Islamic movement leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman of sharing identical disdain towards Islamic clerics.

"Joy cannot tolerate bearded men with caps, and Tarique says the same. There’s no difference in their stance," he declared at a rally in Narayanganj.

He also criticized BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, saying while he respects Fakhrul’s honesty in admitting disbelief in Sharia law, BNP’s violent rhetoric contradicts democratic values:
"Threatening to break the legs of those voting for opponents—that is dictatorship, that is extremism."

Faizul Karim also revisited Bangladesh’s electoral history, branding both the 1973 and BNP-era elections as “questionable” and marked by one-party dominance.

Chief Returning Officer Mohammad Jasim Uddin clarified that the DUCSU election commission had considered seeking assistance from security agencies, including the army, for candidate protection. However, he stressed:
"The plan remains, but we don’t need to contact the army directly. If needed, we will inform the university administration, who will coordinate with law enforcement."

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that the government has issued no directive for army deployment in student union polls, nor is such involvement expected.

Earlier, Returning Officer Prof. Golam Rabbani had announced a three-layered security plan for election day, with army presence considered at seven checkpoints.

On Thursday, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over 15 Bangladeshi nationals detained at the Taluigacha border in Satkhira to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The group—men, women, and children from Satkhira, Pirojpur, and Khulna—had been arrested the previous night while attempting to cross into India illegally through the Hakimpur checkpoint.

OC Shaminul Haque confirmed that the detainees were returned following a flag meeting and would be released to guardians once documentation is complete.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s health condition remains stable, according to her physician Dr. AZM Zahid, who spoke after her check-up at Evercare Hospital on Thursday evening.

He criticized the Awami League government for alleged negligence:
"Had she received timely treatment, her condition could have improved much more. Unfortunately, her medical care was long neglected during this period."

Khaleda Zia arrived at Evercare around 7:30 p.m. and returned to her residence in Firoza after 11 p.m.

BNP leader Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu revealed that Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has advised party members to remain patient, united, and free from greed.
Speaking at the airport after returning from London, Lalu said, “Tarique Rahman sends greetings to all. He urged leaders to uphold discipline, unity, and integrity to strengthen the party’s activities for the people.”
Meanwhile, senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and his son Dr. Khandaker Maruf Hossain returned home after a 12-day trip to London.

Remembering the founder of BIRDEM Hospital, Associate Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman highlighted the lasting legacy of National Professor Ibrahim.

Speaking at a commemorative program, Dr. Rahman said:

“Even if books are written about Professor Ibrahim, his story would remain incomplete. In Dhaka Medical College, some mocked his work in the classroom, but nobody remembers them today. What people do remember is that Professor Ibrahim created the world’s largest non-profit healthcare organization.”

Dr. Rahman expressed concern over the prevailing competitive mindset in the country, saying:

“Our environment drives us only to compete with one another. The willingness to share knowledge or success is rare. To build collaboration and coordination among hospital teams, we need more institutions like BIRDEM.”

Despite its limitations, BIRDEM continues to set an example in both quality and service, he added.

BNP leader Hummam Quader Chowdhury has demanded justice for what he described as 16 years of political repression, including false cases and attacks.

“Those who carried out torture, filed false cases, and unleashed attacks over the past 16 years must be brought to justice. If the government thinks it will take time, then let them leave it to us—we will ensure justice ourselves,” Hummam declared.

He emphasized that the people of Rangunia would decide their own leadership even before Tarique Rahman’s return, rejecting attempts to impose decisions from Dhaka.

“We don’t run committees as a business. Leadership will be chosen by the people, not dictated from the city,” he said.

Hummam also revealed plans to prepare a list of drug dealers, vowing:

“We will clear them out before the elections.”

Calling on BNP activists to stay united, he cautioned against group rivalries weakening nationalist forces.

“We must never bow our heads. We must stand tall and proudly say we are Zia’s soldiers,” he told party workers.

Expressing confidence in the upcoming election, he added:

“I believe the people will deliver a landslide victory to BNP and send us to Parliament.”

Identifying himself as a true son of Rangunia, Hummam said:

“I have been a voter here since the age of 18. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was a tiger—you heard his roar. I am his son.”

The Director General-level conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) concluded with both sides agreeing on 10 key measures, including the goal of reducing cross-border killings, assaults, and violence to zero.

The BGB chief expressed deep concern over indiscriminate shootings by BSF that killed or injured unarmed Bangladeshi civilians. In response, the BSF DG reaffirmed India’s commitment to stricter measures, pledging increased night patrols in high-risk areas.

Both sides emphasized timely intelligence sharing and coordinated border management to curb smuggling. Bangladesh also raised concerns over illegal push-ins of Indian nationals and displaced Myanmar citizens. The BSF promised to adhere to agreed repatriation protocols.

Mokbul Hossain, father of martyr Abu Sayeed, gave an emotional testimony at Tribunal-2 during a war crimes trial related to his son’s killing.

"I had hoped to live to see my son get a job. That did not happen. Now I only wish to live long enough to see justice for his murder," said Mokbul, breaking down before the court.

Alongside him, journalist AKM Moinul Haque of NTV Rangpur and cameraman Asaduzzaman Arman also testified. On Wednesday, prosecutors opened the case, stressing that the trial was not just about punishment but about establishing justice and strengthening the nation’s foundation for the future.

Engineering students protesting under the “Engineering Rights Movement” blocked traffic at Matsya Bhaban intersection for an hour Thursday afternoon, burning an effigy of DC Masud Alam.
The march began from BUET and passed Shaheed Minar, TSC, Press Club, and the High Court before reaching Matsya Bhaban, where police halted the procession. Students staged a sit-in, halting traffic across the area, though they allowed ambulances to pass.
Later, they moved near IEB, causing further disruptions. Student leader Tasrif demanded: “The Home Affairs Adviser must apologize, DC Masud must be dismissed, and our three-point demands must be implemented immediately.”

For the first time, prisoners will be able to exercise their voting rights during the upcoming national election, Election Commission Secretary Akhter Ahmed announced.
Under the newly declared roadmap, ballot papers will be delivered to prisons two weeks before election day. The roadmap outlines 24 key initiatives in 207 steps, including electoral law reforms, finalizing constituency boundaries, and ensuring voting rights for expatriates and inmates.
Expatriate Bangladeshis will also vote through postal ballots, with registration closing on November 30. Their ballot papers will be sent abroad by January 5 and returned a week before the polls.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has come under scrutiny after falsely claiming that a viral image of an officer pressing his hand over a student’s mouth during protests was generated using artificial intelligence.

The incident occurred Wednesday as BUET students marching towards the Jamuna Bridge clashed with police, facing water cannons and sound grenades. Photographs of the crackdown quickly went viral, drawing widespread outrage.

DMP shared the controversial image on social media, labeling it AI-generated. However, multiple professional photographers, including Rajib Dhar of The Business Standard and Joyita Roy of Bangladesh Pratidin, confirmed capturing the same moment from different angles. Joyita posted her shot on Facebook, saying:
"I took this photograph right when students broke the barricade at Hare Road and police retaliated. Many other journalists recorded it too."

Fact-checker Kaderuddin Shishir has also verified the photo’s authenticity.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against former minister Latif Siddiqui and 14 others, who were detained from the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises.

DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed that the case is being processed at Shahbagh Police Station, with police as complainant. Asked whether the detainees belonged to the Awami League, he said:
"We are not looking at political affiliations. We found evidence of sabotage plans on their mobile devices, which is why legal action is being taken."

The arrests followed a chaotic incident Thursday afternoon when a group identifying themselves as “July Warriors” stormed into a DRU roundtable discussion. Around 12:15 p.m., they handed over 15 individuals, including Siddiqui, to police.

Jamaat leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has warned that without adopting a proportional representation (PR) election system, Bangladesh risks political conflict and bloodshed.
“You are a product of the July spirit,” Taher told the Chief Adviser, accusing him of betraying promises of reform. “You announced elections without implementing reform and justice first. This pushes the nation into uncertainty.”
He urged immediate dialogue and threatened mass street protests. “Millions will surround polling centers. If this is a managed election, ballots won’t even reach the booths,” he declared. Taher also called on the Election Commission to frame its roadmap around PR-based reforms.

Explosive witness testimonies in three Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases allege that Sheikh Rehana, her daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti falsely identified themselves as “homeless, helpless, and poor” to secure residential plots from RAJUK despite owning multiple properties.
One witness claimed Sheikh Rehana herself sought allocations under this pretense for herself and her children. ACC prosecutor Khan Md. Moinul Hasan said the next hearing is set for September 4.
On July 31, charges were formally framed in three cases implicating Rehana, Tulip, Sheikh Hasina, and other family members — with 17 to 18 accused in each case.