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.

AB Party leader Asaduzzaman Fuad has urged opposition leaders, including BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, to commit to justice for victims of enforced disappearances.
Speaking at an event, Fuad questioned, “Will you only deliver speeches and ask for votes, or will you present a clear roadmap for justice?” He demanded immediate consultations with families and experts to draft a justice framework before the next government takes office.
Fuad called on the interim administration to organize public hearings for victims’ families and to form a special investigative unit comprising law enforcement and bureaucrats to prosecute perpetrators.

Kuwait will hire 100 nurses from Bangladesh through state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).
Assistant Director Noman Chowdhury confirmed that priority will be given to skilled and English-proficient nurses under the age of 39. Selected candidates will undergo a three-month probation before securing a renewable three-year contract with incremental pay.
The allocation includes 20 male and 30 female nurses with BSc degrees, and 10 male and 40 female diploma nurses. Each will earn a monthly salary of Tk 127,360. Candidates must pay a BOESL service fee of Tk 56,350 along with medical and visa processing costs. Applicants must also hold a valid BLS certification. Applications opened on August 20 via brms.boesl.gov.bd

The Sylhet district administration has ordered individuals holding looted stone from Bholaganj to return it to the designated quarry area by 5:00 pm on Tuesday—at their own expense.
Deputy Commissioner Sarwar said the decision came after a meeting with local representatives and traders. Public announcements have already been made across two upazilas, warning that failure to comply will result in strict action against both offenders and local representatives. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that efforts are ongoing to bring the masterminds behind the stone looting under legal accountability.

Police have arrested Mahmudur Rahman Jony, former Jahangirnagar University teacher and ex-president of the university’s Chhatra League unit, in connection with a murder case tied to the recent mass uprising.
Jony, who had previously been dismissed from the university for moral misconduct, is accused in multiple murder and attempted murder cases. He was detained on Friday night from Bank Town area in Savar. On Saturday, Savar Model Police Station sent him to court, seeking a 10-day remand.

The next round of biannual Director General–level talks between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) will be held in Dhaka from August 25 to 28, BSF confirmed on Friday.

The last meeting took place in New Delhi in February this year. The upcoming conference will be led by BSF DG Daljit Singh Chaudhary, while BGB DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui will head the host delegation.

The agenda includes curbing cross-border crimes, fencing issues, border infrastructure, and joint efforts to implement the Coordinated Border Management Plan and Confidence-Building Measures, among other matters.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqul Islam Masud has said the party aims to unite people from all walks of life and is working toward forming a grand alliance of Islamic parties for the upcoming national election.

“We are receiving positive responses, and as the election nears, this process will become more visible and organized,” he said.

However, not all Islamic parties are aligned with Jamaat.

Khelafat Majlis chief Mawlana Mamunul Haque clarified that while his party supports unity efforts, it will not join Jamaat’s alliance due to “fundamental ideological differences.”

Islami Oikya Jote Secretary-General Sakhawat Hossain Raji said grassroots clerics hold negative views about Jamaat, and their opinion will not be ignored.

Islami Andolan leader Ahmad Abdul Kaiyum affirmed his party’s stance for unity but said no official talks had yet taken place regarding a Jamaat alliance.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday at 7:00 pm at her residence, Firoza.
Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon via Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where he was received by Foreign Secretary Nazrul Islam. On Sunday morning, he will attend a breakfast meeting with business leaders, followed by a bilateral meeting with the foreign affairs adviser, during which 6–7 trade and cooperation agreements are expected to be signed. Later in the day, at 4:00 pm, he is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has stressed that students are the future leaders of the nation but warned that leadership without preparation could spell disaster.

Speaking at a program, he said Bangladesh’s independence had two main goals—establishing democracy and ensuring economic emancipation for the poor. “But those objectives have been repeatedly derailed,” he noted.

Moin pointed to 1972–1975 as the first major setback when, despite claims of being a pro-Liberation force, the Awami League imposed one-party rule. “If the Awami League wasn’t born in the cantonment, why did it impose one-party rule? That question must be answered,” he said.

He contrasted Khaleda Zia’s political journey, saying she did not enter politics through the “back door,” and argued that millions are disillusioned with the current government.

While acknowledging that the recent election announcement has shifted the political climate, he criticized the ruling party for denying the youth their voting rights for 17 years. “The young generation is eager to vote. Those who think power is theirs alone should remember—fallen dictators once fled across the border,” he cautioned.

Leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Pakistan High Commission on Saturday.
BNP was represented by Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, and Shama Obaid. Jamaat’s delegation was led by Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Muhammad Taher, while NCP was represented by its member-secretary Akhtar Hossain.
Speaking after the meeting, Taher said discussions covered regional trade, Muslim world relations, and the need for Bangladesh to maintain balanced diplomacy with neighbors. He remarked, “For the past 15 years, Bangladesh’s foreign policy has been one-sided. Good relations with all neighbors are necessary.”
Akhtar Hossain added that opportunities now exist to normalize historically strained ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan, while also raising concerns about public sentiment over 1971. BNP representatives did not make public comments after the meeting.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has likened Sheikh Hasina’s rule to primitive brutality, claiming the people of Bangladesh have defeated a “bloodthirsty tyrant.”

Speaking about electoral reform, Rizvi criticized proposals for a proportional representation (PR) system, warning that it could strip voters of the right to select individual candidates and instead strengthen authoritarian control by political parties. “Some parties are raising PR and reform discussions merely to delay elections,” he alleged.

Rizvi further declared: “Educated, hardworking, and dignified citizens will join BNP, but no extortionists or land-grabbers will be admitted. This country was won through the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs. Sheikh Hasina unleashed the same kind of savagery that existed 850,000 years ago in human society. But the people of Bangladesh have overcome her bloodlust and now must rebuild the nation anew.”

At a seminar, Baitul Mukarram’s Khatib, Maulana Abdul Malek, sharply criticized the use of students in political movements, calling it a form of oppression.

“You may find it surprising, but I believe involving students in politics is outright injustice,” he said. “College and university students are exploited by political parties through their student wings. Even Islamic parties are not exempt from this practice.”

The cleric urged for collective action to safeguard the rights and dignity of all people regardless of gender or class.

At the same event, Insaf Foundation’s General Secretary Abul Bashar highlighted social injustices such as daughters being deprived of inheritance and widespread domestic violence. He stressed the need to spread Islamic teachings to build a just society.

BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime has heightened public expectations, and any political party that fails to recognize this will lose relevance in the future.

Speaking on governance under Hasina, Khosru stated: “The media shutdowns and clampdowns were inevitable. Without such repressions, the Hasina regime could not have survived. Business was reduced to plunder, leaving no room for genuine entrepreneurship—just as journalism was stifled.”

He added, “Democracy cannot be confined to politics alone. The economy must be democratized, and so must the media. Democracy is not simply about elections; it must be reflected in every sector. Without that, true democracy cannot function.”

National Committee of the NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah has raised sharp concerns over the state of journalism in Bangladesh, pointing to systemic issues and intelligence overreach.

In a statement, Hasnat wrote that the absence of dedicated broadcasting laws allows the government to arbitrarily shut down TV channels. Journalists often face extreme financial insecurity—with many Dhaka-based reporters earning as little as Tk 8,000–10,000 a month, while regional journalists frequently work unpaid, sometimes even paying out of pocket for press IDs.

He emphasized that most newspapers still follow the outdated 2013 Wage Board, which is non-mandatory and largely ignored by owners. Salary backlogs of 4–5 months are common, and job security is virtually nonexistent.

“Above all, political and intelligence agency interference—especially from DGFI—is the greatest barrier to independent journalism,” Hasnat claimed. “Failure to follow their directives can result in ad boycotts, business blockades for media owners, and harassment. Journalists are even forced into political lobbying. This is compounded by corporate influence.”