Political parties will sign the “July National Charter”, which includes decisions on state reform and implementation commitments, on Oct 15. On Thursday, the National Consensus Commission announced that the signing ceremony will take place at the South Plaza of the parliament. Representatives from different political parties and alliances will participate." It also said, during the meeting, experts' opinions on the implementation of the Charter were discussed, along with insights gathered from five meetings between the commission and political parties. “The commission expressed hope that, after analysing the opinions from experts and political parties, recommendations on the implementation of the July Charter will be prepared and submitted to the government soon."

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. The final date will be confirmed once the government approves.”This year’s HSC and equivalent examinations were held from Jun 26 to Aug 19. Approximately 1.25 million students from 11 education boards submitted forms to participate in the exams. Traditionally, results are published within 60 days of the examinations’ completion.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attend the Global Fintech Fest on Oct 9, 2025, in Mumbai, India. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERSBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attend the Global Fintech Fest on Oct 9, 2025, in Mumbai, India. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERSIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British counterpart Keir Starmer hailed their new trade deal as potentially transforming commercial links, as London unveiled new Indian investment that would be a "launch pad" for closer ties. Starmer said the focus of his visit was about doubling down on the potential of the trade deal, which is expected to take effect within a year. INDIA, UK SIGN DEFENCE DEALSEarlier, Starmer's office said 64 Indian companies would collectively invest 1.3 billion pounds ($1.75 billion) in Britain, without elaborating.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an investigation into former Islami Bank Bangladesh chairman Obayed Ullah Al Masud over allegations of loan fraud, conflict of interest, unethical investment, and embezzlement. The inquiry is being led by Assistant Director Md Nazmul Islam, ACC spokesperson and Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed. Before joining Islami Bank, Obayed served as managing director of two state-owned banks -- Sonali Bank and Rupali Bank. In 2019, a cash credit loan of Tk 21 million was sanctioned in favour of a company named MAS Corporation. Two unlisted firms were contracted, with payments exceeding Tk 19.5 million -- one owned by Obayed himself and the other by a former director of the bank.

Bangladesh has recorded four more dengue deaths, taking the total fatalities due to the disease to 224 this year, while another 781 patients have been admitted to hospitals around the country in the last 24 hours. The tally of reported hospitalisations rose to 52,885 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. In Thursday’s daily bulletin, of the four deaths recorded over the past day, two occurred at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while two others died at Kurmitola General Hospital and Mugda Medical College Hospital. September saw the highest number of dengue-related hospital admissions, 15,866, and deaths, 76, this year. Currently, 2,452 dengue patients are being treated in hospitals across the country, with 827 in Dhaka and 1,625 outside the capital.

On Thursday, the Internal Revenue Division (IRD) issued a notification transferring Belal to the OSD post within NBR. Belal is accused of acquiring nearly Tk 50 million in illicit assets and hiding information related to these assets in his wealth statement. According to case documents, Belal “concealed information” about assets valued at Tk 46.01 million. The documents added that Belal accumulated a total of Tk 49.75 million in movable and immovable assets from 2004 to 2022, all deemed illicit. On Wednesday, Belal was removed from his post as NBR member (Customs Implementation & IT) and reassigned to the president of the Customs, Excise, and VAT Appellate Tribunal.

A few more days of rain to come before monsoon easesAs autumn draws to a close, a few final days of rain are likely to precede the retreat of the monsoon winds, yielding to a drier season ahead. According to our forecast, there will be a few more days of rain before the monsoon winds depart in October.”He explained that during the rainy season, winds blow from the south, carrying moisture from the ocean and forming clouds that produce rain. Moderate to heavy rain could occur in some areas, while day and night temperatures are expected to remain steady nationwide. The forecast indicates rain or thundershowers in many of the same areas, with no significant change in day or night temperatures. Looking further ahead, the BMD said rainfall is expected to ease over the five days from Monday evening, as the southwest monsoon winds start withdrawing from the country’s western region.

Pope Leo XIV reacts next to a child as he arrives for a general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Yara NardiPope Leo XIV reacts next to a child as he arrives for a general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Yara NardiPope Leo urged the world's Catholics to help immigrants in his first major document, which was released on Thursday and invoked one of the late Pope Francis' strongest criticisms of US President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies. It calls for widespread changes to the global market system to address rising inequality and to help people living paycheck-to-paycheck. DOCUMENT REFERENCES CRITICISM OF BORDER WALLSElected in May to replace Francis, Leo has shown a much more reserved style than his predecessor, who frequently criticised the Trump administration.

An agricultural breakthrough could help alleviate fears about food insecurity as farmers face increasingly unpredictable weather because of rising global temperatures. Ironically, food delivery methods destabilize food systems, increasing food insecurity as extreme weather devastates crops and pushes prices higher at grocery stores. … By bringing production closer to consumption, they help reduce both climate risk and food transport needs," Yamori explained. "Vertical tomato farms in skyscrapers are not science fiction anymore," Yamori said. "Plant factories offer precise control and production stability, while greenhouses leverage natural variability to enhance photosynthetic efficiency and fruit quality.

A dozen prominent figures from around the world, including rights activist Arundhati Roy, have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam, who was allegedly detained by Israeli forces while travelling to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla. Drik, the independent media organisation founded by Shahidul, published the statement issued by his friends and family at 9am on Thursday. Drik reported that Israeli forces seized a total of eight ships, including the Freedom Flotilla vessel Conscience, at 6am Palestinian time (8am Bangladesh time) on Wednesday. In previous attempts, more than 40 ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet sought to break the blockade and enter Gaza. Another flotilla of 11 ships, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza, set sail for Gaza on Oct 1.

Paul Kapur, a distinguished Indian-origin academic, has been appointed as the new US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, a key diplomatic post overseeing relations with countries including India and Bangladesh. Kapur is the second individual of Indian descent to hold this top diplomatic role for the South Asian region, succeeding Nisha Desai Biswal, who previously served as the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs. He is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval Postgraduate School, specialising in South Asian politics, security, and international relations. Addressing the perennial tensions between India and Pakistan, he said that South Asia had "recently avoided a costly conflict”. He is the author of “Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State”; “Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia”; co-author of “India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia” and “The Challenges of Nuclear Security: US and Indian Perspectives”.

MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 9: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attend the India-UK CEO Forum at Jio World Convention Centre on Oct 9, 2025 in Mumbai, India. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERSMUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 9: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attend the India-UK CEO Forum at Jio World Convention Centre on Oct 9, 2025 in Mumbai, India. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERSBritain said on Thursday it had signed a 350 million pound ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with UK-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of a deepening weapons and defence partnership between the two countries. The announcement came as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was visiting Indian Prime counterpart Narendra Modi in Mumbai, where the pair hailed the potential of the commercial links from their months-old trade deal. "The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, currently under negotiation between the two governments," it said.

The hostel authority interrogated her and then assaulted her, the plaintiff, a Swapnonibas resident, complained.The victim told bdnews24.com that she had gone to her friend's place as her university residential hall was closed. "The hostel director abused me verbally. My brother informed the police about the incident and the police rescued us. "She said she had filed a case following the incident, but the perpetrators were attempting to force her and her friend to withdraw it. �"bdnews24.com

If there is consensus, how prepared is EC to hold referendum with parliamentary polls in February? As the Election Commission (EC) advances preparations for the parliamentary election, debate has returned to the national conversation over a referendum to implement the July Charter. Some parties propose holding the referendum and the parliamentary election on the same day, while others propose holding the referendum a month before the general election. The parliamentary election, costing around Tk 25 billion, will engage more than one million personnel. If the government decides to hold a referendum, we will hold it.”He believes significant savings would be made if it is held together with the parliamentary election.

As the world transitions toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy, lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly important. "By 2040, the volume of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries is expected to reach 20,500 kilotons, emphasizing the need for effective waste management strategies." Therefore, extending the life of and properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries will be key to the success of any cleaner-energy future. Still, the team envisions a future wherein battery-rejuvenation stations are widely available, allowing EV drivers to periodically restore their lithium-ion batteries. With lithium-ion batteries accounting for as much as 40% of the cost of a new EV, the ability to restore spent batteries could save consumers considerable amounts of money, as well.