Concerns are mounting in Pakistan over the health and treatment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail. Sources within his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), allege that Khan is being subjected to physical abuse and kept in near-total isolation, with minimal contact with his family or legal team. His sister, Aleema Khan, expressed frustration over being denied visitation rights, questioning the government’s motives. While the government insists Khan’s health is stable, PTI insiders claim his condition is deteriorating due to stress, harsh treatment, and lack of communication. Reports suggest that previous visits by officials were used to misrepresent his health status. Authorities reportedly fear that public disclosure of Khan’s true condition could trigger widespread protests. His family has filed a petition in the high court seeking urgent permission to meet him.

More than 70,660 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote through the 'Postal Vote BD' app as of Friday, November 28, according to the Election Commission (EC). Among them, 59,510 are men and 11,150 are women. This marks the first time Bangladeshi citizens living abroad will be able to cast their votes through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The highest number of registrations came from the United States, followed by South Korea, Canada, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. Registration in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, was temporarily suspended due to incorrect or incomplete address entries but is expected to resume soon. The EC opened global registration on November 27, allowing expatriates to register until December 18. Officials described the initiative as a historic step toward including overseas citizens, as well as government employees and others eligible for in-country postal voting, in the democratic process.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that the Election Commission (EC) has extended the postal voter registration deadline for expatriate Bangladeshis worldwide until 11:59 p.m. on December 18. The decision follows BNP’s demand to allow more overseas Bangladeshis to register for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Fakhrul shared the update on his verified social media account, urging all expatriates with valid national ID cards to register via the Postal Vote BD app before the deadline. According to the EC, over 30,000 expatriates have already registered from countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. Once registration closes, ballot papers will be mailed to the registered voters’ addresses abroad. The initiative aims to ensure broader participation of expatriate citizens in Bangladesh’s democratic process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has pledged to establish what it calls a 'new history of governance' grounded in faith if it comes to power in the upcoming national elections. Party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, speaking at an election rally in Dhaka’s Vashantek area, said Jamaat would not be swayed by any foreign conspiracies and emphasized that the party’s popularity cannot be diminished through propaganda. He highlighted that young candidates have been nominated in all 300 constituencies, reflecting the party’s focus on youth leadership. Responding to allegations that Jamaat restricts women’s participation in the workforce, Rahman dismissed them as false, asserting that the party supports gender equality in employment. He also stated that Jamaat respects the rights of religious minorities and intends to include representatives from different faiths in parliament. The rally was attended by thousands of supporters, including Dhaka-17 candidate Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, who vowed to fight corruption and misgovernance.

Golam Faruk Abhi, a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) student leader and ex-MP from Barishal-2, is seeking to return to Bangladesh after two decades in Canada. Once a popular political figure in the 1990s, Abhi was expelled from the BNP’s student wing and later joined the Jatiya Party (Manju), winning a parliamentary seat in 1996. His supporters remain optimistic about his political comeback despite the BNP nominating another candidate for his former constituency. Abhi has applied for a travel pass from the Bangladeshi government to facilitate his return, but the process has been delayed without explanation. He insists that returning home is his top priority, while contesting the upcoming national election—either as an independent or with another party—remains secondary. Abhi has criticized bureaucratic hurdles preventing his return, calling them a violation of his constitutional rights.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has pledged that if his party wins the upcoming national election, it will form a government inclusive of all anti-fascist political forces, including the BNP. Speaking at a youth and citizen rally in Dhaka’s Vashantek area, he emphasized unity and rejected divisive politics, calling those who divide the nation its enemies. Rahman asserted that Jamaat has no record of corruption, extortion, or abuse of power, and promised a new political formula for a people-oriented government. He criticized the current system as still bearing fascist traits and vowed to build a corruption-free, honest administration. Highlighting Bangladesh’s untapped natural resources, he lamented that citizens have yet to enjoy the true benefits of independence. Rahman reaffirmed Jamaat’s commitment to the country, saying the party never fled Bangladesh despite repression and sacrifices.

Across Bangladesh, special prayers and supplications are being held today for the recovery of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The 80-year-old leader has been suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney complications. She was admitted to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties last Sunday. A medical board comprising local and foreign specialists is overseeing her treatment. The BNP has called on citizens to join in the nationwide prayers after Friday prayers, with a central gathering scheduled at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters, where senior leaders including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir are expected to attend. Khaleda Zia had previously undergone medical treatment in London earlier this year before returning to Bangladesh in May.

The Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA) has called for the formation of an independent 'Administrative Service Commission' similar to the proposed Police Commission. In a joint statement issued on Friday, BASA President Md. Nazrul Islam and Secretary General Sharaf Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury welcomed the government’s decision to create a Police Commission aimed at ensuring professionalism and political neutrality within the police force. The association emphasized that administrative officers play a vital role in state governance and that political influence in past regimes has undermined their professionalism. BASA argued that an independent commission is essential to safeguard administrative neutrality, accountability, and good governance. The proposed body would oversee recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary actions within the administrative cadre, ensuring decisions are made free from political interference. The association also noted that such a structure aligns with practices in advanced democratic nations and would strengthen public trust in the civil administration.

As Bangladesh’s 13th national election approaches, political activity in Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) has intensified, with both BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates actively campaigning from morning till midnight. On Thursday night, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Jamaat’s Dhaka North Secretary Dr. Mohammad Rezaul Karim attended a religious gathering in Bhabaniganj, where they later shared tea at a local office. A video of their meeting went viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and mixed reactions. In the video, Annie described Rezaul as a dear brother, calling their contest a “fight for democracy, not fascism.” Despite their cordial meeting, both candidates have been delivering sharp remarks against each other during campaign events, sparking heated debates among supporters online. However, many observers have praised their tea-time meeting as a gesture of political civility amid fierce competition.

The Trump administration has announced a comprehensive review of all green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries deemed security risks. Joseph Edlow, head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said President Trump directed him to conduct a large-scale reassessment of green cards for immigrants from these nations. The list reportedly includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela, among others. The move follows a recent incident in Washington, D.C., where an Afghan national allegedly shot and injured two National Guard members, prompting renewed concerns over national security. While Edlow did not directly link the review to the attack, the administration emphasized the need to strengthen vetting procedures. The White House had earlier cited terrorism threats, national security concerns, and visa overstay rates as reasons for imposing stricter entry controls. Details of how the green card reassessment will be conducted have not yet been disclosed.

Two members of Bangladesh’s advisory council, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan from the Ministry of Local Government and Mahfuz Alam from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, are set to resign next week to contest in the upcoming national election scheduled for February. Both were key coordinators during the mass uprising and intend to step down before the election schedule is announced. While former adviser Nahid Islam has already joined the National Citizens Party (NCP), sources suggest Asif and Mahfuz are unlikely to follow suit. They may instead run as independent candidates in constituencies previously vacated by the BNP. Asif Mahmud, now a voter in Dhaka-10, has hinted at contesting from there, though he has yet to confirm his political affiliation. He stated that while no law prevents advisers from running, he believes it is ethically appropriate to resign before doing so. Several other advisers may also contest the election.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, announced that India is reviewing Dhaka’s request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her conviction in a genocide case linked to the July uprising. In a Facebook post on Friday, Alam expressed confidence that former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, referred to as the 'Butcher of Dhaka', will also be extradited to Bangladesh soon. He asserted that Hasina, Kamal, and other Awami League leaders accused of involvement in the July massacre would face justice under Bangladesh’s legal system. Alam added that despite their influence and resources, accountability for alleged crimes, including enforced disappearances and human rights violations during Hasina’s 16-year rule, cannot be avoided. He emphasized that national commitment to justice for the victims of the July uprising would make it increasingly difficult for those responsible to evade consequences.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the United States and Israel suffered major setbacks during the recent 12-day conflict, calling their plans against Iran a complete failure. In a televised address on November 27, Khamenei said the war was part of a 20-year strategy aimed at destabilizing Iran and turning its people against the government, but instead, it strengthened national unity. He asserted that despite some Iranian losses, the Islamic Republic proved its determination and resilience, while the enemy endured greater damage. Khamenei also condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as one of the region’s worst tragedies and accused the US of complicity in those crimes. He further criticized Washington’s role in the Ukraine war and its support for Israeli operations in Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. Emphasizing Iran’s growing influence through its resistance culture, Khamenei urged continued public support for the government, economic prudence, and moral faith, while highlighting the importance of the Basij volunteer force as a symbol of national strength and continuity.

Pakistan is witnessing growing unrest following rumors about former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s death in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. His three sisters allege they have been repeatedly denied permission to meet him and were assaulted by police while protesting outside the prison. The Adiala Jail authorities and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif insist that Khan is alive, healthy, and receiving proper care. However, Khan’s youngest son, Qasim Khan, who lives abroad, has intensified the controversy by claiming that the family has received no proof of his father’s survival. In a statement on social media platform X, Qasim said that the government has deliberately kept the family in the dark, denying all contact for over a month despite court orders. He warned that the Pakistani government and its handlers would be held responsible for any harm to Khan and urged international organizations to intervene to confirm his safety and ensure family access. The situation has sparked mass protests by Khan’s supporters across Pakistan.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, re-elected as the Ameer (chief) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for the 2026–2028 term, is set to take his oath of office on Friday evening at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar. According to the party’s constitution, the Ameer is chosen through a secret ballot by members of the national council for a three-year term. This marks Dr. Rahman’s third consecutive tenure as the party’s top leader, following his previous terms. The swearing-in ceremony will coincide with the opening session of Jamaat’s annual Central Majlish-e-Shura meeting, scheduled for November 28–29. Senior leaders from various political parties, along with Jamaat’s central executive, working, and consultative council members, are expected to attend. Previously, former leaders Ghulam Azam and Motiur Rahman Nizami also served three consecutive terms as Ameer, making Dr. Rahman the third in the party’s history to achieve this distinction.