Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia remains under intensive observation at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. A medical board comprising local and foreign specialists is overseeing her treatment. According to her personal physician Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, she has been moved to the Coronary Care Unit due to complications involving her heart and lungs. Khaleda Zia, who has a pacemaker and a history of heart issues, was admitted on Sunday night after developing multiple health complications, including chest infections. In response, the BNP has called for special prayers and supplications across the country after Friday prayers for her recovery. Senior party leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are expected to attend prayers at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan.

A Dhaka court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison on charges of fraud and corruption related to the allocation of a Rajuk plot in Purbachal. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, November 27, by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 in three separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court found Hasina guilty under Section 420 of the Penal Code for fraud and Section 5(2) of the ACC Act. The judge observed that Hasina misused her authority and deprived ordinary citizens of their rights by securing the plot. The court also sentenced her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, to five years’ imprisonment each for their involvement. Other accused individuals received varying jail terms. The ruling marks a significant legal development against the former leader, who served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s prime minister.

Primary school assistant teachers across Bangladesh have launched an indefinite work stoppage starting Thursday, November 27, demanding implementation of three key reforms. The teachers, under the banner of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, are calling for placement in the 10th pay grade, resolution of complications regarding higher grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% departmental promotion from assistant to head teacher. The decision follows earlier demonstrations in Dhaka, where police clashes left over a hundred teachers injured. Despite meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Finance, the teachers claim that the government has failed to make satisfactory progress on their demands. The council has stated that the full-day work stoppage will continue until the Ministry of Finance fulfills its commitments, including issuance of the 11th grade notification and other pending reforms.

Venezuela has banned several international airlines, including Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM, Gol, and Turkish Airlines, accusing them of supporting 'state terrorism' after they suspended flights following a US travel warning. The Venezuelan Civil Aviation Authority announced the decision on November 26, claiming the airlines unilaterally halted commercial operations in solidarity with US actions. The move follows Washington’s increased military activity in the Caribbean, which the US says is part of anti-drug operations but Caracas views as a regime change attempt. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had recently urged private aircraft to exercise caution over Venezuelan airspace due to rising security risks. Despite being given 48 hours to resume flights, none of the airlines complied, leading to the cancellation of over 40 flights and stranding more than 8,000 passengers, according to the Venezuelan Travel and Tourism Agency Association (AVAVIT).

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Khaled Mashud, popularly known as Pilot, has denied rumors suggesting he is joining the political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The speculation surfaced after his participation in events outside the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Mashud clarified that he remains fully committed to cricket and has no intention of entering politics. He emphasized his lifelong connection to sports, noting his family’s athletic background and his current role as a BCB director working for the development of cricket in the country. Mashud stated that he respects all political parties but has no plans to join any. He attributed the rumors to misunderstandings arising from his involvement in social or sports-related programs beyond BCB activities, urging people not to associate such appearances with political motives.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared that Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza and the occupied territories will never erase Palestine. In a message read by Minister Abdelmalek Tacherift during an event marking the upcoming International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Tebboune accused Israel of violating international and human rights laws through its military actions, blockade, and destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure. He called on the international community to compel Israel to respect international law, lift the blockade on Gaza, and open all border crossings for humanitarian aid. Reaffirming Algeria’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, Tebboune emphasized that his country will continue to back Palestinians until they regain full sovereignty and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has temporarily suspended postal vote registration in seven countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—after many expatriate voters failed to provide accurate and complete addresses through the 'Postal Vote BD' app. The EC stated that without proper addresses, it is impossible to send ballot papers by mail. The suspension affects expatriate Bangladeshis who were set to vote by postal ballot for the first time in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. According to EC data, as of Thursday at 1 p.m., a total of 53,096 expatriate voters had registered through the app. The commission said further instructions regarding the next steps will be announced soon.

A mild earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale was felt in Dhaka and several surrounding regions on Thursday afternoon, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The tremor, which occurred at 4:15 p.m., had its epicenter in Ghorashal, Narsingdi, and a depth of approximately 6.2 miles below the surface, as reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). This follows a series of recent quakes in the region, including four tremors recorded within 31 hours around Dhaka last weekend. The strongest of those, a 5.7-magnitude quake centered in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi, struck on Friday morning, resulting in 10 deaths and more than 600 injuries. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious but confirmed that Thursday’s quake caused no major damage or casualties. Experts continue to monitor seismic activity in central Bangladesh, where minor tremors have become more frequent in recent weeks.

Former Bangladeshi lawmaker Golam Faruk Abhi, who has lived in Canada for over 23 years, remains unable to return home as his travel permit application awaits approval from the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa. Despite applying more than a week ago, no decision has been made, raising questions about the delay. Abhi, once the youngest member of the Seventh Parliament and a former student leader, left Bangladesh in 2002 amid political turmoil and multiple legal cases. His passport expired in 2006, and repeated attempts to renew it or obtain a travel document have failed, even after a 2013 High Court directive ordering the government to issue one. Following the recent political changes in Bangladesh, speculation has grown about his possible return and participation in upcoming elections. Supporters in his Barishal-2 constituency remain hopeful, though Abhi says his immediate goal is simply to return home, expressing frustration over bureaucratic obstacles to his constitutional right to repatriation.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again drawn criticism for making a personal attack on a female journalist. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called New York Times reporter Katie Rogers 'ugly' and a 'third-rate journalist' after she co-authored a report examining his age and physical fitness. The report, written by Rogers and Dylan Freedman, detailed Trump’s recent medical tests and raised questions about his health transparency. Trump did not mention Freedman but singled out Rogers for personal insults, repeating a pattern of gender-insensitive remarks—just two weeks earlier, he had verbally attacked another female journalist. The New York Times defended Rogers, stating that their report was fact-based and that intimidation tactics would not deter their journalists. Trump also criticized the Times as a 'failing' outlet, though the paper remains profitable and growing. Legal experts note that Trump’s defamation suit against the Times is unlikely to succeed.

Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after they were sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on November 17 for alleged responsibility in the deaths of about 1,400 people during the 2024 student protests. Since Hasina took refuge in India following her government’s collapse in August 2024, Dhaka has repeatedly sought her return, but New Delhi has avoided taking a clear stance. Analysts suggest India will not act until an elected government assumes office in Bangladesh, citing the interim administration’s limited mandate. India’s historical ties with Hasina and the Awami League, along with political and legal complexities under the 2013 extradition treaty, make the issue highly sensitive. Delhi may also question the fairness of the trial and will likely proceed cautiously to protect its strategic interests ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 national elections.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been transferred from her cabin to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for close medical monitoring. The move took place on Thursday, November 27, according to BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir. Khaleda Zia was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, November 23, around 8 p.m. Her personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that she is under intensive observation by a medical board comprising local and foreign specialists. The BNP leadership has requested prayers from the public for her speedy recovery. Khaleda Zia, a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has been suffering from various health complications in recent years, leading to multiple hospitalizations.

A devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has claimed at least 55 lives, including one firefighter, while several others remain injured. The blaze, which began around 2:51 p.m. local time on Wednesday, engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in the government housing complex. Firefighters worked through the night to bring the flames under control, though smoke and small fires were still visible the following morning. Authorities confirmed that four buildings were completely destroyed, and three others sustained significant damage. Police have arrested three individuals — two company directors and one engineer — linked to a construction firm as part of the ongoing investigation. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials have warned that full extinguishment and recovery operations may take an entire day. Residents displaced by the fire have gathered near the site to assess the damage to their homes.

At least three police officers were killed and two others injured when militants attacked a police checkpoint in Hangu district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late on Tuesday night. The assault occurred at the Qazi Talab checkpoint on Shahu Road, where heavy gunfire was exchanged between the attackers and police forces. District Police Officer Khan Zeb Khan said the officers fought bravely against the militants until reinforcements arrived to support them. The deceased officers were identified as LHC Wahid Shah and Constable Abdul Samad, while the third victim’s identity remains unknown. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Soail Afridi condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly attempt to disrupt peace and demoralize security forces. He vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and assured government support for the families of the slain and injured officers.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released the circular for the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, introducing significant changes to the preliminary question pattern. Applications will open on December 4 and continue until December 31, with fee payment allowed until January 3. The preliminary exam is scheduled for January 30, 2026, followed by written tests from April 9 and oral exams from August 10. Under the new marks distribution, the weight for Bangla, English, and Bangladesh Affairs has been reduced by five marks each, while International Affairs, Mathematical Reasoning, and Ethics and Values have seen a five-mark increase. The new structure allocates 30 marks each for Bangla and English, 25 each for Bangladesh and International Affairs, 20 for Mathematical Reasoning, and 15 each for General Science, ICT, Mental Skills, and Ethics. Geography, Environment, and Disaster Management remain at 10 marks. A total of 1,755 cadre positions, including 650 in health, and 395 non-cadre posts will be filled.