Bangladesh’s interim government is grappling with a severe financial crisis caused by declining revenue collection, the burden of repaying massive debts inherited from the previous Awami League government, and soaring inflation that has raised the cost of goods and services. Despite adopting austerity measures and cutting development spending, the government is increasingly reliant on borrowing, both from domestic sources and international development partners. Central bank data show that while government sector credit rose by 1.79% during July–August, private sector lending fell slightly, indicating a broader economic slowdown. Revenue collection remains below target despite a 21% year-on-year rise, leaving an 11% shortfall. With shrinking liquidity in banks and reduced business activity, the government’s borrowing space is tightening. Most loans are being used for operational expenses rather than production or job creation, raising concerns about long-term economic stability.

The long-anticipated verdicts in six corruption cases against fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and other members of the Sheikh family are now uncertain after a surprising courtroom development. Former RAJUK member (Estate & Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, one of the accused, unexpectedly surrendered to a Dhaka court on October 29. His surrender, according to legal observers, could trigger a procedural delay, as the defense may now legally seek to recall witnesses for cross-examination under Sections 540 of the CrPC and 138 of the Evidence Act.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutors fear the move might be part of a calculated strategy to postpone the rulings expected by November. Trials had been nearing completion, with testimonies recorded in most of the six cases that involve alleged irregularities in RAJUK plot allocations to Hasina’s family during the Awami League’s 15-year rule. Despite the potential delay, ACC officials have emphasized that the trials will continue until completion. The courts have so far rejected Khurshid Alam’s bail plea and ordered his imprisonment.

The head of Israel’s military legal branch, Major General Efrat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned on October 31 after a video showing Israeli soldiers allegedly abusing a Palestinian prisoner was leaked. She admitted authorizing the video’s release in August 2024. Following the leak, criminal charges were filed against five soldiers. The incident triggered nationwide outrage, with right-wing politicians criticizing the investigation and protesters attacking two military bases when investigators arrived. Security camera footage released by N12 News shows soldiers escorting a prisoner while armed personnel stand nearby, though the events inside the room remain unclear. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed an ongoing criminal investigation and that Tomer-Yerushalmi had been placed on forced leave. In her resignation letter, she stated she acted to protect the reputation of the military legal division, which she said had become a target of baseless slander during the conflict.

Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, has highlighted weak governance as a key reason behind recent government collapses in South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Speaking on National Unity Day, he emphasized that effective governance is essential for nation-building, maintaining public trust, and meeting citizens’ aspirations. Doval noted that today’s populations are more aware and ambitious, requiring governments to focus on citizen satisfaction. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administrative reforms for reducing corruption and said India is entering a new trajectory in governance and global positioning. Key components of good governance, he stressed, include women’s protection, equality, empowerment, and effective use of technology to enhance transparency and efficiency while safeguarding society from cyber threats.

At a regional coordination meeting held in Faridpur on October 31, NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar stated that the party is not being allotted the Shapla (water lily) symbol due to the Election Commission’s ego and the influence of a specific group. He described the Shapla as an alternative to the sinking boat symbol and criticized the National Party for harming the country after the Awami League. Tushar also denounced attempts to establish a new Awami League under the National Party’s banner and called for a public referendum to legally recognize the July Charter. Addressing the BNP, he warned that opposing the charter would lead to public backlash. The meeting was attended by several hundred NCP leaders and activists from Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, and Shariatpur districts.

At least 50 people were injured in violent clashes between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jatiya Party (JP) in Bhola on Saturday afternoon. The confrontation broke out around noon in the Notun Bazar area after both parties organized rival programs near their respective offices. According to police and local witnesses, JP-affiliated activists brought out a procession from in front of their party office, marching through several streets before returning to the same spot. Soon afterward, BNP activists also took out a procession from their district office at Mahajanpotti and headed toward Notun Bazar. When the two groups came face to face near the municipal building, brick throwing and stick-wielding clashes erupted, leading to chaos in the area. More than 50 people from both sides sustained injuries. Police rushed to the scene, brought the situation under control, and transported the injured to local hospitals. Additional police forces have since been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest. Authorities are investigating the cause and sequence of the clashes as tensions between the two parties remain high.

The Anti-Discrimination Employees’ Unity Forum has expressed gratitude to the Chief Adviser following the abolition of the “Advisory Committee on Public Administration” by the interim government through a gazette notification on 29 October. According to the forum, the committee was unlawfully formed by some senior advisers and officials who violated the “Rules of Business,” misled the government, and caused administrative disorder. The forum alleged that officials loyal to a particular political party were promoted to high-ranking positions, including secretaries and district commissioners, undermining administrative balance and creating negative public perception. While welcoming the committee’s dissolution, the forum stressed that their demand goes beyond abolition. They urged a judicial investigation, led by a High Court Division judge, into all advisers and officials involved in creating inefficiency and chaos over the past year, as well as those accused of corruption in the media, to ensure accountability and restore integrity in public administration.

In a major step toward strengthening bilateral relations, the United States and India have signed a historic 10-year defense framework agreement ahead of their pending trade deal. The agreement, inked between India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting in Malaysia, aims to enhance military collaboration, information exchange, and defense technology partnership between the two nations.

Following the signing, Hegseth wrote on X that the deal would take defense cooperation to new heights, laying the foundation for regional stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders also discussed the delay in the delivery of GE Aerospace’s F404 engines, which has hindered the production of India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Rajnath Singh urged a swift conclusion to the proposed agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE Aerospace for joint production of F414 engines in India — a move expected to boost indigenous defense capabilities and reduce import dependency.

Officials noted that the agreement reflects growing alignment between Washington and New Delhi amid concerns over China’s assertive actions in the Asia-Pacific. It also aligns with the 2025 Modi-Trump joint statement to deepen defense and strategic cooperation.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the interim government to take immediate steps to resolve the ongoing political crisis surrounding the implementation of the July Charter and the recent referendum controversy. Speaking at the Ganosamhati Andolon conference on Friday (October 31), Mirza Fakhrul blamed both the interim government and the Consensus Commission for creating the current political deadlock.

He emphasized that instead of prolonging political tension, the authorities should focus on resolving the issues so that all parties can move toward elections in a unified manner and work for the welfare of the people. Mirza Fakhrul expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh will overcome this crisis, as they have never accepted defeat in the face of adversity.

Highlighting the importance of national unity, he called on all political forces to rise above differences for the greater interest of the country. The BNP leader reiterated that his party has cooperated with the interim government in the past and intends to continue doing so in the future, but urged the government to address the problems it has created to restore stability and trust in the political process.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire following a five-day negotiation in Istanbul, Turkey, announced the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday, October 30. The two South Asian neighbors, whose relations deteriorated after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, have been locked in escalating border clashes over alleged support for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP militants responsible for attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while Afghanistan denies the claims.

The latest tensions erupted after Pakistan launched an airstrike in Kabul on October 9, killing several top TTP leaders. In retaliation, Afghan forces attacked Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line, leading to days of intense fighting that claimed more than 200 Afghan and 23 Pakistani soldiers’ lives. After a temporary ceasefire on October 15, fresh diplomatic efforts began in Doha, later moving to Istanbul under Qatari and Turkish mediation.

Both nations have now agreed to avoid hostilities until the next meeting on November 6 in Istanbul to finalize ceasefire conditions. Turkey emphasized the importance of restraint and dialogue to maintain regional stability.

Dr. Zakir Naik, the 60-year-old Islamic preacher who has been facing charges in India for hate speech and money laundering, is set to attend a charitable event in Dhaka on November 28–29. The event is organized by Spark Event Management and is expected to take place in the Agargaon area. Naik, who left India in 2016 to settle permanently in Malaysia, has repeatedly stated that he will not return to India without assurances of a fair trial. Following the 2016 Holy Artisan attack in India, Bangladesh had imposed a ban on his entry. However, the political landscape in Bangladesh has changed, leading to a relaxation of the previous restrictions, allowing his visit this time. Meanwhile, India has requested that Bangladesh hand him over upon arrival, as he remains a fugitive under Indian law. His visit has drawn attention and concern both locally and internationally.

Panic over citizenship is spreading across West Bengal following the central government’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The fear of being declared “illegal” has reached tragic heights with the suicide of 95-year-old Khitish Majumdar in Birbhum’s Ilambazar. Born in Barisal, Bangladesh, Majumdar moved to India decades ago and feared losing his citizenship, especially as his name was missing from the 2002 voter list. His family reported he was deeply anxious about being sent to Bangladesh or a detention camp.
This suicide follows two other cases in Dinhata and Panihati in the past 72 hours, highlighting the growing psychological impact on the elderly and vulnerable. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly blamed the central BJP government, calling the situation a “tragic consequence of politics based on fear, division, and hatred” and pledged to protect citizens’ rights at all costs.
Analysts argue that the SIR and voter list revisions are effectively a localized NRC process, stoking fears particularly among older residents without modern identification documents. The incidents have ignited protests statewide, with citizens fearing for their legal and social security. The episode underscores a larger humanitarian and political crisis in Bengal, where ordinary people face uncertainty over citizenship and identity.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent order to resume nuclear weapons testing. Araghchi described the decision as “retrogressive and irresponsible,” calling the United States a “nuclear-armed occupying monster.” In a statement on October 30, he accused Washington of renaming its Department of Defense as a “Department of War,” revealing the true character of the U.S. government. He further warned that the U.S. is maligning Iran’s peaceful nuclear program while threatening attacks on Iran’s secure facilities, actions he said violate international law. Araghchi condemned what he described as America’s long-standing hypocrisy—criticizing Iran’s nuclear program while pursuing its own weapons testing. He added that the U.S. is the world’s greatest nuclear proliferation risk and cautioned that its actions threaten international peace and security. President Trump justified the testing as a response to other countries’ nuclear programs, claiming the U.S. arsenal remains the world’s largest.

Saudi Arabia has announced a major change in its Umrah visa policy, reducing the visa validity from three months to just one month. Pilgrims must now enter the country within 30 days of visa issuance, or the visa will be automatically canceled. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah clarified that while entry must occur within one month, the duration of stay in Saudi Arabia remains up to three months. This decision comes ahead of the cooler months, preparing for a large influx of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. Since June, over four million foreign pilgrims have arrived, surpassing last year’s total. Analysts note that the growth in Umrah participation highlights rising global interest among Muslims in visiting the holy sites.

Md. Shahjahan Mia, who was serving simultaneously as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), managing director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), and Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division, has been removed from his posts. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on October 30 transferring him to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief as an Additional Secretary. He had been appointed DSCC administrator on February 13 while serving as Additional Secretary and later took charge as MD of Dhaka WASA on May 18. The order has been declared effective immediately in the public interest.