The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka has issued a warning against illegal border crossings into the United States, calling them a threat to international security. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the embassy said that securing borders helps prevent displacement, exploitation, and loss of life. It emphasized that ending illegal migration ensures greater safety for all.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain has accused ministry advisers of obstructing key development projects. Speaking at an event, he alleged that three city projects are stuck at the Ministry of LGRD because “an adviser takes the files home instead of keeping them in the ministry, and then they disappear.” He said foreign-funded projects from the UK, Japan, and South Korea have been stalled, costing the city dearly. “This is not only Chattogram’s failure—it is a failure of the state and the government,” he declared. Shahadat further alleged that a Tk 400 crore infrastructure project was slashed to Tk 298 crore by the Finance Ministry, which then imposed a Tk 160 crore loan with 5% interest. “If I fail, it means the state fails,” he said, urging immediate resolution of Chattogram’s waterlogging and funding crises.

To meet growing passenger demand, Dhaka Metro Rail is set to extend its operating hours and shorten train intervals. Under the new schedule, services will begin 30 minutes earlier in the morning and end 30 minutes later at night. Train frequency will also increase, with departures every 4 minutes 15 seconds during peak hours—down from the current six-minute gap. The changes will be introduced after a short trial phase, during which the additional morning and evening trains will also carry passengers. Currently, the first train leaves Uttara at 7:10 AM and the last at 9:00 PM, while from Motijheel, the first leaves at 7:30 AM and the last at 9:40 PM. Under the revised timetable, Uttara’s first train will depart at 6:40 AM and the last at 9:30 PM, while Motijheel’s first train will leave at 7:00 AM and the last at 10:10 PM. Officials say this will maximize the metro’s operational capacity.

A BNP leader in Jashore’s Bagachra has been expelled from the party on allegations of attempting to forcibly seize a petrol pump. The expelled leader, Anwar Hossain alias Anwar Member, was serving as joint general secretary of the Union BNP. In a statement, the party announced that he was relieved of all positions, including primary membership, due to specific allegations of land grabbing. The BNP emphasized that it does not take responsibility for individual crimes committed by its members, dismissing media attempts to link the party to such actions as politically motivated. District BNP’s general secretary reiterated, “There is no place for criminals in BNP. He has been expelled for his offense.” However, at a press conference, Anwar Hossain denied the allegations, calling them false.

Brigadier General Mohammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, has assured that the government is taking the “highest possible measures” to treat the firefighters injured in Monday’s devastating chemical warehouse explosion in Tongi, Gazipur. Visiting the burn victims, Kamal said that if necessary, the injured will be flown abroad for advanced treatment. Four firefighters, including a warehouse officer, sustained burns while battling the blaze; two of them suffered 100% burns, one 42%, and another 5%. Doctors have confirmed that three of the victims remain in critical condition. The explosion occurred at Sahara Market in Tongi BSCIC Industrial Area on Monday afternoon, after several fire units had rushed to contain the initial fire.

On the occasion of Durga Puja, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has extended festive gifts to the Hindu community in Faridpur-1 constituency. Cash gifts were distributed among leaders of 382 Durga Puja mandaps across Alfadanga, Madhukhali, and Boalmari upazilas, handed over to each temple committee’s president and general secretary as a token of goodwill.

Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), has declared confidence that his party will secure victory in 150 constituencies in the upcoming polls. Speaking after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, he stressed that NCP will not compromise on its demand for the lotus (Shapla) symbol. “If denied, we know how to claim what is rightfully ours,” Patwari warned, insisting that the party’s electoral symbol must be either the white or red lotus. He added that NCP will form a separate electoral bloc, distinct from both the BNP and religion-based groups, by uniting smaller parties that have led protests in recent years. “The coming election will be a referendum against corruption and extortion, and it will not feature Awami League or Jatiya Party as contenders,” he said.

GOP leader Abu Hanif has said that most leaders of the National Committee Party (NCP) are disciples of Nurul Haque Nur, chairman of the Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP). Given political experience and the current reality, he believes that if the two parties unite, Nur should naturally lead the alliance. Hanif emphasized GOP’s “clean image,” saying: “In the past year since the mass uprising, not a single allegation of extortion or land grabbing has been raised against our leaders. This is why our party, representing the youth, is seen as the most promising force today. GOP activists will not defect to other parties. Born out of street movements against fascism, GOP emerged from the quota reform movement in 2018 and officially launched in 2021. Before that, our youth wings under the banners of student, youth, and workers’ rights councils protested against corruption and fought for democratic rights.” Hanif added that the political ideology of NCP leaders closely aligns with GOP’s principles. Discussions are ongoing about unity, but he clarified: “Unity does not mean dissolving one party to merge with another—it means building strength together while maintaining identity.”

Jamaat leader Abdul Halim has declared that national elections must take place in February, but warned that without granting legal recognition to the historic July Accord, any election will be rejected by the people. Speaking at a political gathering, Halim said: “Election results cannot be selectively accepted. Even in festive and inclusive elections like those at Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), where students from all backgrounds cast their votes, some parties refused to accept the outcome. The July Accord is not the demand of one party alone—it is the demand of BNP, Jamaat, NCP, and most importantly, of students, farmers, and workers who sacrificed their lives. Their blood must be given legal recognition, and elections must be held on this foundation.” Halim reminded that in 1991, BNP came to power through elections under a caretaker government after 173 days of strikes, which later led to the system’s constitutional inclusion. “Awami League too came to power through caretaker-led elections in 2008 but buried the system in 2011,” he added. He warned: “If you think you can hold elections without the legal basis of the July Accord, the people of this country will not accept it. Yes, elections must be held in February, but not without the Accord’s legal recognition.”

In a disturbing incident in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim imam was allegedly assaulted by Hindu extremists after refusing to chant “Jai Shri Ram.” The victim, identified as Imam Mustaqim, claimed he was targeted because of his beard and cap while riding a bicycle. He said a group stopped him, forced him to chant the slogan, and when he refused, they beat him with sticks for nearly two hours, threatening to bury him on the spot. Police, however, downplayed the incident, labeling it a case of “general assault” rather than communal violence. According to reports, the attack stemmed from a prior dispute involving local children and another individual named Zeeshan.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he has “pleasant memories” of former U.S. President Donald Trump and is ready for dialogue if Washington abandons its demand for nuclear disarmament. Kim previously met Trump three times during his first term, but talks broke down in 2019 over North Korea’s nuclear concessions. The Korean leader emphasized that peaceful coexistence is possible if the U.S. acknowledges reality. His comments come as Seoul’s new government urges renewed engagement with Trump.

Several Western nations, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and Portugal, formally recognized the State of Palestine on September 21, marking a historic shift in foreign policy. Israel condemned the move, while the U.S. criticized it as mere “showmanship,” emphasizing priorities like hostage release, Israeli security, and regional peace. Palestinians in Gaza welcomed it as a victory. Netanyahu reaffirmed that no Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River. Other countries may announce recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Israel has introduced a new weapon in Gaza, dubbed “booby-trap robots” by locals—old armored vehicles filled with explosives and detonated remotely in residential areas. Eyewitnesses say each blast can destroy up to 500 square meters, wiping out entire buildings and families. Since August 13, over 1,100 people have been killed and 6,000 injured amid combined airstrikes and robot explosions. Analysts say Israel uses them to avoid troop losses, while health officials warn of mass displacement and looming genocide.

In Mymensingh’s Gafargaon upazila, more than 50 BNP leaders and activists have officially defected to Jamaat-e-Islami. The group joined Jamaat on Sunday evening at Charshankhchura village under Paikbagh union. Local Jamaat leaders welcomed them with flowers at a reception ceremony. Upazila Jamaat Ameer, Maulana Ismail Hossain Sohel Master, said the new members were inspired by Jamaat’s ideology and joined to work against drugs, terrorism, bribery, and corruption while striving for an Islamic governance system.

A forensic expert has testified that voices in a leaked audio recording, which allegedly ordered the use of lethal weapons during July’s mass uprising, matched those of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. Police Inspector Ruknuzzaman of CID’s Digital Forensic Lab presented the findings before Tribunal-2, stating that the female voice matched Hasina while the male voice matched Taposh. The recording is among several audios leaked since March, purportedly captured by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). Earlier this month, the BBC had independently verified parts of the same audio.