A decomposed human skeleton, believed to be that of 22-year-old Ismail Hossain, was discovered in a forested area of Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, two months after his disappearance. The remains were found along with clothing and sandals matching those he wore when last seen, near the border of Islampur and Islamabad unions.

Family members, who had been searching for Ismail since he went missing, identified the items and informed local police. His aunt, Jyotsna, said Ismail had been mentally unstable and vanished from home two months earlier. About a month after his disappearance, an unidentified caller demanded a ransom of 100,000 taka from Ismail’s father, threatening to kill him if unpaid.

Police have dispatched a team to the site and are awaiting forensic confirmation of the identity. Authorities are investigating whether the case involves abduction and murder or other causes. The discovery has raised concerns among locals about safety and law enforcement in the area.

Three people were killed and one critically injured in a motorcycle collision late Wednesday night in Golapganj, Sylhet. The accident occurred around midnight on the Sylhet-Bianibazar-Jakiganj road near Termaile. Police confirmed that one person died at the scene, while two others succumbed to injuries at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Among the four riders involved, only one remains under treatment.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Ahad (42) from Goaspur village, Sabbir Ahmed (21) from Ranaping Chhatrish village, and Ariful Haque Joy (35) from Fazilpur village. The injured, Zakir Ahmed (20) from Juri upazila of Moulvibazar, is receiving treatment at the hospital. Golapganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ariful Islam said locals rescued the victims before police arrived and sent them to the hospital.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which adds to a rising trend of fatal motorcycle accidents in the Sylhet region. Road safety advocates have urged stricter enforcement of traffic laws and helmet use to prevent further tragedies.

China has introduced a value-added tax (VAT) on condoms and other contraceptives for the first time in three decades, as part of a broader effort to modernize its tax system and address the country’s persistently low birth rate. The new VAT law, passed in 2024, ends a long-standing exemption dating back to 1993. At the same time, Beijing has launched a national childcare subsidy program worth 90 billion yuan ($12.7 billion) and expanded maternity coverage under the national health insurance scheme.

The policy shift comes as China’s birth rate stood at just 6.77 per 1,000 people in 2024, despite incentives such as cash bonuses, IVF discounts, and extended paid leave for new couples. Social media users have mocked the condom tax, calling it a desperate attempt to boost fertility. Experts argue the measure is largely symbolic and unlikely to influence reproductive decisions, though it signals the government’s preference for pro-natalist behavior.

Sociologists warn that restricting access to contraception could disproportionately affect women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while raising concerns about intrusive local monitoring of women’s reproductive cycles.

Saudi Arabia has announced the abolition of expatriate worker fees (Iqama) for employees in licensed industrial establishments, a move approved by the Council of Ministers chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The decision, based on recommendations from the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), aims to strengthen national factories, ensure sustainability, and enhance global competitiveness under the Vision 2030 diversification plan.

Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef said the measure will reduce operational costs, facilitate production expansion, and accelerate the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Between 2019 and 2024, Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector saw factories rise from 8,822 to over 12,000, investments grow 35% to 1.22 trillion riyals, and employment increase 74% to 847,000 workers.

Officials expect the policy to further energize the sector and attract international investment. The government aims to triple industrial GDP to 895 billion riyals by 2035, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional manufacturing hub.

Police in Patiya, Chattogram, are under scrutiny after a detained student leader, Sheyaib-ul Islam Fahim, allegedly posted selfies and Facebook statuses while in police custody. Fahim, president of the Baralia Union Ward 7 unit of the banned Chhatra League, was arrested on December 17 on charges of involvement in anti-state activities. Despite being detained, he reportedly used a hidden mobile phone to post photos and messages, including one showing a sleeping police officer.

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning how a detainee could access a phone under police supervision. Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ziaul Haque stated that Fahim had concealed the phone in his undergarments, which was later confiscated. He confirmed that the suspect was sent to court under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The controversy has raised concerns about custodial oversight and police accountability, prompting calls for an internal investigation into the breach of detention protocols.

Former anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Tarekul Islam, known as Tarek Reza, has claimed that the death of activist Jannat Akter Rumi was not a suicide but a murder. In a Facebook post on Thursday, he accused ruling party supporters of relentless cyberbullying and threats that allegedly drove Rumi to take her own life. Rumi, a joint coordinator of the NCP Dhanmondi unit, reportedly faced continuous online harassment and phone threats over the past month.

According to Reza, despite repeated appeals, authorities failed to provide protection or take action against those responsible. He vowed to seek justice, declaring that those who destroyed his “sister’s life” would not live in peace. The incident has sparked outrage among student activists and renewed debate over digital harassment and political intimidation in Bangladesh.

Observers say the case highlights the growing dangers of online abuse targeting political activists, particularly women. Calls are mounting for a transparent investigation and stronger cybercrime enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

China is advancing plans to build the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, a $168 billion undertaking that could generate around 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam. President Xi Jinping has called for the project to be pursued with force and efficiency, framing it as a cornerstone of China’s renewable energy ambitions.

Experts describe the project as an unprecedented engineering feat involving tunnels and reservoirs stretching up to 150 kilometers through the Himalayas. However, India and Bangladesh, both downstream nations, fear severe ecological and hydrological impacts, including altered river flows, flooding, and displacement. Indian analysts have dubbed it a potential “water bomb,” citing its proximity to disputed borders.

While Beijing insists the project follows decades of research, limited transparency has fueled speculation about its environmental and geopolitical risks. Analysts warn that the dam could reshape regional water politics, potentially intensifying Sino-Indian tensions and affecting millions dependent on the Brahmaputra basin.

Police recovered the body of Jannatara Rumi, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), from a women’s hostel in Jigatola, Dhaka, on Thursday morning. Rumi, who served as joint coordinator of the NCP’s Dhanmondi unit, was found hanging from the fifth floor of the building. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the death was a suicide or involved foul play.

Following the discovery, former Bangladesh Students’ Union president Bappaditya Basu drew public criticism after expressing apparent satisfaction over Rumi’s death in a Facebook post. Basu, a former organizer of the Shahbagh-based Gonojagoron Mancha movement, had previously faced arrest in 2024 on charges of embezzlement and fraud. His remarks have reignited debate over political intolerance and online hate speech in Bangladesh.

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding Rumi’s death, while political observers warn that such reactions on social media risk deepening divisions among activist groups. The NCP has not yet issued an official statement, and police said an autopsy report will determine the cause of death.

A Bogura court has directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take immediate action against seven individuals, including Islami Bank PLC’s senior officials and Afaco Cold Storage Limited chairman Mahmudur Rahman Mannan, over allegations of loan rescheduling fraud worth Tk 380 million. The order was issued by Senior Special Judge Shahjahan Kabir following a case filed on December 11 by a local resident, accusing the defendants of falsifying board meeting attendance and signatures to secure loan rescheduling.

According to court and bank sources, Afaco Cold Storage, located in Shibganj, Bogura, received a Tk 220 million loan in 2010, which has grown to Tk 380.4 million with interest. Despite being a profitable enterprise, the company allegedly delayed repayments and benefited from six rescheduling approvals. The accused include Islami Bank’s chairman Dr. M. Zubaidur Rahman and managing director Omar Faruk Khan. ACC’s Bogura office confirmed receipt of the court order and said an investigation is underway.

The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of loan irregularities in Bangladesh’s banking sector, with the ACC expected to intensify its probe into potential policy violations and document forgery.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that bank owners alone cannot be blamed for institutional collapse, emphasizing that officials also share responsibility. Speaking at an Economic Reporters Forum discussion in Dhaka, he outlined ongoing reforms, including plans to merge five banks to strengthen the sector. Mansur assured depositors that their funds remain safe under deposit insurance coverage and projected foreign reserves to reach $34–35 billion by fiscal year-end without borrowing from international lenders.

The governor acknowledged persistent challenges such as capital shortfalls and a non-performing loan (NPL) rate now estimated at 36%. He pledged transparency in disclosing accurate financial data. Mutual Trust Bank’s CEO Syed Mahbubur Rahman noted that commercial banks had been forced into long-term investments due to a weak capital market, while CPD’s Executive Director Fahmida Khatun warned that political interference and poor governance had eroded the sector’s integrity.

Experts urged continued implementation of the Bank Resolution Act and full autonomy for Bangladesh Bank to restore confidence and ensure sustainable recovery ahead of the upcoming national elections.

At least 12 people were killed and three others abducted when armed men attacked a mining site in Atoso village, Plateau State, Nigeria, late Tuesday night. Local leaders told Reuters that the assailants, identified by residents as armed Fulani militia, opened fire on workers before fleeing the scene. Five more victims were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. The attack underscores the persistent insecurity in central Nigeria, where ethnic and religious tensions between farming communities and herders have repeatedly erupted into violence. Local youth leader Daliop Solomon Mwantiri of the Berom Youth Moulders Association condemned the assault and urged authorities to strengthen protection for rural communities.

Despite repeated government pledges to restore peace, Plateau State continues to experience deadly clashes. Analysts warn that without stronger law enforcement and reconciliation efforts, such attacks could further destabilize the region’s fragile security landscape.

Bangladesh’s banking sector is facing renewed pressure as government borrowing from banks has sharply increased midway through the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to the latest Bangladesh Bank data, the government borrowed a net Tk 45,239 crore between July and December 8, marking a 58.46% rise from the same period last year. Earlier in the fiscal year, the government had been repaying loans, but rising development spending, election-related costs, and higher subsidy and interest obligations have reversed that trend.

Sector analysts note that the initial months saw reduced borrowing due to strong revenue growth and foreign loan inflows. However, the recent acceleration in government borrowing has raised concerns about liquidity pressures in the banking system and potential crowding out of private credit. Commercial banks’ total government loan holdings rose to Tk 475,709 crore by December 8, while borrowing from the central bank reached Tk 120,435 crore.

Economists warn that continued reliance on domestic banks to finance budget deficits could limit credit availability to businesses and complicate inflation management. The government’s current borrowing pace, though below the annual target, may strain monetary stability if sustained.

A mild cold wave has persisted for more than a week in Tetulia, Panchagarh, marking the lowest temperatures in Bangladesh this winter. On Thursday, December 18, the Tetulia Weather Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.5°C, with humidity at 72% and wind speeds between 8 and 10 km/h. Similar readings were observed in previous days, with temperatures hovering around 9°C each morning despite sunny conditions.

According to Jitendranath Roy, acting officer at the Tetulia Weather Observatory, the cold wave began on December 11 when the temperature dropped to 8.9°C, the season’s lowest so far. He noted that the mild cold spell is expected to continue for several more days. Local residents have reported increased morning chill and fog, while daytime temperatures have remained near 27°C.

Meteorologists suggest that such prolonged mild cold waves are typical for northern Bangladesh during December, though they can affect agriculture and daily life. Authorities have advised residents to take precautions against cold-related illnesses, especially among children and the elderly.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 53 fishermen and seized around 5,500 kilograms of marine fish in two separate operations off the Cox’s Bazar coast. Officials also confiscated three artisanal trawling boats and 30 fishing nets, with the total value of the seized items estimated at over BDT 6.5 crore. The operations were conducted in the Khathkhali River estuary of Banshkhali and near Saint Martin’s Island.

According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, the first raid took place late Tuesday night based on intelligence reports, leading to the arrest of 16 fishermen and seizure of one illegal trawler. The second operation, conducted early Wednesday, resulted in the detention of 37 more fishermen and two additional trawlers. Authorities said legal proceedings against the detainees are underway.

Officials emphasized that such drives are part of ongoing efforts to protect marine resources and curb illegal fishing in Bangladesh’s coastal waters, with further operations planned in the coming months.

An arson attack struck the Grameen Bank branch office in Shorshodi Bazar, Feni Sadar upazila, early Thursday morning. According to local sources, unidentified miscreants set fire to the building’s stairwell area around 3:40 a.m., damaging three motorcycles and two benches before the blaze was brought under control. Bank officials and employees, who were sleeping on the upper floor, managed to contain the fire with the help of local residents and firefighters.

Branch manager Ashok Kumar Debnath confirmed that the fire was limited to the stairwell and did not spread to the main office. He stated that the bank would take further steps as directed by higher authorities. Feni Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Fouzol Azim said a written complaint had been received and an investigation was underway to identify those responsible.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the attack. The incident has raised security concerns for financial institutions operating in semi-urban areas of Bangladesh.