When Bangladesh take on India in the Asia Cup final in Dubai today, it will be a battle between two sides who have come to the title clash through highly contrasting routes and with widely divergent levels of confidence.

The Sampadak Parishad (Editors' Council) has postponed tomorrow's human chain, which was called denouncing the passage of the Digital Security Bill 2018, upon request from Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu.

BNP's longstanding ties with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has emerged as an obstacle to its move to forge a greater unity with other political parties, aimed at realising its demands ahead of the national election, likely in December.

Police are pressing for promotion of 495 officials of the ranks of superintendent of police to additional inspector general ahead of the national elections.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for putting the world on the track of Paris Agreement to meet the long term goals of addressing the climate disasters.

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya Convener Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said the people in power did not want a greater national unity of people for holding of a free, fair and inclusive election under a nonpartisan government.

More than three-quarters of Bangladesh’s population is at risk of declining living standards due to rising temperature and erratic rainfall from climate change, the World Bank says.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused neighbouring Myanmar of finding new excuses to delay the return of more than 700,000 Rohingya who were forced across the border over the past year, and said in an interview late Tuesday that under no circumstance would the refugees remain permanently in her already crowded country.

Bangladesh overcame a slew of obstacles and the crushing blow of ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan being ruled out on the morning of the match to achieve one of their best results -- a 37-run win over two-time champions Pakistan in their Asia Cup match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

A frail-looking Dadan Mia stepped out of Shahjalal International Airport with a small handbag, walking slowly with a sense of uncertainty. He had an uncombed black hair, flecked with grey, and an unkempt beard. Dressed in a shabby jacket and trousers, Dadan seemed to be on the verge of tears.

Uncertainty looms over Saturday's rally of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance in the capital as many AL leaders are in favour of shifting the date to avoid confrontation with the BNP, which plans to hold a rally in the city the same day.

The BNP has outlined a draft framework for the next polls-time government with a proposal for having a non-partisan administration on the basis of consensus among political parties upon dissolution of parliament.

When Bangladesh meet Pakistan in the last Asia Cup Super Four game, it will be a virtual semifinal between two teams who have had similar paths to this point. Both have won two matches out of four so far.

The government is hurriedly installing a system to monitor social media, and filter and block “malicious and objectionable content” ahead of the elections.

The liaison committee of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya would be formed after the BNP holds its rally on September 29, said AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday.

At least five people were killed, and four others injured, when a speeding truck ploughed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw stand along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government wants the next general election to be held in a free and fair manner with the participation of all political parties.

The Digital Security Act, which replaces the much-criticised Information and Communication Technology Act, retains the most problematic provisions of the ICT law and adds more provisions criminalising peaceful speech, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.

The ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance will maintain control over Dhaka's streets on September 29, announced Mohammed Nasim, a presidium member of the party.

A Dhaka court yesterday told the lawyers of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia that they were delaying the trial proceedings of the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.