Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has responded to social media criticism labeling his marriages as examples of 'love jihad'. The controversy arose after his third marriage to Bengaluru resident Gauri Spratt, who is Christian. In an interview with Rediff, Aamir stated that none of his wives—Reena Dutta, Kiran Rao, and Gauri Spratt—converted to Islam, and all three marriages were conducted under civil law. He emphasized that his family represents interfaith harmony, citing examples of his sisters, daughter, and nephew’s interfaith marriages.

Aamir dismissed the allegations as baseless and absurd, asserting that his personal life has been misrepresented online. He also denied reports claiming he purchased a 100-crore-rupee flat in Mumbai’s Marina Apartments to build a family complex, clarifying that the building’s reconstruction was a collective decision by all residents, not his private project.

The actor’s remarks come amid renewed public scrutiny of his personal life following his recent marriage, which sparked widespread online debate and speculation.

Bangladesh Bank has relaxed conditions for fully foreign-owned industrial enterprises to obtain foreign loans. According to a circular issued on Wednesday, these companies can now borrow from their parent companies, affiliates, and shareholders. The policy applies to enterprises operating in export processing zones, economic zones, high-tech parks, and other manufacturing and service sectors outside these zones.

Under the new rules, firms outside special zones may take interest-free short-term loans for working capital without prior approval from Bangladesh Bank. They may also secure interest-bearing loans at a maximum annual all-in cost of 3 percent for business needs such as raw material procurement. Loans must be repaid in a lump sum at maturity and can be rolled over for up to three years. For loans between one and five years, companies can borrow up to USD 50 million interest-free for capital expenditures and up to USD 5 million with interest. Longer-term loans beyond five years are also allowed with a maximum interest rate of 3 percent annually.

Industry stakeholders said the move will help foreign-owned firms access low-cost financing and attract more foreign investment into Bangladesh.

After being closed for eight days due to adverse weather conditions, all tourist destinations in Sajek Valley and across Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati have reopened. The district administration announced the withdrawal of the travel ban through a public notice issued on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the notice, the earlier directive issued on July 7 was revised to allow tourists to visit Sajek Valley and other local attractions. The administration urged tourists, vehicle drivers, and residents to remain highly cautious while traveling during the current season and to strictly follow all official instructions.

The public notice was signed by District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, confirming the formal reopening of the region’s tourism activities.

Bangladesh Bank has handed back control of Al-Arafah Islami Bank to its previous owners, reinstating 14 entrepreneur directors to the bank’s board. The central bank issued an official letter to the bank’s managing director on Wednesday confirming the decision. Five independent directors appointed earlier by Bangladesh Bank will remain on the board.

According to Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, the decision was made because the bank’s financial condition has improved compared to before. He noted that while other banks with dissolved boards have not been able to locate their original entrepreneurs, Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s situation is different, allowing the return of control to its previous owners.

The reinstated entrepreneur directors include Badiur Rahman, Selim Rahman, Ahamedul Haque, Rafiqul Islam, Imadur Rahman, Nazmul Ahsan Khaled, Khalilur Rahman, Anwar Hossain, Abdus Salam, Liaquat Ali Chowdhury, Enayet Ullah, and representatives from KDS Garments, KDS Textile, and KY Steel Mills.

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) achieved record performance in investment and employment during the 2025–26 fiscal year, overcoming global economic challenges and a national export decline. BEPZA contributed 17.51 percent to Bangladesh’s total exports of 48 billion US dollars, with exports from its eight EPZs and one economic zone reaching 8.41 billion dollars. While national exports fell by 0.58 percent from the previous year, BEPZA’s exports grew by 2.2 percent.

A total of 36 companies from countries including China, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and Bangladesh signed lease agreements with BEPZA, proposing investments worth 717.71 million US dollars—the highest in its history. These projects are expected to create about 75,744 jobs once fully operational. Actual capital investment reached 286.46 million dollars, while net FDI inflow stood at 221.58 million dollars, accounting for 19.61 percent of the national total.

BEPZA’s managed zones now employ 558,691 workers, up from 533,527 a year earlier, marking its highest employment level. Its 451 operating industries export to 129 countries, diversifying Bangladesh’s export base beyond garments.

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in recent attacks, looting, and extortion targeting internet service providers across the country. The association warned that if the perpetrators are not arrested within seven days, customer support services will be suspended. The demand was made during a human chain organized by the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday.

ISPAB President Aminul Hakim said that internet service is no longer a luxury but a vital part of banking, education, healthcare, government, and digital communication systems. He expressed concern over the growing number of attacks on internet infrastructure, offices, and workers, citing recent incidents in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi and Chattogram. ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan added that ensuring the safety of the internet business is the responsibility of the state and urged the government to take effective measures.

Speakers at the event emphasized that attacks on the internet sector go against national interests and called for swift government action to protect the industry.

Thirteen people were killed in a severe wildfire that broke out last Thursday in Spain’s southern Andalusia region, with authorities confirming that twelve of the victims were foreign nationals. The confirmation came after autopsies were completed on Tuesday. According to officials, the victims included seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States, while the remaining victim was a Spanish citizen. All were adults, comprising eight women and five men.

The blaze began in the southeastern province of Almería, a Mediterranean coastal area popular among foreign residents. Strong winds and extreme heat helped the fire spread rapidly through forests and dried vegetation, turning once-picturesque villages into deserted zones. Authorities said the fire, one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years, burned about 7,000 hectares of land and was likely sparked by a fallen power line. The fire has since been brought under control, and residents began returning home on Sunday.

Officials noted that Spain has faced increasingly intense and prolonged heatwaves in recent years, creating conditions that make wildfires more frequent and destructive.

Continuous monsoon rains and hill runoff have triggered intense 'Aphal' waves across the haor regions of Sunamganj, causing widespread damage to homes, schools, and health facilities. Residents in areas such as Tahirpur, Bishwambharpur, and Dharmapasha reported collapsing houses and eroding homesteads. Local victims described losing land and income, with fishermen unable to work and families struggling without government aid.

Experts noted that the destructive waves, once common later in the season, are now appearing earlier due to reduced navigability and deforestation of protective vegetation. Teachers reported that education has been severely disrupted, while communication breakdowns have hindered access to healthcare. Local officials confirmed that several villages are at risk, and emergency measures including sandbag barriers and shelters have been activated.

Authorities have launched a special repair team under each Upazila Executive Officer and opened 1,311 shelters. A new project named CRILIP, with a budget of Tk 1,100 crore across five districts, is set to begin in fiscal year 2026–27 to protect haor residents from future 'Aphal' damage.

Suspicious transaction reporting in Bangladesh’s financial sector increased by 74 percent in the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). The agency’s annual report, presented by BFIU head Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun at Bangladesh Bank, recorded 30,199 suspicious transaction reports compared to 17,345 in the previous fiscal year. Mamun attributed the rise partly to changes following the government’s fall and said banks now report more freely without fear.

The report shows that banks remain the dominant source of suspicious transaction and activity reports, accounting for over 95 percent of total submissions in 2024–25, up from 92 percent the year before. Banks filed 28,755 reports, nearly 80 percent higher than the previous year and more than double the figure from 2022–23. The BFIU also facilitated 1,314 information exchanges among domestic agencies, including police, CID, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Board of Revenue.

In contrast, cash transaction reporting declined to 19,454 cases in 2024–25 from 23,900 the previous year, indicating a shift in reporting patterns within the financial system.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has announced the court-ordered seizure of assets worth Tk 760 billion belonging to Sheikh Hasina and ten industrial groups, both domestically and abroad. BFIU chief Ikhtiaruddin Md Mamun disclosed the information on Wednesday during the release of the unit’s annual report at Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters. Of the total amount, Tk 570 billion was frozen within Bangladesh, while Tk 190 billion in foreign assets was also seized.

Mamun stated that efforts are underway to recover assets that were allegedly stolen from the country, expressing optimism about providing positive updates by the end of the year. He emphasized that the BFIU does not consider political affiliations when freezing bank accounts, noting that any suspicious transactions, including those involving members of the interim government, would be investigated.

The announcement highlights the BFIU’s ongoing drive to curb illicit financial flows and recover misappropriated wealth, signaling a broader effort to strengthen financial transparency and accountability in Bangladesh.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for unity beyond political divisions to address Dhaka’s long-standing waste and civic problems. Speaking as chief guest at a Dhaka North City Corporation seminar titled “Waste management of the city is everyone’s responsibility” on Wednesday, he said the capital’s condition cannot be improved by any single person or institution alone.

He noted that Dhaka ranks among the world’s least livable cities and cited poor coordination between RAJUK, WASA, and the power department as major obstacles. Fakhrul emphasized the need to bring the city corporation under a stronger governance structure to ensure control over other agencies. He also highlighted severe water shortages, river pollution, and weak medical waste management, urging restoration of the Buriganga, Turag, and Shitalakshya rivers.

Drawing from his experience as a former municipal chairman, Fakhrul stressed that awareness and civic responsibility must start from families and schools. He expressed a personal desire to see Dhaka clean and green again and urged citizens to take ownership of their city’s cleanliness.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ long-anticipated direct flight between Dhaka and New York now depends on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety evaluation. Bangladesh must pass the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) assessment and achieve Category One status through the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate the route. Preparations are underway, with ICAO’s pre-audit scheduled from October 26 to November 6, 2026, followed by a final audit in 2027. Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said that if progress continues as planned, the flight could begin in early 2028.

Officials report that about 75–80 percent of preparations are complete, including installation of advanced security equipment and internal audits. Three high-level committees are overseeing nine key safety areas to meet international standards. Bangladesh aims to exceed a 75 percent safety score, improving on its 2018 result of 68.55 percent.

Experts warn that inspector shortages, limited regulatory independence, and administrative challenges could hinder progress. However, authorities remain optimistic that ongoing modernization and oversight will strengthen Bangladesh’s global aviation standing and pave the way for the Dhaka–New York route.

The United States has imposed new sanctions aimed at dismantling a major Iranian shipping network allegedly used to evade existing restrictions on Tehran’s oil trade and other activities. The U.S. Treasury Department said the network, led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, was helping Iran bypass previous sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated that Washington is shutting down the financial infrastructure that enables Iran to threaten U.S. national security and the international maritime system.

According to the Treasury, the move is part of a broader effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran, following similar sanctions issued last year and in April this year. Under the new measures, more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Shamkhani’s network have been sanctioned. All assets of the listed parties within the United States will be blocked, and U.S. citizens or companies are prohibited from conducting any transactions with them.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment immediately on the new sanctions, according to the report sourced from Reuters.

Eastern Railway in Bangladesh is facing an escalating locomotive shortage that has severely disrupted passenger and freight services. According to officials, the region requires 119 engines daily to maintain normal operations but currently has only 75 to 76 available. The shortage has forced several local and mail train routes, including Chattogram–Laksam and Chattogram–Sylhet, to suspend operations. The Nasirabad Express, running between Chattogram and Jamalpur, now faces frequent cancellations, with seven to eight trips canceled each month.

Railway officials warn that the situation could further deteriorate if new engines are not procured soon. The Eastern Railway’s General Manager stated that existing engines are being overused without adequate rest or maintenance, leading to faster wear and breakdowns. The shortage has also prevented the introduction of new train services. The railway authority has submitted a request for additional engines to the ministry, but the decision depends on higher government approval.

Freight transport has also been hit hard, with only five engines available daily against a need for fifteen, causing significant logistical disruptions.

An emergency closed-door meeting was held in Bandarban on Tuesday night to assess flood damage and discuss rehabilitation and infrastructure reconstruction. The session, chaired by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ahidul Islam, took place at the Bandarban Deputy Commissioner's conference room from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. According to a district administration notice, the minister visited the district to review the ongoing flood situation and coordinate response efforts.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Saniul Ferdous presented detailed information on the extent of damage across seven upazilas, including roads, bridges, culverts, power infrastructure, agriculture, educational institutions, and homes. He also reported on the progress of rehabilitation activities and the need for government assistance. The state minister then discussed post-flood rehabilitation, infrastructure rebuilding, and restoration of electricity supply with officials from relevant departments.

District administration sources said the meeting emphasized accelerating rehabilitation in affected areas, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring electricity and communication systems, and ensuring necessary support for affected residents. The session aimed to strengthen coordination among departments and determine next steps for managing the ongoing flood crisis.