The World Trade Organization (WTO) has confirmed that Bangladesh will continue to receive technical support even after graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category in 2026. WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang stated that Bangladesh remains a major beneficiary of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), which helps LDCs integrate into global trade. The country will be eligible for EIF benefits for five years after graduation. Bangladesh has also benefited significantly from the WTO’s Aid for Trade initiative, receiving around USD 23 billion between 2006 and 2023. Zhang highlighted Bangladesh’s strong institutional framework, including the WTO Reference Centre at the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute. However, he noted that post-graduation, Bangladesh must adapt its engagement strategy within the WTO, shifting from the LDC group to forming strategic alliances with developing members. The continued support aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade capacity, diversify exports, and sustain competitiveness in the evolving global trade environment.

Bangabir Kader Siddiqui, president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League, declared that his party members would continue to chant 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' and challenged authorities to arrest him first if saying the slogan is deemed a crime. Speaking at a gathering in Kalihati, Tangail, after visiting his parents’ graves with his recently released brother Abdul Latif Siddiqui, he criticized the interim government for excluding his party from national discussions. Kader Siddiqui emphasized that his party would not participate in any election where the majority of voters are unable to cast their votes, calling for a truly participatory election ensuring every citizen’s right to vote. Latif Siddiqui echoed his brother’s sentiments, expressing relief at being expelled from the Awami League and criticizing the hypocrisy of some political elites. The event drew a large turnout of supporters who accompanied the Siddiqui brothers in a motorcade to the village rally.

Police have shown Salma Islam, a 42-year-old homemaker from Azimpur, arrested in connection with an attempted murder case filed over a student shooting incident during the July 2024 protests in Dhanmondi. The arrest comes a day after she was assaulted near Dhanmondi 32 during the banned Awami League ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program, an incident that went viral on social media. According to police, bystanders handed her over to officers at the scene. Investigating officer SI Anwar Hossain said preliminary evidence and witness statements suggested her involvement in the 19 July shooting of a European University student. The case, filed on 1 December last year, named 37 accused including senior Awami League leader Obaidul Quader. Salma’s lawyer, however, claimed she was a victim being unjustly implicated, calling the arrest unlawful. On Friday, a Dhaka court denied her bail and ordered her to be sent to jail pending further investigation.

Petrobangla plans to expand Bangladesh’s gas exploration by deploying six contract-based rigs in addition to five operated by state-owned Bapex. The initiative aims to accelerate well drilling and increase domestic gas reserves amid declining local production. By 2028, Petrobangla targets drilling and overhauling 100 wells, with 11 rigs operating simultaneously across the country. The new rigs will be brought under turnkey contracts, where companies provide all equipment and services. Several wells, including in Titas, Sylhet, and Bhola, will be drilled by third-party contractors such as China’s CNPC and Sinopec. Petrobangla expects the new wells to add about 143 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid. Currently, Bangladesh’s daily demand stands at 3.8 billion cubic feet, while supply is just over 2.7 billion. To meet the shortfall, LNG imports have increased, though experts warn this is costly and risky for the economy. The government hopes the expanded drilling program will reduce dependence on imported gas.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, issued the July Charter Implementation Order on Thursday, sparking renewed political discord among major parties including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens’ Party (NCP). The order, aimed at enacting constitutional reforms, has been met with mixed reactions. The BNP opposed the order’s issuance by the interim government, arguing it lacked constitutional authority, while Jamaat supported it. Disagreements persist over the timing of the referendum, the structure of a proposed upper house, and the procedure for constitutional amendments. The BNP’s demands for proportional seat allocation and specific appointment powers for key institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission were largely ignored. Meanwhile, the NCP’s call for legal grounding of the charter was partially accepted, though its proposal for automatic constitutional inclusion of reforms was rejected. The order was ultimately issued under President Md. Shahabuddin’s authority, despite NCP objections. Dr. Yunus presented the final version as a compromise to move the reform process forward.

In Bangladesh’s Comilla-9 (Laksam–Monoharganj) constituency, BNP-nominated parliamentary candidate Abul Kalam has received public support and cooperation assurance from his former rival, nomination aspirant Samira Azim Dola. The reconciliation took place on Friday evening at the BNP’s Gulshan office in Dhaka, in the presence of BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. Earlier, Dola’s motorcade was attacked during a campaign event on November 9, injuring at least 15 people and exposing internal rifts within the party. Following the incident, BNP formed a five-member investigation committee. Dola stated that acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman had called her, urging unity among party members. Both Kalam and Dola affirmed their commitment to work together to ensure victory for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, in the upcoming national election.

A Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activist, Nur Alam (60), died in a tragic road accident during a motorcycle showdown organized as part of the party’s election campaign in Rangpur’s Gangachara area. The event was held in support of Jamaat’s candidate Raihan Siraji for the Rangpur-1 constituency ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. The accident occurred when Nur Alam lost control of his motorcycle and collided with an electric pole, sustaining severe injuries to his head and chest. He was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Several others were reportedly injured in the incident. Police have confirmed the occurrence of the accident and the death.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser and former opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque has claimed that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not want Bangladesh’s independence but instead aimed to become Pakistan’s prime minister. Speaking at a rally organized by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in Senbagh, Noakhali, Farroque said that when student leaders urged Mujib to declare independence, he refused, fearing a treason case. He asserted that it was Ziaur Rahman who first declared Bangladesh’s independence. Farroque also criticized current political maneuvering over election participation and urged BNP activists to remain united under Tarique Rahman’s leadership. He pledged that if BNP wins, Tarique Rahman would become prime minister and create employment for one crore people. Farroque further emphasized party loyalty, urging supporters to vote for the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol regardless of personal preferences.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has claimed that a deep conspiracy is underway concerning Bangladesh’s upcoming national election and the country’s sovereignty. Speaking at a public rally in Chauddagram, Comilla, he criticized the government for allegedly yielding to Indian influence and demanded transparency regarding the national security adviser’s recent visit to India. Dr. Taher warned that accepting India’s unjust demands would have dire consequences for the government. He also accused the interim government of falling into the ruling party’s trap by avoiding electoral reforms and manipulating the proposed referendum process. According to him, if a fair vote on reforms were held before the national election, the majority would support Jamaat’s stance. Other Jamaat leaders and local representatives also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for political reform and public accountability.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced that it will sign the July Charter only after the interim government provides clear explanations regarding the implementation order, referendum structure, and reform process. At a press conference in Dhaka, NCP’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said ambiguity remains over the government’s proposed four-question referendum package and the roadmap for holding the referendum and national election on the same day. He accused the government of deepening the ongoing political crisis instead of resolving it. Patwary stressed that the reform process and referendum must not serve any political party’s interests. NCP leaders also questioned the moral legitimacy of the new charter, saying that despite its legal basis, its implementation remains uncertain due to lack of clarity and political consensus.

Bangladesh’s Attorney General, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, stated that the victorious force emerging from the recent mass uprising will determine the nature and legitimacy of any future referendum. Speaking at a discussion in Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa upazila on November 14, he emphasized that this outcome will guide the country’s future legal and political direction. Asaduzzaman also declared that the Awami League is now considered a banned entity and that any activities under its name would be treated as criminal offenses, with the law proceeding accordingly. The event, held at poet Golam Mostafa’s ancestral home to mark his birth and death anniversary, was organized by the local administration and attended by several dignitaries, including the vice-chancellor of Islamic University and senior government officials.

The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) concluded a three-day roadshow in Penang, Malaysia, from November 11 to 13, 2025, aimed at promoting Bangladesh’s growing semiconductor capabilities and strengthening bilateral collaboration. The event was inaugurated by Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister Jagdeep Singh Deo, who praised Bangladesh’s progress in the sector. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, attended as a special guest. Professor Dr. Mostafa Hossain of Purdue University presented a keynote on potential cooperation opportunities. Six Bangladeshi semiconductor firms showcased their technological strengths. A 15-member BSIA delegation also visited Malaysian semiconductor companies to exchange knowledge and explore partnerships. The initiative is expected to enhance investment, technology transfer, and long-term cooperation between the two nations in the semiconductor industry.

Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki has said Bangladesh is facing a severe national crisis and called for a minimum national consensus as the foundation for democratic transition. Speaking at a rally in Dhaka marking the party’s tenth anniversary, Saki emphasized the need for judicial reform, constitutional amendments, and national elections by February. He welcomed the decision to hold a national referendum and urged citizens to remain united and vigilant against any attempts to create division. Saki criticized authoritarian politics and warned against replacing one form of fascism with another. He also stressed justice for all killings and crimes, economic restructuring for working people, and maintaining Bangladesh’s sovereignty while fostering respectful international relations.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has announced that its central student union (ShakSU) election will be held on December 17. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury made the announcement during a press conference on Friday night, stating that the date was chosen after multiple discussions with all stakeholders. He expressed hope for a festive and participatory election. The announcement followed student demonstrations demanding the election date, which intensified after a previously scheduled press conference was postponed. Students had locked the registrar building and staged a sit-in near the vice-chancellor’s residence before the final announcement was made.

Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), claimed that the new generation will not allow the Awami League to sustain its existence in Bangladesh. Speaking to journalists in Laksam-Manoharganj, Cumilla, after distributing leaflets supporting BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s 31-point reform plan, Hossaini criticized the ruling party’s 17-year rule. He also warned that infiltrators within the BNP were damaging the party’s image and urged leaders to identify and take legal action against them. Hossaini further dismissed the Awami League’s lockdown initiatives as ineffective, saying fear tactics would not work. Several BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal leaders were present during the campaign across local markets.