Nahid Islam, the parliamentary opposition chief whip and convener of the National Citizens Party, said Bangladesh has developed a political and constitutional crisis. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after an 11-party meeting at the opposition leader’s residence on Minto Road. The meeting discussed the presidential election and the country’s recent political situation.

Questioning the BNP’s past political role, Nahid said the party had at different times tried to retain power during changes of government. He said this had created the political and constitutional crisis. He also announced that the 11 parties would contest the presidential election in unity with one common candidate.

The alliance named Liberal Democratic Party chairman retired Colonel Oli Ahmed as its joint candidate. Nahid said the 11 parties had demanded from the first day of the first session that former president Md Shahabuddin be removed and a new president appointed under the July Charter. He questioned why Shahabuddin had remained in office for another six months and alleged an effort to provide him a “free exit” without bringing him under trial.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the current opposition has begun using language similar to that used by Hasina. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the Rangpur District Shilpakala Academy while inaugurating a special initiative aimed at improving the lives and self-reliance of disadvantaged people. He said the government had begun changing the economy and administration within four to five months of taking office.

Fakhrul said the Awami League had not tried to discover oil or gas fields during 15 years in power and had weakened BAPEX, an institution used to pursue oil and gas extraction. He said the government had restarted the institution. He also said the Iran-United States war had caused Bangladesh losses of nearly $4 billion, while people had not been left without oil. He expressed anger over opposition activities and said there was now an opportunity to build the country.

He said Tarique Rahman was implementing pre-election pledges, citing family cards, farmer cards, debt waivers for indebted farmers, canal excavation and allowances for mosque imams and temple priests. At the event, US-based charity Love Share BD handed over 25 tea stalls to 25 disadvantaged people in the Rangpur region using its own funding.

Actor Ashraful Haque Don, known as Don Haque and popular for villain roles, has been arrested in the murder case of film star Salman Shah. Law enforcement personnel detained him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday, August 9, and later handed him over to the Criminal Investigation Department, or CID.

Salman Shah’s body was recovered under mysterious circumstances on September 6, 1996. After prolonged debate over the cause of his death, his maternal uncle Alamgir Kumkum filed a murder case at Ramna police station to revive the investigation. The case names 11 accused, including Salman Shah’s former wife Samira Haque and Don.

Salman Shah’s family has alleged that there were efforts from the beginning to conceal the incident as a planned killing. His mother, Neela Chowdhury, had alleged that when the family sought to file a murder case, police recorded it as an unnatural death case. Salman Shah acted in 27 commercially successful and popular films during a four-year career, and supporters see the renewed case as bringing fresh hope of resolving the widely discussed death.

Eight international legal firms are seeking overseas assets linked to 42 institutions with defaulted loans exceeding Tk 200 crore, following an earlier initiative involving Sheikh Hasina’s family and 10 industrial groups. Using information supplied by the relevant banks, the firms are identifying the location, nature and value of assets held abroad by defaulting borrowers. The stated aim is to seize or attach assets through legal procedures and return the money to Bangladesh for repayment of the banks’ outstanding claims.

The firms involved include Grant Thornton, RI Consortium, Baker McKenzie and PwC, DLA Piper and Kroll, EY and Dentons, Rahman Ravelli and Interpath, BCG and HHR, and Animus Associates. They will not charge advance fees or costs. Instead, they will receive an agreed share of recovered funds if they successfully identify and recover overseas assets, under a no-win, no-pay arrangement.

Countries initially considered possible locations for transferred money or assets include the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Singapore, Belgium, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. Once assets are identified, legal action will be taken under the laws of the relevant country. Earlier recovery efforts also involved the Anti-Corruption Commission, CID, customs and income tax units.

Former diplomat Humayun Kabir said allowing Sheikh Hasina to hold a press conference in Delhi is not conducive to efforts to improve relations between Bangladesh and India. His comments were reported by BBC Bangla on Sunday, according to the report. Kabir said the event was not playing a helpful role in the idea or effort to strengthen bilateral relations.

The Indian government said it had no connection with Hasina’s event and did not support the remarks made there. Kabir questioned the acceptability of that position, saying statements that India bears no responsibility, was not involved, or does not agree with the views do not carry real meaning.

Kabir said the Bangladeshi government’s response reflected the views of ordinary people in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said it had informed India in advance of concerns about the possible impact of such an event on rebuilding bilateral relations. Dhaka expressed deep regret that permission was nevertheless given for the public event. Officials said Bangladesh had communicated its concerns to India before the press conference.

Students marched in protest at Kaliakair Government College in Chandara, Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur, demanding the removal of the college principal and vice-principal. The demonstration on Sunday afternoon was accompanied by vandalism on campus and explosions of four to five bombs, according to the report. Kaliakair police went to the scene after receiving reports of disorder and brought the situation under control. Police remained deployed at the campus when the report was filed.

Multiple local sources alleged that a programme meant to be observed under government instructions on August 5 was nominally held on the morning of August 3. They alleged that principal Professor Dr Ahmadullah and vice-principal Iftar Hossain, along with Awami League associates, then went to enjoy the scenery of Nikli Haor. Students became angry over what they described as an insult to the July Revolution and demanded that the college be made “fascism-free.”

Baezid Hossain, senior joint general secretary of the college Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal unit, said the campus had erupted because July fighters were insulted and student demands were not accepted. Teachers’ council general secretary Selim Jahan said the August 3 programme was held in the teachers’ auditorium because of rain. The principal said August 5 was a public holiday, so the programme was observed on August 3 under government rules. Police urged teachers and students to reach a settlement through discussion.

A group of Dhaka College students held a human chain on Sunday, August 9, demanding construction of a new hall to address the institution’s housing shortage. The programme took place at noon in front of the college’s Shaheed Minar, with about 50 students participating. They chanted slogans calling for new residential facilities, legal seat allocation and a solution to the accommodation crisis.

Student Hasan Al Mamun said obtaining a hall seat is a basic right for students, particularly those newly arriving in Dhaka who face financial and other difficulties. Another student, Samrat Jahangir, said most students are forced to live in outside messes because hall seats are insufficient, bringing extra costs and other problems. The participants called for a permanent solution.

Vice Principal Anwar Mahmud said the college administration fully agrees with the students’ demand and has repeatedly informed relevant authorities. He said the principal had written to the relevant minister, Sheikh Rabiul Alam, highlighting the need for a 10-storey academic building and residential building. He expressed hope that effective action would be taken quickly.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated government rehabilitation activities for families affected by recent flooding in Baharchhara village, Banshkhali, Chattogram. Speaking at a house handover, grant and relief distribution event on Sunday afternoon, he checked on flood-hit families and called for vigilance against those who disrupt social order. He said all promises could be implemented with public support.

The prime minister said factories would be built along the coast to create employment. He also said the government would ensure fair prices for salt farmers. Rahman said a 10-year energy plan would be presented in parliament.

He urged the opposition not to create confusion. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Relief and Disaster Asadul Habib Dulu and others were present at the event.

Citizen Initiative has expressed deep concern over expanded private-sector involvement in fuel oil imports and marketing, as well as recent changes to price controls for essential medicines. In a report published on August 9, 2026, the organisation called for the policies to be reassessed through meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders, with public interest given top priority.

The group said it does not oppose private-sector participation. However, it warned that without effective competition and strong regulation, the fuel sector could become concentrated in the hands of one or a few companies, creating a private monopoly in place of state control. It said this could worsen public hardship over fuel prices and supply and create additional dependence on the government.

Citizen Initiative also raised concerns over the interim government's 2026 decision to cancel price-control measures for 295 essential medicines and return to an earlier system covering 117 medicines. It said weaker controls could raise the cost of life-saving drugs and increase treatment expenses, particularly for poor and lower-middle-income people. The organisation urged effective competition, price regulation, market monitoring and accountability in both sectors.

Prosecutors presented a call recording in a crimes against humanity case in which former road transport minister Obaidul Quader is heard asking former state ICT minister Junaid Ahmed Palak to slow the internet during the July mass uprising. The recording was submitted on Sunday during the third day of prosecution arguments before International Crimes Tribunal-2.

The matter emerged before a three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Md. Manzurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. Quader, general secretary of the activities-banned Awami League, is among seven accused in the case. The prosecution said the alleged purpose was to disrupt protesters' communications during the uprising.

In the published transcript, Quader says, “Slow the net a little,” then clarifies, “Internet.” Palak replies that he should obtain the leader's permission, and Quader tells him to do so. Prosecutorial arguments in the case began on August 4, continued for a second day on August 6, and proceeded for a third day on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a NATO-style mutual defense agreement in Mecca on Friday, amid tensions from the ongoing war with Iran moving closer to Saudi Arabia. Under the pact, an attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all. The agreement raises the possibility that Turkey and Pakistan could become involved if Saudi Arabia faces a major attack.

The stated aim is to strengthen collective deterrence and deepen defense cooperation among the three countries. For Saudi Arabia, the agreement is described as creating a new, strong defense structure alongside its longstanding security reliance on the United States. The report identifies Turkey as NATO’s second-largest military power and Pakistan as the Muslim world’s only nuclear-armed power.

All three countries said the agreement is not a military alliance against any specific country or an effort to create religious divisions, and it leaves room for other countries to join in the future. Iran expressed dissatisfaction, with Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei saying a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan would not provide Saudi Arabia security. Analysts said the pact sends Iran a clear warning about a wider conflict.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi said many problems could be resolved if Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit together. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the inauguration of a children’s play area at an Indian visa application centre.

Trivedi said the behaviour of Bangladesh’s people is very good and that relations between the people of the two countries are good. He said these relations should also be maintained at the government level, stressing continuity between public ties and official engagement.

The high commissioner also said there are plans to reduce the cost of obtaining visas for ordinary people. He added that plans include increasing the number of visa centres and expanding visa-processing capacity. The report did not specify a timeline or implementation process for those measures.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen said he was impressed by Barishal’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people during his first visit to the region on Sunday. After arriving in the morning, he travelled by boat and launch and visited a floating market. Speaking to journalists, Christensen described Barishal as a very beautiful place and said he greatly enjoys boat travel. He said the area is defined by rice, rivers and canals, and praised the beauty of Barishal city.

The Barishal Press Club organised a launch trip on Sunday afternoon to mark the ambassador’s arrival. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, Barishal City Corporation administrator Bilkis Akhtar Jahan Shirin, Barishal University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Mamun Or Rashid, officials and journalists attended. The minister said Bangladesh and the United States have close relations, including economic ties, and expressed hope that Christensen would return to Barishal.

During the visit, Christensen toured the historic Miyabari Mosque in Raypasha-Karapur Union of Barishal Sadar and viewed its architecture. He also visited the adjacent Uttar Karapur Government Primary School, observing classes and asking about the learning environment. Before arriving in Barishal, he visited the Bhimruli floating guava market and guava orchards in Jhalakathi, learning about local life, guava cultivation and river-based livelihoods.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with Hefazat-e-Islam amir Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Uloom Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Sunday. The two later joined a brief exchange meeting following their courtesy call.

Earlier, the prime minister arrived in Fatikchhari by helicopter from Banshkhali in Chattogram at 3:20 pm. Local leaders and activists welcomed him after the helicopter landed at Pelagazi Dighi field. He then travelled by road to the Babunagar madrasa.

Thousands of people standing on both sides of the road greeted the prime minister during his journey. Students at the madrasa became enthusiastic on seeing him, and he responded by waving and exchanging greetings. Madrasa officials also welcomed him. After the exchange meeting, the prime minister left by road for Hathazari upazila in Chattogram.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that unidentified attackers threw bricks and stones at her car in Halisahar, North 24 Parganas, while she was travelling to meet the family of a party worker who died in police custody. In remarks to journalists, she said she could have been killed and that her head might have been injured if her vehicle’s windows had not been closed.

According to the report, protesters surrounded Banerjee’s car, smeared it with mud and threw shoes and water bottles. They were also seen chanting “chor bhagao” as police tried to push them away. Banerjee accused outsiders of throwing stones in front of police and said officers did not protect her. MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen also criticised the administration.

Banerjee had travelled to meet the family of Birju Keot, husband of former Trinamool councillor Jenny Sharma. Keot was sent to five days of police custody after an extortion-related arrest and was later alleged to have died in custody. Sharma alleged torture and beating, while police had not responded. The BJP condemned the incident, denied involvement and called for action against those responsible.