Bangladeshi filmmaker and cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki described his first four days in government as 'uncomfortable' following public criticism over the arrest of a Baul singer. In a detailed Facebook post, Farooki said he immediately contacted the Home Ministry after learning of the arrest and was informed about the situation’s sensitivity. He clarified that law enforcement matters fall under the Home Ministry, not his ministry, and urged patience and communal harmony. Addressing critics, Farooki defended his ministry’s inclusive cultural initiatives, such as celebrating Lalon Shah and organizing multi-faith festivals, saying these reflect the vision of a 'new Bangladesh.' He also dismissed accusations of hypocrisy, noting that attacks on Bauls predate the current administration. Responding to mockery over government drone shows, he argued that such displays are now a global norm in major events and part of media evolution. Farooki concluded that his ministry will continue promoting pluralism despite discomfort or criticism.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has suggested that the country’s borders could change in the future, hinting that Pakistan’s Sindh province might one day become part of India again. Speaking at an event for the Indian diaspora in Morocco, Singh said that although Sindh is currently part of Pakistan, it remains culturally tied to India. He referred to the sentiments of Sindhi Hindus, including the generation of veteran leader L.K. Advani, who never accepted the separation of Sindh during the 1947 Partition. Singh emphasized the spiritual significance of the Indus River to Hindus and noted that even many Muslims in Sindh considered its waters sacred. His remarks, linking cultural unity with potential territorial change, have drawn attention amid sensitive India-Pakistan relations and ongoing debates over historical and cultural identity.

Bangladesh’s under-17 football team delivered a commanding 8–0 victory over Brunei Darussalam in their second Group A match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers held in Chongqing, China. Following a 5–0 win against Timor-Leste in their opening match, the young Bangladesh side continued their impressive form. Rifat Kazi and Apu Rahman each scored twice, while Manik, Bayezid, Faisal, and Alif added one goal apiece. Coach Golam Rabbani Choton praised his players for maintaining an aggressive and positive approach throughout the match, which helped them create and convert multiple scoring chances. With two consecutive wins, Bangladesh now stands in a strong position in the group that includes hosts China, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, and Bahrain. The group winners will qualify for the final tournament in Saudi Arabia next year. Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka in their next match on Wednesday, while Brunei will play against China.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 21 bank accounts belonging to former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, his two children, and related parties. The order came on Monday, November 24, following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to court officials, the accounts collectively hold about Tk 10.38 crore. The ACC’s assistant director and investigating officer, Md Ferdous Rahman, sought the freeze to prevent the transfer or misuse of assets suspected to be linked to corruption. The ACC earlier filed a case against Taposh on January 5, alleging that he illegally amassed Tk 73.19 crore through abuse of power. Investigations revealed that between 2013 and 2024, Taposh conducted transactions totaling over Tk 539 crore across 27 bank accounts, including foreign currency dealings amounting to over USD 500,000. The court’s latest order aims to secure the assets while the corruption probe continues.

Police in Bhanga, Faridpur, have arrested former Union Awami League general secretary Touhidur Rahman Bulbul under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The arrest took place early Monday morning, November 24, in the Harirhat Bazar area of Algi Union. According to Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ashraf Hossain, Bulbul allegedly led a large group of people to block the Dhaka-Khulna highway, using local weapons, felling trees, and setting fires. Following the incident, police filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Bulbul was later sent to jail custody. In a separate case, police also arrested another suspect, Limas Sheikh, in connection with human trafficking charges. Both detainees have been remanded to judicial custody as investigations continue. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the motive behind the highway blockade or the scale of the damage caused during the incident.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has imposed a ban on motorcycle rallies during election campaigns ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision follows several accidents involving motorcycle processions organized by Jamaat-nominated candidates in different parts of the country. In a statement released to the media on Monday, the party’s Secretary General, Professor Mia Golam Porwar, announced that the party’s Amir had decided to prohibit all motorcycle rallies and processions in district and metropolitan constituencies. The move aims to ensure safety and prevent further incidents during campaign activities. Jamaat leaders have also instructed local units to comply strictly with the directive while continuing other forms of campaign outreach. The ban reflects the party’s effort to maintain discipline and avoid negative publicity during the election period.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of 36 bighas of land in Gazipur owned by Salman F Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz issued the order following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court also froze an IFIC Bank account containing Tk 54.66 crore under Rahman’s name. The ACC alleged that Rahman and others attempted to transfer or conceal assets linked to a major fraud case. The case, filed on April 20, accuses 30 individuals, including former BSEC chairman Shibli Rubaiyat-ul-Islam, of embezzling around Tk 800 crore by fraudulently overvaluing mortgaged property to raise funds through bonds. The ACC claims the accused misused authority and manipulated valuations, inflating land worth Tk 87 crore to Tk 1,020 crore, and later diverted funds to Beximco Group and related entities.

At least six people were killed and 28 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district on Monday, according to NDTV. Police said one bus was traveling from Madurai to Sengottai, while the other was heading toward Kovilpatti when the collision occurred. The impact left both vehicles severely damaged. Several of the injured passengers were taken to a local hospital, with officials reporting that some remain in critical condition. Preliminary investigations suggest that the Madurai–Sengottai-bound bus, operated by Kesar, was speeding and driving recklessly, which likely caused the crash. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed local authorities to ensure proper medical care for the injured. Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The United States and Ukraine have agreed to continue discussions on a revised peace framework aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. Following a meeting in Geneva on November 23, both nations issued a joint statement confirming that earlier concerns in the draft proposal had been addressed, though details remain undisclosed. The White House said the new framework aligns with Ukraine’s national interests, but Kyiv has yet to issue its own statement. Despite uncertainty over how Ukraine’s security will be ensured against continued Russian threats, both sides pledged to intensify negotiations before Thursday’s deadline. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the delegation and has returned to Washington. President Donald Trump has pressured Ukraine to reach a deal quickly, criticizing Kyiv’s lack of gratitude for US support. Meanwhile, European nations have presented a counterproposal offering NATO-style security assurances with fewer territorial concessions. The talks occur as Russia advances in some regions and Ukraine faces domestic corruption scandals and infrastructure attacks.

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has dismissed several senior officers and reprimanded others for their roles in the military’s failure to prevent and respond effectively to Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, 2023. The internal investigation found major shortcomings in preparedness and operational response, particularly within the intelligence, operations, and southern command divisions. Some officers were released from reserve duties, one was told his career was over, and another resigned voluntarily. Halevi described the incident as a grave and systemic failure, emphasizing that the lessons learned would guide the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the future. Public pressure for accountability continues to mount, with thousands protesting in Tel Aviv demanding a national inquiry. The October 7 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths, according to Gaza health authorities.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka with infections in her heart and lungs. According to Professor Dr. FM Siddiqui, a member of her medical board, the former prime minister had been suffering from frequent infections in recent months, and her condition worsened due to simultaneous heart and chest complications. Khaleda Zia, who already has a pacemaker and a history of heart procedures, is now under 24-hour intensive observation. The medical team, led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, includes local and international specialists, with some joining virtually from London and the United States. Initial tests have been completed, and she is receiving antibiotics and emergency treatment. Doctors said the next 12 hours will be crucial in determining her progress. Her personal physician, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, stated that she is receiving the highest level of medical attention and that there is no immediate cause for extreme concern.

The High Court of Bangladesh has released a full verdict stating that the government, not pharmaceutical companies, will determine the prices of life-saving medicines. The ruling, published on November 24, follows a public interest litigation filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh against a 2018 circular that limited the government’s authority to price only 117 essential drugs. The court, led by Justices Rezaul Hasan and Biswajit Debnath, declared the circular illegal and directed relevant authorities to fix and publish the prices of life-saving drugs in the official gazette. The petitioners argued that restricting government control over drug pricing infringes upon citizens’ right to life and health. The decision reinstates the government’s full authority under the 1982 Drug Control Ordinance, reversing earlier limitations imposed in 1994 that allowed manufacturers to set prices for most medicines.

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon expressed deep concern over Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels while promoting her upcoming film 'Tere Ishq Mein'. Speaking at the event, she noted that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had exceeded 430, posing severe health risks. Sanon said the toxic air quality has become a serious issue that demands immediate attention. The worsening pollution has already disrupted several film shoots in Delhi, including the postponement of her film 'Cocktail 2', which also stars Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. The actress urged authorities and citizens to take collective responsibility and implement effective measures before the situation deteriorates further. Kriti Sanon will next appear opposite South Indian actor Dhanush in director Aanand L. Rai’s 'Tere Ishq Mein'.

Two young men were killed and another injured in a motorcycle accident caused by reckless speeding in Bogura’s Sherpur upazila on Sunday night. The victims, Mehedi Hasan and Shahabul Hasan, both 20, were riding with their friend Utsab Biswas when the motorcycle lost control and crashed into a shop shutter at Fulbari Bazar in Garidah union. Locals rescued the trio and took them to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, where Mehedi and Shahabul died while undergoing treatment. Police confirmed that the bodies were handed over to their families after legal formalities, and a case has been filed under the Road Transport Act. Utsab, who survived with minor injuries, stated that Shahabul was driving at high speed when the accident occurred. The victims had recently completed their higher secondary exams. Hours before the crash, Shahabul posted a cryptic Facebook status that later went viral, prompting emotional reactions online.

At the inauguration of the e-Family Court in Dhaka, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Law Adviser to the interim government’s Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, cautioned that excessive reforms could weaken the state structure. He emphasized that reforms must be sustainable and contextually appropriate, noting that constitutional change alone does not define reform. The new e-Family Court system will allow case filing, document management, hearings, and verdicts to be conducted online, aiming to reduce corruption, costs, and delays. Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the challenges faced by litigants in traditional courts and expressed optimism that the digital system would improve access to justice if technical issues are avoided. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on ICT, Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, announced that the e-Family Court operations have begun in both Dhaka and Chattogram, which is expected to ease case backlogs and save time and resources. Several senior judicial and government officials attended the event.