Fifteen army officers accused in two cases of enforced disappearance and torture during the Awami League government, as well as one case related to the anti-discrimination movement in Rampura, have been transferred from prison to a sub-jail located inside the Dhaka Cantonment. The Ministry of Home Affairs declared the “MES Building No. 54” on Bashar Road as a temporary jail on October 12. According to prison regulations, their care remains under the Department of Prisons, with 35 security personnel assigned to the sub-jail. Each officer has a separate room equipped with basic furniture, a fan, and a daily newspaper. Meals are provided from the central jail, including bread and vegetables for breakfast; rice, lentils, vegetables, and fish or meat for lunch; and fish or meat with vegetables for dinner. Oversight will be conducted by senior prison officials, ensuring all operations comply with official prison rules.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has announced a significant policy change regarding driving licenses in Bangladesh. Advisor to the ministry, Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, revealed that all drivers must complete a mandatory 60-hour training program at an approved training center before receiving a driving license. Additionally, trainees will receive a stipend during their training period. The announcement was made on Wednesday (October 22) during a discussion marking National Road Safety Day 2025 in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Khan emphasized that untrained drivers are one of the main causes of road accidents and traffic congestion. He added that the existing licensing committee system will be abolished and replaced with a training-based model. The new approach aims to align Bangladesh’s system with international standards and ensure safer, more skilled drivers on the roads.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will engage in discussions with Bangladesh’s next elected government before releasing the next tranche of the $5.5 billion loan package, scheduled for December, according to Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur. Speaking from Washington, where he is attending the IMF–World Bank annual meetings, Mansur explained that the IMF made this decision in light of the upcoming national elections. Bangladesh has neither objected to nor endorsed the decision, as it currently faces no financial pressure. The Governor emphasized the importance of maintaining policy continuity rather than focusing solely on disbursement. He added that conducting a full review now would be premature, given the election period. The IMF’s Article IV mission will arrive in October for a partial assessment, with the final review expected in February, following the elections. So far, Bangladesh has received $3.6 billion of the pledged loan.

Job-seeking persons with disabilities once again staged a sit-in protest in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka, on Wednesday (October 22), under the banner of the “Job-Seeking Disabled Graduates Council.” Their protest centered around five key demands: special recruitment under the Chief Adviser’s executive order based on disability type, implementation of a 2% quota in first and second-class jobs and 5% in third and fourth-class posts, policy updates ensuring independence in appointing scribes, guaranteed recruitment for visually impaired candidates, and extending the government job age limit to 35 years for disabled persons and 37 for general candidates. Around noon, the protesters began marching toward the Jamuna River but were stopped by police at Shahbagh intersection. A brief scuffle ensued before the police dispersed them. The protesters claimed they have been demanding inclusion and quota enforcement since 2018 without meaningful results.

A gas line explosion during piling work for the Narayanganj–Muktarpur flyover triggered a fire on Tuesday afternoon in Fatullah’s Panchaboti area. The blaze damaged a nearby glass shop and left one pedestrian injured. Firefighters and Titas Gas officials quickly intervened, sealing the main gas line to prevent further leaks. As a result, gas supply to Narayanganj city, Fatullah, and surrounding areas was suspended, disrupting industrial production and daily life. Many factories in the BSCIC Industrial Area and Fatullah Industrial Zone, including garment and spinning mills, were forced to shut down operations. Titas Gas engineers are working to repair the damaged pipeline and expect to restore supply by night. Residents also reported severe gas shortages at home, compounding the disruption across the city.

The Bangladesh government has suspended a proposed Tk 1,268.80-crore project aimed at improving climate-resilient livelihoods in the haor (wetland) regions across eight districts, including Kishoreganj. The project, initiated by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, was placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval on October 21. However, the plan faced strong objections from Environment and Forest Affairs Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who argued that large-scale infrastructure construction could severely damage the delicate haor ecosystem. Following her intervention, ECNEC decided not to approve the project in its current form and ordered a revision of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) by excluding infrastructure components. The project’s proposed funding sources included government allocations, a loan from IFAD, and a grant from Danida. Authorities are expected to resubmit a revised plan focusing on sustainable and environmentally friendly development initiatives.

To make up for instructional days lost during the recent teacher movement, MPO-listed teachers in Bangladesh have decided to hold classes on Saturdays until the upcoming annual examinations. Principal Delawar Hossain Azizi, president of the MPO-listed Education Nationalization Aspirants’ Alliance and general secretary of the Bangladesh Madrasah Teachers and Employees Forum, confirmed the decision. Teachers had been unable to attend classrooms for eight days due to the movement. The initiative aims to ensure students complete the full syllabus on time. The government recently announced a 15 percent increase in house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers working in private institutions, fulfilling a key demand of the teachers’ movement. With the official notification received, teachers will now resume classes from tomorrow, compensating for the lost days and withdrawing their movement.

Following a major fire at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Dhaka Custom House has issued a directive requiring all imported goods to be cleared within 24 to 48 hours. A delegation led by Faisal Samad, Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), met with the Customs Commissioner on October 20 to discuss the crisis. An emergency meeting was also held with the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority and other stakeholders to coordinate the response. Importers and their agents have been urged to have all necessary documentation ready before goods arrive and, if possible, to receive deliveries on the same day. To assist with smooth clearance, focal officers from Dhaka Customs and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been designated. BGMEA has requested its member organizations to actively participate and provide timely documents to ensure expedited handling of goods.

A massive fire broke out at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s import cargo village, with preliminary investigations indicating it may have started in the import courier section. Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddique, chairman of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, informed reporters at a press conference at the Kurmitola headquarters on Tuesday morning. A high-level investigation committee has been formed to determine the fire’s origin, assess the extent of damages, and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents. The Fire Service, police, and airport authorities are coordinating with the team. The fire erupted on October 18 around 2:15 PM and was brought under control after seven hours, with 37 Fire Service units deployed. Early estimates suggest hundreds of crores of taka worth of imported goods were destroyed. Multiple agencies are conducting separate investigations.

Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president (2007–2012), has become the first French ex-leader since WWII to be jailed, beginning a five-year sentence for conspiring to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy, 70, entered La Santé prison in Paris, where he will stay in an isolation wing cell of around 10 square meters equipped with basic amenities. Supporters gathered outside his home shouting encouragement as he left with his wife, Carla Bruni. Despite his conviction, Sarkozy maintains his innocence, calling his imprisonment a “humiliation for France” driven by revenge. He has appealed the ruling, and his lawyer has already filed a request for his release. Current President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged meeting Sarkozy, while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin plans to visit him. Sarkozy has vowed to face prison “with his head held high,” citing faith that truth will ultimately prevail.

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to increase the housing allowance for MPO-listed teachers and employees of private educational institutions by 15 percent in two phases, leading to the withdrawal of their ongoing protest. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, teachers will receive a 7.5 percent housing allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) starting from November 1, 2025, and an additional 7.5 percent from July 1, 2026. The Finance Ministry has already approved the proposal considering budgetary constraints. Following the announcement, the leaders of the Nationalization-Seeking Alliance of MPO Teachers declared the suspension of their movement and announced that classes would resume from Wednesday. The Education Ministry described the development as a “historic moment” and a joint victory for dialogue and mutual respect, urging teachers to return to classrooms and focus on improving the quality of education across the country.

Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar has described the day of approving a 15% house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers and staff of private educational institutions as “historic” and expressed that he feels “fortunate” to be part of it. Following the Ministry of Finance’s approval on Tuesday (October 21), he issued a statement highlighting the government’s commitment to improving teachers’ living standards. Under the new arrangement, teachers will receive a 7.5% house rent allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) from November 1, 2025, with the rate increasing to 15% from July 2026. Abrar emphasized that achieving this decision was not easy, involving differences of opinion and debates, but it reflects collective success through dialogue and respect. He urged teachers to return to classrooms with renewed dedication, viewing this agreement as a foundation for mutual respect and quality education in Bangladesh.

A devastating fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has raised serious concerns across Bangladesh, with many refusing to believe it was a mere accident. The blaze, which raged for 27 hours and required 37 fire service units to control, caused massive damage—estimated at Tk 12,000 crore. An intelligence report sent to top government officials suggests severe lapses in airport security and coordination after the suspension of the Airport Armed Police Battalion’s activities last August. The report alleges that inactive security personnel and delayed response worsened the disaster, and even claims that a police unit was denied permission to assist. The interim government has vowed firm action if sabotage is proven. Multiple investigation committees, including one led by the Fire Service, are probing the incident. The fire has disrupted international flights and reignited debate over security management in critical installations.

Gold prices have soared past $4,200 per ounce in 2025, setting record highs and marking the strongest performance since 1979. While jewelry remains the dominant consumer of gold globally, demand is rising sharply across three key non-jewelry sectors: investment, central bank reserves, and technology. According to the World Gold Council, total gold demand in the first half of 2025 reached 2,455 tons—3% higher than last year—driven by strong investment amid economic uncertainty. Investors view gold as a “safe haven,” with investment demand reaching 1,180 tons in 2024, up 25% year-on-year. Central banks purchased 1,046 tons to diversify reserves and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, marking their third consecutive year above the 1,000-ton threshold. Meanwhile, gold’s use in technology—especially electronics and AI hardware—continues to grow due to its excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of shares worth approximately Tk 800 crore belonging to S. Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam, his family, and close associates. The order, issued by Senior Special Judge Sabbir Fayeaz of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court on Monday (October 20), came following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to ACC sources, a total of 513,182,286 shares across 105 companies and institutions, valued at Tk 800.37 crore, were frozen to prevent their transfer. The petition, filed by ACC Deputy Director Tahsin Monabil Haque, alleged that Alam and his associates were attempting to move the shares elsewhere. This move follows an earlier court directive on July 9 to freeze 53 bank accounts held by the same individuals amid ongoing corruption allegations against the group.