The Election Commission (EC) has approved the draft roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections on Wednesday. The final roadmap is expected to be published on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the EC is set to launch National ID (NID) services in three major U.S. states—New York, Miami, and Los Angeles—along with the capital, Washington D.C.

As part of the election preparations, hearings on claims and objections regarding the redrawn boundaries of parliamentary constituencies have concluded. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), election commissioners, the EC secretary, and petitioners participated in the hearings.

A total of 262 claims and objections across 18 constituencies in five regions were reviewed. On the final day, hearings covered constituencies in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Faridpur.

Students of RUET blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway Wednesday afternoon in protest against police attacks on fellow engineering university students. The blockade caused severe traffic disruption, stranding many passenger vehicles.
Earlier in Dhaka, students clashed with police near Hotel Intercontinental as they attempted to march toward Jamuna. Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them, leaving several injured. Both students and police officers were taken to hospitals. Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan called on students to return to classes, adding that a review committee has already been formed.

The government has reconstituted a seven-member public administration committee, appointing Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed as chair and Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan as member-secretary. Advisers Dr. Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan and Mahfuz Alam will also serve as members, along with the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, and the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.
The ministry has been tasked with providing secretarial support to the committee, which oversees administrative appointments, transfers, and related activities.

The Cabinet Division has formed an eight-member committee to review the demands of BSc and diploma engineers and make recommendations. Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan will chair the committee, which includes advisers Adilur Rahman Khan, Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, along with leaders from IEB and IDEB.
The committee has been given one month to submit its report and may include new members if needed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that businessman S. Alam paid Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tk 2,500 crore in Delhi as part of a conspiracy to derail the upcoming election.
Speaking at a discussion marking the 10th death anniversary of Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Fakhrul said not only Hasina but also some political quarters were conspiring under the guise of demands to obstruct elections. “A section within the government is working to prevent pro-democracy forces from coming to power,” he warned, urging vigilance and speedy reforms of the July Charter.

The long-awaited RUCSU election has been postponed by 13 days, with voting now scheduled for September 28 instead of September 15.
Earlier in the day, the distribution of nomination forms continued for the fourth consecutive day at the Treasurer’s Office, running until 5 p.m. The Election Commission also extended the deadline for collecting nomination forms to August 31. So far, 168 candidates have collected forms for 23 posts in the central parliament, 19 for five Senate positions, and 363 for various posts across 17 hall parliaments.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam warned that any attempt to disrupt religious harmony would not be tolerated. He made the remarks while handing over land allocation papers for three mosques and a temple in Khilkhet.
He explained that a Hindu temple was displaced during railway land recovery in the area, which was not respectful. To address this, the Railways Ministry allocated new land at its official rate. He also noted that instructions were issued to repair the stairs of Chattogram’s Chandranath Temple as per the temple authority’s request.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman said BUET students’ road blockades were unnecessary, stressing that their issues could be resolved if submitted through proper channels.
He added that blocking roads only caused public suffering and no formal proposal of the demands had yet reached the government. “Once placed officially, the matter can be resolved easily in coordination with the Public Administration Ministry, the Law Ministry, and the PSC,” he said.

Police blocked engineering university students as they marched toward the Jamuna to press home their three-point demand. Tear gas shells and sound grenades were fired to disperse the crowd, triggering a chase-and-counter chase near Hotel Intercontinental.
Students had begun their protest at Shahbagh around 11 a.m. under the "Long March to Dhaka" program, and by 1:40 p.m. they started moving toward Jamuna. Several were injured during the clashes and taken to hospitals. Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan urged students to return to classes, assuring that a committee of four advisers—with representatives from both BSc and diploma engineers—was being formed to review their demands.

On the eighth anniversary of atrocities against the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterated its unwavering support for the persecuted community.
In a statement, the OIC called for justice, accountability, and durable solutions while urging stronger international solidarity. The organization highlighted that over one million Rohingya remain in refugee camps in Bangladesh and other host countries, while thousands still inside Myanmar face killings, discrimination, and gross human rights violations.
The OIC reaffirmed support for international legal initiatives, including the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and pressed Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army to comply with the ICJ’s provisional measures.
The group praised Bangladesh and other member states for sheltering Rohingya refugees and urged the global community to continue humanitarian aid while pushing Myanmar to ensure safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has granted permission to appeal the verdict that abolished the caretaker government system, scheduling the hearing for October 21.
Following the hearing, BNP lawyer Zainul Abedin told reporters: “The scrapping of the caretaker system destroyed the entire justice system and undermined people’s rights. We are hopeful the court will deliver justice on October 21.”
Earlier, during review hearings, the Chief Justice had stressed the need for a long-term and effective solution to prevent repeated political deadlock over the caretaker issue.

A contingent of 180 Bangladesh police officers, including 70 female members, departed Dhaka early Tuesday morning to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.
The unit, led by Superintendent of Police Jannatul Afroz, received a formal send-off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Additional IGP Khondker Rafiqul Islam, DIG Rezaul Karim, and UN Operations Wing officials.
Bangladesh first joined UN peacekeeping in 1989 in Namibia, and currently, 215 Bangladeshi police officers are serving worldwide. To date, 24 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Students from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other engineering institutions blocked Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday, staging a major protest from 11:15 am.
The demonstration, announced the previous night by Engineering Rights Movement president Wali Ullah, drew students from across engineering faculties nationwide.
The protesters placed three key demands: the prohibition of diploma engineers using the title “engineer,” no promotions to the ninth-grade government pay scale, and guaranteed tenth-grade positions for graduate engineers.
“Our movement is not against anyone,” Wali Ullah said. “We are fighting against long-standing discrimination and irregularities in the engineering sector.”

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed has said the Appellate Division does not want to reinstate the caretaker government system merely as a stopgap arrangement but rather seeks a long-term and effective solution to ensure political stability.
During Wednesday’s hearing on review petitions challenging the scrapping of the caretaker system, he asked: “If we restore it, from when will it take effect?”
The hearing, now on its second day, is examining four petitions filed by political parties and six individuals seeking a reversal of the earlier verdict that abolished the system.

An independent Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) candidate, Jalal Ahmed, allegedly stabbed his roommate inside Mohsin Hall on Tuesday night. The victim, RabiuI Islam, a political science student, is currently undergoing treatment.
Fellow students accused Jalal, popularly known as “Jwalamoyee Jalal”, of attacking his roommate and then locking him inside the room. Hall authorities and the university proctorial team later handed him over to the police. Jalal, however, has claimed he was also attacked.
Outraged students demanded Jalal’s permanent expulsion from the university and the resignation of the hall provost. DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed that the provost, two house tutors, and administrative officials escorted the accused to the police station. A case has been filed, and further action will follow under due legal process.