A Dhaka court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison on charges of fraud and corruption related to the allocation of a Rajuk plot in Purbachal. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 in three separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court found Hasina guilty under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud and Section 5(2) of the ACC Act. The judge observed that Hasina misused her authority and deprived ordinary citizens of their rights by securing the plot. The court also sentenced her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, to five years’ imprisonment each for their involvement. Other accused individuals received varying jail terms. The ruling marks a significant legal development against the former leader, who served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s prime minister.

Primary school assistant teachers across Bangladesh have launched an indefinite work stoppage starting Thursday, November 27, demanding implementation of three key reforms. The teachers, under the banner of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, are calling for placement in the 10th pay grade, resolution of complications regarding higher grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% departmental promotion from assistant to head teacher. The decision follows earlier demonstrations in Dhaka, where police clashes left over a hundred teachers injured. Despite meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Finance, the teachers claim that the government has failed to make satisfactory progress on their demands. The council has stated that the full-day work stoppage will continue until the Ministry of Finance fulfills its commitments, including issuance of the 11th grade notification and other pending reforms.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has temporarily suspended postal vote registration in seven countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—after many expatriate voters failed to provide accurate and complete addresses through the 'Postal Vote BD' app. The EC stated that without proper addresses, it is impossible to send ballot papers by mail. The suspension affects expatriate Bangladeshis who were set to vote by postal ballot for the first time in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. According to EC data, as of Thursday at 1 p.m., a total of 53,096 expatriate voters had registered through the app. The commission said further instructions regarding the next steps will be announced soon.

Former Bangladeshi lawmaker Golam Faruk Abhi, who has lived in Canada for over 23 years, remains unable to return home as his travel permit application awaits approval from the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa. Despite applying more than a week ago, no decision has been made, raising questions about the delay. Abhi, once the youngest member of the Seventh Parliament and a former student leader, left Bangladesh in 2002 amid political turmoil and multiple legal cases. His passport expired in 2006, and repeated attempts to renew it or obtain a travel document have failed, even after a 2013 High Court directive ordering the government to issue one. Following the recent political changes in Bangladesh, speculation has grown about his possible return and participation in upcoming elections. Supporters in his Barishal-2 constituency remain hopeful, though Abhi says his immediate goal is simply to return home, expressing frustration over bureaucratic obstacles to his constitutional right to repatriation.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again drawn criticism for making a personal attack on a female journalist. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers 'ugly' and a 'third-rate journalist' after she co-authored a report examining his age and physical fitness. The report, written by Rogers and Dylan Freedman, detailed Trump’s recent medical tests and raised questions about his health transparency. Trump did not mention Freedman but singled out Rogers for personal insults, repeating a pattern of gender-insensitive remarks—just two weeks earlier, he had verbally attacked another female journalist. The New York Times defended Rogers, stating that their report was fact-based and that intimidation tactics would not deter their journalists. Trump also criticized the Times as a 'failing' outlet, though the paper remains profitable and growing. Legal experts note that Trump’s defamation suit against the Times is unlikely to succeed.

Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after they were sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on November 17 for alleged responsibility in the deaths of about 1,400 people during the 2024 student protests. Since Hasina took refuge in India following her government’s collapse in August 2024, Dhaka has repeatedly sought her return, but New Delhi has avoided taking a clear stance. Analysts suggest India will not act until an elected government assumes office in Bangladesh, citing the interim administration’s limited mandate. India’s historical ties with Hasina and the Awami League, along with political and legal complexities under the 2013 extradition treaty, make the issue highly sensitive. Delhi may also question the fairness of the trial and will likely proceed cautiously to protect its strategic interests ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 national elections.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed it is reviewing a formal request from Bangladesh to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Dhaka for crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown on mass protests. Hasina, 78, fled to India after being ousted during a popular uprising in August last year that left more than 1,400 people dead, according to the United Nations. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has urged New Delhi to act under a 2013 bilateral extradition treaty, calling India’s continued sheltering of Hasina a breach of friendly relations. However, analysts suggest India is unlikely to comply, viewing the case as politically motivated. The development comes ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, from which Hasina’s Awami League has been barred, deepening political tensions between the two neighbors.

At least ten people were injured in a violent clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Fursandi village under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila on Thursday morning. The conflict reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute over local dominance between supporters of BNP leaders Shahabur Molla and Zahid Biswas. Police and local sources said tensions escalated after a personal quarrel between supporters Al-Amin and Firoz, leading to a full-scale confrontation. Two of the injured were admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, while others received primary treatment and returned home. During the clash, two houses were also vandalized. Law enforcement and army personnel arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control. Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that the situation is now stable and additional police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to five years in prison for her involvement in a plot allocation fraud case. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. The case alleged that Hasina used her authority as prime minister to conceal information about a plot registered under her late husband Wazed Miah’s name and obtained another plot through false declarations, violating RAJUK regulations. Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only arrested accused, was present in court during the verdict. Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul have been absconding since the beginning of the three related corruption cases involving 47 accused in total. The court is also scheduled to deliver a verdict on December 1 in a separate plot corruption case involving Sheikh Rehana’s daughter, Tulip Siddiq.

A Dhaka special court has sentenced Sajib Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to five years in prison for irregularities in the allocation of a government plot in Purbachal. The verdict, delivered by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, also includes a fine of 100,000 taka. The case alleges that Sheikh Hasina misused her authority to obtain a plot by concealing information about another property owned by her husband, Wazed Miah, and by violating RAJUK regulations. Officials from RAJUK and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works were also accused of receiving financial benefits. Joy, along with Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, has been absconding since the beginning of the trial. The court set November 27 for the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. In a related case, the verdict on Sheikh Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddiq’s alleged plot corruption is scheduled for December 1.

A Dhaka court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison in three corruption cases related to irregularities in the allocation of government plots in Purbachal. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. The court observed that plots were allocated without proper applications and beyond jurisdiction. Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused in custody, was present during the verdict, along with Anti-Corruption Commission lawyers. The cases alleged that Hasina misused her authority as prime minister to obtain plots by concealing information and violating RAJUK regulations, providing financial benefits to officials. Her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul are also accused and remain absconding. Separate verdicts in their cases are expected later today, while a related case involving Tulip Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, is scheduled for December 1.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh held a follow-up meeting with law enforcement agencies in Dhaka ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, included four election commissioners, the home secretary, the EC secretary, and top officials from various security agencies. Discussions focused on reviewing security measures, finalizing deployment strategies, and determining the duration of law enforcement presence before and after the election. The EC is expected to issue directives on security operations and the number of personnel to be stationed at polling centers. Earlier, in the first preparatory meeting held on October 20, a proposal was made to deploy security forces for eight days surrounding the election period. Current estimates suggest that between 13 and 18 law enforcement members may be assigned to each polling station to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process.

Pakistani prison authorities have denied widespread rumors about the death of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, confirming that he remains alive and in good health at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The clarification came after social media posts claimed Khan had died in custody, sparking panic among his supporters and prompting thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members to gather outside the prison. Authorities stated that Khan has not been transferred elsewhere and is receiving appropriate medical care. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also asserted that Khan is being given top-class facilities, including a double bed, television, exercise equipment, and high-quality meals. Imran Khan, who lost power in 2022 following a no-confidence vote, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, including corruption and leaking state secrets. The government’s statement aims to quell unrest amid growing speculation and public tension.

The Government of Bangladesh has reassigned 158 Upazila Executive Officers (UNOs) to different ministries and departments as senior assistant secretaries. The Ministry of Public Administration issued an official notification on Wednesday night, November 26, outlining the reassignments. According to the directive, the officers must join their new workplaces by November 30. This reshuffle is part of a broader administrative move, as earlier the same day, the government appointed 166 senior assistant secretaries as UNOs in 166 upazilas. The large-scale transfer and appointment are seen as part of routine administrative restructuring aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring balanced distribution of experienced officers across ministries and field-level offices.

The Assam government has introduced the 'Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025' in the state assembly, aiming to outlaw polygamy across the state except in Sixth Schedule areas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the bill, which classifies polygamy as a criminal offense. Under the proposed law, individuals marrying again while their spouse is alive could face up to seven years in prison, while concealing a previous marriage could result in up to ten years of imprisonment and fines. The legislation also holds accountable anyone involved in facilitating such marriages, including priests, qazis, and guardians. Victims of polygamy would be entitled to compensation, and repeat offenders would face double penalties. Convicted individuals would be barred from government jobs, welfare schemes, and contesting local elections. The bill excludes Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as defined under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution. The move follows the Assam government’s ongoing efforts to reform personal laws and ensure gender justice.