The United States wants to see the human rights of the Bangladeshi people are upheld. "Our position with respect to human rights in Bangladesh is the same under this government as it was under the previous government," said Spokesperson at the US Department of State Matthew Miller in a regular briefing in Washington on November 20. "We want to see the human rights of the Bangladeshi people upheld," he added.  

A U.S. government-led delegation will arrive in Dhaka on Friday to discuss support to economic resilience, stability, growth, as well as meaningful and quality jobs in Bangladesh.  The Nov 22-25 visit "underscores" the United States’ commitment to improving and advancing economic development, internationally recognized labour standards, as well as sustainable growth and broadly shared prosperity, said the US Department of State on Thursday. The delegation will be led by Special Representative for International Labor Affairs Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, on behalf of the Department of State, and Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee, on behalf of the Department of Labor. US vetoes UN resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza During their visit, the delegation will meet with officials from the Interim Government, private sector garment producers, and labor union stakeholders, said the Spokesperson at the US Department of State.  The delegation will engage representatives from American companies invested in the ready-made garment sector and global labor experts to discuss how to best support Bangladesh’s economy, democracy, and workers. 

The drivers of battery-powered rickshaws blocked roads in different parts of the capital on Thursday morning protesting a ban on their movement in city streets. On Tuesday, the High Court  ordered to halt  plying of battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka city within three days. Md Russel, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, said the rickshaw pullers took to the streets around 9 am at Mohakhali intersection, halting vehicular movement. Later, they also blocked the rail crossing at Mohakhali, causing immense sufferings to the commuters. Anti-government protesters blame rampant corruption for roof crash that killed 14 people in Serbia Protesting the HC order, the drivers of battery-run auto-rickshaw staged demonstrations in Mohakhali, Mirpur, Shewrapara and Kazipara areas, halting vehicular movement. Tania, assistant commissioner of Pallabi zone, said the drivers of battery-run rickshaws brought out processions in Mirpur-10, Kazipara and Shewrapara areas protesting the HC ban. Later, they gathered in Mirpur-10 Golchattar area and Rokeya Sharani and put up barricade on the roads. Students protest appointment of “fascist allies” as advisers People of these areas are experiencing severe traffic congestion following the blockade. Nearly, 10 lakh rickshaws are moving in Dhaka city and a large portion of which is battery-powered. Many old pedal-driven rickshaws are being fitted with batteries to make them mechanical.  

After a disappointing clean sweep at home against South Africa in their last Test series, Bangladesh are gearing up to take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series, with the first match starting Friday in Antigua. Ahead of the series, Bangladesh played a two-day practice match against a West Indies Board XI, which ended in a draw. The highlight of the match was left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, who claimed a hat-trick, boosting his confidence ahead of the main series. Bangladesh will be without key players Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim for this series. Bangladesh finish preparation in West Indies as Hasan Murad registers hat-trick Shakib is unavailable due to personal reasons and public backlash over his political affiliations with the former ruling Awami League, which was ousted in a recent popular uprising. Najmul and Mushfiqur, meanwhile, are sidelined with injuries. In Shakib's absence, Hasan Murad is expected to play a pivotal role as the team’s lead left-arm spinner. His hat-trick in the practice match has raised hopes of a standout performance in the upcoming games. Hasan Murad played 31 First-class matches and bagged 139 wickets with 12 five-fors. Bangladesh enter the series with a mixed Test record. After suffering a clean sweep against India and South Africa in their last two Test series, they previously registered a historic win against Pakistan in Pakistan. BCB announces Bangladesh U-17 Cricket team's schedule for Sri Lanka tour Before this series, Tigers have played 20 Tests against the West Indies, winning four. However, this time the team will rely heavily on its younger players due to the absence of key senior members. To compensate for Najmul’s absence, the selectors have called up Shahadat Hossain Dipu, who played 33 First-class matches and scored 1752 runs with three centuries. The team will lean on allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who will also captain the side in this series. With a relatively inexperienced squad, Bangladesh face a tough challenge but hopes to capitalize on the promise of its young players and the leadership of Mehdiy who has the experience of leading Bangladesh in the U-19 level.    

Farmers in Naogaon are hectically harvesting transplanted aman paddy amidst prospects of good yield. This season, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target to produce 9.82 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, equivalent to 6,55,070 metric tonnes of rice. The autumn landscape of the district is painted in gold with ripened paddies, creating a picturesque view that brings smiles to the growers. Govt to procure 3.5 lakh MT Aman paddy at Tk 33 per kg Already the farmers are hoping to meet their household needs including buying clothes and other daily essentials by selling their produce. After harvesting, farmers bring the paddies to their home, where they separate it from the stalks using traditional methods. Housewives are busy cleaning and storing the grains for future use. According to the DAE, as of Wednesday, 25% of the district's total paddy fields have been harvested. 1000 hectares of Aush paddy, vegetables land damaged in recent flood in Habiganj Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director of DAE, said during the ongoing Kharif-2 season (2024-25), a total of 1,96,125 hectares of land have been brought under Aman paddy cultivation in 11 upazilas of the district. Of these, 11,250 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in Sadar upazila, 18,450 hectares in Raninagar upazila, 6,970 hectares in Atrai upazila, 14,485 hectares in Badalgachhi upazila, 28,925 hectares in Mohadevpur upazila, 23,420 hectares in Patnitala upazila, 21,010 hectares in Dhamoirhat upazila, 9,800 hectares in Sapahar upazila, 15,290 hectares in Porsha upazila, 16,100 hectares in Manda upazila and 30,425 hectares in Niamatpur upazila of the district. Farmers cultivated various high-yielding and local varieties of Aman paddy, including BRRI Dhan-34, BRRI Dhan-51, BRRI Dhan-52, BRRI Dhan-49, BRRI Dhan-75, BRRI Dhan-87, BRRI Dhan-90, BRRI Dhan-93, BRRI Dhan-94, BRRI Dhan-95, BRRI Dhan-103, Binnaphul, BINA Dhan-17, and Chini Atop.  

A waste treatment plant in Barguna town constructed at a cost of Tk 16 crore under the LGSP project with World Bank funding has been lying inoperative for the last three years amid environmental and health concerns. Meanwhile, 7–8 tonnes of municipal waste is being dumped daily in the densely populated Sonakhali area in the town, causing severe environmental pollution and health hazards, official sources said. Residents Suffer from Toxic Pollution Visiting the area the UNB correspondent found 10–15 families reside less than 50 yards from the Sonakhali dumping ground. These residents endure continuous smoke, stench, and an infestation of flies and mosquitoes. Bangladesh and Japan to sign MoU on waste management, carbon credits The nightly burning of waste by municipal sanitation workers exacerbates the situation, with black smoke lingering throughout the day. Sabina Yasmin, a local resident, said, “For 20 years, waste has been dumped in front of my house, forming a massive heap. Every night, trucks unload waste, which overflows by dawn. The smell of burning plastic and polythene is suffocating, making it unbearable to live here." Thousands of students and commuters who traverse the area daily are also affected. The stench and smoke force them to cover their noses. Dhaka’s waste management failed to improve in 53 years: Adviser Rizwana Lack of Skilled Manpower Delays Plant Operations The waste treatment plant in Helibunia village has not been made operational due to a lack of skilled manpower. Barguna Municipality Executive Officer Md. Rafiqul Islam Ripon said, "We are working on waste management. Skilled and experienced manpower will soon be recruited to operate the treatment plant in Helibunia." However, in the meantime, unregulated dumping continues to affect the densely populated Sonakhali area. Public Health Risks Highlighted Health experts have raised alarms over the mixture of hospital and general waste at the dumping site. Barguna Civil Surgeon Dr. Pradip Chandra Mondal said, “Unplanned waste management is harmful to the environment and public health. Open spaces cannot serve as dumping grounds. Mixing hospital and general waste produces toxic gases that cause severe diseases in humans. These two types of waste must be recycled separately." Locals demanded operationalising the waste treatment plant and proper waste management practices. Without immediate action, the health and well-being of residents, particularly children and the elderly, remain at risk, alongside the town's environment, they said. Waste management challenge in Bangladesh Municipal solid wastes have been a great challenge all over the world today for their huge volumes. Bangladesh faces many challenges due to its large, rapidly growing population in urban areas. Bangladesh is the ninth most populous and 12th most densely populated country in the world. With this population growth, there is an increasing problem of waste management, particularly in larger cities. Currently, according to an UNFPA report, Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world and one of the issues concerned is the management of municipal waste.

Twenty-four Bangladeshis, including 11 women, have  returned home through Benapole check post after serving two years in jail in India. They were handed over to Bangladesh immigration authorities at Benapole on Wednesday night. They all hail from different parts of Narail, Chattogram, Thakurgaon, Cumilla, Gopalganj, Tangail, Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali districts, police said on Thursday. Benapole, Sundarbans Express trains’ routes to remain unchanged Benapole Immigration Police officer in-charge Imtiaz Ahsanul Kader Bhuiya, said they went to India without valid documents in search of jobs with the help of local brokers two years back. Kolkata police arrested them and a court sentenced them to two years imprisonment each for trespassing into the country. After the end of the jail term, Indian police handed them over to Benapole check post immigration police at night. Benapole police later handed them over to a representative of a human rights organisation in Jashore to send them back to their respective families.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday paid tribute to the martyrs of the Bangladesh Liberation War by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban (Eternal Flame) in the Dhaka Cantonment area. The president paid the tributes to the martyrs to commemorate the Armed Forces Day today. He was accompanied by the chiefs of the armed forces and other military personnel while paying the homage at 8 am. After placing the wreath the president, who is also the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, stood there in solemn silence for a while as a mark of respect to the memories of the martyrs who made supreme sacrifices during 1971 War of Liberation. Later, a smartly turned out contingent of the Army, Navy and Air Force presented a salute on the occasion. President Shahabuddin also signed the visitors’ book there. Traffic restrictions in Dhaka Cantonment today for Armed Forces Day On his arrival at Shikha Anirban, chiefs of the three services and the principal staff officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division received the president. Khaleda to join Armed Forces Day reception after 11 years Bangladesh observes November 21 as Armed Forces Day marking the day in 1971 when the army, the navy, and the air force launched a coordinated offensive against occupation Pakistani forces.  

UNICEF has appointed Gargee Tanushree Paul as a new youth advocate in Bangladesh for the coming two years. During the signing ceremony for her new role, Gargee met with Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, and discussed children's rights in the country, said a press release received on Thursday. In her new role as a youth advocate, Gargee will engage with UNICEF in global and national moments to amplify children’s voices and advocate for children’s rights including increasing awareness of climate action, protecting their future from violence, neglect, abuse and childhood traumas, child marriage, learning crisis and prioritising the most vulnerable and marginalised children in all areas of development. Japan providing assistance worth USD 1 million to flood-affected areas through UNHCR, UNICEF Gargee, now 16-year-old, is a dedicated child rights advocate and journalist, currently a student in Grade 10 at Scholastica School, said the release.   She engages in supporting underprivileged children, as well as on projects to improve education for indigenous children. Gargee has published over 200 reports with child journalism media hello.bdnews24.com covering key issues like child marriage, education, and climate change, said UNICEF on Wednesday. She has also led impactful awareness campaigns and charity drives, highlighting her commitment to UNICEF’s mission. Her background and active engagement make her an inspiring role model for children and young people. As a youth advocate, Gargee will inspire other young people to take action towards making the world a better place.    

Vehicular movement in Dhaka Cantonment is restricted today (Thursday), in observance of Armed Forces Day. According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the primary road from Shaheed Jahangir Gate to Staff Road will have limited access from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Only vehicles carrying residents of the cantonment and invited guests will be allowed during these hours. All other vehicles are requested to avoid the area during the specified times to ensure smooth execution of the day’s events. Honouring the Armed Forces The day began with special prayers at mosques within army cantonments, naval bases, and air force establishments across the country, seeking blessings for national prosperity, the progress of the Armed Forces, and the departed souls of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the 1971 Liberation War. President Md Sahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, in their messages, paid tributes to the Armed Forces for their contributions to the nation. They laid wreaths at the Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment to honour the martyrs. The Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan also placed wreaths on behalf of their respective forces. Celebrations Across the Nation A reception hosted by the Chief Adviser at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment will recognise gallantry award recipients and their families. The event will include speeches, the distribution of commemorative gifts, and interaction between distinguished guests, including members of the judiciary, senior civil and military officials, foreign diplomats, and renowned personalities. Later in the afternoon, a formal reception will be held at the Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment to be broadcast live by Bangladesh Television. Armed Forces Day to be observed Thursday Similar receptions are planned at cantonments in Barishal, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Jashore, Rangpur, and Khulna under the respective area headquarters. Specially decorated naval vessels in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur, Barishal, and Chattogram will remain open to the public from 2:00 pm to sunset. Besides, the Armed Forces Day is marked by essay and art competitions at military-run educational institutions. Khaleda to join Armed Forces Day reception after 11 years National newspapers have published special supplements highlighting the significance of the day. The Armed Forces Day is celebrated with enthusiasm and reverence across Bangladesh, reflecting the nation’s pride in its military forces.