The Bangladesh government has unexpectedly increased the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) revenue collection target for the current fiscal year by Tk 550 billion, raising it from Tk 4.99 trillion to Tk 5.54 trillion—an 11.22% hike. Officials describe the move as unprecedented and unrealistic given the country’s current economic conditions, sluggish investment, and weak export performance. Some NBR insiders believe the decision was influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has urged Bangladesh to expand its tax base, eliminate exemptions, and set a uniform 15% VAT rate as part of loan conditions. Former NBR chairman Abdul Mazid noted that revenue collection remains low relative to GDP and called for stronger enforcement against tax evasion. The IMF has so far disbursed $3.64 billion of a $5.5 billion loan package. Implementation details of the new target will be discussed after NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan returns from abroad later this month.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness have resigned following outrage over misleading editing of a Donald Trump speech. However, analysts argue that the real crisis within the British broadcaster lies in its coverage of the Gaza conflict. A report by the Centre for Media Monitoring, which analyzed over 35,000 BBC news items from October 2023 to May 2025, found consistent institutional bias favoring Israel’s perspective while marginalizing Palestinian voices. The study revealed that Israeli deaths received 33 times more attention than Palestinian casualties, and language such as 'massacre' or 'murdered' was used disproportionately for Israeli victims. Internal BBC staff have also accused the organization of creating a culture of fear that discourages criticism of pro-Israel bias. Critics say the resignations distract from deeper editorial failures and political pressures that have compromised BBC’s journalistic integrity. The crisis underscores growing tension between public accountability and political influence in British media.

Bangladesh, particularly Dhaka and Chattogram, remains at extreme risk of a major earthquake, with experts warning that a quake above magnitude 7 could cause catastrophic damage. The Fire Service and Civil Defence Department has improved its capabilities in recent years, introducing modern search and rescue tools such as acoustic listening devices, snake-eye cameras, and drones. However, investigations reveal that preparedness remains inadequate due to outdated equipment, bureaucratic delays, and manpower shortages. Nearly 800 rescue tools have become unusable, and new equipment procurement is progressing slowly. The department has fewer than 15,000 personnel across 500 stations, far below international standards. To address this, over 55,000 urban community volunteers have been trained to assist in early rescue operations. Yet, narrow roads, lack of heavy machinery, and absence of air rescue capacity pose serious challenges. While new command centers and special rescue units are being formed, experts stress that only coordinated, decentralized, and well-equipped efforts can ensure effective disaster response.

Kari Md. Habibullah Belali, a central leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the party’s candidate for Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon), stated that if the country is governed under an Islamic system, no new fascist forces will emerge. Speaking at a campaign meeting at Idkanul Quran Madrasa in Gafargaon on Monday, November 24, Belali emphasized that people have made sacrifices for good governance and that necessary reforms must be implemented to ensure stability. He described Islam as a religion of peace that guarantees the safety of people from all faiths. Belali urged voters to support the party’s electoral symbol, the hand fan, to bring peace and justice to the nation. Several local Islami Andolan leaders, including Maulana Zainul Abedin and Mufti Anwar Hossain, were present at the event.

Dried fish from Pabna district in Bangladesh is now being exported to at least 20 countries after meeting domestic demand, creating new opportunities for foreign exchange earnings and rural employment. The upazilas of Santhia, Bera, Sujanagar, Faridpur, and Chatmohar have become well-known for dried fish production, particularly during the November to March season. Hundreds of seasonal traders from northern regions join local farmers to produce and sell large quantities of dried fish across the country and abroad, including to the Middle East, Malaysia, the UK, and the US. Popular varieties such as shol, taki, boal, tangra, and puti have gained strong demand among expatriate communities. However, local producers face challenges due to declining native fish populations and limited government support. Farmers say that low-interest loans and institutional backing could significantly expand exports and strengthen this promising sector.

Hundreds of farmers in Munshiganj district have become self-reliant through large-scale vegetable seedling production, earning around Tk 40 million annually. The seedlings, produced mainly in Sadar and Tongibari upazilas, are in high demand nationwide due to their superior quality and careful cultivation methods using organic fertilizers and oilcake. Farmers grow seedlings of cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, pumpkin, eggplant, and chili from August to December, selling them to wholesalers from over 25 districts. Each thousand seedlings fetch between Tk 1,500 and Tk 2,000 depending on quality and market demand. Despite some losses from heavy rainfall and rising seed prices, most producers report strong profits. The Department of Agricultural Extension notes that 4,907 hectares have been targeted for winter vegetable cultivation this year, with an expected yield of 125,423 tons. Officials say seedling production has become a profitable profession in the region, helping local farmers meet national demand while improving rural livelihoods.

Bangladesh’s interim government is facing criticism for failing to bring to justice those responsible for large-scale corruption in the power and energy sector during the Awami League’s 15-and-a-half-year rule. The national inquiry committee led by retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury has yet to submit its final report, citing the technical complexity of contracts and the vast amount of documentation involved. Preliminary findings reportedly confirm widespread corruption, including irregularities in deals with India’s Adani Group. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also complained that it has not received key documents needed for investigation. Experts estimate that at least Tk 1.25 trillion was embezzled through capacity charges, inflated project costs, and rent-seeking schemes. Despite the repeal of the controversial indemnity law that shielded energy contracts from legal scrutiny, no major prosecutions have followed. Analysts and legal experts describe the government’s inaction as a major governance failure, warning that entrenched bureaucratic resistance continues to protect the sector’s most powerful figures.

The Shahid Wasim Akram Expressway, stretching from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga in Chattogram, has increasingly become a death trap due to overspeeding, risky bends, incomplete construction, and lack of safety measures. Despite several fatal accidents in recent months, including three car crashes in November alone, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and traffic police have yet to implement effective safety controls. Locals complain that CDA only set up a toll plaza without ensuring surveillance or enforcement across the 15-kilometer elevated road. Motorcycles, CNGs, and other restricted vehicles continue to use the expressway freely, while pedestrians and social media users are often seen walking or filming on it. Although CDA claims 92% of the project is complete, many sections remain unfinished, and the number of vehicles using the road is far below projections. Authorities now plan to install CCTV and speed cameras to monitor violations, but residents remain skeptical about safety improvements.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has questioned whether Bangladesh is adequately prepared to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Country (LDC) category by November 2025. In a detailed social media post, he argued that seeking more time for graduation would not be an insult but a responsible act given current economic pressures, including challenges in banking, foreign exchange, and exports. Rahman criticized the interim government for making long-term economic and strategic decisions, such as those involving Chittagong Port, without a democratic mandate. He warned that closing off options for negotiation weakens Bangladesh’s leverage in international discussions. Emphasizing that national strength lies in asking difficult questions before irreversible harm occurs, he called for decisions affecting the nation’s future to be made by an elected government accountable to the people. Rahman reiterated that patience and public consultation are not weaknesses but essential aspects of democratic governance.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh held a day-long dialogue with representatives from domestic election observation organizations on Tuesday, November 25, at the EC headquarters in Dhaka. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin urged the observers to work as partners in ensuring a fair and transparent national election. According to EC officials, the meeting was part of a series of consultations aimed at gathering insights and recommendations from stakeholders. A total of 81 observer organizations participated in two sessions during the day. Senior EC officials and commissioners were also present. The dialogue follows earlier meetings with political parties, academics, civil society members, journalists, and election experts as part of the EC’s broader effort to ensure credible and inclusive national elections. The CEC reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting the upcoming parliamentary polls properly and sought cooperation from all sectors of society.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin has called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible national election in Bangladesh. Speaking on Tuesday, November 25, at a day-long dialogue with representatives of domestic election observation organizations, he emphasized that the Election Commission’s sole agenda is to deliver a credible election to the nation. Acknowledging past mistakes, Nasir Uddin said the commission aims to move forward by learning from previous experiences. He urged observer organizations to act as partners of the Election Commission in ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The CEC also stressed the importance of training new observer groups and ensuring that appointed observers remain nonpartisan and unaffiliated with any political party. His remarks come as preparations intensify for the upcoming national polls.

More than 30,000 Bangladeshi expatriates have registered to vote through the 'Postal Vote BD' app for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. According to the Election Commission (EC), registration began on November 19 for expatriates in East Asia, South America, and Africa, and on November 24 for those in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The process will continue until November 28. Registered voters will receive postal ballots at their addresses, which they must return by mail after voting. The EC aims to engage around five million expatriate voters in total. Registration for expatriates in Saudi Arabia will run from December 4–8, for those in South and Southeast Asia from December 9–13, and for expatriates in other Middle Eastern countries from December 14–18. Domestic postal voters, including officials on election duty, government employees, and prisoners, can register from December 19–23. The national election is expected to be held in the first half of February 2025.

A young man named Al Amin Hossain Rayhan, reportedly a leader of the banned Chhatra League, was found hanging in a flat in Dhaka’s Vatara area late Monday night. Police recovered the body from a residence in Bashundhara Residential Area’s E Block around midnight and sent it to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Local residents expressed suspicion about the nature of his death, with one witness suggesting it might be a planned murder due to the unusual position of the body. Another neighbor mentioned that Rayhan had been showing signs of depression in recent days. According to police sources, an investigation is underway to determine whether the incident was suicide or homicide. Rayhan was said to be the general secretary of the banned Laksham Upazila unit of the Chhatra League in Cumilla. Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report to confirm the cause of death.

Government primary school assistant teachers across Bangladesh have launched a three-day full-day work stoppage starting Tuesday, November 25, to press for three key demands: upgrading their entry-level pay to the 11th grade, ensuring 100% departmental promotion, and resolving complexities in obtaining higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service. The strike, organized by the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council, has halted classes nationwide. Despite prolonged discussions with the government, teachers claim no visible progress has been made beyond verbal assurances. The organization warned that if their demands remain unmet, they will boycott annual examinations and begin an indefinite hunger strike from December 11. According to the Directorate of Primary Education, Bangladesh has 65,567 government primary schools employing about 384,000 teachers. The teachers expressed dissatisfaction after the government upgraded head teachers’ pay scales earlier this year but left assistant teachers’ grades unchanged, despite their higher qualifications compared to other public sector employees.

A 65-year-old Thai woman named Chanthirot, bedridden for nearly two years, was mistakenly declared dead by her family after she lost consciousness on Sunday. Believing she had passed away, relatives placed her in a coffin and transported her about four hours to a temple near Bangkok for a free funeral service. However, during preparations for the cremation, faint cries for help were heard from inside the coffin. When opened, the woman was found trembling and waving her hands weakly. A video captured the stunned reactions of her relatives. Medical professionals later confirmed that she had not died but had suffered from extremely low blood sugar levels, causing her to appear lifeless. The incident took place in Phitsanulok province and has drawn widespread attention in Thailand for its shocking and miraculous nature.