BNP leader Afroza Khanom Rita has called on party activists to avoid misconduct such as grabbing sand depots or ferry ghats, urging instead to focus on grassroots campaigning.

“With no movement on the streets right now, our only task is to go door-to-door, to every village and neighborhood, and ask for votes for BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol,” Rita said.

She warned that opponents are quick to magnify even minor mistakes into major scandals to mislead the public. “We must remain alert, deliver BNP’s ideals to the people, and thwart conspiracies against the party,” she stressed.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, has announced his candidacy as an independent MP from Dhaka-8 in the upcoming national election.

Hadi voiced opposition to the introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) in the lower house, claiming it would allow the ruling Awami League to push more candidates forward. “We don’t want PR in the lower house. But we definitely want it in the upper house,” he said.

Hadi revealed a “one-page manifesto,” which will be displayed at Shahbagh intersection. “If the people send us to parliament, we will be accountable for how many promises we kept and how many we couldn’t,” he added.

He further noted that while he welcomes support from political parties, he does not intend to run as a candidate under the BNP’s “paddy sheaf” or Jamaat’s “scales” symbols.

Ganosamhati Andolon’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki has warned that certain political groups are attempting to capitalize on the recent coup atmosphere to serve their own interests.

“One group is trying to exploit the people’s struggle against Sheikh Hasina for its own political agenda,” Saki said. “They want to grab power and establish dominance in Bangladesh. But if anyone attempts to snatch away the people’s democratic rights again, the people will resist.”

He urged citizens to stay united and organized to safeguard democratic values.

The Rajshahi University (RU) administration has suspended admission activities under the reinstated “pet quota” following days of student protests.

In an official statement posted on the university’s Facebook page, authorities announced an emergency syndicate meeting scheduled for Sunday to review the overall situation.

Earlier, students from 17 residential halls staged a mass protest, surrounding the Vice Chancellor’s residence late at night and issuing an ultimatum to revoke the quota by midnight.

Meanwhile, RU teachers, officers, and staff declared a full-day work stoppage for Sunday after alleging that pro-quota protesters harassed university officials, including the Pro-Vice Chancellor, following a senate meeting.

Jatiya Party Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud has claimed that Bangladesh’s administration is now fully politicized, questioning how a free and fair election can be held under such circumstances.

He said the 2024 election was one-sided, leading to public disengagement from the voting process. If history repeats, he warned, Bangladesh risks sliding into authoritarian rule akin to Hitler and Mussolini’s regimes.

Highlighting political hypocrisy, Anisul said:
“Those branding Jatiya Party as collaborators once contested elections alongside Awami League. Before the 2014 polls, we held multiple meetings with BNP for an alliance, but BNP’s disinterest thwarted it. Today, Jamaat demands our ban, but we never sought to ban them. In fact, when Awami League banned Jamaat, Jatiya Party opposed it.”

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has issued a strong condemnation and protest against BNP leader Nilufar Chowdhury Moni for blaming the organization for the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad.

In a statement, the student body demanded that Moni immediately apologize to the nation for what they termed as a baseless and misleading remark. Senior leaders of the organization said her comments not only distort the truth but also undermine Bangladesh’s 16-year-long struggle against fascism.

They asserted that Abrar was brutally tortured and murdered by activists of the banned ruling party student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply for speaking out against imperialism. According to Shibir, labeling Abrar with a “Shibir tag” was a deliberate ploy used by his attackers—something later established in court verdicts.

Chhatra Shibir leaders further emphasized that under what they described as a “fascist regime,” their organization has been among the most persecuted in the country. They accused the BNP leader of shielding the crimes of the Awami League and its student wing by scapegoating Shibir.

“Her remarks raise a serious question among the people—whether she is in fact acting as an agent for the fallen fascists,” the statement concluded.

Police have arrested a former army member in connection with an attack on a July Uprising rally in Feni.

The arrest was made early Saturday in the Muhuri Project area with the help of locals, said Jorarganj Police Station officials.

The accused, retired soldier Anwar Hossain (50), was named in a case filed by a Chhatra Dal activist, Sayeedur Rahman, following an attack on a rally in Feni’s Mohipal area on August 4 last year.

OC Saiful Islam confirmed that Anwar faces four additional cases in Sonagazi Police Station, including charges of land grabbing and attempted murder. He has also been sentenced to one year in prison in a separate case in Jashore.

Police have shown him arrested in these cases and produced him before court on Saturday afternoon.

BNP leader Aminul Haque has accused certain political parties of misusing religion for political gain.

“Some parties are selling Islam, while others are deceiving people by exploiting it,” Haque said, citing a viral video where women in burqas allegedly entered homes under the guise of campaigning but instead robbed residents.

Haque described Tarique Rahman’s 31-point program as a blueprint for the nation’s future and urged activists to bring this message to every household. He stressed that a BNP victory would ensure people’s safety, judicial independence, prioritization of education and healthcare, and establishment of good governance.

Recalling years of persecution, he noted, “For 17 years you endured cases and repression. Today, after August 5, 2024, you can walk in freedom and express your views—that is your achievement.”

He urged party workers not just to distribute leaflets, but to engage directly with people to win their trust.

The National Consensus Commission has held another round of discussions with legal and policy experts on implementing the July Charter.

Participants included Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice M.A. Matin, Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, Dhaka University Law Faculty Dean Mohammad Ikramul Haque, senior advocate Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan, Barrister Tanim Hossain Shawon, and Barrister Imran Siddiq.

The session reviewed previous consultations with political parties, summarizing their suggestions, concerns, and recommendations. Experts then provided detailed opinions on methods and strategies for implementation.

Based on these inputs, the commission plans to evaluate party positions and outline a future roadmap for the charter’s execution.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has announced that the July Memorial Museum will document the atrocities of Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule, including the Pilkhana massacre, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, the Shapla massacre, and widespread election rigging.

During a briefing, adviser and filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki informed Yunus that construction of the museum will be completed by October 31, with an inauguration planned for the first week of November.

“The museum will curate the dark history of fascism and state repression, preserving it for future generations,” Yunus said, thanking those involved in the project.

Chief Curator Tanzim Wahab added that the museum is being developed in coordination with the ICT prosecution team and the Commission on Enforced Disappearances.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar dismissed allegations that the party distributed cash to influence voters as baseless. “There is not a single piece of evidence showing money was handed out to woo voters. Why would we do that? These are groundless claims,” he said, responding to accusations that certain village committees (VCs) belong to Jamaat.

Parwar challenged critics to publish names if they insist 16 VCs are Jamaat’s, asking who controls the remaining VCs — pointing out that they belong to other parties. On recent organizational changes in Chattogram — including the removal of metropolitan amir Shajahan Chowdhury and others — Parwar said leadership changes were made for organizational reasons, not due to irregularities. “For organizational needs, we appointed a new acting amir there,” he said, noting that no one is above discipline and the party acts when misconduct is discovered.

Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan urged stronger institutional capacity, transparency and accountability in pollution control and law enforcement, saying erroneous environmental clearances are unacceptable. “Law enforcement is not simply about fines,” she said, adding that transparency, alternative measures and public participation must accompany enforcement.

Rizwana called for priority action against major polluters such as dyeing factories, cement plants and brick kilns, and urged authorities to identify the worst offenders and take planned, budgeted measures against them. “Publish the names of polluters. If information is open, the public will help resist political pressure,” she said.

She strongly criticized grants of clearance to establish waste-disposal centres in flood-flow zones or environmentally sensitive areas, calling such permits illegal and irresponsible. “Even under political pressure, objections must be raised. If you cannot perform your duties, be transferred — but never compromise the environment,” she said, citing an instance where a polluting ceramic factory received a national award as an example of misplaced rewards. “Polluters should be punished, not rewarded.”

The four-day South Asia Trade Fair 2025 in Dhaka features participants from SAARC countries, offering visitors a variety of products under one roof. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka have brought items ranging from textiles, fashion, and electronics to processed foods, jewelry, home appliances, and kitchenware. The event highlights regional trade opportunities, cultural diversity, and business potential while attracting buyers and promoting both local and international market growth. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Sunday.

Three police officers have been withdrawn from their posts following allegations that they failed to perform field duties — opting instead to eat and rest — while deployed to stop a march by the activity-banned Awami League.

The officers are: Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur) Mehedi Hasan, Inspector Abdul Alim, and Duty Officer SI Masudur Rahman. The decision followed an inspection by DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam on Friday, who recommended administrative action. DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali signed the withdrawal order.

According to police sources, prior intelligence had warned of the Awami League’s programme across the city and officers were instructed to remain on duty. Inspectors later found four to five police vehicles parked at a station, with officers absent from their posts — some away for lunch and others reportedly resting. DMP spokesman Talebur Rahman said, for administrative reasons, the assistant commissioner has been transferred to DMP headquarters while the inspector and duty officer have been attached to the Central Reserve Office.

Heavy rainfall upstream and flash floods have caused water levels in the Jamuna River and other internal rivers, including Baral, Hurasagar, Fuljor, Kartoa, and Ichamoti, to rise in Sirajganj. Low-lying riverine areas and wetlands are inundated, putting winter vegetable crops at risk. Over the past six days, water levels have increased significantly but remain below danger levels. Authorities have assured there is no immediate flood risk, though water levels may continue rising for the next few days.