Police have arrested the prime suspect, Md Arman (45), in a case involving the abduction, assault, and extortion of contractor Suman Chowdhury, owner of Messrs Sujon Bhuiya & Brothers. The incident occurred over a dispute related to a government lease for maintenance work at the Azimpur Old Cemetery in Dhaka. According to the case filed at Lalbagh Police Station, Arman and several associates allegedly demanded Tk 500,000 in extortion money from Chowdhury, threatening him with violence and forcing him to pay Tk 530,000. The abduction took place on October 26, 2025, when the accused forcibly took Chowdhury to Arman’s office and assaulted him. Acting on intelligence, an army patrol team from Azimpur Army Camp arrested Arman on November 14 during a special operation at a community center. He was later handed over to Lalbagh Police Station for legal proceedings. Police said the case is under investigation and further action will follow based on findings.

A massive gathering took place at Dhaka’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan as the International Khatme Nabuwwat Conference began on Saturday morning, organized by the Sammilito Khatme Nabuwwat Parishad. The event, focused on defending the belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood, drew participants from Bangladesh and five other countries. Prominent Islamic scholars from Pakistan, India, Egypt, and other nations attended, including Maulana Fazlur Rahman of Pakistan, Maulana Mahmood Madani of India, and Dr. Shaykh Musab Nabil Ibrahim of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. From Bangladesh, notable religious leaders such as Hefazat-e-Islam chief Maulana Shah Muhibullah Babunagari and Islamic Movement Bangladesh’s leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim joined the event. Organizers said the conference aimed to strengthen global unity among Muslims on this issue, with participation from political and religious leaders across the country.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order rolling back tariffs on several imported food products, including coffee, tea, bananas, beef, cocoa, spices, and tropical fruits. The decision follows mounting political pressure over rising food prices, particularly beef, which has seen consistent monthly increases according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The administration stated that the rollback was necessary because many of these agricultural goods are not produced in sufficient quantities domestically. Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has pursued an aggressive tariff policy, imposing high duties on imports from multiple countries. While the administration touts new trade agreements as a success, economists warn that such protectionist measures often hurt consumers by driving up prices. The partial reversal marks a shift in Trump’s trade strategy as he faces growing domestic criticism over inflation and food affordability.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that if his party assumes power, it will restore 'trust and faith in Allah' as a guiding principle in Bangladesh’s constitution and hold parliamentary discussions on declaring the Ahmadiyya community (Qadianis) as non-Muslim. Speaking at the International Khatme Nabuwat Grand Conference at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday, he said those who do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad cannot be considered Muslims, aligning BNP’s stance with that of the Khatme Nabuwat movement. The event, organized by the Khatme Nabuwat Protection Council, drew religious scholars and participants from five countries. Speakers at the conference urged the government led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to officially declare Ahmadis non-Muslim. The gathering emphasized unity among Muslims and reaffirmed belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan announced that if his party assumes state power, it will officially declare the Ahmadiyya (Qadiani) community as non-Muslim. He made the statement on Saturday, November 15, during the International Khatme Nabuwat Grand Conference held at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Rafiqul Islam claimed there is no disagreement within the Muslim world on this issue and said the belief in the finality of Prophet Muhammad is unanimously accepted among Muslims. The event, organized to demand the declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslim, was attended by religious scholars and political leaders from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, and Egypt. Notable participants included leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. The conference was chaired by Maulana Abdul Hamid, convener of the Combined Khatme Nabuwat Committee Bangladesh.

A 53-year-old man from Shillington, Pennsylvania, was hospitalized after being accidentally shot in the back by his dog in a freak incident involving a shotgun. According to police, the man was cleaning his firearm and placed it on the bed before sitting down. His dog then jumped onto the bed, apparently triggering the weapon, which discharged and struck the owner in the lower back. The man’s son called 911, and he was taken to the hospital for surgery. Authorities are investigating the case but believe it to be accidental. Police used the incident to remind gun owners to always treat firearms as loaded, keep them pointed in a safe direction, and ensure fingers stay off the trigger. Officers described the event as a “perfect storm” of unfortunate circumstances, emphasizing the importance of strict safety practices when handling weapons.

Russia has temporarily suspended around 2% of its global oil supply following a Ukrainian strike on the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, a key Black Sea port in Krasnodar Krai. The attack caused fires and damage to coastal facilities, leading to a halt in exports of approximately 2.2 million barrels per day, according to Reuters. Local authorities confirmed that a civilian vessel was also hit, injuring three crew members. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Novorossiysk due to its strategic importance to Russia’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv considers Russian oil refineries and petrochemical plants legitimate military targets, arguing they fund Moscow’s war effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Russia’s oil production and refining have declined this year, with projected losses of at least US$37 billion in oil and gas revenues. The strike coincided with a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv that killed six people and injured 14 others.

Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, with nine cases detected in the southern Omo region. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Ethiopia’s rapid response, noting that authorities are working diligently to contain the outbreak. The virus, part of the same family as Ebola, causes severe hemorrhagic fever and has a high fatality rate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes Marburg as a rare but deadly disease transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine, and care focuses on supportive therapy. The outbreak’s proximity to South Sudan has raised regional concerns due to weaker health systems nearby. WHO and Africa CDC are assisting Ethiopia with patient care, contact tracing, and border surveillance to prevent further spread. Health officials urge the public to remain calm and follow medical guidance.

Police in Savar’s Ashulia area arrested two former leaders of the now-banned youth wing of the Awami League, Jubo League, in separate operations on Friday night. The detainees were identified as Md. Ali Azgar alias Jamal Hossain, former assistant organizational secretary of Ashulia Thana Jubo League, and Md. Zakir Hossain, former general secretary of Shimulia Union Jubo League. Acting on secret information, police conducted raids at Ashulia’s Unique area around 8 p.m. and Shimulia’s Konapara area around 9 p.m., leading to the arrests. Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan confirmed the arrests and stated that legal proceedings are underway. The two suspects are expected to be presented before the court on Saturday morning. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges or reasons behind the arrests, but investigations are ongoing to determine their alleged involvement in any unlawful activities.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to file a lawsuit against the BBC next week, seeking damages between $1 billion and $5 billion, despite the broadcaster’s apology for a misleading edit of one of his speeches. The BBC had issued a personal apology to Trump and admitted the edit was an 'error of judgment' but rejected his legal and financial demands, stating there was no basis for a defamation claim. The controversy stems from a Panorama documentary that spliced parts of Trump’s speech, creating a misleading impression. The program aired shortly before the US election and has since been withdrawn. The incident has already led to the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC News Chief Deborah Turness. Trump criticized the edit as 'corrupt' and said he had not yet discussed the issue with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer but planned to do so soon.

The United States has approved a $330 million military sale to Taiwan, marking the first such deal since President Donald Trump returned to office. The package includes spare parts and maintenance support for Taiwan’s F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft. Washington remains Taipei’s main arms supplier and a critical deterrent against potential Chinese aggression, though Trump’s mixed signals on Taiwan’s defense have raised uncertainty. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has pledged to boost defense spending and strengthen ties with the US, while facing opposition from the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, which controls parliament. The sale comes amid regional tensions, with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan is attacked, a statement that drew sharp condemnation from Beijing.

At least seven people were killed and 27 others injured when a large cache of seized explosives detonated at a police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night. Most of the victims were police officers and forensic experts who were examining the explosives at the Nowgam police station. Among the dead were two Srinagar administrative officials and a deputy tehsildar. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as five of the injured remain in critical condition. Senior police officials have cordoned off the area, and the injured have been admitted to the Indian Army’s 92 Base Hospital and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. The explosives were reportedly linked to an investigation into posters by the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Several doctors had earlier been arrested in connection with the case, including Adil Ahmed Rather and Muzammil Shakil, from whose residence police recovered about 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has questioned the fairness and transparency of the government’s proposed four-question referendum, asking where citizens can express disagreement if they oppose even one of the questions. Speaking in Dhaka after providing financial assistance to an ailing radio artist on behalf of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Rizvi criticized the government for allegedly manipulating the referendum process. He warned that any attempt to impose a flawed or unclear referendum would not be sustainable and claimed that most citizens do not understand its purpose. Rizvi also accused the ruling Awami League of laundering large sums of money from India to create unrest in Bangladesh and destabilize the political situation. He urged that the referendum questions be made understandable to the general public to ensure genuine participation and transparency.

South Korea and the United States have finalized the draft of an expanded trade agreement, detailing new terms on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, defense cooperation, and South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program. According to a joint statement released by both presidential offices, the agreement reduces tariffs on South Korean car exports to the US from 25% to 15%, aligning them with Japanese competitors. Similar tariff reductions apply to pharmaceutical exports. In return, South Korea will invest $200 billion strategically in the US, capped at $20 billion annually, a reduction from earlier proposals to avoid currency risks. The deal also reaffirms Washington’s support for Seoul’s nuclear submarine initiative and the broader US-South Korea security alliance, including commitments to extended deterrence and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Analysts believe the agreement will ease trade uncertainties that arose from former President Donald Trump’s tariff and investment demands. Both sides emphasized mutual trust and stability in implementing the accord.

The Adani Group has announced major investments totaling more than ₹1.63 lakh crore in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Assam. According to The Hindu, the conglomerate plans to invest ₹1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh across multiple sectors, including port infrastructure, creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Adani Ports and SEZ Managing Director Karan Adani described Andhra Pradesh as the gateway to eastern India. In Assam, Adani Power and Adani Green Energy have received government approval for a 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant and two pumped storage projects, together worth ₹63,000 crore. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said the investments represent the largest private sector commitment in the region, aimed at boosting energy security, industrial growth, and employment. The projects are expected to accelerate economic transformation across India’s northeastern corridor.