Abidul Islam Khan, a defeated VP candidate in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, has accused the university administration and the Election Commission of deliberately delaying investigations into election irregularities.

After meeting the Vice Chancellor, Abidul said he demanded updates on the probe but received little clarity.

“We submitted written complaints, including evidence of ballot papers found in the basement of Gausul Azam Super Market. Yet, the commission refuses to take them into account,” he said.

Abidul, along with Umaama Fatema and Abdul Kader, raised further concerns over irregularities in polling at SM Hall and Zahurul Haq Hall. Fatema noted that the administration still has not explained discrepancies regarding ballot papers.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has urged party activists not to respond to insults or criticism with hostility.

“Those who insult Jamaat deserve no reply. Our response will be our program, Insha’Allah,” he said in a recent address.

He emphasized that Jamaat’s core responsibility is to work for the welfare of the country and its people.
“Ultimate judgment rests with the Almighty. Patience and trust in Allah must be our greatest tools. May Allah protect our beloved Bangladesh from all dangers,” Rahman added.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam has accused the government and relevant ministries of failing to ensure security, leading to the attack on Akhtar Hossain.

He said, “The fascist Awami League continues targeting July Uprising leaders. We saw assassination attempts in Gopalganj during the July march, and attacks abroad on our leaders like Mahfuz Alam. Yesterday’s attack on Akhtar Hossain is part of the same pattern.”

Nahid added that many Awami League members accused of violence are freely roaming after bail and even threatening families of martyrs. “The government must identify and punish these collaborators of fascism,” he said.

On the lotus symbol issue, Nahid said NCP will give its official response once the EC announces a decision. He also confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding a possible merger between GOP and NCP.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul has condemned the attack on NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and others at New York airport, blaming the ruling Awami League.

“What happened proves again that Awami League feels no remorse for its injustices,” Fakhrul said in a statement. He vowed that all past wrongs committed by the party will be brought to justice through law, urging BNP supporters to remain patient “for the sake of the party and the nation.”

NCP leader Sarjis has demanded that the Election Commission grant the party its requested lotus symbol, warning of consequences otherwise.

“The EC Secretary admitted there is no legal barrier, only that the lotus is not on their symbol list. But NCP clearly applied for it during registration. Whose responsibility was it to update the list?” Sarjis questioned.

He accused the EC of acting under external influence and warned, “Since there is no legal obstacle, NCP must get the lotus symbol—there is no other option. If denied, we too will see how elections are held and who dreams of coming to power to enjoy its fruits.”

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mia Golam Porwar has strongly rejected BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul’s claim that Jamaat pressured BNP over proportional representation after being denied 30 seats.

Calling the remarks “false and vindictive,” Porwar challenged Fakhrul to present evidence. “If Jamaat indeed demanded seats, let him show proof to the nation,” he said, adding that Jamaat functions under its own leadership and has “no involvement with seat-bargaining politics.”

Porwar demanded that Fakhrul either prove his claim or apologize to the public for tarnishing Jamaat’s image. He urged BNP leaders to refrain from making “baseless and misleading statements” in the future.

BNP leader Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has firmly rejected the idea of imposing constitutional or presidential mechanisms that bypass direct voting. “The people of Bangladesh are accustomed to voting directly under the constitution. They have never practiced proportional representation voting, not in 54 years of Bangladesh, not in 24 years of Pakistan, nor during British rule,” he said.

He warned, “If such a system is imposed through constitutional orders or presidential decrees, the people will not accept it. BNP will never agree to it.”

Zahid reaffirmed that the interim government must ensure elections are held strictly in line with the constitution, the supreme law of the land.

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.