Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University has said that a fair election to choose people's representatives is needed to restore people's confidence in the Constitution. Speaking as the keynote speaker at a seminar at the National Press Club on Saturday, Asif Nazrul also said that the lived reality must reflect the basic principles of state policy for the constitution to be respected by all. The seminar on restoring people's confidence in the Constitution was organised by the Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS). Mostafa Kamal Majumder, chairman CPDS, presided over the seminar moderated by its Executive Chairman Jahangir Chowdhury. Former Vice-Chancellor of Patuakhali University, Prof. Abdul Latif Masum, senior advocate of Supreme Court Iktidar Ahmed and former diplomat Saquib Ali also spoke at the function. Prof. Asif Nazrul said we must understand that there can't be democracy through questionable elections. Socialism and social justice is impossible if criminals are not brought to justice and if corruption is rampant. Similarly to uphold the principle of secularism all religious communities should be treated on an equal footing. Prof. Abdul Latif Masum said that there is a wide gap between what's written down in the Constitution and what's there in practice. He called for associating the masses of the people with the movement for democracy. Eminent lawyer of Supreme Court Iktidar Ahmed said, the rulers in our country always used the Constitution in their own interests. Former diplomat Saquib Ali said that the people of this country are always distanced from the system of governance.

Two Bangladeshi swimmers – M Asif Reza and Sonia Akter Tumpa – were eliminated in the heats in men's and women's 100-metre freestyle of the 16th FINA World Swimming Championship in Australia's Melbourne Wednesday. In the day's event, Asif's 52.91 seconds was his best time. But, with a time of 01:05.05 seconds, Sonia could not exceed her best time – 1:04.55 seconds. However, they will compete in their next event of 50-metre freestyle swimming on Friday. Read more: Three world records set in swimming at FINA Worlds A three-member swimming team, including coach and team manager Rezaul Hossain Badsha, is now representing Bangladesh at FINA. It will return home on December 20.

A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charges against popular singer Asif Akbar in a case filed under the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Act. Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad As-Sams Jaglul Hossain framed the charges rejecting the plea for acquittal and set June 23 to start recording statements of witnesses, said public prosecutor Najrul Islam Shamim. With the framing of charges the formal trial in the case has started. On June 4, 2018, lyricist and singer Shafiq Tuhin filed the case against Asif at Tejgaon police station. On November 20, 2019, the investigation officer in the case filed two separate chargesheets against the singer under the ICT Act and Penal Code. According to the case complaint, the plaintiff found out that Asif sold 617 songs of different lyricists, musician and singers without their permission through an investigative program named,”Search Light,” broadcasted in a private TV channel on June 1, 2018. Read: Asif, Lutfor coming up with an Islamic song this Ramadan Later the plaintiff got information from different sources that Asif digitalized those songs through his production company ARB Entertainment and earned a huge amount of money. Shafiq Tuhin posted a status about the matter on his personal Facebook account where Asif commented indecently. Later Asif came live on Facebook and said he will resist Shafiq anywhere he finds him.  

Pakistan has recalled allrounder Faheem Ashraf and offspinner Bilal Asif for next week's ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi.