A Dhaka court has set December 1 for delivering the verdict in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and 15 others over alleged irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. The decision came after Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 concluded the arguments on Tuesday. The case, filed on January 13 this year by ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, accuses the defendants of abusing power and committing forgery in the plot allocation process. Following investigation, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya submitted a charge sheet on March 10 against 17 individuals, including several former government officials and a former state minister. The court framed charges on July 31, and 32 witnesses testified during the trial. Among the accused, former RAJUK member Khurshid Alam remains in custody.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced plans to form a new political alliance ahead of the upcoming national elections. Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari revealed the initiative during a press conference in Dhaka after a meeting with party nomination seekers. The proposed alliance, described as anti-extortion and anti-religious fascism, aims to field candidates in all 300 constituencies. Patwari stated that the coalition will operate independently of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, focusing on fulfilling the aspirations of the July uprising and promoting reform, women’s rights, and opposition to corruption and terrorism. NCP’s southern region organizer Hasnat Abdullah accused India and the ruling Awami League of attempting to disrupt the election process through the Jatiya Party. The NCP leadership urged political parties to move beyond administrative power-sharing and focus on national stability and reform. The announcement follows a two-day consultation with nomination hopefuls.

The interim government of Bangladesh has categorized all public colleges into four groups—A, B, C, and D—for administrative purposes, according to a Ministry of Education circular issued on Monday, November 24. Colleges with more than 8,000 students and over 10 honors-level subjects have been placed in Category A. A total of 81 institutions across the country, including Dhaka College, Chittagong College, Eden Mohila College, Rajshahi College, and Government Brojomohun College, have received this top classification. The ministry stated that the new categorization aims to streamline administrative management and ensure better allocation of resources across higher education institutions. The classification covers colleges offering higher secondary, undergraduate (pass and subsidiary), honors, and postgraduate programs. This move is expected to help the government monitor academic performance and institutional capacity more effectively while promoting balanced development among public colleges nationwide.

Grassroots leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Chattogram-13 (Anwara–Karnaphuli) have written to the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman demanding the cancellation of nomination for former MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam. They accuse Nizam of neglecting activists during years of political persecution, spending much of the past 16 years abroad instead of supporting imprisoned or harassed party workers. The letter, signed by three local leaders—Ali Abbas, Lion Helal Uddin, and SM Mamun Mia—alleges that Nizam traveled abroad at least 25 times and was absent from key party activities. Protesting activists have held rallies, burned effigies, and demanded a review of his candidacy. Nizam, however, denies the allegations, claiming the party high command found him qualified. The dispute reflects growing discontent within BNP’s local ranks over candidate selection ahead of the upcoming national election, with many calling for more dedicated and grassroots-connected nominees.

A rare incident unfolded in the English Premier League as Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye received a red card for slapping his own teammate, defender Michael Keane, during a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The altercation occurred in the 13th minute following a defensive misunderstanding that nearly led to a goal for United. Referee Tony Harrington, witnessing the confrontation, immediately sent Gueye off. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the game, Everton managed to secure a 1-0 victory thanks to a powerful strike from Dewsbury-Hall in the 29th minute. Manchester United, despite having a numerical advantage, failed to capitalize on their chances. United coach Ruben Amorim expressed disappointment after the match, admitting that his team lacked intensity and that Everton deserved the win.

A new controversy has erupted in India after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the title 'Great' from the names of Mughal emperor Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in newly printed school textbooks. The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rewriting history to align with its ideological narrative and diminishing the contributions of Muslim rulers. BJP and its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defended the move, calling it a long-overdue correction. Congress leaders, including Imran Masood, K. Muraleedharan, and Harish Rawat, criticized the decision as politically motivated and warned of further historical distortions ahead of the 2029 national elections. RSS leader Sunil Ambekar stated that the leaders were not removed from textbooks but that students should also learn about their alleged misdeeds. The updated NCERT books have already been distributed to over 24,000 CBSE schools across India, fueling a broader debate over historical interpretation and political influence in education.

The Bangladesh government has finalized the appointment of police superintendents (SPs) for all 64 districts through a lottery system ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The selection took place on Monday, November 24, at the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, in the presence of Acting IGP Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, the DMP Commissioner, and senior officials from the Home Ministry and the Chief Adviser’s Office. According to official sources, officers from the 25th, 27th, and 28th batches of the police cadre were shortlisted after excluding those who had previously served as SPs. From this list, 64 officers were selected manually by lottery for district postings. The Home Ministry and Police Headquarters confirmed that the appointments will be implemented gradually through official notifications. The move aims to ensure neutrality and transparency in field-level law enforcement deployment ahead of the upcoming national election.

A post-enumeration check by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) has revealed that 365,472 financial institutions were omitted from the 2024 Economic Census conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The initial census counted 11.88 million institutions, but later verification raised the figure to 12.24 million. The BIDS report, released in Dhaka, found an overall error rate of 2.95 percent—below the internationally acceptable 5 percent threshold. The highest omission rate was 5.99 percent in city corporation areas, attributed to non-cooperation from business owners. Rural areas showed a lower error rate of 2.55 percent. Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of missing institutions, while Sylhet had the fewest. Officials acknowledged challenges such as limited budgets and low enumerator honorariums but expressed satisfaction with the census quality. They emphasized the need for improved guidelines and better support for field workers in future censuses.

A 19-year-old man named Sagar Mondal was arrested in Nagarkanda, Faridpur, after allegedly posting an offensive image on Facebook that was deemed disrespectful to the holy Kaaba. The incident occurred on Monday, November 24, when the post quickly spread online, triggering anger among local residents in Shakrail village under Laskardia Union. Hundreds of people gathered in protest at the nearby Gorail Bazar, leading to rising tension in the area. Sagar, who worked as an assistant at a local pharmacy, was initially confined by locals inside the shop before police and local administration intervened. Authorities, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and police, managed to calm the situation through dialogue with residents and assured legal action. The situation is now under control, according to officials.

Zohran Mamdani, recently elected as the next mayor of New York City, has included nine Bangladeshi Americans in his transition team ahead of his January 1 inauguration. The 34-year-old politician made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. The Bangladeshi-origin members include community leaders and professionals such as Kazi Fauzia, Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Shamsul Haque, Mohammad Karim Chowdhury, Fariha Akter, Arman Chowdhury CPA, Shah Rehman, Tajin Azad, and Shyamatli Haque. Their inclusion is seen as recognition of the growing influence of the Bangladeshi community in New York politics, where nearly 98% of Bangladeshi Muslim voters reportedly supported Mamdani. Out of over 400 names on the transition list, 9 Bangladeshis, 11 Pakistanis, and 16 Indians have been identified, reflecting increased South Asian representation in the city’s political landscape.

A young man named Md. Musha, 26, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Chandina upazila of Cumilla on Sunday night after being suspected of involvement in a robbery. The incident occurred in Chandasaar village under Barkoroi Union. Police recovered the body the following day and detained three individuals for questioning. According to local sources, a mobile phone trader named Moynal Hossain had been robbed of cash and phones about ten days earlier and suspected Musha’s involvement. When Musha returned home after several days away, Moynal and others reportedly took him from his house and beat him to death. The suspects fled after the killing. Police said an investigation is underway and legal action will follow based on findings.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has announced that the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be declared in the first half of December. Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah made the announcement during a dialogue with domestic election observer organizations in Dhaka. Observers’ lists must be submitted to the EC within ten days of the schedule announcement. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin emphasized that observers must remain politically neutral and cannot be affiliated with any political party. The EC will introduce QR-coded ID cards to prevent fake observers and ensure transparency. Observers will perform duties for three days—before, during, and after the election. The EC also warned that any attempt to disrupt the transparency of the upcoming election will not be tolerated. Both the CEC and commissioners urged observers to act responsibly to ensure accountability and credibility in the electoral process.

Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan has stated that the armed forces will play a crucial role in ensuring a free, fair, and neutral national election. Speaking at the passing-out parade of the 2025 batch of new sailors at BNS Sher-e-Bangla Parade Ground in Kalapara, Patuakhali, he affirmed the Navy’s commitment to support the government and the Election Commission with utmost sincerity and professionalism. The admiral also highlighted the Navy’s ongoing contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, noting that since 1993, about 7,500 naval personnel have served in various countries, with four members sacrificing their lives for global peace. The event saw 417 new sailors officially joining the Navy after 22 weeks of rigorous training, pledging to dedicate their lives to the nation. Awards were presented to top-performing recruits for excellence in professionalism and overall performance.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in about 12,000 years, sending a massive ash plume 14 kilometers high. The eruption, which lasted several hours, blanketed nearby Afdera town in ash and caused mild tremors around Erta Ale. The Smithsonian Institution confirmed no previous Holocene-era eruptions from this volcano. The ash cloud traveled across the Red Sea, reaching Yemen, Oman, India, northern Pakistan, and even parts of China’s upper atmosphere. Local authorities reported no casualties, though the eruption may affect the livelihoods of pastoral communities in the region. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) and India Met Sky Weather noted temporary disruptions to flights over northern India, which have since normalized. Experts say the volcano lies within the tectonically active Rift Valley, where two plates meet, making it a hotspot for geological activity.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced potential candidates for 237 constituencies but has yet to finalize seat allocations for its allied parties in the joint anti-government movement. This delay has sparked frustration and mistrust among coalition partners, who claim they are falling behind in campaign activities and losing ground to local BNP leaders. Due to recent amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), each party must contest under its own symbol, complicating BNP’s seat-sharing negotiations. Smaller parties fear they cannot win independently and have urged BNP to finalize the distribution soon. Informal meetings between BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Nazrul Islam Khan with alliance representatives have been held to resolve the issue. BNP says acting chairman Tarique Rahman will make the final decision soon, while allies await his directive to move forward with campaign preparations.