Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that the state failed to meet the expectations of 1971, evidenced by the need for the 2024 mass uprising. She expressed hope that the upcoming February election would be a “referendum” to strengthen democracy and accountability. Hasan also defended the interim government’s record, saying its main task was to “repair [the state’s] collapse.”

National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam stressed that the safety of “July fighters” depends on self-reliance and public organisation, not police, citing the unapprehended attackers in the Sharif Osman Hadi shooting. Speaking on Victory Day, Nahid pledged that the NCP’s election campaign would focus on a ‘yes’ vote for reforms, vowing never to return Bangladesh to the pre-August 5 state.

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus observed a spectacular display at the National Parade Ground, including a flag-bearing skydive by 54 paratroopers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, marking Bangladesh’s 54 years of independence and aiming for a Guinness World Record. The Chief Adviser later exchanged greetings with the service members, honoring the 1971 Liberation War martyrs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention Bangladesh in his Victory Day (Vijay Diwas) remarks for the second consecutive year, focusing only on Indian soldiers’ bravery. The omission highlights deeply strained relations, which include Dhaka’s repeated extradition requests for former PM Sheikh Hasina and New Delhi’s non-committal stance on her return.

The iconic street art character Subodh has reappeared in Agargaon, the site of its 2017 debut. The new mural, emerging on Victory Day, features Subodh as a soldier of art, kissing a little girl’s forehead in a gesture of protection. The work, by anonymous artist HOBEKI?, shifts the series’ theme from running away to resistance through creativity and care.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) launched the “Bangladesh in My Thoughts” national reel-making competition to solicit policy ideas from the youth ahead of Tarique Rahman’s return. Participants must create a one-minute reel on themes like Family Card, Employment, and Corruption-Free Bangladesh. The top 10 winners will receive a special one-on-one interaction with the party’s acting chairman.

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus warned that “defeated fascist forces” are plotting a return through terrorism and covert killings, citing the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi. Yunus vowed to “completely thwart” the conspiracy and assured that all perpetrators have been preliminarily identified and will be punished, emphasizing the youth as a “formidable obstacle” to autocracy.

The grave of 1971 freedom fighter Abul Mannan Khan was allegedly set on fire by miscreants in Shariatpur in the early hours of Victory Day. Local administration, confirming evidence of arson, called the act “disgraceful” and vowed a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those who insulted the nation’s Liberation War legacy.

Dr. Daniela Vecchio, a psychiatrist at Australia’s only publicly-run gaming disorder clinic in Perth, calls the exclusion of platforms like Discord and Roblox from the new under-16 social media ban “odd.” She warns that gaming addiction, now a WHO-recognised disorder, is intricately linked to platforms like YouTube and social media, which are often used for livestreaming and connection.

As Netflix and Paramount Skydance battle for the historic Warner Bros studio, Hollywood workers fear mass job losses and political overreach. Paramount’s hostile bid, backed by Jared Kushner and Sovereign Wealth Funds, raised censorship concerns, amplified by President Trump’s demand that “it’s imperative that CNN be sold.” Workers are mourning the loss of the iconic studio.