Police in Faridganj, Chandpur, said they arrested fugitive convict Md Masudul Karim, also known as ‘Killer Masud’, during an operation in Chattogram’s Double Mooring area. The arrest was reported on August 19, 2026. Police said he had received a 14-year sentence in an arms case filed at Faridganj police station and had remained in hiding.

According to Faridganj police, a team led by ASI Jumayet Hossain Jewel and ASI Masudul Haque traced his location using information technology. With assistance from local police, the team conducted the operation in Double Mooring. Police said Karim also faces arrest warrants in several cases.

Karim is the son of the late Abdul Halim Bhuiyan of Purba Larua village in Char Dukhia West union, Faridganj. Police and local residents said he was once known as a close associate of Dhaka criminal Pichchi Hannan. He is being held by Faridganj police and is expected to be taken to court on Thursday after legal procedures.

The International Criminal Court condemned the Trump administration’s sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Sey as a public attack on the court’s independence. In a statement issued Wednesday, the court said the measures directly target an impartial judicial institution and undermine the rule of law by targeting judges, prosecutors and staff. Akane, a Japanese judge, has served as ICC president since her election in March 2024, while Sey is a Senegalese national and senior court lawyer.

Washington described the ICC as corrupt and severely politicized. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctioned individuals were directly involved in ICC efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or try officials of countries that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction, without giving specific examples. The latest measures follow earlier US sanctions against ICC officials connected to the court’s investigation and actions involving Israel.

Japan and the European Union opposed the sanctions. Tokyo said it supports the ICC’s work to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes and uphold the rule of law. EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said ICC officials must be able to work independently without external pressure. The sanctions bar the designated individuals from entering the United States and using its financial system.

Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain has been removed as inspector general of prisons and returned to the army. His service has been placed under the Armed Forces Division, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday. No new official has yet been assigned to the post.

The notification said the army officer was being recalled from his current deputation position and his service placed with the Armed Forces Division. Motaher Hossain was appointed inspector general of prisons on deputation on 11 August, amid the political transition following 5 August 2024.

The Prisons Directorate’s media cell said the transfer back to the army was made under an order of the Ministry of Public Administration. It described the move as a regular process and said there was no scope for confusion over the matter.

Excelerate Energy’s floating LNG terminal at Maheshkhali stopped supplying gas from Wednesday afternoon after its LNG inventory was exhausted, according to the report published on August 19, 2026. Gas is currently being supplied to the national grid from Summit’s LNG terminal, which remains operational.

Petrobangla data showed total national gas supply at 2,289 million cubic feet at noon on Wednesday, including 1,628 million cubic feet from domestic wells and 661 million cubic feet from LNG. By 6pm, LNG supply had fallen to 562 million cubic feet, while domestic gas supply was about 1,627 million cubic feet. Total gas flow into the national transmission line consequently declined to 2,189 million cubic feet.

An official of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited said the final LNG stock at Excelerate’s terminal ran out around 2:40pm Wednesday, after which supply stopped. Officials said the main cause was a shortage of LNG cargoes. Confusion had earlier arisen over boiler repairs: Excelerate initially said activation would take 72 hours, then said the boiler was operational, but insufficient LNG stocks prevented continued supply.

Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin has called for making a September 5 long march from Dhaka to Chattogram successful. He made the appeal at a conference of Jamaat’s Dhaka North thana amirs on Wednesday evening at the party’s metropolitan north office in Baridhara, Dhaka. The programme was announced by an alliance of 11 parties.

Selim Uddin said the march seeks implementation of the referendum verdict, trials of those responsible for genocide, and a non-discriminatory Bangladesh. Addressing the government, he said it must accept the public mandate. He said Jamaat wants the government to complete its term, but warned that ignoring public opinion and causing public dissatisfaction could prevent it from remaining in power.

He also told BNP leaders that reforms have no alternative for saving the country and said they could face public dissatisfaction without visible action to implement the referendum verdict and ensure swift trials. Organisers formed committees and assigned responsibilities to ensure peaceful, orderly and successful participation in the march, which is set to begin at Shapla Chattar and proceed to Chattogram.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said all kindergarten schools operating without registration in Bangladesh will be closed by 2028 if they do not obtain registration within the stipulated period. He made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon in Chattogram after a daylong workshop on transformation and action planning for primary education at the PTI conference hall.

Hajjaj said the initiative is intended to improve the quality of primary education and bring the institutions under government rules and regulations. The government is also working to address staffing shortages at educational institutions, he said, as part of broader efforts to improve primary education.

He said a new integrated policy for primary teachers is being prepared. The policy will include provisions on teachers’ promotions, salary structure and scope of responsibilities, aiming to better align their professional facilities and duties. The workshop, organized by the Directorate of Primary Education’s Chattogram division, was attended by 300 primary education officials from the division, with Hajjaj as chief guest.

RAB says it has arrested the alleged mastermind behind the robbery of Tk 12.125 million from a DL Filling Station cash vehicle near Crown Plaza in Dhaka’s Airport area on August 9. The agency’s Legal and Media Wing Director, Wing Commander M Z M Entekhab Chowdhury, provided the information on Wednesday night. RAB also said it detained 12 people during an operation against alleged public extortion at a fruit market in Kamalpara, under Turag police station.

Armed assailants on three motorcycles stopped the cash-carrying covered van while it was travelling to deposit money at a bank. They allegedly injured filling-station official Mohammad Al Amin with a sharp weapon after he refused to hand over the money, then fled toward Abdullahpur with the cash bag. A case was filed with Airport police station, and law-enforcement agencies collected nearby CCTV footage.

Earlier, the Detective Branch said it arrested five people and recovered Tk 1.2 million, along with fake RAB identity cards, vests, walkie-talkies, handcuffs and firearms. DB said at least eight people were directly involved. RAB did not immediately disclose the newly arrested suspect’s identity, evidence recovered or specific role, saying details would be provided at a Thursday briefing.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s former secretary general and presidential candidate, became emotional and cried several times while delivering a farewell address to the party’s parliamentary group on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, was held in the government party meeting room at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and lasted about an hour and a half. Fakhrul asked party lawmakers to pray for him and vote for him in Thursday’s presidential election.

Fakhrul recalled late BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, while thanking Tarique Rahman. He apologised for any mistakes or unintended hurt during his years serving as senior joint secretary general, acting secretary general and secretary general. He said he would protect the honour and responsibility given by the party and would not compromise on national independence and sovereignty.

Tarique Rahman called the day historic, urged lawmakers to elect Fakhrul and stressed unity and discipline. He also warned MPs against losing contact with local party members ahead of local government elections, which he said would be held without party symbols.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry has formed a two-member committee to investigate allegations of irregularities against the current board of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, or REHAB. The committee was formed on Wednesday and has been instructed to complete its investigation and submit a report within 15 working days. Deputy Secretary Abdul Malek will convene the committee, while Deputy Secretary Mohammad Abdus Sadeq of the Central Digital Commerce Cell will serve as a member.

REHAB Vice-President Mohammad Akhtar Biswas and 10 other board members submitted an application to the director general of the Trade Organisations Wing on July 26. The application made 12 allegations, including financial irregularities, against REHAB President Ali Afzal and Senior Vice-President Abdur Razzak.

Joint Secretary Mostafa Jamal Haider held a hearing at the Commerce Ministry on July 30. Following the hearing, REHAB’s annual general meeting was postponed for 30 days, and the president was advised to discuss the complaints with the complainants within 15 days. The AGM scheduled for August 1 at Radisson Hotel was not held, while the August 12-15 summer housing fair was also temporarily postponed.

Authorities in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, demolished more than half of the 59-year-old Arabia Zia-ul-Uloom Madrasa in Pipra Ramlal village on Tuesday. Seven rooms, a shop and half of a hall at the roughly 14,000-square-foot institution were razed. The administration said part of the madrasa had been built on encroached government land and that the operation followed a court order.

Five village residents filed a 2022 petition seeking removal of alleged encroachment. A tehsildar court ordered eviction in 2023, and madrasa caretaker Abdul Salam challenged that ruling before the district magistrate. On August 14, 2026, the district magistrate upheld the earlier order and dismissed the madrasa’s petition. Officials said a notice was issued and demolition proceeded after the alleged encroachment was not removed within the stipulated time.

The operation began around 7 a.m. under senior local officials, with about 100 police personnel from five police stations deployed. Samajwadi Party lawmaker Syeda Khatun and other party workers protested, while Aam Aadmi Party and Congress figures criticized the action. Officials said about 400 children studied at the madrasa.

Bangladesh may see rainfall increase again nationwide between August 21 and 24 as the monsoon remains active, the Meteorological Department said. A land depression has weakened into a well-marked low over Jharkhand and adjoining Bihar in India and may merge with the monsoon trough, limiting its direct impact on Bangladesh.

Rainfall may ease somewhat on Thursday as the low weakens, although parts of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions could receive comparatively heavier rain. Elsewhere, isolated light to moderate rain or thundershowers with gusty winds are forecast. Recent rain caused waterlogging in low-lying areas of Chattogram, where 189 millimetres was recorded in 24 hours up to the morning of August 17, including 109 millimetres in the final three hours.

Authorities have withdrawn local cautionary signal number 3 at Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra ports as Bay conditions have become calmer. Vessels have nevertheless been advised to operate cautiously. Forecasters said rain could lower daytime temperatures after a recent rise and warned people in Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal and Khulna to remain alert for heavy rainfall.

Pakistan’s government has filed a review petition challenging a Supreme Court order to transfer jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for examination and treatment. The Islamabad administration submitted the petition on August 19, following the court’s August 18 directive. The court ordered a specialist medical board, including Khan’s personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan, to assess him.

The government said the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, prescribe a defined procedure for taking prisoners outside jail for hospital care, and argued that procedure was not properly followed. It also contended that the court exceeded its jurisdiction. Authorities said Khan is receiving regular treatment and examinations through a medical board, with no evidence of a physical deterioration requiring special transfer to a private hospital.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the government does not oppose necessary treatment for Khan and will ensure care under the law and prison manual. The court also sought Khan’s complete medical record, weekly family meetings and twice-weekly calls with his two sons. The next hearing is scheduled for September 16.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission held an online public hearing on telecommunications services and regulatory activities on Wednesday at its Agargaon headquarters in Dhaka. The hearing brought together customers, service providers, stakeholders and media representatives to raise concerns over service quality, network coverage, call drops, internet speed and prices, mobile data and voice charges, and customer service. BTRC said it is working to reduce the floor price for voice calls, currently set between 45 paisa and Tk2.

A total of 2,990 customers registered online between July 17 and 27, including 1,047 professionals, 638 students and 172 women. The largest number of submissions concerned tariffs, data speed and validity, data carry-forward, network coverage, SIM registration, NEIR, licences and service quality. BTRC said Teletalk is continuing network expansion, including in remote and difficult areas, through various projects.

The regulator said regular measurements found mobile-tower electromagnetic radiation well below national and international safety limits. It has also created a platform to monitor whether mobile towers are operating during power outages and issue instructions to operators. From July 2025 to June 2026, BTRC received 13,009 complaints and resolved 11,279, or 86.70 percent.

The government has directed all universities and other educational institutions in Bangladesh to observe Eid-e-Miladunnabi on August 26. The day will be marked with due dignity and religious solemnity, according to the announcement published on August 19, 2026.

Institutions have been instructed to arrange discussions on the life and works of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), as well as Islam’s messages of peace, progress, harmony, tolerance, global brotherhood, human rights and women’s dignity. The directive also calls for prayer gatherings, hamd and naat performances, recitations of original poetry, cultural competitions and quiz contests.

District Shilpakala Academies, Shishu Academies, other cultural institutions, the Islamic Foundation, the Office of the Waqf Administrator, and Hajj offices in Dhaka and Jeddah will follow the same programme. As part of the state programme, divisional, district and upazila administrations, city corporations, municipalities and the Armed Forces Division will organize discussion meetings and prayer gatherings within their respective jurisdictions.

Bangladesh Bank has authorized Rupali Bank to release the remaining $3,197,561 from an approved foreign-currency syndicated loan to S Alam Group affiliate SS Power-1 Limited and to open new letters of credit. The central bank issued the notification on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after previously permitting the company to open LCs on Sunday.

The notification, signed by Deputy Governor Md Kabir Ahmad, invokes powers under Section 121 of the Bank Company Act, 1991. It says Section 27ka(3) of the law will not apply to the loan disbursement and LC opening for SS Power-1. That provision ordinarily prevents a group entity from receiving new credit or credit facilities when the group is a loan defaulter.

Bangladesh Bank said neither the government nor the central bank will assume liability for any loan or financing provided under the facility. Lending banks or financial institutions will not be able to seek future financial support from the government or Bangladesh Bank against such loans. The source also cites allegations that S Alam Group took control of seven banks and one financial institution and borrowed heavily under various names.