The National Citizen Party (NCP) has issued a statement over the alleged harassment of journalists by the party’s activists as they were working at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. In the statement, sent on Thursday by Joint Chief Coordinator Khan Muhammad Mursalin, the party said: "The NCP is looking into the matter. The statement added: "A 'Bangla Spring' is continuing across South Asian countries following the popular uprising of July 2024. "However, in the interim, there have been allegations of misconduct by NCP activists towards journalists. The NCP added: "Journalists are co-travellers in the NCP's progress.

Once a shimmering expanse of white stone and clear water, Sylhet’s Sada Pathor now bears scars of looting and hurried restoration. Mehedi Hasan, a visitor from Dhaka, stood on the stony riverbanks of Sada Pathor in Sylhet’s Companiganj, shaking his head. I think these should be removed.”For first-time visitor Md Tomal Sheikh from Mymensingh, however, Sada Pathor still carried a sense of wonder. Speaking to journalists at Sada Pathor, Rashid said: “The government has taken up a long-term and sustainable masterplan. Representatives from four ministries are on the committee to ensure that.”For now, Sada Pathor stands at a crossroads.

Yunus says death of Language Movement veteran Ahmed Rafiq is an ‘irreparable loss’Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep sorrow at the death of Language Movement icon Ahmed Rafiq, describing his passing as an “irreparable loss” for the nation’s culture and free thought. Ahmed Rafiq, aged 96, died on Thursday night at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka. In his condolence message, Yunus said: “He was not only a leading witness and voice of our Language Movement, but also an exceptional poet, essayist, researcher, and a guiding figure in Rabindra studies.”“Through writing and editing more than a hundred books, he enriched Bengali literature, culture, and the history of the Language Movement. “His contribution to Rabindra studies earned equal respect in both Bengals. He also conveyed sympathy to Rafiq’s bereaved family, admirers, and the literary and cultural community.

The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has made landfall on India’s Odisha coast near Gopalpur before weakening into a land depression. The system has created steep pressure gradients over the northern Bay, generating squally winds across the northern Bay, Bangladesh’s coastal areas and seaports. Fishing boats and trawlers over the northern Bay have been asked to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice. By night it developed into a depression, then intensified into a deep depression on Thursday before making landfall and weakening. In its evening bulletin, the Met Office said the monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over the northern Bay.

A bridge built over the Mathabhanga River in Chuadanga Sadar Upazila has remained unused for three years, as no approach roads were constructed. Senior Assistant Engineer of Chuadanga LGED, AKM Rafiqul Islam, said a new contractor will be appointed to build the approach roads and open the bridge to traffic soon. Construction of the 90m long, 5.5m wide bridge on the Pirpur–Gonjerghat road began in January 2021 with a budget of Tk 66.7 million. The contractor, however, finished the bridge without building the approach roads. Once work resumes, we’ll be able to open the bridge after completing the remaining approach roads,” he added.

Editors and journalists to meet EC Monday, experts to follow TuesdayThe Election Commission is set to consult media editors, female leaders and election analysts as it prepares for the parliamentary polls. On Oct 6, a Monday, the EC will sit with television channels at 10:30am, followed by a session with newspaper and online journalists at 2:30pm. The next day, the commission will meet women leaders and election experts. Still, for a massive national exercise like this, the commission seeks advice from political parties, intellectuals, civil society, journalists, observers, women leaders, and freedom fighters, it read. Registered political parties are also expected to participate later this month.

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is set to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across Bangladesh, with risks of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in major cities. The system has intensified sea conditions, generating strong pressure gradients over the northern Bay and triggering gusty winds near the centre. 3, while fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay have been instructed to remain in safe harbour until further notice. Forecasts show that between Thursday 3pm and the next 48 hours, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience between 44–88mm (heavy) and up to 188mm (very heavy) rainfall within 24 hours. The weather system developed from a low-pressure area over the Bay on Wednesday, intensified into a depression by night, and strengthened into a deep depression by Thursday morning.

Mobile phone messages help police ‘crack’ murder of man with 'mental disability' in SirajganjDetective police say they have solved the murder of a man with a "mental disability", three months after his body was found, based on information extracted from mobile phone texts. The details were shared in a media statement from the Sirajganj Police superintendent’s office on Thursday afternoon. Officer Ekramul said Shamim left home on Jul 2 saying he was going to bathe, but never returned. On Sep 29, police arrested Mostofa, Suman, Topu, and Shafiqul from their homes. “She then conspired with the guards to kill Shamim,” Ekramul said.

Poet and political thinker Farhad Mazhar has demanded that nurses be granted equal professional status to doctors, alongside the immediate formation of a “National Nurse Commission” to ensure health services for the people. Speaking at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday, Farhad said the government must form a commission with equal authority and decision-making power to that of existing medical bodies, bdnews24.com reports. He said symbolic gestures would not be enough, and the commission must function as a core policymaking force within the health sector. Farhad stressed that nurses should receive the same professional dignity and recognition as doctors. Without elevating the nursing profession, he warned, Bangladesh will never be able to establish a functioning public healthcare system.

The Durga Puja festival which began on Shashthi with the awakening of Anandamayi has drawn to a close on Dashami, as devotees bid farewell to the goddess with the solemn ritual of "mirror immersion". According to Hindu belief, after Nabami Puja, Goddess Durga leaves the mortal realm and returns to her divine abode. Even if it runs later, security will remain in place.”Nikhil Kumar Nath, general secretary of the Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad, said immersions began at 12:30pm. This year, the Puja committee said celebrations took place at 292 pavilions in Chattogram city and 1,508 in 16 Upazilas across the district, along with numerous smaller ghats. Scriptures note that this year Durga descended from Kailash with her family riding an elephant, symbolising peace, prosperity, abundant harvests and fortune.

Traffic on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway has been at a standstill for two consecutive days, leaving passengers stranded across a 34km stretch from Ashuganj roundabout in Brahmanbaria to Madhabpur in Habiganj. Highway Police said large potholes at the Bishwa Road roundabout in Sarail Upazila triggered the traffic bottleneck, forcing vehicles to slow down or stop. Police from Sarail and Khatihata highway stations have been deployed to keep traffic moving, said Jahangir Alam, chief of Khatihata Highway Police. An in-person visit showed countless potholes around the Bishwa Road roundabout, with three-quarters of the area rendered unusable. After waiting for two hours at Bishwa Road, I returned home.”By Thursday evening, police admitted they were struggling to clear the gridlock.

Veteran Language Movement activist and researcher Ahmed Rafiq has died in Dhaka at the age of 96. Due to residential issues at Fazlul Haque Hall, however, he transferred to Dhaka Medical College. Rafiq participated in the 1952 Language Movement, working closely with students from different campuses. He was the only student from Dhaka Medical College to have an arrest warrant issued against him in 1954. Rafiq received numerous accolades, including the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, and Rabindra Sahitya Award for his contributions to literature.

Afghanistan put up 151 for 8 against Bangladesh in their first T20, built on Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s gritty 40 and a blistering 38 from Mohammad Nabi at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Atal (10), Darwish Rasooli (0) and Mohammad Ishaq (1) followed quickly, reducing Afghanistan to 40 for 4 inside seven overs. Azmatullah Omarzai (18) offered brief resistance alongside Gurbaz, adding 33 for the fifth wicket, but miscued to long-on trying to up the tempo. Just as he threatened to push Afghanistan beyond reach, Taskin Ahmed deceived him with a knuckleball for a catch in the deep. Sharafuddin Ashraf’s unbeaten 17 carried the total past 150, giving Afghanistan a fighting score to defend.

The farewell to Durga Puja has carried a different emotion this year in Cox’s Bazar, as prayers for the freedom of Palestine mingled with the chants of immersion on the sandy beach. On Thursday, during Bijoya Dashami, crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands gathered on the shore to witness the immersion, where voices of solidarity with Palestine rang out. Standing on the main stage, Arup Sharma, a leader of the District Puja Celebration Council, said: “Today we bid farewell to Goddess Durga. Still, by afternoon, despite drizzle, the beach teemed with hundreds of thousands taking part in the rituals. According to the District Puja Celebration Council, Durga Puja was observed at 317 pavilions across Cox’s Bazar this year.

Three people have died and at least 12 others were injured after a passenger bus veered out of control and overturned in Feni’s Daganbhuiyan Upazila. The accident occurred around 11am on Thursday on the Feni-Noakhali Highway near Silonia, said Mohipal Highway Police Station chief Harunur Rashid. According to police and witnesses, a Sugandha Paribahan passenger bus heading from Feni to Noakhali struck several small vehicles on the roadside near the U-turn of Silonia Bridge before overturning. Daganbhuiyan Police Station OC Wahid Parvez said the highway police have recovered the bus, and the three bodies have been sent to the hospital morgue for post-mortem examinations. Mohipal OC Harunur added that the bus driver fled the scene immediately after the accident.