Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive council has declared that the government’s decision to hold the national election and referendum on the same day is not acceptable to the nation. The statement came after a meeting chaired by Naib-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. The council reviewed the chief adviser’s recent speech and expressed disappointment that public demands were ignored. Members discussed the overall political situation, public expectations, and the evolving context ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. The meeting concluded with a call for unity, public cooperation, and prayers for a peaceful, just, and prosperous Bangladesh.

In Shariatpur’s Gosairhat upazila, the Awami League’s announced lockdown saw little to no participation from party leaders or activists, who reportedly remained in hiding. Despite the call for a shutdown, daily life continued normally with shops, markets, and schools open, and local transport operating as usual. Residents said they noticed no signs of a lockdown, while police maintained heightened vigilance to prevent any untoward incidents. In contrast, BNP activists were seen holding a motorcycle rally in protest against the lockdown, claiming that people had rejected the Awami League’s program. Police officials confirmed that additional forces were deployed across key areas to ensure law and order and to prevent any potential acts of sabotage or unrest.

The Editors’ Council of Bangladesh has elected a new executive committee during its annual general meeting held on Thursday, November 13, at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka. Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, was elected as the new president, while Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of Bonik Barta, was re-elected as general secretary. The outgoing president, Mahfuz Anam of The Daily Star, presided over the meeting, which was attended by leading editors from major national newspapers. According to the council’s constitution, the newly elected committee will serve for the next two years. Members expressed optimism about strengthening the council’s activities through mutual cooperation. Nurul Kabir pledged to promote free, safe, and independent journalism, while Mahfuz Anam emphasized the council’s continued commitment to responsible and independent media practices.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that the July Charter order should be issued by the chief adviser rather than the president to ensure moral legitimacy. Speaking at a discussion organized by the National Farmers’ Force in Dhaka, he argued that although a presidential order would be legally valid, it would lack ethical justification. Patwari also claimed that a disconnect has grown between the government and the people over the past year due to constitutional decisions under Article 106. He further noted that while the public supported the president’s resignation, political parties failed to unite on the issue, allowing the ruling Awami League to take advantage of divisions within the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

In Dinajpur’s Nawabganj upazila, local leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami held a night-long street demonstration opposing an Awami League-declared lockdown. The protest took place around 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, in the upazila town center. Participants included the upazila Jamaat Amir, Secretary Rezaul Islam, council member Selim Reza, and Binodnagar Union Amir Azizul Islam, among other local leaders. The demonstrators reportedly organized a procession and sit-in program to express their opposition to the lockdown initiative. No incidents of violence or arrests were reported during the event, but the situation drew attention from local residents and authorities monitoring the area.

Md. Abdus Salam Bepari has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA). The appointment was confirmed through a notification issued by the Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives on November 11. Bepari, who previously served as Additional Chief Engineer at Dhaka WASA, will hold the position for a three-year term starting from his joining date. The appointment follows the removal of former MD Md. Shahjahan Mia on October 30, who was reassigned as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Shahjahan Mia had been serving as both the Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation and MD of Dhaka WASA since earlier this year.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, has announced his intention to contest the upcoming parliamentary election from the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency. On Thursday, November 13, he collected his party’s nomination form from the NCP central office. Expressing his emotional connection to Debidwar, Hasnat said the area’s people, culture, and environment are deeply tied to his life. He described Debidwar as a neglected upazila that has long suffered from inequality and underdevelopment across successive governments. Hasnat pledged to focus on improving education, culture, and infrastructure if nominated by the party’s policy board. Although he was offered to run from more prominent constituencies, he chose Debidwar out of personal attachment and a desire to bring meaningful change to his hometown.

The Bangladesh government has announced a major reshuffle in the civil administration, transferring and appointing new deputy commissioners (DCs) in nine districts. According to a circular issued on Thursday, November 13, by the Ministry of Public Administration, Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, DC of Narayanganj, has been transferred to Chattogram, while Md. Raihan Kabir, Deputy Secretary of the Public Division, becomes the new DC of Narayanganj. Other appointments include S.M. Mehedi Hasan to Lakshmipur, Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi to Munshiganj, Md. Saifur Rahman to Netrokona, Md. Shahadat Hossain Masud to Chapainawabganj, Md. Saiful Islam to Naogaon, Md. Anwar Sadat to Khagrachhari, and Md. Reza Hasan to Cumilla. The order, signed by Deputy Secretary Aminul Islam, takes immediate effect in the public interest.

BNP Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy has warned that the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh could worsen if the administration remains silent. Speaking at a freshman reception and cultural event at Keraniganj Women’s Degree College, he urged the administration to stand by the people and work for their welfare. Roy emphasized that the country's hard-earned independence must be protected from any attempts to undermine it. He also highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment and student movements in shaping a fair and self-reliant Bangladesh. The event was attended by several BNP leaders, including Advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Nazim Uddin, and local party representatives, along with college officials and students.

The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has welcomed the Chief Adviser’s recent address to the nation, describing it as a relatively acceptable solution to the ongoing political situation. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and secretary general Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to hold the national election and referendum on the same day, and to allocate seats in the upper house based on proportional representation. However, they noted some differences regarding specific final directives. The leaders emphasized that political parties have already completed sufficient discussions, and now a conclusive government decision is necessary. They expressed hope that all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, will participate in the election in a peaceful, fair, and festive atmosphere to ensure democratic stability in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s advisory council has approved drafts of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Amendment Ordinance 2025 to strengthen transparency, accountability, and governance in the aviation and travel sectors. The new laws introduce mandatory registration of digital ticketing systems to prevent price manipulation and ticket hoarding, authorize the creation of a Civil Aviation Economic Commission to regulate fees, and encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuel. Travel agencies face stricter penalties for illegal transactions, overpricing, and fraud, including fines up to 1 million taka and imprisonment up to one year. The reforms aim to protect migrant workers’ rights, ensure fair ticket pricing, and align Bangladesh’s aviation governance with international standards such as the Chicago Convention and ICAO guidelines.

Seven activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were injured in an alleged cocktail explosion on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway on Thursday morning. The victims were admitted to the Shibchar Upazila Health Complex for treatment. According to the injured, the attackers were supporters of the ruling Awami League. They claimed that the assailants attempted to block traffic by felling trees on the expressway, and when BNP activists tried to intervene, they were attacked with explosive devices. Local BNP leader Shahjahan Molla Saju accused masked assailants affiliated with the Awami League of carrying out the attack. Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the incident.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin stated that the Election Commission (EC) will review and discuss the proposal announced by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to hold the national parliamentary election and a referendum on the July Charter on the same day. Speaking to reporters during a dialogue with political parties, the CEC said he had not yet heard the adviser’s full speech and therefore could not comment on the matter. He emphasized that the EC would form an opinion only after formally receiving details of the proposal and analyzing its feasibility. The CEC refrained from making any immediate statement, saying it would be premature to comment without proper understanding of the proposal’s scope and implications.

In Jhenaidah, Bangladesh, agitated students and locals demolished the 'One Finger' monument of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Shadhinata Chattar on Thursday morning. According to eyewitnesses, members of an anti-discrimination student movement carried out the demolition using a bulldozer during a protest against the Awami League’s lockdown announcement, vehicle arson, and political unrest. The monument, previously damaged during protests on August 5, was completely destroyed this time. Police confirmed the incident and said they visited the site for investigation. The destruction reflects escalating tensions between student groups and political authorities amid ongoing demonstrations across the region.

During a White House meeting on November 10, U.S. President Donald Trump sprayed his own brand of perfume on Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Shara, jokingly asking how many wives he had. The lighthearted exchange, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions—some calling it an awkward breach of protocol, others viewing it as Trump’s trademark humor. The meeting, the first between U.S. and Syrian leaders since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, focused on post-war stability, U.S. troop withdrawal, and reconstruction. Al-Shara, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani and once labeled a global terrorist, now seeks international legitimacy. Analysts say the encounter marked a historic step in rebuilding U.S.-Syria relations, though the ‘perfume moment’ overshadowed the diplomatic agenda.