Seven key objections prompt four left-wing parties to reject July CharterFour left-leaning political parties have reiterated their decision not to sign the July National Charter, citing seven specific reasons. The parties -- Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB), Bangladesh Socialist Party–BaSaD, BaSaD (Marxist), and Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) -- outlined their objections at a joint media briefing on Thursday in Paltan. Representatives emphasised that the Charter implicitly negates the basis of Bangladesh’s independence and the Liberation War, and includes pledges that cannot be questioned in court. On Wednesday evening, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, head of the National Consensus Commission, held an urgent meeting with political parties to discuss the Charter. Despite these consultations, differences remain among the parties regarding the implementation timeline of the July Charter and the proposed public referendum.

A case has been filed against six staff members of Asgar Ali Hospital in Gendaria, Dhaka, including a doctor, over the death of a bench assistant, citing “medical negligence”. Sharmin Afroze Laboni, the wife of Ikhtiar Rahman who died, lodged the complaint on Thursday at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court. Judge Raunak Jahan Taki recorded the statement and instructed the Gendaria Police chief to accept the complaint as an official case, court assistant Anwar Hossain said. According to the complaint, Ikhtiar was admitted to the hospital with a fever on Oct 5, 2025, at 2:00am. He later died due to alleged negligence on Oct 6, 2025, at 11:20pm.

Over the past 24 hours, dengue has claimed one more life in Bangladesh, raising this year’s toll to 243, while 755 people were admitted to hospitals around the country. According to Thursday’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) bulletin, a woman aged 40 died from the mosquito-borne disease. September saw the highest admissions, with 15,866 patients and 76 deaths. Between Oct 1 and 16, hospitals recorded 10,428 admissions and 45 deaths. At the moment, 2,693 dengue patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals across the country, including 957 in Dhaka hospitals and 1,736 outside the capital.

Teachers and staff of MPO-registered institutions have announced a march to the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday if their demands for the nationalisation of all private schools are not fulfilled. The announcement came at Central Shaheed Minar after a three-hour blockade at Shahbagh on Wednesday, warning that the government must implement their demands or face intensified nationwide agitation. On Wednesday, the March to Jamuna was announced by Delwar Hossain Azizi, secretary of the MPO Education Nationalisation Alliance. After blocking Shahbagh from noon to 3pm, the protesting teachers returned to Shaheed Minar and formally unveiled the plan at 5:15pm. “From Thursday morning, MPO-registered teachers and staff will mobilise at Shaheed Minar to demand the nationalisation of all government and private schools.”Since Sunday, teachers and staff have been holding daily assemblies, rallies, marches, and blockades in the capital.

Trump says Modi has assured him India will not buy Russian oilUS President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured in a mirror as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb 13, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan HowardUS President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured in a mirror as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb 13, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan HowardUS President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that India will stop buying oil from Russia, a move Trump described as a “big step” in efforts to isolate Moscow economically. “So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters during a White House event. An Indian pledge to halt buying Russian oil would mark a potential turning point in global energy diplomacy, as Washington intensifies efforts to choke Moscow's oil revenues amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Bangladesh has finalised the “July National Charter 2025”, a document of agendas, drawn up on the basis of consensus among the political parties to implement post-uprising reforms in the country. The charter is likely to be signed by the political parties on Friday, October 17, in a grand ceremony at the south plaza of the Bangladesh parliament building in the capital, Dhaka. The final version of the July charter was also published in the media, and it was handed over to political parties ahead of its signing ceremony. The Charter spans 40 pages, outlining the background of the reform initiative, the commission’s activities, the specific 84 reform points, commitments from political parties, and spaces for signatures. Four leftist political parties today announced that they will not sign the July National Charter on various grounds, including that the charter did not mention the four basic principles of the constitution.

Tickets for the ODI series between Bangladesh and West Indies are now available online. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), ticket sales for the three-match ODI series opened on Wednesday morning through the website www.gobcbticket.com.bd and the “Go BCB Ticket” mobile app, which is available on the Play Store for Android smartphone users, UNB reports. Fans seeking premium views can opt for the International Galleries at Tk 1,500 or the Grand Stand at Tk 2,500. The action will then shift to Chattogram, where the sides will play a three-match T20I series on October 27, 29, and 31 at the Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium. After a bruising 3-0 defeat to Afghanistan, the Bangladesh cricket team is ready to take on the West Indies at home.

Leaders exiting the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka spoke of renewed “crisis” over the July Charter signing. The NCP and four left-leaning parties raised questions about how disagreements over reforms included in the Charter will be resolved. Despite this, the commission expressed optimism regarding the July Charter signing. Asked whether he would attend the signing on Friday, Taher said: “Only one day remains; God willing, you will see.”Jamaat’s Matiur called for a November referendum following the Charter signing. He said the party would sign points agreed upon in the Charter and submit its legal referendum proposals to the election commission.

The Fire Service says nine people have died after a fire broke out at a garment factory and a chemical warehouse in the Rupnagar area of Dhaka’s Mirpur. Talha Bin Jashim, spokesman for the Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the deaths at 4pm on Tuesday. But the names and identities of the dead have yet to be confirmed, he said. “The number might go up.”

‘Impossible made possible’ by politicians on July Charter, says YunusChief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh’s politicians have “made the impossible possible” by reaching a consensus on the July Charter after long discussions. On Wednesday evening at a meeting with political parties, Yunus said he expects the Charter signing to take place in a festive atmosphere on Friday. He also proposed that the signed document and signing pen be preserved in the Bangladesh National Museum as part of history. To resolve differences and clear uncertainty over the signing, Yunus, who chairs the National Consensus Commission, held an emergency meeting with leaders of political parties and alliances at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. In his closing remarks, Yunus repeatedly thanked and congratulated the politicians present, calling the July Charter a memorable event in Bangladesh’s political history.

Eminent writer Hasnat Abdul Hye has criticised the government for “erroneous” English in a written invitation to events organised for mystic poet Lalon Shah’s death anniversary, saying the writing was “disgraceful”. On Wednesday evening, Hasnat posted on Facebook, thanking and congratulating the Ministry of Cultural Affairs for the initiative to organise the events. The sentence should be structured: “...will nationally commemorate the 135th death anniversary” or simply “will commemorate the 135th death anniversary nationally”. “Death Anniversary” should not be capitalised mid-sentence. Earlier, in a Facebook post on Aug 28, Farooki had said that the Advisory Council had declared Lalon’s death anniversary as a “Category A” national day.

Brazil set to talk tariffs with US on ThursdayBrazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that Brazil and the US will hold negotiation talks on tariffs on Thursday. "Trump called me and I asked to have a conversation without formalities," Lula said. Lula and Trump have been at odds for months over the trial and conviction of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro. Trump hiked a tariff on many Brazilian goods from 10% to 50% because of the case, which he called a "witch hunt." During last week's call, the Brazilian president asked Trump to remove the additional 40% tariff, according to a statement from the Lula's office.

Brushing aside claims of disruption as mere “confusion”, National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz has expressed hope for a joyful environment at the July Charter signing. On Wednesday evening, Riaz spoke during a welcome address at an urgent meeting with political party leaders. He thanked the parties and said they want guests from different political parties, in addition to national leaders, to attend the event. Arrangements will also be made to ensure that representatives of all parties can sign the Charter quickly during the ceremony. On Tuesday evening, the commission sent the final version of the July Charter to 32 political parties and one alliance.

Despite multiple allegations of irregularities in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has stood firm in their resolve to continue the race. Around three hours after polls closed on Wednesday, the party’s Chittagong University chapter held a media briefing at the Buddhijibi Chottor, detailing the alleged irregularities. Party leaders accused the university administration and the election commission of failing in their duties. The party’s vice-president candidate, Sajjad Hossain Hridoy, said the chief election commissioner had assured that the polls would set a benchmark, drawing from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities. Yet both the election commission and the university administration remained indifferent,” he said.

Teachers and staff of MPO-registered institutions have announced a march to the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday if their demands for the nationalisation of all private schools are not fulfilled. The announcement came at Central Shaheed Minar after a three-hour blockade at Shahbagh on Wednesday, warning that the government must implement their demands or face intensified nationwide agitation. On Wednesday, the March to Jamuna was announced by Delwar Hossain Azizi, secretary of the MPO Education Nationalisation Alliance. After blocking Shahbagh from noon to 3pm, the protesting teachers returned to Shaheed Minar and formally unveiled the plan at 5:15pm. “From Thursday morning, MPO-registered teachers and staff will mobilise at Shaheed Minar to demand the nationalisation of all government and private schools.”Since Sunday, teachers and staff have been holding daily assemblies, rallies, marches, and blockades in the capital.