Bangladesh now ranks second in South Asia for diabetes prevalence, with 13.2% of adults aged 20–79 affected, according to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 2024 report. Only Pakistan has a higher rate at 31.4%. Experts attribute the rise to rapid urbanization, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and stress. They warn that without lifestyle changes, the disease could lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and blindness. The IDF estimates that 43.5% of Bangladeshi diabetics remain undiagnosed, and the number of patients could reach 22.3 million by 2045. Health specialists urge nationwide screening, awareness programs, and workplace initiatives promoting exercise and healthy eating. This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Build awareness at the workplace,” highlights the need for supportive work environments to reduce diabetes risks.

A college student named Saiyaf, 18, died after jumping into the Turag River while fleeing from locals who chased him following an arson attack on a stationary bus in Dhaka’s Shah Ali area on Thursday night. Police said Saiyaf and two other students agreed to set the bus on fire as part of a deal to earn money for a party. Another student, Nahian Amir Sani, 18, was caught by locals and handed over to police, while a third suspect managed to escape. The fire was started by pouring kerosene on the bus and filming the act on a mobile phone. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the fugitive and are taking legal action against the detained suspect. The incident has raised concerns about youth involvement in reckless and criminal activities.

Jagannath University has announced that its 2025–26 academic year undergraduate and BBA first-year admission tests will be conducted solely through multiple-choice questions (MCQs), replacing the previous written format. The decision aims to ensure fairness in evaluation and reduce travel and safety concerns for students. The exams will be held simultaneously in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Cumilla using identical question sets. Each test will carry 100 marks, with 72 for MCQs and the rest based on SSC and HSC GPA scores. Subject combinations will vary by faculty, covering areas such as English, mathematics, general knowledge, and science. Online applications will open on November 20 and close on December 3, with unit-based fees ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 taka. The admission tests are scheduled between December 13 and January 23 across different faculties.

Dr. Mirza Galib, former president of the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir and now an assistant professor at Howard University in the United States, shared his perspective on public understanding of the upcoming referendum. In a verified Facebook post, he said that if citizens believe reform proposals are best handled by 'intelligent' representatives in parliament, they will likely vote 'no'. Conversely, if they think ordinary people and lawmakers have similar judgment or trust the reform initiatives and the government of Dr. Yunus, they may vote 'yes'. Galib added that parties like Jamaat, NCP, and AB Party fully support the reforms, and voters who trust these groups may also favor 'yes'. He emphasized that the issue should not be overcomplicated.

Bangladesh’s interim government press secretary Shafiqul Alam has questioned why the nation needs validation from a 'genocidal figure' to understand its own political history. Referring to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statement denying US involvement in the July Revolution, Alam argued that such claims undermine the spontaneous nature of the movement. He described Hasina’s long political career as deeply influenced by personal trauma and post-traumatic stress, noting her frequent references to her family’s assassination. Alam also criticized her tendency to frame political setbacks as foreign conspiracies, citing past claims involving US interests. He further remarked that Hasina’s supporters, including sections of the media and civil society, had elevated her to a quasi-spiritual status during her final years in power, a phenomenon he linked to lingering loyalty among some educated citizens.

The Ministry of Education of Bangladesh has finalized and published the admission policy for government schools from grades one to nine for the 2026 academic year. The policy, signed by Secretary Rehena Parveen, sets strict age limits, requiring students to be at least five and at most seven years old as of 2026, with a five-year relaxation for special needs students. Each class section will have a maximum of 55 students, and online birth registration verification will be mandatory. Applications and lotteries will be managed digitally by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), allowing up to five school preferences per student. The catchment area system in Dhaka remains unchanged, reserving 40% of seats for local students. Other quotas include 5% for freedom fighters’ children, 2% for special needs, and 3% for siblings. The digital lottery will be held on December 14, with admissions from December 17–21.

Abdul Mannan, a 40-year-old senior vice president of the Sorfovhata Union unit of the Labour Party, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rangunia, Chattogram, late Thursday night. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in the Bulinna Bari Tek area of the union’s 6th ward. Locals discovered Mannan’s body beside a road near his motorcycle, with four bullet wounds on his body. Police confirmed the recovery of the body and said his mobile phone was missing. Mannan, originally from Sorfovhata, lived in a rented house in Chandraghona with his wife and two daughters. He had recently returned from abroad and was involved in several business ventures. Law enforcement authorities have begun an investigation to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators behind the killing.

Bangladesh’s interim government National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman will travel to New Delhi on November 19 to attend the Colombo Security Conclave meeting of Indian Ocean region national security advisers, hosted by India on November 20. The visit comes at the invitation of Indian NSA Ajit Doval. While Dhaka has not confirmed whether Rahman will hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, diplomatic sources suggest a possible meeting amid Bangladesh’s evolving political situation. This will be the second visit to India by an adviser from Bangladesh’s interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Colombo Security Conclave, comprising India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Bangladesh, focuses on regional cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber defense, and disaster response. Bangladesh became a full member in 2024, marking a step toward deeper regional security collaboration.

Serious allegations of irregularities and corruption have surfaced in a Tk 680 crore riverbank protection project in Jhalakathi, implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board. The 13.2-kilometer project, aimed at protecting areas along the Sugandha River, reportedly used substandard sand, low-quality geo-bags, and improper cement ratios in block construction. Following complaints, one site officer was withdrawn, and low-quality materials were officially rejected. Despite these actions, locals claim that the rejected sand remains on-site and that geo-bags were not placed in the most erosion-prone areas. Officials admit to manpower shortages and delays in supervision, while contractors cite logistical issues. The project, approved by ECNEC and scheduled for completion in June 2027, has seen work start on only half of its 34 packages, raising concerns about transparency and oversight in public infrastructure spending.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern over Bangladesh’s worsening banking sector, burdened by soaring non-performing loans (NPLs). During a meeting with Bangladesh Bank officials, the IMF recommended merging or liquidating banks whose default loan ratios exceed 30%. Currently, 16 banks fall into this category, five of which are already in the process of merger. Following the IMF’s advice, Bangladesh Bank held a meeting with managing directors of 47 banks, instructing them to take urgent measures to reduce NPLs by December through rescheduling, legal action, or other means. The IMF also questioned delays in publishing accurate NPL data and sought explanations for the rising defaults. The crisis stems from years of mismanagement and corruption, prompting the central bank to initiate reforms, including relaxed rescheduling and write-off policies to stabilize the sector.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Manch, alleged that he received death and assault threats from individuals linked to the ruling Awami League. In a Facebook post early Friday, Hadi stated that over a three-hour period, he received calls and messages from around 30 foreign numbers threatening to burn his house, harm his family, and kill him. He accused Awami League 'killers' of orchestrating the intimidation ahead of a verdict he referred to as 'Hasina’s judgment' on the 17th. Hadi vowed not to back down from his activism, invoking religious resolve and framing the threats as part of a broader struggle for justice. Authorities have not yet commented on the allegations.

The Awami League’s call for a nationwide lockdown on November 13, coinciding with the announcement of the verdict date in Sheikh Hasina’s war crimes tribunal case, failed to gain public traction. Despite isolated incidents of vandalism, cocktail explosions, and flash protests, normal life in Dhaka and other cities largely continued. Law enforcement agencies intensified patrols, set up checkpoints, and arrested over 150 individuals linked to acts of sabotage. Authorities reported that the attacks followed a similar pattern involving small motorcycle-borne groups. Opposition parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and student organizations, held counter-protests condemning the violence and demanding justice. Security forces stated that the situation remained under control, crediting heightened vigilance and public cooperation for thwarting the unrest.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the elected parliament will address and resolve the country’s unresolved issues through democratic discussions. Speaking at a seminar titled “National Election 2026: The Need for National Unity” in Dhaka, he emphasized the importance of democratic practice and expressed optimism about the nation’s political future. Fakhrul urged for the swift establishment of an elected government through the upcoming 2026 election. He also paid tribute to those who died in the July uprising, saying their sacrifice paved the way for institutionalizing democracy. Commenting on Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s recent address, Fakhrul said it was broadly acceptable though open to differing opinions. Other political figures at the event expressed varied views on democracy, national sovereignty, and regional influence.

A Dhaka court has sentenced banker Rezaul Karim Reza to death for murdering his wife, medical student Jannatul Naeem Siddika, whom he met on Facebook. The couple married in October 2020 after a brief courtship, but two years later, during a birthday celebration in August 2022, Reza fatally stabbed Jannatul at a hotel in Panthapath following an argument. Her father filed a murder case the next day at Kalabagan Police Station. The trial began in March 2024, and on Thursday, Judge Md Sabbir Faiz of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court delivered the verdict, also imposing a fine of 20,000 taka. Reza, who had been released on bail by the High Court, is currently absconding, and an arrest warrant has been issued to enforce the sentence. No defense lawyer was present during the verdict due to the accused’s absence.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has criticized the four questions set for the upcoming referendum, calling them coercive and imposed on the public. Speaking in Dhaka’s Gulshan after Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s national address on Thursday, Salahuddin claimed that the proposed Constitutional Reform Council was never discussed in the National Consensus Commission. He questioned the legal validity of the President’s Order and alleged inconsistencies between the July Charter and the Constitution Implementation Order. Salahuddin further accused the Chief Adviser of violating his own signature on the July Charter and warned that the imposed reform ideas could create national division. He also argued that the interim government and the National Consensus Commission have deepened the political crisis rather than resolving it.