BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie stated that the Army Chief must not be dragged into controversy. He stressed that political discussions should remain within political parties rather than targeting individuals. Annie alleged that a deep conspiracy is underway to manipulate the electoral process and keep BNP from power, urging everyone to remain vigilant.

BNP leader Syed Emran Saleh Prince warned that the country will plunge into a severe crisis if elections are not held soon. He emphasized that only an elected government can restore stability and order. Prince called for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections, asserting that despite relentless conspiracies, the ruling Awami League has failed to detach BNP from the people.

In a four-hour-long special operation on Saturday, police arrested 71 individuals in Mohammadpur and Adabor for various criminal activities. The detainees include drug dealers, professional muggers, thieves, extortionists, and other offenders. Authorities stated that legal proceedings are underway against them.

Despite reaching the fire site at Kalmatiji in the Sundarbans, firefighters were unable to begin extinguishing the blaze as of 6 PM on Saturday due to a lack of water sources nearby. Meanwhile, forest rangers have started creating firebreaks to prevent the flames from spreading further. Earlier that morning, locals in the adjacent Tepurbil area first noticed smoke rising from the forest.

Police have arrested Musabbir Mahmud Sani, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, for allegedly leading an attack on the under-construction Model Mosque campus in Pirojpur. On Friday, a group of 10-12 people under Sani's leadership vandalized the premises, assaulted employees, and looted BDT 500,000. Additional Superintendent of Police Mukit Hasan Khan visited the scene to investigate the incident.

Police have arrested Khairul Islam Talukdar Babul, the General Secretary of Bhuyapur Municipality Awami League and former district council member, as part of "Operation Devil Hunt." Officer-in-Charge AKM Rezaul Karim confirmed that Babul was detained from Shialkol and will be handed over to Tangail Sadar Police Station on Sunday before being presented in court on charges of sabotage.

BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that the party has expelled nearly 2,000 leaders and activists over allegations of misconduct. However, he clarified that those found innocent after investigation have been reinstated. Khosru urged the government to take legal action against criminals regardless of their political affiliation. He also accused certain quarters of trying to undermine BNP’s popularity by falsely portraying the party as an ally of the ruling Awami League.

Ashik Khan, a BNP student leader, was brutally hacked to death in a violent clash over a school committee dispute in Kotiadi, Kishoreganj. The conflict arose between supporters of BNP Central Joint Secretary Nuruzzaman Chandan and Assistant Attorney General Ashikuzzaman Nazrul regarding the ad hoc committee of Chatol Baghata School & College. The altercation escalated into an armed confrontation, leading to Ashik’s death and injuries to at least four others, including the acting headmaster. Ashik's grieving mother, Rita Begum, lamented the lack of justice, saying, "If I file a case, money will settle everything, and justice will never be served."

NCP Chief Organizer Sargis Alam affirmed his unwavering respect for the army, stating that there has never been, nor will there ever be, any conflict between his party and the military. Emphasizing national stability, he clarified that they do not oppose the Army Chief and will not align with forces supporting a coup. He urged political leaders and business communities in Rangpur Division to work together for progress. At the same event, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stressed the need for legislation to prevent media owners from interfering in journalism.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam has issued a strong warning against any attempts to rehabilitate Awami League, stating that such efforts will be met with firm resistance. He also demanded that state institutions be cleansed of Awami League loyalists and called for the prosecution of those trying to restore the party’s influence. Nahid reminded that past power vacuums had led to military rule, which is undesirable. He emphasized that neither militarization nor the resurgence of fascism would be allowed and insisted on legal action against those who aided authoritarian crackdowns during the 2024 movement.

Shakib Al Hasan has publicly endorsed a gambling site following the end of his contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). In 2022, he faced widespread criticism after promoting a gambling advertisement through a sports news platform, which led to threats of being excluded from the national team. Since the fall of the Awami League government last year and his removal from the national team and central contract, Shakib is now openly promoting betting advertisements. He shared the promotion on his verified Facebook page, despite gambling being illegal in Bangladesh.

BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has stressed that despite ideological differences, all parties opposing fascism must stand united in their commitment to democracy. He called on anti-autocratic forces to maintain their unity, just as they did to oust past dictators, in order to establish the desired democratic system. Rahman lamented that electoral reforms were being framed as adversarial to governance reform, asserting that genuine reform is a continuous process. He urged all political actors to avoid any actions that could inadvertently strengthen fascist forces.

Ali Riaz, a member of the National Consensus Commission, has expressed optimism that despite political disagreements, many parties share common ground. He assured that all opinions would be taken into consideration and expressed confidence in achieving a national consensus through dialogue. He thanked participants, including the Hefazat-e-Islam faction, for their engagement, acknowledging that time constraints had limited deeper discussions but reaffirmed the commitment to ongoing deliberations.

The Media Reform Commission has recommended lifting the ban on broadcasting news bulletins on IPTV and online portals. In a report submitted to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the commission proposed seven key reforms, including updating the registration policy, abolishing annual renewals, and ensuring transparency in government ad distribution. It blamed the previous government for failing to regulate online media properly and called for the formation of an independent Media Commission. The commission also recommended reviewing past registrations and making trade license fees more equitable. Regarding this matter, an initiative has been announced on the Chief Adviser’s verified Facebook page. The post states: “The Media Reform Commission has submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The interim government will take immediate steps to implement the reform proposals from the Media Reform Commission that are feasible for execution right away,” said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has returned five Bangladeshis who were caught crossing the border illegally. The individuals were later handed over to Patgram police by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Among the detainees were three transgender individuals and a married couple. Reports indicate that they were detained inside India’s Systia area on Friday afternoon while trying to re-enter Bangladesh illegally. The BGB confirmed that they had previously entered India through the Comilla-Agartala border in 2022. Interestingly, all of them were found carrying Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and PAN cards.