In Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali, members of Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a special prayer session seeking the recovery and good health of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place on Wednesday at the local office of Jamaat-e-Islami. Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, a central Jamaat leader and former central president of Chhatra Shibir, attended as the chief guest. The prayer was led by former upazila Jamaat amir Principal Maulana Abdul Gani. The session was presided over by upazila Shibir president Limon Hossain and attended by several local leaders, including district Shibir president Rakibul Islam Nur, upazila Jamaat naib-e-amir Maulana Rafiqul Islam, and secretary Professor Khalidur Rahman. Earlier, Dr. Masud met with local journalists to discuss preparations for the upcoming July Martyrs Memorial Football Match and cultural program scheduled for November 28 at Bauphal Public Ground.

The Directorate of Primary Education in Bangladesh has received 745,929 applications for 10,219 vacant assistant teacher positions in government primary schools, indicating intense competition with about 73 candidates per post. The application window closed on November 21, and the written examination is expected to take place in January 2026. The recruitment process, which resumes after a long pause, initially covers vacancies in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, Khulna, Barishal, and Mymensingh divisions, with other regions to follow. Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued the 'Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules, 2025' on August 28 and later revised them on November 2 to correct errors and include provisions prioritizing science graduates. The new rules also modify promotion and direct recruitment criteria, requiring a bachelor’s degree with at least a second class and setting the maximum age limit at 32 years.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of former Detective Branch (DB) chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid’s income tax documents following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faez on Wednesday, November 26, after ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin sought access to Harun’s tax files. According to the ACC’s petition, Harun allegedly abused his official authority to amass wealth worth Tk17.51 crore beyond his known sources of income, in violation of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. The ACC argued that reviewing his tax records is essential for a fair and thorough investigation. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the order. The case marks another high-profile corruption probe involving a senior police officer, as the ACC intensifies scrutiny of public officials suspected of illicit enrichment.

Bangladesh Railway has issued 14 detailed safety directives to ensure safe train operations during the foggy winter season. The directives, signed by Deputy Chief Operating Superintendent (West) Arfin Nahar, were sent to the divisional railway managers of Pakshi and Lalmonirhat. The instructions emphasize heightened vigilance among station masters, locomotive drivers, guards, and control room staff to prevent accidents caused by poor visibility. Key measures include issuing caution orders (OPT-80), using fog signals, verifying line clearance strictly through authorized personnel, and maintaining constant communication between stations. The directives also require recording contact numbers of train crews, ensuring level crossing gates are closed during train passage, and keeping adequate fog signal supplies at stations. Officials and inspectors have been instructed to conduct frequent night signal inspections and open emergency control cells if fog persists for extended periods. The railway authority stressed that failure to follow these guidelines could lead to severe accidents and damage to life and property.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has issued a clarification regarding the calculation of demand charges and meter rent for prepaid electricity users. According to the statement released on November 26, demand charges and meter rent are deducted from the first recharge each month. If no recharge occurs in a given month, the charges are adjusted during the next recharge. The division emphasized that electricity consumption and cost are identical for both prepaid and postpaid meters. Prepaid users receive a 0.5% rebate as a government incentive and are exempt from security deposits. Residential demand charges are set at Tk 42 per kilowatt per month, with a 5% VAT applied. Monthly meter rent is Tk 40 for single-phase and Tk 250 for three-phase meters provided by distribution companies. Customers can recharge through mobile financial services, cards, or vending stations, and enjoy emergency credit facilities if balance runs out. Faulty meters due to technical issues are replaced free of cost.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Rüdiger Lotz has expressed hope that the upcoming national election in Bangladesh will be free, fair, credible, and participatory. Speaking at an event organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) in Dhaka, he emphasized the importance of ensuring all citizens can vote without fear and that all political parties can campaign peacefully. Lotz noted that high voter turnout would enhance the election’s credibility and that post-election dialogue among political parties should continue. He reiterated Germany’s opposition to the death penalty while supporting accountability for abuse of power. The ambassador also highlighted Bangladesh’s progress in governance, transparency, and reforms in the security and labor sectors. He said Bangladesh remains an attractive destination for German investors due to its large middle class and improving business environment. Lotz added that more Bangladeshi students are studying in Germany and encouraged proper documentation for visa applications.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has discovered 832 tola (approximately 9,707 grams) of gold in two lockers at Agrani Bank’s principal branch in Motijheel, Dhaka, linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members. According to ACC Director General Akhter Hossain, the gold items, including ornaments and decorative pieces such as a golden boat and deer, were deposited under the names of Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and daughter Saima Wazed. The ACC is now verifying whether the assets are legally acquired. The discovery followed a court-approved operation to open three lockers—two at Agrani Bank and one at Pubali Bank—declared by Hasina in her 2007 wealth statement. Officials from the Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue, and other agencies were present during the inventory process. One locker at Pubali Bank was found empty. The investigation is part of a broader corruption inquiry involving Hasina and her family’s declared assets.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to launch a large-scale, people-oriented campaign ahead of the upcoming national election. In its latest standing committee meeting, chaired virtually by acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London, the party resolved to form constituency-based teams and distribute separate leaflets outlining its 31-point reform agenda. These include commitments on education, employment, healthcare, agriculture, and industry, as well as promises of free primary healthcare, one million new jobs, and digital payment systems like PayPal and Wise for freelancers. The BNP also plans to promote technical and multilingual education, ensure campus safety, and expand youth entrepreneurship programs. Its campaign will emphasize inclusive governance, anti-corruption measures, and national unity under the principle of ‘religion for all, state for everyone.’ The party aims to communicate its vision of a stable, prosperous Bangladesh to every household through coordinated grassroots efforts.

Starting December 16, Bangladesh will automatically deactivate all unregistered mobile handsets as part of a new regulatory measure by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). The initiative aims to curb the use of illegally imported, cloned, or smuggled phones. However, BTRC clarified that mobile phones already in use or purchased before December 16 will not be affected. Only officially approved and legally imported devices will be allowed to connect to local networks. Consumers are advised to verify a phone’s legality before purchasing from any source, including retail or online stores, and to keep purchase receipts. Phones deemed legitimate will be automatically registered under the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system. For phones bought or gifted from abroad, users will initially have network access but must submit required information online within 30 days for verification to remain active.

India is currently reviewing Bangladesh’s formal request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following a deadly student-led uprising last year. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed during a press briefing in New Delhi that the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal procedures. He emphasized India’s commitment to peace, democracy, inclusivity, and stability in Bangladesh. Dhaka’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh has yet to receive a response from India after sending the latest diplomatic note through its mission. The request follows a November 17 verdict by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, which sentenced Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 2023 uprising. This marks the third formal extradition appeal by Bangladesh under the bilateral extradition treaty, as Dhaka awaits New Delhi’s official reply.

After nearly five months of intensive treatment, 11-year-old Sheikh Saiyeba Mehzabin, a fourth-grade student of Milestone School and College, has finally returned home. She was severely burned in the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash that occurred in Uttara on July 21, which injured several students and teachers. According to Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Mehzabin suffered burns on 22 percent of her body. Over the months, she underwent continuous medical care and rehabilitation. In total, 35 injured individuals from the incident have been discharged so far, with only one patient still under treatment. Doctors expressed optimism about the remaining patient’s recovery. Mehzabin’s return marks a hopeful step toward normal life after enduring months of physical pain and emotional trauma.

A raid conducted by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) at Chittagong University uncovered the sale of rotten and expired food items at several campus shops. The operation, held on Wednesday afternoon at the university’s arts faculty area known as 'Kalar Jhupuri', inspected eight shops, one of which was found storing a large quantity of spoiled food. CAB university branch president Md. Rojain Al Rafi expressed grave concern over the health risks posed to students, noting that many have fallen ill after consuming such food. Chittagong University Proctor Hossain Shahid Sohrawardy, who visited the site, said he was shocked by the findings. The university authorities have sealed the shop and announced plans to terminate its contract, promising further action to ensure food safety on campus.

Several Baul artists were attacked in Thakurgaon on Wednesday while gathering to join a protest demanding the release of fellow Baul singer Abul Sarkar, who had been arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in front of a tea stall near the Thakurgaon court premises. Witnesses said a group identifying themselves as 'Tawhidi Janata' launched a sudden assault on the Bauls, causing them to disperse. Police quickly intervened to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of the artists. Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarwar Alam Khan confirmed the incident, stating that law enforcement had been deployed in advance to prevent unrest but the attack happened separately near the court area. Authorities are working to identify and detain those responsible for the assault.

The 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is scheduled to begin on December 19, with the player auction taking place on Sunday, November 30. Six franchises, including the newly added Noakhali Express, will participate in the T20 tournament. Each team can sign up to two local and two foreign players directly before the auction, with at least one from each category being mandatory. Teams must buy at least two foreign players from the auction, with a total foreign player budget of USD 350,000. A total of 250 foreign players have been listed across five categories, with base prices ranging from USD 15,000 to USD 35,000. Local players are divided into six categories, with base prices from BDT 11,000 to BDT 5 million. Franchises will have a budget of BDT 45 million for local players, excluding directly contracted ones. The auction rules ensure balanced team composition across categories.

Bangladesh is awaiting India’s response to its latest formal request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 for crimes against humanity during the July–August uprising last year. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Wednesday that Dhaka does not expect a reply from New Delhi within a week but remains hopeful of receiving one. The request was sent through a note verbale via Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. The tribunal also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to five years in prison for aiding the prosecution. Hossain noted that Bangladesh had previously sought Hasina’s return from India without success but emphasized that the current situation differs as the judicial process has concluded and the convictions are final.