A group of sub-inspector (SI) and sergeant candidates, who were selected in 2006 but deprived of recruitment in 2007, have appealed to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser for final approval to join the police service. At a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, the candidates alleged that their appointments were arbitrarily canceled by then police officials without formal notice. They claimed to have suffered injustice for 18 years under previous governments. A high-level committee comprising officials from the Home, Finance, Public Administration, Law Ministries, and the Police Headquarters has already recommended reinstating their recruitment, including seniority and age relaxation. Despite these recommendations, no final decision has been made in over six months. The candidates urged the Chief Adviser to approve their appointments promptly, citing humanitarian grounds and their prolonged suffering. Many of them are reportedly struggling financially, working in low-income jobs, and unable to support their families or afford medical treatment for their parents.

Three young men from Shibchar, Madaripur, who traveled illegally to Libya hoping to reach Italy, have reportedly been brutally tortured by human traffickers demanding Tk 6 million in ransom. A disturbing video circulating on social media shows the victims tied up and beaten, allegedly in a desert or border area of Libya. The traffickers have been threatening the families with further violence if the ransom is not paid. Human rights activists have condemned the incident as a severe violation of human rights and a growing humanitarian crisis linked to illegal migration. They emphasize that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient to curb such trafficking and call for strict legal action against traffickers. Authorities in Shibchar have detained two suspects based on complaints from the victims’ families, and legal proceedings are underway. The case highlights the urgent need for safer, legal migration channels and stronger enforcement against human trafficking networks.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has reinstated 74 leaders whose previous expulsion orders were withdrawn following a review of their appeals. The leaders had been expelled earlier for alleged involvement in activities deemed contrary to party discipline. The decision was announced in a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday, November 26. According to the statement, the party leadership decided to lift the expulsion orders after considering individual appeals and reviewing the circumstances of each case. The reinstated leaders include former officials from various BNP units across the country, including Gazipur, Sylhet, Khulna, Brahmanbaria, Bogura, Manikganj, and other districts, as well as members of affiliated organizations such as the Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Mohila Dal. The move is seen as part of BNP’s broader effort to strengthen internal unity ahead of future political activities and to bring back experienced organizers into the party’s fold.

Thirteen police superintendents (SPs) from various districts in Bangladesh have not been assigned to any district following a nationwide reshuffle ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Instead, they have been transferred to specialized police units such as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Special Branch (SB), Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), and Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The reshuffle, conducted through a lottery at the Chief Adviser’s residence, aimed to ensure neutrality in law enforcement during the upcoming election. Senior officials from the Home Ministry and the Police Headquarters were present during the process. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the official order, signed by Deputy Secretary Md. Mahbubur Rahman. Additionally, separate orders reassigned Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian to the Police Headquarters as DIG, while DMP Traffic Commissioner Zillur Rahman was appointed as the new Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner. The reshuffle is part of broader measures to maintain transparency and fairness in election-related policing.

BNP leader and senior Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Fazlur Rahman is facing contempt of court allegations after publicly rejecting the authority of Bangladesh’s reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal and questioning its ability to try Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During a televised talk show on November 23, Rahman declared that he did not recognize the tribunal or its judgments, calling it biased and alleging internal arrangements between the prosecution and judges. The prosecution submitted the show’s footage to the tribunal as evidence, arguing that his statements insulted the judiciary and undermined public confidence in the legal process. A single bench of Tribunal-1, led by retired judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, heard the matter and scheduled further proceedings for November 30. Prosecutors stated that if found guilty, Rahman could face up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to 5,000 taka, or both under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act. The tribunal emphasized that such remarks constitute serious contempt and will be reviewed based on the video evidence.

Fayaz Ifti, the temporarily suspended publicity secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Diaspora Alliance in South Korea, has declared that he will not respond to the party’s show-cause notice and instead wants to be permanently expelled. In a Facebook post on November 26, Ifti stated that he no longer wishes to maintain any affiliation with the NCP. He alleged that party members have been harassing him online since his suspension, accusing him of links with Jamaat-Shibir, which he strongly denied. Ifti clarified that his social media posts praising certain activities of Jamaat-Shibir do not make him a supporter of those groups. He emphasized his intention to remain politically neutral and post freely about any political figure whose work he appreciates. Ifti also criticized the NCP for labeling dissenters as extremists and urged the party to stop such practices, asserting his right to express independent opinions.

A group of candidates for the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) written examination has declared a boycott of the test, citing inadequate preparation time, alleged discrimination between new and previous candidates, and suppression of their protests. At a press conference held at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen, spokesperson Saif Murad said that despite a month-long movement demanding rescheduling of the exam, their appeals were ignored. The protesters claimed that many candidates are unable to take the exam under the current schedule and accused authorities of ignoring injuries suffered by demonstrators during clashes. They emphasized that their demands were non-political and focused solely on ensuring fair competition. Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission (PSC) confirmed that the written exam will proceed as planned on November 27 across eight centers nationwide, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh, with some subject-specific exams held only in Dhaka.

The prosecution in Bangladesh has sought life imprisonment for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 44 others in three corruption cases related to the Purbachal New Town Project. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accused them of abusing power to illegally obtain government plots in Dhaka’s Purbachal area. The verdict is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, to be delivered by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5. Prosecutors claim they have proven the charges through witness testimony and evidence. Hasina, Joy, and Putul have been absconding since the start of the trials, while one co-accused, former RAJUK member Khurshid Alam, remains in custody. The cases were filed in January, and charge sheets were submitted in March following investigations by ACC officials. The accused include several former government officials and a former state minister for housing and public works.

Teachers under the banner of the Combined Non-MPO Unity Council staged a protest in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding that all non-MPO educational institutions be brought under the MPO scheme and that the proposed MPO policy, already sent from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Finance, be approved within 24 hours. As the protesters attempted to march toward Jamuna, police stopped them near the Kadam Fountain area, setting up barricades to prevent their movement. In response, several teachers sat and lay down on the road, chanting slogans to press their demands. The demonstrators stated that their demands are legitimate and vowed not to return home until the government fulfills them. They have been holding a continuous sit-in in front of the National Press Club for 25 days as part of their third phase of protests.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has officially released the circular for the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. According to the notice published on Wednesday, November 26, a total of 1,755 candidates will be recruited for cadre positions, including 650 in the health cadre, while 395 individuals will be appointed to non-cadre posts. The preliminary examination is scheduled to take place on January 30, 2026, followed by the written test starting on April 9 and the viva voce beginning on August 10. Applicants can submit their applications between December 4 and December 31, with the deadline for paying the application fee set for January 3 of the following year. The 50th BCS is expected to draw significant interest from graduates across the country seeking government service opportunities.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia remains under close medical observation at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she was admitted on November 23. According to Professor F.M. Siddiqui, a member of her medical board, doctors have detected a chest infection and are providing necessary treatment based on her current condition. Khaleda Zia, who returned from London on May 6 after a 117-day stay for advanced medical care, has been undergoing regular health check-ups since then. Her current hospitalization follows ongoing health concerns that have required continuous monitoring by her medical team. The BNP leader’s health has been a matter of public and political attention, with her party closely following updates on her condition.

A 160-foot section of the boundary wall at Barapukuria Coal Mine in Dinajpur collapsed on Wednesday due to excessive coal pressure, not an earthquake, officials confirmed. The mine’s storage yard, designed to hold 220,000 tons, currently contains around 500,000 metric tons of coal—more than double its capacity. The surplus buildup occurred because the adjacent Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant, the mine’s sole coal buyer, has been shut down since October 27 after all three of its units went offline due to mechanical failures. The plant, with a total generation capacity of 525 megawatts, has faced recurring technical issues since its establishment in 2006. With coal extraction continuing at an average rate of 3,000 tons per day, storage limitations have intensified, leading to the wall collapse. Authorities now face challenges managing the growing coal stockpile and are concerned about safety and production continuity until the power plant resumes operations.

Rajshahi University (RU) has introduced five environment-friendly electric cars to facilitate student transportation within the campus. The service was inaugurated on Wednesday morning in front of the university’s administrative building, with financial and logistical support from the Rajshahi University Alumni Association (RUAA). Initially, five e-cars will operate only inside the campus, with fares expected to range between five and ten taka. More vehicles may be added later. RUAA President Rafiqul Islam Khan stated that the association plans to expand the service and also initiate scholarships for underprivileged meritorious students. RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib praised the alumni association’s efforts, noting that the e-car project is part of their ongoing initiatives for student welfare and institutional development. Student leaders expressed hope that the new service would ease transportation difficulties on campus. The inauguration ceremony was attended by university officials, alumni representatives, and student leaders.

Rumors about the death of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have spread widely, prompting protests and allegations of police brutality. Khan’s three sisters—Noreen, Aleema, and Uzma Khan—claimed they were violently assaulted by police outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail while seeking permission to meet their brother. They alleged that police attacked them and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters without provocation, even turning off streetlights before launching the assault. PTI condemned the incident, demanding an impartial investigation into what it described as a ‘brutal and planned’ attack. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and has reportedly been denied contact with his family and lawyers for over a month. His supporters suspect foul play, as social media rumors claim he may have been killed in custody. PTI leaders and lawyers say Khan is being held in solitary confinement under harsh conditions, with even senior officials barred from visiting him.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi from December, according to Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan. Mahan Air is likely to operate three flights weekly, a move anticipated to enhance bilateral trade and regional connectivity. The visa process between the two countries has also been simplified, allowing issuance within three to four days through joint recommendations from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Bangladesh’s honorary consulate. Both nations are exploring trade opportunities in rice, pineapples, textiles, and ready-made garments, with plans to launch a direct cargo service soon. The Pakistani Higher Education Commission will send a delegation to Bangladesh to attract students for higher studies. Officials from both sides emphasized the shared cultural and historical ties and expressed optimism that bilateral trade, currently valued at around $700 million, could rise to $3 billion in the coming years with improved connectivity.