Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, stated in a Facebook post that the Bangladesh Awami League has become a Facebook-based protest party with limited real organizational strength on the ground. He argued that the party now relies on small hired groups for disruptive acts rather than its once-claimed grassroots network. Alam contrasted this with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which he said has shown improved internal discipline and organization during its nomination process. He expressed confidence that the upcoming February election would be peaceful, possibly the most peaceful in recent history. Alam also noted that law enforcement and local administrations are now more organized and confident, with capable officials overseeing the election process. He concluded that the likelihood of major unrest or disruption during the polls is very low.

Police have arrested the prime suspect, Md Arman (45), in a case involving the abduction, assault, and extortion of contractor Suman Chowdhury, owner of Messrs Sujon Bhuiya & Brothers. The incident occurred over a dispute related to a government lease for maintenance work at the Azimpur Old Cemetery in Dhaka. According to the case filed at Lalbagh Police Station, Arman and several associates allegedly demanded Tk 500,000 in extortion money from Chowdhury, threatening him with violence and forcing him to pay Tk 530,000. The abduction took place on October 26, 2025, when the accused forcibly took Chowdhury to Arman’s office and assaulted him. Acting on intelligence, an army patrol team from Azimpur Army Camp arrested Arman on November 14 during a special operation at a community center. He was later handed over to Lalbagh Police Station for legal proceedings. Police said the case is under investigation and further action will follow based on findings.

A massive gathering took place at Dhaka’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan as the International Khatme Nabuwwat Conference began on Saturday morning, organized by the Sammilito Khatme Nabuwwat Parishad. The event, focused on defending the belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood, drew participants from Bangladesh and five other countries. Prominent Islamic scholars from Pakistan, India, Egypt, and other nations attended, including Maulana Fazlur Rahman of Pakistan, Maulana Mahmood Madani of India, and Dr. Shaykh Musab Nabil Ibrahim of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. From Bangladesh, notable religious leaders such as Hefazat-e-Islam chief Maulana Shah Muhibullah Babunagari and Islamic Movement Bangladesh’s leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim joined the event. Organizers said the conference aimed to strengthen global unity among Muslims on this issue, with participation from political and religious leaders across the country.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that if his party assumes power, it will restore 'trust and faith in Allah' as a guiding principle in Bangladesh’s constitution and hold parliamentary discussions on declaring the Ahmadiyya community (Qadianis) as non-Muslim. Speaking at the International Khatme Nabuwat Grand Conference at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday, he said those who do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad cannot be considered Muslims, aligning BNP’s stance with that of the Khatme Nabuwat movement. The event, organized by the Khatme Nabuwat Protection Council, drew religious scholars and participants from five countries. Speakers at the conference urged the government led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to officially declare Ahmadis non-Muslim. The gathering emphasized unity among Muslims and reaffirmed belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan announced that if his party assumes state power, it will officially declare the Ahmadiyya (Qadiani) community as non-Muslim. He made the statement on Saturday, November 15, during the International Khatme Nabuwat Grand Conference held at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Rafiqul Islam claimed there is no disagreement within the Muslim world on this issue and said the belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad is unanimously accepted among Muslims. The event, organized to demand the declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslim, was attended by religious scholars and political leaders from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, and Egypt. Notable participants included leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. The conference was chaired by Maulana Abdul Hamid, convener of the Combined Khatme Nabuwat Committee Bangladesh.

Police in Savar’s Ashulia area arrested two former leaders of the now-banned youth wing of the Awami League, Jubo League, in separate operations on Friday night. The detainees were identified as Md. Ali Azgar alias Jamal Hossain, former assistant organizational secretary of Ashulia Thana Jubo League, and Md. Zakir Hossain, former general secretary of Shimulia Union Jubo League. Acting on secret information, police conducted raids at Ashulia’s Unique area around 8 p.m. and Shimulia’s Konapara area around 9 p.m., leading to the arrests. Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan confirmed the arrests and stated that legal proceedings are underway. The two suspects are expected to be presented before the court on Saturday morning. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges or reasons behind the arrests, but investigations are ongoing to determine their alleged involvement in any unlawful activities.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has questioned the fairness and transparency of the government’s proposed four-question referendum, asking where citizens can express disagreement if they oppose even one of the questions. Speaking in Dhaka after providing financial assistance to an ailing radio artist on behalf of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Rizvi criticized the government for allegedly manipulating the referendum process. He warned that any attempt to impose a flawed or unclear referendum would not be sustainable and claimed that most citizens do not understand its purpose. Rizvi also accused the ruling Awami League of laundering large sums of money from India to create unrest in Bangladesh and destabilize the political situation. He urged that the referendum questions be made understandable to the general public to ensure genuine participation and transparency.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has returned 12 Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, through the Meherpur border following a flag meeting with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The meeting took place about 100 yards inside Bangladeshi territory at the Kazipur border outpost in Gangni upazila. According to BGB officials, the individuals, hailing from Khulna, Rajbari, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, and Kushtia districts, had entered India illegally through brokers at different times and were later detained by Indian police. BSF company commander Sabvinder Singh formally handed them over to BGB company commander Subedar Shahabuddin. After the handover, the returnees were taken to Gangni police station. Officer-in-Charge Bani Israel stated that the returnees would be handed over to their families after completion of legal procedures.

Petrobangla plans to expand Bangladesh’s gas exploration capacity by adding six contract-based rigs to operate alongside Bapex’s five existing rigs, bringing the total to eleven rigs working simultaneously across the country. The move aims to accelerate drilling and well workover operations amid rapidly declining domestic gas reserves. The Energy Division targets drilling and rehabilitating 100 wells between 2026 and 2028 to meet growing energy demand. Several rigs, including those from Chinese companies CNPC and Sinopec, will be deployed under turnkey contracts, covering all materials and services. Petrobangla expects these efforts to add approximately 143 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid once completed. The initiative also includes new drilling projects in Titas, Sylhet, and Bhola, where pipeline construction is underway to transport surplus gas to the mainland. Officials emphasize that increasing local production is vital to reduce dependence on costly imported LNG, which poses economic risks for Bangladesh.

Nine months after Mohammad Ejaz took charge as administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), his pledge to build a 'just city' rooted in metmodern municipal ideals remains largely unfulfilled. Despite promises of equitable urban services, citizen participation, and nature-centered planning, Dhaka continues to suffer from severe traffic congestion, encroached sidewalks, poor waste management, and worsening dengue outbreaks. Experts say Ejaz, once a vocal river researcher, has failed to translate his theoretical commitments into tangible reforms. Parks and playgrounds remain under elite control, drainage systems are clogged, and infrastructure projects have created more disruption than relief. Environmentalists criticize his short-lived air purifier plan as misguided, while urban planners accuse him of catering to privileged groups. Ejaz defends his record, citing recovered playgrounds, pink toilets for women, and initiatives for marginalized communities. However, residents and specialists argue that the DNCC’s governance still reflects bureaucratic inertia rather than the participatory, equitable, and ecological principles promised under the metmodern urbanism framework.

The Bangladesh government has introduced the 'Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Distribution Policy 2025' to streamline fertilizer supply to farmers and ensure transparency in distribution. Under the new policy, each union and municipality will have three dealers, each required to maintain a warehouse with a minimum capacity of 50 tons and two additional sales centers with 5–10 ton capacity. The policy bans multiple dealerships within the same family, prohibits government employees and convicted individuals from applying, and mandates digital record-keeping for sales and inventory. The security deposit has been raised from 200,000 to 500,000 taka, and dealer registration must be renewed every two years. The policy merges the dual dealership structures of BCIC and BADC, allowing dealers to sell both urea and non-urea fertilizers under one system. Violations of government contracts will result in dealership cancellation and forfeiture of deposits. The new policy takes effect Sunday, replacing all previous fertilizer distribution regulations.

Munatsir Mahmud, an expelled leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has issued a public threat against the party’s member secretary, Akhtar Hossain, demanding an apology within an hour. The ultimatum expired on Friday night without any response from Akhtar. Shortly after, Mahmud posted on Facebook, asking followers whether he should leak information about Akhtar, using social media reactions as a poll. Earlier, Mahmud had warned that failure to apologize would lead to unspecified 'action.' His removal from all party positions followed allegations of violating party discipline. The incident has drawn attention to internal conflicts within the NCP and the growing trend of political disputes being aired on social media platforms in Bangladesh.

Senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, attended a dinner hosted by Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yousef S.Y. Ramadan, on Friday, November 14. According to BNP’s media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the event was attended by several top party figures such as Dr. Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, and Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid. Sources described the gathering as informal, with discussions reportedly covering regional political developments, the ongoing crisis in Palestine, and strategies for garnering international support. The meeting reflects continued diplomatic engagement between the Palestinian mission and major political parties in Bangladesh amid heightened global attention to the Middle East situation.

The Awami League, once Bangladesh’s dominant political party, is facing renewed internal crisis following its collapse on August 5, 2024, after a mass uprising ended its 15-year rule. Despite being banned from political activities, exiled top leaders, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are reportedly urging supporters to engage in violent protests such as the recent 'Dhaka lockdown' and arson attacks. Analysts and senior party members warn that these actions are deepening the party’s isolation and alienating remaining grassroots activists. Many leaders express frustration over the lack of direction, arguing that only a return to peaceful, reformed politics and public apology for past mistakes can restore credibility. Political experts caution that continued reliance on threats and violence could permanently destroy the party’s chances of revival. Meanwhile, Hasina’s public statements from abroad and calls for confrontation have further divided the party and drawn public disapproval, leaving its future uncertain amid growing despair among loyalists.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has arrested five leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on allegations of planning sabotage and preparing for flash processions in the capital. According to a DMP press release issued on Friday, November 14, the arrests were made during raids conducted in several areas of Dhaka over the past 24 hours by the Lalbagh division of the DB. The detainees include Shahidul Islam, president of the central committee of Trinamool Jatiya Sramik League; Ruhul Amin, former member of the Sramik League’s Telihati Union unit in Gazipur; Zahidul Islam, former member of the Mongla Upazila Chhatra League in Bagerhat; Sathi Akter, women affairs secretary of the Sramik League’s Sripur Upazila unit; and Kamal Hossain, vice president of Kalindi Union Ward No. 2 Awami League under Keraniganj Police Station. Police said legal action is being taken against them.