Hurricane Melissa, a Category-5 storm packing winds up to 250 km/h, has battered the Caribbean, leaving at least seven people dead—three in , three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic flooding, landslides, and storm surges that have submerged coastal regions and disrupted communication networks. More than 1.5 million people have been directly affected, according to the Red Cross. Jamaica has suffered severe power and communication outages, prompting the government to launch emergency operations and an online aid portal. Cuba has begun evacuating coastal residents as Melissa approaches its shores, expected to make landfall early Wednesday. Meteorologists attribute the storm’s extreme intensity to rising sea temperatures driven by climate change, signaling a deepening humanitarian crisis for the entire Caribbean region.

The Parents’ Unity Forum has called on the government to introduce a fully lottery-based admission system for all classes in private educational institutions, especially at the school level, for the 2026 academic year. In a joint statement, the organization’s president, valiant freedom fighter Md. Ziaul Kabir Dulu, and general secretary Md. Selim Mia said that implementing lottery-based admissions would make the process transparent, accountable, and free from irregularities, discrimination, and corruption. They emphasized that it would also protect young students from the stress and financial burden of admission coaching. The leaders warned that reinstating admission tests would revive the coaching business and increase pressure on parents. They further demanded the cancellation of all quotas, including those under the Education Ministry, to ensure fairness and remove controversy from the admission process. The Forum also urged authorities not to impose excessive admission fees on students.

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.

At least 100 Palestinians were killed overnight in renewed Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to hospital and civil defense sources. The attacks, launched between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, reportedly targeted residential areas, refugee shelters, and makeshift tents, killing at least 91 people initially, later confirmed to have risen above 100, including 35 children. Gaza’s hospital authorities said emergency medical teams continue to treat hundreds of wounded civilians amid severe shortages of medical supplies.

The strikes have been widely condemned as a violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement. International calls for intervention to protect Palestinian civilians have grown louder, as global organizations and governments urge Israel to halt the bombardment. U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Israel “retaliated after a soldier’s death,” but claimed the response “would not endanger the ceasefire.” He also urged Hamas to “act responsibly.”

The latest escalation follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s direct order for intensified operations after a gunfire exchange in Rafah killed an Israeli soldier. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed around 70,000 Palestinians and injured over 170,000, underscoring the catastrophic humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Bangladesh’s National Consensus Commission has announced a detailed 315-day timeline for forming a bicameral legislature, introducing an upper house based on proportional representation (PR). According to the commission’s recommendations, elected parliament members must amend the constitution within 270 days of the first session to incorporate the July Charter reforms. If they fail to do so, the proposed provisions will automatically become part of the constitution. Within 45 days thereafter, a 100-member upper house will be established under the PR system.

At a press briefing held on October 28 at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, commission vice-chairman Professor Ali Riaz explained the three-phase implementation plan. The first phase involves immediate government actions through ordinances; the second covers changes achievable via administrative orders; and the third outlines constitutional reforms requiring parliamentary and public approval. The commission also advised the government to hold a referendum seeking citizens’ consent on 48 constitutional issues included in the July Charter 2025. Once approved, the 13th Parliament will function simultaneously as the National Assembly and the Constitution Reform Council for 270 days to execute necessary legal amendments.

A violent clash erupted last Monday between students of Daffodil International University (DIU) and City University in Savar over a trivial incident, leading to arson, vandalism, and looting. According to DIU authorities, City University students allegedly detained and brutally tortured several Daffodil students.

At a press conference held on Tuesday at DIU’s Smart City Hall, Vice-Chancellor Professor Aminul Islam strongly condemned the violence and announced a six-member investigation committee that will submit a report within seven working days. He demanded immediate justice for the victims and punishment for those responsible.

The clash reportedly began after a minor altercation between two students near Bachelor’s Paradise in Khagan, Savar. The situation escalated rapidly, resulting in Daffodil students attacking City University’s campus later that night, vandalizing multiple offices and setting at least ten vehicles ablaze. The rampage continued until early morning, injuring more than 200 people.

While the area remains under tight police surveillance, residents expressed deep concern about the violence. City University has remained eerily quiet since declaring a four-day closure. Although City University has not released an official statement, it has reportedly demanded Tk 25 crore in damages from Daffodil University.

In an exclusive interview with Jugantor, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Muhajir Farahi, firmly rejected claims that India is Kabul’s “regional boss,” emphasizing that the Taliban government maintains an independent foreign policy guided by Islamic and national values. Farahi stated that Afghanistan wants friendly relations with all neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, China, and Bangladesh, while refusing to be drawn into regional rivalries.

Addressing the recent Pakistan–Afghanistan border conflict, Farahi accused Pakistan’s military of violating Afghan airspace and attacking civilians but stressed that Kabul seeks peaceful solutions. He dismissed Islamabad’s claims that the Taliban shelters Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), calling it “Pakistan’s internal problem.” Farahi also defended Taliban governance, saying Sharia-based laws are implemented fairly through qualified judges.

On economic issues, he said Afghanistan now runs on domestic revenue without foreign aid and has achieved major success by eliminating opium cultivation. Farahi further expressed optimism about improving ties with Bangladesh, describing it as a “brotherly Muslim nation.” Regarding India, he reiterated that cooperation does not imply subordination. “No one dictates our policies,” he said, adding that Afghanistan wants harmony with all regional powers.

A Union Volunteer Party leader, Masud Sheikh (46), died following a violent attack in Kalia upazila of Narail. Masud, serving as the Member Secretary of Babra-Hachla Union’s Volunteer Party, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning (October 28) while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital. The assault occurred on Monday night (October 27) in Shukta village, after a dispute erupted during a local Ha-du-du (Kabaddi) game. Despite an initial settlement by influential locals, Masud was later ambushed and beaten with local weapons and hammers by rival group members while returning home. His brother alleged that the attack was carried out under the leadership of Sujon Khan (18) because Masud had opposed local drug dealings. Police have deployed additional forces to maintain order, and an investigation is underway. The body has been sent for autopsy at Khulna Medical College morgue.

What began as an act of frustration turned into a life-changing opportunity for Kishoreganj’s young autorickshaw driver, Rabbi. Earlier this month, he rented a microphone for 500 taka and roamed around his neighborhood shouting insults after repeated failures to secure a bank loan for his trip to Saudi Arabia. His video quickly went viral on social media, sparking laughter, debate, and eventually compassion. Following widespread media coverage, the Probashi Kallyan Bank contacted Rabbi and approved a loan of 200,000 taka. With the funds in hand, he is now set to fly to Saudi Arabia on October 30 to start a new job. Grateful for the unexpected turn of events, Rabbi apologized for his earlier actions and asked for everyone’s prayers. The bank confirmed the loan and encouraged other aspiring migrant workers facing financial struggles to seek official assistance.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has suspended Md. Reshad Khalifa, president of Ward No. 9 under the Chhotobaishdia Union BNP in Rangabali upazila, Patuakhali. The decision came after allegations surfaced that he ordered the forced shaving of five young men’s heads, including a student, during an arbitration session. A press release issued Monday night by the Union BNP stated that Reshad Khalifa’s position and all organizational activities have been suspended for violating party discipline and engaging in unethical activities against party ideals. The statement was signed by Union BNP President Md. Zakir Hossain Nowab Hawlader and General Secretary Md. Tariful Islam Tarek. Following the incident, which gained media attention through a report in Jugantor, the upazila administration formed a three-member inquiry committee led by the UNO Rajib Das Purkaystha. Locals have welcomed both administrative and party action, hoping for fair investigation and justice.

A small tourist aircraft flying along Kenya’s coast has crashed, raising fears that all 12 people on board have perished. According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the aircraft was en route to the private Kichwa Tembo airstrip near Masai Mara National Park when it went down early Tuesday morning, around 5:30 a.m. local time. The plane had departed from Diani, a popular tourist destination, before losing contact with air traffic controllers. Rescue teams and government agencies have rushed to the crash site to investigate the cause of the accident. While officials have not released further details, authorities have confirmed that all passengers were aboard the ill-fated flight. This tragedy comes just months after another deadly crash in August, when an Amref aircraft went down near Nairobi, killing six people and injuring two others.

Elon Musk has unveiled Grokipedia, an artificial intelligence-based online encyclopedia designed to rival Wikipedia. Developed under his AI startup xAI, Grokipedia operates through Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which verifies and compiles all content without human editors or volunteers. According to Musk, this new encyclopedia is “vital for civilization” and offers information that aligns more closely with his right-leaning worldview.

Reports from The Guardian suggest that much of Grokipedia’s content draws heavily from Wikipedia but reframes topics through a conservative perspective. For instance, articles discussing the January 6 Capitol Hill riot describe it as a “controversial protest” against alleged election irregularities, downplaying former President Donald Trump’s role in the violence.

Critics have accused Grokipedia of spreading misleading or biased information, such as claims that pornography worsened the AIDS epidemic—an assertion widely disputed by journalists. Musk attributes the concept of Grokipedia to David Sacks, a former Trump administration official involved in AI and cryptocurrency policy.

This launch reflects Musk’s ongoing criticism of mainstream media and Wikipedia’s editorial stance, promoting his social platform X as an alternative hub for “free thought” and information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered immediate, large-scale air and ground attacks on Gaza following allegations that Hamas violated the ongoing ceasefire agreement. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas has failed to return the bodies of 13 Israeli hostages still believed to be trapped under rubble in Gaza, an act they describe as a direct breach of the truce.

Hamas, however, stated that the recovery of those bodies requires heavy machinery and expert teams due to the extensive destruction in the area. Although Israel allowed limited humanitarian assistance for rescue efforts, the retrieval of all remains remains incomplete. Mediators—including U.S. officials and former President Donald Trump—had reportedly warned earlier that recovering the hostages’ remains from the ruins would be extremely difficult.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas was supposed to return the bodies in exchange for Israel partially halting its military operations. With progress stalled, the situation has once again escalated sharply. Analysts believe Netanyahu’s renewed offensive may serve as a strategic response to justify continued military actions, further complicating peace prospects. Observers also fear the new strikes could severely worsen Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis.

Police in Laksam have arrested three members of a teenage gang accused of creating panic among locals while roaming the streets with locally made weapons, allegedly preparing for robbery and theft. The arrests were made on Tuesday afternoon in front of the Laksam Upazila Parishad gate. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Naznin Sultana of Laksam Police Station confirmed the matter in the evening.

The detainees were identified as Kamrul Hasan Fahim (17), son of late Ershad Mia of Fatehpur area; Minhajul Abedin Naim (15), son of Abul Kalam of Dhamaicha area; and Ziadul Islam Hridoy (18), son of Sahidul Islam of Uttarkul area—all residents of Laksam Municipality.

According to OC Naznin Sultana, locals became suspicious when they noticed several teenagers loitering near shops in front of the Upazila Parishad. Upon confronting them, the locals discovered the trio carrying sharp, locally made weapons. They were detained by the public and later handed over to the police.

Police have initiated legal proceedings against the arrested individuals. The incident has heightened concerns over the growing presence of teenage gangs and their involvement in criminal activities in Laksam and surrounding areas.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have signed an upgraded “3.0” version of their free trade agreement, aiming to deepen economic cooperation across infrastructure, digitalization, green transition, trade facilitation, and people-to-people exchange. The agreement was signed on October 28 during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Trade between China and ASEAN has steadily grown despite global trade tensions, reaching $785 billion in the first nine months of 2025, a 9.6% increase from last year. The rise reflects both industrial supply chain products and an increasing share of Chinese consumer goods in Southeast Asian markets. Officials expect the new agreement to broaden and enhance high-quality economic collaboration between the two regions.