This means each bhori of gold now costs Tk 34,782 more than a month ago.Jewelers say no other commodity has seen such a dramatic rise in price anywhere in the world. This year alone, global gold prices have galloped about 54 percent, compared with 27 percent in 2024.With global inflation cooling, the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates, weakening US dollar. "Calling gold the "second currency" of the world, Masudur explained: "Everyone is buying gold because they believe dollar will fall. If prices keep rising like this, the middle class will simply stop buying gold altogether. "Zahidur Rahman, owner of Grameen Jewelers, added: "People are buying new jewelry but selling less.

The bus services of United Service and Shoukhin Paribahan, however, remain suspended on the Mymensingh-Dhaka route. Kotwali Model Police Station chief Md Shibirul Islam said on Saturday, “The protests have been withdrawn following a decision to halt operations of 16 buses of United Service on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route. Students demanded the arrest of Aminul Haque Shamim, vice-president of the district Awami League, over the murder of July Uprising martyr Sagor, and called for his 16 United Service buses to be taken out of service. Following talks with transport workers, it was agreed around 4:30pm to suspend the operation of all 16 buses. Transport worker leaders said United Transport’s Mymensingh office contacted authorities in Dhaka's Mohakhali, resulting in a decision to suspend the services of United and Shoukhin.

Political parties are now scheduled to sign the July Charter, also known as the National Charter, on Oct 17, two days later than initially planned. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Consensus Commission presided over by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, held at the State Guest House Jamuna. Earlier, the commission had said the signing of the Charter, which outlines commitments to state reform and implementation, would take place on Oct 15. The meeting also decided that representatives from political parties and alliances will take part in the ceremony. Present at the session were commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar, Cultural Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief advisor.

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The National Consensus Commission will propose that the government decide whether to hold the national election and the referendum at the same time, panel member Badiul Alam Majumdar has said. According to the commission, political parties are expected to sign the July Charter, a declaration pledging reform of state structures and governance, on Oct 15. Badiul said the country must put an end to the "criminalisation of politics and elections". “Even though Sheikh Hasina has left power, the authoritarian legal and institutional framework that enabled her rule still exists. Without good governance and accountability, merely holding elections cannot replace authoritarian rule.”

Emeritus Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, one of Bangladesh’s most eminent academics, said: “Manzoor was my student and later my colleague. That’s why everyone loved him.”FINAL FAREWELLRepresentatives from numerous organisations, including the Bangla Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Shilpakala Academy, World Literature Centre, Nazrul Institute, and Dhaka University, joined the public in paying tribute to Manzoorul. Earlier in the morning, teachers and students honoured him at Aparajeyo Bangla on the Dhaka University campus. After the ceremony at the Shaheed Minar, his coffin was taken to the Dhaka University Central Mosque for funeral prayers. Manzoorul, a former professor of English at Dhaka University, passed away on Friday afternoon at Dhaka’s Labaid Hospital.

Gill and Jadeja put India in charge against West IndiesIndia captain Shubman Gill struck his fifth test hundred of the year before watching his spinner Ravindra Jadeja wreck the West Indies top order to put the hosts firmly in charge of the second and final test on Saturday. Gill made 129 not out to power India to a commanding 518-5 before the 26-year-old declared on the second day. The home side, chasing a 2-0 series sweep, reduced West Indies to 140-4 with left-armer Jadeja (3-37) leading the way. The elegant right-hander hit West Indies counterpart Roston Chase for six and struck Khary Pierre for three fours in an over. Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) forged a 66-run partnership before Jadeja struck again, dismissing Chanderpaul and Chase, and taking a catch to end Athanaze's promising knock.

FILE PHOTO: Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, October 31, 2010. The new trade steps were Trump's reaction to China dramatically expanding its rare earth element export controls. It could escalate a trade war that Washington and Beijing paused earlier this year after painstaking diplomacy. China produces over 90 percent of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets. It also required foreign rare earth producers that use Chinese materials to comply with its rules.

Kalpana Akter, a vegetable seller at Shonir Akhra market, told bdnews24.com: “Prices will go down a bit more, but it may take a couple of days. Ridge gourd was Tk 120 but now Tk 100.”Potatoes remain the cheapest vegetable, selling for Tk 15 to Tk 20 per kg from three-wheelers around local neighbourhoods. At Shonir Akhra market, eggplants (round variety) sold at Tk 160 per kg, long eggplants at Tk 100, and snake gourds at Tk 70. Sellers claimed these prices were Tk 10 to Tk 20 higher last week. At Shonir Akhra market, broiler chicken was priced at Tk 180 per kg while Sonali chicken ranged from Tk 280 to Tk 300 per kg.

It was the first time Gill had won the toss since taking over as India test captain earlier this year. Wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, one of two new faces in the West Indies playing XI, had all the time in the world to whip off the bails. West Indies did not help their cause either by dropping Sudharsan when the batter was on 58. Sudharsan looked primed for a maiden test hundred but Warrican dismissed him lbw to end the batter's 193-run partnership with Jaiswal. Jaiswal then drove and cut with elan to inch closer to a third test double hundred.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers a statement at Hotel Matignon in Paris, on Oct 3, 2025, before a round of consultations with political parties ahead of the announcement of the new government. Photo: ReutersFrench Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers a statement at Hotel Matignon in Paris, on Oct 3, 2025, before a round of consultations with political parties ahead of the announcement of the new government. Leftist leaders expressed dismay Macron would not be picking a prime minister from their ranks, their indignant response suggesting his future government might be as fragile as those that preceded it. Those demands have been hard to square with the conservatives, whose support Macron also needs to pass a budget. Macron's second-to-last prime minister, Francois Bayrou, was ousted by the National Assembly over his plans for 44 billion euros in savings to bring the deficit down to 4.6 percent of GDP.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for fighting dictatorship in the country and dedicated the award in part to US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly insisted he deserved it. "When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist," the Nobel Committee said in its citation. Machado is the first Venezuelan to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the sixth from Latin America. "It's not our task to tell other people or other countries what to do, our task is to give out the peace prize.... The peace prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2 million, was the fifth Nobel awarded this week, after literature, chemistry, physics and medicine.

The Election Commission has made it clear once again that the “Shapla”, or water lily, symbol cannot be allotted as a party emblem under any circumstances. “Legally, constitutionally, and according to the rules on symbol allocation, we cannot give the Shapla symbol,” Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told bdnews24.com on Friday. The party urged the commission to amend the list of election symbols if necessary to accommodate their request. The commission has previously clarified that the national emblem “Shapla” cannot be used as a voting symbol under its existing policy. Earlier, the political platform Nagarik Oikya had also applied to replace its “kettle” symbol with “Shapla”, but the commission rejected that application as well.

Bangladesh crumble in chase as New Zealand cruise to 100-run winBangladesh’s batting unravelled in dramatic fashion as they crashed to a 100-run defeat against New Zealand in their Women’s World Cup fixture. After an opening-match win against Pakistan, Bangladesh have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the tournament, including Tuesday’s loss to England. Earlier, disciplined spin bowling had restricted New Zealand to 227 for nine, but the chase quickly fell apart. New Zealand’s bowlers shared the spoils -- Jess Kerr (3-21), Tahuhu (3-22), and Mair (2-20) leading the way -- as Bangladesh were bowled out 10 overs early. Bangladesh will next face South Africa on Monday, needing a win to keep their campaign alive.

The National Consensus Commission has said it is “considering” a proposal to remove Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portraits from public and private institutions. To that end, the commission has sent letters to political parties, seeking their views by Saturday. “We received the letter from the Consensus Commission on Thursday,” said Mustafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party. The debate over whether portraits should remain in public and private institutions resurfaced after Aug 5 last year. Nearly two weeks later, on Nov 24, Bangabandhu’s portrait was also removed from the conference room of the Nirbachan Bhaban.