BNP leader and freedom fighter Hasan Uddin Sarkar has called for greater emphasis on sports alongside education to combat drug abuse and promote a healthier society. Speaking at a friendly girls’ football match held at Tongi Pilot School and Girls’ College ground, Sarkar said, “To build a drug-free society, we must prioritize sports along with studies. Regular physical activity is essential for both mental and physical well-being.” The exhibition match featured Gazipur Haidarabad Sporting Club and Bogura Dupchachia Women’s Football Team. After a goalless draw in regulation time, the match was decided in a penalty shootout, where Gazipur Haidarabad Sporting Club clinched victory 3-2.

Archbishop Kevin S. Randall, the Vatican’s ambassador to Bangladesh, has expressed strong support for a transparent and credible electoral process as the country prepares for its national polls. Speaking at an interfaith dialogue, Randall said, “The Holy See stands with you as Bangladesh moves toward elections. We hope for a free, fair, just, and transparent process.” He stressed that the Vatican does not endorse any political party, system, or candidate, and that Bangladesh’s nearly half a million Christians—both Catholic and Protestant—will cast their votes in accordance with their conscience, just like all other citizens. Randall highlighted the importance of dialogue in promoting peace and solidarity in a world plagued by extremism and conflict. “We must have the courage to build bridges, to be good Samaritans, and to reach out to others in their time of need,” he said, recalling Pope Francis’s visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar and the Holy See’s support for Rohingya repatriation. Educationist and adviser C.R. Abrar added that Vatican-Bangladesh relations are rooted in shared values of peace, compassion, and mutual respect.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued eight strict directives aimed at safeguarding the professional reputation of government doctors and curbing undue influence of pharmaceutical companies inside hospitals. Key provisions include: Doctors are prohibited from prescribing on pads branded with private diagnostic centers, clinics, or pharmaceutical companies. Patients cannot be directed to purchase medicines or undergo tests outside the government hospital if those services are available in-house. Private seals cannot be used; only generic-name stamps without advertisements are allowed. Lists of company-supplied medicines cannot be placed on hospital desks. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies are forbidden from collecting prescriptions or personal patient data. Company representatives may only meet doctors on Mondays and Thursdays between 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm. Outside of these hours, legal action will be taken against violators. Representatives must display company-issued ID cards visibly during visits. The DGHS has warned that any breach of these directives will result in strict legal action against both the companies and the doctors involved.

BNP leader Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu said student union election results at one or two universities will have no bearing on the upcoming national election. “Thousands of student votes cannot compare to the will of millions in rural Bangladesh. The people are eagerly waiting to vote for BNP’s paddy-sheaf symbol under Tarique Rahman’s leadership,” he said. Dulu added that BNP leaders and activists have faced the harshest repression, arrests, enforced disappearances, and killings over the past 17 years, but people have not forgotten the injustices under Awami League rule. He expressed confidence that BNP would return to power with a sweeping victory.

Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam warned that if JUCSU results are not announced swiftly, Jahangirnagar University students will reclaim their rights just as they did in July. He accused the administration of attempting to derail the election through slow counting and “partisan political games.” “Our clear message: results must be declared promptly in line with students’ votes. Otherwise, the university administration—and even the interim government—will be held accountable,” Zahidul stated.

BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo has declared that Tarique Rahman will return to Bangladesh once the date for the 13th National Parliamentary Election is officially announced. Speaking to reporters, Mintoo emphasized that the outcome of university student union elections has no bearing on the upcoming national polls. “BNP is a large democratic party that firmly believes in the people’s right to vote and in democracy itself,” he said. Raising concerns about governance, Mintoo noted that questions about the government’s legitimacy cast a shadow over the election process. He criticized the deteriorating law-and-order situation, pointing to incidents of mob justice and politically motivated blame-shifting. While acknowledging that some BNP activists had been involved in misconduct, Mintoo said, “We have already expelled three to four thousand leaders and workers from the party for such activities.”

BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan declared the fall of what he termed “Awami autocracy” during a street rally in Sadurbazar, Palash upazila, Narsingdi. “Through the united movement of students and the people, we are free again. The Awami League, without accountability, looted hundreds of billions and bankrupted the nation,” he alleged.

The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi hosted a high-level dinner on September 11, seeking support from member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Bangladesh, for the first time, secured a Category ‘C’ seat on the IMO Council in 2023 with 128 votes. The council, consisting of 40 members across three categories, plays a pivotal role in shaping global maritime policy. Highlighting Bangladesh’s growing maritime sector and port importance, Senior Secretary Mohammad Yusuf addressed diplomats and ambassadors present at the event.

At a memorial event for student martyr Farhan Faiyaz, Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid paid tribute to the young lives lost during the July 24 uprising. “We remember Farhan and all the children who sacrificed their lives. They remain eternal in our hearts,” she said. Sharmin praised children with autism who participated in a football match in Farhan’s memory, encouraging them to dream of reaching international stages like the Olympics. She added: “Next time, we will commemorate not just Farhan, but all the children of this nation who gave their lives, and rebuild our country with them in our hearts.”

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Association has suspended its ongoing mass leave program and requested all officers and employees to return to work. In a statement, the association said its reform movement, launched in January 2024, aimed to eliminate rural-urban disparities in electricity supply and build a sustainable distribution system. While acknowledging government assurances of a solution, the association said it was unfair to label workers—who serve tirelessly in sun, storm, and rain to light up 140 million homes—as “anti-national.” The decision to suspend the program follows discussions with the government’s power adviser, who expressed commitment to resolving the issues.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest rally in Shahbagh demanding the immediate release of JUCSU and hall union election results. Meanwhile, the Chief Election Commissioner assured that manpower has been increased to accelerate the process and expressed hope that results would be announced by tonight. The elections, held after 34 years, have kept the entire campus in suspense. Proctor Zakir Ahmed explained that the delay was caused by switching from OMR to manual counting, which requires more time to ensure accuracy.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof. Md. Moniruzzaman announced that results of the JUCSU and 21 hall union elections will be declared tonight after vote counting is completed. “Counting began at 9 PM last night. So far, 19 out of 21 halls have been counted. Additional manpower has been deployed to speed up the process, and counting is being conducted transparently in front of candidates’ agents,” he said. He noted that while the commission cannot specify an exact time, results may be released late at night.

Arjun Singh, former BJP MP, has called for a mass uprising in West Bengal similar to the recent youth-led revolt in Nepal. Referring to Nepal’s ongoing unrest, Singh said: “The way Nepal’s young generation has stood up against corruption is a powerful example. Bengal’s youth must also rise with similar courage.” His remarks have sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of making inflammatory statements that could incite violence in the state and even issuing threats against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mazharul Islam, the General Secretary candidate from the Jamaat-e-Islami student wing–backed “Combined Student Alliance” panel, has given an ultimatum for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election results to be announced by Friday. He warned: “If the results are not declared, we will take the strongest possible stance. No attempt to derail this election will be allowed.” Mazharul alleged that BNP-backed teachers and JCD leaders are conspiring to stall vote counting under various pretexts, calling the decision to exclude OMR from counting “illogical and inhumane.” He further claimed that aggressive actions by JCD disrupted the voting atmosphere. “This campus belongs to the students, not any teachers’ group or political party. After 33 years, students finally got a JUCSU election, and they must be allowed to exercise their rights,” he asserted.

Sultana Akter, returning officer at Nawab Foyzunnesa Hall, has boycotted the JUCSU election vote counting process, citing unbearable workload and inefficiency of the manual counting method. “Three days of relentless labor has left us physically and mentally broken. Under this analog system, even in three days the count won’t finish,” she said, also blaming the administration for a colleague’s recent death during the process. Meanwhile, election commission member Dr. Lutfur Elahi assured that counting was ongoing, with only three hall unions left to tally before JUCSU results would begin.