Bangladesh’s women’s cricket team has completed preparations for two major international events, the Asia Cup and the Asian Games in Japan. The team will leave the country on Wednesday, captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti said at a press conference and official photoshoot at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Jyoti said the side’s main objective in the Asia Cup is to reach the final.

Bangladesh won its first continental title by defeating India in the 2018 Asia Cup final in Malaysia, but recent campaigns have been marked by exits at the semifinal stage. Jyoti said the team wants to break that pattern, adding that reaching the final would create an opportunity to win the title. For the Asian Games, she said the team’s first goal is to win a medal, with an effort to return home with gold.

The players held intensive training and several internal practice matches to adapt to tournament conditions. The Asia Cup will run from August 28 to September 13 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh open against Indonesia on August 31, followed by Sri Lanka on September 6 and the UAE on September 8. The Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya, with some events beginning September 17.

Neymar Jr. delivered an influential all-round performance, but Santos drew 1-1 with Mirassol in a Brazilian Serie A match. The Brazilian star spent the full 90 minutes troubling the opposition defence with dribbles, passes and attacking creation, yet could not secure a victory for his side.

Playing as the main creative force rather than only a conventional striker, Neymar supplied the assist for Santos’ lone goal. He created six key passes, more than any other player in the match, made 37 dribbles over 338 metres, and touched the ball 98 times. In the opposition half, he completed 42 of 54 passes, a success rate of 79 percent.

Neymar also took seven shots, including three on target, but Mirassol’s goalkeeper and defence prevented him from scoring. Mirassol were reduced to 10 players late in the match after a red card, but Santos could not find a winner during seven minutes of added time. After returning from a long injury layoff, Neymar has six goals and three direct assists in 11 matches this season.

Police in the Jorarganj police station area of Mirsarai upazila, Chattogram, conducted anti-drug operations on Sunday and Monday and detained four drug users. A mobile court sentenced them in four cases to prison terms ranging from three days to one month. The court was led by Mirsarai Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanvirul Kader.

Separately, police arrested two men, Mosharraf, 42, and Hasan, 34, in a criminal case. They were detained at 1:45am on Monday from the area beside the rail gate at Baraiyarhat Bazar. Police also arrested Md Ismail Hossain, 23, an accused wanted in a case under the নারী ও শিশু নির্যাতন দমন আইন.

Ismail Hossain was arrested from his home in the Geramara area of Jorarganj on the same night. Jorarganj police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Halim said legal action had been taken against the arrested people and they were sent to jail through the court.

Bangladesh’s cabinet has given in-principle and final approval to the draft Armed Police Battalion Act, 2026, which proposes granting the Armed Police Battalion, or APBn, authority to investigate and conduct proceedings in criminal cases. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The law would take effect after parliamentary passage.

According to a Cabinet Division press release, the draft modernises and replaces The Armed Police Battalions Ordinance, 1979, while retaining provisions safeguarding actions taken under that ordinance. The proposed Bangla-language law was prepared to make the force more people-friendly and has been posted on the Home Ministry website for public opinion.

The APBn would operate under the control and supervision of an additional inspector general of police. Its duties include protecting public safety, VIPs and government-declared installations; acting against terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, rape and crimes against humanity; and assisting other law-enforcement agencies. The draft also proposes special and summary courts and related trial procedures, subject to legal vetting.

National University and Bangla Academy have initiated steps to sign a memorandum of understanding on co-publications, aiming to jointly develop, print, publish and market quality textbooks, translated works and other important publications. A joint meeting on the proposed agreement was held Monday at the Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Hall of Bangla Academy in the capital.

National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A S M Amanullah, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam attended the meeting. Participants discussed different aspects of jointly publishing textbooks, translated books and other works under the co-publications programme, and decided the two institutions would also work together on printing, publishing and marketing.

Amanullah said ensuring quality and reliable textbooks for National University students was a key responsibility. He said cooperation with Bangla Academy could help publish better textbooks, translations and research-oriented books suited to students’ needs, while expanding knowledge practice and research in Bangla. The meeting expressed hope that collaboration would later broaden into education, research and other publishing fields.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France will enforce a law banning mobile phone use in the country’s high schools from the new academic year. In a post on X on Monday, Macron said protecting children from the harmful effects of excessive screen use could no longer wait. He said phone-free schools would restore calm for studying.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said the high-school phone ban could take effect as soon as the new academic year begins following Macron’s decision. The measure is part of legislation designed to protect minors from risks associated with social media use, which was passed on July 21.

The Constitutional Council blocked the law’s most significant provision, which sought to prohibit social media use by children under 15. Bregeon said the high-school mobile phone ban would nevertheless be implemented under a stable, coherent and legal framework. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will work on a revised version of the social-media provisions, with the government aiming to establish an amended legal framework to protect children and young people by next spring.

Farhana Haque, 29, a senior field engineer with the International Organization for Migration, died after her scarf and hair became entangled in a generator while she was inspecting work at an IOM hospital in a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. The accident occurred on Monday morning in the camp area. Haque was a resident of Uttara in Dhaka.

Police said Haque had gone to the IOM hospital in Camp-3 for an inspection when her scarf accidentally became wrapped around the generator. Her hair was subsequently caught in the machine, leaving her seriously injured. Doctors on duty at the hospital provided initial treatment after the incident.

As her condition deteriorated, medical personnel advised that she be taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment. Police said she died on the way to the hospital. Ukhiya police station officer-in-charge Md Atikur Rahman Majumdar confirmed the death and said the body was handed over to her family after completion of legal procedures.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque held a courtesy meeting and exchange of views with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller on Monday. The meeting took place at the European Union delegation office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

The discussions covered relations between Bangladesh and the European Union, matters of mutual interest, and Bangladesh’s overall political and social situation. The two sides also discussed aspects of diplomatic communication and mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and the EU.

Participants exchanged views on advancing Bangladesh-EU relations on the basis of mutual respect and cooperation. Farid Khan, foreign secretary to the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer, was present at the meeting.

A faction of BNP leaders, activists and supporters marched with brooms in Ishwardi municipality of Pabna on Sunday evening, protesting the formation of upazila and municipal BNP committees that included convicted accused individuals. Supporters of former Ishwardi municipal BNP general secretary Zakaria Pintu and grassroots activists demanded cancellation of Imrul Kayes Sumon’s appointment as member secretary of the municipal committee and chanted slogans against the Pabna district BNP leadership’s decision.

Court sources said Sumon was sentenced on August 6 by Pabna’s First Joint Sessions Judge M. Sarwar Jahan to one year of simple imprisonment and a Tk10 lakh fine in a Tk10 lakh cheque dishonour case filed by Abdul Mannan Tipu. As he was absent when the verdict was delivered, a warrant was issued. Party sources said he was appointed municipal member secretary 10 days later and attended an August 20 BNP organisational meeting in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Sumon denied wrongdoing, saying the case involved longstanding business transactions and that he had not known about the verdict. District BNP member secretary Maksudur Rahman Masud Khandakar said the party had not received a complaint and would need to examine whether the case was conspiratorial. He added that convicted people cannot hold leadership roles under the party constitution.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a diplomatic and political resolution to the continuing Middle East crisis during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Beijing on Monday. Citing China’s Foreign Ministry, the report said Xi supported a comprehensive ceasefire and the settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means.

Xi said the sovereignty and security of regional countries, including Jordan, should be respected. He also highlighted what he described as Jordan’s unique and important role in the Middle East. On the Palestinian issue, Xi called for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution and said China supports restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks based on a two-state solution.

The meeting came as Jordan faces a difficult position between its alliance with the United States and escalating tensions involving Washington, Israel and Iran. China and Jordan signed several agreements on diplomacy, trade and supply chains. In a joint statement, the two sides also called for the restoration of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called on people across the country to study and discuss the life and character of Prophet Muhammad throughout the year. In a statement sent to the media on Monday, he said the Prophet was sent as mercy for all humanity and described following his teachings as the path to peace in a troubled world and to human salvation.

Rahman said the Holy Quran was the practical reflection of the Prophet’s life, portraying him as humanity’s greatest teacher and guide. He said the Prophet’s complete example covers personal, family, social, political, economic, military and international relations. According to the statement, studying the Seerah deeply, presenting it to people with wisdom and applying it in daily life are duties for every Muslim.

He urged that Seerah practice and discussion should not be confined to any particular day or month, but should continue throughout the year. Rahman also called on all branches of Jamaat-e-Islami to arrange discussion meetings, seminars and symposiums on the Seerah, while urging citizens to seek Allah’s pleasure by following the Prophet’s life and ideals.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they launched a ballistic missile at the Saudi-owned oil tanker Amjan near the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. A Houthi military spokesperson said the missile directly struck the vessel and caused a major fire. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the claimed attack.

Independent details on damage to the tanker, casualties, or the status of the reported fire were not available. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an oil tanker was damaged after being hit by an unidentified object about 63 nautical miles, or around 117 kilometres, west of Yanbu port. An investigation is under way.

The Houthis have recently increased claims of attacks on Saudi-owned and Saudi-linked oil vessels. Since announcing a claimed naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea in late July, the group has claimed attacks on several tankers. International maritime security agencies have reported fires aboard ships in some incidents. Yanbu is an important centre for Saudi oil transport infrastructure, raising concerns for regional tensions, energy supplies and maritime trade.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said rainfall is likely to increase somewhat across the country for two to three days from Wednesday as the monsoon becomes more active. The low-pressure system’s influence may clear from Bangladesh from Tuesday, while humid Bhadra-season heat is expected to continue despite intermittent rain.

On Monday, rainfall was most pronounced in Chattogram division, with 80 millimetres recorded at Maijdee Court in Noakhali and 73 millimetres at Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar. Dhaka received 5 millimetres of rain, while scattered rainfall elsewhere was limited. Daytime temperatures fell compared with the previous day, reaching 34.4 degrees Celsius in Saidpur and 32 degrees in the capital.

The department said the low-pressure system had moved northwest to Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand. For Tuesday and the following day, it forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers with gusty winds in many areas of Rangpur, Chattogram, Sylhet and other divisions, with moderately heavy rainfall possible in isolated places. No heavy to very heavy rain is forecast within the next week.

Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser A K M Shamsul Islam has described the Rohingya crisis as a major national security challenge for Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday at a seminar organized by the Center for Genocide Studies under the University of Dhaka’s International Relations Department. ISPR disclosed the information in a press release on Monday.

In his closing address, Islam said the crisis should not be viewed solely as a humanitarian matter. He identified it as a growing threat to human security, national security, diplomatic relations and regional stability. He said the unplanned responsibility had become an increasing burden for Bangladesh over the past nine years.

He cited deteriorating security conditions among about 1.18 million Rohingya living in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, saying six to 11 armed groups were active and drug trafficking, including yaba, continued. He also referred to more than 2,000 cases filed since 2017 and an alarming population growth rate. Islam said the government was pursuing the issue under a “Bangladesh First” policy combining humanitarian responsibility, national interest and continuous diplomatic engagement.

Prime Bank PLC organized a seminar at Central Women’s University (CWU) to raise student awareness of financial inclusion, financial literacy, responsible money management, career development and women’s financial empowerment. Held under the bank’s PrimeAcademia initiative, the event was titled “Financial Inclusion: Engaging and Inspiring Youth in Banking” and was arranged with support from the Central Women’s University Business Club.

Prime Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Liability and Women Banking Shaila Abedin said women’s financial inclusion involves financial independence, confidence, decision-making ability and leadership development, not only access to banking services. She urged students to develop financial knowledge alongside academic and professional skills. Senior Vice President and Head of Financial Inclusion and School Banking M M Mahbub Hasan discussed balancing income and expenses, regular savings, informed decisions and long-term financial discipline.

Hasan also described the bank’s sign-language video-call service and Braille books and accessible banking materials for visually impaired customers. CWU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Parveen Hasan praised the initiative and stressed practical financial and career skills. The programme included student questions, group discussions and awards for participating high-achieving students.