Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Dr. Khaleelur Rahman met with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in New Delhi for a bilateral discussion, according to a statement from the Bangladesh High Commission. The meeting took place during Dr. Rahman’s visit to India to attend the seventh Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) at the NSA level. During the meeting, Dr. Rahman formally invited Ajit Doval to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time. This marks the second visit by an adviser from Bangladesh’s interim government to India since August 5 of the previous year. Earlier, in February, Energy Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan visited India to participate in the India Energy Week. The latest meeting underscores ongoing cooperation and dialogue between the two neighboring countries on regional and security matters.

Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two notorious criminals, Monir Hossain alias Sohel alias Pata Sohel (30) and Sujon alias Bukpora Sujon (35), for their alleged involvement in the murder of Golam Kibria, the member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal. RAB officials revealed that the killing stemmed from political rivalry and territorial dominance disputes in the Mirpur area. The murder was reportedly premeditated and involved financial transactions. Kibria was shot dead on November 17 by six armed assailants at a hardware store in Pallabi’s C Block. One bystander was also injured during the attack. Following the incident, RAB launched an investigation analyzing CCTV footage and arrested the suspects from Savar and Tongi. Both detainees are members of the infamous ‘Four Star Group’ and have multiple criminal cases, including murder and drug trafficking. Authorities suspect underworld links and are continuing investigations to identify other conspirators.

Rumors spread across social media claiming that popular Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari had been nominated by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to contest the upcoming national election from Dhaka-5 (Jatrabari–Demra). The claim quickly gained traction online, prompting widespread discussion and even congratulatory posts. However, multiple senior Jamaat leaders, including Ataur Rahman from Dhaka North, Abdus Sattar Suman from Dhaka South, and Assistant Secretary General Ehsan Mahbub Jubair, have confirmed that the news is false and baseless. They clarified that the party already has a confirmed candidate for the constituency and urged the public to verify political information before sharing. Azhari himself has not commented on the matter. Dhaka-5 remains a politically significant seat, with Jamaat’s candidate Kamal Hossain currently engaged in campaign activities, while BNP has nominated Nabiullah Nabi for the same constituency.

At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured in a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault across Ukraine overnight, according to the State Emergency Service. The attacks, involving more than 470 drones and 48 missiles, struck multiple regions including Ternopil, Lviv, and Kharkiv, damaging residential buildings, energy facilities, and infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, urging allies to strengthen sanctions on Moscow and provide additional air defense systems. The assault coincided with Zelenskyy’s visit to Turkiye aimed at reviving peace talks. Ukraine’s energy ministry reported widespread power outages, while Poland temporarily closed two airports amid heightened regional air defense activity. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have intercepted four US-made ATACMS missiles allegedly launched by Ukraine toward Voronezh, with debris causing minor property damage but no casualties. The attacks mark an escalation in Moscow’s ongoing campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure as Kyiv seeks greater Western military support.

In Chattogram’s Raozan upazila, police recovered a foreign-made pistol, two loaded magazines, and ammunition from a grocery shop during a special operation. The District Detective Branch (DB) arrested three individuals—Jahir Ahmad, Sakibul Islam, and his brother Rana—in connection with the illegal possession of firearms. The raid took place on Tuesday night at Chowdhuryhat in Noapara Union, where the pistol and magazines were found hidden on a shop shelf. Based on Jahir’s information, two more suspects were detained from Patiya’s Haidgaon Maizpara area. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Additional Superintendent of Police (DB) Russell confirmed that a case under the Arms Act has been filed and the accused have been sent to court. He also stated that DB police have recently intensified operations, arresting eight people and recovering multiple firearms and ammunition across the district this month.

Government employees in Bangladesh have formed a united front to demand immediate implementation of a new pay scale. The interim government established a pay commission on July 27 to revise the salary structure, initially promising to enforce it within its tenure. However, recent remarks by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, suggesting that the next elected government will make the final decision, have sparked anger among employees. Leaders from various organizations, including the Secretariat Officers’ Association and the Bangladesh Government Employees Unity Council, have warned of intensified pressure if the commission’s recommendations are not submitted by November 30. They demand that the new pay scale be gazetted by December 15 and implemented from January 1. Twelve employee groups, including teachers, railway workers, and office staff, are coordinating joint actions. If the government fails to meet their deadline, employees plan to escalate with protests, sit-ins, and possible work stoppages. Union leaders insist that the new pay scale must be announced this year to maintain trust among civil servants.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued new regulations eliminating the requirement for prior approval from authorities such as RAJUK and NHA for the transfer, sale, donation, or mortgage of residential plots and flats. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works published the gazette notification on November 10, making the rules effective immediately. The reform aims to simplify services, reduce bureaucratic delays, and curb corruption in property ownership transfers. Under the new rules, property owners will no longer need approval from the leasing authority for ownership changes, though permissions will still be required for changes in land use or plot amalgamation. A transfer fee of 2% for developed plots or buildings and 5% for land-only transfers will apply. Owners must submit transfer records to the leasing authority within 90 days, with penalties for delays. The lease term will automatically renew after 99 years. However, existing approval requirements remain for non-residential properties and disputed or government-linked plots.

Bangladesh secured a historic 1-0 victory over India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, marking their first win against the neighboring football powerhouse in 22 years. The decisive goal came from forward Sheikh Morsalin at Dhaka National Stadium, ending decades of frustration for Bangladeshi fans. Following the match, the Bangladesh Football Federation released a one-minute locker room celebration video on its official Facebook page, featuring players like Jamal Bhuiyan, Rakib Hossain, and Shamit Shome dancing joyfully. The video quickly went viral after the Canadian Premier League shared a clip highlighting Shamit Shome’s dance moves, captioning it humorously. Shome, who plays for Cavalry FC in Canada, has previously been recognized multiple times as player of the week in the league. The viral moment symbolized both national pride and international recognition for Bangladesh’s football resurgence.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has questioned the Election Commission’s (EC) capacity to enforce the electoral code of conduct during its first dialogue with the commission after gaining registration. The discussion, held at the EC headquarters in Dhaka, focused on the new electoral code for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February. NCP leaders, including chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari and joint secretary Jahirul Islam Musa, raised concerns over the rule restricting candidates to use only the current party chief’s image, asking how the EC would respond if BNP candidates used Tarique Rahman’s photo instead of Khaleda Zia’s. They also criticized the practicality of printing campaign materials on cloth or jute, the 60-decibel sound limit, and the unclear definition of the investigation committee. While NCP welcomed provisions for televised debates and public manifesto readings, it urged the EC to ensure neutrality and transparency in election management.

Xiaomi has cautioned that smartphone prices could increase next year due to a sharp rise in global memory chip prices, driven by soaring demand for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) servers. Major manufacturers like Samsung are prioritizing high-speed memory production for AI applications, reducing output for mobile chips and tightening supply. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said the company expects greater cost pressure in the coming year, noting that even higher retail prices may not fully offset production expenses. Despite modest sales growth of 0.5% year-on-year in the third quarter, Xiaomi’s revenue of 113.1 billion yuan fell slightly short of analyst expectations, and its Hong Kong-listed shares dropped 2.81% on the announcement. However, the company’s net profit surged 80.9% to 11.3 billion yuan, supported by new ventures in electric vehicles, AI, and other emerging technologies, which now account for a quarter of total revenue.

South Korean children’s content company Pinkfong, creator of the viral 90-second video 'Baby Shark', has grown into a $400 million enterprise after its stock market debut. The video, released in June 2016 under CEO Kim Min-seok’s approval, became the most viewed content on YouTube with over 16 billion views. Pinkfong’s shares rose 9% on their first trading day, raising about $52 million. Originally founded in 2010 as SmartStudy with just three employees, the company shifted focus to younger audiences, producing simple, educational content that led to Baby Shark’s global success. While the song remains a key revenue driver, accounting for about one-fourth of earnings, new franchises like Bebefinn now contribute around 40%. Analysts note that Pinkfong must prove its growth extends beyond Baby Shark. CEO Kim says the company plans to use IPO funds to expand its film and character lineup and evolve into a technology-driven content creator leveraging data insights.

China has once again suspended all seafood imports from Japan, citing safety concerns over Fukushima wastewater monitoring, though analysts say the move is politically motivated. The decision follows comments by Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi, who warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would threaten Japan’s existence and could require a military response. Beijing demanded Takaiichi retract her statement and urged Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. The renewed ban comes just weeks after China had partially lifted restrictions imposed in 2023, when Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. The suspension is expected to severely impact Japan’s seafood exporters and tourism industry, as China had been the destination for over one-fifth of Japan’s seafood exports. Japanese officials say they have not yet received formal notification from Beijing, while Tokyo has issued safety advisories for its citizens in China amid rising diplomatic tensions.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has launched a comprehensive e-Services Management System to deliver all quality-related services online. The initiative, inaugurated at BSTI’s Tejgaon headquarters, aims to make certification and licensing processes more efficient and transparent. Supported financially by the Bangladesh Trade Facilitation (BTF) project and technically by Orange Business Development Ltd, the system allows clients to apply for product quality certificates, halal certification, metrology licenses, packaging approvals, and testing reports through a single digital platform. Users can submit applications, make payments, and track inspection and certification progress online. BSTI officials can also verify applications, issue inspection reports, collect samples, and grant licenses digitally. The platform is expected to enhance service accessibility, reduce processing time, and promote digital transformation within Bangladesh’s industrial and trade sectors.

Around 20 million people in Bangladesh are suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), according to experts speaking at a seminar organized by Evercare Hospital Dhaka to mark World COPD Day 2025. COPD, a group of chronic respiratory conditions including bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic asthma, is the third leading cause of death globally after heart disease and stroke. The prevalence rate among Bangladeshi adults stands at 12.5%, with rural areas being more affected than urban ones. Specialists emphasized that smoking cessation, pollution control, mask use, lung rehabilitation, balanced diet, and early detection can significantly improve patients’ quality of life. They also called for stronger public awareness, better primary healthcare, and regular lung function tests to prevent and manage the disease. The event featured presentations on non-invasive ventilation and surgical management of COPD, and was attended by leading respiratory and thoracic specialists.

The BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) has signed memorandums of understanding with ten of Bangladesh’s top industrial organizations to strengthen academia-industry collaboration. The agreements were formalized on November 19 with support from the university’s Career Development Center. BUFT Board of Trustees Chairman Faruque Hassan signed on behalf of the university, with other board members and faculty present. The partnering companies include Team Group, Giant Group, Ha-Meem Group, Babylon Group, Eco-Tex Ltd, Fakir Apparels, Sonia Sweater Group, Purbani Group, Paramount Group, and Shasha Denims. The partnerships aim to enhance students’ practical learning, research opportunities, and career development, while fostering stronger ties between the academic and industrial sectors. University officials expressed optimism that the collaboration will create new pathways for innovation and skill development in the country’s fashion and textile industries.