The National Citizens Party (NCP) has said it is not leaving the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance formed ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. In a report published on August 4, several senior NCP leaders said joint alliance programmes and regular meetings remain under way, and neither the alliance nor the party has discussed an exit. Jamaat and NCP both dismissed reports of an NCP departure as false rumours and fabricated propaganda.

The two parties said efforts were being made to create confusion and divisions while the alliance is conducting street-based movements over implementation of the July Charter, state reform and trials for killings. Alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad said NCP convener Nahid Islam had conveyed the same position to him. NCP leaders said the party wants to strengthen its own organisation while remaining in the alliance, including through July march programmes across the country down to the upazila level.

At a liaison committee meeting last Thursday at the opposition leader’s residence on Minto Road, the alliance decided to hold a major rally in Paltan on August 5 and announce further political programmes there. Discussions also continue over local government elections, with possible alliance-level accommodation still under consideration despite separate city corporation candidates.

A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced six young men to life imprisonment for the gang rape of two young women in the Shubhadya area of South Keraniganj four years ago. Judge Munshi Md. Moshiar Rahman of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4 delivered the verdict on Tuesday, August 4. State lawyer Md. Ershad Alam, known as George, confirmed the ruling.

The court also fined each convict Tk 100,000. It directed the Dhaka district magistrate to recover the fines by selling the convicts' movable and immovable property and provide the money to the victims' families. The convicted men are Rahul, Md. Diamond, Afsar Uddin Anim, Parvez Haque Palash, Minhaj alias Minhaj Abedin, and Minhaj alias Babu alias Minhaj Babu.

According to the case allegations, the women and friends had gone out for a birthday celebration on June 25, 2022. While seeking an autorickshaw after dining at Pankouri Restaurant, the accused allegedly blocked their way, assaulted them, and took them to a dark field at Rataner Khamar. Police later rescued the women. One victim's father filed the case on June 29, and the tribunal heard testimony from 12 witnesses.

The government will take legal action in line with a court directive if any media outlet broadcasts statements by ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister’s information adviser Dr. Jahed Ur Rahman said. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he urged media organisations to comply with the court order and said the government would take necessary steps if it was violated.

Rahman said the government had previously warned the media on the issue. He said announcing in advance that Hasina’s statements would be published or broadcast would amount to disobeying the court order. Compliance with court directives is a constitutional duty for individuals and institutions, he said, while ensuring implementation of court decisions is the government’s responsibility. He added that, personally, he would not favour blocking her statements without a court restriction.

On Hasina’s recent announcement about returning to the country, Rahman said the government wants to bring her back and has sought her extradition from India. He said she is currently a death-sentenced accused and would be arrested if she returned, while being guaranteed legal rights including self-defence and appointing a lawyer. The government would accept the court’s final verdict, he said.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman urged citizens to submit detailed written complaints to relevant authorities rather than make broad allegations over excessive electricity and fuel bills. He made the appeal at a weekly briefing held Tuesday afternoon at the Department of Information conference room in the Secretariat. He said people with concerns about overbilling should first notify the nearest relevant authority in writing.

Rahman said complainants should also report specifically if an authority refuses to accept their submission or if they do not receive redress. He said similar complaints had been received previously, verified, and followed by necessary action. He stressed that citizens should clearly identify where a problem occurred and what type of problem they experienced.

The adviser said he had discussed the issue with the energy minister and that the Energy Ministry was interested in examining overbilling complaints seriously. He added that people may inform the authorities if they fail to lodge a complaint or if the relevant office declines to receive it. Rahman expressed hope that specific complaints would be verified and addressed through necessary measures.

The government has again warned media outlets to refrain from publishing news, statements or promotional material concerning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, described in the report as being in India. At a regular briefing at the Information Department conference room in the Secretariat on August 4, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said a court injunction bars promotional reporting about her. He said appropriate action would be taken if the restriction is violated.

Asked about reports that Hasina may deliver a speech on August 5, described as the date of the government’s fall and her departure, Zahed said newspapers had previously been instructed on broadcasting her statements. He said publishing reports that she would speak, or publicizing such a speech, would violate the court ruling and prompt government action.

Zahed said the government is not a court and is responsible for implementing court orders. He said anyone who believes blocking the broadcast of Hasina’s statements is wrong may challenge the ruling in court. Otherwise, he said, all institutions and individuals have a duty to comply with the order.

Chattogram Development Authority is preparing a new 25-year masterplan after about 80 percent of the city’s two previous plans remained unimplemented, according to the report published on August 4, 2026. CDA said 87 percent of work on the project had been completed. The proposal would combine the city’s 41 wards with five municipalities, two upazilas and parts of six other upazilas.

The 1961 and 1995 plans called for protecting hills, farmland, water bodies and green areas, while building roads, bus terminals and railway overbridges. Research and environmental groups cited in the report say about 120 hills have disappeared over three decades and 23,000 ponds have been lost in the past two decades. At least 500 buildings have been constructed over canals, the report said.

The plan is budgeted at Tk35.88 crore and proposes 276 projects across 19 sectors. It includes conservation of hills, water bodies and the Karnaphuli River, alongside a “One City Two Town” concept to reduce pressure on the city. Urban experts called for legal reforms, increased CDA staffing and coordination among agencies. CDA Chairman Belayet Hossain said all would be required to follow building laws and agencies would work in coordination.

Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Saudi Aramco reported a 44% rise in profit in the second quarter of the year despite instability in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. In the three months from April to June, Aramco recorded net profit of $32.69 billion, according to information published on August 4. Higher prices for crude oil, refined fuels and chemical products played a major role in the profit increase.

Saudi Arabia’s oil-sector activity, however, declined during the same period. Official statistics showed the country’s oil-sector activity fell 24.7% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product declined 4.8% in the second quarter.

The profit disclosure came as oil production and transport were being disrupted after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the Gulf region was attacked. Yemen’s Houthi group also declared a blockade against Saudi Arabia in Bab al-Mandab, creating limits on use of the Saudi east-west pipeline extending to the Red Sea. Instability along both waterways has added pressure to global energy supplies.

Four RCC girder bridges have been built within about 200 yards in Naljuri village of Soair Union, on the Mohanganj-to-Adarsha Nagar road in Netrokona’s Mohanganj upazila. The bridges were constructed with World Bank and Bangladesh government funding under the LGED Program for Supporting Rural Bridges, SupRB. The report says there is no opportunity for water to pass beneath the structures. Nameplates show each bridge is 20 metres long, while work on three was completed in January-February 2024.

According to the nameplates, the contract value of three bridges totals about Tk7.58 crore. Including the estimated cost of the fourth bridge, total spending is about Tk8.58 crore. A site visit found approach roads on both sides but no river, canal or drain underneath; the areas remained dry even during the monsoon. Soil from a diversion or bypass road built during construction had also not been removed after two years.

LGED engineer Ikramul Haque said the bridges were built during the previous government and that he joined Mohanganj in 2025. Panel chairman Sohel Mia called for canal excavation, while ward member Swapan Mia said only one bridge carries some water during monsoon. Residents have demanded a prompt investigation, action against those responsible and proper use of public funds.

India is preparing to invest about 45,000 crore rupees, or roughly $4.7 billion, in rail infrastructure near its borders with China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The programme aims to strengthen connectivity in strategically important areas, according to a report published on August 3, 2026. Bloomberg, citing multiple sources, said the funds would be spent in phases over the next 18 to 24 months.

The work is expected to include new rail lines, upgrades to existing routes and platform expansion in Punjab, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and other northeastern states. About 22% of India’s total rail infrastructure investment over the next two years could be earmarked for the border-focused programme. The network is intended to support passenger and freight movement and, when needed, transport troops and military equipment.

The report cited regional security conditions as an important factor behind the plan. India aims to build a modern, all-weather rail network in the Himalayan region, the Siliguri Corridor and the northeast to reduce troop deployment times and improve supply reliability. The initiative follows earlier road, rail and other infrastructure projects in border areas.

US President Donald Trump said he prefers a diplomatic agreement with Iran over military conflict amid continuing tensions in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on August 3, 2026, Trump said he wanted to make a deal and did not want people to be killed. He said mediated talks with Iran were expected to begin Monday.

Trump declined to set a deadline for the negotiations, saying the United States was prepared to act whenever necessary but that an agreement remained his preference. He argued that talks were more effective than war and could avoid unnecessary loss of life. Trump also claimed the United States had been prepared for a major military operation that could have been among the largest attacks since World War II, with severe consequences for Iran.

According to Trump, the potential operation was temporarily suspended after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran indicated a possibility of talks. He said a possible agreement would focus on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and making progress on Iran's nuclear program. The White House Rapid Response account posted video of his remarks, highlighting his preference for a deal while maintaining readiness for military action.

Myanmar’s military junta has allowed representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, to meet ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the government. Spokesperson Khain Soe said Suu Kyi recently met an ICRC delegation led by Arnaud de Baecque in the administrative capital Naypyidaw. The report described this as the first publicly disclosed meeting between Suu Kyi and foreign officials since the 2021 military coup.

An ICRC-released photograph showed the detained Nobel laureate cutting a cake, reportedly for her 81st birthday. The cake carried the message, “Happy Birthday Aunty Su.” AFP said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the images, although AI-based analysis found no clear evidence of editing. AFP also contacted the ICRC for comment on the published photographs.

Suu Kyi has been imprisoned for several years, prompting concerns in Myanmar and abroad about her health. An unnamed senior leader of her National League for Democracy said that, if genuine, the images would at least confirm that she is alive. The leader called for her immediate release and described her detention as illegal. Suu Kyi’s supporters affectionately refer to her as “Aunty Su.”

Iran and Kuwait’s long-standing diplomatic relationship has entered a new period of tension over US military bases and regional security, according to a report published on August 3, 2026. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on social media that Kuwait was “part of the fire of evil forces,” as US bases in Kuwait became targets of Iranian missile strikes. He said Iran had pursued a neighborly policy but Kuwait had not repaid its assistance.

Kuwait’s government said the United States had not launched any military operation against Iran from Kuwaiti territory. Its Defence Ministry described Iran’s attacks as “criminal aggression.” The report traces earlier strains to the Iran-Iraq war beginning in 1980, when Kuwait provided Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with major financial loans, logistical support and port access.

Relations improved after Iraq occupied Kuwait in 1990, when Iran sheltered refugees and sent 47 engineers and oil specialists who helped control 28 burning oil wells. Kuwait now hosts five of the 19 US military bases in the Middle East, with about 13,500 American troops stationed there. Kuwait has also approved a five-year defence agreement with Pakistan covering military training, intelligence sharing and technical cooperation.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, with South Korea could take bilateral economic relations to a new level. Speaking at a dinner in Dhaka’s Hotel Sonargaon on 3 August in honor of South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, he said the proposed deal would serve not only as a bilateral trade agreement but also as a strong foundation for a long-term economic alliance.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and ERD Secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky attended the event, while Commerce Ministry Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan delivered welcome remarks. Muqtadir praised South Korea’s economic progress and expressed hope for a lasting trade and investment partnership. He said ties that began with development cooperation have expanded into trade, investment, industrialization, innovation and shared prosperity.

Yeo said Bangladesh’s economy, industrial base and large market offer significant potential for expanded trade and investment. Citing his work experience in Chattogram, he said he had prioritized concluding negotiations quickly. He said the agreement would create a stable, predictable legal framework. Muqtadir said he expects formal signing after remaining legal and procedural steps are completed.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has urged people not to spread misleading information or propaganda over allegations of excessive electricity bills. In a notice issued on August 3, the division said it and the relevant distribution companies had already resolved the complaints received about excess billing.

The division said some individuals or groups had recently been conducting propaganda centred on complaints of excessive electricity bills. It strongly protested against such campaigning and asserted that there was currently no scope for confusion on the issue.

Customers who still have complaints regarding excessive electricity bills were asked to apply to the relevant authority with necessary supporting documents. The notice said such applications would be verified and necessary action would be taken. The Power Division also requested all concerned to behave responsibly in relation to the matter.

Bangladesh Bank has abolished the TT discounting facility previously available to scheduled banks for short-term liquidity or cash collection. The central bank issued a directive on August 3, and said the decision will be considered effective from July 1 this year. Banks will no longer be able to obtain the facility by placing a lien on balances held in their current accounts with Bangladesh Bank.

The facility had been available to scheduled banks since 1994. Under the earlier rules, banks were required to keep an amount equivalent to 20 percent of their approved limit as a lien in their current accounts at the central bank. Those liened funds were not included in the calculation of statutory cash reserves, or CRR.

Bangladesh Bank said several modern mechanisms now meet banks' daily liquidity needs, including the call money market, repo, the Standing Liquidity Facility and interbank borrowing. Use of TT discounting has fallen to nearly zero in recent years. Yet the lien remained against approved limits even when the facility was unused, preventing the funds from being counted as CRR and creating unnecessary pressure in regulatory ratio management.