Three judges of International Crimes Tribunal-1 visited the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence's Joint Interrogation Cell, known as Aynaghar, on Saturday afternoon as part of a judicial process. Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury took part in the inspection of the facility in a former two-storey building inside Dhaka Cantonment's Kafrul police station area.

The prosecution confirmed that the facility contained 26 permanent cells of varying sizes. Two larger rooms were known as VIP cells and had no windows, the report said. The complex also had cells with one or two exhaust fans, iron-barred doors with wooden doors, toilets and bathrooms. It included two soundproof rooms for interrogation, described as specially equipped with various materials for questioning and torture of victims.

Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam, other prosecution members and defence lawyers attended the visit. The report alleges that important figures and Islamists were unlawfully detained and tortured there between 2009 and 2024. A crimes-against-humanity case over the alleged disappearances and torture is being tried at Tribunal-1 against Hasina and 12 military officers; three officers are in custody.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad said work on a pilot project under the Teesta Master Plan will begin within a short time. He made the announcement to journalists at Chilmari Port on Saturday afternoon after visiting river erosion-affected areas in Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur of Kurigram. A technical committee has started work on implementing the master plan, while advice is being sought from specialists from different countries.

Azad said the Teesta project is large and cannot be implemented in a single day. He noted that the government is only five months old and asked for some time. He said work on the master plan would soon start as a pilot project.

The minister also said two projects have been taken up in Kurigram for permanent embankment construction and river erosion prevention. Emergency work is already under way in nearly 100 erosion-affected locations in the district. He said no partisan consideration would be applied in efforts to prevent river erosion. Local lawmakers, district administration officials, a Water Development Board engineer and political leaders were present during the visit.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to participate in the upcoming presidential election, the party said in a notice issued Saturday night. The decision was made at a meeting of its central executive council at the party’s central office in the capital at 7pm Saturday, chaired by Jamaat chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

The meeting was attended by the party’s secretary general and former MP Mia Golam Parwar, along with other council members. According to the notice, Jamaat has called a top-level meeting of the 11-party alliance for Sunday as part of its preparations to take part in the presidential election.

The issue of nominating an opposition candidate will be finalized at the 11-party alliance meeting, the notice said. The central executive council also discussed the country’s overall political situation, the issue of constitutional reform, and political programmes announced by the 11-party alliance.

In Fulbaria upazila headquarters of Mymensingh, buses and other vehicles are being parked on the main road because there is no permanent bus terminal. Bus and CNG-run auto-rickshaw stations sit within about 500 metres of the busy road between the Upazila Parishad and Valukjan Bridge. Roadside stations and parked vehicles are causing severe difficulties for pedestrians and commuters, persistent congestion, and occasional accidents.

Buses arriving in Fulbaria from Dhaka drop passengers on the road, then remain there for parking and cleaning. Alam Asia Transport has 110 buses, while the 15 decimals of land it rents for a terminal can hold a maximum of eight buses. The Mymensingh District Motor Owners Association bought 13 decimals beside the main road for a local bus station in 1968 and 1972, but the site is now reportedly largely encroached upon.

Transport owners said they would remove buses from the road if designated land were provided. Workers’ union president Babul Shikdar cited internal disputes among owners as a major reason for the absence of a terminal. Municipal administrator Sheikh Taki Tajwar said financial constraints and lack of land have delayed the plan, while Alam Asia chairman Shahjahan sought government attention.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca, declaring that an armed attack on any one member would be treated as an attack on all three. The report, published on August 8, 2026, says the pledge resembles NATO’s Article 5 and signals a potentially significant shift in Middle Eastern security and geopolitics. The joint statement, however, does not specify the scope of military cooperation or how assistance would be delivered in particular situations.

Analysts cited in the report view the pact as part of a growing regional effort to build security arrangements beyond the long-standing US-led framework. Conflict and tensions involving Iran, attacks on Saudi territory, and disruptions to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea have raised concerns for the three countries. Pakistan’s military and nuclear deterrent, Saudi financial strength, and Turkish defense technology are described as complementary assets.

Iran has sharply criticized the agreement, while India’s foreign ministry said it is closely monitoring developments. Analysts say Pakistan could seek investment, energy benefits and financial support through defense diplomacy, but the pact also carries risks of deeper involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, strain in ties with Iran and possible sectarian tensions at home.

Speakers at a discussion and tree-planting programme in Middle Basabo, Dhaka, called for a social movement to eliminate drugs, terrorism and extortion while protecting the environment. The event was organised on Saturday at the Basabo Popular Association field by the Basabo Balya Bandhu Forum. Road and Railways Division State Minister and lawmaker Habibur Rashid Habib attended as chief guest, while forum president Kh M Osman Gani Tutul chaired the programme.

Habib said the government, political groups, social organisations and volunteer bodies must act responsibly to build a safe and liveable society. He called on families and communities to play a more active role in keeping young people away from drugs, terrorism and criminal activities through sports, cultural activities, education and social engagement.

Other speakers said crime prevention should not depend solely on law-enforcement agencies, urging coordinated action by families, educational institutions, local residents, and social and political organisations. Participants planted saplings of different species after the discussion. Organisers said they would continue similar social welfare programmes to raise awareness about environmental protection and opposition to drugs, terrorism and extortion.

Bangladesh’s Forest Department rescued and released an olive ridley sea turtle that had become stranded on a new sandbar in Magdhara Union beside the Sandwip Channel in Chattogram. The turtle was released into the channel at 7 pm on Saturday after a video circulated on social media. Forest officials and the upazila administration acted following instructions from Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amzad Hossain.

Local resident Mizan found the large turtle on land on Friday morning while taking cattle to the sandbar. Fearing it could die without water, he moved it to a water-filled pit inside a nearby keora forest. Another resident, Nuruzzaman, recorded and shared a video calling for the animal to be returned quickly to the sea.

Sandwip Range Officer Nizam Uddin said the department took immediate action after receiving the information. Experts identified the animal as an olive ridley, listed globally as endangered by the IUCN. Professor Mohammad Moslem Uddin said the species may weigh 50 to 100 kilograms. The local administration praised residents for helping save the turtle.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged Islamic scholars to take a responsible leading role in social transformation at a national ulema representatives’ conference in Kakrail, Dhaka, on August 8. Speaking as chief guest, he said their responsibilities should extend beyond mosque leadership, sermons and religious advice, particularly during a critical period for the nation. The conference was held under the slogan, “Not division of opinion, but unity to build the Bangladesh of tomorrow.”

Rahman said scholars should centre their learning on the Quran and Sunnah, speak for truth and justice, and convey religious messages with wisdom, good counsel and respectful language. He urged them not to insult others over differences of opinion and to respond to provocation with patience and restraint. He also said both Alia and Qawmi streams of madrasa education were necessary and should receive respect and support.

The conference presented seven proposals, including stopping reductions in Islamic education at madrasas and colleges, nationalising Ebtedayee madrasas, and promptly implementing service rules and pay scales for imams and muezzins. Other proposals called for ending the denigration of religious scholars and ending killings and persecution of Muslims in Palestine and other countries.

National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A S M Amanullah said independent, objective and responsible journalism can help move the country and society forward. He made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at the orientation for a new batch of the three-month Media Certificate Course 2026 at the Press Institute Bangladesh auditorium on Circuit House Road in the capital.

He described the media as a mirror of society and one of the main foundations of democracy. In the information technology era, he said, maintaining objectivity and accuracy in news reporting has become more challenging than before. Journalists must play independent, investigative and responsible roles to deliver correct information to the public amid misinformation and fake news, he added.

Amanullah said false information and rumours can quickly create social disorder, making regular training essential for protecting journalistic quality, verifying facts and establishing accountability. He called journalism a social commitment and a noble responsibility, and urged journalists to continually acquire new technologies and knowledge to address challenges in the AI era. PIB Director General Faruk Wasif, officials, guests and trainee journalists attended the event.

Bangladesh’s government has begun drafting a policy for private-sector imports, storage, transport, distribution and marketing of refined fuel oil to ensure uninterrupted and safe supplies. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division said the proposed policy offers no scope for special benefits to any particular individual, institution or group. The statement was issued on Saturday by Deputy Chief Information Officer Muhammad Arif Sadeq.

The proposed 2026 policy aims to strengthen energy security and maintain continuous fuel supplies. It also envisages a transparent, competitive system that can use private-sector infrastructure and investment capacity alongside existing government arrangements in emergencies or crises, in the national interest.

The division said the policy remains under preparation and will be finalized after gathering views and recommendations from all relevant stakeholders. It said consideration of such a policy depends on ensuring public interest, energy security, competitive markets, transparency and accountability. The division also said some media and social-media reports on the proposal contained speculative and false information, and urged all concerned to act responsibly.

Inqilab Moncho convener Abdullah Al Jaber announced that gatherings will begin at Shahbagh in the capital from December 13, demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. He also demanded that the government make a clear decision on the case by December 18. Jaber made the announcement on Saturday, August 8, at an event in Rajganj, Cumilla city, organised by the Comilla University branch of Inqilab Moncho.

Jaber said the government must decide by December whether it will pursue justice, adding that his group would not accept unclear or evasive discussion on the issue. He described justice for Hadi’s killing as linked to Bangladesh’s independence. He said that if the mystery behind the killing is not uncovered, it could continue to be described through references to a “deep state” or other explanations.

He said the movement plans to tour all 64 districts during December and expressed a commitment to hold what he described as the largest gathering in Dhaka’s history. Jaber said a movement requires an organised environment, rather than repeated statements alone, and called for unity around the demand for justice. Inqilab Moncho members, invited guests, student leaders and university students attended the event.

Islami Chhatra Shibir central president Nurul Islam Saddam said campus halls cannot be occupied and turned into safe havens for non-students and terrorists. In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 8, 2026, he appeared to address the government, saying it has a fundamental responsibility to maintain a proper educational environment on every campus.

His remarks followed recent clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Begum Rokeya and Jagannath University and Dhaka Alia. At Dhaka Alia Madrasa in the capital's Bakshibazar, Chhatra Dal took control of a hall after counter-chases and clashes that drove Shibir out, according to the report. Shibir activists have since made several attempts to enter the hall.

At about 2pm on Saturday, Shibir activists again tried to enter the hall from Bakshibazar intersection, but police stopped them with barricades. They had also attempted entry on Wednesday and were blocked by police then. On Saturday, they waited from noon until 2:30pm before leaving, after which police removed the barricades.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said Bangladesh’s relations with neighbouring countries should be guided by mutual respect, respect for sovereignty and diplomatic etiquette. He made the remarks while chairing the party’s regular monthly central executive council meeting at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, on August 8. Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad conducted the meeting.

Haque said direct or indirect attempts to influence Bangladesh’s internal political affairs would not support good relations between the countries, adding that Bangladeshis would determine their own political future. He called for responsible conduct to protect the stability, independence and sovereignty of the “new Bangladesh” achieved through the blood of students and the public in July and August. He also said there should be no opportunity to influence domestic politics around Sheikh Hasina.

He raised allegations of ghost and excessive electricity bills, alongside extensive load-shedding in rural and district areas. Haque called for action against those involved in irregularities in the power sector, uninterrupted electricity supplies, and alternative fuel arrangements to address gas and energy shortages affecting households, industries and transport. Several other party leaders also spoke at the meeting.

Inqilab Mancha organiser Abdullah Al Jaber said failure to uncover the mystery behind the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi could leave Bangladesh caught in theories including a “deep state” narrative for a long time. He made the remarks on Saturday, August 8, at an event in Rajগঞ্জ area of Cumilla city organised by the Inqilab Mancha’s Comilla University branch.

Jaber said the killing was connected to Bangladesh’s independence and that justice for Hadi must be delivered in Bangladesh. He said Hadi had not sought justice for personal benefit, but for Bangladesh’s independence. Jaber also said justice cannot be achieved merely through Facebook posts and requires an organised environment for a movement.

He demanded that the government clearly decide by December whether it will pursue justice in the case, rejecting what he described as equivocal statements. He said plans call for gatherings at শাহবাগ from December 13 and a government decision by December 18. Jaber also said the group plans to visit all 64 districts by December and hold a major gathering in Dhaka demanding justice for Osman.

Three Bangladeshi fishermen were reportedly taken along with their trawler by Myanmar’s armed Arakan Army group from the Naf River estuary in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 11:30am on Saturday, August 8, in the Naikhyangdia area, where the Naf River meets the Bay of Bengal. The report said the group crossed Bangladesh’s waters before detaining the fishermen.

The fishermen were identified as 30-year-old Jasim Uddin, son of Leda Mia, and 27-year-old Mohammad Ismail, son of Momtaz Mia, both from Jaliapara in Shahporir Dwip. A third detainee was described as an unidentified teenager. Abdul Gani, president of the Jaliapara boat terminal committee, said the fishermen had gone fishing that morning when Arakan Army members detained them.

Gani said 20 to 25 fishermen had previously been taken from the area and that fishing in the river and sea had become highly risky. Acting chairman of Sabrang Union Parishad Abdul Mannan said local authorities were being informed. Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Anik Chowdhury said contact was being made with Border Guard Bangladesh and necessary steps would be taken to bring the fishermen back.