Eight-year-old Preyoshi Chakraborty from Tangail has been named the national champion in the music category (Group A) of the children's talent competition 'Notun Kuri'. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, November 13, at the Shapla Auditorium of the Chief Adviser’s Office, where Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus presented her with a trophy and a cash prize of three lakh taka. Preyoshi, a third-grade student at Shaheen Cadet, comes from a musically gifted family—her father Sanjoy Chakraborty Babul and mother Rakhi Chakraborty are both musicians, while her elder sister Shreyoshi Chakraborty has won five national music awards and is currently studying classical music at Delhi University under an ICCR scholarship. Preyoshi’s achievement has sparked widespread celebration in Tangail’s cultural community, with her family expressing hopes that both daughters will one day become timeless icons in Bangladeshi music.

Several crude bomb explosions occurred in Dhaka on Saturday evening, causing panic but no casualties, according to police. Between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., four separate explosions took place near the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office in Mirpur, under the Mirpur-12 metro station, and beneath the Madhubagh Bridge in Hatirjheel. Law enforcement officials confirmed that unidentified individuals detonated the devices before fleeing the scenes. One motorcycle caught fire following the Hatirjheel blast, but no injuries were reported. Police units from Mirpur, Hatirjheel, and Pallabi stations immediately cordoned off the affected areas and began investigations. Authorities are yet to determine the motive or identify those responsible. The incidents have raised security concerns in the capital, prompting heightened patrols and surveillance in key public areas.

A violent clash broke out between students of Barishal Government Brojomohun (BM) College and transport workers at the Nathullabad bus terminal in Barishal on Saturday evening, following a dispute over the half fare policy. According to reports, students allegedly vandalized more than fifty buses after a student was physically assaulted by bus workers for demanding half fare. The incident escalated into a large-scale confrontation, leaving around fifty people, including students and workers, injured. Transport workers denied initiating any attack, claiming that students carried out the vandalism and assaulted several workers. Police have been deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control. The clash highlights ongoing tensions over student demands for discounted fares, a recurring issue in several parts of Bangladesh.

The president of the BNP’s Porsha upazila unit in Naogaon, Mozammel Shah Chowdhury, has been temporarily expelled from his position and the party over allegations of spreading false propaganda against a senior leader and violating party discipline. The decision was announced on Saturday, November 15, through a letter signed by district BNP general secretary Mamunur Rahman Ripon. The letter instructed all party members and affiliated organizations to refrain from maintaining any political contact with Chowdhury. In response, Chowdhury denied the allegations, claiming he never engaged in false propaganda or breached party discipline. He also criticized the expulsion process, saying he was not given any prior notice or opportunity to explain himself before the decision was made. The incident highlights ongoing internal tensions within the BNP’s local leadership in Naogaon.

Debate is intensifying in Bangladesh over how to regulate tobacco and safer nicotine alternatives amid rising concerns about illegal trade and public health. Experts and policymakers are divided: one group advocates for a balanced, evidence-based policy that protects health while recognizing market realities and offering smokers safer, regulated alternatives; another group calls for a total ban on all alternatives, a stance critics say ignores global evidence and could harm both health and the economy. National Board of Revenue Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan warned that illegal trade in tobacco and substitutes is causing major revenue losses and argued that regulation is more effective than prohibition. International examples from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States show that controlled harm-reduction strategies, such as nicotine pouches, can reduce smoking-related diseases and support cessation. Advocates say Bangladesh should follow a similar evidence-based approach to strengthen its tobacco control strategy and advance its goal of becoming tobacco-free.

A 24-year-old Indian Muslim man, Shibu Syed Jafri from Lucknow, has told a Dhaka court that Indian officials blindfolded and handcuffed him before forcing him onto a flight to Kolkata and later pushing him across the Bangladesh border at gunpoint. Shibu was detained in Dhaka on July 15 after locals reported a man who could not speak Bengali. He claimed he was abducted from a Delhi slum and had no intention of entering Bangladesh. The court has ordered an investigation into how he crossed the border, with a police report due by November 24. Human rights groups have long criticized India’s alleged practice of “push-ins,” where people are forcibly sent across the border into Bangladesh. Over 2,000 individuals, including Rohingya refugees, have reportedly been subjected to such actions this year. Shibu remains in custody in Dhaka, awaiting further hearings, while efforts continue to reunite him with his family in India.

Bangladesh’s total government debt has exceeded Tk 21 trillion for the first time, driven by weak revenue performance and ambitious development spending. According to the Finance Division’s debt bulletin released Thursday, total debt stood at Tk 21.44 trillion at the end of June, up 14% from Tk 18.89 trillion a year earlier. External debt reached Tk 9.49 trillion, accounting for 44.27% of total debt, compared to Tk 4.20 trillion in 2021. Domestic debt also rose by 11% year-on-year to Tk 11.95 trillion. Officials attribute the surge to increased borrowing for major infrastructure projects such as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka Metro Rail, and Matarbari coal-based power plant, as well as post-pandemic budget support from development partners. The data indicates that external debt has grown more than twice as fast as domestic debt over the past five years.

Four police officers in Rajshahi have been temporarily suspended following the murder of Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman’s son, Tawseef Rahman Tousif, and an attempted murder of the judge’s wife, Tasmin Nahar Lusi. The suspension came after a video of the accused, Limon Mia, recorded while in police custody, was leaked on social media, causing widespread embarrassment for the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP). The court has taken suo motu notice of the incident and ordered RMP Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian to appear in person on November 19 to explain the matter. Preliminary investigation found negligence of duty by the four officers assigned to guard Limon at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. They have been closed to the police lines, and a committee has been formed for further investigation. Authorities reiterated that publishing or broadcasting statements of detainees without authorization is illegal and can influence ongoing investigations.

Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that law enforcement agencies have completed all necessary preparations to prevent any untoward incidents surrounding the upcoming verdict against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, scheduled for November 17. Speaking to journalists in Patuakhali, he said a special nine-day security operation will be enforced nationwide around the forthcoming national election, covering five days before, election day, and three days after. Approximately 100,000 army personnel will be deployed, alongside 150,000 police, 35,000 Border Guard Bangladesh members, 5,000 navy, 4,000 coast guard, 8,000 Rapid Action Battalion officers, and around 550,000 Ansar members, who will be equipped with weapons and body cameras. Chowdhury assured that the election will be peaceful and that the security forces are fully prepared. He added that the election is expected to take place in early February before Ramadan, with administrative reshuffles to follow the official schedule announcement.

Munatashir Mahmud, a recently expelled central organizer of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), has alleged that his dismissal was orchestrated under pressure from Mahbub Alam, the brother of the party’s information adviser Mahfuz Alam. In a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday, Mahmud claimed that Mahbub used his influence to force NCP convener Nahid Islam to expel him. He further accused Mahbub of having him wrongfully terminated from his job and of threatening him in front of other party members. Mahmud also said he faced character assassination, including false claims about his sexuality, and that police attacked him and his supporters at Mahbub’s direction. He alleged that the party ignored his repeated complaints about corruption and internal injustice. Mahmud warned that he could release call recordings with adviser Mahfuz Alam to expose alleged corruption cover-ups. The NCP leadership has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.

Bangladesh’s century-old paddle steamer PS Mahsud has been relaunched as a luxury river cruise vessel to promote the nation’s riverine heritage and boost tourism. The vessel was inaugurated at Dhaka’s Sadarghat by Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, with senior government officials in attendance. The steamer will begin regular tourist service on the Dhaka-Barishal route from November 21, offering passengers scenic daytime journeys. The restoration preserved its historic design while upgrading engines, safety systems, and navigation with modern technology, including low-emission engines to reduce river pollution. The cruise will feature traditional Bangladeshi cuisine, live music, and cultural performances to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. Officials also announced plans to renovate other historic steamers such as PS Ostrich, PS Lepcha, and PS Turn to further develop river tourism and preserve Bangladesh’s maritime legacy.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s recent address announcing that Bangladesh’s national election and referendum will be held on the same day has eased long-standing political tensions among major parties. Despite initial reservations, the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) have largely accepted the decision. Analysts say Yunus’s speech successfully balanced the interests of the three parties, clearing obstacles to the February election. The BNP’s demand for a same-day referendum was met, Jamaat’s call for proportional representation in the upper house was acknowledged, and the NCP’s push for a constitutional reform council was accepted. Other parties, including Ganosamhati Andolon and Amar Bangladesh Party, also welcomed the move as a pragmatic solution. Observers believe the announcement has temporarily resolved the political impasse, enabling parties to focus on election preparations. However, they caution that implementing the July Charter, which underpins the referendum, may still face complexities in the coming months.

Bangladeshi content creator Ashraful Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, was arrested by police in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area on Saturday, November 15. The arrest followed a warrant issued by the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on November 12 in connection with a case filed by his wife, Riya Moni. The case accuses Hero Alom and another individual, Ahsan Habib Selim, of attempted murder, assault, intimidation, and theft. According to the complaint, a domestic dispute led to physical violence and the alleged theft of a gold chain from Riya Moni. The plaintiff’s lawyer stated that the accused violated bail conditions by failing to appear in court, prompting the cancellation of their bail and issuance of arrest warrants. Police confirmed that Hero Alom was taken into custody in compliance with the court order, while efforts to apprehend the co-accused are ongoing.

A parked minibus belonging to Naf Paribahan caught fire early Saturday morning in front of the Roads and Highways Department office at Shimrail, Siddhirganj, along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj. According to Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahinur Alam, the driver had parked the vehicle the previous night. The fire broke out around 6 a.m., and local residents, along with fire service personnel, quickly brought the blaze under control. Although the bus’s seats were damaged, no injuries or fatalities occurred as there were no passengers or the driver present at the time. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which could have resulted from a mechanical fault or another incident. Police said an investigation is underway, and legal steps will follow based on the findings.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and Sirajganj-4 parliamentary candidate Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan has claimed that political parties aligning too closely with India are now facing downfall. Speaking at a rally in Ullapara’s Panchakroshi Union, he alleged that after independence, three main parties ruled Bangladesh, with the Jatiya Party and Awami League both coming to power without fair elections and through 'Indian allegiance.' He said these two parties are now collapsing due to their excessive dependence on foreign influence. Rafiqul Islam Khan further criticized past governments for corruption, extortion, and terrorism, asserting that the public no longer supports them. He pledged that if Jamaat comes to power, it will eliminate corruption and ensure peace and justice. He urged voters to support the Jamaat symbol in the upcoming 13th national election. The event was chaired by local Jamaat leaders and attended by several party officials.