Dhaka University’s Mohsin Hall Chhatra Dal unit has strongly condemned Jamaat-backed MP candidate Amir Hamza for claiming that azaan (Islamic call to prayer) was banned in the hall before Shibir’s Daksu victory.

Hall unit secretary Mansur Rafi called the statement “outrageously false,” adding:
“Mohsin Hall has always been home to devout Muslim students who regularly prayed at the hall mosque. To suggest azaan was once banned here is a malicious lie that insults our religious sentiments and misleads the public about our students.”

He urged the hall administration to officially denounce the claim and demanded an immediate apology from Amir Hamza, warning of appropriate action if he fails to retract his remarks.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said it is carefully assessing the implications of the reported strategic mutual defense pact signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted India’s deepening strategic partnership with Riyadh in recent years and expressed hope that Saudi Arabia would remain mindful of “mutual interests and sensitivities.”

“We have seen reports of a Pakistan-Saudi defense pact. Its implications for our national security, as well as for regional and global stability, will be considered,” Jaiswal said.

Under the reported pact, an attack on either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia would be treated as an attack on both, prompting a joint response.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stressed that anyone seeking to bring about revolution or societal change must first build strong organizational foundations.

Speaking at a commemorative meeting, Fakhrul said:
“Revolution succeeds only when there is organization. The current sense of despair stems from a lack of organizational strength. Without revolutionary organization, revolution cannot happen. As Badruddin Umar said, one must go directly to the people.”

He paid tribute to the late leftist thinker Badruddin Umar, recalling his uncompromising dedication to ideals until his final days. A minute of silence was observed in Umar’s honor at the start of the program.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has said the party does not impose its politics on the people but instead listens to their voices and follows their advice.

Speaking at a program, he explained:
“Democracy is a system that ensures people’s rights. It allows citizens to express their opinions freely. A system where only one person speaks and imposes authority is not democracy, but autocracy.

The people of this country struggled for 15 years for democracy, and that journey began a year ago. It will be realized through a fair national election next year. BNP stands for a democracy where voting rights, economic freedom, and freedom of expression are guaranteed.”

Renewed clashes between two rival BNP factions in Narsingdi Sadar upazila have left a woman named Ferdousi Akter dead after she was struck by gunfire.

Locals said tensions had been simmering between the factions of Alokbali Union BNP convener Shah Alam Chowdhury and expelled member secretary Abdul Kaiyum Mia over political influence and dominance.

Just a day earlier, one man was killed in a similar clash between the groups. On Friday afternoon, violence erupted again, with both sides exchanging gunfire. Ferdousi Akter was killed in the crossfire. Residents alleged that both factions have enlisted suspended Awami League activists into their ranks.

Jamaat-e-Islami has placed a new proposal before the Consensus Commission: anyone refusing to accept the July Charter should be barred from contesting elections, and those campaigning against it should face charges of sedition.

Jamaat leader Golam Parwar said the party has not yet taken any decision regarding an apology or shift in stance over its role during the Liberation War. He added:
“Those who exploited the Liberation War for business have faced losses. But we welcome Shibir leaders offering prayers at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.”

On the July Charter, Parwar noted:
“It is a historic anti-fascist document. The movement that ended authoritarian rule, where thousands of youths gave their lives, is part of our national history. To deny the July Charter is to align with fascism. Discussions are ongoing — this is not the final draft.”

The Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory for Bangladesh, warning its citizens to exercise “a high degree of caution” due to the risk of political unrest, including protests, strikes, and blockades.

In its notice, Ottawa marked Bangladesh under the yellow alert category, advising heightened vigilance across the country. For the three hill districts, a red alert has been issued, meaning Canadian nationals are advised to avoid travel there altogether.

The advisory cautions that Bangladesh’s security situation may deteriorate suddenly without warning. It highlights the risk of politically motivated violence, kidnappings, and sporadic clashes among ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urging citizens to avoid the region entirely.

Gana Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur has called for freeing Bangladesh’s administration and law enforcement agencies from “fascist control” to safeguard the July uprising and secure the country’s democratic transition.

In a Facebook post, Nur wrote:
“Twenty-one days have passed since the brutal attack by Hasina’s agents within the military in front of our party office on August 29, yet there has been no justice. In 2007, it was Tarique Rahman, in 2025 it was me — who is next? Can there be a fair election with these people in charge of electoral duties? What guarantee is there that they won’t favor the League or Jatiya Party’s allies? Bangladesh, raise your voice against fascism! Free the administration and law enforcement agencies from fascism to protect the July uprising and ensure a democratic future through fair elections.”

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Committee Party (NCP), has announced that his party will not join any coalition movement but will move forward with its own agenda.

He clarified that the NCP supports proportional representation (PR) only in the upper house, not in the lower. He accused the Awami League of exploiting the weaknesses of the interim government and law enforcement to stage rallies with inside support.

Nahid also said the NCP expects to secure election registration soon, with the Shapla (water lily) likely as its electoral symbol. He called for simultaneous national and constituent assembly elections by October and urged party activists to strengthen social resistance against corruption.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh chief Rezaul Karim said the political atmosphere after the 2024 uprising has shifted in favor of Islam.

At a rally in Badda, he warned that elections held without ensuring the legal basis of the July Accord would be resisted. “Fifty-three years after independence, people still lack basic rights, justice, and dignity,” he said, calling for immediate change.

Rezaul Karim added, “Our ideals guarantee rights for all – mothers, sisters, workers, traders – so that everyone enjoys justice, dignity, and equality. No one can find peace or salvation outside Allah’s guidance.” He vowed his party was determined to bring about genuine change, beyond political power, to ensure justice and dignity for every citizen.

Addressing a protest rally in Rangpur, Jamaat leader Mia Golam Parwar declared that the era of ruling Bangladesh by force was over.

He challenged the government to hold a referendum on the proportional representation (PR) system. “If the people support PR, you must accept it. If they reject it, we will accept their verdict,” Parwar said.

He warned that holding elections under the current structure without reforms would only create “another Hasina and another fascism.” Citing surveys showing 70% support for PR and backing from 25 out of 31 political parties, he argued the system would ensure a quality parliament free of muscle power and black money.

BNP leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has accused certain political parties of trying to sabotage elections by pushing for a proportional representation (PR) system.

Speaking at rallies in Bhola-3 constituency, Hafiz claimed these parties lacked public support and feared winning few seats. “They are attempting to impose a system unfamiliar to Bangladeshis,” he said.

Hafiz also blamed Sheikh Hasina for “destroying” the country over 17 years and reducing Bangladesh to a submissive state to neighbors. He emphasized the BNP’s commitment to restoring democracy and welcomed steps toward a free, fair, and participatory election under a neutral government.

The National Hindu Grand Alliance has demanded government-declared public holidays on Ashtami, Nabami, and Dashami during the upcoming Durga Puja.

Spokesperson Palash Kanti Dey noted that although the festival spans five days, only two are currently recognized as public holidays. “This prevents many from celebrating with their families or properly observing religious rituals,” he said.

The alliance also called for strengthened nationwide security, government-funded CCTV installations at all temples, army patrols across the country, and the formation of a central monitoring cell to oversee Puja security.

The Armed Police Battalion (APBn) has officially resumed responsibility for security inside Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Air Force personnel, who were temporarily deployed, will now return to their respective units.

The decision was made in a high-level meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Wednesday. Following the Ansar mutiny in August 2024, nearly a thousand Ansar members abruptly abandoned their duties, prompting authorities to deploy Air Force personnel instead.

Reports also suggest disputes arose between APBn and Avsec, with APBn alleging that their office space on the airside was forcibly cleared. Police records confirm a diary entry on the matter.

The meeting finalized six key decisions, including that all agencies must operate under the sole authority of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB), with APBn and Avsec carrying out their respective security responsibilities.

BNP leader Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu has assured Hindu community leaders in Natore that party activists will resist any attempts at conspiracy surrounding the upcoming Durga Puja.

He alleged that a section always tries to spread propaganda during Puja festivals. “Under Tarique Rahman’s directives, BNP leaders and activists will thwart all conspiracies, stand by every community, and protect lives and property,” Dulu said.