Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will hold the first committee meeting under their Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Monday in Istanbul, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source cited by Reuters on Sunday. Senior officials from the three countries are expected to gather for the meeting, following the agreement’s signing on August 7.

The agreement creates a new framework for defense cooperation among the three Sunni Muslim countries, which are concerned about the Iran war and regional conflicts. Its stated aim is to strengthen their collective deterrence against possible aggression. An armed attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all three, a principle described as similar to NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense provision.

Foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of staff from the three countries are expected to attend the Istanbul meeting. Discussions may focus on improving defense capabilities, increasing coordination among their armed forces, and joint production and technology development in the defense industry. International security conditions are also on the agenda. Turkey has said the pact could expand, with Egypt mentioned as a possible future member.

Bangladesh Under-19 defeated the Bangladesh Under-23 team by four runs in the second match of the Bangladesh Cricket Board-organised Game Development Trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Defending 226, the Under-19 side held their nerve until the final over to secure a dramatic victory for the team led by Farid Hasan Faisal.

The Under-19s were bowled out for 226 in 48.4 overs after Rabiu Hasan Anik made an unbeaten 65 from 82 balls, including five fours and a six. Abdullah Al Muhi scored 40, Ahsan Al Muminul 37 and Farhan Sadiq 29. Off-spinner Sheikh Parvez Jibon took three wickets for 38 runs, while Ahrar Amin Piyan and Azizul Hakim Tamim claimed two each.

Chasing 227, the Under-23s reached 126 for three but lost momentum despite contributions from Khalid Hasan, Kalam Siddiqi Elin and Rizan Hossain. They required six runs from the final over with one wicket remaining. Rahim Ahmed dismissed Rahin Ahmed lbw on the third ball of that over, finishing with four wickets for 52 and earning player-of-the-match honours.

The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) has expressed deep concern and strong opposition to a Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded coastal road planned from Sugandha Point to Hotel Saymon in Cox’s Bazar. In a Sunday press release sent by its General Secretary Professor Md. Mosleh Uddin Hasan, the organisation urged authorities not to build the road in a way that damages beach dunes and the coastal environment. It called for planned, environmentally sound and climate-resilient development that protects the coast’s natural defences.

BIP said it was necessary to clarify whether constructing infrastructure in the sensitive dune area was justified when alternative locations may be available. The group also questioned whether alternative sites and designs had been adequately assessed. It raised serious questions over whether the Department of Environment had issued environmental clearance for the road, stressing that development in environmentally critical areas must follow applicable laws, regulations and approval procedures.

The organisation called for the ongoing construction work to be suspended immediately and for an independent, integrated reassessment of environmental, climate, disaster-risk and planning impacts. It also urged verification of required approvals, consideration of alternative locations and designs that preserve dunes and coastal ecosystems, and discussions with BIP and all relevant stakeholders.

Barcelona have agreed a deal with Arsenal to sign Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus after failing in their attempt to bring in Julian Alvarez. The Catalan club, seeking a striker during the summer transfer window, finalised an agreement with Arsenal, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano. Jesus has already left for Spain to complete the required medical examination.

Arsenal have agreed to let Jesus leave for €10 million plus additional benefits, Romano reported. Barcelona had pursued Atletico Madrid’s Argentine forward Alvarez as their first choice throughout the summer, but Atletico made clear that he would not be sold. Barcelona then changed their plans and turned their attention to Jesus.

Jesus’ prospects of securing a place in Arsenal’s starting lineup had diminished following the arrivals of Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta had also indicated that the forward could leave the club. Barcelona are moving to further strengthen their attack after adding Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.

Bangladesh’s proposed new pay structure for government employees has reached its final stage and may be presented to the cabinet for approval at Monday’s meeting, according to Finance Ministry sources. If approved, the Finance Ministry could issue the final gazette notification by Thursday. Technical and administrative preparations for publishing the notification have already been completed, sources said.

An unnamed Finance Ministry official said on Sunday that the proposal was being prepared for inclusion on the cabinet agenda, but Finance Division officials did not disclose the final rates of salary and allowance increases. On August 16, the prime minister’s principal secretary, A B M Abdus Sattar, said the new pay scale was at its final stage and could be announced at any time.

A 10-member committee led by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was formed on April 21 to recommend implementation of the structure and has submitted its recommendations. Informed people said it recommended raising basic pay for employees in grades 1 to 20 by up to 100 percent in two phases, with basic salaries taking effect first and housing and other allowances potentially following in the second year.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir demanded justice for 241 of its leaders and activists it says were victims of enforced disappearance and called for the whereabouts of seven members still missing. At a Sunday press conference at Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University, held for the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the group also sought independent investigations into allegations against law-enforcement personnel.

In a written statement, Nurul Islam Saddam named the seven missing members and said authorities had not acknowledged detaining them despite more than a decade having passed in some cases. He cited the final report of the commission investigating disappearances, claiming it verified 1,569 cases and included 241 Chhatra Shibir members among victims identified by political affiliation. The organisation also alleged that more cases were not formally reported because of fear, insecurity, trauma and people being abroad.

The group alleged killings after disappearances, torture, political cases and abuse during detention. It demanded independent inquiries, prosecution of those involved, compensation and rehabilitation for victims’ families, legal reforms, and full independent investigative powers for the National Human Rights Commission over complaints against security forces.

Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for a £7.5 million transfer fee, ending his six-year association with the Midlands club. The 33-year-old has moved to Stamford Bridge after prolonged speculation over his future, choosing Chelsea as he sought a new challenge.

Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and made 255 appearances for Villa across all competitions. During his time at the club, he featured in all three of UEFA’s major competitions. His final match for Aston Villa was the Europa League final, where he played after taking pain medication despite suffering a finger injury.

Aston Villa had already signed Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma in anticipation of Martinez’s possible departure. A potential move to Juventus had also emerged, but that deal did not materialise. Martinez had previously expressed a desire to leave Villa, and his transfer to Chelsea has now concluded his time with the club.

Rajshahi-1 lawmaker Mujibur Rahman raised concerns in Bangladesh’s national parliament over domestic airfares reportedly doubling or more within a single day. During the second day of the third parliamentary session on Sunday, August 30, he asked whether steps would be taken to keep fares at a tolerable level. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presided over the sitting.

Rahman said passengers may see a fare of Tk6,000 in the morning rise to Tk12,000 by the afternoon, calling such increases abnormal and unbearable. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat responded that the claim required verification. He said a Dhaka-Chattogram return ticket had not cost Tk12,000 and stated that its set price was Tk6,400.

The minister said taxes, including about 15 percent payable to the government, were considered in setting the fare at Tk6,300. He said measures had been taken to stop black marketing of tickets near departure times. Millat pledged direct oversight, saying passengers should receive tickets at the determined price and that the lawmaker would not need to pay above Tk6,400.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue has reshuffled 36 officers of the BCS Tax cadre serving as additional tax commissioners. The transfers were announced in a notification issued on Sunday by the Tax Administration-1 branch of the Internal Resources Division. The order was signed by First Secretary Wakil Ahmed, and the transferred officers have been assigned to new workplaces.

The notification says any existing additional responsibilities held by officials at the locations where the transferred officers have been posted will be considered cancelled. It does not provide further details in the text about the individual postings or the reasons for the administrative changes.

The transferred officials have been instructed to hand over responsibility for their previous duties and join their new workplaces immediately. The source indicates that a separate link contains the full list of officers affected by the transfers.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the Repatriation Data Management System, or RDMS, to make the return of Bangladeshi citizens who are victims of human trafficking and irregular migration more effective and coordinated. The digital platform was inaugurated on Sunday at an event in a hotel in the capital. Justice and Care Bangladesh provided technical assistance, while the Australian government supported the system’s development and upgrade.

Additional Secretary for Political and Expatriation Affairs Dr Ziauddin Ahmed said RDMS has been incorporated into the ministry’s domain to accelerate efforts to prevent trafficking and reintegrate rescued people. The platform has already been linked with the National Identity Card database to preserve comprehensive information on returnees and trafficking survivors.

Work is also under way to coordinate RDMS with birth and death registration and passport services to help accurately identify children. Justice and Care Bangladesh said the system will centrally store and manage repatriation case information and speed up nationality and police-record verification. Officials said inter-agency coordination could support victim protection and efforts against irregular migration.

Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Yao Wen met Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon. On behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Yao conveyed greetings to Bangladesh’s new president and invited him to visit China at a convenient time. Presidential Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam confirmed the information on Sunday afternoon.

The ambassador also briefed the president on progress linked to the Bangladeshi prime minister’s recent China visit. He cited the foundation stone laying for the China Economic and Industrial Zone, a commercial agreement on modernising Mongla port, and potential cooperation to establish the Mongla Export Processing Zone. Yao said at least 30 Chinese companies were expected to invest about $500 million in Bangladesh, potentially creating jobs for at least 100,000 people.

The meeting covered Teesta River management and restoration, strategic dialogue at foreign-minister level, proposed “two plus two” diplomacy and defence talks, and exports of jackfruit, mangoes and guavas to China. Solar energy, electric-vehicle assembly plants, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor and cooperation on the Rohingya crisis were also discussed. Both sides pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation.

RAB-2 has arrested two people, including suspect Md. Mosharraf Hossain Poni, over the death of schoolteacher Ronjina Parvin during an alleged snatching incident in front of the National Parliament Building. RAB-2 commander Additional DIG Noymul Hasan announced the arrests at a press conference on Sunday.

According to RAB-2, its intelligence information and technology-assisted tracking indicated that the two suspected snatchers in the Ronjina Parvin murder case were staying in the Purba Tejturi Bazar area under Tejgaon police station. RAB-2 then conducted an operation in the area and detained them.

The force said the suspects were arrested within 24 hours of the killing along with the motorcycle allegedly used in the snatching. It said Poni faces multiple cases at police stations across the country. On Saturday, motorcycle-borne snatchers allegedly pulled Ronjina's bag while she was travelling by rickshaw, causing her to fall and suffer a head injury. Doctors at Suhrawardy Hospital declared her dead. Her husband, Abdul Matin, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced Monir Hossain to life imprisonment for stabbing Biplob Bashir to death in Gopibagh 25 years ago, following a dispute over repayment of a Tk 20 loan. Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge-13 Zahidul Islam also fined him Tk 20,000 and ordered a further three months of rigorous imprisonment if he fails to pay. The accused was absent when the verdict was delivered.

According to the case and court sources, the killing occurred on the afternoon of December 4, 2001. After leaving a mosque following prayers, victim’s father Nazir Ahmad saw Monir stabbing his son repeatedly on the road. Nazir Ahmad and others detained Monir after hearing Biplob’s cries. Biplob was taken first to Monowara Hospital and then National Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead.

Nazir Ahmad filed a murder case at Demra police station the same day. Police submitted a charge sheet against Monir on March 31, 2002, and the trial began after charges were framed on September 3 that year. Five witnesses testified. Monir received bail in 2009, but it was cancelled in 2013 after he failed to appear in court.

Police arrested Saif Imran, 37, in Gulshan, Dhaka, after he allegedly falsely identified himself as an assistant director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, or DGFI. The arrest took place near the Pakistan High Commission after he parked his motorcycle beside the mission on Saturday afternoon.

According to police, Imran claimed that DGFI vehicles were usually parked at the location when he was told not to park there. He returned in the evening and parked his motorcycle at the same place again, prompting police suspicion. During questioning, he admitted that he was not an officer or member of DGFI.

Police arrested him on allegations of using a false identity to conceal his real identity. A fraud case has been filed against him at Gulshan Police Station, and he has been sent to court. Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Daud Khan confirmed the matter.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan told parliament on Sunday that a special directorate has been established to provide rehabilitation and state recognition to those killed, injured or otherwise affected during the July movement. He made the remarks in response to a question from lawmaker Sanzida Islam Tuli about progress on recognition, compensation and rehabilitation.

Tuli said the ministry had planned a directorate for state recognition and rehabilitation of July movement martyrs and injured people. She also sought details on plans and current progress for people subjected to enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing. The minister said the ministry had arranged a large event at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center for the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, attended by victims and family members regardless of political affiliation.

Khan said the government was committed to granting state recognition to leaders of BNP, Jamaat and other political parties who were subjected to disappearance, killing, torture or disability over the past 17 years. He added that an initiative was under way to create another directorate to ensure their proper rehabilitation and state evaluation.