Trending on X, 2 PM: Bangladeshi workers, an empire map, the Bodi hearing, Khovd arena, Ts. Ulemjin, pay rise

Between 10:00 and 14:30 on November 1, Mongolian users on X talked most about an employer's account of what it costs to hire workers from Bangladesh, a map of the Mongol Empire, a dispute over the "Bodi" coal hearing between Kh. Nyambaatar and Deputy Prime Minister N. Nomtoibayar, and a planned sports arena in Khovd. A debate on journalism ethics also drew attention, along with a Mongolian woman named honor graduate in US Air Force basic training, a bus driver who saved a motorist having a stroke, and a pay rise for public service workers that took effect today. Engagement figures are as of 14:28.

1. What does it cost to hire a worker from Bangladesh?

User Mandarvaa88 shared the experience of an employer named Byambaa who has had Bangladeshi assistants for more than a year. It was the most widely seen Mongolian post of the period. According to the post, residence permits, taxes, social insurance and other costs come on top of the wage, so the total is not much lower than for a Mongolian worker, but the employees do not drink, do not miss work and are reliable. Commenters argued about job-quota fees and domestic labor shortages. The figures in the post are one employer's own estimate and cannot be generalized.

As egov.mn reported earlier, the number of foreign nationals working in Mongolia reached 36,100 in the third quarter, up 51.5% year on year, with Bangladeshis the third-largest group after Chinese and Indian nationals. More (in Mongolian): https://www.egov.mn/mn/article/mongold-azhillazh-bui-gadaad-irgediin-too-515-huviar-osch-361-myangad-hurchee

2. A "real map of the Mongol Empire" sparks debate

User bilguunin shared a map of the Mongol Empire and argued that the campaign against the "forest peoples" described in the Secret History reached Yakutia rather than the Lake Baikal area, adding that "all of Siberia is Mongol". The post was widely shared and debated. It is a personal view. Most historians link Jochi's 1207 campaign against the forest peoples to the Oirats, Buryats, Tumats, Kyrgyz and others living around Lake Baikal and the upper Yenisei. The attached image is an illustration, not an official historical atlas.

3. Nyambaatar presses Deputy PM Nomtoibayar on the "Bodi" hearing (new development)

After demanding that President U. Khurelsukh resign (covered in an earlier roundup), former Ulaanbaatar Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar, who has been charged in a corruption and abuse-of-office case and is in Canada, today began posting a video series titled "President, resign". The new development is his challenge to Deputy Prime Minister N. Nomtoibayar. In a video published by UBN.mn, Nyambaatar asked whether Nomtoibayar, who had promised a hearing on the "Bodi" coal and railway deals, dropped the plan after joining the government.

As an MP, Nomtoibayar had launched an initiative to set up a parliamentary investigative committee on the Gashuunsukhait railway. According to Eguur.mn, it stalled at 17 of the 32 signatures required. Nyambaatar's accusations against the President are his own claims and have not been established by any authority. The Office of the President has not commented on the new videos.

4. Khovd to get a state-funded sports arena

User ZolooTeddy shared a post by the Khovd League announcing that "a 3,000-seat sports arena will be built in Khovd province with state budget investment" and thanking Speaker S. Byambatsogt, Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan and Deputy Speaker B. Purevdorj. ZolooTeddy criticized politicians for steering the state budget to their own constituencies. The draft 2027 budget includes 70 billion togrog for a youth sports development complex in Jargalant soum, Khovd, the most expensive sports project in the budget. It is due to receive 15 billion togrog in 2027 and to be completed in 2029. Parliament is still debating the budget, so the figures may change. More (in Mongolian): https://www.egov.mn/mn/article/tosov-2027-hovdod-70-terbumyn-sportyn-cogcolbor-sportyn-27-tosold-962-terbum

5. "Journalism or blackmail?": the journalists' debate continues (new development)

Following the "1000 Journalists" forum covered in an earlier roundup, journalist Ts. Uyanga held a "Khuushuurdalt" discussion yesterday titled "Journalism or blackmail?". She said it turned into a heated debate on media funding, contracts with the state and ethics. Notes shared by journalists who attended the forum listed proposals such as transparent funding, ethics exams, a shared code of ethics and refusing to shield journalists who break the law.

6. A Mongolian woman is named honor graduate of US Air Force basic training

Users proudly shared a TAC.mn report that Ts. Ulemjin graduated from US Air Force Basic Military Training as an honor graduate, earning the Honor Graduate Ribbon and the Marksmanship Expert Award. More: https://www.egov.mn/en/article/mongolian-woman-ts-ulemjin-named-honor-graduate-of-us-air-force-basic-training

7. Bus driver saves a motorist who had a stroke

On the evening of October 29, route Ch:81 bus driver D. Erdenetuya noticed a car that had scraped her bus in Bayangol district and kept going. She stopped it and found the driver unconscious with signs of a stroke, called an ambulance and helped save his life (Dobu.mn, Arslan.mn). Users thanked her. More: https://www.egov.mn/en/article/ulaanbaatar-bus-driver-saves-a-motorist-who-suffered-a-stroke

8. Pay rise for 52,000 public service workers takes effect today

Under a government decision, base salaries for 52,000 public service workers in health, culture, the arts, sport, science and other services rose by 50% today, at a cost of 170.1 billion togrog. The government press office repeated the announcement, and GoGo.mn shared the example of an intensive-care surgeon whose salary rose by 328,000 togrog. More (in Mongolian): https://www.egov.mn/mn/article/toriin-uilchilgeenii-52-myangan-alban-haagchiin-undsen-calin-nemegdlee

Methodology: We ranked posts from about 200 major news and influential accounts found through X search, plus more than 50 keyword searches, by an engagement score (likes + 2× reposts + views/100), and checked the facts against news sites. Posts that could not be verified or that carried a risk of defamation were left out. Views expressed by individuals on X do not represent the position of egov.mn.