Charlie Kirk, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot dead Wednesday during a student event at the University of Utah. The 31-year-old activist was addressing students when a sniper opened fire from a nearby rooftop. He was rushed to hospital but later died. Just seconds before the shooting, Kirk had been asked about gun violence in the U.S. A suspect was initially detained but later released. President Biden extended condolences, calling the killing a “tragedy.”

In Nepal, Gen-Z protesters have proposed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as prime minister of an interim government. The decision was announced after a six-hour virtual meeting on Wednesday, led by the army chief and attended by young activists from across the country. Protesters demanded justice for demonstrators killed on government orders, including the arrest and prosecution of senior leaders. Local media reported that Karki has responded positively to the request to lead an interim administration.

The Jatiya Sangsad (JAKSU) elections began Thursday morning at 9 am and will continue until 5 pm. Ballot boxes and materials were delivered to polling centers earlier, with polling agents assuming their responsibilities. This year’s election has 11,843 registered voters. Ten candidates are vying for the vice president’s post, though Amartya Roy’s candidacy remains disputed. Nine are contesting for general secretary, while AGS positions include 10 male and six female candidates. Multiple candidates are competing for the remaining 21 posts. Security measures have been tightened to ensure smooth voting.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has accused Jahangirnagar University (JU) Shibir president Mohibur Rahman of violating electoral rules ahead of the long-awaited Jatiya Sangsad (JUCSU) elections. According to the complaint, Mohibur entered Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall at dawn under the pretext of visiting the guestroom and then stayed inside a room for over an hour. The matter was reported to the returning officer. Chhatra Dal alleged the university administration might be giving “unfair advantages” to one side. The JUCSU and hall union polls are being held today for the first time in 33 years.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mosammat Sultana Parvin has been suspended following allegations of abuse of power in a case involving the midnight sentencing of a journalist by a mobile court. The suspension came after a court rejected her bail plea and sent her to jail on September 8. The controversy dates back to March 2019, when local journalist Ariful Islam was detained from his home at midnight and sentenced to one year in prison by a mobile court. Authorities later claimed to have found liquor and cannabis in his house, though his family alleged he was targeted for reporting against the DC.

Sixteen years after the tragic Pilkhana massacre, the BDR Welfare Council claims the true masterminds remain unpunished while hundreds of innocent border guards continue to languish in prison. Council president Md. Faizul Alam said: “The blame was solely put on BDR members, yet various reports have revealed the involvement of others. We demand a fair investigation and capital punishment for the actual perpetrators.” He noted that 18 special courts had dismissed 18,519 BDR members, with 350 still imprisoned. “Some have been granted bail, but many are denied under invisible pressure. If justice is not ensured, we will resume protests,” he warned. Faizul further alleged that senior officials had suspiciously held a meeting at Pilkhana on February 22, just before the massacre: “This clearly shows complicity. Innocent members whose careers and lives were destroyed must be reinstated with full benefits, and the guiltless must be granted bail immediately.”

Government secondary school teachers across Bangladesh have put forward a five-point charter of demands, with the establishment of a separate Directorate of Secondary Education topping the list. The demands include: Creation of an independent Directorate of Secondary Education. Upgrading the entry-level grade of assistant teachers to 9th grade with a four-tier promotion scale. Preservation of administrative and financial authority for regional deputy directors, ensuring autonomy and dignity of all secondary offices. Immediate recruitment and promotion to fill vacant posts in schools and inspection branches. Clearance of pending selection-grade and time-scale approvals. Teachers say these reforms are vital for strengthening secondary education in the country.

As Israeli bombardment continued in Gaza, India and Israel signed a bilateral investment treaty in New Delhi during the visit of Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Modi government described the deal as a step toward deepening ties with Israel, highlighting sectors such as cybersecurity, defense, innovation, and high technology. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the moment was “crucial for expanding cooperation,” while Smotrich posted on X that the agreement reflected “mutual prosperity, innovation, and new opportunities for investors.” India’s finance ministry hailed it as a “historic milestone.”

A closed-door diplomatic gathering took place in Dhaka as BNP standing committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan hosted a dinner at his residence in Gulshan on Wednesday night. According to the BNP media cell, the event was attended by the ambassadors of France, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Japan, along with the High Commissioners of Australia and Bhutan. Representatives from UNDP and the World Bank were also present. The dinner is being widely viewed as part of BNP’s ongoing outreach to the international community amid Bangladesh’s shifting political landscape.

Tension rose along Bangladesh’s southern waters after the Arakan Army reportedly abducted 40 fishermen along with five fishing trawlers near Saint Martin’s Island. The identities and nationalities of the abducted fishermen—whether Bangladeshi or Rohingya—could not be confirmed. According to reports from local media in Rakhine State, the Arakan Army claimed the operation was aimed at curbing illegal fishing in their maritime territory, despite repeated efforts by Bangladesh’s border security forces to prevent such activities. The abducted fishermen were reportedly handed over to relevant authorities under the Arakan Army’s coast guard laws.

GOP leader Rashed Khan extended congratulations to the winners of the recent Daksu election while calling for a renewed commitment to democratic principles. Speaking to reporters, Rashed said: “We urge the newly elected leaders to uphold democracy and remain true to the values of the Liberation War. The notorious ‘guest room culture’ must never return to the Dhaka University campus.” He criticized the ruling party’s influence on academic politics: “During the Awami League era, teachers’ politics took a dangerous turn. Many became involved in corruption and patronized student organizations. We must restore integrity to teachers’ politics and ensure transparency in the recruitment of vice-chancellors and faculty members.” Rashed also emphasized that losing candidates were not truly defeated: “They played an important role in the mass movement. If they continue to stand by students and engage with them, they will do well in the future. It is the responsibility of all to build a beautiful campus together.”

NCP leader Sarjis Alam hailed Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor for successfully overseeing a transparent Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) election. In a social media post, he wrote: “Honorable Vice-Chancellor, congratulations. Standing tall against all obstacles, you have gifted Bangladesh a transparent Daksu election. For this, the nation will remain grateful to you and your team. Please do not be disheartened by the behavior of a handful of misguided individuals.” He further added, “You are held in deep respect by all of us. At a time when post-uprising Bangladesh was in instability, you admirably fulfilled sensitive responsibilities at Dhaka University. Your leadership deserves recognition. I wish you good health and long life.”

Tensions flared in Anwara as activists of the opposition-aligned Chhatra Dal allegedly carried out a violent attack on local Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders. According to reports, the incident took place on Wednesday afternoon, targeting Ali Hossain, president of Anwara Upazila Chhatra Shibir, and Md. Mishkatul Islam, president of Anwara Government College Chhatra Shibir. Following the attack, Mishkatul Islam filed a formal complaint with police. The accused were named as Tarek Zia (25), organizational secretary of Anwara College Chhatra Dal, along with Mohammad Shawon (22), Mohammad Mahin (23), Md. Sifat (22), and Md. Javed (22). Mishkat claimed the assailants first inquired about their identities, then ordered them to meet the college unit president of Chhatra Dal, Borhan Uddin. “When we refused and mentioned making phone contact, they suddenly attacked us with locally made weapons. They even threatened to kill us and hide our bodies if we went to college again,” Mishkat told reporters. However, Borhan Uddin dismissed the allegations, saying, “We were busy with admission activities inside the college. No such incident occurred on campus.” Dr. Mahtab, a physician, confirmed that two injured victims were treated at the hospital following the incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rahman, on Wednesday congratulated Bangladesh’s Islami Chhatra Shibir for what he called a “historic victory” in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. However, the congratulatory post disappeared from his page shortly afterward. In the post, Hafiz Naeem claimed that Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (Shibir) won the DUCSU polls by a wide margin, with its entire panel securing victory — something he described as “unprecedented in Bangladesh’s history.” He further alleged that rival panels had the backing of “India-friendly forces,” yet students chose Shibir.

BNP leader Shama Obaid Islam Rinku has declared that the people of Bangladesh, under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, have been fighting for democracy and voting rights for the past 17 years — and that this struggle will continue until those rights are fully restored. Speaking at a discussion in Faridpur, Rinku said, “BNP is the only party in Bangladesh where democracy remains safe. Our movement will not stop until democracy and the people’s right to vote are firmly established.” She sharply criticized former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claiming that she fled the country in the face of student and public protests, leaving behind her party leaders and activists as well as MPs who were elected without votes. Rinku further added that in her constituency of Faridpur-2, her late father KM Obaidur Rahman never abandoned the people, regardless of political affiliation or religion. “As his daughter, it is my responsibility to care for everyone, no matter what faith or party they belong to,” she said.