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 24th October 2026.

Sajek deserted after clashes, gunfight triggers shutdown

Sajek Valley and its surrounding areas in Rangamati wore a deserted look after the local administration suspended tourist access following clashes and a reported gunfight at Ujo Bazar on Thursday over a road blockade.

A sense of panic gripped the area as vehicular movement remained suspended and only a handful of shops stayed open.

Meanwhile, a half-day road and waterway blockade called by the Chhatra Janata Sangram Parishad was underway in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts from this morning in protest against alleged attacks, baton charges and vandalism during an earlier blockade.

Ushatan Chakma, president of the Chhatra Janata Sangram Parishad, said the half-day blockade programme was enforced in solidarity with what he described as the legitimate demands of local residents.

The Sajek Gano Odhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association have been enforcing the blockade to press home three demands, including the removal of an armed group linked with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS).

Due to the blockade, the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners' Association estimated daily revenue losses of at least Tk 4-5 crore across 120 empty accommodation facilities.

Vehicular movement on Sajek-Rangamati remained halted for two consecutive days since Thursday. Protesters burnt tyres at different points as part of their road blockade.

Ujo Bazar Market Committee General Secretary Milon Chakma said commercial operators had fled to safer locations and remained unable to return amid the tense security environment.

Tourism operators and transport workers in Khagrachhari staged a protest, citing heavy financial losses from the ongoing disruption, and gave the authorities 48 hours to restore security and reopen travel routes to Sajek.

Source: The Daily Star / New Age

7,500 Bangladeshis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia: Shama Obaed

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Friday that approximately 7,500 Bangladeshi nationals are currently imprisoned across Saudi Arabia on various charges. 

She made the remarks after the body of a Bangladeshi worker killed in a Houthi missile strike on King Khalid International Airport was handed over to his family.

Officials are verifying whether two recently executed Bangladeshis, Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akter, were included in the current detainee list. The pair had been detained since August 2023 on separate charges.

According to a confidential consular document, Saudi authorities executed the individuals without notifying the Bangladesh Embassy beforehand or providing formal confirmation afterwards. 

Dhaka only learned of the capital punishment through Saudi media reports citing an interior ministry statement on 14 October that accused the pair of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque in Makkah.

Shama Obaed said the government utilises diplomatic channels to seek sentence reductions or pardons whenever officials are notified of overseas convictions, though she noted the lack of prior communication in this instance. 

She said authorities remain committed to protecting expatriate citizens while respecting foreign judicial systems.

Source: UNB

Gunman targets singer Asif Akbar's empty car in Moghbazar

An unidentified assailant opened fire on the parked vehicle of prominent singer Asif Akbar in Dhaka's Moghbazar area early Saturday morning, according to police.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:45 am in front of the Bishal Centre complex, where the singer maintains a personal office. An unidentified individual arrived in a CNG-run autorickshaw and fired a single shot at the empty vehicle, leaving no casualties.

An internal police report indicated that the singer was inside his third-floor office during the attack. Responding to a national emergency hotline call, investigating officers recovered a bullet cartridge from inside the vehicle through a shattered rear window.

Law enforcement officials are currently collecting CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the perpetrator and determine the exact motive behind the targeted shooting. An attempt to contact the singer via mobile phone around 9 am went unanswered.

Source: Prothom Alo

Trump hints at new military operation as Iran war hits eighth month

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington may launch another military operation against Iran as the ongoing conflict approaches its eighth month.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida ahead of the 3 November midterm elections, Trump referenced a potential new offensive, terming it 'another little Epic Fury'. He questioned whether the United States should seek a rapid conclusion to the war or allow hostilities to gradually subside.

The statements follow his earlier pledge to delay any further attacks until after the upcoming congressional elections. The initial allied strikes on 28 February triggered Iranian retaliatory attacks, while US and Israeli offensives have displaced millions of civilians and driven up global fuel prices.

In response to the renewed threats, senior Iranian security officials warned that Tehran has prepared extensive retaliation plans, including targeting undersea communications cables in the Gulf if allied forces strike again.

Source: Reuters

Iran threatens 7 Gulf undersea cables and US-linked tech hubs

Tehran has prepared detailed plans to target Gulf undersea communications cables if the United States and Israel attack Iran again, according to two senior Iranian security officials.

The officials said Iranian forces would aim to prevent wartime cable repairs to prolong internet disruptions. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps political deputy Yadollah Javani said on Wednesday that Tehran could strike seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.

The global impact could be limited because less than 1 per cent of international bandwidth crosses the strait, according to TeleGeography research director Alan Mauldin. Analysts noted that multiple cuts could slow internet services and primarily disrupt regional e-commerce, financial transactions and cloud computing.

The warnings extend to regional technology assets, with top security official Mohsen Rezaei stating this month that US-linked digital infrastructure across the Gulf, including data centres and artificial intelligence facilities, could be targeted.

Middle East Institute Iran programme director Alex Vatanka said the threats aim to deter renewed conflict by pressuring Gulf states and corporate executives to press US President Donald Trump over their investments.

Source: Reuters

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