Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that a national referendum will be held in early February alongside the general election, assuring that the reform agenda will not be obstructed. In a televised address on the implementation of the July National Charter 2025, he said necessary legislation will be enacted in due time to facilitate the referendum. The ballot will feature a single 'yes' or 'no' question covering four key issues. If the majority votes 'yes,' a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed with elected representatives who will also serve as members of parliament. The council will have 180 working days to complete constitutional reforms, after which an upper house will be created within 30 working days based on proportional representation from the general election results.

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that Bangladesh will hold a national referendum on implementing the July National Charter on the same day as the upcoming 13th parliamentary election in February. In a televised address on November 13, he said the referendum will seek public approval on four key constitutional reform issues, including the formation of a bicameral parliament, expansion of fundamental rights, enhanced presidential powers, and ensuring women’s representation. The referendum will also ask voters whether they support implementing the July Charter’s provisions on caretaker governance and judicial independence. Dr. Yunus emphasized that holding both the election and referendum simultaneously will make the process more efficient and festive. Necessary legislation will be enacted in due course to facilitate the referendum process.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has claimed that the people of Bangladesh have effectively 'locked down' the ruling Awami League, accusing the party of using a lockdown campaign as propaganda to regain power. Speaking at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, Rizvi compared the Awami League’s actions to a virus that suppresses the nation, alleging that the government is using illegal and violent means to attack citizens. He also criticized the ruling party for corruption and money laundering, citing alleged embezzlement in major infrastructure projects such as the Padma Bridge and Metro Rail. Rizvi further accused the Awami League of carrying out secret attacks to obstruct justice in war crimes trials. His remarks come amid heightened political confrontation between the two major parties.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar stated that the nation has overcome a period of fear and successfully resisted what he described as fascist threats. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office, he accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of continuing to intimidate the nation while being politically aligned with Delhi. Porwar said Jamaat and its student wing held demonstrations across the country, asserting that opposing forces could not confront them on the streets. The event was organized to protest alleged acts of arson and vandalism by Awami League supporters. He also expressed hope that the chief adviser would take effective steps to resolve the ongoing political crisis, warning that otherwise, authoritarian forces might exploit the situation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called an emergency meeting of its National Standing Committee, the party’s top policymaking body, to be held at 7 p.m. at the chairperson’s office in Gulshan. BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan confirmed the information. Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting virtually. Although the specific agenda has not been disclosed, it is widely believed that the meeting was convened in response to Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s announcement that the national election and referendum will be held on the same day. The BNP has long demanded that both events take place simultaneously, and the party is expected to discuss its next course of action following the announcement.

Bangladesh has introduced a simplified online process that allows citizens to verify land ownership using only the owner’s name. Through the government website eporcha.gov.bd or the mobile app ‘ekhatian’, users can check land records by selecting the relevant division, district, and mouza, then entering the owner’s name. The system displays details such as plot numbers and land area if records exist. If no results appear, searches can be conducted using the plot number. Users can also obtain a certified copy of the land record online for a fee of 100 taka, payable via mobile banking. Authorities advise verifying all documents directly at the land or registry office before finalizing any property transaction to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has cautioned that the party will not take responsibility if the chief adviser makes any decision outside the scope of the signed July Charter. Speaking after a meeting between BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet in Dhaka, Amir Khosru said no political group has the right to hold the government hostage to press demands, warning that such actions would isolate them from the public. He also emphasized that the ongoing judicial process has no link to the upcoming elections and that those attempting to obstruct the polls are enemies of democracy. According to him, France, like other countries, expects Bangladesh’s elections to be held by February and is eager to work with an elected government.

Bangladesh is set to launch a landmark digital transformation of its land registration system, bringing all deeds registered since 1908 into a centralized online platform by 2025. The initiative aims to eliminate corruption, prevent land fraud, and make property records easily accessible to owners worldwide. Through this system, landowners will be able to search, verify, and download their deeds online for a nominal government fee. Missing records from 1947 and 1971, lost during wartime, will require owners to submit copies for inclusion. Legal experts say the move will end long-standing bribery practices at registry offices and ensure transparency in land ownership. The government will introduce a dedicated website for online verification and certified digital copies, which will be legally valid even if original documents are lost.

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.