Dhaka University honored 62 teachers and researchers whose Google Scholar profiles have received 2,000 or more citations, recognizing their research contributions and role in raising the university’s international visibility. The awards were presented on Thursday at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam attended the event as chief guest.

The ceremony was chaired by Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Professor Dr Abdus Salam, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Mojadded Al-Felchani and Treasurer Professor Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke as special guests. Honorees represented a wide range of disciplines, including science, engineering, health, social sciences, business, computing and fine arts. Professor Dr Md Anwarul Islam delivered introductory remarks and presented on the importance of citations in assessing research quality and international acceptance.

The vice-chancellor congratulated the recipients and called for a stronger researcher role in developing the university into a research-oriented institution and improving its international ranking. He said work is under way on a 20-year academic development plan, alongside proposed funds of Tk1,000 crore each for research and student welfare. He also highlighted efforts to strengthen industry-academia links, alumni networking and international research collaboration.

Cumilla-4 lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah questioned Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in parliament over whether he had restored law and order during the past six months. The exchange took place on Thursday afternoon, the opening day of the third session of the 13th National Parliament, during supplementary questions. Abdullah also asked whether the minister had played a sufficient role in establishing the rule of law and whether he had failed.

Abdullah said music events and boat races had been stopped in Brahmanbaria, despite the minister previously describing it as a cultural district. He said music performances and film screenings in the district were nearly halted, and cited figures on killings and injuries. Salahuddin replied that he could not tell whether the remarks were a question or a speech at Paltan, and said he did not know the basis for the statistics presented.

The minister said law and order had improved since the current government took office, claiming suspects in crimes were brought under the law within 24 to 48 hours. He cited the recent four killings in Rangpur among cases in which police and other forces quickly arrested accused persons. He said specific allegations could be debated in parliament with notice.

Recruitment agency associations from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar have raised concerns over Malaysia’s foreign worker recruitment system and called for equal opportunity, transparency and fair competition for all legally licensed agencies. The groups issued a joint statement on Thursday, urging Malaysia and relevant stakeholders to review the FWCMS recruitment system.

The statement was signed by representatives of Nepal’s Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Association and Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association. They said they support digitalisation, transparency, efficiency and responsible recruitment, but warned that no digital platform or system should enable syndication, monopoly or exclusive control over migrant worker recruitment.

The associations said thousands of agencies in sending countries are properly licensed and deserve equal, transparent and non-discriminatory access to legal recruitment. They warned that preferential access for a limited number of agencies could weaken fair competition, transparency and ethical recruitment, while potentially increasing costs and limiting choices for employers and migrant workers. They listed four demands, including open competitive distribution of recruitment opportunities and prioritising migrant workers’ rights and welfare. On August 21, FWCMS published a list of 25 agencies for recruiting workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said there is no clear evidence that Iran is rebuilding its nuclear facilities after US and Israeli attacks. Grossi made the remarks in an interview with the Argentine newspaper Clarin, according to Al Jazeera.

He said Iran’s nuclear facilities were severely damaged and that it could not be ruled out that some infrastructure reconstruction had begun. However, he said there was no clear evidence indicating that rebuilding was underway, leaving the matter a major unresolved issue.

Grossi said discussions over Tehran’s nuclear programme have stalled because of the war. He added that Iran’s roughly 440 kilograms, or 972 pounds, of highly enriched uranium remains where it was during last year’s 12-day war. The UN nuclear watchdog chief said the agency was ready and hoped to resume its work there as soon as possible.

National Parliament Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said he is somewhat concerned about the future of parliament, warning that continued violations of rules could prevent it from lasting long. He made the remarks at the opening of the third session of the 13th National Parliament on Thursday at 3pm, which he chaired.

The speaker said the tendency among members to obstruct one another while speaking during proceedings is not a good sign for parliament. He called for discipline and said democracy had been achieved after considerable hardship. According to him, every member of parliament has a responsibility to ensure that democracy remains in place.

Ahmed urged lawmakers to read the Rules of Procedure. He said that when the speaker instructs every member to sit in their assigned seats, disregarding or violating that rule and convention would mean parliament would not continue for long. He called on all members to follow the rules and thanked them.

President appointed Justice Md. Habibul Gani, a serving judge of the Supreme Court’s High Court Division, as a judge of the Appellate Division. The appointment was made under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, according to a notification issued Thursday by the Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

The notification said the appointment of Justice Md. Habibul Gani will take effect from the date of his oath-taking. He had been carrying out his duties as a judge of the High Court Division before being named to the Appellate Division.

With his appointment, the number of judges in the Appellate Division, including the chief justice, has risen to five. The source did not provide the date or venue for his oath-taking.

Basanta Raj Adhikari, director of Tribhuvan University’s Center for Disaster Studies in Nepal, has warned that second and third waves of flooding could strike today or tomorrow. He said the situation’s course remains uncertain and that researchers do not yet know how events will develop.

Adhikari said discussions are continuing with colleagues monitoring conditions in China. While there has not been heavy rainfall, he said landslides could occur. His team has been monitoring natural hazards in the Himalayan region for a long time.

The disaster studies director said climate change is genuinely occurring in the region. He added that researchers had been watching the situation, but could not determine the specific day on which such an event would happen.

Rescue teams in Nepal are facing major challenges after a devastating flash flood left people trapped under debris and stranded in remote areas. Many roads and bridges were destroyed, making overland access to affected communities difficult and forcing rescuers to rely on helicopters. Local survivor Janak Bahadur told Reuters that the floodwater arrived suddenly, “exploding like a bomb.”

Bahadur said the river had appeared small from a distance before water levels suddenly rose and the current swept through the entire area. Another flood victim said the loss of road connections had become the biggest problem. Debris has prevented access to many locations, leaving authorities unable to confirm how many people remain stranded or buried beneath rubble.

The powerful floodwaters damaged homes, roads, bridges and other structures across remote affected areas. Rescue workers said restoring communications and transport links, while delivering food, water and emergency assistance, is now urgent. They are also working against time to find anyone who may still be alive under the debris.

Bangladesh recorded 868 new dengue patients admitted to hospitals in the 24 hours from Wednesday 8am to Thursday 8am, with no deaths reported during the period. The figures were released on Thursday by the Health Directorate’s Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room in a dengue-related press statement.

Khulna reported the highest number of admissions, at 205, followed by Dhaka division outside the city corporations with 150. Barishal recorded 110 admissions, Chattogram 109, Dhaka South City Corporation 98, Rajshahi 73, Dhaka North City Corporation 68, Mymensingh 38 and Rangpur 17. During the same period, 865 dengue patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery.

In the first 27 days of the current month, 16,938 people have been infected and 34 have died. Since January, total dengue infections this year have reached 32,248 and deaths have totaled 88. Of those deaths, two occurred in January, two in February, one in May, 13 in June and 36 in July. Men account for 61.8 percent of reported patients and women for 38.2 percent.

Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin said preparations for local elections have been completed, with Union Parishad polls set to be held first. Speaking to journalists at the Election Building in Agargaon, the capital, on Thursday, he said the first phase will cover 371 unions.

The chief election commissioner said election preparations are planned for September, followed by the announcement of the schedule in November. Voting for the first phase is expected to take place in December.

Nasir Uddin also said the Election Commission will hold a meeting with the Local Government Ministry next week to discuss financial matters related to the elections. No further details on the voting timetable or the financial discussions were provided.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman criticized Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed over what he described as demeaning and dismissive remarks in parliament. Speaking on Thursday, the first day of the third session of the 13th National Parliament, Rahman said the minister had acted as though he would serve as a teacher to other lawmakers, adding that they had not come to parliament to become his students.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed chaired the sitting in which Rahman made the remarks. While expressing respect for the home minister, the opposition leader said this was not the first time he had used such language in the House.

Rahman said the home minister had been speaking dismissively to everyone since parliamentary sittings began. He also said it was difficult to understand what the minister considered himself to be. The source does not include a response from Salahuddin Ahmed or any further action regarding the criticism.

Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited the Government Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Thursday, meeting teachers, students and patients. The Dhaka-15 lawmaker said he would seek to raise the institution’s fundamental problems in parliament and stand with those pursuing their demands, while not promising to secure every demand.

Rahman said he had learned about many issues before the visit through two meetings with the college principal, then toured departments and heard concerns directly. He described the institution as neglected and overlooked, saying the government should resolve its problems if it considers the facility necessary. He also said Unani treatment was comparatively affordable and free from side effects.

He cited patients’ complaints that medicines were unavailable and called for a law on allocations for the institution. Rahman said patients visiting the hospital should receive proper attention under the government’s stated aim of healthcare for all. Addressing the lack of a voltage stabilizer for the college’s pathological machine, he said one would be delivered from his side on Saturday.

Flash floods are sudden, powerful surges of water that can rapidly move through gorges, valleys and other low, narrow areas. The article cites recent severe losses and more than 800 missing people in Nepal, while noting that such floods have also been reported in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Unlike slower river flooding after prolonged rain, flash floods can turn dry riverbeds into overflowing channels after only three to four hours of rainfall.

Heavy rain linked to thunderstorms is a main trigger, while rapid snow and ice melt, dam failures and landslides can also cause flash floods. Steep terrain and impermeable surfaces such as rock, roads and roofs accelerate runoff toward lower areas. The report says warmer air can hold more moisture, potentially increasing heavy rainfall, though scientists say it is still too early to determine climate change's role in Nepal's event.

Experts say flash floods can be forecast, but warning time is limited and data are scarce in remote mountain basins. Radar, satellites and automatic sensors can provide real-time information on lake levels and dam conditions. Nepalese specialists called for stronger international data systems, satellite monitoring in uninhabited risk zones and avoiding settlement in vulnerable areas.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police will implement extensive security arrangements for Janmashtami celebrations in the capital on September 4, according to Additional Police Commissioner and DB chief Md Shafiqul Islam. He made the announcement at a coordination meeting held Thursday at 11am in the DMP Headquarters conference room, focusing on security, law and order, and traffic management for the Hindu religious festival.

The plan includes picket and patrol teams, CCTV cameras, foot patrols, rooftop teams, Honda mobile units, DB teams, plainclothes intelligence personnel, SWAT, bomb disposal units and traffic police. Deputy commissioners in each division will hold separate coordination meetings with relevant Janmashtami celebration committees and maintain regular communication.

Participants agreed that celebrations should follow designated routes and finish within specified times. Organizers and participants were asked not to use loudspeakers or microphones during prayer and azan, appoint their own volunteers, avoid joining Rath Yatra processions with bags or bundles, and report suspicious people or objects to police. Volunteers on duty must wear designated vests, while authorities also urged caution around electrical lines to prevent accidents.

Nearly 100 Chinese citizens are missing after severe flash floods in Nepal, China’s Foreign Ministry said, as Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster-hit Gyirong Township in Tibet on Thursday. The flooding and landslides have affected areas on both sides of the Nepal-China border, with rescue operations continuing for missing people.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China is maintaining close contact with Nepal and assisting searches and rescues for those missing. He said China would also provide emergency assistance according to Nepal’s needs. In Gyirong County in Tibet, the number of missing people rose to 558, including 260 foreign nationals, according to CCTV.

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 826 people missing in the country and confirmed 289 deaths on the Nepal side of the border. Chinese authorities confirmed three deaths after a landslide struck an important land port linking China and Nepal on Wednesday. More than 300 villagers near Gyirong Port were moved to safer locations, while Beijing activated its highest Level-1 emergency response.