Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but all issues must be worked through first and there's a question about Zelensky's authority to sign a peace deal, Putin's foreign minister said on Thursday. Asked by reporters if Putin was willing to meet Zelensky, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "Our president has repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Mr. Zelensky". Kyiv says Zelensky remains the legitimate president. Zelensky said this week Kyiv would like a "strong reaction" from Washington if Putin were not willing to sit down for a bilateral meeting with him. Lavrov said it was clear that neither Ukraine nor European leaders wanted peace.

The High Court has ordered that a United Nations fact-finding report on human rights violations during last year’s July Uprising be recognised as a “historic document” and published in an official gazette. The ruling, delivered on Thursday by the panel of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf, came in response to a writ petition filed by lawyer Tanvir Ahmed. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published the report in February 2025, detailing allegations of rights abuses between Jul 1 and Aug 15, 2024. The petition, filed Aug 13 last year, sought measures against those responsible for sustaining “genocide and dictatorship”. Following a hearing on May 14, the High Court issued a rule asking why the UN human rights report should not be declared a “historic document”, Tanvir said.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across four divisions, including Dhaka and Chattogram, over the next three days. The BMD also asked the country’s four seaports -- Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra -- to keep cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted, warning of squally winds under the influence of an active southwest monsoon. Officials said persistent downpours could trigger landslides in some hilly areas of the Chattogram Division. Over the last 24 hours, the highest temperature in the country was recorded at 35 degrees Celsius in Kishoreganj’s Nikli and the highest rainfall was recorded at 68mm in Cumilla’s Maijdee Court.

Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who arrived in Dhaka on a four-day official visit, being received by Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Photo: PIDPakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who arrived in Dhaka on a four-day official visit, being received by Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Photo: PIDPakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has arrived in Dhaka on a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Bangladesh. He was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Wednesday by Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin, alongside senior officials from the commerce and foreign ministries, according to a government statement. Talks during the visit are expected to focus on increasing bilateral trade, exploring new investment opportunities, and consolidating economic ties.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has warned that the country’s financial sector is in “serious risk”, stressing the need for urgent measures to stabilise banks, control inflation, and expand financial literacy. Second, financial stability must be ensured, which is currently in serious jeopardy,” he said. “We all know the country’s development status and the banking sector’s vulnerable condition. We have a plan to stabilise it, which may take three to four years to implement step by step. The banking sector’s troubles became stark after the July Uprising that toppled the Awami League government.

Dhaka’s Hatirjheel water taxis, a lifeline for thousands of office-goers trying to avoid the capital’s crippling traffic jams, have been suspended for the second time in just six weeks -- this time by workers striking for higher pay. “Operations have been shut since Monday,” said Masum Zaman, a senior executive of operator Karim Group. Only six weeks ago, RAJUK itself halted the service for five days after Karim Group fell three months behind on its lease instalments. “I normally get home in Rampura within 10 minutes by water taxi,” said Sumona Bonik, a government employee. RAJUK officials privately told bdnews24.com that Karim Group is contractually bound to maintain services.

Bangladesh Army chief heads to China on official visitBangladesh Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman has left for China on an official visit. He departed on Thursday morning, the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. During the visit, Waker will meet senior Chinese military and civilian leaders, and exchange views on strengthening military cooperation. He is scheduled to return home on Aug 27, the ISPR said.

Three killed, one injured as car overturns on Mawa Expressway in MunshiganjThree people have been killed after a car overturned on the Mawa Expressway in Munshiganj. Police said the Dhaka-bound car was travelling at high speed when the driver lost control and hit a road divider, causing it to flip over. Shafiqul Islam, a deputy assistant director of the Munshiganj Fire Service, said a loud bang was heard before the vehicle overturned and skidded off the road. “We could hear the groans of one injured passenger,” said Dewan Azad Hossain, station officer of Sreenagar Fire Service. Traffic along the expressway was halted following the accident but resumed after the wreckage was cleared about an hour later, police said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has identified 42 people linked to large-scale stone looting from the popular Sada Pathar tourist zone in Sylhet’s Companiganj. The list includes 20 leaders from the BNP, seven from the Awami League, and two each from Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP). The ACC report also flagged evidence of negligence on the part of the Bureau of Mineral Development, the local administration, police, and members of the Border Guard Bangladesh. It estimates that stones worth several hundred crore taka were illegally extracted from the Sada Pathar area in Bholaganj, a border-adjacent region known for its unique white stone deposits. Since evidence of stone theft has been found, further investigation has been recommended, which has been placed for the commission’s decision.”

Bangladesh will see the establishment of 516 new community clinics, according to Md Akhtaruzzaman, managing director of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust.On Wednesday, he said 5,080 community clinics currently in vulnerable condition will also be repaired or relocated.Akhtaruzzaman explained that the new clinics will be funded by JICA, while OPEC will finance the repair and relocation projects. "When the government originally planned community clinics, the aim was to have one for every 6,000 people or within a 30-minute walking distance. "In hilly regions, haor wetlands, and Char areas, a single clinic often serves 10,000 to 15,000 people. To fill this gap, we are expanding the network of community clinics. "Land for new clinics is donated by local benefactors, with construction and medical services provided by the government.Akhtaruzzaman said applications for clinics are being received nationwide.�"bdnews24.com

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has dissolved the previous board of directors of Premier Bank and appointed a new six-strong board to "safeguard interests of the depositors".The change was made on Tuesday, said the central bank's assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui, adding that the previous board had suffered from "a lack of governance, weak policy implementation, and breaches in discipline". "Bangladesh Bank has the authority to dissolve a bank's board if depositors' interests are under threat. That's why a new board has been formed," he told bdnews24.com.The dissolved eight-strong board was chaired by Mohammad Imran Iqbal, son of HBM Iqbal -- a former Awami League MP who chaired the bank since its founding in 1999 until stepping down in January this year.The change effectively ends the Iqbal family's control of the bank after 26 years.HBM Iqbal had handed over the chairman's post to his son in January, citing health reasons.He resigned on Jan 12, and the resignation was accepted two days later.Around the same time, his other son Moin Iqbal, who served as vice-chairman, also stepped down without giving any reason.Both also relinquished their roles as directors.Despite stepping down from formal roles, banking insiders said HBM Iqbal continued to influence the board's decisions through his family.Following the government change, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opened a probe into allegations of corruption against HBM Iqbal.Based on initial complaints, the ACC said HBM Iqbal, while serving as chairman of Premier Bank since 2011, misused his position to develop several properties -- including Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel, the Hilton Hotel and Resort in Gulshan-2, and the Royal University of Dhaka.During this period, he was also a member of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).The national anti-graft agency also alleged that over the past decade, he acquired ownership of multiple companies and amassed significant wealth by holding key positions in them.Arifur Rahman has been appointed as a sponsor director of the bank.The other five independent directors are - former Bangladesh Bank executive director Md Forkan Hossain; former United Commercial Bank additional managing director Syed Faridul Islam; former Bank Asia deputy managing director Md Sazzad Hossain; Dhaka University IBA professor Sheikh Morshed Jahan; and FCS Chartered Secretary M Nurul Alam.BSS adds: Prior to the restructuring, the board was led by chairman Mohammad Imran Iqbal, with Jamal G Ahmed serving as vice-chairman. Other members included Abdus Salam Murshedy, Shafiqur Rahman, Shaila Shelley Khan, Yeh Cheng Min, and Mohammed Ahmed Ali. �"bdnews24.com

Bangladesh central bank chief warns financial sector is in 'serious risk'Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has warned that the country’s financial sector is in “serious risk”, stressing the need for urgent measures to stabilise banks, control inflation, and expand financial literacy. Second, financial stability must be ensured, which is currently in serious jeopardy,” he said. We have a plan to stabilise it, which may take three to four years to implement step by step. The governor criticised strikes by National Board of Revenue staff, saying they sought to preserve privileges rather than reform. He argued that expanding domestic revenue and tapping foreign financing, including through private sector inflows and capital markets, were essential for long-term stability.

Journalists have staged a walkout after waiting nearly two hours for Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam, who has turned up late at a government event to distribute grants for full-length and short films. The event was scheduled for 3pm on Wednesday, but reporters waited at the venue until 4:45pm before leaving in frustration. Earlier in the morning, the Ministry of Information had invited journalists to cover the ceremony. At 4:15pm, a ministry official informed attendees that the advisor had left his residence, but no updates were given after 4:30pm. The advisor handed over grant cheques to the proposers of 12 selected full-length films and 20 short films before the programme concluded at 6pm.

India has rejected allegations by the interim government that “fugitive” Awami League leaders and activists are carrying out “anti-Bangladesh activities” from its soil. “The Government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law,” Jaiswal said in response to a media statement issued earlier by Dhaka. “The government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil,” he added, calling the Bangladesh statement “misplaced”. The matter comes after reports in New Delhi and Kolkata suggesting that Awami League offices were being established in India, which prompted a statement from the Bangladesh foreign ministry on Wednesday. The ministry urged immediate steps to ensure no Bangladeshi citizen carries out “anti-Bangladesh activities” from Indian soil and called for the offices to be closed without delay.

More than 1.04 million students have been selected for admission to Class XI across different colleges and madrasas in the first phase of intake. Md Riazul Haque, college inspector of the Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Dhaka said over 1.073 million students applied in the first phase, with nearly 28,000 not selected. When asked why high-performing students were not selected, he explained that many applied only to top colleges, where other students with even stronger results were admitted. Selected students must confirm their admission by 8pm on Aug 22; failure to do so will cancel their first-phase selection and require reapplication with fees. The second phase of applications runs from Aug 23–25, and the third phase from Aug 31 to Sept 1.