The High Court has suspended the upcoming biennial election of the Bangladesh Film Producers-Distributors Association for two months. The vote had been scheduled for August 8. A High Court division bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the order on August 6, directing that all election-related activities remain suspended until a pending case before the FBCCI Arbitration Tribunal is resolved.

Film producer and actor Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Ujjal filed writ petition No. 10856/2026 challenging the decision to hold the election while case No. 08/2026 remained pending before the tribunal. The writ also challenged the inaction of the relevant authorities. Senior advocates Md. Badruddoza and Md. Moniruzzaman Asad, along with advocate Md. Khairul Alam, represented the petitioner.

Following the hearing, the bench issued a rule nisi asking respondents to explain why their inaction should not be declared without lawful authority and ineffective. There had been disputes over the candidacies of Khorshed Alam Khosru and Shamsul Alam. Panel member Tanvir Hasan expressed disappointment. The association made no formal comment and said next legal steps would be determined after receiving the full order.

Jagpa vice-president and spokesperson Rashed Pradhan alleged that the Awami League was directly responsible and India indirectly responsible for what he described as killings in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday as chief guest after a Jagpa protest rally from Bijoynagar to the Press Club, held against India’s alleged dominance and its reported two-year sheltering of “killer Hasina” with state honours.

Pradhan said the Indian government had used the Awami League to turn Bangladesh into a tributary state and now wanted to use the BNP after the Awami League’s defeat following the July uprising. He alleged that the Awami League and India were responsible for incidents at Pilkhana, Shapla Chattar, the anti-Modi movement and July. He also said Bangladeshi politicians feared speaking against Indian dominance because of hopes for power.

He accused India of border killings, illegal push-ins, withholding Bangladesh’s fair share of water from 54 shared rivers, and interfering in domestic politics and national elections. Pradhan also alleged a plot to destabilise Bangladesh through the Awami League from Delhi. Several Jagpa leaders addressed the event.

Students in Ranchi, Jharkhand, continued protests on August 6 over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, with their movement entering its 13th day after beginning on July 25. They demand cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission civil service examination, a CBI probe into the alleged question-paper leak and examination scandal, and broad reforms to examination procedures. They also seek a fixed deadline for a re-examination within six months if the test is cancelled.

JPSC-JSSC Reforms Forum spokesperson Jiban Kumar said five people, including two women, had joined the hunger strike to strengthen the movement and increase pressure for their demands. Six protesters are continuing an indefinite fast. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahato has fasted since August 2, and concerns have been raised over his falling blood sugar and blood pressure.

The BJP said it would raise the issue in the assembly, while Congress, an ally of the JMM-led government, expressed support for the students. Student leaders warned of an assembly gherao on August 10 if demands are unmet. Ranchi authorities imposed Section 144 within a 750-metre radius of the assembly from August 6 to 12. CID investigators have arrested 19 people and questioned former JPSC chairman L. Khiyangte.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has announced the schedule for electing the country’s 23rd president after the 22nd president, Md Shahabuddin, resigned on July 24. Voting is scheduled for August 20. The deadline for submitting nominations is August 13, scrutiny will take place on August 16, and the final date for withdrawing candidacy is August 18.

Under Article 50 of the constitution, a president serves for five years from the date of assuming office, and no person may hold the office more than twice. The Election Commission arranges a presidential election when the office becomes vacant because of the end of a term, resignation or impeachment. A vacancy may also arise because of physical illness, mental reasons or serious misconduct.

The president is elected by votes of members of parliament under the current constitutional framework. Candidates must be at least 35 years old and eligible to be elected as members of parliament. The chief election commissioner conducts the election after consulting the speaker. If there is only one candidate, no vote is required. If parliament is not in session, a notification will be issued to convene it at least seven days before voting.

Indigenous rights activists called for Bangladesh’s constitution to replace the terms “tribal” and “ethnic group” in Article 23A with “indigenous.” The demand was made on August 6 at a seminar at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital, jointly organized by the Association for Land Reform and Development, Bangladesh Indigenous Forum and 17 national rights-based organizations. The seminar, titled “Indigenous Peoples: Life, Land Rights and Respect for Culture,” was chaired by ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda.

In a keynote paper, human rights activist Ilira Dewan recommended immediately activating the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission, creating a separate land commission for indigenous people in the plains, and establishing a national directorate for indigenous rights under the Prime Minister’s Office. She also urged rules protecting indigenous life and culture before tourism expansion, priority hiring of indigenous women health workers, and full implementation of the peace accord.

Speakers sought constitutional recognition, legal recognition of customary land ownership, a parliamentary indigenous affairs caucus, and indigenous representation in development projects. They said the land commission has received more than 27,000 applications under the 1997 peace accord, but meetings have not been held because of opposition from interested groups.

Sunamganj-2 lawmaker Nasir Chowdhury said the Awami League is not an enemy but an ally, stating that they had fought together. He made the remarks on Wednesday as chief guest at a “July Remembrance Rally” in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj. Chowdhury described the event as the BNP’s main rally.

He said those seeking to hold a separate rally in the BNP’s name on August 8 were attempting to create division within the party, and urged people to remain alert. Responding to what he called propaganda against him, Chowdhury said people unable to use the party’s name for theft and corruption were spreading false claims about him.

Addressing allegations of embezzling large sums, he said those making such claims should be asked how much budget had actually been allocated. He suggested obtaining information from the upazila executive officer if necessary. Upazila BNP convener Amir Hossain chaired the event, while municipal BNP joint convener Faruk Sardar moderated it. Leaders from the BNP and its affiliated organizations also spoke at the rally.

Sarjis Alam, northern chief organiser of the National Citizen Party, responded to Liberation War Affairs State Minister Ishraq Hossain by listing measures he said the interim government took for July martyrs and injured fighters. On August 6, at a reception and discussion event at the China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Ishraq asked the NCP what it had done for the July martyrs.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sarjis said the interim government had carried out several notable actions despite more than 2,000 movements in one and a half years and without unconditional backing from any political party. His infographic said the measures taken over 18 months and nine days included the announcement of a death verdict for Sheikh Hasina, converting Ganabhaban into a July Memorial Museum, and drafting the July Charter.

The list also included building July martyrs’ memorials in every district, preparing lists of martyrs and injured people, and providing one-time payments and monthly honorariums. Sarjis cited treatment arrangements for more than 20,000 injured people, arrests of 36 former ministers and 43 MPs of the banned Awami League, and strict action against alleged bank looters including the president, Sobhan and S Alam. He asked what new steps Ishraq and his ministry had taken in about six months.

Oman has begun accepting visa applications to recruit agricultural workers from Bangladesh under an approved labour recruitment programme. The announcement was made by the Al Dhahirah branch of the Oman Agricultural Association, according to a Thursday report by Oman Daily Observer. Omani farmers are now permitted to apply for visas to hire Bangladeshi agricultural workers.

The recruitment process is being run on the basis of approvals issued by Oman’s Ministry of Labour and the Royal Oman Police. Registered farm owners will be able to obtain visas for Bangladeshi workers. Farmers seeking to hire them can submit applications at the association’s Al Murtafa office from August 9 to August 20. Applications containing any discrepancies will not be accepted.

Applicants must provide proof of annual fee payment, an agricultural holding certificate, a national identity card, a valid approval letter from the Ministry of Labour and other documents. An owner of a government service centre, Sanad, said approval has been granted to recruit 5,000 Bangladeshi workers in total. The facility is limited to registered agricultural association members, and each association may recruit no more than 330 workers.

The government has appointed new secretaries to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The Ministry of Public Administration issued separate notifications on Thursday afternoon. The reshuffle involved the transfer of two serving secretaries and the promotion of two additional secretaries to secretary-level posts.

Mohammad Saiful Islam, secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Md Obaidur Rahman, a secretary attached to the Ministry of Public Administration, was posted as secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Md Ziaul Haque, an additional secretary at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, was promoted and appointed secretary of that division. Miz Jesmin Nahar, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, was promoted to secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Md Sakhawat Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, was attached to the Ministry of Public Administration.

Bangladesh will not hold admission tests for first grade from the 2027 academic year, with enrolment to be conducted through a lottery instead. The Education Ministry announced the decision in a press release on Thursday. The move signals a change from an earlier ministerial announcement that had proposed replacing school admission lotteries with examinations.

The ministry said admission to all other grades in primary and secondary schools will be conducted through admission tests. The lottery arrangement will therefore apply only to first-grade admissions, while examination-based selection remains in place for other classes.

At a March 16 press conference this year, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon had said lotteries would be withdrawn from the 2027 school year and admission tests introduced. Lottery-based admission for first grade was first introduced in the 2011 academic year in place of entrance examinations. The same system was extended to private schools in 2012.

Jagannath University has formed a four-member committee to investigate allegations that 68 teachers were involved in “anti-state secret activities.” The university administration created the panel after allegations were raised in a recent media report, according to information from the registrar’s office on Thursday, August 6.

History professor Nasir Ahmad has been appointed convener of the committee. Chemistry professor Muhammad Jamir Hossain and political science associate professor Md. Mejbah-ul-Azam Saudagar are members, while registrar’s office section officer (Grade-2) Moha. Abdul Malek will serve as member secretary.

The administration has instructed the committee to submit its report by August 13. It has been tasked with determining the facts behind the allegations, identifying whether anyone was involved in anti-state activities, deciding necessary measures and making recommendations. The media report alleged that the teachers were involved in suppressing the anti-discrimination student movement and threatening students during the previous government’s tenure. Immediate comments from the accused teachers were not available.

Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser A K M Shamsul Islam said migration management is not only an issue of the economy, employment or labour markets, but is directly linked to internal stability, border security, humanitarian protection and overall national security. He made the remarks on Thursday as chief guest at a seminar on national security and migration management in Bangladesh at Bangladesh University of Professionals in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.

He said the concept of security is no longer confined to protecting state territory and geographical borders. Safe movement of people, lawful employment, orderly border-crossing procedures, and protection of the rights and dignity of citizens living abroad are now important components of national security. Failure to ensure safe, orderly and planned migration could create multidimensional challenges for domestic stability, border management and regional security, he said.

The adviser said remittance income makes an important contribution to Bangladesh’s economy. He called for developing skilled manpower, expanding lawful and safe migration opportunities, and ensuring knowledge, training and protection for people travelling abroad. He also stressed effective coordination among relevant institutions to prevent irregular migration, fraud, human trafficking and activities by international criminal networks.

Indian Islamic speaker Mufti Shamayel Nadvi and Pakistani speaker Toaha Bin Jalil are scheduled to visit Bangladesh this August for two international seminars in Chattogram and Dhaka. Sean Publication Limited announced the visits and events at a news conference on Thursday at the Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the National Press Club. Nadvi is the founder of India’s Wahayain Foundation, while Jalil is director of Pakistan Youth Club.

Sean Publication Managing Director Abu Tasmia Ahmad Rafiq said the two young speakers are internationally known for accessible presentations on contemporary Islamic thought, intellectual challenges facing young people and Shariah. The seminars will address common misconceptions about Islam, Islam’s relevance in modern society, and young people’s faith, values and worldview. Prominent speakers from Bangladesh and abroad are expected to take part.

The first seminar is scheduled for August 21 at the International Convention Centre in Chattogram. The second is set for August 22 at the PSC Convention Hall in Dhaka. Distinguished Bangladeshi Islamic scholars and researchers will also speak on important topics. Organizers said interested participants can reserve seats through event.seanpublication.com.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it arrested 21 people in the southeastern province of Kerman over allegations that they were linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. The report, published by Amar Desh Online on August 6, 2026, said the arrests followed a series of intelligence operations in the province.

According to a ministry statement, the detainees allegedly collected information from sensitive and confidential military and defense sites and sent it to Mossad. Iranian authorities described Mossad as a terrorist organization. The source did not include comments from the detainees or independent verification of the allegations.

Mehr News Agency, described in the report as an Iranian semi-official and private news agency, also said intelligence forces identified and arrested four armed criminals in the province. Authorities said they recovered and seized several weapons, ammunition for combat purposes, and hunting ammunition from those arrested. The report cited Al Jazeera and Mehr News as its sources.

An investigation agency has submitted a report to the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal naming Professor Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal as an accused in a crimes against humanity case. The case concerns allegations of attacks on Dhaka University students during the July mass uprising. The report names a total of eight people, according to the prosecution.

Others named include former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor A S M Maksud Kamal, former justice A B M Nizamul Haque Manik, teacher K M Jamal Uddin and Chhatra League general secretary Wali Asif Inan. Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim confirmed to journalists on Thursday that the investigation report had been submitted.

The prosecution said the investigation agency conducted a lengthy inquiry before filing the report with the chief prosecutor's office, where it is now under review. After scrutiny, it will be submitted to the tribunal as formal charges. Earlier, a phone conversation between Sheikh Hasina and Maksud Kamal was presented before the tribunal in a case related to the July movement, the prosecution said.