At the parliament's South Plaza, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is signing the July National Charter at an open-air ceremony. Photo: Office of the Chief AdvisorAt the parliament's South Plaza, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is signing the July National Charter at an open-air ceremony. Photo: Office of the Chief AdvisorThe political document for state reform -- the July National Charter -- has been signed amid conflicts with protesters, boycotts and uncertainty over how it will be implemented. Yunus, National Consensus Commission president and chairman hailed the signing as a “rebirth,” saying: “With this signature we have launched a new Bangladesh. In response to the charter signing, the parties said they would launch a public movement to present their objections before the people.

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Friday to extend their 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of talks in Doha, according to three Pakistani security officials and one Afghan Taliban source. Six militants were killed in the assault, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan's military and the Afghan defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the ceasefire and the talks in Doha. Militant violence in Pakistan has been a major irritant in its relationship with the Afghan Taliban, which returned to power in Kabul after the departure of US-led forces in 2021. It has drawn the attention of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have mediated and sought to stop the fighting.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has condemned the interim government after police allegedly attacked participants of the July Movement, describing the incident as “shameful” and “deeply painful”. Speaking at a workers’ rally at Mirpur Dhaka on Friday, Shafiqur said: “We have repeatedly demanded constitutional recognition and dignity for the July fighters. If they were beaten by police of the interim government, it is truly shameful.”He urged the government to act “responsibly and fairly”, warning against treating the July warriors like ordinary protesters. The rally, organised by the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation at the Pabarta Eidgah ground in Dhaka-15 constituency, comes as Shafiqur prepares to contest the parliamentary elections from the area. The Jamaat leader accused the authorities of failing to restore stability after last year’s uprising that toppled the Hasina administration.

They argue the charter, framed after months of cross-party dialogue, questions “the four fundamental principles of the Liberation War, the declaration of independence and the constitution”. He recalled the chief advisor telling parties on Oct 5 last year that whatever all parties agreed would constitute consensus. The left bloc, he said, will make people “vocal against anything that destroys the spirit of the Liberation War”. “We don’t allow any consideration on the Liberation War or the 1972 constitution,” he said, accusing the Awami League of trying to monopolise the war’s legacy. “The Liberation War doesn’t mean the Awami League.

Bangladesh police used teargas, batons, and stun grenades on Friday to disperse protesters near the National Parliament, as tensions rose over the signing of the July Charter. Bangladesh police on Friday (Oct 17) fired teargas, used batons, and deployed stun grenades to disperse protesters who refused to leave the area near the National Parliament, amid uncertainty over the signing of the July Charter. The incident occurred shortly after 1 pm at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where the signing of the July Charter was scheduled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe “July National Charter”, named after the uprisings of July 2024, sets out plans for constitutional amendments, legal reforms, and new laws. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and eight allied parties said they would sign the charter.

On the day several political parties of Bangladesh came together to sign a new political charter heralded by the chief advisor of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus. Protests took place outside Bangladesh's national parliament building, after which tear gas and stun grenades had to be used to disperse the crowd, news agency Associated Press reported. Check out images from the protest here:Protesters set fire to a kiosk outside Bangladesh's national parliament complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)Protesters run away from the police outside Bangladesh's national parliament complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. "The signing of the July Charter by a few political parties does not constitute national unity," NCP convener Nahid Islam was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Mumbai Police have arrested a Bangladeshi transgender woman who had allegedly been living in India for nearly three decades using forged identity documents, reports NDTV. The suspect, identified as Babu Ayan Khan, alias Jyoti or “Guru Maa”, was arrested on Thursday. She is accused of trafficking more than 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India, a figure authorities believe could increase as the investigation progresses. Authorities allege that her network trafficked Bangladeshi nationals into India through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal. NDTV claimed that Guru Maa coerced some illegal immigrants into sex work, deploying them to different highways across the state.

Mumbai Police have arrested a Bangladeshi transgender woman who had allegedly been living in India for nearly three decades using forged identity documents, reports NDTV. The suspect, identified as Babu Ayan Khan, alias Jyoti or “Guru Maa”, was arrested on Thursday. She is accused of trafficking more than 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India, a figure authorities believe could increase as the investigation progresses. Authorities allege that her network trafficked Bangladeshi nationals into India through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal. NDTV claimed that Guru Maa coerced some illegal immigrants into sex work, deploying them to different highways across the state.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has condemned the interim government after police allegedly attacked participants of the July Movement, describing the incident as “shameful” and “deeply painful”. Speaking at a workers’ rally at Mirpur Dhaka on Friday, Shafiqur said: “We have repeatedly demanded constitutional recognition and dignity for the July fighters. If they were beaten by police of the interim government, it is truly shameful.”He urged the government to act “responsibly and fairly”, warning against treating the July warriors like ordinary protesters. The rally, organised by the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation at the Pabarta Eidgah ground in Dhaka-15 constituency, comes as Shafiqur prepares to contest the parliamentary elections from the area. The Jamaat leader accused the authorities of failing to restore stability after last year’s uprising that toppled the Hasina administration.

Bangladesh police clash with protesters near Parliament ahead of July Charter signing Demonstrators demand recognition and rehabilitation before the July Charter is signedPTIBangladesh police on Friday fired teargas and used batons and sound grenades to disperse protesters gathered near the Parliament after they refused to vacate the area, amid uncertainty over the signing of a joint declaration called the July Charter. ADVERTISEMENTThe protesters reportedly entered the Parliament premises by scaling its main gates in the morning before gathering in front of the stage. The National Citizen Party (NCP), a key ally of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said it would not sign the document. NCP's convenor Nahid Islam earlier said that some political parties are signing the document in the name of (national) consensus, "frauding" the people. According to the government, the charter drafted by the National Consensus Commission incorporated over 80 recommendations for running the country.

Dhaka condemns killing of three Bangladeshis by mob in India’s TripuraBangladesh has strongly condemned the killing of three of its citizens in India’s north-eastern state of Tripura, calling the incident a “brutal” and “unacceptable” act that violates human rights and the rule of law. In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the men were beaten to death by a mob in Tripura on Oct 15. “This heinous act is an unacceptable and grave violation of human rights and the rule of law,” the statement said. The three victims, identified as Pandit Mia, Sajal Mia, and Jewel Mia, were residents of Habiganj's Chunarughat Upazila. The bodies were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday through the Kedaraghat border.

Bangladesh police on Friday (October 17, 2025) fired teargas and used batons and sound grenades to disperse protesters gathered near the Parliament after they refused to vacate the area, amid uncertainty over the signing of a joint declaration called the July Charter. The protesters reportedly entered the Parliament premises by scaling its main gates in the morning before gathering in front of the stage. Officers chased them out of the Parliament compound, beating several demonstrators with batons and firing tear gas and sound grenades, it added. NCP's convenor Nahid Islam earlier said that some political parties are signing the document in the name of (national) consensus, "frauding" the people. According to the government, the charter drafted by the National Consensus Commission incorporated over 80 recommendations for running the country.

Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack near the Afghan border on Friday, Pakistani security officials said, amid a fragile ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul that paused days of intense fighting between the former allies this month. The soldiers were killed in an attack by militants on a Pakistani military camp in north Waziristan, which also left 13 injured, five security officials said. The Taliban denies the charge and accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan, provoking border tensions, and sheltering ISIS-linked militants to undermine its stability and sovereignty. Although the Islamic nations have clashed in the past, the fighting this month is their worst in decades. It has drawn the attention of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have mediated and sought to stop the fighting.

The signing ceremony for the July Charter, which sets out commitments to state reform, is under way at the South Plaza of Parliament. Political parties are expected to sign the charter in the presence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

The National Consensus Commission has announced changes to the fifth clause of the July Charter just before the signing ceremony. The “urgent amendment” was made in response to the demands of the July fighters, a press release from the commission said. The July Warriors had taken up positions in front of the stage of the July Charter signing ceremony on Friday to demand state recognition, legal protections, and rehabilitation. Riaz came to the stage and announced that amendments would be brought to the July Charter to fulfil their demands. The July Charter signing ceremony, which is to be attended by several political parties as well as Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, was scheduled to begin at 4pm.