Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has warned that marine fish stocks in the Bay of Bengal are rapidly declining due to illegal, unregulated, and excessive fishing, as well as the use of harmful nets. Speaking at the debriefing of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)-Nansen Survey 2025 in Dhaka, she said the recent R.V. Dr. Fridtjof Nansen survey results highlight an alarming depletion of fish resources. The survey found oxygen-depleted zones, high microplastic concentrations, and abnormal jellyfish proliferation, signaling severe ecological stress. Akhter urged stricter control over industrial trawler licensing and called for scientific planning to ensure sustainable deep-sea fishing. The survey, conducted from August 21 to September 21, 2025, identified 65 new fish species, including five unique to the Bay of Bengal. Officials from Norway, FAO, and Bangladesh emphasized continued international cooperation and the need for Bangladesh to acquire its own research vessel to strengthen marine resource management and biodiversity conservation.

The Bangladesh government has announced a Tk 2 per liter increase in the prices of all types of fuel, effective from December 1. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources issued a notification on November 30, stating that the adjustment aligns with the revised automatic pricing formula, which sets fuel prices monthly based on global market fluctuations. Under the new rates, diesel will cost Tk 104 per liter, octane Tk 124, petrol Tk 120, and kerosene Tk 116. The ministry said the revision aims to ensure a stable and affordable fuel supply for consumers while maintaining consistency with international price trends. This marks the latest adjustment under the government’s automated pricing system, introduced to make domestic fuel pricing more responsive to global market changes and reduce subsidy pressures on the national budget.

Chattogram is set to host its first-ever international scientific conference, the 'SMCH Summit 2025', on December 4 at the Southan Medical College campus. The daylong event will bring together more than 500 researchers and physicians from across Bangladesh and abroad. Chattogram Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Omar Faruk Yusuf will attend as chief guest at the opening session, while Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony. The summit, themed 'Bridging Health, Science, and Humanity', will feature 63 scientific papers, including four by international researchers from Indonesia, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Key topics include medical education, accreditation, technology, public health, geriatrics, microbiology, and various branches of clinical medicine. The event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among medical professionals and researchers.

Workers from several factories under NASA Group staged a protest and human chain on Sunday in front of the main gate of the Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), demanding payment of overdue wages and reinstatement of their jobs. According to protesters, production at NASA Spinning Limited and NASA Spinners began to decline in April 2025, and the factories were fully shut down in September, leaving many workers unpaid for several months. Despite repeated assurances, the company has not provided a clear timeline for settling the dues. A recent company notice issued on November 29 further fueled workers’ anger as it lacked any commitment to payment. BEPZA General Manager Abdullah Al Mahbub urged patience, assuring efforts to resolve the issue, while NASA Group’s Executive Director Major Abdul Hafiz cited financial challenges but promised ongoing efforts to pay workers. The protest ended peacefully under tight security with no reported incidents.

Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), representing smartphone and gadget traders, held a peaceful human chain in Dhaka demanding government dialogue before implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). The traders, who claim to control over 70% of the mobile market, argue that the NEIR policy was announced without prior consultation, creating instability and threatening the livelihoods of over two million people linked to around 25,000 businesses. They warned that enforcing NEIR under its current structure could lead to monopolistic control by a few companies, price hikes, and harm to consumers and the digital economy. MBCB proposed several reforms, including canceling mandatory manufacturer agreements, allowing automatic handset registration upon customs clearance, reducing the 57% import duty, and ensuring multi-ministerial oversight of NEIR. They cautioned that failure to engage in discussions before the December 16 launch would trigger a nationwide protest by mobile traders.

Bangladesh Bank has granted final approval for the merger of five struggling Islamic banks—First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank—into a new entity named 'Combined Islamic Bank'. The decision, endorsed at the central bank’s board meeting on November 30, marks the official launch of the country’s largest state-owned Islamic bank. The Ministry of Finance had earlier provided preliminary approval on November 9, following which necessary legal and administrative procedures were completed. The new bank’s board will consist of seven members, chaired by Nazma Mobarek, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division. Independent directors will include professional bankers, accountants, and lawyers. The central bank announced that depositors can withdraw up to 200,000 taka, with small depositors receiving top priority. Detailed policies on interest rates, salary structures, and repayment schemes will be announced soon. The merger aims to stabilize the Islamic banking sector and protect depositors’ interests.

The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has urged the government to withdraw the proposed Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance 2025, introduced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. At a press conference in Dhaka, HAAB leaders, including President Syed Golam Sarwar and Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar, argued that the proposed law would severely harm the travel industry. They claimed that over 90% of the country’s 5,946 registered travel agencies rely on inter-agency ticketing, which the new ordinance seeks to ban. According to HAAB, this restriction could force around 5,000 agencies to shut down, affecting nearly 50,000 families dependent on the sector. The association also objected to provisions prohibiting travel agencies from operating recruiting businesses at the same address, saying it would increase operational costs. HAAB called for reconsideration of the ordinance to protect the continuity and stability of the travel and tourism sector, which plays a vital role in supporting remittance inflows and facilitating Hajj and Umrah travel services.

Safayat Arefin has been promoted to the position of Executive Director at Bangladesh Bank, effective November 19. Before this promotion, he served as Acting Managing Director of The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd. Arefin began his career in 1999 as an Assistant Director at Bangladesh Bank and has since held key roles in several departments, including the Microcredit Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Finance. He also served as General Manager overseeing finance, foreign procurement, research, and quality control. Arefin holds a master’s degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Dhaka and is a globally certified consultant in Business Solutions ERP SAP Germany, as well as a certified professional in public procurement from UNDP/CIPS, UK. Originally from Mirsharai, Chattogram, he has represented Bangladesh in various official and professional visits abroad.

Around 30,000 tons of Indian onions are reportedly rotting near the Bangladesh border after Dhaka temporarily suspended onion imports, leaving Indian exporters in severe distress. The affected consignments are mainly stored in West Bengal’s Malda and South Dinajpur districts, where traders had stocked onions anticipating regular exports to Bangladesh. With the ban in place, prices have plummeted to as low as 2 rupees per kilogram at the Mahadipur-Sonamasjid border, compared to 20–22 rupees in local markets. Exporters claim they had procured onions from Maharashtra’s Nashik region based on verbal commitments from Bangladeshi importers, who are now unable to take delivery. The suspension reportedly followed a notice from Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture on November 16. Local trade associations warn that if the border remains closed, many exporters could face bankruptcy due to the massive financial losses incurred.

The recently concluded 'Natun Kuri' competition, Bangladesh’s iconic children’s talent platform, returned after two decades under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Bangladesh Television (BTV). About 39,000 participants from 64 districts competed across 12 categories, including acting, singing, recitation, and dance. The contest aimed to foster inclusivity, drawing participants from diverse religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Priyoshi Chakraborty from Tangail and Shubhamita Talukdar from Sunamganj emerged as champions in the ‘Ka’ and ‘Kha’ divisions respectively. A total of 63 child performers received 73 awards, with girls significantly outnumbering boys among winners. The event highlighted the strong influence of educational and culturally active families in nurturing talent. BTV announced that top contestants would be enlisted as official performers and featured in a new show titled 'Shishu Prohor'. The competition’s revival has reinvigorated Bangladesh’s cultural scene, inspiring young talents and engaging audiences both on television and digital platforms.

Bangladesh Bank has advised five Islamic banks to reduce employee salaries and allowances by up to 20% as part of cost-cutting measures amid a severe liquidity crisis. The affected banks—First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank—are set to merge into a new entity called 'Combined Islami Bank.' During a meeting chaired by Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, the banks requested BDT 1,000 crore in liquidity support, but the central bank approved only BDT 350 crore. Officials emphasized the need to reduce operational expenses and expedite the launch of the new bank. Around 16,000 employees work across these institutions, which have previously received BDT 35,300 crore in government assistance yet to be repaid. The new bank’s board will consist of seven members, chaired by Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mubarak, with equal representation from professional bankers, accountants, and lawyers as independent directors.

Scientists worldwide are attempting to develop a laboratory-made version of the rarest blood type, Rh-null, often called 'Golden Blood'. Found in only about one in six million people, this blood lacks all 50 known Rh antigens, making it compatible with nearly all Rh blood groups. Due to its extreme rarity—only around 50 people globally have it—researchers are exploring genetic and stem cell technologies to replicate it. Teams in the UK, Canada, the US, and Spain are using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and stem cell methods to produce customized red blood cells. Although large-scale production remains challenging due to cell maturation and technical hurdles, clinical trials like the UK’s RESTORE project have begun testing lab-grown blood in humans. Experts believe that while traditional donors will still be needed, lab-produced rare blood could revolutionize transfusion medicine and save lives in the future.

In Bangladesh’s Chalan Beel region, widespread snail collection has raised serious environmental concerns as local farmers and fishers, facing seasonal unemployment, harvest snails for sale to traders who supply them as feed for ducks and fish. The trade, reportedly worth around 50,000 taka daily at Bilsha point alone, has become a major source of income for marginalized communities. However, environmental experts warn that snails play a crucial ecological role by cleaning water bodies and maintaining soil fertility. Their indiscriminate removal could lead to water pollution, reduced fish production, and declining soil quality. Despite existing laws protecting aquatic species, enforcement remains weak, allowing the practice to continue unchecked. Local biodiversity activists have urged administrative intervention, while agricultural officials caution that the loss of snails and other aquatic organisms could reduce calcium levels in the soil, ultimately affecting crop yields. The local administration has pledged to investigate and take legal action against those involved.

In a rare and astonishing event in the deep Bay of Bengal, around three maunds of hilsa fish reportedly jumped directly onto a cargo vessel without the use of nets. The incident occurred about 70 kilometers off the coast near the first buoy of the Rabnabad Channel at Payra Port in Patuakhali. Crew members of the coal-carrying vessel MV KSL Gladiator witnessed the unusual phenomenon as schools of small hilsa suddenly leapt from the sea onto the ship’s deck, resembling a silvery rain. Ship engineer Robiul Hossain captured a short video of the event and shared it with journalists. Marine science expert Dr. Rajib Sarkar from Patuakhali Science and Technology University explained that the behavior might have been triggered by predatory fish chasing the hilsa, combined with the ship’s lights, vibrations, and propeller noise, which could have disoriented the fish and caused them to leap upwards. The sailors described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

India has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwa moves rapidly toward the southeastern coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone is expected to pass near the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts on Sunday. Chennai airport authorities have canceled 54 flights as a precaution. Wind speeds are reaching 70–80 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, and heavy rainfall has already affected the region. IMD officials warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas and advised residents to stay indoors. Fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea. While major damage is not anticipated, agricultural fields may suffer losses. The Tamil Nadu government stated that it is fully prepared to handle any emergency situation arising from the cyclone’s impact.