Authorities in Bogura’s Gabtali upazila have reported a possible sabotage attempt after miscreants stole a pair of fishplates from a railway track near Sukhanpukur Railway Station on Wednesday night. Railway keymen discovered the missing components during a routine inspection on Thursday morning and quickly replaced them to ensure safety. According to Afzal Hossain, senior sub-assistant engineer of Bogura Railways, the theft appeared to be an intentional act aimed at causing disruption. Two trains passed over the section before the issue was detected, but no accidents occurred due to the presence of other connecting plates. Railway officials have heightened monitoring and are investigating the incident as a potential act of sabotage.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, has announced his intention to contest the upcoming parliamentary election from the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency. On Thursday, November 13, he collected his party’s nomination form from the NCP central office. Expressing his emotional connection to Debidwar, Hasnat said the area’s people, culture, and environment are deeply tied to his life. He described Debidwar as a neglected upazila that has long suffered from inequality and underdevelopment across successive governments. Hasnat pledged to focus on improving education, culture, and infrastructure if nominated by the party’s policy board. Although he was offered to run from more prominent constituencies, he chose Debidwar out of personal attachment and a desire to bring meaningful change to his hometown.

The Bangladesh government has announced a major reshuffle in the civil administration, transferring and appointing new deputy commissioners (DCs) in nine districts. According to a circular issued on Thursday, November 13, by the Ministry of Public Administration, Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, DC of Narayanganj, has been transferred to Chattogram, while Md. Raihan Kabir, Deputy Secretary of the Public Division, becomes the new DC of Narayanganj. Other appointments include S.M. Mehedi Hasan to Lakshmipur, Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi to Munshiganj, Md. Saifur Rahman to Netrokona, Md. Shahadat Hossain Masud to Chapainawabganj, Md. Saiful Islam to Naogaon, Md. Anwar Sadat to Khagrachhari, and Md. Reza Hasan to Cumilla. The order, signed by Deputy Secretary Aminul Islam, takes immediate effect in the public interest.

BNP Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy has warned that the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh could worsen if the administration remains silent. Speaking at a freshman reception and cultural event at Keraniganj Women’s Degree College, he urged the administration to stand by the people and work for their welfare. Roy emphasized that the country's hard-earned independence must be protected from any attempts to undermine it. He also highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment and student movements in shaping a fair and self-reliant Bangladesh. The event was attended by several BNP leaders, including Advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Nazim Uddin, and local party representatives, along with college officials and students.

The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has welcomed the Chief Adviser’s recent address to the nation, describing it as a relatively acceptable solution to the ongoing political situation. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and secretary general Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to hold the national election and referendum on the same day, and to allocate seats in the upper house based on proportional representation. However, they noted some differences regarding specific final directives. The leaders emphasized that political parties have already completed sufficient discussions, and now a conclusive government decision is necessary. They expressed hope that all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, will participate in the election in a peaceful, fair, and festive atmosphere to ensure democratic stability in Bangladesh.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police have arrested former Chuadanga municipality mayor and Awami League leader Riazul Islam Joarder Toton on allegations of planning subversive activities. He was detained on Thursday, November 13, from the Bashundhara area of the capital. Toton, the younger brother of former MP Solaiman Haque Joarder Selun, had been in hiding since August 5. Police officials confirmed that he is accused of planning sabotage linked to the Awami League’s so-called lockdown program. Legal proceedings against him are currently underway. Chuadanga police said they have not yet received formal notification of the arrest but are aware of the development.

Saudi Arabia has announced significant support for Bangladesh’s imam training initiatives under the Islamic Foundation. The assurance came during a meeting in Jeddah between Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh and Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Adviser Professor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain. Both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in religious education, awareness, and guidance, emphasizing shared goals of promoting moderate and tolerant Islamic values. Dr. Al-Sheikh praised the historic brotherly ties between the two nations, while the Bangladeshi adviser lauded Saudi Arabia’s leadership in serving Islam and the global Muslim community. The meeting also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s continued assistance to Bangladesh and mutual interest in expanding da’wah and educational collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Tawsif Rahman, son of Rajshahi Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman, and the serious injury of the judge’s wife Tasmin Nahar in a violent attack at their rented home. Following the incident on Thursday, November 13, the adviser directed police to arrest all perpetrators and ensure a full investigation, according to a ministry press release. Authorities have reportedly taken immediate action, and the government is monitoring Tasmin Nahar’s treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Dr. Nazrul expressed condolences to the bereaved family, prayed for the victim’s soul, and wished for the swift recovery of the injured. He also assured that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of judicial officers and their families across the country.

Bangladesh’s advisory council has approved drafts of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Amendment Ordinance 2025 to strengthen transparency, accountability, and governance in the aviation and travel sectors. The new laws introduce mandatory registration of digital ticketing systems to prevent price manipulation and ticket hoarding, authorize the creation of a Civil Aviation Economic Commission to regulate fees, and encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuel. Travel agencies face stricter penalties for illegal transactions, overpricing, and fraud, including fines up to 1 million taka and imprisonment up to one year. The reforms aim to protect migrant workers’ rights, ensure fair ticket pricing, and align Bangladesh’s aviation governance with international standards such as the Chicago Convention and ICAO guidelines.

Bangladeshi actor Monowar Hossain Dipjol and his associate Md Faisal have been accused in a new attempted murder case filed by the husband of one of Dipjol’s female fans. The case was lodged on November 13 at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the matter. The plaintiff alleged that Dipjol and his associates threatened his family to withdraw a previous assault and acid attack case filed in July. He further claimed that on November 1, he was lured to a building in Shanir Akhra, where Dipjol and Faisal allegedly beat him and attempted to kill him for refusing to withdraw the earlier case. The attackers also reportedly robbed him of cash before fleeing. The plaintiff said police initially refused to register his complaint, prompting him to seek court intervention. PBI is currently investigating the incident.

Seven activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were injured in an alleged cocktail explosion on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway on Thursday morning. The victims were admitted to the Shibchar Upazila Health Complex for treatment. According to the injured, the attackers were supporters of the ruling Awami League. They claimed that the assailants attempted to block traffic by felling trees on the expressway, and when BNP activists tried to intervene, they were attacked with explosive devices. Local BNP leader Shahjahan Molla Saju accused masked assailants affiliated with the Awami League of carrying out the attack. Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the incident.

A Bangladeshi robotics team named 'Team BengalBoat' is set to represent Bangladesh at the prestigious 'RoboBoat 2026' competition in Florida, USA, organized under the supervision of the US Navy. The team, comprising 34 members including mentors from KUET and RUET, has developed an autonomous surface vehicle named 'Tori 1.0'. The innovation aims to highlight Bangladesh’s growing technological capabilities and its potential in the blue economy. Ahead of the competition, a robotics workshop was held at Victoria High School in Sreemangal with participation from 200 students, focusing on hands-on learning about circuits, sensors, and autonomous navigation. The initiative reflects the increasing interest of Bangladeshi youth in robotics and marine technology, with hopes of positioning the country as a future leader in ocean-based innovation.

The University of Dhaka has extended the online application deadline for undergraduate (honours) first-year admission for the 2025–2026 academic session by three days. According to a notice published on the university’s admission website on Thursday, the application period, which began on October 29 at noon and was originally set to end on November 16 at 11:59 p.m., will now continue until midnight on November 19. The extension was made to accommodate students whose eligibility might change after the publication of the re-evaluation results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations on November 16. All other admission-related dates will remain unchanged, the notice added.

Pakistan’s army and the United Arab Emirates’ Presidential Guard have completed a two-week joint anti-terrorism exercise named 'Zalmud-1' in Tarbela, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The drill primarily focused on hostage rescue operations and enhancing counterterrorism coordination between the two forces. According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), units from Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG) and the UAE Presidential Guard participated in the exercise. The closing ceremony was attended by the SSG’s General Officer Commanding as the chief guest, along with senior Emirati military officials and diplomats. The exercise aimed to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and improve joint operational capabilities in counterterrorism missions.

Five members of Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies, including two from the Dhaka North Detective Branch (DB) and three from RAB-10, have been suspended and jailed for allegedly robbing Tk 6.5 million from a gold trader in Savar. The suspects, posing as DB officers, intercepted the trader in Munshiganj’s Srinagar area on November 7 and seized his cash and phone. Following a detailed investigation using CCTV footage from the Mawa Expressway, police identified the microbus used in the robbery and arrested its driver, Kabir Hossain, along with the accused officers. The incident has caused embarrassment within the police administration, as initial findings confirmed the involvement of active law enforcement personnel in the crime. Authorities have assured that departmental and legal actions are underway.