Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has declared that incidents of voter suppression and violence at polling stations will no longer be tolerated. Seeking the nation’s support for a fair election, he urged citizens to play an active role in ensuring their voting rights. Speaking at an annual sports event, he emphasized the need for a nationwide movement to establish free and fair elections. He also encouraged voters to safeguard polling stations as if they were their own homes. Expressing hope for an election filled with the spirit of festivity, much like Eid celebrations, he wished for capable and deserving candidates to be elected.

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman has called on the youth to join in building a new Bangladesh, declaring, “O young men, step forward! I stand with you, even with my gray hair, beard, and eyebrows.” Addressing a gathering in Lakshmipur on Saturday morning, he saluted the youth and praised their sacrifices, saying, “It is because you risked your lives in the struggle that Allah has granted us freedom.” He recalled the words of young fighters, who once said, “A storm rages in our hearts, shoot us if you must!” He described this storm as a fight against corruption and tyranny. Emphasizing the Quran as the foundation for a prosperous Bangladesh, he spoke of Lakshmipur’s struggles and called on mothers and sisters to join in shaping a nation guided by Islamic principles.

LDP President Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram claimed that he had warned Sheikh Hasina three years ago. “If she had listened to me, she wouldn’t have had to flee to India like this,” he said. He also warned that no one would be allowed to act as an agent for India. “We are not against India, and as per Islamic teachings, we are grateful to those who have supported us. However, too much interference will not end well,” he cautioned. He also accused local-level Awami League leaders of being involved in multimillion-dollar corruption schemes, urging opposition political parties to take note.

The perpetrators behind the violent attack at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) on February 18 remain at large. During the clash, armed outsiders reportedly fired at general students near Khan Jahan Ali Hall. Eyewitnesses captured footage of a man in a black helmet shooting towards the KUET campus from an alleyway. Several activists from Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal have been identified as participants in the attack.

On Saturday, general students continued their six-point movement, marking the fourth day of protests. They held a demonstration across the campus, met with journalists at the Shaheed Minar, and put up posters displaying images of the attackers. Expressing their frustration, the students condemned the authorities for failing to arrest the culprits even after several days.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has stated that the government has been given sufficient time to release imprisoned party leader ATM Azharul Islam. He pointed out that while others have been released, Azhar remains behind bars, calling it an act of oppression. He further declared that he cannot remain free while his leader is jailed and announced his voluntary surrender to the court on the 25th. Rahman urged the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law to intervene. Addressing a gathering, he also called for collective efforts to eliminate extortion and land grabbing.

Two Awami League leaders have been arrested in Tungipara, Gopalganj, in connection with an attack on police and vandalism of vehicles. The incident occurred when party members allegedly attempted to snatch a detained individual suspected of being an Awami League activist. The arrested leaders have been identified as Imdadul Haque Dulu and Mithu Molla. Tungipara police station’s Officer-in-Charge, Khorshed Alam, confirmed the arrests, stating that they were involved in the attack. He also mentioned that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the incident.

Police have solved the mystery behind the murder of Rajib Talukder (38) in Netrakona. According to the police, Rajib had repeatedly raped the wife of his friend, Deep Bhowmik (35). Seeking revenge, Deep hacked him to death. On Saturday evening, Deep confessed to the crime before the court under Section 164. Police recovered Rajib’s bloodied body on Friday near the road adjacent to Gobindapur Government Primary School. Shortly afterward, Deep was detained on suspicion of involvement. Later, Rajib’s wife, Mina Rani Talukder, filed a case, in which Deep was officially shown as arrested.

Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain stated that 17 years of chaos, mismanagement, and disorder cannot be undone in just 15 months. He emphasized that the previous government left the state system in disarray before fleeing, and restoring order will take time. He assured that efforts are being made to improve law and order. With Ramadan approaching, he urged everyone to cooperate with the administration in breaking the price syndicate, stating that commodity prices are now largely under control. During his visit, he listened to local grievances and remarked that Nijhum Dwip has significant potential to boost the country’s tourism sector.

After a four-day shutdown, partial power generation has resumed at Dinajpur’s Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant. Among the three units of the 525 MW coal-based plant, Unit 1, with a capacity of 125 MW, was restarted at 5:29 PM on Saturday after resolving mechanical issues. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique expressed optimism that Unit 3, which has a capacity of 275 MW, could also be operational within the next couple of days.

Police in Birampur, Dinajpur, arrested eight gamblers during a raid at Shantimor Bazar. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Birampur Police Station conducted the operation early in the morning and seized gambling equipment. The arrested individuals are identified as Ashraful, Mizanur, Zakir, Zahidul, Liton, Faruq, Tobarak, and Raju Ahmed. Officer-in-Charge Momtazul Haque stated that cases have been filed against them under the Gambling Act, and they were presented before the Dinajpur court on Saturday.

A human trafficking gang lured Arif Hossain (45) from Kaliganj with the promise of a job in Italy, only to trap him in Myanmar and subject him to brutal torture. The gang extorted Tk 1 million in ransom in multiple phases but still refused to release him. The case was uncovered by Officer-in-Charge Alauddin’s team, leading to the arrest of four members of the gang, including a Rohingya national, from Cox’s Bazar. The victim had sought assistance from local agents to travel abroad, but they turned out to be traffickers. Law enforcement tracked the phone numbers used for ransom demands and apprehended the criminals. The victim remains in Myanmar, and efforts are ongoing to rescue him, police confirmed.

Student activists and the public gathered at Raju Sculpture in protest against fascism have published a list of ministers, advisors, and MPs from the authoritarian Sheikh Hasina government and its political allies, declaring them as fascists. They have called for the arrest of these individuals and their sentencing to 7-14 years in prison. The protesters also demanded that they be stripped of their right to participate in elections. Abdul Wahed, convener of the Revolutionary Student Council, presented five key demands at the conference, including the banning of the Awami League and its allies, confiscation of the parties’ assets, and the designation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet members, MPs, and all district chairmen and members as fascists, with arrest warrants issued.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon, advisor to the BNP Chairperson, stated that the Yunus government is unwilling to relinquish power. He claimed the government’s delay under the guise of reform is evidence that the ‘ghost of the League’ is haunting them. He emphasized that staying in power without elections raises concerns of accountability. Khokon called for the immediate announcement of a national election date and urged the completion of the election by this year. He further mentioned that reform would no longer be necessary as Tarique Rahman would implement reforms with his 31-point agenda. These comments were made during a rally demanding reforms in the face of rising commodity prices, improvements in law and order, and the announcement of a democratic electoral roadmap to counter various fascist conspiracies.

Two robbers arrested for a robbery and assault on passengers aboard a bus traveling from Dhaka to Tangail on the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway have given confessional statements in court. Another suspect, who refused to confess, has been remanded for five days. The confessions were made by Sabuj (30) and Shariful Islam Sharif (28). Shahidul Islam Muhit (30) has not confessed. According to lawyers, four more individuals are involved in the incident. The suspects were arrested from Savar, Dhaka, on Friday.

Akhtar Hossain, Secretary General of the National Citizens’ Committee, shared a post on Facebook with a picture of himself and two young advisers, Nahid Islam and Mahfuz Alam. This post has raised speculation about the leadership structure of a new political party being formed by youth leaders. Nahid is set to become the convener, while Akhtar is expected to take the role of Secretary General. The party, with strong ties to the National Citizens’ Committee, is expected to launch soon.