UGC Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz praised China’s role in advancing Bangladesh’s education sector, highlighting Beijing’s “tireless support” as a driver of modernization and quality improvement. Speaking at a reception for Bangladeshi students awarded Chinese government scholarships, he said the partnership is built on “trust, mutual respect, and cooperation.” He noted that Chinese assistance has not only transformed education but also contributed significantly to economic growth, infrastructure, and human resource development. Looking ahead, he emphasized expanding collaboration in research, technology, and culture. At the event, swimmer Najmul Haque Himel—who recently crossed the English Channel—was also honored.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam issued a stern warning in a recent statement, saying those who obstruct the implementation of the July Charter will be exposed before the public. He declared that no advisor or politician will be spared if they attempt to derail fundamental reforms. “Be warned—nothing will remain hidden. Sheikh Hasina barely escaped with her life; you won’t be able to. The people are not that forgiving,” he wrote. In a provocative remark, he added that “all power will be forced through the fleshy middle of the skeletal structure’s rear.”

BNP Chairperson’s advisor, Advocate Fazlur Rahman, has been granted an additional 24 hours to respond to a show-cause notice issued against him. The notice, served on Sunday, followed his controversial remarks regarding the July uprising and other sensitive issues. Initially, he was given 24 hours to reply, but he formally requested seven days. Party sources confirmed he has now been asked to submit his explanation within 48 hours from Sunday, rejecting his request for a longer extension.

Dhaka University Vice-President candidate Umama Fatema has apologized for violating dormitory rules by entering Rokeya Hall late at night, an incident that sparked controversy among students.

In a statement, Umama clarified that she had already met the hall provost and submitted an application. “Since I entered the hall in violation of rules, I apologized to the authorities,” she said.

She denied allegations of conducting political campaigning inside the hall, explaining that she had only visited a friend for “mental relief” before the gates closed at 10 PM. Claims that she entered at 1:30 AM were “baseless and intentional,” she asserted.

Umama accused rivals of harassment because she is running as an independent candidate. “Visiting friends across halls is a common practice, not a criminal offense,” she argued, adding that if elected, she would ensure students could move freely between halls without stigma.

Political activist Hasnat Abdullah has strongly denounced the culture of slut-shaming women based on their bodies, relationships, clothing, or personal lives, regardless of their political affiliation.

“This is not politics—it is the ugliest form of patriarchal hatred,” he wrote, warning that such attacks often come from individuals who outwardly champion women’s rights but vilify women who disagree with their views.

He cited examples of women politicians including Rumeen Farhana, Tasnim Jara, Samanta Sharmin, Umama Fatema, Taznuva Jabin, and Mansura Alam, noting that none have been spared.

Hasnat emphasized that normalizing such attacks weakens women’s participation in politics. “Opposing this hatred is not optional—it is an urgent political struggle,” he declared, vowing to continue the fight.

Awami League leader A K M Bahauddin Bahar and his daughter, former mayor Tahsin Bahar Suchona, were released by Kolkata police after spending a night in custody.

They had been detained on Saturday night by Rajarhat police but were later freed reportedly with assistance from Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Sheikh Hasina.

Bahar, a former MP from Cumilla-6, and his daughter are controversial figures in India, accused of persecuting Hindus in Bangladesh and voicing strong criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many in West Bengal’s BJP and local communities harbor resentment towards them, raising fears of mob retaliation. Bahar was also blamed by some for the violence during Durga Puja in Cumilla in 2021.

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) in six districts: Patuakhali, Kushtia, Kurigram, Meherpur, Netrokona, and Khulna.

According to the notification, Dr. Md. Shahid Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has been posted to Patuakhali. The current Patuakhali DC, Abu Hasnat Md. Arifin, has been transferred to Kushtia.

Other reshuffles include:

Meherpur DC Sifat Mehnaz → Kurigram DC

Home Ministry Deputy Secretary Dr. Md. Abdul Salam → Meherpur DC

Land Records Zonal Settlement Officer Md. Abdullah Al Mahmud Zaman → Netrokona DC

Kushtia DC Md. Toufiqul Rahman → Khulna DC

A group of demonstrators associated with the “July Movement” staged a sit-in outside BNP leader Fazlur Rahman’s Segunbagicha residence on Monday, demanding his arrest. Protesters, who also performed midday prayers at the site, rallied under the banner of “Revolutionary Student People” along with leaders from several other organizations, including the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council. Police remained on alert at the scene. The controversy stems from Rahman’s recent remarks on the July uprising, which prompted the BNP to issue him a show-cause notice.

BNP leader and freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman alleged that a mob gathered outside his Segunbagicha residence, chanting slogans to kill him. He claimed that orders for his assassination were issued from abroad and accused Jamaat-e-Islami activists of orchestrating the threats. “As a freedom fighter and lawyer, I have the right to live with dignity in this country. Death does not frighten me, but I do not deserve a dishonorable end,” he said emotionally. Rahman urged people to listen to his full speech before passing judgment on his remarks regarding the July uprising. He added that if he had committed any mistake, he was willing to apologize and respond formally to his party’s show-cause notice.

BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan said Bangladeshis are eagerly waiting to cast their votes in February’s national election, with the Election Commission already announcing a tentative date. Speaking after paying respects at the grave of former president Ziaur Rahman, Moyeen Khan emphasized that only a free and fair election can restore democracy in Bangladesh, giving citizens the right to elect 300 representatives of their choice. He also criticized the Awami League, claiming it had failed to play its role during the Liberation War, while asserting that Ziaur Rahman was the one who declared independence.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus urged the international community to step up efforts to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, presenting a seven-point proposal for their safe and dignified repatriation. Speaking at the International Rohingya Conference in Cox’s Bazar, he recalled Bangladesh’s decision to open its borders on humanitarian grounds despite major challenges, saying it was a moral duty to stop armed forces from carrying out genocidal campaigns. Yunus stressed that Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army must ensure no further Rohingya influx into Bangladesh. “The crisis originated in Myanmar, and the solution lies in Myanmar,” he said. On the national front, he noted that Bangladesh is now stable and fully prepared for elections, scheduled for early February.

Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay drew a massive crowd of nearly 400,000 at a rally in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on Friday, declaring the BJP his party’s “ideological enemy.”

Invoking a jungle metaphor, Vijay said: “In the wild, there may be foxes and leopards, but there is only one lion. Even if the lion stands alone, it remains a lion. Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam fears no one. All of Tamil Nadu is with us.”

Vijay’s party, which grew out of his fan club, won 115 of 169 seats it contested in the 2021 local elections. In 2024, he formally launched the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, positioning himself against the BJP and DMK. From protesting fuel price hikes on a bicycle to joining Iftar meals during Ramadan, Vijay has actively courted the masses. Analysts believe he could pose a serious challenge to the DMK in the 2026 state elections.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Shahidul Islam Babul, general secretary of the BNP’s farmers’ wing, in a 2017 case filed by Paltan police for obstructing government duties and unlawful assembly.

Babul had surrendered to the court on August 18 seeking bail pending appeal, but his plea was initially rejected, and he was sent to jail.

In November 2023, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison with hard labor and fined Tk 2,000, with an additional week in jail in case of default. He also received a separate one-year prison term under another charge.

Local BNP activists expressed anger at his earlier imprisonment, but his release on bail has eased tensions.

Revolutionary Student Masses staged a protest outside BNP leader Fazlur Rahman’s residence in Segunbagicha on Sunday, demanding his arrest and punishment for labeling participants of the July uprising as “dark forces.”

Protesters accused Rahman of attempting to “revive fascism” in the country. “Students gave their lives to free Bangladesh from fascism. We will not allow another fascist to emerge here,” they declared.

They also warned that political activities would be denied to those who refuse to acknowledge the 2024 uprising, just as earlier regimes tried to undermine the struggles of 1952 and 1971.

Protesters vowed to continue their demonstration outside Rahman’s home until he is arrested and jailed.

The BNP has formally lodged a complaint against the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal, accusing it of failing to act on the party’s allegations.

On Sunday, BNP leader Salah Uddin Khan, coordinator for enforced disappearances, killings, and data preservation, submitted the written complaint to the tribunal’s chief prosecutor.

The letter claims that despite numerous complaints about enforced disappearances and killings of BNP leaders and activists over the past decade and a half under the Awami League government, no charge sheets have been filed and no suspects arrested.

The BNP alleges that 2,276 of its members were killed in staged “gunfights” and that 526 of the 848 people killed during July’s mass uprising were BNP activists and supporters. Nine formal cases have been filed so far, the party said.