A mild earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale was felt in Dhaka and several surrounding regions on Thursday afternoon, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The tremor, which occurred at 4:15 p.m., had its epicenter in Ghorashal, Narsingdi, and a depth of approximately 6.2 miles below the surface, as reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). This follows a series of recent quakes in the region, including four tremors recorded within 31 hours around Dhaka last weekend. The strongest of those, a 5.7-magnitude quake centered in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi, struck on Friday morning, resulting in 10 deaths and more than 600 injuries. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious but confirmed that Thursday’s quake caused no major damage or casualties. Experts continue to monitor seismic activity in central Bangladesh, where minor tremors have become more frequent in recent weeks.

Bangladesh’s interim government has reaffirmed its stance against importing unsafe foreign animal resources, emphasizing the protection and development of domestic livestock to achieve food self-sufficiency. Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter made the statement after inaugurating National Livestock Week 2025 on Thursday. The event, held nationwide for the first time under the theme 'Local breeds, modern technology: progress in livestock,' began with a colorful rally from Manik Mia Avenue to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar field. Akhter said the government aims not only to meet domestic demand through local production but also to explore export opportunities. Highlighting challenges in the poultry sector, she stressed the urgent need to resolve feed shortages to support small farmers. She also announced that the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry will, for the first time, present awards in five categories to 15 individuals for their contributions to the sector.

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck India’s Manipur state early Thursday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology. No casualties or damage were reported. Earlier, two minor tremors were recorded in Bhutan and the Bay of Bengal — a 3.0 magnitude quake in Bhutan late Wednesday night and a 4.0 magnitude quake in the Bay of Bengal at a depth of 10 kilometers. Meanwhile, Indonesia experienced a stronger 6.3 magnitude earthquake off the western coast of North Sumatra on Thursday, following a 5.1 magnitude quake in North Sulawesi the previous night. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that the Sumatra quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Despite the sequence of tremors across South and Southeast Asia, no major damage or tsunami warnings have been issued so far.

A mild earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt in Sylhet early Thursday, November 27, at 3:30 a.m., according to the Sylhet Meteorological Office. The quake originated in Manipur, India, and was too weak to be widely felt across Bangladesh. Meteorologist Shah Md. Sajib Hossain confirmed that such minor tremors occur frequently and are usually not officially reported. This incident follows a stronger 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Bangladesh on November 21, shaking Dhaka and other regions. That earlier quake caused the deaths of 10 people, including a child, and injured over 600 others. Narsingdi reported the highest number of fatalities with five deaths, followed by four in Dhaka and one in Narayanganj. Many residents panicked and jumped from buildings during the tremor, while several structures tilted or developed cracks.

A mild earthquake struck Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar early Thursday, November 27, at around 3:29 a.m. The quake, measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale, originated about 118 kilometers away in the Bay of Bengal. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Local authorities, including Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, reported that most residents did not feel the quake due to its low intensity. International monitoring site Volcano Discovery described the shaking as very light and short-lived, with no reports of panic or damage. Residents who were awake at the time said the tremor was barely noticeable. The event passed largely unnoticed as most people were asleep, and no casualties or structural impacts were reported in the area.

Indian singer Anuv Jain’s much-anticipated concert in Dhaka, scheduled for December 12, has been postponed due to security concerns. The event, organized by Hypnation and set to take place at Courtside, Madani Avenue, was called off after organizers cited their inability to ensure a safe environment for audiences, sponsors, and partners. In a Facebook post, Hypnation stated that the concert would be rescheduled once the situation stabilizes and full safety can be guaranteed. The organizers also mentioned that details regarding ticket refunds will be announced soon. This postponement follows similar cancellations of international concerts in Dhaka, including the ‘Legends Live in Dhaka’ show featuring Bangladeshi rock icon James and Pakistani singer Ali Azmat, which was canceled in November due to permission issues. Several other international performances, including those by Pakistani artists Jal, Kaavish, and Atif Aslam, are also planned in the coming weeks, though their status remains uncertain.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for coordinated initiatives to address the growing challenges in the livestock sector, emphasizing its crucial role in national economic growth. Speaking via video message at the inauguration of National Livestock Week 2025 in Dhaka, Yunus highlighted the sector’s contribution to employment, women’s empowerment, and nutrition. He identified climate change, antibiotic resistance, zoonotic diseases, and feed management as major challenges. The interim government, he said, is working tirelessly to overcome these issues. Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud stressed the need to support local dairy and poultry farmers to reduce import dependence, while Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter emphasized animal welfare and the preservation of indigenous breeds. Officials noted that Bangladesh now has over 85,000 commercial farms and nearly 191,000 small poultry farms producing around 668 million eggs daily. The event marked the first nationwide observance of Livestock Week under the theme “Local breeds, modern technology: progress in livestock.”

Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Ruqsu) General Secretary Md Salahuddin Ammar has filed a case against Artcell vocalist Lincoln Artcell and manager Khademul Wahab Maher, accusing them of breach of trust and fraud. The complaint, lodged on Wednesday at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, alleges that despite signing a contract on July 19 to perform at the 'July-36 Freedom Festival' on August 15, the band failed to appear. According to the agreement, Tk 5.25 lakh of a total Tk 5.75 lakh payment was made in advance. However, just five hours before the event, the artists announced on Facebook that they would not attend. The plaintiff claims that their absence caused financial losses amounting to Tk 16 lakh for students and organizers. The court recorded the plaintiff’s statement and ordered Tejgaon police to investigate and submit a report. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Kaiyum Hossain Noyon, confirmed the development.

Farmers in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, known for early potato cultivation, have begun harvesting this season’s crop amid mixed fortunes. Despite favorable weather and expectations of a bumper yield, market prices have dropped sharply compared to last year. Growers are selling new potatoes to wholesalers at around Tk 51–52 per kilogram, nearly half of last year’s Tk 90 rate. Many farmers began planting in early Ashwin and are now harvesting after 55–60 days. Some, like Ejabul Haque and Shamsher Haji, report limited profits due to lower prices, though they avoided major weather damage. In search of better returns, several farmers are transporting their produce directly to Dhaka markets such as Karwan Bazar and Shyambazar. According to the local agriculture officer, 4,820 hectares were cultivated with early potatoes this season, and good yields are expected. Officials believe that despite lower old potato prices, demand for new potatoes will remain strong, potentially helping farmers recover losses.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced stricter experience requirements for appointing managing directors (MDs) and chief executive officers (CEOs) in the country’s commercial banks. According to a circular issued by the central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department on November 26, candidates must now have at least three years of combined or individual experience as Additional Managing Director (AMD) and Deputy Managing Director (DMD) to qualify for the MD position. Previously, only two years of experience in any senior management role was sufficient. The new directive clarifies earlier ambiguities and aims to raise leadership standards in the banking sector. Additionally, the circular allows senior officials from regulatory bodies in the banking and financial sectors, with at least 25 years of experience and service in Grade-2 of the national pay scale, to be directly appointed as MDs. This change opens the door for experienced regulators to assume top executive roles in commercial banks, potentially enhancing governance and professional expertise across the sector.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has issued a clarification regarding the calculation of demand charges and meter rent for prepaid electricity users. According to the statement released on November 26, demand charges and meter rent are deducted from the first recharge each month. If no recharge occurs in a given month, the charges are adjusted during the next recharge. The division emphasized that electricity consumption and cost are identical for both prepaid and postpaid meters. Prepaid users receive a 0.5% rebate as a government incentive and are exempt from security deposits. Residential demand charges are set at Tk 42 per kilowatt per month, with a 5% VAT applied. Monthly meter rent is Tk 40 for single-phase and Tk 250 for three-phase meters provided by distribution companies. Customers can recharge through mobile financial services, cards, or vending stations, and enjoy emergency credit facilities if balance runs out. Faulty meters due to technical issues are replaced free of cost.

Starting December 16, Bangladesh will automatically deactivate all unregistered mobile handsets as part of a new regulatory measure by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). The initiative aims to curb the use of illegally imported, cloned, or smuggled phones. However, BTRC clarified that mobile phones already in use or purchased before December 16 will not be affected. Only officially approved and legally imported devices will be allowed to connect to local networks. Consumers are advised to verify a phone’s legality before purchasing from any source, including retail or online stores, and to keep purchase receipts. Phones deemed legitimate will be automatically registered under the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system. For phones bought or gifted from abroad, users will initially have network access but must submit required information online within 30 days for verification to remain active.

A 160-foot section of the boundary wall at Barapukuria Coal Mine in Dinajpur collapsed on Wednesday due to excessive coal pressure, not an earthquake, officials confirmed. The mine’s storage yard, designed to hold 220,000 tons, currently contains around 500,000 metric tons of coal—more than double its capacity. The surplus buildup occurred because the adjacent Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant, the mine’s sole coal buyer, has been shut down since October 27 after all three of its units went offline due to mechanical failures. The plant, with a total generation capacity of 525 megawatts, has faced recurring technical issues since its establishment in 2006. With coal extraction continuing at an average rate of 3,000 tons per day, storage limitations have intensified, leading to the wall collapse. Authorities now face challenges managing the growing coal stockpile and are concerned about safety and production continuity until the power plant resumes operations.

Rajshahi University (RU) has introduced five environment-friendly electric cars to facilitate student transportation within the campus. The service was inaugurated on Wednesday morning in front of the university’s administrative building, with financial and logistical support from the Rajshahi University Alumni Association (RUAA). Initially, five e-cars will operate only inside the campus, with fares expected to range between five and ten taka. More vehicles may be added later. RUAA President Rafiqul Islam Khan stated that the association plans to expand the service and also initiate scholarships for underprivileged meritorious students. RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib praised the alumni association’s efforts, noting that the e-car project is part of their ongoing initiatives for student welfare and institutional development. Student leaders expressed hope that the new service would ease transportation difficulties on campus. The inauguration ceremony was attended by university officials, alumni representatives, and student leaders.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi from December, according to Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan. Mahan Air is likely to operate three flights weekly, a move anticipated to enhance bilateral trade and regional connectivity. The visa process between the two countries has also been simplified, allowing issuance within three to four days through joint recommendations from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Bangladesh’s honorary consulate. Both nations are exploring trade opportunities in rice, pineapples, textiles, and ready-made garments, with plans to launch a direct cargo service soon. The Pakistani Higher Education Commission will send a delegation to Bangladesh to attract students for higher studies. Officials from both sides emphasized the shared cultural and historical ties and expressed optimism that bilateral trade, currently valued at around $700 million, could rise to $3 billion in the coming years with improved connectivity.