Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that the ongoing protest in Bhanga, Faridpur, over the exclusion of Algi and Hamerdi unions from the Faridpur-4 constituency, has caused suffering in several districts and “will not be tolerated.”
“If the blockade is not lifted by Sunday evening, legal measures will be taken,” he said.
He also revealed that the government has long been considering reducing prison sentences, prioritizing elderly inmates. Women who have served 20 years may be released, while criteria for men are yet to be finalized.
On upcoming festivals, he said committee disputes over Puja must be resolved to ensure smooth celebrations. He praised law and order during recent DUCSU and JUCSU elections and confirmed preparations are underway for the national polls, including recruitment and training.

The National Consensus Commission has held multiple rounds of talks with political parties to implement the July Charter, but differences remain. NCP Convenor Nahid Islam earlier said his party would only contest elections if the July Charter is enforced.
Commission Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that while most parties supported proportional representation in the upper house, BNP and a few others opposed it. Out of 20 agenda points in the second round, BNP issued notes of dissent on seven.
“BNP’s goodwill could make immediate implementation possible. Blocking it would be a betrayal of the nation,” Akhtar warned. He stressed that all constitution-related points agreed upon must be included in the new constitution, otherwise “street action will follow with all parties united.”
Senior leader Ariful Islam Adib added that only a Constituent Assembly election can provide durability to the July Charter, but accused BNP of reducing it to a political compromise while keeping the old structure intact.

Leaders and activists from BNP, Jamaat, and the All-Party Combined Committee enforced sit-ins and protests on Sunday across all government offices in Bagerhat district and its upazilas, demanding the reinstatement of the district’s four parliamentary seats.
From morning, protesters besieged the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Election Commission office, and other government institutions, shutting down administrative activities. Demonstrators announced a series of programs: a dawn-to-dusk strike across the district on Monday, half-day strikes and highway blockades on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Identical protests were observed in all nine upazilas, where activists occupied spaces in front of UNO and election offices. The program is set to continue until 5 PM.

Police have arrested M.M. Siddiqi Manji, chairman of Algir Union Parishad, who was the chief coordinator of a three-day highway blockade set to begin Sunday in Bhanga, Faridpur.

Detectives detained him late Saturday night from his home. In response, authorities deployed armed vehicles, water cannons, and intensified patrols on the highways to avert unrest.

The blockade is part of ongoing protests against the government’s decision to redraw boundaries, merging Algir and Hamridi unions from Faridpur-4 constituency into Faridpur-2.

Despite previous demonstrations, Manji announced a fresh three-day morning-to-evening blockade on Saturday evening—hours before his arrest.

Two more bodies—a 7-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman—were recovered from the Dhanua River in Khaliajuri, Netrokona, following Friday’s speedboat collision with a fishing boat.

The victims were identified as Laila Akter (7) and Shirin Akter (18). Earlier, the body of Ushamoni (7) had been recovered. One child, Samia Akter, is still missing.

The accident occurred when a speedboat, rented for a wedding party, took 15 passengers on a pleasure ride before the official journey began. The boat capsized, leaving four people missing—three of whom have now been confirmed dead.

The newly elected Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Executive Council held its first meeting on Sunday morning at the Vice-Chancellor’s office complex.

Presided over by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, the session was attended by DUCSU VP Sadiq Kayem, GS SM Farhad, AGS Mohiuddin Khan, and other council members.

At the end of the meeting, it was announced that five student representatives would be nominated to the Dhaka University Senate:

VP Sadiq Kayem

GS SM Farhad

AGS Mohiuddin Khan

Most-voted member Sabikun Nahar Tamanna

Transport Secretary Asif Abdullah

Speaking after the meeting, VP Sadiq Kayem said:
“From today, we officially begin working for the students. We are committed to solving their problems and meeting their expectations.”

Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader has criticized party chief GM Quader’s political record, saying:
“GM Quader has never spent a single day in jail and has never been able to lead major rallies or mass movements.”

Hawlader stressed that recent events—the July uprising and the DUCSU and JUCSU elections—hold important lessons for political parties:
“If politics is driven by arrogance, vengeance, and hostility, downfall is inevitable. To win people’s hearts, politics must be about love, humility, and national welfare.”

He declared that despite 35 years out of state power, Jatiya Party has endured repression but remains committed to its symbol, the plough, which “will stay in the hands of the elected leadership, now under Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud.”

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president Zahidul Islam hailed the JUCSU election results as a triumph for students, drawing parallels with Dhaka University’s outcome.

In a statement, he wrote:
“Alhamdulillah. This victory is purely by the grace of the Almighty. On a campus where being identified with Shibir once meant a death sentence, today’s result is historic. We will not hold any celebratory processions across the country—our gratitude will be expressed only in prostration before Allah.”

Zahidul added, “We hold no grudges against anyone. We seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and those of our allied organizations. Let humility be our pride, and generosity our ornament. Jahangirnagar University should stand as a beacon of harmony, and our beloved motherland, Bangladesh, must belong equally to all.”

The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election results were declared in a charged atmosphere as the Senate building premises echoed with slogans such as “Justice for Killer Hasina” and “Justice for Shahbagh.”
Similar chants had erupted during the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election results announcement in the past.

After 33 years, the JUCSU election saw the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed coalition “Combined Student Alliance” secure a majority of positions, including the General Secretary (GS) and two Assistant GS posts.

VP: Independent candidate Abdur Rashid (Jitu)

GS: Md. Mazharul Islam (Shibir-backed) – 3,930 votes

AGS (Male): Ferdous Al Hasan (Shibir-backed) – 2,358 votes

AGS (Female): Ayesha Siddika Meghla (Shibir-backed) – 3,402 votes

In total, the coalition won 20 posts, consolidating its influence in the long-anticipated student body polls.

During a media reform discussion, journalists demanded a review of the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations, the introduction of a “No Wage Board, No Media” policy, and a minimum monthly salary of Tk 35,000.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam welcomed many of the commission’s recommendations but strongly opposed the proposal to scrap the clause on “hurting religious sentiments.”
“Religion-related violence is a serious issue, and penalties must remain in place to prevent it,” he said. He endorsed the “No Wage Board, No Media” proposal and added that editors and publishers should not hold union positions, as it conflicts with policy. Journalists, he said, should be certified to prevent “pseudo-journalism” from harming the profession.
He also suggested security deposits: Tk 10–15 crore for online media, Tk 20 crore for newspapers, and Tk 20–25 crore for TV channels.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have expressed deep grief over the passing of legendary singer Farida Parveen.
They described her as the “living voice of Lalon songs,” whose renditions carried not just melody but also messages of humanity, equality, love, and truth.
“With her death, the nation has lost a towering artist, and Bangla music has lost an irreplaceable voice,” their statement said. They extended heartfelt condolences to her family, the cultural community, and her countless admirers.

Adviser Farida Akhter has declared that those using illegal fishing nets are “enemies of the country,” as they are depriving people of food.
She called for strict action not only against users but also against factories producing and selling such nets. “Raids must be conducted to shut down illegal net production,” she said.
Highlighting the need for more fish sanctuaries, she urged increased government allocations to support fish breeding. She stressed that agricultural diversification could also boost production and that new projects would be launched in the future.
Akhter emphasized inter-ministerial coordination—between the ministries of fisheries, water resources, and shipping—for effective conservation. She acknowledged that despite extensive government drives to protect jatka and conserve hilsa, low rainfall and reduced river navigability have hindered the migration of hilsa from sea to river this season, leading to lower catches.

Padma Bridge South Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Parvez Ahmed Selim has been removed from his post after hosting a banquet attended by a local Jubo League leader in Shariatpur’s Jajira.
According to reports, the police station had organized its monthly feast on Friday afternoon, where OC Selim invited Moktar Bepari, president of Naodoba Union Jubo League. The invitation sparked criticism.
Following the backlash, Bepari was arrested Friday night on charges of involvement with anti-discrimination student protests and presented before the court on Saturday. OC Selim has since been transferred to the police lines.

Adviser Fauzul Kabir Khan has stated that even if the Awami League remains banned, its supporters still retain their constitutional right to vote. “No one can dictate which party they will vote for,” he stressed.
Khan reiterated that the interim government has no political affiliation and will ensure a free, fair, and neutral election. He warned that no government official will be allowed to take sides: “If anyone does, strict action will be taken immediately.”
He added that regardless of which party wins, civil servants must work under the elected government. Reflecting on the 2018 polls, he said: “That was a ‘Lailatul election’—but now the situation is different.”
On other issues, Khan confirmed that there is no electricity crisis at present, though some industries face gas shortages, which will be resolved. He also acknowledged public inconvenience due to construction of the Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway but said: “Temporary hardships for development are nothing.”

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed the submission of information to prepare the gradation list for assistant teachers who joined in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Schools have been asked to send two hard copies of the required documents by September 30. These include copies of personal applications, service records, attested academic certificates, regularization orders, appointment and joining letters, and certifications regarding departmental or criminal cases, as well as audit objections.