Authorities have ordered all operations at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Bhatiari, Sitakunda, to remain suspended until test results arrive for gas samples sent to Dhaka. Entry into the accident-hit vessel has also been prohibited because officials say it is still unsafe. The order follows the deaths of nine workers after they were exposed to toxic gas while working inside a tank of an old ship on August 14.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fakhrul Islam said the sample was collected and sent to Dhaka, and the shipyard will remain closed until further instructions. Mo Fazle Rabbi, member secretary of the district administration’s investigation committee, said several committees and technical teams, including a high-level Industry Ministry committee, are investigating the incident.

Officials said the type of gas cannot be confirmed before the laboratory report is received, preventing any investigation committee from reaching a final conclusion. Investigators are examining the gas type, concentration and source, as well as whether the vessel was properly gas-freed and whether required worker safety measures were in place. Reopening depends on test results, expert guidance and required clearance.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited the July Uprising Memory Museum with family members on Wednesday afternoon. The unannounced visit took place around 12:30pm as part of a family programme, according to his assistant personal secretary, Nazrul Islam.

Rahman spent about an hour touring the museum and viewing memories connected to the 2024 movement and the July Revolution. His wife, two daughters, a son-in-law and grandchildren accompanied him during the visit.

Museum authorities welcomed Rahman on arrival and assisted the tour under appropriate protocol for an opposition leader, Nazrul Islam said. No media outlets were invited to cover the informal visit, he added.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has pledged to provide Bangladesh with all possible support to help ensure its energy security. The assurance was given when Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met him at his office in Doha on Wednesday.

Khalilur Rahman conveyed greetings from Bangladesh’s prime minister to Qatar’s leaders and expressed Bangladesh’s solidarity with Qatar. He praised Qatar’s constructive and responsible role in promoting peace, security and stability in the region. Sheikh Mohammed congratulated Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

During discussions on bilateral cooperation, the Qatari prime minister described Bangladesh as a brotherly country and reiterated Qatar’s support and commitment to increased cooperation. Khalilur Rahman invited him to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. The foreign minister later met Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi to discuss matters of mutual interest. Several Bangladeshi advisers and officials attended the meetings.

Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given in-principle approval to import 14 additional liquefied natural gas cargoes to keep gas supplies normal in the country. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday. The initiative is intended to serve the public interest by maintaining regular gas availability.

Separately, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved a proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to import one LNG cargo. Singapore-based Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd is scheduled to deliver the cargo between September 1 and 2 at a price of $23.93 per MMBtu. It will be the country’s 44th LNG cargo of the year.

Under the broader approval, the government will purchase a total of 14 cargoes directly from seven companies for state emergency needs, with two cargoes from each supplier. LNG import dependence has increased as gas demand has risen in industry, power generation, fertilizer production and other sectors. The government is pursuing supply through spot-market purchases, long-term contracts and emergency direct procurement.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they have blocked the movement of 48 Saudi oil tankers since July 20 and attacked eight others, according to a statement by military spokesperson Yahya Saree reported on August 19, 2026. Saree said the actions followed a Houthi-declared ban on Saudi maritime traffic.

The spokesperson said five of the eight targeted tankers were in the Red Sea, while three were in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. He also claimed 34 tankers were forced to turn back in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, with another 14 turned back in the Red Sea.

Saree further claimed nine military operations targeting oil supplies in Yanbu, Najran, Jizan, Abha and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, alongside 14 operations against Saudi military presence and equipment in several areas. He said the Houthis seek the lifting of the blockade, an end to aggression, payment of public employees’ salaries, withdrawal of foreign forces and control of Yemen’s resources by Yemenis. The report noted no immediate Saudi response.

Police in Faridganj, Chandpur, said they arrested fugitive convict Md Masudul Karim, also known as ‘Killer Masud’, during an operation in Chattogram’s Double Mooring area. The arrest was reported on August 19, 2026. Police said he had received a 14-year sentence in an arms case filed at Faridganj police station and had remained in hiding.

According to Faridganj police, a team led by ASI Jumayet Hossain Jewel and ASI Masudul Haque traced his location using information technology. With assistance from local police, the team conducted the operation in Double Mooring. Police said Karim also faces arrest warrants in several cases.

Karim is the son of the late Abdul Halim Bhuiyan of Purba Larua village in Char Dukhia West union, Faridganj. Police and local residents said he was once known as a close associate of Dhaka criminal Pichchi Hannan. He is being held by Faridganj police and is expected to be taken to court on Thursday after legal procedures.

The International Criminal Court condemned the Trump administration’s sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Sey as a public attack on the court’s independence. In a statement issued Wednesday, the court said the measures directly target an impartial judicial institution and undermine the rule of law by targeting judges, prosecutors and staff. Akane, a Japanese judge, has served as ICC president since her election in March 2024, while Sey is a Senegalese national and senior court lawyer.

Washington described the ICC as corrupt and severely politicized. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctioned individuals were directly involved in ICC efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or try officials of countries that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction, without giving specific examples. The latest measures follow earlier US sanctions against ICC officials connected to the court’s investigation and actions involving Israel.

Japan and the European Union opposed the sanctions. Tokyo said it supports the ICC’s work to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes and uphold the rule of law. EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said ICC officials must be able to work independently without external pressure. The sanctions bar the designated individuals from entering the United States and using its financial system.

Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain has been removed as inspector general of prisons and returned to the army. His service has been placed under the Armed Forces Division, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday. No new official has yet been assigned to the post.

The notification said the army officer was being recalled from his current deputation position and his service placed with the Armed Forces Division. Motaher Hossain was appointed inspector general of prisons on deputation on 11 August, amid the political transition following 5 August 2024.

The Prisons Directorate’s media cell said the transfer back to the army was made under an order of the Ministry of Public Administration. It described the move as a regular process and said there was no scope for confusion over the matter.

Excelerate Energy’s floating LNG terminal at Maheshkhali stopped supplying gas from Wednesday afternoon after its LNG inventory was exhausted, according to the report published on August 19, 2026. Gas is currently being supplied to the national grid from Summit’s LNG terminal, which remains operational.

Petrobangla data showed total national gas supply at 2,289 million cubic feet at noon on Wednesday, including 1,628 million cubic feet from domestic wells and 661 million cubic feet from LNG. By 6pm, LNG supply had fallen to 562 million cubic feet, while domestic gas supply was about 1,627 million cubic feet. Total gas flow into the national transmission line consequently declined to 2,189 million cubic feet.

An official of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited said the final LNG stock at Excelerate’s terminal ran out around 2:40pm Wednesday, after which supply stopped. Officials said the main cause was a shortage of LNG cargoes. Confusion had earlier arisen over boiler repairs: Excelerate initially said activation would take 72 hours, then said the boiler was operational, but insufficient LNG stocks prevented continued supply.

Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin has called for making a September 5 long march from Dhaka to Chattogram successful. He made the appeal at a conference of Jamaat’s Dhaka North thana amirs on Wednesday evening at the party’s metropolitan north office in Baridhara, Dhaka. The programme was announced by an alliance of 11 parties.

Selim Uddin said the march seeks implementation of the referendum verdict, trials of those responsible for genocide, and a non-discriminatory Bangladesh. Addressing the government, he said it must accept the public mandate. He said Jamaat wants the government to complete its term, but warned that ignoring public opinion and causing public dissatisfaction could prevent it from remaining in power.

He also told BNP leaders that reforms have no alternative for saving the country and said they could face public dissatisfaction without visible action to implement the referendum verdict and ensure swift trials. Organisers formed committees and assigned responsibilities to ensure peaceful, orderly and successful participation in the march, which is set to begin at Shapla Chattar and proceed to Chattogram.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said all kindergarten schools operating without registration in Bangladesh will be closed by 2028 if they do not obtain registration within the stipulated period. He made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon in Chattogram after a daylong workshop on transformation and action planning for primary education at the PTI conference hall.

Hajjaj said the initiative is intended to improve the quality of primary education and bring the institutions under government rules and regulations. The government is also working to address staffing shortages at educational institutions, he said, as part of broader efforts to improve primary education.

He said a new integrated policy for primary teachers is being prepared. The policy will include provisions on teachers’ promotions, salary structure and scope of responsibilities, aiming to better align their professional facilities and duties. The workshop, organized by the Directorate of Primary Education’s Chattogram division, was attended by 300 primary education officials from the division, with Hajjaj as chief guest.

RAB says it has arrested the alleged mastermind behind the robbery of Tk 12.125 million from a DL Filling Station cash vehicle near Crown Plaza in Dhaka’s Airport area on August 9. The agency’s Legal and Media Wing Director, Wing Commander M Z M Entekhab Chowdhury, provided the information on Wednesday night. RAB also said it detained 12 people during an operation against alleged public extortion at a fruit market in Kamalpara, under Turag police station.

Armed assailants on three motorcycles stopped the cash-carrying covered van while it was travelling to deposit money at a bank. They allegedly injured filling-station official Mohammad Al Amin with a sharp weapon after he refused to hand over the money, then fled toward Abdullahpur with the cash bag. A case was filed with Airport police station, and law-enforcement agencies collected nearby CCTV footage.

Earlier, the Detective Branch said it arrested five people and recovered Tk 1.2 million, along with fake RAB identity cards, vests, walkie-talkies, handcuffs and firearms. DB said at least eight people were directly involved. RAB did not immediately disclose the newly arrested suspect’s identity, evidence recovered or specific role, saying details would be provided at a Thursday briefing.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s former secretary general and presidential candidate, became emotional and cried several times while delivering a farewell address to the party’s parliamentary group on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, was held in the government party meeting room at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and lasted about an hour and a half. Fakhrul asked party lawmakers to pray for him and vote for him in Thursday’s presidential election.

Fakhrul recalled late BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, while thanking Tarique Rahman. He apologised for any mistakes or unintended hurt during his years serving as senior joint secretary general, acting secretary general and secretary general. He said he would protect the honour and responsibility given by the party and would not compromise on national independence and sovereignty.

Tarique Rahman called the day historic, urged lawmakers to elect Fakhrul and stressed unity and discipline. He also warned MPs against losing contact with local party members ahead of local government elections, which he said would be held without party symbols.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry has formed a two-member committee to investigate allegations of irregularities against the current board of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, or REHAB. The committee was formed on Wednesday and has been instructed to complete its investigation and submit a report within 15 working days. Deputy Secretary Abdul Malek will convene the committee, while Deputy Secretary Mohammad Abdus Sadeq of the Central Digital Commerce Cell will serve as a member.

REHAB Vice-President Mohammad Akhtar Biswas and 10 other board members submitted an application to the director general of the Trade Organisations Wing on July 26. The application made 12 allegations, including financial irregularities, against REHAB President Ali Afzal and Senior Vice-President Abdur Razzak.

Joint Secretary Mostafa Jamal Haider held a hearing at the Commerce Ministry on July 30. Following the hearing, REHAB’s annual general meeting was postponed for 30 days, and the president was advised to discuss the complaints with the complainants within 15 days. The AGM scheduled for August 1 at Radisson Hotel was not held, while the August 12-15 summer housing fair was also temporarily postponed.

Authorities in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, demolished more than half of the 59-year-old Arabia Zia-ul-Uloom Madrasa in Pipra Ramlal village on Tuesday. Seven rooms, a shop and half of a hall at the roughly 14,000-square-foot institution were razed. The administration said part of the madrasa had been built on encroached government land and that the operation followed a court order.

Five village residents filed a 2022 petition seeking removal of alleged encroachment. A tehsildar court ordered eviction in 2023, and madrasa caretaker Abdul Salam challenged that ruling before the district magistrate. On August 14, 2026, the district magistrate upheld the earlier order and dismissed the madrasa’s petition. Officials said a notice was issued and demolition proceeded after the alleged encroachment was not removed within the stipulated time.

The operation began around 7 a.m. under senior local officials, with about 100 police personnel from five police stations deployed. Samajwadi Party lawmaker Syeda Khatun and other party workers protested, while Aam Aadmi Party and Congress figures criticized the action. Officials said about 400 children studied at the madrasa.