For the first time, the International Monetary Fund has imposed a ceiling on Bangladesh’s foreign borrowing. According to IMF conditions, Bangladesh cannot take on more than $844 million in external loans in the current fiscal year. (Note: original amount in Bengali read as ৮৪৪ কোটি ডলার — depending on reporting conventions, this could mean $8.44 billion; the IMF document referenced sets quarter-by-quarter limits.)

The IMF country report, issued after a waiver for the fourth and fifth tranches totaling $134 million in June, lists the borrowing cap among the conditions for receiving the next disbursement. It specifies quarterly ceilings: up to $191 million in the first quarter, $334 million over six months, $434 million over nine months, and $844 million for the full fiscal year. The IMF will monitor foreign borrowing on a quarterly basis.

Last fiscal year the government borrowed $857 million in external loans. In July — the first month of the current fiscal year — Bangladesh drew $202.4 million. To meet IMF conditions, the government will need to restrain foreign borrowing relative to the previous year.

Hundreds of thousands rallied in Berlin to protest what they called the German government’s silence in the face of alleged mass atrocities in Gaza. Demonstrators marched from City Hall to Grosser Stern in a demonstration organized by a broad coalition of roughly 50 groups, including pro-Palestine organizations, Médecins Sans Frontières (Medico International), Amnesty International and the Left Party.

Organizers demanded that the German government stop expressing solidarity with what they described as Israeli “genocidal” actions and urged an end to all forms of military cooperation with Israel. Their statement noted that international experts and agencies have described Israeli actions as genocidal and that international courts are investigating the matter. The organizers also cited a recent poll showing 62% of German voters consider Israel’s actions in Gaza genocidal — a finding they say increases pressure on the center-right government to reassess its stance.

Although Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have recently criticized aspects of Israel’s military campaign and raised concerns about restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, neither has used the term “genocide,” the protesters noted.

Three carriages of the Panchagarh Express — en route from Dhaka to Panchagarh — derailed in Bhangura upazila of Pabna at around 4:00 a.m., severing rail connections between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh. No casualties were reported.

Railway teams have not yet been able to recover the derailed carriages, leaving passengers stranded and causing severe disruption. Many travellers were returning home for holiday observances, which has compounded the crowding and inconvenience at the site.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has urged all citizens to set aside divisions and work together to build a just and corruption-free Bangladesh.
In a video message marking Durga Puja, Yunus said, “If we remain united, we can defeat any evil force. But without unity, the nation cannot progress.”
He stressed that the journey toward equality and integrity, launched through the July uprising, requires collective effort. Yunus also assured that both the government and political parties are working to ensure the Puja festivities remain peaceful and thanked those who have worked tirelessly to make it possible.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser, appealed for active cooperation and contributions from expatriate Bangladeshis in the country’s national reconstruction. Speaking about the post-July popular uprising reforms, he said that members of the diaspora can play an important role — commensurate with their abilities — in advancing the change that Bangladesh is striving for.

“Gone are the days when we would stand in the distant gallery and merely watch. The days of sitting in the gallery are over. Now we will play ourselves,” he declared. According to the press wing, several Bangladeshi political figures traveling with him attended the event; the Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to them and said their agreement to join increased his confidence.

Dr. Yunus also thanked expatriate Bangladeshis for contributing to more than 21% growth in remittances and highlighted government initiatives to create an investment-friendly environment. He called for their continued support and outlined the voting process for the general election scheduled for February next year, urging diaspora engagement in Bangladesh’s democratic future.

The Parbatya Chattagram Chhatra Parishad (PCSC) has called for a ban on the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), accusing the group of orchestrating violence during blockades in Khagrachhari.

At a human chain protest near Raju Sculpture in Dhaka, PCSC leaders alleged that UPDF leaders Michael Chakma and Rani Yan Yan are fueling conflict in the hills, leading to attacks on civilians and the army.

They warned that diverting attention from the real culprits and avoiding lawful action could spark communal tensions.

Yesterday, Dhaka University students had also demanded a ban on UPDF and the arrest of Rani Yan Yan, accusing them of exploiting the recent rape case to incite violence, attack security forces, and destabilize the region. Protesters claimed Awami League and Indian conspiracies were backing the unrest.

Students from minority ethnic groups staged a protest on Sunday afternoon in front of the National Museum, demanding justice for recent shootings of Jumma people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

They also called for the arrest and trial of the perpetrators of a gang rape incident in Khagrachhari, alongside punishment for those involved in attacks, looting, and arson against hill communities.

The demonstrators alleged that instead of ensuring security, state forces were firing on people. “Two systems of governance cannot exist in one country,” they said.

Tensions remain high after protesters set fire to a marketplace in Guimara during a blockade under the banner of “Jumma Students and People.” Several shops were destroyed. Authorities have imposed an indefinite Section 144 in Khagrachhari to curb unrest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Israel has supplied Ukraine with a Patriot missile defense system, marking a significant development in Kyiv’s defensive capabilities.

Zelensky also claimed Ukraine will soon acquire two additional Patriot systems. This contradicts earlier statements by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which told The Kyiv Independent in June that no Patriot systems had been sent.

Zelensky stressed that the U.S.-made Patriot defense system would greatly bolster Ukraine’s military efforts in the ongoing war.

The Home Ministry has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of three people in Guimara, Khagrachhari.

It also acknowledged injuries suffered by a Major and 13 army personnel, three police officers including the Guimara OC, and several others.

In a statement, the ministry assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted and that no perpetrators will be spared. Citizens were urged to remain calm and patient until legal action is taken.

The government has slashed airfare for 2026 Hajj pilgrims by Tk 12,990, setting the new fare at Tk 154,830, lower than last year’s rate.

Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain unveiled three packages:

Package 1: Tk 690,597

Package 2: Tk 558,881

Package 3: Tk 467,167

Hajj registration opened on July 27 and will close on October 12. Visa issuance begins on February 8, while the first flights are scheduled for April 18.

The advisor noted that pilgrims over 70 are being discouraged from performing Hajj. Those insisting must travel with a companion and provide a doctor’s clearance from a government hospital. Seriously ill applicants will not be permitted.

Amid rising tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, clashes have reportedly broken out between army personnel and members of the UPDF in Guimara, Khagrachhari.

Earlier, at a meeting with officials, politicians, and civil society leaders, Hill Affairs Advisor Supradip Chakma stressed the need to identify those instigating violence between hill communities and Bengali settlers.

The meeting urged vigilance against gender-based violence, communal unrest, and other forms of conflict. Authorities have enforced Section 144 indefinitely in parts of Khagrachhari, with security patrols intensified to maintain order.

Out of 254 temples in Dhaka, 89 have been marked as high-risk by police, said DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali after inspecting Dhakeshwari Temple.

Security arrangements will categorize puja venues into four groups, with 11–50 officers assigned to each session. Around 2,200 officers will be deployed, along with 2,400 law enforcement personnel during idol immersion ceremonies.

Plainclothes detectives, volunteers, and auxiliary forces will also reinforce security. Cyber patrol teams will counter misinformation, while puja committees have been asked to keep temples staffed at all times. “Last year’s situation has improved, and we hope no major security issues will arise this time,” the commissioner said.

A joint force has conducted a raid at an apartment complex owned by former MP Haji Selim’s Madina Group in Azimpur, Dhaka.

Surrounding the building at noon, the forces discovered a hidden underground chamber containing six luxury cars, including one bearing a parliament member’s emblem. The building’s manager has been detained for questioning, though he failed to provide details about the vehicles.

Locals allege that despite restrictions, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates frequently visited the building secretly.

The interim government is fully prepared to hold the 13th National Parliamentary Election in the first half of February, according to Advisor Farida Akhtar.

She cautioned that open water bodies must not be indiscriminately leased under the guise of fish farming, stressing that only those involved in fisheries management should receive leases. To preserve breeding grounds, she also called for restrictions on tourism in sensitive areas.

On election matters, Akhtar said the interim government would not comment based on external opinions, underscoring its independent stance.

Renowned photographer Shahidul Alam is set to become the first Bangladeshi to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s media flotilla, which seeks to break the information and media blackout in Gaza.

Alam will depart for Italy on Sunday before heading toward Gaza. At a press conference in Dhaka’s DrikPath Bhavan, he described the mission as an act of solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide.

“Israel and the U.S., with support from several Western allies, are carrying out mass killings in Gaza. Yet, people worldwide are raising their voices against this brutality. By joining the flotilla, I carry with me the love and solidarity of the Bangladeshi people,” Alam said. He warned that failure in this struggle would mean a defeat for all humanity.