The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has announced its full candidate panel for the upcoming Jaksu elections.

Mir Mosharraf Hossain has been nominated for Vice President (VP), while Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi will contest for General Secretary (GS). Sajjadul Islam has been nominated for Assistant General Secretary (Male), and Anjuman Ara Ikra for Assistant General Secretary (Female).

Thursday marked the last day for nomination withdrawals, with final candidate lists scheduled for release on Friday. Campaigning will officially kick off thereafter, leading up to the election on September 11.

Bangladesh’s Advisory Council has approved the closure of three land ports and suspension of operational activities at one more, in a decision taken at its 40th meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The ports slated for closure are Chilahati (Nilphamari), Doulatganj (Chuadanga), and Tegamukh (Rangamati). Additionally, operations at Balla land port in Chunarughat, Habiganj, have been suspended until further notice.

Political analyst Badiul Alam Majumdar has called for a balanced electoral framework combining both proportional representation (PR) and constituency-based systems, stressing that each has its strengths and weaknesses.

He explained that while constituency-based elections ensure direct accountability between voters and their MPs, PR in the upper house would allow fairer distribution of seats based on vote share.

Majumdar cited the 2001 and 2008 elections as examples where disparities between vote shares and seat distribution produced skewed results. “PR in the upper house could correct these imbalances, while the constituency system ensures stability in governance,” he said.

He urged political parties to consider national interests above partisan gains when debating electoral reforms.

The BNP-backed Abid-Hamim-Mayed panel has released a 10-point manifesto ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) elections, vowing to prioritize education, research, and student welfare.

The manifesto emphasizes creating safe campuses, ensuring freedom in dress for female students, abolishing the restrictive evening law, and providing effective measures against sexual harassment.

Other commitments include:

Quality healthcare and insurance for students.

Inclusive facilities for students with disabilities.

Modernization of curriculum, infrastructure, and examination systems.

Improved transport services, including battery-operated shuttle vehicles.

Interest-free student loans and campus-based employment opportunities.

Expanding sports, cultural activities, and digital facilities with cybersecurity measures.

Eco-friendly campus initiatives with waste management and greenery programs.

Strengthening Daksu’s role nationally and internationally.

The Election Commission has unveiled a comprehensive 24-phase roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presented the plan, highlighting key milestones including the publication of three separate voter lists, with the final version to be released in November.

Each polling booth will accommodate around 600 male and 500 female voters, according to the plan. The commission aims to conclude law-and-order preparations at least 15 days before the election schedule is announced, which is expected 60 days prior to polling.

Ahmed also confirmed that constituency boundary hearings are being reviewed, with final decisions due by September 15 and official maps by September 30.

On the issue of surveillance, he noted that decisions on CCTV and body cameras rest with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Addressing challenges, he acknowledged disinformation and AI manipulation as growing threats, while stressing that the Commission’s priority is to ensure a secure environment where citizens can cast their votes with confidence.

The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the roadmap for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections. According to the plan, the official gazette on the demarcation of 300 constituencies will be published on September 15, followed by the release of the geographical maps on September 30.

September 14 is set as the deadline for the preliminary registration of new political parties, while the final notification will be issued on September 30. The Representation of the People Order (RPO) will be reviewed and forwarded to the Ministry of Law by August 31 for vetting.

The EC also aims to finalize the voter list by November 30 and ensure that ballots reach prison inmates two weeks prior to polling—granting prisoners voting rights for the first time. Dialogues with civil society, media, and stakeholders are scheduled to begin by late September.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has categorically denied any deployment of the army in upcoming central student union elections at universities.

In an official statement, ISPR clarified that the government has issued no directive assigning the military any role in the process, nor will there be any scope for such involvement in the future.

It further noted that rumors circulating in media and on social platforms about army deployment are “completely baseless.” The ISPR expressed confidence that law enforcement agencies and university administrations would ensure the elections are held peacefully in a festive atmosphere.

Russia has unleashed one of its most devastating drone strikes on Ukraine, causing widespread damage to energy infrastructure and leaving more than 100,000 households without electricity, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.

According to Zelensky, Russia deployed nearly 100 drones overnight, targeting power plants and other key energy facilities. A school in Kharkiv and a high-rise building in Kherson were also hit.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry condemned the strikes as part of Moscow’s ongoing strategy to cripple civilian infrastructure ahead of winter. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian military official admitted that Russian troops briefly entered the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, though their advance was halted.

BNP leader Barkat Ullah Bulu has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of conspiring to prevent Tarique Rahman from becoming the next Prime Minister. He alleged that Jamaat, a party with a history of opposing Bangladesh’s independence, is using the pretext of a proportional representation (PR) system to create unrest around the election process.

“Elections must be held under the same system used previously. Otherwise, the people of this country will resist,” Bulu declared.

Recalling history, he said Jamaat joined forces with the Awami League in 1996 and enforced 173 days of hartals, but when contesting against Khaleda Zia, the party managed to secure only three seats.

He also reminded that in 1947, Jamaat did not vote in favor of Pakistan but rather for a united India. “Jamaat has never stood with the country; they have always acted against national interests,” he added.

Bulu expressed hope that elections would be held in February, after which a newly elected government could bring back the wealth allegedly laundered during the Awami League’s tenure. He further accused Sheikh Hasina of attempting to kill Khaleda Zia with “slow poisoning” in prison, while hailing Ziaur Rahman for giving the nation its map by declaring independence on March 27, 1971.

Yemeni armed forces have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Al-Lidd Airport in the Yaffa region of Israel, carried out with a Palestine-2 ballistic missile in retaliation for the blockade on Gaza.
Military spokesperson General Yahya Saree said the strike disrupted airport operations and forced “hundreds of thousands of occupying Jews” to flee to shelters. Declaring the attack a “religious and moral duty” to support Palestinians, Saree urged the Arab and Islamic world to take stronger action against the “genocide and blockade” in Gaza.
He added, “We stand with Gaza until the siege is lifted and the aggression ends.”

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students, who earlier enforced a blockade at Agargaon to press their three-point demand, withdrew the program after about an hour. Traffic movement has since returned to normal.
The students announced they will hold discussions with engineering student groups before declaring their next program. They also warned of tougher actions if their demands remain unmet.

Police have detained former minister Latif Siddique along with several others, including Awami League leaders, following tensions at an event organized by Munch 71.
The program, titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”, was scheduled at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity. Dr. Kamal Hossain was invited as the chief guest but did not attend. According to police, the detainees are being taken to Shahbagh Police Station for questioning.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has postponed all undergraduate exams scheduled between August 30 and September 18 due to the ongoing student unrest. The decision was announced in an emergency notice signed by the registrar on Wednesday.
The university stated that future exam schedules will be decided after discussions in the Academic Council. The move follows escalating protests by engineering students over their three-point demand, which on Wednesday led to clashes with police as students attempted to march toward the Jamuna River. All engineering universities across the country are observing a complete shutdown today.

Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain dismissed rumors that a mosque would be built on the site of the Chandranath temple, calling them “baseless.” He confirmed that the administration has instead taken steps to renovate and upgrade the temple.
Highlighting Bangladesh Railway’s recent allocation of land for one Hindu temple and two mosques in Khilkhet, Hossain described it as a “historic moment” for the interim government and a “powerful symbol of communal harmony.”
He added, “Bangladesh is a land of religious coexistence. Everyone will practice their faith freely without obstructing others.”

The tribunal has begun recording testimonies in the case of martyr Abu Said, who was killed during the July uprising. On Thursday, Tribunal-2 commenced proceedings, with Abu Said’s father expected to testify as the first witness.
Earlier, on August 6, the tribunal framed charges against 30 accused, including former Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor Hasibur Rashid. Six arrested suspects were produced in court today, while 24, including the former VC, remain absconding. The court has appointed four state-funded lawyers to represent the fugitives.