US President Donald Trump said he has set no deadline for bringing Iran back to the negotiating table. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Trump said he was not in a hurry and that there was no timetable, adding that it could take as long as needed.

Trump claimed Iran’s economy was collapsing and said both economic sanctions and military attacks on the country were working. Analysts, however, questioned how effective new US sanctions would be in returning Iran to negotiations. Friday will mark six months since the Iran-US war began, despite Trump’s earlier statement that the conflict could end within four to six weeks.

The United States on Monday imposed fresh sanctions on 60 companies and entities in various countries involved in trade with Iran. Tehran described the move as a threat to international law and the UN Charter. The war and sanctions have made life harder for ordinary Iranians, with the rial reaching a record low and prices of food, chicken and cooking oil rising sharply.

Cumilla district detective police arrested Shawon, identified as the main suspect in an attack on journalists, after he allegedly fled the area. Police said the arrest was made around 3am in Bijoypur of Sadar South Upazila, roughly 12 hours after Wednesday’s incident. Shawon, son of Selim Mia from Srimantapur, was handed over to Sadar South Police Station.

The attack occurred in the Mistripukur Par area of North Rampur in Sadar South Upazila, involving journalists Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury Khokon, Tanvir Dipu and Abdullah Al Maruf. Tanvir Dipu said they were travelling to Lalmai for news gathering when they encountered congestion caused by vehicles trapped at a locally erected iron barricade.

Dipu said he helped vehicles pass and then argued with a local youth named Shawon, who objected to efforts to clear the traffic. He alleged that the youth later returned with a rod and attacked them from behind, leaving Maruf unconscious. Detective police officer-in-charge Shamsul Alam Shah said Shawon would be sent to court. Cumilla Press Club general secretary Imtiaz Ahmed Jitu thanked police for the arrest.

At least 12 people have died and 54 others were injured in wildfires across northeastern Algeria, authorities said on Wednesday. Families were evacuated from the worst-hit areas as fires spread during an intense heatwave affecting Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia.

Interior Minister Said Sayoud said five deaths were recorded in Jijel prefecture, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. He said 54 burn patients were admitted to hospital, including six in critical condition.

Civil protection teams recorded 154 fire incidents nationwide on Wednesday, with 36 reported in Bejaia province. Eighteen of the Bejaia fires had been brought under control. Firefighters contained blazes in Skikda, El Tarf, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou and Tebessa provinces, while operations were continuing in Bejaia.

A case has been filed in Kendua, Netrokona, accusing five named people, including BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan Bakul, of blackmailing and gang-raping a Class 10 schoolgirl over an extended period. The victim’s father filed the case at Kendua police station on Tuesday night under the নারী ও শিশু নির্যাতন দমন আইন and the Pornography Control Act, also naming several unidentified suspects.

According to the case statement and the victim’s family, Bakul allegedly raped the girl on November 20, 2022, when she was in Class 6, after taking her to a house on the pretext of seeing a doctor. He allegedly recorded a video and later used threats of releasing it on social media to blackmail and repeatedly assault her.

Kendua municipal BNP removed Bakul from its primary membership and all party posts on Wednesday night, citing conduct contrary to party discipline and ethics. Police arrested the second accused, Abu Mia, 36, shortly after the case was filed and sent him to jail through a court on Wednesday. Operations to arrest Bakul and other accused are continuing.

The United States will provide $500,000 in emergency assistance and send a disaster-response adviser to support relief and rescue operations in flood-hit northern Nepal. The US State Department confirmed the assistance in a statement on Wednesday, following a devastating flash flood in Rasuwa, a mountainous district bordering Tibet.

The funding will be delivered through the US-based international humanitarian organization Catholic Relief Services. It is intended for emergency food, medicine, safe water, essential relief supplies, temporary shelters, sanitation and hygiene support for affected residents. The adviser will provide guidance to a joint rescue team comprising Nepal Army, police and disaster-management personnel; the State Department did not disclose the adviser’s name.

Nepal Police said 160 bodies had been recovered from mud and rock deposits after the flooding, while at least 579 people remained missing. More than 100 Indians, 54 Americans, 33 British citizens and more than 100 Nepali citizens were among those missing, along with rescue personnel and electricity department workers. Washington instructed its embassy in Kathmandu to work closely with Nepal’s government to locate missing Americans.

The third session of the thirteenth National Parliament began at 3pm on Thursday, chaired by Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The session is expected to consider several proposed bills, including drafts of the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act and the National Human Rights Commission Act.

Parliament may also discuss ongoing shortages of electricity, gas and fertiliser. The source does not specify which other bills are due to be introduced or provide a timetable for debates and legislative proceedings during the session.

Security has been tightened at the Parliament complex and surrounding areas for the session. Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued a public notice completely banning meetings, gatherings, processions and all forms of protest marches in and around the parliamentary area to maintain security, peace and order.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday denied reports circulating on online platforms that the current BCB administration had cancelled the name of the Shaheed Abu Sayed Stand at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The board said it had made no decision to change or remove the stand’s name, nor to alter or remove the names of stands at the country’s other international cricket venues.

In its statement, the BCB said official stand names are properly displayed and used during all international and domestic cricket events. Since the current board assumed responsibility earlier this year, three international series have been held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It said the names of all stands, including the Shaheed Abu Sayed Stand, were clearly visible to spectators at the venue and television viewers, and were also printed on match tickets and promotional materials.

The board said stand-name signage can be damaged or temporarily removed as part of routine stadium maintenance, which it said is conducted on non-match days. It added that the stand was named in recognition of Abu Sayed’s sacrifice and contribution during the July uprising. The BCB described the online claims as a planned attempt to spread misinformation and damage the board’s image, while reserving the right to take action under its policies.

A government committee has recommended establishing a new 250-bed district hospital in Mymensingh after reviewing the district’s population, pressure on existing health services and the patient load at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. The information was recorded in meeting minutes from the Government Health Management-1 branch of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The proposal initially discussed was for a 1,000-bed district headquarters hospital, raised by Mymensingh’s then acting civil surgeon, Dr Faisal Ahmed. The minutes said residents of the district’s seven upazilas depend on Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment, creating very high patient pressure. Dr Ahmed said the hospital’s bed occupancy rate was the fourth highest in the country.

Health Directorate officials said growing patient numbers were increasing pressure on beds in public hospitals, making expanded capacity necessary. They noted that while 250-bed hospitals exist in other districts, Mymensingh has no such district hospital. The committee ultimately recommended the 250-bed facility. If implemented, the initiative is expected to expand public healthcare access and reduce pressure on the medical college hospital.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said Kazi Nazrul Islam’s message teaches people to resist anyone conspiring against the country’s sovereignty. He made the remarks on Thursday morning after paying tribute at the national poet’s grave at the University of Dhaka, on Nazrul’s 50th death anniversary.

Rizvi described Nazrul as a poet of the era who spoke against injustice throughout his life. He said the poet taught people to protest oppression and repression and remained a key inspiration in movements and struggles, from the independence movement to the 2024 mass uprising.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s University of Dhaka unit earlier placed flowers at the grave. Its president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas said Nazrul was being remembered with deep respect and that building a humane, non-discriminatory society based on equality, humanity, harmony and patriotism would be the best tribute. The source said Nazrul’s poetry, songs and writings remain relevant in Bengali consciousness against injustice, exploitation and discrimination.

Speakers at a workshop in Chattogram on Thursday called on media outlets to play a more active and responsible role in ensuring safe migration. The event, titled “Media’s Role in Safe Migration,” was held at the Chattogram Press Club auditorium and jointly organised by Prottasha and Strengthened and Informative Migration Systems (SIMS). Media representatives working in Chattogram district attended.

Participants said migrants often face risks because of insufficient information, opaque recruitment processes, failure to verify documents before travelling abroad, and inadequate language skills. They stressed that prospective migrants should properly check employers, employment contracts and other documents, while also learning about the language and laws of their destination countries.

Speakers said migrants should also plan for rehabilitation after returning to Bangladesh, as many returnees face fresh difficulties without plans for employment or income. The workshop was told that about 15 million Bangladeshi migrants live in different countries. Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Sharif Uddin attended as chief guest, while Professor Dr Md Shahidul Haque was the keynote speaker.

A lineman at the Mohanganj Palli Bidyut Samity zonal office in Netrokona has been accused of taking money from customers for meter replacement, connection section changes and shifting connections between poles. The accused, Dipak Chandra Das, allegedly collected thousands of taka while promising services outside official procedures, but in some cases neither completed the work nor returned the money. Kaziyati resident Ratan Mia submitted a written complaint to the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board chairman on August 19.

Ratan said his home’s electric meter was damaged in a storm on June 3. He alleged that Dipak took Tk2,000 at a tea stall the following day, citing an application and compensation, and promised a replacement meter. After Ratan raised the matter with Deputy General Manager Md Emdadul Haque, a new meter was installed, but he said the Tk2,000 has not been returned.

Other customers made similar claims. Priya Akhtar alleged Dipak took Tk7,500 for five damaged meters, while Ujjwal Mia said he paid Tk12,000 to Tk14,000 to move a fisheries connection to another pole. The general manager said an REB letter had been received and an investigation committee would be formed.

Dhaka University observed the 50th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam through daylong programmes, including floral tributes, Fatiha recitation, a discussion and Nazrul music. On Thursday morning, teachers, students, officers and employees led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam placed wreaths at the poet’s grave beside the university’s Central Mosque.

A discussion was held on the open stage at the graveyard, chaired by the vice-chancellor. Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Professor Dr Abdus Salam and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration Professor Dr Mohammad Almojaddedi Alfechani spoke as special guests, while Nazrul Research Centre Director Professor Dr Tariq Manzur delivered the memorial lecture.

The vice-chancellor said Nazrul’s life and literary works teach people to protest injustice and inspire opposition to inequality, wrongdoing, torture and oppression. He also said the poet’s works offer lessons in equality, harmony, peace and strong unity. The programme was attended by the poet’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi, among others, and ended with Nazrul songs performed by teachers and students of the university’s music department. A Quran recitation programme was also held after Fajr prayers at the Central Mosque.

BNP-elected lawmaker and Jatiya Sangsad Whip Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu has recommended Bangladesh Bank director Swapan Kumar Goswami for appointment or nomination as a deputy governor. In a letter sent to the finance minister on June 22, Dulu requested favourable consideration of the proposed appointment.

The letter said Goswami is serving as a director at Bangladesh Bank’s head office and has established himself as a capable and responsible official through honesty, competence and professional excellence. It cited his experience in central banking, financial-sector supervision, policy formulation and implementation, banking regulation, risk management, financial stability and administrative leadership.

Dulu’s letter said Bangladesh Bank is carrying out reforms aimed at strengthening governance and regulatory structures, managing defaulted loans, restoring financial discipline, improving accountability and building a modern central bank system aligned with international standards. It said Goswami’s experience, leadership and skills could contribute significantly to these efforts. Asked about the letter, Dulu said he wrote it because Goswami is a voter from his constituency.

Athena Rayburn, executive director of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), told the UN Security Council that US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace is failing to protect the basic rights of Palestinians in Gaza. She said its performance should be judged by civilian protection, ending Israel’s illegal presence and progress toward Palestinian self-determination.

AIDA represents more than 100 international relief and aid agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory. Rayburn said the Board of Peace was formed under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which created an opportunity to reduce violence. However, she argued that the same arrangement has further entrenched Israel’s “illegal presence.”

Rayburn said Palestinians’ rights in Gaza have been subordinated to what she described as far-reaching, arbitrary and unilateral conditions imposed by the party controlling them. She said nearly two million people are trapped in Gaza and dependent on humanitarian aid for survival, while the entry and distribution of that aid are controlled and restricted by the state she blamed for creating the crisis and shortages. She said civilian protection and Palestinian self-determination should be the central goals of any international arrangement.

A Dhaka court has granted five days’ remand for actor Ashraful Haque, known as Don, in the murder case over the death of film actor Salman Shah. Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana issued the order on Thursday afternoon after a hearing. Don had been brought from prison to the court lockup earlier in the morning.

The Criminal Investigation Department’s investigating officer, Inspector Md. Mujibur Rahman, had sought seven days to question Don in custody. Following the hearing, the court approved a five-day remand instead of the full period requested by the investigator.

According to the CID, questioning Don in police custody could yield important information to help uncover the circumstances of Salman Shah’s death in the murder case. The agency also said the interrogation may provide information on the whereabouts of other alleged associates in the case and assist efforts to arrest them.