Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will brief the international community on Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections during his official visit to the United States. The elections are scheduled to take place in the first half of February next year. On September 26, Professor Yunus is set to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he will highlight the interim government’s reform initiatives, economic recovery measures, and steps toward democratic transition over the past 14 months. “The core message is that by February 15, fundamental elections will be held—free, fair, peaceful, acceptable, and celebratory,” said the Press Secretary. He added that world leaders have already pledged their support for the polls, assuring that people will vote freely, just as they did in the recent Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Jatiya University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) elections. He further stated that political parties are maintaining regular dialogue with the interim government and are not in conflict. Referring to the Awami League’s 15-year rule, he remarked: “People were killed, disappeared, and thousands of false cases were filed. Look at where the Awami League stands today—friendless and isolated.”

In retaliation for the egg attack on Akhtar Hossain in New York, local NCP activists in Bangladesh targeted the house of US Awami League leader Zahid Hasan. Protesters threw eggs at the main gate and walls of his family home in Telipara, Shariatpur, on Tuesday evening. The demonstration was led by district NCP coordinator Advocate Ruhul Amin, who marched with supporters and students before throwing eggs at the residence. However, NCP Joint Coordinator Sabuj Talukder later distanced the party from the act, saying: “We protest through slogans and rallies, not by attacking homes. The incident was not organized by the district NCP.”

Excitement is building as Bangladesh faces India in a crucial Asia Cup showdown tonight. With a win, Bangladesh’s path to the final would become clearer. To mark the occasion, the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has announced a giant-screen live screening at the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall ground at 8:30 PM Wednesday. In its statement, DUCSU said: “Students will have separate spaces to watch the match in a festive atmosphere as Dhaka University celebrates cricket with passion.”

Mizanur Rahman, a youth leader accused of throwing eggs at NCP Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain in New York, has been released on bail. He was freed at 9 PM Tuesday after being arrested Monday night outside Jackson Heights’ Nabanno Restaurant. Police identified and detained Mizanur after the incident, in which several Awami League and Jubo League activists also hurled verbal abuse at Tasnim Zara and threw eggs at Akhtar. The confrontation occurred as Dr. Yunus’s delegation was leaving the airport under police escort.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam has alleged that no political party can come to power in Bangladesh without India’s support. He claimed the 2024 uprising was not only against Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League but also against India’s dominance in Bangladesh. Sarjis accused India of still sheltering “killer Hasina” and warned the BNP against compromising with India or other political forces to regain power, saying: “If anyone thinks they can defy the people’s will, be influenced by agencies, and still rule Bangladesh, they are mistaken. Those who try to save their skin will not survive in this country.”

The ‘Global Sumud Flotilla,’ a Gaza-bound humanitarian mission, reported hearing explosions nearby and spotting Israeli drones overhead. The ships, which set sail from Tunisia, Greece, and other countries, are now traveling together southwest of Crete. Organizers said their VHF radio communications were being jammed, accusing Israel of using drones to intimidate and mentally weaken the passengers. In a statement, they condemned Israel and its allies for “crossing all limits to prolong starvation and genocide against the people of Gaza.”

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, where discussions covered democracy, climate action, and the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. Yunus said the upcoming February election will mark a new era for democracy in Bangladesh. He also highlighted Hidalgo’s role in making the Paris 2024 Olympics a major social business event, stressing that all future Olympics, particularly Los Angeles, must aim to be carbon-neutral. Mayor Hidalgo praised Yunus’s leadership, saying: “You have done remarkable work, and I admire your leadership.” Both leaders called for urgent funding to support over one million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. Yunus also invited Mayor Hidalgo to visit Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed profound sorrow at the passing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and head of the Council of Senior Scholars. In his condolence message, Yunus said the Muslim world had lost “a great scholar and guiding voice of Islamic thought.” He praised Sheikh Abdul Aziz’s lifelong dedication to Islamic scholarship, which he said would remain unforgettable. Sheikh Abdul Aziz began his higher studies in Shariah at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh in 1961 and earned a specialized degree in Arabic and Islamic Shariah in 1965.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mujibur Rahman has urged the government to immediately recognize the long-standing demand of non-MPO (Monthly Pay Order) educational institutions for inclusion in the MPO system. Speaking at a meeting with leaders of the Non-MPO Unity Council and the Bangladesh Ideal Teachers’ Federation, Mujibur emphasized that teachers are “nation-builders” and deserve fair treatment. He also criticized successive governments for neglecting education, saying that the entire education system should be nationalized to eliminate inequality, with education spending increased to 6% of the national budget.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been awarded the ‘Unlock Big Change Award’ at Theirworld’s Annual Global Education Dinner. The recognition celebrates his pioneering contributions to social and economic development and his lifelong commitment to education. The event was jointly hosted by UN Special Envoy for Global Education and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Theirworld Chair Sarah Brown. Alongside Dr. Yunus, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi was also honored. In his remarks, Gordon Brown said, “In the last 50 years, no private sector initiative has done more to lift people out of poverty than Grameen Bank.” Accepting the award, Dr. Yunus emphasized that access to food, healthcare, and education should be recognized as fundamental human rights, adding: “If the doors of finance are opened, poverty will disappear. I linked microcredit with education to ensure women could send their children to school. Children must learn entrepreneurship from an early age.”

Police in Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa have arrested a man identified as Md. Monjer Ali (50) in connection with the vandalism of Durga idols. The incident occurred in the early hours at the Haritala Sarbajanin Puja Mandir in Fulhuri village. CCTV footage showed the suspect removing the heads of three to four partially completed idols on Tuesday. Authorities confirmed that Monjer Ali is now in custody, and legal proceedings are underway.

Dr. Song S.I. Jack, a burn specialist from Singapore, arrived in Dhaka late Tuesday night to assist in the treatment of three firefighters critically injured in the Tongi chemical factory blaze. He went directly from Shahjalal Airport to the National Burn Institute, where he met with hospital directors and medical staff before visiting the injured patients. Dr. Jack discussed treatment strategies with local specialists and assessed the victims’ current condition.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir dismissed a recent Ei Samay report claiming he linked BNP’s electoral position to Jamaat-e-Islami and discussed seat-sharing. Calling it “fake news generated with artificial intelligence”, Fakhrul said, “No political leader could make such absurd remarks. This is deliberate misinformation.” He clarified that while he had spoken to the publication, he did not give an interview, nor did he mention Jamaat’s alleged demand for 30 seats. Fakhrul reaffirmed BNP’s earlier stance on the Awami League but rejected the report’s claims outright.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) to provide full support to ensure Bangladesh’s transition from an LDC to a developing country faces no obstacles. In a meeting with WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Yunus called for meaningful outcomes in the upcoming ministerial conference. In response, Okonjo-Iweala pledged full cooperation and sought Bangladesh’s leadership role in WTO reforms. Highlighting global economic concerns, she noted that 75% of trade still operates under WTO rules despite growing protectionism. Yunus agreed reforms are essential, stressing the need for the WTO to become more active in today’s rapidly changing trade environment.

After the attack on NCP leader Akhtar Hossain at JFK Airport, party leader Tasnim Jara responded defiantly: “They thought throwing eggs and hurling insults would humiliate us. But insults can never bury the truth.” In a statement, she called for a politics of dignity, where citizens receive respect without bribery, patients are treated without VIP status, women move safely, students protest without facing bullets, and people criticize leaders without fear. “Our dignity politics means no one in Bangladesh will be silenced through fear, bribery, or humiliation,” Jara asserted.