Bangladesh is set to introduce mandatory mobile phone registration from Dec 16, raising concerns among users and industry insiders about potential complications and inconveniences. A central issue is the “de-registration” process for existing handsets, as a SIM registered under one individual’s name cannot be used in another device without completing de-registration. Taiyeb said, “Until NEIR becomes operational on Dec 16, all phones on the country’s networks will automatically fall under registration. Illegal or cloned phones will not be deactivated; rather, they will be placed in a grey list category on the server.”Each handset, like a SIM card, will require registration. Selling or transferring such a phone, or using a different SIM, will require prior de-registration -- raising concerns about user inconvenience.

Scattered rain has returned to parts of Dhaka and northeastern Bangladesh midway into Kartik, the first Bengali month of late autumn, with meteorologists forecasting cooler weather within the next two days. A brief spell of rain drenched Dhaka after 9pm on Wednesday, following heavy showers the night before. “This spell of light rain may last two more days,” said Tariful Newaz Kabir of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, adding that a cooler feeling is likely from Saturday. “The light rain may continue for another two days,” he said. After turning severe on Monday night, Montha made landfall near the northwestern coast of Andhra Pradesh around 2:30am Tuesday.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has revoked the gazette recognition of 105 people who were listed as July activists despite not being injured or involved in the anti-government movement that toppled the Awami League. In addition, 23 others were removed from the gazette for “duplication”, bringing the total number of cancellations to 128, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. According to the ministry, the highest number of cancellations came from the Chattogram Division, with 39 names struck off the list. In February, the interim government published a gazette recognising 1,401 individuals as “July activists” injured during the Uprising. Among them, 493 were categorised as “A-class” -- those unable to live independently despite treatment -- while 908 were categorised as “B-class” for sustaining serious injuries that left them partially dependent on others.

A delegation from Gono Odhikar Parishad has met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin as part of preparations for the 13th general election. A six-member team led by Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur joined the discussion with the CEC. The CEC has already attended meetings with several political parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), discussing electoral matters including the proposed referendum and amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO). Gono Odhikar Parishad has now stepped into the dialogue to present its views regarding the overall election landscape. The EC is scheduled to sit with political parties again in November, marking the final phase of its ongoing series of consultations with election stakeholders.

Businessman Saiful Alam, alias S Alam, has filed an arbitration case against Bangladesh’s interim government at the World Bank, reports Financial Times. According to the Financial Times report, lawyers representing the Alam family lodged the arbitration request on Monday with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Of that, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has claimed the Alam family alone laundered nearly $12 billion. The claim says these actions have caused “hundreds of millions of dollars” in damage to the S Alam group. Members of the S Alam family renounced Bangladeshi citizenship in 2020, and later acquiring Singaporean nationality between 2021 and 2023.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has agreed with the proposal made by the National Consensus Commission that if the constitutional reforms mentioned in the July Charter are not done within a specific period, it will be deemed to have been “adopted” by a constitutional council. The consensus commission said that even if the council failed to amend the constitution "within the specified time”, the "constitutional amendment will be effective as a law”. There were two alternative proposals for constitutional reform. We also applaud the tireless efforts of the consensus commission." Initiatives must be taken to draw a draft constitutional reform bill and open it to the public.

Eight Islamist parties have called for a referendum in November on implementing the July National Charter, alongside four other demands. Speaking at a joint press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, warned that any delay in announcing a referendum date would push the February election into deeper uncertainty. The parties have planned to submit a memorandum outlining their demands to the Election Commission on Thursday, and announce future programmes after a meeting on Nov 3. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the Consensus Commission’s report to the government had left the referendum timeline “unresolved”. He added that all eight parties had been clear in demanding a November referendum before the national election.

China wants to help Bangladesh become “more independent and stronger in its own capacity”, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen has said, stressing that there is no scope for any third country to “interfere” in Dhaka-Beijing relations. The remarks came on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session at a discussion in Dhaka, referring to recent comments by Brent Christensen, the United States’ ambassador-designate to Bangladesh. Yao said, “Every decision is made by Bangladesh, completely without dictation of any foreign elements. “China’s policy is to support Bangladesh to be more independent, more powerful in its own capacity, so you are not necessarily to listen to, dictated by any foreign countries. Earlier in his written remarks, Yao said: “Bangladesh is now standing at a crucial stage of democratic transition and national rejuvenation.

The Chief Advisor’s Office on Wednesday issued a rejoinder to a bdnews24.com report titled “Awami League urges ICC investigation of ‘murders, unlawful imprisonment’ in Bangladesh”. Rejoinder to bdnews24.com ReportWe note with serious concern the article published by bdnews24.com titled “Awami League urges ICC investigation of ‘murders, unlawful imprisonment’ in Bangladesh” which features an interview with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. It omits mention of the serious and well-documented charges against Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League’s record of corruption, violence, and authoritarian governance. Media outlets carry a responsibility to inform the public truthfully and in full context, especially on matters of national importance. We expect that this rejoinder will be published prominently in the same section as the original report, in keeping with standard journalistic practice and the principles of fairness and accountability.

“No one in the 21st century has committed more killings or human rights violations than Sheikh Hasina,” he said. From India, she gave interviews to several international media outlets including Reuters, AFP, and The Independent, which were published simultaneously on Wednesday. In response, Shafiqul said: “The International Crimes Tribunal can best comment on the issue of interviewing Sheikh Hasina. The UN’s reports clearly outline her human rights violations. But there was no mention of the horrific human rights violations she committed.

The junior scholarship examination for eighth graders, originally set to begin on Dec 21, has been deferred by seven days and will now start on Dec 28. Under the new timetable, the Bangla exam will be held on Dec 28, English on Dec 29, Mathematics on Dec 30, and Science along with Bangladesh and Global Studies on Dec 31. The government announced in September that the junior scholarship exam would resume this year after a hiatus. EXAM FORMATThe scholarship test will be based on the eighth-grade curriculum and will cover Bangla, English, Mathematics, Science, and Bangladesh and Global Studies. The Science and Bangladesh and Global Studies papers will be held over three hours -- 1 hour 30 minutes each.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul looks on at the venue of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 26, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee ThirasupaThailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul looks on at the venue of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 26, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee ThirasupaIndia plans to send an airplane to repatriate some 500 of its nationals who fled from a military raid on a scam centre in Myanmar into Thailand, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday. Starting last week, the Myanmar military has conducted a series of military operations against the KK Park cybercrime compound, driving more than 1,500 people from 28 countries into the Thai border town of Mae Sot, according to local authorities. Earlier this year India also sent a plane to repatriate its nationals after thousands were freed from cyberscam centres along the Thai-Myanmar border following a regional crackdown.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Russian state TV network RT (formerly Russia Today) at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia Oct 17, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERSRussian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Russian state TV network RT (formerly Russia Today) at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia Oct 17, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERSPresident Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia had successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo that military analysts say is capable of devastating coastal regions by triggering vast radioactive ocean swells. The Burevestnik and Poseidon tests are intended to send a clear message that Russia, in Putin's words, will never bow to Western pressure over the war in Ukraine. After Russia's test of the Burevestnik, Trump said Putin should end the war in Ukraine instead of testing a nuclear-powered missile.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry earlier said Mr Abe would arrive in Dhaka on September 6 on a 24-hour visit. It said executives from about 40 companies with diverse product range from such as trading and construction, will accompany Mr Abe on the September 6-8 trip. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the itinerary on Monday after the Bangladesh's foreign ministry had already done it. Bangladesh's foreign ministry said his visit is an indication of Tokyo's "very keen" interest in expanding and deepening "comprehensive partnership" in all spheres. Mr Abe will also address the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum, formed after Sheikh Hasina's Japan visit in May.

Two more people have died of dengue fever in Bangladesh while 964 others have been admitted to hospitals in the past 24 hours. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) bulletin on Wednesday, the latest deaths occurred in Mugda Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital. In October alone, 77 people died of dengue, marking the highest death toll in 2025, followed by the second-highest monthly toll of 76 fatalities recorded in September. The health directorate has been keeping records of dengue-related hospitalisations and deaths since 2000. Among those years, 2023 saw the highest number of hospitalisations with 321,179 patients and the highest number of deaths, totalling 1,705.