France has officially recognized Palestine as a state, joining a growing list of Western nations. The announcement came at a high-level meeting in New York, where Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco also declared recognition. The UK had made its recognition just a day earlier. French President Emmanuel Macron stated: “We are here today because the time has come. It is our responsibility to do everything possible to uphold a two-state solution. Today I announce that France recognizes the State of Palestine.” Spain, Norway, and Ireland extended recognition last year. Spain has also imposed sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “When a people are subjected to genocide, a two-state solution becomes impossible. For the sake of reason, law, and human dignity, this massacre must end.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Assembly via video message.

The main session of the UN’s 80th General Assembly begins today, with the world leaders’ debate running until Saturday. Tradition dictates that Brazil will be the first to speak, followed by the United States and others. This year’s Assembly is chaired by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and will see participation from leaders of 140 nations. Palestinian statehood recognition is expected to dominate discussions, alongside the Russia-Ukraine war, sustainable development, the global energy crisis, and climate change. The session concludes on September 30.

Five students of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) have been expelled for their involvement in a campus clash and the assault of a faculty member. Another 32 students have been issued warnings. Among the punished, MSc student Salim Sadman has been expelled for one year. Four others—Omar Bin Hossain (Leather Engineering, Batch 23), Shanto Islam (Textile Engineering, Batch 21), Md. Ridoy (Textile Engineering, Batch 21), and Safwan Ahmed Ifaz (Electronics & Communication, Batch 22)—have been suspended for six months. The decision followed a thorough review of investigation reports, video footage, and student testimonies by the university’s disciplinary committee after the February 18 incident.

Prime Adviser Yunus met with Sergio Gor, U.S. Special Envoy for South Asia and Ambassador to India. During the meeting, Yunus assured that the interim government is making extensive preparations to hold a free, fair, and peaceful national election in early February. The two sides also discussed bilateral and regional issues. Gor praised Yunus’s leadership and reaffirmed U.S. support for Bangladesh’s democratic efforts. Yunus invited Gor to visit Bangladesh.

Speaking at a high-level side event on “Social Business, Youth and Technology,” Prime Adviser Yunus warned that reducing UN budgets or development aid for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) would be counterproductive. He highlighted Bangladesh’s unique challenges—hosting over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees, tackling climate shocks, and navigating global economic instability. “Instead of cuts, what we urgently need is increased international support, guaranteed technical assistance, and a fair path for vulnerable nations to graduate,” Yunus said. He stressed that building a better world cannot be measured by past failures but requires courage, action, and unwavering commitment today. Yunus also emphasized the importance of social business, renewed multilateral diplomacy, and deeper global cooperation to achieve sustainable development.

A member of Prime Adviser Yunus’s delegation, NCP Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain, was attacked at JFK Airport in New York. According to NCP Joint Convenor Dr. Tasnim Jara, Hossain was pelted with eggs and subjected to verbal abuse. She said the attack was politically motivated: “This was not about Akhtar Hossain as an individual. It was because he represents a party that is working relentlessly to dismantle the framework of fascism.” Footage of the incident has since circulated on social media.

Prime Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has arrived in New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He landed at JFK Airport at 1:30 AM Bangladesh time on Monday. Accompanying him as political representatives are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Deputy Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, NCP Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain, NCP Joint Convenor Dr. Tasnim Jara, and Humayun Kabir, foreign affairs adviser to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Jamaat leader Dr. Naqibur Rahman Tariq is also set to join the delegation.

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that it will publish the final updated voter list on November 18, ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to an EC notification, the process will include registration of citizens born on or before October 31, 2007, ensuring their inclusion in the final list. To facilitate this, the commission has set a detailed schedule covering the publication of the draft voter list, filing of claims, objections, and corrections, as well as resolution of those applications. October 25: Deadline for preparing the PDF version of the draft list and sending links to registration officers’ CMS portals. November 1: Draft voter list to be printed and made public. November 16: Final date for submitting claims, objections, and correction requests. November 17: Deadline for resolving all submitted applications. November 18: Official publication of the final updated voter list. The EC said these measures aim to ensure a transparent and accurate voter database ahead of the national polls.

A Sylhet court has ordered four BNP-affiliated student and youth leaders to jail in connection with a protest that blocked the motorcade of two government advisers. The accused are: Ajir Uddin (President, East Jaflong Union Chhatra Dal), Suman Shikder (Senior Vice President), Sohel Ahmed (Joint General Secretary, District Chhatra Dal), and Zahid Khan (former Joint Convener, Upazila Jubo Dal, recently expelled). Prosecutors said the four had been out on four weeks’ bail from the High Court. On Monday, they surrendered before the lower court, which rejected their bail plea and ordered their imprisonment. The case stems from a June 14 incident when sand and stone traders blocked the motorcade of advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan in Gowainghat. The case names nine individuals and 100–150 unidentified others.

Routine maintenance work will cause traffic diversions in the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Chattogram, from September 25 to 30, the Bridge Authority has announced. Traffic will be regulated nightly from 11 PM to 5 AM, with diversions alternating between the Patenga-to-Anwara and Anwara-to-Patenga tubes as needed. Commuters may face delays of 5–10 minutes depending on traffic volume. Authorities urged public cooperation to ensure safe and efficient maintenance operations.

Police have arrested a Begum Rokeya University staff member in connection with arson and explosives charges tied to last year’s student protests. Shafiqul Islam (36), an office assistant in the Physics Department, was detained Monday from Shaheed Abu Sayeed Chattar in Rangpur, police confirmed. Tajhat Police Station OC Md. Shahajan Ali said Shafiqul was a named accused in a case filed by BRUR Registrar Dr. Harun-or-Rashid during the anti-discrimination student movement. He allegedly participated directly in violent attacks. Police said Shafiqul has already provided “important information” during initial interrogation, which is being verified before he is presented in court.

Bangladesh’s revenue collection grew by 21% year-on-year in the first two months of FY2025–26, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). In August 2025 alone, revenue stood at Tk 27,174 crore—up from Tk 23,089 crore in the same month last year, reflecting an 18% growth. Combined revenue for July–August 2025 reached Tk 54,423 crore, compared to Tk 45,005 crore in the same period of 2024. VAT collection at the local level surged by 33.83%, while income tax and travel tax rose by 24.17%. However, import-export sector revenues dipped slightly to Tk 7,647 crore, down from Tk 8,007 crore in August 2024.

Positive discussions are underway on a potential merger between Gonoadhikar Parishad (GOP) and the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), though attempts to derail the process are ongoing, GOP leader Rashed Khan has revealed. In a social media post, Rashed wrote that a youth-led political unity could give rise to a new force in Bangladesh’s politics. He urged leaders of both parties to act responsibly, warning that failure to do so would betray the hopes of many supporters. He emphasized that successful unification requires compromise and mutual understanding. “If we fail this time, people will see all sides as deceivers,” Rashed cautioned.

BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has vowed that if the party wins the next election, it will create a new administrative division named Cumilla. The announcement came after local political and social leaders held a human chain protest in front of the National Press Club. Mosharraf said, “Cumilla must become a division for administrative necessity, and the people of Cumilla will not accept any other name.” NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah added that if Cumilla’s leaders unite and press their case before the chief adviser, the division could even be formed under the interim government. He hinted at possible movements to achieve the demand.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka has issued a warning against illegal border crossings into the United States, calling them a threat to international security. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the embassy said that securing borders helps prevent displacement, exploitation, and loss of life. It emphasized that ending illegal migration ensures greater safety for all.