A Faridpur women and children repression prevention tribunal on Monday sentenced Hanif Sheikh, described in the case as a fraudulent traditional healer, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a young woman under the pretext of treatment. Judge Shamima Parvin, also district and sessions judge, delivered the verdict. The court also fined him Tk 20,000 and ordered an additional six months in jail if the fine is not paid. Sheikh was absconding when the judgment was announced.

According to the case complaint and court sources, Sheikh had long been involved in improper treatment through spiritual rituals and in abusing women. On March 22, 2025, the survivor went to his home with her younger sister seeking treatment. The accused allegedly took her to a tin-roofed room on the promise of providing treatment and forcibly sexually assaulted her.

The sources said Sheikh threatened and intimidated the survivor after she protested, telling her not to disclose the incident. Public Prosecutor Advocate Golam Rabbani Bhuiyan Ratan said the prosecution proved the allegation beyond reasonable doubt after extensive testimony and hearings. He said the verdict sends a strong message against malpractice and deception and has delivered justice to the survivor's family.

Retired Israeli General Itzhak Brick has warned that Israeli society is nearing a deep crisis from which preventing decline is becoming increasingly difficult. In an article published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Brick said society is losing its ability to understand reality as political divisions and narrow partisan interests make people increasingly intolerant of one another.

According to Iranian media reports citing the article, Brick said Israel has become a conflict-ridden society in which different groups place their own interests above all else. He said this has led to incorrect decisions and actions being justified in the name of partisan interests. Brick said critics are attacked according to political identity rather than the substance of their views.

Brick said some left-wing figures labelled him a Netanyahu-supporting right-winger after he criticized recent army chiefs, while right-wing figures called him left-wing after he blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other political leaders for the current situation. He also said members of the Haredi community insulted him after he criticized their group. Brick warned that continued internal conflict could further weaken social stability and increase the risk of national decline.

The High Court will not deliver its verdict today on the death reference and appeal of Hitu Sheikh, the main accused in the widely discussed rape and murder case involving child Achia in Magura. On Tuesday morning, the court postponed the verdict to August 31 following an application by the prosecution.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice K M Rasheduzzaman Raja had set the matter for judgment after a hearing on Monday, August 24. State-appointed lawyer Hafizur Rahman Khan represented the accused, while Deputy Attorney General Imam Hossain Tarek appeared for the state.

The eight-year-old child was allegedly raped after visiting her sister’s home in the Nijnanduali area of Magura town on the night of March 5 last year. The sister’s father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, was accused of rape and an attempted killing. The child later died while receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. Her mother filed a case against Hitu Sheikh and three others, and police later arrested all four accused.

National Citizen Party convenor and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam on Monday accused the BNP government of turning state institutions into “party clubs” within six months of taking power. Speaking at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he presented what the NCP described as failures in 13 sectors during the government’s first 180 days.

The NCP’s list included alleged economic mismanagement and an energy crisis, power shortages and record load-shedding, banking capture and market syndicates, pressure on opposition parties, interference with freedom of expression, and worsening law and order. It also cited alleged failures in medicine pricing policy, measles management, education, treatment and rehabilitation of people injured in July, as well as what it called a divided foreign policy.

Nahid said 19 to 20 universities had received party-aligned vice-chancellor appointments in the past six months. He also alleged that party-affiliated people were appointed administrators in 11 city corporations and 63 district councils, turning positions into rehabilitation centres for unsuccessful nominees and defeated candidates. He said 830 incidents of political violence occurred in the period, alleging BNP involvement in 670, and said NCP activists were attacked in several locations.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Monday granted bail to Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case alleging assault, death threats and forced resignation of a Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited official. Magistrate Mahbub Alam ordered bail on a Tk500 bond, according to defence lawyer Md Sajibul Islam.

Former BIFFL chief executive SM Formanul Islam filed the case at a metropolitan magistrate’s court on September 15, 2024. The Police Bureau of Investigation investigated the matter and accused six people, including former Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rouf Talukder and former National Board of Revenue chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem. The source also says 12 people were named in the case.

The complaint alleges pressure on Formanul Islam to approve loans and investments for entities linked to Salman F Rahman, including about $185 million for the Teesta Solar project and Tk200 crore in zero-coupon bonds. It alleges he was assaulted during BIFFL’s 80th board meeting on July 28, 2019, and forced to sign a resignation letter. Five accused are on bail, while Sajjad Hossain is absconding.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered a review of the possibility of relaunching a universal stipend programme for girls from class six through undergraduate level. The directive was issued at a Monday meeting on the Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division Secretariat. He called for a clear proposal assessing likely costs, beneficiary numbers, implementation methods, and expected social and educational effects.

Officials briefed the prime minister on the trust’s ongoing work, goals and role in preventing student dropouts through financial assistance. The meeting also discussed the impact of a universal stipend programme for girls introduced during former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s tenure. Participants noted its positive role in increasing girls’ school attendance, helping them continue education and discouraging child marriage.

The meeting also considered merit- and eligibility-based stipends to encourage boys’ education. Participants discussed student nutrition and health protection, including school mid-day meal management, nutritional value and safe food preparation and delivery. The prime minister directed that food supplied to students be nutritious, safe and of good quality, with no compromise on standards. He also ordered pilot projects for two alternative mid-day meal approaches in separate districts.

Police detained 12 suspected drug users during separate raids in Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday night. Officers said the detainees were found with equipment used for consuming yaba, a synthetic drug. The operations were conducted at different locations in the upazila.

According to police sources, three people were first detained at around 8:30pm while allegedly preparing to use drugs on the western side of Bottoli Transport Field. In another operation at about 9pm, police detained nine more people allegedly using drugs in two rooms on the ground floor of Chenowara Plaza Hotel near Bottoli Bazar.

The detainees are residents of different areas in Islamapur and Islamabad unions of the upazila. Eidgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge ATM Sifat-ul-Majdar said cases had been filed against the detained individuals under the Narcotics Control Act. He said they were sent to court following the filing of the cases.

A delegation from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) said it was attacked while visiting a government school allegedly operating in a cowshed in Rampura Kanwarpura village, Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 21. Led by joint convenor Ashutosh Ranka, the group was conducting an inspection under its “Fix Schools” campaign, which examines conditions and shortages at government schools across India.

CJP alleged that its vehicle was stopped before entering the village and that residents later blocked members walking toward the school. The party said stones and bricks were thrown and sticks were used during clashes, leaving several people injured. It alleged that representative Sanju Verma suffered a broken hand, Salman was seriously injured and hospitalised, and Rekha Sharma was attacked with dust thrown into her eyes.

Police registered a case against CJP representatives following a complaint by villager Bhagwan Sahay Dhanka. He alleged that Ranka arrived with 50 to 60 people on Friday morning, abused residents and women, initiated violence, and made casteist remarks. CJP also filed a counter-complaint, on which police registered another FIR.

Bangladesh has brought halal product standard-setting, halal standards and certification under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, with the Islamic Foundation responsible for the work. The Cabinet Division issued a notification amending the Rules of Business, 1996, the Islamic Foundation said in a press release on Monday.

Under the amended rules, a new responsibility has been added under “Ministry of Religious Affairs” in Schedule 1, which distributes duties among ministries and divisions. The new item, placed after existing item 22 as item 23, covers matters relating to halal standards and certification. Relevant government agencies and institutions will provide necessary coordination and support.

The Islamic Foundation will handle the formulation and implementation of halal standards, product standards and certification matters under the ministry’s mandate. The foundation has long been involved in halal certification for domestic producers and export-oriented firms. The release said the decision is expected to strengthen policy coordination, improve institutional capacity, support transparency in certification, build consumer confidence and facilitate wider Bangladeshi participation in the international halal market.

A newborn died during a normal delivery attempt at Daulatkhan উপজেলা Hospital in Bhola on Sunday night, with the family alleging that senior staff nurse Nusrat pulled the baby during delivery. The mother, Tanzila Begum, wife of Rubel from Basaruddin Bari in Char Khalifa Union, was admitted after developing labour pains on Sunday afternoon.

Relatives said part of the baby’s body emerged but the remaining part could not be delivered, and the child died shortly after being pulled out. They alleged the mother was sent to the delivery room without proper examination or a new ultrasonography test, and they protested at the hospital demanding a fair investigation and justice.

Residential Medical Officer Dr Ariful Islam said an ultrasound report from three weeks earlier indicated that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the newborn’s neck during delivery. He said an ultrasound during labour could have clarified the baby’s condition. Emergency doctor Dr Imtiaz said he did not order another ultrasound because the mother had a report from three to four weeks earlier. Health official Dr Anisur Rahman said action would follow an investigation if the family submits a written complaint.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said Cox’s Bazar International Airport will be formally inaugurated in October this year. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will open the airport. The minister made the announcement on Monday, 24 August, during a courtesy meeting with members of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh at the Secretariat.

Millat said work to transform Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport is progressing. Bangladesh Biman Airlines and various international carriers are expected to operate flights from the airport after its inauguration. He said several foreign airlines have already expressed interest in operating flights from Cox’s Bazar.

The ministry has initiated efforts to launch direct international flights from Cox’s Bazar through communication and coordination with international airlines. Required agreements and memorandums of understanding are being processed. Separately, Millat said preparations are underway to open the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in December, with a contract with a Japanese consortium expected to be signed in September.

A court in Moulvibazar sentenced Sharif Ali to death for killing his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Runa Begum, in Kamalganj. Additional District and Sessions Judge Second Court Judge Md Anwarul Haque delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon, finding him guilty of deliberately cutting the sleeping child’s throat.

Court sources said the killing took place on February 10, 2014, in Purba Bhanubil village of the upazila. Sharif Ali allegedly killed his daughter in an attempt to frame his cousin, Salek Mia. The child’s mother, Nekjan Bibi, filed a murder case against her husband as the sole accused at Kamalganj police station.

Sharif Ali later gave a confession before the court, according to the report. Along with the death sentence, the court imposed a fine of Tk 50,000. After the verdict was announced, the accused was sent to prison through the court. Public Prosecutor Advocate Tofayel Ahmad expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy sharply criticized Washington’s newly announced “D-Day” sanctions on Iran, describing them as a desperate and performative attempt by the Trump administration to conceal what he called America’s severe failure in the military conflict with Tehran. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Murphy said Iran was winning the war while Trump was losing, with ordinary Americans paying the price.

Murphy said Iran did not have complete control of the Strait of Hormuz before the war, but now holds full control over the strategically important waterway. He also said Tehran had kept 30 of 33 missile bases near the strait intact, while the United States had used up nearly all of its weapons stockpile.

According to Murphy, Iran now holds the main bargaining advantage on the battlefield, meaning the new sanctions would not alter Tehran’s policy position. He questioned the scope for further US restrictions, saying Washington had already sanctioned virtually everything possible in Iran. Murphy said the conflict was largely nearing its end and characterized current US policy as a show intended to hide failure.

Bangladesh faced severe nationwide gas and electricity shortages on Monday, with supply disruptions affecting households, transport and industry. The report attributes pressure on liquefied natural gas imports to the US-Iran war, which it says has nearly doubled global LNG prices and made suppliers difficult to secure. Petrobangla data showed gas supply of 2,400 to 2,600 million cubic feet against demand of 4,000 million cubic feet, leaving a shortfall of up to 1,500 million cubic feet.

The gas deficit curtailed electricity generation, industrial output and CNG sales. Gas-based factories reportedly had 70 percent of their production capacity unused, while garment-sector output fell by 30 to 35 percent. Power supply reached 14,300 megawatts against peak demand of about 16,200 to 16,500 megawatts, requiring 2,000 to 2,200 megawatts of load shedding. Rural areas in some cases received only 40 to 50 percent of required power.

The government approved purchases of two LNG cargoes for September from South Korea and the United Kingdom at more than $24 per MMBtu. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said resolving the gas and power crisis would take another two years.

Haji Md. Siddiqur Rahman High School in Matlab North, Chandpur, held a parents’ assembly and distributed saplings among students. The programme was organised to ensure regular school attendance, improve educational standards and build environmental awareness. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmuda Kulsum Moni attended as chief guest, while Upazila Academic Supervisor Md. Saiful Islam was the special guest. Mia Manjur Amin Swapan, president of the school’s ad hoc committee, chaired the event.

Speakers said a school’s success depends on regular student attendance, quality teaching and shared responsibility among teachers, parents and students. They stressed that families and schools must work together to encourage students to attend classes regularly and take interest in learning. Mahmuda Kulsum Moni urged students to attend school regularly and study attentively, and called on parents to monitor their children’s education and moral and social development.

Former student engineer Md. Julhas pledged support for improving education, increasing attendance and expanding technology-based learning. Participants also received guidance on preventing dropouts, increasing parental involvement and developing the institution as modern and student-friendly. Speakers said students should care for the distributed saplings to strengthen environmental awareness and responsibility.