Following the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court, a metropolitan court has also rejected the bail petitions of former Chief Justice and former chairman of the Law Commission ABM Khairul Haque in two separate cases. Dhaka Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Nargis Islam dismissed his bail plea in a Shahbagh police station case, while the 18th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Jahangir Hossain rejected his bail request in a case filed at Jatrabari police station.

Khairul Haque’s lawyer, Monayem Nabi Shahin, said on Monday that the petitions were filed over two cases: the Shahbagh case, alleging illegal issuance of a verdict and document forgery by Khairul Haque after cancelling the caretaker government system, and the Jatrabari case concerning the killing of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Kaiyum Ahad during the anti-discrimination movement.

“The bail petitions in both courts were rejected today,” Shahin said.

According to the Jatrabari police station case, Abdul Kaiyum Ahad was shot and killed on July 18 in the Kazla area of Jatrabari during the anti-discrimination movement. His father, Ala Uddin, filed a case at Jatrabari police station on July 6, naming 468 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, as accused.

In the Shahbagh police station case, Khairul was accused of being influenced by Hasina and motivated by post-retirement gains, and of altering a short order on May 10, 2011 with the intent to please her, later issuing a full verdict illegally on September 16, 2012. The case was filed on August 27, 2024 by Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Mujahidul Islam under Sections 219 and 466 of the Penal Code.

Khairul Haque was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 in connection with the Abdul Ahad murder case by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police and sent to jail the same night. On July 30, he was placed under seven days’ remand for questioning in the Shahbagh verdict forgery case. He remains in jail. Earlier, on July 31, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Masum Mia’s court had also rejected his bail petition.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Tuesday scheduled Thursday for framing charges against five individuals accused of killing two people and firing at a student who was left hanging from a building cornice during last year’s July-August mass upsurge in Rampura. The three-member ICT-1 bench, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, set the date after hearing submissions from both prosecution and defence.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam sought the charges, while state-appointed lawyer Advocate Md Amir Hossain represented the absconding accused. Advocate Sarwar Jahan Nippon appeared for the arrested accused, former assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, seeking his acquittal.

Other accused include former dhaka metropolitan police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Khilgaon zone Md Rashedul Islam, former officer-in-charge (OC) of Rampura Thana Md Moshiur Rahman, and former sub-inspector Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan.

According to the case documents, student Amir Hossain fell amid a clash between two groups on July 19 while returning from Jumma prayers. Pursued by police into an under-construction building, Amir jumped from the third floor but was left hanging from a rod as police opened fire. A police official reportedly fired six rounds at his legs before leaving the scene.

Amir was later rescued by a local student and two doctors and taken to a nearby clinic before being shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). He survived the attack, while two others were killed during the incident.

The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month. The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.

Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries – Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States – while 12 nations abstained.

Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”.

This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign.

The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalization between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.

Speaking ahead of the vote, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said that “this one-sided Declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, only as another hollow gesture that weakens this Assembly’s credibility.”

He said that “Hamas is the biggest winner of any endorsement here today” and will declare it “the fruit of 7 October”.

The high-level international conference in July was held against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and deteriorating prospects for the two-State solution.

In remarks to the opening segment, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that “the central question for Middle East peace is implementation of the two-State solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic States – Israel and Palestine – live side-by-side in peace and security.”

The Chinese embassy in Dhaka has announced changes to the visa application process for Bangladeshi citizens. A notice issued by the embassy on Friday provided detailed instructions to help applicants submit their visa applications more efficiently and conveniently.

Online application

Applicants must complete the online application form via the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre’s website at https://www.visaforchina.cn/, uploading all necessary documents as required.

Waiting for preliminary review

After submission, applicants must wait for the preliminary review results, which can be checked on the Visa Application Service Centre website. If the review indicates “correction needed” or “submit supplementary documents,” applicants must update their applications immediately and resubmit. If the result is “schedule a video interview,” applicants must arrange and attend a personal interview at the embassy at the designated time.

Submitting the passport

If the preliminary review shows “online review completed,” the application has been initially approved. The applicant or their representative must then submit the passport and other required documents, provide biometric information (such as fingerprints), and pay the visa fee at the Visa Application Service Centre. No appointment is required.

The notice specifies exemptions from fingerprinting for applicants under 14 or over 70, those who have provided fingerprints with the same passport in the past five years, individuals unable to provide fingerprints for all ten fingers, and those applying for short-term single- or double-entry visas (stays under 180 days) before December 31. These applicants may authorise others to submit documents on their behalf.

Visa collection

Applicants can collect their visas on the expected date indicated on the pickup form. Typically, visas are ready for collection on the specified date.

Processing time

Preliminary review results are usually provided within one working day of a successful online submission. After passport submission at the Visa Centre, regular processing typically takes four working days, while expedited processing requires three working days.

Agencies assisting applicants are advised to submit any required supplementary documents or corrections within three working days of a preliminary review rejection. After initial approval, passports must be submitted to the Visa Centre within two working days. Once received, the visa is issued within one working day. The embassy has requested applicants using agency services to follow these timelines to avoid delays in travel plans.

The D.C. National Guard is looking to expand its role in the city beyond patrols, with its director asking neighborhood leaders for ideas on community projects.In an email to Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs), Guard Director Marcus Hunt invited suggestions such as trash removal and beautification efforts. Hunt said the goal is to build relationships with residents while troops remain deployed under a federal “crime emergency.”

“Our Soldiers are not only members of the Guard — they are also our neighbors, living and raising families right here in the District,” Hunt wrote.

Some ANC commissioners, however, questioned the initiative. Ward 1 Commissioner Peter Wood called it “uncomfortable and concerning,” saying military personnel are trained for crowd control, not garbage pickup. “It’s also creating this culture of anxiety, if not fear in the District,” he told WTOP.

Hunt, a Ward 8 resident, defended the outreach as a way to strengthen community bonds, noting that the Guard would also contact churches and civic associations. The Guard has been patrolling Washington since Aug. 11 under President Donald Trump’s 30-day emergency order. That deployment is set to expire Sept. 10 unless extended by Congress, which has not yet scheduled a vote.

An Israeli airstrike in Qatar’s capital, Doha, targeted senior Hamas leaders but they escaped unharmed, officials confirmed. The Israeli military said it had attempted to eliminate top Hamas figures. Senior member Suhail al-Hindi stated that the group’s leadership was safe, according to Al Jazeera.

The strike occurred as negotiators were reviewing a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal. Qatar condemned the attack as a “cowardly” act and a clear breach of international law. On the same day, at least 39 people, including several waiting for aid, were killed by Israeli forces across Gaza, medical sources reported.

Since October 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 64,600 people and injured more than 163,000, with thousands still trapped under debris. In Israel, 1,139 were killed and around 200 taken captives during the October 7 attacks.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Doha has urged its citizens to exercise caution following Israeli attacks in Qatar. In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy advised all Bangladeshi residents in Qatar to avoid going outside unless necessary and to limit movement.

Citizens have also been reminded to comply with Qatari laws and follow government instructions regarding movement. Posting related photos or videos on social media is prohibited under Qatari law. In case of emergency, citizens can contact the embassy hotline at +974 33662000 or email mission.doha@mofa.gov.bd.

Retired USWNT legend Alex Morgan says the NWSL will continue to attract top domestic and international players even under its $3.3M salary cap, which rises to $5.1M by 2030. Speaking ahead of her jersey retirement with the San Diego Wave, Morgan pointed to the league’s competitiveness, improved facilities, and consistent high-level matches as major draws.

Her comments follow Alyssa Thompson’s record move to Chelsea and other big-money transfers abroad, which have fueled debate over whether Europe’s spending power could lure away talent.

Morgan, now a Wave minority owner, acknowledged the growing fees — with multiple $1M+ transfers this year — but said the NWSL’s week-to-week intensity still makes it “the most competitive league in the world.”

USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson has joined Chelsea from Angel City FC in a record-breaking transfer, one of the most expensive in women’s soccer. The 20-year-old leaves behind her role as Angel City’s star player to test herself against some of the world’s best in England.

For Chelsea, the signing fits their “Vision 2030” strategy of securing elite young talent. With Mayra Ramírez sidelined long-term, Thompson adds immediate depth and long-term promise as the club continues its push for the elusive Champions League title.

For Thompson, it’s a chance to grow: daily training with top players, tougher league and European matches, and a more competitive environment than the mid-table NWSL side she leaves. While she won’t walk into Chelsea as the star, she will gain valuable experience that should also benefit the USWNT.

For Angel City and the NWSL, it’s a major loss — both on the field and symbolically. Thompson was a hometown face of the league, and her departure highlights the challenge U.S. clubs face in keeping top talent amid Europe’s growing pull.

In her own words, Thompson’s goals with Chelsea are clear: “Win the Champions League. Develop as a player. Win — a lot.”

The D.C. Council voted 9–3 to approve a $3.7 billion stadium project at the historic RFK site, clearing the way for the Washington Commanders to return to the District. The team will cover $2.7B, while the city contributes $1B.

The domed stadium is slated to open by 2030, part of a 174-acre redevelopment including housing, retail, and a sports complex. Officials project $779M in city gains over 30 years, plus immediate job creation. A final council vote comes Sept. 17, but approval is expected. Fans and leaders hail the move as a historic homecoming for the franchise.