The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved filing a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary and journalist Nayeemul Islam Khan and his wife Nasima Khan Monty for failing to submit their wealth statements within the required deadline. ACC spokesperson and Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed the decision on Tuesday, October 28. Under Section 26(2) of the ACC Act, legal proceedings have been authorized, and the case may be filed today. Earlier, on January 7, the ACC began investigating alleged corruption and illegal assets belonging to Khan and his family. Financial intelligence reports revealed that the family maintained 163 bank accounts with transactions totaling over Tk 386 crore, of which Tk 379.52 crore was withdrawn. The report also found that Khan’s companies held 46 additional accounts involving Tk 127.64 crore. Khan went into hiding after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will today (Tuesday, October 28) hear defense arguments regarding the formation of formal charges against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, and three others in two separate cases of crimes against humanity. The charges relate to killings of six people in Kushtia during the July-August Movement. The hearing will be conducted by a three-member bench headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. On Monday, the prosecution completed its presentation of three specific allegations—incitement, conspiracy, and murder—and sought to proceed with trial. The tribunal appointed state defense lawyers for absconding accused. Inu faces eight charges, while Hanif and others are accused in related cases. Inu was arrested in 2024 and remains in custody. The proceedings mark a major step in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to try crimes against humanity committed during periods of political unrest.

Teachers from across Bangladesh continued their sit-in protests in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday (August 27), pressing for two major demands — MPO (Monthly Pay Order) inclusion for disabled schools and nationalization of Ebtedayee madrasas. Representatives of teachers from schools for students with disabilities said they have been living in dire conditions without regular salaries or allowances, despite the Ministry of Social Welfare announcing a list of nearly two thousand institutions eligible for MPO inclusion. They declared that they would not end their protest until their demands are met. Meanwhile, Ebtedayee madrasa teachers, also staging a continuous demonstration at the same venue, attempted to march toward the Chief Adviser’s Office but were stopped by police at Bailey Road. Following assurances from the Education Ministry’s secretary, they returned to the Press Club and resumed their peaceful sit-in.

Normal trade operations have resumed at the Benapole land port after the customs authority withdrew its temporary restriction that limited import and export activities beyond 6 PM. The decision came following strong objections from traders and reports of commercial stagnation along the Bangladesh–India border. Last week’s unannounced directive by the Customs Commissioner had caused severe traffic congestion at the border, disrupting the flow of perishable goods and reducing the number of trucks entering the port from 400–450 to only 160–180 daily. Business leaders from both countries expressed relief at the withdrawal, saying the earlier decision had increased costs, delayed shipments, and strained cross-border trade relations. Benapole Port officials confirmed that operations are returning to normal, and coordination with customs and related agencies is ongoing to ensure smooth trade.

Russia has successfully conducted a test of its nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile Burevestnik, President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday. The test, completed on Tuesday, marks a major milestone in Russia’s advanced weapons program. According to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the missile covered approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) and stayed airborne for 15 hours. Putin hailed the missile as a “truly unique weapon” that no other nation possesses, highlighting the country’s growing technological and military prowess. Burevestnik, known to NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall, first drew attention in 2019 after a failed test caused fatalities in the Arctic. Analysts say the latest success strengthens Russia’s long-range strike capability and advances its nuclear modernization efforts amid rising global tensions.

The interim government has clarified that ongoing reform and policy formulation initiatives will continue beyond November, refuting earlier remarks made by Information Advisor Mahfuz Alam. In a statement released on Monday, October 27, the government explained that Mahfuz’s comments during the “Meet the Reporters” event at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday caused some confusion in the media. Contrary to Mahfuz’s claim that the reform and policy work must be completed by November, the official statement affirmed that reform activities are in full swing and will remain active. The chief adviser’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, shared the statement on his verified Facebook page. The clarification aims to reaffirm the government’s commitment to continued reforms, even as the advisory council’s activities may slow down closer to the election period.

Global scientists are closely monitoring a newly discovered asteroid named ‘2024 YR4’, which is projected to pass near Earth in December 2032. Though the probability of impact is relatively low at 2.1 percent, the potential consequences are catastrophic if it strikes. Measuring between 130 and 300 feet in diameter, the asteroid could release energy equivalent to 8 million tons of TNT—about 500 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb—affecting areas within a 50-kilometer radius. Possible impact zones include parts of South America, the Pacific Ocean, South Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Africa, with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and several others on the watchlist. NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey and the United Nations Planetary Defense Protocol are tracking the object. Experts assure that if the impact threat increases, there will be enough time to evacuate populations and possibly alter its course using kinetic impact technology tested in NASA’s DART mission.

In a shocking sequence of events, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crashed within only thirty minutes over the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon. Both aircraft had launched from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which is currently returning to Washington State’s Naval Base Kitsap after completing its final mission. According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the two pilots of the Super Hornet ejected safely, while three crew members from the Seahawk were quickly rescued. All five servicemen are reported to be in stable condition. The Navy has begun a detailed investigation into the causes of both incidents. The Nimitz, one of the oldest operational U.S. aircraft carriers, had previously been deployed to the Middle East in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. This is not the first such accident aboard a U.S. Navy carrier.

A tragic accident occurred on Sunday noon (October 26) when a bearing pad from the Farmgate Metro Rail station fell, killing a pedestrian. Investigations reveal that concerns over the quality of these bearing pads had already been raised in 2020 by BUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Their tests found that some imported pads used in the Uttara-Agargaon section of the Metro Rail project failed to meet safety standards. The rubber-based pads, supplied by the Italian-Thai Development Company, play a crucial role in maintaining the structure’s balance and durability. Despite warnings and test results, reports suggest that defective pads were used in parts of the construction, potentially endangering public safety. BUET experts had cautioned that poor-quality pads could cause structural instability. Authorities now face criticism for negligence and lack of timely replacement despite early red flags.

The Gazipur–Airport Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, initiated in 2012, remains incomplete despite taking six times longer and costing four times more than similar projects worldwide. Officials from the caretaker government determined that the project suffered from a flawed corridor selection, resulting in nearly Tk 30 billion already spent. Due to these issues, the government has decided to discontinue the BRT plan, converting the corridor into a standard four-lane roadway for general traffic. Experts note that unnecessary flyovers and poor technical planning worsened congestion in this industrial route. A technical committee, led by a transport specialist, will conduct an overall assessment. The decision aims to prevent further financial losses, ease traffic, and avoid unsafe construction risks. Authorities also stress that those responsible should face legal accountability to prevent future mismanagement.

Bangladeshi architect Mohammad Rezwan has won the UNESCO Confucius Literacy Prize 2025 for his groundbreaking solar-powered floating school project, known as Shidhulai Floating School. Supported by the Chinese government, the award honors global innovations promoting literacy and lifelong learning. Selected among hundreds of nominations worldwide, Rezwan’s initiative was recognized alongside projects from Ireland and Morocco. The award ceremony took place in Qufu, China, the birthplace of Confucius. Inspired by his childhood in flood-prone Chalan Beel, Rezwan transformed local boats into mobile schools, enabling year-round education for isolated communities. These floating schools also serve as libraries and training centers powered by renewable energy. UNESCO praised the project for delivering literacy to marginalized flood-affected populations using locally built, sustainable solutions. The Shidhulai model now influences NGOs and governments across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and has been integrated into Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan 2050.

Poet and editor of Dainik Jugantor, Abdul Hai Shikder, stated that over the last 15 years, many poets in Bangladesh have merely acted as “praisers,” misleading the nation instead of guiding it. He urged the public to remain cautious about such writers. He made these remarks on Saturday at a discussion titled “The Role of Poets and Writers in Nation Building” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event was inaugurated jointly by former Justice Abdus Salam Mamun and poet Mousumi Mou, with Additional Secretary Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain presiding. Noted discussants included philosopher-poet Kumar Sushanta Sarkar, Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, poet Mirza Kamal, and Brigadier General Nazma Begum Naju. Speakers emphasized that poets and writers must help shape moral consciousness and cultural integrity to strengthen the nation.

The re-evaluation results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations are expected to be published on November 16, according to officials of the Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. The results follow the rule that mandates publication within 30 days of the re-evaluation application deadline. The application process for re-evaluation—also known as the “script challenge”—was conducted online only this year, starting on October 17 and ending on October 23. Unlike previous years, no applications were accepted via SMS or through any education offices. The original HSC and equivalent results were released on October 16, showing a pass rate of 58.83%, significantly lower than last year’s 77.78%. A total of 69,097 students achieved GPA-5 this year, while 12,51,111 candidates participated under 11 education boards across the country.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lauded Bangladesh Bank for its success in boosting the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, praised the achievement during a press briefing in Hong Kong on October 24. He emphasized that increasing reserves remains a central objective under the IMF-supported program, particularly as Bangladesh continues to face balance of payments pressures. According to IMF data, Bangladesh’s reserves rose to $27.35 billion as of October 16, 2025, compared to $19.93 billion a year earlier. Helbling highlighted that such improvement is vital for ensuring external stability and maintaining confidence in the economy. He also confirmed that an IMF mission will visit Bangladesh this month to conduct the fifth review of the $5.5 billion loan program, assessing both reserve management progress and consistency with the central bank’s exchange rate policy.

Hefazat-e-Islam has urged the Bangladeshi government to investigate the activities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), claiming that some of its operations may raise questions regarding national security and communal harmony. In a statement issued Saturday evening, Hefazat’s Joint Secretary-General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi alleged that ISKCON is conducting religious and infrastructural activities across Bangladesh without proper registration or government approval. He referenced earlier reports suggesting that individuals involved in controversial incidents had alleged links to ISKCON and demanded that these claims be verified through official inquiry. Maulana Azizul emphasized that Bangladesh is a secular nation where all religious communities should coexist peacefully and that religious organizations must act responsibly to maintain harmony. ISKCON leaders have not commented on the latest allegations, though the group has previously maintained that it engages solely in social, humanitarian, and spiritual work, rejecting any connection to extremist activities.