Journalist Safety Takes Center Stage at 10th CJEN Annual Conference in Dhaka
The two-day 10th Annual Conference of the Communication and Journalism Educators’ Network (CJEN), Bangladesh, concluded in Dhaka on Saturday, emphasizing the urgent need to ensure journalists’ safety and security as the foundation for promoting ethical journalism in the country.
Lowest HSC Pass Rate Leaves 1.1 Million Vacant Seats in Higher Education
Because the pass rate in the HSC examination is the lowest in the past 21 years and nearly 1.1 million seats will remain vacant in higher education for the 2025-26 academic year despite all students getting admitted to undergraduate programmes. It is found that without proper planning the number of seats in higher education has doubled over the past decade.
Revolutionary Workers Party Warns Interim Government Against Foreign Control of Seaports
Leaders of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh have said that handing over the country’s seaport management to foreign companies in the name of “better management” is not the responsibility of an interim government.
‘Monga’ Fear Returns as Seasonal Job Crisis Grips Rangpur’s Farm Workers
Thousands of agricultural workers in the river basin and remote rural areas of the Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, Ghaghot, Teesta, and Dharla rivers in Rangpur Division are struggling amid a seasonal employment crisis. With two to three weeks still left before the Aman paddy harvesting season begins, day laborers are facing an acute shortage of work. The combined effect of river erosion and lack of employment opportunities has made the situation even more severe.
Bangladesh Taka Falls to Record Low of Tk 122.75 per Dollar
The value of the U.S. dollar has risen again against the Bangladeshi taka. On October 23, the highest selling rate of the dollar across various banks stood at Tk 122.75, up from Tk 122.30 last week. Bank officials said the increase is due to a rise in the number of import LCs being opened, among several other factors.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy Says Only Inclusive Election Can End Bangladesh’s Political Crisis
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—who was forced into exile following a student-military assault—has said that only an inclusive election is the sole solution to Bangladesh’s ongoing political and economic paralysis.
Taliban Crush Media Freedom in Afghanistan as Journalists Face Torture and Censorship
Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s media landscape has been decimated. Independent outlets have been subjected to surveillance, censorship, and punishment of journalists — including detention, torture, and threats — for any perceived criticism.
New weapon of fraud in Southeast Asia — ‘Starlink’; concern rises in Bangladesh too
Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink has now become a new tool for fraud networks in Southeast Asia. Using this service, “scam cities” have emerged in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and East Timor where various crimes take place, including romance scams, investment fraud, online gambling, human trafficking, drugs and money laundering.
Dengue deaths in the country reach 253 this year
The number of deaths due to dengue in the country this year has risen to 253. In the latest 24 hours, four more people have died from the mosquito-borne disease. During the same period, 814 new patients were admitted to hospitals.
Mass Arrests, Mob Attacks Displace Millions of Awami League Activists
The Awami League claims 15–20 million leaders and activists have been displaced under Dr. Yunus’s interim government, citing mob violence, arbitrary arrests, and severe human rights violations in Bangladesh.