A devastating fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has raised serious concerns across Bangladesh, with many refusing to believe it was a mere accident. The blaze, which raged for 27 hours and required 37 fire service units to control, caused massive damage—estimated at Tk 12,000 crore. An intelligence report sent to top government officials suggests severe lapses in airport security and coordination after the suspension of the Airport Armed Police Battalion’s activities last August. The report alleges that inactive security personnel and delayed response worsened the disaster, and even claims that a police unit was denied permission to assist. The interim government has vowed firm action if sabotage is proven. Multiple investigation committees, including one led by the Fire Service, are probing the incident. The fire has disrupted international flights and reignited debate over security management in critical installations.

Gold prices have soared past $4,200 per ounce in 2025, setting record highs and marking the strongest performance since 1979. While jewelry remains the dominant consumer of gold globally, demand is rising sharply across three key non-jewelry sectors: investment, central bank reserves, and technology. According to the World Gold Council, total gold demand in the first half of 2025 reached 2,455 tons—3% higher than last year—driven by strong investment amid economic uncertainty. Investors view gold as a “safe haven,” with investment demand reaching 1,180 tons in 2024, up 25% year-on-year. Central banks purchased 1,046 tons to diversify reserves and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, marking their third consecutive year above the 1,000-ton threshold. Meanwhile, gold’s use in technology—especially electronics and AI hardware—continues to grow due to its excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance.

Japan has made history as Sanae Takaichi became the nation’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, October 21. The long-time conservative politician and close ally of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe assumed office after securing a narrow parliamentary victory. Takaichi won 125 votes in the upper house—just one more than required—and 237 out of 465 in the lower house, surpassing the majority by four votes. Her rise came swiftly after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won the October 4 election but lost its coalition partner, Komeito, over ideological and corruption concerns. To form a functioning government, Takaichi struck an 11-hour deal with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP). As Japan’s first female leader and its fifth prime minister in recent years, she faces daunting challenges ahead, including economic recovery and preparing for U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the recruitment of 4,000 new Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) under the Bangladesh Police to enhance the organization’s operational and administrative capacity. According to an official notification issued on Monday, October 20, by Abu Sayeed, Deputy Secretary of the Police-3 branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the posts will be created temporarily in the revenue sector as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen law enforcement. The circular specifies that the positions will be maintained annually based on reserved quotas and must be incorporated into the updated police organizational structure. It further states that all procedures must comply with the directives of the Cabinet Division and the Finance Division, as well as the 1943 Bengal Police Resolution. This large-scale recruitment aims to reinforce the efficiency, manpower, and nationwide presence of the Bangladesh Police.

The Bangladesh government has decided to grant free education to the children of families of the ‘July Martyrs’ in honor of their parents’ sacrifice during the historic July uprising. According to official sources, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has formally requested the Ministry of Education, including the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, to ensure tuition-free education for these students in both public and private schools and colleges. Nusrat Jahan, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, confirmed that necessary directives were issued on September 21. Following this, on October 15, the Technical Education Department instructed the Directorate of Technical Education to take steps to implement free education for children of martyr families studying in technical institutions. This initiative recognizes the patriotism and sacrifice of those who laid down their lives during the July movement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia currently controls about 78 percent of Ukraine’s territory and urged both sides to immediately stop fighting. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump stated that “both parties should stop the war now” and focus on negotiating a long-term territorial settlement instead of continued bloodshed. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera on Monday, October 20. Trump emphasized the futility of ongoing violence, saying that continued warfare would make any future peace talks harder to achieve. Referring to the war-torn Donbas region, he suggested keeping current territorial lines “as they are” for now, asserting that Russia already occupies most of Ukraine’s land. This marks a notable shift from Trump’s earlier stance, when he suggested Ukraine could regain all its territories, including Crimea. Trump is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks, though no exact date has been confirmed.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of shares worth approximately Tk 800 crore belonging to S. Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam, his family, and close associates. The order, issued by Senior Special Judge Sabbir Fayeaz of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court on Monday (October 20), came following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to ACC sources, a total of 513,182,286 shares across 105 companies and institutions, valued at Tk 800.37 crore, were frozen to prevent their transfer. The petition, filed by ACC Deputy Director Tahsin Monabil Haque, alleged that Alam and his associates were attempting to move the shares elsewhere. This move follows an earlier court directive on July 9 to freeze 53 bank accounts held by the same individuals amid ongoing corruption allegations against the group.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a charge sheet against 26 individuals, including former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman and former Janata Bank Chairman Professor Dr. Abul Barkat, in a major loan fraud and embezzlement case involving approximately Tk 297 crore. The case alleges that loans were approved and disbursed from Janata Bank against land shown to contain non-existent structures, violating central bank regulations and government directives. The value of the undeveloped land was falsely inflated from about Tk 3 crore to nearly Tk 600 crore, facilitating large-scale misappropriation. Other accused include former Janata Bank MD Abdus Salam Azad and directors Dr. Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Nagibul Islam Dipu, and others linked to Suprav Spinning Ltd. However, three individuals were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The ACC confirmed that the charge sheet now includes six additional names identified during the investigation.

The National Pay Commission has finalized its draft proposal for revising the salaries of government employees, marking a significant adjustment after ten years. The proposal, completed on Monday (October 20), recommends a salary increase ranging between 90% and 97% across all grades. According to the draft, the basic salary for Grade-1 officers is proposed at Tk 150,594, while Grade-2 and Grade-3 employees may receive Tk 127,426 and Tk 109,084 respectively. The lowest grade, Grade-20, is proposed to have a basic salary of Tk 15,928. The proposed structure aims to ensure better living standards and address inflation over the past decade. Once approved by the government, this new pay scale is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of public servants across the country. The draft now awaits final cabinet approval before implementation.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of Amazon, experienced a massive global outage that disrupted online services across multiple industries. The outage caused significant downtime for popular platforms including Fortnite, Snapchat, and Duolingo, as well as several major banks. AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood all reported service interruptions, citing AWS’s technical failure as the main reason. AWS confirmed that it was gradually restoring operations after identifying the issue. As one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructure providers, AWS powers the backend of countless apps, websites, and corporate systems. The incident highlighted the world’s heavy dependence on a few major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Analysts noted that such outages can have ripple effects across global digital ecosystems, temporarily halting essential services, business operations, and user access to online platforms.

A major robbery at Paris’ world-renowned Louvre Museum occurred on Sunday morning, leaving authorities stunned at the speed and precision of the thieves. The heist took place around 9:30 a.m. local time while the museum was open to visitors. Investigators found a truck with a ladder near the museum’s second-floor balcony, suggesting the thieves broke in through a window. The robbery happened in the Apollo Room, home to valuable ornaments of the French royal family, including items used by King Louis XIV. Priceless jewelry was stolen, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, which was damaged during the theft. French authorities believe three to four individuals were involved, who fled on a motorcycle within seven minutes. The Louvre was closed for a day for investigation. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, promising justice and recovery of the stolen treasures.

The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) has reported that the recent fire at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s cargo village has caused an estimated loss of Tk 12,000 crore. Speaking at a press conference at Hotel Sonargaon on October 20, EAB President Mohammad Hatem expressed deep concern over the incident, highlighting serious security lapses at the facility. The fire severely affected traders, with 32 pharmaceutical companies alone suffering losses worth Tk 200 crore, and officials fear the total damage may rise. Hatem urged quick settlement of insurance claims for affected goods and proposed the creation of a special government fund to support items not covered by insurance. The blaze, which broke out on October 18, was finally brought under control after seven and a half hours of coordinated efforts by the Fire Service, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guard Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Law has announced that a special committee has been formed to ensure the smooth and efficient prosecution of murder and other serious crime cases filed over killings allegedly ordered by the Awami League government during the July student and public uprising. Excluding 45 cases already under trial in the International Crimes Tribunal, the remaining 792 cases will be sent to fast-track tribunals under Section 10 of the Fast-Track Tribunal Act, 2000. Police have already submitted charge sheets for 19 murder cases in various criminal courts across the country. The committee, led by the Additional Secretary of the Law and Justice Division, will oversee the prosecution process and ensure timely and effective handling of these cases. The move is aimed at expediting justice and addressing public demand for accountability for the July killings.

For the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced the deployment of approximately 100,000 military personnel, 150,000 police officers, and 550,000 Ansar members across the country to maintain law and order. The deployment will follow the “in aid to civil power” protocol, ensuring security without interfering in the electoral process. Drones will not be allowed for campaign purposes, though law enforcement may use them if necessary. Unlike previous elections, when forces were deployed for five days, this time the plan covers eight days—three days before the vote, election day, and four days after. The EC also reported that 85% of previously looted weapons have been recovered, with recovery operations ongoing. Authorities remain confident about a peaceful election.

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider accepting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the Financial Times, the meeting escalated into shouting matches, with Trump warning that refusal to compromise could lead to Ukraine’s destruction. Officials said Trump repeatedly referenced Putin’s statements and pressured Zelensky to surrender the Donbas region to Moscow. Trump also claimed that Ukraine is “losing the war” and emphasized that Putin could destroy the country if he wished. At one point, Trump reportedly pushed aside battlefield maps, expressing frustration and saying he did not understand the “red lines.” The discussions highlighted the intense diplomatic pressure on Ukraine as the conflict continues, reflecting Trump’s controversial approach to the war.