Independent Brahmanbaria-2 lawmaker Rumin Farhana sharply criticized Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku during Thursday’s parliamentary session. Speaking on inflation, law and order, and energy supplies, she said public conversations suggested that having 64 home ministers for the country’s 64 districts would not be a bad idea.

Farhana said discussions of law and order in parliament were difficult because, in her view, the home minister responded with sarcasm or wordplay. She also criticized the energy minister, referring to public complaints about rising oil prices, shortages of electricity and the unavailability of gas. She said the government’s stated progress had included controlling law and order, commodity prices and ensuring energy-sector security.

The lawmaker said people were uncomfortable with inflation and questioned employment prospects. She said the government had promised to create one crore new jobs, but claimed that 62,000 people had lost jobs after it took office and that more than 900 factories had closed. She also cited vegetable prices above Tk80, higher egg and miniket rice prices, and long queues for TCB goods.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Muslim countries should not allow their territories to be used for attacks on other Muslim states. He made the remarks on Thursday at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, in a speech broadcast live by Iranian state television.

Pezeshkian said defending Iran did not mean holding hostility toward Muslim countries or neighboring states. He said no Islamic country should permit its territory to be used for aggression against another Islamic country, and that no country should build its own security on the insecurity of its neighbors.

Referring to tensions with the United States, Pezeshkian said large-scale US and Israeli military attacks on Iran began while diplomatic efforts were under way to resolve differences between Tehran and Washington. He said renewed talks had started that month, but attacks followed, killing military commanders, officials, scientists, students, schoolchildren and civilians, while cities and infrastructure were targeted. Iran's IRNA said nearly 600 guests from 40 countries are attending the conference, which runs until Sunday.

The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) fined 13 buildings a total of Tk 4.1 million during a mobile court drive in the city’s Agrabad and Halishahar areas on Thursday, August 27. The operation targeted violations of building construction rules and the use of parking spaces for illegal commercial activities. Five buildings were sealed during the drive.

Special Metropolitan Magistrate and Joint District and Sessions Judge Hamimun Tanzin led the operation in the presence of CDA চেয়ারম্যান Engineer Md Belayet Hossain. On Agrabad Access Road, the superstore Utsab was fined Tk 800,000 and Swapno Tk 1.1 million. A restaurant named Safes Lounge was among establishments sealed for operating without parking arrangements, alongside other irregularities.

CDA sources said authorities also demolished illegal extended portions of three buildings and obtained written undertakings from owners. Belayet Hossain said failing to provide parking at large supermarkets and institutions was highly irresponsible, urging construction in line with approved designs to reduce public inconvenience and traffic congestion. CDA officials said such drives against illegal and non-compliant construction would continue.

The bodies of nine of the 16 Bangladeshi workers killed in a fire at a sofa factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday. They were transported on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-340 to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam formally received the bodies before they were handed to relatives.

Officials said the remaining seven victims could not be identified through fingerprint testing. Under CID supervision, DNA samples have been collected from their relatives, and efforts are continuing to bring the remaining bodies back to Bangladesh as quickly as possible. The Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry and the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board said they would provide maximum assistance to the victims’ families.

Seven of the nine identified victims were residents of Atrai upazila in Naogaon, while the other two were from Naldanga and Bagmara. Local authorities confirmed that the bodies were handed over to relatives in the afternoon. Funeral prayers for the seven Atrai victims are scheduled for Friday at Molla Azad Government College field. The fire occurred on August 9 in Riyadh’s Manfuha and Musa Sanaiya areas.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mohammad Rashedul Islam Rashed, elected from Sherpur-1, described August 4 as a painful day after the February 12 election. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, he alleged that activists of Chhatra Dal attacked Islami Chhatra Shibir activists at different campuses.

He made the remarks on the first day of the third session of the 13th National Parliament, chaired by Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Rashed said a similarly unwanted incident occurred at Dhaka College, where a lawyer was attacked.

According to the lawmaker, the lawyer completely lost vision in one eye and the condition of the other eye was critical. Rashed also said he was made the main or one of the principal accused in a case filed over the incident, despite not being present there. He said he had no involvement and was occupied with other work in another area at the time.

Bangladesh Open University has published the results of its 2026 Secondary School Certificate examinations, reporting an overall pass rate of 63.74 percent. The results were released on Thursday afternoon. A total of 30,816 students took part in the first- and second-year examinations, while 12,024 sat for the final examination.

Of the final-examination candidates, 7,664 passed, according to a notice signed by acting Controller of Examinations Md Habibullah Mahamud. The successful candidates included 4,725 male students and 2,939 female students. The result announcement programme was broadcast live on the university’s Facebook page.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan said the university is working to ensure a fair, cheat-free and modern examination system while making examinations and result publication faster and technology-based. He said the results were published within 49 working days. The university said results are available through its website and mobile SMS, and it plans full automation of examinations, QR-coded identity cards, photo-bearing admit cards and e-attendance in the next examination.

Pakistan said on Thursday that it does not consider itself bound by unilateral US sanctions imposed on Iran. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Taher Andrabi said Pakistan does not view Washington’s sanctions against Tehran as consistent with international law.

Andrabi said disputes of this kind should be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic engagement. Pakistan’s statement outlined its position on the US measures targeting Iran and emphasized a diplomatic approach rather than pressure through unilateral restrictions.

The comments followed Monday’s announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of new sanctions against Iran. The source said the administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to increase economic pressure on Tehran as part of efforts to compel Iran to make concessions on various issues.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union general secretary SM Farhad said every word spoken by martyred Osman Hadi reflected a firm commitment to resisting domination, a call for struggle and a desire to build a prosperous Bangladesh. Farhad made the remarks in a message published in “Barudmakha Kothamala,” a compilation of speeches by Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi edited by DUCSU literature and cultural secretary Musaddik Ali Ibn Mohammad.

Farhad said Hadi’s speeches repeatedly addressed resistance to injustice, aggression and domination, alongside a commitment to constructing the cultural narrative of July. He cited Hadi as saying that if people could continue their struggle, they would write the grave of “dominant Delhi.” Hadi also expressed a resolve to advance the struggle through the path of martyrs’ blood.

According to Farhad, Hadi had urged all student and political organisations to unite. He said the call envisioned a collective resistance against dominant forces. Farhad added that the speech collection documents Hadi’s thoughts, struggle and resolve, and that his words continue to encourage resistance to injustice and strengthen commitments to protect Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and dignity.

The government has reconstituted a 10-member Cabinet Committee on National Awards to examine proposals from ministries and make recommendations on national honours. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moeen Khan has been named convener of the committee, according to a recent notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Other members include Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Industries, Textiles and Jute and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, and two state ministers. The minister of the relevant ministry will also serve as a member.

The committee will review national award proposals, recommend formal presentation of awards, prepare related plans and assess the need for new national awards. The notification cancels an earlier order issued on February 25, 2026, and takes immediate effect. A nine-member secretariat, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, will provide necessary support to the committee.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman attended the 2026 annual commanders’ conferences of the Corps of Military Police and the Remount Veterinary and Farm Corps on Thursday. The two events were held separately at the Corps of Military Police Centre and School and the Remount Veterinary and Farm Depot in Savar, where he served as chief guest.

At the Military Police conference, the army chief discussed technical development, research, professional skill enhancement and future planning with commanders and other officers. He highlighted the corps’ tradition and contribution to maintaining discipline and security in the army, praised its role in the international arena, and congratulated its members.

At the fourth annual commanders’ conference of the Remount Veterinary and Farm Corps, he cited the corps’ tradition and service to the country. He emphasized its role in ensuring nutrition and food security for the army, discussed development, research and professional capability, and placed special importance on increasing farm production. Senior military officials, commanders and officers from the relevant corps attended the events.

The Bangladesh Agrochemical Manufacturers Association (BAMA) has welcomed the government’s move to simplify imports of raw materials for agricultural pesticide production and remove mandatory sourcing from specified countries or origins. In a statement, BAMA President and agriculturist KSM Mostafizur Rahman described the decision as timely and farmer-friendly, saying it would bring positive results for Bangladesh’s agricultural sector and farmers.

Rahman said previous complex policies and requirements to import from particular countries or sources had imposed additional costs on manufacturing companies. Under the new policy, importers will be able to procure quality agricultural chemicals and raw materials from international markets at competitive prices while maintaining quality standards.

BAMA said the change could help ensure an uninterrupted supply of agricultural chemical inputs in the domestic market and keep production costs under control for farmers. The association noted that dependence on a limited number of countries had previously created artificial shortages of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals when global supply chains were disrupted, causing unusually high prices. It said removing source-country restrictions would promote open-market competition and allow lower-cost imports.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed withdrew remarks on Thursday afternoon after opposition lawmakers objected during the parliamentary question-and-answer session. The dispute began when opposition MP Shafiqul Islam Masud questioned him about the law-and-order situation, and the minister said speaking at Shahbagh Square was not the same as speaking in parliament.

Opposition members protested the comment, saying the minister had responded in that manner to questions from several members, including Hasnat Abdullah. Salahuddin Ahmed said he had not directed his remarks at anyone. The objections continued as lawmakers challenged his description of opposition members’ questions as speeches associated with Shahbagh Square and Paltan Maidan.

Amid the protest, the home minister sought “shelter” from Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. When the speaker was also unable to stop the protesting members, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “I withdraw, I withdraw, are you happy now?” The minister’s statement marked a retraction of the contested remarks during the session.

Bangladesh’s ongoing parliamentary session will run for nine working days, beginning Thursday and scheduled to conclude on September 10. The decision was made at a meeting of the Jatiya Sangsad Business Advisory Committee before the session began, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the Cabinet Room of the Parliament Building. The speaker may change the session’s duration and working days if necessary.

Parliament leader and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the meeting, along with opposition leader Dr. Mohammad Shafiqul Rahman and other committee members, ministers and parliamentary whips. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal also attended at the speaker’s special invitation.

The committee decided that there would be no parliamentary sittings on government holidays or on August 31 and September 1. Sittings will begin at 3pm each day. The session has received 2,818 questions, including 142 for the prime minister and 2,676 for other ministers. It has also received 81 notices under Rule 71 and 249 notices for resolutions under Rule 131.

Gyirong port on the China-Nepal border has become a focal point for rescue operations after severe flooding and landslides in China. CCTV footage showed the large building marking the border being swept away by powerful flows of mud and water, while hundreds of people ran toward safer ground. The building stood in the deepest of five Himalayan valleys.

The port became an important trade and transport hub after the 2015 earthquake damaged other routes. It served as a main entry point for tourists travelling between Nepal and Tibet. More than 100,000 people used the port during the first six months of the current year, and it handled more than 30 percent of total China-Nepal trade.

Following the disaster, some users on Chinese social media questioned why such an important land port had been built in a geographically unstable deep valley. Heavy rainfall last year also triggered destructive landslides and flash floods that killed 17 people. The source notes that valleys are the natural routes for crossing the Himalayas, and this passage has been used for more than 1,300 years by nomads, herders, Nepali traders and local villagers.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said Bangladesh will soon launch a pilot to deliver cooked meals to primary schoolchildren with mothers involved in preparation and distribution. Speaking on Wednesday at an orientation and discussion meeting in Chapainawabganj, he said the initiative will examine models based on experiences in Sri Lanka and India’s Tamil Nadu. Ingredients including vegetables, eggs and fish could be sourced from local markets, with mothers taking responsibility for cooking and delivery.

Hajjaj said the government’s central objective is to ensure every child receives safe, quality and nutritious food on time. He said effective oversight by Mothers Committees has significantly reduced irregularities and complaints in the mid-day meal project. Mothers’ direct involvement has improved transparency and accountability in food quality, supply and distribution, he added.

He instructed Mothers Committees at every school to take a more active role and immediately reject food with problems in quality, smell, taste or supply, while informing the relevant authorities. The minister also outlined planned reforms involving teacher training, promotions, transfers, staffing, infrastructure, monitoring, curriculum and technology in primary education.