The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has pleaded with the Supreme Court to revive the caretaker government system, saying the approaching general election must be overseen by the existing interim administration. The party concluded its appeal hearing on Wednesday against the verdict that nullified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which had established the caretaker government system. The non-partisan caretaker system is a fundamental structure of our Constitution, designed to preserve democracy. I told the court that whatever verdict is delivered should apply to the next election. “I do not think the election, scheduled for February, will be held under the caretaker system.

Bangladesh’s inflation has eased to a 39-month low of 8.17 percent in October, driven by a notable decline in food prices despite higher costs for non-food goods and services. A 0.56-point decline in food prices in October caused the drop. Overall inflation fell by 0.19 percentage points month-on-month. Food inflation fell from 7.64 percent in September to 7.08 percent in October -- a 0.56-point decline -- while non-food inflation rose from 8.98 percent to 9.13 percent. Rural inflation dropped to 8.16 percent from 8.47 percent, whereas urban inflation increased slightly from 8.28 percent to 8.33 percent.

Rishabh Pant will make his return to India's squad for the two-Test series against South Africa, the country's cricket board announced on Wednesday, marking his comeback from a foot fracture that sidelined him from the series against West Indies. Fast bowler Akash Deep also returns to the squad after missing the West Indies series. The first Test of the series against South Africa begins on Nov 14 in Kolkata before they move to Guwahati for the second test from November 22. South Africa have skipper Temba Bavuma back in the squad after a calf injury kept him out of the series in Pakistan last month. India are third in the World Test Championship while reigning champions South Africa are fourth.

A man has been killed and BNP’s Chattogram-8 candidate Ershad Ullah has been wounded when gunfire broke out during a campaign visit at Bayezid Bostami. Ershad, also the convenor of the BNP’s Chattogram metropolitan unit, and three others were shot and taken to hospital. The dead, Sarwar Hossain Babla, was listed by police as a top criminal who had recently claimed to be a BNP activist. Ershad Ullah and Shanto, who were beside him, were also hit,” the leader said. The BNP leader claimed the shooting was not an internal clash within the party or its affiliated groups.

Ahead of the next parliamentary election, the Election Commission has instructed that all voter transfer applications must be resolved by November 17. According to the notice, applications for voter transfer due to change of residence will be accepted until Nov 10. Registration officers are required to approve or reject these applications and complete the process by Nov 17. Applications submitted by Bangladeshi citizens residing abroad for voter registration must be investigated and resolved promptly, the NID branch has directed. A letter signed by Khan Abi Shahanur Khan, director (registration & expatriates) of the National Identity Registration Subdivision, said investigation reports must be completed by Nov 6.

‘Crimes against humanity’: Army on whether detained officers still in serviceThe Bangladesh Army has said it is awaiting legal clarification from the interim government on the employment status of its 15 officers currently in jail pending trial on charges of crimes against humanity. “It is a legal procedural matter,” Brig Gen Mustafizur said. “As you know, both the Army Act, 1952 and the International Crimes Tribunal Act, 1972 are special acts. When asked whether the detained officers are still officially employed, he replied: “That too is a legal procedural issue. Whether army officers can be considered as holding a ‘public office’ also needs clarification.

Bangladesh has reported 10 more deaths due to dengue fever -- the highest number of fatalities due to the mosquito-borne disease this year, while 1,069 patients have been admitted to hospitals. This brings the total number of dengue deaths this year to 302. October saw the highest number of fatalities with 80 deaths, followed by September with 76 and July with 41. No dengue deaths were reported in March. With the latest admissions, the total number of patients hospitalised this year has reached 74,992.

Bangladesh has reported 10 more deaths due to dengue fever -- the highest number of fatalities due to the mosquito-borne disease this year, while 1,069 patients have been admitted to hospitals. This brings the total number of dengue deaths this year to 302. October saw the highest number of fatalities with 80 deaths, followed by September with 76 and July with 41. No dengue deaths were reported in March. With the latest admissions, the total number of patients hospitalised this year has reached 74,992.

Elderly freedom fighter tied to tree, garlanded with shoes and handed over to policeAn elderly freedom fighter was allegedly subjected to public humiliation in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon Upazila, tied to a tree and garlanded with shoes by villagers, before being handed over to police over a sexual assault allegation. Pagla Police chief Ferdous Alam said the incident occurred in a village in Moshakhali union around 11:30am on Tuesday. Citing the case statement, officer Ferdous said Karim allegedly tried to sexually abuse a teenage girl when he found her alone at home. The police officer added that the father of the victim teen filed a case accusing him of sexual assault. Imtiaz Ahmed, president of Mymensingh Samaj Rupantor Sanskritik Sangha, said: "Tying an elderly man to a tree and putting a garland of shoes around his neck is nothing but social degradation.

The Milestone School and College plane crash, which claimed 36 lives, was caused by a trainee pilot’s flight error, an investigation committee has found. The committee submitted its report to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday. Citing the report, Shafiqul said: “The accident occurred due to a pilot’s flight error. Today, its chief, Lt Gen Kamrul Hasan, submitted the report to the chief advisor. The building on the Milestone campus was also not constructed in line with RAJUK building codes.

The Bangladesh Bank has formally initiated the merger process of five Shariah-based banks that have been under discussion. In the first phase, the central bank dissolved the boards of directors of these banks and instructed all managing directors to resign. The banks are First Security Islami Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, Union Bank PLC, Exim Bank PLC and Social Islami Bank PLC. The MDs of these banks were summoned to an emergency meeting with the central bank governor on Wednesday afternoon. Union Bank’s Managing Director Humayun Kabir told bdnews24.com, “The letter has reached the bank.

Police remind public of reward for weapons stolen during July Uprising as polls approachAs the national elections draw near, the Police Headquarters has renewed its call for information on weapons and ammunition looted during the July Uprising, reminding the public of the government’s earlier reward announcement. Information leading to the recovery of a pistol or shotgun will carry a Tk 50,000 reward, while each recovered bullet will fetch Tk 500. Police stations and structures were set ablaze, vehicles torched, and large quantities of arms and ammunition looted. Three days later, the Police Headquarters urged those in possession of the stolen weapons to surrender them, setting a Sept 3 deadline and warning of legal action for non-compliance. At the time, police reported recovering 1,890 looted weapons, 92,000 rounds of ammunition, 2,880 tear gas shells, and 296 sound grenades.

A fire has broken out on the ground floor of a 14-storey building in the Kaderabad Housing area of Dhala’s Mohammadpur. Fire Service Duty Officer Rozina Akhter said firefighters rushed to the scene and brought the flames under control by 12:30 pm. “The Fire Service took a child to the hospital after she fell ill due to the smoke,” she said. Residents of the building hurried downstairs when news of the fire spread, triggering panic, according to a bdnews24.com report. Mohammadpur Police Station chief Kazi Rafiq told bdnews24.com that the fire was contained quickly and did not spread.

Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, the twin brother of Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho who was killed in the July Uprising, has joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He joined the party on Tuesday night at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan after submitting the membership form to Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the event virtually from London and welcomed Snigdho to the party. Mugdho, a student of the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), was killed on Jul 18 last year in Uttara’s Azampur during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement while distributing water to the protesters. A law graduate from Southeast University, Snigdho is currently serving as the deputy chief national commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts.

India's Financial Crime Agency has frozen 75 billion rupees (US$ 853 million) worth of properties linked to companies of the Reliance Anil Ambani Group as part of a money-laundering probe, it said in a statement on Monday. The troubled conglomerate is owned by the younger brother of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Reliance Infrastructure, another Anil Ambani Group company, said there was no impact on its operations, shareholders and employees from the ED's action. Investigators have detected the "fraudulent diversion of public money" by entities including Reliance Group-controlled companies Reliance Home Finance Ltd and Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, the ED said. ED said Reliance Communications Ltd and its group companies diverted more than 136 billion rupees through loan "evergreening", a practice where new loans are given to stressed borrowers to enable them to repay existing loans.