Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were temporarily halted after a fire broke out at the Cargo Village at 2:15 PM on Saturday, 18 October. The Fire Service and airport authorities responded quickly, bringing the fire completely under control. No casualties have been reported. An advisor from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism is personally monitoring the situation, while the ministry coordinates with all relevant agencies to ensure smooth operations. All flights are scheduled to resume from 9 PM. An investigation into the cause of the fire has already begun, with measures planned to prevent similar incidents in the future. The ministry thanked passengers and the public for their patience and cooperation during the disruption.

A fire broke out at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, October 18, at 2:15 PM, prompting a swift response from the airport authorities and the Fire Service. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism confirmed that the fire has now been completely brought under control and that no casualties have occurred. Sheikh Bashiruddin, Advisor to the Ministry, personally monitored the situation at the airport, ensuring close oversight and coordination among all relevant agencies. Authorities are working to restore normal operations at the airport and maintain safety standards. The ministry has announced that an investigation into the cause of the fire will begin shortly. Measures will be taken to identify the origin of the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The coordinated efforts have been praised for containing the situation quickly and effectively.

Power generation at the Barapukuria coal-based thermal power plant in Dinajpur has dropped sharply to just 50 megawatts due to mechanical failures. Out of three production units with a combined capacity of 525 MW, only one unit remains partially operational. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique said the 275 MW third unit was shut down Thursday night after turbine steam sensor valves failed. Repairs are underway, and the unit is expected to resume operations within a week. The second unit, with a capacity of 125 MW, has been offline since November 2020. The first unit, though functional, is generating only 50 MW instead of its full capacity. Established in 2006 and expanded in 2017, the plant has rarely achieved full production due to recurring technical issues. Currently, the adjacent coal yard holds about 440,000 tons of coal, raising storage concerns as mining continues.

Mumbai police have arrested Babu Ayan Khan, also known as Jyoti and popularly referred to as ‘Guru Mata,’ for allegedly trafficking over 200 Bangladeshi citizens into India using forged documents. Living in India for 30 years, Jyoti created fake birth certificates, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards to claim Indian citizenship. The network reportedly smuggled victims through the Murshidabad border into Kolkata, where fake documents were prepared before moving them to Mumbai and housing them in Shivaji Nagar. Each flat hosted 3–4 Bangladeshis who paid monthly rent to Guru Mata. Disturbingly, many of the trafficked individuals were forced into prostitution. Jyoti also illegally occupied over 200 flats under MHADA, earning lakhs of rupees through rentals. She has around 300 followers among Mumbai’s transgender community and had built a reputation as a spiritual leader over the years.

A massive fire that broke out in the warehouses of Adams Caps and Textile Limited and Zhihong Medical Company in Chittagong’s Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) has been brought under control after nearly 17 hours. The fire, which began around 2:00 pm on Thursday, spread rapidly due to highly flammable materials stored in the warehouses. Twenty-five units, including 23 from the Fire Service and two from the Air Force and Navy, joined the firefighting operation, with additional support from the Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). A firefighting robot was also deployed to spray water automatically on the flames. Preliminary reports indicate the fire originated in the top-floor warehouse. While the fire is under control, authorities caution that complete extinguishment will take more time. The incident has caused significant concern over industrial safety standards in the zone.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) have successfully solved the high-profile theft of 500 vori of gold jewelry from Shampa Jewellers in Malibagh’s Fortune Shopping Mall, just days after the incident. Three gang members were directly involved: two entered the building using a rope while wearing burqas, and one waited below on a motorcycle. After stealing the jewelry, they fled and divided it among themselves. Utilizing advanced investigative techniques, the DB identified the main suspects and conducted nationwide operations, arresting four members. Over 150 vori of gold were recovered from one member’s home, along with additional gold and cash from others. The theft, reported on the night of October 8, involved breaking the store’s shutter and stealing jewelry from display cases. Police credit the prompt recovery as a major success, preventing the gang from selling the stolen gold. A detailed briefing will follow at a DB press conference.

The holy month of Ramadan in 2026 is expected to start on February 19 in the Middle East, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, president of the Emirates Astronomical Society. Speaking to Al Arabiya, he said the crescent moon of the Hijri year 1447 will appear on February 17 but set just one minute after sunset, making it invisible to the naked eye. As a result, Ramadan will begin the following day, on February 19, and Eid al-Fitr will likely be celebrated on Friday, March 20. Fasting hours during early Ramadan will last around 12 hours, gradually increasing to 13 by the end of the month. Saudi Arabia’s moon-sighting committee will meet on February 18, though it often relies on the Umm al-Qura calendar. As Ramadan usually begins a day later in Bangladesh, the country is expected to start fasting on February 20 and celebrate Eid al-Fitr on March 21.

MPO-listed teachers and staff have started a hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to press for three key demands, including nationalization of their jobs, salary reform, and an increase in housing allowance. The strike began on Friday afternoon, led by Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, the member secretary of the alliance demanding nationalization. Teachers from across the country have gathered at the site, braving rain and fatigue while chanting slogans and giving speeches. Many participants expressed frustration over receiving only Tk 2,000 as housing allowance, saying it is impossible to rent accommodation with such a small amount. The protest has continued for six consecutive days, but the government has yet to respond. Six teachers’ organizations have united under a single platform, declaring that they will not end their movement until their demands are met.

In a powerful demonstration of unity, tens of thousands of people from five districts of the Rangpur Division—Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Gaibandha—lit torches along a 105-kilometer stretch of the Teesta River on Thursday evening. The symbolic event, organized under the banner of the “Jago Bahe Teesta Bachao” (Rise to Save Teesta) movement, called for the urgent implementation of the long-awaited Teesta Master Plan. Former state minister and BNP central organizing secretary Principal Asadul Habib Dulu inaugurated the program, warning that delays in the project would lead to a massive regional protest. He declared that the Teesta crisis is no longer local but a national issue, accusing the government of negligence and conspiracy. The program saw participation from political leaders, social activists, students, and youth groups, all chanting: “Save Teesta, demand fair water share!”

Education Secretary Rehana Parvin has assured that a national pay scale for teachers will be implemented in the near future, aiming to address longstanding issues related to salaries and house rent allowances. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Education on October 16, she highlighted that teachers under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system have been demanding an increase in house rent. Rehana Parvin confirmed that the Ministry of Education has sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance regarding the matter and emphasized that officials are working tirelessly, even while some key advisors are abroad. She expressed optimism that discussions will lead to a resolution, and the new national pay scale will have a positive impact on teachers’ financial well-being. The Secretary called for cooperation from all stakeholders and noted that it may take some time to observe the full benefits.

At least five people were killed and 35 others injured in a powerful explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, just before a 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan was due to take effect. According to AFP, which cited an Italian NGO operating a hospital in Kabul, emergency services received multiple casualties, including women and children. Dejan Panic, the NGO’s Country Director, reported that many of the wounded were brought in by ambulance and that the blast occurred just a few kilometers from their facility. Witnesses described hearing twin explosions and seeing thick black smoke rising above the city. Streets near the blast site were littered with shattered glass and debris from damaged buildings. The incident comes amid escalating border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which both sides have vowed to resolve through dialogue during the temporary ceasefire.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has clarified that the government has not raised edible oil prices, countering public confusion after refiners announced new rates. Speaking to reporters in Purbachal on Tuesday (October 14), he emphasized that traders cannot increase prices without the Commerce Ministry’s approval and warned that the government will take necessary action against unauthorized changes. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had earlier stated that, following discussions with the ministry, prices were adjusted in line with the international market. Their announcement raised the prices of bottled and loose soybean and palm oils effective from October 14. Following this, many assumed that the government had approved the hike. However, the adviser stressed that no such directive had been issued and that the government is maintaining strict market monitoring to prevent arbitrary price increases by traders.

Bangladesh’s National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) is set to introduce a new interoperable payment system on November 1, 2025, allowing seamless transactions across mobile financial services (MFS) such as bKash, Nagad, and Rocket, as well as banks and payment service providers (PSPs). Under this system, bank-to-MFS transfers will cost Tk 1.50 per Tk 1,000, MFS-to-bank transfers Tk 8.50 per Tk 1,000, bank-to-bank transfers Tk 1.50 per Tk 1,000, and bank-to-PSP transfers Tk 2 per Tk 1,000. Recipients will not be charged any fees. The move aims to reduce reliance on cash and promote digital transactions across the country. The service will operate within existing transaction limits of banks, MFS operators, and PSPs. For internet banking transfers between banks, previous rules will remain in effect. The circular was issued by Bangladesh Bank’s Payment Systems Department on October 13, 2025.

MPO-listed teachers and staff have been holding a continuous sit-in at Dhaka’s central Shaheed Minar, protesting police attacks, sound grenade blasts, and arrests while demanding three key demands, including a 20% increase in house rent allowance. The protest has led to the suspension of all educational activities, including classes and exams, across schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions in the capital. Many teachers remain present at their institutions but are refraining from conducting classes. Those at Shaheed Minar spent the night under the open sky, enduring hardship to press their demands. Teachers have stated they will withdraw the sit-in and resume classes only after the government issues an official proclamation addressing their demands, including justice for the attacks. The protest underscores growing tension between MPO-listed teachers and authorities over recognition and welfare issues.

The International Crimes Tribunal has begun hearing arguments in a case accusing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others of crimes against humanity during the July 2024 mass uprising. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam, in his argument, alleged that thousands of patriots were killed under Hasina’s direct orders. He described the former Awami League government as a fascist regime responsible for widespread abductions, extrajudicial killings, and the destruction of democratic institutions. Tazul Islam also referenced the Pilkhana massacre, the enforced disappearances by RAB, and politically motivated control of the judiciary as part of a pattern of oppression. During the live broadcast of the hearing, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office’s Facebook page suffered a cyberattack but was later recovered. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, noted that even judges should face accountability in such historic trials.