Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commend his wartime leadership and Israel’s recent achievements. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, Machado expressed satisfaction with the agreement leading to the release of hostages and praised Israel’s government for its decisive actions. She also voiced strong support for Israel’s fight against what she called the “Iran-backed axis of evil,” noting that this alliance threatens not only Israel but also the people of Venezuela. Netanyahu, in return, congratulated Machado on winning the Nobel Peace Prize and acknowledged her efforts in promoting democracy and global peace. However, Machado’s office has not yet released an official statement regarding the conversation. Earlier this week, she had stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump deserved next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but her own win dashed those expectations.

Following a string of devastating fires across Bangladesh—including a major blaze at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport—the Police Headquarters has directed all police units to maintain the highest state of alert. Officials fear possible attacks targeting key point installations (KPIs), such as government buildings, airports, power plants, and national institutions. In response, additional patrols, checkpoints, and surveillance measures have been deployed nationwide, especially around 587 identified KPIs, including Bangabhaban, Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the National Parliament. Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam said the directive aims to reinforce year-round security and ensure coordinated action among law enforcement and security agencies. The interim government assured citizens that all fire incidents are under thorough investigation, emphasizing that any act of sabotage or arson will face strong and immediate action. It urged unity and vigilance, asserting that fear must not undermine national stability and democratic resilience.

Teacher leaders of the “Nationalization Movement Unity Alliance” have expressed satisfaction following a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. During the meeting, held on Sunday (October 19) at BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Fakhrul assured that if BNP assumes power, all MPO-listed private educational institutions will be nationalized. Following the discussion, Member Secretary Delwar Hossain Aziz said Fakhrul had listened carefully to their demands and had also consulted BNP’s financial advisor over the phone to discuss the teachers’ proposals and related fiscal issues. The teacher delegation proposed a 20% increase in house rent allowance as an interim measure. Aziz added that the BNP leader’s sincerity and attention to implementation had given new momentum to their ongoing movement for nationalization. The teachers also plan to form a broader political unity to urge the government to consider their demands.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a financially independent or self-sufficient wife cannot claim permanent alimony under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The bench, comprising Justices Anil Kshetrapal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, observed that permanent alimony is a measure of social justice, not a means of creating financial equality or redistribution of wealth between capable individuals. The ruling came while upholding a Family Court’s decision to dismiss a woman’s alimony claim and grant divorce to her husband, a lawyer. The wife, a senior Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, had demanded ₹50 lakh as a settlement. The court noted her substantial income and professional status, ruling that she was not entitled to financial support. The bench also cited evidence of the wife’s verbal and mental abuse toward her husband, affirming that the lower court’s decision was fair and legally justified.

In Kishoreganj’s Hossainpur upazila, a young man named Sarowar Hossain Rabbi vented his frustration in an unusual way after failing to secure a loan to travel abroad for work. On Friday (October 17), Rabbi rented a loudspeaker and used vulgar language to verbally lash out at his community, recording and posting the video on Facebook. The clip went viral within hours. In the video, he claimed that despite months of effort to go to Saudi Arabia, he couldn’t arrange the required Tk 100,000, and local people sabotaged his loan applications by spreading negative remarks. He also alleged that officials at the Probashi Kallyan Bank demanded Tk 25,000 in bribes for loan approval. Later, Rabbi apologized in a Facebook post, explaining that his outburst came from desperation to secure a better future for his young son and family.

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.

Bangladesh has recorded a foreign exchange surplus of $480 million in the first two months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, more than double the surplus in the same period last year. According to Bangladesh Bank data, imports increased by nearly 10% to $10.88 billion, while exports rose 11% to $7.93 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.96 billion, slightly higher than last year’s $2.75 billion. Capital goods imports surged 24.5%, and intermediate goods imports grew by 8.2%. Officials attribute the improvement to reduced opportunities for illicit money transfers following recent government changes. Meanwhile, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have increased by $8 billion, surpassing $32 billion. Sustained growth in exports and remittances continues to support the positive trajectory of Bangladesh’s external sector.

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!”