The Bangladesh Election Commission has initiated voter registration for expatriate Bangladeshis residing in 16 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The registration process, which began at midnight on November 24, will continue until November 28 through the Postal Vote BD mobile application. This initiative marks the first time expatriate citizens will be able to vote through postal ballots. The registration drive covers countries across North America, the Caribbean, and Oceania, such as New Zealand, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. The Election Commission has also extended the registration program for expatriates living in East Asia, South America, and Africa until November 28. To assist applicants, a 24-hour help desk has been set up with dedicated WhatsApp, Imo, and Botim contact numbers. The move is part of the government’s broader effort to ensure voting rights for Bangladeshis living abroad and to increase participation in the upcoming national elections.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser, Md Mahfuz Alam, has criticized certain media outlets for spreading panic instead of raising awareness about recent earthquake reports. Speaking at a workshop titled 'Preventing Misreporting and Ensuring Objective Journalism' organized by the Bangladesh Press Council in Dhaka, he emphasized the need for media to take a firm stance against rumors and misinformation. Alam highlighted that misinformation had intensified during the previous government’s 15-year rule and stressed the importance of restoring public trust in the media to prevent social unrest. He also called for responsible media conduct during the upcoming national elections. The adviser noted that the Press Council, a quasi-judicial body, had been rendered ineffective by the former government but is now being revitalized by the interim administration. The event was chaired by Justice A.K.M. Abdul Hakim and attended by senior officials and journalists.

During a meeting of the Jubo Dal’s Sylhet district leaders, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman made a surprise phone call to discuss the region’s electoral situation and the organization’s activities. Speaking directly to the participants, he emphasized the need for unity and urged everyone to work collectively to ensure the victory of BNP’s candidates symbolized by the ‘sheaf of paddy’ in the upcoming national election. Tarique Rahman stated that restoring democracy in Bangladesh depends on BNP’s success in the polls and specifically called for victories in all six constituencies of Sylhet. The meeting, held in South Surma, was chaired by Sylhet district Jubo Dal president Advocate Mominul Islam Momin and attended by central and local leaders. Central Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna reiterated the party high command’s strict directive to support nominated candidates and warned of disciplinary action against anyone opposing them.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, has sought prayers from the people of Bangladesh for her recovery. According to her personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, Khaleda Zia’s health condition is being closely monitored by a medical board providing necessary treatment. Media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan confirmed that the medical team is taking her condition seriously. Khaleda Zia was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night, November 23, and has since been under continuous medical supervision. Earlier this year, she had traveled to London on January 7 for advanced medical care and returned to Bangladesh on May 6 after a 117-day stay. Since her return, she has been visiting Evercare Hospital regularly for follow-up health checkups.

Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday for an hour-long discussion focused on housing policy, local regulations, and energy costs. The meeting, attended only by Mamdani’s chief of staff inside the Oval Office, ended on a surprisingly positive note despite their political differences. Both leaders later addressed reporters, with Trump praising Mamdani and noting unexpected areas of agreement. Mamdani told CNN that immigration was also discussed, emphasizing that New York would continue cooperating with federal authorities within legal limits as a sanctuary city. Human rights groups have raised concerns about increased immigration raids in the city. Despite the cordial tone of the meeting, Mamdani reaffirmed his past criticism of Trump, calling him a fascist during an NBC interview. He later told a Bronx church audience that his duty as mayor required working with all parties, including those who opposed him politically.

As Bangladesh’s upcoming national election nears, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is struggling with internal conflicts over preliminary nominations in several constituencies. While most BNP candidates are campaigning actively, disputes between nominated and excluded aspirants have led to protests, blockades, and counter-rallies across multiple districts. Party leaders are attempting to mediate from the central office in Gulshan, but grassroots divisions remain unresolved. According to insiders, at least 40 out of 236 constituencies are affected by nomination-related conflicts, weakening BNP’s organizational strength and providing political opportunities for rival groups, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami. The BNP’s standing committee has clarified that the announced list is provisional and subject to reassessment based on local reports. However, prolonged uncertainty and internal discord risk undermining the party’s election preparedness, as both nominated and excluded leaders continue to spend heavily on parallel campaigns.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has expressed his belief that despite widespread criticism of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the public will ultimately vote for the party in the upcoming elections. Speaking at a discussion meeting held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka on Monday, Manna clarified that he is not campaigning for BNP nor affiliated with it. However, he stated that, in his view, people are likely to favor BNP when it comes to casting their votes. His remarks come amid uncertainty over who will assume responsibility for the country in the next five years, reflecting the broader political ambiguity and voter sentiment ahead of the national polls.

BNP-nominated candidate for the Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency, Kazi Mohammad Salauddin, has refuted claims that his party is reconsidering his nomination or planning to replace him with former joint secretary general Lion Aslam Chowdhury. In a statement responding to a report published by the daily Jugantor, Salauddin said no official decision or announcement regarding candidate changes has been made by the BNP Standing Committee. He urged party members and the public not to be misled by such reports. However, the reporter of the original article maintained that internal discussions and decisions had taken place within the party to nominate Aslam Chowdhury, citing confirmation from Chowdhury himself and senior BNP leaders. The reporter insisted that the news was based on credible sources and not politically motivated.

Residents of Bhola living in Barishal organized a human chain on Monday morning demanding the construction of the long-awaited Bhola-Barishal bridge to connect the island district with the mainland. The demonstration took place in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall, where participants highlighted the daily struggles caused by dependence on river transport. They argued that the lack of a bridge hampers emergency medical access and economic development. Speakers, including students from BM College, emphasized that Bhola possesses significant natural resources and that a portion of its wealth could fund the bridge without requiring government subsidies. Protesters urged the government to take immediate steps toward the project, noting that despite years of discussion, no visible progress has been made. They expressed determination to continue their movement until their demand for the bridge is fulfilled.

A new poll by Neapolitan News Service and RMG Research reveals that 67% of registered U.S. voters believe legal immigration benefits the country, while most view illegal immigration negatively. Conducted between November 12 and 13 among 1,000 registered voters, the survey shows a decline in support compared to August, when 74% favored legal immigration. Seventeen percent of respondents said both legal and illegal immigration are harmful, while 10% believe all immigration is beneficial. Support for legal immigration is strongest in regions facing labor shortages, with 64% of voters emphasizing the need for legal pathways for doctors and nurses to live and work in the U.S., down from 71% in August. The findings come amid ongoing debates over immigration policy, which became more restrictive during the first year of the Trump administration.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has requested prayers from the people of Bangladesh for her recovery while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. According to her personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Khaleda Zia was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night and is currently under close observation by a medical board. Her health condition is being carefully monitored, and doctors are providing necessary medical support. The BNP leader, who has been suffering from various health complications in recent years, expressed gratitude for the nation’s concern and urged everyone to pray for her well-being. Party sources said that her treatment will continue under the supervision of her medical team, and further updates will be provided as needed.

Bangladesh faces a major diplomatic hurdle in executing the death sentence handed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal, which convicted her in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 student-led protests. After being ousted amid mass unrest, Hasina fled to India in August 2024, where she remains under protection. Dhaka has formally requested her extradition, but New Delhi’s reluctance—citing political motivations and legal exceptions in the bilateral extradition treaty—has created a tense standoff. Indian diplomats suggest that Hasina’s pending legal appeals and India’s political considerations make extradition unlikely. The verdict and India’s position have intensified political uncertainty ahead of Bangladesh’s February elections, now overseen by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. With the Awami League banned and opposition parties regrouping, analysts warn that the crisis marks either the end of an authoritarian era or the beginning of a volatile new chapter in Bangladeshi politics.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has criticized divisions within the journalist community, claiming that internal fragmentation has led some journalists to align themselves with political parties. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) in Dhaka on November 24, he said that multiple journalist unions and their political affiliations have weakened media independence. Fakhrul reiterated BNP’s commitment to ensuring a free and independent press, referencing the party’s 31-point reform agenda that includes forming a media reform commission. He emphasized that if BNP forms the next government through public mandate, it will prioritize media freedom and reform. The seminar, part of a series of consultations by BJC, also featured discussions on past media bias and the need for structural reforms to strengthen journalistic integrity and independence in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, saying documentation for the move is being finalized. The decision follows Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s declaration labeling both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and international criminal organizations. CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights group in the US, has filed a lawsuit against Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in response. CAIR’s legal director Lena Masri stated that the group had previously won cases against Abbott and would continue to resist what it views as politically motivated attacks. Founded nearly a century ago in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood operates through branches and affiliates across multiple countries. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been urging the State Department to ban the group, with Senator Marco Rubio earlier confirming that the designation process was underway.

BNP Standing Committee member and former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed extended financial assistance to families affected by a recent fire in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar. On Monday afternoon, his personal secretary, Md. Safwanul Karim, distributed Tk 50,000 to each of six families whose homes were destroyed in the blaze, totaling Tk 300,000. The fire, which occurred last Friday evening, completely burned down six houses in Sarkarighona village. Local BNP leaders, including Abu Bakkar, Kamran Jadid Mukut, Ahsan Ullah, and Naimur Rahman Hridoy, were present during the aid distribution. Earlier, Pekua Upazila BNP president and chairman Bahadur Shah had also provided financial support to the victims. Additional assistance from the Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal is expected in the coming days. Salahuddin Ahmed urged others to come forward to help the poor and helpless families affected by the tragedy.