Arakan Army members have once again abducted Bangladeshi fishermen from the Bay of Bengal. On Sunday evening, armed members of the group seized 15 fishermen along with three trawlers from the southeastern waters near St. Martin’s Island.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan confirmed that the abductions took place while the fishermen were catching fish in the “Sita” area, where they were held at gunpoint.
Mohammad Azim, president of the local fishing trawler owners’ association, said the trawlers, owned by Golachipa’s Md. Afsar, Abu Taher, and Mohammad Alamgir, were chased and captured by the Arakan Army using speedboats. Another trawler, owned by Afsar’s brother Nurul Islam, managed to escape and reported the incident.
So far, no information has been received about the abducted fishermen. According to trawler owners, between August 5 and August 28, at least 63 fishermen from 10 trawlers were abducted. With the latest incident, the number rises to 78 fishermen and 13 trawlers taken in just 26 days.

Authorities have extended Section 144 restrictions around Chittagong University for another day, until midnight Tuesday, amid heightened tensions.
According to a notice signed by Hathazari UNO Muhammad Abdullah Al Mumin, the order covers the stretch from the university’s Gate No. 2 market to the rail gate, banning gatherings to protect lives and property and ensure stability. Joint forces remain deployed on campus and in nearby Jobra village.

Reacting to the High Court’s suspension of the DUCSU election, Sarjis Alam declared that the “conspiracy” to delay the vote will be defeated. He insisted that the election must take place on September 9, warning that students will show “red cards” to those behind the postponement.
In a follow-up post, Sarjis confirmed that the Chamber Court has already stayed the High Court order, clearing the way for polls on time.

Army personnel rescued 11-year-old Al Rafi, a student of Khagrachhari Cantonment Public School and College, hours after he was abducted from Chengi Square on Sunday morning.
Led by Captain Mahfuzul Islam, the rescue operation near Mollapara Bridge in Panchhari freed the child and resulted in the arrest of suspect Badsha Mia. Another accused, Kamrul Islam, was later detained from Panchhari bazaar. The two have been handed over to police, while the prime suspect, Malek Mia alias Malu, remains at large.

State adviser for shipping, Sakhawat Hossain, visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital to check on the condition of Ganadhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur, who remains in ICU after a violent attack.
He assured that the government will provide advanced medical care for Nur and other injured victims, with continuous monitoring to ensure top-quality treatment. “The perpetrators of this heinous attack will face exemplary punishment,” Sakhawat pledged.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh Army for its continued role in supporting civil administration and maintaining law and order. During a meeting with the Army Chief, Yunus stressed the importance of strengthening this role ahead of the upcoming elections.
General Waker-uz-Zaman assured full cooperation from the Army and urged the public to ignore circulating rumors. He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to ensuring the government’s programs succeed.

Following the High Court’s decision to suspend DUCSU elections, Dhaka University students erupted in protest Monday afternoon. Students from various halls marched through Hallpara, TSC, and other parts of the campus, demanding the polls be held as scheduled.
Student groups including Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Union also joined the demonstrations. Returning Officer Prof. Dr. Golam Rabbani said he learned of the suspension order through the media and was awaiting official details. Later, the Chamber Court overturned the High Court’s order, clearing the way for the polls.

The United States has reiterated its commitment to assisting Bangladesh in holding free, fair, and impartial elections. After a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson said Washington does not support any particular political party or politician.
She emphasized U.S. support for the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Election Commission in preparing for early next year’s polls. “The people’s will must be reflected in the election results,” Jacobson stated.

Legal adviser Asif Nazrul dismissed speculations about an impending state of emergency, calling them mere rumors. He said the government remains firm on holding national elections in February, despite disagreements among political parties on reforms.
Nazrul noted that the Army Chief frequently meets the Chief Adviser and has previously met the President as well, urging people not to be alarmed. He added that while law and order has fluctuated over the past year, such instability is not unusual in post-uprising periods and can be managed again.

The Supreme Court’s Chamber Judge has suspended a High Court order that postponed the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections until October 30. With this decision, no legal barriers remain to holding the polls on September 9, as per the previously announced schedule.

Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud has revealed that nearly half of Bangladesh’s social safety net beneficiaries are “ghosts” or politically favored individuals rather than genuine poor recipients.
Speaking at the National Conference on Social Protection 2025, Dr. Mahmud said, “We are working on a national population register that will automatically identify the poor and their level of deprivation.”
He stressed that extreme poverty has no place in a just society and that the roadmap being prepared should guide future governments in reforming the social safety net.

The High Court has stayed the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections until October 30.
The court also sought details on the nomination, scrutiny, and finalization process of candidates, as well as election preparations.
The order came after a petition challenging the validity of the candidacy of SM Farhad, GS candidate from a Shibir-backed panel, filed by Fahmida Alam, a left alliance candidate. The elections were originally scheduled for September 9.

With Sheikh Hasina now in political asylum in New Delhi after July’s uprising, the operations of the Awami League’s propaganda wing, the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), have been taken over by her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul.
Operating from a two-story office near Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone, CRI is reportedly leading cyber campaigns against the interim government, BNP, Jamaat, and NCP using AI-generated videos and anonymous social media channels.
Analysts say CRI’s three primary goals are to discredit the interim administration, derail the upcoming parliamentary elections, and create rifts among pro-uprising forces.

Following meetings with BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen’s Party (NCP), Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to meet representatives of seven more political parties on Tuesday at 5 pm at Jamuna, according to the Press Wing.
On Sunday, he had held back-to-back meetings with Jamaat, NCP, and BNP amid rising political tensions.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, leaving at least 622 people dead and more than 1,500 injured.
According to the US Geological Survey, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck at 11:17 pm local time, with its epicenter 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad and a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said rescue operations are underway, with reinforcements arriving from nearby provinces.