Chief Returning Officer Mohammad Jasim Uddin clarified that the DUCSU election commission had considered seeking assistance from security agencies, including the army, for candidate protection. However, he stressed:
"The plan remains, but we don’t need to contact the army directly. If needed, we will inform the university administration, who will coordinate with law enforcement."

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that the government has issued no directive for army deployment in student union polls, nor is such involvement expected.

Earlier, Returning Officer Prof. Golam Rabbani had announced a three-layered security plan for election day, with army presence considered at seven checkpoints.

Mokbul Hossain, father of martyr Abu Sayeed, gave an emotional testimony at Tribunal-2 during a war crimes trial related to his son’s killing.

"I had hoped to live to see my son get a job. That did not happen. Now I only wish to live long enough to see justice for his murder," said Mokbul, breaking down before the court.

Alongside him, journalist AKM Moinul Haque of NTV Rangpur and cameraman Asaduzzaman Arman also testified. On Wednesday, prosecutors opened the case, stressing that the trial was not just about punishment but about establishing justice and strengthening the nation’s foundation for the future.

Engineering students protesting under the “Engineering Rights Movement” blocked traffic at Matsya Bhaban intersection for an hour Thursday afternoon, burning an effigy of DC Masud Alam.
The march began from BUET and passed Shaheed Minar, TSC, Press Club, and the High Court before reaching Matsya Bhaban, where police halted the procession. Students staged a sit-in, halting traffic across the area, though they allowed ambulances to pass.
Later, they moved near IEB, causing further disruptions. Student leader Tasrif demanded: “The Home Affairs Adviser must apologize, DC Masud must be dismissed, and our three-point demands must be implemented immediately.”

For the first time, prisoners will be able to exercise their voting rights during the upcoming national election, Election Commission Secretary Akhter Ahmed announced.
Under the newly declared roadmap, ballot papers will be delivered to prisons two weeks before election day. The roadmap outlines 24 key initiatives in 207 steps, including electoral law reforms, finalizing constituency boundaries, and ensuring voting rights for expatriates and inmates.
Expatriate Bangladeshis will also vote through postal ballots, with registration closing on November 30. Their ballot papers will be sent abroad by January 5 and returned a week before the polls.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against former minister Latif Siddiqui and 14 others, who were detained from the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises.

DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed that the case is being processed at Shahbagh Police Station, with police as complainant. Asked whether the detainees belonged to the Awami League, he said:
"We are not looking at political affiliations. We found evidence of sabotage plans on their mobile devices, which is why legal action is being taken."

The arrests followed a chaotic incident Thursday afternoon when a group identifying themselves as “July Warriors” stormed into a DRU roundtable discussion. Around 12:15 p.m., they handed over 15 individuals, including Siddiqui, to police.

Explosive witness testimonies in three Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases allege that Sheikh Rehana, her daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti falsely identified themselves as “homeless, helpless, and poor” to secure residential plots from RAJUK despite owning multiple properties.
One witness claimed Sheikh Rehana herself sought allocations under this pretense for herself and her children. ACC prosecutor Khan Md. Moinul Hasan said the next hearing is set for September 4.
On July 31, charges were formally framed in three cases implicating Rehana, Tulip, Sheikh Hasina, and other family members — with 17 to 18 accused in each case.

The Ministry of Public Administration has revised the holiday for Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) to September 6 (Saturday) instead of the previously announced September 5.
A government circular issued Thursday confirmed the adjustment after the lunar month of Rabiul Awwal was officially counted from August 26. On this day, all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private offices will remain closed.

Engineering students have declared divisional-level “Engineer Assemblies” and a “National Engineer Assembly” to press their three-point demand. They also announced a complete shutdown across all campuses.
In a press briefing, student leaders criticized the advisory council for failing to present concrete decisions. They expressed dissatisfaction with the committee’s composition and denounced attempts to frame protesting students as “troublemakers,” despite police baton charges and attacks against them.
They also condemned the lack of accountability, noting that no investigation committee has been formed and no police personnel punished despite the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner’s apology.

China is preparing for its grand Victory Day Parade on September 3, commemorating 80 years since Japan’s WWII surrender. This year, President Xi Jinping will share the stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un—marking Kim’s first appearance at an international forum alongside world leaders.
Leaders from 26 nations are expected to attend. The event will feature a 10,000-strong military parade showcasing China’s latest weaponry. While invitations have been extended broadly, South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung has confirmed he will not attend. However, leaders from Iran, Indonesia, Belarus, and Pakistan are expected to join.

The Advisory Council has given in-principle approval to the draft “Prevention, Remedies, and Protection Against Enforced Disappearances Ordinance, 2025.”
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the ordinance—developed with input from BLAST, Human Rights Watch, and other rights groups—defines enforced disappearance as a continuing crime and includes provisions for the death penalty. Establishing or using secret detention centers will be criminalized.
The draft also empowers the National Human Rights Commission to investigate complaints, mandates trial within 120 days of charge framing, and ensures victim protection, compensation, and legal aid. Additionally, the council approved the proposal to mark October 17 each year as a national observance of the mystic bard Lalon Shah’s death anniversary.

Government advisor Faozul Kabir Khan assured that disputes between BSc and diploma engineers would be resolved with neutrality. He emphasized that the government had already taken the demands seriously, making further protests unnecessary.
“A 14-member working group has been formed, including representatives from government and educational institutions, to bridge gaps between conflicting demands,” he said. The committee will hold meetings with protestors, engineers’ representatives, guardians, and relevant ministries to seek a balanced resolution.

A scheduled meeting between Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin and U.S. Acting Ambassador Tracy Ann Jacobson was canceled on Thursday following a student blockade near Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Agargaon. The meeting was set for 2 p.m. at the Election Commission office. However, around 11:30 a.m., students under the banner of "Krishibid Oikya Parishad" launched a blockade program, halting traffic in the area. The disruption prompted the cancellation of the meeting.

Political analyst Badiul Alam Majumdar has called for a balanced electoral framework combining both proportional representation (PR) and constituency-based systems, stressing that each has its strengths and weaknesses.

He explained that while constituency-based elections ensure direct accountability between voters and their MPs, PR in the upper house would allow fairer distribution of seats based on vote share.

Majumdar cited the 2001 and 2008 elections as examples where disparities between vote shares and seat distribution produced skewed results. “PR in the upper house could correct these imbalances, while the constituency system ensures stability in governance,” he said.

He urged political parties to consider national interests above partisan gains when debating electoral reforms.

The Election Commission has unveiled a comprehensive 24-phase roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presented the plan, highlighting key milestones including the publication of three separate voter lists, with the final version to be released in November.

Each polling booth will accommodate around 600 male and 500 female voters, according to the plan. The commission aims to conclude law-and-order preparations at least 15 days before the election schedule is announced, which is expected 60 days prior to polling.

Ahmed also confirmed that constituency boundary hearings are being reviewed, with final decisions due by September 15 and official maps by September 30.

On the issue of surveillance, he noted that decisions on CCTV and body cameras rest with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Addressing challenges, he acknowledged disinformation and AI manipulation as growing threats, while stressing that the Commission’s priority is to ensure a secure environment where citizens can cast their votes with confidence.

The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections. According to the plan, the official gazette on the demarcation of 300 constituencies will be published on September 15, followed by the release of the geographical maps on September 30.

September 14 is set as the deadline for the preliminary registration of new political parties, while the final notification will be issued on September 30. The Representation of the People Order (RPO) will be reviewed and forwarded to the Ministry of Law by August 31 for vetting.

The EC also aims to finalize the voter list by November 30 and ensure that ballots reach prison inmates two weeks prior to polling—granting prisoners voting rights for the first time. Dialogues with civil society, media, and stakeholders are scheduled to begin by late September.