Former US national security adviser John Bolton described US sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports as a major success and said they should remain in force. In an interview with the US television network NewsNation, he said the restrictions had been highly effective in preventing Iran from exporting oil and other goods and were having a significant effect on Iran’s economy.

Bolton identified China as the biggest challenge to US pressure on Iran. He said China has long been among the principal buyers of Iranian oil and claimed that Iran has been able to move financial resources through China’s banking system. He argued that Washington should focus primarily on countries helping Iran sustain itself.

He suggested that the United States could impose sanctions on Chinese banks and state institutions involved in purchasing Iranian oil. Bolton also supported applying additional financial pressure on Iran, but said maintaining the oil blockade was the most important measure. He said keeping the restrictions in place would represent major progress and would have a substantial economic impact on Iran.

An opinion article argues that textbooks should serve as blueprints for nation-building rather than political documents. It says classroom materials strongly shape children’s confidence, identity and social understanding, and warns that content reflecting inequality, narrowness or irrational social ideas can cause long-term harm. The writer calls for Bangladesh to rethink how curricula and textbooks are developed.

The article says curriculum discussions often begin after books have been printed, while research and consultation should occur before writing starts. It argues that teachers, students, parents and researchers are often excluded from national-level policymaking, leaving centrally designed curricula poorly matched to classroom realities, particularly in remote areas. It also urges textbooks to treat cooking and household responsibilities as life skills for all children, alongside finance, technology and leadership.

The writer proposes consulting experienced teachers from urban and rural model institutions, specialists in child development and subject experts. Draft curricula should be opened for public feedback, then piloted for at least a year with a national online feedback platform for registered teachers. Examples from Finland, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom are cited to support participatory development, research, piloting and sustained evaluation.

A 35-year-old man, Shamim Hossain, was allegedly beaten overnight and killed after the tendons in his leg were cut in Barpur, Bogura. The incident occurred at about 4:30am on Tuesday. His body was taken to the morgue at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura.

Relatives alleged that ABM Shafi, a ward 5 member of Nishindara Union Parishad and a Union Awami League leader, his son Nazmul Hossain Kayum, described as a Chhatra Dal leader, and several others were directly involved. Shamim’s mother-in-law, Chhobeda Begum, said he had gone to Barpur to attend the burial of a close relative.

She said Shamim was detained while walking in the area at night, severely beaten and left in an abandoned place after his leg tendons were cut. Village police rescued him and took him to hospital, where he died during treatment. Bogura Sadar police station officer-in-charge Ibrahim Ali visited the scene. Residents blocked a road following the incident, according to the report.

The article argues that an active opposition is essential to parliamentary democracy and says Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament has gained a more vocal opposition following the July uprising of 2024 and the fall of fascism. It cites recent tensions over the home minister’s remarks, including opposition protests, a walkout and the speaker’s concern, as signs that parliamentary questioning and dissent have returned.

It contrasts this with the author’s assessment of parliamentary politics during the previous one-and-a-half decades of Awami rule. The article says parliaments formed after the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections lacked a meaningful opposition, describing the legislature as a rubber-stamp body. It refers to the British model of a loyal opposition, shadow cabinet and prime ministerial questioning, and to US checks and balances, as examples of accountability.

The article cautions that vigorous debate must not become disorder. It says both government and opposition should show restraint, notes that the home minister withdrew his statement, and credits the speaker with handling the situation. It urges lawmakers to focus on economic fragility, gas and power shortages, and law-and-order instability while strengthening democratic institutions.

Washington is reviewing the future of its military bases in the Middle East after Iranian attacks damaged at least 15 US bases and facilities, according to the report. The reassessment comes amid rising US-Iran tensions, a fragile ceasefire and stalled talks. The Pentagon is considering deploying fewer troops or moving forces westward, though no formal decision has been announced.

The United States has about 50,000 personnel at at least 20 bases in and around the Gulf, including facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Reported damage included radar and early-warning systems at Al Udeid in Qatar, naval headquarters, warehouses and communications infrastructure in Bahrain, and aircraft, logistics and support centres in Kuwait.

Analysts said any reduction could affect Gulf states’ confidence in US security commitments and encourage them to reconsider relations with Iran. Gulf countries are strengthening joint defence arrangements and diversifying arms suppliers, but analysts said these steps cannot quickly replace US intelligence, logistics, naval and air capabilities. One proposed alternative is a decentralised access model using rotating deployments, pre-positioned equipment, shared facilities and stronger integrated air and missile defence.

A commentary published on September 1 traces the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s four-decade history from its founding by then-president Ziaur Rahman in 1978 to its present leadership under Tarique Rahman. The article says BNP has returned to power for a fifth time and that Tarique Rahman has led the government for six months after the party formed a government following the February 13 election.

The piece describes BNP’s establishment after Ziaur Rahman announced a 19-point programme and founded the party at a September 1, 1978 press conference. It says the party embraced nationalism, democracy, faith in Allah, and economic and social justice, while seeking to build national unity. It portrays Khaleda Zia as leading BNP after Ziaur Rahman’s 1981 killing and says she remained its leader until her death on December 30 last year.

The commentary says Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 last year after 17 years in London and led BNP into the parliamentary election. It urges him to follow Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia’s policies, prioritise public welfare, discipline, competent appointments, and zero tolerance for corruption and political violence.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam said Bangladesh’s existing electricity and gas problems were not created in a single day, accusing the previous “fascist government” of misleading people with signs claiming universal electricity coverage. He made the remarks on Monday morning at a coordination meeting in the Narsingdi deputy commissioner’s conference room on law and order, development and public welfare activities.

Alam alleged that the former government had not pursued a permanent solution to the power crisis and had instead used quick-rental power arrangements to move thousands of crores of taka abroad through selected individuals. He said the current prime minister’s government has undertaken plans for a lasting solution to ensure uninterrupted electricity and gas supplies, although implementation will require time.

Addressing law and order, the minister said narcotics are closely linked to the issue and cannot be eliminated by police alone. He called for social resistance, social boycotts of offenders and legal action regardless of an offender’s identity. He also urged public support for the government to prevent what he described as efforts by vested interests to create disorder.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Golam Parwar has called for repeal of an Election Commission provision that disqualifies MPO-listed private school teachers from contesting local elections. He raised the demand while briefing journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Building on Tuesday afternoon. Parwar led a six-member delegation to the meeting.

Parwar said the provision violates Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution. He said the rule could face a legal challenge if it is not withdrawn. According to him, about 30,000 MPO-listed teachers are employed.

The Jamaat leader also said the delegation requested that the government be informed of its demand to remove an Election Commission additional secretary. He alleged that the official is a member of the BNP election management committee and was appointed to the additional secretary post.

Mongla police detained শাহরিয়ার সুমন on Monday at about 10:30pm in the Baidyamari Bazar area of Mongla উপজেলা in a case over alleged poison fishing in the Sundarbans. Local people said he identified himself as a Jubo Dal worker, though local sources said he held no organisational post. Police said the detention followed allegations that fish were caught using poison in the forest.

Villagers earlier detained two fishermen, about 200 kilograms of fish and a boat on Saturday afternoon in a canal in the Chandpai Range's Goraburburia area. The fishermen, মুহিদুল হাওলাদার and নাঈম শেখ, were later released with the fish and boat after alleged threats from an influential group. In videos recorded by locals, the two fishermen said they had used poison and went to the Sundarbans on Suman's instruction; Suman denied sending anyone.

The fish and boat have not yet been seized by police or the Forest Department. Sundarbans East Forest Division has formed a five-member committee, led by Sharankhola Range Officer Md Shariful Islam, and requested its report within five working days. Police said Suman would be sent to court Tuesday morning and the case was being investigated seriously.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has formed a steering committee bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to prevent trade-based money laundering. The committee was established under a public-private partnership model following a BFIU-led meeting of relevant stakeholders held last Sunday, according to a BFIU notice issued Monday.

The meeting discussed existing challenges, risks and future actions for preventing trade-based money laundering. Participants included representatives of Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department and Foreign Exchange Operation Department, National Board of Revenue intelligence and customs bodies, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Criminal Investigation Department, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka Customs House. Representatives of 15 scheduled banks involved in commercial activity also attended.

The committee will review risks and challenges, assess progress of measures already taken, strengthen information-sharing arrangements and determine future actions. It will also hold regular meetings to review agencies’ activities and provide necessary guidance. BFIU described trade-based money laundering as a complex financial crime with inter-institutional and international dimensions, requiring coordinated action, stronger risk analysis and close cooperation among regulators, law enforcement agencies, banks, customs authorities and the private sector.

RAB-6 seized 50 kilograms of cannabis and detained two suspected drug dealers during an operation near Digraj Bazar in Mongla, Bagerhat. The operation was launched around 3am on Sunday night following a tip-off, according to RAB sources. Gopal Sarkar was detained while allegedly entering Mongla by transport carrying the large cannabis consignment.

RAB later detained another suspected dealer based on information provided by Gopal Sarkar, though the second detainee’s identity was not immediately known. Gopal Sarkar is the son of Shyam Sarkar of Kainmari in Mongla upazila. RAB alleged that he had long collected large drug consignments and sold them to smaller dealers in Mongla and other parts of Bagerhat.

Investigators are questioning the detainees to obtain information about others involved in the drug network. Law enforcement agencies are also examining who else was connected to the consignment and where it had been brought from. Bagerhat-3 lawmaker and state minister Sheikh Faridul Islam said on social media that anti-drug operations would continue and efforts were under way to identify remaining accused or associates.

At least 73,456 Palestinians were killed and 174,496 injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2026, according to an Al Jazeera AJLabs calculation based on Gaza Health Ministry data. The reported toll includes 21,500 children among those killed.

The analysis said at least one in every 33 Gaza residents has been killed and at least one in every 14 injured. Thousands of people remain trapped beneath rubble, which could raise the death toll. Gaza's Health Ministry said bodies also remain under debris and on roads because rescue and ambulance teams cannot reach all areas.

Violence and casualties continued after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was declared on October 10, 2025. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,320 Palestinians and injured 4,385, while 815 bodies were recovered. AJLabs said incidents involving Israeli attacks, deaths or injuries occurred on 290 of the ceasefire's 326 days. The ministry's latest figure puts the total directly affected, including killed and injured people, at 247,952.

Former Awami League lawmakers living abroad have reportedly sent multiple letters to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), alleging they cannot return to Bangladesh and citing human rights violations and repression of party activists. The matter was discussed in preparatory meetings ahead of IPU Secretary-General Anda Philip’s visit to Bangladesh, which began on Sunday night.

Current lawmakers told the meetings that the Awami League had been driven from the country by the public and that many members of the current parliament had faced persecution, harassment or enforced disappearance under the party’s government. They said incidents of disappearance, repression and violence before and during the July mass uprising were being presented to the IPU delegation.

On Monday, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed gave Philip a United Nations report concerning violence during the July uprising and the Awami League government’s tenure. Philip also met women and young lawmakers, visited the July Memorial Museum, and met opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman. He is scheduled to hold discussions with government and opposition MPs, including lawmakers and relatives of alleged victims of past disappearances.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi declined to comment on Bangladesh’s internal politics when asked about India’s relations with a BNP government and tensions involving former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon after a courtesy meeting with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Trivedi said challenges would remain between Bangladesh and India, but both countries should move forward with the future in mind. He said the past cannot be forgotten, yet development work cannot progress if the two sides remain stuck in it. He also said he had extended greetings to everyone on the BNP’s founding anniversary.

The high commissioner said the meeting included discussion on working together harmoniously. He stressed the importance of people-to-people ties, saying decisions made by the two countries affect ordinary citizens and carry a responsibility to ensure public welfare. Trivedi added that the neighbours share not only a border but also dreams, increasing their responsibilities as neighbours, and said neither country is bigger or smaller than the other.

Iran has asked the UN Security Council to intervene following what it described as a US attack on Larak Island in the Persian Gulf. Tehran said military personnel and civilians were killed and injured, while public and private property was damaged. Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi, sent a letter on Monday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Darzi said US forces carried out the attack on Sunday evening and called it a clear violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He described the continuing war against Iran as constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and held the United States, as well as those ordering and carrying out the attacks, responsible.

The Iranian envoy said Tehran had shown restraint throughout the situation but that its forces would not hesitate to respond to any further attacks. He also referred to Iran’s attack on a US base in Jordan as an act of self-defense. Darzi urged the Security Council to demand that the United States stop its attacks and requested that his letter be circulated as an official Council document.