EU Ambassador Michael Miller paid a courtesy visit and held discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday at the party chief’s residence. Deputy Head of Delegation Beiba Zerina also attended the meeting.

The discussions focused on issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the European Union, with particular emphasis on strengthening Bangladesh’s democracy. Both parties expressed optimism that cooperation, development, and progress between them will continue in the future.

Ambassador Miller also inquired about Dr. Rahman’s health. The meeting included preliminary discussions about a high-level EU delegation visit to Jamaat-e-Islami, scheduled for mid-September.

Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saleh Hasan Nakib has sharply criticized student unrest over campus polls, saying:
"You lock doors, you engage in clashes, and then demand that I conduct your election. This is like asking for favors at your uncle’s house."

He emphasized that failure to maintain discipline during the long-awaited RAKSU (Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union) elections reflects poorly on students themselves.

Praising the university’s election commission for not resigning despite intense pressure, the VC noted:
"Some teachers also showed resilience by not backing away despite the vile slogans and chaos. The proctorial body has acted with patience and avoided drastic measures, which is why we are at this stage."

He expressed disappointment that calls for military involvement in a student union election even arose:
"If it requires the army to hold such an election, that is painful for our entire student community."

The remarks came days after student activists padlocked the treasurer’s office and vandalized furniture.

Another group of Bangladeshi nationals has been deported from the United States over allegations of undocumented stay. This time, 30 Bangladeshis were sent back under the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. Their flight landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 11:30 pm on Thursday. Among them were 29 men and one woman.

Since President Trump’s re-election for a second term, U.S. deportation drives have accelerated, sending back citizens of multiple countries, including Bangladesh. So far, 187 Bangladeshis have been deported in three separate phases.

The government plans to give the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) the power to recommend appointments of principals, head teachers, and assistant head teachers in private educational institutions. Previously managed by school committees prone to corruption, these appointments will now prioritize qualified candidates based on NTRCA recommendations. A committee under the Ministry of Education will finalize selection procedures and ensure transparency. Parents and teachers have long demanded this reform to prevent mismanagement and favoritism in school leadership appointments.

Bangladesh is set to become the first country in Asia to introduce AI-powered portable ultrasound machines, in what is being hailed as a major leap for the nation’s healthcare sector.

The initiative comes from US-based company Exo Imaging, whose co-founders Yusuf Haque and Sandeep Akkaraju met with the Chief Adviser on Thursday.

The devices—already FDA-approved and in use in the United States—will first be rolled out in top hospitals before expanding to rural and community health centers.

“This technology will make advanced diagnostics accessible even in remote areas,” Haque said. Akkaraju added that Bangladesh’s adoption of the technology marks a pioneering step for the region.

The Chief Adviser welcomed the move, calling it a “significant milestone towards universal healthcare.”

The National Consensus Commission on Thursday continued discussions on finalizing and implementing the July National Charter 2025.

The meeting, chaired by Vice-Chairman Prof. Ali Riaz, reviewed linguistic accuracy, analyzed political party feedback, and considered practical strategies for execution.

The Commission is expected to hold expert consultations next week before sending the finalized charter and recommendations to political parties for endorsement.

Union Bank has agreed to a merger plan amid ongoing restructuring efforts in Bangladesh’s troubled banking sector. However, EXIM Bank has sought more time, saying it needs to focus on its recovery plan first. Bangladesh Bank is holding a series of meetings with weak banks, including Union, EXIM, First Security Islami, Global Islami, and Social Islami. Officials revealed that S. Alam Group withdrew hundreds of billions of taka from some banks, worsening their crises and delaying depositor repayments.

The government has approved the Telecommunication Network and Licensing Policy, aimed at reducing monopoly control and eliminating middlemen in the sector to ensure affordable, high-quality services.

According to Faiz Ahmed Tayyab, the new framework consolidates licensing into just three tiers, with an additional license for satellite-based telecom services.

“This will promote competition and help keep voice and data services within people’s purchasing power,” he said, adding that operators can now provide multiple services under a single license.

The policy also opens the door for new entrants to Bangladesh’s mobile telecom market and enables technologies like private 5G, Voice over WiFi, WiFi-6, and WiFi-7.

The interim government may declare a new pay structure for government employees before the February national election if time allows, according to Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. A pay commission, formed in July, is preparing recommendations considering inflation and socio-economic realities, with its report due within six months. However, the implementation will be carried out by the next elected government. Meanwhile, employees will continue to receive dearness allowance until the new structure is finalized.

Asaduzzaman Fuad, a leader of AB Party, has issued a stark warning to the interim government, saying it will face “grave consequences” if the attack on Nurul Haque Nur goes unpunished.

“Before stepping onto the gallows, the advisers of this government should take care of their own nooses,” Fuad said while visiting Nur at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

He claimed that names of several advisers were already on “assassination plans” lists, adding that justice must be swift and exemplary.

Fuad alleged that senior army officers gave the command for the attack, yet no action has been taken against them. He further linked the incident to “a long-term conspiracy against Bangladesh’s sovereignty under Indian dominance.”

The Shramik Adhikar Parishad has warned of a siege at the Secretariat if justice is not delivered for the recent attack on Nurul Haque Nur.

At a protest rally, leader Abu Hanif said:
“On August 29, Nur and over a hundred activists, including Al Imran and Nazmul Hasan, were injured in an assault allegedly carried out by police and army personnel. Six days have passed, yet no action has been taken.”

Hanif declared that the attack on Nur was tantamount to an attack on July’s mass uprising. He accused elements within the administration of trying to bring back the Awami League through the Jatiya Party.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that freedom of expression by political parties, regardless of stance, is a hallmark of democratic culture and should not be dismissed as mud-slinging.

Speaking at a briefing, Rizvi alleged that though Sheikh Hasina has fled, her loyalists within the administration continue to orchestrate unrest to undermine the interim government and obstruct free elections.

He accused former regime figures of conspiring to destabilize the country, warning that no power is greater than the people. “No matter how many conspiracies are hatched, they will fail, and democracy will return through fair elections,” he added.

Rizvi also praised the innovative talents of student Nabil, noting that acting BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has extended congratulations and financial support to him.

July Unity has issued an ultimatum demanding the ban of the National Party and 14 other parties allied with the Awami League, citing their role in alleged genocide, oppression, and disruption of democracy. The group consulted with families of martyrs, injured activists, and 80 organizations aligned with the July Mass Uprising before deciding. If the interim government fails to act by September 9, July Unity plans legal measures and street protests to enforce the ban and hold these parties accountable.

The Finance Division has approved the procurement of 220 vehicles—including 195 Mitsubishi Pajero QX-2427cc SUVs and 25 microbuses—for deputy commissioners’ offices and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to ensure smooth functioning during the upcoming national elections in February.

Each SUV will cost Tk 1.69 crore, while each microbus is priced at Tk 52 lakh, bringing the total expenditure to over Tk 343 crore.

The approval comes with conditions: the new vehicles will be used as replacements, and the old ones must be declared unserviceable by BRTA inspectors before disposal.

Earlier, on August 21, a proposal was also placed for 280 vehicles, including 60 earmarked for ministers, advisers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the next elected government. The Finance Division has now given its nod to that proposal as well.

BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy called for vigilance against inequality masquerading as reform. He cautioned that voters need to recognize candidates personally, rather than blindly following party symbols or slogans.

He emphasized that the nation’s citizens cast their votes based on parties, individuals, and reputation. “We must focus on holding timely, single-issue elections nationwide. When the entire country engages in elections, conspirators will have nowhere to hide,” he said.

Addressing participants of the July uprising, Roy urged them to focus on the future, warning against becoming pawns in political games and instead dedicating themselves to establishing democracy. He also praised Tarique Rahman’s leadership, noting that despite his long stay abroad, Rahman has not faltered in guiding the movement. “He will continue to play a key role in defending democracy in the future,” Roy said.