Bangladeshi actor and former government official DA Tayeb expressed deep respect for former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in a Facebook post, emphasizing that his message was not politically motivated. Tayeb revealed that he served as Khaleda Zia’s pilot for five years, during which he had multiple opportunities to interact with her closely. He described her as hardworking, transparent, selfless, and a genuine patriot, calling her an uncompromising leader and a motherly figure. Tayeb also mentioned her religious devotion, noting that she regularly prayed and fasted every Thursday. He concluded by praying for her speedy recovery as Khaleda Zia remains in critical condition under intensive care at a hospital. The post has drawn attention amid growing public concern over the health of the ailing opposition leader.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir president Zahidul Islam, in a Facebook post, lauded former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as an 'uncompromising leader' who endured oppression but never bowed to authoritarian or foreign powers. He contrasted her humility with what he described as the opposite traits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Zahidul also expressed admiration for late President Ziaur Rahman’s unifying and anti-hegemonic politics. However, he voiced disappointment over the current direction of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), questioning whether Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s son, was being influenced by others. He alleged that BNP has distanced itself from Jamaat-e-Islami despite Jamaat’s efforts to maintain ties, and criticized BNP’s divisive political approach. Zahidul urged Tarique Rahman to uphold his parents’ ideals and warned that BNP’s survival depends on adhering to Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia’s principles. He concluded by emphasizing that power is temporary, but ideals and behavior define lasting respect.

A construction worker named Md. Jewel, aged 46, died after falling from the third floor of an under-construction seven-story building in the Urdu Road area of Chawkbazar, Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon. According to his coworker Md. Manik, Jewel accidentally slipped while working on a ring installation and fell to the ground, sustaining critical injuries. He was immediately taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Police confirmed that the body has been kept in the hospital morgue, and Chawkbazar Police Station has been informed about the incident. The deceased was originally from Narshadpur village in Adamdighi upazila of Bogura district and had been living at the construction site where he worked.

In Bangladesh’s Chalan Beel region, widespread snail collection has raised serious environmental concerns as local farmers and fishers, facing seasonal unemployment, harvest snails for sale to traders who supply them as feed for ducks and fish. The trade, reportedly worth around 50,000 taka daily at Bilsha point alone, has become a major source of income for marginalized communities. However, environmental experts warn that snails play a crucial ecological role by cleaning water bodies and maintaining soil fertility. Their indiscriminate removal could lead to water pollution, reduced fish production, and declining soil quality. Despite existing laws protecting aquatic species, enforcement remains weak, allowing the practice to continue unchecked. Local biodiversity activists have urged administrative intervention, while agricultural officials caution that the loss of snails and other aquatic organisms could reduce calcium levels in the soil, ultimately affecting crop yields. The local administration has pledged to investigate and take legal action against those involved.

Malaysian immigration authorities arrested 92 undocumented migrants, including eight Bangladeshis, during a major operation in the Tampoi Indah area of Johor state. The coordinated raids, led by Johor Immigration Director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus, began early Friday and targeted businesses and residences suspected of employing or sheltering illegal foreign workers. The operation, conducted under five simultaneous campaigns, was based on intelligence and public tips. Those detained include nationals from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, and the Philippines, aged between 19 and 57. Officials stated that the migrants violated Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963 by working without valid permits or breaching visa conditions. The detainees have been taken to the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for questioning as investigations continue.

Medical technologists and pharmacists across Bangladesh observed a two-hour work stoppage on Sunday, November 30, demanding the implementation of the 10th grade pay scale. The protest began at 9 a.m. and temporarily disrupted diagnostic services and medicine distribution in government hospitals nationwide, including Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Munshiganj General Hospital. Patients expressed frustration over the suspension of services. The demonstrators stated that they have been pressing for the 10th grade pay scale for three decades without any government action. They warned that if their demand is not met by December 2, they will initiate a complete shutdown of all medical colleges and hospitals across the country. The temporary strike highlights long-standing grievances among healthcare technologists and pharmacists regarding pay disparities and recognition within the public health sector.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Gaza under what he described as 'false pretexts.' Speaking at a science awards ceremony in Istanbul on November 29, Erdogan said that despite difficult conditions, Hamas has continued to uphold the ceasefire. He criticized international media for failing to report the deaths of more than 270 journalists in Gaza. Erdogan also highlighted the devastating impact of Israeli attacks on the education sector, stating that over 13,500 students, 830 teachers, and 193 scientists or researchers have been killed, while more than 785,000 students have been deprived of their right to education. He described these actions as part of a deliberate and planned genocide. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to raising these issues and seeking solutions, noting that he discussed them during the recent G20 summit in South Africa. According to reports, nearly 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

A major protest erupted on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway on Sunday morning, as demonstrators under the banner of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway Development Movement blocked the road demanding an official declaration to upgrade it to six lanes. The blockade began around 9 a.m. near the Bottoli police box, creating a traffic jam stretching nearly 12 kilometers on both sides. Protesters argued that the existing road is unsafe and frequently congested, leading to frequent accidents and fatalities. They vowed to continue the blockade until the government issues a final decision on the six-lane expansion. Police and local administration officials, led by Lohagara Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman and UNO Md. Saiful Islam, were present at the site to maintain order and negotiate with the protesters. The demonstration was simultaneously held in Keranihat, Lohagara, and Chakaria upazilas and was scheduled to continue until 4 p.m.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced an emergency press conference scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at 2:30 PM at its central office in Dhaka. According to party sources, the briefing will focus on the prevailing political situation in the country and the party’s current position on ongoing developments. Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is expected to deliver the main address at the event. The announcement comes amid heightened political discussions and speculation about the BNP’s next course of action. The party has not disclosed specific agenda details but hinted that the conference will clarify its stance on recent national issues and internal strategies. Political observers view the move as a significant step in shaping BNP’s response to the evolving political climate.

Amid deteriorating relations between the United States and Venezuela, President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reportedly held a phone conversation about a week ago, according to The New York Times. While the exact topics remain unclear, sources suggest the two leaders may have discussed a potential meeting, though no formal plans exist. The call occurred as Washington was preparing to label Maduro a foreign terrorist leader, and US forces increased their presence in the Caribbean, citing anti-narcotics operations. However, officials have also indicated their intent to remove Maduro from power, if necessary by force. Previous attempts at negotiation failed after Maduro insisted on remaining in office despite offering US companies greater access to Venezuelan oil fields. Both the White House and the Venezuelan government declined to comment on the call, while Trump later posted on Truth Social urging airlines to consider closing airspace around Venezuela, further heightening uncertainty.

Leaders of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh have strongly refuted recent comments made by Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, during a religious gathering in Charmonai. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Jamiat President Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, Senior Vice President Maulana Abdur Rab Yusuf, and Secretary General Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi described the Pir’s remarks about Jamiat’s role in Islamist unity as baseless and misleading. They expressed surprise that such statements were made under the guise of religious leadership. The Jamiat leaders explained that their party withdrew from the liaison committee of like-minded Islamic groups after Islami Andolan unilaterally pursued a ‘PR issue’ and held joint programs without prior discussion. They accused Islami Andolan of political deception and said the Pir’s comments violated political decorum and disrespected the sanctity of religious gatherings.

Two Palestinian brothers, Juma and Fadi Tamer Abu Asi, were killed in an Israeli drone strike near Al-Farabi School in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. The attack occurred despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 10. Witnesses reported that the drone targeted a group of civilians, and the injured children were later pronounced dead at Nasser Medical Complex. Israeli forces also carried out ground, naval, and air strikes in several parts of Gaza, injuring at least three others in Al-Qarara. Hamas condemned the attack, calling it further evidence of ongoing aggression against Gaza’s population. The group urged Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the United States to take concrete steps to ensure Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire terms.

More than a hundred workers at Creative Collection Ltd, a garment factory under Ha-Meem Group in Tongi, fell ill on Sunday following panic triggered by the recent deaths of two colleagues. The incident came a day after around fifty workers became sick under similar circumstances. Hospital sources confirmed that dozens of workers were admitted to Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and other nearby facilities. Doctors said the workers were suffering from stress-related illness rather than poisoning or infection. Factory authorities have announced a two-day closure to calm the situation and allow counseling for employees. Police reported no formal complaints or autopsy requests regarding the deaths. The panic reportedly began after one worker died on November 24 and another on November 29, both after suddenly losing consciousness. Officials urged the company to provide psychological support to prevent further mass illness incidents.

In a rare and astonishing event in the deep Bay of Bengal, around three maunds of hilsa fish reportedly jumped directly onto a cargo vessel without the use of nets. The incident occurred about 70 kilometers off the coast near the first buoy of the Rabnabad Channel at Payra Port in Patuakhali. Crew members of the coal-carrying vessel MV KSL Gladiator witnessed the unusual phenomenon as schools of small hilsa suddenly leapt from the sea onto the ship’s deck, resembling a silvery rain. Ship engineer Robiul Hossain captured a short video of the event and shared it with journalists. Marine science expert Dr. Rajib Sarkar from Patuakhali Science and Technology University explained that the behavior might have been triggered by predatory fish chasing the hilsa, combined with the ship’s lights, vibrations, and propeller noise, which could have disoriented the fish and caused them to leap upwards. The sailors described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to hold a hearing today on contempt of court charges against BNP leader Fazlur Rahman for his remarks regarding the court’s legitimacy while discussing a verdict involving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim filed the complaint last Wednesday, alleging that Rahman questioned the tribunal’s formation and impartiality during a television talk show. In a separate development, the tribunal may also receive an investigation report today in a crimes against humanity case involving former police officials Alep Uddin and Mashiur Rahman, accused of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government. Additionally, in the Chandkharpul six-murder case, the defense for former Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Arshad Hossain is expected to present a witness statement. If no defense witness appears, the case will proceed to final arguments, according to the prosecution.