Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not attend the BRICS summit outreach programme scheduled in Delhi on September 12-13, according to multiple diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Delhi cited by Amar Desh. The decision has reportedly been conveyed informally to India, and a representative will attend in his place. The government has not yet made a formal announcement. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Rahman on July 14 in his capacity as BIMSTEC chairperson.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said no policy decision had been made on the prime minister's India visit, stressing that the invitation was addressed to the BIMSTEC chairperson rather than the prime minister. Foreign Ministry officials said the diplomatic letter did not use the title prime minister before Rahman's name and regarded that omission as disrespectful. A senior diplomat said he had received no information indicating the prime minister would attend.

During Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi's courtesy meeting with Rahman in Dhaka, Bangladesh raised the extradition of convicted Sheikh Hasina and suspects in the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. Sources said there was limited preliminary discussion of a possible full bilateral India visit, but no final decision. Officials said preparations are under way for Rahman's September 21 trip to New York for the UN General Assembly.

Bangladesh Prime Minister’s information and broadcasting adviser Jahed Ur Rahman said there was no reason for speculation over the visit to Dhaka by the head of India’s intelligence agency R. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said the official had arrived from China and would meet his counterpart in Bangladesh. The government could issue a statement after the visit if it considered one necessary.

Rahman said Bangladesh’s intelligence chief had also travelled to India. He said relations between Bangladesh and India needed to be realigned and should be conducted as ties between two independent, sovereign countries. He added that India needed to create a favourable environment for discussions on the future realignment of bilateral relations.

The adviser said there was public suspicion over India’s contacts with the Sheikh Hasina government and referred to seeking Hasina’s extradition to bring her under the law. Responding to a question about cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, he said Shakib would have to face cases if he returned to Bangladesh. Rahman also said Hasina and Shakib would receive legal rights, as would any accused person.

About 650,000 native tree seedlings have been planted on government forest land and other sites in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, under a mega plan to plant 2.5 billion trees. The initiative aims to maintain environmental balance, restore forest areas, conserve biodiversity and address the effects of climate change. Planting took place on forest department land across Rajapalong, Palongkhali, Jaliapalong, Ratnapalong and Haldia Palong unions.

The programme includes nearly 30 species, including garjan, neem, champa, chalta, bahera, arjun, jarul, kadam, shimul, sonalu, palash, teak, mahogany, banyan and sissoo. On Sunday, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam inspected a 150-hectare fast-growing plantation of mixed native species created in the 2025-26 fiscal year under the HELP project at the Thaingkhali Beat of Ukhiya Range.

The state minister expressed satisfaction with seedling growth and maintenance work and planted one neem and one chapalish seedling. Forest officials said regular weeding, maintenance, monitoring and guarding are underway. They expect that if the programme is implemented successfully and seedlings survive, green cover in Ukhiya’s hilly areas will increase over the coming years, while helping curb soil erosion and create habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Colombia’s new hard-right government on Monday recognized Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights, according to a report published on August 11, 2026. The Foreign Ministry announced the decision after President Abelardo de la Espriella took office on Friday. In a statement, the government said it recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the territory and its right to self-defense against external enemies.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed the area in 1981. Until Colombia’s announcement, the United States had been the only country to recognize the annexation. The United Nations considers the Golan Heights Syrian territory under Israeli military occupation. Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again said the territory was part of Syria and described the Israeli occupation as completely unacceptable.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked Colombia’s president for the recognition, calling him a good friend. Saar said the two had reached an understanding on the issue the day before Espriella’s inauguration in Barranquilla. During his campaign, Espriella pledged closer ties with the United States and Israel. His left-wing predecessor, Gustavo Petro, had criticized Israel’s military operation in Gaza, severed diplomatic relations with Israel, and stopped imports of Israeli weapons into Colombia.

The government plans to take school students to the July Memorial Museum one day each week, Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said. The initiative is intended to inform students about the history of the July mass uprising and the sacrifices made by people during the movement. He announced the plan at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s weekly press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning.

Rahman said the museum had opened despite various discussions surrounding its inauguration. He said management difficulties emerged shortly after the opening, but those issues have now been resolved. According to the adviser, the main cause of the problems was an excessive number of visitors.

He said public interest in the July Memorial Museum has been widespread, with large crowds visiting after its inauguration and placing pressure on management. The museum’s operations have since been largely organized, he added. Regular student visits will be arranged under the government initiative to present the uprising’s history, the public’s sacrifices in the movement, and its significance.

Salimullah Muslim Hall Provost and University of Dhaka chemistry professor Md. Abdus Salam said he aims to preserve the hall’s near-century-old heritage while building a safe, modern and student-centred residential environment. In an interview published on August 11, 2026, he discussed the hall’s history, post-earthquake safety measures, restoration and future vision.

Salam described the hall as an important chapter in Bangladesh’s education, culture, leadership and national history. He said its students played active roles during the Language Movement, Liberation War and democratic movements. In his view, the hall’s greatest contribution has been creating leadership, with presidents, national leaders, educators, administrators, writers, scientists and internationally recognised figures emerging from it.

Following the recent earthquake, authorities identified vulnerable sections on expert advice, took necessary measures and restricted student access in some areas, he said. Technical assessments, repairs and long-term rehabilitation are under way in coordination with the university administration. Salam said the objective is to conserve historic architecture while ensuring a sustainable residence that is clean, technology-based and supportive of research and learning.

A nearly 10-kilometre traffic jam developed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Cumilla from Tuesday morning, slowing traffic on sections between Amtali Bishwaroad and Padua Bazar Bishwaroad. Mainamati Highway Police Station officer-in-charge Ariful Islam confirmed the congestion, saying ongoing road repair work had reduced vehicle speeds and caused the lengthy queue.

Passengers and drivers have faced difficulties as several sections of the highway contain potholes, while damaged carpeting has left large holes in some places. Continuous rain over the past several days has worsened conditions. According to relevant sources, about 35,000 to 40,000 vehicles of different sizes travel daily through Cumilla's roughly 104-kilometre portion of the highway.

Businessman Arafat Islam said he was stuck for about an hour near Kotbari Bishwaroad while travelling from Chattogram to Dhaka, adding that he had faced similar trouble before. Roads and Highways Department sub-divisional engineer Sofiqul Islam Bhuiya said repair work had been underway near Amtali Bishwaroad since morning. Drivers and passengers called for swift completion of repairs, pothole restoration and effective measures to ease congestion.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 484 people and filed 58 cases during regular operations across the capital over the past 24 hours, according to a report published on August 11, 2026. Police conducted operations in areas under different police stations, making arrests while recovering evidence and narcotics. Legal action against those arrested is under process.

Mirpur division recorded the highest number of arrests, with 124 people detained. Wari arrested 71 people, Motijheel 56, Gulshan 55, Tejgaon 50, Uttara 48, Ramna 43 and Lalbagh 33. The Detective Branch arrested three people, while the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit arrested one person.

Items recovered from those arrested included one motorcycle, five mobile phones, two gas lights, six pieces of foil paper and Tk2,500 in cash. Police also recovered five cocktail-like objects, 6 kilograms and 200 grams of cannabis, 6,956 yaba tablets and 30 bottles of Eskaf syrup, identified in the report as phensedyl.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “completely healthy” after a meeting lasting nearly seven hours. TRT World reported the statement on August 10, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Pezeshkian said the meeting addressed ongoing national problems and issues affecting people’s daily lives.

The president said he raised his concerns and problems with Khamenei, who listened normally and offered necessary advice. Pezeshkian said there was no reason for concern about the supreme leader’s physical condition. According to the state news agency IRNA, preserving national unity and cohesion was Khamenei’s most important advice during the discussion.

The meeting gave special attention to living standards, employment, housing and problems caused by international sanctions. It took place amid renewed tensions between Iran and the United States following earlier conflict, a ceasefire and the collapse of a memorandum of understanding. Pezeshkian’s public comments on Khamenei’s health were viewed as an important message amid speculation about Iran’s internal situation and leadership.

International oil prices rose on Tuesday after talks between Iran and the United States over reopening the Strait of Hormuz reached an impasse. Efforts to restore traffic through the important waterway were further complicated by a hard-line position from US President Donald Trump, according to the report published on August 11, 2026.

Iran presented its conditions for reopening the strait, while Trump responded by demanding that Iran provide compensation for casualties from past wars, attacks and protests. The opposing demands increased tensions between the two countries and made the prospect of quickly reopening one of the world’s key energy transport routes uncertain.

Brent crude rose to about $88 a barrel on Tuesday, while US West Texas Intermediate crude reached $82.45 a barrel. Both benchmarks were at their highest levels since July 31, following an increase of nearly 5 percent on Monday. The report said a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could place further pressure on global oil supplies and prices because substantial volumes of energy are transported through the route.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) failed to meet its revenue collection target for the 14th consecutive fiscal year, according to a report published on August 11, 2026. In the latest fiscal year, it collected Tk 415,473 crore against a revised target of Tk 503,000 crore, leaving a shortfall of about Tk 85,000 crore. The target had initially been set at Tk 499,000 crore, raised to Tk 554,000 crore midyear, and later reduced after collections lagged.

NBR annual report data show that the agency met its original target only five times over the past two and a half decades. It has met a revised target only seven times, and has not achieved either an original or revised target since fiscal year 2015-16. Revenue collection nevertheless grew by more than 12 percent in the latest fiscal year. The exception was fiscal year 2019-20, when collections declined 1.96 percent amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Policy Exchange of Bangladesh chairman Masrur Reaz cited flawed target setting, structural economic constraints, weak tax compliance culture and limited institutional capacity at NBR. He said 65 percent of institutions remain outside VAT registration. NBR officials said targets are set without its role or adequate analysis, while its capacity is not expanded. The BNP government formed separate task forces for customs, VAT and income tax, but the target was still missed.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca on August 7, 2026. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the signing. According to a joint statement cited by the report, the agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression.

The agreement says an armed attack on any one of the three states will be regarded as an attack on all three. Specific military obligations have not been disclosed. Turkish officials described it as entirely defensive and not directed at any particular country, while the arrangement was left open to other regional states. The report says it builds on a Saudi-Pakistan strategic mutual defense agreement signed in 2025.

The report compares the pact’s collective-defense principle with NATO’s Article 5 but says it is not yet a full military alliance. It lacks an integrated command structure, permanent headquarters, joint exercises and automatic-response obligations. Each state will decide based on its own interests. The report also says Pakistan sent about 8,000 troops, JF-17 squadrons, drones and air-defense systems to strengthen Saudi defense in April 2026.

A case has been filed against eight people over allegations that Sunamganj-2 lawmaker Nasir Uddin Chowdhury was forced to transfer property while ill, with a machete held to his throat. His wife, Parvin Chowdhury, filed the case on Monday before the cognizance court of the Dirai zone in Sunamganj. The accused include three of the MP’s half-brothers.

According to the complaint, Parvin Akhtar was assaulted and sexually harassed when she went to Chowdhury’s home in Dirai in January 2022. The accused were alleged to have planned to deprive his two wives and children of the house and other property. On January 25, two employees of the SR office were allegedly sent to the house while posing as officials to obtain the ill and incapacitated MP’s signature on a deed.

The complaint says Chowdhury was threatened with death if he did not sign. His other wife, Shely Chowdhury, was allegedly threatened after she intervened. Judge Md Jasim accepted the case and ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate and submit a report. Accused Moin Uddin Chowdhury Masuk said he would respond legally after learning about the case.

The death toll from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has risen to 132, with more than 480 people injured, according to the report published on August 11, 2026. The quake struck Chocó province at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, at a depth of about 107 kilometres near San José del Palmar. Authorities fear more people may remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings, raising the prospect of further casualties.

Tremors were felt across Colombia and in neighbouring Venezuela and Ecuador, though no tsunami warning was issued. Risaralda province, known for coffee production, was among the worst-hit areas. In Pereira and nearby districts, at least 40 people died and 65 buildings collapsed. People were feared trapped in the rubble of 15 of those structures, while a curfew was imposed in parts of Pereira until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation, enabling special government powers and possible budget reallocations. More than 1,500 homes were damaged nationwide, he said. Several regional airports were affected, while Bogotá reported cracks in some buildings but no major infrastructure damage.

India’s Border Security Force handed over the body of 19-year-old Bangladeshi youth Tara Mia 36 hours after he was shot dead near the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar. On Monday afternoon, Indian police transferred the body to Kulaura police following a BSF-Border Guard Bangladesh flag meeting at the Chatlapur customs station and immigration checkpoint. After legal procedures, the body was handed to his family, with his elder brother Raju Mia receiving it at about 5pm.

Tara Mia was the son of Abdul Malek of Muraichhara Basti in Karmadha union. BGB said he entered India’s Maguruli area through the Shikaria border in Alinagar early Sunday with Renu Mia, Sumon Mia and Rais Ali to bring back contraband goods including cigarettes and Nasir bidis. BGB said tension arose after a BSF patrol tried to stop them, after which BSF members opened fire and Tara Mia died at the scene. The others fled back to Bangladesh and went into hiding.

Tara Mia’s mother, Ajirunnesa, denied that her son was involved in smuggling. Lieutenant Colonel Sarkar Asif Mahmud, commander of BGB’s 46 Battalion, said BGB strongly protested to BSF officials at the flag meeting. He said awareness activities would continue and border patrols would be increased.