The High Court of Bangladesh has issued a rule asking why a policy should not be formulated to regulate house rent in Dhaka. The bench, led by Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi, directed the authorities of Dhaka North and South City Corporations and other concerned parties to respond within four weeks. The order came following a writ petition seeking the implementation of the House Rent Control Act of 1991, which mandates city authorities to periodically determine rent rates based on factors such as building quality, size, road connectivity, and available amenities. Advocate Parvez Hossain, representing the petitioner, argued that the law has not been effectively enforced despite being in place for decades. The court’s move aims to ensure fair rent determination and protect tenants from arbitrary rent hikes, aligning with practices followed in many global cities.

Two Bangladeshi men were allegedly beaten to death by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and their bodies dumped in the Padma River near the Wahedpur border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district early Sunday. Local representatives and multiple sources claimed that the incident occurred between international pillars 76 and 77 when a group of cattle traders crossed the border. Two of them, identified as Ibrahim Rinku (28) and Momin Mia (29), were reportedly caught and assaulted by personnel from India’s Nimita BSF camp before being thrown into the river. Other members of the group managed to escape. Although Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has not officially confirmed the incident, local officials and intelligence sources have acknowledged receiving reports. Families of the missing men have remained silent, allegedly fearing legal complications. BGB’s 53rd Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Kazi Mostafizur Rahman stated that they have contacted BSF authorities to verify the matter.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), originally established as East Pakistan Agricultural University, has played a pivotal role in the nation’s agricultural development and food security over the past 64 years. Located on 1,200 acres near Mymensingh, the university began with two faculties and now comprises six faculties, 43 departments, and six institutes. With 595 teachers and over 1,100 staff, BAU offers nine undergraduate and 50 postgraduate degrees. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Hoque Bhuiyan highlighted the university’s contributions to transforming Bangladesh from feeding 75 million people at independence to achieving food self-sufficiency for 175 million today. BAU continues to lead in modern, climate-resilient, and technology-driven agriculture, with its graduates contributing to productivity and rural livelihoods both domestically and internationally. The institution remains a cornerstone for agricultural education, research, and innovation in Bangladesh.

The White House has confirmed that the US Navy has been authorized to conduct a second round of strikes on drug-carrying vessels linked to Venezuela. Admiral Frank Bradley approved the new operation following authorization from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt stated that the actions were taken within legal boundaries and denied claims that the strikes were intended to kill. The first attack caused an explosion on one vessel, leaving two survivors. Bipartisan lawmakers in Congress have expressed concern and announced a review of the military operations. Levitt added that President Donald Trump and Hegseth consider drug-trafficking groups supported by Venezuela’s leadership as legitimate wartime targets under international law. The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, targeting suspected drug boats near Venezuela and Colombia since September, with over 80 reported deaths. The Trump administration maintains that the operations are part of anti-narcotics and self-defense efforts.

More than 130,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote by postal ballot in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, according to the Election Commission (EC). The registrations were completed through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, which allows overseas citizens to register using their local mobile numbers. As of Tuesday noon, 130,672 expatriates had registered—114,083 men and 16,589 women. The highest numbers came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, and Canada. The EC has extended the registration deadline to December 25, from the earlier December 18, to accommodate more applicants. The app was launched on November 18 and registration is open in 148 countries. The EC also plans to introduce an in-country postal voting system for government officials, detainees, and those stationed outside their constituencies. Proper address submission is required to ensure ballot delivery abroad.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and Annex Communications Limited have signed an agreement granting Annex exclusive rights to manage inside branding services for the Dhaka Metro Rail. The signing ceremony took place at DMTCL’s conference room on Monday, December 1, marking a new phase of collaboration between the two organizations. The agreement was signed by DMTCL’s Joint Secretary and Company Secretary (additional duty) Khandaker Ehteshamul Kabir and Annex Communications Director Sharif Sabbir. Senior officials from both sides, including DMTCL Managing Director Faruk Ahmed and Annex Chairman Mahmudur Rahman, attended the event. The partnership aims to enhance the metro’s passenger experience through innovative branding and advertising solutions, while also opening new commercial opportunities for both entities. The initiative reflects DMTCL’s broader strategy to integrate modern marketing approaches within public transport infrastructure.

Benin, once a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade, has introduced a new citizenship initiative called 'My Afro Origins' to reconnect descendants of enslaved Africans with their ancestral homeland. The program grants citizenship to people whose forebears were taken from Benin and surrounding regions as slaves, aiming to foster reconciliation and cultural revival. In July 2024, American singer Lauryn Hill and entrepreneur-filmmaker Tonya Lewis Lee received Beninese citizenship, while Lee and her husband, filmmaker Spike Lee, were appointed as ambassadors to the African-American community. The initiative seeks both symbolic healing and practical benefits, such as attracting talent, investment, and tourism. Experts note that while Benin’s past as part of the Dahomey Kingdom’s slave trade remains painful, the country is now using cultural diplomacy and heritage tourism to rebuild ties with the African diaspora. The government hopes this effort will promote unity, economic growth, and a shared sense of identity among Africans worldwide.

BNP Standing Committee member and personal physician of party chairperson Khaleda Zia, Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, has urged the public and media not to believe or spread rumors regarding her health condition. Speaking to journalists outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, he confirmed that Khaleda Zia remains in a critical state but continues to receive treatment. Both local and international doctors, including a new specialist arriving from London, are involved in her care. Dr. Zahid, visibly emotional during the briefing, thanked journalists for their cooperation over the past six years and requested continued support. He also mentioned that BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman is regularly monitoring Khaleda Zia’s condition. Preparations are reportedly in place to transfer her abroad for advanced treatment once her condition improves. Dr. Zahid reiterated the call for patience, restraint, and prayers for the former prime minister’s recovery.

In Bogura’s Shibganj, Jahangir Alam, a district member and upazila coordinator of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), has begun an indefinite hunger strike demanding the removal of syndicates controlling the agricultural sector. The protest started on Monday afternoon at the local Mugdha Square and continued into Tuesday. According to NCP’s joint coordinator Rafia Sultana, the strike aims to protest fertilizer dealer syndicates, fertilizer smuggling, artificial shortages, unfair government fertilizer allocations, and the appointment of unauthorized dealers from other upazilas. The movement also highlights issues such as potato spoilage in cold storage and calls for the liberation of farmers from exploitative practices. Several local NCP members and student leaders have expressed solidarity with Alam’s protest, and the party leadership has pledged organizational support for the ongoing hunger strike.

Four police officers in Chattogram have been withdrawn and attached to the police lines following allegations of negligence during a rally organized by the banned Chhatra League on Chatteswari Road. The incident occurred on Saturday morning when several members of the banned student group suddenly gathered in front of the Berger Color Paints office and a small explosion was reportedly heard. The officers on patrol duty, including one assistant sub-inspector and three constables from the Chawkbazar area, allegedly failed to report the rally to their superiors. The matter came to light after videos of the rally circulated on social media. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Public Relations) Aminur Rashid, the officers were withdrawn for dereliction of duty. Senior police officials confirmed that two of the withdrawn officers were from Chawkbazar Police Station, while the assignments of the other two remain unclear. The rally participants dispersed after police arrived at the scene.

A full delegation of all 15 United Nations Security Council member states will visit Syria and Lebanon this week, marking the Council’s first Middle East mission in six years. The visit, led by Slovenia, comes as the country assumes the Council presidency for December. Slovenian UN envoy Samuel Žbogar said the trip aims to rebuild trust with Syrians following years of disillusionment and to clarify the Council’s expectations regarding inclusive governance and counterterrorism efforts. The visit also coincides with the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s government collapse in December 2024, which ended decades of Ba’ath Party rule. Žbogar added that the delegation will encourage dialogue among Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and neighboring states amid recent regional tensions. During Slovenia’s presidency, the Council will also hold an open debate titled “Leadership of Peace” and special sessions on Afghanistan, Palestine, and Ukraine throughout December.

A newly submitted report by Bangladesh’s National Independent Investigation Commission has revealed fresh evidence implicating several army officers in the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny and the subsequent Pilkhana massacre. According to testimonies from key witnesses, including prisoner witness No. 14, a secret meeting took place on February 24, 2009, the night before the massacre, where rebel soldiers planned to take their commanding officers hostage using ropes and knives. The report also cites witness No. 65, who confirmed that weapons from three battalions were stored in the central quarter guard and that certain officers were assigned duty there days before the attack. The mutiny, which occurred on February 25–26, 2009, at the BDR headquarters in Dhaka, resulted in the brutal killing of 57 army officers. The commission, after an 11-month investigation, handed over its findings to the chief adviser, shedding new light on one of Bangladesh’s darkest chapters.

Police in Bakerganj, Barishal, have arrested Shahnaz Parvin Rani, a former general secretary of the Upazila Women’s Awami League and former assistant editor of an Awami League subcommittee, who had been sentenced to one year in prison. She was convicted by a Patuakhali court on February 12 in a 2019 cheque dishonor case and ordered to repay Tk 11.7 lakh. Following the verdict, she had been in hiding. On Monday, police attempted to arrest her at her home during a family event, but she initially escaped after a scuffle with relatives. Later that night, around 2 a.m., police successfully apprehended her. Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the arrest, stating that she had been evading law enforcement since her sentencing. The arrest ends months of evasion after her conviction for financial misconduct.

Police in Brahmanbaria arrested Kamrul Islam, a local Jubo Dal leader, after seizing 36 kilograms of cannabis from his private car during a raid on the Akhaura-Agartala road bypass area on Tuesday morning. Kamrul, 40, is the joint convener of the Akhaura upazila Jubo Dal and a resident of Taragan village. His associate, Golam Rabbi, 25, was also detained. Police said the drugs were being transported from India's Tripura state to Dhaka. The Toyota car used in the smuggling operation was confiscated. According to Akhaura police officer-in-charge Mohammad Shamiuddin, both suspects were sent to jail following legal procedures. Senior BNP leaders in the upazila stated that Kamrul’s arrest with drugs has tarnished the party’s image, and organizational action is being taken against him.

Bangladesh Police Headquarters has reassigned officers-in-charge (OCs) of 527 police stations across the country through a lottery system, ahead of the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule. The process aimed to ensure transparency and neutrality in law enforcement during the upcoming election period. Before the lottery, unit chiefs submitted lists of honest and impartial inspectors, which served as the basis for the random selection. The transfers covered all district-level police stations, excluding 110 metropolitan ones, where commissioners will handle postings internally. The distribution included 98 OCs in Dhaka Range, 111 in Chattogram, 64 in Khulna, 36 in Mymensingh, 46 in Barishal, 39 in Sylhet, 71 in Rajshahi, and 62 in Rangpur. Earlier, on November 26, the Ministry of Home Affairs reassigned 64 district superintendents of police (SPs) through a similar lottery process, reflecting a broader effort to maintain neutrality in law enforcement ahead of the election.