The Office of the Chief Advisor has officially instructed the Election Commission to complete all necessary preparations to hold the next national parliamentary elections before the beginning of Ramadan in February 2026. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed the communication, stating that the letter formalizes the government’s request to the EC to organize a free, fair, peaceful, and festive national election during the specified timeframe.

The directive, signed by Chief Secretary to the Chief Advisor, M. Siraj Uddin Mia, was sent to the Chief Election Commissioner. This follows an earlier public address by the Chief Advisor where he had pledged to initiate the election process by February.

Hafezzi Charitable Society of Bangladesh is delivering crucial medical, food, and water assistance to four government hospitals in Gaza since August 1. With official permission from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the organization supports hospitals across Gaza’s regions, providing aid from refugee camps to damaged hospital verandas. It also runs a school for over 300 children who crossed into Egypt. The charity ensures funds reach Gaza through the Bank of Palestine, emphasizing humanity and courage amid conflict.

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the trial to commence after framing charges against 30 accused in the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Saiyed during the July mass uprising in Rangpur. Of the 30 accused, 24 remain absconding while six are in custody. The tribunal appointed defense lawyers for the absconding accused and scheduled formal hearings. The prosecution presented detailed charges, and the trial will proceed even in the absence of the absconding suspects.

After 70 days of continuous protest at the National Press Club, around 2,000 female workers of the government-run 'Tathya Apa' project have announced a march towards the Secretariat on Wednesday at 11:30 AM. Despite repeated discussions and promises, their key demands—creation of permanent positions and integration into the revenue sector—remain unmet. Operated under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the project’s workers will also submit a memorandum during the march in an effort to push for effective action from the authorities.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman declared the fall of fascism in Bangladesh, marking August 5 as a historic turning point. In a national address, he emphasized continued unity against dictatorship, honored martyrs, and urged all parties to strengthen democracy through peaceful politics. He criticized past repression, enforced disappearances, and economic mismanagement. Rahman called for empowering citizens and warned against political violence. He envisioned a humane, just, and democratic Bangladesh where freedom and justice prevail for all, regardless of belief or background.

Political analyst Dr. Ali Riaz has criticized the lack of civil society-led review of the last 16 years of political developments in Bangladesh. Speaking at a recent event, he questioned why journalist unions haven’t mobilized broader civil society efforts to examine this period.

Riaz stressed that politicians—not interim governments—should lead the country. “That’s the whole point of calling it an interim government,” he said. He also challenged journalists to reflect on their roles, asking whether they act as reporters or political agents.

He referenced a meeting held by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the July movement with selected journalists, questioning the ethics of such interactions. “When media is used as a shield to protect business interests, independent journalism becomes impossible,” he added.

He criticized the partisan divide among journalists’ unions and noted that a politically motivated alternative to the Editors’ Council has emerged. Riaz also remarked that globally, transitions from authoritarianism to democracy often give rise to new social forces, sometimes leading to violent conflict—but Bangladesh, he noted, has experienced less violence by comparison.

The Gono Odhikar Parishad has officially rejected the July Declaration, citing its failure to include the political backdrop of the country’s mass uprisings. Party leader Rashed Khan stated that the declaration distorts the true history of political movements and neglects the pivotal role of the Gono Odhikar Parishad and its student wing in the 2018 anti-discriminatory quota reform movement.

He also raised concerns over discrepancies in the government’s official death toll compared to United Nations figures and questioned the lack of justice for those killed in political violence. “Sheikh Hasina should have been arrested,” he asserted.

The party’s general secretary further criticized the declaration for omitting key movements and incidents, including the 2018 Safe Roads movement, anti-VAT protests, the Shapla Chattar killings, the violent crackdown on protests during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the orchestrated BDR mutiny, and the murder of student Abrar Fahad.

“Why were these significant youth-led struggles excluded from the July Declaration, and what was the intention behind such omissions?” he asked.

Despite their rejection of the declaration, the Gono Odhikar Parishad emphasized the importance of free and fair elections. Rashed Khan added that the announcement of an election schedule has helped to dispel fears of a political crisis similar to the 1/11 emergency situation.

Malaysia's Immigration Department has detained 306 Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly abusing their work permits. The arrests were made during a raid at a factory on Wednesday.

Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, Director-General of Immigration, stated that documents of 749 individuals were inspected during the operation. Of them, 307 were found violating immigration laws, including misuse of sector-specific permits, working at unauthorized locations, holding expired permits, or lacking valid travel documents. The detained individuals are aged between 20 and 40 and include one Nepali national in addition to the 306 Bangladeshis.

BNP leader Dr. Moin Khan stated that the announcement of elections in February marks a political victory for the party. Speaking in Sylhet, he urged party leaders and activists to now focus on winning the election to establish Bangladesh as a truly democratic nation.

He emphasized that while the government has completed its responsibilities, the BNP is committed to a fair and acceptable election. Recalling the long 15-year struggle against authoritarian rule, Khan said the July-August movement was the culmination of a democratic uprising, where BNP activists merged with students and the general public to force the regime to retreat. “This is a truth no one can deny,” he said.

Khan called for national unity in the ongoing movement to restore democracy and ensure neutral elections, stating, “The mass uprising was a clear message from the people against one-party rule.”

André Karstens, Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka, presented a self-composed song about the July Uprising during his farewell meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The melody of the song is based on George Harrison's iconic track "Bangladesh." Karstens recorded the song along with a video and gifted it to Professor Yunus as a token of appreciation.

During the meeting, the Dutch envoy praised Yunus’s leadership over the past year and called the "July Declaration" a significant milestone. He remarked that it bridges the aspirations of the July uprising with the country’s historical context. Karstens also described the timing of the election announcement as appropriate. Additionally, the two discussed plans for an upcoming Rohingya conference.

Amid protests from various leftist student organizations, Islami Chhatra Shibir has removed the portraits of former top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami from their photo exhibition at Dhaka University's TSC. The images have been replaced with photo frames featuring BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others, highlighting alleged instances of judicial executions.

The three-day exhibition, titled "36 July: We Will Not Stop," initially featured images of Jamaat leaders who were sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. These executions have been controversially referred to by some as "judicial killings."

Following backlash and demonstrations by left-leaning student bodies, Shibir removed the controversial images. In their place, new photo displays have been installed, showcasing statements from Khaleda Zia and testimonies published in various media outlets regarding the legal proceedings. These are intended to underscore the organization's narrative of political repression through judicial means.

Earlier, SM Farhad, President of Shibir’s Dhaka University unit, stated:

“There has been a deliberate attempt to provoke chaos and create a mob situation through manufactured debates around our event. Our stance is clear — we see the Liberation War of 1971 as a glorious chapter in our nation’s history. However, we view the BAKSAL regime and the Shahbagh movement as threats to democracy.”

The exhibition continues to stir debate on campus, highlighting ongoing tensions between student political groups over the interpretation of Bangladesh's history and justice system.

Umama Fatema, former spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has strongly condemned Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir for what she described as a “despicable attempt” to equate the July Uprising with the 1971 Liberation War.

Speaking on the anniversary of the July Uprising, Fatema stated that Bangladesh was born through the 1971 Liberation War, while the 2024 uprising marked the fall of a 17-year-long authoritarian regime. “The history of Bangladesh has been shaped by the struggle of its people,” she said.

She further criticized Shibir’s public displays—referring to posters and visuals—as a blatant disrespect to the blood of the nation’s martyrs and to the spirit of the July Uprising. “Such acts are an affront to our collective memory and the sacrifices that built this nation,” she added.

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has expressed gratitude to the Chief Adviser, members of the advisory council, and all others involved for their initiatives and necessary steps taken to pave the way for democracy, despite facing numerous challenges over the past year.

In a press conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir conveyed Rahman’s message, stating that these collective efforts have contributed significantly to easing the path toward democratic restoration. Rahman expressed hope that the remaining tasks for reforming the state structure would be completed promptly.

The BNP also welcomed the announcement of elections as scheduled during the recent London meeting. According to the party, this historic declaration will help overcome the ongoing political deadlock in Bangladesh and further facilitate democratic progress.

Mirza Fakhrul added that BNP is committed to making the upcoming election a success, institutionalizing democracy, and forming an effective national parliament. He made an earnest appeal to all political parties and the people of the country to participate in this democratic process.

During the conference, he also paid tribute to those who lost their lives or were injured, expressing gratitude for their sacrifices and urging proper medical care for those still undergoing treatment.

Former spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Umama Fatema, has strongly criticized Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir for attempting to pit the July Uprising of 2024 against the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War. She described this act as “a vile distortion of history” and an insult to the sacrifices of millions. “The July Uprising ended 17 years of authoritarian rule. Comparing it with 1971 undermines both struggles and disrespects the blood of our martyrs,” she stated.

A pre-election assessment team from the European Union is scheduled to visit Dhaka on September 18 ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections. The team will include three international and four local observers and will complete its mission by October 7. Based on the team's findings, the EU will decide whether to deploy a full election observation mission. During the visit, they will meet with the Election Commission, political parties, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.