Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday sought cooperation from all political parties to implement the July National Charter, speaking during a session of the national parliament. He also urged opposition parties to join the constitutional amendment committee and present their views and proposals through that forum.

Addressing opposition members, Ahmed said cooperation could not mean setting prior conditions that all demands must be met while declining to participate in the committee. He said the committee would record their statements and include all of their views in its report, allowing the nation to know their positions.

The minister described the constitutional amendment process as open, saying members could disagree on some issues and reach consensus on others. He said any proposal to add a new matter to the constitution would be considered seriously. Ahmed said the government would welcome opposition participation whenever it occurs, and ended his remarks by joking that he hoped he had not caused opposition members any distress.

Hasinur Rahman Bir Pratik, joint convener of the National Committee for Observance of the International Day Against Enforced Disappearances, strongly criticised the enacted law on disappearances at a brief gathering on Sunday afternoon. The event followed the submission of a memorandum to the Speaker at the National Parliament Building. He said the law was so flawed that even the home minister’s wife would be unable to prove that her husband had been forcibly disappeared.

Speaking to journalists after delivering the memorandum, Rahman said the delegation had approached the Speaker with high expectations and presented all of its points. According to him, the Speaker did not disagree with their concerns and assured them that he would make every possible effort on the matter. Rahman said the group did not want what he described as a defective law.

He said the group’s patience had limits and urged citizens to make all planned programmes successful in the interest of the country and its people, including a long march scheduled for the 5th. Representatives of several political parties and organisations were present at the gathering.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said on Sunday that isolated enforced disappearance cases from the Awami League’s roughly 15-year rule will be tried in criminal courts, not at the tribunal. Speaking to journalists at his office, he said the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act-2026 classifies individual disappearance incidents as criminal offences subject to the relevant courts.

He said the tribunal can hear disappearance cases as crimes against humanity only when multiple incidents were committed on a widespread and systematic basis. Islam said the cases involving Ilias Ali and current Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed were being treated as part of such a pattern. By contrast, individual cases involving people taken into police custody and later charged cannot be brought under the widespread category, he said.

Islam also said multiple crossfire killings during the same period could be tried by the tribunal if they were widespread and systematically planned. He cited the case of Councillor Ekram as an example already brought before the tribunal. He added that proceedings in the Ziaul Hasan disappearance case were nearing completion, while testimony from more than five witnesses had been recorded in the cases involving Barrister Arman and Brigadier Azmi. A combined investigation is also underway into 250 missing victims.

Bangladesh’s Home Ministry has assigned three officers as new police superintendents in Narayanganj, Madaripur and Pirojpur, while transferring six others to various police units. The changes were issued in three separate notifications by the ministry’s Police-1 branch on Sunday. Deputy Secretary Tausif Ahmed signed the notifications by order of the President.

Madaripur Police Superintendent Md Habibur Rahman was posted as superintendent of police in Narayanganj. Police Bureau of Investigation Superintendent Md Fazle Elahi was assigned to Madaripur, while Dhaka Metropolitan Police officer Muhammad Talebur Rahman was posted to Pirojpur. Pirojpur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Manjur Ahmed Siddiqui was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department.

In other changes, Police Staff College Superintendent Shamima Yasmin was moved to TDS in Dhaka, DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin to the Police Training Centre in Noakhali, and Rashida Begum to the Police Staff College. Wahidul Haque Chowdhury was named additional DIG of Tourist Police, while Nazmul Hasan was transferred to Khulna Metropolitan Police as additional police commissioner.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government is considering further reductions in Biman Bangladesh Airlines fares as the carrier expands routes and raises revenue. He made the remarks on Sunday in parliament while answering a supplementary question from ruling-party reserved-seat lawmaker Helen Jerin Khan, during a sitting chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

The minister said Biman initially charged Hajj pilgrims about Tk200,000, before the interim government reduced the fare to about Tk165,000. For the previous Hajj, the maximum airfare had been calculated at Tk154,000, while this year it was reduced to Tk130,000 through dynamic pricing. Decisions on further cuts will consider aircraft purchase plans and the reopening or full operation of routes.

Responding to opposition lawmaker Mohammad Mujibur Rahman on domestic fares, Millat said the actual Dhaka-Chattogram fare is about Tk6,400, not Tk12,000, excluding roughly 15% tax and other applicable charges. He said the government has taken measures against price manipulation and black marketing near departure times so passengers can buy tickets at government-set prices.

Bangladesh received $2.669 billion in remittances during the first 29 days of August this year, equivalent to Tk32,828.07 crore at an exchange rate of Tk123 per dollar. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the figures on Sunday. The inflow represents remittances sent by expatriate Bangladeshis to the country during the period.

Remittance inflows in the first 29 days of August were 22.30 percent higher than the $2.182 billion received during the same period in August last year. In the most recent three days, from Thursday through Saturday, the country received Tk2,632.20 crore in expatriate income, according to the central bank spokesperson.

From July 1 to August 29 of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh received a cumulative $5.527 billion in remittances. During the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, remittance inflows stood at $4.66 billion. The figures indicate a higher inflow of expatriate income in both the August comparison and the fiscal-year period cited by Bangladesh Bank.

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.