The U.S. has announced a staggering increase in H-1B visa application fees, raising the cost to $100,000 per applicant—a 60-fold jump—under a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The revised fee takes effect from Sunday. India, whose nationals account for over 70% of all H-1B visas issued in 2024, has strongly criticized the decision, calling it a matter of “deep humanitarian concern” that would cause severe disruption to family lives. “The exchange of skilled professionals between India and the United States is mutually beneficial. We hope policymakers consider the foundation of our bilateral ties when making such decisions,” India’s statement read. Meanwhile, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is set to depart for Washington on Monday for discussions with U.S. counterparts.

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam has instructed all Puja committees across the country to deploy seven guards at each mandap to ensure security until law enforcement forces are stationed. Starting Wednesday, members of police, RAB, and Ansar will be deployed nationwide to oversee festival safety. “This year, the number of security personnel has been increased to guarantee a peaceful Durga Puja. We do not foresee any major risks, but the government remains alert to prevent untoward incidents,” Jahangir said. He also touched on cross-border issues, noting that drugs enter Bangladesh from neighboring countries, while rice and fertilizer are smuggled out. “The Arakan Army thrives on drug trade, but compared to before, more consignments are being seized. The government is working hard to eliminate the drug menace,” he added. Addressing agricultural concerns, Jahangir warned that farmers are not getting fair prices for potatoes. If this continues, they may refrain from cultivating potatoes next year, leading to price hikes.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has emphasized that the decision on whether Bangladesh’s next general election should be held under the Proportional Representation (PR) system or the existing electoral system must be made by political parties, not the government. “The government should keep its position minimal on this matter,” Shafiqul stated during the release of a survey conducted by Innovation on the upcoming national election. The survey revealed that 56% of respondents had no knowledge of the PR system, while 21.8% favored PR and 22.2% opposed it. A total of 10,413 people participated in the survey. Significantly, 69.9% of respondents expressed confidence that an interim government could ensure a fair election. However, religious minority groups appeared comparatively less optimistic about the ability of an interim administration to oversee free and impartial polls.

Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has assured that school students will receive their new textbooks by January this year. He confirmed that the list of printing contractors will be finalized within this month, adding that those previously accused of irregularities in the textbook printing process will not be awarded contracts this time. Addressing broader issues, the adviser also announced that the government has approved the procurement of vaccines. He noted that negotiations with UNICEF are aimed at reducing commission costs, and that vaccines for the next three months will be sourced through competitive bidding.

A U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter has crashed during a routine training flight in Washington state, killing four members of the Special Operations aviation unit. According to military officials, the downed MH-60 Black Hawk was carrying four soldiers—all from the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment—who were killed in the crash. In a statement issued Friday, Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga extended condolences to the families, friends, and comrades of the fallen soldiers. Rescue operations remain underway at the crash site, though authorities confirmed that the names of the deceased will not be disclosed immediately.

A mild earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale shook Sylhet city and surrounding areas at 12:19 p.m. on Sunday. The tremor’s epicenter was in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj, about 185 kilometers from Dhaka. Witnesses reported brief shaking that prompted many to rush out of homes and offices in alarm. Authorities confirmed there were no casualties or damage. Quakes of this magnitude are generally considered minor, though they can cause cracks in weak structures and trigger public panic.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is planning to introduce 10 additional metro rail trips daily, potentially serving 23,000 more passengers. Under the new schedule, operations will begin at 6:00 a.m. and extend past 10:00 p.m. Currently, around 350,000–400,000 people ride the metro daily, but capacity remains limited as extra coaches have yet to be deployed. The first new passenger trip will run early morning from a “sweeping train,” reserved for MRT and Rapid Pass holders. Six new trips will be added at night, with trains departing Uttara at 9:10, 9:20, and 9:30 p.m., and from Motijheel at 9:50, 10:00, and 10:10 p.m.

Reports claiming that the United Arab Emirates has extended its visa ban on Bangladesh and eight other Asian and African countries are false, the Bangladesh Embassy confirmed Sunday. The misleading story originated from a private website, “UAE Visa Online,” which cited a supposed immigration circular. Ambassador Tareq Ahmed clarified that no such ban exists and said the embassy would verify the matter with UAE authorities after the weekend. He suggested the report might have been a deliberate attempt by the visa-processing site to mislead applicants.

A delegation of senior Bangladeshi clerics, led by Maulana Mamunul Haque, met Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi during a recent visit to Kabul. Muttaqi expressed optimism about future ties, noting significant trade potential in Afghanistan’s cotton, carpet, dry fruit, and marble sectors. He revealed that a Bangladeshi business delegation is scheduled to visit Kabul on September 30. While Afghanistan has already established official ties with most countries, Bangladesh has yet to take that step. Muttaqi urged the clerics to encourage Dhaka to engage formally. The delegation welcomed the call, with Maulana Abdul Hamid describing the visit as “a new beginning.” They also invited Muttaqi to attend Bangladesh’s upcoming Khatme Nabuwwat Conference.

BNP leader Fazlu Rahman has urged his party to firmly uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, warning that otherwise another political force—not necessarily the Awami League—would fill that role. Speaking on Saturday, Fazlu said Awami League often claims sole ownership of the Liberation War, but history tells a more complex story. He cited Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s alliance with Maulana Bhashani and criticized Jamaat-e-Islami’s collusion with Pakistan’s General Tikka Khan during the 1971 atrocities. Responding to criticism of his past speeches, he said, “I may make mistakes—I am human. But if my words were indecent, why would your TV channel invite me to speak?”

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has recovered 23 sacks of documents tied to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s alleged money laundering and overseas assets. Officials said the documents were secretly moved from Aramit Group’s facilities to a neighbor’s house by Chowdhury’s driver just ahead of an ACC raid on September 18. They were finally seized early Sunday. Preliminary review suggests Chowdhury owns 582 properties in the UK, USA, Dubai, and Singapore, along with additional assets in India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The documents reportedly include evidence of foreign currency laundering. The ACC said a detailed investigation will take time, after which verified findings will be formally presented.

Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has called on Saudi Arabia to join forces against Israeli aggression. His remarks came after fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday. Hezbollah indicated a willingness to rebuild ties with Riyadh, emphasizing dialogue, resolving past disputes, and identifying Israel as a common enemy. Relations between Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia soured in 2016 when the Gulf Cooperation Council designated the Iran-backed group as a terrorist organization. However, shifting geopolitics in the Middle East may now open the door to rapprochement.

At least 91 Palestinians were killed within 24 hours in Gaza as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment. Among the dead were five family members of Dr. Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital. Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a “bloody terrorist message” aimed at forcing medical professionals to flee Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has reportedly killed 1,700 healthcare workers and detained another 400. Israeli forces are pushing to seize Gaza City, driving residents toward what they call “concentration zones” in the south. According to Palestinian Civil Defense, nearly 450,000 people have fled Gaza since August, while more than 20 high-rise buildings have been destroyed in just the last two weeks.

The United Kingdom may formally recognize Palestine as an independent state this Sunday afternoon, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to make the announcement. The Starmer administration had earlier signaled in July that recognition would be considered if Israel failed to commit to a ceasefire in Gaza and to a long-term peace framework under a two-state solution. Tel Aviv has strongly criticized the move. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such recognition would “reward terrorism.” Meanwhile, France, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and Luxembourg have already declared their intention to recognize Palestine.

In Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila, more than a hundred leaders and activists of the Ganadhikar Parishad have announced their resignation, citing widespread irregularities and what they termed as “committee trading.” At a press conference, the disgruntled members alleged that both central and district committees were engaging in misconduct, favoritism, and violations of party discipline. They accused senior leaders of inducting unqualified individuals into local committees in exchange for money, without following any rules. Such practices, they said, have tarnished their image locally and caused significant harm to grassroots activists. The mass resignation was announced in the presence of Dimla upazila Ganadhikar Parishad president Rezaul Karim, general secretary Masud Rana, and nearly a hundred other members.