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 26th October 2026.

PM arrives in Tokyo on four-day visit as eight MoUs eyed

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo on Monday on a four-day official visit aimed at attracting fresh investment and expanding bilateral trade.

Accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, he landed at Narita International Airport at 9:07 am local time and was received by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone.

During the visit, Tarique is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on 27 October and deliver the keynote address at the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum.

The discussions are expected to focus on implementing the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2026, encouraging Japanese manufacturers to establish factories in Bangladesh to generate employment, and strengthening cooperation on energy security and the Rohingya crisis.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said both sides are discussing draft memoranda of understanding covering agriculture, fisheries, civil aviation, trade, environmental conservation and human resource development. 

'We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,' he said. Around eight agreements are under discussion, of which three to four could be signed.

Meetings are also being planned with the heads of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan External Trade Organization and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, while the proposed itinerary includes visiting a Chiba liquefied natural gas terminal, the UNIQLO headquarters and a Toyota factory in Nagoya.

Source: BSS

Biman extends Riyadh, Dammam flight suspension until 4 November

Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Sunday extended the suspension of its Dhaka-Riyadh and Dhaka-Dammam flights until 4 November, citing passenger safety concerns amid ongoing attacks targeting airports in Saudi Arabia.

The national flag carrier said in a press release that the suspension will remain in effect according to Bangladesh time and date.

Passengers requiring urgent travel to Saudi Arabia or returning to Bangladesh have been advised to use Jeddah and Madinah international airports as alternative gateways.

To meet increased demand, Biman has been operating two daily flights between Dhaka and Jeddah since 16 October and will continue the additional services until 4 November.

Meanwhile, regular flights on the Dhaka-Madinah route are continuing with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The airline said further decisions regarding the suspended Riyadh and Dammam services, along with revised flight schedules, would be announced after assessing the situation. Passengers have been requested to contact their nearest Biman sales centre for updated information on tickets, flight schedules and other travel-related matters.

Source: BSS

Youth gets 7-day remand over Facebook 'sniper' comment on PM's bus

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed 22-year-old Abu Bokor Siddique on a seven-day remand in a case filed over a Facebook comment about a bus used to transport Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his recent visit to Rajshahi.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the order after the Detective Branch sought a remand for Siddique, said Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsud Doha Sumon.

The case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On 20 October, the prime minister arrived at Shah Makhdum Airport aboard a military aircraft and travelled on a Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology bus to attend a Madrasa Ground rally and visit Dharmasabha Mandir ahead of Durga Puja.

Siddique made the comment on a photograph of the vehicle posted by a Facebook page called "The Beauty of Rajshahi".

Detectives detected the remark on 21 October and detained Siddique the same day in Rajshahi's Paba upazila, according to a police forwarding report. Police recovered a mobile phone from his possession and said he admitted to making the comment during initial questioning before a case was filed with Ramna Police Station on 23 October.

Source: The Daily Star

No unrest allowed over Hasina's reported December return: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday that the government will not allow anyone to create instability over social media reports of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returning in December. 

Speaking at a Secretariat press briefing, he noted that Bangladesh has sent several extradition requests to India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Salahuddin Ahmed said forces associated with the previous regime have been attempting to spread misinformation to trigger unrest, adding that fugitive criminals and individuals accused of genocide who fled after killing hundreds of citizens will not be permitted to carry out subversive activities.

Noting the government believed that Durga Puja was celebrated peacefully across Bangladesh after 15 to 17 years, the minister credited central and grassroots digital monitoring via mobile apps for helping law enforcement detect and foil one or two disruptive plans in advance.

Regarding recent security incidents, Salahuddin said action is being taken after Awami League activists attacked an outnumbered police patrol during an attempted procession in Gopalganj's Kheyaghat area. He added that the government and the Bangladesh Army have brought Sajek in Rangamati under control amid seasonal rivalries between hill groups, including the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti and the United People's Democratic Front, while discussions are underway with community leaders, with whom the local lawmaker is maintaining communication.

Source: UNB

Trump escalates anti-Muslim attacks against Democratic candidate in Michigan rally

US President Donald Trump escalated anti-Muslim attacks against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a nearly two-hour rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. 

Campaigning in one of about seven crucial toss-up races to defend the Republicans' 53-seat Senate majority, Trump levelled unfounded allegations calling the US-born former public health official a 'jihadist' and a 'Muslim Brotherhood member'.

As protesters demonstrated outside and arena attendees shouted 'traitor', Trump falsely accused El-Sayed of seeking Sharia law, demanded he pass through a Senate metal detector and claimed a Democratic victory would invite 'hordes of jihadists' and cancel Christmas. 

Republican opponent Mike Rogers joined Trump onstage despite a survey showing only 35 per cent of Michigan voters view the president positively, alleging without evidence that the Democrat is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America and receives funding linked to Hamas and Hezbollah.

El-Sayed, who campaigned with former President Barack Obama on Saturday, criticised similar Islamophobic remarks in an ad last week as distractions from the suffering Trump's policies are inflicting at the pump, grocery store and doctor's office. 

Although the eight-month Iran war pushed Michigan petrol prices from $2.91 to $4.83 a gallon, an unapologetic Trump defended the conflict over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and boasted against advisers' warnings about US oil company profits and the country making 'hundreds of billions of dollars'.

Rapper Nicki Minaj also joined Trump onstage in a gold Gucci suit after flying aboard Air Force One, where she filmed a mock interview for the White House press secretary post vacated by Katie Zacharia. Having previously called herself Trump's 'number one fan', Minaj led Republican chants and said the president 'changed the energy of the country' and provided 'a future to look forward to', while Trump called her 'smart'.

Sources: Al Jazeera

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