A local BNP leader, Abul Kalam Zohir, 50, was hacked to death by unidentified assailants in Chandraganj, Lakshmipur, on Saturday night. The attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. in West Latifpur village under Chandraganj Union. Zohir, who served as the general secretary of ward no. 8 BNP, was found dead at the scene with severe injuries, and bullet shells were recovered nearby. Police confirmed the incident but have not yet identified the attackers or the motive. Locals suspect the killing may be linked to a power struggle or past enmities, as Zohir had previously been involved in drug and soil trading before returning to a normal life. Chandraganj BNP president Belal Hossain said he was unaware of the details but was investigating the matter. The murder has sparked tension in the area, and police are continuing their investigation.

A passenger bus traveling from Gazipur to Dhaka caught fire suddenly on Saturday night near the Hurricane area under Gacha Police Station along the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway. According to Gazipur Chowrasta Modern Fire Service Senior Station Officer Iqbal Hasan, two fire service units reached the scene and brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes. The bus was nearly 80 percent burned, but no casualties occurred as passengers managed to exit quickly. Witnesses said the fire appeared to start from the engine, and both the driver and helper were not found after the incident. Police suspect a mechanical fault caused the fire. Authorities are investigating the exact reason behind the blaze, which caused significant damage but no loss of life.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have announced a ban on all types of events on campus after 10 PM, citing the need to maintain peace, order, and security. The decision was communicated through a press release issued by the university’s Public Relations Office on Saturday, November 15. According to the statement, the restriction follows a resolution adopted in a previous syndicate meeting and will remain in effect until further notice. The university also warned that any event held beyond the permitted time would lead to disciplinary action against the organizers under existing university rules and regulations. Additionally, the notice instructed that sound levels during events must be kept within tolerable limits to avoid disturbance. The move aims to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for students, faculty, and staff on campus.

Former President Donald Trump has signaled a shift in his immigration stance, acknowledging the importance of H-1B visas for specialized labor just months after his administration imposed a $100,000 one-time fee per visa. In a Fox News interview, Trump said the U.S. workforce lacks certain technical skills, despite his earlier claims that foreign workers depress American wages. The fee, introduced in September, has drawn criticism from tech leaders like Y Combinator CEO Gary Tan, who warned it would harm startups. Nearly 400,000 H-1B visas were approved in fiscal 2024, double the number in 2020. Economists caution that Trump’s restrictive immigration policies could shrink the U.S. labor force by 15.7 million and reduce GDP growth by one-third over the next decade. Trump also referenced a recent ICE raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, which detained hundreds of South Korean workers and delayed production, admitting that such actions might have unintended economic consequences for U.S. manufacturing and innovation.

Eight-year-old Preyoshi Chakraborty from Tangail has been named the national champion in the music category (Group A) of the children's talent competition 'Notun Kuri'. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, November 13, at the Shapla Auditorium of the Chief Adviser’s Office, where Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus presented her with a trophy and a cash prize of three lakh taka. Preyoshi, a third-grade student at Shaheen Cadet, comes from a musically gifted family—her father Sanjoy Chakraborty Babul and mother Rakhi Chakraborty are both musicians, while her elder sister Shreyoshi Chakraborty has won five national music awards and is currently studying classical music at Delhi University under an ICCR scholarship. Preyoshi’s achievement has sparked widespread celebration in Tangail’s cultural community, with her family expressing hopes that both daughters will one day become timeless icons in Bangladeshi music.

Global gold prices fell sharply on Friday, November 14, following hawkish remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve officials that dampened expectations for an interest rate cut in December. Spot gold dropped 1.9% to $4,092.72 per ounce after falling more than 3% earlier in the session, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery declined 2.4% to $4,094.20. Analysts said the reduced likelihood of a rate cut increased pressure on gold and silver markets, triggering widespread selling across global equities. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has also created a data vacuum, leaving both the Fed and traders uncertain ahead of next month’s policy meeting. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December has slipped from 50% to 46%. Meanwhile, physical gold demand in major Asian markets remained weak, and other precious metals such as silver, platinum, and palladium also saw declines despite maintaining weekly gains.

Several crude bomb explosions occurred in Dhaka on Saturday evening, causing panic but no casualties, according to police. Between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., four separate explosions took place near the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office in Mirpur, under the Mirpur-12 metro station, and beneath the Madhubagh Bridge in Hatirjheel. Law enforcement officials confirmed that unidentified individuals detonated the devices before fleeing the scenes. One motorcycle caught fire following the Hatirjheel blast, but no injuries were reported. Police units from Mirpur, Hatirjheel, and Pallabi stations immediately cordoned off the affected areas and began investigations. Authorities are yet to determine the motive or identify those responsible. The incidents have raised security concerns in the capital, prompting heightened patrols and surveillance in key public areas.

A total of 30 national teams from across the globe have officially secured their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature 48 teams in total. From Europe, France, England, and Croatia have qualified by topping their respective groups. South America will be represented by six teams—Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay—after dominant performances in the qualifiers. Host nation the United States and Mexico have confirmed their participation from North and Central America. Africa will send nine teams, including Algeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Cape Verde, and South Africa. From Asia, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and Uzbekistan have secured their spots, while New Zealand will represent Oceania. With 18 places still open, the remaining teams will be determined through playoffs and final qualifying rounds in the coming months.

A violent clash broke out between students of Barishal Government Brojomohun (BM) College and transport workers at the Nathullabad bus terminal in Barishal on Saturday evening, following a dispute over the half fare policy. According to reports, students allegedly vandalized more than fifty buses after a student was physically assaulted by bus workers for demanding half fare. The incident escalated into a large-scale confrontation, leaving around fifty people, including students and workers, injured. Transport workers denied initiating any attack, claiming that students carried out the vandalism and assaulted several workers. Police have been deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control. The clash highlights ongoing tensions over student demands for discounted fares, a recurring issue in several parts of Bangladesh.

The president of the BNP’s Porsha upazila unit in Naogaon, Mozammel Shah Chowdhury, has been temporarily expelled from his position and the party over allegations of spreading false propaganda against a senior leader and violating party discipline. The decision was announced on Saturday, November 15, through a letter signed by district BNP general secretary Mamunur Rahman Ripon. The letter instructed all party members and affiliated organizations to refrain from maintaining any political contact with Chowdhury. In response, Chowdhury denied the allegations, claiming he never engaged in false propaganda or breached party discipline. He also criticized the expulsion process, saying he was not given any prior notice or opportunity to explain himself before the decision was made. The incident highlights ongoing internal tensions within the BNP’s local leadership in Naogaon.

Debate is intensifying in Bangladesh over how to regulate tobacco and safer nicotine alternatives amid rising concerns about illegal trade and public health. Experts and policymakers are divided: one group advocates for a balanced, evidence-based policy that protects health while recognizing market realities and offering smokers safer, regulated alternatives; another group calls for a total ban on all alternatives, a stance critics say ignores global evidence and could harm both health and the economy. National Board of Revenue Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan warned that illegal trade in tobacco and substitutes is causing major revenue losses and argued that regulation is more effective than prohibition. International examples from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States show that controlled harm-reduction strategies, such as nicotine pouches, can reduce smoking-related diseases and support cessation. Advocates say Bangladesh should follow a similar evidence-based approach to strengthen its tobacco control strategy and advance its goal of becoming tobacco-free.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has temporarily suspended senior leader and former Union Minister R.K. Singh, along with party member Ashok Agarwal, following the party’s strong performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, where it won 89 seats as the single largest party. According to official letters, both leaders were suspended for engaging in anti-party activities. The Bihar BJP unit has given them one week to provide a written explanation regarding their conduct. Party insiders told the Hindustan Times that Singh’s suspension was primarily due to his alleged criticism of fellow BJP leaders and his actions during the recent state elections. The move signals the party’s effort to maintain internal discipline and unity after a significant electoral victory.

A 24-year-old Indian Muslim man, Shibu Syed Jafri from Lucknow, has told a Dhaka court that Indian officials blindfolded and handcuffed him before forcing him onto a flight to Kolkata and later pushing him across the Bangladesh border at gunpoint. Shibu was detained in Dhaka on July 15 after locals reported a man who could not speak Bengali. He claimed he was abducted from a Delhi slum and had no intention of entering Bangladesh. The court has ordered an investigation into how he crossed the border, with a police report due by November 24. Human rights groups have long criticized India’s alleged practice of “push-ins,” where people are forcibly sent across the border into Bangladesh. Over 2,000 individuals, including Rohingya refugees, have reportedly been subjected to such actions this year. Shibu remains in custody in Dhaka, awaiting further hearings, while efforts continue to reunite him with his family in India.

Bangladesh’s total government debt has exceeded Tk 21 trillion for the first time, driven by weak revenue performance and ambitious development spending. According to the Finance Division’s debt bulletin released Thursday, total debt stood at Tk 21.44 trillion at the end of June, up 14% from Tk 18.89 trillion a year earlier. External debt reached Tk 9.49 trillion, accounting for 44.27% of total debt, compared to Tk 4.20 trillion in 2021. Domestic debt also rose by 11% year-on-year to Tk 11.95 trillion. Officials attribute the surge to increased borrowing for major infrastructure projects such as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka Metro Rail, and Matarbari coal-based power plant, as well as post-pandemic budget support from development partners. The data indicates that external debt has grown more than twice as fast as domestic debt over the past five years.

Four police officers in Rajshahi have been temporarily suspended following the murder of Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman’s son, Tawseef Rahman Tousif, and an attempted murder of the judge’s wife, Tasmin Nahar Lusi. The suspension came after a video of the accused, Limon Mia, recorded while in police custody, was leaked on social media, causing widespread embarrassment for the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP). The court has taken suo motu notice of the incident and ordered RMP Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian to appear in person on November 19 to explain the matter. Preliminary investigation found negligence of duty by the four officers assigned to guard Limon at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. They have been closed to the police lines, and a committee has been formed for further investigation. Authorities reiterated that publishing or broadcasting statements of detainees without authorization is illegal and can influence ongoing investigations.