The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,000 migrants have died in 2025 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, marking a grim milestone in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The latest tragedy occurred off Libya’s coast, where an inflatable boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field after departing from Zuwara. Only seven men survived, while 42 others, mostly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, are presumed dead. The IOM provided emergency aid to survivors and reiterated its call for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and improved search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The agency warned that the death toll continues to rise with each new incident.

Police in Lalmonirhat have arrested 17 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies, including Jubo League, Chhatra League, and Sramik League, during a 48-hour operation across five upazilas. Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam confirmed the arrests on Thursday, stating that the detainees face multiple allegations, including involvement in terrorism and sabotage cases. Among those arrested are former union chairman and Jubo League leader Mostafizur Rahman Sohel, and several local leaders from different upazilas. The arrests were made based on secret information, with four detainees from Lalmonirhat Sadar, one from Patgram, six from Hatibandha, two from Kaliganj, and four from Aditmari. Police said eight of the arrestees have been identified so far. Authorities emphasized that law enforcement operations will continue to maintain order in the district.

Interim government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has urged pro-uprising political parties in Bangladesh to maintain unity ahead of the national election scheduled for February. In a televised address on November 13, Yunus warned that disunity among these parties could lead the nation into a grave crisis. He reminded citizens that after nearly fifteen years of disenfranchisement, people are eager to exercise their voting rights. Referring to the sacrifices made during the July 2024 uprising against authoritarianism, Yunus called for tolerance toward differing opinions and prioritizing national interests over party agendas. He expressed hope that all political groups would accept the interim government’s decisions for implementing the July Charter, paving the way for a festive and inclusive election that would mark the beginning of a “new Bangladesh.”

A US federal judge has ordered the release of 615 people detained under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Illinois. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ruled in favor of the National Immigration Justice Center and the ACLU, which argued that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated a 2022 settlement by conducting warrantless arrests during 'Operation Midway Blitz.' The order applies to detainees without mandatory detention orders or significant public safety risks, requiring their release by November 21. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the decision, calling it dangerous and labeling Cummings an 'activist judge.' DHS has not yet confirmed whether it will appeal, though government attorneys have requested a stay. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdictions over alleged racial profiling and constitutional violations during mass arrests.

Two female workers were killed and two others injured after a speeding motorcycle hit a van carrying them to work in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia. The victims, Beauty Khatun, 40, and Latifa, 65, were on their way to a local glass factory when the accident occurred late Wednesday night. Beauty died shortly after being taken to Mirpur Upazila Health Complex, while Latifa succumbed to her injuries early Thursday at Kushtia General Hospital. The injured, Taslima Khatun, 45, and Rita Khatun, 35, are receiving treatment. Police confirmed the incident and said the motorcycle was moving at high speed when it struck the workers’ van. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said internal divisions between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are allowing the Awami League to regain political ground. Speaking at a party event in Dhaka, he criticized both opposition groups for failing to coordinate their movements. Patwari warned that without political reform, Sheikh Hasina’s governance structure could reemerge repeatedly. He also expressed concerns about the Election Commission’s capacity to hold a referendum and national election on the same day, urging the government and political parties to strengthen the commission. Patwari further accused the Awami League of spreading fear and using its past economic gains to destabilize the political environment. He noted that the upcoming November 17 verdict on Sheikh Hasina would mark a new milestone for Bangladesh’s judiciary.

Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief artificial intelligence scientist and a pioneer in deep learning, is reportedly preparing to leave the company to start his own AI-focused venture, according to the Financial Times. LeCun, who joined Meta in 2013 to lead its Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) unit, is said to be in early talks to raise funds for the new startup. His planned departure comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg restructures the company’s AI initiatives under a new division called Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of Scale AI. LeCun, a Turing Award winner and professor at New York University, is known for inventing convolutional neural networks, a foundational technology in modern AI. Meta has recently pledged to invest $600 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next three years.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has accused Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus of violating the July Charter through his recent national address. Following Yunus’s speech, Salahuddin claimed that the formation of a new Constitutional Reform Council was not discussed in the Consensus Commission, calling it a deviation from the agreed framework. In his address, Dr. Yunus announced that a referendum on constitutional reform proposals would be held alongside the national election, followed by the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council if the majority votes in favor. The council would complete reforms within 180 working days, and an upper house would be formed based on proportional representation. While BNP had supported holding the referendum on election day, several other parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, had demanded it take place before the polls.

In Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized separate protest marches and sit-ins on Thursday morning opposing the Awami League’s alleged anarchy and lockdown program. The BNP rally, led by upazila Jubo Dal president Md. Abdur Razzak Rana, began at 10 a.m. and concluded with a brief assembly at the upazila council premises. Around the same time, Jamaat activists marched from Dhangara Palli Bidyut Mor to the market area before gathering for a short rally chaired by upazila Ameer Md. Ali Murtuza. Speakers at both events condemned the ruling party’s repression, arrests, and political persecution, urging for intensified democratic movements to protect citizens’ rights.

The Bangladesh government has issued the 'National July Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025' following its approval by President Md. Shahabuddin. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law published the official gazette on Thursday, November 13. Earlier that day, the advisory council approved the order in a meeting. The order paves the way for a national referendum on the proposed constitutional reforms finalized through discussions among political parties under the mediation of the National Consensus Commission. The commission had earlier submitted two alternative recommendations to the interim government on implementing the July Charter. The charter, signed on October 17 by 24 political parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, aims to bring broad constitutional changes through national consensus.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced that it will discuss Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s recent national address within the party forum before making any official statement, likely not before Thursday evening. In his speech, Yunus declared that a national referendum will be held on the same day as the upcoming parliamentary election, expected in early February. The referendum will seek public approval for the July National Charter, which includes constitutional reforms such as establishing a bicameral parliament, limiting the prime minister’s tenure, expanding fundamental rights, and strengthening judicial independence. The Chief Adviser emphasized that these reforms aim to make elections more inclusive, cost-effective, and aligned with national consensus. He also noted that political parties have already reached agreement on 30 key constitutional issues through the National Consensus Commission.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Ashulia branch organized a protest rally and demonstration on Thursday in Dhaka’s Ashulia area, opposing what they described as a so-called lockdown imposed by the ruling Awami League. The event took place around 12:30 p.m. on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway at Ashulia Bypile. The protest was led by Dhaka district political secretary Hasan Mahbub Master, with district Ameer Maulana Delwar Hossain attending as chief guest and district secretary and Dhaka-19 nominated MP candidate Principal Maulana Afzal Hossain as chief speaker. Several other local Jamaat leaders, including Maulana Shahadat Hossain, Bashir Ahmed, Md. Al Amin, Md. Moniruzzaman, and Md. Sohel Rana, were also present at the gathering.

The Appellate Division of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has granted leave to appeal against a High Court verdict that declared parts of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution unconstitutional. The order was issued on Thursday by a bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The High Court had ruled on December 17 last year that sections 20 and 21 of the amendment, which abolished the caretaker government system, conflicted with the Constitution. It also nullified newly added articles 7A, 7B, and 44(2). Four prominent citizens, including Sujon Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, filed the appeal, along with separate petitions from Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and another individual, Mofazzal Hossain. Senior lawyers Sharif Bhuiyan, Mohammad Shishir Monir, and others represented the appellants, while Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the state.

BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has alleged that the ruling Awami League is fabricating images using artificial intelligence to depict a lockdown that does not exist. Speaking at a freshmen reception at Janata Degree College in Lakshmipur, Annie claimed that the Awami League hired unruly youths to stage brief nighttime processions, set fire to buses, and post manipulated photos on social media to create a false impression of unrest. He further accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of fleeing the country after sending her relatives abroad and criticized the government for corruption, misrule, and repression of opposition activists. The event was attended by local BNP and student leaders, who echoed Annie’s call for a new generation to lead Bangladesh in the future.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that a national referendum will be held in early February alongside the general election, assuring that the reform agenda will not be obstructed. In a televised address on the implementation of the July National Charter 2025, he said necessary legislation will be enacted in due time to facilitate the referendum. The ballot will feature a single 'yes' or 'no' question covering four key issues. If the majority votes 'yes,' a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed with elected representatives who will also serve as members of parliament. The council will have 180 working days to complete constitutional reforms, after which an upper house will be created within 30 working days based on proportional representation from the general election results.