A new controversy has erupted in India after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the title 'Great' from the names of Mughal emperor Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in newly printed school textbooks. The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rewriting history to align with its ideological narrative and diminishing the contributions of Muslim rulers. BJP and its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defended the move, calling it a long-overdue correction. Congress leaders, including Imran Masood, K. Muraleedharan, and Harish Rawat, criticized the decision as politically motivated and warned of further historical distortions ahead of the 2029 national elections. RSS leader Sunil Ambekar stated that the leaders were not removed from textbooks but that students should also learn about their alleged misdeeds. The updated NCERT books have already been distributed to over 24,000 CBSE schools across India, fueling a broader debate over historical interpretation and political influence in education.

The Bangladesh government has finalized the appointment of police superintendents (SPs) for all 64 districts through a lottery system ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The selection took place on Monday, November 24, at the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, in the presence of Acting IGP Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, the DMP Commissioner, and senior officials from the Home Ministry and the Chief Adviser’s Office. According to official sources, officers from the 25th, 27th, and 28th batches of the police cadre were shortlisted after excluding those who had previously served as SPs. From this list, 64 officers were selected manually by lottery for district postings. The Home Ministry and Police Headquarters confirmed that the appointments will be implemented gradually through official notifications. The move aims to ensure neutrality and transparency in field-level law enforcement deployment ahead of the upcoming national election.

A post-enumeration check by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) has revealed that 365,472 financial institutions were omitted from the 2024 Economic Census conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The initial census counted 11.88 million institutions, but later verification raised the figure to 12.24 million. The BIDS report, released in Dhaka, found an overall error rate of 2.95 percent—below the internationally acceptable 5 percent threshold. The highest omission rate was 5.99 percent in city corporation areas, attributed to non-cooperation from business owners. Rural areas showed a lower error rate of 2.55 percent. Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of missing institutions, while Sylhet had the fewest. Officials acknowledged challenges such as limited budgets and low enumerator honorariums but expressed satisfaction with the census quality. They emphasized the need for improved guidelines and better support for field workers in future censuses.

A 19-year-old man named Sagar Mondal was arrested in Nagarkanda, Faridpur, after allegedly posting an offensive image on Facebook that was deemed disrespectful to the holy Kaaba. The incident occurred on Monday, November 24, when the post quickly spread online, triggering anger among local residents in Shakrail village under Laskardia Union. Hundreds of people gathered in protest at the nearby Gorail Bazar, leading to rising tension in the area. Sagar, who worked as an assistant at a local pharmacy, was initially confined by locals inside the shop before police and local administration intervened. Authorities, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and police, managed to calm the situation through dialogue with residents and assured legal action. The situation is now under control, according to officials.

Zohran Mamdani, recently elected as the next mayor of New York City, has included nine Bangladeshi Americans in his transition team ahead of his January 1 inauguration. The 34-year-old politician made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. The Bangladeshi-origin members include community leaders and professionals such as Kazi Fauzia, Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Shamsul Haque, Mohammad Karim Chowdhury, Fariha Akter, Arman Chowdhury CPA, Shah Rehman, Tajin Azad, and Shyamatli Haque. Their inclusion is seen as recognition of the growing influence of the Bangladeshi community in New York politics, where nearly 98% of Bangladeshi Muslim voters reportedly supported Mamdani. Out of over 400 names on the transition list, 9 Bangladeshis, 11 Pakistanis, and 16 Indians have been identified, reflecting increased South Asian representation in the city’s political landscape.

A young man named Md. Musha, 26, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Chandina upazila of Cumilla on Sunday night after being suspected of involvement in a robbery. The incident occurred in Chandasaar village under Barkoroi Union. Police recovered the body the following day and detained three individuals for questioning. According to local sources, a mobile phone trader named Moynal Hossain had been robbed of cash and phones about ten days earlier and suspected Musha’s involvement. When Musha returned home after several days away, Moynal and others reportedly took him from his house and beat him to death. The suspects fled after the killing. Police said an investigation is underway and legal action will follow based on findings.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has announced that the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be declared in the first half of December. Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah made the announcement during a dialogue with domestic election observer organizations in Dhaka. Observers’ lists must be submitted to the EC within ten days of the schedule announcement. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin emphasized that observers must remain politically neutral and cannot be affiliated with any political party. The EC will introduce QR-coded ID cards to prevent fake observers and ensure transparency. Observers will perform duties for three days—before, during, and after the election. The EC also warned that any attempt to disrupt the transparency of the upcoming election will not be tolerated. Both the CEC and commissioners urged observers to act responsibly to ensure accountability and credibility in the electoral process.

Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan has stated that the armed forces will play a crucial role in ensuring a free, fair, and neutral national election. Speaking at the passing-out parade of the 2025 batch of new sailors at BNS Sher-e-Bangla Parade Ground in Kalapara, Patuakhali, he affirmed the Navy’s commitment to support the government and the Election Commission with utmost sincerity and professionalism. The admiral also highlighted the Navy’s ongoing contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, noting that since 1993, about 7,500 naval personnel have served in various countries, with four members sacrificing their lives for global peace. The event saw 417 new sailors officially joining the Navy after 22 weeks of rigorous training, pledging to dedicate their lives to the nation. Awards were presented to top-performing recruits for excellence in professionalism and overall performance.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in about 12,000 years, sending a massive ash plume 14 kilometers high. The eruption, which lasted several hours, blanketed nearby Afdera town in ash and caused mild tremors around Erta Ale. The Smithsonian Institution confirmed no previous Holocene-era eruptions from this volcano. The ash cloud traveled across the Red Sea, reaching Yemen, Oman, India, northern Pakistan, and even parts of China’s upper atmosphere. Local authorities reported no casualties, though the eruption may affect the livelihoods of pastoral communities in the region. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) and India Met Sky Weather noted temporary disruptions to flights over northern India, which have since normalized. Experts say the volcano lies within the tectonically active Rift Valley, where two plates meet, making it a hotspot for geological activity.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced potential candidates for 237 constituencies but has yet to finalize seat allocations for its allied parties in the joint anti-government movement. This delay has sparked frustration and mistrust among coalition partners, who claim they are falling behind in campaign activities and losing ground to local BNP leaders. Due to recent amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), each party must contest under its own symbol, complicating BNP’s seat-sharing negotiations. Smaller parties fear they cannot win independently and have urged BNP to finalize the distribution soon. Informal meetings between BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Nazrul Islam Khan with alliance representatives have been held to resolve the issue. BNP says acting chairman Tarique Rahman will make the final decision soon, while allies await his directive to move forward with campaign preparations.

Saudi Arabia has opened its first-ever bar, named 'A-12', in the capital Riyadh, marking a symbolic step in the kingdom’s ongoing social reforms. The establishment serves non-alcoholic versions of beer and other beverages, replicating the ambience of bars found abroad but without alcohol, which remains strictly prohibited in the country since 1952. The move reflects Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s broader efforts to modernize Saudi society under Vision 2030 while maintaining adherence to Islamic law. The initiative follows earlier decisions allowing limited alcohol sales to non-Muslim diplomats, and plans are underway to open two controlled liquor stores for foreign workers and diplomats by 2026. These developments indicate a gradual but cautious shift toward a more open social environment, balancing modernization with traditional restrictions.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has announced that witness testimony in the war crimes case against Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and three others will begin on December 8. The case involves allegations of crimes against humanity, including incitement, conspiracy, and the killing of six people in Kushtia. The prosecution presented its opening statement before a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other accused are Kushtia District Awami League President Sadar Uddin Khan, General Secretary Azgar Ali, and City General Secretary Ataur Rahman Ata. On November 2, the tribunal read out three formal charges against the four accused and ordered the trial to proceed. The prosecution had earlier submitted the formal charges on October 5. The tribunal’s decision marks a significant step in the ongoing process of addressing alleged wartime atrocities in Bangladesh.

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Muhammad Rashed Khan has called for strict punishment, not release, of Baul singer Abul Sarkar, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about religion that could disrupt social harmony in Bangladesh. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rashed Khan stated that Sarkar’s comments insulted the religious sentiments of Muslims and attempted to undermine communal harmony. He emphasized that while artists have freedom in their creative expression, no one has the right to speak offensively about any religion, including Islam or Hinduism. Rashed urged those advocating for Sarkar’s release to first listen to his statements, asserting that lawful punishment would deter others from making similar remarks in the future. He concluded by stressing the need for peace and unity in society, rejecting any form of religious division or controversy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion and suspension orders of 65 leaders and activists from its main party and affiliated organizations. The decision was announced through a press release on Monday night, following a review of appeals submitted by the affected individuals. According to the BNP statement, the disciplinary actions had been imposed at different times for various reasons, but were lifted after central-level consideration. The reinstated members include leaders from multiple districts such as Kushtia, Narsingdi, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Khulna, and Comilla, among others. Additionally, the suspension of Md. Mozammel Hossain Mridha, former general secretary of Majidbari Union BNP in Patuakhali’s Mirzaganj upazila, was also revoked. The party stated that the move was made in line with its internal disciplinary process and after evaluating each appeal individually. The decision is seen as part of BNP’s ongoing effort to consolidate its organizational unity ahead of future political activities.

A hawker named Al Amin was killed and another, Milon, injured in a violent altercation between popcorn and coconut sellers aboard the Ekota Express train on Monday night. The incident occurred after the train left Setabganj station in Dinajpur en route to Thakurgaon’s Pirganj. Witnesses said the dispute stemmed from a long-standing rivalry over selling rights inside the train. Al Amin, from Ulipur in Kurigram, was fatally attacked with a knife by rival hawkers identified as Akash-Sujon and Kudrat. Passengers took the injured men to Pirganj Upazila Health Complex, where Al Amin was declared dead. The attackers fled before police arrived. Passengers criticized railway authorities for poor security and lack of police patrols on trains, warning that such negligence endangers lives. Railway and local police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the perpetrators.