Police in Khagrachhari’s Ramgarh area detained two Chinese nationals, Jiang Chengthong and Teng Tonggu, on Thursday evening for allegedly entering a residential building without official permission. The pair, who arrived in the area through a local aluminum company foreman, rented an apartment claiming it would be used as an electronics warehouse. Authorities seized laptops and other electronic devices from them. According to police, the two had been staying in Chattogram’s Khulshi area for about a month and a half before moving to Ramgarh. Under government regulations, foreign nationals require special permission to enter the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which they lacked. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is assisting in examining the seized devices, and legal action will be taken as per law. Both individuals remain in police custody as of Friday afternoon.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released a new policy for student admissions to government secondary schools for the upcoming academic year. The system will continue to use a centralized online digital lottery for student selection, application submission, fee payment, and result publication. Each class will admit a maximum of 55 students. The policy reserves 5% of seats for children of freedom fighters, 0.5% for children of ministry officials, and additional quotas for special needs students, twins, and siblings. Students can apply to up to five schools, and no admission tests will be held. The academic year will run from January 1 to December 31. The policy aims to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in the admission process across the country.

At least eight people were killed and many injured as Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault across Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack involved around 430 drones and 18 missiles, including ballistic and aeroballistic types, causing severe damage to residential and critical infrastructure in multiple regions. Debris from an Iskander missile reportedly struck the Azerbaijani embassy complex in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials confirmed that a Zircon missile was identified in the Sumy region. Emergency services are conducting rescue and firefighting operations. Zelensky renewed his call for additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles from Europe and the United States, urging stronger sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have shot down 216 Ukrainian drones overnight, declaring a state of emergency in the city of Novorossiysk after the attacks.

Twelve platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Dhaka and nearby districts to maintain law and order following a series of arson and violence incidents. BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam confirmed the deployment on Friday, citing the need to ensure public safety. The move comes after multiple cases of buses and vehicles being set on fire across the capital in recent days. On Thursday night, miscreants torched a parked bus in Shah Ali Beribadh area, leading to one suspect’s death while fleeing and another being detained by locals. Similar arson attacks were reported earlier in Kamalapur, Jatrabari, Uttara, and other areas, along with crude bomb (cocktail) attacks targeting police. Authorities have increased security measures to prevent further unrest and ensure public safety in the capital.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released the new admission policy for government secondary schools, retaining the digital lottery system for the upcoming academic year. According to the policy, 63% of seats will remain under various quotas, including 40% for catchment area students, 5% for children of freedom fighters, 2% for students with special needs, and 1% for children of ministry officials, split equally between ministry and subordinate offices. The twin quota has been reduced to 2%, while the sibling quota increased to 3%. Students can apply to a maximum of five schools, and the entire process will be managed centrally through digital lottery. Online applications will run from November 21 to December 7, with the lottery scheduled for December 14 and admissions from December 17 to 21.

Eight political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, organized a protest rally in Netrokona demanding a referendum before the upcoming national election. The demonstration, held on Friday afternoon, began at the Netrokona Central Jame Mosque and ended in front of the district press club. The protesters presented a five-point demand, with the referendum being the central issue. The event was led by Jamaat district secretary Professor Badrul Amin and attended by several local leaders, including Professor Maulana Mahbubur Rahman and representatives from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. A separate rally with similar demands was also organized by Bangladesh Islami Andolan in the same city, reflecting growing political pressure for electoral reforms ahead of the national polls.

Three government advisers from the ministries of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Industries, Housing and Public Works, and Commerce visited Bhola on Friday to inspect the proposed gas-based urea fertilizer plant site. The advisers—Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Adilur Rahman Khan, and Sheikh Bashir Uddin—confirmed that the project aims to utilize Bhola’s abundant gas reserves. They also visited Bapex’s gas fields in Borhanuddin, where nine wells have been completed and five more are planned soon, with an additional fourteen under consideration. Adilur Rahman Khan stated that the visit was part of a feasibility study to determine the plant’s location and potential. He added that 34 buffer warehouses are being built nationwide to strengthen fertilizer management, including one in Bhola. Local officials and community representatives attended a later meeting discussing gas supply and local development.

Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has received her party’s nomination to contest the upcoming national parliamentary election from the Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur) constituency under the 'Shapla Koli' symbol. She confirmed the news through a Facebook post, expressing gratitude and seeking prayers and support from well-wishers. Nusrat mentioned her seven to eight years of active involvement in politics, including one year in national politics. Reflecting on her political journey, she recalled past struggles and solidarity with fellow activists against authoritarianism. Her candidacy marks NCP’s effort to strengthen its presence in the upcoming election, with Nusrat emphasizing her commitment to contribute meaningfully to her constituency and the country.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has accused three government advisers of working in favor of a particular political group and misleading the administration to obstruct a fair election. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he alleged that these advisers were influencing the chief adviser, Dr. Yunus, and pushing for partisan appointments within the administration. Dr. Taher demanded their immediate removal and said their names would be submitted to the chief adviser. He also criticized the government’s handling of the July Charter implementation order, claiming it unfairly benefits one party and complicates the referendum process. Additionally, he rejected the idea of holding the referendum and national election on the same day, arguing it would diminish the significance of the referendum and undermine reform efforts.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur stated that there is no longer any uncertainty about the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for February, following the Chief Adviser’s recent speech. Speaking at a press briefing in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar, Nur welcomed the initiative to hold the national election and referendum on the same day. He noted that earlier political divisions over the implementation of the July Charter had created doubts about the election’s feasibility, but the Chief Adviser’s remarks have largely dispelled those concerns. Nur urged all political parties to cooperate with the government to ensure a fair election and warned that associates of Sheikh Hasina were allegedly attempting to sabotage the electoral process through acts of violence.

Vote counting is underway in Bihar’s assembly elections, with early results indicating a decisive lead for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The alliance is ahead in over 200 of the 243 assembly seats, surpassing the 122-seat majority mark required to form the government. The elections were held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with an overall voter turnout of around 67 percent. BJP and its ally Janata Dal (United) have already begun celebrations across the state. Meanwhile, the Congress party faces another major setback, with its leaders acknowledging disappointing results. Pre-election surveys had also predicted a strong NDA victory, which the early trends now confirm.

An arson incident occurred again on a railway track in Brahmanbaria on Thursday night, when unidentified miscreants set fire to tires placed on the rail line near Bhatsala area of Sadar upazila. The fire temporarily disrupted train movement, causing the Chattogram-bound Mahanagar Express to remain halted at Brahmanbaria station for about 15 minutes. Police from Sadar and Akhaura Railway Thana quickly responded, extinguished the fire, and restored normal train operations by midnight. This was the second such incident in the same area within two days, raising concerns about railway security. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the repeated acts of sabotage.

A fire caused by an electrical short circuit broke out early Friday morning in Rangunia, Chattogram, burning three residential houses, a furniture shop, an office, and a warehouse. The incident occurred in Ward No. 5 of Rangunia Municipality. Firefighters from the Rangunia Fire Service Station arrived promptly and managed to bring the blaze under control after about one and a half hours of effort. According to the Fire Service and Civil Defense, the properties belonged to Md. Yusuf Mia. The estimated damage amounts to around Tk 5 lakh, while goods worth Tk 10 lakh were saved due to the quick response. The firefighting operation was led by Acting Station Officer Md. Jasim Uddin.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has pledged full support to Monira Khatun and her daughter Afia, who were abandoned by Monira’s husband due to the child’s albinism. Following widespread media coverage of their story, Rahman directed party officials to build a home for Monira and take responsibility for Afia’s education and the family’s welfare. On Friday, BNP’s Khulna divisional acting organizational secretary Anindya Islam Amit visited the family in Jessore and delivered the party’s assistance. Local administration and various organizations have also begun providing legal and social aid to the mother and child. The case has drawn national attention, highlighting social stigma surrounding genetic conditions like albinism and sparking discussions on compassion and inclusion.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that Bangladesh’s interim government has lost its neutrality and is working to bring a particular party to power through the upcoming election. Speaking at a joint press conference of eight like-minded parties in Moghbazar on Friday, he criticized the chief adviser’s recent address, claiming it prioritized the BNP’s demands. Taher argued that the government cannot ensure a fair election and urged separate dates for the national election and the referendum. He also said the chief adviser ignored the obligations of the July Charter. The eight-party alliance plans to announce new programs after their meeting on Sunday to press their five-point demands.