Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the southern region, has expressed solidarity with the protesting government primary school teachers demanding the fulfillment of their long-pending rights. In a Facebook post made on Saturday, November 8, at 9:28 PM, Abdullah strongly condemned the police action against the teachers, promising to stand by them until their demands are met. The ongoing protests intensified after police allegedly attacked demonstrators earlier in the day, leading to the arrest of five teachers and injuries to more than a hundred. In response, the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council announced a nationwide full-day work stoppage in all government primary schools starting Sunday, November 9, along with a continuous sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar. Leaders of various teacher associations accused the police of brutality and stated that the strike and protest programs would continue indefinitely until a satisfactory resolution is reached.

The New York Times Company has reported robust third-quarter results driven by strong growth in digital subscriptions and online advertising. The media giant added 460,000 new digital-only subscribers between July and September — its biggest quarterly increase in recent years — fueled by the success of its multi-product bundle strategy. Over half of its total 12.33 million subscribers now use more than one of its products, which include News, Cooking, Games, Wirecutter, and The Athletic. While digital revenue soared, print subscriptions dropped by 50,000 to 570,000, reducing print income by 3% to $127.2 million. Despite higher operating expenses of $596 million, up 5.8% year-over-year, overall profitability climbed 26.1%. CEO Meredith Kopit Levien expressed confidence in the company’s ability to expand its loyal readership and announced a target of 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027. The Athletic, acquired in 2022 for $550 million, turned profitable for the first time this quarter. The company closed September with $1.1 billion in cash and marketable securities, signaling strong financial stability as it continues its digital transformation.

Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has stated that the demand of assistant primary school teachers to be upgraded directly from the 13th to the 10th grade lacks justification. Speaking to journalists after a views exchange meeting at the Khulna District Shilpakala Academy on Saturday morning, he said that most teachers themselves believe the demand is not logical. The advisor explained that while headteachers have been promoted to the 10th grade, it is impractical to apply the same for all assistant teachers due to their large number. The government is working to ensure that teachers can at least achieve the 11th grade, he added. Professor Poddar also mentioned that the Ministry of Public Administration has a policy of allocating 80% for promotion and reserving 20% for new recruitment. The meeting also discussed improving teaching quality and teachers’ moral and practical development.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has stated that the country’s overall economic condition remains stable. Speaking as the chief guest at a regional seminar on MFI-Bank Linkage held at Water Garden Resort in Basail, Tangail, on Saturday (November 8), he emphasized that with continued political stability, the economy will progress even more smoothly in the coming days. The seminar, organized by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), aimed to enhance the flow of banking services and funds to rural and marginalized communities. Addressing the issue of recovering laundered money, Dr. Mansur mentioned that lawyers have been sent to the UK on behalf of several banks to establish claims against certain corporate groups. If successful, positive outcomes are expected soon. The event was chaired by MRA’s Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin and attended by top officials from various banks and NGOs.

Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and ex-MP from Dinajpur-4, passed away at the age of 83 on Thursday evening at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka. He had been undergoing treatment in the ICU for kidney-related complications for nearly two weeks. His funeral prayer will be held in front of his Dhanmondi residence, followed by burial at Banani Cemetery. Born in 1943 in Dinajpur’s Khansama upazila, Ali began his career as an economics lecturer at the University of Dhaka before joining the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1966. During the 1971 Liberation War, he played a key diplomatic role in mobilizing international support for Bangladesh. He served as Foreign Minister from 2014 to 2019 and later as Finance Minister after being elected in 2024. He lost his parliamentary seat following the fall of the Awami League government that same year.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has confirmed that it is fully prepared to conduct the 13th National Parliamentary Election, likely to be held in the first or second week of February. Senior Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha that all major election preparations, including the arrival of indelible ink from abroad, have been completed. He emphasized that maintaining a peaceful law and order situation is vital not only for the election but also for the nation’s overall stability and development. The EC aims to rebuild public trust following previous irregularities and is committed to ensuring a fair, neutral, and participatory election.

According to the EC Secretariat, procurement of election materials, legal revisions, and voter list updates will be finalized by mid-November, with the election schedule expected in early December. Bangladesh now has 127.6 million registered voters, including 1,230 third-gender voters. A total of 42,761 polling centers and 244,649 booths have been designated across 300 constituencies. For the first time, expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to vote through postal ballots, marking a significant step toward inclusivity and modernization of the electoral process.

Two police constables from Rajshahi’s Durgapur Police Station were beaten by locals after being accused of attempting to extort money from a young man in Shyampur village on Tuesday evening, November 4. The officers, identified as driver Imran Ali of the emergency “999” unit and computer operator Majed Hossain, allegedly demanded a large sum from Sajib Ahmed, claiming he was involved in online gambling. When Sajib refused, they reportedly threatened to arrest him. Locals became suspicious after the pair failed to show identification and detained them following an altercation. Police later arrived and rescued the constables, who have since been withdrawn to the police lines. Investigators have been assigned, and senior officers confirmed departmental action will follow if the allegations are substantiated. One of the accused, Imran Ali, denied the charges, claiming they were falsely implicated and had not gone to arrest anyone.

The United States faces growing chaos as the ongoing federal government shutdown — now the longest in the nation’s history at 36 days — begins to disrupt air travel on a massive scale. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that, starting Friday, 10 percent of flights will be cut across 40 major airports if the shutdown continues. The decision comes amid a severe shortage of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, many of whom have been working without pay for weeks.

Although the government has not released the full list of affected airports, the measure is expected to impact busy hubs including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Industry analysts at Cirium estimate the cuts could reduce around 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats daily. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that stricter controls might follow if the crisis persists.

Airlines and trade groups such as Airlines for America are coordinating with the government to minimize disruptions for passengers and cargo transport. Since the shutdown began, over 3.2 million travelers have faced flight delays or cancellations, and more than 2,100 flights were delayed on Wednesday alone.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has released the complete 59-page verdict acquitting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, and several others in the long-standing Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Delivered on January 15 by a five-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, the unanimous ruling overturned the earlier convictions handed down by the trial court and the High Court. The full text, published on November 4 on the Supreme Court’s official website, declared that all appellants were found not guilty, effectively nullifying the prior sentences of imprisonment and fines.

The verdict also stated that the prosecution had involved a “malicious misuse of law” and that the ruling applies to others convicted who did not file appeals. The judgment marks a significant legal and political turning point, restoring the reputation of the accused and putting an end to what the court described as unjust proceedings.

The original case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2008, resulting in a 2018 conviction of Khaleda Zia and others. With this decision, the Supreme Court brings closure to one of Bangladesh’s most politically charged legal battles.

The trial of Sitangshu Kumar (S.K.) Sur, former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, has officially commenced after a Dhaka court framed charges against him in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The case involves allegations that Sur failed to submit a detailed statement of his assets within the stipulated time, as required under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2004.

On Thursday, November 6, Judge Ayesha Nasrin of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 read out the charges in the presence of the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The court then fixed January 20 as the date for recording witness testimonies. During the hearing, ACC Prosecutor Shamsuddin Md. Abul Kalam argued in favor of proceeding with the case, while no defense lawyer was present on behalf of the accused.

According to case records, Sur received the ACC directive on October 27 of last year but failed to submit his wealth statement within 21 working days. Following an investigation, the ACC filed the formal charge sheet on August 25 this year. Sur has been in custody since his arrest on January 14 in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s National Consensus Commission (NCC) has submitted its report on the July Charter, aimed at political and constitutional reforms, but major parties remain divided on its implementation. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alleged its dissenting views were excluded from the final report, while leftist and smaller parties refused to sign the charter, citing lack of clarity and insufficient reflection of the Liberation War’s principles. The charter proposes restoring the caretaker government system, limiting prime ministerial terms, and ensuring institutional independence. Disagreements persist over the timing of a referendum and the adoption of a proportional representation system. With the ruling Awami League excluded from the consultation process, the absence of broad consensus threatens to stall democratic transformation and deepen political fragmentation in the country.

The Bangladesh Police Headquarters has issued a public warning about fraudulent activities involving the misuse of names and photos of government officials and senior officers. According to a statement posted on the police’s official Facebook page Thursday night, scammers have been sending WhatsApp messages impersonating high-ranking officials to demand money. The police cautioned citizens not to respond to such messages or assume that a profile picture of a well-known person confirms the authenticity of the number. Authorities assured that the police remain vigilant and will take strict legal action against anyone involved in such fraudulent schemes.

The Trump administration has canceled 80,000 non-immigrant visas in the past nine months as part of its increasingly stringent immigration policy, according to a senior U.S. State Department official cited by Reuters. Following his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump took a firm stance against illegal immigration, fulfilling a campaign pledge to make America free of undocumented immigrants. A series of executive orders led to nationwide raids involving police, customs, and paramilitary forces, resulting in thousands of undocumented migrants being detained and deported.

However, many of the 80,000 people affected were not undocumented. Several held valid short-term visas but had them revoked due to various offenses. Around 16,000 visas were canceled for driving under the influence, 12,000 for assault or violent behavior, and 8,000 for theft-related charges. In August alone, 6,000 foreign students lost their visas due to overstaying, breaking laws, or allegedly supporting terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in May that the visa revocations would continue as part of ensuring alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities. The administration emphasized that individuals engaging in conduct contrary to U.S. laws or interests will face strict immigration consequences.

The Bangladesh government has introduced the draft of the Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, proposing strict penalties for using telecom or wireless equipment and digital platforms to spread communal, religious, or ethnic hatred. According to Section 66(k) of the draft, individuals, organizations, or groups found guilty of promoting hate speech that threatens national integrity, public order, or security may face imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to Tk 99 crore—or both.

The ordinance also addresses other serious offenses, including hacking, disruption of satellite or defense communications, data fraud, and AI-based scams. Additionally, Section 69(k) criminalizes the use of telecom tools for transmitting obscene, intimidating, or extortion-related messages, prescribing up to two years’ imprisonment and a Tk 1.5 crore fine. Harassing others through repeated phone calls without valid reason could result in a fine of Tk 1 lakh and up to six months in jail.

The draft ordinance, published by the Posts and Telecommunications Division on Wednesday, is open for public opinion until November 15. Feedback can be sent via email to secretary@ptd.gov.bd or by post to the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The High Court has granted bail to former Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. The order was issued by a division bench of the High Court on Thursday, November 6, as confirmed by Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil. Earlier, on August 29, a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s court sent Siddique and 15 others to jail in connection with the same case.

The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station following a roundtable discussion organized by “Moncho 71” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on August 28. According to the police report, Siddique allegedly delivered a speech encouraging armed resistance to overthrow the interim government, which authorities interpreted as an act of conspiracy against the state. Sixteen people, including university professors and senior citizens, were arrested during the event.

The defense lawyers argued for bail, while the prosecution opposed it. After hearing both sides, the High Court decided to grant bail to Abdul Latif Siddique, providing temporary relief to the former minister amid ongoing legal proceedings.