Bangladesh Bank has approved the final license for the newly formed 'Combined Islamic Bank', created through the merger of five struggling Islamic banks — First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank. Former senior secretary Dr. Mohammad Ayub Mia has been appointed as the chairman of the new state-owned institution, which is set to begin full operations in early December. The merger was initiated after repeated liquidity support failed to stabilize the financial conditions of the individual banks, whose share prices and net asset values had sharply declined. The new bank will have a paid-up capital of Tk 35,000 crore, with Tk 20,000 crore contributed by the government and Tk 15,000 crore from depositors’ shares. The authorized capital has been set at Tk 40,000 crore. The initiative aims to restore stability and confidence in the country’s Islamic banking sector.

A fire broke out in a three-story residential building in the Rahmatganj Dalpatti area of Chawkbazar, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon. The Fire Service received the alert at 4:42 p.m. and dispatched seven units to the scene to contain the blaze. According to Fire Service media officer Anwarul Islam, the fire originated on the third floor of the building. Initially, four units responded, and three additional units joined later to bring the situation under control. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage are yet to be determined. Earlier the same day, another fire occurred in a six-story residential building in Mohammadpur’s Jahuri Mohalla area, which was brought under control by two fire units within about 45 minutes. No casualties have been reported so far in either incident.

A devastating fire broke out on Monday morning in three tin-shed colonies in the Palli Bidyut Dighirpar area of Kaliakair upazila, Gazipur, destroying around 75 houses. According to local residents and fire service officials, the blaze started around 8:30 a.m. in a room belonging to Shahnaz Begum at Mohiuddin’s colony, reportedly due to an electrical short circuit. The flames quickly spread to two nearby colonies owned by Bayezid Master. Despite efforts by locals to control the fire, it continued to spread until three units from the Kaliakair Fire Service arrived and brought it under control within an hour. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as most residents were away at work in nearby factories. Authorities are still assessing the extent of property damage, while initial investigations suggest the fire originated from an electrical malfunction.

Bangladesh’s stock market experienced a significant downturn on Monday, December 1, marking the second trading day of the week. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw widespread losses across almost all sectors, with the benchmark DSEX index dropping 64 points to close at 4,914. The DSE Shariah Index fell 16 points to 1,028, while the DSE-30 index declined 21 points to 1,895. Out of the traded companies, only 38 gained, 322 declined, and 28 remained unchanged. Trading volume also decreased notably, with total transactions amounting to Tk 415.9 crore, down from Tk 492.54 crore in the previous session. Simtex Industries led in turnover with Tk 22.42 crore, followed by Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag and Dominage Steel Building. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the decline, with 131 companies losing value and total transactions amounting to Tk 3.29 crore. Market analysts attributed the fall to ongoing investor uncertainty and weak buying sentiment.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the court verdict in the Purbachal plot allocation case involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and niece Tulip Siddiq. The ACC’s prosecutors stated that the judgment did not meet their expectations, as they had sought life imprisonment for the accused based on the evidence presented. On Monday, Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years, Sheikh Rehana to seven years, and Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison, along with fines of 100,000 taka each. Fourteen other accused were each sentenced to five years in prison and fined the same amount. The case, filed in January by ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, alleged abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha government plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. Following the verdict, the ACC stated it would consult with the commission to decide on further legal action.

Lalmonirhat district in northern Bangladesh recorded the country’s lowest temperature of 13.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, December 1, according to the Kurigram Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Observatory. The acting officer, Shubel Chandra Sarkar, stated that the temperature could drop further in the coming days, with dense fog likely to persist. Locals reported heavy fog across Lalmonirhat Sadar and five surrounding upazilas, with visibility so low that fog appeared to fall like drizzle between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Due to poor visibility, vehicles on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway and regional roads were forced to move slowly with headlights on even during the day. Meteorologists warned that the cold wave could strengthen if the current weather pattern continues.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 17 development projects worth Tk 15,383.51 crore, including the third revision of the Dhaka Metro Rail Line-6 project. The approval came during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Of the total cost, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,609.70 crore from foreign loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approved projects include sustainable agricultural development in Chattogram, quality potato seed production and distribution, drilling of three gas exploration wells, construction of 1,560 flats for July martyrs’ families in Mirpur, and a 220 MW solar power project in Sonagazi. Other projects cover urban resilience in Narayanganj, autism and NDD services, digital entrepreneurship, and health sector improvements. Two proposed projects were sent for further review.

Police in Lakshmipur’s Chandraganj area have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing operation hidden behind a local engineering workshop named Nuha Auto Traders and Lathe Engineering. Acting on a tip-off, the district Detective Branch (DB) conducted a raid on Monday afternoon, discovering locally made firearms and weapon-making equipment. Although no arrests were made during the operation, police identified the workshop’s owner as Nur Uddin, also known as Jiku, from Begumganj in Noakhali. DB Officer-in-Charge Shahadat Hossain Titu stated that the workshop had been under surveillance for some time based on intelligence reports. The recovered weapons and materials have been handed over to the local police station as part of legal procedures. Authorities are currently investigating how the illegal factory operated and who else might be involved, while efforts to apprehend the owner are ongoing.

Six teenagers were abducted at gunpoint by an armed gang from a tea stall in Baharchhara Union of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday evening. The incident occurred in Shilkhali village when 10–12 armed robbers descended from nearby hills and took the boys, aged between 13 and 17, into the forested hills. Two of the abducted teens managed to escape later. Local residents report that Baharchhara has become a hotspot for robberies, kidnappings, and ransom demands, leaving villagers in constant fear. Police, led by Baharchhara Investigation Center Inspector Durjoy Biswas, launched an overnight search operation with local assistance but had not yet rescued the remaining victims by nightfall. Local political and community leaders have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation and urged authorities to restore safety in the area.

RAB-12 arrested three members of a counterfeit money syndicate in Sherpur upazila of Bogura district on Saturday afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, the elite force raided a house in Mirzapur Paschim Khalifapara area and seized 157 fake Tk 1,000 notes, totaling Tk 157,000. The detainees were identified as Nayeb Ali (42) of Natore, Enamul Haque (29) of Singra, and Rafiqul Islam (42) of Tanore, Rajshahi. The suspects had contacted a local resident, Faruk Hossain, through Facebook under the pretext of buying stones, which led to their capture. RAB also recovered three small stones, four SIM cards, three smartphones, a button phone, and Tk 4,210 in cash. During initial interrogation, the arrestees admitted to distributing counterfeit currency across different areas to deceive people. They were handed over to Sherpur police, and a case was filed under the Special Powers Act before being presented in court.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has initiated an inquiry against its former chairman, Iqbal Mahmood, over allegations of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power. This marks the first time in the ACC’s history that a former chairman is being formally investigated. According to ACC spokesperson Md. Akhtarul Islam, the decision was confirmed on December 1. Sources indicate that Mahmood’s brother, Sadiq Mahmood Bokul, was a close business associate of health sector contractor Motazzarul Islam Mithu, who is already under investigation for corruption. Allegations suggest that Mahmood used his influence to shield Mithu and Bokul from scrutiny. Additionally, Mahmood is accused of accepting two luxury apartments in Dhaka’s Gulshan area from Mithu. The ACC will also examine the sources of Bokul’s wealth. The inquiry reportedly stems from information obtained during Mithu’s interrogation following his arrest on September 11.

A fire erupted in a six-storey residential building located at 36/A Zahuri Mohalla in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on Monday afternoon, around 4:45 PM. According to Fire Service duty officer Shihab Sarkar, two firefighting units were deployed to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage have not yet been determined. Authorities have not reported any casualties so far. Emergency services are continuing their efforts to contain the fire and assess the situation. Further details are expected as the operation progresses and officials investigate the incident.

The death toll from severe flooding and landslides in Indonesia has climbed to 442, with 402 people still missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The disaster, triggered by tropical storm Seniyar, has devastated parts of Sumatra Island, leaving thousands displaced and many areas inaccessible. Relief operations are ongoing, with aid being delivered by air and sea, though poor weather and lack of heavy equipment have slowed progress. Two naval ships have been deployed from Jakarta to deliver supplies to the worst-hit areas, including Sibolga and North Sumatra’s Central Tapanuli district. Across Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia, monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 600 deaths. Authorities continue to struggle with damaged roads and disrupted communication lines, further complicating rescue and relief operations.

According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank, remittance inflows to Bangladesh surged by 24.6 percent in the first 29 days of November 2024, reaching USD 2.681 billion. During the same period last year, remittance receipts stood at USD 2.152 billion. From July to November 29 of the current fiscal year, expatriate Bangladeshis sent a total of USD 12.83 billion, compared to USD 11.09 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year. The strong growth in remittance inflows reflects continued resilience among overseas workers and may help strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves amid ongoing economic challenges. Economists view this upward trend as a positive sign for Bangladesh’s balance of payments and domestic liquidity conditions.

Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a third revision of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 project, extending its completion deadline by three years to December 2028. The project, which originally aimed to finish by the end of 2025, will now cost Tk 32,718 crore—Tk 755 crore less than previously estimated. The cost reduction comes mainly from the cancellation of four planned station plazas at Uttara North, Uttara Center, Agargaon, and Motijheel, as well as savings in land acquisition, civil works, and consultancy services. The extension is needed to complete the 1.16-kilometer Motijheel–Kamalapur section. MRT Line-6, Bangladesh’s first metro rail system, currently operates from Uttara to Motijheel. The revised plan also includes increased expenses for salaries, consultancy, and foreign loan interest payments, which rose by Tk 270 crore.