The campaign for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election has already taken a contentious turn, with a stream of formal complaints and counter-allegations emerging from rival panels over the past two days. Abdul Kader, vice-president (VP) candidate from Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (BGCS), said: “There’s a competition among candidates to violate the rules. Yet nothing is being resolved.”Meanwhile, the election taskforce has removed several campaign banners and PVC boards installed in violation of electoral rules. At the same time, they are extending deadlines and changing rules to help one particular panel.”Chhatra Dal’s VP candidate Abidul also raised concerns about polling logistics. It’s clearly insufficient.”Similar concerns came from Abdul Kader, VP candidate from Boishommobirodhi Chhatra Sangsad.

Students of Barishal University, locked in protests over acute classroom and housing shortages, have hung banners on two government buildings in the city, symbolically declaring them as part of their campus. Half an hour later, they placed another banner on the Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) building, declaring it a “residential hall". The university faces severe shortages of classrooms and accommodation, and the campus itself is very small,” he said. He noted that the government had already allocated funds for a feasibility study in response to the three-point demand of the students. The banners, I believe, are a symbolic action born out of emotion.”The university administration will soon hold discussions on the matter, he added.

Nine hospitalised after police, engineering students clash in DhakaAt least 15 people, including eight policemen, have been injured in a clash with engineering students from BUET and other universities demonstrating over three demands. Other injured policemen include Sub-Inspectors Touhidul Islam and Forhad Ali, and Constables Adib, Aminul Islam and Shrabon, 20. Seven students have received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), with one admitted for further care. The injured students are Nasif (25), Sadib (21), Rizon (22), Pial (22), Shahadat (22), Navid (21) and Sadat (21) -- all going by a single name. The injured students alleged that police launched an unprovoked attack on their peaceful demonstration, leaving several of them wounded.

‘Allegation of a threat entirely false,’ says CA’s Press SecretaryThe International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has said that the body of veteran Bangladeshi journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar was recovered from the Meghna River in Munshiganj days after he was subjected to "recurring intimidation by local authorities." The Daily Star reached out to Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam for his comment. Hours before his death, on August 21, Bibhuranjan Sarkar sent his "final piece of writing" to bdnews24.com. In the piece, Sarkar condemned systemic injustices, including low wages, lack of recognition, and newsrooms operating under intimidation. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said, "The death of veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar underscores the broader attack on freedom of expression and decline of independent journalism amid a culture of fear and intimidation in Bangladesh.

The Election Commission (EC) has concluded a four-day hearing on objections and applications regarding the proposed boundaries of constituencies ahead of the parliamentary polls. On Wednesday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission will review all feedback and release the final list “as soon as possible”. He presented a summary of the four-day process at a media briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban, or Election Building. The hearings were attended by the chief election commissioner (CEC), four other commissioners, and the EC secretary, among others. In total, the EC received 1,893 submissions -- 1,185 objections and 708 recommendations -- covering 84 constituencies in 33 districts.

The date for the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election has been changed again within just nine hours. On Wednesday night, Chief Election Commissioner Prof F Nazrul Islam announced that the polls will now be held on Sept 25, a Thursday. Around 3,500 Sanatan students are enrolled at Rajshahi University. The decision was finalised after an evening meeting at the RUCSU treasurer’s office, which continued until 9pm. Nomination forms for the RUCSU and Senate student representative elections will be available at the treasurer’s office, while those for hall union polls can be collected from respective hall administrative offices.

The interim government has fixed the minimum price of potatoes at Tk 22 per kg at cold storage gates and will purchase 50,000 metric tonnes for storage, which will be sold in October-November 2025. The statement said that recently, potato prices have not aligned with production costs, causing losses for farmers. To protect farmers’ interests and ensure a fair price for their produce, a review committee was formed under the chief advisor’s direction. The four-strong committee is headed by the agriculture secretary, with the commerce, food and finance secretaries as members. Following the committee’s recommendations, the government approved three key measures:Set a minimum potato price of Tk 22 per kg at cold storagesPurchase and store metric tonnes of potatoes for sale in October–November 2025Provide incentives for potato farmers in the upcoming seasonThe statement noted that the relevant ministries would take steps to implement these measures.

Bangladesh’s top appeals court is reluctant to reinstate the caretaker government system as a temporary fix, preferring instead a lasting solution that would prevent repeated disruption, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said. Justice Refaat also questioned at what point the caretaker system would take effect if it were to be reinstated. The chief justice made the remarks on Wednesday during the hearing of review petitions seeking reconsideration of the verdict that scrapped the caretaker government system. The hearing took place before the Supreme Court’s full Appellate Division bench of seven judges, presided over by the chief justice. On Oct 23, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted a separate review petition, while freedom fighter Mofazzal Hossain lodged another with the Appellate Division.

The Election Commission is likely to announce its roadmap for the national vote on Thursday, as preparations gather pace for the parliamentary polls expected early next year. The update came on Wednesday at the Nirbachan Bhaban, or Election Building, in Agargaon, where EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed briefed the media following a series of hearings on redrawing parliamentary constituency boundaries. He said the roadmap had been prepared, and that the commission would reveal its plans soon. Earlier this month, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus announced in a televised speech that the general election would be held before Ramadan in February. The CEC has indicated that voting will likely take place in early February, with the schedule expected to be announced by mid-December.

Bangladesh’s top appeals court is reluctant to reinstate the caretaker government system as a temporary fix, preferring instead a lasting solution that would prevent repeated disruption, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said. Justice Refaat also questioned at what point the caretaker system would take effect if it were to be reinstated. The hearing took place before the Supreme Court’s full Appellate Division bench of seven judges, presided over by the chief justice. A total of four review petitions -- filed by a political party and six individuals -- seek to challenge the Supreme Court verdict that abolished the caretaker government system. On Oct 23, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted a separate review petition, while freedom fighter Mofazzal Hossain lodged another with the Appellate Division.

The Election Commission (EC) has begun the final day of hearings on objections to its proposed redrawing of parliamentary constituencies ahead of the 13th national election. On Wednesday, the commission is scheduled to hear seven objections from Rangpur, 232 from Rajshahi, three from Mymensingh, 18 from Faridpur, and two from the Sylhet region. The plan includes raising Gazipur’s seats to six and reducing Bagerhat’s to three in a bid to balance voter numbers. Applicants have included political parties, local representatives and individuals, with hearings allowing both support and opposition to be voiced. The EC plans to publish the final gazette in September, after which preparations will begin for voter lists, polling centres and other arrangements.

Ninth grader Rokaiya Binte Mazhar, a protester, told bdnews24.com: "Our teacher didn't forbid us from wearing the Hijab, she told us to wear it properly. That’s why she’s facing this false propaganda.”Former student Anisa Karim told bdnews24.com, “I studied at this institution from 2009 to 2019. None of our teachers, including teacher Nahar, ever spoke against us wearing a Hijab. Nahar has rejected the accusations as “false and fabricated.”Speaking to bdnews24.com, Nahar said: “I did not do this. We are conducting an investigation," Acting Principal Majeda told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

The Netherlands cricket team has landed in Bangladesh for their first-ever bilateral T20 series, providing the hosts with crucial match practice ahead of the Asia Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is organising the series outside the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) to sharpen the Tiger’s skills ahead of the continental tournament. This marks the Netherlands’ third visit to Bangladesh, though previous trips in 2011 and 2014 were for World Cups rather than bilateral contests. Currently ranked 13th in the ICC T20 standings, the visitors regularly qualify for World Cups. The series opener is scheduled for Aug 30, followed by games on Sept 1 and Sept 3, all starting at 6pm local time.

Engineering students marching towards Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s official residence, the State Guest House Jamuna, have clashed with police who blocked their procession. Reporting from the scene, bdnews24.com correspondent Sabikunnahar Lipi said that the engineering students who had gathered at the Shahbagh intersection for an hour or so began to march towards Jamuna around 1:30pm on Wednesday. Police blocked the march near the InterContinental Dhaka intersection. The protesting students retreated back towards the Shahbagh intersection and the sounds of tear gas and sound grenades can be heard. Around midnight on Sunday, a group of BUET students had attempted to march to Jamuna to protest the “beating and death threats” against a former student.

REUTERSUS President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50 percent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world's two largest democracies and strategic partners. A punitive 25 percent tariff imposed due to India's purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump's prior 25 percent tariff on many products from India. The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs, including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. FAILED TALKSAs the midnight activation deadline approached, US officials offered no hope for India to avert the tariffs. Their two-way goods trade totaled $129 billion in 2024, with a $45.8 billion US trade deficit, according to US Census Bureau data.