Bangladesh has introduced a comprehensive online land mutation (name transfer) system to make property ownership transfers more transparent and accessible. Citizens can now apply for mutation through the land.gov.bd portal, completing registration, document submission, and fee payment digitally. Three types of mutation are available: joint ownership, individual ownership after partition, and automated mutation, which is being piloted in 21 upazilas. The process includes verification, hearings, and issuance of the final record (khatian). Applicants can track progress online and pay fees via mobile wallets or internet banking. Authorities advise citizens to use their own mobile numbers, verify land boundaries, and remain alert to fraudulent fee demands. Appeals are allowed if applications are rejected, ensuring a structured legal remedy. The initiative aims to reduce corruption, disputes, and dependency on intermediaries.

South Korea conducted its annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), known locally as Suneung, on Thursday, November 13. The exam, lasting 13 hours, is considered one of the longest and most challenging in the world. Over 550,000 students participated this year, with the entire nation observing a day of silence to ensure a distraction-free environment. Authorities imposed traffic restrictions near test centers and many businesses closed for the day. The test plays a decisive role in determining students’ academic and career futures, prompting both government and citizens to cooperate in maintaining order and quiet throughout the day.

Unidentified assailants hurled several petrol bombs at the Public Works Department office and a Grameen Bank branch in Gopalganj early Thursday morning, setting a government pickup van on fire. The incidents occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Model School Road and in Ulpur area of Sadar upazila. Fire service personnel and local staff managed to extinguish the flames before they spread further. Police confirmed the attacks and said law and order in the district remains under control. The attacks coincided with a tense atmosphere across the district following a lockdown called by the Awami League. Security forces have been deployed at key points, and intelligence surveillance has been intensified to prevent further unrest.

The United States has decided to stop producing the one-cent coin, known as the penny, ending a tradition that began in 1793. The final batch will be minted at the Philadelphia Mint, marking the end of over 230 years of continuous production. Although pennies will remain legal tender, their circulation is expected to decline as businesses adjust prices to round figures. The Treasury Department estimates the move will save about $56 million annually, as each penny currently costs around four cents to produce. The decision follows the growing dominance of digital transactions and the declining practical use of small coins. However, analysts warn that consumers may face an additional $6 million in annual costs due to price rounding. Attention is now turning to the nickel, which costs nearly three times its face value to manufacture.

The United Arab Emirates has taken a major step toward futuristic urban mobility as Dubai successfully tested a passenger air taxi capable of carrying four people. Built in collaboration with US-based Joby Aviation, the electric, noise-free aircraft flew from Margham to Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum Airport). It can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h and cover 160 km on a single charge. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) informed Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who praised the innovation. Authorities plan citywide trial flights before launching the service to the public next year. Skyports Infrastructure is already building the first vertiport near Dubai International Airport. The initiative is part of broader transport projects, including metro expansion, new roads, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to enhance urban mobility.

The newly appointed French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, paid a courtesy call on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Thursday, November 13. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the meeting was also attended virtually by BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Senior BNP leaders including Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir, and Shama Obaid were present. The discussion was described as a formal introductory meeting, reflecting diplomatic engagement between the French mission and Bangladesh’s main opposition party. No specific agenda or outcomes of the meeting were disclosed publicly.

A fisherman named Ishak Haldar from Goalanda in Rajbari district caught a 24-kilogram Katla fish in the Padma River early Thursday morning. The fish was caught around 3 a.m. near the Daulatdia river confluence. Later, it was taken to the Daulatdia fish market, where it was auctioned for Tk 2,650 per kilogram, totaling Tk 63,650. Local fish trader Chand Molla purchased the fish and later sold it to a businessman in Dhaka’s Gulshan area at a small profit. Such large Katla fish have become rare in recent times, drawing crowds of curious onlookers to see the catch. The fisherman and trader both expressed satisfaction with the price received for the fish.

At least six vehicles were set on fire in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Tangail, and Gopalganj from late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning, according to the Fire Service Control Room. Incidents included fires in a Trust Transport Service bus in Pallabi, a human hauler near Kamalapur Railway Station, a bus in Tangail’s Rawail area, a truck in Munshiganj’s Gazaria, and a pickup van in front of the Public Works Office in Gopalganj. Fire Service units responded promptly to extinguish the blazes, though several vehicles were completely burned. No injuries or casualties were reported in any of the incidents. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fires, which occurred amid heightened political tension and recent unrest in the capital and surrounding districts.

An attempted arson took place late Wednesday night at the July 36 Martyrs’ Memorial near the Circuit House and Liberation War Martyrs’ Memorial in Barguna, Bangladesh. According to police, unidentified individuals poured a flammable substance and set fire to the base of the monument around 1:15 a.m. A short video circulating on social media shows the perpetrators igniting the fire before fleeing the scene. Police arrived promptly and brought the fire under control, preventing any damage. Barguna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Yakub Hossain confirmed that law enforcement remains on high alert. On the same night, another small fire was reported on the Barguna-Bakerganj road, which was also quickly extinguished. The incidents occurred amid political gatherings by BNP and Jamaat in the area.

Eight like-minded Islamist parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, organized a protest rally in Manikganj on Thursday morning. The demonstration began at the Manikganj bus stand area and marched through key points of the Dhaka-Aricha highway before turning into a rally in front of the Raj Hotel. District Jamaat leader Hafez Maulana Kamrul Islam and several other local leaders addressed the gathering, accusing the ruling Awami League of resorting to repression to maintain political control. They alleged that the government was conspiring to destabilize the country through unrest and urged citizens to remain vigilant for peace and security. Over a hundred activists from the eight allied parties participated in the event.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on five officials of ADC, the contractor for the third terminal project at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, amid allegations of non-payment to a subcontractor. The officials—Kyungju Kang, Yongkwan Choi, Juok Yang, Hisok Kim, and Sayem Chowdhury—are accused of failing to pay around Tk 90 crore owed to Pleiades Construction and Consulting Ltd for completed work. The case was filed by Pleiades’ Managing Director, Md Zubair Akhtar Chowdhury, who claims ADC breached contract terms and delayed payment despite repeated requests. Arrest warrants had earlier been issued against three South Korean officials who remain absconding. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is continuing efforts to locate them. The court issued the travel ban after the accused failed to appear for a scheduled hearing on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Parliament has passed the 27th constitutional amendment, a highly controversial bill that significantly expands the powers of the country’s army chief and grants him lifelong legal immunity. The amendment also curtails the independence of the Supreme Court, sparking widespread criticism from opposition parties, legal experts, and human rights groups. The bill, passed in the National Assembly with 234 votes in favor and only four against, designates the army chief as the new defense head overseeing all military branches. Critics warn that this move could push Pakistan toward entrenched military rule and weaken its fragile democracy. The amendment will become law after the president’s approval, with analysts describing it as a step toward authoritarianism and the erosion of judicial independence.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (Retd.) Dr. Oli Ahmed has alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leader Sajeda Chowdhury were detained at the Akhaura border while attempting to flee Bangladesh following the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman. In a recent television interview, he claimed Hasina had earlier received training in India after returning from Germany, and that former military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad was also involved in Zia’s killing. Oli Ahmed further stated that Zia had no role in the execution of Colonel Taher and criticized India’s interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, asserting that the country fought for independence to be self-governed, not to become subservient to any foreign power.

A parked bus in Jashore’s Upashahar area was set on fire by unidentified miscreants early Thursday morning, narrowly avoiding a major disaster for nearby slum dwellers. Locals noticed flames inside the bus shortly after dawn prayers and managed to extinguish the fire after about 20 minutes. The bus supervisor reported that the vehicle’s seats and parts were damaged, though the engine remained intact. Police suspect the fire was started through a broken window near the driver’s seat and have launched an investigation to identify the culprits. The incident occurred amid heightened political tension following a lockdown program announced by the banned Awami League in protest of a controversial verdict against ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others, with a torch procession held in Jashore the previous night.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to issue the long-awaited July Charter Implementation Order today. The order aims to provide a legal framework for constitutional reforms and will be announced following an advisory council meeting that will finalize its approval. Dr. Yunus is expected to address the nation on Thursday afternoon, outlining the details of the order. The government plans to hold a national referendum and parliamentary election on the same day to ensure political balance among rival parties. The July Charter, proposed by the National Consensus Commission, includes 84 reform recommendations, to be implemented through executive orders, ordinances, and constitutional amendments. Political tensions remain high as opposition parties, including BNP and Jamaat, have issued ultimatums demanding immediate implementation, threatening indefinite protests if their demands are not met.