GOP leader Rashed Khan has sharply criticized Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus for what he described as poor team selection upon returning from France. "We are overjoyed whenever we hear promises of justice and reform — as if Hasina will be hanged tomorrow and the massacres will be avenged. But as the saying goes, ‘When time is gone, no remedy works,’" Rashed remarked. He argued that Yunus’s chosen advisers are akin to “intern doctors” attempting major political surgery, which, instead of curing the disease of fascism, has allowed it to spread throughout the state. According to Rashed, the first duty after the uprising should have been to remove and prosecute Awami League beneficiaries who had institutionalized the fascist structure. "Their sweet talk about justice and reform is unbelievable to me. This NGO-circle advisory group may be eloquent, but in reality, they are indifferent and inexperienced when it comes to execution," he said. "Our fighters keep sacrificing their lives for dreams of change, yet the state sees no real structural or qualitative transformation," he concluded.

BNP leader Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has left Bangladesh for advanced medical treatment in London. He departed on Friday at 7:00 AM from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 201. According to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, Dr. Mosharraf is traveling under the advice of doctors in Singapore. Accompanying him are his wife Bilkis Akhter Hossain and their son Khandaker Maruf. His family has requested prayers from party members and citizens for his recovery. Notably, on August 12, Dr. Mosharraf met with Begum Khaleda Zia to seek her blessings before his departure.

The July Revolutionary Journalist Alliance has demanded swift trials for those within the country's media who allegedly collaborated in the 2024 mass killings. The group alleges that during the public uprising, over 1,400 students and citizens were brutally killed under the Hasina government. According to the Alliance, from 2008 to August 5, 2024, the Awami League and its allies carried out multiple massacres, with certain journalists, media outlets, and journalist organizations granting legitimacy to these crimes — from killings and enforced disappearances to other acts of repression. The Alliance further claims that even now, these individuals are trying to justify the killings through media narratives. Despite repeated calls for investigations, there has been no visible progress in related cases. The organization is urging immediate action against those who collaborated in Sheikh Hasina’s crimes and against journalists who allegedly incited the administration during the 2024 uprising. Additionally, the Alliance has identified a column by writer Mazharul Islam Babla in Dainik Ajker Patrika as being against the spirit of the uprising.

Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh are highly aware and that there is no scope for communal unrest in the run-up to the national elections. After inspecting the construction work of the Shri Shri Advaita Temple Complex, the adviser stated that the government will hold the national polls at the announced time in a free, fair, impartial, and festive atmosphere. "We will hand over power to the elected government and return to our old address," he said, adding that police training and deployment planning for the elections have already begun.

BNP leader Zainul Abdin Farooq has accused political actors of plotting against the long-anticipated national elections. He warned that any election-related conspiracy by the interim government would be resisted by the people, not just BNP. Farooq recalled the bloodshed of August 5 that ended authoritarian rule, saying some have exploited that sacrifice for their own political gain. He criticized those advocating for a proportional representation system, claiming it undermines voting rights. Farooq cautioned that Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s government would be tarnished in history if it failed to ensure a free and transparent election.

BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has warned that conspiracies are underway to derail the upcoming national elections, and uncertainty will persist until the process is completed. Speaking at an event marking Khaleda Zia’s birthday, he urged party activists not to fall into “traps” set by opponents. Roy lauded Khaleda Zia’s long struggle for democracy, describing her as more than just BNP’s chairperson — “a guardian of the nation.” While expressing hope for elections, he noted that concerns will remain until votes are counted.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that 32 Palestinians were killed in Gaza within 24 hours due to Israeli airstrikes, including 13 people who were seeking humanitarian aid. Four additional deaths were attributed to malnutrition amid worsening food shortages. Al Jazeera reported that vast areas of northern Gaza have been reduced to “lifeless rubble,” while residents of Gaza City fear fresh displacement as Israel orders evacuations toward the south. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza has sparked further alarm.

Hummam Quader Chowdhury, son of the late Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, announced plans to send a legal notice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding the release of classified cipher messages that allegedly prevented four overseas witnesses from testifying during his father’s war crimes trial. He claimed the tribunal’s refusal to allow the witnesses was influenced by communications from the then-foreign ministry, and alleged his father was denied fair justice and “murdered” with direct involvement from the Awami League government. Hummam demanded the declassification of the messages and the public disclosure of all officials connected to them.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has stated that Adviser Farida Akhter “spoke incorrectly” regarding the government’s decision not to disclose the draft tariff agreement with the United States. Earlier, Akhter had voiced concern over the lack of public disclosure. Alam clarified that withholding draft texts of bilateral agreements is a “long-established diplomatic practice.” He emphasized that the interim government remains committed to transparency and will request the US to lift confidentiality restrictions once the agreement is finalized.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin fail, India could face additional secondary tariffs. The US has already imposed a 25% fine and a 25% tariff on India for purchasing oil and weapons from Russia. Bessent urged European nations to join in on secondary sanctions, saying they should “stand together” in pressuring Russia. Today’s Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, will focus on a Ukraine ceasefire.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned an incident in Noida where a man and his child were denied hotel accommodation for speaking Bengali. “This man was not from Bangladesh, but from West Bengal. Yet he was refused a room,” Banerjee said, questioning why respect for languages is not mutual. She praised the sweetness of the Bengali language and urged people never to forget their mother tongue or Bengal’s historic role in India’s independence and social reforms.

A sudden cloudburst in Kishtwar district’s Chashoti village, Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered flash floods, killing at least 46 people. Over 200 remain missing, and the toll is expected to rise. Within an hour, more than 100 mm of rain fell, sweeping away pilgrims heading to the Machail Mata temple. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the disaster-hit area.

Police in Bamunshikra, Paba, Rajshahi, discovered the bodies of four members of the same family hanging from ceiling fans on Friday morning. The deceased are Minarul Islam (30), his wife Sadhina Begum (28), their son Mahim (13), and 18-month-old daughter Mithila. Authorities suspect family conflict may have led to the tragedy, but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The investigation is ongoing.

Although water levels in Lalmonirhat’s rivers have fallen slightly, low-lying and char areas remain submerged. On Thursday, the Teesta River at Dalia Barrage was flowing 18 cm above danger level; by Friday, it had dropped below that mark. However, 20 villages in Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, and Sadar remain flooded, leaving at least 7,000 families marooned. Many have taken shelter on embankments or in schools with their livestock. Croplands remain underwater, and 44 sluice gates of the barrage are open to maintain normal water flow.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in an interview with CNA in Malaysia, emphasized that his interim government is committed to holding a fair and celebratory national election — but warned that reforms and justice must come first. “If we start with elections, there will be no need for reforms or justice. Everything will be handed back to the elected, and the old problems will return — potentially leading to authoritarian rule again,” Yunus said. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s good relations with Pakistan and China, and expressed his intent to strengthen ties with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, envisioning the ‘Seven Sisters’ region as a strong economic bloc.