Bangladeshi expatriate Shah Alam Kajol has been re-elected as a member of the Bonfim Junta Freguesia Assembly in Porto, Portugal, securing his second consecutive term in the local elections held on October 12. Representing Portugal’s Socialist Party, Kajol won his seat despite his party’s overall loss at the municipal level. Expressing gratitude, he thanked the Bangladeshi community in Portugal for their unwavering support and promised to continue standing beside them. Beyond politics, Kajol plays a vital role as president of the Bangladesh Community of Porto, fostering cultural unity, promoting Bangladesh’s positive image, and supporting employment initiatives for expatriates. His contributions have made him a respected figure in both political and social spheres. Fellow expatriates across Portugal have celebrated his victory, calling him a source of inspiration for the Bangladeshi diaspora. Another Bangladeshi candidate, Masud Majumder, also contested independently in Lisbon but was unable to secure a win.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Israel could resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement. In an interview with CNN, Trump said the situation involving Hamas “will be resolved very soon,” emphasizing that if Hamas refuses to disarm, Israel has his permission to “go back to the streets” and “crush them completely.” Trump also claimed that he has personally held Israel back from further attacks so far. According to Trump, the immediate priority is the release of 20 Israeli hostages, while Hamas must return the bodies of the deceased and surrender its weapons as promised. Meanwhile, Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said they have already handed over all living captives and recoverable bodies, though more time and equipment are needed to locate the rest. The current truce, brokered in late September, remains fragile.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3 billion people worldwide are currently suffering from neurological and mental health disorders. The report reveals that these illnesses cause over 11 million deaths every year. Despite being preventable and treatable, a large portion of patients—especially in low-income and rural areas—remain without access to proper care due to poor health infrastructure, poverty, and social stigma. WHO data shows that only 63 countries have national policies on neurological diseases, while just 34 allocate specific budgets for mental health. The organization’s Deputy Director-General, Dr. Jeremy Farrar, expressed deep concern, noting that low-income nations have 80 times fewer neurologists than wealthy countries. WHO urged all governments to take coordinated, data-driven action to improve mental health services, expand accessibility, and prioritize mental well-being in national health strategies to curb millions of preventable deaths.

The results of the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations have been published, revealing a dramatic drop in the overall pass rate across Bangladesh. According to data from 11 education boards, only 58.83 percent of students passed this year, marking an alarming decline of 18.95 percentage points compared to last year’s results. A total of 1,251,111 students participated in the examinations under all boards. The results were officially released at 10:00 a.m. on October 16, 2025, through education board websites, exam centers, institutions, and SMS services. Education analysts and teachers expressed concern over the steep fall, pointing to possible reasons such as syllabus changes, post-pandemic academic disruptions, and stricter evaluation standards. Authorities have promised to analyze the situation and take measures to improve the pass rate in the coming years.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India amid escalating clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In an interview with Geo News, Asif alleged that Kabul has “become Delhi’s puppet” and is receiving financial support from India to destabilize the region. He warned that while Pakistan remains open to constructive dialogue, it would not tolerate ceasefire violations or attacks on its soil. The recent series of violent exchanges between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban fighters began over the weekend and flared up again on Wednesday, October 15. According to Afghan officials, at least 58 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, while Islamabad claims to have eliminated more than 200 Taliban fighters. The growing tension has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, despite both sides briefly agreeing to a 48-hour truce earlier in the week.

The prosecution is set to conclude its final arguments today in the war crimes case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and one other accused, related to atrocities allegedly committed during the July Movement. The hearing is being held at International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar. Over the past sessions, prosecutors presented witness testimonies, phone call analyses involving Hasanul Haq Inu, former Dhaka mayor Tapas, and a former DU vice-chancellor, along with video clips, reports, and other documentary evidence. Once the prosecution wraps up, state-appointed defense lawyers for Sheikh Hasina will present counterarguments. Following rebuttals from both sides, the tribunal will set a date for the verdict. In separate proceedings today, ICT-1 continues hearing testimony in the Chandkharpool six-murder case, while ICT-2 records witness statements in the Ashulia six-body burning case.

Following several days of fierce cross-border clashes, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire beginning Wednesday evening (October 15) at 6 p.m. local time. The decision, confirmed by Islamabad, aims to de-escalate one of the deadliest confrontations between the two neighbors in recent years. Pakistan stated that Afghanistan requested the ceasefire, though Kabul has yet to comment publicly. Earlier, Pakistan claimed it killed dozens of Afghan security personnel and militants during overnight operations, while destroying several Afghan tanks and military posts. In retaliation, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reported that their forces destroyed a Pakistani border post and captured a tank. Tensions have been high as Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups responsible for terrorist attacks within its borders—a claim the Taliban government denies. Both sides have now pledged to pursue dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting resolution to the border crisis.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him India will no longer purchase oil from Russia. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday (October 15), Trump said he had been unhappy with India’s continued oil trade with Moscow but welcomed Modi’s commitment to halt the imports. He described the decision as a “big step” and added that Washington would now pressure China to take similar action. When asked for confirmation, the Indian Embassy in Washington did not provide an immediate response. Analysts view this move as a potential turning point in global energy diplomacy amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, as the U.S. seeks to curtail Russia’s oil revenue. India, one of Russia’s largest oil buyers, would mark a significant shift in Moscow’s export landscape if the pledge is implemented soon.

In a historic landslide, the Shibir-backed “Sampreeti Students’ Alliance” has won 24 of the 26 positions in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election, including the top posts of Vice President (VP) and General Secretary (GS). Ibrahim Hossain Roni and Saeed Bin Habib were elected as VP and GS, respectively. The alliance also secured all five executive member positions. Only two posts went to other groups—Ayubur Rahman Taufiq from the BNP-backed panel won as Assistant General Secretary (AGS), and Tamanna Mahbub Preeti won as Assistant Sports Secretary. The Shibir-supported winners have taken major roles across cultural, welfare, IT, environment, research, and rights portfolios. This result marks a major political shift in the university’s student politics, signaling renewed dominance of Shibir-backed student groups in CU campus affairs.

At least five people were killed and 35 others injured in a powerful explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, just before a 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan was due to take effect. According to AFP, which cited an Italian NGO operating a hospital in Kabul, emergency services received multiple casualties, including women and children. Dejan Panic, the NGO’s Country Director, reported that many of the wounded were brought in by ambulance and that the blast occurred just a few kilometers from their facility. Witnesses described hearing twin explosions and seeing thick black smoke rising above the city. Streets near the blast site were littered with shattered glass and debris from damaged buildings. The incident comes amid escalating border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which both sides have vowed to resolve through dialogue during the temporary ceasefire.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced major schedule improvements for metro passengers in Dhaka. Starting Sunday, October 19, metro rail service hours will be extended by one hour daily — trains will begin operating 30 minutes earlier in the morning and continue 30 minutes later at night. On Fridays, operations will start at 2:30 p.m. instead of 3:00 p.m. DMTCL also plans to increase the number of metro trips by mid-November, reducing the gap between trains from 10 to 8 minutes. Before finalizing the changes, additional test runs will be conducted. Currently, 12 of 24 train sets are in regular operation, but with the extended schedule, 19 sets will be used. The improvements aim to accommodate growing passenger demand and enhance convenience for commuters across the Uttara–Motijheel route. Metro service was first launched in December 2022 and continues to expand toward Kamalapur.

China has vowed to “fight till the end” in its trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump announced a new 100% tariff on Chinese imports. The statement, released by China’s Ministry of Commerce on October 14, came in response to Trump’s recent social media post threatening broader export controls on critical software starting November 1. The tensions were further inflamed after China limited exports of rare earth minerals. The trade escalation has shaken global markets and cast uncertainty over a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean officials. Beijing reiterated that it remains open to dialogue but warned Washington against combining talks with threats. Despite the disputes, China’s exports grew by 8.3% in September, with shipments to the U.S. rising to $34.3 billion. The tariff conflict continues to dominate discussions at the IMF and World Bank meetings.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has clarified that the government has not raised edible oil prices, countering public confusion after refiners announced new rates. Speaking to reporters in Purbachal on Tuesday (October 14), he emphasized that traders cannot increase prices without the Commerce Ministry’s approval and warned that the government will take necessary action against unauthorized changes. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association had earlier stated that, following discussions with the ministry, prices were adjusted in line with the international market. Their announcement raised the prices of bottled and loose soybean and palm oils effective from October 14. Following this, many assumed that the government had approved the hike. However, the adviser stressed that no such directive had been issued and that the government is maintaining strict market monitoring to prevent arbitrary price increases by traders.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected Bangladesh’s GDP growth to reach around 4.9% in the current fiscal year—slightly higher than last year’s 3.97%, but still below the government’s 5.5% target. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook 2025, inflation, which had declined in recent months, is likely to rise again due to higher commodity prices. Economic activity and import costs are also expected to increase, widening the current account deficit as dollar spending outpaces earnings. Despite these challenges, the IMF predicts steady growth over the next few years, reaching 6.5% by 2029–30. Bangladesh’s current account deficit, once 4% of GDP in 2021–22, has since dropped to 1.4% in 2023–24, though further pressure on foreign reserves remains likely.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has instructed the National Citizen Party (NCP) to select a new election symbol by October 19, after deciding that the party cannot use the Shapla (water lily) emblem. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decision while speaking to reporters at the EC headquarters on Tuesday, October 14. He stated that if the NCP fails to propose an alternative symbol by the deadline, the Election Commission will assign one on its own. According to the secretary, the commission sees no necessity to include the Shapla symbol in the registration process. He added that if the NCP refuses to accept registration without the Shapla, it will be the party’s own choice. The directive signals the EC’s firm stance on regulating political symbols to maintain clarity and avoid duplication in upcoming elections.