BNP has suspended senior leader Fazlur Rahman from all organizational posts, including primary membership, for three months over “offensive and misleading” comments on the July uprising.

In its official letter, the party said Rahman’s response to a show-cause notice was unsatisfactory. “As a freedom fighter, harsher action could have been taken, but for now, all your posts are suspended,” it read.

The letter also urged Rahman to remain cautious so that his remarks do not harm the nation’s image, party principles, or people’s religious sentiments.

BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Fazlur Rahman has rejected allegations that his remarks on the July–August uprising were offensive or misleading.

In his reply to the party’s show-cause notice, Rahman said he always respected Islam, opposed religious opportunism, and encouraged students during quota reform and July protests. He added that attempts to credit Jamaat-Shibir for the movements were unjustified, insisting BNP was the driving force.

Rahman reiterated that none of his statements harmed the party but pledged to apologize if proven wrong. He called for a fair review from BNP’s disciplinary committee.

At Kishoreganj’s Gurudayal Government College grounds, students staged a protest by hurling shoes at a portrait of BNP leader Fazlur Rahman, declaring him “unwanted” in the district.

BNP’s Kishoreganj Organizing Secretary Haji Israil Mia said Rahman had ignored repeated warnings against making anti-party statements that undermined the July Movement and Islamic political groups. Jamaat leader Prof. Ramzan Ali accused Rahman of using “derogatory” language against the movement while praising the Liberation War.

In response, Rahman defended himself, saying his comments were misrepresented and aimed at highlighting BNP as a pro-Liberation War party.

On the very first day of campaigning for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) elections, two banners of the Shibir-backed United Student Alliance were vandalized at the Faculty of Fine Arts on Tuesday.

Photos of the incident spread on Facebook, and on-site visits confirmed the damage. One broken banner was found around 2:19 pm, while another was discovered destroyed later at 3 pm by Assistant Proctor Israfil Prang. CCTV footage shows two unidentified students vandalizing the banners.

Alliance leader SM Forhad condemned the incident as “deeply regrettable” and urged the Election Commission to investigate and take action. The proctor’s office confirmed an investigation is underway.

A Cox’s Bazar court has handed down the death penalty to Md. Solaiman for raping and killing a six-year-old girl in Maheshkhali. In addition, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for concealing the child’s body.

Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Titu said Solaiman had been living at the victim’s uncle’s house as a tenant while working at the Matarbari Power Plant. On November 30, 2022, he lured the child home with chocolate, raped her, and strangled her to death. He later stuffed the body into a suitcase and dumped it in a salt field in Pekua.

The victim’s family and state prosecutors expressed satisfaction with the verdict, while the defense confirmed they would appeal to a higher court.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has confirmed that the next national election will take place in early February 2026, stressing that there is no uncertainty among the Election Commission, government, or BNP regarding the timeline.

He said parties that boycott the election would only marginalize themselves. “Anyone refusing to participate risks making themselves irrelevant,” he remarked.

On alliances, Salahuddin revealed that discussions are underway with several Islamist parties, but ruled out any possibility of joining forces with Jamaat-e-Islami. He emphasized merit-based candidate selection and assured that those who fought against authoritarianism would be prioritized.

Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Ministry has dismissed reports claiming that Brazil would supply beef to Bangladesh at Tk 120 per kilogram.

The ministry clarified that the government has made no decision to import beef from abroad, including Brazil. Officials highlighted that livestock farming in Bangladesh is not only vital for meat production but also for women’s empowerment, self-employment, poverty reduction, and economic growth.

More than 1.5 million small farmers and 600,000 seasonal farmers rely on cattle rearing during Eid-ul-Azha. The ministry also warned of potential health and preservation risks associated with importing foreign meat.

Returning Officer Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani has announced strict three-tier security measures for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

At least 200 BNCC members and faculty members from the Proctorial Body will oversee the first security layer. Police will guard polling centers as the second tier. The third tier will involve army deployment at seven university entry points.

The army will act as a striking force, ready to intervene within five minutes in case of unrest. After voting, centers will remain under army cordon until results are declared.

Authorities have also declared that no unauthorized individuals will be allowed on campus on September 8–9. The Dhaka University metro station will remain closed during the election period.

A five-member government probe committee from the Cabinet Division has begun inspecting the site of large-scale white stone looting in Sylhet.

On Tuesday, officials spoke with local tourism operators and sought to identify those responsible, as well as to examine whether there was negligence by local authorities.

The committee, formed on August 20, was given 10 working days to submit a report pinpointing those involved and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN, has warned that political parties will ultimately suffer if they continue to resist essential reforms.

Speaking at a citizens’ dialogue on the results of a public opinion survey regarding a draft national charter, he noted that nearly 90% of respondents favored making the Anti-Corruption Commission a constitutional body.

Additionally, 87% supported amending Article 70 of the constitution, while 89% agreed on limiting the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years.

Majumdar said following the example of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership could help parties increase accountability. Other speakers noted that repeated calls for greater female representation in parliament have been consistently rejected by political parties.

Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur has accused influential individuals of orchestrating the arrests of My TV chairman Nasir Uddin Sathi and his son Towhid Afridi to seize control of the channel.

Nur claimed that the two were pressured with offers of Tk 5 crore in cash or share transfers. When negotiations failed, he said, authorities arrested them under a case filed a year earlier related to a student murder.

He argued that such politically motivated arrests undermine press freedom and may draw criticism from international human rights organizations. “Just as in the case of Daily Janakantha’s takeover, those manipulating the administration for My TV must also be exposed and held accountable,” Nur stated.

Bangladesh Prisons will soon be rebranded as Correction Service Bangladesh, with greater emphasis on rehabilitation and correction, according to Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain.

Speaking after finalizing the draft of the Correction Service Act 2025, he said the government has already approved new staff recruitment to address acute manpower shortages, with an additional demand for 1,500 posts submitted.

Plans are also underway to establish a central prison hospital in Narayanganj. The IG added that inmates occasionally call him directly, highlighting the need for improved communication and oversight.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has completed its hearing on multiple review petitions challenging the verdict that abolished the caretaker government system in Bangladesh.

Petitions were filed by BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, SHUJAN, and several other groups. The next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow before a bench led by the Chief Justice.

The caretaker system was scrapped in May 2011 when a majority verdict from the Appellate Division, led by then–Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque, declared the 13th constitutional amendment null and void.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expelled Iran’s ambassador from Canberra, accusing Tehran of directing anti-Jewish attacks in Australia.

Albanese said the alleged operations sought to undermine social harmony and sow division within the country. “The government is responding with firm and decisive action,” he declared.

Canberra has also suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran and relocated its diplomats to a third country. Furthermore, legislation will soon be introduced to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

The allegations follow two major incidents: the October 2023 attack on Louis Continental Kitchen in Sydney and the December assault on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue. For the first time since World War II, Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of 200% or higher on Chinese goods unless Beijing increases its supply of magnets to the United States.

According to Al Jazeera, China remains highly sensitive about rare earth elements. In April, Beijing restricted exports of several rare minerals and magnets in retaliation to Washington’s tariff hikes. Currently, China controls about 90% of the global magnet market.

Meanwhile, Intel Corporation has announced that it will acquire a 10% stake in the U.S.-based semiconductor giant, which heavily relies on rare minerals. Interestingly, despite restrictions, China’s rare earth exports have reportedly increased in recent months.