The Election Commission will unveil the roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Election next week, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed.

While the content and methodology of the roadmap remain under discussion, Ahmed noted that talks are ongoing about facilitating expatriate voting. So far, 318 applications to observe the election have been received, which are currently being vetted.

Two construction workers died and two others were injured while cleaning a septic tank in Pabna’s Bera upazila on Thursday.

The deceased, Sajibul Islam (25) and Mostakin (30), fell unconscious after inhaling toxic gas inside a tank at Tahaj Uddin’s home in Dakshinpara village. Two other workers—Rabiul and Samrat—were similarly affected while attempting rescue. All four were taken to the upazila health complex, where doctors pronounced Sajib and Mostakin dead. Police confirmed that an unnatural death case will be filed.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed met with US Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson to discuss bilateral judicial cooperation, human rights protection, and the rule of law.

Jacobson congratulated Ahmed on completing his first year in office, praising initiatives such as announcing a judicial reform roadmap, issuing 12 directives for transparency in court services, passing a law for higher court judge appointments via the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council, and strengthening lower court capacity. She reaffirmed US commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s judicial independence.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam declared that their panel for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election will include women students and members from all religious communities.

He criticized the past 16 years of student politics for creating an atmosphere of fear, which has driven many to call for a ban on campus politics—something Shibir respects but seeks to change. Shibir aims to replace “fear-based politics” with a healthy, student-friendly approach, Zahidul added, urging all student groups to avoid smear campaigns and focus on constructive agendas.

Legal Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul announced that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission’s proposed laws will be enacted within one to two months.

The proposals, considered crucial for overhauling the ACC, were discussed in detail with ACC Chairman Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen earlier in the day. Nazrul stressed that the reforms are a priority for the interim administration.

The interim government has formed a probe committee to investigate intelligence surveillance equipment purchased during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure—examining procurement sources, costs, and usage. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that Special Assistant Faiz Ahmed Tayyeb will lead the inquiry.

A separate committee will investigate the purchase of lethal police weaponry under the previous administration. Alam added that the current government is focused on public welfare after what he described as the “misrule and brutality” of the previous regime.

He also reported fruitful discussions during the Chief Adviser’s Malaysia visit, which strengthened bilateral ties and secured agreement to provide Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia with equal social benefits as local workers.

The High Court has appointed seven amicus curiae to provide opinions on a rule regarding the 15th Amendment’s provision for the Speaker, rather than the Chief Justice, to administer the presidential oath.

The court has set October 26 as the next hearing date. The appointed senior lawyers are Zainul Abedin, Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Advocate Probir Neogi, Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan, and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua.

This follows a writ petition filed on March 10 by lyricist Shahidullah Farazi, seeking restoration of the original 1972 constitutional provision requiring the Chief Justice to administer the presidential oath.

Sirajganj saw heightened student protests on Thursday as Rabindra University students blocked the highway at the western end of the Jamuna Bridge, pressing for the establishment of a permanent campus. The hour-long blockade ended after students issued a 72-hour ultimatum to authorities.

Students expressed frustration that, despite nine years since the university’s inception, no permanent campus has been built—depriving them of quality education facilities and essential amenities. They urged swift action to commence construction. Faculty members, administrative staff, and other employees joined in solidarity with the demonstrators.

The High Court has ordered submission of a list of individuals involved in looting white stone from Bholaganj, Sylhet, and directed that all stolen stones be returned to their original location within seven days.
The court also set Sunday for a hearing on another petition seeking legal action against those responsible and the deployment of additional law enforcement in the area to prevent further theft.

Rahat Hossain Rabbi (31) was stabbed to death on Thursday inside a Banani shisha bar. Police said the incident occurred on the second-floor stairway following an argument with a man identified as Khokon, who then attacked Rabbi with a knife.
Rabbi was taken to hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead. Investigators believe the attackers were known to him and were regular visitors to the bar. A manhunt is underway.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has vowed to stand up for the people “even at the cost of my life,” pledging to protest injustice and oppose government wrongdoing despite the risks. “The people have no joy on their faces, and those who benefit from the current system will not want elections,” he said.
Quader declared the party would now pursue clear, pro-people politics, resisting any attempt to hand over its electoral symbol, the plough, to another group. He compared the party’s current plight to that of the BNP when it was “the oppressed,” saying, “We too are now oppressed, and we too will win the people’s support.”

Tulip Siddiq, facing a corruption case over alleged plot irregularities filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, has described her trial in Dhaka as “nothing but a sham” driven by political vengeance. She said the charges have repeatedly changed over the past year, yet Bangladeshi authorities have never contacted her or her legal team, issued a court summons, or responded to formal communications.
“If this were a genuine legal process, the authorities would have engaged with us, responded to our letters, and presented evidence,” she argued. Instead, she said, false allegations have been leaked to the media but never formally shared with her. Tulip also revealed she had sought a meeting with Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus, but received no response.

A coordinated operation in Sylhet has so far recovered approximately 52,000 cubic feet of stolen stone, with recovery efforts ongoing at crusher mills. On Wednesday night, authorities seized around 40,000 cubic feet of stone from 78 trucks, and earlier in the day, another 12,000 cubic feet stockpiled near the Dholai River was dumped into the river.
The recovered stones will be redistributed in the Bholaganj Sada Pathar area. Police have arrested East Islambur Union Chairman Alamgir Alam in connection with the theft. Environmental activists and local traders estimate that over 15 million cubic feet of stone—worth more than Tk 200 crore—has been looted from Sylhet in the past year.

Interim government advisor Asif Mahmud has denied allegations linking him to the Gulshan extortion case. He acknowledged knowing Jane Alam Apu in 2022 while serving in the Student Rights Council but said they had not met since August 5, 2024.
He claimed Apu’s wife had alleged that he was abducted and forced to give a statement at a political leader’s house, likening the practice to past coercive “guest room” interrogations at Dhaka University.
Asif explained that his occasional late-night visits to Gulshan’s Westin Hotel were for dining when his preferred restaurant was closed but could not recall if he had been there on the date mentioned by Apu. “If a helmeted figure in CCTV footage is claimed to be me, how credible is that?” he asked, reiterating that he had no involvement in the incident.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has accused those delaying the election process of attempting to restore dictatorship and reintroduce fascism. He stressed that elections must be held on schedule, regardless of ongoing processes such as war crimes trials and the recovery of laundered money.