Engineering students have declared divisional-level “Engineer Assemblies” and a “National Engineer Assembly” to press their three-point demand. They also announced a complete shutdown across all campuses.
In a press briefing, student leaders criticized the advisory council for failing to present concrete decisions. They expressed dissatisfaction with the committee’s composition and denounced attempts to frame protesting students as “troublemakers,” despite police baton charges and attacks against them.
They also condemned the lack of accountability, noting that no investigation committee has been formed and no police personnel punished despite the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner’s apology.

China is preparing for its grand Victory Day Parade on September 3, commemorating 80 years since Japan’s WWII surrender. This year, President Xi Jinping will share the stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un—marking Kim’s first appearance at an international forum alongside world leaders.
Leaders from 26 nations are expected to attend. The event will feature a 10,000-strong military parade showcasing China’s latest weaponry. While invitations have been extended broadly, South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung has confirmed he will not attend. However, leaders from Iran, Indonesia, Belarus, and Pakistan are expected to join.

At the UN Security Council, 14 of 15 member states—excluding the U.S.—held Israel responsible for Gaza’s famine. Representatives from the UK, France, Russia, and China issued strong statements against Tel Aviv. Heated exchanges broke out between Israel and Algeria’s envoys.
The Algerian delegate showed photos of malnourished Palestinian children and read a letter from slain journalist Mariam Abu Daggar to her son. Britain’s ambassador Barbara Woodward said, “For the first time in modern Middle Eastern history, famine has been recorded—entirely man-made.”
Israel countered that Palestinian child deaths were caused by illness, not malnutrition. U.S. envoy Dorothy Shea acknowledged Gaza’s hunger crisis but dismissed recent IPC reports as inaccurate.

The Advisory Council has given in-principle approval to the draft “Prevention, Remedies, and Protection Against Enforced Disappearances Ordinance, 2025.”
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the ordinance—developed with input from BLAST, Human Rights Watch, and other rights groups—defines enforced disappearance as a continuing crime and includes provisions for the death penalty. Establishing or using secret detention centers will be criminalized.
The draft also empowers the National Human Rights Commission to investigate complaints, mandates trial within 120 days of charge framing, and ensures victim protection, compensation, and legal aid. Additionally, the council approved the proposal to mark October 17 each year as a national observance of the mystic bard Lalon Shah’s death anniversary.

Government advisor Faozul Kabir Khan assured that disputes between BSc and diploma engineers would be resolved with neutrality. He emphasized that the government had already taken the demands seriously, making further protests unnecessary.
“A 14-member working group has been formed, including representatives from government and educational institutions, to bridge gaps between conflicting demands,” he said. The committee will hold meetings with protestors, engineers’ representatives, guardians, and relevant ministries to seek a balanced resolution.

A scheduled meeting between Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin and U.S. Acting Ambassador Tracy Ann Jacobson was canceled on Thursday following a student blockade near Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Agargaon. The meeting was set for 2 p.m. at the Election Commission office. However, around 11:30 a.m., students under the banner of "Krishibid Oikya Parishad" launched a blockade program, halting traffic in the area. The disruption prompted the cancellation of the meeting.

Bangladesh’s Advisory Council has approved the closure of three land ports and suspension of operational activities at one more, in a decision taken at its 40th meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The ports slated for closure are Chilahati (Nilphamari), Doulatganj (Chuadanga), and Tegamukh (Rangamati). Additionally, operations at Balla land port in Chunarughat, Habiganj, have been suspended until further notice.

Political analyst Badiul Alam Majumdar has called for a balanced electoral framework combining both proportional representation (PR) and constituency-based systems, stressing that each has its strengths and weaknesses.

He explained that while constituency-based elections ensure direct accountability between voters and their MPs, PR in the upper house would allow fairer distribution of seats based on vote share.

Majumdar cited the 2001 and 2008 elections as examples where disparities between vote shares and seat distribution produced skewed results. “PR in the upper house could correct these imbalances, while the constituency system ensures stability in governance,” he said.

He urged political parties to consider national interests above partisan gains when debating electoral reforms.

The Election Commission has unveiled a comprehensive 24-phase roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presented the plan, highlighting key milestones including the publication of three separate voter lists, with the final version to be released in November.

Each polling booth will accommodate around 600 male and 500 female voters, according to the plan. The commission aims to conclude law-and-order preparations at least 15 days before the election schedule is announced, which is expected 60 days prior to polling.

Ahmed also confirmed that constituency boundary hearings are being reviewed, with final decisions due by September 15 and official maps by September 30.

On the issue of surveillance, he noted that decisions on CCTV and body cameras rest with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Addressing challenges, he acknowledged disinformation and AI manipulation as growing threats, while stressing that the Commission’s priority is to ensure a secure environment where citizens can cast their votes with confidence.

The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections. According to the plan, the official gazette on the demarcation of 300 constituencies will be published on September 15, followed by the release of the geographical maps on September 30.

September 14 is set as the deadline for the preliminary registration of new political parties, while the final notification will be issued on September 30. The Representation of the People Order (RPO) will be reviewed and forwarded to the Ministry of Law by August 31 for vetting.

The EC also aims to finalize the voter list by November 30 and ensure that ballots reach prison inmates two weeks prior to polling—granting prisoners voting rights for the first time. Dialogues with civil society, media, and stakeholders are scheduled to begin by late September.

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students, who earlier enforced a blockade at Agargaon to press their three-point demand, withdrew the program after about an hour. Traffic movement has since returned to normal.
The students announced they will hold discussions with engineering student groups before declaring their next program. They also warned of tougher actions if their demands remain unmet.

Police have detained former minister Latif Siddique along with several others, including Awami League leaders, following tensions at an event organized by Munch 71.
The program, titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”, was scheduled at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity. Dr. Kamal Hossain was invited as the chief guest but did not attend. According to police, the detainees are being taken to Shahbagh Police Station for questioning.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has postponed all undergraduate exams scheduled between August 30 and September 18 due to the ongoing student unrest. The decision was announced in an emergency notice signed by the registrar on Wednesday.
The university stated that future exam schedules will be decided after discussions in the Academic Council. The move follows escalating protests by engineering students over their three-point demand, which on Wednesday led to clashes with police as students attempted to march toward the Jamuna River. All engineering universities across the country are observing a complete shutdown today.

Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain dismissed rumors that a mosque would be built on the site of the Chandranath temple, calling them “baseless.” He confirmed that the administration has instead taken steps to renovate and upgrade the temple.
Highlighting Bangladesh Railway’s recent allocation of land for one Hindu temple and two mosques in Khilkhet, Hossain described it as a “historic moment” for the interim government and a “powerful symbol of communal harmony.”
He added, “Bangladesh is a land of religious coexistence. Everyone will practice their faith freely without obstructing others.”

The tribunal has begun recording testimonies in the case of martyr Abu Said, who was killed during the July uprising. On Thursday, Tribunal-2 commenced proceedings, with Abu Said’s father expected to testify as the first witness.
Earlier, on August 6, the tribunal framed charges against 30 accused, including former Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor Hasibur Rashid. Six arrested suspects were produced in court today, while 24, including the former VC, remain absconding. The court has appointed four state-funded lawyers to represent the fugitives.