Bangladesh Bank has issued a directive restricting foreign travel by bank officials until the upcoming national parliamentary election. In a circular sent to all bank chairmen and managing directors on Wednesday, the central bank instructed that managing directors (MDs), chief executive officers (CEOs), and other employees should refrain from traveling abroad unless absolutely necessary. The order, issued under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act of 1991, takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice. The move is seen as part of efforts to maintain administrative stability and ensure smooth financial operations during the election period. The central bank emphasized that any foreign travel must be justified by urgent necessity and approved accordingly. This measure aims to keep key decision-makers available in the country during a politically sensitive time.

The Superior Selection Board (SSB) has recommended 34 police officers for promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), sparking widespread discontent within the Bangladesh Police. The list, finalized in a late-night meeting, reportedly favors officers from the 20th batch—many of whom allegedly benefited under the previous Awami League government and were involved in suppressing opposition activities. In contrast, several qualified and long-deprived officers from the 21st batch were excluded, despite having completed all verification and vetting processes. Critics within the force claim the move undermines internal discipline and could affect the neutrality of upcoming national elections. They argue that the selection reflects political favoritism and a continuation of past biases. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration have not responded to inquiries regarding the controversy, while calls grow for the list to be reviewed and revised to include deserving officers from the 21st batch.

US defense and intelligence officials suspect that members of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were stationed at a military facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after American personnel were denied access to part of the site. Two former senior US officials told Middle East Eye that the PLA may have been hosted at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Military City around 2020. The officials expressed concern that the facility could be used to gather intelligence on US forces stationed nearby at Al Dhafra Air Base. Reports suggest that the UAE may have provided financial or logistical support to host PLA members. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that China was building a military port near Abu Dhabi, which was later halted under US pressure, though leaked documents indicate work resumed a year later. The UAE and China have deepened military ties, including joint air force drills in Xinjiang in 2024. Neither the UAE, China, nor the US Department of Defense commented on the latest claims.

In a significant milestone for the Bangladeshi diaspora in U.S. politics, ten Bangladeshi-origin individuals have been appointed to the transition team of newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Among them is Samatali Haque, daughter of renowned Bangladeshi poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar. Haque, a professor at the City University of New York and a human rights activist, previously worked as a labor attorney and was actively involved in Mamdani’s campaign. The other Bangladeshi members include civic leader Kazi Fauzia, community organizer Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, former police officer Shamsul Haque, labor rights advocate Mohammad Karim Chowdhury, immigrant rights activist Fariha Akhtar, small business leader Arman Chowdhury, social organizers Shahriar Rahman and Tazin Azad, and legal affairs representative Imran Pasha. The 400-member transition team comprises experts and community leaders across 17 committees. This marks the largest-ever representation of Bangladeshis in a New York City mayoral transition team, highlighting their growing influence in local politics.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year and three-month prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the final ruling, declaring that no further appeals would be allowed. Bolsonaro, aged 70, will serve his sentence in a federal police facility in Brasília, where he has been held since Saturday due to flight risk concerns. He was previously under house arrest and accused of tampering with his ankle monitor. The conviction stems from his alleged involvement in planning to overturn the election results against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The plot failed to gain military support, but on January 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, leading to about 1,500 arrests. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, remains a deeply polarizing figure in the country’s politics.

The prosecution has filed a contempt of court petition against Advocate Fazlur Rahman at the International Crimes Tribunal. Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim confirmed the development on Wednesday, November 26. The petition accuses Rahman of actions or remarks deemed disrespectful to the authority and dignity of the tribunal. Details of the alleged contempt and the specific grounds for the petition have not yet been disclosed. The tribunal is expected to review the application and determine whether formal contempt proceedings will be initiated. Such cases are handled seriously by the tribunal, which maintains strict standards regarding conduct and respect for its judicial process.

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has risen to become the world’s second largest city by population, surpassing Tokyo and trailing only Jakarta, according to a new United Nations report cited by Al Jazeera. The report, titled 'World Urbanization Prospects 2025', shows Jakarta leading with 41.9 million residents, followed by Dhaka with 36.6 million and Tokyo with 33.4 million. The UN projects that Dhaka could become the most populous city globally by 2050 if current growth trends continue. The rapid population increase in Dhaka is attributed to rural-to-urban migration driven by employment opportunities, climate-related displacement, and the city’s expanding boundaries. The report also highlights that Asia dominates the list of megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million—with 19 of the world’s 33 megacities located in the region. Among the top 10, nine are in Asia, while Cairo is the only non-Asian city on the list.

Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has become a trending topic on social media following the release of new photos taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The images, part of her ‘Women’ project, show Obama looking notably slimmer, prompting widespread speculation online. Many users on platforms like Instagram and X have baselessly suggested that she may be using the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic. However, no evidence supports these claims. The discussion has largely shifted away from her project’s message about empowerment and healthy living to focus on her appearance. In a previous 2022 interview with People magazine, Obama discussed natural weight changes during menopause, a context many commenters overlooked. The 61-year-old shared the photos with a caption emphasizing the power of photography to inspire and convey meaning beyond the moment captured.

A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accuses Israel of forcibly displacing over 32,000 Palestinians from their homes in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps, marking the largest mass displacement in the West Bank since 1967. The operations, part of what Israel calls 'Operation Iron Wall', have left residents barred from returning and their homes destroyed. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, while settler violence has surged to record levels. The United Nations reports more than 1,500 Palestinians displaced by home demolitions in Area C and East Jerusalem, where building permits for Palestinians are nearly impossible to obtain. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have openly advocated annexing the West Bank and expanding illegal settlements, moves widely condemned as violations of international law. Human rights groups warn of worsening conditions and urge international accountability for Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.

Bangladesh Bank has issued a directive restricting foreign travel by officials and employees of all banks and financial institutions until the completion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department announced that only essential and unavoidable trips will be permitted during this period. The measure aims to prevent administrative disruptions and maintain operational stability in the banking sector during the election season. The directive applies to managing directors, chief executive officers, and all other officers and staff. Bangladesh Bank invoked its authority under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991, to enforce the order, which takes immediate effect. The move is part of precautionary steps to ensure that the financial system remains fully functional and responsive amid the heightened administrative and political activities surrounding the upcoming national polls.

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh has issued a directive urging all ministries and divisions to refrain from granting entry passes or one-time passwords (OTPs) to unfamiliar visitors seeking access to the Bangladesh Secretariat. The letter, sent to senior secretaries and secretaries, highlights recent incidents where unauthorized individuals obtained OTPs from authorized officials and caused disruptions inside the Secretariat. The ministry warned that such actions disturb the working environment and create confusion among staff. It emphasized the need for heightened caution when issuing passes, ensuring that only verified and known individuals are granted access. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy Police Commissioner responsible for Secretariat security, instructing them to strengthen overall security measures to prevent further breaches.

Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the international community about what it describes as growing Islamophobia and deliberate destruction of Islamic heritage in India. In a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the event reflects a broader trend of pressure on religious minorities under a majoritarian Hindutva ideology. He alleged that several historic mosques in India face threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims are increasingly marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international bodies to play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and protecting the religious and cultural rights of all minorities. Islamabad also called on New Delhi to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety of all religious communities and their places of worship.

Several buildings at the Ghorashal-Palash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi have developed cracks following the strong earthquakes on November 21 and 22. The damage has sparked fear among residents and workers of the South Asian fertilizer giant, which is currently undergoing major reconstruction. Contractors Toma Construction and Messrs Jamal & Company were engaged in multi-phase projects worth over Tk 370 crore, with about half the work completed. Officials claim the cracks are superficial and not structural, but residents question construction quality and safety. A committee led by Additional Chemist Saifuddin Mohammad Tarek has been formed to assess the damage and determine whether affected buildings should be declared unsafe. Local authorities have already evacuated some residential blocks deemed risky. The earthquake also damaged nearby infrastructure, including parts of the Ghorashal power plant, a railway bridge, and local government buildings, prompting emergency disaster management meetings to restore public confidence.

At least 21 of the 41 murders committed in Chattogram over the past year are linked to criminal gangs operating through foreign phone numbers and encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Imo, and Telegram. These networks, reportedly run by masterminds based in India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai, and Qatar, issue orders for killings, extortion, and abductions remotely. Police admit they lack the technical capacity to trace these encrypted communications, leaving them unable to pinpoint suspects’ locations even when nearby. Intelligence reports identify at least 14 active groups, each backed by expatriate coordinators and hackers skilled in number cloning and fake location generation. Local law enforcement officials say their efforts are hampered by limited access to advanced surveillance tools and dependence on a single military intelligence agency for technical assistance. Experts warn that Chattogram’s underworld has undergone a ‘digital shift,’ urging immediate investment in cyber intelligence, international data-sharing agreements, and modern monitoring systems to prevent virtual criminal networks from becoming uncontrollable.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of Bangladesh has made major revisions to secondary-level textbooks for the upcoming academic year. The new editions include a chapter titled 'Mass Uprisings in Independent Bangladesh' that covers events from the 1952 Language Movement to the 2024 July Revolution. The revised content highlights political transitions such as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s BAKSAL era, Ziaur Rahman’s introduction of multi-party democracy, Ershad’s autocratic rule, and Khaleda Zia’s democratic government. It also includes references to Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, alleged authoritarianism, corruption, and her eventual downfall in 2024. The 7 March speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been removed from the eighth-grade Bangla literature book. NCTB officials said the changes were made following recommendations from a high-level committee after widespread criticism of last year’s textbooks. The new books are printed and ready for distribution at the start of the school year, though they are not yet available online.