Sharmin S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, emphasized the need to establish a compassionate and inclusive society where the elderly and women receive due respect and care. Speaking on November 25 at a program in Ikarchali Union under the national social safety net initiative, she highlighted the importance of ensuring that state resources are used effectively for public welfare. Murshid acknowledged the financial struggles of elderly allowance recipients and pledged to review the adequacy of the support. She also criticized the large-scale capital flight from the country, noting that such economic mismanagement contributes to poverty and hardship. The event was attended by local government officials including Rangpur’s Deputy Director of Local Government, Zilufa Sultana, and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rubel Rana.

A mass signature campaign demanding the construction of the Bhola-Barishal Bridge has drawn strong public support across various professions, including students, teachers, journalists, and lawyers. Organized by United Peoples Bangladesh, the campaign began at Bangla School Mor in Bhola district, where over 500 people signed on the first day. The organizers plan to collect more than 5,000 signatures before submitting the petition to the Chief Adviser. Supporters argue that the bridge, originally scheduled for completion by 2025, remains unbuilt, intensifying the movement into a widespread public demand. Activists claim that the bridge would establish an economic zone in the Bhola-Barishal region, attract industries, and facilitate the transport of goods nationwide. Alongside the local campaign, a parallel group in Dhaka held a sit-in, while candlelight vigils were planned at Shaheed Minars across the country to press for the demand.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish chief Maulana Mamunul Haque has accused the ruling political party of attempting to re-establish a one-party fascist system by excluding other political forces from participation. Speaking at a public rally in Katiadi, Kishoreganj, he claimed that some groups aim to monopolize power for another 15 years under the guise of political change. Haque declared that the people of Bengal have shed blood to defeat fascism and will not allow its return. He emphasized that the future Bangladesh should be built on Islamic principles and guided by the July National Charter. The rally, organized by the Khelafat Majlish Katiadi unit, also featured several central and local leaders from Khelafat Majlish, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Andolon, who echoed demands for a fair electoral environment, legal recognition of the July Charter, and the establishment of an Islamic governance system.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced that the upcoming national parliamentary election and the referendum will be held on the same day, with the referendum ballots printed in color for easy distinction. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka that both elections will allow postal ballots. The parliamentary election ballots will be printed on white paper with black symbols, while the referendum ballots will use colored paper with visible ink. The voter list is expected to be finalized by December 5, after which election preparations will proceed. The EC has also initiated communication with the government press regarding ballot paper printing. Additionally, expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to participate in the referendum, ensuring broader voter inclusion.

Six leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Sakhipur upazila of Tangail have resigned from their party positions, accusing BNP’s Tangail-8 (Basail-Sakhipur) candidate and central vice-chairman Ahmed Azam Khan of rehabilitating Awami League activists within the party. The resignations, submitted between November 21 and 25, were shared on social media, sparking widespread discussion. The resigning leaders, including freedom fighters Abdul Bashed Master and Shahjahan Saju, claimed Khan acted in an authoritarian and undisciplined manner, alienating long-time BNP activists. Internal conflict within the local BNP has reportedly deepened since Khan’s nomination, with some leaders refusing to join his campaign. Khan denied all allegations, calling them false and politically motivated, and claimed that a conspiratorial group coerced some leaders into signing resignation letters. District BNP leaders described the incident as a misunderstanding and expressed hope for party unity ahead of the election.

Bangladesh’s Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that the upcoming national referendum will feature ballots of a different color to help voters distinguish them from those used in the national election. The referendum ordinance was approved at a meeting of the advisory council on Tuesday, November 25, and the official gazette is expected to be published within a day or two. The referendum will include a single question requiring a 'yes' or 'no' response, and it will be held simultaneously with the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The same officials appointed for the parliamentary election—returning, assistant returning, presiding, and polling officers—will also oversee the referendum process. The government has decided to hold the referendum to seek public opinion on 30 reform proposals recommended by the National Consensus Commission. The winning party will be obligated to implement these agreed-upon reforms. The referendum law was initially approved on November 20, and the ordinance is now set for final approval.

Australian Senator Pauline Hanson, leader of the right-wing One Nation Party, has been suspended for seven sitting days after wearing a full burqa in Parliament to protest against the refusal to debate her proposed burqa ban bill. Her act sparked outrage and accusations of racism from fellow lawmakers, including Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and independent Muslim Senator Fatima Payman, who called the incident shameful and divisive. Government and opposition leaders, including Labor’s Penny Wong and Liberal’s Anne Ruston, condemned Hanson’s behavior as disrespectful to the Senate’s dignity. A censure motion against Hanson and her party passed by 55–5 votes. Hanson defended her actions, claiming there is no dress code in Parliament and that her protest was about equality and security. Known for her anti-immigration stance since the 1990s, Hanson had previously worn a burqa in the Senate in 2017 to make a similar statement.

The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cook, has issued a strong warning against visa fraud and illegal attempts to enter the United Kingdom. In a statement released by the British High Commission in Dhaka, Cook said that anyone found engaging in visa forgery or using unlawful means to travel to the UK could face a 10-year travel ban. She emphasized that visa fraud destroys people’s dreams and harms families, while those assisting in such crimes exploit individuals’ hopes for a better life and put them at serious risk. The High Commissioner urged applicants to use only official channels for legitimate visa applications, reaffirming the UK government’s commitment to combating fake visas and maintaining the integrity of its immigration system.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has announced that it will publicly disclose the names of individuals who attempt to obstruct or exert undue influence on its investigations. ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen made the statement on Tuesday, November 25, during a discussion marking the commission’s founding anniversary at its Segunbagicha headquarters in Dhaka. Responding to questions about external pressure on the commission, Momen emphasized that any future attempts to interfere with ACC’s work will be met with full transparency through name disclosure. The meeting was also attended by ACC Commissioners Miah Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Brigadier General (Retd.) Hafiz Ahsan Farid, along with Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim. The chairman reiterated the ACC’s commitment to ensuring impartial and independent investigations into corruption cases across the country.

US President Donald Trump has initiated a process to classify certain branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists. According to the White House, Trump has directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to assess the eligibility of Brotherhood branches in countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan for such designation. The officials have 45 days to submit their findings and proceed with potential listings. The Trump administration alleges that these groups have supported or incited violence against Israel and US allies, and provided financial or material support to Hamas. The move aligns with longstanding demands from Republican and far-right circles in the US to label the Brotherhood a terrorist entity. Founded in Egypt in the 1920s, the Muslim Brotherhood has grown into a transnational Islamist movement with significant influence across the Arab world.

A major rift has emerged within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Tangail’s Sakhipur upazila after six local leaders, including the upazila unit president Shahjahan Saju and general secretary Abdul Based Master, resigned from their posts. The resignations came in protest against alleged favoritism by BNP central vice chairman and Tangail-8 candidate Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, whom they accused of rehabilitating individuals linked to rival political groups. The dispute escalated after Saju was relieved of his duties on September 16, prompting demands for his reinstatement. When that did not happen, several leaders followed him in quitting. The resignations, which spread on social media overnight, sparked widespread debate among BNP supporters. District BNP leaders, however, dismissed the move as part of a conspiracy ahead of the upcoming election and urged unity under the party’s electoral symbol. Ahmed Azam Khan claimed the resignations were part of a deeper plot against the BNP and expressed confidence in the party’s victory.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has officially withdrawn the expulsion order against Abdullah Al Mamun, a former member of the Jamalganj Upazila BNP in Sunamganj. The decision was communicated through a letter signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday. Mamun had previously been expelled for alleged activities violating party discipline. After a detailed review of his appeal and considering his commitment to adhere to the party’s principles and discipline in the future, the BNP decided to reinstate him. The letter also stated that Mamun is now permitted to resume participation in regular party activities. Copies of the decision were sent to the Sylhet divisional organizational team and the Sunamganj district BNP leadership. Expressing gratitude, Mamun thanked Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and other party leaders, pledging to work in line with the party’s ideology and discipline going forward.

A total of 134 leaders and activists of the (now suspended) Barguna district Awami League, including former MPs Advocate Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Golam Sarwar Tuku, and Shawkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon, have been sued under the Special Powers Act. The case was filed on November 22 by BNP leader Badal at Barguna Sadar Police Station, citing incidents from 2013, 2016, and 2020. According to the complaint, Badal was allegedly abducted, tortured, and falsely implicated as a militant by Awami League leaders led by district general secretary Md Jahangir Kabir. He claimed his business was attacked and property destroyed. Police confirmed the case registration and assigned SI Sohel Rana to investigate. The accused include former mayors and 17 lawyers. Awami League leader Advocate Abdur Rahman Jewel denied knowledge of the case. This follows five earlier cases filed by BNP activists against Awami League leaders in Barguna.

The High Court of Bangladesh has set December 4 as the date to deliver its verdict on the legality of an agreement between the Chattogram Port Authority and a foreign company regarding the operation of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar made the announcement after concluding hearings on the rule issued earlier. The case originated from a writ petition filed by Mirza Walid Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Young Economists Forum, challenging the validity of the deal signed on July 30. During the hearing, the court had verbally instructed the government to suspend all activities related to the contract. The NCT, built in 2007 with an investment of about Tk 2,712 crore, handles a major portion of the country’s import and export containers, making the outcome of this ruling significant for Bangladesh’s port operations and trade management.

As Bangladesh approaches its 13th national election, political polarization is intensifying with multiple alliances forming around the two major opposition forces — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami. BNP is working to build a broad coalition including centrist, leftist, and Islamist parties such as the National Citizen Party (NCP), Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), and others from the anti-government movement. Meanwhile, Jamaat is forming an eight-party electoral understanding with seven Islamist groups, focusing on a ‘one seat, one candidate’ strategy. Analysts suggest that these alliances could be decisive in determining election outcomes, as smaller parties’ votes may influence key constituencies. Discussions on seat-sharing are ongoing, with BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman expected to finalize negotiations upon his return. Leftist and reformist groups are also exploring separate coalition possibilities. Overall, the pre-election period is marked by intense negotiations, strategic alignments, and uncertainty over final alliance structures.