The National Citizens Party (NCP) has called on Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) to promptly request government directives regarding the organization of the upcoming national referendum, which is scheduled to coincide with the parliamentary elections in February. During its first dialogue with the EC after gaining registration, NCP’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari emphasized the lack of clear implementation guidelines and the urgency of time. He urged the EC to maintain neutrality and independence, pledging full cooperation if the commission remains impartial. The NCP also praised the amendment allowing coalition candidates to contest under their own party symbols and urged the EC to uphold this decision. Additionally, the party raised concerns over cyber harassment of female members, called for a monitoring cell, and suggested extending the registration period for expatriate voters. The NCP clarified that its comments about the use of political leaders’ images in campaign posters were misrepresented in the media and were made based on existing laws.

President Donald Trump announced that he will meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday in the Oval Office, marking their first in-person encounter since Mamdani’s election earlier this month. The meeting follows months of sharp exchanges between the two, with Trump repeatedly labeling Mamdani a 'communist' and threatening to cut federal funding to New York City if he won. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, confirmed his team requested the meeting to discuss public safety, economic security, and affordability issues affecting New Yorkers. Despite their political differences, both sides have expressed a willingness to cooperate for the city’s benefit. The meeting is expected to focus on federal support for New York and the city’s cost-of-living challenges. Trump’s decision to host Mamdani comes after he previously backed Andrew Cuomo in an unsuccessful attempt to block Mamdani’s rise. The Oval Office discussion could signal a tentative thaw in relations between the White House and New York City’s incoming leadership.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh was able to overcome recent crises and restore national stability due to unity and the support of the armed forces. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Course 2025 in Mirpur Cantonment, he emphasized the importance of solidarity in achieving the nation’s aspirations. Addressing foreign officers, Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s growing global defense ties. He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to reforms and justice for crimes committed during last year’s student uprising. Yunus called on the military, police, and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the upcoming national election, scheduled for early February, is peaceful and festive. The DSCSC Course 2025 saw 311 officers graduate, including 58 from 24 foreign countries and 14 women officers, reflecting progress in inclusion and empowerment within the defense sector.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has reinstated the long-debated non-partisan caretaker government system for overseeing national elections, overturning parts of the 15th constitutional amendment that had abolished it in 2011. The verdict was delivered by a seven-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed after ten days of hearings. However, constitutional experts and senior lawyers clarified that the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, expected by February, cannot be held under this system due to procedural and constitutional constraints. They indicated that the caretaker mechanism could only apply from the 14th general election onward. The ruling follows a 2023 High Court decision that declared sections 20 and 21 of the 15th amendment unconstitutional, paving the way for the system’s return. Legal representatives from various political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the hearings, while the Attorney General represented the state. The decision marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s electoral framework and political landscape.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict today on the appeal concerning the 13th constitutional amendment, which had introduced the caretaker government system in 1996 to ensure free and fair elections. The system oversaw three national polls before being annulled by the apex court in 2011, leading to its removal through the 15th amendment. Following the ouster of the Awami League government in July last year, the issue resurfaced in the judiciary. A seven-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, will deliver the ruling. The verdict is expected to clarify whether the caretaker government system will be reinstated and under what conditions. The appeal hearings concluded in November after extensive arguments from lawyers representing civil society figures, political parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, and the state. The outcome could have significant implications for Bangladesh’s electoral framework and political stability.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman marks his 61st birthday today, November 20, 2024. Born in 1965 to former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique has been a key figure in the party since the late 1980s. However, BNP leadership has directed all party units across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, not to hold any celebratory events such as cake cutting, poster displays, or discussion meetings. Instead, members have been encouraged to donate money that would have been spent on such festivities. The decision follows Tarique Rahman’s own instruction to maintain simplicity. Currently residing in the United Kingdom, he has been serving as the party’s acting chairman since 2018, after Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment. Party sources indicate that he is expected to return to Bangladesh next month following Umrah pilgrimage.

The Bangladesh High Court has officially recognized the July 2024 mass uprising as the 'July Revolution' and declared the United Nations Human Rights Office’s investigative report on the events as a 'historic document'. The full verdict, published on the Supreme Court’s website, directs the Ministry of Law to issue a gazette notification within three months and submit a progress report to the court. The ruling came after a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Tanvir Ahmed, who sought justice for killings and torture during the July–August 2024 protests. The UN report, released in February 2024, documented the killing of around 1,400 people, including 12–13% children, and accused the former Awami League government and its security forces of severe human rights violations. The High Court has kept the case as a continuous mandamus to ensure follow-up action on the investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has initiated efforts to resolve internal disputes among its candidates following protests in several constituencies over the party’s nomination process. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been meeting with nomination-deprived leaders in Dhaka to ease tensions and ensure unity ahead of the upcoming national election. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has also personally intervened in some cases, urging all factions to work together for the party’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf. In addition to managing internal rifts, BNP faces criticism for nominating elderly candidates in several constituencies, with local leaders arguing that such choices weaken the party’s appeal among younger voters. Some local units have formally requested the replacement of older nominees with younger, more active figures. The BNP leadership is reportedly reviewing these concerns while emphasizing discipline and collective effort to strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.

Rawalpindi police have taken into custody three sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan — Aleema, Dr. Uzma, and Naureen — following a prolonged 10-hour sit-in outside Adiala Jail. The protest began after authorities denied family members and PTI leaders permission to meet Khan at the prison. Despite multiple rounds of negotiation, Aleema Khan refused to end the demonstration without a confirmed meeting schedule. Late at night, police dispersed male PTI workers and later detained the sisters using a female police unit, transferring them to Chakri. The PTI claimed on social media platform X that the sisters were peacefully protesting when police used force to arrest them. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between PTI supporters and law enforcement amid Khan’s imprisonment.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland (Shirley Botchwey) arrives in Dhaka today for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening engagement with Bangladesh ahead of the country’s 2026 general election. During her November 20–24 trip, she will meet Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, political leaders, the Chief Election Commissioner, and foreign diplomats to discuss democracy, governance, and long-term prosperity. The visit follows a pre-election assessment mission by the Commonwealth last month and is viewed as a continuation of that process. Botchwey will also present the Commonwealth’s new strategic plan, emphasizing democracy as a core pillar, and explore areas where the organization can provide effective support. In a statement before her visit, she highlighted Bangladesh’s longstanding partnership with the Commonwealth since independence and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting a peaceful, inclusive, and participatory electoral environment. The mission underscores the Commonwealth’s focus on stability and democratic development in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Labour and Employment and Shipping Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting social justice nationally, regionally, and globally during the 355th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. He highlighted key amendments to the country’s labor law, including reducing the worker requirement for trade union registration from 20 percent to 20 individuals, easing documentation, and prohibiting blacklisting. The revised law also introduces measures against workplace discrimination, violence, harassment, and child labor, while shortening the minimum wage review period from five to three years. Bangladesh has recently ratified ILO Conventions 155, 187, and 190, thereby endorsing all fundamental conventions. Dr. Hossain also noted that all previous cases against trade union leaders have been withdrawn. Additionally, Bangladesh will host the Asia-Pacific Social Justice Forum in Dhaka next March. On the sidelines, he met Pakistan’s Human Resource and Overseas Employment Minister to discuss bilateral cooperation in skill development.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman marked his 61st birthday on November 20, 2024. To commemorate the occasion, former joint convener of Dhaka North Jubo Dal, S.M. Mizanur Rahman Raj, distributed winter blankets among underprivileged people. Tarique Rahman, the elder son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, began his political career in 1988 as a member of the Gabtoli Thana BNP in Bogura. He played a significant role in national election campaigns in 1991 and 2001 alongside his mother. Over the years, he rose to become the party’s Senior Vice Chairman and, since 2018, has been serving as the acting chairman from the United Kingdom after Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment. Party sources suggest that Tarique Rahman may return to Bangladesh next month after performing Umrah. The blanket distribution event was part of broader celebrations by BNP supporters across the country.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is facing growing internal dissent and grassroots unrest following the release of its preliminary list of candidates for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections. Protests, clashes, and even casualties have occurred in several constituencies as local leaders and activists express anger over being denied nominations. Reports suggest that many disgruntled leaders are preparing to contest as independent candidates if their grievances are not addressed. Political analysts warn that unresolved factional disputes could weaken BNP’s electoral prospects. Senior BNP leaders, however, insist the list is provisional and subject to revision by the party’s standing committee. Some nominations have already been suspended, raising hopes among excluded aspirants. In multiple constituencies, including Mymensingh-3, Kushtia-4, Chattogram-4, and Natore-1, local activists have demanded reconsideration of specific nominations. Meanwhile, 63 constituencies remain without declared candidates, fueling further frustration. BNP leaders have pledged to resolve disputes swiftly and maintain party unity ahead of the election.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has begun distributing nomination forms for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election starting Thursday, November 20, with the process continuing until November 30. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the party’s central office, Muktibhaban in Dhaka, will serve as the election headquarters where aspirants can collect and submit forms priced at 2,000 taka each. The CPB Presidium meeting held on Tuesday invited applications for all 300 parliamentary constituencies. The announcement also outlined several upcoming political programs, including a nationwide protest on November 23 against irregularities in Chittagong port terminal leases, a demonstration at the Election Commission on November 26 demanding electoral reforms, and a ‘Jamuna Journey’ event on December 4. The initiatives reflect the party’s efforts to mobilize support and advocate for fair, transparent, and participatory elections.

Aid for Men Foundation, a Bangladeshi organization advocating for men’s rights, has called for an end to all forms of legal discrimination against men. The demand was made during a discussion titled 'From False Accusations to Physical Attacks: Men’s Security and Human Rights Crisis' held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on November 19. Marking International Men’s Day, the group organized awareness programs including discussions, cycling rallies, and processions to highlight men’s safety and rights issues. The organization’s General Secretary, Saiful Islam Nadim, stated that men in Bangladesh face severe neglect and discrimination, often being victims of false accusations and biased laws. He warned that political parties ignoring men’s rights in their election manifestos would lose their votes. Speakers at the event, including lawyers, writers, and human rights activists, emphasized the need to ensure men’s legal and social protection throughout the year.