At least eight people were killed and fifteen others injured in a tragic road accident in Pune, Maharashtra, on Thursday morning. The incident occurred near Navale Bridge when a private car was trapped between two colliding trucks, leaving the vehicle completely destroyed. One of the trucks caught fire, intensifying the disaster and causing heavy traffic congestion on the national highway for several hours. Fire service units rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze and carry out rescue operations. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences to the victims’ families, announcing financial aid of five lakh rupees for each bereaved family and assuring full medical support for the injured.

A political controversy has emerged in Bhola’s Borhanuddin upazila after reports that 30 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at a large rally on Thursday. The event, attended by thousands of BNP supporters, saw the alleged Jamaat members present flowers to former MP and BNP candidate Hafiz Ibrahim. However, the local Jamaat leadership denied the claim through a press release, stating that those individuals were not part of their organization and that the position of 'joint secretary' mentioned does not exist in their structure. BNP leaders, on the other hand, insisted the defection was genuine and visible to all. The conflicting statements have sparked mixed reactions locally, with discussions intensifying as the national election approaches.

At a discussion event organized by the Dinajpur district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ahead of the upcoming 13th national election, the most prominent seat on stage was deliberately left empty in honor of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event, held at Paradise Community Center in Dinajpur suburb, featured senior BNP leaders including Professor Dr. Zahid Hossain and Advocate Mofazzal Hossain Dulal. The central seat bore a nameplate for Khaleda Zia, symbolizing respect for her leadership and lifelong dedication to democracy despite her illness and absence. Local BNP leaders stated that the gesture represented the deep admiration and emotional connection party members and Dinajpur residents feel toward her. Attendees expressed appreciation for the symbolic tribute, which became a focal point of the gathering.

At least 15 people, including a woman, were injured in violent clashes between supporters of the Awami League and the BNP in Araihazar, Narayanganj, early Thursday morning. The confrontation erupted over participation in a lockdown program and escalated into armed fighting, during which six crude bombs were thrown, three of which exploded. Several homes and shops were vandalized and looted in the Kakailmora area. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, deploying additional forces to prevent further violence. Three seriously injured individuals were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while others received local treatment. Authorities reported that no formal complaints had yet been filed, but investigations would proceed if any were submitted.

Residents and animal lovers in Sylhet’s Zindabazar area staged a human chain protest after the disappearance of a beloved neighborhood dog named 'Bojo' and its family from Sitara Mansion. Protesters accused a newly opened restaurant, 'Mehman Restaurant,' of removing or killing the dogs. Locals said the dogs had lived in the area for years, were vaccinated, and cared for by residents. Witnesses claimed restaurant guards admitted to injecting and dumping the animals far away, possibly near the airport. The restaurant authorities have not responded to the allegations, and their phones remain unreachable. Protesters, including environmentalists and journalists, demanded accountability and urged respect for animal welfare, emphasizing that compassion for animals reflects humanity.

Twenty leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami from Damurhuda upazila’s Darshana thana and municipality have joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The formal joining took place at the residence of Chuadanga District BNP President and central BNP Deputy Treasurer Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu in Andulbari village, Jibannagar upazila. Among the new members are Islamic scholar and Bangladesh Quran Education Foundation Vice President Maulana Nazmul Hasan Biplobi and Darshana Municipality Ward-7 Jamaat President Md Abdul Hamid. The event was attended by several BNP and affiliated organization leaders, including local youth and student wing representatives. The move is seen as part of BNP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its grassroots presence in Chuadanga ahead of future political activities.

Russia’s first domestically produced AI-powered humanoid robot, named AIdol, fell during its public debut at a Moscow tech showcase, highlighting the country’s struggles in robotics amid Western sanctions. The robot, developed by startup Idol, lost balance shortly after walking onstage and was quickly removed by event staff. CEO Vladimir Vitukhin attributed the mishap to calibration issues caused by lighting interference with the robot’s stereo cameras. Despite the fall, AIdol reportedly sustained no damage and later stood upright with assistance. The robot can walk, manipulate objects, and communicate for up to six hours autonomously, with 77% of its components made in Russia. Idol aims to increase domestic content to 93% in future production. The incident underscores Russia’s lag behind global leaders like the U.S. and China in advanced robotics and AI development.

Two young men, identified as Rana and Shuvo, went missing after a trawler carrying 2,000 bags of cement sank in the Meghna River near Sonamoyee area of Baidyerbazar in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, on Thursday afternoon. The trawler, which departed from Aman Cement Factory bound for Barishal, reportedly developed a crack in its bottom while anchored mid-river, causing it to submerge along with the cargo. Fire Service divers from Sonargaon have launched a search operation to locate the missing men but have yet to find them despite hours of effort. Authorities suspect that water entered through the damaged hull, leading to the vessel’s sinking. Rescue operations are set to resume Friday morning as officials continue to investigate the cause of the accident.

A week before the fatal attack that killed Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman’s teenage son in Rajshahi, the judge’s wife, Tasmin Nahar Lucy, had filed a general diary (GD) with Jalalabad Police Station in Sylhet, citing threats from the accused, Limon Mia. Lucy reported that Limon, a member of Quantum Foundation and a previous acquaintance, had repeatedly sought financial help from her and began issuing threats when she refused. Despite the GD being filed on November 6, police said the investigation could not begin as court approval was pending. On Thursday, Limon allegedly entered the family’s flat in Rajshahi and attacked Lucy and her son, killing the boy and injuring her. Police confirmed Limon was known to the family and is now under custody while hospitalized. Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion order against Siddhirganj Thana BNP General Secretary Md. Iqbal Hossain, nearly 11 months after he was removed from the party for alleged misconduct. A notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that Iqbal has been reinstated as a primary member under the party’s constitution. Iqbal was expelled in December last year following an incident involving journalist Minhaj Aman, which was deemed a violation of party discipline. He later appealed for reconsideration, and the BNP leadership decided to restore his membership. Iqbal expressed gratitude for the decision, saying he accepted the earlier punishment and is now committed to working for the party’s success in upcoming elections.

The Bangladesh government has announced new appointments for divisional commissioners in four administrative divisions — Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, and Mymensingh. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday night, Md. Moktar Hossain, previously the Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner, has been transferred to Khulna. Dr. A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, has been appointed as Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner. Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, will serve as Barishal Divisional Commissioner, while Farah Shammi, Chairman of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, has been assigned as Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner. The order was signed by Deputy Secretary Aminul Islam.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has not yet received any official communication regarding interim government chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s announcement to hold the next national parliamentary election and a referendum on the July Charter on the same day. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin told reporters that he had not heard Yunus’s speech and therefore could not comment without reviewing the details. He added that the EC would discuss the matter formally once it receives an official proposal and then provide its opinion. When asked whether organizing both events simultaneously would pose logistical challenges, the CEC declined to comment, emphasizing that any assessment should follow a formal review of the proposal. Yunus earlier declared in a televised address that both the election and referendum would take place concurrently.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen and Security Consular Colonel Borat Tasdelen paid a courtesy call on Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), at the Ansar headquarters. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh Ansar and Turkey’s Gendarmerie Force. The discussions focused on strengthening technical capabilities, expanding training programs, and exploring new areas of collaboration under TIKA initiatives. Ambassador Sen expressed particular interest in Ansar-VDP’s skill development and entrepreneurship programs aimed at improving members’ livelihoods. The meeting was seen as a step toward deepening Bangladesh-Turkey relations in security, training, and development sectors. Additional Director General Brigadier General Fida Mahmud was also present at the meeting.

The Bangladesh government has approved two new ordinances to combat fraud, manipulation, and malpractice in air ticket sales. Under the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, offenders may face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to 1 million taka. The laws introduce 11 new grounds for suspending or canceling travel agency licenses, including overpricing, unauthorized transactions, and altering passenger data after booking. Agencies must now display ticket prices clearly, and digital distribution systems must be registered. The ordinances also empower authorities to impose temporary travel bans on offenders and promote transparency through AI and blockchain use. Officials say the reforms aim to protect migrant workers, ensure fair pricing, and modernize Bangladesh’s aviation sector.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard intercepted a major smuggling attempt of pulses and cement being transported to Myanmar by sea. Acting on a tip-off, the Coast Guard launched a special operation near the southwest coast of Saint Martin’s Island and seized two fishing trawlers carrying 600 sacks of peas and 650 sacks of cement, valued at approximately Tk 3.36 million. Twenty-two individuals were detained during the operation. Officials stated that the goods were being smuggled to Myanmar to evade taxes and customs duties. The seized items and detainees have been handed over to the local police station for further legal action. The Coast Guard confirmed that similar anti-smuggling operations will continue to prevent illegal cross-border trade in the region.