BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the National Citizens Party (NCP) partially cut and misrepresented his remarks about the “July Warriors” made around the July Charter signing ceremony. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Sunday, Salahuddin welcomed NCP Convener Nahid Islam’s call for an apology, calling it a healthy part of democratic practice. He clarified that his comments were meant to honor those who participated in the July uprising and not to undermine them. He emphasized that the mass movement was the outcome of a 16-year-long struggle against fascism, in which BNP and other democratic forces made immense sacrifices. Salahuddin also alleged that chaos surrounding the July Charter event was incited by elements linked to the “Awami fascist forces,” not genuine July Warriors. He insisted that attempts to portray BNP as opposing the uprising would not succeed.

A devastating fire broke out on Saturday night at the Incepta Pharmaceuticals factory in Dhamrai’s Barobaria area, injuring at least ten workers. The blaze started around 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of Building No. 09, reportedly due to an electrical short circuit, and quickly spread throughout the structure, engulfing it in dense black smoke. Three units of the Dhamrai Fire Service rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control after nearly two hours of effort using the building’s hydrant system. No fatalities were reported, though the factory’s IPS power system sustained significant damage. Authorities have yet to determine the total losses. Panic initially spread among employees, but the swift response from firefighters prevented a larger catastrophe.

Teachers and employees of MPO-listed private educational institutions across Bangladesh have rejected the Finance Ministry’s circular that approved only a 5% (minimum Tk 2,000) increase in house rent allowance. They termed the decision “insufficient” and declared the continuation of their ongoing movement. The protesters are demanding a 20% house rent allowance, Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and 75% festival allowance. Md. Delowar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the alliance seeking nationalization of MPO-listed institutions, said on Facebook that the 5% hike is a partial victory but not enough to end their protests. On Sunday, teachers continued their sit-in and hunger strike for the eighth consecutive day at the Central Shaheed Minar and announced a “hunger march” towards the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE). They warned that their demonstrations will persist until all three allowance demands are fulfilled.

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.

Election Commissioner (EC) Anwarul Islam Sarkar stated that it is not legally possible to allocate the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol as it does not appear in the Election Commission’s official list of approved electoral symbols. Speaking to journalists on Sunday (October 19) after attending a police training session in Sylhet Police Lines aimed at enhancing election-related duties, he emphasized that the upcoming national election faces no significant challenges. Anwarul confirmed that the election will be held before Ramadan and dismissed any possibility of irregularities similar to previous elections. He asserted that controversial individuals will not be appointed for election duties and reaffirmed the EC’s neutrality, stressing that the commission answers only to the law, not to any political party or individual. The event was also attended by senior police officials, including the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the District Superintendent of Police.

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.

A major fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, disrupting flight operations. Several domestic and international flights bound for Dhaka were diverted to Chattogram, Sylhet, and Kolkata. According to Muhammad Kausar Mahmud, Assistant Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, passengers on these flights will be flown back to Dhaka once the airport resumes operations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism announced that flight operations are expected to restart from 9:00 PM. So far, eight flights have been diverted, including flights from Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Bangkok, Delhi, and Riyadh. Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Advisor to the Ministry, inspected the fire site and assured that the airport will reopen as soon as possible. Firefighters deployed 36 units to control the blaze. Passengers and airport operations are expected to normalize shortly.

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.

A fire broke out at the Cargo Village of Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, October 18, prompting the deployment of 36 fire service units to control the blaze. Muhammad Kausar Mahmud, Assistant Director of Public Relations at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, stated that the fire is largely under control thanks to coordinated efforts. Meanwhile, Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the northern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has raised concerns that these fire incidents are not isolated but part of a larger conspiracy. In a Facebook post, he criticized the interim government for failing to identify and punish the accomplices of authoritarianism, calling it one of its major shortcomings. Alam urged authorities to uncover the real causes behind the incidents, rather than relying on theatrical investigations, suggesting that these acts are aimed at creating instability in the country.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) in southern Bangladesh, criticized political opportunism on social media, saying his party is always the first to donate blood but disappears when power is at stake. On Saturday, October 18, Hasnat shared a photo on his verified Facebook account juxtaposing two moments: one from last year when Dr. Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh and was welcomed by anti-discrimination student leaders, and another from Friday’s July Certificate signing ceremony at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. He remarked that these images reflect the only visible reform in the country. The first photo shows leaders including Nahid Islam, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Asif Mahmud, and Umama Fatema greeting Dr. Yunus at the airport. The second shows political party leaders beside the chief adviser during the signing ceremony. NCP, however, did not participate in the event or sign the certificate.

After a 45-day recess, the Supreme Court will resume its regular judicial activities on Sunday, 19 October. Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed has reconstituted 66 benches, with urgent and important cases being prioritized during the recess. Among all pending matters, the case concerning the reinstatement of the caretaker government has drawn the most attention. The six-judge Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed, is scheduled to hear the case on 21 October. This follows the court’s earlier acceptance of a leave-to-appeal request after a review of the verdict that annulled the 13th amendment, which introduced the caretaker government system in 1996. During the recess, benches were formed to handle critical cases, and Justice Farah Mahbub was appointed to hear matters in the Appellate Division recess bench.

On 17 October, a group of protesters under the banner of “July Warriors” clashed with law enforcement on Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka, demanding the inclusion of their three demands in the upcoming July certificate. The confrontation escalated around 1:30 PM at Gate 12 of the Parliament, as protesters both inside and outside the premises threw bottles, chairs, bricks, and stones at police. Police responded with sound grenades and tear shells in an effort to disperse the crowd. Several vehicles were vandalized, fires were set on the streets, and a few people were reportedly injured during the clashes. Following the incident, four cases were filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station against approximately 800–900 unidentified individuals. So far, one person, Rimon Chandra Barman, has been arrested. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the violence.