Sufia Begum, along with her daughter, waited at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court Dhaka since morning yesterday to catch a glimpse of her son Abu Sufian.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who wrapped up weeklong dialogues with political parties on the next parliamentary polls yesterday, had been part of the eventful history of both successful and failed talks.

Yesterday's talks between the Jatiya Oikyafront and the Awami League-led 14-party alliance began with Dr Kamal Hossain putting forward the Oikyafront's proposals on the outline of the polls-time government, reconstitution of the Election Commission and creation of a level playing field for all political parties.

In line with a High Court directive, the Election Commission will not accept BNP's amended constitution until a petition in this regard is disposed of, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said yesterday.

The Election Commission seems to be in an unusual hurry to announce the schedule for the next parliamentary polls.

When Ariful Haque was the last batsman to be dismissed, top-edging Wellington Masakadza to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, he and the rest of the Bangladesh team were probably unaware that there were still a lot of spectators queuing up outside the ground to watch the first Test ever to take place at the Sylhet International Stadium.

Leftist parties in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last night demanded that parliament be dissolved and the election be held under a neutral caretaker government.

Jatiya Oikyafront has threatened to intensify agitation through a series of programmes, including a road march towards Rajshahi from the capital tomorrow, if the ruling Awami League does not accept its proposals in their second round of parley today.

All four technocrat ministers in Sheikh Hasina's cabinet tendered their resignation to the Cabinet Division yesterday, hours after the prime minister asked them to step down.

The Superior Selection Board (SSB) approved the promotion of 22 top police officials yesterday.The Superior Selection Board (SSB) approved the promotion of 22 top police officials yesterday.

Jatiya Oikyafront plans to hold a road march towards Rajshahi and two rallies in Khulna and Mymensingh next week to mount pressure on the government to meet its seven-point demand, including election under a non-partisan government.

Despite his outstanding entry into the international cricket when he took five wickets across two innings of his debut Test, Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has never been feted as a superstar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her optimism that the country was heading towards a meaningful election and its development would continue in the coming years.

The government has rescheduled and brought forward the dates of all primary and secondary school final exams so that students do not face any problems during the 11th national election, likely to be held in late December.

Children at Sirajganj's Kagmari char are now free from the hassle of making risky journeys to school on boats. They thank O Aa Ka Kha School, the brainchild of Sirajganj resident Dr Nazmul Islam, for that. The school not only saves the little learners' time but also provides them with education materials at a monthly fee of Tk 10 only.

History says Chattogram division is a bastion of the BNP.

The state of politics in the run up to the upcoming parliamentary polls looks quite different from what prevailed in 2006 and 2013. The first week of the 90-day timeframe from October 31 for holding the polls saw some positive signs like talks between the ruling and opposition parties and deferral of the election schedule by the Election Commission.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said there would be no technocrat in the polls-time cabinet in line with the constitution.

Several eminent citizens yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should not have attended the Qawmi madrasa platform's rally for which public examinations were deferred.

Top leaders of the components of the Awami League-led 14-party combine yesterday urged Sheikh Hasina to announce at one go the names of all alliance candidates for the next national election to avoid conflict.