Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin has confirmed that the Election Commission has started preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections in line with the timeline announced by the Chief Advisor. He emphasized that the EC will continue its work without any interruptions to ensure a free and fair election. The CEC acknowledged challenges ahead but assured that all necessary steps would be taken to meet constitutional and democratic obligations.

Five senior leaders of the Nationalist Consensus Party (NCP) have been served show-cause notices for traveling to Cox’s Bazar without notifying the party’s political council. In individual letters signed by Joint Office Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat on Wednesday, they were asked to appear in person within 24 hours before Convener Md. Nahid Islam and Secretary Akhtar Hossain to provide a written explanation for their actions.

Leaders and activists of the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) gathered in front of the party’s central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday afternoon to participate in a previously announced "Victory Rally." Groups arrived from various metropolitan police stations, wards, and affiliated wings, chanting slogans such as “Tarique Rahman will return like a hero,” “Bangladesh above all,” and “The struggle isn’t over yet.” Several processions joined from the party’s associate and student organizations, creating a festive and determined atmosphere.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 is set to deliver a ruling today on the charge framing in the war crimes case concerning the killing of martyr Abu Sayeed during the July-August 2024 uprising in Rangpur.
The case names six accused: ASI Amir Hossain, former BSMRU proctor Shariful Islam, constable Sujon Chandra Roy, Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury, Rafiqul Hasan Russell, and Anwar Parvez.
The accused were brought to the tribunal earlier in the day.

Former DU Chhatra Shibir president Mirza Ghalib criticized leftist groups for labeling Muslim-identity-conscious youth as "pro-Pakistani."
He wrote: “On DU campus, I saw ten students chant ‘Sadik Kayem is Pakistani.’ Ironically, freedom from Hasina’s fascism came at the hands of a so-called ‘Pakistani’ youth.”
Ghalib argued that this outdated tag no longer resonates with today’s youth. “The left knows the tag doesn’t work anymore, but they’ve learned no other political strategy except labeling, just as during Hasina’s fascist rule, they did nothing but call others collaborators and killers.”

In a statement, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement emphasized that 1947, 1971, and 2024 are not contradictory events but interconnected milestones in the nation’s history.
They stated: “In 1947, we achieved territorial identity; in 1971, independence; and in 2024, a mass uprising against prolonged fascism. The fascism created by the Mujibist constitution has now been buried.”
The organization rejected attempts to pit 1971 and 2024 against each other, calling such actions politically manipulative. They warned that these divisive tactics only serve to make the ruling Awami League relevant again, much like the binary between Shapla Chattar and Shahbagh in the past.
They urged political actors to abandon such "dirty politics" and instead work in the interest of the people. If such tactics continue, they vowed to lead a counter-movement.

Meghmallar Basu, president of the Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Students’ Union, has admitted his mistake after leading a controversial chant labeling central Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Sadik Kayem as "Pakistani."
In a social media post, Meghmallar stated, “The slogan 'Sadik Kayem is Pakistani' was politically incorrect. It was beneath me. I shouldn’t have said it. I will refrain from making such chants about this generation of Shibir leaders in the future. Comrades, please stay aware. That said, everything else I did was right, and I’ll do more.”
The chant was raised during a protest at TSC against the display of portraits of convicted Jamaat-e-Islami leaders accused of war crimes. The specific slogan was: “Sadik Kayem is Pakistani, you know it, I know it.”

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into several Obama administration officials over alleged data fraud related to proving Russian interference favoring Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Attorney General Pam Bondi authorized prosecutors to present potential charges based on recommendations from Trump’s former intelligence chief. The probe follows claims by Tulsi Gabbard accusing the Obama era of politicizing intelligence agencies. Obama’s spokesperson and Democrats reject these allegations as baseless. Russia denies any election interference.

BNP leader Hasanuddin Sarkar accused the Awami League of following an Indian agenda aimed at eliminating nationalist and Islamic ideologies in Bangladesh.

He called for unity among BNP, Jamaat, and other Islamic parties to ensure that the ruling party never regains power.

Sarkar warned that conspiracies are underway to disrupt the election and urged the Chief Adviser to hold polls promptly and hand over power to an elected government.

He stated that despite suffering oppression, enforced disappearances, and killings, the sacrifices of the people will not go in vain.

BNP leader Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie stated that July and August represent a call for justice against enforced disappearances and state crimes.

He noted disappointment over the lack of verdicts in over 200 cases filed against Prime Minister Hasina. “Even two rulings would have made a difference,” he added.

Annie declared there’s no place for fascism in Bangladesh and emphasized unity among opposition forces to rebuild the country. “A group wants to destroy our unity, but we won’t let that happen,” he asserted.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced plans to launch a mobile app to gather public opinions, concerns, and suggestions regarding the upcoming election.

The app aims to improve transparency and communication during the transition to an elected government.

Yunus cautioned that a certain group is eager to disrupt the election and urged all parties to prevent any potential conflict. He stressed that election manifestos must prioritize youth and women, stating, “The youth who transformed Bangladesh have the power to transform the world.”

BNP will organize victory rallies today (Wednesday) across all districts and major cities to commemorate the anniversary of the July Uprising.

At a press conference, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described the uprising as a historic event, not only for Bangladesh but globally.

He claimed that on August 5, fascists fled state institutions under public pressure. Rizvi emphasized that the uprising symbolized the culmination of a 16-year democratic struggle for identity, justice, and good governance.

He quoted Tarique Rahman, who urged people not to take the law into their own hands, refrain from mob violence or abuse against women, and remain respectful of others' freedoms.

Char Monai Pir, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, stated that the goal of July’s popular uprising was to ensure no more fascists, killers, or money launderers arise in Bangladesh.

He expressed regret that such elements still exist in society and emphasized the need to eliminate them.

The Pir advocated for a proportional representation (PR) electoral system that reflects all citizens' opinions and stressed the need for national unity. He warned that no group would be allowed to act arbitrarily.

BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman declared that the unity formed with the blood of martyrs has defeated fascism.

He stated that Bangladesh would never again be turned into a client state, and no opportunity would be given to destroy democracy. “1971 was the war for independence; 2024 was the war to protect that independence,” he said.

He accused the government of repression, enforced disappearances, corruption, and institutional decay. Calling August 5 a historic day, he claimed it marked the beginning of the fall of fascism through public resistance.

Tarique urged all parties to reject extremism and fascism and called for building a humane, justice-based state where every citizen, regardless of belief or background, can live safely. He also called for restraint and avoidance of mob violence.

Russia has announced its withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, citing Western military actions as a direct threat to its security. This move follows the U.S. withdrawal in 2019 and signals a potential new arms race between East and West. Experts warn this weakens the global nuclear control framework and could escalate tensions reminiscent of a new Cold War, as countries increase missile deployments and military capabilities in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions.