Leaders of Adityamari উপজেলা BNP and affiliated organisations held a press conference accusing Lalmonirhat-2 lawmaker Rokon Uddin Bablu of corruption, irregularities and breaches of party discipline. The event was held at the Adityamari উপজেলা BNP office at 5pm on Monday, where former member secretary Salekuzzaman Pramanik read a written statement. Bablu is also a vice-president of Lalmonirhat district BNP.

The statement alleged that since becoming an MP, Bablu had ignored the party mainstream and senior leaders while pursuing personal interests. It also accused him of conducting development activities in coordination with the Jatiya Party, the banned Awami League, Jamaat-e-Islami and interested groups, saying this was damaging BNP’s image.

The leaders further alleged that Bablu had not held an evaluation meeting or a courtesy meeting with local residents after the election. They also objected to a meeting called for August 18 at Adityamari GS Model School and College মাঠ, saying key BNP and affiliated leaders were unaware of it. Bablu rejected the allegations as false and fabricated, saying grassroots BNP workers remain in regular contact with him and have no complaints.

A mother in Muradnagar, Cumilla, has alleged that relatives sold her six-month-old child to another person for Tk50,000 without her knowledge. The mother, Taslima Akter, is seeking information about the child and asking for the child’s safe return. The reported incident involves Mostafapur in Ramchandrapur South Union and Sorerpar in Ramchandrapur North Union under Bangra Bazar police station.

Taslima, daughter of Wazed Mia of Sorerpar and wife of Al-Amin of Mostafapur, said the missing child was the youngest among their six daughters and two sons. She alleged that on July 18, while returning from her parents’ home to her husband’s home, she was made to sign a stamp document near Majid College field. She said she was physically and mentally unwell at the time and did not understand the matter, later returning home to find the child gone.

Taslima accused her aunt of conspiring to hand over the child. The aunt, Chenowara Begum, denied knowing anything and referred to Taslima’s uncle, Babul Mia. Babul said he only signed a stamp document and did not know who took the child. Police said they had asked for the child’s whereabouts to be checked and would take swift legal action upon receiving a written complaint.

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering fault affected its generator, the 7th Fleet said. The Arleigh Burke-class vessel was conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific on July 24 when the problem occurred. The roughly 10,000-ton warship lost its ability to move independently, while toilets, galley services, air conditioning and potable-water supplies were disrupted.

Sailors endured the outage in intense heat, with average daytime temperatures in the South China Sea in late July ranging from 89 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit, or 32 to 37 degrees Celsius. Spokesman Commander Matthew Comer said no sailors were injured and that the crew showed resilience, professionalism and composure. The cause of the power failure remains under investigation.

USS Robert Smalls supplied cooked food to Benfold, while other ships from the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group based in Japan also assisted during the four days. Benfold was later towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs, which were completed on August 8 before it returned to duty. It was the second power-loss incident involving a destroyer in the Pacific Command area, after USS Higgins lost power and propulsion for several hours in May.

US President Donald Trump said Iran would not agree to the kind of deal he believes is needed to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera in an article published on August 18, 2026. Trump said Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and asserted that the country would need a long time to rebuild its nuclear capability.

Trump said Iran’s nuclear capacity would take considerable time to reconstruct after previous US attacks. According to his account, those attacks mean Iran would require a lengthy period to restore that capability. The report did not provide further information about the attacks, their timing, or the current condition of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The president did not specify what terms or form of agreement he considered necessary. He also did not explain the basis for his view that Iran would refuse such a deal. The report included no Iranian response and did not describe any prospective next steps by the United States or Iran.

The theatre group Swapnadal has organized the three-day “Natyacharya Selim Al Deen Birth Festival 2026” to mark the 77th birth anniversary of playwright Selim Al Deen. The festival is scheduled for August 18 and August 20-21 at Jahangirnagar University and the Studio Theatre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Its stated slogan highlights the Bengali theatre tradition and the paths of Rabindranath Tagore and Selim Al Deen.

On August 18, a remembrance procession will leave the old arts building at Jahangirnagar University at 10 a.m., followed by floral tributes at the dramatist’s grave. On August 20, the Studio Theatre will host the 124th and 125th performances of Tagore’s verse drama “Chitrangada.” The closing day, August 21, will feature the 52nd and 53rd performances of Selim Al Deen’s “Hargaj.”

Both productions were directed by Zahid Ripon and created through a laboratory method in a traditional Bengali theatrical style. “Chitrangada” explores tensions in male-female psychological and physical relations and crises of self-identity. “Hargaj” draws on the devastating 1989 Manikganj tornado. Selim Al Deen was born on August 18, 1949, and died on January 14, 2008. The event is Swapnadal’s 34th festival.

Yemen’s armed forces said they carried out 133 military operations against Houthi fighters over the past 24 hours. The forces said the operations targeted Houthi capabilities and members, according to a report published on August 18, 2026.

Colonel Majed al-Nujaili, spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, provided the information in a post on X. He said the operations used rocket launchers, artillery and drones against locations identified as sources of Houthi threats.

Al-Nujaili said units deployed at the military’s frontline positions also took part in the operations. The spokesperson did not provide details on casualties or damage resulting from the reported attacks.

Local Government State Minister Mir Shah Alam said Bangladesh will bring battery-powered e-rickshaws under registration through city corporations and municipalities, requiring them to charge only with solar power. The August 18 report said operators who use other power sources would face fines and could be denied registration or renewal. The plan is intended for 13 city corporations, 330 municipalities and all upazilas nationwide.

A CPD study cited in the report estimated that about 6 million battery-powered autorickshaws operate in the country and consume 800-850 megawatts from the national grid daily for charging. The report put annual electricity costs above Tk20,000 crore and alleged at least Tk5,000 crore in lost government revenue from illegal charging. Dhaka Metropolitan Police data listed 48,136 illegal charging points and 992 garages in the capital.

The minister also outlined plans to divide Dhaka e-rickshaws into eight zones, assign different colours, use QR codes and introduce geofencing. Representatives of BUET, traffic police and the two city corporations attended an initial meeting on the regulations. Labour and passenger welfare representatives called for a policy and registration, while a labour party leader objected to blaming rickshaw workers for the power crisis.

An opinion article published on August 18, 2026 argues that partisan appointments to senior posts in Bangladesh’s central bank, universities and state television have become a long-standing political practice. It says the practice is not required by the constitution or any specific law, but has developed through the use of broad executive authority and has turned public institutions into partisan assets.

The article cites the 1973 ordinances governing Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jahangirnagar universities, which provide for Senate panel recommendations, while alleging that governments often bypass the process under claims of special circumstances. It also discusses BUET’s different governance context, including restrictions on organised student and teacher politics, but says the president’s final authority over vice-chancellor appointments does not guarantee neutrality.

The writer traces the culture through successive political eras and says it became systematic after the return of parliamentary democracy in 1991. The July 2024 uprising is presented as a public verdict against partisan control. The article calls for transparent, merit-based appointments and cites Singapore, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada as examples of institutions kept freer from partisan influence.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the trilateral “Mecca Joint Defense Pact” on August 7, 2026, according to the article. It says an armed attack on any one of the three states would be treated as an attack on all. Set against the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, the agreement could alter military and geopolitical relationships not only in West Asia but also across South Asia, the article argues.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the pact would strengthen mutual deterrence and promote peace, security and stability in the region and beyond. The article describes Saudi financial resources and energy influence, Pakistan’s battle-experienced military and nuclear capability, and Turkey’s NATO experience and defense industry as complementary strengths. It says the arrangement could facilitate joint exercises, intelligence cooperation, air and missile defense, defense investment and weapons production.

The three countries have said the pact is not directed against Iran, while Iran has not expressed concern, the article states. India’s Foreign Ministry said it was examining the implications for national security, regional peace and stability. The article further contends that stronger Pakistani capabilities may create uncertainty for India and that Bangladesh could benefit from the defense grouping because of its longstanding relations with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Artist Concetta Antico says she sees subtle red, blue and green hues within ordinary shadows that her students did not perceive. Genetic testing later indicated that she may have tetrachromacy, a visual trait linked to the possible presence of a fourth type of cone cell in addition to the three cone types found in most people. In theory, the additional cell could send a wider range of signals to the brain and support finer color discrimination.

Research cited from Newcastle University’s tetrachromacy project suggests that about 12 percent of women may carry genetic traits associated with producing four cone types, although rates can differ among populations. Having the gene or an extra cone cell does not by itself establish that someone sees more colors. Dr Kimberly A. Jameson of UC Irvine says functional tetrachromacy refers to demonstrably enhanced color discrimination, but proving it is difficult.

Scientists disagree on whether tetrachromats perceive entirely new colors or simply distinguish more subtle differences within familiar colors. Online tests cannot reliably diagnose the condition because most screens use only red, green and blue channels. Experts say genetic testing and laboratory-based assessments are comparatively more reliable, while the process through which retinal tetrachromacy becomes functional tetrachromacy remains incompletely understood.

Iran’s annual inflation rate has reached 66 percent, intensifying living-cost pressures amid international sanctions, regional conflict expenses and currency depreciation, according to a report published on August 18, 2026. The rising costs have further weakened household purchasing power, with lower- and middle-income families facing the greatest strain.

Citing data from Iran’s Statistical Center, the Iranian Labour News Agency said year-on-year inflation in July stood at 87.9 percent. Food and beverage prices rose 128.1 percent over one year, while prices of at least eight essential goods more than doubled during the previous 12 months. Monthly inflation in July was 3.1 percent.

The Iranian rial has fallen to a record low against the US dollar on the unofficial market, adding to the pressure on consumers. The report put a working family’s minimum monthly living costs at about 90 million tomans, compared with a minimum worker wage of about 25 million tomans. Labour rights activist Faramarz Towfiqi said many workers’ monthly income can now cover only eight days of expenses.

An indigenous women’s football team in Raiganj, Sirajganj, is training regularly despite social barriers and limited resources, aiming to fulfil ambitions of playing at district, divisional and national levels. Published on August 18, the report says the players see football not only as a sport but also as a way to express their identity and demonstrate their abilities. They practise in the morning and afternoon, undeterred by heat or fatigue.

Their sessions include running, physical exercise, ball control, passing, dribbling, shooting and goalkeeping. Players Nibedita Rani Mahato and Barsha Mahato said they balance studies with regular training and want better coaching and facilities to compete at higher levels. Pritha Mahato and Mohona Urao said several players trained at their academy have gained opportunities with the national team and other teams in the country.

Coach and academy founder-director Niharjan said he has trained girls without pay since 2010. The academy currently has 60 players and holds training daily from 6am to 9am at Nimgachhi High School field. Players requested quality sports equipment, a suitable field, nutritious food and chances to enter competitions. Local residents said the team is encouraging other girls to take interest in sports.

Three people were killed after a private helicopter crashed into the sea near Sifnos, a popular tourist island in Greece. The accident occurred late Monday night, according to the report. The Bell-model helicopter fell into the water only seconds after taking off from a nearby helipad. Fire service authorities confirmed the deaths of all three people aboard.

Local outlet Kathimerini reported that the helicopter had been due to fly over Sifnos island. Instead, it crashed into the sea shortly after becoming airborne. No one among the helicopter’s three occupants survived the accident.

The cause of the crash was not immediately confirmed, and an investigation has begun. Kathimerini said questions had been raised about the timing of the pilot’s appointment, reporting that the pilot had been hired only two months earlier. However, it remains unknown whether the pilot’s recent appointment had any connection to the crash. Investigators are continuing efforts to determine the exact cause of the accident.

International crude oil prices rose on August 18 as concerns mounted over energy supplies from the Middle East. By 12 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time, Brent crude had gained 27 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $91.14 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 42 cents to $85.04 a barrel.

The increase followed fading prospects for an agreement between Iran and the United States to extend a ceasefire. Tensions in the region increased after Tehran announced it would take a more aggressive stance. Washington also ruled out the possibility of extending the ceasefire, raising concerns that conflict between the two countries could intensify again.

Earlier in the day, WTI had risen by more than 1 percent to $85.37 a barrel. In the previous session, Brent reached its highest level since late July. Market participants fear that a major disruption to oil supplies from the Middle East could push international crude prices higher.

Chittagong has suffered severe waterlogging during the current monsoon, while floods and landslides have killed more than 50 people across Chittagong division, according to an article by Dr. Md. Iqbal Sarwar of the University of Chittagong. He argues that heavy rain alone should not be blamed, pointing instead to mismanagement, poorly planned development and indiscriminate hill cutting as major drivers of the disaster.

The article says 30 minutes to one hour of rain can leave about 40 to 50 percent of the metropolitan area waterlogged. In some places, flooding lasts from 30 minutes to nearly eight hours, with depths ranging from 0.50 to 1.60 metres. Research cited by the writer attributes 63 percent of the city’s waterlogging causes to human activity, including inadequate drainage, uncleared canals and drains, filled water bodies, waste obstruction, unplanned infrastructure and land-use changes.

The government has allocated about Tk13,000 crore to four projects, but the benefits of a CDA waterlogging project, 95 percent complete by May 2026, remain uncertain. The writer calls for halting unplanned urbanisation, hill cutting and destruction of rivers, canals and water bodies, while protecting forests and preventing settlements on vulnerable slopes.