The northern district of Panchagarh is experiencing an increasing chill as winter sets in earlier than usual. On Friday, November 21, the Tetulia Weather Observatory recorded a temperature of 14.9°C at 6 a.m., with humidity at 98%, making the cold feel more intense. Although dense fog was absent, the early morning hours in Tetulia, Debiganj, Boda, Atwari, and Panchagarh Sadar saw a noticeable drop in temperature. The weather office reported that for the past week, the district’s minimum temperature has hovered around 14°C, with Thursday’s 13.9°C being the lowest in the country. Meteorologist Jitendranath Roy from Tetulia Weather Station said temperatures are expected to fall further next week, and by early December, winter will firmly settle across northern Bangladesh.

The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the ongoing exploitation and fraudulent recruitment of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia. In a statement issued from Geneva on November 21, UN human rights experts said that thousands of workers recruited through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services (BOESL) have paid more than five times the official recruitment fees, only to find themselves trapped or at risk of severe exploitation. The experts highlighted reports of employers confiscating workers’ passports, providing false job promises, and serious inconsistencies between contracts and actual employment conditions. They also noted the unauthorized disclosure of workers’ personal data and the lack of assistance from responsible government agencies. The UN urged both Bangladesh and Malaysia to take immediate action, including ensuring pre-departure training on workers’ rights, establishing effective complaint mechanisms, and holding fraudulent recruiters accountable.

A man named Md. Moktar Hossain, 40, who was arrested in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria, has died while in the custody of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Kibria, 47, the member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal, was shot dead by masked assailants at a shop in Mirpur-12 on Monday evening. Following the murder, the case was transferred to the DB for further investigation. On Thursday, police arrested three suspects—Nazrul, Masum, and Zaman—from various locations in Shariatpur. They reportedly confessed to their involvement and claimed that the murder weapon was with Moktar. Acting on their information, DB officers detained Moktar from a garage in Pallabi around 6 p.m. the same day. According to reports, an angry crowd physically assaulted him during the arrest. The DMP confirmed Moktar’s death on Friday and announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the incident.

Following a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that shook Bangladesh on Friday, BUET civil engineering professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansary has urged immediate inspection of Dhaka’s 2.1 million buildings, calling the tremor a possible foreshock of a larger seismic event. The quake, centered in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi area, caused panic, structural cracks, and six reported deaths in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi. Ansary warned that a stronger earthquake could devastate up to 35% of Dhaka’s structures and cause hundreds of thousands of casualties. He proposed that RAJUK certify buildings based on compliance with construction codes without requiring government expenditure. The professor recommended a color-coded classification system—similar to those used in the US, India, and Japan—to identify and repair vulnerable buildings. Citing the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse as a reminder of potential disaster, he emphasized that proactive inspection and certification could significantly reduce future risks.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep sorrow and condolences following the deaths and injuries caused by a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck various parts of the country, including Dhaka, on Friday morning. In a condolence message, he prayed for the departed souls and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families. At least five people, including a child, have been confirmed dead, while nearly a hundred others were injured in incidents related to the quake in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narsingdi, and other areas. Dr. Yunus wished the injured a speedy recovery and instructed all relevant departments to intensify rescue and relief operations in the affected regions. He assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation and collecting detailed reports on the damage. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Madhabdi, Narsingdi. Dr. Yunus expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh would face this disaster with patience and courage.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and damage caused by a recent earthquake that struck across Bangladesh on Friday, November 21. In a message posted on his verified Facebook page, he offered prayers for the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. Fakhrul urged everyone to remain alert and follow safety measures during earthquakes. He shared detailed safety guidelines, including taking cover under sturdy furniture, avoiding windows and heavy objects, not using elevators, and staying away from gas and fire sources. For those outdoors, he advised keeping distance from buildings, trees, and power lines, while drivers were told to stop safely away from structures. He also emphasized checking gas, water, and electrical lines after tremors and preparing for aftershocks. His message combined condolences with practical safety advice for citizens.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Friday morning, shaking Dhaka and several other regions for a few seconds. Experts have reiterated that Bangladesh lies in a highly earthquake-prone zone because it sits at the junction of three major tectonic plates — the Indian, Eurasian, and Myanmar plates. The continuous movement of these plates builds up stress along fault lines such as the Dauki, Bogura, and Tripura fault zones, which can release energy suddenly, causing earthquakes. Bangladesh’s soft deltaic soil and unplanned urbanization, particularly in Dhaka and Chattogram, further increase the risk of severe damage during strong tremors. Geologists note that the northeastern region of the country is especially vulnerable. The recent quake has renewed public concern and prompted calls for stricter building codes and preparedness measures to mitigate potential disaster impacts in this geologically unstable region.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Narsingdi district in Bangladesh on Friday morning, killing two people, including a child, and injuring more than a hundred others. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated near Madhabdi in Narsingdi Sadar upazila at around 10:40 a.m. The deceased were identified as 70-year-old Kazem Ali Bhuiya from Malita village in Palash upazila and eight-year-old Omar Faruk from Narsingdi Sadar. Both succumbed to their injuries after being transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Local hospitals admitted at least 70 injured individuals, with 57 at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital and 13 at the district hospital. The tremor caused panic among residents, leading to structural damage, including a collapsed roof at a construction site and cracks in several buildings. Authorities reported damage to the Ghorashal Thermal Power Plant and an old railway bridge over the Shitalakkhya River. Police and health officials are overseeing rescue and treatment efforts.

BNP Standing Committee member Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain has accused the ousted Awami League of resuming its old tactics of arson and violence in Bangladesh. Speaking at a discussion organized by the Jatiyatabadi Matsyajibi Dal at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he alleged that the former ruling party, now in exile, is conspiring to destabilize the country and undermine its sovereignty. Zahid urged BNP supporters and the public to remain united, warning that internal divisions would benefit what he called a fallen autocratic regime. He also recalled past incidents of political violence in the mid-1990s, blaming the Awami League for deadly arson attacks. Additionally, Zahid commented on a recent earthquake, expressing concern for those affected and calling for urgent national preparedness measures. His remarks come amid heightened political tensions and legal developments that have reignited partisan confrontations across the country.

Two unexploded crude bombs, locally known as cocktails, were recovered from the Dhaka metro rail track near Kazipara station on Friday morning. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit’s bomb disposal team responded promptly after being alerted around 11:30 a.m. in the Kafrul police area. According to the bomb disposal report, the explosives had been thrown onto the track but failed to detonate. The team conducted a risk assessment before safely removing the devices from the metro line. The recovered cocktails were later defused at a secure location. All collected evidence from the site has been handed over to Kafrul Police for further legal action. Authorities have not yet identified any suspects or motives behind the incident, and an investigation is underway to determine how the explosives were placed near the metro infrastructure.

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.