The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has welcomed the Chief Adviser’s recent address to the nation, describing it as a relatively acceptable solution to the ongoing political situation. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and secretary general Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to hold the national election and referendum on the same day, and to allocate seats in the upper house based on proportional representation. However, they noted some differences regarding specific final directives. The leaders emphasized that political parties have already completed sufficient discussions, and now a conclusive government decision is necessary. They expressed hope that all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, will participate in the election in a peaceful, fair, and festive atmosphere to ensure democratic stability in Bangladesh.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police have arrested former Chuadanga municipality mayor and Awami League leader Riazul Islam Joarder Toton on allegations of planning subversive activities. He was detained on Thursday, November 13, from the Bashundhara area of the capital. Toton, the younger brother of former MP Solaiman Haque Joarder Selun, had been in hiding since August 5. Police officials confirmed that he is accused of planning sabotage linked to the Awami League’s so-called lockdown program. Legal proceedings against him are currently underway. Chuadanga police said they have not yet received formal notification of the arrest but are aware of the development.

Saudi Arabia has announced significant support for Bangladesh’s imam training initiatives under the Islamic Foundation. The assurance came during a meeting in Jeddah between Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh and Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Adviser Professor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain. Both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in religious education, awareness, and guidance, emphasizing shared goals of promoting moderate and tolerant Islamic values. Dr. Al-Sheikh praised the historic brotherly ties between the two nations, while the Bangladeshi adviser lauded Saudi Arabia’s leadership in serving Islam and the global Muslim community. The meeting also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s continued assistance to Bangladesh and mutual interest in expanding da’wah and educational collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Tawsif Rahman, son of Rajshahi Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman, and the serious injury of the judge’s wife Tasmin Nahar in a violent attack at their rented home. Following the incident on Thursday, November 13, the adviser directed police to arrest all perpetrators and ensure a full investigation, according to a ministry press release. Authorities have reportedly taken immediate action, and the government is monitoring Tasmin Nahar’s treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Dr. Nazrul expressed condolences to the bereaved family, prayed for the victim’s soul, and wished for the swift recovery of the injured. He also assured that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of judicial officers and their families across the country.

Bangladesh’s advisory council has approved drafts of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Amendment Ordinance 2025 to strengthen transparency, accountability, and governance in the aviation and travel sectors. The new laws introduce mandatory registration of digital ticketing systems to prevent price manipulation and ticket hoarding, authorize the creation of a Civil Aviation Economic Commission to regulate fees, and encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuel. Travel agencies face stricter penalties for illegal transactions, overpricing, and fraud, including fines up to 1 million taka and imprisonment up to one year. The reforms aim to protect migrant workers’ rights, ensure fair ticket pricing, and align Bangladesh’s aviation governance with international standards such as the Chicago Convention and ICAO guidelines.

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.