Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has expressed concern that a level playing field is absent ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka on November 23, he alleged that misuse of administration, influence of money, and muscle power continue to dominate the country’s electoral culture. Islam criticized the Election Commission, government, and administration for failing to ensure neutrality and fairness, claiming that some political groups are openly discussing control over administrative mechanisms. Referring to ongoing political negotiations surrounding the so-called ‘July Charter,’ he warned that the election could become a staged or compromised process, harming democracy. Despite these concerns, Islam reaffirmed NCP’s commitment to participate in the election and called for public trust and support, emphasizing that the party’s progress depends on people’s confidence and cooperation.

Rashed Khan, General Secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, has criticized former student leaders who once advocated for nonpartisan or restricted student politics at Dhaka University but are now actively participating in election campaigns for political parties. In a Facebook post, he alleged that those who once sought to ban student politics did so to weaken independent student organizations. Khan expressed surprise that even elected student union leaders, who had pledged to remain free from party influence, are now campaigning under party symbols. He further claimed that the Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, his organization, practiced the least partisan politics but faced obstacles due to its independent stance. Khan reiterated his call for clean and nonpartisan student politics, arguing that student representatives tied to political parties cannot bring meaningful change to university politics or effectively uphold students’ rights.

In Dhaka’s Lalbagh area, a major road stretching from Chapra Mosque to the Maternity Hospital intersection has been illegally occupied for decades by hundreds of makeshift and permanent shops. The encroachment has turned the road into a permanent market, causing severe traffic congestion, pollution, and daily suffering for office workers, students, and residents. Locals allege that both the police and Dhaka South City Corporation have failed to take effective action despite repeated complaints and occasional eviction drives that yield only temporary relief. The market, selling everything from tea to fish and vegetables, generates unhygienic waste and fosters an unsafe environment. Residents claim that some political figures and corrupt officials are profiting through extortion. City officials have offered little response, with key officers unavailable for comment. Locals demand immediate clearance of the road and sidewalks to restore normal movement and prevent further deterioration of living conditions in the densely populated neighborhood.

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that he prevented five out of eight potential wars by threatening to impose tariffs on other countries. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that the United States has earned 'trillions and trillions of dollars' through tariffs and foreign investments, which he described as beneficial to the American economy. He also took aim at his successor, Joe Biden, asserting that inflation is now nearly nonexistent compared to what he called the 'worst in US history' under Biden’s leadership. Trump further boasted that the stock market reached record highs 48 times in just nine months. He added that figures like Leonard Leo, the Koch network, and foreign nations that once used tariffs to harm the US can no longer damage the country. His remarks come as part of his continued effort to highlight his economic and foreign policy record ahead of the upcoming election season.

Tropical Cyclone Fina struck Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, with wind speeds reaching up to 205 km/h, prompting the closure of Darwin International Airport and widespread safety warnings. The Category 3 storm, which hit late Saturday, began moving away on Sunday but left behind damaged homes and infrastructure. Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid downed power lines as emergency crews assess the situation. The Power and Water Corporation said it is still unclear how many people are without electricity. The storm has revived memories of Cyclone Tracy in 1974, which devastated Darwin and killed 66 people. Although no serious injuries have been reported, heavy rain and strong winds continue to disrupt daily life. Meteorologists warn that Category 3 cyclones can cause significant damage to vegetation, crops, and weak structures, as well as prolonged power interruptions.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Shering Tobgay, currently on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, met with leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday morning at the hotel where he is staying. The meeting was attended by NCP convener Nahid Islam and other senior party members, though details of their discussions were not disclosed. Tobgay arrived in Dhaka on Saturday morning for his state visit. Later that day, two memorandums of understanding were signed in the presence of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Tobgay, focusing on cooperation in the health sector and enhancing internet connectivity between the two nations. The visit underscores the growing bilateral engagement between Bangladesh and Bhutan, particularly in areas of technology and public health.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Myanmar on Sunday morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at 10:39 a.m. Bangladesh time, with its epicenter located about 267 kilometers west-southwest of Dawei in the Andaman Sea, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Thailand. The incident follows a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Bangladesh on Friday, killing at least 10 people, and several mild aftershocks recorded there the following day. Myanmar also experienced three smaller quakes on Saturday, measuring 3.5, 3.7, and 3.4 on the Richter scale, according to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS). No casualties or damage have been reported from the latest Myanmar quake, but experts are monitoring the region for potential aftershocks as seismic activity continues across South and Southeast Asia.

Bangladesh Bank has announced the closure of all direct customer services, including the sale of savings certificates, prize bonds, and the exchange of damaged notes, across all its offices from Sunday, November 23. The central bank stated that the decision was made considering security concerns, as it is a Key Point Installation (KPI) institution. Previously, such services were available at its Motijheel head office and regional branches in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. Initially, the closure was scheduled to begin on November 30 at the Motijheel office, followed by other branches, but the timeline was advanced for simultaneous implementation. Bangladesh Bank emphasized that central banks worldwide do not provide direct counter services to the public. To ensure uninterrupted service delivery, the regulator will enhance monitoring of commercial banks, which will continue to handle these customer-related transactions.

Several international airlines have suspended flights to and from Venezuela following a US warning about potential security risks in the country's airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited increased military activity and instability around the region, prompting carriers such as Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca, Chile’s LATAM, Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Spain’s Iberia to cancel or suspend operations. TAP confirmed cancellations for Saturday and Tuesday, while Iberia said it would pause flights from Monday, monitoring the situation before resuming service. Meanwhile, Copa Airlines and Wingo continued their scheduled flights. The advisory comes as the US expands its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying an aircraft carrier, several warships, and F-35 fighter jets, signaling heightened regional tension and potential new operations near Venezuela.

Bangladesh will face Italy for the first time in international cricket during the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. According to a leaked grouping reported by Cricbuzz, Bangladesh will share Group C with England, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal. Italy, a relatively unknown name in global cricket, qualified for the tournament through the European regional qualifiers. The 2026 T20 World Cup will feature 20 teams divided into five groups of four, with the top two from each advancing to the Super Eight stage. The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8, with the final likely to be held in Ahmedabad or Colombo. The full schedule is expected to be released on November 25. Other notable matchups include India versus Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Hosts India and Sri Lanka will be joined by teams qualifying through rankings and regional events, making this one of the most diverse T20 World Cups yet.

Following an emergency closure declared by Dhaka University due to post-earthquake safety concerns, students have started vacating residential halls. From Sunday morning, students were seen leaving with their belongings from various halls, including Rokeya, Mohsin, and Shahidullah halls. Many students welcomed the university administration’s decision, citing visible cracks in several buildings and the need for urgent repairs. Some residents of Rokeya Hall said that the closure period should be used to carry out necessary renovations to ensure safer accommodation. Meanwhile, a group of residential students staged an overnight sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, demanding visible solutions for safe housing and raising three specific demands. The university administration earlier announced that all halls must be vacated by 5 p.m. Sunday, with the closure to remain effective until December 6.

Thirteen Bangladeshi army officers were presented before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka on Sunday in connection with two cases of enforced disappearances and torture allegedly committed during the 15-and-a-half-year rule of the Awami League government. The officers were brought under heavy security in prison vans, with additional army and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel deployed around the tribunal premises. Earlier, on October 8, arrest warrants had been issued against 25 current and former army officers in three separate cases, including one related to killings during the July uprising. Fifteen of those officers were produced before the tribunal in October and later sent to a declared sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment. The tribunal also ordered public notices in newspapers for absconding accused to appear. In related developments, arrest warrants were previously issued against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her security adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, and five former DGFI chiefs in separate cases.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Central BNP’s Legal Affairs Secretary, has constructed an 800-meter-long wooden bridge over the Someshwar River in Durgapur, Netrokona, to alleviate long-standing public suffering caused by the absence of a permanent crossing. The bridge, built at a cost of around 1.5 million taka from his personal funds, is suitable for rickshaws, vans, private cars, and motorcycles. The inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday, November 22, attended by local BNP leaders, students, and residents. A small toll will be collected from vehicles using the bridge, and Kamal announced that all proceeds will be used for the development of local mosques, temples, and educational institutions. Locals expressed relief and gratitude, noting that the bridge will significantly improve daily transportation and connectivity in the Shivganj-Durgapur area, which had long suffered from poor accessibility.

Viquarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka has postponed all scheduled examinations for grades 1 through 9, as well as a special quiz competition for grade 11 students, originally set for Sunday, November 23. The announcement was made early Sunday morning by Acting Principal Majeda Begum through an official notice citing unavoidable circumstances. Regular classes for grades 11 and 12 will continue as usual. The decision follows a series of mild earthquakes that struck Dhaka and surrounding areas on Saturday, with magnitudes ranging from 3.3 to 4.3 on the Richter scale. The tremors, originating from Badda and Narsingdi, came after a stronger quake on Friday that caused significant damage and at least 10 deaths nationwide. The recent seismic activity has raised public concern and prompted precautionary measures across educational institutions in the capital.

Jamaat-e-Islami central working committee member and former MP Shahjahan Chowdhury has called on party leaders to bring local administrative officials under their influence ahead of the upcoming elections. Speaking at a gathering of Jamaat’s election coordinators at the GEC Convention Center in Chattogram on November 22, he said that officials should act according to the party’s directives, including arrests and case filings. Chowdhury emphasized that this election is a rare opportunity for Jamaat and warned against corruption and foreign interference. He urged party members to engage teachers, police, and local officials in promoting Jamaat’s electoral symbol and activities. He also mentioned previous financial support provided to local areas and stressed the need to understand public demands to ensure electoral success. His remarks have drawn attention for suggesting administrative manipulation and political influence over state institutions.