The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the draft roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, outlining action plans in 24 key areas, according to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

He said the final roadmap will be published within the week, stressing there is currently “no reason for concern over law and order.”

Hearings on boundary demarcation for 82 constituencies will begin on August 24 and continue for four days. The EC also clarified that polling centers will not be increased: each will serve 3,000 voters, with booth capacity raised from 500 to 600 voters.

A dramatic situation unfolded at Bangladesh Bank as AFM Shahinul Islam, head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), appeared at his office despite being placed on mandatory leave.

Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur confirmed Shahinul had been sent on leave following demands from central bank officials. However, Shahinul dismissed the directive, saying, “Mandatory leave? I am working as usual.”

Earlier, several officials submitted a memorandum demanding his removal, citing the release of multiple controversial videos and allegations that he authorized the withdrawal of Tk 190 million from a frozen account belonging to transport magnate Khandaker Enayet Ullah, causing reputational damage to the financial sector.

Following its earlier move in the administration cadre, the review committee on promotion deprivation has now recommended retrospective promotions for 78 retired officials from other cadres. The report was submitted Wednesday to the Chief Adviser by committee convener and former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan. Earlier, based on the committee’s first report, 764 retired administration officials from deputy secretary to secretary level were granted retrospective promotions. The recommendations cover officials who faced career stagnation between 2009 and August 4, 2024, before retiring.

The much-anticipated Moulana Bhashani Bridge, connecting Gaibandha and Kurigram, was inaugurated Wednesday afternoon by Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Arriving from Rangpur via Sundarganj, he unveiled the plaque before leading a motorcade across the bridge and attending a views-exchange meeting. The inauguration drew thousands of jubilant locals, turning the area festive.
The bridge spans 1,490 meters in length and 9.6 meters in width, with two lanes and 31 spans. Stretching from Haripur Ghat in Sundarganj to Chilmari in Kurigram, it is being hailed as a milestone project for the people of the Teesta river basin.

Bangladeshi expatriates will now be able to register as voters even without a passport, the Election Commission (EC) announced. Instead, applicants can submit a declaration from three expatriates with valid NIDs in the host country, certifying their Bangladeshi nationality. Supporting documents may also be provided either directly at registration centers abroad or through representatives in Bangladesh. Currently, voter registration activities are being conducted through Bangladeshi missions in nine countries, with nearly 50,000 applications already received.

The Election Commission (EC) will release the draft list of polling centers for the upcoming parliamentary election on September 10. Objections and claims will be accepted until September 25 and resolved by October 12, after which the final list will be published on October 20. The EC Secretariat confirmed that the process follows the guidelines for polling station establishment issued for the upcoming election.

Environmental activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan stressed that restoring natural forests is essential to protecting Bangladesh’s elephants—and that rural communities must be involved in this effort. Speaking at a wildlife conservation event, she added that the Forest Department has been directed to ban the use of elephants for entertainment shows. Speakers at the event highlighted that wildlife preservation has yet to gain political priority in Bangladesh. They urged immediate elephant population surveys, updated research beyond the outdated decade-old studies, and measures for breeding, habitat management, and food supply. They also called for a cross-border management protocol to reduce human-elephant conflict. According to the Forest Department, 18 elephants have died unnaturally in just the first six months of this year, while 146 elephants have died nationwide in the past nine years. The discussion coincided with World Elephant Day (August 12).

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has launched a demolition drive against the riverfront bungalow of former state minister Nasrul Hamid, built illegally on the Buriganga’s bank. The operation began Thursday morning at Keraniganj, opposite Fatullah Launch Ghat. Nearly two acres of land were reclaimed after demolishing boundary walls and structures inside the compound. Officials confirmed that the eviction follows a 2009 High Court order directing the removal of all illegal structures occupying riverbanks. Earlier, on April 30, a Dhaka court ordered the seizure of Hamid’s property worth Tk 200 crore in Gulshan. In January, the court also imposed a travel ban on Hamid and his wife in connection with an ACC case.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered nearly 200,000 cubic feet of illegally extracted stones from the Utmachhara border area in Sylhet. According to BGB, Utmachhara is a naturally resource-rich tourist spot with abundant sand and stones. For years, local syndicates have been extracting stones illegally and stockpiling them in different parts of Adarshapara village for smuggling. However, due to strict BGB surveillance, poor transport infrastructure, and internal conflicts within the syndicates, the stones could not be trafficked. A joint operation led by Assistant Commissioner Ifrahim Iqbal Chowdhury, along with local administration, BGB, and police, is now underway to conduct proper measurement and take legal action.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has filed a General Diary (GD) against two employees over the disappearance of 10 aircraft tires, allegedly handed over to a private airline without authorization.

Each tire is valued between USD 5,000 and 15,000, meaning the missing stock is worth nearly Tk 1 crore.

The tires, which had expired from operational use, were stored in an “auction shed” beside the hangar. According to the GD, assistant manager Mosharraf Hossain reported the incident as “untraceable” rather than outright theft.

Upon questioning, supervisor Arman Hossain and store helper Samsul Haque admitted the tires were given to a private airline official “for use” without informing higher authorities.

An internal investigation is now underway.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has stressed the urgent need to curb excessive cash transactions, saying they encourage corruption and make tax evasion easier.

“The foundation of a cashless society in Bangladesh is becoming stronger. Within the next 7–8 years, Bangladesh will emerge as a major hub of cashless economy,” he stated.

Highlighting mobile financial services (MFS) innovations, the governor said the concept of “nano loans” is gaining popularity, with an average of 4,000 people receiving such loans daily, amounting to Tk 7,000 crore in total disbursements.

He emphasized that restoring discipline in the financial sector remains the biggest challenge, as well as introducing innovative and inclusive financial services to strengthen the macroeconomy.

China’s military is preparing to seize Taiwan by 2027 under direct orders from President Xi Jinping, warned US Strategic Command chief General Anthony Cotton in testimony before Congress.

Cotton said Beijing is developing nuclear-capable weapons capable of striking from land, air, and sea.

While China’s 2023 national defense policy reiterated its commitment to a “no first use” policy on nuclear weapons, the Pentagon has warned that Beijing could reconsider if a conventional defeat in Taiwan threatens Communist Party survival.

China’s Defense Ministry has dismissed US claims as an attempt to spread the so-called “China nuclear threat” narrative to malign Beijing internationally. However, experts, including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, caution that China is stockpiling increasingly powerful weapons

The holy occasion of Akheri Chahar Shomba is being observed today across Bangladesh. Although not an official public holiday, it is recognized as an optional holiday, and all educational institutions remain closed.

Historically, the day is linked to a temporary recovery of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during his final illness, sparking immense joy and charity among his companions. Commemorating this, Muslims continue to observe the last Wednesday of the month of Safar with prayers and festivities.

Low-income residents of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Natore are increasingly trapped in a high-interest debt cycle from NGOs and moneylenders. Many borrow for household needs rather than productive investment, leading to unpaid loans, mental distress, and rising suicides. Recent incidents include multiple families abandoning homes or taking their lives due to mounting pressure. Experts highlight weak loan verification, high real interest rates, and inadequate oversight as key issues, urging stricter monitoring of microcredit programs to prevent further tragedies.

Two fabric-loaded containers worth Tk 15 million have gone missing from Chattogram Port after being auctioned and fully paid for by Shah Amanat Trading. Owner Selim Reza claims he has been waiting for seven months despite paying duties and charges. Customs officials say refunds will be processed if the port confirms the goods cannot be delivered, while port authorities insist the containers are not lost but misplaced among nearly 50,000 others and are still being searched for.