BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has met with the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, in London as per a pre-scheduled arrangement. The meeting, held at The Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, drew thousands of BNP supporters, who gathered outside in a show of support.

Before the meeting, excitement among BNP activists was palpable as Tarique Rahman arrived at the hotel. He was seen waving at supporters and exchanging greetings before entering the venue, while chants and slogans filled the air.

During the meeting, Tarique inquired about the Chief Adviser’s health and conveyed greetings from Begum Khaleda Zia. “Amma (mother) has sent her salaam,” said Tarique. In response, Yunus expressed gratitude: “Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it.” The two also shared cordial exchanges about each other’s well-being, with Yunus humorously remarking, “It’s going on, dragging along as needed.”

Hamas has called for a unified global stance to confront Israel following its strike on Iran, which killed several senior Iranian figures. In a statement, Hamas described the attack as a grave violation of international law and reaffirmed its support for Iran. The group warned that Israel poses a threat to regional stability. Meanwhile, Donald Trump confirmed prior knowledge of the attack but denied U.S. military involvement. He expressed hope for renewed nuclear talks and said a key ally was notified in advance of the strike.

Container handling at Chattogram Port has plummeted due to the extended government holidays for Eid-ul-Azha. Typically, the port clears around 5,000 containers daily, but this number dropped to less than half during the break. As of Thursday morning, import containers at the port rose from 28,000 on June 4 to over 39,000—an 11,000 increase in seven days. A pre-Eid customs work stoppage and transport strike had already caused vessel congestion. Although port officials say there's still enough space, traders warn further delays could severely affect service quality. Port operations remained active during the holidays, except on Eid day itself.

A UN report reveals that global tech companies increased their carbon emissions by an average of 150% between 2020 and 2023, driven by rapid growth in artificial intelligence and data center energy use. Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet saw emissions spike by over 130%. Experts warn that AI systems alone could soon emit over 100 million tons of CO₂ annually. Data centers now consume 1.5% of global electricity, with usage projected to surpass Japan’s annual demand by 2030 if unchecked.

Ten months after the interim government took charge promising sweeping reforms, conditions at Dhaka Medical College Hospital remain dire. Overcrowding, staff shortages, and unhygienic conditions plague the facility, where patients often share beds and even pay bribes for treatment. Despite the submission of a reform report in May, no visible improvements have occurred. Emergency access is blocked by vendors and vehicles, sanitation is appalling, and syndicates continue illegal operations. Authorities admit challenges but say slow progress is being made in infrastructure and logistics.

Despite growing demands for change, Bangladesh’s public universities continue to suffer from political interference, recruitment irregularities, and infrastructural deficiencies. Student protests at multiple institutions have led to the removal of a few vice-chancellors, but no major reforms have followed. Issues such as unplanned department expansion, underfunded research, and lack of student housing persist. Experts highlight the need for curriculum updates, merit-based appointments, and governance reform. While minor initiatives are underway, long-term improvement depends on structural changes and consistent funding support.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has commenced a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the proposed interim government, at London’s Dorchester Hotel. Tarique arrived at the hotel around 2 PM Bangladesh time, accompanied by senior BNP leaders Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Humayun Kabir. Dr. Yunus’s team, including his press and security advisers, welcomed him. According to BNP sources, the meeting is strictly private, with no other participants. The party describes the discussion as part of a constructive political engagement.

The AB Party is preparing to contest in 40 to 50 constituencies in the upcoming national election, according to General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad. Candidate selection is already underway. However, the party has yet to decide on forming any alliance, with a decision expected by November or December. Speaking at a press conference in Barishal, Fuad said they trust the Chief Adviser’s election roadmap, which emphasizes essential reforms before polls. The AB Party has welcomed this approach and expressed its support.

In a crackdown on ticket black marketing and passenger harassment, the Bangladesh Army conducted a surprise operation at Dinajpur Railway Station.

During the raid, army personnel actively investigated complaints of black market ticket sales and passenger exploitation. Captain Tanzid Ahmed, who led the operation, stated that the army is maintaining a strong stance to uphold law and order in the district. He further assured that the army will continue to stand by the public whenever needed to ensure peace and protect public interest.

A culvert constructed in Yusufpur village of Patuakhali under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at a cost of Tk 2.78 million has remained largely unusable due to the absence of a connecting road. Despite the structure being completed long ago, no access road has been built, leaving residents facing severe hardship. Locals from Yusufpur and nearby villages are forced to navigate knee-deep mud and walk along a narrow embankment to get by. Md. Moksedul Alam, Project Implementation Officer of Kalapara Upazila, stated that work on the connecting road is planned to begin soon and residents will benefit shortly.

Rajshahi University’s former vice chancellor Dr. Abdus Sobhan is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for appointing 138 staff in violation of ministry orders. Despite repeated requests, the university administration has failed to provide necessary documents, causing significant delays in the investigation. The ACC warns it may file a case under Section 19(3) for obstructing the process. A three-member ACC committee is handling the probe. University officials admit partial cooperation but cite missing records as the reason for delays.

In the span of 24 hours, the Jamuna Bridge authority collected Tk 279,692,000 in tolls, with 38,539 vehicles crossing the bridge. According to Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, Executive Engineer of the Jamuna Bridge Site Office, this toll revenue was recorded between Wednesday midnight and Thursday midnight. He added that while traffic volume was higher in the Dhaka-bound lanes, there were no reports of major congestion on the highway.

Iran has issued a strong warning following Israeli airstrikes on its territory, accusing the United States of direct involvement. Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi stated that Israel will face a ruthless response for its night raids, which targeted residential areas and strategic sites. Iran's military command echoed this sentiment, promising harsh retaliation. Iranian media reported that over 200 Israeli jets struck more than 100 targets, including nuclear and military facilities, killing IRGC commander Major General Hossein Salami along with many women and children.

Iran has accused the United States of complicity in Israel’s deadly airstrikes on its nuclear and military facilities, which reportedly killed IRGC chief Hossein Salami, Armed Forces head General Mohammad Bagheri, and several nuclear scientists. Tehran declared it has a legal right to respond under the UN Charter. Israel conducted over 100 strikes on at least eight Iranian locations. Explosions were heard in several cities. While Israel vows to continue operations, the U.S. denies involvement but warns Iran against retaliation.

Bangladesh's leather industry is bracing for a 10–15% drop in rawhide collection after Eid-ul-Azha, falling to around 8 million from over 9 million last year. Despite growing global demand, exports may stumble again due to the inoperative Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Savar. Tannery owners call it the sector’s biggest obstacle, suggesting BDT 300 crore investment could revive operations. While seasonal traders continue collecting salted hides, government-fixed prices prevail. Salt preservation efforts and new export permissions offer slight relief amidst structural bottlenecks.