Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that a Palestinian state will “never be established,” branding international recognition efforts as a reward for terrorism.

In a speech, he said: “Those attempting to impose a terrorist state on us will get their answer when I return from the United States.” Netanyahu boasted that Jewish settlements in the West Bank have doubled under his leadership.

His remarks come after the UK, Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine following Israel’s October 7 atrocities.

Transport workers in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, and Natore have suspended bus services indefinitely to Dhaka, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar, demanding fair wages and benefits.

Workers said their wages—BDT 1,350 for drivers, 570 for supervisors, and 530 for helpers—have remained stagnant for 15 years. Despite multiple meetings, no agreement was reached with bus owners, prompting the strike. Only Ekota Paribahan buses are currently operating.

Candidates awaiting results from the 18th Teachers’ Registration Exam have ended their hunger strike following assurances from Education Secretary Rehana Parveen.

The protest began on September 17 against alleged discrimination in the final selection process, where nearly 20,600 candidates were dropped despite passing written exams. Protesters argued that, under NTRCA rules, candidates scoring at least 40% in both written and oral exams should qualify. They accused authorities of unfair exclusion that deepens the country’s teacher shortage.

Police in Dubai recovered the hanging body of a Bangladeshi youth, identified as Monir Hossain (28), from his residence on Sunday.

Monir, who worked at a carton company in Dubai, lived in a shared room in Jebel Ali with two others. His brother Anwar Hossain told reporters that Monir had returned from work around 10 p.m. on Saturday and briefly spoke with his family over the phone. “He said he was about to cook and would call back after dinner. But when he didn’t, I tried calling, and he never answered,” Anwar recounted.

Later, Monir’s younger brother, who also worked at the same company, asked acquaintances to check on him. They discovered Monir’s lifeless body hanging inside the room. Following the incident, his Pakistani and Indian roommates were reportedly missing from the residence.

State-appointed defense counsel Md Amir Hossain argued before Tribunal-1 that Sheikh Hasina did not resign when she fled to India on August 5 amid mass uprising.
Rejecting witness Nahid Islam’s deposition, Hossain claimed the “one-point movement” launched on August 3, 2024, was a long-planned agenda backed by foreign and domestic forces. He alleged that Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus was proposed as interim head of government under their influence.
Prosecution lawyers objected to these claims, insisting the trial focus strictly on case facts. Hossain further argued that Hasina never ordered the use of helicopters or lethal weapons against protesters, and that no crimes against humanity occurred in July–August 2024.
Witness Nahid Islam refuted the defense, stating he learned of nationwide killings and torture on August 5 through coordination leaders Hasnat-Sarjis.

The government has appointed two senior officials of the Bangladesh Army as ambassadors. They are Major General Kabir Ahmed and Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board.
According to a government notification, both officers have been deputed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for ambassadorial assignments. However, their respective postings have not yet been disclosed.

At the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus will be accompanied by Dr. Nakibur Rahman Tarek, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, and Dr. Tasnim Zara, senior joint member secretary of NCP.

Also joining the delegation are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Humayun Kabir, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, and Akhtar Hossain. Party insiders from Jamaat and NCP confirmed that since BNP had two representatives, their parties had requested equal representation. Due to the tight schedule, only those with existing U.S. visas were selected for the team.

In a historic move, three influential nations—United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia—simultaneously recognized Palestine as an independent state on Sunday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the decision in a video message, describing it as part of London’s effort to revive a two-state solution.
Australia confirmed its recognition through a joint statement signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Canada became the first G7 nation to formally extend recognition.
With this development, the number of countries recognizing Palestine has now reached 150.

Police have arrested Enayet Karim Chowdhury, a man who posed as an intelligence operative and allegedly swindled high-profile individuals by promising to have US sanctions lifted against them.

Enayet was detained while moving suspiciously around Minto Road in Dhaka. Investigators say he targeted former government heavyweights who had come under US sanctions, offering them false assurances that he could use his “connections” to remove the restrictions. He even claimed he could arrange meetings with US President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Among those he allegedly approached is fugitive former police chief Benazir Ahmed, along with several other influential figures.

According to investigators, Enayet siphoned off hundreds of crores of taka through these schemes, laundering the money abroad via hundi networks. He is believed to have invested the funds in numerous overseas businesses.

Officials describe Enayet as a “cold-blooded conman” whose prime targets were corrupt and compromised government officials as well as vulnerable political leaders. Masquerading as a CIA agent, he lured them with promises of quick solutions to their troubles or the ability to neutralize rivals.

Dhaka — British MP Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been identified as the owner of a flat in Eastern Housing, according to documents presented in court.

The records were submitted during the fourth day of witness hearings in the corruption case involving RAJUK plot allocations linked to the Sheikh family. On Sunday, three officials from Eastern Housing Ltd. testified, along with Akhtar Jahan, an administrative officer at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

So far, 15 witnesses have testified across three related cases. The next hearing is scheduled for October 6. Earlier witnesses claimed that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered an irregular allocation of a 30-katha plot in Purbachal under the influence of Tulip Siddiq. The ACC subsequently filed cases against 23 individuals.

Aminul Islam Hannan, infamously known as ‘Japanese Hannan’, has finally been arrested in connection with murder cases filed during mass uprisings under the previous “fascist” regime.
Police apprehended him Saturday near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Hannan, a long-time fugitive, faces multiple cases including murder, extortion, and violent activities allegedly carried out under political patronage.
He had previously served a lengthy prison term in a separate murder case before being released. Authorities say his arrest marks a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to bring fugitive suspects to justice.

In a surprise move, Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, has been reassigned as a member of the Planning Commission. His replacement has not yet been formally appointed, though an additional secretary will temporarily handle his duties.

Reports suggest that Dr. Abu Shaheen Md. Asaduzzaman, Additional Secretary of the Career Planning and Training Division, will be named as his successor.

Mokhlesur Rahman’s tenure as Senior Secretary has been marred by allegations of unprecedented administrative chaos, favoritism in appointments, and accusations of financial dealings tied to high-profile postings. His decisions on the appointment of secretaries, agency chiefs, and district commissioners sparked widespread criticism, particularly from sidelined officials who accused the system of bias.

The U.S. has announced a staggering increase in H-1B visa application fees, raising the cost to $100,000 per applicant—a 60-fold jump—under a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The revised fee takes effect from Sunday.

India, whose nationals account for over 70% of all H-1B visas issued in 2024, has strongly criticized the decision, calling it a matter of “deep humanitarian concern” that would cause severe disruption to family lives.

“The exchange of skilled professionals between India and the United States is mutually beneficial. We hope policymakers consider the foundation of our bilateral ties when making such decisions,” India’s statement read.

Meanwhile, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is set to depart for Washington on Monday for discussions with U.S. counterparts.

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam has instructed all Puja committees across the country to deploy seven guards at each mandap to ensure security until law enforcement forces are stationed. Starting Wednesday, members of police, RAB, and Ansar will be deployed nationwide to oversee festival safety.

“This year, the number of security personnel has been increased to guarantee a peaceful Durga Puja. We do not foresee any major risks, but the government remains alert to prevent untoward incidents,” Jahangir said.

He also touched on cross-border issues, noting that drugs enter Bangladesh from neighboring countries, while rice and fertilizer are smuggled out. “The Arakan Army thrives on drug trade, but compared to before, more consignments are being seized. The government is working hard to eliminate the drug menace,” he added.

Addressing agricultural concerns, Jahangir warned that farmers are not getting fair prices for potatoes. If this continues, they may refrain from cultivating potatoes next year, leading to price hikes.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has emphasized that the decision on whether Bangladesh’s next general election should be held under the Proportional Representation (PR) system or the existing electoral system must be made by political parties, not the government.

“The government should keep its position minimal on this matter,” Shafiqul stated during the release of a survey conducted by Innovation on the upcoming national election.

The survey revealed that 56% of respondents had no knowledge of the PR system, while 21.8% favored PR and 22.2% opposed it. A total of 10,413 people participated in the survey.

Significantly, 69.9% of respondents expressed confidence that an interim government could ensure a fair election. However, religious minority groups appeared comparatively less optimistic about the ability of an interim administration to oversee free and impartial polls.