Today’s top 5 news stories

Beyond Headlines brings together the five biggest news stories of the day in one concise news digest to keep readers informed about the developments that matter. Here’s the news digest for 13th October 2026.

IMF cuts Bangladesh growth forecast to 3.2%

Bangladesh will record gross domestic product growth of 3.2 per cent for fiscal 2026-27, marking its lowest expansion in 38 years, according to the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook published on Tuesday. The forecast fell from 4.3 per cent estimated in April.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data, national growth previously reached 3.11 per cent during fiscal 1988-89. The fund also projected domestic inflation to surge to 10.9 per cent, while the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank forecast growth of 3.4 per cent and 4 per cent.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government sought external assistance from multilateral lenders during the annual meetings in Bangkok. The minister met IMF Executive Director Urjit Patel and World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde on Tuesday to discuss economic backing.

The fund also projected economic expansion of seven per cent for India and 6.9 per cent for Bhutan in fiscal 2027. Bangladesh's economic situation, its reform programme and financing from development partners are among the issues receiving attention during the Bangkok meetings.

Source: The Business Standard

Houthis target Riyadh airport for three days in a row

Saudi air defences intercepted a ballistic missile over Riyadh on Monday night as Yemen's Houthi forces targeted King Khalid International Airport for the third consecutive day. Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said forces also shot down two additional missiles aimed at southwestern Khamis Mushait.

The capital's main international airport will remain closed until Saturday following weekend strikes that killed at least 14 people and injured over 300 others. Regional officials said an inquiry found drones cleared paths for missiles, while manoeuvrable ballistic warheads challenged Patriot interceptor systems.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said at an energy conference that recent airport strikes tested national resilience. He said the kingdom's response must remain serious and investment under Vision 2030 must continue.

International airlines cancelled regional routes following the escalation, with Etihad Airways suspending Riyadh flights until next week and Gulf Air until Saturday. Meanwhile, Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the movement would retaliate swiftly against American assets if Washington intervenes militarily.

Source: Al Jazeera

Airlines cancel 61 flights stranding 9,269 Saudi-bound passengers

A total of 61 flights from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia were cancelled following Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, leaving 9,269 passengers stranded. The operational disruption affected Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after Saudi authorities imposed strict airport restrictions.

According to a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh notice issued on Tuesday, the cancellations comprised 22 direct and 39 transit flights across 10 carriers. Direct cancellations involved nine operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, seven by Riyadh Air, four by Saudia and two by US-Bangla Airlines.

Six international airlines operating transit connections through regional hubs also cancelled scheduled services. These included 16 flights by IndiGo, nine by Emirates, five each by Qatar Airways and flydubai, three by SalamAir and one by EgyptAir, preventing connecting travellers from reaching their destinations.

The flight suspensions left thousands of Saudi Arabia-bound passengers stranded at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Relevant sources said operations were disrupted after a Houthi strike at Riyadh's international airport triggered the cancellations.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin

CUET students enforce 15-hour confinement on VC

Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam remained confined to his office for nearly 15 hours until Tuesday morning. Protesting students demanding the reinstatement of the former vice-chancellor locked the administrative building following a nearly three-week complete shutdown of all university academic activities.

The VC entered the campus on Monday morning by identifying himself as a teacher before breaking the office padlock alongside Chhatra Dal leaders. Demonstrating students subsequently surrounded the premises, disconnected electricity supplies, chanted slogans rejecting the new appointment and locked the building entrance after a noon deadline.

CUET teachers, officials and staff declared an all-out non-cooperation movement following a joint Monday afternoon meeting, refusing administrative cooperation. Teachers Association President Professor Md Ahsanullah said the university family rejected the vice-chancellor's presence with outsiders, warning he must bear responsibility for subsequent disruptions.

The confinement continued into Tuesday as students maintained their blockade, demanding Alam's resignation. A campus physician checked one individual's blood pressure and advised hospitalisation, while the vice-chancellor said two alumni suffered complications. Between 10 and 11 people remained trapped inside the building.

Source: Prothom Alo

Court places two former Army officers on four-day remand

A Dhaka court placed two retired Army officers on a four-day remand on Monday under anti-terrorism and cyber security charges. 

Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order after the Detective Branch arrested the suspects during a raid in Banani.

Police accused Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Debashish and Lieutenant (Retd) Kazi Gulshan Ara of conducting anti-government propaganda and illegal financing. The case statement alleged that the suspects conspired against the state using digital platforms alongside the former home minister and fugitive leaders.

State lawyer Harun Or Rashid said the accused maintained contact with foreign spies and fallen regime leaders to destabilise the country. Defence counsel argued the unarticulated treason charges and talk show appearances lacked substantive evidence to justify the remand plea.

Investigation Officer Inspector Sheikh Bashir Ahmed initially sought a seven-day remand to recover digital evidence and uncover the broader conspiracy. The application cited the operational necessity to identify additional suspects and verify the involvement of domestic and foreign individuals.

Source: Prothom Alo

That concludes today’s briefing. Stay with Beyond Headlines for in-depth news and analysis, explainers, opinion pieces, long reads, and more.