Three bodies recovered from Dhaka's Shahbagh, police rule out foul playPolice have recovered the bodies of three people, including a woman, from separate locations in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. Police said that around 9:30pm, locals spotted an unconscious woman lying on the traffic island in front of Dhaka University’s Central Mosque and informed the authorities. She was taken to DMCH, where doctors declared her dead. He was also taken to DMCH and declared dead. He too was declared dead after being taken to hospital.

Senior BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that efforts are being made to bring Bangladesh’s bureaucracy under the influence of a particular political party ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. “Efforts are under way to bring the bureaucracy under the control of a particular party. We [the BNP] will in no way tolerate this.”“We want to make it clear that during the election, the bureaucracy must remain completely neutral, as must the government. Fakhrul urged state institutions to stay above partisan politics, saying the current administration must play a neutral role during the polls. “We want to make it clear that the election will be held within the period determined in June through discussions between our leader Tarique Rahman and Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, a former chief of Bangladesh Navy staff, has died in hospital care at the age of 73. He passed away around 9:15am on Friday at the Combined Military Hospital, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said in a statement. Members of the Bangladesh Navy, including the current chief of naval staff, have expressed deep sorrow over his death. The Bangladesh Navy described him as a patriotic and professional officer who made invaluable contributions to the force’s modernisation and development through his leadership. The Bangladesh Navy has prayed for the eternal peace of his soul and conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family.

Police investigators look at an apartment building that was damaged during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Oct 10, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas PeterPolice investigators look at an apartment building that was damaged during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Oct 10, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas PeterRussian forces pummelled Ukrainian energy facilities in a heavy overnight attack that cut power to nine regions and plunged parts of the capital Kyiv into darkness, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the assault was among the heaviest concentrated strikes on energy infrastructure and reported significant damage. The attack also damaged energy infrastructure in the central region of Poltava where around 17,000 consumers were without power, regional officials said.

Source: CollectedThe sound of heavy gunfire has been heard from across the border in Myanmar has unsettled residents in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya and Bandarban’s Ghumdhum. The gunshots were reported from at least seven villages near the border from 11pm on Thursday, reports bdnews24.com. Lt Col Mohammad Jashim Uddin, captain of the Ukhiya 64 Border Guard Bangladesh said that gunshots were heard across the border near the Balukhali BOP. The camp is located far from the border.”Clashes between government forces and the Arakan Army have escalated recently in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. In December 2024, the Arakan Army claimed control of the 271km-stretch of the Rakhine section of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

REUTERSIndia's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at the UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 27, 2025. REUTERSIndia will reopen its embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul that was shut four years ago, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Friday, a significant move that expands the diplomatic links of the country governed by the Taliban. New Delhi's announcement came as Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi began talks with Jaishankar on what is the first visit to India by a Taliban leader since 2021. Talks between the two countries are expected to include discussions on political, economic and trade issues, the Afghan foreign ministry said this week. He is among Afghan Taliban members who are under UN sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze.

Source: CollectedThe Satyen Sen Shilpi Group has been unable to hold its "Sarat Utsob” in Old Dhaka’s Gandaria this year after police blocked the event, citing a lack of approval. The annual festival, held for the past 19 years, was initially scheduled to take place at Bakultala of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts on Friday morning, reports bdnews24.com. The organisers then announced that the festival would be held at the same time at the Kachikanchar Mela grounds in Gandaria. But police intervened there as well, saying the organisers did not have permission for the event. “This has broken a 19-year tradition,” said Satyen Sen Shilpi Group General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet.

The Satyen Sen Shilpi Group has been unable to hold its "Sarat Utsob” in Old Dhaka’s Gandaria this year after police blocked the event, citing a lack of approval. The annual festival, held for the past 19 years, was initially scheduled to take place at Bakultala of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts on Friday morning. The organisers then announced that the festival would be held at the same time at the Kachikanchar Mela grounds in Gandaria. But police intervened there as well, saying the organisers did not have permission for the event. “This has broken a 19-year tradition,” said Satyen Sen Shilpi Group General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet.

Pakistan's military says its forces killed 30 militants involved in an attack that killed 11 soldiersPakistan army soldiers stand at a tunnel where the Jaffar Express train was attacked by separatist militants, in Bolan, Balochistan, Pakistan, Mar 15, 2025. REUTERSPakistan army soldiers stand at a tunnel where the Jaffar Express train was attacked by separatist militants, in Bolan, Balochistan, Pakistan, Mar 15, 2025. REUTERSPakistan's military said on Friday that its security forces had killed 30 militants involved in the Oct 7 ambush on a Pakistani military convoy near the Afghan border, which killed nine soldiers and two officers. "During the conduct of operation, based on credible intelligence ... after intense fire exchanges, all thirty Indian-sponsored Khwarij (militants) involved in the terrorist incident have been sent to hell," the military said in a statement. Pakistan has also said that militants use neighboring Afghanistan to train and plan attacks against Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Efforts are under way, with Turkey’s assistance, to secure the release of Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, who was detained by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla earlier this week, the Chief Advisor's Office (CAO) has revealed. In a statement issued on Friday morning, the CAO said the Turkish authorities had expressed hope that Alam could be flown to Ankara later in the day. Citing Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Ankara Amanul Haque, the CAO said the Turkish authorities had indicated that there was "a strong possibility" of bringing Alam to Ankara on Friday by a special flight. “The embassies have been maintaining constant communication with local authorities regarding Shahidul Alam’s release,” it said. Israeli forces reportedly seized more than 40 vessels and detained over 400 activists on board.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck offshore in the southern Philippines on Friday morning, the country's seismology agency said, with tsunami warnings issued in several countries and people in nearby coastal areas urged to move to higher ground. It revised down the magnitude from an initial reading of 7.6 to 7.5, and put the depth of the quake at 20 km (12 miles). The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat, saying hazardous waves were possible for coasts within 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake's epicenter. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of 1 to 3 metres above tide level were possible in the Philippines. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the quake's magnitude at 7.4 and its depth at 58 km (36 miles).

When gold glitters too much: Bangladesh feels the sting of global price surge as sales slumpAs global uncertainty drives investors toward safe-haven assets, gold prices in Bangladesh have surged sharply while jewellery sales have slumped. On Wednesday, global gold prices hit an all-time high, crossing US $4,000 per ounce for the first time in history. WHY GOLD PRICES ARE CLIMBINGHistorically, gold has served as a safe store of value in times of economic or political instability. This year alone, global gold prices have galloped about 54 percent, compared with 27 percent in 2024. Masudur, owner of World Gold Jewellers in Gulshan, said: “We estimate annual gold consumption in Bangladesh at around 40 tonnes, but there’s no reliable data.

Nahid wants arrest of military officers linked to ‘crimes against humanity’ during UprisingNahid Islam, the convenor of the National Citizen Party, has called for the swift arrest and prosecution of military officers implicated in “crimes against humanity” during the July uprising. His statement follows the recent issuance of arrest warrants for 30 individuals involved in two cases of crimes against humanity. Among the 30 arrested individuals, 17 were linked to “torture” under the TFI, and 13 were tied to similar crimes in the JIC. Among the suspects, 22 individuals are Army officers ranging from the rank of colonel to lieutenant general. He added, “The long-standing failure of democracy has led to political interference in state institutions.

Michael Chakma, a leader of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), has been sentenced to 8 years of rigorous imprisonment in an extortion case. Judge Tawhidur Haque of Rangamati Special Judge Court-2 and Additional District Judge passed the order on Wednesday (8 October), confirmed the court's bench assistant Prosadeb Chakma. According to court sources, a case was filed by Longadu police of Rangamati regarding an extortion incident, naming three accused on 30 October 2007. Michael Chakma, the central organiser of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), had been missing for a long time and was released from the secret prison "Aynaghar" following the fall of the Awami League-led government on 5 August 2024. Commenting on the court's recent verdict, Niron Chakma, head of UPDF's publicity and publication department, wrote on Facebook, "Michael Chakma endured torture during more than five years of enforced disappearance.

The US-based human rights organisation says the UN human rights team in Bangladesh should immediately demand the release of those detained arbitrarily and encourage authorities to prosecute anyone involved in unlawful political violence. The event, held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, was surrounded by a “mob” accusing participants of supporting the Awami League. This government seems to be just like the Awami League government after all.”Enacted in 2009 under the Awami League government, the Anti-Terrorism Act has been significantly amended under the interim government to hold Awami League members accountable for alleged abuses during their time in power. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a human rights group, reported that at least 152 people have been killed in “mob” attacks since January. In July, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh, promising to support the promotion and protection of human rights.