Bangladeshi actor Monowar Hossain Dipjol and his associate Md Faisal have been accused in a new attempted murder case filed by the husband of one of Dipjol’s female fans. The case was lodged on November 13 at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the matter. The plaintiff alleged that Dipjol and his associates threatened his family to withdraw a previous assault and acid attack case filed in July. He further claimed that on November 1, he was lured to a building in Shanir Akhra, where Dipjol and Faisal allegedly beat him and attempted to kill him for refusing to withdraw the earlier case. The attackers also reportedly robbed him of cash before fleeing. The plaintiff said police initially refused to register his complaint, prompting him to seek court intervention. PBI is currently investigating the incident.

Seven activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were injured in an alleged cocktail explosion on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway on Thursday morning. The victims were admitted to the Shibchar Upazila Health Complex for treatment. According to the injured, the attackers were supporters of the ruling Awami League. They claimed that the assailants attempted to block traffic by felling trees on the expressway, and when BNP activists tried to intervene, they were attacked with explosive devices. Local BNP leader Shahjahan Molla Saju accused masked assailants affiliated with the Awami League of carrying out the attack. Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the incident.

A Bangladeshi robotics team named 'Team BengalBoat' is set to represent Bangladesh at the prestigious 'RoboBoat 2026' competition in Florida, USA, organized under the supervision of the US Navy. The team, comprising 34 members including mentors from KUET and RUET, has developed an autonomous surface vehicle named 'Tori 1.0'. The innovation aims to highlight Bangladesh’s growing technological capabilities and its potential in the blue economy. Ahead of the competition, a robotics workshop was held at Victoria High School in Sreemangal with participation from 200 students, focusing on hands-on learning about circuits, sensors, and autonomous navigation. The initiative reflects the increasing interest of Bangladeshi youth in robotics and marine technology, with hopes of positioning the country as a future leader in ocean-based innovation.

The University of Dhaka has extended the online application deadline for undergraduate (honours) first-year admission for the 2025–2026 academic session by three days. According to a notice published on the university’s admission website on Thursday, the application period, which began on October 29 at noon and was originally set to end on November 16 at 11:59 p.m., will now continue until midnight on November 19. The extension was made to accommodate students whose eligibility might change after the publication of the re-evaluation results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations on November 16. All other admission-related dates will remain unchanged, the notice added.

Pakistan’s army and the United Arab Emirates’ Presidential Guard have completed a two-week joint anti-terrorism exercise named 'Zalmud-1' in Tarbela, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The drill primarily focused on hostage rescue operations and enhancing counterterrorism coordination between the two forces. According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), units from Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG) and the UAE Presidential Guard participated in the exercise. The closing ceremony was attended by the SSG’s General Officer Commanding as the chief guest, along with senior Emirati military officials and diplomats. The exercise aimed to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and improve joint operational capabilities in counterterrorism missions.

Five members of Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies, including two from the Dhaka North Detective Branch (DB) and three from RAB-10, have been suspended and jailed for allegedly robbing Tk 6.5 million from a gold trader in Savar. The suspects, posing as DB officers, intercepted the trader in Munshiganj’s Srinagar area on November 7 and seized his cash and phone. Following a detailed investigation using CCTV footage from the Mawa Expressway, police identified the microbus used in the robbery and arrested its driver, Kabir Hossain, along with the accused officers. The incident has caused embarrassment within the police administration, as initial findings confirmed the involvement of active law enforcement personnel in the crime. Authorities have assured that departmental and legal actions are underway.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin stated that the Election Commission (EC) will review and discuss the proposal announced by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to hold the national parliamentary election and a referendum on the July Charter on the same day. Speaking to reporters during a dialogue with political parties, the CEC said he had not yet heard the adviser’s full speech and therefore could not comment on the matter. He emphasized that the EC would form an opinion only after formally receiving details of the proposal and analyzing its feasibility. The CEC refrained from making any immediate statement, saying it would be premature to comment without proper understanding of the proposal’s scope and implications.

In Jhenaidah, Bangladesh, agitated students and locals demolished the 'One Finger' monument of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Shadhinata Chattar on Thursday morning. According to eyewitnesses, members of an anti-discrimination student movement carried out the demolition using a bulldozer during a protest against the Awami League’s lockdown announcement, vehicle arson, and political unrest. The monument, previously damaged during protests on August 5, was completely destroyed this time. Police confirmed the incident and said they visited the site for investigation. The destruction reflects escalating tensions between student groups and political authorities amid ongoing demonstrations across the region.

During a White House meeting on November 10, U.S. President Donald Trump sprayed his own brand of perfume on Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Shara, jokingly asking how many wives he had. The lighthearted exchange, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions—some calling it an awkward breach of protocol, others viewing it as Trump’s trademark humor. The meeting, the first between U.S. and Syrian leaders since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, focused on post-war stability, U.S. troop withdrawal, and reconstruction. Al-Shara, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani and once labeled a global terrorist, now seeks international legitimacy. Analysts say the encounter marked a historic step in rebuilding U.S.-Syria relations, though the ‘perfume moment’ overshadowed the diplomatic agenda.

A week after announcing a list of 237 potential candidates, Bangladesh’s main opposition party BNP has not yet finalized its seat-sharing arrangements with allied parties, causing dissatisfaction among partners. BNP leaders fear that many of their potential candidates have already begun campaigning in constituencies eyed by allies, which could lead to conflicts or independent candidacies if seats are later reassigned. The BNP’s liaison committee has started formal meetings with alliance partners, including the Nationalist Like-minded Alliance and the 12-Party Alliance, to settle the issue. Preliminary discussions suggest around 22 seats may be allocated to various allied groups such as Ganatantra Mancha, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and others. Party insiders say some allies have received informal assurances, while BNP may offer organizational roles to those excluded from the final list.

Scientists have warned that multiple geomagnetic storms are striking Earth this week, following several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) classified the event as a G4-level geomagnetic storm, indicating severe intensity. The storms have already caused temporary radio blackouts in parts of Africa and Europe and may disrupt satellite communications and power grids. However, they have also produced spectacular aurora displays visible across regions of the United States, Canada, and northern Europe. The solar activity is part of the Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle, currently at its peak, which has led to frequent auroral sightings in recent months. While not directly harmful to humans, such storms can interfere with GPS navigation, aviation communication, and satellite operations.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn expulsion and suspension orders previously issued against 17 of its leaders for alleged breaches of party discipline and principles. According to a press release signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday, the decision was made following appeals from the affected leaders and consultation with senior party figures. The reinstated members include leaders from Narayanganj, Gazipur, Dinajpur, Habiganj, Bhola, Chapainawabganj, Chattogram, Noakhali, and Cumilla districts. Among them are several thana and upazila-level BNP and Jubo Dal leaders. Additionally, the suspension of the president and general secretary of Habiganj’s Baniachang upazila BNP has also been lifted, restoring their primary and organizational memberships within the party.

Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology has issued warnings for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, flash floods, and hail expected to hit several regions over the weekend. The most intense weather is forecast for Jazan, while Asir, Al Baha, and Mecca will experience moderate to heavy thunderstorms. Lighter rain is expected in Najran, Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Medina. Strong surface winds and dust storms may reduce visibility, and fog could develop overnight in southwestern and eastern areas. Maritime conditions are also set to worsen, with waves reaching up to 2.5 meters in the southern Red Sea and 1.5 meters in the Arabian Gulf. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert, avoid flood-prone zones, and follow official weather updates as unstable seasonal patterns persist.

Former President Donald Trump defended the use of H-1B visas in a recent Fox News interview, arguing that the United States must bring in foreign workers with specialized skills that some American workers currently lack. He said that while the U.S. has many talented people, certain industries—such as automotive and artificial intelligence—require expertise that cannot always be sourced domestically. Trump’s remarks contrast with his previous hardline immigration stance, which included raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000. The comments come amid ongoing debate among his allies, including Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, over balancing immigration restrictions with the need for global talent. Trump also reiterated support for temporary work permits for immigrant farmworkers, citing labor shortages in agriculture.

The government has appointed Professor Ali Riaz, former vice-chairman of the recently expired National Consensus Commission, as the special assistant to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday, signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, confirming the appointment. In his new role, Riaz will enjoy the status, salary, and privileges equivalent to that of an adviser. Professor Riaz, a distinguished professor of politics and government at Illinois State University in the United States, previously led the Constitutional Reform Commission formed after the July uprising and later served as vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission. He played a key role in the commission’s dialogues with political parties on reform issues before its term ended on October 31.