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 14th October 2026.

IMF projects Bangladesh growth to fall to 2.2 per cent

The International Monetary Fund projects Bangladesh's economic growth to slow to 3.2 per cent in the current fiscal (FY2026-27) from the 4.3 percent projected in April, leaving the country behind regional peers Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The growth could fall further to 2.2 per cent in the next fiscal year, according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released on Tuesday at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Bangkok.

The IMF also projected an increase in average inflation in Bangladesh to 10.9 per cent in the current fiscal year.

Recently, the World Bank cut their economic growth forecasts for Bangladesh to 3.4 per cent while Asian Development Bank trimmed its growth projection to 4 percent in September.

Talking to reporters after annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government will not dispute multilateral forecasts and continues pursuing its 6.5 per cent budget target. 

Former World Bank Dhaka office chief economist Zahid Hussain said weak growth and persistent inflation will intensify public hardship and deepen poverty. He said authorities must implement fundamental reforms across the banking sector and resolve persistent energy shortages.

Source: Prothom Alo

Govt to take action over Prof Yunus airport harassment

The government will take necessary measures over the harassment of former interim government chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the United States, Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday. 

The government will take it up strongly with the government of the US and will also examine whether there were any shortcomings in ensuring Prof Yunus’s security and state protocol in the US, he said at a press briefing at the Secretariat. 

Video footage circulating on social media showed several individuals hurling abuse at Prof Yunus while he was in a wheelchair at John F Kennedy International Airport on Monday. Yunus and his associates later went back inside the airport before security personnel escorted him away from the crowd.

The adviser said the administration views the confrontation as 'Awami League terrorism' linked to Yunus leading the country after Sheikh Hasina fled, adding that security protocol is being examined.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka will seek formal action from American law enforcement agencies over the harassment. The foreign ministry instructed Bangladesh's mission in New York to pursue legal proceedings against those involved.

Meanwhile, 12 former interim government advisers issued a joint statement expressing outrage over persistent smear campaigns and threats targeting Yunus. They said intimidation tactics would not weaken their resolve to uphold the changes promised during the July uprising.

The signatories included Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan, CR Abrar, Dr Asif Nazrul, Adilur Rahman Khan, Lt Gen Jahangir Alam Choudhury, Brig Gen Sakhawat Hussain, Faruk E Azam, Farida Akhter, Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

Source: UNB

Govt to reinstate admission tests for classes two to nine

The education ministry on Tuesday issued a new admission policy, mandating digital lotteries for class one and written examinations for classes two through nine in government secondary schools for the upcoming 2027 academic year.

Under the policy, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will centrally conduct the digital lottery, allowing applicants to choose up to five institutions. For vacant seats, admission tests will carry 50 marks for classes two to five, and 100 marks for classes six to nine.

Earlier in March, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan announced that examinations would replace lotteries. Following the announcement, educationists said written tests would create unnecessary pressure on young children, increase coaching centre dependency and widen educational inequalities.

The decision reverses the uniform lottery format introduced across all secondary grades during the 2021 coronavirus pandemic. The ministry initially decided to limit lottery selection strictly to incoming first-grade students, later discussing but ultimately dismissing proposals to retain lotteries through class five.

Source: Prothom Alo

CUET VC escorted out of admin building after 30-hour confinement

Nearly 30 hours after being confined inside an administrative building, Prof Sheikh Mohammad Shariful Alam, the newly appointed vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, was taken out of his office yesterday evening.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia and Police Superintendent Mohammad Masud Alam got him out of the building at around 6:00 pm following discussions with protesting students. The VC was whisked away in an ambulance to Chittagong city for medical treatment. 

Earlier on Monday, the students locked the administrative building and disconnected utility lines after Alam entered the office by breaking an earlier lock. 

The students had been enforcing a complete shutdown for the last 21 days to press home their demand for the reinstatement of former VC Prof Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem. They said Prof Shariful was allowed to leave on one condition that he would not return to the campus.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia said administrative officials intervened to ensure medical care after the vice-chancellor fell ill inside the building. He said the government was aware of the campus crisis and assured the demonstrating students their demands would be conveyed.

Source: Dhaka Tribune

Biman suspends Saudi flights until 17 October amid 82 cancellations

Biman Bangladesh Airlines suspended all flights to Riyadh and Dammam until 17 October following Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabian airports. The national carrier announced on Tuesday that passengers with urgent travel needs could use international terminals in Jeddah and Medina.

According to Shahjalal International Airport authorities, 82 flights from Dhaka were cancelled or suspended amid the strikes, comprising 32 direct and 50 transit services. The disruptions followed weekend attacks on King Khalid International Airport, where two Bangladeshi nationals died and 27 sustained injuries.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Dr Abdullah bin Zafer Abiyah. She said Bangladesh would not remain unmoved if the two holy cities encounter any threat.

The state minister sought Saudi assistance to expedite the repatriation of the mortal remains of two deceased citizens and expressed appreciation for the care provided to injured Bangladeshis. Meanwhile, US-Bangla Airlines had earlier cancelled flights on the Dhaka-Riyadh route until 21 October.

Source: bdnews24.com

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