The interim government has fixed the minimum price of potatoes at Tk 22 per kg at cold storage gates and will purchase 50,000 metric tonnes for storage, which will be sold in October-November 2025. The statement said that recently, potato prices have not aligned with production costs, causing losses for farmers. To protect farmers’ interests and ensure a fair price for their produce, a review committee was formed under the chief advisor’s direction. The four-strong committee is headed by the agriculture secretary, with the commerce, food and finance secretaries as members. Following the committee’s recommendations, the government approved three key measures:Set a minimum potato price of Tk 22 per kg at cold storagesPurchase and store metric tonnes of potatoes for sale in October–November 2025Provide incentives for potato farmers in the upcoming seasonThe statement noted that the relevant ministries would take steps to implement these measures.

Bangladesh’s top appeals court is reluctant to reinstate the caretaker government system as a temporary fix, preferring instead a lasting solution that would prevent repeated disruption, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said. Justice Refaat also questioned at what point the caretaker system would take effect if it were to be reinstated. The chief justice made the remarks on Wednesday during the hearing of review petitions seeking reconsideration of the verdict that scrapped the caretaker government system. The hearing took place before the Supreme Court’s full Appellate Division bench of seven judges, presided over by the chief justice. On Oct 23, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted a separate review petition, while freedom fighter Mofazzal Hossain lodged another with the Appellate Division.

The Election Commission is likely to announce its roadmap for the national vote on Thursday, as preparations gather pace for the parliamentary polls expected early next year. The update came on Wednesday at the Nirbachan Bhaban, or Election Building, in Agargaon, where EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed briefed the media following a series of hearings on redrawing parliamentary constituency boundaries. He said the roadmap had been prepared, and that the commission would reveal its plans soon. Earlier this month, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus announced in a televised speech that the general election would be held before Ramadan in February. The CEC has indicated that voting will likely take place in early February, with the schedule expected to be announced by mid-December.

Bangladesh’s top appeals court is reluctant to reinstate the caretaker government system as a temporary fix, preferring instead a lasting solution that would prevent repeated disruption, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said. Justice Refaat also questioned at what point the caretaker system would take effect if it were to be reinstated. The hearing took place before the Supreme Court’s full Appellate Division bench of seven judges, presided over by the chief justice. A total of four review petitions -- filed by a political party and six individuals -- seek to challenge the Supreme Court verdict that abolished the caretaker government system. On Oct 23, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted a separate review petition, while freedom fighter Mofazzal Hossain lodged another with the Appellate Division.

The Election Commission (EC) has begun the final day of hearings on objections to its proposed redrawing of parliamentary constituencies ahead of the 13th national election. On Wednesday, the commission is scheduled to hear seven objections from Rangpur, 232 from Rajshahi, three from Mymensingh, 18 from Faridpur, and two from the Sylhet region. The plan includes raising Gazipur’s seats to six and reducing Bagerhat’s to three in a bid to balance voter numbers. Applicants have included political parties, local representatives and individuals, with hearings allowing both support and opposition to be voiced. The EC plans to publish the final gazette in September, after which preparations will begin for voter lists, polling centres and other arrangements.

Ninth grader Rokaiya Binte Mazhar, a protester, told bdnews24.com: "Our teacher didn't forbid us from wearing the Hijab, she told us to wear it properly. That’s why she’s facing this false propaganda.”Former student Anisa Karim told bdnews24.com, “I studied at this institution from 2009 to 2019. None of our teachers, including teacher Nahar, ever spoke against us wearing a Hijab. Nahar has rejected the accusations as “false and fabricated.”Speaking to bdnews24.com, Nahar said: “I did not do this. We are conducting an investigation," Acting Principal Majeda told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

The Netherlands cricket team has landed in Bangladesh for their first-ever bilateral T20 series, providing the hosts with crucial match practice ahead of the Asia Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is organising the series outside the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) to sharpen the Tiger’s skills ahead of the continental tournament. This marks the Netherlands’ third visit to Bangladesh, though previous trips in 2011 and 2014 were for World Cups rather than bilateral contests. Currently ranked 13th in the ICC T20 standings, the visitors regularly qualify for World Cups. The series opener is scheduled for Aug 30, followed by games on Sept 1 and Sept 3, all starting at 6pm local time.

Engineering students marching towards Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s official residence, the State Guest House Jamuna, have clashed with police who blocked their procession. Reporting from the scene, bdnews24.com correspondent Sabikunnahar Lipi said that the engineering students who had gathered at the Shahbagh intersection for an hour or so began to march towards Jamuna around 1:30pm on Wednesday. Police blocked the march near the InterContinental Dhaka intersection. The protesting students retreated back towards the Shahbagh intersection and the sounds of tear gas and sound grenades can be heard. Around midnight on Sunday, a group of BUET students had attempted to march to Jamuna to protest the “beating and death threats” against a former student.

REUTERSUS President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50 percent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world's two largest democracies and strategic partners. A punitive 25 percent tariff imposed due to India's purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump's prior 25 percent tariff on many products from India. The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs, including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. FAILED TALKSAs the midnight activation deadline approached, US officials offered no hope for India to avert the tariffs. Their two-way goods trade totaled $129 billion in 2024, with a $45.8 billion US trade deficit, according to US Census Bureau data.

Since US President Donald Trump threatened the additional tariffs, India has focused on mending ties with China while making no public overtures towards the US. Ahead of that, India and China agreed to restart direct flights, stopped after the border clashes of 2020. China opposes Washington's steep tariffs on India and will "firmly stand with India", Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong said last week. Capital Economics sees India's overtures to China as an attempt to build a geopolitical hedge but sees limits to an improvement in the relationship. And the biggest constraint on stronger relations is the view within India that China poses a threat to national security,” he wrote.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been ravaged by intense monsoon rains and flooding in recent weeks. The announcement came a day after Pakistan received a secondwarning from India that it intended to release water from the rapidly filling Madhopur Dam. Both dams are located on the Ravi River, which flows from Indian Punjab into Pakistan. India routinely releases water from its dams when they get too full, with the excess flowing into Pakistan, as the two nations share rivers. Punjab province was split between the two countries when they gained independence in 1947.

Independent Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) vice-president candidate Jalal Ahmed, also known as “Jwalamoyi Jalal”, has been accused of stabbing his roommate in a hall room at Dhaka University. Speaking to reporters, Rabiul alleged that Jalal returned to the room around 12:30am, switched on the lights and made noise. Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, the university proctor, said members of the proctorial team went to the scene after they were informed and the hall provost was present. A student in the adjacent room said Jalal had clashed with his roommate several times before and had once laid hands on him. The student added that Rabiul had previously applied to the Mohsin Hall provost saying that he was “at risk of death”.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Turkey, the Gulf States or European countries could host any talks he may hold with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Now, this week there will be contacts with Turkey, contacts with the Gulf States and with European states which could host talks with the Russians," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. In his comments, Zelensky also said that moving ahead with talks depended on coordination with Ukraine's partners, primarily the United States, in ensuring that sufficient pressure was exerted on Russia.

Dhaka University has announced a three-tier security plan for next month's DUCSU election, with the Army on standby to secure polling centres.In a statement on Tuesday, the university said members of the BNCC and the proctorial team will form the first layer of security, police will be deployed as the second, and Army personnel will be positioned at seven campus entry points as a "striking force". "The Army will enter the campus if necessary and will cordon off polling centres until results are announced," the university said.During vote counting, no one except authorised persons will be allowed inside, it added.Police will operate under the direction of returning officers on polling day, while patrol units have already been activated.Voting is set for Sept 9. The final list of candidates will be published Tuesday, following the last date for withdrawal on Sept 1.The university said its metro station will remain closed on Sept 8 and 9. From a week before the polls, no outsiders will be allowed in residential halls-a rule already in place for female dormitories.On election day, the campus will be closed to everyone except valid students, accredited journalists and election officials.Extra bus services will run on different routes to help students living off-campus reach polling stations.The authorities said none of the candidates objected to the security arrangements and all expressed satisfaction.�"bdnews24.com

Bangladesh’s Constitution contains contradictory provisions, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said, citing the Awami League’s insistence that the state religion cannot be changed despite its claim to be a secular party. Speaking at a book launch at the Supreme Court auditorium on Tuesday, he said: “I teach constitutional law. “In one part of the Constitution it says Islam is our state religion. Yet in another part, the same constitution says the state shall not grant political status to any religion. So, it’s a complete contradiction.”He added: “There was another claim that the state religion of Islam could never be changed, not until the end of time.