The July Charter signing ceremony, originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, has been postponed to Friday, October 17, to allow wider public participation. The decision was made during a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, held at the State Guest House Jamuna on Saturday, October 11. After the meeting, Commission Vice-Chair Professor Dr. Ali Riaz announced that the July National Charter signing is a historic event. To facilitate attendance, it will now take place on the South Plaza of the National Parliament building on Friday afternoon. The meeting also decided that representatives from different political parties, alliances, and professional groups will be invited to attend the ceremony. Other attendees at the meeting included Commission Member Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haydar.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that the viva voce (oral) examination for the 49th Special BCS will begin on October 26, following the release of the written exam results within 7 to 10 days. The written examination for the Education Cadre, conducted on October 10 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, was held exclusively in Dhaka metropolitan centers with 374,752 registered candidates, though the exact attendance has not yet been confirmed. Candidates who pass the written test will be eligible to participate in the viva. Through this 49th BCS, 653 lecturer positions in government general colleges and 30 in teacher training colleges will be filled. The Bengali department has the highest number of vacancies at 61, followed by Political Science (55), English (50), Economics (40), Philosophy (30), Chemistry (30), and Islamic History and Culture (32).

OpenAI has introduced a new affordable version of its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT Go, in Bangladesh and 17 other Asian nations, following successful trials in India and Indonesia. The subscription plan aims to meet long-standing user demand for a cost-effective option while providing access to the latest GPT-5 model. Users will enjoy all free-version features plus additional benefits such as image generation, file uploads, advanced data analysis, and higher usage limits. The service is priced as the company’s most affordable plan, with India at INR 399/month and Indonesia at IDR 75,000/month. OpenAI’s CEO Nick Tarle emphasized the goal of bringing AI capabilities to more people. According to OpenAI, usage growth in lower-income countries has outpaced wealthier nations by over four times, reflecting the growing global demand for accessible AI tools.

A massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake has rocked the southern Philippines, particularly the Mindanao region, prompting immediate tsunami warnings from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that waves as high as 10 feet could hit some coastal areas. Neighboring countries, including Indonesia and the island nation of Palau, are also on alert for potential tsunami waves reaching over one meter (about three feet). Authorities have urged residents in low-lying coastal zones to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution. Emergency response teams are monitoring the situation closely, while aftershocks are expected in the coming hours. Power outages and communication disruptions have been reported in parts of Mindanao. The extent of damage and casualties remains unclear as rescue operations continue in the affected regions.

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer, writer, and activist Dr. Shahidul Alam has been released from Israeli custody after being abducted from the Freedom Flotilla’s ship “Conscience” on October 8 by Israeli occupation forces. Following his capture, he was taken to Israel’s Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert, where numerous Palestinian prisoners are reportedly subjected to severe mistreatment. Dr. Alam was freed earlier today and has arrived in Turkey on Turkish Airlines flight TK6921. According to Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Turkey, Amanul Haque, he will return home tonight on another Turkish Airlines flight departing Istanbul at 6:45 p.m. local time (9:45 p.m. Bangladesh time). The flight is expected to land in Dhaka early Saturday morning at 4:55 a.m. His release has brought relief and joy to colleagues, human rights advocates, and supporters across Bangladesh who had been calling for his safe return.

Internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi photographer and writer Dr. Shahidul Alam has been released from Israeli custody after being abducted by Israeli occupation forces on October 8 from the Freedom Flotilla ship Conscience. He was detained at Israel’s Ketziot Prison, located in the Negev Desert, known for holding Palestinian prisoners under harsh conditions. Shahidul Alam arrived safely in Turkey today on Turkish Airlines flight TK6921. The Chief Adviser’s Office confirmed his arrival, stating that Bangladesh’s Consul General in Istanbul, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, welcomed him at the airport. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan played a vital role in facilitating Alam’s release, for which Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude. Shahidul was among several journalists, activists, and medical workers detained from the flotilla by Israeli forces. He is expected to return to Bangladesh soon following his release.

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer, writer, and human rights activist Dr. Shahidul Alam has been released from Israeli custody after being detained along with other journalists, medics, and crew members aboard the Conscience, a ship of the Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces on October 8, and all aboard were taken to Ashdod Port and later transferred to the Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert, known for harsh conditions. His release was confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, which also announced that he boarded a flight from Israel to Istanbul with Turkish assistance. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for facilitating Alam’s release. Shahidul Alam is expected to return home soon, marking the end of his brief but intense detention that sparked international concern and renewed calls for humanitarian access to Gaza.

The government has approved a new policy to provide a monthly state allowance to senior journalists aged 65 and above. Under the initiative, eligible journalists will receive 10,000 taka each month as financial support, especially aimed at those facing economic hardship. The policy was finalized during a meeting at the Secretariat, chaired by Md. Kawser Ahmad, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Initially, the allowance will cover senior journalists in divisional and district towns, with plans to expand both coverage and the honorarium amount gradually. The draft policy, prepared by the Journalists’ Welfare Trust, had proposed 15,000 taka, but the ministry finalized it at 10,000 taka. Journalists with at least 25 years of experience can apply once the advisory approval and official gazette notification are issued. The scheme is seen as a recognition of lifelong contributions to journalism and media.

The United Nations has announced plans to reduce about 25% of its peacekeeping troops and police across nine global missions in the coming months due to financial shortfalls and uncertainty over U.S. funding. Approximately 13,000–14,000 military and police personnel, along with significant civilian staff, will be affected. The reductions will impact missions in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo, Cyprus, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara, the Golan Heights, and Abyei. The cuts follow the U.S. canceling nearly $800 million in peacekeeping funds for 2024–2025 and proposals to withhold 2026 funding. Bangladesh, one of the top troop contributors, could face disruptions in its deployments. Experts warn that these reductions could severely undermine the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, with critics calling the U.S.’s unilateral decisions a major setback for global peace efforts.

The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations are likely to be released on October 16, pending approval from the Ministry of Education. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee held on October 9, where all board chairmen agreed on the proposed date. An official confirmed that the proposal would be sent to the ministry for final approval, after which results from all 11 education boards will be announced simultaneously. This year, a total of 1,251,111 students appeared in the examinations—618,015 boys and 633,096 girls—across 2,797 exam centers nationwide. The written exams concluded on August 19, while practical tests were held from August 21 to 31. According to the Public Examination Act, results must be published within 60 days of the written exams’ completion.

In a major anti-drug operation in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, the Bangladesh Army arrested notorious drug dealer Shis Nabi, 35, seizing a total of 345 yaba tablets. Acting on confidential information, a special army patrol from Kamrangirchar Army Camp conducted the operation on Wednesday, October 8, between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Initially, 200 yaba tablets were recovered from Nabi himself, followed by a search of his residence, which yielded another 145 tablets. Sources indicate that Nabi had long been involved in the supply and wholesale distribution of yaba, spreading drugs throughout Kamrangirchar and surrounding areas. After initial questioning by the army, he was handed over to Kamrangirchar Police Station. Police have filed a case against him under the Narcotics Control Act. Authorities say the arrest is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug distribution in Dhaka’s capital region.

Dr. Tofail Ahmed, a distinguished local government expert, researcher, and former member and chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, at a private hospital in Dhaka. A retired professor of the Department of Public Administration at Chittagong University and a Syndicate member, Dr. Ahmed was widely recognized for his pioneering research on Bangladesh’s local government system. During the caretaker government of 2024, he served as the head of the Local Government Reform Commission, providing constructive and practical recommendations for improving local governance. He also contributed extensively to academic literature, authoring nearly 20 books in Bengali and English, along with numerous articles in national and international journals. Dr. Ahmed served as a Local Governance Advisor for the United Nations Development Programme in Bangladesh. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed profound sorrow, prayed for the departed soul, and extended heartfelt condolences to Dr. Ahmed’s family, colleagues, and well-wishers.

Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso has expressed deep sorrow for the people of Gaza as Italy prepares to face Israel in a World Cup qualifier in Udine next Tuesday. Amid escalating violence in Gaza and worldwide protests, Gattuso acknowledged the moral conflict of playing against Israel while atrocities continue. Calls to cancel the match have grown, with Udine’s mayor urging a suspension, but Italy must play to avoid a default 0-3 loss and preserve their World Cup aspirations. Gattuso described the situation in Gaza as “extremely painful,” particularly for innocent civilians and children, and admitted that while his heart aches, the team has no choice but to compete in the match.

In a major operation supervised by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka, narcotics valued at Tk 135 crore were destroyed on Tuesday, October 7. The destroyed items included 8 kilograms and 550 grams of cocaine, 144,500 yaba tablets, over 50 bottles of foreign liquor, and half a kilogram of cannabis. The destruction took place within the court premises under the supervision of Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman, following a special disposal procedure ordered by the court. Metropolitan Magistrate Minhajur Rahman, investigation officers from different police stations, and members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Narcotics Control Division were present during the event. Court officials said the drugs had been confiscated from various parts of Dhaka over time. After the completion of legal proceedings in the related cases, the court issued the order to destroy the seized narcotics, marking a strong stand against illegal drug trade in the capital.

Gold prices have reached an all-time high, crossing the $4,000 per ounce mark for the first time as investors seek safety amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. On Wednesday, spot gold rose 0.7% to $4,011.18 per ounce, while U.S. December gold futures climbed to $4,033.40. The metal has gained about 52% so far in 2025, compared with 27% in 2024. Analysts attribute the rally to expectations of lower U.S. interest rates, a weak dollar, central bank gold purchases, and growing investment in exchange-traded funds. Independent metals analyst Tai Wong said the market is showing strong confidence, with $5,000 now seen as the next target. Political instability in France and Japan, coupled with the U.S. government shutdown, has further fueled demand for gold. Other precious metals also rose, with silver, platinum, and palladium showing significant gains.