Residents in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur have alleged that substandard construction materials are being used in an LGED road development project worth Tk 27,191,846. The work, under the 2025-26 “Prabhati” project, covers about 2.5 kilometres from Purba Nabonidas Government Primary School to Burirhat Road.

The project includes road improvement, four RCC U-drains, four culverts, one box culvert, one 3.5-metre culvert and guide walls at different locations. Locals alleged that brick chips made from salt, jhama and third-grade bricks are being used instead of materials meeting prescribed standards. They also alleged that chips measuring about five to six inches have been used in some places.

Resident Rafiqul Islam called for officials to inspect the site and assess the work quality, while Ala Mia said inferior materials could reduce the road’s durability. LGED office staff said they did not have information on the main contractor, though they mentioned Emdadul Haque; Mahabbat Ali is currently carrying out field-level work. An assistant engineer declined comment, while acting upazila engineer Tarun Kumar Sarkar said he would investigate and respond the next day.

Rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and robots is reshaping China’s labour market, with workers reporting job losses and growing anxiety about further displacement. In Beijing, computer programmer Fei Zhaojun was among about 160 employees dismissed two weeks after his employer asked whether AI could soon perform coding work instead of people.

AI use is expanding beyond programming into scriptwriting, translation, media and physical work, creating uncertainty over jobs and incomes. Robots are also increasingly being used for food delivery, raising questions about the livelihoods of millions of delivery workers. The Chinese government is promoting wider AI deployment through its “AI Plus” initiative and its plans through 2030, aiming to improve productivity and economic capacity.

Some economists warn that while AI can raise productivity, it could put heavy pressure on employment, particularly in jobs limited to specific skills. China’s overall urban unemployment rate is about 5 percent, while unemployment among people aged 16 to 24 is nearly three times higher. Experts also say automation may help address future labour shortages as the population ages and the working-age population declines. Some displaced workers are using AI to start businesses or work independently.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday an initiative to legislate a ban on social media use by children and teenagers under 16. Under the proposed law, social media companies could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue if they fail to enforce the restriction.

The proposal would require platforms to take necessary steps to verify users’ ages. It would allow the use of digital identity documents, facial-recognition technology and information from users’ existing accounts. Luxon said the measure was needed to protect young people from harmful content, addiction and social pressures they are not yet prepared to handle.

Luxon also claimed that social media negatively affects children’s family life, mental health, sleep and studies. Passage of the bill remains uncertain after coalition partner New Zealand First opposed it. Its leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said such legislation could take the country in an undesirable direction, called Australia’s similar ban a failure, and stressed parents’ role in regulating children’s social media use. Luxon acknowledged enforcement would not be easy or completely effective.

Chattogram Customs House will begin an online auction this August to sell goods from 442 unclaimed and auctionable containers, according to a National Board of Revenue notice issued on Monday. Special e-auction No. 9/2026 will cover goods in 152 containers, while special e-auction No. 10/2026 will cover 290 containers. The auction also includes 86 old empty containers.

Items listed for sale include chemicals, machinery and parts, PVC flex banners, plastic waste or scrap, chest freezers, pipes, yarn, fabric, solar modules, air-conditioner parts, tiles, stainless-steel coils, scanners, badminton rackets, elevators, salt, paper and household products.

Participants must register through Chattogram Customs' e-auction portal. Bids for auction No. 9/2026 will be accepted from August 27 to September 16, while bids for No. 10/2026 will be accepted until 3pm on September 17. A scanned copy of a security deposit worth at least 10 percent of the proposed bid must be uploaded. The NBR said the initiative should improve port capacity, reduce container congestion, protect assets and prevent waste of state resources.

Indonesian police have arrested 72 people accused of setting fires in forests and peatlands, as severe blazes across central and western parts of the country produced widespread haze that crossed into neighbouring Malaysia. The fires are affecting areas on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, where authorities are investigating 89 suspected forest and land-fire cases across nine provinces.

Mohammad Irhamni of Indonesia’s police special crime investigation division said most suspects are accused of deliberately burning land to clear it cheaply for farming or plantations. Police are also examining whether companies financed the fires. Irhamni said authorities would not only act against people on the ground, but would seek to identify those who benefited and those behind the burning. The accused could face up to 15 years in prison.

Indonesia’s environment ministry identified more than 3,700 fire hotspots in Borneo and over 1,700 in South Sumatra on Sunday. Visibility in some areas fell to 10 metres. Drought and El Niño have worsened conditions, while underground peatland embers risk reigniting fires. Indonesia has begun artificial-rain operations in Kalimantan and deployed 30 helicopters there and 22 in Sumatra. In Malaysia’s Sarawak, haze shut nearly 600 schools, affecting about 200,000 students.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-2 ordered journalists Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa to be shown arrested and sent to jail in a new crimes against humanity case. The order was issued Monday afternoon by a three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury over alleged provocative remarks in media programmes during the July 2024 uprising.

Prosecutor Moinul Karim told the tribunal that the three journalists made provocative statements in televised talk shows or other media programmes during the uprising. He said the investigation agency had found their involvement while investigating the crimes against humanity case and sought their formal arrest in the matter.

After the hearing, the tribunal granted the prosecution’s application and ordered their detention. It set October 25 for submission of the investigation report. The tribunal had taken cognisance of allegations against the three on August 17 and directed their appearance on Monday, when they were brought from prison. Babu and Rupa are already jailed in the Shapla Chattar massacre case, while Dutta is jailed in a case over killings during the July uprising.

Bangladesh and India discussed steps to deepen bilateral trade, including reopening closed border markets, operating land ports at full capacity and lifting restrictions on yarn imports by land. The issues were raised on Monday at a Secretariat meeting between Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi. The minister said the two countries currently conduct about $13 billion in bilateral trade.

Muktadir said trade activities had slowed somewhat because of obstacles that emerged over the past year and a half. He described India as Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner after China and said the meeting examined ways to identify problems and make future commerce easier and more effective. Discussions also emphasized reviving border markets and fully activating land ports.

A proposal was made to establish a joint task force for greater business cooperation and to improve digital infrastructure, with the aim of creating investment opportunities and expanding commercial ties. Trivedi said the countries should work together on the basis of equality and stressed joint investment and production. He said India could support Bangladesh’s garment sector by supplying inputs including zippers, buttons and machinery.

A fish trader, Md Aminul Islam, 35, was hacked and robbed of cash and a mobile phone in the Boro Madrasa area behind the Jatrabari fish market in Dhaka on Monday at about 7am. The attackers fled after taking his belongings. Aminul was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was receiving treatment in the emergency department.

Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the hospital police outpost, confirmed that Aminul was under treatment in the emergency department. A colleague, Nannu Mia, said Aminul was on his way to buy fish when two or three muggers blocked his path and attacked him with sharp weapons.

According to Nannu Mia, Aminul had about Tk28,000 to Tk30,000 with him when the robbery occurred. He sustained injuries to different parts of his body in the attack, and colleagues took him to hospital after being informed. Aminul, a fish seller and tenant at Kutub Uddin's house in the area, is the son of Robi Bepari of Enayetpur upazila in Sirajganj.

Bangladesh’s government has initiated plans to draft a unified policy linking cultural heritage with tourism development. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat announced the initial decision at a meeting held Monday in the Cultural Affairs Ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry and the Cultural Affairs Ministry will coordinate the effort.

Millat said a joint committee involving the two ministries will be formed to prepare the policy for cultural tourism. He said the ministries will soon sign a memorandum of understanding on the matter. Referring to a recent visit to Malaysia, he said Bangladesh had made an initial decision to begin work following Malaysia’s approach to preserving historical sites while developing tourism and culture.

The prime minister, Tarique Rahman, has set a target of increasing tourism’s contribution to GDP from the current 2 to 3 percent to 7 to 8 percent through the joint initiative, the minister said. The first phase will focus on traditional zamindar houses and Buddhist relics stretching from Cox’s Bazar to Mainamati, before other tourism and cultural sites are included gradually.

Five-time world champions Brazil have expressed strong interest in playing Bangladesh in an international friendly in Dhaka on October 6, alongside their planned India tour. A five-member Brazilian delegation recently visited Dhaka to assess the possibility, inspecting the National Stadium and Bashundhara Kings Arena and holding preliminary discussions with Bangladesh Football Federation president Tabith Awal.

The proposal follows Brazil’s scheduled friendlies in Australia on September 25 and 29, followed by a match in Kolkata on October 3 against a local side or India’s national team. Citing Dhaka’s proximity to Kolkata, the Brazilian delegation proposed extending the tour for a Bangladesh match during the FIFA international window from September 19 to October 6.

BFF faces scheduling and financial challenges before making a decision. Bangladesh will play in the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 24 to October 4, potentially leaving players little recovery time. If Bangladesh plays four matches there, the Brazil game may not receive official FIFA recognition. BFF would also need to cover charter-flight and related costs for Brazil’s roughly 90-member contingent travelling from Dhaka to Dubai. The matter awaits formal announcements from both sides.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and China could play an important role in building a fair international order, strengthening multilateralism, and ensuring peace and stability. Writing in an Iranian newspaper to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations, he said Tehran and Beijing seek to begin a new chapter of cooperation based on mutual trust and the firm political will of their leaders.

Araghchi described China as Iran’s “friend in difficult times” and said their cooperation on regional peace and security reflects a shared commitment to long-term stability. He said relations between Tehran and Beijing have deepened and expanded in recent years despite Western sanctions and maximum pressure on Iran. He also called China Iran’s main economic partner and praised its role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS and the UN Security Council.

The foreign minister accused the United States and Israel of actions against Iran that he said violated international law, the UN Charter and moral principles. He urged peace-seeking countries to take more effective steps to protect international peace and security. Araghchi said Iran is ready to strengthen strategic ties with China and other members through SCO and BRICS frameworks.

National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam alleged that the BNP government turned state institutions into “party clubs” within six months of taking power. Speaking at a Monday press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he presented what he described as the government’s failures over 180 days.

Nahid said party-aligned vice-chancellors had been appointed at 19 to 20 universities, while party figures were installed as administrators in 11 city corporations and 63 district councils. He alleged that these posts had become rehabilitation centres for candidates denied nominations or defeated in elections. He also said 830 incidents of political violence occurred over six months, alleging BNP was responsible for 670, and said NCP activists were attacked in different areas.

He further accused the government of rejecting the referendum verdict and misleading the public. Nahid cited fuel shortages, record fuel-price increases, a 43 percent gas shortfall, electricity price rises, load-shedding and alleged burdens from ghost bills and capacity charges. He also raised concerns over fertiliser access, bank lending growth, health-sector conditions and attacks on dissenting views in educational institutions.

Manarat International University concluded its two-day Pharma Carnival 2.0 on Sunday, August 23, at the auditorium of its permanent campus. The closing ceremony featured a cultural programme, prize and certificate distribution, and a raffle draw. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Abdur Rob attended as chief guest, while Professor Dr Md Mizanur Rahman, dean of the School of Engineering, Science and Technology, was a special guest.

In his remarks, Abdur Rob stressed that students should build creativity, leadership, communication and problem-solving abilities alongside academic learning. He said such co-curricular activities play an important role in helping students develop into confident and skilled professionals. Faculty members, staff, invited guests and students attended the event.

The second day began with remarks by Pharmacy Department head Muhammad Rakib Al Mamun, followed by an IQ test competition and other closing activities. Alumni working in senior roles at different institutions offered career guidance. On August 22, the carnival included a pharma olympiad, scientific seminar, career guidance seminar and public speaking contest, with participants from Manarat, Daffodil International, Eastern and City universities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed new US sanctions threats, saying Tehran is familiar with such measures and knows how to confront them. The United States said it would announce new sanctions against Iran on Monday, while Araghchi described repeated US sanctions packages as watching the same film again.

Araghchi said US sanctions were not new and argued that threats from the Trump era were no different from those made under previous US administrations. His comments followed President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would begin an economic war against Iran.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday local time, Trump said Iran had failed to use an opportunity to reach an agreement and would face economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale. He also said sanctions would be imposed on any country trading with Iran or enabling its financial institutions, businesses, airports or government entities to provide Iran with any form of lifeline or assistance.

New Chattogram Civil Surgeon Sazedur Rahman was involved in a highway collision while travelling from Cumilla to Chattogram on Monday, his first working day in the district. The crash occurred at about 9am near Kumira Royal Gate in Sitakunda on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. His wife, Dr Lubna, was injured and admitted to a private hospital in Chattogram.

Police and local sources said the ambulance carrying the couple collided with a No. 8 minibus travelling from Alankar toward Sitakunda near the Kumira U-turn. The ambulance’s glass broke in the collision, injuring Dr Lubna. Rahman left his wife at the hospital and then went to his new workplace to assume his duties.

Baro Awlia Highway Police seized the No. 8 minibus, and Sergeant Zakirul Islam said authorities would investigate the incident and take necessary legal action. Transport leader Mohammad Khurshid Alam alleged that unfit vehicles operate on the highway without route permits or driver licences. Sitakunda UNO Fakhrul Islam said action would be taken quickly if the vehicles lack valid route permits.