A conference supported by BIISS and AFD raises the “humanitarian corridor” problem once again on Bangladesh’s security agenda.

Bangladeshi security officials and diplomats are revisiting the idea of a “humanitarian corridor” to aid safe Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, as violence intensifies along the border. The proposal resurfaced during a Dhaka conference organized by the BIISS and Armed Forces Division, amid reports of increasing cross-border attacks by groups like ARSA and RSO. Officials said the plan aims to ensure an orderly return of refugees, while the UK has also reaffirmed support for Rohingya repatriation in recent diplomatic talks with Dhaka.

Fourteen active Bangladesh Army officers were detained and held in the “log area” of Dhaka cantonment.

The Bangladesh Army arrested 14 officers following an International Crimes Tribunal order issued on October 8 and placed them in the “log area” pending police custody. Despite internal dissent, the army complied with the order, while a press briefing revealed that Major General Kabir Ahmed had reportedly escaped, with his location still unknown.

A change in the political tectonic plates in Bangladesh.

Political dynamics in Bangladesh are undergoing subtle but significant changes, as seen in recent diplomatic engagements and rising dissent against Muhammad Yunus’s regime. The visit of the Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch ambassadors to Saber Hossain Chowdhury, a prominent Awami League politician, signals shifting international attention and concern over the country’s governance. Meanwhile, growing disillusionment is evident within the Yunus administration and its allies, with some reportedly seeking safe exit strategies amid mounting failures and contradictions.

On October 6, the Bangladesh Army is prepared to welcome Pakistani Lt Gen Tabassum Haidar.

Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division under Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus is set to roll out a red-carpet welcome for Pakistan Army Lieutenant General Tabassum Haidar, Director General of Joint Staff at Chaklala, when he arrives in Dhaka on October 6. This marks the highest-level Pakistani military visit since the Yunus-led interim government took power in August 2024 after ousting Sheikh Hasina. Haidar’s visit includes meetings with senior Bangladeshi military leaders, ceremonial honours, and trips to defence institutions in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, reflecting intensified defence engagement between the two countries under the interim regime.

Guards from the Bangladesh Military Police prevent Hasnat Abdullah of the NCP from entering the Dhaka cantonment.

“On September 23, 2025, Bangladesh Army Military Police denied entry to National Citizens’ Party Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah at Dhaka Cantonment’s Mirpur Gate, enforcing an earlier ban on his access to the secure city district. Abdullah attempted to plead his case with Army officers over the phone but was unsuccessful. He reportedly sought to use the cantonment’s less congested roads for transit rather than to meet any officials. The episode follows controversy arising from Abdullah’s public claim—via Facebook—of an alleged meeting with Army Chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman about forming a ‘refined Awami League,’ a claim later denied by Army headquarters. The incident reflects ongoing tensions between Army leadership and the NCP, rooted in previous disclosures by Abdullah and other former student activists regarding internal discussions about political rehabilitation and seat-sharing arrangements.”

Bangladeshi Hilsa travels to Tripura: enthusiasm for Durga Puja is sparked by a 2,000 kilogramme shipment.

“Bangladesh Commerce Ministry has approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of Hilsha fish to India ahead of the Durga Puja festival, allowing 37 companies to participate in the export from September 16 to October 5, 2025. The minimum export price has been fixed at USD 12.5 (around Rs 1,100–1,125) per kilogram. This quantity is nearly half of last year’s permitted quota. The move is seen as a mark of enduring friendship between Bangladesh and India. The first consignments have reached states like Tripura and West Bengal, with local prices in India ranging from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 per kilogram due to lesser production and currency fluctuations. Bangladesh has traditionally banned Hilsa exports since 2012 but allows special permissions during the festival season to meet high demand in India, especially in Bengali-populated areas. The export process includes strict regulatory conditions to ensure legal compliance and quality control.”

Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is prohibited from voting by the Bangladesh Election Commission.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission announced that the national identity card of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been “locked,” effectively barring her from participating in the February 2026 general elections. Several members of her family, including her sister Sheikh Rehana, her children, and close relatives, have also had their NIDs restricted. Hasina, who fled to India following a student-led uprising that toppled her Awami League government in August 2024, is currently being tried in absentia on charges of atrocities during the unrest, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

Bangladesh’s PSO in AFD, Lt Gen Kamrul Hassan, is in China for a military drill with the United States.

“Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division, departed for Beijing on September 16 to participate in the Xiangshan Forum-2025, shortly before US Special Forces began a joint exercise with Bangladesh’s military. His visit follows Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman’s recent trip to Chinese defense manufacturing facilities. Lt Gen Hassan is expected to engage with senior PLA officers amid Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces through sensitive defense agreements with the US, despite delays influenced by Indian concerns. This visit highlights Bangladesh’s strategic balancing between China, the US, and India in regional security.”

Bangladeshi expatriates in the UK demonstrate against the temporary administration led by Yunus.

“More than 2,000 members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United Kingdom gathered in central London on September 15 to denounce alleged human rights violations and ‘undemocratic’ actions by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh. The demonstrators marched from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street, submitting a memorandum addressed to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The letter voiced deep concern over the weakening of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and systematic attacks on its pluralistic political culture, urging the UK government to hold the interim administration accountable, advocate for free and fair elections, and mobilize international support to safeguard democratic principles. The protest, highlighted by the Awami League, reflected growing frustration within the diaspora about the current political crisis in Dhaka.”

After Dhaka University’s election victory, Jamaat’s Islami Chhatra Shibir is on a roll. Should India be concerned?

“Elections in Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) were held on 9 September 2025, marking the first major student political decision after the July Revolution that ousted Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League government in 2024. The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir-led United Students’ Alliance won a landslide victory, capturing key posts including Vice President (Shadik Kayem), General Secretary (SM Farhad), and Assistant General Secretary (Mohiuddin Khan). The election involved 471 candidates contesting 28 posts, with a voter turnout of around 78.33 percent. This victory ended the 15-year dominance of the Bangladesh Chhatra League in the university and is considered a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s changing student and political landscape.”