A Dhaka Safe Food Court has issued arrest warrants against top officials of Nestlé Bangladesh and Meghna Group of Industries over allegations of producing and marketing substandard and harmful food products. The cases, filed by a food inspector from Dhaka South City Corporation, cite laboratory tests showing excessive acidity and low milk solids in Nestlé’s KitKat wafers, and low sucrose levels with traces of sulfur dioxide in Meghna Sugar Refinery’s sugar. The court found the acidity and chemical presence to indicate spoilage and artificial whitening. Nestlé Bangladesh denied wrongdoing, stating that KitKat is imported from Dubai and India and not subject to local BSTI standards. Meghna Group did not comment on the allegations. The court scheduled the next hearing for December 15. The issue has sparked consumer outrage, with many questioning the quality control of multinational brands operating in Bangladesh.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed it is reviewing a formal request from Bangladesh to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Dhaka for crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown on mass protests. Hasina, 78, fled to India after being ousted during a popular uprising in August last year that left more than 1,400 people dead, according to the United Nations. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has urged New Delhi to act under a 2013 bilateral extradition treaty, calling India’s continued sheltering of Hasina a breach of friendly relations. However, analysts suggest India is unlikely to comply, viewing the case as politically motivated. The development comes ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, from which Hasina’s Awami League has been barred, deepening political tensions between the two neighbors.

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck India’s Manipur state early Thursday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology. No casualties or damage were reported. Earlier, two minor tremors were recorded in Bhutan and the Bay of Bengal — a 3.0 magnitude quake in Bhutan late Wednesday night and a 4.0 magnitude quake in the Bay of Bengal at a depth of 10 kilometers. Meanwhile, Indonesia experienced a stronger 6.3 magnitude earthquake off the western coast of North Sumatra on Thursday, following a 5.1 magnitude quake in North Sulawesi the previous night. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that the Sumatra quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Despite the sequence of tremors across South and Southeast Asia, no major damage or tsunami warnings have been issued so far.

At least ten people were injured in a violent clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Fursandi village under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila on Thursday morning. The conflict reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute over local dominance between supporters of BNP leaders Shahabur Molla and Zahid Biswas. Police and local sources said tensions escalated after a personal quarrel between supporters Al-Amin and Firoz, leading to a full-scale confrontation. Two of the injured were admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, while others received primary treatment and returned home. During the clash, two houses were also vandalized. Law enforcement and army personnel arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control. Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that the situation is now stable and additional police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest.

A mild earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt in Sylhet early Thursday, November 27, at 3:30 a.m., according to the Sylhet Meteorological Office. The quake originated in Manipur, India, and was too weak to be widely felt across Bangladesh. Meteorologist Shah Md. Sajib Hossain confirmed that such minor tremors occur frequently and are usually not officially reported. This incident follows a stronger 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Bangladesh on November 21, shaking Dhaka and other regions. That earlier quake caused the deaths of 10 people, including a child, and injured over 600 others. Narsingdi reported the highest number of fatalities with five deaths, followed by four in Dhaka and one in Narayanganj. Many residents panicked and jumped from buildings during the tremor, while several structures tilted or developed cracks.

Eleven railway workers were killed and two others injured when a train struck a maintenance crew on the tracks near Kunming, the capital of China’s southwestern Yunnan province, on Thursday. The workers were reportedly testing seismic equipment used for earthquake monitoring when the train approached unexpectedly. Authorities said the train was traveling at normal speed as it entered Laowang Town Station. The Kunming Railway Bureau has launched an investigation to determine how the accident occurred. Officials described it as China’s deadliest rail accident in more than a decade. Train services at the station have since resumed. China’s vast rail network, one of the largest in the world, carries billions of passengers annually but has occasionally seen major accidents, including a 2011 collision in Zhejiang that killed 40 people and a 2021 incident in Gansu that left nine workers dead.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to five years in prison for her involvement in a plot allocation fraud case. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. The case alleged that Hasina used her authority as prime minister to conceal information about a plot registered under her late husband Wazed Miah’s name and obtained another plot through false declarations, violating RAJUK regulations. Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only arrested accused, was present in court during the verdict. Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul have been absconding since the beginning of the three related corruption cases involving 47 accused in total. The court is also scheduled to deliver a verdict on December 1 in a separate plot corruption case involving Sheikh Rehana’s daughter, Tulip Siddiq.

A Dhaka special court has sentenced Sajib Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to five years in prison for irregularities in the allocation of a government plot in Purbachal. The verdict, delivered by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, also includes a fine of 100,000 taka. The case alleges that Sheikh Hasina misused her authority to obtain a plot by concealing information about another property owned by her husband, Wazed Miah, and by violating RAJUK regulations. Officials from RAJUK and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works were also accused of receiving financial benefits. Joy, along with Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, has been absconding since the beginning of the trial. The court set November 27 for the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. In a related case, the verdict on Sheikh Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddiq’s alleged plot corruption is scheduled for December 1.

A Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jet was seen flying over Tehran, prompting widespread attention on social media after multiple videos showed the aircraft and reported sonic booms. Iran’s Air Force confirmed the flight to Tasnim News Agency, stating that the jet belongs to its own fleet and was conducting a routine operation over the capital. Local media, citing official sources, reported that the MiG-29 was recently added to Iran’s air fleet, following speculation that Iran had acquired several such jets from Russia. The aircraft is believed to be stationed at Shiraz Air Base in Fars Province. The sighting comes amid growing defense cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, drawing regional and international interest in Iran’s expanding air capabilities.

A Dhaka court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison in three corruption cases related to irregularities in the allocation of government plots in Purbachal. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. The court observed that plots were allocated without proper applications and beyond jurisdiction. Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused in custody, was present during the verdict, along with Anti-Corruption Commission lawyers. The cases alleged that Hasina misused her authority as prime minister to obtain plots by concealing information and violating RAJUK regulations, providing financial benefits to officials. Her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul are also accused and remain absconding. Separate verdicts in their cases are expected later today, while a related case involving Tulip Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, is scheduled for December 1.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh held a follow-up meeting with law enforcement agencies in Dhaka ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, included four election commissioners, the home secretary, the EC secretary, and top officials from various security agencies. Discussions focused on reviewing security measures, finalizing deployment strategies, and determining the duration of law enforcement presence before and after the election. The EC is expected to issue directives on security operations and the number of personnel to be stationed at polling centers. Earlier, in the first preparatory meeting held on October 20, a proposal was made to deploy security forces for eight days surrounding the election period. Current estimates suggest that between 13 and 18 law enforcement members may be assigned to each polling station to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered new details while investigating the assets of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family. During the opening of three bank lockers—one at Pubali Bank and two at Agrani Bank—officials found 831.67 tolas (about 9,707 grams) of gold jewelry, gold ornaments shaped like boats and deer, and a note listing family members’ names. However, Hasina’s personal locker at Pubali Bank contained only a small jute bag, sparking speculation that important documents might have been removed. The ACC and the National Board of Revenue’s Central Intelligence Cell began probing alleged corruption and undeclared wealth of the Hasina family after her ouster on August 5 last year. Tax officials noted discrepancies between declared assets and the gold found, suggesting possible concealment. The ACC said it will verify whether the gold constitutes undeclared wealth, while questions remain about whether the Pubali Bank locker was accessed after August 5.

Police in Faridpur have arrested Sheikh Faez Ahmed, president of the Bangabandhu Cultural Alliance in Faridpur and a key accused in the July Movement attack and attempted murder case. Faez, 48, was detained on Wednesday evening near the Dream Shopping Complex in Alipur after anti-discrimination student activists identified and held him before handing him over to police. He had been on the run since early August following allegations of participating in attacks against student protesters during the July 2024 movement. Faez, son of Sheikh Manik from Goalachamot area and former chairman of the Faridpur Cooperative Bank, reportedly returned to the city recently and was involved in controversial activities. Police Superintendent Abdul Jalil confirmed that Faez had been wanted for months and that legal action is now being taken against him. The arrest follows growing local demands for accountability over the violence during the July protests.

A massive fire broke out on Wednesday night at an old, abandoned cargo ship named 'Rahan' anchored at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) dockyard in Narayanganj’s Nabiganj area. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at BIWTC’s No. 3 dockyard, where the vessel had been idle for nearly two decades. Two units of the Bandar Fire Service and Civil Defense managed to bring the blaze under control after about an hour of effort. No injuries or casualties were reported, though various materials stored on the ship were completely destroyed. Witnesses and local residents suggested that drug users who frequented the abandoned vessel might have caused the fire, possibly from a discarded cigarette. Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause or assess the extent of the damage, but preliminary reports indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the ship’s deteriorated condition and flammable materials on board.

Local Awami League leaders and influential individuals in Shariatpur have been accused of illegally occupying government-acquired land along the Shariatpur–Chandpur regional highway to build shops, markets, and restaurants. The occupied land, owned by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), is part of a 31-kilometer road development project approved in 2019 with a budget of Tk 859.63 crore. Despite public anger over the encroachment, local administration and RHD officials have shown little visible action. Field visits revealed that dozens of structures are being built on acquired plots in Balarbazar area, allegedly by Awami League activist Mejbahauddin Dewan and his relatives. Mejbahauddin claimed they built shops because compensation for their land had not been paid. RHD Executive Engineer Md Nabil Hossain confirmed awareness of the illegal occupation and said eviction drives will begin soon to remove unauthorized structures along the highway.