Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has shared details of the “cancellation” of 10 Bangladesh-India projects and agreements. Posting a photocard on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, he said: “Discussions on the agreements began after the interim government took office, and the decision was made following a proper review.”However, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has remained tight-lipped about the matter. His photocard also lists the Kushiyara River water sharing project as “suspended”. Additionally, he noted the reconsideration of the electricity import agreement with Adani Power and the renewal or reconsideration of the Ganges water sharing agreement. Asif's information says that the Teesta River water-sharing treaty, previously in draft form, is now “under discussion for implementation”.

The July activists have demanded the introduction of specific identity cards to recognise their status and ensure legal protection for their families. “They stressed the need for necessary measures to secure legal protection for July families,” the statement said. The statement added that the activists told the commission they had been denied treatment at different hospitals since Eid-ul-Azha, despite holding official health cards. July activists expressed regret over the incident and appealed to the commission for help in withdrawing the four cases filed in its aftermath. The commission said it would inform the relevant authorities of the demands and provide support to help resolve their issues.

A crude bomb has exploded outside the venue of a National Citizen Party coordination meeting in Bogura. Inside the Bogura District Council hall on Monday, the meeting continued with NCP Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam present. The incident took place around 3:30pm in front of the council building, according to Bogura Sadar Police chief Hasan Bashir. NCP district leader Sunny said three grenades were thrown into the council premises during the meeting. Officer Bashir said the grenades were thrown from the roof of a building near the Karatoya River.

Crude bomb explodes near NCP meeting hall in Bogura, no casualties reportedA crude bomb has exploded outside the venue of a National Citizen Party coordination meeting in Bogura. Inside the Bogura District Council hall on Monday, the meeting continued with NCP Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam present. The incident took place around 3:30pm in front of the council building, according to Bogura Sadar Police chief Hasan Bashir. NCP district leader Sunny said three grenades were thrown into the council premises during the meeting. Officer Bashir said the grenades were thrown from the roof of a building near the Karatoya River.

Ex-narcotics officer, five others sentenced to prison for 1,050g gold robberyA Dhaka court has sentenced former assistant director of the Department of Narcotics Control SM Shakib Hossain and six others to different terms of imprisonment in a case of robbing a businessman of about 1,050g gold in Old Dhaka four and a half years ago. Former DNC driver Ibrahim Sikder has been convicted in the case along with Jibon Pal, Aminul Islam, Ratan Kumar Sen, and Emdadul Haque. The remaining four have been sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 5,000, also with three months in default. According to the case details, on Jan 7, 2021, several men posing as Detective Branch (DB) officers abducted Siddiqur and looted the gold. The verdict was delivered on Monday after recording testimonies from 26 witnesses, hearing the defendants’ statements, and concluding final arguments.

Bangladeshi journalist and writer Abdullah Al Imran has been selected for the international reading series “Voices of Freedom”, organised by literary organisation PEN Canada. The event is scheduled for Nov 12 evening at the Toronto Reference Library, where Imran will present his own writings. Imran previously worked with several media outlets in Bangladesh before joining the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the University of Toronto. According to PEN Canada, Imran will begin his presentation in Bangla, and later read an excerpt from his selected essay “Living by Writing the Truth”. Now in its third year, Voices of Freedom is part of PEN Canada’s “Writers in Exile” programme, which features authors who have faced censorship, exile, or persecution.

Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has said law-enforcing agencies do not find the current situation “worrying” ahead of the parliamentary polls, expected in the first half of February. On Monday, he said a “conducive environment” exists for holding the polls. Rather, I’ve seen a commitment to ensure a good election,” he said after a three-hour preparatory meeting with security representatives at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka. Monday’s meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and attended by the four election commissioners, the home secretary, EC secretary, and senior representatives of law enforcement. We will fine-tune these matters step by step -- individually or jointly -- with the sole aim of ensuring a free, fair, and participatory election.

A Dhaka court has ordered the filing of a murder case in connection with the death of popular film actor Salman Shah, nearly three decades after his death rocked Bangladesh’s entertainment industry. 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.

A new hacker group named “Mysterious Elephant” has been detected operating across the Asia-Pacific region, according to Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT). The group has primarily been targeting government departments and foreign affairs-related organisations across the region. Kaspersky also reports that the hackers have attempted to steal WhatsApp data from their targets. The group is now using a combination of custom-built tools and open-source software to conduct its targeted cyber operations. Another aspect of the campaign involves the theft of WhatsApp data, where specialised modules are used to collect shared files, photos, and documents from the app.

In contrast, former member of parliament and Awami League leader Haji Mohammad Salim and his son, ex-lawmaker Solaiman Salim, kept their distance. At one point, Nasir spoke briefly with his lawyer, while Afridi kept looking toward the gallery for his relatives. The hearing began with the case involving Nasir and Afridi -- an attempted murder charge linked to the attack on Durjoy Ahmed. The Mahfuz murder case involves the killing of student activist Shraban on Aug 5, 2024, the day the Awami League government fell. His wife, Rozina Akhter, later filed a murder case at Shahbagh Police Station on Mar 14.

The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) has said that the country's exporters are “alarmed” and foreign buyers are “anxious” after the fire at the cargo village at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He said, "The recent fire at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, one of the most important pieces of infrastructure for the Bangladesh's economy, has become a big warning sign for our business community and export-oriented industries." "We’re alarmed and our foreign buyers are also anxious.”Hatem said, "Incidents like this clearly prove that the security measures at the cargo village are not effective enough and that it is extremely risky in terms of security." 3) Modernisation and expansion of the cargo village, ensuring future security. 6) Make the warehouse management of the cargo village fully automated and base it on modern technology.

The protesters took up positions at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Monday morning and started a rally. The teachers and employees will not leave Shaheed Minar until their demands are met, and classes will not start." However, the teachers and employees have refused to budge from their demand of a 20 percent housing allowance. Along with their basic salary, they currently receive Tk 500 per month as a medical allowance. Earlier, MPO-listed teachers received two annual festival allowances each at 25 percent of basic salary.

Exporters warn Dhaka airport cargo fire’s total losses could be many times the destroyed goodsThe devastating blaze at Shahjalal International Airport’s Cargo Village in Dhaka may cause financial losses many times greater than the value of the goods actually destroyed, according to exporters. Pharmaceutical companies often import expensive, critical, or small-quantity raw materials by air to reduce logistical complications and expedite production, he said. “On average, I receive about $100,000 in raw materials per shipment. “We are trying to monitor the status of our raw materials through C&F agents and by visiting personally. “Most of our pharmaceutical raw materials arrive by air, and temperature-sensitive items also come by air.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has visited Atiqul Islam, a July activist who was injured during a protest ahead of the July Charter signing ceremony.Nahid went to Atiqul's house in Uttara's Azampur around 9pm on Saturday to inquire about his condition.Atiqul lost his right hand after being shot by police during last year's July Uprising that toppled the Awami League regime. Doctors later fitted him with a prosthetic hand.Hours before the July Charter signing ceremony on Friday, the July activists and their relatives gathered at the venue, demanding state recognition, legal protection and rehabilitation for those injured in the uprising.During the event at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building, National Consensus Commission Vice-President Ali Riaz announced that amendments would be made to the July Charter to address their demands.Despite that assurance, when the July activists refused to leave, police chased and beat them with batons.Officers also used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.Atiqul's prosthetic arm was torn off during the police action. �"bdnews24.com

Election Commission set to sit with chiefs of security forces on MondayThe Election Commission (EC) is set to hold a dialogue with the chiefs of law-enforcing agencies ahead of the 13th national elections. The meeting will be held at 10:30am on Monday at Dhaka's Agargaon. TOPICS TO BE COVEREDAn agenda has been set for this pre-preparatory meeting with the law-enforcing forces. The topics to be discussed include:● Formulating an action plan for the security of polling officers, polling stations, and maintaining a peaceful environment in the constituency● Coordinating and integrating the activities of law-enforcing agencies● Protecting communal harmony and minorities● Preventing and controlling the use of illegal weapons● Determining a strategy to prevent the dissemination of false and misleading information via social media using AI technology● Providing security assistance to foreign journalists and advance observers during the elections● Postal voting management● Planning the deployment of armed forces members to maintain law and order during the elections● Controlling illegal infiltrators● Ensuring the security of the regional, district, and Upazila level election offices● Providing helicopter support for the transportation of election materials and polling officers in hilly or remote areas● Conducting peace and order operations based on the intelligence agencies’ recommendations● Banning the use of drone cameras