At a discussion titled “Communal Harmony and a Friendly Bangladesh” held on Saturday (November 1) at the Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad auditorium, Religious Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, emphasized that communal harmony is vital for Bangladesh’s progress and global image. He said Bangladesh is a land of peace and religious coexistence, unlike neighboring countries where communal tension often surfaces. Most conflicts in the country, he clarified, are politically motivated rather than communal.

Dr. Hossain reminded that people of all faiths—Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and ethnic minorities—fought together for independence in 1971 and against autocracy in 1990. Equal rights must be guaranteed for all citizens, he added, and the government is committed to ensuring that no group’s rights are violated.

He warned that without social harmony, no nation can achieve sustainable development, attract foreign investment, or draw tourists. Describing Lalmonirhat as a fertile ground of communal harmony, he urged citizens to strengthen unity, combat drug abuse and youth gangs, and elect capable leaders in the upcoming national election. Citing Hadith, he recalled Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) example of compassion and respect for all communities during warfare.

Starting November 1, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has enforced a new rule restricting individuals to a maximum of 10 active SIM cards per National ID. Mobile operators have begun deactivating extra SIMs exceeding the limit. Previously, a person could hold up to 15 SIMs. The BTRC had announced the policy earlier in July to ensure its full implementation by December. According to the regulator, the measure aims to establish order in SIM management and prevent fraudulent activities. Citizens can verify the number of SIMs registered under their NID by dialing *16002# or checking online. Data shows Bangladesh currently has about 186.2 million active SIMs, though the actual user base is only around 67.5 million. Over 80% of subscribers use fewer than five SIMs, while just 3% hold more than ten. The deactivation will follow a random selection process, meaning even important SIMs could be deactivated if they exceed the limit.

India’s passport has slipped further in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, ranking 85th—five spots lower than last year—despite an increase in visa-free destinations from 52 in 2015 to 57 in 2025. Countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and Azerbaijan have now surpassed India, reflecting a growing gap in global travel accessibility. Experts attribute the decline to intensifying global competition, as nations rapidly expand mutual visa agreements. The Henley & Partners report highlights that the global average of visa-free destinations per traveler has nearly doubled since 2006, from 58 to 109.
Former Indian ambassador to Armenia, Achal Malhotra, notes that passport strength is tied not only to visa access but also to economic stability, political credibility, and international reputation. He recalls that Indian citizens once enjoyed greater visa-free travel to Western nations, which declined after the 1980s due to political unrest and the Khalistan movement. Moreover, high rates of overstaying visas and rising cases of passport fraud—203 arrests in 2024 alone—have damaged India’s credibility. Experts also point to India’s slow visa processing and complex immigration procedures as further factors weakening its global passport standing.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has expressed hope that his wife, Usha Vance—who was raised in a Hindu cultural background—will one day embrace Christianity. Speaking at a Turning Point USA youth event in Mississippi on October 29, Vance said that Usha now accompanies him to church almost every Sunday and that he hopes she will be positively influenced by the Catholic Church as he was. However, he emphasized that her potential conversion is entirely her choice, acknowledging that “God has given everyone free will.” Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, recalled that he considered himself an agnostic or atheist when he first met Usha. Despite their differing religious backgrounds, their children are being raised in the Christian faith and attend a Christian school. His comments have drawn attention to the couple’s interfaith marriage and Vance’s public expression of faith.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced that the form fill-up process for the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations will start on December 31, 2025. According to an official circular issued on Thursday, schools must publish the results of the selection or preparatory examinations by December 30 to ensure that eligible students can complete their SSC registration on time. The board emphasized that detailed instructions and the complete schedule for the form fill-up will be released soon on its official website. This move aims to maintain a smooth registration process and timely preparation for the 2026 SSC exams. Education authorities have also urged institutions to follow the official timetable strictly to avoid delays or complications in student registration.

The Election Commission (EC) has advised the Ministry of Education to carefully plan the SSC and HSC exam schedules so that they do not coincide with the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, which is expected to take place in the first half of February. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed shared the information on Thursday, October 30, noting that the Commission is making comprehensive preparations for the election.

During an inter-ministerial coordination meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Bhaban in Agargaon, senior officials from various ministries discussed logistics, law and order, electricity, health services, and budget management related to the election. The EC has requested authorities to repair access roads and prepare polling centers in advance to ensure smooth voting.

The EC also directed relevant departments to prepare educational institutions that will serve as polling centers. A full panel of presiding and polling officers, including teachers and government bank officials, is being formed to ensure neutrality and efficiency. Additionally, health teams will be stationed at upazila and union levels, and awareness campaigns will be led by the Information Ministry and BTV.

Bangladesh’s shipowners are facing a severe financial crisis as a powerful syndicate of five cargo agents in Chattogram Port continues to dominate the country’s inland water transport system. Despite operating under government transport regulations, shipowners allege they have not received payment for cargo services, leaving many vessels stranded and forcing owners to halt operations.

During an emergency meeting held at the Officers’ Club in Dhaka on October 29, organized by the Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association (BCVOA), participants demanded immediate action against the syndicate. Presided over by association president Saeed Ahmed, the meeting was attended by former Coastal Ship Owners Association chairman Gazi Belayet Hossain (Mithu) and BCVOA general secretary Engineer Mehbub Kabir.

Speakers alleged that a handful of agents have monopolized cargo transport, turning ships into “floating warehouses” for months and creating artificial crises that raise market prices while depriving the government of revenue. They warned that if all dues are not cleared within 15 days, ships will cease operations. The owners’ four-point demand includes full payment within seven days, strict enforcement of transport policies, legal action against the syndicate, and equal rights for all shipowners.

The National University of Bangladesh has made a preliminary decision to reduce examination fees for its students, taking into account the financial challenges many are facing. The decision was confirmed through an official press release issued on Thursday at 11:30 AM by Acting Director of Public Relations, Md. Mostafizur Rahman. According to the statement, the announcement of the reduced fees will be made by November 15 after consultations with college principals and university policymakers. The press release further mentioned that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting on October 29, attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Proctor, department heads, and student representatives. Since many students have already registered online for the current examinations, the new fee structure will be applicable from the upcoming Honours Part-4, Pass Course Part-2, and future examinations.

The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has released the updated admission policy for MBBS and BDS programs for the 2025–26 academic session, introducing several changes to eligibility requirements. According to the new policy, candidates must achieve a combined minimum GPA of 8.50 in SSC and HSC examinations to apply for admission to medical or dental colleges. However, candidates from underprivileged communities, including tribal groups and non-tribal applicants from hilly districts, will be eligible with a minimum combined GPA of 8.00. In all cases, applicants must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in HSC, with at least a GPA of 3.50 in Biology.

For Bangladeshi candidates, a GPA below 4.00 in either SSC or HSC will make them ineligible. The same GPA standards apply to foreign students seeking admission to government medical colleges, while those applying to private institutions need a minimum combined GPA of 7.00. Candidates who passed HSC in 2024 or 2025 and SSC in 2022 or later are eligible to apply. O-level and A-level students must obtain equivalency certificates from the Directorate General of Health Education (DGME). The updated policy aims to ensure academic quality and equal opportunity in medical and dental education.

Israel’s government has approved the construction of 1,300 new homes in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, located south of occupied East Jerusalem, according to Israeli media outlet Channel 14. The decision was reportedly made unanimously by Israel’s Special Planning and Building Committee earlier this week. The new housing plan, centered in the Har Harushim area near Alon Shvut, includes residential buildings, schools, public facilities, parks, and a large commercial center meant to serve surrounding settlements.

The approval comes amid renewed international criticism of Israel’s settlement activities. U.S. President Donald Trump recently commented that Israel was “not taking any action” in the West Bank, despite ongoing developments that contradict his statement. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been accelerating settlement expansion ahead of next year’s Knesset elections, aiming to establish facts on the ground that hinder the creation of a future Palestinian state.

Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took office in late 2022, approximately 48,000 settlement units have been advanced in the West Bank, averaging about 17,000 units annually. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories as illegal under international law and a serious threat to the two-state solution.

Hurricane Melissa, described by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the most powerful and slow-moving storm of the century, has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica and is now heading toward Cuba. The Category 5-equivalent hurricane made landfall near New Hope in southwestern Jamaica with wind speeds reaching 185 miles (295 km) per hour. Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed severe damage to hospitals, homes, and infrastructure, especially in the St. Elizabeth region, where widespread flooding has submerged entire communities. Over 500,000 people remain without electricity. The WMO reported that rainfall could reach up to 700 millimeters in some areas, raising the risk of catastrophic floods and landslides. So far, at least seven deaths have been confirmed across the Caribbean—three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Melissa maintains Category 4 intensity as it approaches southern Cuba, bringing threats of life-threatening winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Cuban authorities have begun mass evacuations and placed disaster response teams on maximum alert.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category-5 storm packing winds up to 250 km/h, has battered the Caribbean, leaving at least seven people dead—three in , three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic flooding, landslides, and storm surges that have submerged coastal regions and disrupted communication networks. More than 1.5 million people have been directly affected, according to the Red Cross. Jamaica has suffered severe power and communication outages, prompting the government to launch emergency operations and an online aid portal. Cuba has begun evacuating coastal residents as Melissa approaches its shores, expected to make landfall early Wednesday. Meteorologists attribute the storm’s extreme intensity to rising sea temperatures driven by climate change, signaling a deepening humanitarian crisis for the entire Caribbean region.

The Parents’ Unity Forum has called on the government to introduce a fully lottery-based admission system for all classes in private educational institutions, especially at the school level, for the 2026 academic year. In a joint statement, the organization’s president, valiant freedom fighter Md. Ziaul Kabir Dulu, and general secretary Md. Selim Mia said that implementing lottery-based admissions would make the process transparent, accountable, and free from irregularities, discrimination, and corruption. They emphasized that it would also protect young students from the stress and financial burden of admission coaching. The leaders warned that reinstating admission tests would revive the coaching business and increase pressure on parents. They further demanded the cancellation of all quotas, including those under the Education Ministry, to ensure fairness and remove controversy from the admission process. The Forum also urged authorities not to impose excessive admission fees on students.

A Union Volunteer Party leader, Masud Sheikh (46), died following a violent attack in Kalia upazila of Narail. Masud, serving as the Member Secretary of Babra-Hachla Union’s Volunteer Party, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning (October 28) while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital. The assault occurred on Monday night (October 27) in Shukta village, after a dispute erupted during a local Ha-du-du (Kabaddi) game. Despite an initial settlement by influential locals, Masud was later ambushed and beaten with local weapons and hammers by rival group members while returning home. His brother alleged that the attack was carried out under the leadership of Sujon Khan (18) because Masud had opposed local drug dealings. Police have deployed additional forces to maintain order, and an investigation is underway. The body has been sent for autopsy at Khulna Medical College morgue.

Dhaka Special Tribunal-2 has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, widely known as the “Casino King” and former president of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo League, in an arms-related case. The verdict was announced on Tuesday, 28 October, by Judge Md. Ibrahim Mia. Samrat remains absconding, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. He was originally arrested on 6 October 2019 in Chauddagram, Comilla, by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), following which a raid at his Kakrail office uncovered large quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and skins of rare wildlife. Earlier, he received a six-month sentence for possession of wildlife skins. The formal case was filed on 7 October 2019, and after investigation, a charge sheet was submitted in November 2020. The trial included testimony from 10 of 14 witnesses, with arguments concluded on 7 October 2025.