Depression over Bay of Bengal deepens, may turn into cyclone within 24 hoursA low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) warning that it could develop into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours. The deep depression is moving west-northwestwards and may continue to intensify as it tracks across the Bay, according to the bulletin. Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa said the potential cyclone would likely make landfall along India’s Odisha and Andhra coasts. If a cyclone does materialise, it will be called “Montha”, a name contributed by Thailand, meaning “beautiful flower”. Over the next 24 hours, the country’s weather is expected to remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies, and little change in day and night temperatures.

Six injured in explosion at dyeing factory in NarayanganjAt least six people have suffered burns in an explosion at a dyeing factory in the BSCIC Industrial Area in Narayanganj's Fatullah. The blast reportedly occurred around 11:15am on Sunday, and the injured were subsequently taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, according to the facility's resident surgeon Shawon Bin Rahman. “The dressing of the six burn victims is under way. The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. Fatullah Model Police Station chief Anwar Hossain said the incident took place at a factory named MS Dye and Printing Ltd.“The factory authorities did not inform us about the incident.

A fire has ripped though a market in Bandarban’s Thanchi Upazila, burning down at least 13 shops. However, 13 shops in the market had been gutted by then.”Local public representatives said the fire originated in a restaurant in the market, before rapidly spreading to nearby shops. In 2023, about 50 shops were burnt down in a fire at night. Now there's been another fire and this time, I didn’t get a chance to move my business materials to safety either.”Bolipara Union Parishad Chairman Jia Aung Marma confirmed that a total of 13 shops were burnt in the fire. In May 2023, a devastating fire destroyed at least 50 shops, as well as residential houses.

A businessman in Natore’s Baraigram Upazila has sparked concern among locals by storing around 13.5 tonnes of bullet shells in his warehouse. Police, however, say he legally purchased the shells from Rajendrapur Cantonment in Gazipur for use in his factory. Police and witnesses said locals saw the bullet shells being unloaded from a truck on Friday night, sparking a commotion in the market the following afternoon. Shihab Uddin, owner of the warehouse, said he bought the bullet shells from Rajendrapur Cantonment through an auction. He confirmed that Shihab purchased the MT cartridges from Rajendrapur Cantonment for factory use in compliance with regulations.

Kiriakou also claimed, in an interview with ANI cited by the Indian media, that Musharraf handed over control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to Washington. “Essentially, he would let us do whatever we wanted to do,” Kiriakou told ANI, while adding that Musharraf also had to placate his own military backers. Kiriakou accused Musharraf of playing a double game -- publicly aligning with the US on counter-terrorism while tolerating militant activity aimed at India to satisfy elements of Pakistan’s military. “He had to keep the military happy… they cared about India,” Kiriakou said, adding that India and Pakistan were “on the brink of war in 2002”. The former CIA officer also criticised Pakistan’s political elite, recalling a visit to Benazir Bhutto in exile.

BNP National Standing Committee Members Abdul Moin Khan and Selima Rahman, and the BNP Chairperson's Advisor Amanullah Aman, attend the 19th anniversary celebration of bdnews24.com at the Radisson Blu Water Garden hotel in Dhaka on Thursday, Oct 23, 2025.

The National Consensus Commission has said recommendations on the methods and process for implementing the July Charter will be submitted to the government “very soon”. The announcement came in a media statement on Saturday after the commission held a review meeting with experts. “The commission is optimistic about submitting a clear and comprehensive execution plan for the Charter shortly.”The panel did not indicate exactly when the recommendations would be submitted. The July National Charter, which includes initiatives for state reform and a pledge for governance, was signed on Oct 17. The commission held a meeting with experts on Wednesday.

Bangladesh on alert as Bay depression brews into possible Cyclone ‘Montha’ SundayA low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified, with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) warning it may develop into a cyclone by Sunday. Meteorologist Md Omar Faruk told bdnews24.com on Saturday night, “The depression could turn into a deep depression by midnight. By Sunday afternoon, it may intensify into a cyclone.”He said the cyclone is unlikely to have a significant impact on Bangladesh. According to a BMD special bulletin, at 6pm Saturday, the system was located 1,330km south of Chattogram Port, 1,255km south of Cox’s Bazar Port, 1,305km south of Mongla Port, and 1,265km south of Payra Port. The system is moving west-northwest, gaining strength, and may intensify into a cyclone.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif speaks during an interview with Reuters in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct 20, 2025. REUTERS/SalahuddinPakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif speaks during an interview with Reuters in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct 20, 2025. REUTERS/SalahuddinPakistan's defence minister said on Saturday he believes Afghanistan wants peace but that failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul would mean "open war," days after both sides agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes. Khawaja Muhammad Asif said there had been no incidents in the four to five days since it was agreed, and both sides were complying with the truce. "We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them," he said in televised remarks from Pakistan.

Following a strike demanding the nationalisation of private schools and colleges, several MPO-listed education institutions are holding classes on Saturday to make up for students’ lost lessons. On Saturday, teachers and staff said the move is aimed at addressing learning gaps and preparing students ahead of the annual exams. “To recover this loss and repay the nation’s debt, on our alliance’s call, schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions across the country are running full-fledged classes even on Saturdays. Mejbahul Islam Prince, teacher at Bashabo branch of Model School and College in Dhaka, said: “Classes were held during the strike in our institution. After government concessions on Oct 16 and 21, including increasing the house rent allowance to 15 percent of basic salary, the teachers withdrew their strike and resumed classes.

A rally in Chattogram has alleged that plans to hand over the city’s port terminals to foreign companies are part of “a long-term imperialist conspiracy” centred on Bangladesh’s hill regions. It was organised to oppose what the organisers called a “plot” to hand over profitable Chattogram Port terminals to foreign firms. Freedom fighter and Gonomukti Union President Raja Miah said, “Chattogram Port is profitable and fully capable of managing its operations. BaSaD (Marxist) District Coordinator Shafiuddin Kabir Abid said, “An interim government has neither the authority nor the justification to lease out port terminals. The one port that handles most of our imports and exports should never be handed over to foreign companies.”

US ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Brent Christensen has said he would work with the Bangladeshi government and armed forces to clarify the “risks” of working with China and its military. Speaking at his confirmation hearing before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Thursday, Christensen responded to a question about China’s refurbishment of a Bangladeshi submarine base and Dhaka’s reported plan to buy up to 20 Chinese J-10 fighter jets. “I share your concern about Chinese influence across South Asia,” he told senators. “If confirmed, I would engage with the Bangladeshi government and the military to clearly articulate the risks from Chinese activity, involvement with their military in the maritime domain and in critical infrastructure -- as well as highlight the opportunities and benefits of a closer partnership with the United States, especially between our militaries.”

Rapid Action Battalion has said a woman in Shariatpur town was strangled to death for 6 tolas (around 70 grams) of gold ornaments and cash. Ripon, son of Sonai Molla of Damudya Upazila, confessed during primary interrogation, according to RAB-8 Madaripur Camp Company Commander Mir Monir Hossain. At a media briefing, Monir said, Nazma Begum, 45, was murdered on Tuesday afternoon at her rented flat at Rupnagar of Shariatpur Municipality. Quoting Ripon’s statement, the commander said: “Nazma Begum was killed out of greed for 6 tolas of gold and money. Gold ornaments and cash were recovered from him.”RAB handed over the suspect to Palong Police for further legal proceedings.

Bangladesh has started importing wheat from the United States for the first time as part of an agreement between the two nations. In July, Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to import 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the US. Bangladesh currently meets its wheat demand through imports from India, Russia, Belarus and other countries. The statement said the wheat import agreement is managed by Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Samples from the first shipment will be tested before the wheat is unloaded.

Afghanistan is planning to build a dam on the Kunar River to restrict the flow of water into Pakistan, following India’s example of suspending water sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty earlier this year. IMPORTANCE OF KUNAR RIVERStretching nearly 500km, the Kunar River originates in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in the Chitral district of the Hindu Kush mountains. It flows south into Afghanistan, passing through the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, before merging with the Kabul River at Jalalabad. The Kabul River then joins another tributary, the Pech River, before turning eastward into Pakistan, where it flows into the Indus River near Attock in Punjab province. While the Indus Waters Treaty governs river sharing between India and Pakistan, there is no such treaty between Pakistan and Afghanistan.