Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam have expressed deep sorrow at the sudden death of Jahangirnagar University Assistant Professor Jannatul Ferdous Moumita.

The assistant professor of the Department of Fine Arts passed away unexpectedly during the vote-counting process at the university.

In a Facebook post, the Jamaat chief prayed for the departed soul and conveyed condolences to her grieving family. “May Allah forgive her, grant her a place in paradise, and give strength to her loved ones to endure this loss,” he wrote.

The Shibir president echoed similar sentiments, praying for her forgiveness and offering sympathy to her family, colleagues, and students.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police have arrested 12 activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on charges of preparing for an unauthorized “flash rally.”

The arrests were made Thursday in the city’s Darussalam area.

Those detained include Al Amin (32), Akkas Mia (52), Sohag Majhi (38), Nesar Mia (48), Yusuf Ali (48), Faruk Hossain (47), Mokbul Mridha (54), Manik Mia (38), Md. Shahin (50), Md. Nayeem (25), Emdadul Haque (37), and Abdul Alim (22).

Police confirmed that legal proceedings are underway against the detainees and others involved in planning the rally.

The Jahangirnagar University Teachers and Students Unity Forum (Bagchas) have described the JUCSU and hall union elections as “flawed” but has decided to accept the results to safeguard democratic practice and balance of power on campus.

Bagchas leaders announced the decision at 2 AM Friday. GS candidate Abu Touhid said, “The fact that the election happened at all is a positive step. Thousands of students voted despite adverse conditions, and we salute them. For that reason, we will not boycott the results.”

However, VP candidate Arifuzzaman Ujjal criticized the election commission for poor preparation, citing nomination disputes, ballot mismanagement, lack of transparency in drug test results, and security lapses. He alleged that some ballot papers lacked permanent ink, allowing tampering.

Both Shibir- and Chhatra Dal-backed panels were also accused of repeatedly violating the electoral code of conduct.

Vote counting is underway in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election, with results expected Friday.

Overnight, more than 500 supporters of Islami Chhatra Shibir gathered outside the university gates, closely monitoring developments. One supporter said, “If Shibir performs well here after winning DUCSU, it will have nationwide implications. We are here out of enthusiasm and will leave once results are announced.”

Around 2 AM, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka-19 MP candidate, Maulana Afzal Hossain, also briefly appeared at the main gate before leaving on a motorbike, though his associates remained.

University proctor Dr. A.K.M. Rashidul Alam said he was unaware of the gathering but had instructed the security team to look into the matter.

A delegation from the National Committee for the People (NCP) has arrived in Tokyo, Japan, where they were warmly greeted with flowers by members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

The delegation, which departed Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday afternoon, landed at Narita International Airport at 6:30 AM local time Friday. Members include Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary, and Mahbub Alam.

During their visit, the team will attend community events in Tokyo and Osaka, meet NCP supporters, and hold discussions with Bangladesh’s ambassador to Japan regarding expatriate challenges and opportunities.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed concern over the sweeping victory of Islami Chhatra Shibir in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. His remarks drew a sharp response from Meghmallar Basu, a GS candidate in the same election.

In an open letter, Basu wrote, “Mr. Tharoor, despite massive state interference, Islamist extremism, and financial muscle power, I still secured nearly 5,000 votes. That makes me a legitimate representative of Dhaka University’s progressive students. While your analysis that people are disillusioned with mainstream parties’ corruption is true, you fail to see that your words inadvertently serve as propaganda for Jamaat.”

He continued, “Why is Shibir’s victory ‘alarming’ to you? Weren’t you the same person who stoked right-wing propaganda during the Sabarimala issue in Kerala, just to weaken the CPI(M)? Before advising a neighboring country, first defeat Hindutva fascists in India’s own national elections. We will fight Islamist fascism in Bangladesh ourselves.”

Earlier, Tharoor had described Shibir’s win as “a warning sign for the future, reflecting public frustration with both Awami League and BNP, pushing voters toward Jamaat not for its religious agenda, but because it has not yet been tainted by corruption and misrule.”

Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the National Committee for the People (NCP), has been acquitted of a long-pending case filed under the Special Powers Act.

The case stemmed from April 13, 2021, when Hossain was distributing iftar items to the underprivileged in Dhaka University during Ramadan. Police detained him and filed charges at Shahbagh Police Station. Later, while he was in prison, another case was brought against him over a peaceful protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka.

Speaking after the acquittal, Hossain said, “The previous government weaponized false cases against hundreds of thousands of citizens, myself included. While the interim government has withdrawn some of these politically motivated charges, one case against me remains ongoing. I demand that all false cases against anyone be withdrawn immediately.”

BNP Vice Chairman Altaf Hossain Chowdhury claimed during a speech at Dumki Upazila Auditorium that although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled, her remnants remain and are conspiring with India to disrupt Bangladesh’s elections. Altaf urged party members to unite under the leadership of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman to ensure a fair election, citing the ideals of Ziaur Rahman as guiding principles.

Members of the newly elected DU panel visited former DU VP Nurul Haque Nur in hospital, breaking into tears while praying for his recovery. GOB leader Shakil Uzzaman confirmed the visit, which included newly elected DU VP Sadiq Qayem, GS SM Farhad, and AGS Mohiuddin. The panel expressed condolences and wished Nur a speedy recovery. Previously, Nurul Haque Nur had congratulated all students who participated in the DU and hall elections and thanked the university administration for a lively, participatory election process.

BNP leader AZM Zahid Hossain stated that domestic and foreign forces are plotting against democracy in Bangladesh. He called for strengthened unity among democratic forces to resist these conspiracies. Zahid emphasized that the BNP’s 31-point program, developed in coordination with other democratic parties, addresses the population’s basic needs and outlines Bangladesh’s future governance, ensuring law and order and protection of the innocent while holding criminals accountable.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Shahjahan Mia, contesting Chandpur-3, urged voters to choose justice and fairness in the upcoming election. Speaking at Chandkhar Bazar Jame Mosque and during local community outreach, Shahjahan emphasized that ending terrorism, corruption, and looting, and establishing a justice-based society, requires casting ballots for the candidate symbolized by fairness.

A three-member NCP delegation will visit Japan on Thursday, including Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary, and Mahbub Alam. According to Sarjis Alam, the visit is at the invitation of the NCP Japan Diaspora Alliance and other expatriates. This marks NCP’s third foreign delegation trip within a month; previous visits included Malaysia (August 22–25) and China (August 26–30). During the visit, the leaders will participate in “Remember the Heroes,” a program commemorating July fighters, with events scheduled in Tokyo and Osaka. Earlier, the delegation met Japan’s Ambassador to Dhaka, Shinichi Saida.

A total of 8,016 votes were cast in the recent JUCSU and Hall Parliament elections, with 11,919 registered voters, marking a voter turnout of 67.9%. The University Election Commission officially concluded voting across all centers on Thursday at 7:00 PM, according to commission sources.

This year, 178 candidates competed for 25 positions across the elections. Eight panels, backed by left-leaning groups, the Chhatra League, Shibir, and independent student supporters, participated in the contest. However, the panel supported by the Chhatra Dal boycotted the election, alleging irregularities and vote manipulation.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Shishir Monir has called for the implementation of the July Charter through a special constitutional order.

He argued that the historic events of August 5 last year reflected the will of the people, and that the constitutional order should recognize that day as the starting point for enforcement.

Meanwhile, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that the next national election must be held on the basis of the July Charter. “Discussions are still ongoing regarding the mechanism of its enforcement, but a logical solution will emerge through dialogue,” he assured.

Monir, however, pressed for immediate action, emphasizing: “The people’s expectations found expression on August 5. The implementation date of the July Charter must be tied to that day.”

Mufti Syed Mohammad Fayzul Karim, senior Naib Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said the party is advocating for elections under the proportional representation (PR) system, which he called the safest mechanism to prevent fascism, muscle power, and undue influence. He stated that Islamic parties are exploring unified participation, criticizing the current administration’s inability to conduct free and fair elections. Fayzul also highlighted the recent Dhaka University student elections, describing it as a victory for Islamists over leftist and pro-India factions.