The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has fined former IFIC Bank managing director Shah Alam Sarwar Tk 50 million after confirming “fraudulent practices” in the promotion of the “IFIC Amar Bond”. Although the bond was issued under the name of a housing company, Shreepur Township Limited, it was promoted publicly as the “IFIC Amar Bond”. Investors were “misled” to believe that IFIC Bank had issued the bond directly, while the bank was only a guarantor. Shreepur Township Limited collected funds using the bank’s name,” BSEC said. The market regulator also imposed financial penalties: Salman was fined Tk 1 billion, Shayan Tk 500 million, and credit rating agency Emerging Credit Rating Tk 1 million.

Environmentalists are raising alarm over the deteriorating condition of Ratargul, the freshwater swamp forest in Sylhet, citing both tourists’ carelessness and authorities’ negligence. Masum Billah, Forest Department officer for Sylhet Ratargul, said: “When tourist pressure is high, many people discard waste. The garbage is promptly cleared, but everyone must remain conscious.”Once considered Bangladesh’s only freshwater swamp forest, Ratargul spans 1,345 hectares, one of 22 freshwater swamp forests globally. PLASTIC POLLUTIONVisitors enter Ratargul from Majher Ghat, Chourangi Ghat, or Motor Ghat. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam confirmed both road and forest plastic clean-ups are under way.

AVIATION, TRADE AND STRATEGIC LEVERAGEEU Ambassador Michael Miller stressed the EU’s right to representation at Bangladesh’s aviation negotiation table. “Bangladesh’s aviation sector holds tremendous growth potential. Following a June meeting between Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch and interim head Muhammad Yunus in the UK, Airbus has since maintained consistent high-level engagement with Bangladeshi officials. A common refrain in aviation circles is that mixed fleets, using both Boeing and Airbus aircraft, can complicate maintenance and operations. Miller concluded with a firm reminder, saying: “Bangladesh’s aviation sector is poised for major growth.

Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam has said the government will initiate the digitisation of Bangladesh’s oldest libraries, including the historic Rammala Library in Cumilla. He made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon while visiting the Rammala Library at Ishwar Pathsala Maheshangan in Kandirpar. Mahfuj noted that the Rammala Library is Bangladesh’s third or fourth oldest manuscript archive, holding one of the largest collections of ancient manuscripts after Dhaka University and Varendra University. He observed that many manuscripts were in a “deteriorating state”, making digitisation “essential” to preserve palm-leaf manuscripts and other rare books. According to the Rammala Library authorities, the collection currently holds more than 8,500 manuscripts and rare books, making it one of the oldest archives in the Indian subcontinent.

“This election may be my last!” wrote the 77-year-old BNP secretary general on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to party leaders and activists who have supported him throughout his career, bdnews24.com reports. The post came a day after Fakhrul was included in the list of potential BNP candidates for the election, set for February. I sincerely thank all the activists who have stood by me throughout my life!” Fakhrul wrote. Fakhrul began his political journey as a leftist with Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani’s National Awami Party (NAP) before joining the BNP. He became acting secretary general in 2011 and was elected secretary general at the sixth national council in 2016.

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has received a two-match suspension for breaching the ICC's code of conduct during matches against India at the Asia Cup in September, the governing body said on Tuesday. Emotions ran high around the matches between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a brief military conflict in May. Rauf, who received four demerit points for two offences, misses Pakistan's One-Day International (ODI) matches against South Africa on Tuesday and Thursday. Yadav was also fined 30 percent of his match fees in one match. Bumrah and Farhan were given official warnings.

Pakistan win ODI against South Africa in last over as Agha shows the waySalman Ali Agha top scored for Pakistan as they snatched a last-over victory over South Africa on Tuesday in an exciting finish to the first of three One Day Internationals at Faisalabad. Salman scored 62 as Pakistan won by two wickets with two balls remaining as they successfully chased down a 264-run target. Pakistan put South Africa in to bat and the tourists’ opening pair put on a 98-run partnership before teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored 57 off 60 balls on his ODI debut, was expertly caught at point. Quinton de Kock, back in the ODI ranks after a two-year absence, was South Africa’s top scorer with 63 and Corbin Bosch made a quick-fire 41 in the last overs before South Africa were bowled out for 263 with five balls to spare. The two teams meet again at Iqbal Stadium, hosting international cricket after a 17-year absence, on Thursday.

“In 1990, the Awami League, Jamaat, and BNP pledged reforms, but none of them kept their promises. “He tried political reform but did not succeed. We doubt how much reform BNP can truly deliver.”Nasiruddin also blamed BNP’s “corruption and wrong politics” for repeated uprisings. “They may argue that their name cannot be changed democratically, but I ask -- can you form a political party using Islam’s name in a democracy? It’s time for Jamaat and BNP to use this opportunity wisely.”Despite his criticism, Nasiruddin hinted at possible electoral alliances.

Violence, arson, and vandalism have broken out between supporters of the nominated and denied BNP candidates in Meherpur-2, prompting police and Army deployment in Gangni to restore law and orderOn Monday afternoon, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party’s nomination of 237 candidates in Dhaka. In Meherpur-2, former MP Amzad Hossain was nominated as the party’s Paddy Sheaf candidate. District BNP President Javed Masud Milton had sought the nomination but was denied. That evening, Milton’s supporters declared Amzad unwelcome in the area and staged protests, accompanied by acts of vandalism. The unrest continued into Tuesday morning.

A crude bomb has exploded outside the private office of a National Citizen Party (NCP) leader in Shariatpur, triggering panic in the locality. The blast occurred around Monday night near the municipal Eidgah ground beside the office of Sabuj Talukder, the district NCP’s senior joint coordinator, said Helal Uddin, chief of Palang Model Police Station. The NCP leader alleged that the incident followed a phone threat from a “Bangladesh Chhatra League leader”. Police and locals said a group of assailants threw several crude bombs outside the office before fleeing the scene. Sabuj said, “For a long time, I’ve been receiving death threats from people identifying themselves as members of the banned organisation Chhatra League.

Low pressure over Bay becomes well-marked but unlikely to intensifyA low-pressure system over the east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked low, prompting authorities to issue danger signal No. 3 for all maritime ports, though forecasters said the system is unlikely to gain more strength. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Tuesday afternoon that the weather system could weaken before making landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast. “There is little chance of the well-marked low intensifying into a depression,” said meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana. The formation comes only days after Cyclone Montha swept across the Bay, making landfall in India’s Andhra Pradesh.

The letter called on the UN and UNDP to suspend electoral assistance until an environment conducive to free and inclusive elections is restored. 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”. In the 12th parliamentary election of January 2024, boycotted by BNP and like-minded groups, the Awami League ceded seats to the opposition Jatiya Party allegedly to portray the election as participatory. The Awami League won all three elections and governed for over 15 years, until its ouster on Aug 5, 2024, during the student-led mass uprising. The court observed that the three elections held under the Awami League “destroyed public confidence” due to the failure to ensure free and fair conditions.

In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon, forcing schools and government offices to shut down as it brought fierce winds and torrential rain. Floods in Cebu City had subsided late on Tuesday but power was still out in many places and telecommunications services were intermittent, a Reuters journalist said. After the flood receded in one area of Cebu City, cars shifted by fast-flowing water were left piled up on top of each other, some overturned. The typhoon was expected to leave the Philippines late on Wednesday or early Thursday. Photos and videos from the Philippine Red Cross showed rescue workers wading through knee-deep floodwaters in Cebu City, using boats to reach stranded residents.

After prolonged debate and discussion, the Election Commission (EC) has allocated the “Shapla Koli”, or water lily bud symbol to the National Citizen Party (NCP), granting the newly formed political group official registration. On Tuesday evening, the EC issued a public notice seeking objections, if any, to the registration and symbol allocation for the three parties. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the final gazette notification on the registration of political parties is expected to be published between Nov 14 and 15. The National Citizen Party (NCP) was launched on Feb 28 by several leading figures involved in the July Uprising. Currently 53 political parties hold official registration.

Charan Cultural Centre has demanded that the government withdraw its decision to abolish the posts of music and physical education teachers in government primary schools. Accusing “religious fascist” groups of attempting to shape Bangladesh’s education system in “Taliban-style”, the statement alleged that the government had “surrendered to several communal religious parties”. Facing criticism from faith-based groups, the Ministry of Education on Sunday scrapped the newly-created posts of music and physical education teachers. Charan Cultural Centre said the two teaching positions were originally introduced to ensure children’s sound physical health and balanced mental growth. “The decision to abolish music and physical education posts in primary schools is just a continuation of that pattern,” it said.