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 28th September 2026.

Special committee to submit constitution amendment report by December

The Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitution Amendment decided on Sunday to submit its reform report by December 2026. The body plans to introduce a formal amendment bill during the first parliamentary session in January next year.

The chairman of the committee, Salahuddin Ahmed, made the remarks after a consultation meeting with veteran journalists and prominent editors at the parliament complex. 

He urged opposition parties to participate in the reform process, saying the government seeks national consensus without creating divisions. Salahuddin said a constitutional referendum under Article 142 would follow parliamentary passage before the president signs any fundamental changes into law.

The journalists recommended restoring institutional checks and balances. 

The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said governance remains heavily 'executive-centric', urging power distribution between the president and prime minister to ensure judicial independence.

Editors' Council President Nurul Kabir said constitutional revisions require public approval through referendums, proposing expanded presidential appointments and renaming the state 'Janaganatantrik Bangladesh'.

The special committee requested written recommendations ahead of further consultation rounds with diverse social groups. Salahuddin Ahmed said the July National Charter serves as the primary basis for amendments alongside election mandates, confirming that the final reform report will be submitted to parliament before the December deadline.

Source: BSS, New Age, UNB

Police detain 1,512 youths from five districts during crackdown

Police detained more than 1,500 suspected teen gang members across five districts during coordinated Sunday operations to curb rising youth delinquency. The regional law enforcement drives followed the murder of seventh-grade student Ishayat Shahriar Oprotim in Cumilla earlier this month.

In Cumilla, law enforcement personnel detained 415 individuals across 18 police stations on Sunday night, raising total detentions to 1,293 over five days. Simultaneously, police in Feni detained 38 youths from public spaces, releasing 25 to their parents following written undertakings.

Chattogram police detained 445 people across 17 police stations during evening operations, releasing 293 without criminal ties and initiating legal proceedings against 61 individuals. In Chandpur, officers detained 370 suspects across eight upazilas, sending 355 home under parental bonds after background checks.

In Lakshmipur, security personnel detained 244 youths during a five-hour operation across six police stations. Police officials said lack of parental supervision contributes to adolescent delinquency, advising guardians to monitor social media activities and ensure that teenagers avoid gathering in isolated spaces late at night.

Meanwhile in Dhaka, an armed group attacked an eight-storey building in Adabor on Saturday morning in an attempt to seize control. Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam said officers are investigating the incident and pursuing the suspects following past disputes over the property.

Source: bdnews24.com, Dhaka Post, Prothom Alo, Daily Ittefaq

President urges farmers to form a body to protect their interests

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged farmers on Sunday to form a national body to protect their interests regardless of political affiliation. The call followed a meeting with a Bangladesh Farmers Association delegation led by Md Siddiqur Rahman Kul Moyez.

Highlighting financial initiatives, the president said the government allocated Tk 3,000 crore to ensure fair agricultural prices and rural welfare. He said authorities waived farm loans and interest up to Tk 10,000, while taking steps to lower NGO borrowing rates.

The president said farmers build the nation and do not engage in corruption. He urged association members to adopt modern farming technology, establish agro-processing plants and cold storage facilities, and expand exports to meet international demand for Bangladeshi produce.

To inspire innovation, the president said authorities will introduce the President's Agriculture Award for outstanding sector contributions. Meanwhile, the association invited him to an upcoming reception in Ishwardi honouring farmers aged over 70 alongside an agricultural exhibition.

Source: BSS

Police kept athletics coach for 40 minutes waiting over wearing shorts

An athletics coach has alleged that a police officer stopped and harassed him at Dhaka's Farmgate Metro Rail Station on Sunday over his wearing shorts.

The coach, Sazzad Hossain, had purchased a ticket following morning workouts and arrived at the metro station following his morning workout. But the officer, whose nameplate reads Zakir, stopped him at the ticket-punching machine and made him stand there for around 40 minutes.

The officer even described his clothing as "indecent".

In a video recorded by him, the officer said determining decency was his responsibility. Other officers told the coach to return in trousers, while station staff photographed him before senior transport authorities allowed him to board the metro.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL)  Deputy General Manager Major Mohammad Zakir Siddique said the authority felt embarrassed by the incident. He said the metro enforces no dress code, adding that officials will review Hossain's written complaint to pursue administrative action.

Sazzad Siddiqui, a professor at University of Dhaka, said the confrontation reflected institutional failure within law enforcement. He said accountability remains essential when uniform authority enables personal aggression, adding that officers adopting perpetrator roles rather than protecting citizens deepens social deterioration across public spaces.

Source: Prothom Alo

Trump to resume Iran talks despite rejecting seven-day truce

United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he expects negotiations with Iran to resume this week despite rejecting a seven-day truce proposal. Iranian officials presented the diplomatic roadmap through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly.

The proposal required a regional cessation of hostilities, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and an end to the American naval blockade. The initiative aimed to restore an earlier collapsed agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said in a media interview that Iranian diplomats overplayed their hand by seeking concessions the administration might have only accepted previously. American ambassador Mike Waltz said Tehran demanded too much to resume the bilateral talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the government will not back down from its strict conditions regarding the maritime blockade. Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they seized an American submersible drone in the contested strait on Sunday.

Source: AFP

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