India has raised the price at which it will buy new-season wheat from domestic farmers by 160 rupees ($1.80) or 6.6 percent to encourage growers to expand acreage and boost supplies in the world's second-biggest producer of the grain. India sets a price each year at which it will buy wheat and rice from local farmers to distribute for free to 800 million beneficiaries of the world's biggest food welfare programme. India grows one wheat crop a year, with plantings in October and November and harvests from March. "The price hike was necessary to maintain farmers' interest in wheat, as rapeseed offered better returns than wheat last year. Wheat and rapeseed are primarily grown in northern, central, and northwestern India, where the cooler climate supports their cultivation.

The Khagrachhari has seen a return to normalcy at large after the ongoing road blockade was suspended by the Jumma Chhatra Janata, following assurances of fulfilling eight demands, and in respect of the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations. However, Section 144 continues to be enforced in the district town and Guimara. Shops in the city reopened on Wednesday morning after a four-day closure, and the number of people in the area has increased, confirmed Mohammad Hasan Maruf, the additional district commissioner of Khagrachhari. Starting Wednesday, traffic resumed on all roads connecting Khagrachhari to Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rangamati. Due to the Durga Puja holidays, an increase in tourist arrivals has been observed, with many heading towards Sajek.

Nida Khan, a 19-year-old Indian medical student, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her hostel room at Ad-Din Momin Medical College in Dhaka's South Keraniganj. Dhaka police said Nida had been expelled from the college for allegedly cheating during an examination. advertisementThe body of Nida, who was a second-year MBBS student, was found at the Ad-Din Momin Medical College hostel room on Sunday. Dhaka Police stated that the student had taken an exam on Saturday and was expelled after being caught cheating. A post-mortem was conducted at the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

UK, US pledge $96 million in fresh aid for RohingyaThe United States and the United Kingdom have announced a fresh aid commitment of $96 million for Rohingya Muslims and other minority communities in Myanmar. The announcement was made at the first-ever "High-level conference on the Situation of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities" at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. He said the United States would provide $60 million, while the United Kingdom would contribute $36 million, according to state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus addressed the opening session of the conference, stressing that repatriation remained the “only peaceful solution” to the protracted Rohingya crisis. “As funding declines, the only peaceful option is to begin their repatriation,” Yunus said.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has left New York for home, wrapping up his nine-day US tour. A commercial flight of Emirates airline carrying the chief advisor and his entourage departed John F Kennedy International Airport at 11:10pm (local time), reports state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. During his visit, the chief advisor delivered a speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sept 26. During his New York visit, Yunus attended a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump, where he extended an invitation to the president to visit Bangladesh at his convenience. He also joined bilateral meetings with heads of governments and states of a number of countries, including the Netherlands, Pakistan, Bhutan and Kosovo.

"Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end," Trump said as he left the White House. Turkey's head of intelligence will join Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha to discuss the peace proposal later on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry said. Turkey has not previously been involved as a key mediator during efforts over the last two years to bring peace to Gaza. Although he initially backed the Trump plan, Netanyahu later expressed doubts about elements of the proposal, including the prospects for eventual Palestinian statehood -- something he has repeatedly ruled out. The offensive has killed over 66,000 people in Gaza, Gaza health authorities say.

Heavy rainfall has lashed Dhaka and other parts of the country, leaving many neighbourhoods in the capital swamped. Dhaka recorded 203mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours, Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa said on Wednesday. EIGHT DIVISIONS ON ALERTAccording to the forecast, heavy rainfall is likely not only in Dhaka but also across all eight divisions of the country. “Rainfall will increase tomorrow and we are issuing a heavy rainfall warning for Dhaka," said Zebunnesa. She also urged authorities to take effective measures within the next 24 hours to reduce public suffering from waterlogging.

Of these, 22 were reviewed, and the decision was made to register NCP and Bangladesh Jatiya League." Akhtar said the NCP and Bangladesh Jatiya League have fulfilled the preliminary requirements for political party registration. The parties under "deeper review" are Bangladesh Aam Jonogon Party, Jatiya Janata Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal's Shajahan Siraj faction. The nine parties requiring "more inquiry" include Amjanatar Dol, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Party, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla, and Janata Party Bangladesh. Those dropped from consideration include Forward Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-CPBM), Bangladesh Reformist Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party, Notun Bangladesh Party, Jamiat-e-Olam-e-Islam & Nezame Islam Party.

Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Mohammad Farashuddin speaks at an event in Dhaka's Banani on Tuesday. -AgencyFormer Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammad Farashuddin has called for the state to take control of the assets held by local corporate groups he likened to "East India companies", claiming they have captured key levers of the economy and must now face justice. Bangladesh Bank has flagged them. He argued that when political and economic power become one and the same, "East India company-style" entities are born, reports bdnews24.com. Without preserving the independence and integrity of institutions like the central bank, he cautioned, "new East India companies will continue to emerge."

As the investigation officer failed to submit the report on the scheduled date on Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman set a new date of Nov 11. Sub-Inspector Abul Bashar of the Prosecution Division confirmed that Meghna’s passport plea had been turned down. On Jul 29, Meghna filed an application with the court seeking the return of her passport, MacBook, mobile and laptop. He told the court, “Meghna is a leadership trainer. For the sake of investigation, I request the application be rejected.”The court later rejected Meghna’s plea for the return of her passport and set a new date for submission of the forensic report.

After losing the authority to appoint staff, private school governing bodies, including managing committees, will now also lose control over appointing head teachers and deputy head teachers. The recruitment process for these positions will now be overseen by the government, with a recommendation procedure under government supervision. The education ministry has formed a committee to determine the specific process and authority to carry out these appointments. At a workshop organised by the Non-Government Teachers' Registration & Certification Authority (NTRCA) on Tuesday, the regulatory agency Chairman Md Aminul Islam shared this information. He said, previously, the managing committee had the authority to appoint headteachers and deputy headteachers.

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammad Farashuddin has called for the state to take control of the assets held by local corporate groups he likened to “East India companies”, claiming they have captured key levers of the economy and must now face justice. Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the July–August edition of Monthly Macroeconomic Insights in Dhaka’s Banani, Farashuddin said Bangladesh Bank has already identified around 10 to 15 such groups. “These groups took control of banks. Bangladesh Bank has flagged them. He argued that when political and economic power become one and the same, “East India company-style” entities are born.

Nine killed in accident at power station in India's ChennaiNine workers were killed in an accident at a thermal power plant that is under construction in the southern Indian city of Chennai, officials said on Tuesday. Radhakrishnan said one person was injured in the accident, in addition to the nine deaths. Officials at BHEL, which is the contractor of the project, are present at the accident site, Radhakrishnan told reporters in a video posted on X by ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin confirmed the deaths in an X post and said the nine workers were from the eastern state of Assam. "Saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Chennai, Tamil Nadu," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

Khagrachhari blockade suspended until Oct 5, with assurance of demands being metThe Jumma Chhatra Janata has suspended its blockade in Khagrachhari until Oct 5, following four days of protests. The statement said the suspension came after receiving assurance from the authorities to implement eight key demands, and in respect of the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations. The statement also said the protests had been initiated following the “gang-rape” of a schoolgirl from the Jumma community in Khagrachhari on Sept 23. On Monday, a six-member delegation from the group participated in a law and order meeting convened by the Khagrachhari district administrator. During the meeting, the delegation presented their eight demands, which the authorities assured would be met.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that “conspiracies” are being hatched "openly" at home and abroad to obstruct Bangladesh’s electoral process. “PR is a system of permanent restlessness. “One survey showed 56 percent of people in Bangladesh oppose the PR system. If 56 percent reject PR, how can 70 percent support it? Those who want to make proportional representation a system of permanent restlessness will not succeed.”