Awami League activists blocked the Dhaka-Bhanga highway in Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila early Sunday by felling trees and obstructing traffic near the Suyadi bus stand in Algi Union. The blockade, which began around 6 a.m. and lasted for about an hour, was carried out by several party members reportedly armed with local weapons. Law enforcement personnel quickly arrived at the scene, removed the trees, and restored normal traffic flow. Police later arrested 14 individuals from the Suyadi and Munsurabad areas in connection with the incident. Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ashraf Hossain confirmed that five of the detainees were held in Bhanga and that highway patrols have been intensified to prevent further disruptions. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the blockade and assessing potential political implications.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui appeared before a Dhaka court on Sunday after being released on bail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act by Shahbagh Police Station. His younger brother, Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, accompanied him to the court. The case was scheduled for submission of the investigation report, but the investigating officer failed to present it, prompting the court to set December 30 as the next date. Citing Latif Siddiqui’s advanced age of 86 and poor health, his lawyer Rezaul Karim Hiron requested permission for him to appear through legal representation, which the court approved. Earlier, Siddiqui and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna were granted interim bail by the High Court, later upheld by the Appellate Division, leading to their release from prison. The case stems from their arrest on August 28 at a Dhaka Reporters Unity event under anti-terrorism charges.

The Dhaka Education Board has released the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exam re-evaluation for 2024. Following the review, 201 students who previously did not achieve the highest grade have now obtained GPA-5, while 308 students who had failed have passed. A total of 89,671 students applied for re-evaluation, resulting in changes for 2,331 students and grade adjustments for 2,373. The original HSC results, published on October 16, showed a pass rate of 58.83% across 11 education boards, with 69,097 students achieving GPA-5. This marks a significant decline compared to the previous year’s 77.78% pass rate and 145,911 GPA-5 achievers. The re-evaluation results were announced on Sunday, November 16, at 10 a.m., and are available online through the respective education boards’ websites as well as via SMS notifications sent to applicants.

An international forensic expert team is set to arrive in Bangladesh on December 5 to assist in identifying the martyrs buried in the Rayerbazar mass grave from the July uprising. Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan announced the plan during his visit to the graveyard on November 16. The identification process will begin on December 7, with both local and foreign specialists working together in a temporary morgue to determine the identities of the victims. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will serve as the implementing agency for the project. Authorities hope the initiative will help confirm the identities of all those who lost their lives during the uprising and include them in the official list of martyrs.

A Grameen Bank branch in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila was attacked with petrol bombs late Saturday night, causing damage but no injuries. According to branch manager Rehena Begum, around seven to eight unidentified youths threw three petrol bombs at the Maona Bazar branch around 2:30 a.m. One bomb exploded inside the boundary wall, while two others detonated nearby, burning the bank’s signboard and some important documents. Staff members staying overnight managed to control the fire with help from locals. Police later visited the scene and launched an investigation. Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Abdul Barik stated that the attack was likely carried out using a vehicle and assured that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities confirmed that the overall structural damage was limited and no one was harmed in the incident.

Tensions between Japan and China have intensified following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that Japan could deploy its Self-Defense Forces if China attacks Taiwan. Beijing summoned Japan’s ambassador to lodge a strong protest and urged Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. The dispute began after Takaichi’s comments during a parliamentary session, where she said that the use of force near Taiwan could be considered a 'threat to Japan’s survival' under its 2015 security law. In response, a Chinese diplomat made a controversial social media post implying violent rhetoric against Takaichi, which Tokyo condemned as offensive. Both governments have since exchanged formal protests. Despite the backlash, Takaichi refused to retract her statement, asserting it aligns with Japan’s long-standing policy. China later warned Japan to stop 'playing with fire' over Taiwan, calling any interference in the Taiwan Strait an act of aggression. The episode has reignited historical animosities and raised concerns about shifting regional stability.

Dhaka University lecturer and assistant proctor Sheherin Amin Bhuiyan, popularly known as Monami, publicly expressed her support for Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and an independent candidate contesting from Dhaka-8 in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. In a Facebook post on November 16, Monami praised Hadi for his honesty and determination, saying that Bangladesh needs leaders like him. She also expressed regret for not being able to vote for him due to illness but vowed to shift her voting center to Dhaka-8 in the next election. Hadi, one of the organizers of the July Revolution, began his campaign in September and has been promoting his independent political vision. Monami’s endorsement, accompanied by a photo with Hadi, has drawn attention on social media, highlighting growing youth interest in alternative political leadership in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated that merging five financially weak Sharia-based banks was unavoidable to ensure stability in the banking sector. Speaking at the Bangladesh Islamic Finance Summit in Dhaka on November 16, he emphasized that transparency and good governance are essential for strengthening the financial system. The five banks—EXIM Bank, Social Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, and Global Islami Bank—were declared non-functional on November 5, with administrators appointed to oversee their operations. On November 9, the central bank’s board, chaired by Dr. Mansur, granted a preliminary license to a new state-owned Sharia-based bank named ‘Sammilit Islami Bank’ to manage the merged institutions. The governor expressed optimism that the merger would bring positive outcomes for the economy if proper governance is maintained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone conversation focused on key Middle East issues, the Kremlin announced. The discussion covered the ongoing situation in Gaza, Iran’s nuclear program, and developments in Syria. According to the Kremlin, Putin initiated the call, while Netanyahu’s office confirmed it was part of a series of recent communications between the two leaders. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office described the talks as addressing regional matters but did not provide further details. The conversation reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Jerusalem amid heightened tensions and shifting alliances in the Middle East. Both leaders have maintained periodic contact to coordinate positions on regional security and strategic concerns, particularly regarding Iran and Syria, where Russia plays a major role.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has urged party leaders and activists not to make indecent or disrespectful comments about Islamic scholars. In a Facebook post on Sunday, November 16, he emphasized that those who truly love Jamaat-e-Islami should refrain from making offensive remarks about any respected religious scholar. He further warned that anyone engaging in such behavior would be considered as not genuinely devoted to the party. The statement comes amid growing online debates involving religious figures, and the party leadership appears keen to maintain discipline and respect in public discourse, particularly on social media platforms. Dr. Rahman’s message highlights the party’s effort to preserve its image and uphold ethical communication among its members.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has reaffirmed the Election Commission’s commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election. Speaking on Sunday, November 16, during the second day of dialogue with political parties, he urged all parties to adhere strictly to the electoral code of conduct. The CEC emphasized that cooperation from all stakeholders is essential to make the upcoming election fair, transparent, and acceptable. The Election Commission held discussions with six parties in the morning session, including Gano Forum, Ganofront, Islami Front Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Supreme Party, and Bangladesh National Party. Later in the day, the commission planned to meet another six parties, including Bangladesh JASAD, Bangladesh NAP, Trinamool BNP, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Currently, 53 political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, are registered with the Election Commission.

As Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election approaches, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its preliminary list of 236 candidates, sparking wide discussion for its emphasis on education and professional background. Among 223 candidates whose educational information was verified, 85% hold higher education degrees. The list includes a significant number of doctors, engineers, and foreign-educated individuals, with about 14% having studied abroad. At least two candidates are Ivy League alumni: former education minister and economist Dr. Osman Farruk, who earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University, and Barrister Muhammad Naushad Zamir, who completed an LLM at Harvard Law School after an MSc in Taxation from Oxford University. Around 40% of the nominees studied at the University of Dhaka or its affiliated colleges. The BNP’s selection strategy appears focused on showcasing candidates with strong academic and professional credentials, reflecting a shift toward technocratic and globally educated leadership within the party.

A joint survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF has found that 40% of Bangladeshi children have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, posing a serious threat to brain development and public health. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, presented in Dhaka, revealed that 38% of children aged 12–59 months and 8% of pregnant women have lead levels exceeding safety limits, with Dhaka showing the highest contamination rates. The report also highlighted widespread water contamination, with over 80% of household water containing E. coli bacteria, despite high sanitation coverage. Additionally, child marriage and domestic violence remain prevalent, and child labor has risen to 9.2% among children aged 5–17. Experts at the seminar called for urgent inter-ministerial coordination to address lead pollution, water safety, and child protection, warning that these issues pose a ‘red flag’ for Bangladesh’s development.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) will broadcast live the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in the case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with two other judges, set the verdict date earlier on November 13. The prosecution has sought the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal on five charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July–August 2024 mass uprising. Defense lawyers have pleaded for acquittal, claiming innocence. Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness, has also sought acquittal through his counsel. A total of 54 witnesses testified, including relatives of victims and prominent figures such as Nahid Islam and Dr Mahmudur Rahman. The case is among several being tried by two international tribunals investigating alleged atrocities during the 2024 uprising.

US President Donald Trump said he contacted the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to strengthen a peace deal he co-signed last month, following renewed border clashes between the two Southeast Asian nations. The truce, signed on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur during Trump’s Asia tour, was suspended earlier this week by Thailand after an alleged landmine explosion. Both countries have since exchanged accusations over new fighting that reportedly left one civilian dead. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he used the threat of tariffs to help stop further escalation, expressing optimism that the situation would stabilize. The White House confirmed that Malaysia, which has been mediating the conflict, remains involved in efforts to maintain the ceasefire. The long-running dispute centers on overlapping territorial claims dating back to French colonial-era border maps and has previously caused deadly confrontations and mass displacements along the frontier.