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.

Four civil rights, lawyers’ and labour organisations have alleged that hundreds of migrant workers were detained in Bengaluru, India, during a purported operation to identify Bangladeshis. The groups said women and children were among those held and submitted a complaint to Karnataka’s home minister, director general of police and Bengaluru police commissioner. The report was published on August 9, 2026.

The complainants alleged illegal detention, beatings and inhuman treatment during the police operation. They said police went door to door in slums and working-class neighbourhoods early Saturday, seeking identity documents, but forcibly detained many people despite documents being shown. Those detained were allegedly taken in police jeeps or buses to police stations, convention centres, marriage halls and other locations.

The organisations alleged that more than 200 people were detained in Bandepalya, about 150 in Hebbagodi and over 400 in Parappana Agrahara, with further detentions reported elsewhere. They also alleged beatings at Varthur police station, damage to doors and CCTV cameras in Hebbagodi, and the seizure of more than 50 phones. They demanded immediate release, medical treatment for injured people, an independent investigation, action against officers, preservation of evidence and compensation.

Iran has said the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States changes its policies and conduct. Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning in a message for Journalists’ Day on August 9, 2026. According to Press TV, he said Iran would not move from its position in either war or negotiations while discussing the regional situation.

Iran listed several conditions for reopening the waterway. It said the United States must stop threatening Iran and cease insulting the Iranian people’s sacred values. Tehran also demanded a permanent end to war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq.

Other demands include lifting the maritime blockade and removing all US military presence, including naval and air forces, from areas around Iran. Tehran also called for full compensation for what it described as two past aggressions and imposed wars, the removal of all sanctions, and the unconditional return of frozen or seized Iranian assets. Zolghadr said ordinary Iranians had raised these demands continuously for 160 days, and said the council would not compromise on securing these rights.

In Gangachara, Rangpur, Tk 597,542 was allocated under the 2025-26 Annual Development Programme for sports equipment distribution through three projects intended to support students’ physical and mental development. Although project documents show the funds as spent, teachers and heads of institutions said footballs, handballs and other equipment had not yet been distributed at the field level.

One ADP general PIC project received Tk 197,542 to distribute footballs and handballs among secondary institutions. Two revenue development transferred PIC projects allocated Tk 200,000 for footballs at Dakhil madrasas and another Tk 200,000 for primary schools and Ebtedayee madrasas. Heads of Gangachara Adarsha High School, Gangachara Senior Alim Madrasa and Nagar Baraibari Alambiditor Primary School said their institutions had received no sports equipment.

The upazila primary education officer said she was unaware of football or sports-equipment distribution. The secondary education officer said he had provided a requested list but knew nothing further. LGED Upazila Engineer Joya Sanyal said distribution was not yet complete and would follow the master roll. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jesmin Akter said the equipment had not yet been distributed but would be delivered.

Rajshahi University authorities sent Jahidul Islam Saimon, a first-year Institute of Business Administration student seriously ill after a brain stroke, to Dhaka by air ambulance for advanced treatment. He was flown from the playground beside the hostel of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital at about 10:30am on Sunday. The university said it arranged the transfer to ensure rapid access to advanced care in an emergency.

According to classmate Saurav, Saimon fell from his bed while asleep at the student residence on Saturday night. His body later became rigid, and fellow students took him quickly to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he was admitted to the emergency unit. His condition deteriorated during treatment. Saurav said Saimon had suffered two strokes previously.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam said the university arranged an ICU bed immediately after being informed, while doctors assessed the student. Doctors concluded that he needed urgent transfer to Dhaka for more advanced treatment, he said. The authorities chose an air ambulance because road travel was considered risky. Saimon was taken to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.

Houthi rebels carried out a drone attack on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in the Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement that the refinery was struck “accurately and successfully” with a drone on Sunday. Al Masirah TV reported that a fire broke out at the oil refinery early Sunday.

Saree said Saudi Arabia had flown intelligence and surveillance drones over the airspace of Saada and Hajjah provinces in northern Yemen in recent days. He described those activities as “provocative” and said the refinery attack was carried out in response.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said firefighters had extinguished the early-morning fire at one facility of the Aramco refinery. The ministry said there were no casualties in the incident.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is pursuing sustainable rather than cheap development, citing an initiative to plant 250 million trees across Bangladesh over the next five years. Swapan made the remarks on Sunday morning while inaugurating a tree-planting campaign and tree fair at Bells Park field in Barishal city. The plan calls for planting 50 million trees annually, with tree fairs being organised nationwide to support the target.

The minister said people in the southern region understand the effects of climate change, pointing to changes in rainfall, sunshine, temperature and water levels. He described Bangladesh as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries and said coastal areas would face the greatest risks. He also said the problem requires a global solution.

Swapan warned that temperatures could become unsuitable for habitation if people are not conscious about energy use. He urged public cooperation with Forest Department initiatives and called for greater recognition of afforestation and greening. He later visited nurseries participating in the fair, where 50 nurseries from different districts are taking part. The Barishal divisional tree fair will run daily from 9am to 10pm.

Four people were killed when a helicopter crashed on Saturday in the forested mountainous area of Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, authorities told AFP. The victims included three Colombian women from the same family who were visiting the city as tourists. Firefighters said three women and the pilot died after being burned in the crash.

The helicopter went down near the Vista Chinesa area, on a remote and steep mountainside. Firefighters released images showing smoking wreckage. Colombia’s consul general in Rio de Janeiro, Diana Paez, said the three women had travelled to the city with relatives to celebrate a teenager’s 15th birthday.

The six-member family had split into two groups because the helicopter could carry only three passengers at a time. Paez said the teenager’s grandmother, aunt and a cousin were among those killed; her father and his companion were due to take a later flight. Colombia’s consulate assisted Brazilian authorities with identification, which was difficult because of the condition of the bodies. Rio Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere called for stronger safety oversight.

Iran is seeking to end what President Masoud Pezeshkian described as a situation of “neither war nor peace” with the United States through discussions with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. The report, published on August 9, 2026, says shipping through the strategically important waterway remains heavily restricted. Iran and Oman are discussing a possible temporary route for vessels through the strait.

Tehran and Washington remain in a state of severe dispute and tension, with neither side clearly moving toward a long-term settlement. Iran is examining whether diplomacy can create an opportunity to break the impasse. Pezeshkian said the ongoing talks with Oman could help end the deadlock between Tehran and Washington.

Iran has presented demands including the lifting of US sanctions and compensation for wartime damage before reopening Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said reopening the strait depends on several conditions. Security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr said navigation would not resume until the United States changes its conduct, including ending threats, lifting a naval blockade on Iranian ports and releasing blocked Iranian assets. The United States says talks with Tehran have resumed to seek a permanent end to the war.

The 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated LDP chairman Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed for the upcoming presidential election. The decision was made at an alliance meeting held at 11:30am on Sunday, August 9, at the residence of the opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami ameer. National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced the nomination at a subsequent press briefing.

The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman. The party’s secretary general Mia Golam Parwar and 11-party alliance coordinator Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad attended. Other participants included MDP’s Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed, JAGPA’s Rashed Pradhan, Khelafat Majlish’s Mamunul Haque, NCP convener Nahid Islam and Nasiruddin Patwary.

On Saturday evening, August 8, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced its decision to participate in the country’s 23rd presidential election. That decision was taken at a meeting of its central executive council at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The alliance selected Oli Ahmed as its candidate at the following day’s meeting.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight that had been stranded at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome because of a mechanical fault has arrived in Dhaka. The flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital at about 12:30pm on Sunday.

The flight had departed Canada for Dhaka at 5pm local time on Thursday, August 6. A technical problem was detected after it landed in Italy. The disruption caused hardship for 259 passengers at Rome airport, most of whom were Bangladeshi.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said on Saturday that the aircraft could be repaired quickly. A technical team had also been sent from Dhaka to address the fault. The flight later completed its journey from Rome and reached Dhaka.

AKM Saiful Islam Tipu, joint general secretary of the Burichang upazila BNP in Cumilla, has announced rewards for people providing information about drug dealers and drug users. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, he urged residents to help make every union, ward and village in Burichang free from drugs.

Tipu said social resistance against drugs was needed to implement Cumilla-5 lawmaker Haji Md Jasim Uddin’s “zero tolerance” policy. He said informants who provide accurate information leading to assistance in handing a drug dealer over to law-enforcement agencies would receive Tk10,000. Those whose information helps legal action against a drug user would receive Tk5,000.

The Facebook post called on residents to play a courageous and effective role, saying drugs destroy individuals, families and society. It said local people must act responsibly alongside the administration to make Burichang drug-free. However, residents were specifically urged not to detain suspects or enforce the law themselves, and instead to provide information about drug dealers or users to law-enforcement agencies.