Normalcy returned in some areas: Hundreds of factories shut in Bangladesh despite hike assurance : Workers protest continues as garment workers clash with police

The BNP government's challenge is to negotiate a settlement that neither bleeds factory owners nor pushes workers further into economic distress.  

Tensions persisted in parts of Ashulia and Savar, where demonstrations continued and some factories remained closed as a precaution. Reportedly normalcy largely returned to Gazipur, Narayanganj and Mirpur. 

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has begun using drones for real-time surveillance in industrial areas of Dhaka and neighbouring districts.

According to a BGB press release, the force has deployed three platoons in Mirpur, 11 in Savar and Ashulia, 12 in Gazipur and seven in Narayanganj.  After four days of labour unrest, the situation appeared to ease with workers returning to garment factories and production resuming in some key pockets across industrial belts.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amjad Hossain said “99.99 percent” of garment factories in the district were operating yesterday, and traffic movement had returned to normal.

In Narayanganj, factory operations and traffic also resumed as usual. Security was tightened at Chashara, a key intersection in the city.  

The Bangladesh economy is likely to take a hit after hundreds of garment factories were forced to suspend operations as workers continued to take to the streets demanding higher wages.

Operations were suspended in 414 factories across Gazipur and Savar in Dhaka district. 

Some estimates even suggest that the number could have risen to 500-600 factories. The protests turned violent, with reports of intense clashes between police and protesters and incidents of vandalism in Gazipur, Mirpur and Savar.

The nearly $40 billion readymade garment (RMG) industry, which accounts for roughly 80-84 per cent of Bangladesh's total export earnings, contributed 8.5 per cent to the country's nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY25, according to Bangladesh Bank's quarterly review. It sustains around four million workers.

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A Spl Interview :::: “Nagaland state Govt has done precious little for Solution” -- eminent Naga social worker H. Khekuto Khulu, (Retd - IAS)

A Spl Interview ::::   

with eminent Naga social worker H. Khekuto Khulu, (Retd - IAS)

“Nagaland state Govt has done precious little for Solution” --  

Nirendra Dev (Blogger): 

I think some of you got together and launched a new organisation, the Concerned Naga Forum for Nagaland (CNFN). As we understand, more than any new organisation, Nagaland needs a new roadmap. Your take on this. 

 

Khulu : 

The ‘Concerned Naga Forum of Nagaland’ (CNFN) was launched in January 2026 with the sole aim of pressurising the Government of India and also the State Government – who has the role of a facilitator to implement the Solution agreement in Nagaland based on the two agreements signed between the Government of India and the Naga political groups or Insurgents — the Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017. Talks were concluded on Oct 31, 2019, as announced by the Governor/Interlocutor Shri R N Ravi. 

A resolution was duly adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in the Motion of Thanks to the Address of the Governor on January 2020.

 

Blogger: 

In terms of issues and pending Solution to Naga talks, I think if there is a gold medal for patience, Nagas should get it. Peace parleys started in 1997. We are about to reach 2027. That's 30 years. Two interim pacts came - one in 2015 and another in 2017 - yet Solution is not in sight. How long can you tolerate these double standards of political class - I mean both overt and covert (or underground)?

 

Khulu: 

To be frank, the Nagaland state Govt has done precious little, even after having an Opposition-less Government, to facilitate the peace process…. All these, even after a lapse of more than seven years since 2019 since the conclusion of talks as stated by the Interlocutor and something which was adopted by the Assembly.

 

Blogger: 

The chief minister Neiphiu Rio claimed in his Independence Day speech that a Minister of State led committee 'has been constituted'. In Delhi, none knew about any such panel for days and weeks. This is a height of it. Such a statement came on a solemn day. You are a former bureaucrat yourself. Where is the Accountability gone down the Dhansiri river?

 

Khulu: 

The announcement made by the Chief Minister of Nagaland in his Independence Day speech on 15th August 2026 … certainly a solemn day. This is out and out a blatant lie as it has turned out. 

Ajit Lal, ex-IPS, a retired bureaucrat, has been appointed as the “interlocutor” by the Government of India. The letter came from Union Home Secretary. No appointment of such importance is done like that. We do not mind but there is no mention of any committee under a Minister of State or political-level mediators. 

Some people have developed a unique style of saying something and managing to stay fit and okay. I laugh at times.

 

Blogger: 

Now I want to ask something on the role of the civil society. As someone who has worked in Nagaland in the 1990s; we saw the civil society was always powerful. Today... the whispering ... someone is behaving like youth wing of the ruling party - often raising issues which the state Govt is comfortable. There are others - who have gone silent. The next generation will have to pay a price for this silence - one is afraid.

 

Khulu: 

Extortion continues. There are 38 factions, whereas ceasefire agreements were with only six groups. The State Government, which has to be responsible for law and order, seems to be helpless, and perhaps the Government of India is happy with the incumbent regime to let Nagas continue to fight amongst themselves. 

The youngsters, as well as right-thinking elders, have a serious concern for the future of the state, particularly for the upcoming generations. A group of youngsters, which started as “Fed Up Nagas”, has now matured and is pressing the issue or solution as the “Naga Youth Movement”.

 

Khulu and other public spirited Naga leaders with Governor Nand Kishore Yadav

Blogger: 

What is the next roadmap? The extortion continues. Youngsters are unhappy.. Do you see a gap has emerged between elders and young people? As I interact with some sociologists - they say - some Netas believe 'money' is answer to all problems. Long back, Nagaland has suffered due to 2 Ws - wine and wealth. Have we come back to the same point? 

 

Khulu: 

Some may believe that “money” is the answer to all problems, but most of the Naga people believe that peace, development and clarity of vision for the future of the people are the real need and the answer to a brighter Nagaland.

 

Blogger: 

What about the recent appointment of a businessman from Kohima district as ‘go between’ for parleys by NSCN-IM; people are raising eyebrows. One statement has already come from a faction criticizing such a move. What’s your take?

 

Khulu: 

I cannot comment on a matter which is beyond my jurisdiction. However, it is strange that a “go between” for Parleys by NSCN (IM) is appointed. It is not known whether the appointed person is a cadre of the NSCN (IM). 

Moreover, talks have already been concluded on 31-10-2019 agreement have already been signed with NSCN (IM) in 2015 and NNPGs in 2017. 

This is creating confusion among the people of Nagaland

 

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Over 200 Youth Congress leaders and office bearers suspended for "defying" crown prince Rahul Gandhi and skipping Nov 1 Ramlila ground rally

The Indian Youth Congress has suspended at least 215 office-bearers across seven states and its Uttar Pradesh Central unit for missing the November 1 rally convened by Rahul Gandhi. 

The state-wise figures were 60 from Madhya Pradesh, 

49 from Gujarat,

 32 from Jharkhand, 

26 from West Bengal, 

14 from Telangana, 13 from Himachal Pradesh, 

11 from Uttar Pradesh Central and 10 from Haryana.

The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress' X handle also confirmed its action on social media. 

The order said the disciplinary action followed instructions from the national leadership and would remain effective until further notice.

The disciplinary action in Madhya Pradesh affected nine district presidents, five vice-presidents, 14 general secretaries and 32 secretaries.  

The INDI-alliance bloc held its "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao" rally on November 1, targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities.

The gathering, addressed by Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders, was projected as a major show of strength. 

"One thing is clear, there was no proper connect between the rally and the common people. Otherwise Youth Congress office-bearers could not give it a miss," says a BJP leader also adding that "this further shows there was "orders and instructions" to attend the rally.

"Nothing was spontaneous and organic," he added.

Reports said ---  On November 2 and 3, state units began issuing suspension orders, citing organisational indiscipline.

Seizing the opportunity, several BJP leaders including spokesperson C R Kesavan, mocked Rahul Gandhi and claimed that his own Youth Congress colleagues had snubbed him.  

The Youth Congress publicly announced the disciplinary action against its own workers through its official social media handles. The disciplinary action, reportedly involving 215 office-bearers across eight state units, has raised questions over how the Congress is treating its own workers. 

One of those suspended is Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress general secretary Rohit Rajoria, who told Aaj Tak's Ravish Pal Singh that he could not attend because of his uncle's terahvin, the 13th-day ritual following a death. Rajoria alleged that he had informed the organisation beforehand but was suspended without a show-cause notice.
Other suspended office-bearers cited weddings, illnesses and family celebrations as reasons for missing the rally.

RSS footprints increase with BJP in power in West Bengal

Although no BJP or RSS leader has stated that the BJP’s coming to power in West Bengal had changed the 'ground situation' vis-a-vis Shakha activities, it was a fact that people in droves joined RSS shakhas after the Lotus party ousted the Mamata regime.

State higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay took to his social media handle and said -- “It is West Bengal after change” suggesting there has been immense increase in RSS activities in the state.

An RSS functionary said: “Many people associated with the RSS had faced resistance from the former Left and Trinamool governments. But now, the scenario has changed and the growth of our organisation has exceeded our expectations.”   

In West Bengal, the number of Shakhas was up by 150 per cent compared to 2025 when there were around 5,000 shakhas across the state.  

There were only 68 shakhas in Baruipur of South 24-Parganas earlier. Now, the number is around 279. 

In West Burdwan’s Asansol, where the number of shakhas was around 70, the total has risen to 180. 

“Earlier, 10-20 people used to come to a shakha. Now, 50-60 people do,” said another leader. 

RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale says: 

“Earlier (before the change of guard in West Bengal), there used to be direct opposition to establishing Shakhas including physical resistance. However, that opposition no longer exists. The situation has changed". 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Hindu nationalist organisation whose work played a large role in propelling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power, celebrated its centenary in October 2025. 

In a speech at RSS headquarters in Nagpur, its chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed a range of topics, including the conflict with Pakistan earlier this year, climate change, economic inequality and political turmoil in India's neighbouring countries.

"The world functions through dependence on each other. That is how relations between any two nations are maintained. No country can survive in isolation," he had said.  

In all practical sense, for 70 plus years -- West Bengal was a "Jehadi lab" where none imagined the Hindutva politics would shine. 

The Congress, the Marxists-led Left parties and Trinamool Congress thrived with their blatantly anti-Hindu and Muslim-appeasing politics. 

The results of May 2026 has frustrated the Sickular ecosystem - the powerful lobbies of Communists, Islamic radicals, psedu-intellectuals with 'anti-Sanatan' prism and the Congress party.

Hence, frustration is deep and understandable. Therefore a new polity is unleashed ... "discredit Indian elections" itself. 

ends 

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal raised India's "internal SIR issue" ::: Was rebuked by Indian envoy Kwatra .... now re-elected from Seattle

 

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal made news recently when she spoke about Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in India. 

Ms Jayapal defeated Republican challenger Nirav Sheth in the Seattle-area district, where the two candidates of Indian descent contested the same House seat from opposing sides of the political spectrum.

First elected to Congress in 2016, Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th Congressional District, which includes most of Seattle and neighbouring communities such as Shoreline, Vashon Island and parts of Burien and Normandy Park. She has an image of a 'progressive Democrat' and she has established herself as a prominent voice on immigration reform, workers’ rights.    

Of course now there is euphoria in the US about the mandate. Analysts says quite often when it is claimed there is "nothing better on offer", they are proved wrong. This is how many analysts are looking at the US mid-term elections outcome. 

Not long ago, an egoistic President (Trump) had said - “I could stand in the middle of the Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?”   

Americans have - rightly - reacted angrily. 

Indian American candidates scored key victories in the Nov 3, 2026 U.S. midterm elections, securing seats in Congress and state legislatures. From established lawmakers winning re-election to newcomers making their way into elected office, the results highlighted the community’s continued presence in US  politics.

Democrats Pia Dandiya and 

Suhas Subramanyam secured congressional victories.

Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller won another term alongside Gov Wes Moore. 

Several other Indian American lawmakers also retained their seats, strengthening the community’s representation at different levels of government.  

Now, what's there from the US mid-term elections for India's foreign policy engine room - the PMO and MEA ?

From mere guess and past style of functioning - one can use two phrases rather comfortably - "India is cautiously optimistic" and there was "perhaps also a sigh of relief".

The turbulence in ties in the last one year and half was palpable everybit.

Hence, the Democrats seizing control of both the Senate and House of Representatives is a welcome development.

Narendra Modi's 2019 slogan "Abki baar Trump Sarkar" has come a full circle and more than India's Prime Minister; the US President has to be blamed for all that. 

The general public opinion in India has turned suspicious and also "against" Washington. There is no quick-fix to repair the damage. 

The US administration itself has damaged the meticulously built strategic trust between the two sides.

Of course, Americans did not vote considering the calculus of Indo-US ties. 

The issue of cost of living for average Americans is linked to the tariffs imposed on imported products including from India. This harmed India's export.

Now everyone will be keen to watch whether the US Congress -  dominated by the Democrats - will push back against the tariff imposition powers granted Trump and his Republican members in the Congress. 

The mid-term elections produced the wave, but the forces generating it were already in motion. They came in various forms -- 

Economic -- increasingly existential for millions of Americans.

Was America moving forward without them ?

ends 

Can New Delhi trust Washington after Trump's wings have been "clipped" ::::: The India-Pakistan 'ceasefire' claim by Trump in 2025 May was one of the biggest irritants

October 27th - was a celebration of Israeli democracy. Nov 4th, 2026 turned out to be the same for Americans. 

Donald Trump has been reduced to a lame-duck President in several ways and hence the ball is in Washington’s court on how to "revive" the good and perhaps the golden days of India-US ties. Trump has harmed the essence of India-US ties over last so many months chiefly guided by his anti-New Delhi and whimsical style of functioning. 

Representational image 

India wants the 'strong India-US' ties which was made possible after years of  hard work from both sides.

India wants an end to the Ukraine and Iran wars. The US will have to play its own role a bit more sensitively unlike the manner Trump treated this New Delhi-Washington axis.  The 'setback' to Republicans and the dramatic mandate of the US midterms will probably have less impact on India-U.S. bilateral relations. 

But the same thing cannot be spoken on geopolitics. Donald Trump will now easily 'face restraints' on both domestic and foreign policy. 

The India-Pakistan 'ceasefire' claim by Trump in 2025 May was one of the biggest irritants. 

President Trump used social media to claim credit for the Operation Sindoor ceasefire shortly after 5.30 pm IST on May 10, 2025. He later claimed that he had virtually stopped the war from escalating to a nuclear dimension. New Delhi has all along maintained that it was Islamabad that sought a ceasefire amid an Indian offensive vis-a-vis Operation Sindoor.

The Govt of India and the foreign policy engine room will have to be keep "a close eye" on the US midterm election results.

The results of the polls might be on expected lines, though the margin exceeded forecasts.  The results restore what political scientists call divided government: a president of one party, a Congress of the other, for the remainder of Donald Trump's second term. 

The question for India is not whether this changes Washington's politics -- it certainly does or will do.  

But we have to examine whether it changes the specific levers that reach New Delhi: tariffs, the H-1B visa system, remittances and the sanctions regime tied to Russian oil.

The Trump administration has flayed and threatened India with huge tariffs for buying Russian oil, but there came a time when it surprised many by its doublestandards and struck a deal with Russia to buy diesel ahead of the midterms.  

A list of India-relevant bills introduced in the outgoing 119th Congress looked, on first pass, like a pending agenda for the new one. It is not. 

Under congressional rules, any bill that has not been enacted dies when a Congress ends; nothing automatically carries over to the 120th Congress that is seated on January 3, 2027. Each of the following needs a member to reintroduce it from scratch, and a new path through newly Democratic-controlled committees. 

Ends  

Americans hate inflation, but they get particularly irate about high fuel prices :::: Death Knell of Trumpism has finally sounded ::::: 'American electorate' votes decisively to curb President’s power

Donald Trump will now have to contend with angry Democrats in both the House and Senate. 

The Democrats can block his agenda, decide on government spending, and also initiate impeachment proceedings. This will make Trump a lame-duck president.  

Image : Tehran Times : Iranians know the significance of US mandate 

Americans may hate inflation, but they get particularly irate about high fuel prices.  

Now, with a Senate majority, Democrats will be able to investigate the president and his cabinet members, draw public attention to their own agenda items, assert Congress’s constitutional prerogatives, and block Republican judicial appointments.

In the coming days and weeks, Trump will alternately say that the Republican losses were fake – the result of fraud by a nefarious but ill-defined conspiracy of Democrats and illegal immigrants – and that they were real, but somebody else’s fault.  

America went to war with Iran, and everything changed.  

Washington once imagined that its war against Iran would be a swift demonstration of American military superiority. Months later, with the conflict still exacting a heavy economic and political price, the White House is discovering that wars do not always end when their architects declare victory. 

Sometimes, they come back home — and this time, they may arrive at the ballot box.  

Trump has acknowledged the role the war on Iran has played in Republican losses in the midterm elections. “I think a part of it was Iran, but at the same time, people understood the importance of what I’ve done with Iran,” Trump said during a telephone interview with Fox News.

Frustration among voters about inflation, and the rising cost of fuel and groceries have been among the main factors behind their rebuke to Republicans. Democrats tapped into this by campaigning heavily on affordability and domestic spending.

Trump embarked on the war on Iran with Israel in February without congressional authorisation. He could still order attacks, but he could also face constraints from the new Congress. Lawmakers could use their power to deny additional funding when the current government-funding bill expires on December 11.  

The 'Blue (pro-Democrats tsunami' reflects strong dissatisfaction with the direction in which Trump has taken the country over the past two years. 

Cost of living, rising cost of diesel, and the economic consequences due to the Iran war proved to be the bugbear for Trump and the Republicans.  

Of course, Trump, not known to accept defeats gracefully, can veto any bill passed by Congress. The eccentric US President has said he would "veto" Democratic legislation if necessary, and gave him the moniker "Mr Veto".

As per the US Constitution, a president can veto legislation passed by Congress. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, something Democrats are unlikely to achieve without help from Republicans.  

The Democratic Party has signalled they would investigate the Trump family's stock trading and cryptocurrency ventures, funding of his White House ballroom project and his administration's handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The business dealings of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. are expected to see greater scrutiny. Jason Crow, a Colorado Congressman, has hinted at starting with the Pentagon amid reports of defence money being steered toward companies linked to the Trump family.

However, congressional investigations have limits. It cannot bring criminal charges itself and will have to refer to the Justice Department, which falls under the executive branch.

Oil prices surged to four-year highs. Diesel prices hit a record. And gas prices had never been this expensive on an Election Day.