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A court in Bangladesh on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed to five years in prison on corruption charges linked to a government land project. The court also handed down a two-year prison sentence to her niece, British Labour Party lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, in the same case.Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge's Court ruled that Hasina had misused her authority while in office, while Siddiq was found guilty of using her influence to assist her mother and two siblings in obtaining a state-owned land under the Purbachal New Town project. Siddiq's mother, Sheikh Rehana, received a seven-year prison sentence and was identified as the main defendant in the case. Fourteen other suspects are also facing charges.Sheikh Hasina has been living in exile in India since being ousted in a popular uprising last year. She was sentenced to death last month over her government's violent crackdown on protesters, and had also been handed a 21-year prison sentence earlier on separate corruption charges.Siddiq, who represents London's Hampstead and Highgate constituency in the British Parliament, has denied the allegations, describing the trial as politically motivated and based on "fabricated accusations."She resigned as a British government minister in January under pressure linked to her family ties.There is no extradition treaty between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom

His Excellency Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Saturday with the Advisor on Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Tohid Hossain, on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue 2025, currently underway in Bahraini Capital Manama. Discussion during the meeting, focused on bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them in addition to number of topics of mutual interest.

Qatar Charity (QC) has launched a month-long humanitarian initiative in Bangladesh dedicated to performing eye surgeries, restoring vision, and expanding access to quality eye care for underprivileged communities across the country. The programme is part of QC’s Ibsar (eyesight) initiative focused on combating preventable blindness through medical camps, free eye checkups, surgeries, medication, and eyeglasses. The initiative is being implemented at the Lions Eye Institute and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka, and will run across Dhaka, Rangpur, Khulna, and Cox’s Bazar. Under this programme, free eye check-ups, cataract surgeries, and treatment services will be provided to nearly 2,000 disadvantaged patients, many of whom have been struggling with preventable vision loss for years. The inaugural event was attended by Md Daud Mia, director general of the NGO Affairs Bureau and additional secretary to the chief advisor’s office. He commended QC for its long-standing contribution to humanitarian development in Bangladesh, calling the initiative “a meaningful step towards sustainable eye health in underserved areas.” Speaking at the ceremony, Zakarya Ali al-Motair, country director of QC’s Bangladesh branch, said: “Through this initiative, Qatar Charity aims to provide free eye check-ups, cataract surgeries, and vision care for thousands of people in need across Bangladesh. Together, we hope to bring light back into their lives and restore their ability to see, work, and live with dignity. Restoring sight means restoring hope, restoring life, and restoring dignity.” The launch of the programme highlighted QC’s nearly three decades of humanitarian presence in Bangladesh, with ongoing efforts in health, education, water, sanitation and social welfare.

Flights have resumed at Bangladesh's main airport in Dhaka, airport officials said, six hours after a fire in the cargo section delayed flights and halted operations on Saturday.The first flight departed at 9.06pm (1506 GMT), officials told reporters.The fire has been completely brought under control, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said in a statement."Steps will be taken to identify the source of the fire and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future," the ministry added.Operations at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were suspended after the fire broke out in the cargo section of the airport, with around 37 firefighting units working to douse the flames.The army, navy, and air force also joined the fire service in efforts to bring the blaze under control.Kabir Ahmed, president of the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh, said it was too early to estimate the exact losses, but that the overall impact - direct and indirect - on imports and exports could exceed $1 billion.Both domestic and international flights were affected.An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Dhaka was diverted to Kolkata, and an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates was directed to Chittagong, about 250km southeast of Dhaka.This is the third major fire reported in Bangladesh this week. A fire on Tuesday at a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in Dhaka killed at least 16 people and injured others. On Thursday, another fire burned down a seven-storey garment factory building in an export processing zone in Chittagong.The interim government said all recent fires across the country are under thorough investigation, with security forces working to protect lives and property.It said any evidence of sabotage or arson would be met with a swift and decisive response and that no criminal act or provocation would be allowed to disrupt public life or the political process.

Blaze broke out on third floor of garment factoryFire service director says building had no fire safety planBangladesh has history of industrial disastersRescue efforts ongoing and death toll could riseA fire on Tuesday at a garment factory in Bangladesh and an adjacent chemical warehouse killed at least 16 people and injured others, and the death toll could rise, an official said.The cause of the blaze wasn't immediately known, fire service director Tajul Islam Chowdhury said."Sixteen bodies have been recovered from the second and third floors of the garment factory," he said, adding that the number of deaths could rise as recovery operations were continuing.The fire broke out at around midday on the third floor of the four-storey factory in the Mirpur area of the capital Dhaka, before spreading to a chemical warehouse storing bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, Talha Bin Jashim, a fire department official said, citing witnesses.Firefighters brought the factory blaze under control after nearly three hours, though the fire at the warehouse continued.Grief-stricken relatives gathered to search for their loved ones, some clutching photographs.In front of the blackened ruins, a father searched desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter. "My daughter worked there. When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her....I just want my daughter back."Chowdhury said the owners of the factory had not yet been identified. "The police and the army are trying to locate them," he said. He added that neither the garment factory nor the chemical warehouse had approval or any fire safety plan.Based on the initial findings, he said the garment factory had a tin roof with a grilled door that was kept locked. "The workers couldn't reach the upper level," he said."The chemical explosion caused a flashover that released toxic gas, leaving many unconscious and trapping them inside. They couldn't escape either upward or downward."He said the victims were so badly burned, DNA testing may be the only way to identify them.In a condolence message, Bangladesh's interim government head Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow and urged authorities to investigate and support victims and families.Poor fire and building safety standards lead to dozens of such disasters in Bangladesh each year, and past accidents have tarnished the country's garments sector, which employs 4 million people and makes up more than 10% of the country's gross domestic product.In 2012, a fire at Tazreen Fashions that supplied global brands, killed 112 workers.A year later, the eight-storey Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing 1,135 garment workers and triggering a wave of public outrage around the world about the human cost of cheap clothes.

Qatar Charity has built 256 fully equipped mosques across Bangladesh between July 2024 and July 2025. The initiative provided safe spaces for worship, restoring a sense of peace and spiritual comfort to more than 51,200 worshippers in rural and semi-urban areas, and enabling them to perform their religious duties in a faith-filled environment. Qatar Charity said in a statement yesterday that the construction of these mosques comes in response to an urgent need in the targeted areas, where many worshippers had long prayed in structures made of tin or mud — lacking basic safety and comfort. During the rainy season, water flooded the floors, while in summer, the absence of fans made congregational prayers extremely difficult. Over the past five years, Qatar Charity has built more than 600 mosques across Bangladesh, providing a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for over 150,000 worshippers to pray.

India secured their place in the Asia Cup final Wednesday as Abhishek Sharma starred with 75 in a comfortable 41-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai.The holders posted 168-6 batting first after stumbling following a quick start, but their spinners helped stifle Bangladesh to 127 all out.The result means Sri Lanka are out of the tournament, with Thursday’s Super Four match between Pakistan and Bangladesh to decide who faces India in Sunday’s final.Abhishek has enjoyed a remarkable start to his T20 international career with 783 runs from 22 matches at a strike-rate of 197.72.The opener set up victory with another brilliant innings, striking six sixes and five fours in his 37-ball blitz, which ended with a run-out caused by a mix-up with captain Suryakumar Yadav.Both Abhishek and fellow opener Shubman Gill, who made 29, started cautiously before the two took on left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, smashing 21 runs off the fourth over.Abhishek reached his fifty off just 25 balls after Gill fell to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.Rishad quickly struck again with the wicket of the promoted Shivam Dube, before the dismissals of Abhishek and Suryakumar, for five off 11 balls, left India on 114-4. Hardik Pandya ensured India reached a competitive total with a 29-ball 38 with four fours and one six.Jasprit Bumrah struck first to send back opener Tanzid Hasan for one in the second over of Bangladesh’s chase, before Saif Hassan and Parvez Hossain Emon, who made 21, put on 42 runs to steady the innings.But Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Parvez and Bangladesh soon lost their way as the Indian spinners took charge. Saif, who survived four dropped catches, played a lone hand to raise Bangladesh hopes. Kuldeep struck twice with successive balls before Nasum played out the hat-trick ball. Saif finally fell in the 18th over for 69 to Bumrah and Bangladesh were bowled out in 19.3 overs.BRIEF SCORE:SIndia 168 for 6 (Abhishek 75, Hardik 38, Rishad 2-27) beat Bangladesh (Saif 69, Kuldeep 3-18, Bumrah 2-18, Varun 2-29) by 41 runs

Spinner Nasum Ahmed produced a miserly spell to help Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by eight runs Tuesday and keep their Asia Cup hopes alive.Bangladesh posted 154-5 batting first as opener Tanzid Hasan starred with his 52 off 31 balls in Abu Dhabi.Nasum and fellow spinner Rishad Hossain then took two wickets each before pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman returned figures of 3-28 to help bowl out Afghanistan for 146.Taskin Ahmed also claimed two wickets as he wrapped up the innings with the final ball of the match.Bangladesh ended Group B with two wins and one defeat in their three outings.Their chances of reaching the Super Four stage will depend on the final match of the group between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on Thursday.Bangladesh will go through if Sri Lanka win, but an Afghan victory would see them progress and leave the Sri Lankans and Bangladesh to be split on net run-rate.Left-arm spinner Nasum rocked the Afghanistan chase early when he struck with the first ball of the innings to trap Sediqullah Atal lbw and then grabbed the key wicket of Ibrahim Zadran, for five, in the fifth over.He returned figures of 2-11 from his four overs.Rishad dismissed Gulbadin Naib caught and bowled for 16 with his leg-spin and then sent back the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 35 to dent Afghanistan.Azmatullah Omarzai attempted to revive the chase with three sixes in his 16-ball 30 but holed out off Taskin.Skipper Rashid Khan made one final push with a quickfire 20 but fell to Mustafizur, who struck again to be on a hat-trick which was avoided by Fazalhaq Farooqi.Earlier Tanzid put on an opening stand of 63 with Saif Hasan, who made 30, as the two racked up 59 in the powerplay.Rashid broke the stand as he struck in his first over by bowling Saif and Afghanistan's spinners soon took control.Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad trapped skipper Litton Das lbw for nine to further peg back Bangladesh.Tanzid raised his fifty off 28 deliveries but fell to Noor in the next over.Towhid Hridoy added a 20-ball 26 but although Bangladesh managed just 67 runs in the final 10 overs, it proved enough for the win.

Taskin Ahmed starred as Bangladesh hammered the Netherlands by eight wickets in the first of the three T20 internationals in Sylhet Saturday.Fast bowler Taskin returned figures of 4-28 as Bangladesh kept the Netherlands to 136-8, a total their batters overhauled in just 13.3 overs.Skipper Litton Das, 54 not out, and Saif Hassan, unbeaten on 36, helped the hosts race to victory.Bangladesh, who recently won a home T20 series against Pakistan, maintained their momentum ahead of the T20 Asia Cup starting September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.The Netherlands, who have already qualified for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, are without several key players including all-rounders Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe.De Leede is injured while Van der Merwe and Logan van Beek are also missing.Max O'Dowd struck 23 and fellow opener Teja Nidamanuru top-scored with 26 but the Dutch lost regular wickets after being put in to bat.Taskin took a wicket in each of his first two overs before off-spinner Saif struck twice in one over including the scalp of Scott Edwards for 12.In reply, Bangladesh lost an early wicket but Litton put on 66 runs with Tanzid Hasan, who made 29.The second T20 is Monday at the same venue.BRIEF SCORESBangladesh 138 for 2 (Litton 54*, Saif 36*) beat Netherlands 136 for 8 (Nidamanuru 28, Taskin 4-28, Saif 2-18) by eight wickets