Bangladesh’s Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict today on the appeal concerning the 13th constitutional amendment, which had introduced the caretaker government system in 1996 to ensure free and fair elections. The system oversaw three national polls before being annulled by the apex court in 2011, leading to its removal through the 15th amendment. Following the ouster of the Awami League government in July last year, the issue resurfaced in the judiciary. A seven-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, will deliver the ruling. The verdict is expected to clarify whether the caretaker government system will be reinstated and under what conditions. The appeal hearings concluded in November after extensive arguments from lawyers representing civil society figures, political parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, and the state. The outcome could have significant implications for Bangladesh’s electoral framework and political stability.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman marks his 61st birthday today, November 20, 2024. Born in 1965 to former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique has been a key figure in the party since the late 1980s. However, BNP leadership has directed all party units across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, not to hold any celebratory events such as cake cutting, poster displays, or discussion meetings. Instead, members have been encouraged to donate money that would have been spent on such festivities. The decision follows Tarique Rahman’s own instruction to maintain simplicity. Currently residing in the United Kingdom, he has been serving as the party’s acting chairman since 2018, after Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment. Party sources indicate that he is expected to return to Bangladesh next month following Umrah pilgrimage.

The Bangladesh government is considering limited onion imports to curb rising prices after a sharp increase of Tk 30–40 per kilogram over the past month due to reduced supply. Although wholesale prices have slightly declined following news of possible imports, retail prices remain high at Tk 100–110 per kg. Discussions are ongoing between the agriculture and commerce ministries, with the former opposing imports to protect farmers and the latter supporting limited imports to stabilize the market. The Department of Agricultural Extension claims there is no current shortage and expects prices to fall as new crops arrive in early December. Import permissions are being issued cautiously, and shipments may begin within one to two weeks through ports like Chattogram and Hili. Historically, Bangladesh imported over one million tons of onions annually, but imports have dropped significantly in recent years to support local farmers.

The Bangladesh High Court has officially recognized the July 2024 mass uprising as the 'July Revolution' and declared the United Nations Human Rights Office’s investigative report on the events as a 'historic document'. The full verdict, published on the Supreme Court’s website, directs the Ministry of Law to issue a gazette notification within three months and submit a progress report to the court. The ruling came after a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Tanvir Ahmed, who sought justice for killings and torture during the July–August 2024 protests. The UN report, released in February 2024, documented the killing of around 1,400 people, including 12–13% children, and accused the former Awami League government and its security forces of severe human rights violations. The High Court has kept the case as a continuous mandamus to ensure follow-up action on the investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, has abducted 16 Bangladeshi and Rohingya fishermen along with three fishing trawlers from Bangladesh’s maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. The group accused the fishermen of entering Myanmar’s waters. According to local fishing association leader Sajed Ahmed, the abduction occurred near Saint Martin’s Island. Reports from Myanmar-based media indicate that the fishermen were handed over to local security forces under Rakhine State laws. Over the past nine months, at least 346 fishermen have been abducted by the Arakan Army from areas near the Naf River and Saint Martin’s coast. While around 200 have been rescued with the help of Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB), 146 remain missing. Local authorities in Teknaf have confirmed awareness of the incident and are investigating. The recurring abductions have heightened fear among coastal fishing communities along Bangladesh’s southern border.

Bangladeshi footballer Tariq Kazi has reportedly attracted interest from Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest ahead of the upcoming winter transfer window. According to transfer news outlet Transfermarkt, the club plans to explore the Asian market, with Kazi among its key targets. The Finland-born defender recently announced his departure from Bashundhara Kings, citing unpaid wages and irregular salary payments over the past year. Despite maintaining a good relationship with the club, he terminated his contract on legal grounds. Kazi, who has been a reliable player for the Kings for five seasons, continues to represent Bangladesh at the international level. He played the full 90 minutes against Nepal and was substituted due to injury during the match against India. If negotiations progress positively, Kazi could soon become the first Bangladeshi player to feature in Romania’s top football league.

At least 31 civilians were killed in two separate military operations conducted by the Malian army and allied fighters in the Ségou region, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) as reported by Reuters. The first attack occurred on October 2 in Kamona village, where soldiers and militia members allegedly executed 21 men and set several houses on fire. A second assault took place in Bale village, about 55 kilometers away, leaving 10 more people dead, including one woman. Witnesses told HRW that the victims were accused of collaborating with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked militant group active in central and southern Mali. Neither the Malian military nor the African Union has issued an immediate response. HRW has urged Malian authorities to investigate the incidents and called on the African Union to take effective measures to halt the violence and ensure accountability for those responsible.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has initiated efforts to resolve internal disputes among its candidates following protests in several constituencies over the party’s nomination process. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been meeting with nomination-deprived leaders in Dhaka to ease tensions and ensure unity ahead of the upcoming national election. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has also personally intervened in some cases, urging all factions to work together for the party’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf. In addition to managing internal rifts, BNP faces criticism for nominating elderly candidates in several constituencies, with local leaders arguing that such choices weaken the party’s appeal among younger voters. Some local units have formally requested the replacement of older nominees with younger, more active figures. The BNP leadership is reportedly reviewing these concerns while emphasizing discipline and collective effort to strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.

Rawalpindi police have taken into custody three sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan — Aleema, Dr. Uzma, and Naureen — following a prolonged 10-hour sit-in outside Adiala Jail. The protest began after authorities denied family members and PTI leaders permission to meet Khan at the prison. Despite multiple rounds of negotiation, Aleema Khan refused to end the demonstration without a confirmed meeting schedule. Late at night, police dispersed male PTI workers and later detained the sisters using a female police unit, transferring them to Chakri. The PTI claimed on social media platform X that the sisters were peacefully protesting when police used force to arrest them. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between PTI supporters and law enforcement amid Khan’s imprisonment.

Bangladesh’s national football team climbed three spots to 180th in the latest FIFA rankings, marking its best position in nine years. The improvement follows Bangladesh’s 1–0 victory over India in Dhaka, their first win against the neighboring side in 22 years. Sheikh Morsalin scored the decisive goal in the first half. The win earned Bangladesh 17.13 ranking points, raising their total from 894.06 to 911.19. India, previously ranked 136th, dropped six places to 142nd after losing the same number of points. Bangladesh’s previous best ranking was 177th in February 2016, while their lowest point came in 2018 when they fell to 197th. Among the top-ranked teams, Spain retained the number one position, followed by Argentina, France, and England, with Brazil moving up two spots to fifth place.

At least 28 Palestinians were killed and 77 others injured after Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Gaza despite an ongoing ceasefire. The attacks struck three sites in Khan Younis’s Al-Mawasi area and one building each in Gaza City’s Shujaiya and Zeitoun districts. According to Al Jazeera, entire families were wiped out in some strikes, deepening fear among Gaza’s residents. The IDF stated that the strikes were in response to gunfire from Hamas militants targeting Israeli troops in southeastern Gaza. It claimed all targets were Hamas-related and that the operations did not violate the ceasefire terms. Hamas condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and rejected Israel’s justification. The renewed violence raises concerns about the fragility of the truce and the potential for further escalation in the region.

Russia carried out a large-scale attack across western Ukraine, killing at least 26 people, including three children, and injuring around 93 others. The strikes, among the deadliest in the region since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, targeted the city of Ternopil early Wednesday morning. According to reports, additional attacks hit Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, while drone strikes in Kharkiv injured more than 30 people. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russian X-101 cruise missiles struck residential buildings, causing significant destruction. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that many victims remain trapped under debris. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia used over 470 drones and 47 missiles during the assault, which also disrupted power supplies in several areas. The attacks mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict as Ukraine seeks renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland (Shirley Botchwey) arrives in Dhaka today for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening engagement with Bangladesh ahead of the country’s 2026 general election. During her November 20–24 trip, she will meet Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, political leaders, the Chief Election Commissioner, and foreign diplomats to discuss democracy, governance, and long-term prosperity. The visit follows a pre-election assessment mission by the Commonwealth last month and is viewed as a continuation of that process. Botchwey will also present the Commonwealth’s new strategic plan, emphasizing democracy as a core pillar, and explore areas where the organization can provide effective support. In a statement before her visit, she highlighted Bangladesh’s longstanding partnership with the Commonwealth since independence and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting a peaceful, inclusive, and participatory electoral environment. The mission underscores the Commonwealth’s focus on stability and democratic development in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Labour and Employment and Shipping Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting social justice nationally, regionally, and globally during the 355th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. He highlighted key amendments to the country’s labor law, including reducing the worker requirement for trade union registration from 20 percent to 20 individuals, easing documentation, and prohibiting blacklisting. The revised law also introduces measures against workplace discrimination, violence, harassment, and child labor, while shortening the minimum wage review period from five to three years. Bangladesh has recently ratified ILO Conventions 155, 187, and 190, thereby endorsing all fundamental conventions. Dr. Hossain also noted that all previous cases against trade union leaders have been withdrawn. Additionally, Bangladesh will host the Asia-Pacific Social Justice Forum in Dhaka next March. On the sidelines, he met Pakistan’s Human Resource and Overseas Employment Minister to discuss bilateral cooperation in skill development.

Candidates who passed the preliminary stage of the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination have launched a sit-in and hunger strike at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, demanding more preparation time before the written test. The protest began on Wednesday, November 19, with hundreds of participants carrying banners calling for a ‘reasonable schedule’ and denouncing what they describe as an unfairly short preparation period. The Public Service Commission (PSC) has scheduled the written exams to start on November 27 and continue until December 18, allowing only 40 days of preparation, compared to the usual three to six months in previous BCS sessions. Demonstrators argue that the vast syllabus cannot be covered adequately in such a short time. The written exams will take place across eight regional centers, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh, with some subject-specific tests held only in Dhaka.