BNP leader Aminul Haque has said that development claims are hollow if the people’s basic problems remain unresolved. “No one can be deprived of a fundamental right like access to safe water,” he stated.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new water pump in Rupnagar Eastern Housing G-Block, Haque said residents of the area had long suffered due to the shortage of clean drinking water. “This pump will ease their suffering. Serving the people’s welfare is the primary goal of our politics,” he added.

He emphasized that ensuring safe water and a healthy environment is just as crucial as education and sports for building a bright future for the next generation. Residents expressed gratitude for the initiative, calling it a long-awaited relief.

Professor Dr. Mojibul Haque, consultant at the Center of Integrated Medicine in Texas, said that with proper lifestyle changes, people can stay healthy without medicine. Speaking at a book launch in Dhaka, he warned against antibiotic use in livestock, refined sugar, white flour, and overuse of electronic devices. He stressed that modern diets and stress are causing illness, while natural detoxification can keep the body disease-free. Dr. Haque treats patients in Dhaka without chemical drugs.

President Donald Trump said he will issue an executive order requiring voter ID for all ballots, with no exceptions. He stated only seriously ill individuals and military personnel abroad may vote by mail. Trump, who continues to claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen, has long opposed electronic voting machines, favoring paper ballots. Legal experts question his authority since states oversee elections. The 2026 midterms will be the first national test of his policies after returning to power.

A total of 2,049 polling centers across the country have been declared unsuitable for use ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, according to a report by the Education Engineering Department (EED).

The report, signed by EED Chief Engineer Md. Altaf Hossain, estimates that Tk 110.27 crore will be required for repair work and construction of boundary walls at these centers.

Among the centers, 1,490 educational institutions under the Secondary and Higher Education Division will need Tk 33.78 crore for repairs. Additionally, boundary wall construction at 559 institutions has been projected to cost Tk 76.48 crore.

The EED has already written to the Education Secretary seeking allocation of the necessary funds, with a copy of the request also sent to the Election Commission.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam, after returning from China and visiting Nurul Haque Nur at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, declared that the Jatiya Party has “no right” to engage in politics in Bangladesh. He accused the party of standing against the people by participating in what he described as an “illegitimate election,” thereby legitimizing a fraudulent process.

Nahid strongly condemned the recent attack on Nur, calling it “deeply concerning” and “unnatural.” He urged all political parties to unite in resisting the defeated forces.

At the same time, Sarjis Alam warned of taking to the streets once again to counter what he called “fascist conspiracies.” He argued that the attack on Nur was a calculated attempt to suppress the power of a people’s uprising.

“This brutal assault was carried out by the military, which is alarming,” Alam alleged, raising questions about whose directives the armed forces are currently operating under. He further claimed that the violence was carried out in retaliation for demanding accountability for collaborators of fascism.

Police have recovered the body of a 50-year-old US citizen, identified as Jackson, from The Westin Dhaka. Initial investigations suggest that his death was natural.

According to OC Hafizur Rahman, Jackson checked into the hotel on August 27 through the US Embassy. Hotel staff grew suspicious after he stopped ordering food for two consecutive days and alerted both the embassy and police.

A medical team from the embassy and a police team later entered his room, where they found Jackson lying dead on his bed.

Police confirmed that as the death appeared natural, the US Embassy formally took custody of the body. Initial information indicates Jackson had arrived in Bangladesh for business purposes.

A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday night, killing more than 20 people and injuring over 115 others. Officials fear the death toll may rise.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 11:47 pm local time at a depth of just 8 kilometers. At least three aftershocks, ranging between 4.5 and 5.2 in magnitude, followed the initial tremor.

The worst-hit provinces are Nangarhar and Kunar, where hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured. Tremors were felt in Kabul for several seconds and even as far away as Islamabad.

Afghanistan has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes. In October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake killed at least 4,000 people in the country.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has been declared closed indefinitely following an attack on protesting students by alleged outsiders. Students have been instructed to vacate their dormitories by 9:00 am Monday, while two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain order.

The announcement came from Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan on Sunday night. Earlier, students had locked in the VC and around 227 academic council members inside an auditorium for several hours, demanding the introduction of a combined degree. The standoff lasted from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm before Mymensingh’s Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police intervened for negotiations.

However, the situation escalated when a group of outsiders armed with sticks stormed the venue and attacked students, injuring several, including female students. Teachers were eventually released, but students were assaulted and humiliated. Following the violence, students from different halls gathered in protest, prompting the shutdown decision.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over 14 Bangladeshi nationals to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) through a flag meeting at the Satkhira border. The handover took place on Sunday evening around 7 p.m.

The group had been detained on Saturday night around 11 p.m. at Hakimpur border checkpoint in India. Following the return, BGB’s Subedar Md. Abul Kashem filed a general diary with Satkhira Police Station. Officials confirmed that after verifying their identities, the detainees will be reunited with their families.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companiganj Police Station, Uzair Al Mahmud Adnan, has been transferred to Sylhet Sadar Court as a police inspector following widespread criticism over the looting of limestone at Bholaganj. He has been replaced by Md. Raton Sheikh.

On August 13, a delegation from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) visited the Bholaganj stone quarry, where large-scale looting occurred due to alleged negligence by local administration and law enforcement. Following the incident, on August 18, Companiganj’s UNO Azijunnahar was transferred to Fenchuganj, while Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad was withdrawn.

According to the ACC’s investigation report, OC Uzair Al Mahmud Adnan and several officers of the local police station received commissions from illegal stone traders and actively facilitated the looting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting at the SCO summit in Tianjin that building friendship between India and China is the “right decision.” Xi highlighted the countries’ shared responsibilities as ancient civilizations and key Global South members. He emphasized peace, cooperation, and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Modi welcomed reduced border tensions, stressed mutual trust and respect, and mentioned restarting direct flights. Both leaders underscored cooperation as vital for 2.8 billion people’s welfare.

India and China are set to resume direct passenger flights after more than five years, signaling a thaw in bilateral relations. The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit in Tianjin. While the launch date remains unspecified, major airlines from both countries are preparing to restart services. The move is expected to ease travel, boost trade, and strengthen diplomatic ties amid global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

A Harvard/Harris poll reveals a sharp generational divide in U.S. views on the Israel–Hamas conflict. While 74% of Americans overall back Israel, 60% of voters aged 18–24 support Hamas instead. Most Americans condemn Hamas’s actions, yet many young voters blame Israel for Gaza’s famine. Public opinion is split on whether Israel’s actions amount to genocide. Analysts say Gen Z’s reliance on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for news drives this shift, framing the conflict as a humanitarian issue rather than geopolitics.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has embarked on a four-day visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, aiming to strengthen bilateral and regional ties. He will attend the SCO summit and Victory Day military parade, marking the first time a Malaysian leader participates in the SCO at this level. Anwar will also hold talks with Xi and Premier Li Qiang, meet business leaders, and reinforce Malaysia’s commitment to its largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.

In Kuakata, businessman Abdul Halim Akon has accused Kuakata Municipal Student League Secretary Nesar Uddin Howlader of forcibly taking a signed check worth BDT 30 lakh from him. On Sunday morning, Halim Akon submitted a written complaint to the relevant bank, requesting redress and alleging that he received threats to his life.

Responding to the allegations, Nesar Uddin stated that the check was handed over as repayment for a land transaction. “A year ago, I purchased 15 sotok of land from Halim Akon’s father, Mostafa Akon, for BDT 37.5 lakh. We have a written agreement to confirm this,” Nesar Uddin said.

He added that the payment was due, but when he learned the land had been sold elsewhere without finalizing the documentation, he contacted Mostafa Akon. During a family meeting, Halim Akon reportedly provided a signed check for BDT 30 lakh from his account in the presence of several witnesses.

According to Nesar Uddin, he later discovered that Halim Akon raised objections at the bank. He said he then informed the father, who subsequently repaid BDT 28 lakh through two separate checks, with the remaining amount to be settled via land transfer.

Nesar Uddin claimed that the accusations are part of a planned conspiracy and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation.