Serbia’s anti-government protests have intensified despite severe police resistance, with demonstrators targeting the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s offices in Valjevo. On Saturday, police in Belgrade fired tear gas to disperse crowds, while protesters in Valjevo attacked party offices. The demonstrations, ongoing for months, have surged following allegations of police brutality against activists. Clashes earlier in the week left 27 police officers and nearly 80 civilians injured, with 47 people arrested. What began as a largely peaceful movement has now transformed into a volatile wave of unrest, with tensions continuing to mount across the country.

Writer and intellectual Forhad Mazhar has issued a stark warning, claiming that if elections are held under Sheikh Hasina’s “fascist constitution” and a military-backed caretaker government, those involved would face charges of treason and “hang from the gallows.” Speaking on the aftermath of the August 5 uprising, Mazhar criticized the lack of constitutional reform, noting that while the movement toppled an authoritarian regime, it failed to establish a new democratic framework. He argued that past uprisings — in 1969 and 1990 — played pivotal roles in Bangladesh’s political trajectory, yet current student leaders lack the vision to seize power. “Why did we not see young leaders stand before the Raju Memorial or Shaheed Minar and declare, ‘From today, we take charge of the country’?” he asked, lamenting what he described as a lack of self-criticism among today’s youth. Mazhar also criticized the University of Dhaka, accusing it of declining in both independence and academic research.

Police have arrested 13 people, including 10 women, during a raid on a residential hotel in Gazipur on Saturday evening. The operation took place at South Bangla Residential Hotel in the Chandna Chowrasta area after police received a tip-off. Gazipur police chief Md. Shaheen Khan confirmed the arrests, stating that the detainees were engaged in “immoral activities.” Hotel staff managed to flee during the raid. Cases have been filed against the detainees, who will be presented before court on Sunday.

At least 10 people were injured when a passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a roadside pond in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali early Saturday. The accident occurred around 1 a.m. One of the injured has been admitted to the Upazila Health Complex, while others received first aid before being released. Passengers alleged that buses plying the Galachipa–Dashmina route are often driven by the same driver day and night, without rest, leading to frequent accidents on this route.

The U.S. State Department has announced the suspension of all visas for Palestinians living in Gaza, citing an ongoing review of humanitarian visa procedures. The move comes shortly after three severely injured Palestinian children and their families were brought to the U.S. for treatment through a non-profit initiative. The case triggered outrage from far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of Donald Trump, who criticized the decision. Until the review is complete, no new visas will be issued to Gazans.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said Ukraine should seek a peace settlement with Russia, stressing that “Russia is a massive power, and Ukraine is not.” His comments come after a high-stakes meeting in Alaska, where President Vladimir Putin reportedly demanded additional Ukrainian territory. Following the talks, Trump informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Putin would agree to a ceasefire if Kyiv ceded full control of the Donetsk region — a demand Zelenskyy immediately rejected. Trump emphasized that a mere ceasefire would not suffice, arguing that a formal peace treaty was essential. Zelenskyy, however, countered that Russia’s unwillingness to halt aggression remains the greatest obstacle to lasting peace, adding that “stopping the bloodshed is the only path to ending the war.” Despite sharp disagreements, Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday. European allies have cautiously welcomed Trump’s mediation efforts but reaffirmed their continued support for Ukraine, alongside pledges to tighten sanctions against Moscow.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours, with eight more bodies recovered from the rubble. Another 385 people were injured. The death toll from Israel’s offensive since October 2023 now stands at 61,897. Hunger and malnutrition have killed 251 people, including 108 children, while 26 were shot dead in the past day while attempting to collect aid. Rescue operations remain severely hampered, with many victims still trapped under debris.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has stated that he has no intention of entering active politics or contesting the upcoming February parliamentary elections. In an interview with Bernama, Yunus emphasized that he accepted the advisory role solely at the people’s request. “Our priority is to implement the reform agenda within the stipulated timeframe. The government’s main focus is restoring peace and rebuilding the nation after the July uprising,” he said. Yunus also called for Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, to play a stronger role in facilitating Rohingya repatriation.

BNP leader Amir Khosru has called for a united, inclusive Bangladesh built on equality, rejecting the notion of “minorities.” “There is no word called minority. We are all Bangladeshis, and it is the duty of any government to ensure equal rights for all,” Khosru said. He stressed that people of all faiths must freely practice their religions and celebrate their festivals, insisting that communalism has no place in society. “Ordinary people despise sectarianism with all their hearts,” he added.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque hailed the July uprising as unprecedented in global history. “Elderly parents, mothers, and fathers came out of their homes to fight tyranny. People took to the streets, ready to sacrifice their lives. No power could defeat them,” he said, crediting mass resistance with forcing Sheikh Hasina to flee after 16 years of repression. Haque compared her escape to that of Lakshman Sen centuries ago, adding that ministers, senior officials, and university vice-chancellors also fled following her departure.

Bangladesh’s mass typhoid vaccination program for children and adolescents has been delayed due to health assistants’ strikes. Initially scheduled to begin on September 1, the campaign will now start on October 12. The program will run for 18 working days: the first 10 in schools and the following eight at vaccination centers for out-of-school children. Around 50 million children aged 9 months to 15 years 11 months will receive the injectable single-dose vaccine, which provides 3–7 years of protection.

Jamaat leader Masud Sayedee has alleged that the war crimes trials were politically motivated executions aimed at halting Jamaat’s rise, rather than genuine justice for 1971 atrocities. Speaking at a religious gathering, Sayedee challenged the legitimacy of the trials, questioning why alleged crimes had gone unprosecuted for decades. “If our leaders truly committed crimes, were only six individuals responsible for the deaths of millions and mass rapes? The government has no answers,” he said. He insisted that imams and clerics must continue to speak the truth despite repression, describing their role as a divine duty rather than a profession.

Fresh intelligence reports have revealed explosive claims about the publication of The Unfinished Memoirs, attributed to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and released in 2012. According to the findings, the book was in fact compiled by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and later ambassador Javed Patwary, who was promoted to IGP in return. A total of 123 individuals allegedly assisted in the project, each receiving one crore taka and an apartment in Dhaka. The revelations raise questions about the authenticity of the publication, long championed by Sheikh Hasina as an authoritative source on Mujib’s life. The documents related to the compilation have reportedly been destroyed, sparking calls for investigation.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly directed diplomats to remove President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s portraits from all embassies, consulates, and diplomatic residences abroad. Unlike standard practice, the order was not issued through formal letters or emails but communicated via telephone to select ambassadors, who were then asked to inform other missions. While some diplomats confirmed receiving the directive, others said they had not yet been officially notified. One diplomat revealed that instructions were relayed indirectly through another nearby mission.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Helal Uddin has warned that free and fair elections cannot take place in Bangladesh without justice and reforms addressing past mass killings. “If perpetrators are not brought to trial, the same situation will recur in the future, and the people will not accept the next election,” he declared. He noted that the current political space emerged from a people’s uprising, and emphasized that the sacrifices of wounded student activists must never be forgotten. Helal also urged for immediate reforms alongside the proposed February elections and demanded that the incomplete July Declaration be finalized and incorporated into the constitution. “If Islamists unite, no force can stop us,” he said.