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 22th October 2026.

Government abandons BRT project after spending Tk 2,811 crore

After 14 years of delays and Tk 2,810 crore in spending, the government has scrapped the country’s first dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project before it could carry a single passenger.

Instead, it opted to convert the Gazipur-Airport corridor into a six-lane road. 

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on October 18. The following day, the Road Transport and Highways Division directed the closure of the operating company and instructed that responsibility for the project be handed over to the Roads and Highways Department.

Under the new plan, dedicated BRT stations and lane dividers will be dismantled, while two existing overpasses will be widened to accommodate the redesigned roadway.

A review team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology recommended abandoning the service due to design flaws. However, the Bangladesh Institute of Planners called the decision a 'black day' for sustainable public transport that contradicts regional master plans.

Transport expert Professor Shamsul Hoque said further investment remained unjustified because the infrastructure could not provide seamless regional connectivity. 

Approved in November 2012, the 20.5 km BRT project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2016 at a cost of Tk 2,037.9 crore. Repeated delays and revisions later pushed the estimated cost to Tk 4,268.32 crore, yet authorities failed to launch the service.

Source: The Daily Star, The Business Standard

President proposes national committee for equal civic rights

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called for the formation of a national committee to ensure equal civic rights for people of all faiths in Bangladesh. 

He made the call while exchanging Bijoya Dashami greetings with representatives of the Hindu community at Bangabhaban in Dhaka.

The president said the state belongs equally to all citizens, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, stressing that the constitution guarantees equal rights, dignity and religious freedom for every Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians alike.

Addressing current challenges, Mirza Fakhrul warned that attempts are sometimes made to create societal divisions through rumours, misinformation and religious extremism. He urged citizens to maintain an uncompromising stance against such efforts to preserve historical communal harmony.

To protect minority groups, the president said law enforcement agencies and the administration have been directed to remain highly vigilant. He said authorities must ensure that people of all faiths can practise their respective religions within a safe and joyful environment.

Source: The Business Standard

Election Commission evaluates unused electronic voting machine disposal option

The Election Commission has begun assessing the fate of around 150,000 unused electronic voting machines (EVMs) worth Tk 3,825 crore, ordering a fresh inventory and technical evaluation of the equipment.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin instructed officials to identify where the machines are stored and assess their physical condition.

According to EC data, about 86,000 EVMs are stored at the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, while another 62,000 are kept at field offices nationwide. The devices have remained largely unused for years, generating substantial storage and rental costs while receiving little regular maintenance.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the expired machines have become an administrative burden, adding that officials seek rapid disposal to eliminate financial liabilities. Dhaka University Professor Mohammad Abdur Razzaque advised establishing a technical committee to evaluate potential resale values and alternative operational capabilities.

The final disposal strategy could involve reusing components, reselling units or conducting environmentally safe destruction. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the authorities will preserve specific devices required as evidence for ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies.

Source: bdnews24, The Financial Express

Inflation pushes 10 million citizens below national poverty line

Rising inflation has pushed an estimated 8 million to 10 million people below the national poverty line, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said on Wednesday. 

Speaking to journalists after a district administration meeting in Rajbari, he said the current administration inherited a fragile macroeconomic environment marked by persistently high inflation, rising unemployment and sluggish private-sector investment.

Consequently, many people have exhausted their savings and taken on debt to cope with the soaring cost of living.

Titumir said the previous government ignored sustainable domestic energy exploration while cronyism severely weakened the national economic framework. He said the government must now secure around $40 billion to repair the banking sector.

To reform the education system and address unemployment, the government plans to allocate 2 per cent of the gross domestic product to education, aiming for 5 per cent by 2030. Authorities are also upgrading rural healthcare infrastructure to 151-bed upazila hospital facilities.

Source: The Business Standard

Hindu devotees immerse Durga idols across 33,165 national mandaps

The six-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the country’s Hindu community, concluded on Wednesday with devotees immersing the idols of Goddess Durga in water bodies. Thousands of people gathered along the Buriganga River in the capital to observe the final immersion ceremonies.

Religious congregations celebrated the annual autumn festival across 33,165 mandaps nationwide this year. Devotees transported the deities to riverbanks in trucks while performing traditional music with drums and chanting hymns to bid farewell to the mother goddess.

Before the final procession, female worshippers observed Bijoya Dashami rituals by offering vermilion at the feet of the deity. Women participated in the traditional sindur khela by smearing vermilion on one another amid festive dancing and musical performances.

The immersion rites symbolise the deity returning to her husband at Kailash after defeating evil forces. Following a final glimpse, devotees brought the idol of Goddess Durga out of the Dhakeshwari National Temple and set off for immersion.

Source: UNB

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