Dhaka — BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has voiced support for delaying Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, citing concerns over economic readiness.

The statement came after a meeting between BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and top business figures at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Discussions centered on LDC graduation and labor laws.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said while they were not calling for a full halt, businesses needed at least three more years for infrastructure readiness.

Bangladesh is set to graduate from LDC status on November 24, 2026, following UN assessments over the past eight years. The government must submit a progress report on preparations by October 31 this year.

Savar — Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have strongly condemned recent remarks by Jamaat leader Amir Hamza, dismissing them as fabricated and defamatory.

Hamza had claimed he was admitted to the Journalism and Media Studies department and alleged that students rinsed their mouths with alcohol in the dormitories, even assaulting teachers with sticks.

In a statement, JU clarified that the Journalism and Media Studies department was only established in 2011, making Hamza’s claim false. The administration labeled his allegations as baseless, malicious, and “deeply regrettable,” urging him to refrain from making such unfounded comments.

Police have arrested Enayet Karim Chowdhury, a man who posed as an intelligence operative and allegedly swindled high-profile individuals by promising to have US sanctions lifted against them.

Enayet was detained while moving suspiciously around Minto Road in Dhaka. Investigators say he targeted former government heavyweights who had come under US sanctions, offering them false assurances that he could use his “connections” to remove the restrictions. He even claimed he could arrange meetings with US President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Among those he allegedly approached is fugitive former police chief Benazir Ahmed, along with several other influential figures.

According to investigators, Enayet siphoned off hundreds of crores of taka through these schemes, laundering the money abroad via hundi networks. He is believed to have invested the funds in numerous overseas businesses.

Officials describe Enayet as a “cold-blooded conman” whose prime targets were corrupt and compromised government officials as well as vulnerable political leaders. Masquerading as a CIA agent, he lured them with promises of quick solutions to their troubles or the ability to neutralize rivals.

BNP leader Zahiduddin Swapan has claimed that Sheikh Hasina has fled the country, and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia watched the development on television from her hospital bed.
Speaking at a political program, Swapan said, “Some parties are fueling conflict to prevent elections in February. If this government truly wants to hold a ballot-based election but any group stands in the way, we will expose them before the people. And if anyone dares to misuse the Holy Quran or mosques in this evil game, we believe the devout citizens will understand and resist.”

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has said that no reform will work unless corruption is eradicated from society. “The previous government looted so much wealth that it could have built 100 Padma Bridges. The stolen money equals five years of the national budget,” he alleged.

He argued that the wealthy elite benefit most from corruption, while ordinary citizens are left to suffer. “Ziaur Rahman was an honest leader. Even the Awami League could never accuse him of corruption,” he said, calling for accountable governance and citizen participation to ensure sustainable development.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam has called for the Awami League to be brought under trial as a political party for crimes committed during its tenure.
Speaking after cross-examination as the 47th witness in Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumder, Nahid said, “Sheikh Hasina, as party chief, ordered killings to maintain her grip on power. The people have since overthrown her, making these crimes the responsibility of Awami League as a party. We will formally petition the tribunal for their trial.”
Hasina currently faces two additional cases: one over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during her regime, and another linked to the deadly crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam’s Shapla Square rally.

BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie emphasized the sacrifices of today’s youth in the political struggle, saying, “We never think outside the generation. They wanted movement, and so did we — but they were on the frontlines. They were martyred, disappeared, and killed, just like us.”

Annie noted that unlike in the past, no student organizations mobilized them — they took to the streets on their own, sometimes holding their parents’ hands. “Even when bullets rained from helicopters, they did not back down,” he said.

He added that today’s generation knows Tarique Rahman more directly than late President Ziaur Rahman, but the leadership of Zia, Tarique, and Khaleda Zia carried the same vision for Bangladesh. Annie urged student leaders to embody this generation’s sentiment in campuses across the country.

Dhaka — British MP Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been identified as the owner of a flat in Eastern Housing, according to documents presented in court.

The records were submitted during the fourth day of witness hearings in the corruption case involving RAJUK plot allocations linked to the Sheikh family. On Sunday, three officials from Eastern Housing Ltd. testified, along with Akhtar Jahan, an administrative officer at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

So far, 15 witnesses have testified across three related cases. The next hearing is scheduled for October 6. Earlier witnesses claimed that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered an irregular allocation of a 30-katha plot in Purbachal under the influence of Tulip Siddiq. The ACC subsequently filed cases against 23 individuals.

National Citizen’s Party (NCP) Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud clarified that the party has no plans to change its name. Instead, discussions are ongoing about potential mergers with multiple political parties.
Masud noted, “If the youth forces unite under this banner, it could usher in a new era in Bangladeshi politics.”
Ahead of the upcoming national election, both NCP and Gono Adhikar Parishad leaders have hinted at possible alliances. Talks are centered on whether the two groups will form a coalition or merge into a single entity.

Aminul Islam Hannan, infamously known as ‘Japanese Hannan’, has finally been arrested in connection with murder cases filed during mass uprisings under the previous “fascist” regime.
Police apprehended him Saturday near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Hannan, a long-time fugitive, faces multiple cases including murder, extortion, and violent activities allegedly carried out under political patronage.
He had previously served a lengthy prison term in a separate murder case before being released. Authorities say his arrest marks a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to bring fugitive suspects to justice.

BNP leader Azam Khan has said that certain political groups are working against democracy and attempting to disrupt national harmony.
He claimed, “Fascists have pushed the country toward destruction, but as we try to rebuild and move forward with development, a few parties are creating obstacles. Tarique Rahman will return very soon, and the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting to welcome him.”
At the same event, BNP leader Afroza Abbas emphasized the importance of women’s participation, stating that with half of the country’s population being women, no state can function while excluding them.

Gono Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur is set to travel to Singapore for advanced medical care. He is scheduled to depart on Monday, accompanied by his personal physician, Dr. Sajjad Hossain.
Nur sustained injuries on August 29 during clashes between Gono Adhikar Parishad activists and Jatiya Party members near the party’s central office in Kakrail. The situation escalated when law enforcement intervened with baton charges, leaving Nur and several others injured.

Dhaka — Prominent business leaders of the country sat for a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday afternoon. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also attended the meeting.

Among the business leaders present were BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, Tapan Chowdhury, AK Azad, Nasim Monjur, Kamran T. Rahman, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Taskin Ahmed, MA Hatem, Fazle Ehsan Shamim, and Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini.

Islamic scholar Mufti Amir Hamza has issued a public apology for a series of controversial comments that sparked criticism in recent weeks.

“I have been advised by my organization not to make political statements. From now on, I will confine myself strictly to Qur’anic tafsir,” Hamza stated.

Clarifying a recent comment about the call to prayer at Dhaka University’s Mohsin Hall, Hamza admitted to mistakenly naming the hall instead of Salimullah Muslim Hall. “It was a slip of the tongue. I sincerely apologize. Though injustices occurred during the banned Chhatra League era, I should not have phrased it that way,” he said, vowing to be more cautious.

He also responded to backlash over remarks about alcohol bottles in Jahangirnagar University halls and a comparison involving actress Rashmika Mandanna, explaining that his statements were misinterpreted. “If my words caused offense, I regret it deeply. Mistakes happen when we use comparisons during sermons. I will refrain from such remarks in the future,” Hamza added.

The cleric concluded by recalling his imprisonment during the Awami League government, claiming he still suffers from lingering physical and mental health issues.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has criticized recent incidents in student politics, questioning whether a university Vice President (VP) should act with magisterial authority.
Rizvi remarked, “A VP can file complaints, but can they impose fines like a magistrate? University administration is responsible for monitoring shops and businesses on campus—not student leaders. Yet we see fines being imposed, and the money funneled into Jamaat’s coffers.”
He also condemned the practice of distributing iron beds in university halls under the guise of party initiatives, calling it “an alarming trend.”
His comments followed an incident at Surya Sen Hall, where Hall VP Azizul Haque fined a shop Tk 3,000 for selling monosodium glutamate (MSG). The university proctor later declared the action beyond his jurisdiction.