Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could be the first high-profile Indian cricketer to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) after being approached by the Australian board, according to a media report on Friday. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg is in talks with the spinner, who ended his Indian Premier League (IPL) career last month, over a possible stint Down Under this season, according to www.cricbuzz.com. "He's a champion cricketer, who will bring a lot to the Big Bash and to our cricket summer." While several members of the Indian women's team play in the BBL, the country's board does not allow its contracted male players to play in overseas leagues. Ashwin, who turns 39 this month, was India's frontline test spinner before he quit international cricket last year.,

Two government engineers have been penalised over irregular spending in the controversial Rooppur Green City Project, part of the residential facilities for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna. Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Shaheen Uddin of the Public Works Department in Pabna has been forced into retirement, while Md Alamgir Hossain, a sub-assistant engineer posted in Rajshahi, has been demoted to a lower pay grade. The Rooppur Green City Project, a housing scheme for employees working at Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant, came under public scrutiny in 2019 after reports emerged of hugely inflated costs for basic items such as pillows, kettles and curtains. Both later confirmed that spending on furniture and related supplies had been significantly overstated. Punishments were handed down after consultation with the Public Service Commission and approval from the president.

Source: CollectedFormer Bangladesh Army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan has claimed that tensions have emerged between the interim government and the military leadership over how to prosecute army officers accused of crimes such as enforced disappearances, killings and corruption during the Awami League’s 15 years in power. The report, submitted on Jun 4, said most cases of enforced disappearance during the Awami League years were carried out by police and intelligence agencies. Chief Advisor Yunus visited several alleged Ayna Ghar sites in February 2025, following public pressure and amid military concerns over who would accompany him on such visits. After receiving the commission’s second report, Yunus said “gentlemen in society” were involved in enforced disappearances, while Justice Moinul subsequently warned that many officials implicated still sat at the heart of state power. Hence, to free the Armed Forces from this liability, those responsible for such great harm to the nation must face proper trial," he said.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has said the interim government will extend support with travel documents if BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman chooses to return to Bangladesh. The BNP leader has been living in London for 17 years, from where he has been running the party. His wife Zubaida Rahman returned to Bangladesh last May after 17 years when the government changed, but left again for London in June after staying for a month. Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 after being released from jail, travelling to London with his wife Zubaida and their daughter Zaima Rahman for medical treatment. On Tarique Rahman’s possible return, Touhid said the BNP leader must first make a decision about coming back to the country.

Five weak banks are to be merged into a larger ‘Islami’ bank. The banks to be merged are Exim Bank, Social Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank and Global Islami Bank. Bangladesh Bank officials said that the paid-up capital of the proposed merged bank has been set at Tk 350 billion. “Among the five banks, Exim Bank does not want to be merged. Stating that efforts are being made to bring in foreign investors, he said: "After the merger, it will be a bigger bank than 'Islami Bank Bangladesh'.

The hilsa on Indian dinner plates is more likely to have come from Gujarat’s Bharuch than from the traditional sources of West Bengal or Bangladesh, reports the Economic Times. At Kolkata’s Gariahat market, fish seller Tapan Karmakar noted that customers are eating hilsa from Bharuch without realising where it comes from. Indian importers are pushing for Bangladesh hilsa, especially the prized Padma variety. “Even the exporters from Bangladesh are keen to send hilsa to India, but the government needs to give permission,” he said to the Economic Times. Last year, Bangladesh allowed 2,420 tonnes of exports in September, but only 577 tonnes reached India within the one-month window, Maqsood added.

Pakistan have wrapped up their group campaign with a commanding 31-run win over the UAE to book a place in the tri-nation final in Sharjah. At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, their victory, by extension, confirmed Afghanistan as the other finalist. The UAE, beaten for the third match running, are out with a game still to play. Pakistan were only 129 after 18 overs but plundered 42 off the last two, including eight fours and a six in the final 10 balls, to post 171. Nawaz, in at No 7, finished 37 not out off 27, including three fours and two sixes.

The Election Commission (EC) has brought changes to the boundaries of 46 constituencies for the parliamentary polls. Boundaries of 254 constituencies have remained unchanged from the 12th parliamentary election, while the rest have undergone revisions. After consecutive hearings from Aug 24–27, the EC finalised the list. The schedule for the 13th parliamentary election is expected in December, with voting planned in the first half of February. Ahead of the 10th election in 2013, the EC proposed changes to 87 constituencies.

Heavy rain in the Himalayas continued to lash northern India and neighbouring Pakistan on Thursday with flooding of homes and highways worsening as major rivers overflowed. Although weather officials in India forecast some respite from downpours later in the day, Pakistan has warned that rain is expected to continue until Sept 9. Torrential rain has swollen many rivers, spurring authorities in India to release water from dams and further flooding areas on both sides of the border. The countries share rivers, which flow from India into Pakistan. FLOODING IN DELHIIndia's Yamuna river rose to dangerous levels in the capital Delhi - a flow the Central Water Commission described as a 'severe' situation.

The United Nations has pledged to assist Bangladesh in the general election scheduled for February. On Thursday, UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis met with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, where she gave the assurance. The Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) later issued a media statement outlining the discussions.

The Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee has alleged that the interim government has “restored a Hasina-like administration” within a year of the July Uprising, driven by “sectarian interests” and “fascist structures” in the administrative and judicial systems. In a statement issued on Thursday, the organisation said: “Fascism was driven out at the cost of many lives. However, for the first time since the uprising, a worker has been killed without trial.”The statement called Tuesday’s protest against the layoffs at the Evergreen factory a justified movement, alleging that factory worker Md Habib Islam had been killed by a group of law enforcers. It also strongly condemned the killing.

The government has approved the Telecommunication Network and Licencing Policy, 2025 to provide affordable quality services by reducing centralised control and limiting middlemen’s influence in the telecom sector. “This will ensure services to customers at affordable prices without reducing government revenue.”“BTRC issues 26 types of licences. A total of 2,999 organisations collect these licences and provide different kinds of services. “To avoid excessive chaos, the licencing system has been reduced to only three levels, eliminating the layers of intermediaries. Another licence has been arranged for satellite-based telecommunication services.

BNP’s senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury says his party’s goal is the “democratisation” of Bangladesh’s economy. “Bringing democracy only in politics will not work in Bangladesh; we need to democratise the economy as well,” he added. “This means every citizen must have a share in the country’s economic activities. No group should be favoured or sponsored -- the economy must be for everyone.”Khosru, a member of BNP’s National Standing Committee described this policy direction as a continuation of what the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman initiated. “When this economic participation improves lives, people become responsible citizens.

European Union Ambassador Charles Whiteley has met Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman as Bangladesh gears up for another political transition with the next general election. The meeting took place on Thursday at the Jamaat leader’s residence in Dhaka's Bashundhara. Also present were Jamaat’s deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Prof Mahmudul Hasan, Shafiqur's foreign affairs advisor. Following the meeting, Taher told reporters that the ambassador inquired about Shafiqur's health and discussed matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the EU. He added that Whiteley also briefed the Jamaat chief on plans for a high-level EU delegation to visit Dhaka later this month, which is expected to include further discussions with the party.

Police have attributed Wednesday night’s attack on the Shohagh Paribahan counter in Dhaka’s Malibagh and the home of one of the bus company’s owners to a dispute over smoking. According to investigators, several men were smoking outside the residence of company co-owner Ali Hassan Talukder Palash when a security guard asked them to move. They allegedly attacked Palash, his driver, and the guard while vandalising the nearby bus counter. Palash’s brother, Majedul Haque Nadim, said that 60-70 men armed with sticks and sharp weapons launched the attack around 11:30pm. “My younger brother [Palash] was arriving home by car when he was also targeted.