Faiz Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, criticized the practice of allocating disproportionate development funds to ministers’ constituencies while neglecting other areas.
“Depriving people of development opportunities is unacceptable. This practice must stop,” he said.
He directed the Water Development Board to prepare for eviction drives in coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, ordered rural electricity authorities to cut illegal connections, and urged the power division to ensure industrialists are not harassed.
Tayyeb also announced a marathon on the Gomti River this winter and called for peaceful cooperation to ensure smooth Durga Puja celebrations.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has expressed confidence that the upcoming Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) and Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) elections will be held fairly.

Chowdhury said there were no security concerns, noting that lessons learned from the Dhaka University (DUCSU) and Jagannath University (JUCSU) polls would be applied. He added that universities may opt for OMR-based result counting to expedite the process.

Education Adviser C. R. Abrar echoed the optimism, saying: “There is tremendous enthusiasm among students. We are expecting a vibrant and fair election.”

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has said the commission will respect the High Court’s rulings regarding 18 writ petitions filed over constituency boundary disputes.

Although EC law states that such disputes are non-justiciable, Ahmed acknowledged citizens’ right to file writs as part of their fundamental rights. “We trust the court and will wait for its directives,” he added.

The secretary also discussed plans for expatriate voters, who will receive ballots by post without candidate names, only election symbols. Ballots must then be mailed back via the nearest post office. Similar provisions will apply to professionals unable to vote in person due to duty.

He further noted that citizens turning 18 by October 31 will be added to the voter list, and a European Union delegation will visit Bangladesh on September 22 to discuss election matters.

Explosive revelations have emerged linking Ilias Kanchan’s Janata Party to financial backing from a foreign intelligence agent.

Case investigator Akter Morshed disclosed that Enayet Karim Chowdhury, who arrived in Bangladesh under the guise of an intelligence operative, aimed to dismantle the current government and establish a national or caretaker administration. Enayet reportedly provided BDT 350,000 monthly to fund Janata Party, with the rest arranged by Kanchan himself.

Morshed further revealed that Enayet held secret meetings with senior officials, influential political leaders, and business figures. Enayet’s paid associate, Ghulam Mostafa Azad—who claimed to be linked with the CIA—has also been arrested and remanded. Interrogations revealed ties with at least two DIGs, along with a massive BDT 150 crore deal to shield a powerful secretary from an ACC case.

Chief Adviser will travel to New York on September 22 to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This year, four prominent political leaders have been invited to join his delegation.

They are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Tarique Rahman’s international affairs advisor Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, and NCP’s member-secretary Akhtar Hossain.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam emphasized that the inclusion of opposition leaders underlines the significance of this year’s UN session. He also highlighted that the interim government has already approved reforms to two key election laws, with 24 out of 77 major reforms fully implemented and 14 partially enforced.

Nasimul Gani, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has embarked on a six-day official visit to Pakistan. He left Dhaka for Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon.

The visit, scheduled to continue until September 26, is aimed at signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. Discussions will focus on easing visa processes for diplomatic and official passport holders, facilitating government visits, and enhancing cultural and educational exchanges.

He is accompanied by Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Secretary of Police-1 at the Home Ministry, Additional IGP Md. Rezaul Karim, and DIG Md. Jannatul Hasan.

To facilitate travel for students appearing in the 47th BCS examinations tomorrow, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University has arranged a special bus service.

On Friday, buses will depart from the university campus starting at 7:30 AM for Mymensingh city. After the exams, students will be brought back to campus. Transport administrator Prof. Dr. Ahmed Shakil Hasmi said the buses will head towards Mymensingh Town Hall exam center and stop at designated points along the way for students to board.

As the exam day coincides with Friday prayers, buses will halt near mosques for students to offer prayers before resuming their journey. The initiative has been warmly welcomed by students.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of civil society group SUJAN, stressed that corruption must be eliminated from politics and elections if Bangladesh’s democratic process is to be restored.

He noted that despite adequate legal frameworks, corruption tainted the past three elections. “If corruption persists in the coming election, democracy cannot be strengthened,” he warned, adding that unethical practices in politics threaten state stability.

In a high-profile crimes against humanity case, political leader Nahid Islam appeared for a second day of testimony against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others.

Nahid, the final witness for the prosecution, earlier described alleged repression of students during the July uprising. On Thursday, he continued detailing events before the tribunal, which had heard his hour-and-a-half-long testimony the previous day.

Meanwhile, the tribunal is set to deliver a ruling today on whether charges will be framed against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and four others in a separate murder case.

Police detained Kabir Hossain Patwari, the recently suspended Divisional Forest Officer of Barishal, on Wednesday night amid allegations of contracting 17 marriages.

Authorities say Kabir attempted to leave Barishal under cover of darkness but was intercepted by locals, including contractors, who accused him of borrowing large sums of money without repayment. A scuffle broke out at the scene before police intervened and took him into custody.

Police stated the move was made to prevent unrest and that the complaints against Kabir will be investigated further.

A special drive by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in Banani led to the seizure of 15 kilograms of shisha from two popular lounges on Wednesday evening.

The raid, which began around 7:30 PM, simultaneously targeted Al Gecino and Habana Shisha Bar. Officials recovered 10.5 kg of shisha, 10 packs of coal, and various smoking paraphernalia from Al Gecino, while 4.5 kg of shisha was seized from Habana.

Two individuals—Miraz and Rizvi—were detained from Habana during the operation, according to DNC sources.

A deadly shooting in Pennsylvania’s York County left three police officers dead and two others critically injured on Wednesday. The gunman was also killed in return fire from law enforcement.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time near a school in the small town of Spring Grove, about 100 miles east of Philadelphia. Authorities said the assailant opened fire indiscriminately at police officers, killing three on the spot.

Police quickly returned fire, neutralizing the attacker. The injured were airlifted to a hospital by helicopter.

Pennsylvania’s governor assured residents that the town of 2,500 people faces no immediate threat, while investigations into the motive and details of the attack are ongoing.

A total of 176 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya’s Tajoura Detention Center with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

They are expected to arrive at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 18 via Buraq Airlines.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, along with embassy officials, bid them farewell at the Libyan Immigration Department’s reception center. He urged migrants to avoid illegal migration routes, warning that such attempts lead not only to financial and physical harm but also cause suffering for families and society at large.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a defense pact under which an attack on either country will be considered an act of aggression against both.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A joint statement described the pact as a reflection of both nations’ shared commitment to enhancing security and promoting peace in the region and beyond.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the two leaders also discussed strengthening strategic cooperation across various sectors, as well as regional and international developments.

Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul has said that his efforts in reforming Bangladesh’s legal and judicial systems will leave a lasting legacy.

“If future governments continue these reforms, ordinary citizens will finally receive true justice,” he said, adding that many of the benefits will unfold gradually over time.

He highlighted a new ordinance that makes mediation mandatory before filing cases on family disputes, parental support, house rent, preemption, partition, and dowry matters. Under the law, parties must first attempt mediation; only if that fails can they proceed to court.

Nazrul stressed that this system will reduce costs, save time, ease case backlogs, and resolve disputes more efficiently. “I am not a footballer or stage actor whose results are instantly visible,” he remarked. “But I am doing work that will be recognized by history.”