Chittagong University’s Islami Chhatra Shibir unit held a reception for students newly admitted in the 2025–26 academic year on Saturday at the Faculty of Social Sciences auditorium. Organizers said nearly 3,000 students joined the event in two sessions, which cost about Tk 2.8 million. The first session included students from science, biological sciences, engineering, marine sciences and business administration, while the second involved social sciences, arts and humanities students.

Students registered online to attend, organizers said. Participants received copies of the Quran, pads, notebooks, pens, various books, T-shirts and framed photographs of the university’s central library. Branch president and Chaksu vice-president Ibrahim Hossain Rony chaired the programme, while branch finance secretary Ishaq Bhuiyan conducted it. Central Islami Chhatra Shibir president Nurul Islam Saddam attended as chief guest.

Speakers stressed improving campus education, resolving student housing shortages and creating a student-friendly environment. Saddam called for ensuring housing at existing universities before establishing new ones and said students should leave halls after completing honours and master’s degrees. Guests also urged new students to focus on studies and develop morality, patriotism and leadership qualities.

Food Minister Afrooza Khanam Rita said no one would be spared if irregularities are found at any food warehouse in Bangladesh. Speaking Saturday after visiting a free medical camp and attending a public reception at Dhankora Girish Chandra High School in Saturia, Manikganj, she said food warehouses in every district would be inspected in phases and those involved in wrongdoing would face immediate legal action.

The minister said the government considers food security and safe food among its major priorities, warning that unsafe food can harm public health. She said storage and management of food grains at warehouses would be closely monitored. An irregularity has already been identified at a food warehouse in Ghior upazila of Manikganj, and necessary legal action has been taken against those concerned.

Rita said the country has adequate food stocks to address disasters or crises, while authorities are also paying special attention to supply systems. She said there is no fertilizer shortage, although distribution coordination gaps may exist in some places, and farmers should not face fertilizer supply problems during the current transplanted aman season. She also said preliminary work, including a feasibility study, has begun for a second Padma Bridge project.

The government has decided to relocate Fulbaria Bus Terminal to Keraniganj as part of a broader plan to ease severe traffic congestion in Dhaka, modernise traffic management and restore order in public transport. The decisions were made at a Saturday meeting at the prime minister’s Tejgaon office, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The plan also includes electronic toll collection at expressway and flyover toll plazas, expansion of Gabtali Bus Terminal and moving Karwan Bazar’s kitchen market to Gabtali.

Because construction of the permanent Keraniganj terminal is a long-term project, an interim bus terminal will be built within four months on 15 acres at the Jhilmil project site. The meeting said moving Fulbaria would reduce pressure from buses and inter-district vehicles in central Dhaka. Necessary land will be acquired through the Local Government Ministry for the permanent project.

Authorities were directed to develop an electronic toll collection app and complete the system within four months. BUET was asked to submit, within 15 days, a new report with recommendations on easing congestion around the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover. The meeting also called for parking options near the Secretariat, a separate policy for autorickshaws and action against unauthorised double-decker sleeper buses.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam urged law students to develop deep knowledge of relevant laws, case facts, investigations and evidence to become effective lawyers. He made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at a criminal trial advocacy workshop titled “The Art of Cross Examination,” organised by the Law Club of Manarat International University at its permanent campus in Ashulia Model Town.

Islam said there is no single fixed formula for effective cross-examination. He stressed that trial lawyers must identify what occurred during each stage of an investigation, locate errors and assess inconsistencies or gaps in evidence. He also advised students to build reasoning, curiosity, professional competence and ethical values, and to observe real court proceedings regularly alongside academic study.

Islam and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Abdur Rob jointly inaugurated the university’s newly built moot court. Students later took part in a mock trial, after which the chief prosecutor reviewed their legal arguments, witness questioning and trial management. The event also recognised students who passed a preparatory class examination for the Bangladesh Judicial Service, while workshop participants received certificates.

Barron Trump, the 20-year-old youngest son of US President Donald Trump, is reportedly living a highly private life under stringent security amid threats and a wider climate of political violence. A person close to the Trump family told The Post that he does not go out, while another source described him as withdrawn. After completing his second year at New York University, Barron spent much of the summer with First Lady Melania Trump at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.

The report says Iranian hardliners recently released a video titled “Where Barron Trump will be killed,” claiming to track his movements and offering a $10 million reward for his killing. Melania Trump was also said to be a target. The article cites multiple attacks or alleged attacks involving Donald Trump since July 2024 and says Barron was deeply affected by the September 2025 killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Melania Trump’s office has asked media outlets to protect Barron’s privacy and avoid publishing details of his personal life. The article says she previously sought an extension of his Secret Service protection, which the Biden administration granted, according to a former official. Security experts said constant protection can safeguard him while reinforcing awareness of potential danger outside.

The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has urged Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia to act cautiously and responsibly on Facebook and other social media platforms. In a notice posted on its Facebook page on Saturday, citing the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, it warned against sharing or promoting provocative or controversial content on international conflicts, including Israel-Palestine and Iran-Israel, that could violate local laws.

The mission said expatriates must comply with the laws of their host country, workplace policies and social-media restrictions. It advised them to respect religious, social and cultural values and use social platforms for family, friends and constructive communication. Users were also urged to verify information before sharing it and to remain alert to unknown people, links, files and messages, as well as fraud and phishing attempts.

The guidance prohibits sharing, liking, commenting on or promoting content tied to terrorism, extremism or banned organisations, along with rumours, misinformation and hate speech. It also advises against prohibited political campaigns, unverified donations, publishing sensitive-site images, exposing personal documents, and engaging with fraudulent job, visa, investment or cryptocurrency offers.

An armed robbery was reported at the home of Saudi expatriate businessman Faridul Alam, a member of Ramu Upazila BNP’s convening committee, in the Chailatali area of Ramu, Cox’s Bazar. Family members said a group of about 12 robbers arrived in a microbus around 2am on Friday, broke down the door and entered the house. They allegedly took gold jewellery, cash and Saudi riyals.

Faridul Alam alleged that the robbers carried guns, pistols, knives and other locally made weapons. He said they threatened family members while searching the home and stole about 18 bhori of gold jewellery, Tk500,000 in cash and 7,000 Saudi riyals. Several people, including a homemaker, were allegedly beaten and injured during the robbery.

Villagers reportedly approached after learning of the robbers’ presence, prompting the group to flee in the microbus. Ramu police visited the scene, and Officer-in-Charge Fazlul Haque said the incident would be investigated to identify those involved and take legal action. Faridul Alam said preparations were under way to file a case.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue said Saturday that Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate officers took control of 10 trucks carrying about 81 tonnes of duplex board imported duty-free under bond facilities. The cargo, imported from India’s Mehali Papers Private Limited in the name of Khulna-based Shree Flexopack Limited, was meant for the company’s Telighati facility in Khulna but was allegedly being prepared for sale in Nayabazar, Old Dhaka.

The trucks had been expected to follow the designated bypass route from Chattogram port through Kanchpur, Signboard, Postogola, the Mawa Expressway and Padma Bridge toward the southwest. Instead, the convoy entered Nayabazar. Customs officers, supported directly and indirectly by RAB-10 and Lalbagh police division, launched the operation following intelligence that bonded paper would be unloaded at a local warehouse.

One truck left the area after detecting officers, and authorities are trying to locate it. Officials are checking cargo quantities, ownership, import and transport records, bond licences and approvals. They will also investigate the intended warehouse recipient, possible wider involvement and potential revenue loss. Legal action may follow if misuse of bond facilities or tax evasion is established.

A former Mujib Killa in Alokdia, Shibaloy has allegedly become a gathering place for drug users and gamblers instead of serving its intended disaster-related purpose. The facility, now called a disaster shelter after a name change following the fall of the Awami League government, was built about five years ago at a cost of nearly Tk7 crore, according to the report.

District disaster and relief office sources said the facility was funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to house livestock during floods and to be used for social events at other times. Local residents reportedly do not know the project’s purpose, while the building has remained largely unused and poorly maintained, with rubbish and damaged items inside.

Alokdia Union Parishad member Motaleb Hossain said he had heard of drug use, gambling and other alleged antisocial activity at the centre. The report said several people were seen using drugs inside. Manikganj district relief, rehabilitation and disaster management officer Lutfar Rahman said the site is no longer called Mujib Killa and is now named a disaster shelter.

Moderna and Merck said their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, showed promising results in a late-stage clinical trial involving more than 1,000 patients. Used after surgery for localized melanoma, the vaccine reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or spread to other parts of the body. Full trial data have not yet been released, but researchers and cancer specialists see the result as a possible breakthrough for patient-specific therapeutic vaccines.

The companies formally partnered on cancer vaccines in 2016, with Merck investing $200 million that year and another $250 million in 2022. The vaccine was used with Keytruda, which helps immune T-cells become active against cancer cells. Researchers say the treatment analyzes a patient’s tumor genetics and trains the immune system to recognize up to 34 cancer targets.

US approval could be possible next year if the vaccine is successfully cleared. Researchers are also examining whether the method can work in cancers with fewer genetic mutations, including lung, kidney and pancreatic cancers. Moderna and Merck are further analyzing melanoma data to improve effectiveness, while Moderna’s chief executive said the current version is not the final version.

Former High Court justice and former chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances Moinul Islam Chowdhury described enforced disappearance as more horrifying than death at a Saturday symposium in the capital. Speaking at the event titled “Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh: A Review,” he said families of disappeared people do not know where their relatives are and remain trapped in prolonged uncertainty.

Chowdhury said death allows families to grieve and complete burial rites, while disappearance leaves them suspended between hope and despair. He said affected families can face social stigma, financial hardship and isolation as they live with unanswered questions about their loved ones.

He said enforced disappearances became widespread during the previous Awami League government, when, in his view, state repression centered on the practice. He said the situation ended through the July movement of 2024. Chowdhury also alleged that the state apparatus often portrayed victims as criminals to justify such actions, while law-enforcement and intelligence officials were dehumanized under high-level instructions to facilitate them.

At least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to the report. Those killed included people targeted in drone attacks. Heavy shelling was heard from the southeastern direction of Gaza City’s Zeitoun area, where preliminary reports said at least three mortar shells were fired.

Loud explosions followed the reported shelling in Zeitoun, with plumes of smoke seen in the sky. Five of the six deaths occurred yesterday. Three people killed in Khan Younis were members of the same family, while several others were killed in separate attacks in Gaza City.

Several people injured in the attacks received treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital. A fragile ceasefire is currently in place in Gaza, but concerns remain over whether it can endure as Israel is reported to continue violating its terms. Various reports have claimed that more than 4,700 violations by Israel have occurred since the ceasefire took effect.

A Russian drone strike on a warehouse in Mila, west of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, killed at least 27 people, according to the source. The attack triggered a fire at the facility, followed by a series of explosions. Ukrainian prosecutors said they believe explosive materials had been stored at the site.

Kyiv regional governor Timur Tkachenko said the death toll could rise. Among those killed was Taras Didych, the mayor of Dmytrivska village. The source did not provide a date for the attack or further details about the people injured.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Investigators are examining whether storing explosive materials at the warehouse was legal and whether the relevant organization had the required permits. The report comes as Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range strikes on each other’s territory in recent months.

National Parliament Whip and Natore-2 MP Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu accused the Awami League of turning Bangladesh into an “empty basket” during what he described as 17 years of misrule and then fleeing to India. He made the remarks on Saturday at about 11 a.m. during a cheque-distribution event for development institutions and poor patients at the Natore District Council premises.

Dulu alleged that major projects during the Awami League period were undertaken to enable party leaders, activists and relatives of Sheikh Hasina to loot public money. He claimed that funds were embezzled and transferred abroad, and said people who steal government money would be sent to jail. He also alleged that Awami League-linked figures were spreading misinformation from a neighbouring country.

He said there would be no place for terrorists or extortionists in Natore, and pledged to establish a medical college and university there and arrange jobs for educated unemployed youth. The event was chaired by District Council administrator and district BNP convener Rahim Newaz, with local officials and BNP leaders among the speakers.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has again rejected the framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel, saying his Iran-backed group will not surrender. In a Friday speech broadcast by Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television, nearly six months after the war began, Qassem called for the agreement to be cancelled.

The US-mediated direct talks produced a framework deal in late June. It provides for Hezbollah’s disarmament, a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and deployment of the Lebanese army there, initially in designated “pilot areas.” Qassem described the deal as illegal, humiliating and destructive to Lebanese sovereignty, rejecting both the pilot-area arrangement and any proposed verification mechanism.

A Lebanese official said after talks in Rome earlier this month that there was agreement on a shortlist of possible countries to oversee implementation in the pilot areas, where the Lebanese army would remove Hezbollah infrastructure. Another round of talks is expected in early September, though no date has been announced. Lebanon reported Israeli air strikes in the south on Friday, including in Nabatieh, while Israeli forces remain in a self-declared security zone up to about 10 kilometres inside Lebanese territory.