Indian police in Hyderabad have rescued a Bangladeshi teenager who was trafficked and forced into sex work.

Authorities confirmed this was not an isolated case. In recent years, Bangladeshi women have been rescued from brothels in Khairatabad, Chaderghat, and Bandlaguda. Victims also come from Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

An Indian official explained that trafficked women from Bangladesh often cross the border illegally with the help of agents, either by land or river. “The trafficking networks are powerful, operating on both sides of the border, preying on poverty and luring victims with false promises of livelihood,” the official said.

A study by the Childline India Foundation (CSWB) revealed that 2.7% of women subjected to commercial sexual exploitation in India are Bangladeshi nationals.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder has clarified that the interim government has been discouraging the use of official portraits since its inception under an unwritten “zero portrait” policy.

However, he stressed that no government office or mission has received any written instruction to remove the president’s photographs. “Still, some individuals took it upon themselves to display such portraits. The idea that written orders were issued to remove them is incorrect,” he wrote.

Majumder criticized political overreaction: “Now that elections are approaching and political maneuvering is narrowing, even trivial issues are being inflated into mountains to stir controversy.”

Israel witnessed nationwide strikes and protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza occupation plan. On Sunday, nearly half a million demonstrators gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, carrying Israeli flags and photos of hostages.

The rally, organized by the October Council, demanded the release of hostages held by Hamas and an immediate halt to Israel’s Gaza offensive. When protesters attempted to march toward Netanyahu’s residence, they were stopped by security forces, leading to at least 40 arrests.

The protests spread beyond Tel Aviv, with demonstrations reported in Jerusalem, Haifa, and nearly 300 other locations across the country.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has emphasized Bangladesh’s push to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, highlighting the country’s vast economic potential and untapped resources.

“With over 170 million people, Bangladesh can provide ASEAN with a huge market and skilled workforce,” Yunus told Malaysia’s Bernama. “There are unexplored investment sectors, particularly in fisheries. Despite having access to a vast sea, Bangladesh has not tapped into deep-sea fishing. Partnering with Myanmar could open opportunities for joint ventures in this sector.”

He noted that Bangladesh has been engaging with ASEAN since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Dhaka visit in October last year. “Some member states may raise objections, which will take time to resolve, but we will not give up. Our logic is strong—we are a neighboring country, and we already have supporters within ASEAN.”

Ganosamhati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki has accused the ruling party of plundering national wealth, resulting in the collapse of countless mills and factories and the loss of livelihoods for millions.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Setabganj Sugar Mill Reopening Committee, Saki said:
“The fascist government’s sole policy was looting. That looting has shut down industries, destroyed employment opportunities, and left people destitute. Backed by the fallen Awami regime, S. Alam Group has swallowed the country’s resources.”

He demanded the immediate release of allocated funds and urgent renovations to restart the Setabganj and Shyampur sugar mills, as well as the restoration of four other closed sugar mills in the next phase. “Those entrusted with these mills are not reviving industries—they are destroying them,” he added.

The Bangladesh Bank has instructed financial institutions to present a clearer picture of their actual liquidity status starting next month.

In a circular sent to the chief executives of finance companies, the central bank stated that although firms are required to submit monthly liquidity reports, the data currently provided fails to reflect their true position. With expanding investment avenues now available, companies have greater opportunities to grow. However, the lack of accurate liquidity reporting is obstructing proper risk assessment.

To address this, a new reporting format has been developed by Bangladesh Bank. Finance companies will now be required to submit detailed liquidity information using this format. Each month’s data must be submitted to the central bank by the 7th of the following month.

BNP leader Hasan Uddin Sarkar has urged the party to distinguish between opportunists and loyal activists, stressing that only those who remain steadfast during adversity are the party’s “true workers.”

Speaking at a campaign strategy meeting with Gacha Thana BNP and affiliated organizations for the Gazipur-6 constituency, Sarkar said:
“Some maintained cozy relations with Awami League and enjoyed benefits, while others faced persecution, cases, and attacks for standing firm. The latter are our real strength, and they must be valued accordingly.”

Islamic scholar Mamunul Haque has warned that forming a bicameral parliament without proportional representation (PR) would undermine its effectiveness, calling it a “rehabilitation center for the unemployed.”

He emphasized the need for a functional upper house with participation from all political parties.
“Without PR, the upper house will serve no real purpose. We want an effective, participatory chamber that strengthens democracy,” he said.

Mamunul also cautioned against the resurgence of “fascism,” accusing the Jatiya Party of attempting a political comeback to aid authoritarian forces. He urged anti-fascist groups to unite ahead of the next election.

On the same day, he announced a revised candidate list for his party, Khelafat Majlis, naming 45 new candidates and replacing nominees in seven constituencies.

In a shocking incident in Satkhira, a schoolteacher was beaten and paraded in the marketplace by BNP activists over allegations of misconduct with a female student.

Assistant teacher Shafiqul Islam filed a complaint with Satkhira Sadar Police, accusing local BNP leaders of storming into his school with rods, hammers, and bamboo sticks.

“They dragged me out of the office, assaulted me, and forced me into the street while recording videos. Later, they detained me at the union council office and beat me again,” Shafiqul said in his complaint.

The school’s headteacher alleged that Shafiqul had given private lessons to a female student in a classroom for over 30 minutes on a holiday, which sparked the accusations. However, Shafiqul claimed the attack was politically motivated.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Fakhrul Islam has dismissed rumors about mosque construction at the historic Chandranath Temple site.

He stated that a social media post claiming such a move had come to their attention, prompting immediate investigation.
“Chandranath Hill and its temples are a revered pilgrimage site for Sanatan (Hindu) devotees across the subcontinent. Sitakunda has always been an example of communal harmony, and no attempt to disrupt that will be tolerated,” the UNO affirmed.

He confirmed that administrative inspection found no evidence of mosque construction in the area and assured devotees that no permission had been granted. He also warned against spreading misinformation designed to incite unrest.

Rail communication between Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi has been suspended after five wagons of an oil-laden train derailed near Amnura station on Sunday evening.

The train, carrying 27 wagons of fuel, was en route to Amnura Power Plant from Khulna when the incident occurred. The derailment took place after the seventh wagon from the engine.

Authorities have dispatched a relief train to the site, expected to begin recovery operations between 10 and 11 p.m. Officials hope train services will resume by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, two passenger trains—the commuter service from Rahanpur to Ishwardi and the Purnobba Express bound for Rajshahi—were disrupted due to the accident.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has urged officials at Bangladesh’s foreign missions to serve expatriates with dedication and integrity, emphasizing the need to preserve the civil service’s reputation.

“Civil servants must not engage in corruption or act as appendages to political parties. Any activity that harms the country’s dignity must be avoided,” he stated.

Highlighting the contributions of migrant workers, who are the backbone of the economy through remittance, he said officials in passport and visa services must demonstrate professionalism, courtesy, and cooperation to ensure a positive environment at embassies and missions abroad.

Dr. Rustam Ali Farazi, former Member of Parliament from Pirojpur-3 (Mathbaria), has officially joined Islami Andolan Bangladesh after receiving the party’s nomination.

He has been declared the party’s candidate for Pirojpur-3 under the “Hand Fan” electoral symbol. Farazi has previously been elected four times from three different parties—BNP, Jatiya Party, Grand Alliance, and once as an independent.

Most recently, he contested as an independent in the “dummy election” but was defeated. On Saturday, he joined Islami Andolan after meeting party leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

Party leaders confirmed that although Farazi had initially joined Islami Andolan in 2017, his membership was suspended after he took part in a disputed election.

A leaked audio recording has surfaced featuring a conversation between Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) President Hasanul Haq Inu and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the recording, Inu is heard urging Hasina to intensify arrests, saying:
“Your decision is absolutely correct, Honorable Prime Minister. Please order the arrest of everyone—then no one will remain to join protests.”

Hasina reportedly agreed, calling themselves “comrades on the battlefield.”

Inu further advised that the internet should be restored to flood media with favorable news, though Hasina replied that the internet infrastructure had been “burned” and could only be revived under another government. Inu reassured her, saying: “There will be no other government in Bangladesh. Jamaat-Shibir has once again been exposed. Break their backbone now.”

The audio suggests Hasina agreed to his proposal of compiling lists of Shibir members for mass arrests.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed has highlighted significant progress in judicial reforms over the past year, citing the first-ever granting of broad powers through new judicial appointment and structural regulations.

He revealed that efforts to establish a specialized commercial court are advancing rapidly. In July, a dialogue between the Supreme Court, BIDA, UNDP, and the EU gathered key input from lawyers and business leaders, with the final draft now set for government implementation.

Currently, Bangladesh lacks a dedicated forum for resolving commercial disputes, leading to mounting case backlogs and harming investment confidence. Over 25,000 cases remain pending in financial loan courts alone as of March 2025.

The Chief Justice noted that once established, the commercial court will feature specialized training for judges, integration of mixed legal practices, and annual reporting for greater accountability.