The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced an emergency press conference scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at 2:30 PM at its central office in Dhaka. According to party sources, the briefing will focus on the prevailing political situation in the country and the party’s current position on ongoing developments. Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is expected to deliver the main address at the event. The announcement comes amid heightened political discussions and speculation about the BNP’s next course of action. The party has not disclosed specific agenda details but hinted that the conference will clarify its stance on recent national issues and internal strategies. Political observers view the move as a significant step in shaping BNP’s response to the evolving political climate.

Leaders of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh have strongly refuted recent comments made by Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, during a religious gathering in Charmonai. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Jamiat President Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, Senior Vice President Maulana Abdur Rab Yusuf, and Secretary General Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi described the Pir’s remarks about Jamiat’s role in Islamist unity as baseless and misleading. They expressed surprise that such statements were made under the guise of religious leadership. The Jamiat leaders explained that their party withdrew from the liaison committee of like-minded Islamic groups after Islami Andolan unilaterally pursued a ‘PR issue’ and held joint programs without prior discussion. They accused Islami Andolan of political deception and said the Pir’s comments violated political decorum and disrespected the sanctity of religious gatherings.

More than a hundred workers at Creative Collection Ltd, a garment factory under Ha-Meem Group in Tongi, fell ill on Sunday following panic triggered by the recent deaths of two colleagues. The incident came a day after around fifty workers became sick under similar circumstances. Hospital sources confirmed that dozens of workers were admitted to Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and other nearby facilities. Doctors said the workers were suffering from stress-related illness rather than poisoning or infection. Factory authorities have announced a two-day closure to calm the situation and allow counseling for employees. Police reported no formal complaints or autopsy requests regarding the deaths. The panic reportedly began after one worker died on November 24 and another on November 29, both after suddenly losing consciousness. Officials urged the company to provide psychological support to prevent further mass illness incidents.

In a rare and astonishing event in the deep Bay of Bengal, around three maunds of hilsa fish reportedly jumped directly onto a cargo vessel without the use of nets. The incident occurred about 70 kilometers off the coast near the first buoy of the Rabnabad Channel at Payra Port in Patuakhali. Crew members of the coal-carrying vessel MV KSL Gladiator witnessed the unusual phenomenon as schools of small hilsa suddenly leapt from the sea onto the ship’s deck, resembling a silvery rain. Ship engineer Robiul Hossain captured a short video of the event and shared it with journalists. Marine science expert Dr. Rajib Sarkar from Patuakhali Science and Technology University explained that the behavior might have been triggered by predatory fish chasing the hilsa, combined with the ship’s lights, vibrations, and propeller noise, which could have disoriented the fish and caused them to leap upwards. The sailors described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to hold a hearing today on contempt of court charges against BNP leader Fazlur Rahman for his remarks regarding the court’s legitimacy while discussing a verdict involving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim filed the complaint last Wednesday, alleging that Rahman questioned the tribunal’s formation and impartiality during a television talk show. In a separate development, the tribunal may also receive an investigation report today in a crimes against humanity case involving former police officials Alep Uddin and Mashiur Rahman, accused of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government. Additionally, in the Chandkharpul six-murder case, the defense for former Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Arshad Hossain is expected to present a witness statement. If no defense witness appears, the case will proceed to final arguments, according to the prosecution.

In Madaripur, Bangladesh, three toll collection workers were injured after a group of local youths attacked a toll office at the Seventh China Friendship Bridge over the Arial Khan River. The incident occurred on Saturday evening in Pokhira village of Sadar upazila when the attackers refused to pay the toll and subsequently stormed the office. Police from Madaripur Sadar Station visited the scene following the assault. According to Officer-in-Charge Adil Hossain, legal action will be taken once the toll authority files a written complaint. The injured workers were engaged in toll collection duties at the bridge, which connects key areas in the region. The motive behind the attack appears to be a dispute over toll payment, and authorities are investigating the matter to identify those responsible.

Voting for the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) election began on Sunday morning at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium in Dhaka. The polling started at 9 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. The election involves professional journalists working in Dhaka, who are casting their votes in an orderly manner. The day before the election, the organization held its annual general meeting (AGM). A total of ten candidates are contesting for seven executive member positions, including Al-Amin Azad, Ali Azam, Mahfuz Sadi, Md. Abdul Alim, Md. Akhtar Hossain, Md. Majaharul Islam, Md. Rezaur Rahim, Mohammad Naimuddin, Suman Chowdhury, and Syed Akhtar Siraji. The election is expected to determine the new leadership of one of the most influential journalist organizations in Bangladesh.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal, BNP’s law affairs secretary and candidate for Netrakona-1 constituency, described the party’s 31-point program as a charter of people’s liberation rather than merely a political manifesto. Speaking at a farmers’ rally in Nazipur, Kalmakanda, he emphasized that the 27th point of the plan specifically addresses farmers’ issues, aiming to rebuild the state and secure the nation’s future. Kamal highlighted the historical significance of the nearby ‘Zia Canal,’ dug by late President Ziaur Rahman, and pledged that BNP would initiate new canal excavation projects if it returns to power. He also promised efforts to have Tarique Rahman oversee the re-excavation of the Zia Canal. Stressing his own background as a farmer’s son, Kamal urged the government to set fair prices for agricultural products based on farmers’ input. The rally, attended by hundreds of farmers, featured speeches from local BNP leaders and agricultural experts.

At a public meeting in Boda upazila of Panchagarh, National Citizen Committee (NCP) chief organizer Sarjis Alam declared that the party will stand by minorities and any individuals facing threats, harassment, or oppression from others, regardless of political affiliation. Addressing party workers, he urged them to support good initiatives from any political group and to oppose wrongdoing or injustice, even if committed by powerful figures. During the event, Alam announced the formation of NCP committees for ten unions and one municipality in Boda upazila. The program began with prayers for the recovery and long life of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Leaders and activists from all five upazilas of Panchagarh district attended the meeting, emphasizing unity and social responsibility across party lines.

A 27-year-old female member of the Highway Police, identified as Mimi Khatun, was found hanging in her room at the women’s police barrack in Mujgunni Housing Estate under Khalishpur Police Station in Khulna on Saturday afternoon. Colleagues discovered her body around 1:30 p.m., and authorities later sent it to Khulna Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Police said no suicide note was found in her room, and the preliminary report mentioned suicide as the cause of death. Mimi, daughter of Nabin Biswas from Mirpur in Kushtia and wife of Imran Hossain, was serving as a constable in the Highway Region. The cause behind the suspected suicide remains unclear, and police are investigating the incident by speaking with her family and colleagues. The barrack remains in mourning as the body awaits handover to the family after the post-mortem examination.

Several international media outlets have reported on the critical health condition of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is currently hospitalized in Dhaka. Al Jazeera, citing her personal physician Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, described her condition as 'very critical.' Gulf News, Dawn News, and NDTV also published similar reports, emphasizing the seriousness of her illness. Indian outlets such as The Times of India, The Hindu, and Hindustan Times have given the story significant coverage. According to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, quoted by Arab News, Khaleda Zia’s health remains in a critical state. Her medical team is considering sending her abroad for advanced treatment once the board approves. The former prime minister has been receiving care at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, while her family and supporters have urged the public to pray for her recovery.

Bangladeshi expatriates living in France have shown strong enthusiasm for the newly launched 'Postal Vote BD' app, which allows them to participate in Bangladesh’s upcoming national election through postal ballots for the first time. Registration began on November 26, and expatriates across French cities are signing up in groups. Despite initial technical issues with OTP verification and photo uploads, users report that the process has since become smoother. Refugees without passports can register using only their national ID numbers, expanding participation among the diaspora. Expatriate organizations have welcomed the initiative, calling it a milestone for inclusive democracy. The government will handle the entire postal process, ensuring voters incur no additional costs. Many expatriates describe the move as historic, fulfilling a decades-long demand for voting rights abroad. Observers see it as a significant step linking expatriates not only to the economy but also to Bangladesh’s democratic process, marking a new chapter in the nation’s electoral history.

More than 92,000 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) website, as of November 30, a total of 92,385 expatriates have signed up, including 77,544 men and 14,841 women. This marks the first time Bangladesh is introducing an IT-supported postal ballot system, enabling expatriates, individuals in legal custody, and election officials on duty to cast their votes remotely. Registration began on November 19 and will continue until December 23. The EC is conducting registration across numerous countries, including South Korea, Japan, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and several African nations. Registered voters will receive postal ballots by mail, which they must return to the designated returning officer after voting. The EC aims to engage up to five million expatriate voters as part of its broader electoral participation initiative ahead of the election scheduled for early February 2025.

Ariful Islam Talukdar, the South Region Organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has resigned from his post, submitting his resignation letter on November 28 to the party convener. In his letter, Talukdar expressed deep frustration with the party’s internal weaknesses, indecision, and misuse of power. He claimed that despite his key role in the July 2024 mass uprising, the NCP failed to unite the youth forces or uphold the revolutionary spirit that inspired the movement. Talukdar accused some central leaders of accumulating wealth and monopolizing the movement’s achievements, leading to inequality and disunity. He also criticized the interim government’s advisory council for inefficiency and blamed the party for ignoring the majority’s religious sentiments. Citing corruption, bureaucratic dominance, and lack of justice for victims of state violence, Talukdar said he no longer saw a reason to continue with the NCP. He concluded by expressing hope that he might rejoin future movements for national unity and youth-led politics.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a letter to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, expressing deep concern over her recent illness and wishing her a quick recovery. Earlier, on November 27, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister had sent floral greetings to convey their best wishes for her health. In his letter, Sharif praised Khaleda Zia’s significant contributions to Bangladesh’s development and her role in strengthening the fraternal ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He also prayed for her full recovery so that she could continue to serve as a source of courage and guidance for her party and nation. Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since November 23. According to her personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, her health condition has remained unchanged over the past three days.