Revised Power of Attorney regulations allow overseas Bangladeshis to manage property without passportSyedur Rahman, a Bangladeshi who left the country nearly 20 years ago and acquired US citizenship, had surrendered his Bangladeshi passport. In February, the interim government revised the Power of Attorney rules, removing the mandatory requirement for a Bangladeshi passport to complete the process. He said, “Under the 2015 Power of Attorney rules, anyone wishing to grant authority had to possess a passport. FIRST REFORM IN 130 YEARS CAME IN 2012The Powers of Attorney Act, 1882, was enacted in undivided India, consisting of six sections. Later in September that year, the old Powers of Attorney Act, 1882, was repealed and replaced by the Powers of Attorney Act, 2012.

With the parliamentary polls approaching, the Election Commission is now waiting to hold dialogue with political parties, a crucial step before launching large-scale election campaigns. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud told bdnews24.com on Tuesday, “The registration process for political parties is almost complete. According to the roadmap:• The dialogue with political parties and stakeholders was planned for the last week of September and began on Sep 29. “The code of conduct gazette has been sent for publication under the revised RPO ordinance. Amid debates among political parties over the timing, the government has asked parties to hold internal discussions to reach a unified position.

British House of Lords member Alexander Charles Carlile has cautioned that Bangladesh’s next national election must avoid repeating “past mistakes”. He also called for urgent reforms to elevate the International Crimes Tribunal to international standards, which is currently conducting the trial of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. After returning to power with a landslide in 2008, the Awami League ruled Bangladesh for over 15 years through three contentious elections. Among the three elections held under the Awami League, most major opposition parties boycotted two of them, raising questions over their inclusivity. Lord Carlile said, “The International Crimes Tribunal process is under way.

Abdul Hakim, a businessman and BNP activist from Chattogram, has been shot dead by “hired killers” amid disputes over control of the local sand market and regional dominance. According to the statement, the arrested suspects confessed in court to their involvement in the killing. On the evening of Oct 7, a group of men stopped Hakim near Madunaghat Bridge in Hathazari Upazila and shot him. Hakim was the owner of Hamim Agro Farm in Raozan and was actively involved in local BNP politics. The arrested suspects include Abdullah Khokon, alias Lengra Khokon, Maruf, and Saklayen Hossain.

Earlier, a taskforce had recommended a minimum of six months’ experience and investments of at least Tk 1 million to qualify for margin loans. KEY RESTRICTIONS• Investors without regular income -- such as homemakers, students, and retired persons -- will not be eligible for margin loans. • Margin funds cannot be invested in companies whose production has ceased, or those categorised as “B”, “Z”, or “G”. • Investment using margin funds is prohibited in firms listed on SME, ATB, and OTC boards. • Shares that are locked, blocked, pledged, or held by directors cannot be used as collateral for margin loans.

Trump to meet Central Asian presidents as US seeks to counter China, Russia influenceUS President Donald Trump will host the leaders of five Central Asian nations at the White House on Thursday as the US seeks to gain influence in a region long dominated by Russia and increasingly courted by China. In particular, the US is pursuing new partnerships to secure critical minerals, energy supplies, and overland trade routes that circumvent its geopolitical rivals. Their leaders will also attend a dinner with Trump at the White House on Thursday. Rich in minerals and energy, the five nations remain economically tied to Russia, their former Soviet ruler, while neighboring China has expanded its influence through large-scale infrastructure and mining investments. China at times has leveraged its dominance by restricting exports, underscoring Washington’s urgency to secure alternative sources.

The interim government has approved a draft ordinance to prevent and remedy enforced disappearances, mandating that trials be completed within 120 working days after charges are framed. Once promulgated, the ordinance will authorise the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to receive and investigate complaints related to enforced disappearances. It also stipulates the death penalty for establishing or operating secret detention facilities, known locally as “Ayna Ghor” (Mirror House). “They had hundreds of Ayna Ghor where victims were held. The NHRC will have the authority to receive and investigate complaints related to enforced disappearances.

Santal murder trial in Gaibandha remains pending after nine yearsThe trial of the murder of three Santals in Gobindaganj Upazila, Gaibandha, has yet to take place after nine years, as the government’s promised action remains unfulfilled. On Thursday, marking the ninth anniversary of the killings, speakers at separate events in Gaibandha and Gobindaganj called for justice, saying the Santal community continues to live in “fear and insecurity”. On Nov 6, 2016, authorities from Rangpur Sugar Mill in Gobindaganj Upazila attempted to evict the ethnic community from their homes. Clashes broke out between the Santals and police, along with sugar mill workers and employees, leaving 30 Santals injured. In the morning, wreaths were laid and candles lit at a temporary martyr’s altar in Joypur village of Gobindaganj Upazila, marking the anniversary of the killings.

The Election Commission has registered 66 local organisations as observers for the next parliamentary election. “A total of 66 local election observers have been granted final registration. Election observers were introduced for the first time before the ninth parliamentary election. 75 local organisations observed the ninth parliamentary election. The commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal registered 96 observer organisations before the 12th parliamentary election.

Ukraine jails Russian soldier for life for killing POW in first such rulingRussian soldier Dmytro Kurashov, accused of committing a war crime by executing a Ukrainian serviceman who had surrendered during combat, attends a court hearing expected to deliver a verdict, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine Nov 6, 2025. REUTERS/Inna VarenytsiaRussian soldier Dmytro Kurashov, accused of committing a war crime by executing a Ukrainian serviceman who had surrendered during combat, attends a court hearing expected to deliver a verdict, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine Nov 6, 2025. REUTERS/Inna VarenytsiaA Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier on Thursday to life in prison after finding him guilty of killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war, the first time Ukraine has jailed a suspect on such charges since Russia's invasion. His sentencing carries symbolic importance for Ukraine, which says Russian forces have executed numerous Ukrainian prisoners of war, but that the suspects are usually outside their jurisdiction. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022, denies its troops carry out war crimes.

Bangladesh Bank says investors’ interests can’t be safeguarded in five banks’ mergerBangladesh Bank has confirmed that general shareholders will not benefit from the merger of five troubled Shariah-based private banks. Governor Ahsan H Mansur announced on Wednesday that all shares of Exim Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and Social Islami Bank would be declared “zero” as the merger process begins. The central bank declared the banks “ineffective”, dissolved their boards, forced management resignations, and appointed administrators to manage the process. The central bank noted that the merger would follow international best practices under the Bank Resolution Act. It confirmed that at present, the interest of the general investors or shareholders cannot be protected in the merger.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has released the supplementary results of the 44th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exams with final nominations for the appointment of a total of 1,681 candidates. The commission issued a notification releasing the results on Thursday. PSC spokesperson SM Matiur Rahman told bdnews24.com, “The supplementary and consolidated results of the 44th BCS examination of 2021 have been released by canceling the nominations for the same cadre and lower cadre posts of the preference order.”In the supplementary results, 250 people in the administration cadre, 10 in foreign affairs, 50 in police, 14 in Ansar, 30 in audit and accounts, 11 in tax, eight in cooperatives, seven in railway, 10 in information, 23 in postal, six in commerce, 27 in the family planning, and three in food cadre received recommendations.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has begun distributing nomination forms both online and offline for the parliamentary polls. Tasnim Jara, secretary of the NCP election management committee, made the announcement at a media briefing on Thursday at the party’s temporary office in Dhaka’s Banglamotor. She said, “The nomination forms can be collected through three methods. NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwary, head of the election management committee, said the preliminary nominations will be announced by Convenor Nahid Islam by Nov 15, while the distribution of nomination forms will remain open until Nov 13. He added, “The minimum price of the nomination form is set at Tk 10,000.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has approved six cases against 11 people from six recruiting agencies on charges of embezzling and laundering about Tk 5.25 billion. Named in a separate case, Kiron is accused of taking an additional Tk 584.45 million from 3,489 people. His wife, the company’s managing director, has also been charged. The final case names Thanex International Limited former managing director Abdullah Shahed, Director Md Joynal Abedin Nomani and Managing Director Shamsher Ahmed. Under the previous agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia, only 10 designated recruiting agencies were allowed to send workers until 2016.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has dismissed the letter sent by the Awami League to the UN calling for the suspension of assistance for the national elections as “ineffective”. Due to its suspension, the Awami League cannot participate in the elections scheduled for February. As a result, the Awami League candidates won 153 of 300 seats uncontested in the 10th parliament, which the BNP described as a “parliament without votes”. The student-led July Uprising, which removed the Awami League from power, involved severe government crackdowns. Following demands from student groups, the National Citizen Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and several religion-based parties, the Advisory Council suspended Awami League activities in May.