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.

BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal has emphasized that democracy thrives on differences of opinion and healthy debate. “Without disagreements, society becomes stagnant. But debates must never harm national interests,” he said.

Alal warned against any attempt to rehabilitate fascism, urging all parties to stand firm on safeguarding democracy. On the upcoming elections, he suggested creating a structural framework first to guide future electoral methods.

He also hailed Bangladesh’s freer press, saying journalists no longer face the same restrictions or political patronage pressures. “The current media openness didn’t happen overnight — people are finally seeing what was long hidden under censorship,” he remarked.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher has stressed that free and fair elections are not possible without introducing a proportional representation (PR) system. “Those who depend on black money and muscle power are the ones opposing PR,” he said.

Taher also hinted at a possible political consensus excluding the BNP, accusing anti-democratic forces of siding with fascism. He urged for inclusive, transparent, and festive elections that reflect people’s opinions.

Meanwhile, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar dismissed the July declaration as illegitimate, warning that an election without legal reforms could “create another Sheikh Hasina.” He added that most people support PR, as confirmed by multiple surveys, but alleged that some parties are misleading the public by conflating PR with EVMs.

The National Consensus Commission has finalized the draft of the July National Charter 2025, outlining presidential election, pardon, and impeachment procedures. The charter grants the president significant powers, including appointing key commission members, while ensuring impeachment is possible for treason, serious misconduct, or constitutional violations through a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Political parties have until August 20 to submit feedback before finalization. The draft also establishes the charter’s legal supremacy, with interpretation disputes reserved for the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Eight Nordic and Baltic countries have reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine following the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. In a joint statement, leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden emphasized that any steps toward a just and lasting peace must involve Ukraine directly. They called for credible security guarantees, continued arms supplies, and strengthened European defenses to prevent future Russian aggression, underlining that no decisions about Ukraine should be made without Ukraine’s participation.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by August 22. The move follows Trump’s three-hour meeting with Putin in Alaska, where he reportedly proposed a peace plan involving a Donbas concession and ceasefire. Zelensky confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday. European leaders have also been invited, though Russia has not publicly committed. Reports suggest the talks aim to ensure security guarantees for Kyiv and Europe.

Md. Sarwar, 33, allegedly posed as a coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) to secure government contracts worth crores of taka and arrange officials’ transfers for bribes. He used multiple identities and even worked on projects under rented licenses. Locals recall he was once a teacher accused of raping a student in 2022, leading to his dismissal. Student leaders confirm there is no central NCP leader named Sarwar, calling him an impostor exploiting people for personal gain.