The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the draft roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, outlining action plans in 24 key areas, according to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

He said the final roadmap will be published within the week, stressing there is currently “no reason for concern over law and order.”

Hearings on boundary demarcation for 82 constituencies will begin on August 24 and continue for four days. The EC also clarified that polling centers will not be increased: each will serve 3,000 voters, with booth capacity raised from 500 to 600 voters.

A dramatic situation unfolded at Bangladesh Bank as AFM Shahinul Islam, head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), appeared at his office despite being placed on mandatory leave.

Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur confirmed Shahinul had been sent on leave following demands from central bank officials. However, Shahinul dismissed the directive, saying, “Mandatory leave? I am working as usual.”

Earlier, several officials submitted a memorandum demanding his removal, citing the release of multiple controversial videos and allegations that he authorized the withdrawal of Tk 190 million from a frozen account belonging to transport magnate Khandaker Enayet Ullah, causing reputational damage to the financial sector.

The deadline for political parties to submit their opinions on the July Charter has been extended until 3 PM on August 22, according to the National Consensus Commission.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed that the party has already sent its observations on the charter to the commission on Wednesday. Earlier, on August 16, the draft was circulated among political parties seeking feedback.

The draft charter references several national incidents, including the Pilkhana massacre, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, and the 2018 quota reform movement, as part of its historical background.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a six-day program to mark its 47th founding anniversary on September 1. Senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan unveiled the plan, which includes:

August 31: Discussion at Engineers’ Institution auditorium in Dhaka.

September 1: Hoisting of national and party flags at BNP offices nationwide; wreath-laying at Ziaur Rahman’s grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar; discussions and rallies at metropolitan and district levels.

September 2: Colorful rally in Dhaka, beginning at 2 PM from the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

September 3: Discussions and rallies at upazila and municipal levels.

September 4: Tree plantation, fish release, free medical camps, and sports events nationwide.

September 5: Roundtable discussion in Dhaka (venue and time to be announced).

The party will also release a commemorative publication and posters marking the anniversary.

Following its earlier move in the administration cadre, the review committee on promotion deprivation has now recommended retrospective promotions for 78 retired officials from other cadres. The report was submitted Wednesday to the Chief Adviser by committee convener and former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan. Earlier, based on the committee’s first report, 764 retired administration officials from deputy secretary to secretary level were granted retrospective promotions. The recommendations cover officials who faced career stagnation between 2009 and August 4, 2024, before retiring.

The much-anticipated Moulana Bhashani Bridge, connecting Gaibandha and Kurigram, was inaugurated Wednesday afternoon by Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Arriving from Rangpur via Sundarganj, he unveiled the plaque before leading a motorcade across the bridge and attending a views-exchange meeting. The inauguration drew thousands of jubilant locals, turning the area festive.
The bridge spans 1,490 meters in length and 9.6 meters in width, with two lanes and 31 spans. Stretching from Haripur Ghat in Sundarganj to Chilmari in Kurigram, it is being hailed as a milestone project for the people of the Teesta river basin.

Bangladeshi expatriates will now be able to register as voters even without a passport, the Election Commission (EC) announced. Instead, applicants can submit a declaration from three expatriates with valid NIDs in the host country, certifying their Bangladeshi nationality. Supporting documents may also be provided either directly at registration centers abroad or through representatives in Bangladesh. Currently, voter registration activities are being conducted through Bangladeshi missions in nine countries, with nearly 50,000 applications already received.

The Election Commission (EC) will release the draft list of polling centers for the upcoming parliamentary election on September 10. Objections and claims will be accepted until September 25 and resolved by October 12, after which the final list will be published on October 20. The EC Secretariat confirmed that the process follows the guidelines for polling station establishment issued for the upcoming election.

Environmental activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan stressed that restoring natural forests is essential to protecting Bangladesh’s elephants—and that rural communities must be involved in this effort. Speaking at a wildlife conservation event, she added that the Forest Department has been directed to ban the use of elephants for entertainment shows. Speakers at the event highlighted that wildlife preservation has yet to gain political priority in Bangladesh. They urged immediate elephant population surveys, updated research beyond the outdated decade-old studies, and measures for breeding, habitat management, and food supply. They also called for a cross-border management protocol to reduce human-elephant conflict. According to the Forest Department, 18 elephants have died unnaturally in just the first six months of this year, while 146 elephants have died nationwide in the past nine years. The discussion coincided with World Elephant Day (August 12).

The Bangladesh Agricultural Students’ Association (BAGSCHAS) has announced its panel for the DUCSU polls. Abdul Kader has been nominated for Vice President (VP), Abu Bakar Mojumdar for General Secretary (GS), and Ashrefa Khatun for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). Other nominations include Nahiyan Faruk (Literature & Culture), Mohir Alam (Social Services), Md. Hasibul Islam (Liberation War & Democratic Movements), Md. Sakib (International Affairs), Al Amin Sarkar (Sports), Anika Tahsina (Law & Human Rights), Mitu Akter (Common Room & Cafeteria), Ahad Bin Islam Shoaib (Science & Technology), Sabbir Ahmed (Health & Environment), Rezwan Ahmed Rifat (Career Development), and Md. Ismail Hossain Rudra (Student Transport).
The organization dedicated its Research & Publications post to injured student Sanjida Ahmed Tonvi in solidarity. Thirteen additional member candidates were also nominated.

Three leftist student groups—Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL, left-leaning)—have unveiled a joint panel for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. The alliance, named “Oporajeyo 71 – Odommo 24” (Invincible ’71 – Unyielding ’24), nominated Communication Disorders student Md. Nayeem Hasan Hridoy for Vice President (VP) and Political Science student Enamul Hasan Anoy for General Secretary (GS). Philosophy student Aditi Islam has been nominated for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has launched a demolition drive against the riverfront bungalow of former state minister Nasrul Hamid, built illegally on the Buriganga’s bank. The operation began Thursday morning at Keraniganj, opposite Fatullah Launch Ghat. Nearly two acres of land were reclaimed after demolishing boundary walls and structures inside the compound. Officials confirmed that the eviction follows a 2009 High Court order directing the removal of all illegal structures occupying riverbanks. Earlier, on April 30, a Dhaka court ordered the seizure of Hamid’s property worth Tk 200 crore in Gulshan. In January, the court also imposed a travel ban on Hamid and his wife in connection with an ACC case.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered nearly 200,000 cubic feet of illegally extracted stones from the Utmachhara border area in Sylhet. According to BGB, Utmachhara is a naturally resource-rich tourist spot with abundant sand and stones. For years, local syndicates have been extracting stones illegally and stockpiling them in different parts of Adarshapara village for smuggling. However, due to strict BGB surveillance, poor transport infrastructure, and internal conflicts within the syndicates, the stones could not be trafficked. A joint operation led by Assistant Commissioner Ifrahim Iqbal Chowdhury, along with local administration, BGB, and police, is now underway to conduct proper measurement and take legal action.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has filed a General Diary (GD) against two employees over the disappearance of 10 aircraft tires, allegedly handed over to a private airline without authorization.

Each tire is valued between USD 5,000 and 15,000, meaning the missing stock is worth nearly Tk 1 crore.

The tires, which had expired from operational use, were stored in an “auction shed” beside the hangar. According to the GD, assistant manager Mosharraf Hossain reported the incident as “untraceable” rather than outright theft.

Upon questioning, supervisor Arman Hossain and store helper Samsul Haque admitted the tires were given to a private airline official “for use” without informing higher authorities.

An internal investigation is now underway.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has underscored the need to build a healthy and resilient new generation despite challenges, saying it is essential for Bangladesh’s development.

“Without skilled and efficient human resources, neither personal lives nor national progress can be ensured,” Yunus said.

Pointing to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he noted that 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by NCDs, with 51% occurring below the age of 70. Out-of-pocket health spending is around 69%, much of it on NCDs.

He stressed that along with better healthcare, awareness and preventive measures must be strengthened to reduce the burden of these diseases.