Joint forces have arrested more than 200 people across Bangladesh in week-long operations, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). In a media statement on Thursday, the military’s media wing said the operations were conducted from Oct 2 to Oct 9. “During the joint drives, 224 individuals -- including smugglers, illegal arms holders, those involved in looting weapons from police stations, drug dealers, and addicts -- were arrested red-handed,” the statement read. The ISPR said the Army has been carrying out regular patrols and security operations in different areas to ensure public safety across the country. It added that the troops are also directly involved in maintaining order in industrial zones amid ongoing labour unrest.

CPD recommends dropping the idea of a bicameral parliament in BangladeshThe Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has called for strengthening Bangladesh’s unicameral parliament, abandoning the idea of creating a bicameral legislature. At a dialogue on Thursday, the private think tank recommended legal, institutional, and structural reforms to improve the current system and advised dropping the bicameral proposal altogether. The CPD recommendation came before political parties signed the Charter on Oct 15. The report warned that such measures could remain largely symbolic and risk increasing political deadlock and centralisation of power. “Emphasis should be placed on ensuring that members of private parties can bring bills, and committees can work qualitatively.

Modi says he and Trump, in call, reviewed "good progress" in trade negotiationsIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to US President Donald Trump on Thursday, adding that they "reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations" and agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks. Indian commerce ministry officials have said after the latest meetings of trade officials in Washington, another round of trade negotiations are expected soon in either countries. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on most exports from India, among the highest for any US trading partner. The move impacts about $50 billion of Indian exports to the US, mainly hurting labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery and the shrimp industry. India had rejected the accusation as a double standard, pointing to US and European trade links with Russia.

Five suspected members of a gang called the “Oggyan Party” or “Malam Party” – known for robbing victims after rendering them unconscious - have been beaten up by bus passengers and handed over to police in Dhaka’s FDC intersection. SI Rajib said that Mannan was travelling on a bus heading from Gulistan to Gazipur when he fell unconscious after being targeted by the gang. Other passengers, realising what had happened, beat up the five suspects and handed them over to police. During the incident, Tk 59,500 and a mobile phone belonging to Mannan were recovered from the suspects and later turned over to police. Upon receiving the report, police arrived at the scene and sent the victim and the five injured suspects to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, one of the key coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, has testified before the International Crimes Tribunal that “orders were issued to kill” the coordinators if they refused to call off the protests. He testified on Thursday before Tribunal-1 as the 19th witness in the case of crimes against humanity related to the killing of six people in Chankharpul. Following the shootings, members of several intelligence agencies contacted the movement’s coordinators, urging them to withdraw the protests. "The instruction was clear -- if we refused to withdraw the movement, we were to be killed. “I believe the former prime minister and the home minister were primarily responsible for these actions,” he said.

Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by just 3.69 percent in the fiscal year 2024-25, marking the lowest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to updated data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), this is the weakest growth since the 2019-2020 fiscal year, when GDP growth was 3.45 percent. However, the fourth quarter (April-June) saw a slowdown, with GDP growth dropping to 3.35 percent. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, revised GDP growth targets, initially aiming for 5.25 percent but failing to meet even that. The government is now targeting a 5.5 percent GDP growth for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with hopes for gradual improvement in the coming years.

But Hong Kong struck back on the stroke of half-time, punishing a lapse in defence. His towering header in the 74th minute put Hong Kong 3-1 up and seemingly out of reach. Straight from the restart, Hong Kong broke down the right. Hong Kong now top the group with seven points, followed by Singapore on five and India on two. Nearly 19 years have passed since Bangladesh last faced Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier.

The chiefs of nine Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education have announced Oct 16 as the possible date for the publication of the HSC and equivalent examinations' results.Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board Chairman Mian Md Nurul Haq said the decision was reached during a meeting of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee held on Thursday at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka. He told bdnews24.com, "All the boards have begun the work of publishing the results, since the rule is to publish the results within two months of the end of the exams. "Controller of examinations at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, SM Kamal Uddin Haider said: "The Education Board Coordination Committee will propose the date for publishing the results to the education ministry. The final date will be confirmed once the government approves. "�"bdnews24.com

Sputnik/Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool via REUTERSPresident Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged the leaders of five Central Asian states to boost their trade with Russia, as Moscow seeks to build back its influence in a region that is also being courted by China. He told a summit in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, that there was therefore good potential for growth. The five Central Asian states were ruled from Moscow until 1991 as part of the Soviet Union, and Russia still regards the region as part of its sphere of influence. Millions of Central Asian migrants are employed in Russia, filling labour shortages there and sending home remittances that help support their economies. A bland joint communique from the summit said the Central Asian states "noted the importance of further strengthening their strategic partnership with Russia".

EC offered no explanation for excluding ‘Shapla’ from list of poll symbols, says NCPLeaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) are refusing to budge from their demand for allocation of the “Shapla” or water lily as electoral symbol during a meeting with the Election Commission. At the Thursday meeting, the party also sought an explanation from the commission as to why the symbol could not be granted. After the discussion, the party’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the NCP would not accept any symbol other than Shapla. Rejecting the EC’s request, the party urged the commission to amend the rules to include Shapla in the list of electoral symbols. In the letter, Convenor Nahid Islam expressed hope that one of three versions -- Shapla, White Shapla, or Red Shapla -- would be allocated to the party.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have published an inquiry into advanced hyperspectral imaging technology as a potential jumping-off point for sorting municipal waste. The study, published in the journal Matter, discusses the scientists' use of powerful optical sensors to analyze the wavelengths of light reflected against various materials as conveyed through a pixelated image. "Hyperspectral imaging is a powerful tool that allows us to see what human eyes or standard cameras can't," explained Lokendra Pal, an E.J. Learn moreA large body of these "fingerprints" can better equip local recycling systems as they sort through municipal waste — in particular, identifying materials that can be salvaged for various recycling endeavors. This research to speed up and enhance automated sorting techniques through hyperspectral imaging can help pinpoint more salvageable materials and transform our recycling management systems for the better.

The interim government has approved the merger of five financially struggling Shariah-based private banks to form a single new bank. The banks involved in this merger are First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank, and Social Islami Bank. The merged entity will initially have an authorised capital of Tk 400 billion, with paid-up capital estimated at Tk 350 billion. As part of the initial plan, Tk 150 billion in institutional deposits will be converted into capital through a "bail-in" process. On Sept 16, the Bangladesh Bank’s board approved the “Resolution Plan Scheme 2025” for the merger, which was subsequently endorsed by the Advisory Council.

Observers note that the visit reflects India’s growing effort to open communication channels with the Taliban administration in Kabul. Under diplomatic norms, the visiting leader’s national flag is displayed alongside India’s tricolour during bilateral meetings and official photographs. But since India has not recognised Taliban rule, the new Taliban flag cannot be used in such settings. The NDTV report said that during earlier meetings between Indian officials and Muttaqi, the Taliban flag appeared in the background on Kabul’s side. Earlier, after Foreign Secretary Misri’s meeting with Muttaqi in January, the Taliban government described India as an “important regional and economic power”, it added.

None of the 12 officials of the Roads and Highways Department, who were ordered to work to ease traffic congestion at the Bishwa Road intersection in Brahmanbaria, have complied with a directive given by the road transport advisor. Instead, the department’s temporary office at the site remained locked throughout Thursday. On Wednesday, Road Transport Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan inspected the damaged highway from Ashuganj roundabout to the Bishwa Road intersection and directed the officers overseeing repairs to work from a temporary base in Brahmanbaria. On Wednesday, Advisor Fouzul himself was stuck in traffic for over two hours before boarding a motorcycle to reach the Bishwa Road intersection. The Roads and Highways Department has begun temporary repair work on the potholes at the Ashuganj roundabout and the Bishwa Road intersection.

The government has approved a draft of the “Deposit Protection Ordinance, 2025”, which will increase the deposit guarantee from Tk 100,000 to Tk 200,000 for bank and financial institution depositors. The move amends the 2000 “Bank Deposit Insurance Act” to include deposit guarantees for financial institutions, which were previously not covered. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief advisor, said in a media briefing, “Previously, the deposit guarantee was Tk 100,000. These funds will be independent of other Bangladesh Bank funds and managed by a trustee board. The ordinance also outlines that the maximum deposit guarantee will be reviewed every three years.