Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem issued a strong warning against foreign and authoritarian influence in Bangladesh during a student and youth gathering in Sylhet’s Companiganj on Saturday. Addressing the rally organized by the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Kayem declared that Bangladesh must be led by leaders rooted in its soil and people, not by those serving external interests. He criticized what he described as India’s oppression and the previous government’s tolerance of Delhi’s dominance, asserting that such subservience would no longer be accepted in an independent Bangladesh. Kayem also condemned border killings and warned that any further deaths along the frontier would trigger mass protests from the nation’s citizens. The event, held to pray for the recovery of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was attended by several Jamaat leaders and local political figures.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has called upon citizens across the country to offer prayers for the recovery of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The appeal was made in a joint statement issued by the organization’s Amir, Allama Muhibullah Babunagari, and Secretary General, Allama Sajedur Rahman, and conveyed to the media by Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi. The Hefazat leaders praised Khaleda Zia as a patriotic and courageous leader who had previously supported Hefazat’s movement against anti-Islamic elements in 2013. They also highlighted her political struggle against what they described as Indian dominance and authoritarianism, noting her imprisonment and sacrifices. The statement expressed hope for her swift recovery and return to national leadership during what they termed a difficult period for the country.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health condition has remained stable for the past three days, according to her personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain. Speaking at a briefing at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, he said Khaleda Zia is responding to her current treatment and that any decision regarding her transfer abroad will depend on the recommendation of the medical board. The medical team is consulting with doctors in the UK, Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States to ensure the best possible care. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman is overseeing the coordination of her treatment. Dr. Zahid urged party supporters to avoid crowding the hospital to ensure uninterrupted care for all patients. He reassured the public that Khaleda Zia is receiving appropriate medical attention and that further steps will be taken based on medical advice and her condition.

Nearly 350,000 assistant teachers from government primary schools across Bangladesh have been on a continuous strike since November 27, demanding implementation of three key demands, including pay grade upgrades. With annual exams scheduled to begin on Monday, the teachers have now issued a new ultimatum to the government, warning that they will boycott the exams if their demands are not met by Sunday, November 30. The announcement came from the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, whose convener, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, confirmed that teaching activities remain suspended in over 65,000 schools nationwide. Currently, head teachers receive salaries under the 10th grade, while assistant teachers are placed in the 13th grade, a disparity that has fueled long-standing dissatisfaction. The teachers have vowed to continue their movement until their demands are fulfilled, raising concerns about disruptions to the academic calendar.

Bangladesh leveled the T20 series 1–1 with a record-breaking win, successfully chasing a target of 171 runs on home soil. The team achieved victory with two balls to spare and four wickets in hand. Liton Das led from the front with a top score of 57 runs, while opener Parvez Hossain Emon contributed 43 runs. In the closing stages, pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin played a crucial cameo of 17 runs off seven balls, including two boundaries and a six, bringing Bangladesh close to victory. Sheikh Mehedi Hasan then sealed the win with a boundary, scoring six runs off three balls. This chase surpassed Bangladesh’s previous highest successful home chase of 166 runs against Sri Lanka last year, marking a new milestone for the Tigers under Liton’s captaincy.

BNP Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for heightened security measures to ensure the safe return of the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, to Bangladesh. Speaking at a special prayer event organized by the BNP at the Sonagazi Central Jame Mosque in Feni on Saturday, Mintoo also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The gathering, attended by local BNP leaders, supporters, and worshippers, prayed for Khaleda Zia’s speedy recovery and the peace and prosperity of the nation. Mintoo emphasized Khaleda Zia’s lifelong struggle for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and urged unity among party members. Following the prayer session, he suspended all scheduled campaign activities for the Feni-3 constituency and returned to Dhaka to monitor Khaleda Zia’s health condition.

BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has stated that the upcoming national election will bring significant changes to Bangladesh’s state structure. Speaking at a rally of Sanatan religious followers in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, he emphasized the need for unity to build a society free from discrimination based on religion, gender, or economic status. Roy warned against the rise of communal forces that could threaten the country’s democratic process, claiming that the ruling Awami League has lost its presence on the ground. He also expressed concern that if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health does not improve, uncertainty may arise regarding the national election. The event, organized in support of BNP candidate Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was attended by local BNP leaders and representatives of the Hindu community, including members of the Bangladesh Hindu Mahajot and Puja Udjapan Parishad.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is considering a complete closure of Venezuelan airspace, warning all aircraft, pilots, drug traffickers, and human smugglers to avoid the region. The statement, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration claims the move is part of its campaign against drug trafficking, but human rights observers and analysts argue it could serve as a pretext for attempts to remove Maduro from power. The U.S. has recently deployed an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and conducted airstrikes against alleged drug trafficking operations, which UN experts have described as extrajudicial killings. Maduro, in a televised address, dismissed Trump’s threats, asserting that Venezuelans will not be intimidated. Venezuela has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s remarks.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a 16-day nationwide program culminating in a grand rally on December 16 at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to mark Victory Day. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir revealed the plan at a press conference in Gulshan, outlining a series of events under the banner 'Bijoy Mashal Road Show'. The program will begin on December 1 from the historic Kalurghat Radio Station in Chattogram, where the party says its founder, Ziaur Rahman, declared independence in 1971. The torch relay will travel through major divisional cities including Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Bogura, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, and Faridpur. Each segment will feature a freedom fighter from 1971 and a participant from the 2024 July movement. The events will include cultural performances, documentary screenings, and discussions on the Liberation War. The BNP will also present its 31-point agenda for a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh during the campaign.

Nearly three decades after the signing of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord, Bangladesh continues to face persistent instability and security challenges in the region. The accord, intended to end decades of armed conflict and foster trust among hill communities, remains only partially implemented. Key provisions such as land dispute resolution, administrative autonomy, and demilitarization have seen limited progress. Instead, new armed groups have emerged, extortion and abductions have increased, and tensions between hill and Bengali populations persist. Analysts argue that India's geopolitical interests in the region have contributed to ongoing unrest by supporting certain insurgent factions. Critics also question whether the reduction of army presence was a strategic mistake, as it allowed militant influence to grow. Experts now call for renewed military presence, effective land commission operations, and stronger diplomatic measures to counter external interference. Despite the accord’s promise, true peace and integration in the CHT remain elusive, raising concerns over Bangladesh’s internal security and sovereignty.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified why several national players, including top-order batsman Anamul Haque Bijoy and all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, were left out of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction list. In a statement, the BPL Governing Council said the decision followed recommendations from the board’s newly formed Integrity Unit, led by independent chairman Alex Marshall. The unit is investigating potential corruption-related issues and advised that certain individuals, including players, should not be invited to participate in this season’s tournament. The BCB emphasized that this is a temporary measure specific to the BPL to ensure fairness in ongoing investigations and maintain the league’s integrity. The board also noted that this decision does not affect other domestic competitions under its jurisdiction and urged restraint in public commentary while reviews remain ongoing.

A special prayer session was held at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) for the recovery of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The event was organized by the University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB), SUST branch, on Saturday at the university’s central mosque. The prayer was conducted under the guidance of UTAB President Professor Dr. Muhammad Sajedul Karim and General Secretary Dr. Muhammad Khairul Islam. Several senior faculty members, including Treasurer Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail Hossain, Vice President Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, and other professors from various departments, attended the gathering. The initiative reflected the teachers’ collective concern and goodwill for the ailing BNP chairperson, who has been undergoing treatment for health complications. The event was marked by prayers for her speedy recovery and overall well-being.

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju has sought prayers for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s recovery, saying her health condition is critical with multiple organ failures. Speaking to journalists during his election campaign at Shorshodi Bazar in Feni, Manju discussed the political situation, alliance formation, and local development issues. He emphasized that Feni has long been deprived of development, lacking facilities like a medical college and university, and pledged to work on these matters. Manju officially began his campaign from his home constituency, engaging with local traders, distributing leaflets, and visiting fire-affected shops in Feni town. He expressed optimism about public support and reiterated his commitment to building political harmony and fulfilling promises to the people, whether or not an electoral alliance is formed. Several central and local AB Party leaders were present during the campaign activities.

Ganosamhati Andolan’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki has urged the government to take immediate steps to rehabilitate victims of the recent devastating fire in Karail slum, Dhaka. During a visit to the party’s volunteer camp on Saturday, November 29, Saki emphasized the need for a comprehensive list of affected families and called for urgent arrangements for food, shelter, clothing, sanitation, and healthcare. The Ganosamhati Andolan has set up a relief camp in the fire-hit area, distributing aid and organizing volunteers to assist victims. A team of local youth and party activists has already begun compiling data on affected households. On the same day, blankets and mosquito nets were distributed among 300 families. Several senior party members, including Firoz Ahmed, Bachchu Bhuiyan, Monirul Huda Babon, Lutfunnahar Sumona, and Tahsin Mahmud, accompanied Saki during the visit.

A controversy has erupted at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) after Sanjida Yasmin Itu, a former vice-president of the university’s banned Chhatra League hall committee, was appointed as the house tutor of the newly inaugurated Begum Khaleda Zia Hall. The hall, opened on October 20 to expand accommodation for female students, has drawn criticism from various quarters for assigning a former student leader of the ruling party’s student wing to a hall named after opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia. Itu, now a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, acknowledged her past position in the student organization but claimed she was never active in politics and that her name was included based on academic merit. The hall’s provost, Professor Dr. Md. Ali Reza Faruk, stated that junior-level teachers are typically appointed as house tutors and that the administration may have made the appointment due to a shortage of eligible candidates, adding that he would review the matter.