Bangladesh’s opposition parties, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have softened their long-standing demand for an immediate caretaker government before the upcoming national election. Despite previously insisting that no election should occur without a caretaker administration, both parties now support reinstating the system only for future polls. The change follows a Supreme Court verdict restoring the caretaker provision in the constitution but specifying that it will take effect after the next parliament dissolves. BNP and Jamaat lawyers argue that constitutional and procedural constraints make immediate implementation impossible without a sitting parliament. Legal experts, however, view this as a strategic retreat from their earlier position. The attorney general described the verdict as historic, asserting that it reaffirms the caretaker system’s constitutionality and will strengthen democratic practices. The ruling has also reignited debate over the 15th Amendment, which abolished the caretaker system in 2011, and whether the new judgment conflicts with previous rulings.

A powerful earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking the capital Dhaka and several other regions. The tremor, which occurred at 10:39 a.m., had its epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, about 13 kilometers from Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The quake caused widespread panic as residents rushed out of buildings, reporting falling objects and trembling furniture. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the magnitude and location of the quake. Tremors were also felt across the border in India, including in Kolkata and nearby areas, Indian media reported. The earthquake lasted only a few seconds but was strong enough to alarm residents in both countries. As of now, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage, though authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

A new report by Beirut-based digital rights group SMEX has raised serious concerns over the presence of Israeli-developed software AppCloud on certain Samsung Galaxy A and M series smartphones sold in the Middle East and North Africa. The program, created by Israeli company IronSource, reportedly has deep system integration, allowing access to users’ location, IP address, and device identifiers without explicit consent or a clear privacy policy. The issue has gained attention amid Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza, where 33 Palestinians were killed in a single day despite a ceasefire. Digital security experts warn that AppCloud cannot be fully removed without rooting the device, posing potential surveillance risks, particularly in conflict zones. Palestinian and regional media have questioned the sudden influx of smartphones into Gaza, suggesting possible espionage motives behind the imports. The controversy has intensified debates over digital privacy, surveillance, and the use of consumer technology in warfare.

On Universal Children’s Day, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas issued a statement asserting that Palestinian children are being deprived of rights recognized under various United Nations conventions. The group criticized Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, claiming they have destroyed essential life foundations such as food, medicine, clean water, healthcare, education, and psychological support. Hamas described these actions as violations of international conventions, humanitarian values, and UN resolutions that guarantee children’s rights. The organization called for international prosecution of Israeli leaders for alleged crimes against children and appealed for global recognition of Palestinian children’s rights to protection and justice, equal to those of children worldwide. The statement comes amid intensified Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in dozens of civilian deaths.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to attend the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja on Friday, November 21. According to BNP’s media cell official Shayrul Kabir Khan, Khaleda Zia has given her consent to attend the event following advice from her medical board. She will leave her Gulshan residence at around 3:30 p.m. for Senakunja. The event will be attended by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the chief guest. This marks Khaleda Zia’s second public appearance at the Senakunja reception in consecutive years, following her first public engagement there last year after a long hiatus since her 2018 Sylhet visit. Several senior BNP leaders, including Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, have also been invited to the ceremony.

At least 33 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza within a single day, despite an ongoing ceasefire brokered by the United States. The Guardian reported that Israeli forces targeted several areas, including Gaza City and Khan Younis, violating the truce agreed on October 10. Hamas condemned the attacks, urging Washington to restrain Israel and warning that continued aggression could worsen the humanitarian crisis. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli operations also caused casualties and forced displacements, with Hamas claiming that 32,000 Palestinians have been driven from their homes this year. Israeli forces said they seized a rocket launcher and weapons cache near the “Yellow Line” area. Gaza’s media office accused Israel of expanding its military zone by 300 meters, calling it another breach of the ceasefire. Qatar denounced the attacks, warning that such actions could collapse the fragile truce and urging international efforts to maintain peace.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus paid tribute to the martyred heroes at Shikha Anirban in Dhaka on the occasion of Armed Forces Day. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the day’s events included courtesy meetings between the President, Chief Adviser, and the chiefs of the three armed forces, as well as receptions for decorated freedom fighters and their families. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to host a reception at the Dhaka Cantonment’s Army Multipurpose Complex, where he will present commemorative gifts to 101 decorated freedom fighters and their heirs. The day began with special prayers after Fajr at mosques in all cantonments, naval bases, and air force stations, seeking the nation’s welfare and the eternal peace of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War.

At least 41 people have died and nine remain missing following a week of severe flooding and landslides in Vietnam, triggered by heavy rainfall across the central region. Authorities report that more than 52,000 homes have been inundated, while thousands of hectares of crops, livestock, and poultry have been destroyed. The hardest-hit provinces are Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa, where 30 deaths have been confirmed. Over 1 million residents experienced power outages, though electricity has been restored to about 600,000 households. More than 140 landslides have blocked provincial roads, prompting the deployment of thousands of rescue workers and police. The National Weather Bureau noted that southern and central Vietnam have faced persistent rainfall since late October, severely affecting tourist and agricultural areas. According to official statistics, natural disasters have claimed or displaced at least 279 people nationwide this year, causing over $2 billion in economic losses.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli military of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcibly displacing about 32,000 Palestinians from the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps in the occupied West Bank earlier this year. In a 105-page report, HRW said the operations, which began in January, were carried out without regard for international legal protections and left more than 850 homes destroyed or severely damaged. The rights group said Israel failed to justify the mass displacement on military grounds and did not allow residents to return. HRW called for investigations into senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and urged sanctions and an arms embargo. The Israeli army defended its actions as necessary to counter armed groups allegedly using the camps as operational bases. The report comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank and Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing war has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 2023.

In Dhaka’s major wholesale and retail markets, vegetable prices have risen by Tk 10–20 per kilogram over the past week due to reduced supply from farms. Traders at Karwan Bazar and other markets reported that early winter crops like beans, potatoes, gourds, radishes, and cabbages have become costlier, with beans selling between Tk 100–120 per kg and new potatoes reaching Tk 140–160. Conversely, egg, broiler chicken, and onion prices have declined. Red eggs are now Tk 120 per dozen, white eggs Tk 115, and broiler chicken Tk 155–170 per kg. Onion prices dropped by Tk 5–10 to Tk 95–110 per kg, as new local onions entered the market. Meat and fish prices remain stable, with beef at Tk 750–780 and mutton at Tk 1,200–1,250 per kg. Traders attribute the vegetable price hike to supply shortages, while the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) confirms stability in most essential commodities.

In southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, olive farmers are struggling to recover after a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel devastated their lands. Following the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces bulldozed farmland and uprooted more than 56,000 olive trees to create a buffer zone along the border. Farmers like Khairallah Yaacoub and Hussein Daher face ongoing dangers from Israeli drones and shelling, making it perilous to access their groves. The United Nations reports over 270 Lebanese deaths since the ceasefire, while the FAO estimates $236 million in losses to the olive sector alone. Many farmers have lost livestock and equipment, and olive oil production has plummeted. The Lebanese government has promised compensation of up to $2,500 per farmer and plans to plant 200,000 olive seedlings, but affected communities say aid has been slow and insufficient. Without substantial support from both the government and international donors, farmers fear they will be forced to abandon centuries-old agricultural traditions vital to the region’s economy and identity.

A major fire erupted at the venue of the United Nations COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, prompting the evacuation of thousands of delegates. The blaze started in the pavilion zone, where country exhibits and discussions were being held, though the exact cause remains unknown. Witnesses reported panic as smoke and heat spread rapidly through the crowded area, with security personnel guiding attendees to safety while firefighters battled the flames. The fire was brought under control around 2:20 p.m. local time, according to the COP presidency office. No injuries have been reported so far, but officials said they are closely monitoring the situation. The temporary venue, built on the site of an old airport in the Amazon region, hosts thousands of visitors daily. The two-week global climate conference, scheduled to conclude on Friday, November 21, may extend if last-minute negotiations are required.

A 22-year lease agreement for Dhaka’s Keraniganj-based Pangao Inland Container Port with Swiss company Medlog has sparked controversy over alleged links to banned Awami League leader and former minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury. Sources claim Medlog is affiliated with Chowdhury’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The deal, signed on November 17 between Chittagong Port Authority and Medlog Bangladesh Ltd, was reportedly finalized within days, raising concerns among port officials, workers, and civil society groups. Critics argue that the rushed process and lack of transparency could jeopardize national interests, sovereignty, and local employment. Labor unions fear job losses for the 391 registered port workers if foreign management replaces them with its own staff. Officials from the Chittagong Port Authority maintain that the lease was awarded through a proper tender process and that local workers will not be displaced. However, demands persist for the full disclosure of the contract terms and for assurances regarding national control and worker rights.

Zimbabwe pulled off a stunning 67-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tri-nation T20 series held in Pakistan. Batting first, Zimbabwe posted a competitive total of 162 for 8, led by opener Brian Bennett’s 49 and Sikandar Raza’s 47, which earned him the Player of the Match award. In reply, Sri Lanka collapsed to just 95 all out, unable to handle Zimbabwe’s disciplined and collective bowling attack. Captain Dasun Shanaka top-scored for Sri Lanka with 34 runs, while Bhanuka Rajapaksa added 11, but no other batsman reached double figures. Extras contributed 12 runs to the total. The result marked a disappointing start for Sri Lanka and a morale-boosting win for Zimbabwe, who began their campaign on a high note in the tri-series.

Professor Dr. Maimul Ahsan Khan, former chairman of the Law Department at the University of Dhaka and a noted legal scholar, has collected a nomination form from the National Citizen Party (NCP) to contest the upcoming election from Cox’s Bazar-01 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency. Dr. Khan, who previously served as Dean of Social Sciences at Leading University, was also the direct teacher of BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, a former student of Dhaka University’s Law Department. The nomination form was collected on Thursday, confirmed NCP central leader Mahmud Hasan Ali. Dr. Khan is known for his expertise in jurisprudence, Islamic law, and international commercial law, and has held teaching and research positions at several universities. His decision to seek political office marks a notable move from academia to active politics in a constituency long associated with his former student Salahuddin Ahmed.