A 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Dhaka and surrounding areas on Friday morning caused visible cracks in six newly built ten-story residential halls at Jahangirnagar University. Students reported fractures in floors, walls, and washrooms, sparking panic and raising renewed concerns about construction quality. Allegations of corruption and substandard work in the university’s recent infrastructure projects have long persisted and resurfaced following this incident. Many students evacuated the buildings and gathered in open spaces for safety. They are now demanding a full structural assessment, accountability for those responsible, and immediate safety measures. The university administration confirmed that the affected dormitories were built under a previous administration and acknowledged visible irregularities. Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan stated that engineers and experts have been instructed to inspect the damage and ensure safety. The incident has reignited debate over transparency and safety in campus development projects.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking the capital Dhaka and several other districts. The tremor, which occurred at 10:38 a.m. local time, resulted in at least seven reported deaths nationwide. In response, the Dhaka District Administration has established an emergency control room to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate rescue and relief operations. According to an official press release signed by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Md. Rezaul Karim, the control room will serve as a central point for information exchange and emergency communication. Authorities urged citizens to contact the control room for any earthquake-related assistance or to report incidents. The administration stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to support affected individuals and communities while ensuring a swift disaster response.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, with tremors felt in Dhaka and several other districts. The quake, originating in Madhabdi of Narsingdi, caused the deaths of seven people across three districts—Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi—and injured more than fifty others. In Old Dhaka’s Bangshal area, three pedestrians, including a child, were killed when a building railing collapsed. In Narayanganj’s Rupganj upazila, two people, including a woman and a one-year-old child, died after walls collapsed during the quake. In Narsingdi, two others, including a 10-year-old boy and a 75-year-old man, were killed in separate incidents linked to structural collapses. Authorities confirmed the casualties and reported widespread panic among residents. Emergency services are assessing damages and providing medical aid to the injured.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking Dhaka and other parts of the country. Professor Humayun Akhter, a geologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, warned that the tremor could be a precursor to a much stronger earthquake in the near future. He explained that the quake occurred along the boundary between the Burma and Indian tectonic plates, which had been locked for years and has now started to release accumulated stress. According to his research, energy equivalent to an 8.2 to 9 magnitude earthquake remains stored in the region, posing a serious risk of future seismic activity. Akhter emphasized that although the current quake was significant, it released only a small portion of the built-up energy. He urged authorities and citizens to conduct regular earthquake preparedness drills to minimize casualties in case of a larger event.

A 10-year-old boy named Omar was killed and his father, Ujjal, critically injured when a wall of their home collapsed during an earthquake in Gabtali, Narsingdi, on Friday morning. Locals rescued the victims and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 1 p.m., where doctors declared Omar dead upon arrival. His father was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critical injuries. The hospital’s police camp in-charge, Inspector Md. Faruk, confirmed that the child’s body has been kept in the hospital morgue. Authorities have not yet provided further details about the extent of the earthquake or other casualties in the area. The incident highlights the vulnerability of local housing structures during seismic events and the urgent need for improved building safety measures in earthquake-prone regions of Bangladesh.

A powerful earthquake struck Ghorashal in Palash upazila of Narsingdi, Bangladesh, causing extensive damage to buildings, shops, and the Ghorashal Power Plant. Cracks appeared in several multi-story structures, and merchandise fell from shelves in local markets, injuring around 20 people. The quake triggered a fire at the substation of the Ghorashal Power Plant, leading to significant losses before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Electricity supply to Ghorashal and surrounding areas was disrupted, and authorities are working to restore power through alternative transmission routes. Local shop owners reported heavy financial losses, with some estimating damages worth several lakh taka. Residents and students in nearby buildings were left frightened as cracks appeared in walls and ceilings, prompting temporary closures of shops and educational institutions.

The National Pay Commission of Bangladesh is expected to submit its final recommendations for a new pay scale by the end of December 2024. According to commission member Dr. Mohammad Ali Khan, around 50 percent of the work has been completed, and opinions from secretaries will be collected next week before finalizing the report. The commission has dismissed a 15-page document circulating on social media as fake, clarifying that no official draft or decision has been released yet. The leaked document falsely claimed details about salary grades, increments, and allowances. Meanwhile, interim government economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the new pay scale will likely be implemented after the national elections in February 2025. However, the Bangladesh Government Employees Unity Council has warned of strict action if the official gazette is not published by December 15. The 23-member commission, led by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, was formed in July to review and recommend updates to the government salary structure.

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking Dhaka and several surrounding districts. The epicenter was located in Madhabdi, Narsingdi. The tremor, felt at 10:38 a.m., caused panic and structural damage in parts of the capital, with reports of buildings tilting and partial collapses. At least four people, including a child in Rupganj, were killed due to falling structures. Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department stated that the quake was of moderate intensity and not powerful enough to cause widespread destruction. He added that there is currently no indication of potential aftershocks. Typically, earthquakes of this magnitude cause noticeable shaking and minor damage but rarely result in major casualties or large-scale devastation. Authorities are assessing the situation while urging residents to remain cautious.

Bangladesh’s opposition parties, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have softened their long-standing demand for an immediate caretaker government before the upcoming national election. Despite previously insisting that no election should occur without a caretaker administration, both parties now support reinstating the system only for future polls. The change follows a Supreme Court verdict restoring the caretaker provision in the constitution but specifying that it will take effect after the next parliament dissolves. BNP and Jamaat lawyers argue that constitutional and procedural constraints make immediate implementation impossible without a sitting parliament. Legal experts, however, view this as a strategic retreat from their earlier position. The attorney general described the verdict as historic, asserting that it reaffirms the caretaker system’s constitutionality and will strengthen democratic practices. The ruling has also reignited debate over the 15th Amendment, which abolished the caretaker system in 2011, and whether the new judgment conflicts with previous rulings.

A powerful earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking the capital Dhaka and several other regions. The tremor, which occurred at 10:39 a.m., had its epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, about 13 kilometers from Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The quake caused widespread panic as residents rushed out of buildings, reporting falling objects and trembling furniture. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the magnitude and location of the quake. Tremors were also felt across the border in India, including in Kolkata and nearby areas, Indian media reported. The earthquake lasted only a few seconds but was strong enough to alarm residents in both countries. As of now, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage, though authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to attend the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja on Friday, November 21. According to BNP’s media cell official Shayrul Kabir Khan, Khaleda Zia has given her consent to attend the event following advice from her medical board. She will leave her Gulshan residence at around 3:30 p.m. for Senakunja. The event will be attended by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the chief guest. This marks Khaleda Zia’s second public appearance at the Senakunja reception in consecutive years, following her first public engagement there last year after a long hiatus since her 2018 Sylhet visit. Several senior BNP leaders, including Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, have also been invited to the ceremony.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus paid tribute to the martyred heroes at Shikha Anirban in Dhaka on the occasion of Armed Forces Day. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the day’s events included courtesy meetings between the President, Chief Adviser, and the chiefs of the three armed forces, as well as receptions for decorated freedom fighters and their families. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to host a reception at the Dhaka Cantonment’s Army Multipurpose Complex, where he will present commemorative gifts to 101 decorated freedom fighters and their heirs. The day began with special prayers after Fajr at mosques in all cantonments, naval bases, and air force stations, seeking the nation’s welfare and the eternal peace of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War.

In Dhaka’s major wholesale and retail markets, vegetable prices have risen by Tk 10–20 per kilogram over the past week due to reduced supply from farms. Traders at Karwan Bazar and other markets reported that early winter crops like beans, potatoes, gourds, radishes, and cabbages have become costlier, with beans selling between Tk 100–120 per kg and new potatoes reaching Tk 140–160. Conversely, egg, broiler chicken, and onion prices have declined. Red eggs are now Tk 120 per dozen, white eggs Tk 115, and broiler chicken Tk 155–170 per kg. Onion prices dropped by Tk 5–10 to Tk 95–110 per kg, as new local onions entered the market. Meat and fish prices remain stable, with beef at Tk 750–780 and mutton at Tk 1,200–1,250 per kg. Traders attribute the vegetable price hike to supply shortages, while the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) confirms stability in most essential commodities.

A 22-year lease agreement for Dhaka’s Keraniganj-based Pangao Inland Container Port with Swiss company Medlog has sparked controversy over alleged links to banned Awami League leader and former minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury. Sources claim Medlog is affiliated with Chowdhury’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The deal, signed on November 17 between Chittagong Port Authority and Medlog Bangladesh Ltd, was reportedly finalized within days, raising concerns among port officials, workers, and civil society groups. Critics argue that the rushed process and lack of transparency could jeopardize national interests, sovereignty, and local employment. Labor unions fear job losses for the 391 registered port workers if foreign management replaces them with its own staff. Officials from the Chittagong Port Authority maintain that the lease was awarded through a proper tender process and that local workers will not be displaced. However, demands persist for the full disclosure of the contract terms and for assurances regarding national control and worker rights.

Professor Dr. Maimul Ahsan Khan, former chairman of the Law Department at the University of Dhaka and a noted legal scholar, has collected a nomination form from the National Citizen Party (NCP) to contest the upcoming election from Cox’s Bazar-01 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency. Dr. Khan, who previously served as Dean of Social Sciences at Leading University, was also the direct teacher of BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, a former student of Dhaka University’s Law Department. The nomination form was collected on Thursday, confirmed NCP central leader Mahmud Hasan Ali. Dr. Khan is known for his expertise in jurisprudence, Islamic law, and international commercial law, and has held teaching and research positions at several universities. His decision to seek political office marks a notable move from academia to active politics in a constituency long associated with his former student Salahuddin Ahmed.