The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved filing a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary and journalist Nayeemul Islam Khan and his wife Nasima Khan Monty for failing to submit their wealth statements within the required deadline. ACC spokesperson and Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed the decision on Tuesday, October 28. Under Section 26(2) of the ACC Act, legal proceedings have been authorized, and the case may be filed today. Earlier, on January 7, the ACC began investigating alleged corruption and illegal assets belonging to Khan and his family. Financial intelligence reports revealed that the family maintained 163 bank accounts with transactions totaling over Tk 386 crore, of which Tk 379.52 crore was withdrawn. The report also found that Khan’s companies held 46 additional accounts involving Tk 127.64 crore. Khan went into hiding after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will today (Tuesday, October 28) hear defense arguments regarding the formation of formal charges against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, and three others in two separate cases of crimes against humanity. The charges relate to killings of six people in Kushtia during the July-August Movement. The hearing will be conducted by a three-member bench headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. On Monday, the prosecution completed its presentation of three specific allegations—incitement, conspiracy, and murder—and sought to proceed with trial. The tribunal appointed state defense lawyers for absconding accused. Inu faces eight charges, while Hanif and others are accused in related cases. Inu was arrested in 2024 and remains in custody. The proceedings mark a major step in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to try crimes against humanity committed during periods of political unrest.

Teachers from across Bangladesh continued their sit-in protests in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday (August 27), pressing for two major demands — MPO (Monthly Pay Order) inclusion for disabled schools and nationalization of Ebtedayee madrasas. Representatives of teachers from schools for students with disabilities said they have been living in dire conditions without regular salaries or allowances, despite the Ministry of Social Welfare announcing a list of nearly two thousand institutions eligible for MPO inclusion. They declared that they would not end their protest until their demands are met. Meanwhile, Ebtedayee madrasa teachers, also staging a continuous demonstration at the same venue, attempted to march toward the Chief Adviser’s Office but were stopped by police at Bailey Road. Following assurances from the Education Ministry’s secretary, they returned to the Press Club and resumed their peaceful sit-in.

Normal trade operations have resumed at the Benapole land port after the customs authority withdrew its temporary restriction that limited import and export activities beyond 6 PM. The decision came following strong objections from traders and reports of commercial stagnation along the Bangladesh–India border. Last week’s unannounced directive by the Customs Commissioner had caused severe traffic congestion at the border, disrupting the flow of perishable goods and reducing the number of trucks entering the port from 400–450 to only 160–180 daily. Business leaders from both countries expressed relief at the withdrawal, saying the earlier decision had increased costs, delayed shipments, and strained cross-border trade relations. Benapole Port officials confirmed that operations are returning to normal, and coordination with customs and related agencies is ongoing to ensure smooth trade.

At a press conference held at Uttara’s Mugdha Mancha on Monday, local students and Islamic scholars strongly protested against labeling a recent rally demanding a ban on ISKCON as a “terrorist activity.” They denounced the subsequent filing of an “anti-terrorism” case against 20–25 unidentified individuals, terming it a fascist and conspiratorial move aimed at harassing peaceful demonstrators. The speakers claimed that the October 24 rally, held after Jumma prayers under the banner of general students, was entirely peaceful and attended by senior police officials. They alleged that a brief incident involving a dummy rifle was misused to distort facts on social media and justify the case. The protesters issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the withdrawal of the “false case,” the exposure of ISKCON-affiliated officials within the administration, and punishment for those spreading misleading information. Failure to meet the demands, they warned, would lead to tougher programs.

The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has presented 15 proposals to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) demanding reforms to ensure transparency, coordination, and timely recruitment in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations. A three-member NCP delegation met the PSC chairman and emphasized addressing long-standing discrimination and inefficiency within the public administration system. The proposals call for amending non-cadre rules, expediting the publication of pending BCS results, and completing each BCS cycle within a calendar year. Other recommendations include publishing exam marks for transparency, reducing police verification delays, and establishing a cluster-based exam system. NCP leaders accused bureaucrats of exploiting the system for personal gain and urged the ministry to prioritize job seekers’ welfare. They warned that continued inefficiency could fuel youth resentment.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) will not be granted the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol in the upcoming elections, as it is not listed in the current schedule of approved election symbols. Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced that the EC will issue a new public notice determining an alternative symbol at its discretion. He confirmed that the commission’s stance on the matter remains unchanged and that no new proposals have been received regarding the Shapla issue. Meanwhile, NCP’s northern regional chief organizer, Sarjis Alam, has warned that the party may take to the streets if denied the Shapla symbol. He claimed that legal experts see no obstacle to granting the emblem and criticized the EC’s decision as a threat to electoral independence. Alam added that if protests begin, NCP will also demand the reformation of the current Election Commission.

After a gap of two decades, Bangladesh and Pakistan held the long-awaited Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting on Monday, October 27, at the NEC Conference Room in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, while Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Parvez Malik headed the Pakistani side. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing trade volume, and promoting cooperation in key sectors including agriculture, information technology, food processing, aviation, and maritime transport. Both sides emphasized the revival of SAARC as part of broader regional cooperation. A key outcome was the signing of an agreement between BSTI and Pakistan’s PHA, allowing mutual recognition of halal certifications, which is expected to boost exports of halal products. Pakistan also expressed keen interest in importing Bangladesh’s famous jute products. The leaders expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration will benefit both nations economically and strategically.

The interim government has clarified that ongoing reform and policy formulation initiatives will continue beyond November, refuting earlier remarks made by Information Advisor Mahfuz Alam. In a statement released on Monday, October 27, the government explained that Mahfuz’s comments during the “Meet the Reporters” event at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday caused some confusion in the media. Contrary to Mahfuz’s claim that the reform and policy work must be completed by November, the official statement affirmed that reform activities are in full swing and will remain active. The chief adviser’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, shared the statement on his verified Facebook page. The clarification aims to reaffirm the government’s commitment to continued reforms, even as the advisory council’s activities may slow down closer to the election period.

Global scientists are closely monitoring a newly discovered asteroid named ‘2024 YR4’, which is projected to pass near Earth in December 2032. Though the probability of impact is relatively low at 2.1 percent, the potential consequences are catastrophic if it strikes. Measuring between 130 and 300 feet in diameter, the asteroid could release energy equivalent to 8 million tons of TNT—about 500 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb—affecting areas within a 50-kilometer radius. Possible impact zones include parts of South America, the Pacific Ocean, South Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Africa, with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and several others on the watchlist. NASA’s Catalina Sky Survey and the United Nations Planetary Defense Protocol are tracking the object. Experts assure that if the impact threat increases, there will be enough time to evacuate populations and possibly alter its course using kinetic impact technology tested in NASA’s DART mission.

In a groundbreaking achievement for Bangladesh’s medical sector, doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital have successfully performed the country’s first Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) battery replacement surgery. The operation was led by Professor Dr. Zahid Raihan, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, on Monday, October 27. The patient, 39-year-old Zakir Hossain, had his DBS system originally implanted in 2017 to treat a movement disorder. The replaced device was a non-rechargeable battery type. The procedure was conducted during a special workshop organized by Credible Solution, the authorized distributor of Beijing PINS Medical in Bangladesh. PINS Medical is one of the world’s leading companies in DBS technology. Experts believe this milestone marks a major step forward in providing advanced neurological treatments within the country, reducing the need for patients to seek such complex interventions abroad. DBS is widely used to treat Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and other movement disorders.

A tragic incident at Rajshahi University has sparked widespread protests after Sociology student Saima Hossain died while swimming in the university pool on Sunday evening (October 26). The Physical Education Department’s acting director, Rokhsana Begum, initially claimed that Saima’s death resulted from a heart attack. However, students rejected this explanation, alleging negligence by the university administration, Physical Education Department, and Medical Center. Tension escalated across the campus as students organized processions and a sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, demanding a fair investigation and justice for Saima. Protest leaders, including RUCSU Vice President Mostakur Rahman Zahid and General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, accused the administration of delaying their response and failing to ensure safety and medical preparedness. They called for accountability, safety reforms at the swimming pool, and improvement of emergency healthcare facilities on campus.

A violent clash broke out late Sunday night between students of Daffodil International University and City University in the Khagan area of Ashulia, Savar, following allegations of an attack by City University students on their Daffodil counterparts. The conflict reportedly began after an incident of indecent behavior involving a Daffodil student near a building called “Bachelor Paradise.” The altercation escalated around 9 PM when around fifty City University students allegedly attacked the area with local weapons and bricks. The situation worsened as fires were set on the City University campus, with several vehicles, including buses and a private car, torched. Over fifty students from both universities were injured as crude bombs exploded and chaos spread. Despite the hours-long unrest, witnesses claimed police assistance was delayed. Law enforcement later deployed teams to restore order, and authorities stated that the situation is now under control.

In a groundbreaking achievement for Bangladesh’s medical sector, doctors have successfully implanted an artificial heart valve using the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure—without performing open-heart surgery—for the first time in the country. The operation was carried out at Lubana General Hospital and Cardiac Center in Uttara on a 60-year-old patient suffering from liver cirrhosis, for whom traditional open-heart surgery was deemed too risky. During a press conference, Professor Dr. Md. Aslam Hossain, Chairman of the Cardiac Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, announced the success. The valve was inserted through the patient’s groin artery using a catheter, based on detailed CT and echocardiogram analyses. Dr. Hossain noted that previously, Bangladeshi patients had to travel abroad for such procedures. The successful TAVI operation marks a new milestone in the country’s cardiovascular treatment capabilities. The patient is now recovering well and walking normally.

A tragic accident occurred on Sunday noon (October 26) when a bearing pad from the Farmgate Metro Rail station fell, killing a pedestrian. Investigations reveal that concerns over the quality of these bearing pads had already been raised in 2020 by BUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Their tests found that some imported pads used in the Uttara-Agargaon section of the Metro Rail project failed to meet safety standards. The rubber-based pads, supplied by the Italian-Thai Development Company, play a crucial role in maintaining the structure’s balance and durability. Despite warnings and test results, reports suggest that defective pads were used in parts of the construction, potentially endangering public safety. BUET experts had cautioned that poor-quality pads could cause structural instability. Authorities now face criticism for negligence and lack of timely replacement despite early red flags.