The Advisory Council of Bangladesh has approved a proposal to merge five private Islamic banks—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, Exim Bank, and Social Islami Bank—into a single Shariah-compliant bank, which will be named United Bank. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on October 9. Initially, the new bank will remain under state ownership, managed by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, with plans for eventual privatization. The council confirmed that no employees of the merged banks will be laid off, and all customer deposits will remain fully protected. In addition, the Advisory Council approved amendments to modernize the Deposit Protection Act in the banking and insurance sectors, aiming to ensure stronger financial security and depositor confidence in the evolving banking landscape.

The Bangladesh Advisory Council has approved amendments to the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, resulting in the cancellation of all cases filed under the Digital Security Act 2018. This decision was announced after a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on October 9. Following the amendments, all individuals previously convicted or accused under the 2018 law have been released. The ordinance specifies that pending cases, ongoing investigations, or legal actions under Sections 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31 of the Digital Security Act, including aiding offenses, will be annulled. Alongside the cyber security amendment, the council also approved the Personal Data Protection Ordinance 2025 and the National Data Protection Ordinance 2025, aimed at enhancing the security of citizens’ personal information and digital rights.

Israel has continued air and artillery strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis despite a ceasefire agreement meant to end two years of war with Hamas. Local officials report at least nine Palestinians killed since Thursday morning. Witnesses say Israeli drones and tanks have targeted civilian areas, blocking displaced residents from returning home. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, includes prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid entry, and phased Israeli withdrawal. In the first phase, Hamas will release 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Around 400 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza soon. The war, sparked in October 2023, has killed over 67,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to call it a humanitarian catastrophe.

The government is finalizing a multimodal transport master plan aimed at developing an integrated and efficient nationwide transport network combining road, rail, and waterways. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Sheikh Moinuddin stated that around 70–75% of the work is expected to be completed before the end of the current tenure. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges is leading the initiative with support from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to ensure international standards. The plan emphasizes connecting ports, trade centers, export processing zones, and tourism hubs while identifying infrastructure gaps and investment priorities. Although the aviation sector has not yet been fully integrated, future expansion is planned. The initiative seeks to eliminate coordination problems among transport agencies and ensure all future infrastructure projects align with the national master plan.

Bangladeshi photojournalist and activist Dr. Shahidul Alam has been detained by Israeli authorities and transferred to Ketziot prison in the Negev Desert, along with other members of the Gaza-bound “Global Sumud Flotilla.” According to Drik, Shahidul’s organization, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel – confirmed that all journalists, healthcare workers, human rights defenders, and crew members aboard the flotilla were taken to Ashdod port before being sent to prison. Activists reported facing violence during the seizure of their ship by Israeli forces. Drik’s statement condemned the arrests, noting that around 10,000 Palestinians are already imprisoned in Ketziot under Israeli occupation. The organization demanded the immediate release of all flotilla activists and Palestinian detainees, reaffirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom.

The results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations are likely to be released on October 16, pending approval from the Ministry of Education. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee held on October 9, where all board chairmen agreed on the proposed date. An official confirmed that the proposal would be sent to the ministry for final approval, after which results from all 11 education boards will be announced simultaneously. This year, a total of 1,251,111 students appeared in the examinations—618,015 boys and 633,096 girls—across 2,797 exam centers nationwide. The written exams concluded on August 19, while practical tests were held from August 21 to 31. According to the Public Examination Act, results must be published within 60 days of the written exams’ completion.

The government is expected to finalize the date for a national referendum that may coincide with the upcoming parliamentary election to implement the “July Charter 2025.” Sources indicate that before announcing the date, the government will consult the Election Commission and political parties due to their direct involvement. The referendum will feature two sections on the ballot—one for proposals with unanimous agreement among parties and another for those with recorded dissent. The National Consensus Commission, led by interim head Dr. Muhammad Yunus, will submit its recommendations to the government, integrating expert and political feedback. A signing ceremony for the Charter is scheduled for October 15 at the National Parliament’s South Plaza. Political parties, however, remain divided over the timing of the referendum, with the BNP favoring it on election day and Jamaat preferring November. The Charter includes 84 reform proposals, some requiring constitutional amendments.

Following widespread public anger over a report alleging that the Bomang King’s Office in Bandarban sells “King’s Certificates” for inflated prices, the Parbatya Chattogram Nagorik Parishad (PCCP) and local citizens have announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal on October 13. The protest demands the immediate cancellation of the King’s Certificate and fulfillment of eight key demands, including equal rights for Bengali settlers and indigenous residents. At a press conference held on October 9, PCCP Chairman Kazi Mojibur Rahman said that requiring a King’s Certificate to buy land, get a job, or attend school in the three hill districts is discriminatory and unconstitutional. He called for a unified administrative system under the Constitution to eliminate inequality and double standards in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Journalists from print and electronic media attended the event, which highlighted long-standing grievances over regional governance and land rights.

In a major anti-drug operation in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, the Bangladesh Army arrested notorious drug dealer Shis Nabi, 35, seizing a total of 345 yaba tablets. Acting on confidential information, a special army patrol from Kamrangirchar Army Camp conducted the operation on Wednesday, October 8, between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Initially, 200 yaba tablets were recovered from Nabi himself, followed by a search of his residence, which yielded another 145 tablets. Sources indicate that Nabi had long been involved in the supply and wholesale distribution of yaba, spreading drugs throughout Kamrangirchar and surrounding areas. After initial questioning by the army, he was handed over to Kamrangirchar Police Station. Police have filed a case against him under the Narcotics Control Act. Authorities say the arrest is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug distribution in Dhaka’s capital region.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with the newly appointed German Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, on Thursday at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting began at 10:30 a.m. and included senior BNP leaders such as Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, International Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir, and Organizational Secretary Shama Obaid. The discussions reportedly focused on Bangladesh’s current political climate, the state of democratic processes, preparations for the upcoming national elections, and potential avenues for international cooperation. Sources indicate that the dialogue aimed at fostering mutual understanding between BNP leadership and the German diplomatic mission, highlighting the party’s interest in strengthening democratic institutions and international relations. No immediate statements were released, but the meeting is seen as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement by BNP.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours to restore political stability, following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu on October 6. Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, had been serving as caretaker prime minister but stepped down after facing ongoing protests from radical left-wing parties and trade unions. The unrest was fueled by public anger over significant budget cuts passed by the French Cabinet in early September, which reduced allocations from welfare and public-interest sectors by $44 billion as part of debt-reduction efforts. Prior to Lecornu, François Bayrou also resigned after losing a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by opposition MPs reacting to public discontent. Macron’s swift move to appoint a new prime minister aims to stabilize the parliament ahead of the scheduled adoption of a new national budget by December 31.

Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, cited traffic mismanagement as the main reason for his extended delay on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway on Wednesday, October 8. He was inspecting the progress of four- and six-lane construction when a severe traffic jam forced him to resort to riding a motorcycle to continue his journey. Khan clarified that the road’s condition was not the issue; rather, the lack of proper traffic discipline and management by the highway police caused the problem. He noted that if traffic rules had been enforced effectively, the delay might have been slightly longer, but the severe inconvenience could have been avoided. Khan emphasized that human behavior and the shortcomings in traffic control were the primary concerns. Brahmanbaria District Commissioner Muhammad Didarul Alam, Superintendent of Police Ehteshamul Haque, and others accompanied him during the inspection.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has shared positive developments in the country’s economy, highlighting a significant drop in inflation from 12.5% to 8.3%. Speaking at a high-level National Steering Committee meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he emphasized ongoing banking sector reforms and gradual progress in restoring overall financial stability. The governor noted that rice prices have started to fall again, which could further reduce inflation in the coming months. Addressing non-performing loans, Dr. Mansur revealed that the current ratio stands at 24% and set a target to bring it down to 4–5%. Key measures include merging five Islamic banks, gradually closing nine non-banking financial institutions, and creating a BDT 9 billion venture capital fund to encourage entrepreneurship. A cashless transaction system is also being promoted to improve revenue collection.

The six-party coalition Democracy Platform, consisting of leftist and progressive parties including JSD, Revolutionary Workers Party, Nagorik Oikko, Ganashonghoti Andolon, Bhashani Janashakti Party, and Rashtra Songskar Andolon, has provisionally finalized a list of 108 candidates for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections. The formal announcement will take place today at a press conference at the Reporters’ Unity in Dhaka. Top leaders from each party, including A. S. M. Abdur Rab, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Saiful Haque, Jonaid Saki, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, and Hasnat Kaium, are featured on the list, with provisions for substitutions in case of health issues. After several rounds of internal meetings, the coalition plans to submit the finalized list to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in line with ongoing seat-sharing discussions ahead of the elections.

Iranian President Masoud Pajehsikian has reaffirmed that Iran has never attempted to develop nuclear weapons, citing the country’s fundamental principles. Speaking during a meeting with Switzerland’s newly appointed ambassador to Iran, Olivier Bangarter, Pajehsikian emphasized Iran’s dedication to stability, peace, and security in West Asia. He highlighted Switzerland’s historic role as a communication bridge between Tehran and Washington since the Islamic Revolution. The president also praised Switzerland’s neutral and constructive stance in international disputes and expressed gratitude for its assistance in medicine and food, despite challenges arising from U.S. and European sanctions. Ambassador Bangarter expressed his enthusiasm for his mission, promising to strengthen bilateral ties between Tehran and Bern and reinforce Switzerland’s role as a reliable channel of dialogue with Washington, while respecting Iran’s rich culture and hospitality.