Traffic on the Dhaka-Barishal highway was disrupted for about two hours early Tuesday after miscreants felled trees to block the road in Kamaldi area of Rajoir upazila, Madaripur. The incident occurred around 5 a.m., halting vehicle movement and causing suffering for passengers and drivers. Police and fire service personnel from Rajoir and Mostafapur Highway stations worked jointly to remove the trees and restore normal traffic flow by 7 a.m. Authorities suspect the act may be linked to political unrest following the reported death sentence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Earlier, similar blockades were reported in several nearby locations, including Gopalpur and Melkai, where trees were also used to obstruct the highway. Law enforcement is investigating the incident to identify those responsible for the coordinated obstruction.

A major technical issue at Cloudflare caused widespread disruptions across numerous popular websites globally, including social media platform X and film review site Letterboxd. Users attempting to access affected sites encountered error messages stating that pages could not be loaded due to Cloudflare’s network problems. Cloudflare, a key internet infrastructure provider known for protecting against cyberattacks and managing heavy traffic, confirmed awareness of the issue and said investigations were underway. The outage also impacted Down Detector, a platform that tracks website disruptions, which later reported a sharp rise in outage reports worldwide. Although the exact number of affected websites remains unknown, this incident highlights the vulnerability of the internet ecosystem to single-point failures in essential infrastructure providers like Cloudflare.

A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on A.K.M. Badiul Alam, a member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) responsible for tax legal and enforcement, following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was given by Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez of the Metropolitan Sessions and Senior Special Judge’s Court on Tuesday. ACC Assistant Director Piyas Pal filed the petition, citing corruption allegations against Badiul Alam. The ACC had earlier instructed him to submit a statement of assets, which he has already done, and the verification process is ongoing. According to reliable sources, Badiul Alam was allegedly attempting to flee the country, prompting concerns that his departure could obstruct the investigation. The court therefore deemed the travel restriction necessary to ensure the integrity of the ongoing inquiry.

A World Bank delegation led by Jean Denis Pesme, Director of the bank’s Dhaka Regional Office, held a meeting with Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Tuesday, November 18. The meeting took place at the Jamaat chief’s office and included World Bank officials Mehrin A. Mahbub, Economic Adviser, and Gaelle Martin, Operations Manager. On the Jamaat side, economist Dr. Mizanur Rahman, former senior secretary Muhammad Safiullah, and foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were present. Discussions focused on Bangladesh’s financial sector reforms, sustainable economic growth, taxation systems, and social sector development. The meeting reflected an exchange of views on the country’s ongoing economic challenges and potential areas for structural improvement, though no specific agreements or commitments were publicly disclosed.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh has revoked the gazette recognition of 53 individuals listed as 'July Fighters' from the Rangpur division following allegations of irregularities and inconsistencies. The decision, signed by Deputy Secretary (Gazette) Haridas Thakur, was announced on Monday and takes immediate effect under the authority granted by the July Uprising Martyrs and Fighters Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance, 2025. Ministry adviser Faruk E Azam stated that earlier gazette lists were under review after reports suggested that some listed individuals were not actually injured or involved in the July 2024 movement. This marks the first time the ministry has canceled a 'July Fighter' gazette, though it had previously removed eight names from the martyrs’ list on August 3. Currently, the official count stands at 836 martyrs and 13,800 injured fighters categorized as severely, moderately, or lightly injured.

Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has expressed optimism that the country’s 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held in the first half of February. He made the remarks during a meeting with German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The discussion covered post-verdict public reactions to Sheikh Hasina’s trial, election preparations, prisoner extradition, cybercrime, and overall law and order. The adviser emphasized that the Election Commission will determine the exact date, but law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to ensure security. He assured that the law and order situation remains stable, with only minor isolated incidents reported. Chowdhury also noted that crime levels are under control and citizens now enjoy greater freedom of expression compared to the previous 15 years. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Germany.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has issued a public notice instructing individuals and organizations to remove all illegally installed banners, festoons, posters, and advertising boards within seven days. The directive, announced on Tuesday, November 18, emphasizes that many such materials have been placed across rooftops, walls, and public spaces without proper authorization. DNCC has urged responsible parties to take down these items voluntarily within the stipulated time frame. Failure to comply will result in eviction drives, fines, and other legal actions as per municipal regulations. The move aims to restore visual order and ensure compliance with city advertising laws, which prohibit unauthorized promotional displays in public and private spaces under DNCC jurisdiction.

The British High Commission in Dhaka has issued a warning stating that applicants submitting forged or falsified documents when applying for a UK visa may face a 10-year ban from obtaining any UK visa. The advisory urges all applicants to ensure that only genuine and verifiable documents are submitted during the visa application process. The High Commission emphasized that the UK authorities maintain a strict verification process and that any attempt to deceive or manipulate the system could lead to severe consequences, including long-term travel restrictions. The notice aims to raise awareness among Bangladeshi applicants about the importance of honesty and transparency in visa applications and to prevent fraudulent practices that could damage their chances of future travel to the United Kingdom.

Four central student unions from Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, and Chittagong University have jointly demanded the dismissal of teachers who publicly supported former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity. The unions—DUCSU, JUCSU, RUCSU, and CUCSU—issued a 10-working-day ultimatum to the respective university administrations to terminate the teachers involved. They warned of large-scale student protests if the demand is not met. The unions described the tribunal’s verdict as a landmark step toward justice and accused the pro-Hasina teachers of disrespecting the court’s ruling and dishonoring the victims of the July Revolution. They also alleged that the teachers’ statement contained forged signatures and called for an immediate investigation. Students have been urged to boycott classes and exams conducted by those teachers and to socially and academically resist them.

The Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of one cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Singapore at a cost of approximately Tk 490 crore. The decision was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed. Petrobangla invited bids from 24 companies with existing Master Sale and Purchase Agreements (MSPA), and four firms submitted offers. BP Singapore Private Limited emerged as the lowest bidder, offering LNG at a rate of USD 11.64 per MMBtu. The cargo, totaling about 3.36 million MMBtu, will be imported through the international spot market. Officials said the procurement aims to ensure adequate energy supply amid rising domestic demand and global fuel price fluctuations. The approval reflects Bangladesh’s continued reliance on imported LNG to meet its growing energy needs.

Iran has suspended its visa-free entry facility for Indian citizens following a surge in human trafficking and fraudulent job offers targeting Indians. The new rule, effective from November 22, requires all Indian travelers, including those transiting through Iran, to obtain a visa in advance. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Iranian government’s decision aims to curb trafficking networks exploiting visa-free access to lure Indians with promises of high-paying jobs or easy routes to Gulf and European countries. Investigations revealed that many victims were kidnapped or held for ransom upon arrival in Iran. The Indian government had earlier warned citizens about fake job agents misusing the visa-free policy, which was originally introduced in February last year to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote tourism. Under the previous arrangement, Indian passport holders could visit Iran for up to 15 days every six months without a visa. Tehran’s move reflects growing concern over the misuse of this facility by criminal syndicates.

Dhaka University Deputy Registrar Lavlu Mollah Shishir has been sent to jail after a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate denied his bail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He was arrested for allegedly financing a banned Awami League procession held in Shahbagh, Dhaka. Police stated that evidence linked him to funding the rally, which was organized in defiance of restrictions and aimed at spreading propaganda against the interim government. Additionally, authorities noted that following a court verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity, Lavlu posted a controversial photo card on Facebook expressing political slogans. He was detained shortly afterward. The case was filed on June 1, and the incident reportedly occurred on May 31 in the Paribagh area. Lavlu, a former president of the banned Chhatra League’s Surya Sen Hall unit, remains in custody pending further investigation.

US President Donald Trump has organized a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the prince’s first visit to the United States since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting aims to strengthen long-standing cooperation between the two nations in energy and security sectors. According to Punchbowl News, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and golfer Tiger Woods were invited to the dinner, though it remains unclear whether Musk accepted the invitation. Once close allies, Trump and Musk’s relationship soured after disagreements over a tax and spending bill in June, leading Musk to resign from his government post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The dinner is seen as both a diplomatic gesture and a test of Trump’s ability to rebuild personal and political alliances.

Relatives of those killed during the July uprising in Bangladesh have expressed satisfaction following the court verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for alleged murder and crimes against humanity. Family members of the martyrs, speaking from various districts including Chattogram, Patuakhali, Magura, and Jamalpur, said they finally felt a sense of peace after years of grief but insisted that true justice would only be served once the verdict is executed. Many voiced concern about whether the sentence would be carried out, urging the interim government to bring Hasina back from India and implement the ruling without delay. Parents and spouses of the victims described the verdict as the first step toward justice and closure for their loved ones, emphasizing that they want to see the execution during the current administration. Several families also visited the graves of the deceased to pray for their souls after hearing the judgment.

The Bangladesh Election Commission has released the final voter list for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, confirming a total of 127,695,183 eligible voters. The announcement was made by Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed at the Election Commission office in Agargaon. The updated list includes 64,814,907 male voters, 62,879,042 female voters, and 1,234 third-gender voters. Compared to the draft list published on November 3, both male and female voter numbers have increased slightly, with female voter growth at 4.16% and male voter growth at 2.29%. Individuals who turned 18 by October 31, 2025, have been added to the list, allowing many to vote for the first time in the upcoming election. The finalization of the voter list marks a key step in the preparation for the national polls, ensuring transparency and inclusiveness in the electoral process.