University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Dr. S.M.A. Faiez has assured that the Higher Education Excellence and Transformation (HET/“HIT”) Project has been finalized solely on merit, without political bias. Addressing allegations of favoritism, Faiez emphasized transparency in the process. The World Bank had considered withdrawing due to slow progress, but after leadership changes following the July Movement, the project was revived. A total of 151 sub-projects have been approved, with contracts set to be signed tomorrow.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is gradually moving away from tax exemptions, as the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio continues to decline—a trend that has raised concerns, said NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan. He urged businesses and citizens to pay taxes regularly. CPD Research Director Dr. Golam Moazzem said unfair tax distribution persists, with telecom companies bearing the heaviest burden, followed by banks, financial institutions, and the cement industry. He noted Bangladesh’s VAT rates remain higher than many countries, calling for a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 15 percent to sustain growth.

The government is working to set standardized fees for diagnostic tests to reduce healthcare costs, said Prof. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Health Minister. Speaking at Shaheed Abu Sayeed Convention Center on Tuesday, he said the Health Ministry is collaborating with a WHO team to finalize the structure. He added that 10,000 physician posts are vacant nationwide, with 3,000 new doctors to be recruited in the first phase. The ministry is also finalizing a framework for fair medicine pricing to ease patients’ financial burdens.

BNP leader Hasan Uddin Sarkar announced that the party’s high command has given him the green light to prepare for the upcoming election in Gazipur-6. Speaking at a local gathering, Hasan criticized the Awami League for “destroying the education system” and eliminating sports from schools, which he said is vital for youth development. He vowed to campaign across Tongi, Pubail, and Gacha, promoting BNP’s 31-point agenda set by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Tanvir Rahi, a close associate of YouTuber Towhid Afridi, has accused him of blackmail and abusive behavior toward fellow content creators. “On camera, Afridi appears friendly, but off-camera he’s terrifying. In the YouTube industry, people fear him like a tiger,” Rahi said. He alleged Afridi would beat friends with a belt “like dogs” and use political figures or law enforcement to intimidate rivals. Rahi recounted being threatened during the recent protests, including a chilling late-night video call where Afridi boasted about his influence. “He has no humanity, only revenge in his mind,” Rahi added.

BNP has suspended senior leader Fazlur Rahman from all organizational posts, including primary membership, for three months over “offensive and misleading” comments on the July uprising. In its official letter, the party said Rahman’s response to a show-cause notice was unsatisfactory. “As a freedom fighter, harsher action could have been taken, but for now, all your posts are suspended,” it read. The letter also urged Rahman to remain cautious so that his remarks do not harm the nation’s image, party principles, or people’s religious sentiments.

BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Fazlur Rahman has rejected allegations that his remarks on the July–August uprising were offensive or misleading. In his reply to the party’s show-cause notice, Rahman said he always respected Islam, opposed religious opportunism, and encouraged students during quota reform and July protests. He added that attempts to credit Jamaat-Shibir for the movements were unjustified, insisting BNP was the driving force. Rahman reiterated that none of his statements harmed the party but pledged to apologize if proven wrong. He called for a fair review from BNP’s disciplinary committee.

At Kishoreganj’s Gurudayal Government College grounds, students staged a protest by hurling shoes at a portrait of BNP leader Fazlur Rahman, declaring him “unwanted” in the district. BNP’s Kishoreganj Organizing Secretary Haji Israil Mia said Rahman had ignored repeated warnings against making anti-party statements that undermined the July Movement and Islamic political groups. Jamaat leader Prof. Ramzan Ali accused Rahman of using “derogatory” language against the movement while praising the Liberation War. In response, Rahman defended himself, saying his comments were misrepresented and aimed at highlighting BNP as a pro-Liberation War party.

On the very first day of campaigning for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) elections, two banners of the Shibir-backed United Student Alliance were vandalized at the Faculty of Fine Arts on Tuesday. Photos of the incident spread on Facebook, and on-site visits confirmed the damage. One broken banner was found around 2:19 pm, while another was discovered destroyed later at 3 pm by Assistant Proctor Israfil Prang. CCTV footage shows two unidentified students vandalizing the banners. Alliance leader SM Forhad condemned the incident as “deeply regrettable” and urged the Election Commission to investigate and take action. The proctor’s office confirmed an investigation is underway.

A Cox’s Bazar court has handed down the death penalty to Md. Solaiman for raping and killing a six-year-old girl in Maheshkhali. In addition, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for concealing the child’s body. Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Titu said Solaiman had been living at the victim’s uncle’s house as a tenant while working at the Matarbari Power Plant. On November 30, 2022, he lured the child home with chocolate, raped her, and strangled her to death. He later stuffed the body into a suitcase and dumped it in a salt field in Pekua. The victim’s family and state prosecutors expressed satisfaction with the verdict, while the defense confirmed they would appeal to a higher court.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has confirmed that the next national election will take place in early February 2026, stressing that there is no uncertainty among the Election Commission, government, or BNP regarding the timeline. He said parties that boycott the election would only marginalize themselves. “Anyone refusing to participate risks making themselves irrelevant,” he remarked. On alliances, Salahuddin revealed that discussions are underway with several Islamist parties, but ruled out any possibility of joining forces with Jamaat-e-Islami. He emphasized merit-based candidate selection and assured that those who fought against authoritarianism would be prioritized.

Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Ministry has dismissed reports claiming that Brazil would supply beef to Bangladesh at Tk 120 per kilogram. The ministry clarified that the government has made no decision to import beef from abroad, including Brazil. Officials highlighted that livestock farming in Bangladesh is not only vital for meat production but also for women’s empowerment, self-employment, poverty reduction, and economic growth. More than 1.5 million small farmers and 600,000 seasonal farmers rely on cattle rearing during Eid-ul-Azha. The ministry also warned of potential health and preservation risks associated with importing foreign meat.

Returning Officer Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani has announced strict three-tier security measures for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. At least 200 BNCC members and faculty members from the Proctorial Body will oversee the first security layer. Police will guard polling centers as the second tier. The third tier will involve army deployment at seven university entry points. The army will act as a striking force, ready to intervene within five minutes in case of unrest. After voting, centers will remain under army cordon until results are declared. Authorities have also declared that no unauthorized individuals will be allowed on campus on September 8–9. The Dhaka University metro station will remain closed during the election period.

A five-member government probe committee from the Cabinet Division has begun inspecting the site of large-scale white stone looting in Sylhet. On Tuesday, officials spoke with local tourism operators and sought to identify those responsible, as well as to examine whether there was negligence by local authorities. The committee, formed on August 20, was given 10 working days to submit a report pinpointing those involved and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN, has warned that political parties will ultimately suffer if they continue to resist essential reforms. Speaking at a citizens’ dialogue on the results of a public opinion survey regarding a draft national charter, he noted that nearly 90% of respondents favored making the Anti-Corruption Commission a constitutional body. Additionally, 87% supported amending Article 70 of the constitution, while 89% agreed on limiting the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years. Majumdar said following the example of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership could help parties increase accountability. Other speakers noted that repeated calls for greater female representation in parliament have been consistently rejected by political parties.