The National Committee Party (NCP) has expelled its Joint Member Secretary Mahin Sarkar for breaching party discipline.

In a press release, NCP stated that the decision was made under the directive of Central Convener Md. Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain. The expulsion order takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.

Bolivia is set for a historic presidential runoff, ending nearly two decades of left-wing dominance by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). Center-right Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira leads with 32.1% of votes, followed by former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga at 26.9%. MAS’s candidate Eduardo del Castillo received just 3.15%, but the party retains registration. Businessman Samuel Doria Medina, finishing third, has pledged support for Paz Pereira. The final contest will now determine Bolivia’s next president between two right-wing contenders.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the 1% surcharge on mobile phone usage, introduced in 2016 to fund the Padma Bridge, should not be stopped. The court ordered government agencies to respond within four weeks. Consumer rights group CCS filed the writ, arguing the levy contradicts the law as no timeframe was specified and the bridge was completed in 2022. Despite collecting over Tk 2,000 crore, authorities have not withdrawn the surcharge.

A leaked phone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior Awami League leader Jahangir Kabir Nanak has stirred controversy.

In the recording, Hasina is heard questioning Nanak about the role of Mohammadpur’s Bihari community in recent political events. When Nanak pointed to a local councilor, Sentu, linked to Jatiya Party, Hasina dismissed concerns that action against him might upset the party.

“Keep quiet. Why should we care if Jatiya Party collapses? What is left of that party anyway? We don’t need them. They’re a living corpse. This time I won’t spare a single one,” Hasina declared bluntly.

Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has directed all relevant agencies to reveal how some individuals have plundered the nation’s resources. At a meeting with NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan and CIC Director General Ahsan Habib, it was reported that nearly BDT 40,000 crore has been illicitly transferred abroad, traced across seven cities in five countries since January. Coordinated action by the ACC, CIC, police, and other authorities is required to identify culprits and ensure such wealth plundering is prevented in the future.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended four tax officials for obstructing office work during protests against the government’s Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025. The order, issued by the Internal Resources Division and signed by IRD Secretary and NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman, cited their involvement in halting colleagues’ duties. The suspended officers include Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Abul Ala Mohammad Amimul Ihsan Khan, Sanowarul Kabir, and Saidul Islam. They will receive allowances during suspension, as per regulations.

Tensions flared ahead of the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections as leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal (JCD) alleged that one of their female leaders was obstructed from collecting a nomination form at Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.

At a press conference on Monday, JCD leaders claimed that a mob was mobilized to stop their representative, effectively confining her inside the hall premises. As a result, students were reportedly forced to leave without being able to obtain nomination papers.

They warned that a free and fair DUCSU election will not be possible unless the current law-and-order situation and intimidation on campus are brought under full control.

The student group further alleged that a section of their rivals, “envious of Chhatra Dal’s growing popularity,” has been attempting to sabotage the election process since the very beginning.

Former Home Minister Mokha Alamgir, known as Mokha, is under scrutiny for massive corruption, loan fraud, and money laundering tied to Padma Bank (formerly Farmers Bank). Investigations reveal nearly BDT 5,000 crore misappropriated, 33 accounts used by him, his wife, and family-controlled firms, and multiple fake companies involved. While associates face prison sentences, Alamgir remains abroad. A forensic audit and legal action are recommended. Government intervention partially stabilized the bank, but irregularities persist. Efforts continue to recover funds for depositors.

The Election Commission (EC) will conduct hearings from August 24 to 27 on 1,760 claims and objections regarding constituency boundary revisions ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Hearings will cover all major regions, including Comilla, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Faridpur, and Sylhet. The EC previously published a draft delimitation for 300 constituencies on July 30, proposing adjustments in 83 constituencies. Following the hearings, the commission will review the claims and finalize the constituency boundaries.

The government has formed a nine-member committee to review applications from retired military officers who faced deprivation, injustice, or persecution between 2009 and August 2024 under the Awami League government. Chaired by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Hafiz, the committee will assess applications, set submission deadlines, and provide formal recommendations within two months. The Armed Forces Division will offer secretarial support, and retired committee members will receive honorariums from the Defence Ministry. The order is effective immediately.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia immediately if he wished. Speaking ahead of their meeting in Washington, Trump also dismissed Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects and recalled Crimea’s 2014 annexation under the Obama administration. Writing on Truth Social, he emphasized that “some things never change.” Trump added that the White House meeting with Zelensky would be significant, with numerous European and NATO leaders expected to join the discussions.

The United States is closely watching India-Pakistan relations every day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday. He warned that ceasefires are fragile and hard to sustain, noting parallels with the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio and President Trump both claimed Washington helped avert a possible nuclear clash, though India denied any external role. Pakistan, however, credits Trump’s intervention and has deepened engagement with the US. Washington now seeks to balance ties with both neighbors while valuing India’s strategic importance due to its ties with Russia.

Umama Fatema, former spokesperson of the anti-discrimination student movement, has formed an independent panel for the DUCSU elections. On Monday, she submitted her nomination forms and announced that the panel will be revealed tomorrow. The lineup is expected to include Fatema for Vice President, former DU Journalists’ Association President Al Sadi Bhuiya for General Secretary, and current association president Mohiuddin Mujahid Mahi for Assistant General Secretary. The panel aims to prioritize student-friendly policies.

Jahid Ahsan, Central Secretary of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Parliament, announced that the organization will contest the upcoming DUCSU elections under the “Anti-Discrimination Student Panel.” The allocation of candidates to specific posts has not yet been finalized. Present during the announcement were the organization’s Central Convener Abu Baker Majumdar, DU branch convener Abdul Kader, and other leaders.

Ashraful Haque, Executive President of Bangladesh Nazame Islam Party, criticized the PR (proportional representation) voting system as incompatible with Islamic principles. He argued that Islam mandates selecting qualified and virtuous individuals for governance, rather than voting for parties or symbols. Haque further accused proponents of PR elections—including some Islamic parties—of supporting foreign agendas and weakening state authority. He warned that candidates pushing for PR elections would face disqualification in a fair and transparent electoral process.