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.

Amid growing tensions among political parties over the implementation of the July Charter, Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul said the government is uncertain about its next steps after months of fruitless dialogue. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka following an advisory council meeting, he expressed disappointment that after 270 days of discussion, the parties have failed to reach a consensus. Nazrul said disputes have now expanded beyond the Charter’s content to include disagreement over how it should be passed and when a referendum should be held. The National Consensus Commission has proposed two alternatives—one involving a referendum and automatic constitutional amendment if unresolved within 270 days, and another delegating responsibility to parliament. He added that the Chief Adviser will soon make a firm decision on the matter.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has accused India of manipulating Afghanistan to destabilize the region and spread terrorism. In a recent interview with Geo News, Asif alleged that India is “pulling the strings” in Kabul, turning Afghanistan into its “puppet.” He also criticized the Taliban government for withdrawing from peace talks between Islamabad and Kabul, which recently collapsed in Istanbul. Asif warned that any Afghan attack on Pakistan would provoke a response “50 times stronger.” He further claimed that India, through Afghanistan, aims to wage a low-intensity war against Pakistan. Kabul had earlier dismissed such allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Analysts say the remarks signal rising tensions between the two neighbors amid fragile regional diplomacy.

National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has launched a strong attack on Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing the party of political hypocrisy and inconsistency. Speaking at a discussion on “The Present and Future Roadmap of Politics” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday (October 30), Patwari said Jamaat’s “words and intentions differ,” especially regarding its stance on proportional representation (PR). He suggested that the party might eventually side with the BNP over the proposed referendum.
Patwari also criticized legal expert Asif Nazrul, accusing him of lacking transparency in drafting the implementation framework for the July Charter. He demanded that the draft be made public before NCP considers signing it, saying the party has “no confidence in Asif Nazrul.”
Referring to the Reform Commission’s recommendations, Patwari said the “ball is now in Dr. Yunus’s court,” calling on the Chief Adviser to declare the July Charter’s implementation at the Shaheed Minar in the presence of movement victims’ families. He added that the NCP would sign the Charter only after ensuring its legal validity.

At a discussion titled “The Present and Future Roadmap of Politics,” National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary stated that the BNP was born through a “Yes” vote and will ultimately die through a “No” vote. He accused the BNP of trying to use the Reform Commission to rehabilitate the Awami League and declared that there would be no leniency toward either major party. Patwary emphasized that the government must adhere to the directives of the July Charter, demanding clarity on its ambiguous terms. He added that since BNP accepted the charter, it has no moral right to reject it now. Warning that failure to hold elections by February would rest responsibility on the interim government, he urged the Chief Adviser to engage with the public directly and issue reform orders from the Shaheed Minar.

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has warned that Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus may be compelled to resign if political parties fail to reach a national consensus before the next parliamentary elections. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, on Thursday, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju expressed concern over the growing uncertainty surrounding the electoral process.

Manju stated that the recommendations of the National Consensus Commission advise the interim government to issue an executive order and to consider holding a referendum either before or on the election day. According to the proposal, if the Constitution Reform Council fails to complete its reform work within the first nine months (270 days) of the new parliament, the proposed amendments would be automatically included in the constitution.

He further mentioned that the government has the authority to decide the date of the referendum, which may be held any time between the issuance of the National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order in July and the national election day. Several AB Party leaders, including Abdullah Al Mamun, Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili, and others, were also present at the event.

Following a high-level summit in Busan, South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a one-year trade agreement with China, aimed at easing ongoing trade tensions. Under the deal, tariffs on Chinese goods will be reduced from 57 percent to 47 percent. Trump emphasized that the agreement will automatically renew and described the negotiations as a major diplomatic success, stating, “Our deal is done.” Analysts see the tariff reduction as a significant step toward stabilizing U.S.-China economic relations. As part of the agreement, complex issues related to rare minerals have also been addressed. Trump confirmed he will visit China in April, while a visit by President Xi Jinping to the U.S. is expected later. Both leaders highlighted ongoing communication and the natural differences in national priorities between the world’s two largest economies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Germany of deliberately turning a blind eye to Israel’s “genocidal acts” and “starvation policies” in Gaza. Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, Erdoğan sharply criticized Germany’s silence on what he described as Israel’s ongoing crimes against Palestinians, even during the ceasefire period.

Erdoğan claimed that Israel possesses nuclear and advanced weapons that it has used to threaten and attack Gaza, while Hamas lacks such arms. He questioned, “Is Germany not seeing this?” stressing that ending the mass killings and famine in Gaza is a moral duty for all nations, including Germany and Turkey.

The Turkish leader urged Germany and Turkey—two influential global powers—to work together toward achieving peace in Gaza. Erdoğan also called on humanitarian organizations such as the German Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent to take immediate action to prevent further massacres and starvation.

According to reports, Israel’s renewed attacks since Tuesday evening have killed over a hundred Palestinians, including 46 children, in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement signed earlier this month.

Eight political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Khelafat Majlis, have demanded that a national referendum be held by November. On Thursday (October 30), leaders and activists from these parties gathered in front of the Election Commission (EC) to submit a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal. The demonstration was part of their campaign for a five-point demand centered on implementing the “July National Charter” and organizing a referendum within November.

During a brief rally, the leaders urged the EC to ensure a fair and equal environment for all political parties in the upcoming national election. They warned that if the EC fails to meet their demands, it would face the same loss of credibility as the previous commissions. Later, a delegation of senior leaders entered the EC office at noon to formally submit the memorandum.

The parties’ five-point demand includes: implementing the July National Charter, holding a referendum by November, introducing proportional representation in parliament, ensuring a level playing field, prosecuting corruption and oppression under the current government, and banning activities of the ruling alliance and its associates.

In a dramatic policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992. Citing the need to keep pace with rival powers like Russia and China, Trump announced the decision on social media ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He claimed the U.S. nuclear arsenal remains the largest and most advanced in the world, followed by Russia and then China, which he described as “far behind.”

The United States halted nuclear testing in 1992 under President George H. W. Bush, marking the symbolic end of the Cold War era. However, Trump emphasized that he had already modernized America’s nuclear stockpile during his first term, arguing that the decision to resume testing was unavoidable despite acknowledging the “immense destructive power” of such weapons.

Trump’s announcement came shortly after he criticized Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, signaling a stark reversal from long-standing U.S. policy. Warning that China could achieve nuclear parity within five years, Trump said the testing process would begin “immediately,” though he provided no operational details. The Nevada Test Site, where the last U.S. test was conducted, remains under government control.

Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that the Chief Adviser will soon make a final decision on the proposed referendum as intense disagreement persists among political parties. Speaking at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday (October 30), he described the ongoing discord as disappointing, especially after 270 days of dialogue among parties. Nazrul noted that the initial disputes were about the agenda, but now divisions over the referendum have intensified tensions. He revealed that the issue was discussed in the Advisory Council meeting. The law adviser also warned that if any political party tries to impose its stance unilaterally on the government, it would undermine the spirit of July’s unity. He reaffirmed that the national election will be held in the first half of February and emphasized that maintaining a peaceful environment is a shared responsibility of both the government and political parties.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has asserted that the current interim government lacks the constitutional authority to give legal status to the “July Charter.” Speaking at a press conference on Thursday (October 30) at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, Fakhrul said that any executive order must be signed by the President, and therefore the interim administration cannot provide legal legitimacy to such a document.

He described the year-long activities of the Reform Commission and the National Consensus Commission as meaningless, terming them a waste of time and an act of deception against the nation. Fakhrul alleged that the commission’s proposals and recommendations are one-sided and being imposed on the people without proper political consensus. He also claimed that some agreed-upon clauses were secretly altered.

The BNP leader further criticized the clause stating that the commission’s recommendations would automatically become part of the constitution within 270 days, calling it undemocratic. Senior BNP leaders, including Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Maj (Retd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed, were present at the press conference.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has launched a technology-driven initiative to update the list of senior citizens receiving allowances under its social safety programs, describing it as a milestone for the caretaker government. Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid emphasized that for the first time, an accurate and transparent database will identify genuine beneficiaries through verification, biometric registration, and the Proxy Means Test (PMT) score. The project, currently piloted in eight upazilas including Mehendiganj, Shyamnagar, Tahirpur, Gouripur, Taraganj, Niamatpur, Ramgarh, and Kapasia, aims to eliminate irregularities and ensure that only eligible elderly citizens receive the allowances. The exercise will gradually expand nationwide, allowing the government to strengthen administrative capacity, maintain financial transparency, and provide timely social safety benefits to millions of senior citizens. Officials, beneficiaries, and local administrators participated in discussions via Zoom.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has announced that individuals involved in extortion, looting, harassment of ordinary citizens, or those affiliated with fascist and terrorist groups will not be allowed to join the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Speaking as the chief guest at the Narsingdi District BNP’s membership drive program held on Wednesday (October 29) at the Heritage Resort Auditorium in Madhabdi, Rizvi emphasized the need to transform the BNP into a well-organized and ideology-driven political force representing all segments of society.

He stated that teachers, professionals, rickshaw-pullers, small traders, and common citizens should join BNP to build it as a true party of the people. Rizvi reaffirmed that under the leadership of Tarique Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, the BNP would continue to move forward despite conspiracies to divide it.

The event was presided over by Narsingdi District BNP President and Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, with General Secretary Manjur Elahi conducting the session. Hundreds of leaders and activists from various levels attended. Leaders at the program stressed that the ongoing membership campaign will strengthen the party at the grassroots and that the people's participation will be BNP’s greatest strength.