Former Cox’s Bazar police officer Babul Azad, now serving as officer-in-charge of Chattogram’s Double Mooring Police Station, has been named in a murder case linked to the 2013 killings of two Jamaat-e-Islami activists during protests following the death sentence of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi. Witnesses and victims’ families allege Azad led police gunfire that killed Abdur Rashid and Nurul Haque, and injured dozens more. The case, filed by Rashid’s father, had long seen no progress under the previous administration.

Azad, once praised by ruling Awami League leaders for his “firmness” against opposition activists, reportedly rose quickly through the ranks. Following the recent political shift known as the “July Revolution,” he has been accused of switching allegiance and abusing power, including extortion, assaulting journalists, and detaining citizens over social media posts critical of police. Business figures and journalists have also accused him of torture and corruption.

The renewed attention to Azad’s past and present conduct underscores growing scrutiny of politically aligned policing in Bangladesh. Rights groups are calling for impartial investigations into the 2013 killings and recent allegations of abuse.

Two small shop owners in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila have reported receiving unusually high electricity bills despite minimal power consumption. One tea stall owner, who operates with only a single light and fan, was billed 55,550 taka for the month, while another small food shop owner received a bill of 24,216 taka. Both claim their usual monthly bills range between 200–800 taka.

The incidents occurred in Litukhan Bazar of Dighirpar Union, sparking concern among local traders. The affected owners said they contacted the local Palli Bidyut office, which advised them to visit in person. Tongibari Palli Bidyut zonal officer Abdus Salam acknowledged that the issue might stem from a meter reading or billing system error and assured that an on-site inspection would be conducted to resolve the problem.

The cases have drawn attention to potential flaws in rural electricity billing systems, raising questions about transparency and accountability in utility management across Bangladesh’s countryside.

A 15-year-old boy has been accused of raping a five-year-old girl in Sripur village under Chandpur Union, Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district. The assault reportedly occurred on Tuesday, December 2, when the minor lured the child into his home. The victim’s family filed a case on Friday night, December 5, after initial attempts to settle the matter privately failed.

According to police, the accused’s mother initially tried to suppress the incident by urging the victim’s mother not to disclose it. The child later fell ill and was taken to Kushtia General Hospital for treatment. Kumarkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Amirul Islam stated that the delay in filing the case was due to efforts to resolve the issue within the families. Authorities have since registered a rape case and launched an operation to arrest the accused.

The case has sparked local outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of children and stricter enforcement of sexual assault laws in rural Bangladesh.

A Bailey bridge on the Habiganj–Baniachong regional road collapsed on Friday morning when a stone-laden truck attempted to cross, causing two deck panels to give way and trapping the vehicle mid-bridge. The incident has completely halted road communication between Habiganj district town and the upazilas of Baniachong and Ajmiriganj, affecting residents of more than fifty surrounding villages.

Baniachong Upazila Executive Officer Mahamuda Begum Sathi confirmed that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has already begun repair work. RHD Executive Engineer Zakir Hossain stated that the truck’s heavy load made removal difficult, requiring partial unloading before towing. He added that repair operations would continue overnight, with normal traffic expected to resume by Saturday morning.

Local authorities have urged commuters to use alternative routes until the bridge is restored. The collapse highlights the vulnerability of older Bailey bridges under heavy transport loads, prompting calls for structural assessments across the region.

A lion that escaped from its enclosure at Dhaka’s Mirpur National Zoo on Friday afternoon has been safely recaptured after being tranquilized. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., prompting zoo officials to evacuate visitors from nearby areas as a precaution. The lion remained within the zoo premises and did not enter any public zones, according to officials.

Zoo curator Dr. Atikur Rahman stated that the animal was kept calm with food before being sedated using an anesthesia dart. Director Dr. Rafiqul Islam noted that the escape likely occurred through the enclosure’s main access gate, though it remains unclear whether a lock malfunction or human error was responsible. An internal investigation has been initiated to determine the cause.

Authorities confirmed that the situation was under control throughout the incident. The zoo currently houses five lions, including the one that briefly escaped. Officials said safety protocols will be reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

A lion escaped from its enclosure at the Mirpur Zoo in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, prompting an immediate response from zoo authorities. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m., according to Zoo Director Rafiqul Islam Talukder, who confirmed that the lion remained within the zoo premises and had not harmed anyone. Officials quickly evacuated visitors and deployed tranquilizer teams to capture the animal safely.

Talukder stated that the situation was under control and that staff were monitoring the lion’s movements closely. Preliminary assessments suggested that the animal may have exited through an unlocked door, as no signs of damage or broken grills were found. The zoo administration has launched an internal investigation to determine how the lapse occurred and to prevent future incidents.

Authorities expect to recapture the lion soon and are reviewing safety protocols across all enclosures. The temporary closure of the zoo is being considered until the situation is fully resolved.

Israel has announced a significant increase in its defense budget, raising it to 112 billion shekels ($34.7 billion) for the new fiscal year—about $7 billion higher than the previous allocation. The decision, jointly endorsed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, awaits final approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the cabinet before being submitted to the Knesset.

The move comes despite an ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, prompting questions about the timing and intent behind the expansion. Katz explained that the additional funds are meant to meet the operational needs of the armed forces and ease the burden on reservists. According to the Finance Ministry, the 2026 defense budget will be 47 billion shekels ($14.5 billion) higher than in 2023. Israel reportedly spent around $31 billion in 2024 on military operations in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Analysts suggest the budget increase reflects Israel’s long-term security strategy and preparation for potential regional escalations, even as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilize the Gaza situation.

Four officials of the Forest Department were injured after being attacked by a group of illegal hill cutters in the Korehat area of Mirsarai upazila, Chattogram, late Thursday night. The incident occurred when the officials attempted to stop the use of a shallow machine for unauthorized hill cutting at the Saibenikhil hill site.

According to Tariqul Rahman, Range Officer of the Korehat Range under the Chattogram North Forest Division, the attack was led by a man identified as Masud Kala. The injured officials—Alal Uddin, Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin, and Shah Alam—received primary treatment following the assault. Authorities have filed a case with Jorarganj Police Station under forest and criminal laws.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Mohammad Harunur Rashid stated that the perpetrators used sticks and rods during the attack, emphasizing that no one would be spared for assaulting government officials. Police confirmed that legal action is underway, and investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to the closure of key border crossings since October 11, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded and disrupting regional trade. Pakistani truck drivers transporting goods to Afghanistan are facing uncertainty as their cash reserves run out. Exporters and logistics operators report that shipments bound for Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, including kinnow fruit exports, have been severely affected. According to Junaid Makda, president of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, thousands of containers carrying bilateral and transit goods are stuck across Pakistan, with demurrage charges of $150–200 per container per day. Last year, Pakistan exported kinnow worth $110 million, but this year’s estimate has dropped to $100 million due to the disruption. The closure follows one of the most intense border clashes since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, further straining trade and livelihoods across the region.

Bangladesh’s export earnings have declined for four consecutive months since August of the 2025–26 fiscal year, reflecting persistent weakness in the country’s key apparel sector. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), November’s export income fell by 5.54% year-on-year to $3.89 billion, down from $4.12 billion in the same month last year. Despite this, total exports for July–November reached $20.02 billion, slightly higher than $19.90 billion a year earlier, marking a marginal 0.62% growth. The readymade garment industry remained the top export earner, contributing $3.14 billion in November, though 5% lower than last year. Exporters attribute the decline to aggressive competition from China and India in the EU market and higher tariffs in the US, which have reduced demand by about 30%. Analysts warn that achieving the government’s $63 billion annual export target will be difficult amid sluggish global demand, high interest rates, and domestic economic challenges.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has cancelled more than 550 flights nationwide for the fourth consecutive day, severely disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. The cancellations affected major airports including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Goa. The disruption stems from newly implemented crew rostering and flight duty time limitation (FDTL) regulations, which have increased mandatory rest periods and reduced the number of permitted night landings. With a shortage of pilots and crew, IndiGo has struggled to maintain its schedule. The airline stated that it is taking all necessary measures to restore normal operations and expects the situation to stabilize within 48 hours. However, cancellations may continue for the next few days, and IndiGo plans to reduce flight operations from December 8. Passengers have faced severe inconvenience, with reports of thousands of unclaimed suitcases piling up at Delhi airport terminals.

A vessel carrying 60,950 metric tons of wheat from the United States has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port, marking the fourth shipment under a government-to-government (G2G) purchase agreement between Bangladesh and the US. According to the Ministry of Food, the wheat was imported under cash purchase contract G2G-01, part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two governments. The total agreement covers the import of 440,000 metric tons of wheat. Earlier shipments arrived on October 25, November 3, and November 15, totaling 239,586 metric tons so far. The ministry confirmed that sample testing of the newly arrived wheat has already begun, and unloading will proceed once quality verification is complete. The import aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s food security and stabilize the domestic grain supply amid global market fluctuations.

At least fifteen people, including several children, were burned in a devastating fire caused by a gas cylinder leak in Tukchanpur Charpara, under Aganagar Union of Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, December 4, when a shopkeeper accidentally left the gas regulator open before locking his shop. Gas accumulated inside the closed shop, leading to a sudden explosion and fire that spread quickly. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Bhairab Upazila Health Complex, from where twelve critically burned victims were transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. Three others received primary treatment and were released. Witnesses reported that several schoolchildren and pedestrians standing nearby were also caught in the flames. One victim, Harun Mia, sustained burns over 80 percent of his body and remains in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that most victims suffered burns ranging from 20 to 30 percent.

Environmental, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has warned that many river-based infrastructure projects are inflicting irreversible environmental damage by ignoring rivers as living systems. Speaking virtually at a sub-regional workshop on ‘Water and Climate Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ held in Kathmandu, she highlighted that despite having policies and institutions, implementation gaps remain a major obstacle in South Asia. Rizwana emphasized the need for fair water sharing, river rights, and disaster risk management among Himalayan countries. She noted that 90% of Bangladesh’s rivers originate upstream, making the nation highly vulnerable to transboundary impacts such as floods, droughts, and salinity. Citing Bangladesh’s accession to the UN Water Convention, she called for stronger cooperation in data sharing and early warning systems. Rizwana also praised Nepal’s river restoration efforts and stressed that rivers are living entities whose rights must be protected through accountability and regional trust-based hydropower collaboration.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has filed a case against Oishi Khan, daughter of Shahjahan Khan, a key ally of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for allegedly acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income and failing to submit her asset declaration within the stipulated time. According to ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain, the case was lodged by Assistant Director S.M. Rashedul Hasan. Investigations revealed Oishi Khan possessed assets worth about Tk 17.02 million and family expenditures of Tk 1.15 million, against a legal income of only Tk 1.05 million, leaving Tk 17.11 million unexplained. The ACC also suspects she may hold additional undisclosed assets. Despite being granted an extension beyond the initial 21 working days, she did not file her asset statement. The ACC stated that her actions constitute punishable offenses under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.