Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, has traveled to Bangkok for medical treatment. According to BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, Khan departed from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11 am on Thursday via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.

Earlier, on Tuesday morning, BNP leader Mirza Abbas also left Dhaka for treatment on a Thai Airways flight, accompanied by his wife and son.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has released a list of individuals involved in the large-scale illegal stone extraction scandal in Sylhet. The names span government officials, law enforcement, political figures, and businessmen.

Among those implicated are officials from the Bureau of Mineral Development, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and UNOs—including Azizunnahar, Mohammad Abul Hasnat, Urmi Roy, and Abida Sultana. Also named are the superintendent of police, officers-in-charge, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials, and at least 42 businessmen and political leaders.

Most of the political figures linked to the scandal are affiliated with the BNP, including Rezaul Hasan Quayes Lodi (acting president, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP), Immad Hossain Chowdhury (general secretary), and Companyganj leaders Shahab Uddin and Haji Kamal.

The list also mentions Sylhet Jamaat leaders, including Amir Md. Fakrul Islam and Secretary Zainal Abedin, as well as NCP leaders Nazim Uddin and Abu Sadek Md. Khairul Islam Chowdhury.

Even ousted Awami League activists—such as Bilal Mia, Shahabuddin, and Gias Uddin, all involved in the stone trade—are on the list. The ACC said names of journalists and other professionals linked to the scandal are still being verified.

In an article published by Desarat News, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus declared that his government’s sole objective is to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful national election.
“The election will take place in February, and after that, I will not hold any elected or appointed office in the next government,” Yunus said.

He revealed that upon assuming office, he was “shocked at the scale of mismanagement and destruction” across state institutions. “We began the painstaking process of rebuilding, and gradually, with everyone’s cooperation, we are making progress,” he added.

Yunus expressed optimism about Generation Z, describing the recent youth-led movement for fairness in public jobs as “the world’s first Generation Z revolution.” He said the uprising has become a model for young people globally.

On foreign policy, Yunus highlighted reforms aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s ties with regional and global partners. He also confirmed that his government has drafted sweeping reform proposals, including a constitutional amendment to safeguard against any return to authoritarian rule.
“One clear sign of Bangladesh’s democratic transition was when The Economist named Bangladesh its ‘Country of the Year 2024,’” Yunus noted.

A government taskforce report reveals eight mega projects implemented under the Awami League incurred $7.52 billion extra, with cost overruns ranging from 22% to 221%. Delays, poor planning, and corruption were cited as primary causes. Experts recommend appointing internationally recognized audit firms for transparency, especially since foreign loans and contractors were involved. Despite these recommendations, the interim government has taken no action. Analysts stress quality audits are crucial to prevent future overspending and ensure accountability in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will participate in the upcoming by-elections despite ongoing political protests. The party’s political committee announced this decision after an emergency late-night meeting on August 20. A majority of the committee members supported contesting the elections. Members argued that opposition parties should not be given a “free field” and instructed preparations to begin for the constituencies where by-elections will be held. The opposition leader in the National Assembly has not yet been finalized. Pakistan’s Election Commission has confirmed that voting for constituencies NA-143, NA-185, and PP-203 will take place on October 5.

Md. Sarwar Alam officially took charge as the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet on Thursday morning. He was welcomed at the DC office by district officials in the presence of senior administration leaders, including the Divisional Commissioner. A 27th BCS administration cadre officer, Alam previously served as Private Secretary to an advisor at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Widely recognized for his anti-adulteration drives as RAB Executive Magistrate, he has now been appointed Sylhet’s DC.

A devastating fire broke out at a CNG fuel station in Auskandi, Nabiganj on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway early Thursday morning. The blaze, triggered by an explosion while refueling a bus, spread rapidly, destroying 10 CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a bus. Six people, including station staff and drivers, were critically injured and rushed to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after 30 minutes. Initial estimates suggest damages of around Tk 200 million.

The Netherlands is deploying 300 troops along with a Patriot air defense missile system to Poland to protect NATO territory, secure supplies to Ukraine, and deter Russian aggression, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said. The move follows a suspected Russian drone incident in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Germany has also deployed Eurofighter jets to Poland and Romania ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises. No casualties were reported from the drone incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hamidur Rahman Azad has stated that there is no objection to holding elections in February. However, he stressed that a level playing field has not yet been ensured ahead of the polls. “Our demand is that elections must be conducted under the National Committee for Observing Rules (NCOR),” he said after meeting the Election Commission (EC).

Azad added that Jamaat has urged the Chief Election Commissioner to consider all stakeholders’ opinions regarding the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries. He emphasized that proportional representation (PR) is essential to prevent election-related violence and irregularities. “Not everyone may favor this system; even the caretaker government had reservations. But a PR-based election is ultimately in the nation’s interest. If the people demand it, it must be implemented,” he said.

Azad affirmed that Jamaat will campaign vigorously for the PR system while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming elections. “We have always been sincere about fair elections. We believe this system will benefit the country. We are fielding candidates for all 300 parliamentary seats and are actively engaging with the public to shape opinion,” he added.

Former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley has cautioned President Donald Trump not to view India as a competitor like China amid escalating tensions over U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and oil imports from Russia. Haley emphasized that issues like tariffs or U.S. involvement in India-Pakistan ceasefires should not divide the world’s two largest democracies. She urged Washington to recognize India as a valuable democratic partner and warned that undermining decades of strategic cooperation would be a serious geopolitical mistake.

NCP Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the party aims to amend the constitution through a People’s Assembly before holding national elections. He emphasized that while many focus only on parliamentary elections, the government must decide on the full reform agenda to ensure proper timing and implementation. Akhtar has been actively distributing campaign materials across Rangpur to raise public awareness on reform, justice, the People’s Assembly, and national elections.

From exile in India, former state minister Mohammad A. Arafat says his only mission is to overthrow Muhammad Yunus’s “illegitimate” government and bring Sheikh Hasina back. Arafat claims he works day and night for the Awami League, with no time for leisure. Reports note that over 2,000 Awami League leaders, officials, and journalists fled to India after Hasina’s fall, many settling in Kolkata’s New Town. Some ex-MPs live together, pray regularly, exercise, and adjust to life in exile.

The government has appointed three new members to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), raising the total number to 18. The newly appointed members are Dr. Md. Mahiuddin, Dr. Muhammad Shaheen Chowdhury, professor at the University of Chittagong, and Dr. M. Amzad Hossain, professor at the University of Rajshahi. According to the gazette, the President made the appointments under Article 138(1) of the Constitution. They will serve for five years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first.

The US Navy’s plan to develop an autonomous drone fleet to counter China is facing multiple challenges, including technical failures, accidents, and leadership changes. Recent incidents saw drones collide or malfunction during exercises, highlighting software flaws and human errors. The Navy’s acquisition unit is under review, with restructuring possible. Experts stress the need to reassess strategies, as decades-old traditions and bureaucratic hurdles slow adoption of advanced autonomous systems intended to operate in coordinated groups without human control.

A court has granted relief to 65 BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul, in a case under the Explosives Act filed at Ramna Model Police Station. The court accepted the final report on Thursday. Among those exonerated are BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, and others. The case stemmed from allegations that party members caused vehicle damage, obstructed police duties, and detonated explosives during the BNP’s pre-announced mass rally on October 28, 2023.