Three people were shot and wounded in New York’s Times Square, the New York Police Department said on Saturday (9 August). The people – an 18-year-old female, 19 19-year-old male, and a 65-year-old male – are in a stable condition in hospital, an NYPD spokesperson said. A 17-year-old male is in custody, the NYPD added. The police also recovered a firearm.

The shooting took place at around 1:20am ET (0520 GMT) and followed a verbal altercation with one of the victims, the NYPD added. It said it was not known at this time whether the shooter or the victims knew each other. Mass shootings are relatively common in the United States, where guns are widely available.

The incident at one of New York’s most iconic tourist spots comes after July’s high-profile shooting in a Manhattan office tower, which left four people dead, including a senior Blackstone executive and an NYPD officer.

New York experienced record-low shooting incidents and victims in the first seven months of this year, and in July, according to a statement published by the city’s police department on 4 August. Crime is a key electoral issue for America’s largest city, which is set to hold mayoral elections in November.

In just a year and a half, the Jatiya Party (JaPa) has split again, this time from GM Quader’s leadership. The new faction has elected Anisul Islam Mahmud as chairman, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader as secretary general, and Kazi Firoz Rashid as senior co-chairman. They were chosen at the party’s 10th National Council, held today (9 August) at the Emmanuel Party Centre in Dhaka. Former JaPa secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu was elected executive chairman of the council. Leaders said a full committee would be announced within 15 days.

Speaking to The Business Standard, JaPa (Quader) secretary general Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary insisted that GM Quader remains the leader of the main party and that grassroots activists are united under him. “Those who arranged Saturday’s council are expelled leaders,” he said.

“The council is illegal,” Shamim added.

However, the breakaway faction claims it represents the majority. Of JaPa’s 42 praesidium members, 22 have joined the new group led by Anisul and Ruhul Amin. This is the sixth major split in JaPa’s history, with previous breakaways often creating parties under the same name but with different leaders in brackets. Currently, four registered parties bear the “Jatiya Party” name, with another unregistered faction aligned with the BNP.

The most recent split before this came in February last year, when Raushan Ershad declared herself chairperson and “dismissed” GM Quader and Chunnu from their posts.

The latest division also follows a legal setback for Quader’s leadership. On 30 July , a Dhaka court temporarily barred him and joint office secretary Mahmud Alam from carrying out party activities, reinstating Anisul, Ruhul Amin, Chunnu, and several praesidium members. The order came after Chunnu and nine others filed a civil suit on 27 July, challenging their removal.

At Saturday’s council, Chunnu publicly apologised for JaPa’s role in what he called “illegal elections” under the Awami League’s rule. “If there was any moral mistake, we unconditionally apologise to the people of the country,” he said.

He also admitted that the party may not have always made the right political decisions, but urged supporters to forgive past mistakes. Former co-chairman Syed Abu Hossain Babla, now part of the Anisul-Ruhul faction, told TBS that theirs is “the legitimate Jatiya Party,” adding that they have the support of 22 praesidium members, three of the party’s five co-chairmen, and communication with Raushan Ershad.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary expressed his hope that the party will play a positive role in Bangladeshi politics under GM Quader’s leadership.

“Under the leadership of party chairman GM Quader, grassroots leaders and activists remain united. The party will be the place of trust for all the people of this country,” Shamim said.

He made these remarks while addressing a views exchange meeting with the Jatiya Tarun Party at the party’s central office auditorium in Dhaka’s Kakrail yesterday. Patwary also urged party leaders and activists to remain united, avoiding being misled by conspiracies.

JaPa’s first split occurred in 1996 when Anwar Hossain Manju broke away to contest elections with Awami League support. Subsequent divisions took place in 1999, 2003, 2013, and during internal disputes after the death of founder Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 2019. The party’s last split before this year was in February 2024, amid tensions between GM Quader and Raushan Ershad.

Bangladesh-born British minister for dealing with homelessness, Rushanara Ali, resigned from the government late Thursday after it was revealed that she had considerably hiked the rent at a property she owns.

“It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister,” said Ali, under-secretary of state for homelessness in the Labour government, in her letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Her resignation came a day after the I-Paper daily reported she had given four tenants four months to leave a London house she owned and then leased it again a few weeks later with the rent more than 700 pounds higher. Several associations campaigning against homelessness and opposition lawmakers said the 50-year-old had to resign.

“Further to recent reporting, I wanted to make it clear that at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements. I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this,” Ali said in her letter, released by the prime minister’s office.

“However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government,” she added.

In response, Starmer thanked Ali for her “diligent work” at the housing ministry, adding: “Your efforts to put in measures to repeal the Vagrancy Act will have a significant impact.”

Ali’s early life began in Sylhet before she moved to the UK with her family at the age of 7. She pursued higher education at St John’s College, Oxford, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Five persons were detained over suspected involvement in the killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhinat Chandana Chowrasta area in Gazipur city on Thursday evening. Shahin Khan, officer-in-charge of Basan police station under GMP, confirmed the detention of five suspects but withheld their identities to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

According to local sources, those identified in CCTV footage include Ketu Mizan of the Chandana Chowrasta area, his associate Shah Jamal, and others known as Bullet and Sujan. They are reportedly well-known extortionists and muggers in the locality. The incident has cast a shadow of grief and anger among journalists, professionals, and the general public, who are demanding swift justice and the immediate arrest of the killers.

CCTV footage also captured a scuffle between one Badsha Mia, and a woman. Badsha is currently hospitalized and claimed the women involved took Tk 30,000 from him. He said he did not know them beforehand. Tuhin’s first namaz-e-janaza took place after Friday prayers near Eidgah field at Chandana Chowrasta. Photo: Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile, Tuhin’s elder brother Selim expressed the family’s loss, saying his brother’s wife Farida Akter and their two young sons, five-year-old Towkir Hossain Taiki and three-year-old Abdullah Al Fahim, have been left orphaned. “Why was my brother killed? Who will now take care of them?” he asked, urging for justice and arrest of the perpetrators.

In response to the murder, local residents staged protests in Chandana last night, demanding the arrest of those responsible. Additionally, the Gazipur Journalists’ Union organized a human chain and rally in front of Gazipur Press Club on Friday morning, reiterating the call for the swift apprehension of those involved.

Speakers at the human chain, including Gazipur Journalists’ Union President Delwar Hossain and prominent journalists Fazlul Haque Morol, Majharul Islam, Masud Rana, and others, condemned the deteriorating law and order situation in Gazipur. They emphasized the urgent need to identify and bring to justice the extortionists and robbers who operate with impunity, as well as their supporters. The accused, they said, were clearly identified in CCTV footage, and failure to arrest them is a serious administrative lapse.

Tuhin’s first namaz-e-janaza took place after Friday prayers near Eidgah field at Chandana Chowrasta, followed by the second janaza in the afternoon at the family graveyard in their native village, Bhatipara in Fulbaria Upazila of Mymensingh, where he will be laid to rest.

Taherul Haque Chauhan, additional commissioner (crime) for GMP, said police are working with multiple teams focusing on the case. “Several suspects have been identified, and operations to arrest them are ongoing. We hope to detain those responsible soon,” he said, adding that the full picture of the crime will emerge once the culprits are in custody.

Asaduzzaman Tuhin’s murder has sent shockwaves across Gazipur, highlighting the urgent need for stronger law enforcement to ensure the safety of journalists and citizens alike.

Anthem of Laksam’s song ‘Mayar Shohor Laksam’ has been released. The lyrics and music of the song are written by writer and journalist Shibbir Ahmed. The song was released on YouTube on Thursday, August 7. The author himself collected and created the video of the song.

The video of the song features scenes of important structures in Laksam such as educational institutions, administration, lakes, rivers, people, and markets. The video also includes images of the Dakatiya River and the famous Laksam Junction, known for its ‘Koto Laksam Koto Bati’. The video shows scenes of Laksam’s traditional Nawab house, Laksam High School, Faizunnesa Government College, as well as mosques and temples.

The song’s writer, Shibbir Ahmed, has expressed hope that the lyrics and melody of the song will touch the hearts of the people of Laksam. He described the song he wrote as a ‘Laksam song and this song will be the Anthem of Laksam’. He said that the song depicts the history and traditions of Laksam in simple language.

It is worth mentioning here that Shibbir Ahmed is the son of Laksam. He was born and raised in this city. The streets of this city are full of the writer’s memories.

YouTube link of the song:

A one-on-one meeting was held between BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and US Chargé d’Affaires to Bangladesh Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson in July last in London. Tarique Rahman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and the US Embassy in Dhaka confirmed the meeting, according to a private television channel.

Humayun Kabir described the meeting as “very good” and said it lasted for a couple of hours.

“The ambassador exchanged pleasantries with Tarique Rahman and got to know him personally,” he added.

The discussion focused on BNP’s views regarding the upcoming national election, the party’s vision for future governance and its international outlook. They discussed fundamental issues—what kind of country the BNP wants to build if it wins the next election, what the party’s position is on the electoral framework and how it sees its role internationally, Kabir said.

He emphasised that the discussions were fully aligned with the interests of Bangladesh’s people. “There is nothing that conflicts with the interest of the people of this country,” he noted.

Kabir said Tarique Rahman’s approach to foreign policy will be shaped by the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and the spirit of the July Uprising.

“His foreign policy will prioritise the people’s interest and be rooted in what they have fought for,” he said.

According to Kabir, the meeting took place in two phases. In the first phase, Ambassador Jacobson enquired about Tarique Rahman’s well-being and discussed how he has been guiding his party over the past 17 years while living abroad.

Bangladesh have achieved their biggest-ever leap in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, climbing 24 places to reach 104th, up from 128th. This dramatic rise follows their historic qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 — the first time Bangladesh have reached the continental finals.

In the latest rankings released by FIFA, the Bengal Tigresses earned 1179.87 points — the highest gain among all nations in this cycle, with a net increase of +80.51 points. The improvement reflects the team’s consistent performances, especially against higher-ranked opponents, during the Asian Cup qualifiers held in Yangon, Myanmar.

Coached by Englishman Peter Butler, Bangladesh emerged as group champions, defeating host nation Myanmar (ranked 55th at the time), Bahrain (ranked 36 places higher), and Turkmenistan. The team maintained a perfect winning record throughout the campaign, showcasing tactical discipline, defensive strength, and attacking flair.

With this boost, Bangladesh are now ranked 19th among AFC (Asian Football Confederation) nations. Within the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), they are now third, only behind India (63rd) and Nepal (87th) — a significant milestone that highlights their growing stature in regional football.

The qualifiers marked a turning point for Bangladesh women’s football, with the team demonstrating resilience and a growing maturity on the international stage.

Their rise in the rankings signals a strong step forward for South Asian women’s football and sets high expectations for their Asian Cup debut.

Meanwhile, Spain — runners-up in the recent UEFA Women’s Euro — have reclaimed the top position in the global standings, pushing the United States down to second. However, Bangladesh’s 24-place climb remains the most remarkable gain in this update.

With momentum on their side, the Tigresses now look ahead to making a bold statement in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The police arrested former Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur vice-chancellor Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah at Mohammadpur in Dhaka on Thursday. A team of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Kalimullah at about 12:15pm in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, the metropolitan police’s DB joint commissioner for south and administration, Mohammad Nasirul Islam, said.

‘The case is connected with corruption in the university during his tenure as a vice-chancellor,’ he added.

Kalimullah was later produced before the court of Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib, who sent him to jail, court officials said. Kalimullah, a professor in the Department of Public Administration of Dhaka University, served as BRUR vice-chancellor between June 1, 2017 and June 9, 2021.

The Anti-Corruption Commission on June 18 filed the case against five people including two BRUR vice-chancellors, Kalimullah and Professor Dr AKM Nur-un-Nabi, for their alleged involvement in embezzling Tk 4 crore from a development project of the university in Rangpur.

A journalist was hacked to death by between six and seven people at Eidgah market in the Gazipur city’s Chandana chowrasta under Bason police station area on Thursday night, reportedly for sharing a video report on extortion. Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin, a district correspondent of a Bangla daily Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj, was killed at about 8:00pm on Thursday.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Rabiul Islam said that the police had recovered the body from the spot on information and sent it to the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy. He, however, claimed that he could not know the cause of the murder immediately, but the process for taking legal actions was under way.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today announced that she has been named co-chair of Congress’s Bangladesh Caucus. She will join longtime co-chair Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02).

“I am blessed to represent one of the largest Bangladeshi American communities in the United States, a key segment of our vibrant district,” said Congresswoman Pou. “Bangladeshi Americans make immeasurable contributions to our state and nation’s mosaics and I will use this new position to build public awareness of the richness of Bangladeshi culture and history. Congressman Wilson is a voice of great moral authority for international freedom and I look forward to working with my friend to advocate for our Bangladeshi neighbors.”

“The Bangladesh caucus is an important initiative in Congress to show support for Bangaladeshi-Americans, and work productively on the U.S.-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. I am grateful to relaunch this initiative as Co-Chair,” said Congressman Joe Wilson.

“Congratulations to my Congresswoman Nellie Pou on becoming Co-Chair of the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus excited to work together to strengthen U.S.-Bangladesh ties!” said Paterson Second Ward Councilman Shahin Khalique.

“As a proud Councilmember of Bangladeshi descent in the City of Paterson, I am honored to witness that Congresswoman Nellie Pou – who represents New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District and the largest Bangladeshi community in the state – has become the Co-Chair of the Congressional Bangladeshi Caucus. This milestone reflects not only her deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, but also her steadfast support for our community as we strive for greater representation and equity. I am hopeful that, under her leadership, critical issues such as immigration reform, support for small businesses, educational equity, and cultural recognition will receive the attention they deserve. As we continue to build bridges between communities and government, I look forward to working alongside her to uplift the voices and aspirations of Bangladeshi Americans throughout the district,” said Paterson Councilman-at-Large MD Forid Uddin.