In Valuka upazila of Mymensingh, Bangladesh, over 336 acres of farmland have remained uncultivated for more than 15 years due to severe water pollution from nearby textile dyeing factories. Farmers report that toxic waste from the Multazim and Experience Textile Mills has contaminated local wetlands, killing crops and aquatic life, and causing skin diseases among residents. A government investigation confirmed the damage, estimating total losses at around Tk 332.8 million and recommending that 25% of compensation be paid by Multazim Mill and 75% by Experience Mill. However, the factories have yet to pay. Despite multiple hearings and fines by the Department of Environment, pollution persists, leaving farmers unable to grow rice or access safe water. Local authorities say discussions with mill owners are ongoing to find a solution.

Myanmar’s military junta has launched a renewed offensive to reclaim Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army controls about 90% of the territory. Following Chinese diplomatic and economic pressure, several rebel groups have agreed to ceasefires, enabling the junta to regroup. The military is now preparing coordinated land, naval, and air operations, focusing on southern and central Rakhine, including the strategic Kyaukphyu area, home to major Chinese infrastructure projects. Airstrikes have intensified across Rakhine, reportedly killing civilians despite junta claims of targeting militants. Analysts say the junta’s supply lines remain fragile and its control limited to a few townships. The ongoing blockade has devastated Rakhine’s economy, causing severe shortages of food and medicine. Observers warn that a large-scale offensive could displace thousands more civilians and reshape Myanmar’s internal and regional dynamics.

Once a thriving center for silk production, the Ishwardi Silk Seed Farm in Pabna, Bangladesh, now operates only a limited mulberry sapling production program while all other activities remain suspended. Established in 1962 on 108 bighas of land, the farm once produced silkworm eggs, cocoons, and silk thread for the Rajshahi Silk Factory. Over time, financial constraints and severe manpower shortages led to the closure of most operations. Currently, only one manager oversees the facility, with a few daily laborers and contract workers employed intermittently. The once-bustling compound has turned into an overgrown area with abandoned buildings and neglected mulberry fields. Officials say that with adequate funding and staffing, the farm’s former productivity and heritage could still be restored.

Microsoft is developing a global 'supercluster' network that connects multiple data centers across vast distances to power next-generation artificial intelligence models requiring hundreds of trillions of parameters. The initiative, first launched in October, links facilities such as those in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia, forming a unified high-performance computing system. Though Microsoft has not disclosed the exact technology behind the interconnection, it aligns with recent advances like Cisco’s 51.2 Tbps routers and Broadcom’s new high-bandwidth hardware. The company’s Fairwater data centers employ direct-to-chip liquid cooling to minimize water use. According to Azure CTO Mark Russinovich, the goal is to distribute AI workloads across multiple centers, enabling efficient training of massive models. Analysts say this approach will give Microsoft flexibility in choosing new data center locations with optimal climate, land cost, and energy availability.

The Kurigram-Chilmari road in northern Bangladesh remains largely unrepaired despite the project nearing its deadline. Initiated in 2024 by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the 12-kilometer road widening and renovation project, costing around Tk 14.5 crore, has seen only about 10% progress. Locals report that the contractor, Khairul Kabir Rana, abandoned the site after digging trenches along the road, leaving it in a hazardous condition for nearly two years. The neglected road has caused frequent accidents, especially at night, and disrupted transportation of patients and goods. Residents have staged protests demanding action. LGED officials said repeated notices were sent to the contractor and warned that legal measures will be taken if the work is not completed within the remaining one and a half months of the project period.

The 178th birth anniversary of renowned novelist, playwright, and essayist Mir Mosharraf Hossain was celebrated in Rajbari with various programs. Representatives from Bangla Academy, the district and upazila administrations, and the Mir Mosharraf Hossain Literary Council paid floral tributes at his grave in Padamdi village of Baliakandi upazila. Later, a seminar was held under the chairmanship of District Commissioner Sultana Akter. Bangla Academy Secretary Dr. Md. Selim Reza attended as the chief guest, while Director Samir Kumar Sarkar was present as a special guest. The event highlighted Hossain’s literary contributions and his enduring influence on Bengali literature and culture.

At least 35 passengers were injured in a road accident in Kalukhali upazila of Rajbari district when one bus hit another, causing one of them to plunge into a roadside ditch. The incident occurred on the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway on Monday afternoon. Police from Pangsha Highway Station, led by Sub-Inspector Sajjad Hossain, visited the scene and confirmed that no fatalities were reported. The injured passengers were rescued and taken to Rajbari and Kalukhali hospitals for treatment. Several of the victims sustained serious injuries and were referred to other medical facilities for advanced care. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Bangladesh’s inflation will remain elevated in the current fiscal year, reaching an average of 8.8% in 2025–26 before easing to 5.5% in 2026–27. Following a 13-day review mission in Dhaka, IMF mission chief Chris Papageorgiou praised Bangladesh’s progress in maintaining macroeconomic stability but warned that weak tax revenue, financial sector vulnerabilities, and persistent inflation continue to pose challenges. The IMF recommended maintaining tight monetary policy until inflation falls to the 5–6% target range, strengthening tax administration, rationalizing subsidies, and expanding social safety nets. It also called for credible strategies to address banking sector weaknesses and accelerate climate financing efforts. The IMF noted that if reforms continue, GDP growth could reach about 5% by 2026–27, but delays could slow recovery and heighten inflation risks.

Bangladesh now ranks second in South Asia for diabetes prevalence, with 13.2% of adults aged 20–79 affected, according to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 2024 report. Only Pakistan has a higher rate at 31.4%. Experts attribute the rise to rapid urbanization, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and stress. They warn that without lifestyle changes, the disease could lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and blindness. The IDF estimates that 43.5% of Bangladeshi diabetics remain undiagnosed, and the number of patients could reach 22.3 million by 2045. Health specialists urge nationwide screening, awareness programs, and workplace initiatives promoting exercise and healthy eating. This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Build awareness at the workplace,” highlights the need for supportive work environments to reduce diabetes risks.

A college student named Saiyaf, 18, died after jumping into the Turag River while fleeing from locals who chased him following an arson attack on a stationary bus in Dhaka’s Shah Ali area on Thursday night. Police said Saiyaf and two other students agreed to set the bus on fire as part of a deal to earn money for a party. Another student, Nahian Amir Sani, 18, was caught by locals and handed over to police, while a third suspect managed to escape. The fire was started by pouring kerosene on the bus and filming the act on a mobile phone. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the fugitive and are taking legal action against the detained suspect. The incident has raised concerns about youth involvement in reckless and criminal activities.

Jagannath University has announced that its 2025–26 academic year undergraduate and BBA first-year admission tests will be conducted solely through multiple-choice questions (MCQs), replacing the previous written format. The decision aims to ensure fairness in evaluation and reduce travel and safety concerns for students. The exams will be held simultaneously in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Cumilla using identical question sets. Each test will carry 100 marks, with 72 for MCQs and the rest based on SSC and HSC GPA scores. Subject combinations will vary by faculty, covering areas such as English, mathematics, general knowledge, and science. Online applications will open on November 20 and close on December 3, with unit-based fees ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 taka. The admission tests are scheduled between December 13 and January 23 across different faculties.

Dr. Mirza Galib, former president of the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir and now an assistant professor at Howard University in the United States, shared his perspective on public understanding of the upcoming referendum. In a verified Facebook post, he said that if citizens believe reform proposals are best handled by 'intelligent' representatives in parliament, they will likely vote 'no'. Conversely, if they think ordinary people and lawmakers have similar judgment or trust the reform initiatives and the government of Dr. Yunus, they may vote 'yes'. Galib added that parties like Jamaat, NCP, and AB Party fully support the reforms, and voters who trust these groups may also favor 'yes'. He emphasized that the issue should not be overcomplicated.

Bangladesh’s interim government press secretary Shafiqul Alam has questioned why the nation needs validation from a 'genocidal figure' to understand its own political history. Referring to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent statement denying US involvement in the July Revolution, Alam argued that such claims undermine the spontaneous nature of the movement. He described Hasina’s long political career as deeply influenced by personal trauma and post-traumatic stress, noting her frequent references to her family’s assassination. Alam also criticized her tendency to frame political setbacks as foreign conspiracies, citing past claims involving US interests. He further remarked that Hasina’s supporters, including sections of the media and civil society, had elevated her to a quasi-spiritual status during her final years in power, a phenomenon he linked to lingering loyalty among some educated citizens.

A US proposal to establish a UN-mandated international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza has encountered opposition from Russia, China, and several Arab nations. The draft resolution, part of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, includes a 'Board of Peace' mechanism that Moscow and Beijing want removed. Arab countries have also expressed concerns about the lack of a clear role for the Palestinian Authority and an uncertain timeline for Israeli withdrawal. In response, Washington added language on Palestinian self-determination to the revised text. Despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call for swift passage, divisions within the UN Security Council persist. The UAE and others say the framework for the ISF remains unclear, while some warn the US might act outside the UN if talks fail. The debate underscores deep geopolitical rifts over Gaza’s post-war governance and statehood prospects.

The Ministry of Education of Bangladesh has finalized and published the admission policy for government schools from grades one to nine for the 2026 academic year. The policy, signed by Secretary Rehena Parveen, sets strict age limits, requiring students to be at least five and at most seven years old as of 2026, with a five-year relaxation for special needs students. Each class section will have a maximum of 55 students, and online birth registration verification will be mandatory. Applications and lotteries will be managed digitally by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), allowing up to five school preferences per student. The catchment area system in Dhaka remains unchanged, reserving 40% of seats for local students. Other quotas include 5% for freedom fighters’ children, 2% for special needs, and 3% for siblings. The digital lottery will be held on December 14, with admissions from December 17–21.