A massive fire broke out on Wednesday night at an old, abandoned cargo ship named 'Rahan' anchored at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) dockyard in Narayanganj’s Nabiganj area. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at BIWTC’s No. 3 dockyard, where the vessel had been idle for nearly two decades. Two units of the Bandar Fire Service and Civil Defense managed to bring the blaze under control after about an hour of effort. No injuries or casualties were reported, though various materials stored on the ship were completely destroyed. Witnesses and local residents suggested that drug users who frequented the abandoned vessel might have caused the fire, possibly from a discarded cigarette. Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause or assess the extent of the damage, but preliminary reports indicate that the fire spread rapidly due to the ship’s deteriorated condition and flammable materials on board.

Local Awami League leaders and influential individuals in Shariatpur have been accused of illegally occupying government-acquired land along the Shariatpur–Chandpur regional highway to build shops, markets, and restaurants. The occupied land, owned by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), is part of a 31-kilometer road development project approved in 2019 with a budget of Tk 859.63 crore. Despite public anger over the encroachment, local administration and RHD officials have shown little visible action. Field visits revealed that dozens of structures are being built on acquired plots in Balarbazar area, allegedly by Awami League activist Mejbahauddin Dewan and his relatives. Mejbahauddin claimed they built shops because compensation for their land had not been paid. RHD Executive Engineer Md Nabil Hossain confirmed awareness of the illegal occupation and said eviction drives will begin soon to remove unauthorized structures along the highway.

Popular Bangladeshi actor and founder of the 'Nirapad Sarak Chai' (We Demand Safe Roads) movement, Ilias Kanchan, is currently receiving treatment in London for a brain tumor. He has been ill for the past seven months and under medical care in London for about six months. Doctors have described his condition as complex since the tumor is located near vital nerves in the brain, making surgery highly risky. According to Liton Ershad, vice-chairman of the movement, Kanchan can now speak normally, a significant improvement from earlier difficulties. A large portion of the tumor has already been removed, and the remaining part is being treated through radiation and chemotherapy. He is staying at his daughter Israt Jahan’s residence during treatment. Once his current medication course ends, doctors will conduct further tests to determine the next steps and assess whether he can return to Bangladesh soon.

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.

A mild earthquake struck Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar early Thursday, November 27, at around 3:29 a.m. The quake, measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale, originated about 118 kilometers away in the Bay of Bengal. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Local authorities, including Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, reported that most residents did not feel the quake due to its low intensity. International monitoring site Volcano Discovery described the shaking as very light and short-lived, with no reports of panic or damage. Residents who were awake at the time said the tremor was barely noticeable. The event passed largely unnoticed as most people were asleep, and no casualties or structural impacts were reported in the area.

A Dhaka special court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in prison in three corruption cases related to the illegal allocation of government plots under the Rajuk Purbachal New Town Project. The verdict, delivered by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Special Judge Court-5, found Hasina and 22 others guilty of abusing power, fraud, and misappropriation of state property. The cases alleged that Hasina and her associates unlawfully obtained government plots using forged documents and administrative influence. Among the co-accused are former housing ministry officials, Rajuk members, and former state minister Sharif Ahmed. This ruling follows a separate International Crimes Tribunal verdict on November 17 that sentenced Hasina to death for crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The latest judgment adds to her mounting legal troubles following her removal from power earlier this year.

Authorities in Dhaka have heightened security around the Special Judge Court-5 as it prepares to deliver verdicts in three separate Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul. The cases concern alleged irregularities in the allocation of government plots in the Purbachal New Town Project. Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun is scheduled to announce the verdicts at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 27. The prosecution expects life sentences for Hasina, her children, and 44 others. Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused currently in custody, has been brought to court. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police have been deployed to ensure order. The ACC filed the initial case in January, later submitting a charge sheet against 12 individuals, with 29 witnesses testifying during the trial.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami held a central executive council meeting chaired by party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at its Moghbazar headquarters on November 26. The meeting included prayers for the quick recovery of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, as well as Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. Leaders discussed the need for a free, fair, and fear-free national election and reviewed the current political situation. The council also decided to campaign for public support in favor of the July National Charter referendum and to ensure success of upcoming rallies in seven divisional cities as part of an eight-party alliance movement. Preparations for the organization’s annual Majlis-e-Shura session, scheduled for November 28–29, were also discussed in detail.

Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur has expelled three students and issued show-cause notices to nine others following a ragging incident at Bijoy 24 Hall. The university’s 118th syndicate meeting on November 26 decided to expel Mamun Mia and Rafi Ahmed for two academic years, and Azizul Hakim for one year. The incident occurred on November 23 when senior students allegedly assaulted a junior, Din Islam, causing a ruptured eardrum. After the matter came to light through journalists, the university formed a three-member investigation committee led by Assistant Provost Dr. A.T.M. Jinnatul Basar. Based on the committee’s report, disciplinary action was taken. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali condemned the incident, reaffirming the university’s zero-tolerance policy toward ragging and sexual harassment in line with High Court and UGC directives. The administration emphasized that preventive measures and awareness campaigns against ragging are ongoing across the campus.

Unidentified miscreants set fire to an election arch built for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis candidate Maulana Mizanur Rahman Molla in Faridpur-4 constituency on Wednesday night. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. near former mayor Fayez Mia’s residence in Bhanga municipality, where the arch had been erected along the Dhaka-Gopalganj highway. Witnesses recorded the burning structure and shared videos on social media, prompting outrage among the candidate’s supporters. Mizanur Rahman condemned the attack, urging law enforcement to identify and arrest those responsible. He warned that such acts could escalate political tensions as the 13th National Parliamentary Election approaches. Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashraf Hossain confirmed that police visited the scene and have launched an investigation into the arson. The incident has raised concerns about election-related violence and security in the region.

A Dhaka court is set to deliver verdicts today in three corruption cases involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 44 others. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the cases over alleged irregularities in the allocation of government plots in the Purbachal New Town Project. The Special Judge’s Court-5, led by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, will announce the verdicts at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Prosecutors expect life imprisonment for all accused, claiming sufficient evidence was presented to prove the charges. Hasina, Joy, and Putul have been absconding since the beginning of the trial, while former RAJUK member Khurshid Alam remains in custody. The cases, filed separately in January, accuse the defendants of abusing power to obtain 10-katha plots illegally. Investigations concluded in March, and multiple witnesses testified in each case. The verdicts are expected to have significant political and legal implications in Bangladesh.

Police in Savar arrested notorious gang leader Roni Mia, known locally as 'Kutta Roni', during an attempted robbery on National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Tamim Azhar on Wednesday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the Dogormora area, where locals helped capture Roni and his associate Rabbi before handing them over to police. Roni, 48, has a long criminal record including murder, robbery, and drug-related cases, and leads a gang of about 30 active members. Police recovered a Chinese switchgear from Roni and a modern knife from Rabbi. Officers said Roni had been released on bail just a month earlier in a murder case and had resumed criminal activities. Authorities plan to present both suspects in court while launching a special operation to arrest other members of the 'Kutta Roni gang'. Residents expressed relief and hope that the gang will finally be dismantled and justice ensured.

Indian singer Anuv Jain’s much-anticipated concert in Dhaka, scheduled for December 12, has been postponed due to security concerns. The event, organized by Hypnation and set to take place at Courtside, Madani Avenue, was called off after organizers cited their inability to ensure a safe environment for audiences, sponsors, and partners. In a Facebook post, Hypnation stated that the concert would be rescheduled once the situation stabilizes and full safety can be guaranteed. The organizers also mentioned that details regarding ticket refunds will be announced soon. This postponement follows similar cancellations of international concerts in Dhaka, including the ‘Legends Live in Dhaka’ show featuring Bangladeshi rock icon James and Pakistani singer Ali Azmat, which was canceled in November due to permission issues. Several other international performances, including those by Pakistani artists Jal, Kaavish, and Atif Aslam, are also planned in the coming weeks, though their status remains uncertain.

A dispute has erupted in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, after allegations surfaced that a businessman named Shahidul Islam demolished a 30–35-year-old mosque built on waqf land to construct a commercial multi-story building. The Baitus Salam Jame Mosque, established by industrialist Haji Salauddin Mia on seven decimals of waqf land, was reportedly torn down under the pretext of reconstruction. Locals and religious devotees protested the move, filing complaints with the Waqf Administrator and other government offices. Family members of the original donor accused Shahidul Islam and his associates of attempting to seize the property with political backing. Community leaders and residents intervened to halt the demolition, and the local police assured that the mosque would remain. Shahidul Islam, however, claimed ownership of the land, stating that the new building would include mosque floors. Authorities have urged both sides to cooperate on mosque development.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has finalized and added the sketch of the ‘Shapla Kali’ (water lily bud) symbol for the National Citizen Party (NCP) on its official list of registered political parties. The decision ensures that the symbol will appear on the ballot paper for the upcoming parliamentary elections. According to NCP officials, the EC confirmed the sketch on Wednesday, November 26. Previously, both the NCP and the Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist) were granted final registration by the EC, but their symbol boxes on the EC’s website remained empty. With this update, the NCP’s symbol is now visible, while the Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist) is still awaiting the addition of its ‘Scissors’ symbol sketch. The EC’s move marks a procedural step toward completing the visual representation of all registered political parties ahead of the national polls.