Political speculation has intensified in Bangladesh over why BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has not yet returned home despite no visible legal or security obstacles. His recent Facebook post hinted that the decision to return is not entirely under his control, sparking debate about possible external influences. The government has publicly stated it has no objection to his return, while BNP leaders have avoided elaborating beyond Rahman’s own remarks. Analysts suggest that geopolitical factors involving the United States and India may be affecting the situation, recalling past controversies such as the 'minus two' formula and earlier commitments made during the 2007–08 caretaker government period. With Khaleda Zia’s health deteriorating and national elections approaching, questions persist about who holds sway over Rahman’s return and whether he will lead the BNP’s campaign once the election schedule is announced.

In Savar’s DEPZ area, a group of armed robbers impersonating members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) hijacked a truck carrying 30 cows early Sunday night. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. when the perpetrators, using three microbuses, intercepted the truck traveling from Bogura to Brahmanbaria. They held the driver, helper, and cattle traders at gunpoint, forced them into a microbus, and drove away with the truck. Later, near Chandra, the robbers assaulted the victims before abandoning them. Acting swiftly, Ashulia police launched an operation and recovered the abandoned truck with five cows from Mymensingh’s bypass area around 8:30 a.m. No arrests have been made so far, but police have intensified efforts to locate the remaining stolen cattle and apprehend the culprits. The truck is currently in police custody as the investigation continues.

Around 30,000 tons of Indian onions are reportedly rotting near the Bangladesh border after Dhaka temporarily suspended onion imports, leaving Indian exporters in severe distress. The affected consignments are mainly stored in West Bengal’s Malda and South Dinajpur districts, where traders had stocked onions anticipating regular exports to Bangladesh. With the ban in place, prices have plummeted to as low as 2 rupees per kilogram at the Mahadipur-Sonamasjid border, compared to 20–22 rupees in local markets. Exporters claim they had procured onions from Maharashtra’s Nashik region based on verbal commitments from Bangladeshi importers, who are now unable to take delivery. The suspension reportedly followed a notice from Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture on November 16. Local trade associations warn that if the border remains closed, many exporters could face bankruptcy due to the massive financial losses incurred.

British MP and former City Minister Tulip Siddiq, niece of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, faces a corruption verdict in Bangladesh on December 1. She, along with Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and 14 others, is accused of abusing power to obtain plots in the Purbachal New Town project. If convicted, Siddiq could face up to 10 years in prison, potentially jeopardizing her parliamentary position in the UK. She is also under investigation for alleged embezzlement of £4 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, first reported by the Daily Mail. The controversy previously forced her to resign as City Minister. British lawyers have raised concerns about the transparency of the Bangladeshi trial, sending a letter to the Bangladesh High Commissioner. Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate, has also faced scrutiny over a London flat allegedly received as a gift from a pro-Awami League figure, though a UK inquiry found no ministerial rule breach.

A robbery took place at the divisional office of Ispahani Tea in Sheikhpara Borobongram area under Shah Makhdum Police Station in Rajshahi city early Sunday morning. According to police, the robbers entered the premises by scaling the boundary wall around 4:30 a.m., tied up two on-duty security guards, and broke into the main office room on the second floor. They ransacked drawers and stole Tk 177,000 from the main office and another Tk 38,500 from the sales center on the ground floor, making off with a total of Tk 215,500. Shah Makhdum Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mashuma Mustari confirmed the incident, stating that police have already visited the scene, collected CCTV footage and other evidence, and launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the culprits. Legal proceedings are underway.

Nurses and midwives across Bangladesh have staged a symbolic two-hour shutdown at health and nursing institutions to press for the implementation of their long-pending demands. Organized by the Bangladesh Nurses Association (BNA), the protest took place on November 30 at hospitals and educational institutions nationwide. The BNA leadership stated that despite assurances from the health adviser, no effective action has been taken in the past 14 months to address professional disparities, administrative reforms, and the preservation of an independent nursing directorate. The association warned that if their eight-point demands are not fulfilled by December 1, a complete and indefinite shutdown will begin on December 2. During the shutdown, nurses will continue emergency services in critical units such as ICUs, NICUs, and emergency departments. The demands include halting the merger of the nursing directorate, approving career structures, granting promotions, upgrading pay grades, and ensuring fair recruitment and benefits. The BNA held the administration responsible for any disruption resulting from the strike.

The recently concluded 'Natun Kuri' competition, Bangladesh’s iconic children’s talent platform, returned after two decades under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Bangladesh Television (BTV). About 39,000 participants from 64 districts competed across 12 categories, including acting, singing, recitation, and dance. The contest aimed to foster inclusivity, drawing participants from diverse religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Priyoshi Chakraborty from Tangail and Shubhamita Talukdar from Sunamganj emerged as champions in the ‘Ka’ and ‘Kha’ divisions respectively. A total of 63 child performers received 73 awards, with girls significantly outnumbering boys among winners. The event highlighted the strong influence of educational and culturally active families in nurturing talent. BTV announced that top contestants would be enlisted as official performers and featured in a new show titled 'Shishu Prohor'. The competition’s revival has reinvigorated Bangladesh’s cultural scene, inspiring young talents and engaging audiences both on television and digital platforms.

As Bangladesh’s political landscape sees attempts to form three separate alliances outside the BNP, party leaders have downplayed any potential pressure from these developments. Islamist parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are working to create one coalition, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Amar Bangladesh Party are leading efforts for another alliance, though internal disagreements have slowed progress. Leftist groups are also exploring a separate coalition. BNP leaders assert that these initiatives will not hinder their electoral momentum, emphasizing that voters in Bangladesh typically choose based on party symbols, with the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ and the ruling Awami League’s ‘boat’ being the most recognized. Political analysts, however, suggest that a strong opposing alliance could psychologically influence voters. BNP leaders maintain that their focus remains on forming a broader anti-government coalition and potentially a national unity government if elected, insisting that smaller alliances will have little impact at the grassroots level.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture has expressed grave concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as excessive and potentially constituting systematic abuse against Palestinians. In its latest observations, the committee acknowledged and condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel but criticized Israel’s response as disproportionate, leading to widespread civilian suffering and deaths. The committee alleged that Israel’s treatment of detainees and the deteriorating conditions in detention centers amount to collective punishment under a deliberate state policy. It urged Israel to establish an independent and impartial investigation into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment during the ongoing conflict, ensuring accountability for senior officials. The committee also called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and recommended that Israel criminalize torture explicitly in its domestic law, disclose details of its special interrogation methods, and reaffirm that no exceptional circumstances can justify torture or abuse.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has postponed its month-long programs planned for December to mark the country's Victory Day, citing the illness of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The programs, which were to run from December 1 to 16, included a nationwide 'Victory Torch Road Show' starting in Chattogram and passing through major cities such as Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Bogura, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, and Faridpur. Each division’s event was to feature a prominent freedom fighter and a youth representative carrying the torch. The celebrations were scheduled to conclude with a grand rally at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on December 16. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the postponement and said a new schedule will be declared later. The decision reflects the party’s concern over Khaleda Zia’s health condition.

Bangladesh Bank has advised five Islamic banks to reduce employee salaries and allowances by up to 20% as part of cost-cutting measures amid a severe liquidity crisis. The affected banks—First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank—are set to merge into a new entity called 'Combined Islami Bank.' During a meeting chaired by Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, the banks requested BDT 1,000 crore in liquidity support, but the central bank approved only BDT 350 crore. Officials emphasized the need to reduce operational expenses and expedite the launch of the new bank. Around 16,000 employees work across these institutions, which have previously received BDT 35,300 crore in government assistance yet to be repaid. The new bank’s board will consist of seven members, chaired by Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mubarak, with equal representation from professional bankers, accountants, and lawyers as independent directors.

The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a new FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of criminal conspiracy in the National Herald money laundering case. The complaint, based on a report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), names six individuals including Sam Pitroda and three companies—Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Kolkata-based Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. Authorities allege that Dotex transferred ₹1 crore to Young Indian, a non-profit where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a combined 76% stake. Using this transaction, Young Indian allegedly gained control of AJL, which owns assets worth about ₹2,000 crore, after paying only ₹50 lakh to the Congress party. The FIR was registered on October 3 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Congress has dismissed the case as politically motivated, calling it a vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The National Herald, founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters, ceased publication in 2008 due to financial distress.

Finland has announced plans to close its embassies in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar by 2026 as part of a broader restructuring of its foreign mission network. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that the decision was driven by operational and strategic considerations, including shifting political conditions in the respective countries and limited trade and economic ties with Finland. The closures will be enacted through a presidential decree, according to an official government notice issued on November 29. The ministry emphasized that the move aims to concentrate Finland’s diplomatic resources in countries deemed strategically more significant. No immediate responses were reported from the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Myanmar regarding Finland’s decision. The restructuring reflects Finland’s ongoing efforts to optimize its diplomatic presence globally amid evolving geopolitical and economic priorities.

As Bangladesh prepares for its national parliamentary election in February, two advisers—Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan from the Local Government Ministry and Mahfuz Alam from the Information Ministry—are expected to resign soon. Both were key figures in the student-led uprising that gave rise to the National Citizen Party (NCP), and many anticipated their joining the party. However, recent developments suggest that possibility is fading. Former NCP organizer Ariful Islam Talukdar, who recently resigned, publicly questioned why Asif Mahmud is not joining the NCP, hinting at internal ideological conflicts within the party. In a Facebook post, Arif alleged that the NCP’s policymaking circle is dominated by anti-religious elements and claimed he was pressured to choose between his faith and the party. He announced plans to hold a press conference on December 1, 2025, to disclose further details about his resignation and the party’s internal issues.

Medical technologists and pharmacists at the 100-bed Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital observed a two-hour work stoppage on Sunday morning, demanding implementation of the 10th grade pay scale. The protest, organized by the district committee of the Medical Technologists and Pharmacists Association, caused significant disruption in hospital services, leaving patients and attendants waiting long hours for medicine and laboratory services. Leaders including Jamal Hossain, Jasim Uddin, and Atikur Rahman participated in the demonstration. The protesters stated that all medical technologists and pharmacists working in government and autonomous hospitals, as well as health education institutions, should be upgraded from the 11th to the 10th grade due to their critical roles in diagnostics and medication management. They warned that if their demand is not met, they will escalate the protest to a four-hour strike on December 3, followed by a complete shutdown if necessary.