Gazi Ataur Rahman, Joint Secretary General of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, praised Tarique Rahman’s proposal to shift the election from December to February during the meeting, noting that Chief Adviser Yunus also expressed conditional openness to the suggestion. “This move to reconsider positions on logical grounds sets a positive precedent in Bangladesh’s political landscape,” he said. Ataur further stated that the BNP has expressed principled support for reform, justice, and the July Declaration, which will help pave the way for building a democratic future for the country. However, he criticized the repeated mention of a ‘joint statement’ in the press briefing, arguing that issuing such a statement between a political party and a state representative is inappropriate. He also warned that national decisions should not be based solely on one party’s stance.

Ganosamhati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki has welcomed recent discussions among political parties, including a meeting held in London, as a positive step toward political stability in Bangladesh. Emphasizing the need for reforms and fair elections, Saki reiterated the call for the government to engage with all stakeholders on justice, reforms, and electoral matters. He also noted that an April election would be unrealistic and emphasized that the recent discussions should now focus on building national consensus regarding both elections and reforms.

A new 9-credit ICT course is set to be introduced from the next academic year for students under Bangladesh's National University system, aiming to improve their competitiveness in the job market. This announcement was made by Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, during a discussion event in Paris.

Tayyeb emphasized that no new development projects were proposed in this year's budget. Instead, focus has been placed on eliminating ineffective and unnecessary projects to prioritize sustainable infrastructure.

He also revealed that plans are underway to reintroduce incentives for freelancers starting from the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition, the government is laying down policy frameworks for key technology sectors, including data management, cloud computing, and the electric vehicle (EV) industry, he added.

There is no possibility of new gas connections for residential users—even if one waits till doomsday—said Adviser Fawzul Kabir Khan during his visit to the Sylhet Gas Field. The government’s priority, he stated, is to ensure gas supply for power generation and industrial use, not households.

"Residents will have to rely on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)," he added.

Explaining the rationale, the adviser said that Bangladesh is losing approximately 200 million cubic feet of gas production annually, while only 60 to 70 million cubic feet are being added from new sources. As a result, gas imports are increasing. To counter this, the government is taking steps to enhance domestic production.

He also noted that, on a trial basis for the past month, two wells—Kailashtila-7 and Sylhet-10—have been contributing a combined 16 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid.

A suspected drug dealer, Firoza Khatun (50), has died in police custody following a joint forces operation in Katiadi, Kishoreganj. Inspector Habibullah Khan of Katiadi Model Police Station reported that while Firoza’s husband managed to flee, she was arrested with 11 yaba pills, 22 packets of cannabis, and Tk 32,664 in cash. She was brought to the police station around 3:30 AM. Police claim that she later fell ill in custody and was rushed to Katiadi Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. An investigation into the incident is expected.

Following the death of IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami in Israel’s recent airstrikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Major General Mohammad Pakpour as the new chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Al Jazeera. The IRGC serves as a military, political, and economic pillar of Iran’s Islamic regime, tasked with countering threats from both within and outside the country. It also plays a key role in overseeing Iran’s nuclear program and regional military operations.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Md. Abu Bakkar (42), a fugitive sentenced to life imprisonment in a gang rape case, after 21 years in hiding. He was apprehended in the Karnafuli Tea Estate area of Chattogram.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police ARM Mozaffar Hossain stated that during initial interrogation, Abu Bakkar admitted to being the convict sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor and fined one lakh taka in connection with the gang rape case. Following his arrest, he was handed over to Fatikchhari Police Station for further legal procedures.

The indefinite ban on public entry to the ancestral estate of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj has been lifted. Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nazrul Islam officially reopened the site, which holds historical and cultural significance tied to the poet. Visitors can now enter the premises by purchasing a ticket for 30 Taka. The site had been closed since June 11 following an incident of vandalism and assault, prompting authorities to restrict access by placing a notice on the main gate.

At least 40 people were injured in a violent clash between residents of Majhbari and Bankura villages in Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj. Police fired several rounds of blank shots to bring the situation under control.

The conflict reportedly began when Riazul of Bankura village took money from Faruk Hossain of Riyazul Kandi village for a scrap business but failed to repay it on time. Faruk then informed his father-in-law, Alinur Daria, a resident of Majhbari village.

When Alinur and his supporters went to Riazul’s house to demand the repayment, an argument broke out between the two parties. Matters escalated around 9:30 AM when an announcement was made through the mosque loudspeaker, calling villagers to gather. A violent clash ensued between the two groups, leaving around 40 people injured.

Police had to fire multiple rounds of blank shots to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Following the much-anticipated meeting between Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman stated that there is no disagreement regarding the election date.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “We don’t see any problem regarding the election date. Both sides have made this clear in the joint statement. We now hope that the Election Commission will announce the date soon.”

He further noted that the joint statement also addressed the issues of reforms and justice. “We are reasonably confident that we will see progress on these matters before the election,” he added.

As Iran closes its airspace following escalating hostilities with Israel, flights to neighboring Iraq are also being canceled one after another. Qatar Airport’s flight information boards show numerous cancellations of flights to both Iran and Iraq.

For security reasons, several airlines are avoiding Iraqi airspace altogether. The development follows threats from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, who warned that if Iran faces attacks from the U.S. or Israel, American bases in Iraq will become “legitimate targets.” The Iraqi government is reportedly engaging in talks with these groups to prevent further escalation.

Ten months after the interim government took charge promising sweeping reforms, conditions at Dhaka Medical College Hospital remain dire. Overcrowding, staff shortages, and unhygienic conditions plague the facility, where patients often share beds and even pay bribes for treatment. Despite the submission of a reform report in May, no visible improvements have occurred. Emergency access is blocked by vendors and vehicles, sanitation is appalling, and syndicates continue illegal operations. Authorities admit challenges but say slow progress is being made in infrastructure and logistics.

Despite growing demands for change, Bangladesh’s public universities continue to suffer from political interference, recruitment irregularities, and infrastructural deficiencies. Student protests at multiple institutions have led to the removal of a few vice-chancellors, but no major reforms have followed. Issues such as unplanned department expansion, underfunded research, and lack of student housing persist. Experts highlight the need for curriculum updates, merit-based appointments, and governance reform. While minor initiatives are underway, long-term improvement depends on structural changes and consistent funding support.

A culvert constructed in Yusufpur village of Patuakhali under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at a cost of Tk 2.78 million has remained largely unusable due to the absence of a connecting road. Despite the structure being completed long ago, no access road has been built, leaving residents facing severe hardship. Locals from Yusufpur and nearby villages are forced to navigate knee-deep mud and walk along a narrow embankment to get by. Md. Moksedul Alam, Project Implementation Officer of Kalapara Upazila, stated that work on the connecting road is planned to begin soon and residents will benefit shortly.

Rajshahi University’s former vice chancellor Dr. Abdus Sobhan is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for appointing 138 staff in violation of ministry orders. Despite repeated requests, the university administration has failed to provide necessary documents, causing significant delays in the investigation. The ACC warns it may file a case under Section 19(3) for obstructing the process. A three-member ACC committee is handling the probe. University officials admit partial cooperation but cite missing records as the reason for delays.