Bangla Academy has postponed the previously planned December edition of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair due to the upcoming national election.

A statement said the decision was made following a September 21 directive from the Home Ministry to arrange the fair after the election. The academy added that new dates will be decided later in consultation with publishers and stakeholders.

During a courtesy meeting with Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru at the Jamaat Amir’s office in Bashundhara, a new party logo was spotted, sparking speculation about a rebranding effort.

Jamaat leader Maulana Abdul Halim later confirmed that the party is working on a new logo under the Amir’s guidance. “Several designs have been made, but the final choice has not yet been decided. The logo seen today appeared in photos by mistake,” he clarified.

Halim added that the logo issue has been discussed in the party’s executive council and the official version will be unveiled soon. He also noted that the old logo was never officially adopted by the party, but was widely used by media outlets.

BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu emphasized that elections are the only legitimate path to a change of power in Bangladesh.

“Some groups fear they have no future if elections are held, so they are making excuses to delay the process. But they are living in a fool’s paradise,” he said.

Dudu declared that Bangladesh needs an inclusive, representative parliament and government. “The future belongs to nationalism. For 16 years, the people have struggled for their rights, and elections are the only way to restore them,” he stated.

He warned against attempts to impose decisions on citizens without elections, stressing that democracy must reflect the will of the people. Dudu also cautioned against “dark forces abroad” that seek to destabilize Bangladesh through violence during this period.

Farooq Hasan, Acting President of Gano Odhikar Parishad, has claimed that India wants to position Jatiya Party as the main opposition in Bangladesh, with the hidden goal of “rehabilitating” the Awami League.

“If Jatiya Party contests the election, they could win over 100 seats. But behind this lies a deep conspiracy,” Hasan said, adding that election authorities and institutions remain under Awami League’s control.

He asserted that 80% of the police and 70% of the administration back the ruling party, creating an uneven playing field. “In such a scenario, Jatiya Party is bound to perform well,” he remarked.

Hasan said his party would participate only if elections are free, fair, and neutral, stressing the need for administrative restructuring. “If the government wishes, elections can be held as early as December instead of February,” he said.

BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday evening after suddenly falling ill around 5 p.m. He is currently receiving treatment in a cabin.

The veteran politician has been in poor health since 2018, suffering from multiple complications including spinal fractures. His wife, Dr. Shahida Rafique, is a professor at Dhaka University and an adviser to the BNP Chairperson.

Students from minority ethnic groups staged a protest on Sunday afternoon in front of the National Museum, demanding justice for recent shootings of Jumma people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

They also called for the arrest and trial of the perpetrators of a gang rape incident in Khagrachhari, alongside punishment for those involved in attacks, looting, and arson against hill communities.

The demonstrators alleged that instead of ensuring security, state forces were firing on people. “Two systems of governance cannot exist in one country,” they said.

Tensions remain high after protesters set fire to a marketplace in Guimara during a blockade under the banner of “Jumma Students and People.” Several shops were destroyed. Authorities have imposed an indefinite Section 144 in Khagrachhari to curb unrest.

NCP leader Abdul Hannan Masud has alleged that a conspiracy is underway over Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, accusing India of attempting to seize the territory.
“We will not surrender even an inch of our land,” Masud declared, comparing the situation to Bangladesh’s resistance against Pakistan in 1971. “Just as we fought Pakistan, we will confront India in 2025.”

He accused India of playing its “last trump card” by destabilizing the region and instigating communal tension through a fabricated rape case between hill people and Bengalis. Masud further said young political leaders are being deliberately discredited when they begin working closely with the people.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s influence on global independence movements, he noted, “Indonesia and Nepal followed Bangladesh’s path to achieve independence. Indonesia has a prime minister aged just 35—Bangladesh too will have a 35-year-old prime minister, Inshallah.”

Masud urged voters not to be swayed by “guest birds” who appear only during elections. “I am your son, not a visitor. Vote for the one who stands by you in your time of need,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Israel has supplied Ukraine with a Patriot missile defense system, marking a significant development in Kyiv’s defensive capabilities.

Zelensky also claimed Ukraine will soon acquire two additional Patriot systems. This contradicts earlier statements by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which told The Kyiv Independent in June that no Patriot systems had been sent.

Zelensky stressed that the U.S.-made Patriot defense system would greatly bolster Ukraine’s military efforts in the ongoing war.

The Home Ministry has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of three people in Guimara, Khagrachhari.

It also acknowledged injuries suffered by a Major and 13 army personnel, three police officers including the Guimara OC, and several others.

In a statement, the ministry assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted and that no perpetrators will be spared. Citizens were urged to remain calm and patient until legal action is taken.

The government has slashed airfare for 2026 Hajj pilgrims by Tk 12,990, setting the new fare at Tk 154,830, lower than last year’s rate.

Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain unveiled three packages:

Package 1: Tk 690,597

Package 2: Tk 558,881

Package 3: Tk 467,167

Hajj registration opened on July 27 and will close on October 12. Visa issuance begins on February 8, while the first flights are scheduled for April 18.

The advisor noted that pilgrims over 70 are being discouraged from performing Hajj. Those insisting must travel with a companion and provide a doctor’s clearance from a government hospital. Seriously ill applicants will not be permitted.

Amid rising tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, clashes have reportedly broken out between army personnel and members of the UPDF in Guimara, Khagrachhari.

Earlier, at a meeting with officials, politicians, and civil society leaders, Hill Affairs Advisor Supradip Chakma stressed the need to identify those instigating violence between hill communities and Bengali settlers.

The meeting urged vigilance against gender-based violence, communal unrest, and other forms of conflict. Authorities have enforced Section 144 indefinitely in parts of Khagrachhari, with security patrols intensified to maintain order.

Out of 254 temples in Dhaka, 89 have been marked as high-risk by police, said DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali after inspecting Dhakeshwari Temple.

Security arrangements will categorize puja venues into four groups, with 11–50 officers assigned to each session. Around 2,200 officers will be deployed, along with 2,400 law enforcement personnel during idol immersion ceremonies.

Plainclothes detectives, volunteers, and auxiliary forces will also reinforce security. Cyber patrol teams will counter misinformation, while puja committees have been asked to keep temples staffed at all times. “Last year’s situation has improved, and we hope no major security issues will arise this time,” the commissioner said.

A joint force has conducted a raid at an apartment complex owned by former MP Haji Selim’s Madina Group in Azimpur, Dhaka.

Surrounding the building at noon, the forces discovered a hidden underground chamber containing six luxury cars, including one bearing a parliament member’s emblem. The building’s manager has been detained for questioning, though he failed to provide details about the vehicles.

Locals allege that despite restrictions, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates frequently visited the building secretly.

The interim government is fully prepared to hold the 13th National Parliamentary Election in the first half of February, according to Advisor Farida Akhtar.

She cautioned that open water bodies must not be indiscriminately leased under the guise of fish farming, stressing that only those involved in fisheries management should receive leases. To preserve breeding grounds, she also called for restrictions on tourism in sensitive areas.

On election matters, Akhtar said the interim government would not comment based on external opinions, underscoring its independent stance.

Renowned photographer Shahidul Alam is set to become the first Bangladeshi to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s media flotilla, which seeks to break the information and media blackout in Gaza.

Alam will depart for Italy on Sunday before heading toward Gaza. At a press conference in Dhaka’s DrikPath Bhavan, he described the mission as an act of solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide.

“Israel and the U.S., with support from several Western allies, are carrying out mass killings in Gaza. Yet, people worldwide are raising their voices against this brutality. By joining the flotilla, I carry with me the love and solidarity of the Bangladeshi people,” Alam said. He warned that failure in this struggle would mean a defeat for all humanity.