Three tenth-grade students were killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in Chatkhil, Noakhali, after losing control of their bike while returning from a tea shop late Monday night. The victims, identified as Hasibur Tanim (16), Md. Joy (16), and Md. Raihan (17), were all students of Badalkot High School. According to local sources, four friends were riding on a single motorcycle when it lost control near the Trighoria Bridge area and crashed into roadside trees. Tanim died the same night at Noakhali General Hospital, while Joy and Raihan succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday at separate hospitals in Dhaka. The bodies were later buried in their family graveyards. Police confirmed awareness of the incident but said no formal report had been filed. The accident highlights the dangers of reckless driving and overloading motorcycles among teenagers in rural Bangladesh.

The UK Justice Minister David Lammy has confirmed that 12 prisoners were mistakenly released over the past three weeks, with two still at large. Lammy attributed the errors to administrative failures within the prison system and suggested that a fully digital system could prevent such incidents in the future. The revelation follows earlier reports that 91 prisoners were wrongly released between April and October in England and Wales. Although the minister said the number of mistaken releases is now declining, he emphasized that the two fugitives are not considered dangerous or sex offenders. The issue gained attention after a convicted sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, was mistakenly freed but later recaptured and deported to Ethiopia. In response, the government has introduced new safety protocols, including checklists for prisoner release and investment in AI-based systems to reduce human error. Despite these measures, mistaken releases rose 128% last year to 262 cases, reflecting staff shortages.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has initiated an investigation against two police officials accused of amassing vast wealth through bribery and corruption. The officials under scrutiny are Jahangir Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Mahbub Hossain, a former Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Special Branch (SB). ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Akhtarul Islam confirmed the inquiry at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, stating that the ACC investigates any individual or institution when credible information is received. The probe follows a series of corruption allegations against several senior police officers who served during the government of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid the July mass movement. The ACC has already launched investigations and filed cases against several high-ranking officials, including former IGP Benazir Ahmed, SB chief Monirul Islam, and DB chief Harun-or-Rashid.

A fire broke out at a cork sheet manufacturing factory and warehouse owned by Morshed Khondaker in Narayanganj’s Bandar upazila on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred in the Lakshankhola area at Ayesha EPS Insulation Limited. Four units of the Bandar Fire Service worked for about an hour to bring the blaze under control. According to factory sources, stored goods in the warehouse were severely damaged, resulting in significant financial losses. Local witnesses and fire officials suspect that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit while workers were inside the facility. Station Officer Sanjay Khan of the Bandar Fire Service stated that there were no casualties in the incident. Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and investigating the exact cause of the fire. The incident highlights ongoing fire safety concerns in industrial zones of Narayanganj, a region known for its dense concentration of factories and warehouses.

A mobile court in Bhangura upazila of Pabna sentenced a 28-year-old man named Mizan to three months of imprisonment and fined him Tk 10,000 for producing and marketing fake milk made from caustic soda, jelly, and soybean oil. The operation, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman, took place in the Sahanagar area of Ashtamanisha Union following a tip-off. During the raid, authorities seized 10 liters of soybean oil, a blender machine, and fake milk. Mizan, son of Golam Mostafa from Menda Paschim Para, was caught red-handed while making the adulterated milk. The court acted under Section 52 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. The confiscated soybean oil and blender were donated to a local orphanage, while the fake milk was destroyed. Officials from the livestock department and local police assisted in the operation, which aimed to curb food adulteration in the region.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Noakhali has arrested one suspect in the murder of a day laborer, allegedly beaten to death at the home of former union chairman and Awami League leader A.K.M. Siraj Ullah. The arrested man, Md. Lutfur Rahman alias Latu, 59, was reportedly the caretaker of Siraj’s house and confessed to his involvement during court proceedings. The victim, 26-year-old Md. Alauddin, was accused of theft and brutally assaulted with iron rods and sticks on May 1, 2024. He later died on May 6 while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Initially, political influence allegedly prevented the victim’s family from filing a case, but his mother later lodged a murder complaint in June. PBI exhumed the body for autopsy 36 days after burial. The main accused, Siraj Ullah, remains at large as investigators continue efforts to apprehend him and other suspects.

A business establishment owned by Jubo Dal leader Ahbab Hossain in Osmaninagar, Sylhet, was reportedly attacked, vandalized, and looted by rival groups on November 28. According to a police complaint filed by the shop manager, Md. Ahar Mia, around 10–12 individuals armed with local weapons stormed the Khadimpur Drug House at Khadimpur New Market, assaulted him, and looted Tk 25,000 in cash. The attackers also damaged goods inside the pharmacy and vandalized a personal autorickshaw, causing an estimated loss of Tk 20,000. The incident allegedly stemmed from a prior dispute between the parties. Local traders expressed outrage, saying such organized violence threatens market security and stability. Osmaninagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monayem Mia confirmed that an investigation is underway and necessary legal action will be taken. The Jubo Dal leader urged swift justice to ensure safety for business owners and residents.

Bangladesh’s Directorate of Inspection and Audit (DIA) has identified 1,172 teachers and staff in private educational institutions who obtained jobs using fake certificates. The agency has recommended recovering Tk 253 crore, which includes salaries, allowances, and funds linked to fraudulent recruitment, embezzlement, and tax irregularities. The DIA is preparing to send a list of the offenders to the Ministry of Education, urging disciplinary action. Among the identified individuals, 400 certificates were found to be entirely fake, while around 300 were deemed invalid. The Rajshahi division recorded the highest number of fake certificate holders with 779 cases, followed by Khulna with 179, the Madrasa Education Directorate with 120, Dhaka with 70, and Chattogram with 24. Initially, a list of 400 teachers will be forwarded to the ministry for punitive measures. The findings highlight widespread credential fraud within the country’s private education sector.

The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has rejected a petition seeking virtual court appearances for ten arrested army officers accused in a war crimes case involving allegations of abduction and torture by the Rapid Action Battalion’s TFI cell during the Awami League government. The order was issued on December 3 by Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder. Defense counsel Dr. Tabarak Hossain argued that the officers faced media trials and could face professional consequences even if acquitted, but the tribunal ruled that the law does not permit virtual appearances and directed the accused to attend in person. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam opposed the plea, citing the absence of legal provisions for such appearances. The case names 17 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, with ten army officers currently in custody. The tribunal scheduled December 14 for hearing the discharge petitions of the accused.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has approved a chargesheet against Dr. Prashanta Kumar Roy, former secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division and ex-project director of the 'Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar' project. According to ACC spokesperson Md. Akhtarul Islam, Roy is accused of concealing assets worth over Tk 12 million and providing false information in his wealth statement. Investigations revealed that he possessed immovable and movable properties worth Tk 7.7 million beyond known income sources. Additionally, Roy allegedly deposited Tk 180 million in 12 bank accounts under his and his daughters’ names, later withdrawing or transferring the funds. Based on these findings, the ACC approved the submission of a chargesheet under relevant sections of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Money Laundering Prevention Act. The case underscores ongoing efforts to address corruption within public service ranks in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh government has extended the tenure of the National Independent Investigation Commission, formed to reinvestigate the 2009 BDR massacre, by an additional seven days until December 7. The Cabinet Division issued the extension notification on December 3. The commission, chaired by retired Major General A L M Fazlur Rahman, was initially given three months to submit its report, later extended multiple times. Although the commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on November 30, the government decided to extend the term to allow for final procedural completion. The commission was tasked with uncovering the nature and scope of the February 25–26, 2009 mutiny at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka, which left 57 army officers dead. It was also directed to identify perpetrators, collaborators, and any domestic or foreign entities involved in the incident.

A Muslim youth from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, identified as Rahul Islam, was allegedly assaulted in Odisha’s Ganjam district by a group of men who forced him to chant religious slogans such as 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. The attackers reportedly accused him of being a 'Bangladeshi' and a 'Rohingya' after questioning his identity documents. Following the incident, migrant workers’ groups lodged complaints with the Odisha Police, the National Minority Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission. The Odisha government recently stated that thousands of undocumented Bangladeshis had been identified in the state, prompting intensified identity checks since the BJP came to power. Labor unions claim over 300 migrant workers have been detained in the past 10 days. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has threatened legal action against the Odisha Police. Rahul Islam sustained injuries and returned to Murshidabad out of fear. Police maintain that identity verification is ongoing and no deportations have occurred.

A devastating fire broke out in Munshiganj’s Gazaria upazila on Wednesday morning after an LPG gas cylinder exploded in a house near a primary school in Baghaikandi village under Imampur Union. The explosion triggered a rapid spread of flames, completely destroying two tin-roofed houses and all household furniture. Although no casualties were reported, the affected families lost nearly all their possessions, estimating damages between Tk 12 and 14 lakh. Firefighters from the Gazaria Fire Service arrived promptly and managed to bring the blaze under control after about one and a half hours. Station Officer Firoz Mia said a gas leak might have caused the explosion, but the exact reason will be confirmed after investigation. Preliminary estimates suggest total losses of around Tk 15 lakh, while some property worth Tk 20 lakh was salvaged.

A major political controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh after police uncovered a sex racket operating from a flat linked to BJP leader Shalini Yadav in Varanasi. The apartment, registered under her husband Arun Yadav’s name, was raided Monday night in the Sigra area, leading to the detention of nine women and four men. Police stated that the operation was based on prior intelligence and that the flat had been used for illegal activities under the guise of a spa center. Locals claimed suspicious movements had been ongoing for months. Opposition parties have seized on the incident, accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of failing to maintain law and order and shielding wrongdoing under political influence. The BJP has distanced itself, calling it a personal matter, but the issue has caused discomfort within the party ahead of key political periods. Police are continuing their investigation and plan to question Shalini and Arun Yadav to determine their involvement.

A powerful explosion near a police patrol vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed three police officers, including Assistant Sub-Inspector Gul Alam, on December 3. The blast severely damaged the vehicle and prompted a swift response from security forces, who cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence. Authorities suspect the attack is linked to militant activity. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the assault, describing it as an act of extremism, and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also denounced the attack, calling the slain officers national heroes and vowing that their sacrifice would not be forgotten. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue the fight against terrorism. The incident followed similar attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts a day earlier, which left two more police officers dead. Security operations are ongoing to locate the perpetrators.