Students and stakeholders at Jahangirnagar University have expressed concerns about security in the upcoming Central Student Union (JAKSU) election. They warn that holding votes in residential halls could increase muscle power influence and disorder, especially with unresolved issues of expired-term students and political activity bans in halls. As an alternative, many suggest using faculty or academic buildings as polling centers to ensure a safer, more democratic election environment, reduce manipulation, and improve voter communication.

A delegation led by Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice-Chair of the National Unity Commission, met with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson at the ambassador’s residence in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting, also attended by U.S. Embassy Political Counselor Eric Gillan and several commission members including Monir Haider, special assistant to the Chief Advisor, focused on political inclusivity and national unity.

Earlier, Tracy Ann Jacobson had also held discussions with the National Coordination Party (NCP).

Keya Cosmetics Limited alleges that four local banks failed to deposit $66 million of its export earnings into their foreign currency accounts over 20 years. Despite exporting goods worth over $150 million, the company faces financial crisis as banks classify it a defaulter, demanding ₹2,700 crore in dues. Keya has requested investigation from Bangladesh Bank, BSEC, and the Ministry of Finance, warning of job losses for 15,000 workers and significant shareholder losses.

Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin confirmed that a letter has been sent to India’s Commerce Minister to initiate talks on various trade matters but noted no response has been received yet from Delhi.

He revealed government plans to import onions to stabilize the market and open up imports further. The interim government is preparing to sign free trade agreements with Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. Discussions are ongoing with the U.S. to further reduce tariffs. Bashiruddin assured that deteriorating law and order has not affected trade and commerce activities.

Air pollution continues to rise worldwide, with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, recording the worst air quality on Tuesday morning with an AQI score of 229. Jerusalem, Jakarta, Kampala, and Kinshasa followed in the top five. Dhaka, long plagued by pollution, showed improvement, ranking 71st with a “moderate” AQI score of 53, according to IQAir data. AQI scores between 0–50 are considered good, while 201–300 is very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous, posing serious health risks to residents.

Rajshahi University is set to hold its Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) elections on September 15, the first in 35 years. Political, cultural, and social groups are forming panels, with 6–7 expected to contest. Former anti-discrimination leaders, Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, leftists, journalists, and independents are in the mix. Chhatra Dal demands a delay, citing fairness concerns. The Election Commission insists the date is fixed and preparations are underway. Key deadlines for voter lists, nominations, and campaigning are set ahead of the polls.

Advisor Asif Mahmud, in his testimony to the tribunal’s investigative agency, revealed ongoing communications with Muhammad Yunus’ coordinators since Prime Minister Hasina’s departure from the country, including meetings with Tarique Rahman. He detailed how, amid the turbulent times, they courageously stood as shields before armed Awami League and Chhatra League members, eventually taking on coordination roles in the movement.

Mahmud accused the Awami League of militarizing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for their own interests and holding them responsible for extrajudicial killings. He recounted attempting to change his position on July 19 out of fear of enforced disappearance but was apprehended by DGFI after phone tracking. Following the Awami League’s downfall, he discovered he had been held in a similarly confined room during a prison visit. He condemned the brutal repression and killings of ordinary students by the Awami League, Hasina’s government, and law enforcement agencies, demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued a public notice prohibiting all forms of meetings, assemblies, sit-ins, strikes, and processions in and around the official residence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

According to the notice, effective from Wednesday until further instructions, all gatherings including meetings, rallies, human chains, and demonstrations are banned near the Chief Justice’s government residence, judges’ quarters, the Judges Complex, the Supreme Court main gate, Mazar gate, Jame Masjid gate, entrances to International Crime Tribunals 1 and 2, and the front of the Judicial Administration Training Institute. The move, citing public order maintenance under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, also appeals to the public to avoid obstructing road traffic through unlawful road blockades under the guise of protests or demands.

After seven days of water release, all 16 sluice gates of the Kaptai Dam have been closed to regulate water levels in Kaptai Lake.
Authorities shut the gates at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The gates had been partially opened on August 5 due to rising water, initially by 6 inches and later up to 3.5 feet.
At peak release on August 7 evening, a record 68,000 cusecs of water flowed into the Karnaphuli River.
Officials say water pressure has now eased, though electricity production continues, with five units generating 215–220 megawatts daily, consuming about 32,000 cusecs of water per second.

Bangladesh has imported and deployed over 160 types of surveillance and spyware technologies between 2015 and 2025, costing nearly USD 190 million, according to a report by the Technoglobal Institute.
Many of these purchases were made secretly, often through third countries, under the justification of counter-terrorism.
The National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre accounted for 58% of the spending—about USD 100 million—while RAB, police, DGFI, and BGD e-Gov CIRT acquired systems capable of social media monitoring, mobile and Wi-Fi interception, signal jamming, and data theft.
Suppliers included companies from France, Germany, the US, the UK, Canada, and Israel, despite Bangladesh having no formal ties with Israel.
The report notes that although the official rationale was counter-terrorism, the technologies were also used to surveil political opponents, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens, especially during elections and mass protests.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna has applied to represent Sheikh Hasina in the International Crimes Tribunal in connection with the July war crimes case. However, the tribunal declined his request.
On June 25, the tribunal had already appointed former Special Public Prosecutor Amir Hossain as state counsel for Sheikh Hasina, and he has been representing her in hearings for several days.
The tribunal stated that no new applications could be accepted at this stage, adding metaphorically, “Once the train leaves, you can’t ask the station master to put you on board.”

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar has expressed optimism that all political parties will sign the July Charter for state reform.
He stated that the Consensus Commission, after discussions with 30 political parties, has reached agreements on 81 points. “The people want reforms, and this time it must happen,” he said.
Proposals from Sujan include replacing the Prime Minister’s sole authority with a cabinet-based government system, amending Article 70 of the Constitution, and appointing a Deputy Speaker from the opposition in the upper house of Parliament.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast the formation of a low-pressure system over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas within the next 48 hours.
In addition, light to heavy rainfall is expected across all eight divisions.
According to the forecast issued Tuesday morning for the next 24 hours, many areas in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions may experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds. Some parts of Rajshahi and Chattogram divisions, along with isolated areas of Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal, may also see similar weather.
Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely in some locations of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. Temperatures are expected to remain almost unchanged nationwide, with a slight drop anticipated tomorrow. Rainfall activity is expected to continue for at least the next five days.

Putrajaya – Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus attended a lunch hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at his official residence on Tuesday, the second day of his visit to Malaysia. Ministers from Anwar’s cabinet and members of Yunus’s delegation joined the event, which included a cultural performance by local artists. Yunus was greeted by schoolchildren upon arrival.

Dhaka – The International Crimes Tribunal is hearing the second day of witness testimony in a case against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven other officers, accused of crimes against humanity during the uprising in which six people, including student Anas, were killed in Chankharpul.
Yesterday, Anas’s father testified. Today’s proceedings include testimony from suspended Shahbagh police inspector Arshad and three constables. In separate hearings, former State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku and retired army officer Ziaul Ahsan appeared in connection with the 2013 Hefazat rally killings, while five others faced trial over the Savar killing of Yamin.