The government has taken an in-principle decision to include 1,089 independent, grant-receiving Ebtedayee madrasas in the monthly pay order (MPO) scheme, subject to conditions. The Technical and Madrasah Education Division has been instructed to bring under the MPO scheme those 1,089 Ebtedayee madrasas that have fulfilled the conditions set out in the MPO policy issued this year. The division accepted MPO applications from more than 1,500 grant-receiving independent Ebtedayee madrasas from Jul 8 to 15. According to the Technical and Madrasah Education Division, there are 1,519 grant-receiving independent Ebtedayee madrasas in Bangladesh. Beyond these, there are an additional 5,932 independent Ebtedayee madrasas in the country that do not receive any government grants.

Bangladesh’s interim government has sought guidance from political parties over the implementation process for the July Charter and holding a referendum on it, asking them to resolve their differences and come to a united agreeement. An emergency meeting of the Advisory Council on Monday decided to seek the unified guidance of the “anti-fascist” parties. He said, "An emergency meeting of the Advisory Council was held on the July Charter formulated by the National Consensus Commission (NCC) and issues related to its implementation. The meeting thanked the National Consensus Commission and political parties for establishing consensus on reforms and for establishing consensus on many issues." He said that the meeting of the Advisory Council discussed the finalisation of the July National Charter (Constitutional Organisation) order proposed by the NCC and the arrangement of the referendum and its content.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed five cases against businessman Salman F Rahman, his brother Sohel F Rahman, and 34 others, including their sons, over alleged extortion and money laundering amounting to Tk 19.5 billion taken as loans from Janata Bank. ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain confirmed that the cases were lodged on Monday after receiving approval from the commission. The companies named are Peerless Garments Limited, Platinum Garments Limited, Kanchpur Apparels Limited, Skynet Apparels Limited, and New Dhaka Industries Limited. According to ACC documents, Peerless Garments embezzled about $50.25 million, Platinum Garments Limited around $18.80 million, Kanchpur Apparels Limited approximately $84.03 million, Skynet Apparels Limited roughly $14.73 million, and New Dhaka Industries Limited about $47.72 million. Based on an exchange rate of Tk 90 to the dollar, the ACC alleges the accused embezzled roughly Tk 19.50 billion.

A BNP activist has been killed in Khulna after a bullet shot at a local leader “missed its target" and hit him. At least three other people, including a BNP leader, were injured in the incident that occurred at the Khulna BNP Office near the IT gate of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) around 9pm on Sunday, said Khanjahan Ali Police Station chief Md Tuhinuzzaman. Mir Shawkat Hossain Hittu, general secretary of Jogipol Union BNP, said: "Mamun Sheikh, who was injured in the shooting, is in critical condition. Aranghata Police Station OC Khairul Bashar said, “Mamun Sheikh used to sit and chat with his party leaders and activists quite frequently. BNP Khanjahan Ali unit President Kazi Mizanur Rahman said, “Mamun Sheikh, the organising secretary of Jogipol Union BNP, was shot by attackers.

Khaleda to contest in three constituencies, Tarique to run for one as BNP names candidates for 237 seatsThe Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its candidates for 232 constituencies in the first phase of the parliamentary elections. He said: “We have announced the names of potential candidates for 237 seats. “We want to make it clear that this is a list of probable candidates.”Among 237 constituencies, Khaleda Zia alone is standing in multiple seats, while the BNP has fielded women candidates in 10 of the 12 constituencies reserved for women. In the 2008 parliamentary polls, the BNP, which had previously formed three governments, won 30 seats. The BNP boycotted the 2014 and 2018 elections, and in 2018, contesting under the Jatiya Oikya Front, it secured only five seats.

Police have blocked a group of teachers as they attempted to march towards the State Guest House Jamuna over demands to include schools for children with disabilities as MPO-enlisted institutions. When stopped, the teachers blocked the road outside the National Press Club on Monday, prompting police to remove them by force, reports bdnews24.com. Earlier in the day, the teachers had been holding a sit-in at the same location as part of their ongoing protest. The protesters then returned to their sit-in outside the Press Club. They used force to remove us and detained one of our colleagues for questioning.”The teachers’ five-point demand includes:Immediate recognition and MPO inclusion of all special (autism and disability) schools.

Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former principal secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has died. He passed away at his residence in Dhaka’s Gulshan early on Monday morning, the government said in a statement. Born in 1954, Kamal joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1968 and served as the prime minister's principal secretary the last time the BNP was in power. Later, he was accused alongside BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case during the state of emergency in 2007. After the political changeover last year, the court acquitted all eight accused in the case, including Khaleda and Kamal, this year.

A defamation case has been filed in a Dhaka court against NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary over allegedly derogatory remarks about Dhaka South Jubo Dal Member Secretary Robiul Islam Noyon. On Monday, Jubo Dal leader Kazi Mukituzzaman started the case before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain in Dhaka, reports bdnews24.com. According to the case details, Patwary made the remarks on Saturday at an event in Dhaka, targeting Noyon. In Dhaka South, there is a leader named Noyon, who alone has extorted and embezzled so much money that even a referendum could be held with it in Bangladesh. It claims that Patwary’s false, baseless, and misleading statements have damaged the social and political reputation of the BNP and Noyon.

The High Court had earlier declared certain sections of the amendment illegal, paving the way for the caretaker government system. “In the writ, we sought annulment of the entire amendment. “Due to legal and procedural flaws in the Fifteenth Amendment, we have appealed to annul the entire amendment,” Badiul said. The Fifteenth Amendment of 2011 brought 54 modifications, additions, and replacements to the Constitution. The court observed that Article 142, which provided for a referendum, had been abolished by the Fifteenth Amendment.

Asia's big manufacturing hubs struggled to fire up in October, business surveys showed on Monday, as weak US demand and tariffs under President Donald Trump hit factory orders across the region. Private-sector purchasing managers' indexes (PMIs) for October released on Monday showed manufacturing activity growing at a slower pace in China and falling in South Korea, with export orders in both countries declining. Friday's official PMI survey showed China's factory activity falling for the seventh straight month, confirming suspicions that the earlier export rush to get ahead of US tariffs had well and truly ended. Trade data for September showed China's exports rising faster-than-expected, although this was mostly due to growth in new markets as US-bound shipments tumbled 27% year-on-year. In stark contrast to its northeast Asian peers, India's factory activity sped up, helped by brisk domestic demand that helped offset the hit to exports.

Bangladesh may witness the formation of two to three low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal in November, with at least one potentially developing into a cyclone. By 3:00am the next day, it transformed into the cyclonic storm “Montha” in the southwestern and southeastern Bay of Bengal. In October, the country experienced 36.5 percent more rainfall than usual, with Mymensingh, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Barishal divisions recording above-average rainfall, while Chattogram, Khulna, and Sylhet received below-average rainfall. On Oct 31, Tentulia in Panchagarh received the month’s highest single-day rainfall of 162mm. Light to moderate fog may form from pre-dawn to morning in certain areas and river basins, while major rivers are expected to maintain their normal flow.

Man wanted in 57 cases arrested after returning from DubaiA Chattogram resident facing 57 criminal cases has been arrested after returning from Dubai. He returned to Bangladesh via Sylhet Osmani Airport on Saturday, where police arrested him before bringing him to Chattogram. He returned to the country via Sylhet Airport, where he was arrested with the help of the Airport Police Station,” the officer added. According to him, Ruhul has 32 warrants from Patiya Police Station, including 27 criminal cases, one general diary case, and four conviction warrants. In addition, Kotwali Police Station in the city has 19 criminal cases and six conviction warrants pending against him.

IMF tells Bangladesh not to cut policy rate while inflation is above 7%The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Bangladesh to wait until inflation falls to 7 percent before cutting the policy rate, objecting to the governor’s earlier indication of lowering it early next year. To rein in inflation, Bangladesh Bank had been raising the policy interest rate even before the Awami League government was removed from power. Governor Ahsan H Mansur, who took charge after the change of government, has continued the move, with successive increases in the policy rate. The central bank’s policy rate hikes, based on contractionary monetary policy, raised borrowing costs from Bangladesh Bank, prompting commercial banks to increase loan rates. Spokesperson Arief said, “The governor will review December’s figure before making any policy rate decision.”The IMF mission, led by mission chief Chris Papageorgiou, will continue discussions until Nov 13.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has acknowledged that Bangladesh’s transport system is “all over the place”, emphasising the urgent need to restore order before it becomes a major threat to the national economy. Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting on Sunday, he warned that if discipline is not restored soon, the entire system will turn into a “noose around the neck of the economy”. The meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, discussed the evaluation and strategic planning of the Central Integrated Multimodal Transport Sector Master Plan of Bangladesh, according to a media statement issued by the Chief Advisor’s Office. The plan showed ways to bring the national transport network under discipline through integration, with selective reforms and additions where needed. Reiterating the importance of river transport, he said: “When we think of our rivers as transport channels, we must remember, our rivers are our lifelines.”Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Sheikh Moinuddin noted that the planning aims to build an “economic lifeline” through integrated transport networks.

Pakistani pop-rock band Jal is set to perform in Dhaka on November 28 at the 300 Feet Road Swadesh Arena in a major open-air event titled "Sound of Soul". Joining them on stage will be Bangladesh's rock pioneers Warfaze and contemporary band Level Five, in a concert organised by Stage Co. Warfaze invited fans to attend, saying, "After a long time we return to an open-air stage. Join us at Swadesh Arena for 'Sound of Soul'—raise your voice with Warfaze." The "Legends of the Decade" concert, initially scheduled at Dhaka Arena on September 27 was postponed hours before showtime due to rain.