Following the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund also brought down Bangladesh's growth forecast for this year as political uncertainty, industrial unrest and floods weigh heavily on economic activities. In its flagship World Economic Outlook, the IMF slashed Bangladesh's growth projection by 2.1 percentage points to 4.5 percent - which would be the lowest since the 3.4 percent recorded in the 2019-20 fiscal, when the global coronavirus pandemic hit.

Earlier in June, the IMF had forecast Bangladesh's GDP growth for this fiscal year to be 6.6 percent. The IMF Outlook did not mention the reasons behind the lower growth and high inflation forecasts. An IMF team visited Bangladesh in September and issued a statement where they said economic activities have slowed markedly, while inflation remains at double digits owing to the recent turbulence and major floods. The IMF average inflation of 10.7 percent for this fiscal year.

The government gave its go-ahead to 12 firms to import another set of 4 crore (40 million) eggs, to try and bring down the price of this important source of protein by increasing its supply, according to the Commerce Ministry. With the latest approval, the government gave clearance to businesses to import a total of 8.5 crore eggs to try and contain the price of the item, leading it to ease a bit in the last several days. Earlier, the commerce ministry permitted import of 4.5 crore of eggs and those are expected to be brought into the country by next Saturday.

The entry of the earlier-permitted 4.5 crore eggs got delayed as trade between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port had been halted for four days till Thursday, as part of security measures for Indian Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled programme to be held at Petrapole port on October 24, according to Commerce Ministry sources.

A total of 252 trainee sub-inspectors (SIs) of the 40th Outside Cadet batch have been dismissed just a month before graduating from the Sarda Police Academy in Rajshahi. The academy's principal sent discharge letters to the trainees at their home addresses on Monday morning, confirmed senior officials of the academy and the Police Headquarters (PHQ). The official reason cited for their dismissal was "breach of discipline".

On Friday, October 18, the trainees were sent on a five-day vacation. Sources said the PHQ, in consultation with the Home Ministry, conducted a background check on the political affiliations of 801 trainees in the batch. This check, undertaken by an intelligence agency, was conducted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. "Based on the agency's reports, a list of 252 trainees was sent to the principal of Sarda Police Academy around 20 days ago," said an official, who requested not to be named.

Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's main Islamist party, will own up to crimes committed during the Liberation War if they are proven beyond doubt. Acknowledging that his party had advocated a unified Pakistan, its ameer stressed that instances of individual criminal acts, however, did not imply organisational culpability for Jamaat. During an interview with The Daily Star, "If any kind of errors or crimes from [1971] is proven beyond doubt, then I will personally beg for forgiveness from the nation with full responsibility. I have absolutely no reservations about it."

But, he cautioned, he would not accept trumped up charges. "It has to be clear what is the truth." He said while his party had stood behind a unified Pakistan, it was not only Jamaat but many other parties too had done so. He explained that individuals "...who thought it appropriate, responded to the then government's call. But this cannot be mixed up with a party's responsibility. It is rather an individual's responsibility".