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.

The Bangladesh government has issued the 2025 gazette amending the Organ Transplantation Act, introducing major reforms to curb fraud and illegal trade. The new law expands the definition of donors to include emotional donors—such as spouses, adopted relatives, or long-term friends—alongside biological and cadaveric donors. It mandates strict verification, psychological evaluation, and ethical approval for emotional donations. The amendment also legalizes swap transplants between mismatched donor-recipient pairs under national registry oversight. For the first time, the law defines 'brain death' medically to facilitate cadaveric donations. A national transplant registry will record all donor-recipient data, hospital authorizations, and ethical committee decisions under the Health Ministry’s supervision. Only government-approved hospitals and surgeons can perform transplants, meeting international standards. The law imposes severe penalties for organ trafficking, coercion, or falsification, including license cancellation and up to ten years’ imprisonment. While cadaveric donation remains voluntary, the law encourages it to build a donation culture respecting ethical and religious values.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman marked his 61st birthday on November 20, 2024. To commemorate the occasion, former joint convener of Dhaka North Jubo Dal, S.M. Mizanur Rahman Raj, distributed winter blankets among underprivileged people. Tarique Rahman, the elder son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, began his political career in 1988 as a member of the Gabtoli Thana BNP in Bogura. He played a significant role in national election campaigns in 1991 and 2001 alongside his mother. Over the years, he rose to become the party’s Senior Vice Chairman and, since 2018, has been serving as the acting chairman from the United Kingdom after Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment. Party sources suggest that Tarique Rahman may return to Bangladesh next month after performing Umrah. The blanket distribution event was part of broader celebrations by BNP supporters across the country.

Chattogram Port has set a new record by issuing 6,301 gate passes in a single day, marking the highest number ever recorded. On Tuesday, the port issued 4,734 consignee gate passes and 1,567 off-dock gate passes. The Chattogram Port Authority confirmed the achievement on Wednesday, noting that the milestone reflects the port’s ongoing digital transformation. According to Secretary Md Omar Faruk, the successful use of modern technology, particularly the Terminal Operating System (TOS) app, has made import and export operations more efficient and transparent. He emphasized that Chattogram Port remains the central hub for Bangladesh’s trade and industrial growth, contributing significantly to national revenue and international competitiveness. The authority believes that such advancements will further strengthen the country’s overall trade system and enhance operational efficiency.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has begun distributing nomination forms for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election starting Thursday, November 20, with the process continuing until November 30. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the party’s central office, Muktibhaban in Dhaka, will serve as the election headquarters where aspirants can collect and submit forms priced at 2,000 taka each. The CPB Presidium meeting held on Tuesday invited applications for all 300 parliamentary constituencies. The announcement also outlined several upcoming political programs, including a nationwide protest on November 23 against irregularities in Chittagong port terminal leases, a demonstration at the Election Commission on November 26 demanding electoral reforms, and a ‘Jamuna Journey’ event on December 4. The initiatives reflect the party’s efforts to mobilize support and advocate for fair, transparent, and participatory elections.

Aid for Men Foundation, a Bangladeshi organization advocating for men’s rights, has called for an end to all forms of legal discrimination against men. The demand was made during a discussion titled 'From False Accusations to Physical Attacks: Men’s Security and Human Rights Crisis' held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on November 19. Marking International Men’s Day, the group organized awareness programs including discussions, cycling rallies, and processions to highlight men’s safety and rights issues. The organization’s General Secretary, Saiful Islam Nadim, stated that men in Bangladesh face severe neglect and discrimination, often being victims of false accusations and biased laws. He warned that political parties ignoring men’s rights in their election manifestos would lose their votes. Speakers at the event, including lawyers, writers, and human rights activists, emphasized the need to ensure men’s legal and social protection throughout the year.