Md. Sarwar Alam officially took charge as the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet on Thursday morning. He was welcomed at the DC office by district officials in the presence of senior administration leaders, including the Divisional Commissioner. A 27th BCS administration cadre officer, Alam previously served as Private Secretary to an advisor at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Widely recognized for his anti-adulteration drives as RAB Executive Magistrate, he has now been appointed Sylhet’s DC.

A devastating fire broke out at a CNG fuel station in Auskandi, Nabiganj on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway early Thursday morning. The blaze, triggered by an explosion while refueling a bus, spread rapidly, destroying 10 CNG-run auto-rickshaws and a bus. Six people, including station staff and drivers, were critically injured and rushed to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after 30 minutes. Initial estimates suggest damages of around Tk 200 million.

Strong winds and intermittent rainfall have lashed Noakhali’s coastal areas since early Thursday, leaving residents in distress and making sea routes risky. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported 68mm of rainfall in 24 hours and warned that squally weather may continue due to active monsoon clouds over the Bay of Bengal. Authorities have advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra ports to hoist cautionary signal 3. Fishing boats and trawlers have been urged to stay close to shore and fishermen to remain in safe shelters.

The Netherlands is deploying 300 troops along with a Patriot air defense missile system to Poland to protect NATO territory, secure supplies to Ukraine, and deter Russian aggression, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said. The move follows a suspected Russian drone incident in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Germany has also deployed Eurofighter jets to Poland and Romania ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises. No casualties were reported from the drone incident.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah has indicated that the Election Commission may provide a briefing on the election roadmap next Sunday. “We have begun meetings to finalize our action plans. Since there are many issues to discuss, the process may not conclude today; we might need to wait until Sunday or Monday,” he said. Sanaullah explained that after consultations with commissioners and senior officials, overall progress will be reported to the Chief Election Commissioner. He also confirmed that a formal announcement will follow only after the final plan is ready. Today’s meeting, which began at 2:30 pm, included all four election commissioners and senior officials from the EC Secretariat.

Around 25,348 students failed to secure a college seat in the first phase of 11th-grade online admissions, including 5,765 students with GPA-5. A total of 1,073,310 students applied, submitting nearly 5.93 million college preferences, while 1,047,962 were selected. Some colleges received no applicants, and competition in popular institutions left even top scorers without seats. Students who did not get admission will automatically move to the second phase, where they can adjust their preferences. All students are expected to be accommodated.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hamidur Rahman Azad has stated that there is no objection to holding elections in February. However, he stressed that a level playing field has not yet been ensured ahead of the polls. “Our demand is that elections must be conducted under the National Committee for Observing Rules (NCOR),” he said after meeting the Election Commission (EC). Azad added that Jamaat has urged the Chief Election Commissioner to consider all stakeholders’ opinions regarding the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries. He emphasized that proportional representation (PR) is essential to prevent election-related violence and irregularities. “Not everyone may favor this system; even the caretaker government had reservations. But a PR-based election is ultimately in the nation’s interest. If the people demand it, it must be implemented,” he said. Azad affirmed that Jamaat will campaign vigorously for the PR system while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming elections. “We have always been sincere about fair elections. We believe this system will benefit the country. We are fielding candidates for all 300 parliamentary seats and are actively engaging with the public to shape opinion,” he added.

The High Court has recognized the United Nations’ report on the July-August genocide as a historic document. The court also directed that the report be officially gazetted as the ‘July Revolution-2024’ within three months. The petitioner’s lawyer, Md. Tanvir Ahmed, stated that the petition seeks to preserve the UN report for future generations’ research and knowledge.

Former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley has cautioned President Donald Trump not to view India as a competitor like China amid escalating tensions over U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and oil imports from Russia. Haley emphasized that issues like tariffs or U.S. involvement in India-Pakistan ceasefires should not divide the world’s two largest democracies. She urged Washington to recognize India as a valuable democratic partner and warned that undermining decades of strategic cooperation would be a serious geopolitical mistake.

NCP Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the party aims to amend the constitution through a People’s Assembly before holding national elections. He emphasized that while many focus only on parliamentary elections, the government must decide on the full reform agenda to ensure proper timing and implementation. Akhtar has been actively distributing campaign materials across Rangpur to raise public awareness on reform, justice, the People’s Assembly, and national elections.

From exile in India, former state minister Mohammad A. Arafat says his only mission is to overthrow Muhammad Yunus’s “illegitimate” government and bring Sheikh Hasina back. Arafat claims he works day and night for the Awami League, with no time for leisure. Reports note that over 2,000 Awami League leaders, officials, and journalists fled to India after Hasina’s fall, many settling in Kolkata’s New Town. Some ex-MPs live together, pray regularly, exercise, and adjust to life in exile.

The Ministry of Education has proposed increasing the house rent allowance for teachers and staff of all MPO-registered private educational institutions to 20% of the basic salary, along with a 1,000 BDT medical allowance. Officials indicated that approval from the finance division is required. While teachers had initially demanded a 45% housing allowance, the proposal represents a partial concession. If approved, teachers will suspend any ongoing protests.

Jahangirnagar University witnessed the release of various wildlife species, including 42 parakeets, 4 green pigeons, 7 vultures, 2 black kites, and several turtles. The release took place at the Botanical Garden area, conducted by the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit. The unit noted that many animals were rescued from illegal trade or recovered in a sick state and rehabilitated. Inspector Asim Mallik emphasized ongoing efforts to curb wildlife trafficking and raise public awareness, while wildlife researcher Johra Mila highlighted legal penalties under the Wildlife Act 2012, including up to one year in prison, a 100,000 BDT fine, or both.

The government has appointed three new members to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), raising the total number to 18. The newly appointed members are Dr. Md. Mahiuddin, Dr. Muhammad Shaheen Chowdhury, professor at the University of Chittagong, and Dr. M. Amzad Hossain, professor at the University of Rajshahi. According to the gazette, the President made the appointments under Article 138(1) of the Constitution. They will serve for five years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first.

The US Navy’s plan to develop an autonomous drone fleet to counter China is facing multiple challenges, including technical failures, accidents, and leadership changes. Recent incidents saw drones collide or malfunction during exercises, highlighting software flaws and human errors. The Navy’s acquisition unit is under review, with restructuring possible. Experts stress the need to reassess strategies, as decades-old traditions and bureaucratic hurdles slow adoption of advanced autonomous systems intended to operate in coordinated groups without human control.