Kurigram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mosammat Sultana Parvin has been suspended following allegations of abuse of power in a case involving the midnight sentencing of a journalist by a mobile court.
The suspension came after a court rejected her bail plea and sent her to jail on September 8. The controversy dates back to March 2019, when local journalist Ariful Islam was detained from his home at midnight and sentenced to one year in prison by a mobile court. Authorities later claimed to have found liquor and cannabis in his house, though his family alleged he was targeted for reporting against the DC.

Government secondary school teachers across Bangladesh have put forward a five-point charter of demands, with the establishment of a separate Directorate of Secondary Education topping the list.

The demands include:

Creation of an independent Directorate of Secondary Education.

Upgrading the entry-level grade of assistant teachers to 9th grade with a four-tier promotion scale.

Preservation of administrative and financial authority for regional deputy directors, ensuring autonomy and dignity of all secondary offices.

Immediate recruitment and promotion to fill vacant posts in schools and inspection branches.

Clearance of pending selection-grade and time-scale approvals.

Teachers say these reforms are vital for strengthening secondary education in the country.

As Israeli bombardment continued in Gaza, India and Israel signed a bilateral investment treaty in New Delhi during the visit of Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The Modi government described the deal as a step toward deepening ties with Israel, highlighting sectors such as cybersecurity, defense, innovation, and high technology. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the moment was “crucial for expanding cooperation,” while Smotrich posted on X that the agreement reflected “mutual prosperity, innovation, and new opportunities for investors.” India’s finance ministry hailed it as a “historic milestone.”

Adviser Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain has issued a stern warning against corruption and irregularities within the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Speaking at a scholarship awarding ceremony for children of BIWTA officials, Dr. Sakhawat said, “One corrupt member tarnishes the reputation of the entire institution and its workforce.”

He urged officials to uphold integrity while honoring students who received merit-based scholarships.

The High Court has ordered a halt to the construction of the elevated expressway through Panthakunja Park, adjacent to Hotel Sonargaon, and parts of Hatirjheel.

The court also directed that Panthakunja Park be reopened to the public.

The ruling came following a writ petition filed by nine environmental activists, including Amirul Rajib, Anu Muhammad, and Gitiara Nasrin, challenging the construction works.

The 9th meeting of the National Training Council was held under the chairmanship of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The council decided to shorten the duration of basic training for cadre officers from six months to four months, comprising three months of institutional training and one month of field-level training. The maximum age limit for enrolling in master’s and PhD courses has been raised from 45 to 47 years.

Adviser Yunus emphasized the need to evaluate all government training centers, introduce ranking systems, and ensure regular monitoring. He also proposed forming an independent unit to systematically assess research institutions and maintain data on officials who receive foreign training.

The meeting also approved renaming the “Sanjeeboni Training” program to “Skills Renewal Training,” alongside introducing new initiatives to promote integrity, ethics, and anti-corruption values among public servants. An executive committee, chaired by the Finance Adviser, was also formed.

Two senior officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have been temporarily suspended over allegations of taking bribes in exchange for awarding fuel supply contracts.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Shipping, Additional Director (Marine) Md. Abdur Rahim and Deputy Director Md. Obaidul Karim Khan of BIWTA’s Vessel Preservation and Operations Department were suspended on the instructions of the Adviser for Shipping.

A probe committee has been formed to investigate the incident, with authorities vowing to take departmental action against those involved. Instructions have also been issued to pursue legal measures against any other individuals linked to the corruption.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, accountability of occupying forces, and long-term peace in Palestine.
In a meeting with Palestine’s Chief Justice Dr. Mahmoud Sidki Al-Habbash, Hossain reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering support for Palestinians and the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.
The Palestinian Chief Justice expressed deep gratitude for Bangladesh’s consistent support and highlighted the importance of Muslim unity.

Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC), Akhtar Ahmed, revealed the draft count of polling centers under the commission’s election roadmap.
Currently, Bangladesh has 126.16 million registered voters across 300 constituencies in 64 districts. Based on an average of one polling center per 3,000 voters, the EC has proposed 42,618 polling centers.
Each center will have separate booths: one for every 600 male voters and one for every 500 female voters. This translates to 114,939 male booths and 129,107 female booths, totaling 244,046 booths nationwide.
Objections to the draft list will be accepted until September 25, with the final list to be published on October 20.

DUCSU central member candidate Sajib Hossain has alleged that his vote was not recorded properly.
“I want to know where my vote went,” Sajib told reporters, explaining that although he cast his ballot for a GS candidate at Curzon Hall, the candidate’s result showed zero votes.

He demanded clarification and justification if his vote was canceled.

Another candidate, Rakib Hossain Gazi, also complained of irregularities, accusing the election commission of giving preferential treatment to certain groups and ignoring rules on distributing candidate slips. Both said they would file written complaints with the university administration.

Bangladesh’s Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue has seized locker No. 128 belonging to Sheikh Hasina at Pubali Bank’s Motijheel branch.

CIC Director General Ahsan Habib confirmed that investigators found the locker registered under Hasina’s name at the Sena Kalyan Bhaban branch. One key was in Hasina’s possession while the other remained with the bank. Revenue officials sealed the locker earlier today.

Additionally, investigators froze fixed deposits worth Tk 1.2 million under Hasina’s name and Tk 4.4 million jointly held with her sister Sheikh Rehana. Officials believe the locker may contain sensitive documents, valuables, and jewelry.

Prominent filmmaker and advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki posted on social media following the DUCSU polls, writing:
“Do you know who lost today’s DUCSU election? The ‘Killer Hasina League’—the very group that destroyed elections in Bangladesh and handed over the country to others.”

He added that the real victory lay in Bangladesh’s renewed journey toward democracy, declaring:
“The winners are not candidates or parties. The winner is Bangladesh’s path to democracy—and the students of Dhaka University who united at the end of the day chanting, ‘We demand justice for Killer Hasina!’”

Hamas leaders narrowly survived a series of Israeli airstrikes in Doha on Tuesday. At least 12 air raids were carried out on a hotel complex where top Hamas officials were meeting to discuss potential conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Although the leaders—including Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin—remained unharmed, the hotel sustained heavy damage. Netanyahu later confirmed he personally coordinated the operation.

Qatar, in response, has condemned Israel’s actions, describing the strikes as “terrorist acts” against a sovereign state.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced discontent over Israel’s airstrikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.
“I’m not happy with the situation. This is not a good situation,” Trump said, adding, “One thing is clear—we want our hostages back, but we’re not satisfied with how this has happened.”

Advisors close to Trump have also expressed anger over Israel’s decision to carry out the strikes in Qatar. According to a U.S. official, Trump was not informed directly by Israel but rather through Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles Q. Brown. Trump then immediately instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to deliver a statement to Qatari authorities.

However, another U.S. official revealed that by the time Witkoff attempted to reach Qatari leaders, it was already too late. Just a day earlier, Witkoff had met with a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yet no mention of the imminent strike was made during their discussions.

Locals in Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila blocked major highways again on Wednesday, protesting the exclusion of Algi and Hamirdi unions from the Faridpur-4 constituency.

Demonstrators staged sit-ins at eight key points of the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways, halting transport to 21 districts.

They demanded that the Election Commission reverse its decision to merge the unions with Faridpur-2, warning of continued protests until their demand is met.