The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced plans to form a new political alliance ahead of the upcoming national elections. Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari revealed the initiative during a press conference in Dhaka after a meeting with party nomination seekers. The proposed alliance, described as anti-extortion and anti-religious fascism, aims to field candidates in all 300 constituencies. Patwari stated that the coalition will operate independently of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, focusing on fulfilling the aspirations of the July uprising and promoting reform, women’s rights, and opposition to corruption and terrorism. NCP’s southern region organizer Hasnat Abdullah accused India and the ruling Awami League of attempting to disrupt the election process through the Jatiya Party. The NCP leadership urged political parties to move beyond administrative power-sharing and focus on national stability and reform. The announcement follows a two-day consultation with nomination hopefuls.

Grassroots leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Chattogram-13 (Anwara–Karnaphuli) have written to the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman demanding the cancellation of nomination for former MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam. They accuse Nizam of neglecting activists during years of political persecution, spending much of the past 16 years abroad instead of supporting imprisoned or harassed party workers. The letter, signed by three local leaders—Ali Abbas, Lion Helal Uddin, and SM Mamun Mia—alleges that Nizam traveled abroad at least 25 times and was absent from key party activities. Protesting activists have held rallies, burned effigies, and demanded a review of his candidacy. Nizam, however, denies the allegations, claiming the party high command found him qualified. The dispute reflects growing discontent within BNP’s local ranks over candidate selection ahead of the upcoming national election, with many calling for more dedicated and grassroots-connected nominees.

A new controversy has erupted in India after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the title 'Great' from the names of Mughal emperor Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in newly printed school textbooks. The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rewriting history to align with its ideological narrative and diminishing the contributions of Muslim rulers. BJP and its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defended the move, calling it a long-overdue correction. Congress leaders, including Imran Masood, K. Muraleedharan, and Harish Rawat, criticized the decision as politically motivated and warned of further historical distortions ahead of the 2029 national elections. RSS leader Sunil Ambekar stated that the leaders were not removed from textbooks but that students should also learn about their alleged misdeeds. The updated NCERT books have already been distributed to over 24,000 CBSE schools across India, fueling a broader debate over historical interpretation and political influence in education.

The Bangladesh government has finalized the appointment of police superintendents (SPs) for all 64 districts through a lottery system ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The selection took place on Monday, November 24, at the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, in the presence of Acting IGP Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, the DMP Commissioner, and senior officials from the Home Ministry and the Chief Adviser’s Office. According to official sources, officers from the 25th, 27th, and 28th batches of the police cadre were shortlisted after excluding those who had previously served as SPs. From this list, 64 officers were selected manually by lottery for district postings. The Home Ministry and Police Headquarters confirmed that the appointments will be implemented gradually through official notifications. The move aims to ensure neutrality and transparency in field-level law enforcement deployment ahead of the upcoming national election.

Zohran Mamdani, recently elected as the next mayor of New York City, has included nine Bangladeshi Americans in his transition team ahead of his January 1 inauguration. The 34-year-old politician made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. The Bangladeshi-origin members include community leaders and professionals such as Kazi Fauzia, Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Shamsul Haque, Mohammad Karim Chowdhury, Fariha Akter, Arman Chowdhury CPA, Shah Rehman, Tajin Azad, and Shyamatli Haque. Their inclusion is seen as recognition of the growing influence of the Bangladeshi community in New York politics, where nearly 98% of Bangladeshi Muslim voters reportedly supported Mamdani. Out of over 400 names on the transition list, 9 Bangladeshis, 11 Pakistanis, and 16 Indians have been identified, reflecting increased South Asian representation in the city’s political landscape.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has announced that the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be declared in the first half of December. Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah made the announcement during a dialogue with domestic election observer organizations in Dhaka. Observers’ lists must be submitted to the EC within ten days of the schedule announcement. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin emphasized that observers must remain politically neutral and cannot be affiliated with any political party. The EC will introduce QR-coded ID cards to prevent fake observers and ensure transparency. Observers will perform duties for three days—before, during, and after the election. The EC also warned that any attempt to disrupt the transparency of the upcoming election will not be tolerated. Both the CEC and commissioners urged observers to act responsibly to ensure accountability and credibility in the electoral process.

Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan has stated that the armed forces will play a crucial role in ensuring a free, fair, and neutral national election. Speaking at the passing-out parade of the 2025 batch of new sailors at BNS Sher-e-Bangla Parade Ground in Kalapara, Patuakhali, he affirmed the Navy’s commitment to support the government and the Election Commission with utmost sincerity and professionalism. The admiral also highlighted the Navy’s ongoing contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, noting that since 1993, about 7,500 naval personnel have served in various countries, with four members sacrificing their lives for global peace. The event saw 417 new sailors officially joining the Navy after 22 weeks of rigorous training, pledging to dedicate their lives to the nation. Awards were presented to top-performing recruits for excellence in professionalism and overall performance.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced potential candidates for 237 constituencies but has yet to finalize seat allocations for its allied parties in the joint anti-government movement. This delay has sparked frustration and mistrust among coalition partners, who claim they are falling behind in campaign activities and losing ground to local BNP leaders. Due to recent amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), each party must contest under its own symbol, complicating BNP’s seat-sharing negotiations. Smaller parties fear they cannot win independently and have urged BNP to finalize the distribution soon. Informal meetings between BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Nazrul Islam Khan with alliance representatives have been held to resolve the issue. BNP says acting chairman Tarique Rahman will make the final decision soon, while allies await his directive to move forward with campaign preparations.

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Muhammad Rashed Khan has called for strict punishment, not release, of Baul singer Abul Sarkar, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about religion that could disrupt social harmony in Bangladesh. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rashed Khan stated that Sarkar’s comments insulted the religious sentiments of Muslims and attempted to undermine communal harmony. He emphasized that while artists have freedom in their creative expression, no one has the right to speak offensively about any religion, including Islam or Hinduism. Rashed urged those advocating for Sarkar’s release to first listen to his statements, asserting that lawful punishment would deter others from making similar remarks in the future. He concluded by stressing the need for peace and unity in society, rejecting any form of religious division or controversy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion and suspension orders of 65 leaders and activists from its main party and affiliated organizations. The decision was announced through a press release on Monday night, following a review of appeals submitted by the affected individuals. According to the BNP statement, the disciplinary actions had been imposed at different times for various reasons, but were lifted after central-level consideration. The reinstated members include leaders from multiple districts such as Kushtia, Narsingdi, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Khulna, and Comilla, among others. Additionally, the suspension of Md. Mozammel Hossain Mridha, former general secretary of Majidbari Union BNP in Patuakhali’s Mirzaganj upazila, was also revoked. The party stated that the move was made in line with its internal disciplinary process and after evaluating each appeal individually. The decision is seen as part of BNP’s ongoing effort to consolidate its organizational unity ahead of future political activities.

Kari Md. Habibullah Belali, a central leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the party’s candidate for Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon), stated that if the country is governed under an Islamic system, no new fascist forces will emerge. Speaking at a campaign meeting at Idkanul Quran Madrasa in Gafargaon on Monday, November 24, Belali emphasized that people have made sacrifices for good governance and that necessary reforms must be implemented to ensure stability. He described Islam as a religion of peace that guarantees the safety of people from all faiths. Belali urged voters to support the party’s electoral symbol, the hand fan, to bring peace and justice to the nation. Several local Islami Andolan leaders, including Maulana Zainul Abedin and Mufti Anwar Hossain, were present at the event.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has questioned whether Bangladesh is adequately prepared to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Country (LDC) category by November 2025. In a detailed social media post, he argued that seeking more time for graduation would not be an insult but a responsible act given current economic pressures, including challenges in banking, foreign exchange, and exports. Rahman criticized the interim government for making long-term economic and strategic decisions, such as those involving Chittagong Port, without a democratic mandate. He warned that closing off options for negotiation weakens Bangladesh’s leverage in international discussions. Emphasizing that national strength lies in asking difficult questions before irreversible harm occurs, he called for decisions affecting the nation’s future to be made by an elected government accountable to the people. Rahman reiterated that patience and public consultation are not weaknesses but essential aspects of democratic governance.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh held a day-long dialogue with representatives from domestic election observation organizations on Tuesday, November 25, at the EC headquarters in Dhaka. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin urged the observers to work as partners in ensuring a fair and transparent national election. According to EC officials, the meeting was part of a series of consultations aimed at gathering insights and recommendations from stakeholders. A total of 81 observer organizations participated in two sessions during the day. Senior EC officials and commissioners were also present. The dialogue follows earlier meetings with political parties, academics, civil society members, journalists, and election experts as part of the EC’s broader effort to ensure credible and inclusive national elections. The CEC reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting the upcoming parliamentary polls properly and sought cooperation from all sectors of society.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin has called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible national election in Bangladesh. Speaking on Tuesday, November 25, at a day-long dialogue with representatives of domestic election observation organizations, he emphasized that the Election Commission’s sole agenda is to deliver a credible election to the nation. Acknowledging past mistakes, Nasir Uddin said the commission aims to move forward by learning from previous experiences. He urged observer organizations to act as partners of the Election Commission in ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The CEC also stressed the importance of training new observer groups and ensuring that appointed observers remain nonpartisan and unaffiliated with any political party. His remarks come as preparations intensify for the upcoming national polls.

More than 30,000 Bangladeshi expatriates have registered to vote through the 'Postal Vote BD' app for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. According to the Election Commission (EC), registration began on November 19 for expatriates in East Asia, South America, and Africa, and on November 24 for those in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The process will continue until November 28. Registered voters will receive postal ballots at their addresses, which they must return by mail after voting. The EC aims to engage around five million expatriate voters in total. Registration for expatriates in Saudi Arabia will run from December 4–8, for those in South and Southeast Asia from December 9–13, and for expatriates in other Middle Eastern countries from December 14–18. Domestic postal voters, including officials on election duty, government employees, and prisoners, can register from December 19–23. The national election is expected to be held in the first half of February 2025.