BNP standing committee member Abdul Moin Khan stated that mutual trust and respect among political parties are essential for successful reform.

He cautioned against rigid, traditional approaches, warning that clinging to them could lead to disasters like the events of August 5. Moin urged open-minded dialogue, alongside greater use of technology for national security, energy, food supply, media, and social platforms.

On elections, he noted: “All parties agree on one thing—elections must be fair. Whoever the people vote for, they should win. There should be no dispute about this.”

BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury declared that the party is committed to political stability, warning that any attempt to destabilize the country will incur “political compensation.”

Speaking after visiting injured leader Nurul Haque Nur, Khasru said the absence of an elected government has removed accountability, as seen in Nur’s case. He added that while differences in political demands are natural, all parties must ultimately engage with the people.

Continuing his testimony in the crimes against humanity case, July uprising leader Nahid Islam directly accused Sheikh Hasina, the former home minister, and top law enforcement officials of bearing responsibility for the July killings.

Nahid told the tribunal that the Hasina administration pressured detained leaders to call off protests and suppressed media coverage from July 16 onward. He demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of civil society group SUJAN, stressed that corruption must be eliminated from politics and elections if Bangladesh’s democratic process is to be restored.

He noted that despite adequate legal frameworks, corruption tainted the past three elections. “If corruption persists in the coming election, democracy cannot be strengthened,” he warned, adding that unethical practices in politics threaten state stability.

In a high-profile crimes against humanity case, political leader Nahid Islam appeared for a second day of testimony against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others.

Nahid, the final witness for the prosecution, earlier described alleged repression of students during the July uprising. On Thursday, he continued detailing events before the tribunal, which had heard his hour-and-a-half-long testimony the previous day.

Meanwhile, the tribunal is set to deliver a ruling today on whether charges will be framed against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and four others in a separate murder case.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman emphasized that the party has consistently modernized itself to meet the demands of time and contemporary challenges.

Speaking on the party’s 31-point program, he said BNP’s policies are built on commitments to education, healthcare, youth employment, climate change, and digital innovation. Ahead of the national election, he stressed the importance of winning every voter’s trust, noting that the party is reaching out across all social classes and professions.

Rahman revealed that over 7,000 members have faced organizational action following complaints, part of efforts to rebuild public trust—especially among the youth, who seek participatory politics rather than a mere “game of power.”

He invoked the legacy of Ziaur Rahman’s multi-party democracy and Khaleda Zia’s uncompromising struggle against autocracy, urging unity, discipline, and commitment to public service.

Police detained Kabir Hossain Patwari, the recently suspended Divisional Forest Officer of Barishal, on Wednesday night amid allegations of contracting 17 marriages.

Authorities say Kabir attempted to leave Barishal under cover of darkness but was intercepted by locals, including contractors, who accused him of borrowing large sums of money without repayment. A scuffle broke out at the scene before police intervened and took him into custody.

Police stated the move was made to prevent unrest and that the complaints against Kabir will be investigated further.

A special drive by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in Banani led to the seizure of 15 kilograms of shisha from two popular lounges on Wednesday evening.

The raid, which began around 7:30 PM, simultaneously targeted Al Gecino and Habana Shisha Bar. Officials recovered 10.5 kg of shisha, 10 packs of coal, and various smoking paraphernalia from Al Gecino, while 4.5 kg of shisha was seized from Habana.

Two individuals—Miraz and Rizvi—were detained from Habana during the operation, according to DNC sources.

A total of 176 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya’s Tajoura Detention Center with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

They are expected to arrive at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 18 via Buraq Airlines.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, along with embassy officials, bid them farewell at the Libyan Immigration Department’s reception center. He urged migrants to avoid illegal migration routes, warning that such attempts lead not only to financial and physical harm but also cause suffering for families and society at large.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves have once again crossed the $31 billion mark, according to central bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

As of Wednesday, gross reserves stand at $31 billion, up from $30.59 billion earlier. Under the BPM6 calculation method, reserves rose to $26.08 billion from $25.75 billion. Sources confirmed that net reserves now exceed $21 billion, though the exact figure remains unpublished.

The reserves had dipped to $30.3 billion on September 7 after Bangladesh Bank settled $1.5 billion in import payments through the Asian Clearing Union.

GOP leader Rashed Khan has demanded that the Awami League, Jatiya Party, and the 14-party alliance be barred from contesting elections until ongoing trials against them are concluded.

Speaking at a press conference, he said, “Their organizational activities must be suspended. If the court later permits them to pursue different politics, we will not object.”

He further alleged that a section of the government is deliberately blocking treatment abroad for ailing leader Nur, fearing it would harm the image of the army and police. Rashed warned, “If the interim government cannot protect the heroes of the mass uprising, and if a 1/11-style situation returns, no one will be safe.”

Government adviser Mahfuz Alam has called for a special edition of Nabarun magazine dedicated to the children martyred in the July uprising, featuring their writings and personal memorabilia.

Speaking to officials from the Department of Films and Publications, he stressed the importance of publishing children’s artwork and writings in the magazine to inspire creativity among the younger generation. “Regardless of which government is in power, we must remain impartial when it comes to children and youth,” he said.

Mahfuz also urged writers to contribute articles on the Language Movement, the Liberation War, the 1974 uprising, and broader socio-economic issues. He recommended digitizing all past editions of Nabarun since its inception in 1970 and making them publicly accessible, while also introducing a special section for new writers, with at least five featured in each issue.

The Noakhali District BNP has issued show-cause notices to Companiganj BNP’s acting president Haji Abdul Mannan Monaf and general secretary Ali Akbar for demanding the release of suspended party leader Shahab Uddin, who is currently jailed in a stone theft case.

District BNP president Abdul Qayum Chowdhury said, “The party’s top leadership has already suspended all posts and positions of Shahab Uddin. By publicly demanding his release, the Companiganj unit has committed a serious breach of party discipline. Appropriate action will be taken once their responses are reviewed.”

Earlier on September 15, the Companiganj BNP issued a statement calling Shahab Uddin a “frontline fighter against past autocratic regimes” who is now being held on “false charges.”

The Shibir-backed panel “Combined Student Alliance” has submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission, outlining seven demands for the upcoming RUCSU hall parliament and senate student representative polls.

Their key demands include:

Use of error-free OMR machines for vote counting, with manual checks allowed upon complaints.

Installation of CCTV cameras at polling centers.

Full access and facilities for polling agents.

Special ID cards for journalists.

Restriction of public entry to campus on election day.

Assurance of complete neutrality from the Election Commission.

Panel VP candidate Mostakur Rahman Zahid accused Chhatra Dal of repeatedly violating the electoral code of conduct by campaigning in classrooms and hiring janitors for promotional activities.

He also criticized the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum for submitting demands on behalf of Chhatra Dal, saying, “It is unprofessional for a mother organization to intervene in student politics.”

Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul has said that his efforts in reforming Bangladesh’s legal and judicial systems will leave a lasting legacy.

“If future governments continue these reforms, ordinary citizens will finally receive true justice,” he said, adding that many of the benefits will unfold gradually over time.

He highlighted a new ordinance that makes mediation mandatory before filing cases on family disputes, parental support, house rent, preemption, partition, and dowry matters. Under the law, parties must first attempt mediation; only if that fails can they proceed to court.

Nazrul stressed that this system will reduce costs, save time, ease case backlogs, and resolve disputes more efficiently. “I am not a footballer or stage actor whose results are instantly visible,” he remarked. “But I am doing work that will be recognized by history.”