BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami demanded 30 parliamentary seats from BNP, but the party showed little enthusiasm for the proposal. Speaking to India’s Ei Samay, Fakhrul said, “We proposed a much smaller number, which Jamaat did not accept. In reality, Jamaat is not as powerful as it is often portrayed. We have given them undue importance in the past.”

Fakhrul stressed that Jamaat is preparing for elections independently, already announcing candidates in various constituencies. He noted that people across the country are strongly demanding elections. “The army wants it, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus wants it, and the polls will be held in February without doubt,” he said.

On the role of student protests, Fakhrul remarked, “It was the students who ignited the flame against Sheikh Hasina. But now NCP has nothing left. They never demanded seats from us—only Jamaat did. The NCP’s sole agenda now is to prevent BNP from forming a government.”

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the party has not given the green signal or nomination to any candidate for the upcoming national elections.

He explained that nominations will be given strictly according to the party’s constitution. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has urged aspirants to be “people-friendly,” stressing that those who have been active in party and public service will be prioritized. Rizvi further accused the government of fostering conspiracies as elections approach, alleging attempts to exploit “fallen fascism” for political gain.

Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has clarified that NCP will not be allowed to use the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) as its electoral symbol, as it is not included in the EC’s official list of 115 approved symbols.

He urged the party to propose an alternative symbol from the existing list. Meanwhile, NCP remains adamant, having twice requested the Shapla symbol in its registration applications. The EC will begin dialogues with political parties participating in the national polls from September 28, with schedules adjusted around Puja holidays.

Police in New York have arrested Mizan Chowdhury, the man accused of attacking NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain. He is scheduled to be produced before a court on Wednesday.

Mizan, identified as an Awami League activist from Jakiganj, Sylhet, allegedly threw eggs and hurled abuses at Hossain upon his arrival at the airport with the Chief Adviser’s delegation for the 80th UN General Assembly. The incident has sparked outrage within NCP and beyond.

The Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a protest rally in Dhaka over the attack on its Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and other politicians in New York. The rally will take place at 4 p.m. in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, organized by NCP’s Dhaka South and North units.

The party said the demonstration is aimed at protesting the “attack by Awami terrorists,” criticizing the interim government for failing to ensure security, and demanding justice for the ruling Awami League. NCP has also instructed all its district and upazila branches to organize similar protest marches nationwide.

Humayun Kabir, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s foreign affairs adviser, said the attack on Akhtar Hossain reflected poor coordination among officials.

He noted that both the Bangladesh Embassy and the country’s Permanent Mission to the UN shared responsibility.

“Had we mobilized our party supporters here, the attackers wouldn’t have stood a chance. The Awami League has no footing in this community,” Kabir said.

He emphasized that the BNP joined Yunus’s delegation as the country’s largest political party, highlighting the interim government’s inclusiveness.

A member of Prime Adviser Yunus’s delegation, NCP Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain, was attacked at JFK Airport in New York.

According to NCP Joint Convenor Dr. Tasnim Jara, Hossain was pelted with eggs and subjected to verbal abuse. She said the attack was politically motivated:

“This was not about Akhtar Hossain as an individual. It was because he represents a party that is working relentlessly to dismantle the framework of fascism.”

Footage of the incident has since circulated on social media.

Positive discussions are underway on a potential merger between Gonoadhikar Parishad (GOP) and the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), though attempts to derail the process are ongoing, GOP leader Rashed Khan has revealed.

In a social media post, Rashed wrote that a youth-led political unity could give rise to a new force in Bangladesh’s politics. He urged leaders of both parties to act responsibly, warning that failure to do so would betray the hopes of many supporters.

He emphasized that successful unification requires compromise and mutual understanding. “If we fail this time, people will see all sides as deceivers,” Rashed cautioned.

BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has vowed that if the party wins the next election, it will create a new administrative division named Cumilla.

The announcement came after local political and social leaders held a human chain protest in front of the National Press Club. Mosharraf said, “Cumilla must become a division for administrative necessity, and the people of Cumilla will not accept any other name.”

NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah added that if Cumilla’s leaders unite and press their case before the chief adviser, the division could even be formed under the interim government. He hinted at possible movements to achieve the demand.

A BNP leader in Jashore’s Bagachra has been expelled from the party on allegations of attempting to forcibly seize a petrol pump. The expelled leader, Anwar Hossain alias Anwar Member, was serving as joint general secretary of the Union BNP.

In a statement, the party announced that he was relieved of all positions, including primary membership, due to specific allegations of land grabbing. The BNP emphasized that it does not take responsibility for individual crimes committed by its members, dismissing media attempts to link the party to such actions as politically motivated.

District BNP’s general secretary reiterated, “There is no place for criminals in BNP. He has been expelled for his offense.” However, at a press conference, Anwar Hossain denied the allegations, calling them false.

On the occasion of Durga Puja, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has extended festive gifts to the Hindu community in Faridpur-1 constituency. Cash gifts were distributed among leaders of 382 Durga Puja mandaps across Alfadanga, Madhukhali, and Boalmari upazilas, handed over to each temple committee’s president and general secretary as a token of goodwill.

Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), has declared confidence that his party will secure victory in 150 constituencies in the upcoming polls. Speaking after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, he stressed that NCP will not compromise on its demand for the lotus (Shapla) symbol.

“If denied, we know how to claim what is rightfully ours,” Patwari warned, insisting that the party’s electoral symbol must be either the white or red lotus. He added that NCP will form a separate electoral bloc, distinct from both the BNP and religion-based groups, by uniting smaller parties that have led protests in recent years. “The coming election will be a referendum against corruption and extortion, and it will not feature Awami League or Jatiya Party as contenders,” he said.

GOP leader Abu Hanif has said that most leaders of the National Committee Party (NCP) are disciples of Nurul Haque Nur, chairman of the Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP). Given political experience and the current reality, he believes that if the two parties unite, Nur should naturally lead the alliance.

Hanif emphasized GOP’s “clean image,” saying:
“In the past year since the mass uprising, not a single allegation of extortion or land grabbing has been raised against our leaders. This is why our party, representing the youth, is seen as the most promising force today. GOP activists will not defect to other parties. Born out of street movements against fascism, GOP emerged from the quota reform movement in 2018 and officially launched in 2021. Before that, our youth wings under the banners of student, youth, and workers’ rights councils protested against corruption and fought for democratic rights.”

Hanif added that the political ideology of NCP leaders closely aligns with GOP’s principles. Discussions are ongoing about unity, but he clarified:
“Unity does not mean dissolving one party to merge with another—it means building strength together while maintaining identity.”

Jamaat leader Abdul Halim has declared that national elections must take place in February, but warned that without granting legal recognition to the historic July Accord, any election will be rejected by the people.

Speaking at a political gathering, Halim said:
“Election results cannot be selectively accepted. Even in festive and inclusive elections like those at Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), where students from all backgrounds cast their votes, some parties refused to accept the outcome. The July Accord is not the demand of one party alone—it is the demand of BNP, Jamaat, NCP, and most importantly, of students, farmers, and workers who sacrificed their lives. Their blood must be given legal recognition, and elections must be held on this foundation.”

Halim reminded that in 1991, BNP came to power through elections under a caretaker government after 173 days of strikes, which later led to the system’s constitutional inclusion. “Awami League too came to power through caretaker-led elections in 2008 but buried the system in 2011,” he added.

He warned: “If you think you can hold elections without the legal basis of the July Accord, the people of this country will not accept it. Yes, elections must be held in February, but not without the Accord’s legal recognition.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he has “pleasant memories” of former U.S. President Donald Trump and is ready for dialogue if Washington abandons its demand for nuclear disarmament. Kim previously met Trump three times during his first term, but talks broke down in 2019 over North Korea’s nuclear concessions. The Korean leader emphasized that peaceful coexistence is possible if the U.S. acknowledges reality. His comments come as Seoul’s new government urges renewed engagement with Trump.