To minimize public suffering during political events ahead of the national elections, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali has urged political parties to hold rallies in alternative venues instead of congested city roads. He highlighted 91 designated venues, including 15 in Motijheel, 12 in Tejgaon, 17 in Lalbagh, and others across Dhaka.
He stressed that blocked roads prevent pregnant women and critical patients from reaching hospitals on time and disrupt students heading to exams. The commissioner assured maximum police deployment during the election period and appealed for cooperation from political leaders.

The Border Security Force (BSF) detained a senior Bangladeshi police officer on Saturday evening near the Hakimpur border outpost in North 24 Parganas. The officer was reportedly attempting to enter Indian territory illegally. Authorities have withheld his identity for investigative reasons and handed him over to West Bengal police for questioning.
Indian officials noted this is the first time a serving Bangladeshi police officer has been caught attempting such an entry. Investigators are probing whether he acted alone or on behalf of a network. Border surveillance has since been intensified.

Colombo: Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been admitted to the ICU at Colombo National Hospital after falling ill in prison.
The 76-year-old leader was remanded on August 22 over allegations of misusing state funds. A day later, his health condition worsened due to severe dehydration, compounded by diabetes and high blood pressure.
Opposition MPs who visited him in prison last week said he appeared in good spirits at the time. Doctors now say his condition requires intensive monitoring.

Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan has written to former US First Lady Melania Trump, urging her to raise her voice for the children of Gaza.
Recalling their meeting at the White House six years ago, Erdoğan praised Melania’s compassion for children affected by the Ukraine war and called for the same empathy toward Gaza.
“Thousands of children are being buried unidentified, with their coffins marked ‘unknown child.’ UNICEF has described Gaza as ‘hell on earth above and a graveyard for children below,’” she wrote.
“As a mother and a woman, I share your emotions. I hope you will extend the same message of hope to Gaza’s children,” Erdoğan added.

The Engineers’ Rights Movement has announced a nationwide boycott of classes and exams on August 24, 25, and 26, demanding implementation of a three-point charter and protesting alleged conspiracies by the “Diploma Syndicate.”
Their key demands include:

Entry to 9th-grade (Assistant Engineer or equivalent) positions only through competitive exams and exclusively for BSc engineering graduates.

No quota-based or alternative-title promotions.

Strict legal action against individuals using the “engineer” title without a BSc degree.
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology has expressed solidarity with the protest.

The Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has directed all its members outside the official panel to withdraw candidacy from the upcoming DUCSU and hall union elections.
In a statement, JCD said August 25 at 1 PM is the final deadline for withdrawal. It warned that disciplinary action will be taken against anyone defying the directive.

Keraniganj: The Naval Police have recovered the bound bodies of a man and a woman floating in the Buriganga River.
The victims, estimated to be around 30 years old, were discovered Saturday evening near Madaripur Ghat. The man was dressed in a red check shirt and trousers, while the woman wore a red salwar and gray t-shirt.
Authorities believe the deaths occurred two to three days ago. The bodies have been sent to Mitford Hospital morgue for autopsy, while forensic teams from CID and PBI are working to identify the victims.

BNP leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has rejected comparisons of the July 24 uprising to a “second independence,” saying the nation’s only independence came through the 1971 Liberation War.
Speaking at a party event, Tuku accused the Awami League of distorting history and empowering anti-liberation forces to challenge the spirit of 1971. He said:
“Some call July 24 a second independence, but a child is born only once. The freedom achieved in 1971 remains our true independence. July 24 was about toppling a despotic ruler like Sheikh Hasina.”

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Helal Uddin has warned that the government is preparing for a one-sided election designed to satisfy a single political party, ignoring the people’s demand for proportional representation.
Addressing a rally, Helal accused ruling party-linked groups of extortion, violence, and land-grabbing following the fall of Awami League on August 5. He stressed the historic role of workers in Bangladesh’s democratic movements, criticizing successive governments for exploiting laborers without improving their livelihoods.
He cautioned that if the government continues to disregard public opinion, “the people will once again take to the streets.”

The Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP) has withdrawn its show-cause notice against Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar, allowing him to rejoin organizational activities.
The notice, issued on June 17 over alleged “moral misconduct,” had temporarily sidelined Tushar from party activities, including the July long march and his role in the National Consensus Commission. After submitting a written response to the disciplinary committee, the matter has now been resolved.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party of being “outsiders” in Bangladesh’s politics, branding the Awami League a “mafia and terrorist organization.”
Speaking at a BNP rally in Chakaria on Saturday, Salahuddin claimed the party had been banned under anti-terrorism laws. The event, held on the grounds of Chakaria Government College, drew a massive crowd of more than 50,000 despite heavy rain. Visibly emotional, Salahuddin praised the resilience of BNP supporters.

Cox’s Bazar: Twelve Bangladeshi fishermen have reportedly been abducted by the Arakan Army from the Naf River estuary in Teknaf.
The incident occurred Saturday afternoon while the fishermen were returning home from St. Martin’s Island after fishing in the Bay of Bengal. They were seized along with two boats in the Naikkhyongdia waters. All abductees are residents of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin confirmed the incident, stating that higher authorities, including the district administration, have been informed. “We hope they will be released soon,” he said.

BNP leader SM Jahangir Hossain dismissed calls for proportional representation (PR) in Bangladesh’s electoral system, saying those who push for it “have no popular mandate.”
During a leaflet campaign promoting BNP’s 31-point program, he argued that PR voting undermines direct accountability by allowing weak candidates to enter parliament without majority support. “Under PR, bad candidates cannot be boycotted by voters. Ultimately, Awami League would benefit most,” he said.
Hossain urged voters to back BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, to bring Tarique Rahman to power on the basis of BNP’s reform agenda. He emphasized the need for unity to resist conspiracies and ensure a fair election in February.

Writer and thinker Farhad Mazhar has called for drafting a new constitution through inclusive discussions before holding the next national election.
Speaking at a public forum, he said, “A government cannot be formed without a constitution. The people must first accept a draft constitution, after which elections can take place with participation from all parties.”
Mazhar argued that Bangladesh needs a state structure that reflects the struggles of daily life and embodies true democracy. He criticized past authoritarianism and political repression under Sheikh Hasina’s rule and warned against repeating history.

Jamaat leader Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair strongly condemned Friday’s attack on two journalists in Bhabanipur, Daulatkhan upazila of Bhola.
The victims—Nasir Uddin Liton, senior reporter of Somoy TV, and cameraman Utpal Debnath—were attacked while covering government cattle distribution to fishermen. Both sustained serious injuries.
Zubair said, “Journalists are the mirror of society. Attacking them is not only an assault on press freedom but also a direct threat to freedom of expression.” He urged the government to ensure journalist safety and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.