Islami Chhatra Shibir has unveiled its 28-member panel for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

The panel will be led by VP candidate Sadiq Kayem and GS candidate SM Forhad. Announcing the lineup at a press briefing, Nurul Islam Saddam confirmed nominees for key posts, including Nurul Islam Sabbir for Literature and Culture Secretary, Arman Hossain for Sports Secretary, and Asif Abdullah for Student Transport Secretary.

The panel also includes female candidates from Inqilab Mancha, such as Fatima Tasnim Juma, and visually impaired activist Khan Jasim, who lost an eye during the July clashes, as International Secretary.

Two Jamaat-affiliated leaders in Pirojpur’s Nesarabad have reportedly received threatening letters sent by post, demanding they quit politics and pay extortion money. Both victims have lodged separate written complaints with the local police station.

On Saturday, Jamaat labor leader Md. Abdur Rahman received a registered letter warning him to withdraw from Jamaat politics and demanding Tk 50,000 as extortion. The envelope listed the sender as “Md. Kabir Mia” of Kamarakathi village in Nesarabad.

Earlier, Jamaat’s religious leader Shariful Islam also received a similar threat letter, allegedly sent by “Md. Zahid Sikder,” a resident of Swarupkathi municipality.

Police said the mobile numbers mentioned in the letters were tracked and found to be registered in Chattogram. “We are actively investigating the matter,” a police official confirmed.

Ganosamhati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki has accused the ruling party of plundering national wealth, resulting in the collapse of countless mills and factories and the loss of livelihoods for millions.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Setabganj Sugar Mill Reopening Committee, Saki said:
“The fascist government’s sole policy was looting. That looting has shut down industries, destroyed employment opportunities, and left people destitute. Backed by the fallen Awami regime, S. Alam Group has swallowed the country’s resources.”

He demanded the immediate release of allocated funds and urgent renovations to restart the Setabganj and Shyampur sugar mills, as well as the restoration of four other closed sugar mills in the next phase. “Those entrusted with these mills are not reviving industries—they are destroying them,” he added.

BNP leader Hasan Uddin Sarkar has urged the party to distinguish between opportunists and loyal activists, stressing that only those who remain steadfast during adversity are the party’s “true workers.”

Speaking at a campaign strategy meeting with Gacha Thana BNP and affiliated organizations for the Gazipur-6 constituency, Sarkar said:
“Some maintained cozy relations with Awami League and enjoyed benefits, while others faced persecution, cases, and attacks for standing firm. The latter are our real strength, and they must be valued accordingly.”

Islamic scholar Mamunul Haque has warned that forming a bicameral parliament without proportional representation (PR) would undermine its effectiveness, calling it a “rehabilitation center for the unemployed.”

He emphasized the need for a functional upper house with participation from all political parties.
“Without PR, the upper house will serve no real purpose. We want an effective, participatory chamber that strengthens democracy,” he said.

Mamunul also cautioned against the resurgence of “fascism,” accusing the Jatiya Party of attempting a political comeback to aid authoritarian forces. He urged anti-fascist groups to unite ahead of the next election.

On the same day, he announced a revised candidate list for his party, Khelafat Majlis, naming 45 new candidates and replacing nominees in seven constituencies.

In a shocking incident in Satkhira, a schoolteacher was beaten and paraded in the marketplace by BNP activists over allegations of misconduct with a female student.

Assistant teacher Shafiqul Islam filed a complaint with Satkhira Sadar Police, accusing local BNP leaders of storming into his school with rods, hammers, and bamboo sticks.

“They dragged me out of the office, assaulted me, and forced me into the street while recording videos. Later, they detained me at the union council office and beat me again,” Shafiqul said in his complaint.

The school’s headteacher alleged that Shafiqul had given private lessons to a female student in a classroom for over 30 minutes on a holiday, which sparked the accusations. However, Shafiqul claimed the attack was politically motivated.

Dr. Rustam Ali Farazi, former Member of Parliament from Pirojpur-3 (Mathbaria), has officially joined Islami Andolan Bangladesh after receiving the party’s nomination.

He has been declared the party’s candidate for Pirojpur-3 under the “Hand Fan” electoral symbol. Farazi has previously been elected four times from three different parties—BNP, Jatiya Party, Grand Alliance, and once as an independent.

Most recently, he contested as an independent in the “dummy election” but was defeated. On Saturday, he joined Islami Andolan after meeting party leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

Party leaders confirmed that although Farazi had initially joined Islami Andolan in 2017, his membership was suspended after he took part in a disputed election.

A leaked audio recording has surfaced featuring a conversation between Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) President Hasanul Haq Inu and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the recording, Inu is heard urging Hasina to intensify arrests, saying:
“Your decision is absolutely correct, Honorable Prime Minister. Please order the arrest of everyone—then no one will remain to join protests.”

Hasina reportedly agreed, calling themselves “comrades on the battlefield.”

Inu further advised that the internet should be restored to flood media with favorable news, though Hasina replied that the internet infrastructure had been “burned” and could only be revived under another government. Inu reassured her, saying: “There will be no other government in Bangladesh. Jamaat-Shibir has once again been exposed. Break their backbone now.”

The audio suggests Hasina agreed to his proposal of compiling lists of Shibir members for mass arrests.

BNP leader Dr. Moin Khan has called on political parties to ensure greater women’s participation in the upcoming elections, stressing that women make up more than half of Bangladesh’s population.
“They deserve at least 150 seats in parliament,” he said, urging a shift in societal mindset toward empowering women.
At the same event, Nurul Haque Nur proposed a rotational system for women’s seats, while Saiful Haque suggested increasing the total number of parliamentary seats to 400, with 100 reserved for women. Politicians present at the discussion agreed that women should not be confined to reserved seats only.

BNP leader Altaf Hossain Chowdhury has delivered a scathing critique of his party, pointing out that while Jamaat affiliates hold positions as vice-chancellors in universities and judges in higher courts, BNP leaders are busy seizing bus stands, launch terminals, and ferry docks.
“I’m not here to malign Jamaat,” Altaf said, “but leadership requires quality. If leaders think extortion and grabbing are their main duties, when will they truly lead?”
He also warned that BNP has records of extortionists and land grabbers in Patuakhali since August 2024. “When the time comes, the truth will be exposed, and no one will escape accountability,” he said. However, insiders note that his remarks have not been well-received by district-level BNP leaders, with some calling them self-destructive.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has emphasized that there is no alternative to free and fair elections for establishing democracy, ensuring fundamental rights, and building an accountable state.
Speaking at a discussion titled “The Role of Writers and Poets in Democratic Progress”, Tarique warned that Bangladesh must not become a breeding ground for extremism and fundamentalism. He called on citizens to remain vocal in defense of their voting rights, freedom of speech, and democratic values.
“The people are the true owners of this country,” Tarique said, stressing that accountability can only be ensured by protecting citizens’ right to vote.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will join a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. The discussions will focus on security guarantees, regional stability, and continued sanctions against Russia. The meeting follows concerns after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska and aims to reinforce support for Ukraine, address territorial integrity, and shape future diplomatic and military cooperation between the U.S. and European allies.

The Election Commission (EC) has received 1,760 applications challenging its draft of redrawn parliamentary constituencies. Of these, objections have been raised over 83 seats.

On July 30, the EC published its draft, which proposed boundary changes in 39 constituencies. Citizens and political stakeholders were asked to file objections by August 10. The EC is now reviewing the submissions before finalizing the new electoral map.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 11 projects totaling BDT 9,361.92 crore, including five new initiatives, two revised plans, and three projects with extended duration. Key projects cover sustainable agriculture in Rangpur, modernization of power sub-centers, Rabindra University establishment, medical facilities expansion, multi-storey government housing, water supply improvements, and telecom network development in Chattogram’s Mirersarai Economic Zone. Funding includes BDT 6,677 crore from government sources, BDT 2,428.04 crore from loans, and BDT 256.89 crore from agency contributions.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has clarified that the “No-Vote” option was never a demand from his party but rather a proposal from certain distinguished individuals. “We have no particular comment on its current implementation,” he told reporters after a meeting with the Election Commission.

The BNP delegation primarily sought clarity on constituency boundary redrawing and election-time security. On expatriate voters, the CEC informed them that only those with NID and e-passports would be included in the voter list. The BNP, however, demanded voting rights for all expatriates, including ordinary passport holders.

Nazrul added that the party has not yet discussed seat-sharing, which will be taken up after the election schedule is announced.