Rizvi criticized the government for failing to recover over Tk 2,000 crore allegedly looted and deposited in Farmers Bank (now Padma Bank). He reiterated that Bangladesh is not yet ready for proportional representation voting. BNP will hold nationwide prayer gatherings on Friday to mark Khaleda Zia’s birthday and honor fallen martyrs.

Israeli forces have killed 73 more Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, despite condemnations from 26 countries, including the UK, EU, and Canada. Among the dead are two people who died of starvation—one a six-year-old child—and 19 who were shot while attempting to collect food aid.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s offensive has killed 61,599 Palestinians and injured 154,088, according to Gaza health authorities. Survivors describe catastrophic conditions as food shortages and relentless attacks devastate the enclave.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of his scheduled meeting with Donald Trump this Friday.
According to the Kremlin, the two leaders reaffirmed commitments to strengthening their “friendship, mutual trust, and cooperation.” Putin thanked Pyongyang for its military assistance in the Ukraine conflict, specifically during the recapture of the Kursk region.
Putin also briefed Kim on preparations for the upcoming Alaska summit and shared details about the Trump meeting. Reports indicate that around 10,000 North Korean troops are currently fighting alongside Russian forces, which recently advanced 10 kilometers near Dobropillia, Ukraine.

Iranian police arrested nearly 21,000 “suspects” during a 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States in June, according to police spokesperson Saeed Montazerolmahdi. Public tip-offs rose by 41% during this period, leading to the arrests.
Although the spokesperson did not specify the alleged crimes, espionage charges were among Iran’s claims. Authorities detained 2,774 undocumented migrants, investigated 30 high-security cases through phone inspections, and arrested 261 people on suspicion of espionage along with 172 for unauthorized video recording. Seven men convicted of espionage have been executed. Many detainees have since been released.
During the war, Iranian police handled more than 5,700 cybercrime cases, including online fraud and unauthorized withdrawals.

Political adviser Asif Mahmud has announced he will resign from government duties before the election schedule is declared, citing his active involvement in politics since 2018. Speaking on Khaled Muhiuddin’s program Thikana on Tuesday, Mahmud stressed that election-time governments should not include politically active figures, to avoid any conflict of interest.
Mahmud dismissed speculation that he would contest from Muradnagar, stating that his political focus remains at the national level and that Dhaka is his preferred political base. He also denied confirming whether he would join the NCP, though acknowledged close ties with its former wing, Janak. Additionally, Mahmud labeled allegations against his father involving corruption and sheltering criminals as smear campaigns, vowing legal action.

BNP leader Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has warned that threats to block elections indicate an ominous return to authoritarianism. Speaking after paying tribute to former President Ziaur Rahman with newly elected Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) leaders, Zahid said, “Intimidation cannot suppress the journey towards elections. Those who threaten to prevent polls do not care about the people’s will.”
He reminded that the fall of the Awami League government came through a united student and public movement, not through the agitation of a single group.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir departed Dhaka on Wednesday morning for Bangkok to receive eye treatment, following his doctor’s advice. According to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, Fakhrul boarded a Thai Airways flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:15 AM, accompanied by his wife, Rahat Ara Begum.
Before leaving, Fakhrul visited party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at her Firoza residence on Tuesday night to inquire about her health.

Severe wildfires and an intense heatwave have claimed at least three lives in southern Europe, forcing thousands to evacuate. Temperatures have topped 40°C across Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans, with red heat alerts in place. Spain’s weather service warned of highs reaching 44°C in Seville and Cordoba. In Tres Cantos, near Madrid, a stable worker died after flames—fueled by 70 km/h winds—spread into residential areas. Over 1,000 troops have been deployed to fight the fires. Portugal is battling three major blazes, while Sardinia saw the death of a four-year-old Romanian child found unconscious in a car. France has heat warnings in three-quarters of the country, and Greece is fighting over 150 active wildfires.

Students of Rabindra University have blocked railway lines in Ullapara, Sirajganj, demanding the construction of a permanent campus. Joined by faculty and staff in solidarity, they began their protest at 9 a.m. Wednesday, halting rail services between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh. Protesters noted that despite nine years since the university’s founding, it still lacks a permanent campus, depriving students of quality education and facilities. They warned of tougher action if demands are not swiftly met.

According to Bloomberg, India and China are planning to resume direct air services as early as next month. India’s Civil Aviation Department has reportedly asked Air India and IndiGo to be ready on short notice to operate direct routes. An official announcement may come around the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Direct flights and the Kailash–Mansarovar pilgrimage were halted in May 2020 due to COVID-19. Tensions escalated further after a deadly clash in Galwan, eastern Ladakh, a month later. Talks earlier this year paved the way for restoring air links as part of efforts to ease bilateral strains.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed that India will never be allowed to take “a single drop” of Pakistan’s water. “If you try, you’ll be taught a lesson so harsh you’ll be made to stand holding your ears,” he warned. Former minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier called the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty an “attack on the Indus civilization,” pledging provincial resistance if war was imposed. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in June that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty, reaffirming on Monday that western rivers must flow freely for Pakistan’s use. India has rejected the PCA’s jurisdiction and verdict.

Bangladesh has sought Malaysia’s support to establish a Halal Industrial Park to tap into the fast-growing global halal products market. On Tuesday, the Chief Adviser met Malaysian halal industry officials led by Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah, Halal Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office. They highlighted that the halal market, currently worth $3 trillion, is expected to reach $5 trillion by 2030. Malaysia already operates at least 14 halal industrial parks with significant market share. Bangladesh, where only the Islamic Foundation issues halal certification—so far to just 124 firms—could play a major role with improved infrastructure and certification capacity. BIDAR’s Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud called for Malaysian help in outlining park requirements, noting growing export interest among local certified firms.

The latest US State Department human rights report, released Tuesday, states that Bangladesh’s human rights situation has remained stable since August last year. Citing the July uprising, Sheikh Hasina’s flight, and Muhammad Yunus’s assumption of office as Chief Adviser, the report lists past abuses under the previous government—including killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on free speech and media, censorship, journalist detentions, and labor law violations. It noted that while the Hasina administration failed to prosecute offenders, the interim government has since detained those involved in rights violations.