Wahidur Rahman Majumdar, Joint Convener of BNP’s Chauddagram unit in Cumilla, has stirred debate after calling for a change to the popular slogan “My Vote, My Choice” to “My Vote Will Go to BNP.”

In a local rally, Wahidur declared, “In Chauddagram, we will no longer implement the old slogan. My vote will go to BNP, to the paddy sheaf.”

His remarks drew immediate criticism from party leadership. Chauddagram BNP Convener Kamrul Huda suggested Wahidur may have spoken emotionally, while Cumilla South BNP Convener Zakaria Taher Suman reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the people’s right to vote freely, stating they will investigate the statement.

BNP leader Hummam Quader Chowdhury has claimed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could have executed his father, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, with a single bullet, but instead sought to dismantle his political legacy.

Speaking on the controversial International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Hummam said,
"We fought for years to prove whether the ICT was truly a court at all."
He accused officials of shifting positions—telling locals it was an international tribunal to avoid following domestic law, yet calling it domestic when foreigners questioned the lack of international standards.

Hummam labelled the tribunal as politically motivated and demanded justice for those responsible for his father’s execution.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has alleged that former party Nayeb-e-Ameer, Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, died on August 14, 2023, in the prison cell of PG Hospital due to medical negligence.

In a statement, he accused doctors and hospital authorities of failing to provide proper treatment and claimed that Sayedee’s family members were denied the chance to see him in his final hours. He further alleged that authorities barred funeral prayers in Dhaka despite demands from thousands of followers, leading to the burial taking place in Pirojpur instead.

Rahman paid tribute to Sayedee’s “lifetime of service,” prayed for his death to be accepted as martyrdom, and vowed to continue his mission.

The government has appointed five Dhaka University professors as Senate members for a three-year term, representing the academic community.

The appointees are Professor (Retd.) Dr. Sadrul Amin (English), Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan (Islamic History & Culture), Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan (Marketing), Professor Dr. Kamrul Hasan (Physics), and Professor Dr. Samina Luthfa (Sociology). The appointments were confirmed by the Ministry of Education.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam declared that their panel for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election will include women students and members from all religious communities.

He criticized the past 16 years of student politics for creating an atmosphere of fear, which has driven many to call for a ban on campus politics—something Shibir respects but seeks to change. Shibir aims to replace “fear-based politics” with a healthy, student-friendly approach, Zahidul added, urging all student groups to avoid smear campaigns and focus on constructive agendas.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has vowed to stand up for the people “even at the cost of my life,” pledging to protest injustice and oppose government wrongdoing despite the risks. “The people have no joy on their faces, and those who benefit from the current system will not want elections,” he said.
Quader declared the party would now pursue clear, pro-people politics, resisting any attempt to hand over its electoral symbol, the plough, to another group. He compared the party’s current plight to that of the BNP when it was “the oppressed,” saying, “We too are now oppressed, and we too will win the people’s support.”

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has accused those delaying the election process of attempting to restore dictatorship and reintroduce fascism. He stressed that elections must be held on schedule, regardless of ongoing processes such as war crimes trials and the recovery of laundered money.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has called for a thorough investigation into whether any advisor of the interim government is linked to the Gulshan extortion case. “The matter must be clarified before the public,” he said, warning that a lack of investigation would raise further questions about the advisors. He also urged political parties to avoid making misleading statements ahead of the upcoming national election, adding, “Those who attempt to sabotage or boycott the election will be eliminated from national politics.”
The controversy stems from the arrest of former BAGSAS joint convener Jane Alam Apu, whose alleged confessional statement claims a late-night meeting with Advisor Asif Mahmud in front of a Gulshan hotel.

Kazi Anisha, wife of former Bagchas joint convener Zane Alam Apu, has accused BNP leader Ishraq Hossain of coercing her husband into giving a false confession in an extortion case. A video of Apu’s alleged confession—recorded at Ishraq’s residence in Gopibagh—has circulated on social media. Anisha claims the statement was forcibly obtained, edited, and released 14 days later to implicate her husband and weaken the NCP political group. She alleges that Apu was pressured for four days in police remand to name certain individuals.

Bangladesh is on the path from a Least Developed Country to a developing nation, but it is not fully prepared, says Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar. She highlighted discrepancies in GDP, income, and social indicators from the previous government and emphasized the need to assess tariff and GSP benefits carefully. Importing low-cost beef could harm local farmers, while exports like seaweed and Kucchi offer potential. By November 2026, the country must be ready for its developing country status.

In Comilla’s Nangalkot upazila, BNP’s 14 union-level conferences held on Tuesday and Wednesday disrupted classes at 15 educational institutions. Students arriving for regular lessons were surprised to find stages set up on school grounds and hundreds of party activists present.
Some institutions attempted to continue classes despite loudspeakers but eventually had to close. Teachers, students, and parents expressed frustration. Upazila BNP convener Nazir Ahmed Bhuiyan said such events violated party rules and that he would seek action from senior leaders. UNO Al Amin Sarkar said he learned of the incident from journalists and would investigate further.

Gonotantra Moncho is considering fielding candidates in all 300 seats for the upcoming 13th National Election. The idea was discussed at the Uttara residence of JSD President and senior Gonotantra Moncho leader A S M Abdur Rob. Leaders will meet again on August 18 for further talks.
The meeting, attended by Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Saiful Haque, Zonayed Saki, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Hasnat Kaiyum, Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, and Tania Rob, discussed the political climate, reforms, justice, and the upcoming election. Participants voiced concern over law and order, expressed optimism about working positively under the “July Charter,” and indicated willingness to make reasonable compromises to reach consensus.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has indicated that President Donald Trump will make it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “all options are on the table” during their upcoming meeting. Mnuchin noted that while frustration with Putin has been widespread, there may now be a chance for productive talks. He warned that if discussions fail, sanctions or additional tariffs could be imposed on Russia, urging European partners to support coordinated pressure against Moscow.

After a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, Harun Chowdhury, claiming himself as the President of Bangladesh’s Communist Party (ML), stated that former General Secretary Dilip Barua’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
Harun said the party had presented its new committee and revised structure to the CEC, noting that a conference on February 7 introduced key changes. Previously, the General Secretary was the party’s top leader, but now the President will hold that position. Both the President and General Secretary posts have been reinstated.
He acknowledged controversies surrounding Barua but stressed they had no knowledge of the details, only that he had not been arrested. Harun also urged the CEC to ensure an election free from muscle power, money influence, and unfair declarations, and called for equal treatment of all candidates.

Following a fall in international prices, Bangladesh has reduced the domestic price of loose palm oil from BDT 169 to BDT 150 per liter. The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) has instructed local authorities to intensify market monitoring amid concerns that some traders might sell palm oil as soybean oil for extra profit. Bottled soybean oil remains at BDT 189 per liter, while loose soybean oil prices are unchanged. Authorities are also urged to take legal action if unethical practices harm consumers.