Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned home Wednesday night after an official visit to China.
According to ISPR, he received a Guard of Honor upon arrival at PLA headquarters on August 22. He later met General Chen Hui, Political Commissar of China’s Ground Force, to discuss strategic cooperation, people-to-people engagement, repatriation of displaced Myanmar nationals, and support for Bangladesh’s defense industry.
On August 23, he also held talks with Chen Defang, President of China’s Norinco Group, and toured key military installations and factories.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has sharply criticized the announcement of the election roadmap before finalizing the July Charter, calling it a violation of commitments made by the Consensus Commission and the interim government.
NCP leader Ariful Islam Adib said the public expected justice and reform from the government, but the lack of a clear implementation roadmap in the July Charter draft was deeply disappointing. Adib revealed that six proposals were discussed within the Consensus Commission, including demands for a Constituent Assembly election, while other parties pushed for a referendum or constitutional reforms.
He expressed frustration that, despite these discussions, the Chief Adviser unilaterally announced an election date. “We accepted it in the greater interest of the nation, but it was agreed that substantial progress in reforms and justice must precede elections,” Adib stressed.
He warned that preparing for elections without finalizing the Charter’s implementation process risks future political crises.

BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of a national election roadmap.
“The nation is now moving toward elections. If polls are held, it will bring a major economic shift. The time for political games is over—it’s time to build the nation,” he said.
Khasru added that BNP has prepared to create 10 million jobs within 18 months if elected, stressing equal opportunities for all political parties.

BNP leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed dismissed calls for constitutional change through the “July Declaration,” stating:
“No charter can ever stand above the Constitution. Across the world, only elected representatives amend constitutions—not unelected groups.”
He argued that proportional representation (PR) is unfamiliar to most citizens and would make elected officials inaccessible. Hafiz emphasized BNP’s demand for elections under an interim government, saying only the people’s mandate should determine constitutional amendments.

The Advisory Council has given in-principle approval to the draft “Prevention, Remedies, and Protection Against Enforced Disappearances Ordinance, 2025.”
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the ordinance—developed with input from BLAST, Human Rights Watch, and other rights groups—defines enforced disappearance as a continuing crime and includes provisions for the death penalty. Establishing or using secret detention centers will be criminalized.
The draft also empowers the National Human Rights Commission to investigate complaints, mandates trial within 120 days of charge framing, and ensures victim protection, compensation, and legal aid. Additionally, the council approved the proposal to mark October 17 each year as a national observance of the mystic bard Lalon Shah’s death anniversary.

Government advisor Faozul Kabir Khan assured that disputes between BSc and diploma engineers would be resolved with neutrality. He emphasized that the government had already taken the demands seriously, making further protests unnecessary.
“A 14-member working group has been formed, including representatives from government and educational institutions, to bridge gaps between conflicting demands,” he said. The committee will hold meetings with protestors, engineers’ representatives, guardians, and relevant ministries to seek a balanced resolution.

A scheduled meeting between Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin and U.S. Acting Ambassador Tracy Ann Jacobson was canceled on Thursday following a student blockade near Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Agargaon. The meeting was set for 2 p.m. at the Election Commission office. However, around 11:30 a.m., students under the banner of "Krishibid Oikya Parishad" launched a blockade program, halting traffic in the area. The disruption prompted the cancellation of the meeting.

The long-awaited Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Caksu) and hall union elections have been scheduled for October 12, according to the official election schedule released by Chief Election Commissioner Prof. Dr. Monir Uddin and Member Secretary Prof. Dr. A.K.M. Ariful Haque Siddiqui.

The timetable includes draft voter list publication on September 1, distribution of nomination forms on September 14, scrutiny on September 16, preliminary candidate list on September 21, withdrawal deadline on September 23, and the final candidate list on September 25.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin confirmed that the voter list is nearly complete. He described the polls as a historic event, fulfilling students’ 34-year-long demand for democratic representation on campus.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has announced its full candidate panel for the upcoming Jaksu elections.

Mir Mosharraf Hossain has been nominated for Vice President (VP), while Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi will contest for General Secretary (GS). Sajjadul Islam has been nominated for Assistant General Secretary (Male), and Anjuman Ara Ikra for Assistant General Secretary (Female).

Thursday marked the last day for nomination withdrawals, with final candidate lists scheduled for release on Friday. Campaigning will officially kick off thereafter, leading up to the election on September 11.

Bangladesh’s Advisory Council has approved the closure of three land ports and suspension of operational activities at one more, in a decision taken at its 40th meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The ports slated for closure are Chilahati (Nilphamari), Doulatganj (Chuadanga), and Tegamukh (Rangamati). Additionally, operations at Balla land port in Chunarughat, Habiganj, have been suspended until further notice.

Political analyst Badiul Alam Majumdar has called for a balanced electoral framework combining both proportional representation (PR) and constituency-based systems, stressing that each has its strengths and weaknesses.

He explained that while constituency-based elections ensure direct accountability between voters and their MPs, PR in the upper house would allow fairer distribution of seats based on vote share.

Majumdar cited the 2001 and 2008 elections as examples where disparities between vote shares and seat distribution produced skewed results. “PR in the upper house could correct these imbalances, while the constituency system ensures stability in governance,” he said.

He urged political parties to consider national interests above partisan gains when debating electoral reforms.

The BNP-backed Abid-Hamim-Mayed panel has released a 10-point manifesto ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) elections, vowing to prioritize education, research, and student welfare.

The manifesto emphasizes creating safe campuses, ensuring freedom in dress for female students, abolishing the restrictive evening law, and providing effective measures against sexual harassment.

Other commitments include:

Quality healthcare and insurance for students.

Inclusive facilities for students with disabilities.

Modernization of curriculum, infrastructure, and examination systems.

Improved transport services, including battery-operated shuttle vehicles.

Interest-free student loans and campus-based employment opportunities.

Expanding sports, cultural activities, and digital facilities with cybersecurity measures.

Eco-friendly campus initiatives with waste management and greenery programs.

Strengthening Daksu’s role nationally and internationally.

The Election Commission has unveiled a comprehensive 24-phase roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presented the plan, highlighting key milestones including the publication of three separate voter lists, with the final version to be released in November.

Each polling booth will accommodate around 600 male and 500 female voters, according to the plan. The commission aims to conclude law-and-order preparations at least 15 days before the election schedule is announced, which is expected 60 days prior to polling.

Ahmed also confirmed that constituency boundary hearings are being reviewed, with final decisions due by September 15 and official maps by September 30.

On the issue of surveillance, he noted that decisions on CCTV and body cameras rest with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Addressing challenges, he acknowledged disinformation and AI manipulation as growing threats, while stressing that the Commission’s priority is to ensure a secure environment where citizens can cast their votes with confidence.

The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections. According to the plan, the official gazette on the demarcation of 300 constituencies will be published on September 15, followed by the release of the geographical maps on September 30.

September 14 is set as the deadline for the preliminary registration of new political parties, while the final notification will be issued on September 30. The Representation of the People Order (RPO) will be reviewed and forwarded to the Ministry of Law by August 31 for vetting.

The EC also aims to finalize the voter list by November 30 and ensure that ballots reach prison inmates two weeks prior to polling—granting prisoners voting rights for the first time. Dialogues with civil society, media, and stakeholders are scheduled to begin by late September.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has categorically denied any deployment of the army in upcoming central student union elections at universities.

In an official statement, ISPR clarified that the government has issued no directive assigning the military any role in the process, nor will there be any scope for such involvement in the future.

It further noted that rumors circulating in media and on social platforms about army deployment are “completely baseless.” The ISPR expressed confidence that law enforcement agencies and university administrations would ensure the elections are held peacefully in a festive atmosphere.