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.

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.

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.”

Advisor Md. Mahfuz Alam has expressed profound sorrow over the death of senior journalist Alamgir Mohiuddin. In his condolence message, Alam prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. He said, “Alamgir Mohiuddin practiced fearless, objective journalism. He was a role model for many in the profession. His passing is an irreparable loss to Bangladesh’s media.” Mohiuddin, former editor of Daily Naya Diganta, breathed his last on Saturday afternoon while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The autopsy of veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar, whose body was recovered from the Meghna River, has been completed. Dr. Sheikh Md. Ehsan, who conducted the post-mortem, confirmed: “There were no signs of injury, either internal or external.” Following the procedure, Sarkar’s body was handed over to his younger brother, Chiranjan Sarkar. The family departed with the body around 1:15 p.m. in a freezer van bound for their Dhaka residence. Chiranjan said, “We will wait for the final autopsy report. The body will first be taken to his Siddheshwari home before the last rites are performed at the Boro Deshwari Kali Mandir in Sabujbagh. We have yet to decide on legal action and will take a collective decision as a family.” Police have stated that any further legal steps will be determined in consultation with the family.

Chattogram police have withdrawn Sub-Inspector Kamal Hossain—recently awarded as the district’s “Best Drug Recovering Officer”—after allegations surfaced of his involvement in drug trafficking. He has now been attached to the police lines pending investigation. The controversy arose after locals in Lohagara’s Chunati area detained three police informants last Thursday night with 48 bottles of Phensedyl. The suspects claimed SI Kamal had supplied them the contraband and instructed them to transport it to Aziznagar. They further alleged that Kamal was trailing them in another car loaded with yaba pills, but fled when the first vehicle was intercepted. Notably, SI Kamal had been honored on April 22 this year by the Chattogram Superintendent of Police for his anti-narcotics success. Authorities confirmed an internal probe is underway, assuring that appropriate measures will follow if evidence of wrongdoing is found.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum has announced that a 560-bed hospital for heart disease, kidney ailments, and cancer treatment has been approved for Rangpur. Although her government may not be able to start construction, she said the next administration will implement the project. Speaking on healthcare planning, Nurjahan criticized previous authorities for failing to ensure adequate manpower for hospitals, even when procuring medical equipment. “Hospitals need both equipment and staff. Without proper planning, we cannot suddenly make these facilities operational,” she said. She also confirmed that decisions regarding the location of a new hospital with Chinese support would be finalized after further site inspections. “The July revolution brought sacrifices, but those responsible for syndicates have not changed,” she remarked, stressing the need for systematic, step-by-step reform in the healthcare sector.

A BNP delegation led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday evening at the Pakistan Embassy in Dhaka. The meeting, set for 6 pm, will focus on bilateral ties, regional dynamics, and the current political situation. Dar arrived in Dhaka earlier in the afternoon on a special flight and was welcomed by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. His visit marks the first by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in nearly 13 years.

NCP leader Akhtar Hossain has expressed doubts over BNP’s willingness to pursue genuine constitutional reform, noting the party’s objections to both the July Charter and the idea of drafting a new constitution. “True reform requires writing a fresh constitution through a Constituent Assembly election. Some are opposing this, creating confusion,” he said. He warned that holding elections under the “fascist constitution” would only embolden authoritarianism. “Without implementing the July Charter and ensuring decentralization, democracy will not take root,” Akhtar added. He questioned whether BNP is heading toward deception, pointing out that if reform proposals are enshrined in a new constitution, they cannot be challenged in court. Akhtar also criticized the trend of leaving crucial issues—such as parliamentary structure, upper house provisions, presidential powers, and women’s leadership—unclear for the next ruling party, warning that such ambiguity risks making reforms unsustainable.

Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has stressed that protecting rivers requires more than lip service, as people often support conservation in words but not in practice. “Although initiatives have been taken to free Dhaka’s four rivers and 63 others outside the capital from encroachment and pollution, waste continues to be dumped into them,” she said. She warned that banning old vehicles in the capital invites transport strikes, while polythene bags remain in widespread use despite public support for a ban. “Changing a few individuals won’t change the country—there must be a collective shift in mindset,” Rizwana emphasized.

South Indian superstar Thalapathy Vijay has openly labeled India’s ruling BJP as “fascist,” declaring that the battle against the party is no longer just political, but ideological. Speaking at his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s conference in Madurai, Vijay said: “The BJP is using religion as a tool for division while weakening democracy. They are my biggest ideological enemy.” He clarified that while his competition with DMK is political, the conflict with BJP lies on fundamental ideological grounds. His party’s principles—equality, free thought, secularism, and social justice—stand in stark contrast to BJP’s philosophy. “We cannot remain silent spectators. We must rise against the fascist BJP now,” he proclaimed to thunderous applause. Founded in 2024, Vijay’s party has rapidly gained millions of supporters, becoming one of the fastest-growing political movements in Tamil Nadu.