At the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district, 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two officers, were killed in a coordinated attack by the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to Pakistani security officials, the militants had been lying in wait and opened heavy gunfire on a military convoy. Shortly after, a roadside bomb was detonated, destroying a vehicle carrying the officers and targeting another carrying additional soldiers. The soldiers had been returning from an operation in which 19 TTP militants were killed, and the attack is believed to be retaliation for that operation. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences for the slain soldiers and praised the courage of the security forces. The incident underscores ongoing cross-border security challenges and the persistent threat posed by militant groups in the region.

The United Kingdom has announced that Bangladeshi products will continue to enjoy full duty-free access to its market until 2029 under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The announcement was made on October 9 during a meeting at the Secretariat between UK Trade Envoy Baroness Rosie Winterton and Bangladesh Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin. Discussions focused on strengthening trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries. Baroness Winterton emphasized that maintaining duty-free access will help Bangladesh sustain export competitiveness as it transitions from a Least Developed Country to a developing country in 2026. She also highlighted the UK’s interest in forming new partnerships in Bangladesh’s infrastructure, green energy, technology, and education sectors. The meeting addressed progress on Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal, with the Bangladeshi government aiming for a swift launch. The UK High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and Commerce Ministry officials also attended the meeting.

The historic July National Accord signing has been officially scheduled for 15 October at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The ceremony will be led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, and will see participation from representatives of various political parties and alliances across the country. The date was confirmed during a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, where expert opinions and feedback from five prior political consultations were analyzed to finalize the process. The Commission aims to submit detailed implementation recommendations to the government soon, based on these analyses. Key members attending included Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz and other commission members, along with Monir Haider, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, highlighting a collaborative approach to achieving national consensus.

A 14-member delegation of business leaders, including representatives from FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, and BTMA, met with Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur on October 9 to demand a reduction of interest rates to single digits. The delegation highlighted that current bank loan rates, exceeding 14%, are not conducive to business growth, especially for small and medium enterprises earning only 10–11% profit in a competitive market. They emphasized that high interest rates make it extremely difficult for businesses to survive in the global market and urged the central bank to gradually lower rates in the upcoming monetary policy. The delegation also requested a six-month extension for a committee handling financial restructuring for businesses affected by COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, floods, and political instability. A new committee has been proposed to provide policy support for loans under BDT 50 crore. The governor assured that these measures would continue without issues.

The Advisory Council of Bangladesh has approved a proposal to merge five private Islamic banks—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, Exim Bank, and Social Islami Bank—into a single Shariah-compliant bank, which will be named United Bank. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on October 9. Initially, the new bank will remain under state ownership, managed by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, with plans for eventual privatization. The council confirmed that no employees of the merged banks will be laid off, and all customer deposits will remain fully protected. In addition, the Advisory Council approved amendments to modernize the Deposit Protection Act in the banking and insurance sectors, aiming to ensure stronger financial security and depositor confidence in the evolving banking landscape.

The Bangladesh Advisory Council has approved amendments to the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, resulting in the cancellation of all cases filed under the Digital Security Act 2018. This decision was announced after a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on October 9. Following the amendments, all individuals previously convicted or accused under the 2018 law have been released. The ordinance specifies that pending cases, ongoing investigations, or legal actions under Sections 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31 of the Digital Security Act, including aiding offenses, will be annulled. Alongside the cyber security amendment, the council also approved the Personal Data Protection Ordinance 2025 and the National Data Protection Ordinance 2025, aimed at enhancing the security of citizens’ personal information and digital rights.

The government is finalizing a multimodal transport master plan aimed at developing an integrated and efficient nationwide transport network combining road, rail, and waterways. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Sheikh Moinuddin stated that around 70–75% of the work is expected to be completed before the end of the current tenure. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges is leading the initiative with support from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to ensure international standards. The plan emphasizes connecting ports, trade centers, export processing zones, and tourism hubs while identifying infrastructure gaps and investment priorities. Although the aviation sector has not yet been fully integrated, future expansion is planned. The initiative seeks to eliminate coordination problems among transport agencies and ensure all future infrastructure projects align with the national master plan.

The government is expected to finalize the date for a national referendum that may coincide with the upcoming parliamentary election to implement the “July Charter 2025.” Sources indicate that before announcing the date, the government will consult the Election Commission and political parties due to their direct involvement. The referendum will feature two sections on the ballot—one for proposals with unanimous agreement among parties and another for those with recorded dissent. The National Consensus Commission, led by interim head Dr. Muhammad Yunus, will submit its recommendations to the government, integrating expert and political feedback. A signing ceremony for the Charter is scheduled for October 15 at the National Parliament’s South Plaza. Political parties, however, remain divided over the timing of the referendum, with the BNP favoring it on election day and Jamaat preferring November. The Charter includes 84 reform proposals, some requiring constitutional amendments.

Following widespread public anger over a report alleging that the Bomang King’s Office in Bandarban sells “King’s Certificates” for inflated prices, the Parbatya Chattogram Nagorik Parishad (PCCP) and local citizens have announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal on October 13. The protest demands the immediate cancellation of the King’s Certificate and fulfillment of eight key demands, including equal rights for Bengali settlers and indigenous residents. At a press conference held on October 9, PCCP Chairman Kazi Mojibur Rahman said that requiring a King’s Certificate to buy land, get a job, or attend school in the three hill districts is discriminatory and unconstitutional. He called for a unified administrative system under the Constitution to eliminate inequality and double standards in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Journalists from print and electronic media attended the event, which highlighted long-standing grievances over regional governance and land rights.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with the newly appointed German Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, on Thursday at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting began at 10:30 a.m. and included senior BNP leaders such as Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, International Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir, and Organizational Secretary Shama Obaid. The discussions reportedly focused on Bangladesh’s current political climate, the state of democratic processes, preparations for the upcoming national elections, and potential avenues for international cooperation. Sources indicate that the dialogue aimed at fostering mutual understanding between BNP leadership and the German diplomatic mission, highlighting the party’s interest in strengthening democratic institutions and international relations. No immediate statements were released, but the meeting is seen as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement by BNP.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours to restore political stability, following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu on October 6. Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, had been serving as caretaker prime minister but stepped down after facing ongoing protests from radical left-wing parties and trade unions. The unrest was fueled by public anger over significant budget cuts passed by the French Cabinet in early September, which reduced allocations from welfare and public-interest sectors by $44 billion as part of debt-reduction efforts. Prior to Lecornu, François Bayrou also resigned after losing a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by opposition MPs reacting to public discontent. Macron’s swift move to appoint a new prime minister aims to stabilize the parliament ahead of the scheduled adoption of a new national budget by December 31.

Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, cited traffic mismanagement as the main reason for his extended delay on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway on Wednesday, October 8. He was inspecting the progress of four- and six-lane construction when a severe traffic jam forced him to resort to riding a motorcycle to continue his journey. Khan clarified that the road’s condition was not the issue; rather, the lack of proper traffic discipline and management by the highway police caused the problem. He noted that if traffic rules had been enforced effectively, the delay might have been slightly longer, but the severe inconvenience could have been avoided. Khan emphasized that human behavior and the shortcomings in traffic control were the primary concerns. Brahmanbaria District Commissioner Muhammad Didarul Alam, Superintendent of Police Ehteshamul Haque, and others accompanied him during the inspection.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has shared positive developments in the country’s economy, highlighting a significant drop in inflation from 12.5% to 8.3%. Speaking at a high-level National Steering Committee meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he emphasized ongoing banking sector reforms and gradual progress in restoring overall financial stability. The governor noted that rice prices have started to fall again, which could further reduce inflation in the coming months. Addressing non-performing loans, Dr. Mansur revealed that the current ratio stands at 24% and set a target to bring it down to 4–5%. Key measures include merging five Islamic banks, gradually closing nine non-banking financial institutions, and creating a BDT 9 billion venture capital fund to encourage entrepreneurship. A cashless transaction system is also being promoted to improve revenue collection.

The six-party coalition Democracy Platform, consisting of leftist and progressive parties including JSD, Revolutionary Workers Party, Nagorik Oikko, Ganashonghoti Andolon, Bhashani Janashakti Party, and Rashtra Songskar Andolon, has provisionally finalized a list of 108 candidates for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections. The formal announcement will take place today at a press conference at the Reporters’ Unity in Dhaka. Top leaders from each party, including A. S. M. Abdur Rab, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Saiful Haque, Jonaid Saki, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, and Hasnat Kaium, are featured on the list, with provisions for substitutions in case of health issues. After several rounds of internal meetings, the coalition plans to submit the finalized list to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in line with ongoing seat-sharing discussions ahead of the elections.

Iranian President Masoud Pajehsikian has reaffirmed that Iran has never attempted to develop nuclear weapons, citing the country’s fundamental principles. Speaking during a meeting with Switzerland’s newly appointed ambassador to Iran, Olivier Bangarter, Pajehsikian emphasized Iran’s dedication to stability, peace, and security in West Asia. He highlighted Switzerland’s historic role as a communication bridge between Tehran and Washington since the Islamic Revolution. The president also praised Switzerland’s neutral and constructive stance in international disputes and expressed gratitude for its assistance in medicine and food, despite challenges arising from U.S. and European sanctions. Ambassador Bangarter expressed his enthusiasm for his mission, promising to strengthen bilateral ties between Tehran and Bern and reinforce Switzerland’s role as a reliable channel of dialogue with Washington, while respecting Iran’s rich culture and hospitality.