Bangladesh’s Interim Chief Adviser, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, emphasized comprehensive reforms before the next general elections during his first diplomatic engagement in Dhaka. After former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted amid violent protests, Yunus outlined his government's roadmap for restoring law and order and reviving the economy. He accused Hasina of destroying Bangladesh's institutions, rigging elections, and leading a brutal dictatorship. Yunus promised a "Second Revolution" led by citizens seeking democracy. He urged international support for Bangladesh's transformation, affirming the country's commitment to multilateralism and cooperation with a UN fact-finding mission on recent violence.

A Kolkata court has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to conduct a lie detector test on Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The horrific crime, discovered on August 9, sparked national outrage and led to the case being transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI. Roy was arrested soon after the crime, and the CBI sought the polygraph test to gather more evidence. The vandalism at the hospital on August 15 further complicated the investigation, with the CBI now in charge.

A post-mortem report on the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College revealed sixteen external and nine internal injuries, along with signs of manual strangulation and smothering. The report, conducted on August 9, confirmed the cause of death as homicidal, with evidence of forceful penetration. Injuries included abrasions on the cheeks, neck, and private parts. The case, now under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was initially handled by the Kolkata Police, whose investigation faced heavy criticism. The report was signed by three senior forensic experts.

Advocates from the Calcutta High Court staged a protest march on Monday demanding justice for the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. The protestors, holding banners, demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of the accused. Advocate Mousami Choudhry voiced the collective sentiment, insisting on swift justice. A similar protest was held in Siliguri, where women activists denounced the horrific crime. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to probe the case using advanced techniques, with the Supreme Court set to hear the matter on August 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ukraine between August 21 and 23, marking his first trip to the nation since Russia’s invasion in 2022. The visit, confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs, follows Modi’s recent meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. India has maintained a stance of dialogue and diplomacy while continuing trade with Russia. The visit underscores India’s efforts to balance its relations with Western nations and Russia amid global tensions. Modi is also expected to visit Poland during this trip, marking the first visit by an Indian PM to the country in over four decades.

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, lawyer for the parents of a trainee doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, alleged that the Trinamool Congress planted goons among protesters to vandalize the hospital. Bhattacharya accused these individuals of disrupting the protest to intimidate and destroy evidence. He criticized the Kolkata Police’s investigation, citing lapses and an initial attempt to quickly cremate the victim’s body. The case, now transferred to the CBI due to investigative flaws, has seen multiple arrests, including some linked to the ruling party.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Israeli military positions on August 19, 2024, including drone strikes on bases in northern Israel. The group targeted a barracks near the Lebanese border and a base near Acre, claiming retaliation for recent Israeli strikes that killed top commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Hezbollah reported a rocket and artillery attack on another Israeli position and confronted Israeli soldiers near the border. The violence has escalated tensions, with significant casualties reported on both sides since the onset of the Gaza War.

Doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata marked Rakshabandhan by tying black rakhis as a symbol of protest against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor. The protest, dubbed ‘Abhaya Ka Bhai,’ was organized by the Joint Platform of Doctors. Alongside the symbolic gesture, doctors rallied for Dr. Kunal Sarkar and Dr. Subarno Goswami, who were summoned by Kolkata Police. "This symbolic Rakhi is a reminder that we demand safety and justice for our colleague," said a protester. The nationwide protest highlights the ongoing call for justice.

A second-year BCom student, Kirti Sharma, was arrested by Kolkata Police for an Instagram post inciting violence against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The post read, "Shoot Mamata Banerjee like Indira Gandhi. If you can't do it, I wouldn't disappoint," prompting immediate backlash. Trinamool Congress supporters flagged the post, leading to Sharma's arrest. Kolkata Police stated, “The comments are provocative and may create social unrest.” Sharma also disclosed the identity of a trainee doctor recently murdered in Kolkata, further intensifying the situation.

The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of "hijacking" protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. MP Saket Gokhale claimed the BJP's IT cell is using a "sinister toolkit" to demand Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation and destabilize the West Bengal government. Gokhale alleged that the BJP has replaced genuine protesters with party workers and used bot accounts to amplify the 'Mamata Must Resign' hashtag. The CBI has taken over the investigation, but protests and political tensions continue.