Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh presented a nine-point set of demands to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at a meeting in Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Sunday afternoon. The demands were raised during a meeting and exchange of views with the group’s ameer, Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari. They include legislation carrying the maximum punishment for insulting Allah, Prophet Muhammad, the Quran and Islam, and a call not to pass laws conflicting with the Quran and Sunnah.

The organisation also sought exemplary trials over killings at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, during the 2021 anti-Modi movement, and in July-August 2024. It called for implementation of master’s-equivalent recognition for Dawra-e-Hadith qualifications from Qawmi madrasas, including their recognition in government recruitment notices for religious teachers. It further demanded compulsory Islamic religious education for Muslim students from primary through higher secondary levels.

Other demands include declaring the Qadiani community non-Muslim, banning Hizb ut Towhid, and stopping what it described as missionary activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Hefazat also demanded withdrawal of cases it called false against religious scholars and continued clerical oversight of Tablighi Jamaat activities and the Tongi Bishwa Ijtema.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum on Sunday afternoon and said much important history of the anti-fascist movement had not been properly preserved. The museum was established to preserve memories of the July mass uprising and anti-fascist movement. Senior leaders of his party accompanied him. Speaking to journalists afterward, he said the exhibits portray a grim picture of oppression, killings and brutal treatment of bodies.

Haque described the museum as an educational institution for people from all walks of life, particularly state rulers. He also urged authorities to take swift effective measures to improve security and preservation, saying important equipment and memorabilia were being displayed in an ordinary manner and many valuable items were within visitors’ reach. He said history should be preserved on the basis of truth and reality rather than according to any side’s preferences.

He said the museum had not adequately recorded the 2013 killings, the 2015-16 movement, or the 2021 anti-Modi movement. He also called for preserving memories of border killings and Felani’s killing, warning that removing her image could create public anger. Haque alleged discrimination in recognition of participants and suggested depicting Shapla Chattar martyrs and events without facial images.

Former lawmaker Shamim Osman appeared publicly at an Awami League workers’ meeting in New York on August 9, 2026, nearly two years after he was last seen in a public political programme. His public whereabouts had been discussed following the July-August 2024 mass uprising, and he was not seen publicly after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

At the meeting, Osman spoke in a self-critical tone about his political role, saying, “I have failed.” He urged Awami League leaders and activists to overcome divisions and unite, saying the question of who is a big or small leader was not important. He also said his political focus had been on groups that do not accept Bangladesh’s independence, and commented on the BNP.

Osman said he met then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on the night of August 2 and proposed withdrawing the army from the field, lifting the curfew, and holding a large gathering in Narayanganj. The report said serious allegations were raised against him over clashes and shootings in July. Trials involving Osman and Awami League leaders are ongoing at the International Crimes Tribunal over killings and violence linked to the uprising.

Residents in Chitalmari, Bagerhat, protested on Sunday demanding the removal of উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা Khadija Akhtar and উপজেলা সমাজসেবা কর্মকর্তা Ranjit Biswas over alleged irregularities, discrimination and corruption in recruiting data collectors and supervisors for the Family Card household database. Protesters gathered outside the উপজেলা পরিষদ administrative building from 9am to 12pm, carrying banners, placards and brooms while chanting slogans against the two officials.

They alleged that the recruitment notice promised preference for candidates with prior Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics digital survey experience and additional educational qualifications, but said those criteria were not properly followed in appointments to the two posts. Witnesses said operations at several offices, including the UNO office, social services, education and fisheries departments, were halted during the demonstration. Additional police were deployed around the উপজেলা পরিষদ area.

BNP leader Kapil Krishna Mondal of the Bagerhat-1 constituency and local party activists expressed solidarity with the protest. Mondal said the Family Card programme was Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election pledge and that irregularities and corruption would not be accepted. On Saturday, Akhtar said in a Facebook-posted letter that the appointments announced on August 4 had been suspended. She did not answer calls on Sunday for comment.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has disposed of the state’s application against a High Court order barring the arrest or harassment of former chief justice A B M Khairul Haque without a specific case. A four-member bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued the order on Sunday, leaving the High Court’s protection in place for Haque, according to lawyers involved.

After obtaining bail from the High Court in separate cases, Haque was shown arrested on March 30 in two murder cases filed at Jatrabari and Adabor police stations in the capital. His son, lawyer Ashik Ul Haque, filed a writ petition on May 13 challenging the legality of the process of showing him arrested in this manner. On May 17, the High Court issued a rule and an interim order.

The state sought a stay of the High Court order and filed a leave-to-appeal petition, which reached the Appellate Division’s regular bench through the Chamber Court. Police arrested Haque from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 last year. He was later shown arrested in the murder case of Jubo Dal worker Abdul Kaiyum Ahad in Jatrabari and has remained in jail in various cases since then.

The 11-party alliance has nominated Liberal Democratic Party president Dr Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed as its candidate in the presidential election. The decision was made at a meeting of senior leaders at the opposition leader’s residence on Minto Road in the capital on August 9. Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman chaired the meeting, while National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced the nomination at a press briefing.

Rahman said his alliance regarded participation in the presidential election as a responsibility and an expression of democracy’s beauty. He said politics should be transparent and competitive, and described Ahmed as the person the alliance considered best suited for the country’s welfare. Jamaat’s central executive council had decided on Saturday night to participate in the election and discussed possible candidates before the alliance finalized its choice.

Nahid Islam accused the government of disregarding the referendum mandate and failing to implement the July Charter. He also blamed what he called BNP’s unilateral and anti-reform conduct for preventing a unified nomination. Ahmed thanked the alliance and pledged to stand by the public and protect its interests. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Maulana Mamunul Haque called him a qualified candidate.

Mufti Shamsul Islam Jilani, central organising secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and president of Cumilla metropolitan unit, urged young Islamic scholars to avoid mudslinging and disrespectful language on social media and pursue unity. He made the appeal in a statement on August 9, 2026, addressing what he described as some unwelcome incidents unfolding on Facebook.

Jilani said a positive effort to build unity among scholars was underway under the supervision of the Hefazat amir. He called the exchange of conflicting statements and disrespect among people on Facebook painful at such a time. To prevent further tension, he advised all concerned to remove disputed posts and audio recordings from social media.

Paying respect to two senior scholars, Allama Mamunul Haque and Mufti Faizul Karim, Jilani said both were the community’s promising future. He expressed hope that all sides would stop mudslinging and behave cordially as religious brothers for the sake of respect and unity. He also urged people to halt writing on the issue for now, show patience and sincerity, and said top leaders could take more effective steps if needed.

Bangladesh has 128,632,555 registered voters, Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said at the Election Building on August 9. The voter list includes people registered through July 31 and was prepared ahead of local government elections. Between May 14 and July 31, the electorate increased by 393,015 voters.

Ahmed said the next local government elections would be held using this voter list. If the election date changes, the commission will decide on the matter later. Work is also under way to draft codes of conduct for five types of local government elections: city corporations, district councils, upazila councils, municipalities and union councils.

A proposal on the conduct rules was sent to the relevant ministry on August 9, and the rules will be finalized after the process is completed. Distribution of nomination papers for the presidential election also began that day. A BNP delegation collected two nomination papers in the morning. No other party or candidate had collected nomination papers at that point, according to the EC secretary.

Nahid Islam, the parliamentary opposition chief whip and convener of the National Citizens Party, said Bangladesh has developed a political and constitutional crisis. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after an 11-party meeting at the opposition leader’s residence on Minto Road. The meeting discussed the presidential election and the country’s recent political situation.

Questioning the BNP’s past political role, Nahid said the party had at different times tried to retain power during changes of government. He said this had created the political and constitutional crisis. He also announced that the 11 parties would contest the presidential election in unity with one common candidate.

The alliance named Liberal Democratic Party chairman retired Colonel Oli Ahmed as its joint candidate. Nahid said the 11 parties had demanded from the first day of the first session that former president Md Shahabuddin be removed and a new president appointed under the July Charter. He questioned why Shahabuddin had remained in office for another six months and alleged an effort to provide him a “free exit” without bringing him under trial.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the current opposition has begun using language similar to that used by Hasina. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the Rangpur District Shilpakala Academy while inaugurating a special initiative aimed at improving the lives and self-reliance of disadvantaged people. He said the government had begun changing the economy and administration within four to five months of taking office.

Fakhrul said the Awami League had not tried to discover oil or gas fields during 15 years in power and had weakened BAPEX, an institution used to pursue oil and gas extraction. He said the government had restarted the institution. He also said the Iran-United States war had caused Bangladesh losses of nearly $4 billion, while people had not been left without oil. He expressed anger over opposition activities and said there was now an opportunity to build the country.

He said Tarique Rahman was implementing pre-election pledges, citing family cards, farmer cards, debt waivers for indebted farmers, canal excavation and allowances for mosque imams and temple priests. At the event, US-based charity Love Share BD handed over 25 tea stalls to 25 disadvantaged people in the Rangpur region using its own funding.

Former diplomat Humayun Kabir said allowing Sheikh Hasina to hold a press conference in Delhi is not conducive to efforts to improve relations between Bangladesh and India. His comments were reported by BBC Bangla on Sunday, according to the report. Kabir said the event was not playing a helpful role in the idea or effort to strengthen bilateral relations.

The Indian government said it had no connection with Hasina’s event and did not support the remarks made there. Kabir questioned the acceptability of that position, saying statements that India bears no responsibility, was not involved, or does not agree with the views do not carry real meaning.

Kabir said the Bangladeshi government’s response reflected the views of ordinary people in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said it had informed India in advance of concerns about the possible impact of such an event on rebuilding bilateral relations. Dhaka expressed deep regret that permission was nevertheless given for the public event. Officials said Bangladesh had communicated its concerns to India before the press conference.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated government rehabilitation activities for families affected by recent flooding in Baharchhara village, Banshkhali, Chattogram. Speaking at a house handover, grant and relief distribution event on Sunday afternoon, he checked on flood-hit families and called for vigilance against those who disrupt social order. He said all promises could be implemented with public support.

The prime minister said factories would be built along the coast to create employment. He also said the government would ensure fair prices for salt farmers. Rahman said a 10-year energy plan would be presented in parliament.

He urged the opposition not to create confusion. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Relief and Disaster Asadul Habib Dulu and others were present at the event.

Citizen Initiative has expressed deep concern over expanded private-sector involvement in fuel oil imports and marketing, as well as recent changes to price controls for essential medicines. In a report published on August 9, 2026, the organisation called for the policies to be reassessed through meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders, with public interest given top priority.

The group said it does not oppose private-sector participation. However, it warned that without effective competition and strong regulation, the fuel sector could become concentrated in the hands of one or a few companies, creating a private monopoly in place of state control. It said this could worsen public hardship over fuel prices and supply and create additional dependence on the government.

Citizen Initiative also raised concerns over the interim government's 2026 decision to cancel price-control measures for 295 essential medicines and return to an earlier system covering 117 medicines. It said weaker controls could raise the cost of life-saving drugs and increase treatment expenses, particularly for poor and lower-middle-income people. The organisation urged effective competition, price regulation, market monitoring and accountability in both sectors.

Prosecutors presented a call recording in a crimes against humanity case in which former road transport minister Obaidul Quader is heard asking former state ICT minister Junaid Ahmed Palak to slow the internet during the July mass uprising. The recording was submitted on Sunday during the third day of prosecution arguments before International Crimes Tribunal-2.

The matter emerged before a three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Md. Manzurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. Quader, general secretary of the activities-banned Awami League, is among seven accused in the case. The prosecution said the alleged purpose was to disrupt protesters' communications during the uprising.

In the published transcript, Quader says, “Slow the net a little,” then clarifies, “Internet.” Palak replies that he should obtain the leader's permission, and Quader tells him to do so. Prosecutorial arguments in the case began on August 4, continued for a second day on August 6, and proceeded for a third day on Sunday.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi said many problems could be resolved if Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit together. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the inauguration of a children’s play area at an Indian visa application centre.

Trivedi said the behaviour of Bangladesh’s people is very good and that relations between the people of the two countries are good. He said these relations should also be maintained at the government level, stressing continuity between public ties and official engagement.

The high commissioner also said there are plans to reduce the cost of obtaining visas for ordinary people. He added that plans include increasing the number of visa centres and expanding visa-processing capacity. The report did not specify a timeline or implementation process for those measures.