6 rights groups call on interim govt to end 'broad ban' on Awami League activitiesA group of six human rights organisations has called on Bangladesh’s interim government to end its ban on the Awami League's political activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act. In a joint letter to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday, the groups claimed the ban “excessively restricts freedom of association, assembly, and expression and has been used to arrest Awami League members and perceived supporters engaged in peaceful activities”. The six organisations that signed the joint statement are CIVICUS, Committee to Protect Journalists, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, and Tech Global Institute. Reform the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in line with the Paris Principles. End the broad ban on Awami League activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The interim government has sent nine secretaries, who were previously made officers on special duty (OSD) at various times following the power shift, into retirement. The list includes senior secretaries Monjur Hossain and Mashiur Rahman, and secretaries Md Shamsul Arefin, Md Mizanur Rahman, Md Azizur Rahman, Md Nurul Alam, Farid Uddin Ahmad, AKA Matiur Rahman, and Shafiul Azim. Senior Secretary Monjur last served as the secretary of the Bridges Division and also as the executive director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority. Mashiur had been made OSD after serving as secretary of the Security Service Division under the home ministry. Meanwhile, Shamsul last held the position of secretary at the Information and Communication Technology Division before being made OSD.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of shares worth Tk 80 billion linked to S Alam Group Chairman Md Saiful Alam and 105 affiliated companies. The ACC said the total of 5.13 billion shares was at risk of being transferred or disposed of, which could complicate future recovery efforts. The agency’s Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque submitted the petition, citing an ongoing money laundering investigation against Saiful and his associates. The commission said a joint investigation team is probing the allegations and “found evidence” that attempts were being made to transfer ownership of the shares. Earlier on Sept 25, the same court ordered an Interpol red notice against Saiful, the group’s Vice- Chairman Abdus Samad, and Director Mohammad Abdullah Hasan.

Children from the families of the slain in July Uprising now have the opportunity to study in government and private schools and colleges free of charge. To implement these education programmes, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has instructed the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Technical and Madrasah Education Division, and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to provide free education facilities, reports bdnews24.com. On Monday, secondary education Senior Assistant Secretary Nusrat Jahan said, "Directions were given on Sept 21 to take action in this regard." The directive says free education will be provided to the children of July Martyrs' families to "honour the sacrifices of the thousands of unarmed patriotic students and members of the public who died in the July Uprising". Following this, on Oct 15, the Technical and Madrasa Education Division instructed the Directorate of Technical Education to take necessary steps to provide free education for children of July Martyrs' families enrolled in technical institutions.

Police have detained three people in connection with the murder of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal leader Md Jobayed Hossen, including a college student identified as the prime suspect -- who was handed over to the authorities by his own mother. The detained include the college student, a female 12th-grader who was acquainted with the victim, and another individual whose name police have not disclosed. Investigators suggest that the female student held a distinct affection for Jobayed, a sentiment that may have drawn jealousy from the arrested "boyfriend". This alleged romantic resentment is thought to be the driving force behind the boyfriend and his friends reportedly murdering Jobayed, reports bdnews24.com. Bangshal Police chief Rafiqul Islam said the girl admitted during initial questioning that she had been in a nine-year relationship with the college student.

The court also granted a revision petition filed by Salman’s mother regarding the case over her son’s death. Following his death, Salman’s father Kamaruddin initially filed an unnatural death case. But on Jul 24, 1997, he appealed to turn it into a murder case, alleging that his son had been killed. The court then directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the murder allegations alongside the unnatural death case. After Kamaruddin’s death, Salman’s mother, Neela Chowdhury, pursued the case further.

Emiliano Buendia came off the bench to secure Aston Villa an impressive 2-1 comeback win at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday after Morgan Rogers struck a superb equaliser for the visitors. Spurs made a flying start when Rodrigo Bentancur put them in front with a close-range finish after five minutes after Joao Palhinha headed back a deep Mohammed Kudus cross. It has been quite a couple of weeks for Rogers who has emerged as an unlikely challenger to Jude Bellingham for a place in the England team at next year's World Cup. He scored his first senior international goal 10 days ago in the friendly win over Wales and earned his ninth cap in the thrashing of Latvia. It was a sobering afternoon for Tottenham who would have gone second in the standings with a win, but after good starts to both halves they faded and lacked creativity.

The groups under investigation are: Bashundhara Group, Beximco Group, S Alam Group, Nabil Group, NASSA Group, Orion Group, Sikder Group, Aramit Group, Summit Group, and Premier Group. Premier Group:Team led by Deputy Director Sharif, assisted by Deputy Director Mostafizur Rahman, Assistant Director Azgar Hossain, and Assistant Sub-Director Sabrina Zaman. NASSA Group:Led by Deputy Director Md Rauful Islam, with Assistant Director Sohakul Islam and Md Abdul Malek. Former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and associates:Initially led by Deputy Director Md Gulshan Anowar, now under Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman. Sikder Group:Director Md Manzur Morshed leads with Assistant Directors Md Ashiqur Rahman and Md Kamiab Aftahi Un Nabi.

Car slams into motorcycle, killing two riders on Mawa Expressway in MunshiganjTwo people on a motorcycle have died after being hit by a car on the Dhaleshwari Bridge along the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway in Sirajdikhan Upazila of Munshiganj, police say. The accident occurred around 10:30pm on Monday on the service road in the Mawa-bound lane of Kuchiamora. Hasara Highway Police Sub-Inspector Nur Mohammad said the victims’ identities are yet to be confirmed. Citing witnesses, the officer said the men were heading towards Mawa when an unidentified vehicle from behind ran them over, killing them instantly. He added the police are trying to identify the victims, whose bodies have been recovered and kept at Hasara Highway Police Station.

A mob has beaten up a local journalist in Chattogram's Sitakunda before handing him over to the police. No cases are filed against him and he was later taken to the hospital for treatment.A video of the attack has gone viral on social media.The video shows a mob grabbing the journalist, and punching and beating him with their fists. The attackers are heard saying that they had caught a "big Awami League agent", alleging that Liton had "destroyed people's lives by spreading fake news". They also attempted to take Liton away as they beat him. Rakesh said he and his older brother were beaten when they attempted to protect their father.Liton was first taken to the Upazila Health Complex with injuries and sent from there to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.�"bdnews24.com

Mechanical faults have completely halted electricity generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Station in Dinajpur, according to officials. Chief Engineer Abu Bakar Siddique said on Sunday morning that a boiler pipe had burst, shutting down Unit 1. Unit 2, one of the 125MW units, has been inactive since late 2020. All electricity generated at Barapukuria feeds directly into the national grid. As a result, any disruption at the plant has a significant impact on Bangladesh’s overall power supply.

Development spending edges up to 5% in first quarter amid recovery from political unrestImplementation of Bangladesh’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the first quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year has risen slightly compared with the same period last year, which was marked by political turmoil. In September alone, expenditure stood at 2.70 percent of the allocation, compared with 2.18 percent in the corresponding month a year earlier. Spending on development projects is usually lower at the beginning of a fiscal year and tends to accelerate as months progress. Officials said the anti-government movement in July last year slowed down implementation compared to usual. By the end of 2024–25, only 67.85 percent of the revised ADP allocation had been spent -- around 13 percentage points lower than the previous year’s 80.63 percent.

Mother hands over son to police as key suspect in Jagannath University student murderPolice have detained three people in connection with the murder of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal leader Md Jobayed Hossen, including a college student identified as the prime suspect -- who was handed over to the authorities by his own mother. The detained include the college student, a female 12th-grader who was acquainted with the victim, and another individual whose name police have not disclosed. Investigators suggest that the female student held a distinct affection for Jobayed, a sentiment that may have drawn jealousy from the arrested “boyfriend”. This alleged romantic resentment is thought to be the driving force behind the boyfriend and his friends reportedly murdering Jobayed. Bangshal Police chief Rafiqul Islam said the girl admitted during initial questioning that she had been in a nine-year relationship with the college student.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of shares worth Tk 80 billion linked to S Alam Group Chairman Md Saiful Alam and 105 affiliated companies. The ACC said the total of 5.13 billion shares was at risk of being transferred or disposed of, which could complicate future recovery efforts. The agency’s Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque submitted the petition, citing an ongoing money laundering investigation against Saiful and his associates. The commission said a joint investigation team is probing the allegations and “found evidence” that attempts were being made to transfer ownership of the shares. Earlier on Sept 25, the same court ordered an Interpol red notice against Saiful, the group’s Vice- Chairman Abdus Samad, and Director Mohammad Abdullah Hasan.

On Monday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain said the chargesheet will be submitted to the court soon. On Feb 20, the ACC filed a case against 27 individuals for embezzling Tk 2.97 billion from Janata Bank. According to the charges, despite lacking eligibility, 22 AnonTex Group companies were granted loans on fraudulent documents under relaxed conditions. A total of Tk 5.31 billion was embezzled, which with interest has now reached Tk 11.30 billion, it added. Barkat served two five-year terms as Janata Bank chief, stepping down in Sep 2014.