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 27th October 2026.

Japan PM holds talks with Tarique Rahman

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began high-level bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi at the Kantei in Tokyo at 11:40am on Tuesday to expand trade, investment and regional cooperation.

Arriving at 11:32 am along flag-lined roads, Tarique Rahman received a warm welcome from Takaichi and a guard of honour from Japan's armed forces accompanied by national anthems, before introducing delegations and signing the visitors' book. 

The summit runs until 12:10 pm, followed by a 12:15 pm joint press announcement and a 12:30 pm luncheon featuring remarks from both premiers.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the four-day visit, where the PM will address the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum, focuses on implementing the February 2026 Economic Partnership Agreement, renewable energy, digital transformation and proposed memorandums of understanding covering agriculture, fisheries, domestic aviation, trade, human resources, environment and local government.

Received at Narita Airport on Monday by State Minister Yasutaka Nakasone on his third state visit since 17 February after Malaysia, China and the UN General Assembly, Tarique met former premier Taro Aso, recalling their 2006 meeting and inviting him to Bangladesh, State Minister Humaiun Kobir said.

Tarique Rahman also discussed modernising Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited and a second fertiliser factory with Marubeni Chairman Masumi Kakinoki, and proposed a Skills Partnership, Technological Village and Innovation City to JICA President Dr Akihiko Tanaka, joined by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, advisers, state ministers, senior officials and political leaders Azizul Hoque Islamabadi and Md Tarek Rahman.

Source: BSS

Cyclone Arnab gusts hit 150kmph as ports maintain signal 3

Cyclone Arnab strengthened into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas on Tuesday, packing 150kmph gusts as maritime ports maintained local warning signal No. 3.

A Tuesday Bangladesh Meteorological Department special bulletin said maximum sustained winds within 64km of the very rough centre reached about 118kmph. 

At 3am, the storm was centred about 990km southwest of Chittagong Port, 945km southwest of Cox's Bazar, and 865km south of both Mongla and Payra ports.

A Monday night bulletin earlier reported Arnab powering up into a severe storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay, generating continuous winds of up to 89kmph and 117kmph gusts.

Moving further west-northwestwards, the cyclone is expected to cross India's Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday. Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports have been asked to keep hoisting signal No. 3, while fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay were advised to remain close to the coast and proceed cautiously until further notice.

Source: bdnews24.com

Police headquarter clarify IGP's 'Crossfire' remark amid outrage

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir sparked outrage on Monday by saying police would use 'crossfire' to curb crime if the government allowed it. 

Speaking in Chawkbazar, he said police are called 'fascist' when using batons and 'weak' when silent, adding that journalists call police ineffective when denied drug money.

Demanding Md Ali Hossain Fakir's removal and an unconditional apology, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said state approval cannot legitimise extrajudicial killings under Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution. 

Odhikar, Human Rights Support Society Executive Director Ijajul Islam and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) also condemned the remark, with ASK recording 2,971 extrajudicial deaths since 2004 .

Activist Nur Khan Liton, jurist Shahdeen Malik and former IGP Nurul Huda warned the remarks undermine the rule of law amid International Crimes Tribunal trials over Awami League-era killings, while lawyer Manzill Murshid urged awaiting clarification.

National Citizen Party MP Hasnat Abdullah called him a 'thug', Jamaat-e-Islami's Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair demanded action, and Dhaka Reporters' Unity leaders Abu Saleh Akon and Mainul Hasan Sohel issued a 24-hour apology ultimatum.

Police Headquarters later revised a 7:15pm statement calling his usage 'literal', stating at 8:00pm that he meant 'crossfire' metaphorically for strict action against drug traders, terrorists and extortionists. Calling his journalist comment inadvertent, it cited self-defence laws and noted 176 attacks killed four officers and injured 370 in the first 10 months of 2026.

Sources: The Business Standard, New Age

440 government services shut at myGov portal

The government's myGov platform (mygov.bd), offering 440 ministry, division and local government services via website and app, has remained shut since Sunday night over PHP programming language security flaws.

Following similar shutdowns abroad and at Bangladesh Bank, public and private banks, private hospitals and digital land services, myGov showed a ‘Web server is down’ message. 

The portal serves 5,000 to 6,000 people daily, including outbound students and citizens using home-based e-Apostille educational certificates and document attestation without visiting offices.

Amid warnings that attackers could exploit PHP flaws for unauthorised server access or malicious code execution, Aspire to Innovate (a2i) initially attempted live updates before closing the site for technical reasons. An anonymous a2i official said simultaneous domain updates and multi-phase testing should finish by Tuesday, though a Sunday Facebook notice promised restoration at Monday midnight.

Source: Prothom Alo

Measles and dengue claim 11 lives in 24 hours

Eleven people, including six children with measles symptoms and five dengue patients, died across Bangladesh in the 24 hours from 8:00am on Sunday to 8:00am on Monday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported on 26 October.

The six suspected measles deaths raised suspected fatalities since 15 March 2026 to 1,129, while confirmed child deaths remained unchanged at 104, with no new confirmed fatalities, taking the combined toll to 1,233.

Alongside 1,466 new infections comprising 1,388 suspected and 78 confirmed cases, cumulative tallies reached 222,552 suspected and 23,478 confirmed cases by 26 October, with 197,999 suspected patients hospitalised nationwide and 190,036 discharged.

Meanwhile, the five dengue fatalities pushed this year's mosquito-borne death toll to 389 as 2,218 new patients were hospitalised. New admissions included 942 in Dhaka Division, 284 in Khulna, 246 in Rajshahi, 240 in Chattogram, 232 in Barishal, 121 in Mymensingh, 113 in Rangpur and 40 in Sylhet.

Cumulative dengue hospitalisations reached 126,166 this year, with 119,393 patients recovering and returning home, compared with 102,861 infections and 413 deaths recorded last year.

Source: BSS

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