Japan-based expatriate Junaid Mia, who went viral after leaving a wedding in Akhaura over the absence of a whole goat on a large platter, has married Jannat Akhtar. The ceremony was completed at about 11pm on Tuesday at the bride’s maternal uncle’s home in Niamatpur village of Kasba upazila, Brahmanbaria.

Junaid confirmed the marriage in a Facebook post at around 1am on Tuesday night, saying that the marriage had been completed and asking for prayers for a peaceful and happy married life. Images showing a whole goat served as a special dish for the groom have circulated on social media.

Jannat is the daughter of Zaher Mia of Nurpur village in Akhaura and is reported to be a second-year HSC student at a local women’s college. Junaid’s younger brother Parvez said the marriage was held joyfully with both families’ consent, with the dower set at Tk600,000. On Monday, Junaid had returned without marrying from a ceremony in Tolatala village after becoming upset that a whole goat was not served on a large platter.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the request concerning the extradition of Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina remains under review under its established process. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the statement on Tuesday in response to a question about requests from Dhaka connected to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to India.

A journalist said the requests included Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and the return of people arrested over allegations linked to Hadi’s killing. Jaiswal said India seeks a positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh based on mutual interests and bilateral ties.

Jaiswal said there was no need to restate India’s position on the former Bangladeshi prime minister’s press conference. Before that event, he had said the Indian government had no involvement in it and did not endorse any statements made there. Bangladesh had expressed strong anger over the opportunity for direct interaction at the event, according to the report.

Bangladesh’s government has taken up a Tk 1,311 crore 50 lakh 66 thousand project to develop Ramu Cantonment in Cox’s Bazar into a modern, full-fledged military installation. The proposal, titled “Infrastructure Development for Ramu Cantonment,” was scheduled for presentation to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. It is planned to run from July 2026 to June 2030 with full government financing.

The project is intended to strengthen security along the country’s southeastern border, protect sovereignty against external attacks and increase strategic military capability. The Defence Ministry is the project sponsor, while Army Headquarters, the Engineer-in-Chief Branch, the Public Works Department and Dhaka Cantonment will implement it. The documents also list important military and civilian areas in Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna divisions.

Planned works include 135,882.97 square metres of residential buildings, 6,158.30 square metres of non-residential buildings, 25,000 metres of drainage structures and 11 tube wells. Health and water-supply facilities, telecommunications equipment, land development, electrical and firefighting equipment, computers and furniture are also included.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) officials say India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has gathered more than 1,000 Indian citizens at several points along the border from Mymensingh through Sylhet to Cumilla, allegedly for possible push-ins into Bangladesh. The report, published on August 19, 2026, says the people have been divided into small groups and positioned near different border points.

BGB members stationed at Cumilla’s Bibirbazar and Golabari borders said an Indian citizen was recently allegedly sent toward Bangladesh before dawn, then detained and returned to India through the Mathurapur border. They also said a July 26 attempt to force four people, including a woman and three children, into Bangladesh through the Saldanadi border was stopped.

Cumilla 10 BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Mir Ali Ejaj said the force remains alert and would not allow Indian citizens to enter Bangladesh. A regional commander said BGB had thwarted at least 25 alleged push-in attempts over the past two months. Officials cited manpower shortages but said drone surveillance and other new technologies were being used.

Nine Bangladeshi nationals, including six men, two women and a child, died in a fire at a hotel in a multi-storey building on Mirza Ghalib Street in Kolkata’s New Market area. The blaze was initially reported to have started on the third floor at about 4:15 a.m. Tuesday. The building housed separate hotels or guest houses on nearly every floor, and several people were rescued by firefighters.

Guests alleged that the rooms and passageways were cramped, the building had only one main entrance and exit, and no emergency evacuation system was available. Smoke filled corridors and balconies, making it difficult for people to find their way out. Some guests reportedly sheltered in bathrooms and tried to escape by breaking windows. One guest said hotel staff were not seen after the fire began and alleged inadequate firefighting arrangements.

Fire officials initially suspect a short circuit, while forensic experts are expected to visit the scene. Doctors initially believe the victims may have died from suffocation, though post-mortem examinations will determine the cause. Authorities are examining fire safety, hotel legality, permits and trade licences, while some injured people remain in critical condition.

The United Nations has called for an end to Israeli airstrikes in Syria after Israel struck the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in the eastern part of Idlib province. The report, published on August 19, 2026, said the UN described the attack as a violation of Syria’s territorial integrity and airspace.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told a news conference on Tuesday that the airstrikes should stop and that the United Nations opposed them. His remarks followed Syria’s condemnation of the attack in letters sent to the UN secretary-general and the president of the Security Council.

The source did not provide details on casualties, damage, the timing of the strike, or Israel’s response. It also did not specify any action planned by the Security Council or other UN bodies following Syria’s letters and the spokesperson’s statement.

Iran has fully rejected a United Arab Emirates allegation that it launched two ballistic missiles from Iranian territory on Tuesday. The UAE said one missile landed outside its territorial waters and the other fell into the sea within its waters, alleging that the missiles targeted maritime navigation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the accusation baseless.

Baghaei said such statements would undermine efforts to strengthen trust among neighbouring countries and improve regional security. Tehran also urged neighbouring states to refrain from what it described as unfounded accusations. Iran said the actions of the United States and Israel had further complicated the situation in the Middle East.

Following the incident, the UAE suspended all commercial and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. It had earlier issued an alert over a possible missile attack. Iran also said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until a peace agreement is reached with the United States. The strait is described as a major energy and trade route used by vessels from the UAE and other Gulf countries.

After forming the government, the BNP has moved to recognise leaders active in its long-running movement and those denied party nominations by assigning them important roles in local government and other public institutions. Five BNP leaders in Sylhet have received such appointments, according to a report published on August 19, 2026.

The appointees are BNP assistant organising secretary Miftah Siddiqui, Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Qayum Chowdhury, former district president and executive committee member Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim, former acting metropolitan president Rezaul Hasan Qayes Lodi, and former metropolitan general secretary Badruzzaman Selim. Selim was most recently appointed director of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited by the power, energy and mineral resources ministry.

Qayum Chowdhury was appointed administrator of Sylhet City Corporation on February 22, Shamim became Sylhet District Council administrator on March 15, and Qayes Lodi was appointed chairman of Sylhet Development Authority on June 11. Siddiqui was named chairman of Sylhet WASA on August 9. The report said several of the leaders had sought BNP nominations in the latest national election.

Global oil prices rose for a fourth consecutive day as prospects for peace between the United States and Iran appeared to weaken, heightening concerns over energy supplies. At 00:04 GMT on Wednesday, Brent crude gained 26 cents, or 0.29%, to $91.28 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 37 cents to trade at $85.31 per barrel.

Both crude benchmarks had reached their highest levels since July 24 at the close of trading on Tuesday. The source said diminishing prospects for US-Iran peace talks had created concern in the market about oil supply.

Investors were closely monitoring developments amid conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran concerning ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The report linked the continued price gains to these supply worries and the reduced likelihood of peace between the two countries.

Iran has launched another ballistic missile attack toward the United Arab Emirates, according to the UAE Defence Ministry. The ministry said one missile fell in the country’s waters and another landed outside its territorial waters. No casualties or damage were reported. The report was published on August 19, 2026.

Amid concern over a possible missile attack, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the Interior Ministry instructed residents to take shelter in the nearest safe buildings. The Interior Ministry later withdrew its mobile alert notification.

A day earlier, the UAE accused Iran of attacking a vessel belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Abu Dhabi subsequently urged Tehran to halt the attacks and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This was the first such missile alert in the UAE since May. Since the Middle East war began in February, the country had been targeted by about 3,000 Iranian missile and drone attacks, the report said.

Bangladesh has not converted its comparatively favorable US tariff position into higher garment orders as buyers move away from China, according to the report published in Chattogram on August 19, 2026. Under a new US tariff structure effective July 24, Bangladesh’s effective total tariff rate is about 25.6 percent, compared with 28.1 percent for Vietnam and 35.6 percent for China. Yet Bangladesh’s US apparel exports in the first five months of 2026 fell 8.1 percent year on year to more than $3.25 billion.

Analysts cited limited product diversification, weak capacity in man-made fiber garments, and port and customs complications that extend delivery times. Five basic categories—trousers, T-shirts, woven formal shirts, underwear and sweaters—generate 78 percent of Bangladesh’s apparel exports, while about 95 percent of factories make these products. In 2025, man-made-fiber products accounted for 57 percent of US apparel imports.

Vietnam exported $6.39 billion in apparel to the United States during the same five-month period, up 1.5 percent. Indonesia and Cambodia recorded export growth of 5.49 percent and 14.9 percent respectively. Bangladesh’s EU apparel exports also fell 19.33 percent in the first four months of 2026.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Teens, a dedicated experience for users aged 13 to 17 designed to support learning, critical thinking and confidence using AI. Users estimated by the system to be under 18, or who state they are 13 to 17, are automatically placed in the teen experience. It includes stronger built-in safety protections, learning-focused tools and added controls for parents.

Study Mode uses guiding questions and step-by-step scaffolding rather than simply providing answers. Responsible homework reminders can identify apparent attempts to shortcut assignments and redirect users to collaborative problem solving. The platform also offers quizzes, learning visualizations and Study Hours, which teens or parents can schedule so Study Mode is enabled by default at chosen times.

Default safeguards address self-harm, violence, eating disorders, dangerous activities, and explicit sexual or graphic content. Parents with linked teen accounts can set Quiet Hours, manage selected settings and receive limited safety notifications; OpenAI is adding notifications related to eating disorders. OpenAI also announced a partnership with CodeAI to provide students and educators with tools and resources intended to help teens understand, question, direct and create with AI.

Nine Bangladeshi nationals, including six men, two women and a child, were killed in a major fire at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market in Kolkata, West Bengal. The fire broke out on the hotel’s fourth floor at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday night. Kolkata police and fire services reached the scene and brought the blaze under control after nearly two hours, but part of the hotel was burned.

About 60 people have been rescued so far, according to the report. Many people lost consciousness because of smoke inhalation and were taken to Kolkata Medical College Hospital, where several were reported to be in critical condition. Police and fire officials initially suspect that the fire may have started from an air conditioner, though an investigation is continuing to determine the exact cause.

Residents said the building had a single, narrow entrance and exit, and alleged that the hotel lacked an emergency exit. Some trapped people entered bathrooms and tried to escape by breaking windows. A woman from a family rescued from the top floor alleged that repeated requests for fire-safety measures had not been followed by hotel authorities.

The Global Alliance for Palestine has announced a worldwide day of action on October 10 to express solidarity with Palestinians and protest the ongoing situation in Gaza. The announcement, reported on August 19, 2026, calls for participation by pro-Palestinian groups, human rights activists, labour organisations and members of the public in countries around the world.

The initiative aims to highlight Palestinian rights, call for an end to the war in Gaza and convey a message of international solidarity. Organisers said the planned activities will include demonstrations, rallies, marches and other peaceful events in cities across the world.

According to the alliance, the central purpose is to show support for Palestinians and increase pressure on the international community to take effective action. It said the effort is intended to further organise global public opinion amid the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and urged individuals and organisations in different countries to prepare local activities for October 10.

Police released former Chhatra Dal leader Zোবায়ের হোসেন বাপ্পী, also known as Hoop Bappi, on a bond after taking him into custody over allegations that he publicly displayed a licensed shotgun and issued a death threat in Ishwardi, Pabna. The incident began on Monday, while protests and a police-station siege followed on Tuesday. Police seized his firearm, saying the display had created public fear.

Witnesses, police and local BNP activists said Bappi marched about three kilometres along the town’s main road wearing white burial cloth around his head and body. He was accompanied by several people, including Dashuria union BNP president Abdus Samad Sulav Malitha. At the railgate area, Bappi was accused of threatening former Upazila Jubo Sebak Dal member secretary Mehedi Hasan with the firearm raised.

Police handed Bappi and four others to district detective police around 2am. The DB said they were released around 3:30am because no case had been filed. Mehedi said he had submitted a written complaint, while Bappi’s side said the action was a protest against drugs and terrorism, not an attempt to frighten anyone. Police said steps would be taken to seek cancellation of the firearm licence.