Politics

Bangladesh delegation heads to Baghdad OIC talks on Rohingya accountability

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir is leading Bangladesh’s delegation to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s 52nd Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. The meeting brings together member

Bengal Brief · 17 October 2026 · 1 min read

From 18 October 2026 — Daily Brief

The meeting brings together member states for discussions on political cooperation, peace and development. Iraq is taking over the council’s chairmanship from Türkiye for a one-year term.

Kobir was expected to deliver Bangladesh’s national statement on 17 October and hold bilateral talks with counterparts during the visit. The ministry’s announcement described those engagements as scheduled; it did not provide their outcomes.

On Sunday, 18 October, he is due to co-chair the OIC’s ad hoc ministerial committee on accountability for human-rights violations against the Rohingya. That meeting forms part of Bangladesh’s diplomatic work on the Rohingya crisis.

The announced programme concerns ministerial discussions and accountability efforts. It contains no new agreement or timetable for Rohingya repatriation, and no completed return operation was announced.

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Politics

NCP calls Shahbag protest for 30 October, demands two ministers resign

The NCP plans a 3pm protest outside the National Museum at Shahbag on 30 October. Launching a week of outreach, Nahid Islam demanded the home and energy ministers’ resignation, a constitutional reform council and changes to laws the party describes as authoritarian.

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Politics

Jamaat-led alliance challenges by-election preparations, announces long march

The Jamaat-led 11-party alliance alleges plans to manipulate the 29 October Thakurgaon-1 by-election. It also announced a Dhaka–Khulna–Kushtia long march for 31 October over referendum implementation, public services and living costs. The manipulation allegation remains unproven in the reports reviewed.

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Politics

NCP reshapes central leadership while retaining Nahid and Akhter

The NCP published a new 195-position central committee on 23 October. Nahid Islam and Akhter Hossen retain the top posts, while Nasiruddin Patwary, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam and Asif Mahmud receive revised senior roles. The reorganisation also changes how organisational and policy responsibilities are distributed.

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Politics

Ministry sources say envoy will miss prime minister’s Japan visit

Foreign ministry sources say Bangladesh’s ambassador to Japan, Md Daud Ali, will remain in Dhaka during the prime minister’s 26–29 October visit. Secretary Nazrul Islam will coordinate arrangements in Tokyo. The reason remains unclear: one official cited illness and said the ambassador’s participation would be clarified after the holiday.

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Politics

Seven Islamic parties agree common platform while retaining existing alliances

Seven Islamic parties agreed on 22 October to work under a common banner after a Dhaka meeting facilitated by Hefazat-e-Islam leaders. Representatives said the parties would retain their own organisations and existing alliances. A 21-member liaison committee will coordinate the initiative, with further discussion of its structure and activities planned.

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Politics

Prime minister inspects Mongla port and proposed economic zone

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inspected Mongla port and the proposed BEZA economic zone on 22 October after visiting the Sundarbans and a naval base. He met naval, port and local officials. Business representatives called for better navigability, additional jetty capacity and faster customs services to increase use of the port.

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