The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) election, originally scheduled for November 15, has been unexpectedly postponed, triggering strong reactions from candidates across multiple panels. Election Committee Chairman Hasan Hafiz announced the postponement on Thursday night via a notice on the DUJ board, citing “unavoidable reasons.” Candidates expressed shock and opposition, arguing that no valid constitutional provision allows cancellation without specific circumstances. More than 100 candidates have already purchased and submitted nominations and are actively campaigning. Candidates, including Didarul Alam, DM Amirul Islam Omar, and Israfil Farazi, demanded a clear explanation from the Election Commission and warned that the election must be held on November 15. They also threatened strict protests and legal action if the decision is not reversed by October 25. Several candidates accused political influence in panel-based elections and called for reforms to prevent party control over the journalists’ body.

Hajj registration in Bangladesh is experiencing its worst situation in recent years, with only 73,416 pilgrims registering in both government and private systems, fulfilling just 57% of the total quota of 127,198. Despite extending the registration period, many devout Muslims could not participate due to high airfare, elevated registration fees, and financial constraints. Some officials in the Ministry of Religious Affairs have been accused of creating controversies that disrupted government-run Hajj arrangements. Recent trends show a growing preference for Umrah, with some believing it replaces Hajj, further reducing registration. Government preliminary registration recorded only 4,102 pilgrims, while private agencies accounted for 69,314. Hajj packages remain expensive, with costs surpassing normal airfare, and advance airfare collection discouraged many from signing up. The government has announced that registration will not be extended, leaving 53,782 slots unfilled for next year’s Hajj scheduled on 26 May.

In the span of a single week, Russian forces have taken control of ten new settlements across Ukraine’s Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia provinces, according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 24. The ministry reported that during the same period, Russian troops destroyed 22 depots containing Ukrainian weapons and military equipment. Ukrainian forces attempted several airstrikes targeting Russian positions but were reportedly repelled, resulting in the loss of one Su-27 fighter jet, four cruise missiles, 18 guided aviation bombs, 15 HIMARS rockets, and 1,441 drones. Over the past three years, Russia has occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson provinces, covering about 10% of Ukraine’s territory. Ukraine continues efforts to reclaim these regions, with no immediate sign of the conflict ending.

The 22-day nationwide ban on catching hilsa, imposed to protect the fish during its breeding season, ends at midnight tonight (Saturday, October 25). Around 300,000 fishermen in Bhola district are eagerly preparing to set sail on the Meghna and Tetulia rivers. They are busy repairing boats, mending nets, and purchasing new fishing gear—many by taking loans. The fishermen hope to catch enough hilsa to repay their debts and recover from the financial strain of the fishing ban. Bhola’s District Fisheries Officer, Md. Iqbal Hossain, expressed optimism that this year’s hilsa season will be successful and help fishermen overcome losses. During the restriction period, authorities from the Fisheries Department and Coast Guard conducted drives across seven upazilas, detaining over 200 fishermen and seizing a large number of illegal nets.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has urged all democratic forces to remain united to prevent the “return of fascism” and protect Bangladesh’s democracy, independence, and sovereignty. Speaking at an event marking the 21st anniversary of the Daily Naya Diganta at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Saturday, Ahmed emphasized that ideological differences must not divide the nation when its core interests are at stake. “If our disunity leads to the return of fascism, the nation will never forgive us,” he warned. He further stated that every citizen must fulfill the pledge made with the blood of the martyrs and “close all doors to the fascist Awami League’s comeback.” Reflecting on his exile and imprisonment, Ahmed said he never deviated from the path of struggle. He also recalled his time in a prison hospital cell with journalist Mahmudur Rahman and urged youth to uphold democratic ideals for future generations.

Salema Begum, a 65-year-old beggar from Sirajganj, who became known nationwide for saving three sacks of money from her lifelong begging, passed away on Friday evening (October 24) at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura while undergoing treatment. For over four decades, she lived in extreme poverty, barely eating, yet saved every coin she received through begging. Locally known as “Chhale Pagli,” Salema had lived alone in an abandoned workers’ quarter at Raypur 1 No. Millgate. Earlier this month, locals discovered her secret fortune—three sacks of cash totaling around Tk 1.74 lakh. Her daughter said Salema suffered from mental instability and obsessively hoarded money. Doctors diagnosed her with liver cancer before her death. She was buried Saturday morning (October 25) at the Kandapara graveyard in Sirajganj. According to local authorities, her savings will be distributed in accordance with Islamic law.

The United States Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, and his son, accusing the administration of supporting drug traffickers. According to the statement, cocaine production in Colombia has surged since Petro took office, leading to an influx of the drug into the United States. Treasury officials warned that instead of combating drug networks, the Colombian leadership is allegedly enabling them, prompting Washington to take strong punitive action. In response, President Petro denied the accusations, calling them false and claiming that cocaine production has actually decreased under his government. He emphasized that Colombia has seized record amounts of cocaine during his administration and concluded with a defiant slogan used by leftist movements in Latin America: “We will not take a single step back and will never kneel.”

The government is preparing to implement a new pay scale for its employees within the tenure of the current interim administration, without waiting for the next political government. The Finance Division acknowledges the additional financial burden but believes higher salaries will boost revenue through income tax and increased housing rent collections. The minimum salary is expected to rise from BDT 8,250 to over BDT 16,000, bringing more employees under the tax net. The Pay Commission is actively reviewing public and employee feedback to finalize recommendations. Officials note that competitive salaries are essential to attract skilled personnel, maintain professional efficiency, and ensure good governance, especially as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the least developed country category in 2026. Budget allocation for the revised pay scale will be included in the fiscal year 2025-26 revised budget.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed responsibility for killing Abbas Hassan Karki, Hezbollah’s southern front logistics chief, in a drone strike near the town of Toul in southern Lebanon on October 24. According to the IDF, Karki had led efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s combat capabilities, assisted in reconstructing damaged infrastructure, and oversaw weapons transfers and storage in the region. The IDF described his actions as a violation of the understanding between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that two people were killed and two injured in the strike but did not comment on Israel’s claim regarding Karki. The attack comes amid ongoing tensions, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, following a conflict that killed over 4,000 people, injured 17,000+, and displaced roughly 1.4 million Lebanese.

Bangladesh has secured the second position among countries successfully exporting value-added products to the U.S., trailing Cambodia and outpacing Vietnam, according to the latest IMF report. Cambodia leads with a 21% growth in value-added exports, while Bangladesh recorded a 20% increase, primarily driven by ready-made garments, leather goods, and handicrafts. The IMF highlights that Asian countries heavily depend on markets in Europe and the U.S. for foreign currency through exports and remittances. Strengthening value addition in products enables higher export opportunities, fostering competition among exporters. While Sri Lanka maintained steady exports, other nations saw a decline. Countries like Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Thailand lagged in boosting value-added export growth. The report also kept Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast at 4.9% for the current fiscal year.

Although the construction of a 250-bed modern hospital in Bandarban was completed six years ago, it has not yet been inaugurated due to administrative delays and the absence of staff recruitment. The old 100-bed hospital, established in 2005, now struggles to accommodate the growing number of patients from both urban and remote hill areas. Many patients are forced to lie on the floor due to a severe shortage of beds. The new facility—built at a cost of Tk 36 crore—includes advanced medical infrastructure such as ICU, CCU, isolation wards, and surgical units. However, without approval and manpower, it remains unused, depriving thousands of residents of better healthcare. Locals believe that opening the hospital would significantly reduce patient suffering and improve medical services. The civil surgeon has confirmed that the infrastructure is ready and the hospital will open soon after administrative approval.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will never yield to U.S. pressure, following sanctions imposed on state-owned oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, along with their affiliates. The sanctions, introduced by the Trump administration, aim to cut funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine and could raise global oil prices by up to 5%. While Putin admitted the measures may cause “some damage” to Russia’s economy, he dismissed them as a failed attempt to coerce the country. He warned that any attacks on Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine would trigger a strong, though limited, response. Meanwhile, China and India, Russia’s largest oil buyers, are reportedly reducing imports in reaction to the sanctions. The planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest may also be canceled, though Putin stressed he remains open to dialogue.

Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Adviser on Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, has called for an ordinance to prevent controversy over the neutrality of interim government advisers. Political parties recently raised concerns about the impartiality of some advisers, including Fawzul himself. In a Facebook post on October 24, he shared that questions regarding advisers’ neutrality emerged during a meeting between the Chief Adviser and representatives of three political parties. Fawzul clarified that he has always made decisions without bias and has never allowed personal preferences to influence his work. To resolve the issue, he proposed that the ordinance explicitly bar the Chief Adviser, advisers, special assistants, and all contract-based interim government officials from taking any profitable positions in the next elected government, regardless of the ruling party. He added that this rule would not apply to those resigning before the election schedule is announced.

China’s state-owned oil companies, including PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Zhenhua Oil, have temporarily suspended purchases of Russian oil shipped by sea in response to U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top energy firms, Rosneft and Lukoil. The move comes amid concerns about potential legal and financial risks. India, the largest buyer of Russian seaborne oil, is also reducing imports for similar reasons, which could significantly impact Russia’s oil export revenues and pressure global crude markets. China imports roughly 1.4 million barrels of Russian oil by sea daily, mostly purchased by independent “teapot” refineries, while state-owned companies account for smaller volumes. Pipeline imports of nearly 900,000 barrels daily, managed solely by PetroChina, are expected to remain largely unaffected. Traders predict that India and China will now seek alternative oil sources from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, potentially driving up global oil prices further.

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) has fully prepared for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, deploying around 600,000 members as the first line of defense at polling centers. The force will work closely with other law enforcement agencies to maintain security and ensure public confidence. For the first time, a digital monitoring system will track members’ performance, location, and conduct in real time using their National ID, QR code, and service records. Extensive training, including leadership, advanced, and youth leadership programs, has been conducted, with refresher courses planned just before the elections. Recruitment policies have been updated to include younger members aged 18–25, with women constituting nearly 50% of the force. Both armed and unarmed Ansar members will receive new uniforms, jackets, and security equipment. The force will operate on a system-based model, ensuring accountability and professionalism.