Multiple officials of the International Crimes Tribunal told Amar Desh on Sunday that dismissed army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan and actor Rokeya Prachy, a former Awami League lawmaker, were involved in the killings of journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. The pair were killed at their rented home in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, on February 11, 2012.

According to prosecution sources, Sagar and Runi had produced a documentary on the BDR killings in Pilkhana before their deaths. The sources alleged that Ahsan and Prachy killed them before its release and seized the material. An official involved in inquiry work said investigators found Ahsan, then head of RAB's intelligence branch, spoke with Prachy more than 20 times around the killing.

Investigators reportedly found that two days after the killings, Ahsan sent a trusted aide to collect two pen drives from Prachy containing the documentary. Tribunal prosecutors questioned the aide, who reportedly described the events. A four-member task force led by the PBI chief is now investigating the case after the High Court removed RAB in September 2024. The court last granted the task force another six months on April 26, 2026.

Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said he does not want parliament to return to its “dark history,” citing past incidents including the beating death of a speaker, the killing of Deputy Speaker Shahid Ali and shoe-throwing. He made the remarks on Sunday in the Jatiya Sangsad during discussion on the formation and reconstitution of standing committees.

His comments came amid exchanges between government and opposition members over the distribution of chairmanships of parliamentary standing committees. Taher said the opposition was entitled to 26 percent of committee memberships in line with its number of lawmakers and had expected the same 26 percent share of committee chairmanships. He said no opposition member had yet been made chair of any ministry-related parliamentary standing committee.

Referring to a phone conversation with the chief whip, Taher denied any agreement that the opposition would receive chairmanships if it joined the constitutional amendment committee. He said his party had made a policy decision not to participate in that committee and opposed imposing conditions or pressure to make it join. He said the prime minister had described it as the people’s parliament and that the opposition’s fair rights should be ensured in a parliament opposed to discrimination.

Bangladesh’s parliament saw a dispute on Sunday over opposition participation in a special committee on constitutional amendment and the allocation of chairmanships of parliamentary standing committees. The governing side said the opposition would not receive committee chairmanships unless it nominated members to the constitutional amendment committee. The opposition reiterated that it would not join the committee and demanded chairmanships in proportion to its parliamentary seats under the July Charter.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam said the opposition had appeared willing to join the constitutional committee after discussions with opposition deputy leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. Taher denied that account, saying the two issues should not be linked. He said the opposition had received members’ positions proportionate to its numbers but had not been given ministry-related committee chairmanships, apart from one parliament-related committee.

Following the disagreement, no new ministry-related parliamentary committees were formed as scheduled, though several committees were reconstituted. Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal urged both sides to work together in the national interest and proposed closed-door talks between senior leaders to resolve differences.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue has transferred 36 additional tax commissioners from the BCS Tax cadre and assigned them to new workplaces. The Internal Resources Division’s Tax Administration-1 branch issued the notification on Sunday, signed by First Secretary Wakil Ahmad. The transfers cover tax zones, tax appeal regions, the Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit, the Tax Inspection Directorate and other offices.

The order says any existing additional charge held at the offices receiving the transferred officials will be treated as cancelled. The officers have been instructed to hand over their previous responsibilities and join their new workplaces immediately. Among the changes, Deepak Kumar Chakraborty moved between appeal ranges in Chattogram, while Mohammad Abdullah was shifted from the Tax Inspection Directorate to Dhaka Tax Zone-11.

Other postings include Ivana Afroze Sayeed as additional director general at the Tax Inspection Directorate, Farhana Sheikh at the Withholding Tax Management Unit, and Md Enamul Kabir as director of the Dhaka BCS Tax Academy. Transfers also include officials to tax offices in Dhaka, Chattogram, Jashore, Narayanganj, Rangpur, Cumilla, Noakhali, Pabna and other locations.

The Shaheed Abu Sayeed Memorial Community Library has been inaugurated in Jafarpur area of Pirganj, Rangpur, with the stated aim of building a knowledge-based and aware society inspired by the patriotism and sacrifice of Shaheed Abu Sayeed during the July mass uprising. The newly built library was opened on Sunday afternoon.

Former education and commerce adviser and PPRC Executive Chairman Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman attended as chief guest and inaugurated the facility. Shaheed Abu Sayeed’s father, Md Makbul Hossain, chaired the event. Dr Rahman said such libraries are needed to keep young people away from drugs and involve them in the pursuit of knowledge.

He said libraries in remote areas would expand students’ opportunities to read books and help create an aware generation. Library director Ruhul Amin said the initiative aims to sustain library activities in the remote area so students can study there during their leisure time. Local dignitaries, students from educational institutions and people from different professions attended the programme.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member and Dhaka North amir Mohammad Selim Uddin said his party would not allow even a single vote to be rigged in any future election. Speaking as chief guest at a civic gathering organised by Mohammadpur East Thana Jamaat on Saturday at the Lyceum Conference Centre in Lalmatia, Mohammadpur, he said the party would work to protect voters’ rights.

Selim Uddin urged all concerned to remain alert during local government elections and play a responsible role in ensuring voters can cast ballots freely. Referring to past elections, he claimed Jamaat had won 168 seats but that results were changed through “election engineering.” He also claimed remarks by former adviser Rezwana Chowdhury had substantiated the matter.

At the event, Dhaka North Jamaat secretary Dr Rezaul Karim said the current government had rejected implementation of the July Charter. He said people would implement the charter letter by letter in upcoming local elections. Karim added that relatives of July’s martyrs seek social change and said the nation would not forgive attempts to establish what he described as neo-fascism.

Bangladesh Bank has created a Tk 20 billion pre-financing fund for the export-oriented frozen food sector, according to a circular issued on Sunday. Funded from the central bank’s own resources, the three-year revolving facility aims to diversify exports, increase foreign-currency earnings, create employment and expand rural economic activity. The maximum interest rate for borrowers will be 7 percent.

The fund can finance processing and export-related activities involving frozen shrimp, fish and fish products, as well as other frozen foods. Eligible uses include buying raw materials, expanding and modernising factories, purchasing machinery, building cold storage facilities and restarting closed or partially operating factories. Financing is also available for solar power projects used in production, processing and storage, and for environmental damage mitigation.

Participating banks will pay 4 percent interest on pre-financing received from Bangladesh Bank before lending to customers at up to 7 percent. New factories may receive loans for up to seven years, including a one-year grace period, while renovation and modernisation loans may run for up to five years. Exporters with closed or partly closed operations due to working-capital shortages will receive priority, but defaulters and firms using similar ongoing public funds are excluded.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir has been assigned expanded responsibilities, including assisting Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman in all matters during the minister’s absence. The Foreign Ministry announced the arrangement in a circular issued on Sunday. Kabir will take on the additional role while Khalilur Rahman spends extended periods abroad as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The circular said Kabir’s added duties are beyond the specific responsibilities assigned to the two state ministers under the Rules of Business, 1996. Khalilur Rahman became foreign minister after the BNP formed the government in February this year. On June 2, he was elected president of the 81st UN General Assembly session by secret ballot at UN headquarters, defeating Cyprus candidate Andreas S. Kakouris by 99 votes to 91.

Khalilur Rahman will serve in the UN role for one year from September 8 and is expected to stay for lengthy periods in New York and other countries. Humayun Kabir was appointed a technocrat state minister for foreign affairs in the August 21 cabinet reshuffle, while Shama Obaid Islam retained her post. A later circular designated Kabir as State Minister-1 and Islam as State Minister-2.

Speakers at a merit student reception in the Pirgacha উপজেলা পরিষদ auditorium on Saturday urged students to combine strong academic results with honesty, ethics, human values and patriotism. The event was organised by the Pirgacha উপজেলা branch of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, where participants called on award-winning students to use their talent and qualifications for the welfare of the country and society.

Chief guest উপজেলা Jamaat amir Bazlur Rashid Mukul said students should devote their distinctive abilities to the future welfare of Bangladesh and develop into competent, responsible citizens. Jaksu executive member Abdullah Al Faruk stressed proper recognition of students’ abilities and their use in serving people. Rangpur district Chhatra Shibir president Hamidur Rahman said academic success alone was insufficient without honesty, morality and humane qualities.

Begum Rokeya University branch president Abdur Rakib Murad wished the students well in university life and encouraged them to contribute to state and social development through higher education. The reception presented honours to meritorious students. Pirgacha Sadar police station Chhatra Shibir president Rabiul Islam chaired the programme, which was attended by leaders and activists from different levels of the organisation and others concerned.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi cancelled a planned seminar featuring several leaders of Bangladesh’s banned Awami League after Delhi Police refused permission at the last moment. In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the club said the event could not proceed because police had declined to authorize it. The club had previously promoted the seminar on its X account, including a leaflet detailing the topic and proposed speakers.

Scheduled speakers included Selim Mahmud, the Awami League’s information and research secretary, along with human rights activists, researchers and former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri. FCC general secretary Prakash Nanda said police told organizers that permission was unavailable but declined to explain why the event had been stopped. Delhi Police made no formal statement on the matter.

A senior Delhi Police officer said police can cancel any event if there is concern that an unpleasant situation may arise. Attempts to obtain comments from multiple Awami League leaders were unsuccessful. Earlier this month, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, addressed another FCC seminar virtually, prompting an angry reaction from Dhaka and tensions between the two countries, according to the report.

Food Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said the government is working to dismantle warehouse syndicates and ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive the benefits of public food programmes. She made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after an unannounced inspection of the Beutha campus of Manikganj Sadar Local Storage Depot and Saturia Local Storage Depot in Saturia upazila.

During the visit, the minister inspected stocks of paddy, rice, wheat and flour, along with storage arrangements and grain quality. She discussed overall warehouse management and safe storage measures with relevant officials. Rita said her first priority was verifying that depots hold adequate food stocks and that stored grain remains safe and of acceptable quality.

She said the Manikganj Sadar and Saturia depots had sufficient stocks, with satisfactory quality of stored paddy, wheat and flour. Similar reserves exist in other districts, she said, adding that every district currently has adequate food supplies and no food shortage. She warned that legal action would be taken over irregularities, mismanagement or quality problems, citing action already taken after irregularities were found at a food depot in Ghior, Manikganj.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday sought cooperation from all political parties to implement the July National Charter, speaking during a session of the national parliament. He also urged opposition parties to join the constitutional amendment committee and present their views and proposals through that forum.

Addressing opposition members, Ahmed said cooperation could not mean setting prior conditions that all demands must be met while declining to participate in the committee. He said the committee would record their statements and include all of their views in its report, allowing the nation to know their positions.

The minister described the constitutional amendment process as open, saying members could disagree on some issues and reach consensus on others. He said any proposal to add a new matter to the constitution would be considered seriously. Ahmed said the government would welcome opposition participation whenever it occurs, and ended his remarks by joking that he hoped he had not caused opposition members any distress.

Hasinur Rahman Bir Pratik, joint convener of the National Committee for Observance of the International Day Against Enforced Disappearances, strongly criticised the enacted law on disappearances at a brief gathering on Sunday afternoon. The event followed the submission of a memorandum to the Speaker at the National Parliament Building. He said the law was so flawed that even the home minister’s wife would be unable to prove that her husband had been forcibly disappeared.

Speaking to journalists after delivering the memorandum, Rahman said the delegation had approached the Speaker with high expectations and presented all of its points. According to him, the Speaker did not disagree with their concerns and assured them that he would make every possible effort on the matter. Rahman said the group did not want what he described as a defective law.

He said the group’s patience had limits and urged citizens to make all planned programmes successful in the interest of the country and its people, including a long march scheduled for the 5th. Representatives of several political parties and organisations were present at the gathering.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said on Sunday that isolated enforced disappearance cases from the Awami League’s roughly 15-year rule will be tried in criminal courts, not at the tribunal. Speaking to journalists at his office, he said the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act-2026 classifies individual disappearance incidents as criminal offences subject to the relevant courts.

He said the tribunal can hear disappearance cases as crimes against humanity only when multiple incidents were committed on a widespread and systematic basis. Islam said the cases involving Ilias Ali and current Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed were being treated as part of such a pattern. By contrast, individual cases involving people taken into police custody and later charged cannot be brought under the widespread category, he said.

Islam also said multiple crossfire killings during the same period could be tried by the tribunal if they were widespread and systematically planned. He cited the case of Councillor Ekram as an example already brought before the tribunal. He added that proceedings in the Ziaul Hasan disappearance case were nearing completion, while testimony from more than five witnesses had been recorded in the cases involving Barrister Arman and Brigadier Azmi. A combined investigation is also underway into 250 missing victims.

Bangladesh’s Home Ministry has assigned three officers as new police superintendents in Narayanganj, Madaripur and Pirojpur, while transferring six others to various police units. The changes were issued in three separate notifications by the ministry’s Police-1 branch on Sunday. Deputy Secretary Tausif Ahmed signed the notifications by order of the President.

Madaripur Police Superintendent Md Habibur Rahman was posted as superintendent of police in Narayanganj. Police Bureau of Investigation Superintendent Md Fazle Elahi was assigned to Madaripur, while Dhaka Metropolitan Police officer Muhammad Talebur Rahman was posted to Pirojpur. Pirojpur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Manjur Ahmed Siddiqui was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department.

In other changes, Police Staff College Superintendent Shamima Yasmin was moved to TDS in Dhaka, DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin to the Police Training Centre in Noakhali, and Rashida Begum to the Police Staff College. Wahidul Haque Chowdhury was named additional DIG of Tourist Police, while Nazmul Hasan was transferred to Khulna Metropolitan Police as additional police commissioner.