Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment, has died while receiving treatment at a hospital in The Hague, Netherlands. He was 83. The UN’s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed the death, saying he died early in the day. Judge Graciela Gatti Santana ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” Mladic had been ill for a long time and suffered several strokes. A UN doctor had said earlier this month that he could die at any time or within weeks, while his renewed request for release was rejected. In 2017, a UN tribunal sentenced him to life for genocide and war crimes committed during the Bosnian war.

Mladic was convicted over the 1995 killing of at least 8,000 Muslims in the UN-declared safe area of Srebrenica. The source describes the massacre as Europe’s worst genocide since World War II. Munira Subasic of Mothers of Srebrenica expressed sorrow but said many Bosnian Serbs still deny his crimes, while Human Rights Watch said his death renewed the need for justice, truth and reparations in the Western Balkans.

Bangladesh is establishing its second ordnance production centre at Faujdarhat in Sitakunda, Chattogram, with plans to meet domestic demand before exporting surplus arms and ammunition. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman outlined the defence-industry plan on Thursday during a land and facilities transfer agreement ceremony between Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation and the Bangladesh Army.

The facility will be developed as an expansion of Bangladesh Ordnance Factories on about 55 acres of land and structures formerly used by the long-closed Jalil Textile Mill. It is intended to produce military equipment for the army, navy and air force, as well as police, Ansar-VDP and other security and paramilitary forces. The army chief said reliance on imported arms and ammunition alone would not be sufficient for conducting war.

The site was selected for its surrounding hills, proximity to Chattogram seaport, and road and rail links. The cabinet committee on economic affairs gave in-principle approval on 1 July to transfer the land to the army at a symbolic price. Officials said export ambitions would require modern technology, skilled personnel, research, international-standard production and strict quality control.

A massive mud-and-rock collapse in the Himalayas triggered catastrophic flooding across Nepal and China’s Tibet region on Wednesday, killing more than 390 people and leaving over 1,500 missing. Nepalese authorities confirmed the recovery of 392 bodies, while at least three deaths were reported in Tibet. The collapse struck a river and rapidly swept away valleys and settlements.

Nepal’s tourism department said 668 foreign trekkers from 34 countries are missing, including 177 Indians, 90 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians. China said 100 Chinese citizens were among those missing in Nepal. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, 558 people, including 260 foreigners, were reported missing.

Destroyed roads and bridges have hindered rescue access, with helicopters evacuating survivors and delivering supplies. More than 5,000 Nepal Army personnel are involved, and 350 workers and residents trapped in the Upper Trishuli hydropower project tunnel were rescued alive. At least 15 hydropower projects were damaged, stopping about 431 megawatts of generation. The United States, United Nations, Canada, Australia and India have announced or provided assistance.

The day’s live sports television schedule features the second day of the England-Pakistan Test at Lord’s, starting at 4pm on Sony Sports 2. Cricket coverage also includes Hong Kong versus Thailand in the Women’s Asia Cup at 8:30pm on Sony Sports, and Northern Territory versus Bangladesh HP in the Top End T20 Series at 1:30pm on T Sports.

In other cricket action, St Kitts face Jamaica in CPL 2026 at 5am, with coverage listed on Star Sports and FanCode. The schedule brings together international Test cricket, women’s regional competition, Bangladesh HP’s T20 fixture and Caribbean Premier League action across several broadcasters.

European football provides a late-night lineup. Crystal Palace play Manchester City in the English Premier League at 1am on Star Sports Select HD 1, while Chelsea meet Luton Town in the English League Cup at 12:40am on FanCode. Other listed matches include AC Milan versus Venezia, Bayern Munich versus Stuttgart, PSG versus Lille, and Racing Santander versus Elche.

Pakistan says new countries may join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, but any formal request will be considered after consultations with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi made the remarks during Thursday’s weekly briefing when asked about Bangladesh’s interest in the alliance, as well as questions concerning Syria and Iran.

Andrabi described the agreement as a defensive framework intended to preserve peace and promote regional stability. He said the emerging security arrangement is open to countries committed to shared security interests and collective obligations. He did not name any prospective new member or separately comment on reported interest from Iran and Syria. He also said implementation of the agreement remains at an early stage.

Bangladesh is discussing possible participation but has made no policy decision, according to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obeid. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament that the government would positively consider an invitation from member states, though no proposal has been received. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the pact in Mecca on August 7, providing for collective defense, greater political and military coordination, joint exercises and defense-industry cooperation.

A large natural lake formed near the confluence of the Chochhen Khola and Purepu Sangpo rivers in Nepal’s Rasuwa district has breached, raising fears of another sudden surge in the Bhotekoshi River. Rasuwa Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar confirmed the development on Friday, citing the Nepali Army. The lake is located near the Nepal-China border.

Chinese authorities had warned on Thursday that water was overflowing from the lake and that it could collapse at any time. Nepal’s disaster management authority said water levels in the Bhotekoshi River had risen. Helicopters stationed in Dhunche and Rasuwa were being prepared for an aerial survey of the river and surrounding areas.

China’s Ministry of Water Resources estimated that the lake held about 2 million cubic metres of water on Thursday morning, with a further 3 million cubic metres expected to enter over the following three days. Flooding on Wednesday damaged roads, bridges and other structures in Timure and Syafrubesi, while many people remain missing. Authorities have not yet confirmed how much water was released by the breach.

Thieves stole most of the Treasure of Villena, a major Bronze Age collection, from a museum in Villena, Spain, early Thursday. The alarm sounded at 5:20 a.m., and the intruders left the building four minutes later, at 5:24 a.m. Authorities said the group likely entered through a window after arriving near the museum in several vehicles.

The collection contains more than 50 objects, including 29 bracelets, 11 bowls and three bottles. Mostly made of gold, it also includes silver, iron and amber artifacts dating to about 1000 BC. Archaeologist Jose Maria Soler discovered the treasure in 1963 in a buried vessel beneath a dried-up riverbed in Villena. The mayor estimated the gold alone at about $2 million, while its historical value was described as nearly impossible to determine.

Mayor Fulgencio Cerdan said the thieves took “most of the collection” and called the loss devastating for Villena’s heritage. Officials said all security systems activated and denied a museum security failure. Investigators are examining whether an earlier alarm at a city sports center was intended to distract security staff. The theft has renewed debate over museum security across Europe.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck northern Tibet around midnight on Thursday, as the region was still dealing with the effects of a severe glacier collapse and sudden flooding. Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) confirmed the tremor and said its origin was about 10 kilometres below the surface.

According to GFZ, the epicentre was several hundred miles north of areas near the Nepal-China border. The quake followed another earthquake of magnitude 4.7 that hit Tibet’s Nagqu area on Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, with Xinhua confirming that report.

Authorities are also concerned that a naturally formed barrier lake in Tibet could breach. China has activated a level-four flood response to prepare for rising water. The Ministry of Water Resources instructed local authorities to monitor the lake’s water level and rainfall around the clock, while an expert team was sent to Gyirong County to assess conditions and provide necessary support.

The article alleges that India’s South Block is pressuring Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India, claiming Indian diplomats have used both warnings and incentives. It cites former diplomat Veena Sikri as saying that Tarique has little time, and references Vidya Bhushan Soni as suggesting that communication and opportunities could end if he does not visit.

The author argues that Bangladesh’s energy arrangements with India, including power purchases from Adani and diesel imports, are shaped by binding contracts made by a previous government. The article says the Adani agreement requires Bangladesh to buy a specified volume of electricity for 25 years or pay capacity charges, while cancellation would require compensation for plant construction costs.

It further claims India is uneasy about Bangladesh potentially joining a defence arrangement involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, said to have been concluded in Mecca in August 2026. The article alleges the arrangement includes mutual support, defence-industrial cooperation, drone production and technology exchange. It says Bangladesh’s army chief recently visited Turkey and argues that increased Indian pressure could push Bangladesh toward formally joining the alliance.

An opinion article argues that Bangladesh needs institutional political education and training to develop responsible, skilled and forward-looking leaders. It says political debate has long centred on individuals, parties and elections, while democratic stability also requires capable workers, ethical leadership and sustained preparation. The article cites former president Ziaur Rahman’s emphasis on training BNP workers and prospective leaders after the party’s establishment.

It highlights a training workshop for newly elected BNP lawmakers after the 1979 second national parliamentary election, saying the programme covered parliamentary conduct, lawmaking rules and the responsibilities of representatives. The article also says Tarique Rahman, identified as prime minister and BNP chairman, inaugurated a workshop for newly elected BNP legislators covering parliamentary practices, bills, budget documents and committee roles.

The article proposes an inclusive, neutral leadership school for young political workers, local representatives, student leaders and promising social organisers. Suggested subjects include the constitution, public finance, climate change, technology and artificial intelligence, foreign policy, human rights and disaster management. It says practical exercises could include simulated parliaments, draft budgets, public hearings and policy proposals.

A Bangladeshi columnist argues that the armed forces are a source of state strength but should not replace civilian administration. The opinion piece warns that assigning routine administrative responsibilities to the military beyond disasters, emergencies or national crises could create long-term risks. It focuses on what the author describes as growing militarisation within civil bureaucracy and maritime institutions in Bangladesh.

The writer cites a November 2 research-oriented column by Golam Sohrawardy on the militarisation of public employment in South Asia. The article also challenges the leadership structure of Maritime University, alleging that despite its maritime identity, its vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor positions have not been filled from outside the navy. The columnist rejects remarks characterising merchant-marine professionals as “boatmen” and stresses their technical training, operational responsibilities and academic qualifications.

The column further disputes claims that maritime boundary settlements constituted an unqualified historic victory for Bangladesh. It describes the settlements as arbitration in which all sides gained and conceded matters, and raises concerns about EEZ and continental-shelf “grey areas.” These are presented as potential future strategic issues if Bangladesh pursues offshore resources or develops a blue-water navy.

Potato growers and traders blocked the Rangpur-Lalmonirhat-Kurigram highway in the Nabdiganj area of Rangpur city on Thursday, demanding that cold-storage charges be fixed at Tk5 per kilogram. Hundreds of participants gathered before placing wooden logs on the road, halting traffic in both directions and causing long congestion.

Protesters said an agriculture department report put the cost of storing potatoes in cold storage at Tk3 to Tk4 per kilogram, while cold-storage owners were unwilling to charge below Tk7. They said the higher fee would deepen losses after spending heavily on potato production, transport and storage, particularly if market prices fall below production costs.

Farmer leaders including Altaf Hossain and Sarwar Ali spoke during the blockade. The protesters warned that if their demand is not accepted by Saturday, they will go to all cold storages in Rangpur on Sunday, pay Tk5 per kilogram and remove their own potatoes. They also warned of responsibility for any deterioration in law and order. The blockade was withdrawn after about two hours, and traffic resumed.

More than 2,000 concrete blocks have allegedly been removed from the Charhaizda crop-protection embankment in Dingapota Haor, Mohanganj upazila of Netrokona. Local people said the removals began during the night of August 18 in front of Korachapur village in Gaglajur union and have continued on many subsequent nights. Farmers fear the loss of blocks could weaken the embankment and endanger boro crops if early flooding or water pressure rises.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board said the permanent embankment was built in 2019 across 5.3 kilometres of highly vulnerable areas at a cost of Tk39.64 crore to protect boro crops. Its sub-assistant engineer Md Enayet Hossain filed a general diary at Mohanganj police station on August 23. Residents also said parts of the embankment had previously been cut at night, but they saw no effective action.

Police and the upazila administration said they visited the site, identified people involved and instructed them to return the blocks within two to three days. Mohanganj police warned that legal action would follow otherwise. Farmers have demanded prompt inspection and repairs of damaged sections, along with stronger monitoring to prevent further damage or theft.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar criticized the government over crime, alleged public hardships and the unresolved killings of former teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and three family members. He made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with journalists at the metropolitan Jamaat office in Rangpur city.

Porwar said 550 killings had occurred in the past six months and referred to numerous rape incidents, as well as gas, electricity and fertilizer shortages affecting ordinary people. He said the government could not avoid responsibility. Calling the killing of the four-member teacher’s family inhuman, brutal and hateful, he expressed deep disappointment that law-enforcement agencies had not yet found a clue.

He said differing statements from the district administration, police and intelligence agencies, alongside media reports, had left the motive for the killings unclear. Porwar questioned public safety, conveyed condolences to the victims’ relatives and demanded that the cause be identified immediately. He also said Jamaat would hold a long march in Rangpur on September 19. Party leaders including Abdul Halim, Momtaz and ATM Azam Khan attended.

The Bangladesh government has moved to establish another arms factory in Bhatiari, Chattogram, after Gazipur. Nearly 55 acres of land belonging to Jalil Textile Mills Limited, controlled by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation, has been allocated to the Bangladesh Army for the project. A land transfer agreement was signed on Thursday in the presence of Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate, the initiative is intended to expand arms factory operations. The government decided to hand over the 54.99-acre Jalil Textile Mill to the army at a symbolic price after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval on July 1. The BTMC chairman and the Military Estate Officer of Chattogram Eastern Circle signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

ISPR said the expansion would increase domestic production of modern weapons and ammunition, reduce foreign dependence and strengthen Bangladesh’s defence capability. The industry minister said the government wants products made in the country, including defence equipment, to be appreciated internationally. The army chief thanked the prime minister for measures taken to modernise the army and expressed hope that the continuity would continue.