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.

Tension has flared between the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir near Chittagong University arts building as vote counting continues in the CUCSU polls. Their activists confronted each other occurred on Wednesday afternoon, following a dispute over an LED screen installed outside a polling centre that suddenly went dark. According to bdnews24.com’s correspondent Uttam Sen Gupta, who was at the scene, the screen had been broadcasting live CCTV footage from inside the polling centre as part of voting process. Chhatra Dal alleged that the screen was deliberately turned off to allow vote rigging, while Shibir claimed Chhatra Dal activists had cut the screen’s cables in an attempt to sabotage the election. “We are demanding that vote counting be halted at these two centres until these allegations are resolved.”Voting was held from 9:30am to 4:00pm on Wednesday.

A tribunal has indicted top criminal Subrata Bain aka Md Fateh Ali and three of his accomplices in a weapons case filed at Hatirjheel Police Station in Dhaka. Dhaka Metropolitan Special Tribunal Judge Fahmida Jahangir made the decision on Wednesday after scrapping the petitions by the suspects to drop them from the case. The three others accused alongside Subrata are Abu Rasel Masud aka Molla Masud, MAS Shareef, and Arafat Ibne Nasir. Following the arms seizure, Hatirjheel police Sub-Inspector Asaduzzaman filed the case on May 28 under the Arms Act. According to the case, Subrata returned to Bangladesh after Aug 5, 2024, following the ousting of the Awami League government, and resumed criminal activities.

An Afghan Taliban fighter sits on a tank near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan, Oct 15, 2025. REUTERS/StringerAn Afghan Taliban fighter sits on a tank near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan, Oct 15, 2025. REUTERS/StringerPakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a "temporary ceasefire" on Wednesday, Islamabad said, after an airstrike and ground fighting sent tensions between the South Asian neighbours soaring, killing more than a dozen civilians. A Pakistani foreign ministry statement said that the two countries had decided to implement a "temporary ceasefire" for 48 hours starting 1300 GMT on Wednesday. Afghan Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the ceasefire agreement was a result of the "request and insistence of the Pakistani side".

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam says he has presented detailed information about shootings from helicopters during last year’s protests in July and August. Tajul said that Hasina confirmed in conversations with three individuals that she instructed law-enforcing agencies to use lethal weapons to kill the protestors. The court previously played audio recordings on Tuesday of conversations between Hasina and Inu, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and SM Maksud Kamal. On the helicopter shootings, he said: "We have collected detailed flight charts from the relevant forces over the helicopter shootings. Video footage, the wounds of those who suffered bullet injuries, and the bullets recovered from the bodies of those killed and injured were also presented in court as evidence.

Though it is past time for polling centres to close in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union election, officials are still allowing those in line to cast their ballots. Agency correspondent Masum Kamal said that students are still voting at 18 halls in five university buildings and one hostel. Two voters joined the line just before the 4pm cutoff at one centre. Chief Election Commissioner Monir Uddin said the rules about allowing anyone on the polling centre premises to cast their vote had been clear ahead of time. However, polls opened around 9:30am and it took until 11:30am for those with visual disabilities to be able to vote.

The National Consensus Commission is holding an emergency meeting with political parties and alliances. The meeting is scheduled at 6pm at Dhaka’s Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday, a day after it sent a draft of the National July Charter-2025 to the different parties. A letter signed by the panel’s Vice Chairman Ali Riaz requested the parties and alliances to send the name of a representative to the commission by email, WhatsApp or SMS by 4pm to take part in the meeting. “Only the representatives whose names have been received by the scheduled time will have the opportunity to take part in the meeting,” it said. Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran said, “We have received a letter on the urgent meeting.”

The logo of the Adani Group is seen on the facade of its Corporate House on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, Nov 21, 2024. REUTERSThe logo of the Adani Group is seen on the facade of its Corporate House on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, Nov 21, 2024. "This is the first time the government was specifically putting a blanket exemption on all such missile parts from customs duty, but that decision appears to have been reversed." Adani Group did not respond to Reuters queries on the Oct 9 notice. Since January 2024, it has imported $70 million worth of defence parts from countries such as Canada, Israel and Russia.