The Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Coordinated Council has warned of large-scale protests if the National Pay Commission fails to submit its recommendations for a new pay scale by November 30. Council President Badiul Kabir stated that employees are united and ready to launch greater movements if their demands are not met. The Pay Commission, chaired by Zakir Ahmed Khan, held a meeting on Monday with secretaries from various ministries to review pay structures for government, semi-government, autonomous, and state-owned institutions. The commission aims to finalize recommendations for salary, allowances, and benefits based on these reviews. Although the commission is expected to submit its final report by late December, Kabir insisted that at least a summary should be submitted within the set deadline. If the recommendations are delayed, a mass rally on December 5 will announce further protest programs.

A construction worker named Parvez, aged 30, was allegedly beaten to death in Sonachora area of Bandar upazila, Narayanganj, after being accused of stealing electrical wires. The incident occurred on Monday morning at the residence of a man named Mesbah Uddin. According to police, Parvez’s body was recovered and sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy. His wife, Khadija Begum, claimed her husband was innocent and worked as a construction laborer, not a thief. She alleged that he was falsely accused and brutally assaulted to death. Bandar Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Liakat Ali, confirmed that legal proceedings are underway and efforts are being made to arrest those involved. The incident has sparked outrage in the local community, with demands for justice and accountability against mob violence.

India faces the prospect of a humiliating home series defeat after South Africa’s commanding performance in the second Test in Guwahati. Following a crushing loss in the first Test at Eden Gardens, India again struggled against the Proteas’ pace and spin attack. South Africa posted a formidable 489 in their first innings, led by Senuran Muthusamy’s 109 and Marco Jansen’s 93. In reply, India collapsed for 201, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 58 and Washington Sundar adding 48. Jansen starred with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 48, while Simon Harmer claimed 3 for 64. South Africa opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on, reaching 26 without loss at stumps on Day 3, extending their lead to 314 runs. With India trailing heavily, captain Rishabh Pant’s side now faces an uphill battle to avoid a series whitewash at home.

Bangladeshi film director Ananya Mamun has called for a fair trial for Baul singer Abul Sarkar, who is currently in jail over allegations of making derogatory remarks about Islam and Allah during a musical performance in Manikganj. In a Facebook post, Mamun stated that no artist should be exempted from legal consequences for hurting religious sentiments and emphasized that Sarkar’s comments were highly offensive. The controversy began after a video of Sarkar’s performance went viral, sparking widespread outrage on social media and prompting protests by Islamic groups demanding his arrest. Police detained Sarkar in Madaripur and later presented him before a Manikganj court, which ordered his imprisonment. The case, filed by a local imam, accuses Sarkar of distorting Quranic verses and misleading followers under the guise of being a spiritual leader. Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of assets worth approximately Tk 44.78 crore belonging to Nazrul Islam Majumder, chairman of NASA Group, amid ongoing allegations of amassing wealth beyond known income sources. The order, issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez, includes a 39.75-katha plot in Gulshan and 487 decimals of land in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon and Dhaka’s Ashulia. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the petition, alleging that Majumder abused his power to acquire assets worth over Tk 781 crore through bribery and corruption. Authorities argued that Majumder was attempting to sell properties under the pretext of paying workers and settling company dues, which could harm state interests before case resolution. Earlier, on November 18, assets worth Tk 180 crore and several bank accounts were frozen. The latest order aims to prevent further transfer or sale of the disputed properties until the corruption case is resolved.

Following a series of mild tremors in Bangladesh after a 5.7-magnitude quake, global attention has turned to countries with minimal earthquake risk. According to seismic data, nations far from major tectonic fault lines experience very few or no natural earthquakes. Among them, Chad and Niger in Central Africa face extremely low seismic risk, though they remain vulnerable to floods, droughts, and wildfires. Similarly, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in West Africa rarely experience quakes but contend with climate-related hazards. In Europe, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, and Ireland are among the safest countries, with fault lines located over 1,000 kilometers away. Finland occasionally experiences minor, human-induced tremors due to mining activities. The Bahamas, though distant from the Caribbean fault line, faces coastal flooding and hurricanes. In South America, Uruguay’s distance from major fault zones makes earthquakes rare, though flooding remains a concern. These nations exemplify regions where seismic stability contrasts with other environmental risks.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, is deteriorating rapidly due to rising salinity and the impacts of climate change. Cracks, peeling lime plaster, and salt deposits are visible on the mosque’s walls, domes, and especially the mihrab. Studies by Khulna University, the National Geographic Society, and ICOMOS reveal that temperature rise, industrial pollution, monsoon humidity, and groundwater salinity are accelerating the damage. The Department of Archaeology has formed a five-member expert committee led by former Director General Dr. Md. Shafiqul Alam to assess the structure, which found the mihrab at risk of collapse. Corrosion in iron clamps has weakened the building’s load-bearing capacity. Regional Director Lovely Yasmin stated that with UNESCO’s assistance, a detailed decay map will be created, and international experts will join urgent conservation efforts. Experts warn that without immediate action, the mosque could be declared an ‘endangered world heritage site,’ posing a significant cultural loss for Bangladesh.

A Dhaka Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant against Md. Shahabuddin Alam, chairman of SA Group of Industries, for selling substandard milk powder under the brand 'Goalini Daily Full Cream Milk Powder'. The warrant was issued after Alam failed to appear in court on the scheduled date of November 24. Laboratory tests revealed severe adulteration, showing only 9.5% protein instead of the required 34%, and 7.58% milk fat instead of the standard 42%. The case was filed by Kamrul Hasan, a sanitary inspector of Dhaka South City Corporation, who collected a one-kilogram sample of the product for testing. The Public Health Food Testing Laboratory certified the product as substandard in a report dated October 21, 2025. The court accepted the case on November 3, naming Alam as the prime accused. SA Group has been packaging and marketing the product in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that media reform will be a top priority if the party comes to power. Speaking at a discussion on the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission, he emphasized that true reform must come from within and be embraced sincerely. Fakhrul criticized divisions among journalists, alleging that some have aligned themselves with political interests, which in the past contributed to protecting authoritarian tendencies. He reiterated BNP’s commitment to establishing an independent and responsible media environment, referring to the party’s 31-point program that includes the formation of a media reform commission. The BNP leader underscored that ensuring press freedom and professional integrity would be central to the party’s governance agenda.

A Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed four people and injured 17 others, local officials confirmed on Sunday. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the situation as dire, noting that despite ongoing peace discussions in Geneva involving U.S., Ukrainian, and European representatives, Russian forces continue to target civilian infrastructure and residential areas. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that among the injured were two children aged 11 and 12, and fires broke out in three residential buildings and one infrastructure site. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said significant progress was made in the Geneva talks. U.S. President Donald Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his proposed 28-point peace plan, which reportedly requires Ukraine to cede territory, reduce its military, and pledge not to join NATO. Ukraine, however, has requested revisions to the draft proposal.

Bangladesh’s Attorney General, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, has stated that any law that suppresses journalists and restricts freedom of expression should be abolished. Speaking at the launch of a report titled ‘Freedom of the Press in Bangladesh: Experiences with the Digital Security Act’ in Dhaka, he indicated that all cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) could be dismissed by December. Asaduzzaman emphasized that repealing the law alone is not enough; the next government must also abandon repressive practices against the media. He criticized the ruling Awami League for introducing the DSA after repealing Section 57 of the ICT Act, calling it a deception against the public. His remarks reflect growing calls from rights groups and media organizations to ensure genuine press freedom and end the misuse of restrictive laws against journalists.

A fire erupted at a blanket warehouse located on the fifth floor of a multi-story building in Chattogram’s Kadamtali area on Monday afternoon. According to Fire Service officials, seven units were dispatched to the scene to bring the blaze under control. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. at the Chairman Building near the Pora Mosque under Kotwali Police Station. Assistant Deputy Director of Agrabad Fire Station, Alamgir Hossain, confirmed the deployment but said the cause of the fire was not immediately known. Despite fire service efforts, local witnesses reported that flames continued to burn intensely for some time. No casualties or property damage estimates were immediately available. Authorities are investigating the source of the fire and assessing the extent of losses.

Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The appointment, effective immediately, was confirmed through an official notification issued on Sunday, November 23, by the Ministry of Education under the directive of the President and Chancellor. Dr. Rahman will serve a four-year term under the Private University Act 2010. With over 35 years of academic experience, he has previously served as Chairman of the Marketing Department, as well as a member of the Syndicate and Senate at Dhaka University. He also held positions as Dean at Daffodil International University and taught as adjunct faculty at several leading private universities. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Rahman has published over 35 papers and supervised multiple MPhil and PhD candidates. He currently chairs the North South Society and serves as an independent director and strategic advisor in various organizations.

The Bangladesh Assistant Upazila Education Officers Association has announced plans for intensified protests if their demand to upgrade their position from the 10th to the 9th grade is not met by December 5. At a sit-in held in front of the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur, Dhaka, the association’s leaders argued that the promotion would not require additional government expenditure since most officers already receive higher-grade pay through time scale or selection grade benefits. They emphasized that the upgrade would enhance administrative authority, social recognition, and motivation among officers who often serve 25–30 years without promotion. The association highlighted disparities with other equivalent upazila-level officers who have already been promoted to the 9th grade. They warned that failure to implement the upgrade could disrupt administrative discipline and weaken oversight in primary education management. The organization urged the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to fulfill this long-standing demand to ensure fairness and efficiency in the education system.

BNP central executive committee member and former Dhaka University Chhatra Dal president Hasan Al Mamun has announced his intention to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa-Dashmina), even though he has not received the party’s nomination under the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol. Mamun confirmed his decision to the media and urged local party activists via Facebook to prepare for the election. The BNP has announced candidates for 237 constituencies, leaving 63 seats, including Patuakhali-3, unassigned. Speculation suggests the BNP may leave the seat for Nurul Haque Nur, leader of the Citizens’ Rights Movement. Mamun, however, remains optimistic about receiving the nomination, citing his long-standing dedication and sacrifices for the party. Local BNP leaders reportedly support him, emphasizing that the seat has been out of BNP’s control for 46 years and should not be conceded again. Other candidates in the constituency include Jamaat-e-Islami’s Professor Muhammad Shah-Alam and Islami Andolan’s Hafiz Mufti Abu Bakar Siddiq.