Energy experts have cautioned that ensuring an adequate and sustainable energy supply will be the biggest challenge for Bangladesh’s next government. Speaking at a seminar titled “Powering Prosperity: Creating a Stable and Bankable Energy Future for Bangladesh,” organized by Policy Exchange Bangladesh and the Economic Reporters Forum, specialists emphasized the need for immediate investment in the energy sector to avoid a potential supply crisis by 2031. Abu Chowdhury of EMA Power Limited projected that electricity demand will exceed 35,000 megawatts by 2029, urging new investments and policy dialogues with the private sector, which currently holds 48% of production capacity. Former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo highlighted the importance of local investment, while Professor M. Tamim stressed the need for foreign expertise in gas exploration. Business leaders, including MCCI president Kamran T. Rahman, called for consistent policy frameworks to encourage renewable energy and prepare for rising demand from electric vehicles.

President Donald Trump announced that he will meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday in the Oval Office, marking their first in-person encounter since Mamdani’s election earlier this month. The meeting follows months of sharp exchanges between the two, with Trump repeatedly labeling Mamdani a 'communist' and threatening to cut federal funding to New York City if he won. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, confirmed his team requested the meeting to discuss public safety, economic security, and affordability issues affecting New Yorkers. Despite their political differences, both sides have expressed a willingness to cooperate for the city’s benefit. The meeting is expected to focus on federal support for New York and the city’s cost-of-living challenges. Trump’s decision to host Mamdani comes after he previously backed Andrew Cuomo in an unsuccessful attempt to block Mamdani’s rise. The Oval Office discussion could signal a tentative thaw in relations between the White House and New York City’s incoming leadership.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh was able to overcome recent crises and restore national stability due to unity and the support of the armed forces. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Course 2025 in Mirpur Cantonment, he emphasized the importance of solidarity in achieving the nation’s aspirations. Addressing foreign officers, Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s growing global defense ties. He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to reforms and justice for crimes committed during last year’s student uprising. Yunus called on the military, police, and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the upcoming national election, scheduled for early February, is peaceful and festive. The DSCSC Course 2025 saw 311 officers graduate, including 58 from 24 foreign countries and 14 women officers, reflecting progress in inclusion and empowerment within the defense sector.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has reinstated the long-debated non-partisan caretaker government system for overseeing national elections, overturning parts of the 15th constitutional amendment that had abolished it in 2011. The verdict was delivered by a seven-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed after ten days of hearings. However, constitutional experts and senior lawyers clarified that the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, expected by February, cannot be held under this system due to procedural and constitutional constraints. They indicated that the caretaker mechanism could only apply from the 14th general election onward. The ruling follows a 2023 High Court decision that declared sections 20 and 21 of the 15th amendment unconstitutional, paving the way for the system’s return. Legal representatives from various political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the hearings, while the Attorney General represented the state. The decision marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s electoral framework and political landscape.

The Bangladesh High Court has issued an injunction halting arbitration proceedings initiated by India's Adani Group in Singapore over unpaid electricity bills amounting to $234 million. The court ruled that the arbitration must remain suspended until a judicially appointed committee submits its report on alleged irregularities in the power purchase agreement between Adani Power and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The bench, led by Justices Md Bazlur Rahman and Urmi Rahman, delivered the order after a preliminary hearing. The dispute stems from Adani’s claim of unpaid dues under a 25-year electricity supply contract from its Jharkhand-based power plant. BPDB has resisted arbitration, citing an ongoing investigation into the deal’s legality and potential corruption. The High Court’s committee has already found preliminary evidence of irregularities and is expected to submit its final report by mid-December. Adani had earlier warned of possible power supply suspension if dues remained unpaid. The case has drawn attention due to allegations that the contract was politically influenced under the previous government.

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.