Jamaat leader Masud Saeedi has said every citizen in Bangladesh, regardless of religion or ethnicity, deserves equal rights and full freedom to practice their faith.

He criticized political groups for what he described as a decade-long attempt to mislead people through rhetoric, adding:

“Those who incite communal violence in the name of religion are the real minorities. We want a Bangladesh where Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians live in peace, free of divisions.”

Saeedi also decried poor infrastructure and collapsing schools despite five decades of independence, arguing that people are looking to Jamaat for leadership to build a prosperous, just, and peaceful nation.

NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah has vowed to end politics driven by muscle power, saying,

“The days of ‘10 motorbikes, 20 thugs’ deciding leadership are over. True leadership must come from qualities, not hooliganism.”

Speaking to supporters, he stressed that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stands firmly for justice and truth.

“If you stand for justice, you are with the NCP. There is no room in our party for injustice.”

He called on people across villages and unions to unite against “evil forces,” warning that local political patronage often turns activists into criminals. A united stand, he said, would strip offenders of courage.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has dismissed fears of election delays, saying,

“Some political parties are trying to postpone the polls. But I believe elections will be held on schedule. We are not anxious.”

His comments came in Thakurgaon, where the city has taken on a festive look ahead of the BNP’s long-awaited district council after eight years. The conference, set for Monday at Thakurgaon District School ground near Fakhrul’s ancestral home, will elect new leadership and revitalize party activities.

Party sources confirmed that there was no contest for the president’s post, with Fakhrul’s younger brother, former mayor Mirza Faisal Amin, being formally chosen as district president.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman met with Palestinian Ambassador Yusuf Saleh Y. Ramadan for a courtesy call and exchange of views.

During the meeting, the envoy prayed for the Jamaat leader’s recovery. In response, Dr. Rahman condemned ongoing Israeli aggression, claiming:

“In more than two years of relentless bombardment, nearly 65,000 Palestinians — including women and children — have been martyred, with around 170,000 seriously injured. Entire families, such as 2,700 in Gaza, have been wiped out.”

He urged the UN, OIC, and global peace-loving nations to compel Israel to halt what he described as a plan to seize Gaza and forcibly displace nearly one million Palestinians.

Ambassador Ramadan expressed gratitude, saying he was honored to meet Dr. Rahman and deeply appreciated the solidarity of the Bangladeshi people.

Shabana Mahmood, a British-born politician of Pakistani heritage, has made history by becoming the UK’s first Muslim woman to serve as Home Secretary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed her after a cabinet reshuffle following Deputy PM Angela Rayner’s resignation. Mahmood, previously Justice Secretary, pledged to prioritize citizens’ safety. Born in Birmingham in 1980, she studied law at Oxford and worked as a barrister before entering politics. Elected MP for Birmingham Ladywood in 2024, she has been rising steadily within Labour ranks.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a message of congratulations to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the DPRK’s founding anniversary. Reported by KCNA, the message conveyed warm greetings, expressed hope for stronger Iran–North Korea relations, and wished Kim good health and success. Pezeshkian also extended best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the North Korean people, underscoring Tehran’s intention to strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual goodwill and cooperation in the future.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a Japanese consortium have started final negotiations on operating the newly built third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The three-day talks, held with advisors including the IFC, aim to resolve unresolved issues, mainly revenue sharing. Built with JICA funding, the terminal is ready for operation, increasing passenger capacity from 8 million to 24 million. Delays in finalizing an operator may raise costs, but the government is prepared to consider alternative international operators.

Bidhyan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has said reducing weekly school holidays from two days to one is difficult due to the need for coordination across all educational institutions. Speaking at an International Literacy Day 2025 press conference, he emphasized that effective learning depends on contract hours and the number of days schools remain open. The government is exploring slight reductions in holidays and considering teachers’ demands for a ‘non-vacation department.’

The United States is exploring the creation of a large demilitarized buffer zone within Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached. Discussions involve deploying troops from non-NATO countries like Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to secure the area, while the U.S. would lead monitoring using drones, satellites, and intelligence tools. No American troops would be stationed inside Ukraine. The plan avoids NATO symbols to stay acceptable to Russia. Negotiations remain ongoing amid continued conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisers are quietly preparing to attend the APEC Trade Ministers’ meeting in South Korea this October. On the sidelines, a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place. The trip will focus on economic cooperation, investment, trade, defense, and nuclear discussions. It may also open the door for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Previous tariffs between the U.S. and China are temporarily suspended until November due to ongoing negotiations.

Russia launched a cruise missile attack on Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv early Sunday, marking the first time the building has been hit since Moscow’s 2022 military invasion. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the damage to the roof and upper floors. The Ukrainian Air Force reported over 800 drones and missiles were deployed overnight, hitting 37 locations while 8 intercepted missiles and drones fell elsewhere. The attack continues to spread fear among civilians.

The Democratic Left Alliance has called for the resignation of Dr. Yunus’ government, citing failures in governance and policies against public interest. Leaders criticized handing key projects to foreign leaseholders and using law enforcement to undermine national unity and disrupt the electoral environment. Referring to unprecedented events on 5 September 2025, they questioned who truly governs the country. The alliance urged all non-communal, progressive, and democratic parties to unite on the streets and announced a sit-in in front of the National Press Club on 13 September.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to meet in Moscow, citing ongoing missile strikes and shelling in his country. Instead, he has invited Putin to Kyiv. The Kremlin insists Zelensky was invited for “talks, not surrender.” Recent days have seen intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, including over 1,300 drones, 900 guided bombs, and around 50 missile strikes across 14 regions. Zelensky emphasizes Kyiv as the only safe venue for discussions.

Thousands protested in Washington, D.C., against President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops, demanding their withdrawal. The “We Are All DC” rally included undocumented immigrants and Palestinian statehood supporters, with slogans calling for Trump’s removal and resistance to authoritarianism. Despite Trump citing crime concerns, violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low. Over 2,000 troops from six Republican states patrol the streets, with the National Guard’s mandate extended until November 30. D.C. has filed a lawsuit calling the deployment unnecessary and illegal.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will return to Bangladesh soon. “Once he returns, half of our election campaign will already be accomplished,” he remarked.

Addressing supporters, Salahuddin emphasized that the upcoming election would pave the way for restoring a political and parliamentary government that reflects the nation’s aspirations. He hinted that the polls might take place in February 2026, possibly just before Ramadan.

He described Tarique Rahman’s homecoming as an “unforgettable historic event” and urged political rivals not to spread confusion during the election season. “The nation is already in full election mode, and Tarique Rahman’s return will be a turning point,” he added.