Jahangirnagar University was closed for an indefinite period and all students were asked to vacate the halls of residence, after at least 31 demonstrating teachers and students were injured in an attack allegedly conducted by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling party's student front, in front of the VC's residence. The agitating teachers and students had confined the VC to her house overnight demanding her resignation for her alleged involvement in corruption and misappropriation of university funds.

The decision to close the university was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting chaired by the vice-chancellor, Professor Farzana Islam, at her office in the Registrar Building on the campus, moments after she was 'rescued' by the BCL activists, for which she also thanked them. The protesters under the banner 'Jahangiurnagar against Corruption' have been demanding a judicial inquiry into the reported involvement of the vice-chancellor in corruption and mismanagement of Tk 14.45 billion development funds.

The macroeconomic stability in the country is under threat and mounting pressure on a number of fronts may lead to a structural slowdown in the economy, according to the Centre for Policy Dialogue. The independent think-tank also raised red flags in four areas of the economy - revenue mobilisation, banking sector, capital market and balance of payments - where immediate attention was required.

"There is a growing stress on the macroeconomic stability and overall situation aggravated as very little structural and institutional reforms are undertaken in the economy," CPD observed in its latest report on the state of the Bangladesh economy in the fiscal year 2019-2020 (first reading) released at a press briefing held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said that the problems in the sectors would further increase stress on macroeconomic stability and slow down GDP growth if the problems were not addressed.

Brazilian federal police arrested Saifullah Al-Mamun, born in Bangladesh and considered by authorities one of the world's most prolific human traffickers. In an operation conducted in collaboration with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Brazilian police arrested members of a group allegedly implicated in a large scheme of smuggling people into the United States.

The police also froze 42 bank accounts it says were used by the group to finance their activities. Al-Mamun entered Brazil six years ago as a refugee, and was living in Bras, a diverse neighborhood in Sao Paulo that is home to immigrants from around the world.

He has been indicted on US charges. According to the United States Department of Justice, Al-Mamun is alleged to have housed people coming from Southeast Asia in São Paulo and arranged for their travel through a network of smugglers.

The number of mobile phone users in the country increased by 13 lakh in July-September of the current year amid volatility in the telecom sector over the government's audit claim from two leading operators. According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission data, the number of active mobile phone users rose to 16.34 crore in September from 16.21 crore in July.

The operators added 22 lakh new subscribers in the opening quarter of the year and 12 lakh in the second quarter. Leading mobile phone company Grameenphone added 3 lakh new users in the third quarter of the year, taking its total number of users to 7.57 crore. The second largest operator Robi bagged 4 lakh new subscribers in Q3, taking its total user number to 4.81 crore.