BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called for joint efforts to restore democracy in Bangladesh.

In a statement marking International Democracy Day, he said, “The foundation of rebuilding the state must be free, fair, and participatory elections. Independence of the judiciary and media, along with full application of democratic principles, is essential.”

Rahman alleged that democracy has been “under siege” for the past 15 years due to what he called “Awami fascism.”

In a separate statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that sustained democratic practice is the best safeguard against authoritarianism. While July–August’s historic, blood-stained movement brought victory, he noted that full democracy is yet to be achieved. Ensuring continuity of fair elections, he stressed, is key to institutionalizing democracy.

After 19 years, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar visited the Home Ministry and met with the current Home Affairs Adviser.

Following the meeting, Babar told reporters that discussions included the possible return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman: “Inshallah, he will come back soon.”

He also expressed concern over law and order, stressing the need to recover looted assets and illegal firearms. “The government is making sincere efforts,” he said, adding that he wished to assist the interim administration and the Chief Adviser.

Babar further alleged that a special business group recently met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a neighboring country, with the aim of derailing upcoming elections.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested nine leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on charges of participating in flash processions and plotting acts of sabotage in the capital.

Those arrested include:

Mokshedur Rahman Molla Kishore (47), President of Ward-10 Volunteer League, DSCC

Enamul Huda Lalu (60), former President of Srinagar Thana Volunteer League

Abdul Gaffar (56), former member of Ward-9 Jubo League, DSCC

Baharul Islam Titu (46)

Saiful Islam Leon (24)

Nayeem Noman (60)

Humayun Kabir Rajon (42)

Mohiuddin Matbar (43)

Shikdar Sohel Hazari (30)

According to a statement issued Sunday, the DMP said multiple DB units conducted the coordinated operations that led to the arrests.

Police allege the detainees were involved in attempts to destabilize law and order in the capital, spread panic through sudden street marches, and carry out activities related to cases filed across various police stations.

Legal proceedings against them are currently underway.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam has said Bangladesh does not need “another shadow-Maududist” political party.
“Half a dozen proxy forces are already active—you will add nothing new,” he wrote, urging political groups instead to “redefine, reorganize, and reclaim.”

Although Mahfuz did not specify which parties he meant, in Bangladesh the term “Maududist” typically refers to Jamaat-e-Islami. The party was founded in 1941 in the Indian subcontinent by Syed Abul Ala Maududi.

The Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced plans to install sanitary napkin vending machines across five key academic zones of the university.

The designated locations are: TSC (Teacher-Student Centre), Central Library, Curzon Hall, Mokarram Building, and the Faculty of Business Studies.

Speaking on the initiative, DU Shibir’s Organizing Secretary Kazi Ashiq said:
“To ensure convenience for female students, we are installing sanitary napkin vending machines in five academic areas. This was supposed to be implemented by DUCSU earlier, but due to restrictions in its code of conduct regarding gifts, it never materialized. We are now moving forward, and this kind of student-friendly initiative will continue.”

AGS Mohiuddin Khan added:
“For the past year, we’ve been trying to undertake welfare-oriented initiatives for students. Today’s step for female students is a continuation of that effort.”

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has criticized the government’s approach to the July Charter, warning that it risks becoming overly complicated.
After a meeting with the Consensus Commission, he said:

“We do not want to leave behind a legacy that collapses within days or faces immediate challenges.”
The commission previously met with political parties on September 11 but failed to reach a final decision on the Charter’s implementation.

Under the leadership of Maulana Mamunul Haque, Khelafat Majlis has announced a five-point demand, including immediate implementation of the July Charter, introduction of proportional representation (PR) in parliament’s upper house, and ensuring a level playing field for upcoming elections.
The demands also call for banning the politics of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, and visible justice for the July massacre.
The party has scheduled demonstrations in Dhaka on September 18, divisional protests on September 19, and nationwide marches on September 26.

After more than two decades, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar made a return to the Ministry of Home Affairs. On Sunday afternoon, he paid a courtesy call on Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Home Ministry, at the Secretariat.

Sources confirmed that the meeting was primarily ceremonial, though discussions touched upon security preparations ahead of the possible return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh. Ensuring comprehensive, round-the-clock security for him reportedly featured in the talks.

Other issues discussed included the country’s overall law and order situation, border security, and the use of advanced technology in crime prevention.

The meeting was attended by Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant Khodabox Chowdhury, Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, former Senior Secretary Kamruzzaman, and former Additional IGP Mahbubur Rahman.

RAB-9 has arrested Shahab Uddin, suspended president of Companyganj Upazila BNP, for his alleged role in large-scale illegal stone extraction. He was detained during a late-night raid in Kumarpara, Sylhet, on Saturday.
Authorities say that over the past year, vast quantities of stones were unlawfully mined from Companyganj and Gowainghat. Following public outcry, RAB launched extensive intelligence operations, identifying Shahab Uddin as one of the masterminds behind the infamous Bholaganj white stone looting.
He faces seven separate cases under Companyganj and Kotwali police stations and has been handed over to Kotwali police for legal proceedings.

Speaking at Dhaka Medical College about the condition of Nurul Haque Nur, GOP leader Rashed Khan said Nur suffered fractures to his nose and jaw, with additional injuries to his head and gums. Doctors advised extended hospitalization, but Nur insisted on receiving treatment in Bangladesh instead of abroad.
Rashed questioned whether there was pressure on the Chief Adviser to prevent sending Nur overseas.
He criticized the lack of action against the army despite video evidence of the attack and complained that the investigation commission had not formally contacted them.
Rashed warned: “Within 48 hours, we will announce a program that will corner the government. It could be a siege of the Jamuna Bridge or the Secretariat. The Home Affairs Adviser must resign.”

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused Dhaka University authorities of rigging the DUCSU and JUCSU elections in favor of a specific organization.
He alleged the Vice-Chancellor deliberately orchestrated “a monopoly outcome” with backing from government allies, citing ballot papers being printed by a firm linked to one political group.
Rizvi further claimed that many ruling Awami League activists involved in repression were now joining Jamaat, raising fears of a “deep blueprint” to suppress nationalist forces. He warned that the growing influence of such forces posed risks to both democracy and religious communities, while accusing sections of the government of actively patronizing Jamaat.

The National Consensus Commission has held multiple rounds of talks with political parties to implement the July Charter, but differences remain. NCP Convenor Nahid Islam earlier said his party would only contest elections if the July Charter is enforced.
Commission Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that while most parties supported proportional representation in the upper house, BNP and a few others opposed it. Out of 20 agenda points in the second round, BNP issued notes of dissent on seven.
“BNP’s goodwill could make immediate implementation possible. Blocking it would be a betrayal of the nation,” Akhtar warned. He stressed that all constitution-related points agreed upon must be included in the new constitution, otherwise “street action will follow with all parties united.”
Senior leader Ariful Islam Adib added that only a Constituent Assembly election can provide durability to the July Charter, but accused BNP of reducing it to a political compromise while keeping the old structure intact.

Leaders and activists from BNP, Jamaat, and the All-Party Combined Committee enforced sit-ins and protests on Sunday across all government offices in Bagerhat district and its upazilas, demanding the reinstatement of the district’s four parliamentary seats.
From morning, protesters besieged the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Election Commission office, and other government institutions, shutting down administrative activities. Demonstrators announced a series of programs: a dawn-to-dusk strike across the district on Monday, half-day strikes and highway blockades on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Identical protests were observed in all nine upazilas, where activists occupied spaces in front of UNO and election offices. The program is set to continue until 5 PM.

Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader has criticized party chief GM Quader’s political record, saying:
“GM Quader has never spent a single day in jail and has never been able to lead major rallies or mass movements.”

Hawlader stressed that recent events—the July uprising and the DUCSU and JUCSU elections—hold important lessons for political parties:
“If politics is driven by arrogance, vengeance, and hostility, downfall is inevitable. To win people’s hearts, politics must be about love, humility, and national welfare.”

He declared that despite 35 years out of state power, Jatiya Party has endured repression but remains committed to its symbol, the plough, which “will stay in the hands of the elected leadership, now under Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud.”

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president Zahidul Islam hailed the JUCSU election results as a triumph for students, drawing parallels with Dhaka University’s outcome.

In a statement, he wrote:
“Alhamdulillah. This victory is purely by the grace of the Almighty. On a campus where being identified with Shibir once meant a death sentence, today’s result is historic. We will not hold any celebratory processions across the country—our gratitude will be expressed only in prostration before Allah.”

Zahidul added, “We hold no grudges against anyone. We seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and those of our allied organizations. Let humility be our pride, and generosity our ornament. Jahangirnagar University should stand as a beacon of harmony, and our beloved motherland, Bangladesh, must belong equally to all.”