National Citizen Party convener and parliament’s opposition chief whip Nahid Islam said Tarique Rahman would not be able to visit India until questions over Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and a redefinition of Bangladesh-India relations are resolved. He made the remarks on Thursday at an event in Shahbagh, Dhaka, marking the second founding anniversary of Inqilab Mancha, an organisation linked to slain Sharif Osman Hadi.

Nahid referred to Sheikh Hasina’s virtual appearance at an August 5 press conference in New Delhi. He alleged that the event had direct and indirect support from the Indian government. In his view, statements made by Hasina from Delhi should be treated not only as her own narrative but also as a message from Delhi to Bangladesh.

He said no statement had yet come from the Indian High Commission regarding the press conference, and argued that it should have expressed regret and apologised. Nahid described the event as being against Bangladesh’s sovereignty. He called on India to return Sheikh Hasina and Osman Hadi accused persons, ensure Bangladesh’s fair share of river water, and resolve border killings before speaking of friendship.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the blockade and encirclement of Palestinian homes by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, calling the actions “terrorism.” The comments were made on Thursday, according to a report published on August 13, 2026. Al Jazeera reported that extremist settlers had been blockading several Palestinian homes near Nablus since Sunday.

One of the blocked homes belongs to a US citizen. Affected families said they had been prevented from obtaining food and daily necessities and had been completely cut off from their surroundings. Responding on X to criticism over alleged US embassy inaction in protecting American citizens, Huckabee said efforts to intimidate and severely harass a family were abhorrent and that such bullying had no justification.

Huckabee said the Israeli government was working, following a US request, to remove what he called “Israeli terrorists” from the area. The report noted that Huckabee had previously supported Jewish settlements in the West Bank and rejected the idea of a Palestinian state. Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, settler attacks and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank have increased, the report said.

Six Arab national football federations have declared full support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino as his leadership faces public opposition from three confederations in Europe, Asia and North-Central America. Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, Sudan, Egypt and Mauritania issued a joint statement backing Infantino, according to a report published on August 13, 2026. Morocco is listed as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup.

The dispute followed a proposal to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. Infantino had proposed selling about 20 percent of FIFA Forward Enterprise to private investors, but the plan was scrapped after opposition from UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF.

The Arab federations said they had confidence in Infantino’s leadership and his commitment to developing football worldwide. They also said they wanted to work closely with him to expand opportunities, bring people from different regions together and increase Arab countries’ contribution to global football. Infantino has apologised over the controversial commercial plan and is preparing to run again in FIFA’s election on March 17.

Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said Bangladesh has no immediate option beyond counting the days and managing load-shedding until repairs to a floating LNG terminal, or FSRU, are completed. He made the remarks while joining an event organised online by the Centre for Policy Dialogue on Thursday.

The minister said engineers are working to fix the FSRU fault. He said that, apart from waiting for the work at the terminal, authorities are trying to manage the situation so that load-shedding can be reduced as much as possible.

Tuku also said the management effort includes supplying gas to industries. He told the event that Bangladesh will install three new floating LNG terminals by 2029.

Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said Bangladesh has no immediate option beyond counting the days and managing load-shedding until repairs to a floating LNG terminal, or FSRU, are completed. He made the remarks while joining an event organised online by the Centre for Policy Dialogue on Thursday.

The minister said engineers are working to fix the FSRU fault. He said that, apart from waiting for the work at the terminal, authorities are trying to manage the situation so that load-shedding can be reduced as much as possible.

Tuku also said the management effort includes supplying gas to industries. He told the event that Bangladesh will install three new floating LNG terminals by 2029.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a new memorandum of understanding on air services, increasing authorized weekly passenger flights between the countries from 49 to 84. The Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority chairman, Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, announced the agreement at a Thursday press conference at the authority’s headquarters. The arrangement also allows 21 weekly cargo flights and includes fifth-freedom traffic rights, code-sharing, co-terminalization and aircraft leasing opportunities.

The additional 35 weekly passenger flights are intended to help meet growing travel demand, according to the chairman. He said about 4 million Bangladeshis living and working in Saudi Arabia would benefit from increased flights and seat capacity. Hajj and Umrah travellers are also expected to benefit, particularly during the Hajj season when passenger pressure and seat shortages can arise. Greater airline competition could give passengers access to more competitive and affordable fares, he said.

The agreement creates scope to expand services from Chattogram and Sylhet to Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah and Jeddah. Cargo provisions could speed exports including garments, fresh vegetables and fruit to Saudi markets. Designated Bangladeshi airlines may also operate cargo services via Saudi Arabia to specified destinations including Spain and Germany.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has sharply criticised the government’s management of the power and gas sectors, citing widespread shortages and public hardship. In a statement sent to the media on August 13, party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the country had faced extensive load-shedding since August 9. He cited daily load-shedding of between 3,382 and 3,757 megawatts from August 9 to 12, describing the average shortfall as about 3,500 megawatts.

Parwar said gas supply on August 12 was 203 crore cubic feet against demand of 380 crore cubic feet. He blamed mismanagement, inefficiency, lack of foresight, corruption and politicisation at various institutions for the crisis. The statement said industrial production, household cooking and other daily activities, as well as students’ studies, were being disrupted.

He also said the Bangladesh Palli Bidyut Association had written to police headquarters on Wednesday seeking stronger security at 80 rural electricity associations. Parwar called for increased gas supply, action against industrial gas theft, reduced leakage and system loss, measures to prevent oil smuggling, and improved energy-sector skills. He also urged domestic gas exploration and bringing in capable foreign partners for exploration and development well drilling.

A memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran on June 17 is due to expire next Sunday, amid a continuing wartime stalemate between the two countries. The situation has created uncertainty for international markets and regional stability, according to an Al Jazeera report cited by Amardesh. The strategically important Strait of Hormuz remains a central focus of the crisis.

Article 5 of the memorandum had guaranteed the safe passage of commercial vessels through the waterway. However, shortly after the agreement was reached, the United States and Iran resumed attacks on bases and military installations across the Gulf region. Pakistan has stepped up mediation efforts before the memorandum expires, seeking to halt the war and restore normal maritime movement through the strait.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has visited Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials. Iran remains firm on conditions for reopening Hormuz, including an end to US military operations and the release of Iranian funds held abroad. President Donald Trump has alternated between threatening escalation and promising a peace deal soon, increasing concern over whether a new agreement can be reached.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said Bangladesh’s electricity demand has suddenly increased because of illegal battery-powered auto-rickshaws. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, he said a large number of battery-run auto-rickshaws operate across the country and nearly all are charged at night.

The minister said most electricity connections used to charge these vehicles are illegal. Authorities are conducting drives to disconnect such connections, but face protests during these operations, he said. He also said power department workers have been attacked while carrying out enforcement activities. Tuku urged people not to spread rumours about oil.

He said the government plans to establish three more terminals to increase LNG supply. An order for one terminal was placed 10 to 12 days earlier, he said, while an initiative has also been taken to set up another LNG terminal in the Mongla-Hiron Point area. He said the government is making its utmost effort to resolve electricity and gas problems, and blamed the previous Awami League government for bringing the energy sector to its current crisis situation over 17 years.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal has sought answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao over living and working conditions for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. In a Wednesday letter, the Senate Armed Services Committee member raised concerns about the carrier, which the report said has been at sea for more than 250 days after its deployment was extended.

Blumenthal cited reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, deteriorating sailor mental health, safety risks on the deck and major disruptions to mail service. He said many care packages sent to the carrier had been lost in transit for months. The USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Base San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, for an initially planned seven-month deployment, with a return expected in May.

The deployment was later extended and no return date has been publicly announced. Blumenthal said the ship has spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea without stopping at a port, describing it as a record. He called for a prompt investigation and questioned whether the Navy can sustain operational demands while maintaining sailor welfare, equipment readiness and scheduled maintenance.

German container shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd said it suffered a $600 million loss in the second quarter because the Strait of Hormuz remained closed amid conflict in the Middle East. The report, published on August 13, 2026, said the closure created significant financial pressure for one of the world’s leading container shipping companies.

On Thursday, the company said its net profit fell to $83 million from $306 million a year earlier. Hapag-Lloyd said strong exports from Asia and improved demand in the United States partly offset losses caused by instability in the Middle East.

The strait’s closure increased costs for bunker fuel, insurance, storage, rerouting and inland transport. As a result, operating profit in Hapag-Lloyd’s liner shipping division declined to $153 million from $167 million. The source did not state any further company measures or provide a new outlook.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami protested and criticised a Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance and the party’s assistant secretary general, raised the issue on Thursday after submitting presidential candidate Oli Ahmed’s nomination papers to the Election Commission.

Azad said the Secretariat was an executive venue and that the alliance knew of no previous record of a political party holding a top-level or top forum meeting there. He questioned how those involved viewed democracy, arguing that they treated it as democracy only when it suited their own party and as authoritarianism otherwise.

The alliance coordinator said Jamaat ameer Shafiqul Rahman signed Oli Ahmed’s nomination form as proposer, while NCP’s Abdullah Al-Amin signed as supporter. Describing Oli Ahmed as a qualified candidate, Azad claimed the Jamaat alliance candidate would win if members of parliament were able to vote independently.

Michael Stephens, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said Iran wants to prolong the war to make it more painful for the United States. Speaking to Al Jazeera on August 13, he said that nearly six months after the war began, Iran is confident that the United States is unwilling to launch a ground operation.

Stephens said Iran believes economic pressure does not threaten the government’s survival. He said Tehran therefore wants to accelerate the war and make the burden more intense for President Trump, with prolonging the conflict being the best way to do so.

Before the February 28 US-Israeli attacks, it was widely believed that Iran’s government could easily collapse after major protests in late December and January and months of unrest. Stephens said the situation no longer appears that way. He described the current stalemate as painful for Iran but not an existential crisis, and said he was not fully sure the United States has a way to compel Iran’s governing system to act as it wishes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island in the Kuril chain, prompting a strong protest from Japan, according to a report published on August 13, 2026. The visit came one day after Russia conducted major naval drills in its Far East. It was Putin’s first direct visit to the Kuril Islands.

Russia and Japan have long disputed several areas in the Kuril Islands, including Iturup. Japan calls the islands its “Northern Territories” and says they are an inseparable part of its territory. Russia has controlled the islands since the end of World War II, and the dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the Northern Territories, including Iturup, are Japan’s territory under historical and international law, and that Japan was strongly protesting Putin’s visit. At the same time, Russia’s ally North Korea launched a ballistic missile east of the Korean Peninsula. The report said the visit could create fresh tension in Russia-Japan relations.

Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the constitution will not be drafted anew but will instead be amended. He made the remarks on Thursday, August 13, at the Election Building after submitting a nomination paper to the chief election commissioner on behalf of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for the presidency.

Moni said changing even one letter of the constitution would be considered an amendment. He said the party and alliance had submitted the nomination and expressed hope of winning the vote. He added that everything, including punctuation, would be implemented, but nothing would be written anew.

According to the chief whip, all parties must sit together, and necessary amendments and implementation of the July Charter would proceed after taking everyone’s views. He said no meeting had been held at the Secretariat, though a decision to hold discussions had been made earlier and an informal meeting took place at the prime minister’s invitation. BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said this was not a routine election and that political parties had scope to discuss and exchange views around it.