BNP leader Rumeen Farhana has slammed rival parties for insisting on proportional representation (PR), saying they are only doing so because they know they cannot secure even 10 seats in a direct election.

“Such parties are trying to disrupt the election,” she said, “but BNP believes that if the polls are free and fair, no force can stop the wave of victory for the paddy sheaf (BNP’s election symbol).”

Highlighting her party’s struggle, Rumeen added:
“No political party has demanded justice for Awami League’s tyranny more than BNP, because it is BNP that first spoke of reform and accountability. The majority of oppression in this country has been inflicted upon our leaders and activists.”

She stressed that the people of Bangladesh have never abandoned Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, or BNP activists. “A mass wave will rise in the 2026 elections,” she declared.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) general secretary candidate Meghmallar Basu has urged students to exercise their voting rights on September 9, stressing that a high voter turnout will prevent anti-liberation elements from securing any position.

Criticizing BNP-Jamaat activists for allegedly intimidating and pressuring voters, he said:
“The way they are seeking votes across districts and police stations is disgraceful. But complaining won’t help — nothing can be expected from the election commissioners. It’s the ordinary students who must take charge. If 35,000 Dhaka University students cast their votes, every equation will collapse.”

Meghmallar further stated:
“You may vote for anyone you wish, but please make sure you come to the polling booths. If you vote, anti-liberation forces won’t win a single post. No matter the result, the resistance council has already won.”

Reflecting on his absence from campaigning due to surgery, he credited his fellow activists for keeping the movement alive and expressed confidence that students would not deprive him of votes.

Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, contesting for the General Secretary post in the upcoming DUCSU polls, accused rival groups of spreading fear about vote manipulation.

“Those who doubt their popularity are the ones alleging vote engineering and scaring students,” he said.

Hamim criticized alleged bias among some advisers toward specific candidates but urged students not to be disheartened:

“Your presence will change the situation. Let’s not ruin the festive spirit of the election.”

Despite a ban on political activities, Awami League activists staged another rally in the Parliament area on Sunday, a day after their previous protest.

Police confirmed the arrest of Sirajul Islam, a former Chhatra League leader from Shibchar, Madaripur, who was carrying a banner during the demonstration.

The rally began under the Bijoy Sarani metro rail station and ended at Khamarbari. Tejgaon Police OC Mobarak Hossain said law enforcement acted swiftly to disperse the gathering.

Earlier on Friday, Awami League supporters had also held a rally in Nabisco area after Friday prayers.

Jamaat leader Masud Saeedi has said every citizen in Bangladesh, regardless of religion or ethnicity, deserves equal rights and full freedom to practice their faith.

He criticized political groups for what he described as a decade-long attempt to mislead people through rhetoric, adding:

“Those who incite communal violence in the name of religion are the real minorities. We want a Bangladesh where Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians live in peace, free of divisions.”

Saeedi also decried poor infrastructure and collapsing schools despite five decades of independence, arguing that people are looking to Jamaat for leadership to build a prosperous, just, and peaceful nation.

NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah has vowed to end politics driven by muscle power, saying,

“The days of ‘10 motorbikes, 20 thugs’ deciding leadership are over. True leadership must come from qualities, not hooliganism.”

Speaking to supporters, he stressed that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stands firmly for justice and truth.

“If you stand for justice, you are with the NCP. There is no room in our party for injustice.”

He called on people across villages and unions to unite against “evil forces,” warning that local political patronage often turns activists into criminals. A united stand, he said, would strip offenders of courage.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has dismissed fears of election delays, saying,

“Some political parties are trying to postpone the polls. But I believe elections will be held on schedule. We are not anxious.”

His comments came in Thakurgaon, where the city has taken on a festive look ahead of the BNP’s long-awaited district council after eight years. The conference, set for Monday at Thakurgaon District School ground near Fakhrul’s ancestral home, will elect new leadership and revitalize party activities.

Party sources confirmed that there was no contest for the president’s post, with Fakhrul’s younger brother, former mayor Mirza Faisal Amin, being formally chosen as district president.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman met with Palestinian Ambassador Yusuf Saleh Y. Ramadan for a courtesy call and exchange of views.

During the meeting, the envoy prayed for the Jamaat leader’s recovery. In response, Dr. Rahman condemned ongoing Israeli aggression, claiming:

“In more than two years of relentless bombardment, nearly 65,000 Palestinians — including women and children — have been martyred, with around 170,000 seriously injured. Entire families, such as 2,700 in Gaza, have been wiped out.”

He urged the UN, OIC, and global peace-loving nations to compel Israel to halt what he described as a plan to seize Gaza and forcibly displace nearly one million Palestinians.

Ambassador Ramadan expressed gratitude, saying he was honored to meet Dr. Rahman and deeply appreciated the solidarity of the Bangladeshi people.

Shabana Mahmood, a British-born politician of Pakistani heritage, has made history by becoming the UK’s first Muslim woman to serve as Home Secretary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed her after a cabinet reshuffle following Deputy PM Angela Rayner’s resignation. Mahmood, previously Justice Secretary, pledged to prioritize citizens’ safety. Born in Birmingham in 1980, she studied law at Oxford and worked as a barrister before entering politics. Elected MP for Birmingham Ladywood in 2024, she has been rising steadily within Labour ranks.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a message of congratulations to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the DPRK’s founding anniversary. Reported by KCNA, the message conveyed warm greetings, expressed hope for stronger Iran–North Korea relations, and wished Kim good health and success. Pezeshkian also extended best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the North Korean people, underscoring Tehran’s intention to strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual goodwill and cooperation in the future.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and a Japanese consortium have started final negotiations on operating the newly built third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The three-day talks, held with advisors including the IFC, aim to resolve unresolved issues, mainly revenue sharing. Built with JICA funding, the terminal is ready for operation, increasing passenger capacity from 8 million to 24 million. Delays in finalizing an operator may raise costs, but the government is prepared to consider alternative international operators.

Bidhyan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has said reducing weekly school holidays from two days to one is difficult due to the need for coordination across all educational institutions. Speaking at an International Literacy Day 2025 press conference, he emphasized that effective learning depends on contract hours and the number of days schools remain open. The government is exploring slight reductions in holidays and considering teachers’ demands for a ‘non-vacation department.’

The United States is exploring the creation of a large demilitarized buffer zone within Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached. Discussions involve deploying troops from non-NATO countries like Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to secure the area, while the U.S. would lead monitoring using drones, satellites, and intelligence tools. No American troops would be stationed inside Ukraine. The plan avoids NATO symbols to stay acceptable to Russia. Negotiations remain ongoing amid continued conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisers are quietly preparing to attend the APEC Trade Ministers’ meeting in South Korea this October. On the sidelines, a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place. The trip will focus on economic cooperation, investment, trade, defense, and nuclear discussions. It may also open the door for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Previous tariffs between the U.S. and China are temporarily suspended until November due to ongoing negotiations.

Russia launched a cruise missile attack on Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv early Sunday, marking the first time the building has been hit since Moscow’s 2022 military invasion. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the damage to the roof and upper floors. The Ukrainian Air Force reported over 800 drones and missiles were deployed overnight, hitting 37 locations while 8 intercepted missiles and drones fell elsewhere. The attack continues to spread fear among civilians.