A youth-led movement known as the “Cockroach Janata Party,” or CJP, has emerged as a new political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP in India, analysts say. After seven weeks of protests, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. The BJP also lost two of three by-elections held in the first week of August, including the Bankipur seat in Bihar, which it had held for nearly three decades.

The movement grew from youth anger over unemployment, leaked job-exam papers and the education system. It began as a satirical Instagram platform in May, prompted by a comment from India’s chief justice, and later became a symbol for student and youth protests spreading beyond Delhi to cities across India. Participants have included young people from different religions, castes and social classes, including upper-caste Hindu youth identified as BJP supporters.

The BJP has responded with videos by Modi and new social-media outreach efforts, including a special youth contact programme in Uttar Pradesh. Analysts say such campaigns have often drawn criticism and mockery, while older tactics of portraying protesters as anti-national or foreign-funded have been less effective. They caution that the movement has not immediately weakened BJP power, but say youth grievances could become a major political issue.

US Democratic Senator Jackie Rosen has called for Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to resign after he allegedly encouraged the killing of 30 to 40 people each night during Israel’s military operation in Gaza. In a report published on August 17, 2026, Rosen described Ben-Gvir’s remarks as “horrific and completely unacceptable.”

In a Monday post on social media platform X, Rosen said people who advocate violence against innocent civilians should not hold public office. She said Ben-Gvir should therefore resign. The reported comments were made recently in a podcast, where Ben-Gvir allegedly urged the killing of 30 to 40 people nightly in Gaza.

Rosen also called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn Ben-Gvir’s comments. She said Netanyahu should make clear to the world that such statements do not represent the Israeli government’s position. The report said Ben-Gvir’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism and intensified calls for his resignation.

Iran said its memorandum of understanding with the United States contained no mandatory 60-day deadline. At a news conference in Tehran on August 17, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the document envisaged starting discussions on the nuclear issue within that period, rather than imposing a fixed deadline.

According to Tehran, the memorandum set aside 60 days for talks on two matters: sanctions removal and the nuclear issue. It also allowed for an extension if no result was reached during that time. Baghaei accused the United States of violating the memorandum from the outset, saying Washington committed broad and serious breaches within weeks of its signing on June 18.

Baghaei said no discussions began because of the alleged US violations, making questions about a 60-day limit irrelevant. Iran said it does not determine policy under pressure, threats or deadlines, and would decide based on national interests and circumstances. He also said US concerns now center on the Strait of Hormuz and that Washington should withdraw quickly.

A Royal Cox Transport sleeper coach caught fire after a collision on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Eliotগঞ্জ in Daudkandi, Cumilla. The incident occurred near the Reliable CNG filling station at about 4:30am on Monday. The bus was travelling from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka, and all passengers were able to get off and move to safety, preventing major casualties.

Police and witnesses said the bus, travelling in the Dhaka-bound lane, struck a vehicle ahead of it, damaging its front section. Police said the fire subsequently originated from a gas cylinder. The blaze spread rapidly and eventually engulfed the entire bus. Eliotগঞ্জ Highway Police went to the scene after receiving information and moved passengers to a safe place.

Sub-Inspector Md Faruk Islam of Eliotগঞ্জ Highway Police said there were no significant casualties, but the driver and staff fled the scene. The damaged bus has been taken into police custody. Traffic on the highway is currently normal, while police are investigating the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

Police detained two women on 15 August while they were attempting to pay respects at Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait at Dhaka’s 32 Number residence. One was Suma Baral, also known as Dolly, from Kurmani village in Chitalmari, Bagerhat. Discussion about her identity intensified after a video showed her crying while embracing a demolished Mujib sculpture, which she posted on Facebook.

The report identifies Baral as the daughter of late freedom fighter Pratul Kumar Baral and Sadhana Baral. She is the youngest of two sisters and one brother. She completed secondary education at Chitalmari Hasina Begum Girls’ School and a degree at Bagerhat Khanjahan Ali College, and is now studying law in Dhaka. She is unmarried and lives with her brother.

Later that night, Baral and another woman, Jannatul Ferdous, known as Jannat, faced public hostility while seeking to place flowers at the portrait and were taken to a police station. A case has reportedly been filed against them at Dhanmondi Model Police Station. Some people labelled them workers of the banned Chhatra League, while Baral’s brother Liton said their family has no affiliation with any political party.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Allama Mamunul Haque held a courtesy meeting with Iraq’s chargé d’affaires at the Iraqi Embassy in Dhaka, following an invitation from the mission. The meeting took place at 11am on Monday, August 17. Participants discussed the historical and friendly relationship between Bangladesh and Iraq, along with matters of mutual interest.

The exchange focused particularly on ways to strengthen and expand cooperation in education, trade, economic affairs and communication between the two countries. The participants also stressed the importance of deepening the existing cordial relationship and mutual cooperation between the peoples of Bangladesh and Iraq.

They further exchanged views on creating new opportunities for cooperation in different fields and increasing bilateral contacts in the future. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Joint Secretary General Mawlana Ataullah Amin attended the meeting. Farid Khan, foreign affairs secretary of the Ameer-e-Majlis, was also present.

Air India has removed two more pilots from flying duties after their preliminary drug-test results came back positive, according to a report published on August 17, 2026. The airline said the pilots were taken off operational responsibilities as a precaution while final test reports remain pending.

The expanded testing followed an August 4 incident involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi. Shortly before landing in Delhi, the aircraft experienced severe turbulence and descended about 300 feet, injuring 11 passengers and four crew members. Air India said none of the injuries was serious. During the investigation, one pilot tested positive for psychoactive substances, with evidence of cannabis use and sleeping medication also detected.

That pilot said insufficient rest time in the duty roster had led to the use of sleeping medication. Air India subsequently made drug testing mandatory for all pilots and has tested about 300 so far. Final results for the two newly identified pilots are expected within 24 to 48 hours. The airline reportedly will not take further action before confirmation, but strict measures may follow if drug use is verified.

Bangladesh Bank has set a Tk60,000 crore lending target for banks in the agriculture and rural sectors for fiscal year 2026-27. Governor Md Mostakur Rahman announced the agriculture and rural credit policy and programme at the central bank’s Jahangir Alam Conference Hall on August 17. The target is 53.85 percent higher than the Tk39,000 crore target set in the previous fiscal year.

State-owned commercial and specialised banks have been assigned Tk20,495 crore, while private and foreign commercial banks have been assigned Tk39,505 crore. The revised policy allows certifications from local agriculture extension, fisheries and livestock officers to be used as information for obtaining farmer cards. It also relaxes the prescribed membership limit for farmer groups and provides rural lending guidance for farmers involved in income-generating crop and cultivation activities.

The policy prioritises women and marginal farmers for loans up to Tk5 lakh in fisheries and livestock and advises use of alternative collateral instead of land or immovable property. It adds hatchery fry production, poultry chick production and camel rearing to agricultural lending. Bangladesh Bank said the financing should support food production, employment, rural incomes and inflation control.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged continued support for Syria, Gaza and Lebanon to help establish stability in the Middle East. In an interview with Al Jazeera published on August 17, 2026, he said Turkey would maintain its support for Palestine and that he plans to visit Syria. The interview marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party.

On Syria, Erdogan said Turkey has been providing all forms of assistance to establish peace and stability following the fall of the Assad government. Turkish ambassador Nuh Yilmaz said he hopes Erdogan may visit Damascus before the end of this year. Discussing Gaza, Erdogan accused Israel of failing to comply with ceasefire terms and said Hamas had fulfilled its commitments sincerely.

Erdogan also expressed deep concern over Israel's continuing attacks in Lebanon, saying he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump. He referred to the recently signed Mecca joint defence agreement involving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, saying Egypt could join in the future. The three countries plan to expand political and military cooperation under the agreement.

Dhaka South City Corporation has relieved a revenue department official of his duties over allegations that traders were harassed and money was improperly taken during trade licence issuance and renewal. Mostofa Nuruddin Ahmmed, licence and advertisement supervisor at the miscellaneous collection branch of Zone 4, was asked to submit a written explanation within three working days on why administrative and legal action should not be taken against him.

The allegations were raised at an August 16 discussion jointly organised by DSCC and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mohammad Ali Bhutto, president of Moulvibazar Business Association, alleged that during an on-the-spot trade licence renewal camp on June 23 and 24, the official took cash from traders on the assurance that 22 trade licences would be renewed.

According to the complaint, the licences had still not been renewed more than one and a half months after the money was taken. Bhutto also alleged that the official delayed and evaded the matter when contacted by phone. DSCC Administrator freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam ordered immediate strict action after hearing the allegation. Chief Revenue Officer Jonaed Kabir Sohag said further legal action would follow after the official's show-cause reply is received.

Maulana Sayyid Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and senior teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband, rejected descriptions of Muslims as terrorists during a special Independence Day event at Qasemi Maidan in Deoband on August 15. He said no one had the right to label Muslims terrorists and asserted that those attempting to eliminate Islam had themselves been destroyed, while Islam would endure.

Madani described India’s independence and democracy as great blessings and called for resisting any effort to undermine the country’s secular foundation. He said India’s freedom struggle could not be fully written or understood without the sacrifices of Darul Uloom Deoband, religious scholars, madrasas and Muslims. He cited the establishment of Darul Uloom Deoband in 1866 after the mass killings of 1857.

He alleged that efforts were under way to distort the history of the independence movement and associate madrasas with terrorism. Referring to the Reshmi Rumal movement and the imprisonment of scholars in Malta, Madani highlighted clerical resistance to British rule. He also said communal forces were seeking to remove the word “secular” from India’s constitution and could not erase the sacrifices of scholars and Muslims.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government will announce and implement a new pay scale within the current year. He made the remarks to journalists on Monday afternoon after a meeting on the pay scale at the Finance Ministry. The minister said the government is working on the new structure and discussions on different aspects are continuing.

Chowdhury said more detailed discussion is needed on the pay scale, and the relevant authorities will meet again. He said the government is considering all matters related to announcing the pay scale with great importance. The minister also gave assurance that the new pay scale would be implemented on time.

He said the government would formally present the pay scale after reaching a final and comprehensive decision. Detailed information will be disclosed by the government only after that decision is made. The finance minister asked everyone to remain patient while the discussions continue and the full decision is completed.

International Crimes Tribunal-2 has reserved its verdict in a crimes-against-humanity case against banned Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader and six other accused over alleged genocide during the July Revolution. The verdict may be delivered on any day, according to the tribunal's order issued on Monday afternoon.

A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury issued the order after the prosecution and defence completed their arguments. The other members of the panel were Judge Md Manjurul Bashid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The other accused are banned Awami League joint general secretary A F M Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Juba League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil. Banned Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain and general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan are also accused in the case.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said the government’s first 180-day “honeymoon period” after taking office has ended, and problems across the education sector have been identified. He said the government is now placing emphasis on resolving those issues. Milon made the remarks while speaking at the QS Bangladesh Forum 2026 on Monday, August 17.

The minister questioned why QS ratings should remain limited to universities in developed countries. He said Bangladesh’s universities could have achieved better positions if universities from SAARC member countries were included in the ratings. He also raised questions over the lack of PhD programmes at private universities in the country despite many years having passed, asking why no effective initiative had been taken.

Milon expressed concern about research capacity at Bangladeshi universities. He said many talented researchers are applying their knowledge and skills to development and research abroad, while Bangladesh has failed to identify and use them effectively at home. The government is working to strengthen university research capacity, use talented researchers domestically, and improve education and research standards, he said.

Several hundred school students in Debiganj, Panchagarh, took a red-card pledge against drug use, juvenile crime and the misuse of smartphones. The programme was held on Monday morning, August 17, 2026, at Nripendra Narayan Government High School মাঠ in Debiganj upazila. Lal Sabuj Unnayan Sangha, a volunteer organisation run through savings from tiffin money, organised the event.

At a discussion meeting on juvenile crime and drugs, students were administered pledges aimed at building character and preventing social degradation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Indrajit Saha, the chief guest, led the pledge for students to avoid drugs, juvenile crime and smartphone misuse. Head teacher GM Rahul Amin chaired the programme.

Police Inspector (Investigation) Prabir Sarkar, organisation founder and central president Kawsar Alam Sohel, and Wasim Akram also spoke. Sohel said the organisation has worked for 15 years in all 64 districts and has encouraged about 4.5 million students through awareness activities. Saha described the initiative as commendable and called for collective efforts to keep the younger generation away from social degradation and crime.