Bangladesh High Performance defeated Northern Territory Strike by three wickets in the ongoing Top End T20 series in Darwin, Australia, securing a semifinal place. Off-spinner Mohammad Rubel delivered the decisive bowling performance, taking five wickets for 21 runs as Northern Territory finished on 143 for nine in 20 overs.

Bangladesh HP chased the target of 144 with 10 balls remaining. Sabbir Rahman top-scored with 47 from 37 balls, including two boundaries and a six, before Samiyun Bashir struck 17 from eight balls late in the innings. Abdul Gaffar Saklain hit the boundary that sealed the win.

The result was Bangladesh HP’s second successive victory and their fifth win in six matches, taking them to the top of the table with 10 points. Rubel has now claimed 20 wickets in six matches in the tournament. For Northern Territory, Jordan Silk made 31, Matt Hammond scored 26 and Kale McMahon contributed 25. Bangladesh HP will play their semifinal at the same venue the day after tomorrow.

Nepal police say 575 foreign nationals from 36 countries remain unaccounted for after flooding in the country. The latest figure marks an increase in the number of missing foreign citizens, while 149 Nepali citizens are also still missing, according to police information cited in the report.

About six hours earlier, the number of missing foreign nationals had been reported as 537. The updated total is therefore 38 higher over that short period. Indian nationals make up the largest group of missing foreigners, with 183 people unaccounted for.

The other reported nationalities include 65 US citizens, 62 Ukrainian citizens and 33 British citizens. The report does not provide further details on the flooding, the locations of those missing, or search and rescue efforts.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s first Game Development Trophy began today with Bangladesh Under-19 defeating the Under-17 side by 246 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. After winning the toss and batting first, the Under-19 team made 329 for eight in 43 overs before bowling out the Under-17s for 83 in 29.1 overs.

Openers Jarif Siam and Mohammad Abdullah Al Muhi gave the Under-19s a rapid start, adding 43 runs in 3.5 overs. Jarif scored 99 from 76 balls, while Ahsan Ullah made 67 from 65 balls after coming in at number three. Farid Hasan Faisal added a brisk 62 from 53 balls late in the innings. Yasin Majumdar took three wickets for the Under-17 side.

The Under-17 team struggled throughout its chase and suffered regular batting collapses. Shakil Khan claimed three wickets for the Under-19s, while Sheikh Atikur Rahman and Tafiul Alam Tamim took two each. Jarif was named player of the match.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited an art exhibition in Tehran commemorating those killed at Minab School, according to Al Jazeera. Iran says students at the school were killed in a US attack in February. Speaking at the exhibition, Araghchi said the students had become a symbol of heroism for Iran.

Araghchi said the Iranian people would never forget and would not forgive the attack. The event focused on remembering the students killed and on Iran’s account of the incident.

The source says the United States and Israel launched a destructive missile attack on Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, on February 28, 2026. It says the Shajareh Tayyeba Girls’ Primary School was heavily damaged and that about 180 students were killed that day.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju said the government is worsening Bangladesh’s unemployment problem rather than creating jobs. Speaking as chief guest at a discussion organised by the party’s Chattogram metropolitan unit at S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club on Friday, he cited electricity and fuel shortages as factors behind factory closures and job losses.

Manju said BNP had promised opportunities for one crore educated unemployed people within its first 18 months in power. He alleged that many factories had shut over the past six months because of energy shortages, leaving hundreds of workers unemployed. He also said inconsistent remarks by senior government leaders had increased public distrust over the referendum verdict and the July Charter.

He warned that prolonged electricity and energy shortages would increase unemployment and prices, widening the gap between people’s income and expenditure. At the event, central vice-chairman and Chattogram metropolitan convenor Advocate Golam Faruk said there was no room for compromise, delay or political tactics in implementing the July Charter, describing implementation of the referendum verdict as the government’s political and moral responsibility.

Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation central president Advocate Atikur Rahman criticized recently set wage levels for informal and unskilled workers at a labour rally in Rajbari on Friday. Speaking as chief guest at Nannu Tower Convention Center, he said wage-setting based on an old formula without considering current living costs was discriminatory. He called for workers’ fair wages and rights, alongside labour laws framed in line with Islamic labour policy.

Rahman said workers had contributed to every stage of Bangladesh’s development, including agriculture, garments, remittances, transport and construction, but their living standards had not improved as expected. He said many workers were denied the eight-hour workday and urged state action against establishments requiring longer hours without overtime pay. He also criticized the ministry-set monthly wages of Tk6,050 for informal and unskilled workers and Tk7,500 for skilled workers.

He said tea workers currently receive Tk196.50 daily after annual increases of Tk8, while garment workers receive Tk12,500 despite a stated family monthly cost of Tk26,000 to Tk27,000. Rahman said the federation would remain united in seeking workers’ rights. District leaders and federation officials also addressed the gathering.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast that rainy conditions may persist across the country for the next five days, beginning from 6pm Friday. Rain or thundershowers, accompanied temporarily by gusty winds, are expected in many areas of several divisions and in some areas of the remaining divisions. Rainfall may intensify on Saturday and Sunday, with moderate heavy to very heavy rain possible in isolated locations.

From Friday evening, many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions may receive light to moderate rain or thundershowers. Similar conditions are forecast for some places in Rajshahi, Dhaka and Barishal divisions. Day temperatures may rise slightly on Friday while night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged.

The department said the monsoon trough extends through parts of India, central Bangladesh and Assam. The monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over the northern Bay of Bengal. Temperatures may decline slightly nationwide on Sunday and Monday, while they may remain nearly unchanged on Saturday and Tuesday. The extended five-day outlook says the tendency for rainfall may continue.

Japan spent a record 15.3993 trillion yen, or about $96 billion, intervening in foreign-exchange markets between July 30 and August 26 to curb the yen’s rapid depreciation, government data released Friday showed. The spending exceeded the previous monthly record of $73.4 billion used in three intervention rounds in April and May.

The intervention followed the dollar’s rise to 163.99 yen on July 23, its highest level against the Japanese currency in nearly four decades. Japanese authorities began market action on July 30, followed by coordinated intervention with the United States during New York trading on July 31, the first joint action by the two countries in 15 years.

The coordinated move briefly pushed the dollar below 155 yen, but it later strengthened again and was trading at around 159 yen. Persistent selling pressure on the yen has been linked to concerns over Japan’s fiscal condition, the government’s expansionary spending policy without a detailed financing plan, and increased demand for the dollar as a safe investment amid uncertainty surrounding the Iran war. A weaker yen has raised import costs for energy, food and raw materials.

A Turkish professor and security analysts have outlined potential benefits and risks for Bangladesh if it joins the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, initially involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The agreement, signed by the countries’ top leaders in Mecca, has drawn global attention because of its military dimension. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has said it views the agreement positively, but no decision has been made on joining.

Murat Aslam, a professor at Hasan Kalyonkcu University, described the arrangement as defensive rather than offensive. He said it has no specific enemy and aims to prevent conflict among members while improving their defense capabilities. Security analyst Hasib Aziz said Bangladesh could gain opportunities for joint military capacity-building, technological cooperation, AI partnerships and intelligence sharing.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said in parliament that Bangladesh would positively consider an invitation from existing members. Bangladesh already imports Bayraktar drones and Otokar Cobra vehicles from Turkey, and this cooperation could expand. However, analysts cited South Asian geopolitics as a concern, particularly how the alliance might affect Bangladesh during any future India-Pakistan conflict.

Border Guard Bangladesh’s Sarail Battalion (25 BGB) seized a truck carrying 24 tonnes of undocumented fertiliser during an operation in Islamapur area of Bijaynagar upazila in Brahmanbaria. The operation was conducted around 1pm on Friday, August 28, following intelligence information. BGB said the site was about five kilometres inside Bangladesh from border pillar 2001/MP.

A special patrol team stopped and searched a suspicious truck, then examined documents for the fertiliser. Officials found no valid paperwork and seized 9,500 kilograms of TSP fertiliser and 14,500 kilograms of DAP fertiliser, along with the vehicle. BGB put the estimated seizure value of the truck and fertiliser at Tk55.61 lakh.

BGB initially believes the fertiliser was being transported for illegal stockpiling without valid documents. The source and people involved will be determined through investigation by the relevant authorities. Sarail Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Jabbar Ahmed said intelligence and operational activities would continue to strengthen border security and prevent smuggling in Bijaynagar, Akhaura and Madhabpur border areas.

Fatikchhari উপজেলা administration in Chattogram organized a large anti-drug rally and brief gathering on Friday, August 28, under the message “Drug-free Fatikchhari is our commitment.” The rally began at Jhankar Mor in Nazirhat Municipality, travelled eight kilometres, and ended at Bibirhat bus station, where the gathering was held.

The event was chaired by Fatikchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sayed Mohammad Ibrahim. Sarwar Alamgir, member of parliament for the Chattogram-2 Fatikchhari constituency, attended as chief guest. He said the public must unite to build social resistance to protect young people from drugs and stated there would be no compromise with forces obstructing a drug-free Fatikchhari.

Alamgir also called for resistance against terrorism and drugs, saying one drug user can destroy a family and society, while public awareness is needed to protect youth. Participants chanted slogans urging people to reject drugs and build a healthy life. Administrative officials, political activists, teachers, students, social and religious organizations, and members of the public joined the rally.

Sramik Majlish central president Muhammad Abdul Karim called for an end to the privatization of state-owned industrial factories at a workers’ rally in Dhaka on Friday after Jumu’ah prayers. The gathering was held at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, followed by a procession through various roads.

Karim also demanded reliable gas and electricity supplies, the cancellation of capacity charges, and the introduction of worker cards. The workers’ rally and procession were organized by Sramik Majlish Dhaka Metropolitan.

Mawlana Kobi Khaled Sanwar, president of the organization’s Dhaka Metropolitan South unit, chaired the event. Secretary General H M Ershad and Khelafat Majlish Dhaka Metropolitan North president Principal Mawlana Saif Uddin Ahmad Khandakar spoke as special guests. Several central and city-level leaders and members were also present, while Muhammad Sirajul Islam, general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan North unit, conducted the programme.

Jagannath University joined a colourful procession on Friday, 28 August, for “Dhaka Day 2026—Hridoye Dhaka,” marking the capital’s 416 years. Organised by Dhaka South City Corporation, the event began at the university campus and featured symbolic displays of Old Dhaka’s history, heritage, culture, food traditions and folk life.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam led the procession, while Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Ruis Uddin led the university delegation. Teachers, students, staff, police personnel and representatives of various groups participated. Large replicas of steamers, bakarkhani, jalebi, kites and reels drew attention, alongside models of Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Central Shaheed Minar and other landmarks.

The route passed Bahadur Shah Park, the court area, Ray Saheb Bazar and Gulistan Zero Point before ending at the city corporation’s Nagar Bhaban. Cultural performances by university music and drama students accompanied the event. Abdus Salam said the month-long “Hridoye Dhaka 416” festival was launched to foster residents’ love, affection and sense of responsibility toward Dhaka and present its heritage to wider audiences.

The Trump administration has sent a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to the US Congress for review, according to reports cited by Middle East Monitor. Washington has said the agreement will not take effect unless Riyadh normalizes relations with Israel and joins the Abraham Accords.

A US administration source said President Donald Trump’s position has not changed: Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords before the nuclear cooperation deal can be implemented. The condition links the proposed civilian nuclear arrangement to a broader diplomatic normalization process involving Israel.

A Saudi source told Israel’s Channel 12 that Riyadh’s policy on diplomatic relations with Israel remains unchanged and firm. The source said Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic ties until an independent Palestinian state is created along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The source also described the civilian nuclear program as part of the long-term strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States, saying it should not be tied to normalization with Israel.

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny said the government should be given time and supported in efforts to develop the country, adding that there is no need for protests or marches at present. He made the remarks on Friday evening at an awareness programme in Lakshmipur Town Hall auditorium.

The event was organised by the social and volunteer organisation Abhedyo and focused on inclusive education, skills development, social employment and awareness of hearing impairment. Speaking as chief guest, Anny said his side had pledged to remain with the public and work for them, and that work had already begun.

He said implementation would require some time and called for both time and opportunity. Anny also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working on national development and various humanitarian and social activities, urging cooperation with the government under his leadership for the country’s development. The programme was chaired by Abhedyo President Tanzimuzzaman Tishan and attended by local officials, educators, student leaders and people from different professions.