News Desk

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters in Dhaka was locked down Thursday by security forces amid staff protests over recent reforms, reports Prothom Alo. Officers staged a pen-down strike demanding reversal of transfer orders and the resignation of the NBR chairman. Police and military restricted entry and exit, leaving some protesters trapped inside. The government had earlier split the NBR into two units to meet IMF loan conditions. World Bank economist Zahid Hussain warns that trade and economic lifelines are at risk. Talks are seen as the only path forward to resolve the escalating deadlock.

As of now, 761 cases have been filed across Bangladesh over the July uprising, with 1,168 police officers named as accused—including former and current top officials, reports Ajker Patrika.

Bangladesh’s Islamist parties are struggling to form a united alliance ahead of the next national election, Jugantor reports.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the release of $1.3 billion in loans to Bangladesh, covering the fourth and fifth installments of a broader support package, The Daily Star reports.

Following a high-profile London meeting between Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, foreign attention has intensified around Bangladesh’s next national election, reports Ajker Patrika.

Despite repeated government directives to prevent mob attacks, 174 people have been killed in mob violence and public beatings across Bangladesh in the past 10 months, reports Samakal.