Journalists have urged the Election Commission to take a firm stance in ensuring a free, fair and inclusive parliamentary polls, stressing equal opportunity for all candidates and effective action against misinformation on social media and cyber platforms. Print and online media journalists presented the recommendations during a dialogue with the commmission at its Agargaon office in Dhaka on Monday afternoon. At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said the national election would “determine the nation’s future”. It is a national election, and we intend to conduct it at the national level. We wish to move forward together to make this election free and fair,” the CEC added.

Pakistan looks to unlock Saudi investment in visit following defence pactSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embrace each other on the day they sign a defence agreement, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept 17, 2025. Photo: ReutersSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embrace each other on the day they sign a defence agreement, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sept 17, 2025. Under last month's defence deal Pakistani forces are expected to be stationed in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh indicating it will also come under the protection of Islamabad’s nuclear weapons. “Don’t just ask us for money.”Past Saudi pledges of large investment in Pakistan in recent years have not delivered. A Pakistani official said that the Saudi visit was focused on the private sector and that Pakistan recognised that institutional reforms were needed.

Former police chief Mamun was “influenced” to falsely testify, says Hasina’s lawyerLawyer Amir Hossain has claimed that ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was “provoked” into giving a statement implicating suspects in a crimes against humanity case linked to the July Uprising. The claim came on Monday during cross-examination of the case’s investigating officer Md Alamgir at the International Crimes Tribunal-1. Among the three suspects in the case, former IGP Mamun has given a statement as a state approver. The defence counsel also claimed that reports published in the daily Amar Desh newspaper were “false and hostile” towards Hasina, but Alamgir denied this. Former police chief Mamun was present in court during the proceedings.

Saudi opens doors for skilled Bangladeshi workers with first formal dealBangladesh and oil-rich Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral labour agreement for the first time, a move expected to substantially expand Bangladesh’s overseas employment market. Although Bangladesh has been sending workers to Saudi Arabia informally since 1976, no formal agreement on general worker recruitment existed until now. The new deal is expected to boost the recruitment of skilled workers from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia while ensuring “greater” protection of the rights and interests of both employees and employers, the government said. The ministry said before the signing, a bilateral meeting was held between the Saudi minister and Advisor Nazrul. The meeting also included "productive" discussions on recruiting and training skilled workers, safeguarding the welfare of expatriate workers, and strengthening cooperation between the two countries, the statement read.

Despite requests in two phases, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has not received the information and documents within the stipulated time for the inquiry it launched against former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman over a series of allegations. This time, the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist issue was given special importance." The agency had first requested details on him from the Bangladesh Bank in June. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan told bdnews24.com that all information requested by the ACC is always provided. Later, on Mar 15 of that year, a Bangladesh Bank official initiated a case at Dhaka’s Motijheel Police Station over the heist.

After a dip in August, inflation rate has surged again, to 8.36 percent, in September. The inflation rate in July this year was recorded at 8.55 percent. The following month saw a slight decrease, marking the lowest inflation in 37 months. According to the latest BBS data, both food and non-food inflation rose in September. Food inflation increased from 7.60 percent in August to 7.64 percent in September, while non-food inflation rose from 8.90 percent in August to 8.98 percent.

The Bangladesh Army has said a group with malicious intent is “misrepresenting” its chief’s remarks on legal immunity for troops in civil aid operations on social media. As part of the exchange, the Army chief explained the legal immunity under Section 132 and its possible conflict with the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 (Amended 2024), it added. It clarified that at no point during the discussion did the Army chief mention immunity for enforced disappearances, killings, or other crimes against humanity. Through these misleading posts, they are attempting to “create a rift” between the patriotic Bangladesh Army and the people, it said. It added that the Bangladesh Army has always carried out its duties with professionalism and discipline, remaining committed to the Constitution, the laws of the state, and the people, and will continue to do so.

Iconic political and influential leader of the Awami League Tofail Ahmed is showing signs of “improvement”, her family has said, though doctors report that his condition remains “critical”. On Monday, his niece, Shamima Akter, visited him at Dhaka's Square Hospital and shared an update with the press. Tofail has been under treatment at Square Hospital for nearly 10 days due to complications associated with old age. On Monday, CEO of Square Hospital Yousuf Siddique said Tofail Ahmed is still on life support, though different organs in his body are responding. As he became a political heavyweight, Tofail served the Awami League as the organising secretary for a long time before becoming a presidium member later.

The Ministry of Education has ordered private educational institutions to stop recruitment for the posts of principals and vice principals. Syed AZ Morshed Ali, deputy secretary of the department’s private secondary unit, told bdnews24.com on Monday: “An office order has been issued instructing a halt to recruitment for the posts of principal and vice principals of private educational institutions.”SHED published the order on Monday. The order, issued on Oct 5, announced the new procedure and also called a halt on recruitment to these posts. He said it was done to “establish leadership based on merit” in private educational institutions. Although the NTRCA is responsible for recommending candidates for the posts of entry-level teachers and lecturers in private educational institutions, the power to appoint principals and vice principals previously rested with the board of directors.

Yudhi Bramantyo, a search and rescue agency official, said at the same news conference that five other body parts were found, indicating the death toll is likely at least 54 people. Rescuers are continuing their search, with footage shared by the search and rescue agency showing recovery workers carrying orange body bags out of the ruins of the school. Authorities have said the cause of the collapse was construction work on the upper floorsthat the school's foundations could not support. Across Indonesia, there are about 42,000 Islamic school buildings, known locally as a pesantren, data from the country's religious affairs ministry shows. Only 50 pesantren have building permits, Dody Hanggodo, the country's public works minister, was quoted by local media as saying on Sunday.

As part of the implementation of the Public Administration Reform Commission's recommendations, the government is exploring the feasibility of hiring “specialist” individuals at the joint-secretary level. The Cabinet Division committee, formed to examine this proposal, has submitted its report. The committee, comprising three secretaries and one additional secretary, held several meetings before finalising the report. The initiative follows the reform commission's report on Feb 5, which recommended direct appointments to the positions of joint secretary and higher administrative roles. [More to follow]

Fresh ordinances have been promulgated introducing tougher penalties for election officials found guilty of negligence or irregularities, while also empowering the Election Commission to resolve disputes with the government. On Sunday, the law ministry published the gazette for both the Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance and the Election Officer Special Provisions (Amendment) Ordinance. The ordinance includes people from law-enforcing agencies and other relevant staff as election officers, such as presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers, with law enforcers in charge of maintaining law and order. It also outlines the procedures for ensuring punishment for election officers who “fail to perform their duties or act negligently”. According to the new regulation, any election officer failing to execute election orders or instructions will be considered guilty of misconduct and liable for punishment.

Mountaineers and trekkers head towards the Everest base camp from Lobuche in the Solukhumbu district, also known as the Everest region, Nepal Apr 12, 2025. REUTERS/Purnima ShresthaMountaineers and trekkers head towards the Everest base camp from Lobuche in the Solukhumbu district, also known as the Everest region, Nepal Apr 12, 2025. As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, CCTV reported. It was also unclear if trekkers near the north face of Everest, also in Tibet, had been affected or not. To the south of Tibet in Nepal, heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges and killed at least 47 people since Friday.

Sevilla thrashed Barcelona 4-1 on Sunday, ending the champions' unbeaten start in LaLiga and denying them an opportunity to return to the top of the table. Sevilla took the lead in the 13th minute, after Isaac Romero went down while jostling for the ball with Ronald Araujo near Barcelona's six-yard box. Alexis Sanchez sent former Arsenal teammate Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to convert the spot kick. Romero doubled Sevilla's lead in the 37th minute, but Marcus Rashford scored from Pedri's lobbed pass to make it 2-1 just before halftime. Barcelona had a chance to equalise when Adnan Januzaj brought down Alejandro Balde, but Robert Lewandowski fired wide from the spot in the 76th minute before Jose Angel Carmona and Akor Adams scored two late goals, as the visitors remained two points behind leaders Real Madrid.

The CUCSU Election Commission has held a meeting with candidates and students to discuss polling centres and voting procedures for the upcoming CUCSU and hall council elections.The meeting, held on Sunday, outlined the possible polling process, including the use of OMR machines for vote counting.Commission Member Secretary AKM Ariful Haque Siddique told bdnews24.com that five faculty buildings: Social Sciences, Old Arts, New Arts, Business Administration, and Science, have been selected as polling venues.A total of 86 rooms, including 65 polling booths, 14 presiding rooms and seven sub-presiding rooms, are being prepared.Each room will house five ballot boxes: four for CUCSU and one for hall elections.Each booth will accommodate up to 500 voters, with a 10-minute time limit per voter. Following candidates' requests, the CUCSU polls have been rescheduled to Oct 15, three days later than planned.All departmental exams from Oct 12 to 18 have been postponed, and the day after the election will be a university holiday.�"bdnews24.com