At least 712 people have been confirmed dead and more than 500 remain missing after devastating floods and landslides struck Indonesia’s Sumatra Island last week, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The disaster has affected around 1.1 million people across three provinces, with North and West Sumatra suffering the worst damage. Communication and transportation links in areas like Tapanuli and Sibolga have been completely severed, hampering rescue and relief operations. Despite government and international aid being sent by air and sea, many remote villages remain cut off, leading to severe shortages of food and clean water. Reports of looting and unrest have emerged as desperate residents struggle to survive. Authorities have deployed police to maintain order and facilitate aid distribution. In response to the communication crisis, technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced free Starlink internet services to support emergency connectivity in the affected regions.

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.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced an increase in the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for December. The price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder has been raised by Tk 38, from Tk 1,215 to Tk 1,253. The new rate will take effect from the evening of December 2. Additionally, the price of autogas has been revised upward from Tk 55.58 per liter to Tk 57.32 per liter. The adjustment follows a previous price reduction in November, when LPG prices were cut by Tk 26 and autogas by Tk 1.19 per liter. BERC reviews LPG prices monthly based on fluctuations in international market rates and exchange rates, aiming to ensure fair pricing for both consumers and suppliers.

Iranian authorities have announced the discovery of a large new gold reserve in the privately owned Shadan mine in South Khorasan province. According to local media reports on December 1, the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade has confirmed the authenticity of the find. The newly discovered deposit includes approximately 7.95 million tons of oxide gold ore and 53.1 million tons of sulfide gold ore, which are expected to significantly boost the mine’s total reserves. The easily extractable oxide ore is seen as a major advantage for Iran’s mining sector. Officials believe this discovery could strengthen the country’s economy, which has been weakened by years of international sanctions and inflation. The Iranian rial continues to depreciate against the US dollar, prompting many citizens to view gold as a safe investment. Iran currently has 15 active gold mines, with Zarshouran being the largest. The announcement follows Pakistan’s recent report of a major gold discovery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The northern Bangladeshi district of Panchagarh, particularly Tetulia, is experiencing an early onset of winter as temperatures dropped to 11.7°C on Tuesday, the lowest of the season so far. The cold, combined with 79% humidity and dense fog, has significantly reduced visibility, forcing vehicles to use headlights even during the day. Local residents and drivers reported difficulties due to the biting cold and poor visibility, with reduced passenger numbers affecting daily income. The Tetulia Weather Observatory confirmed that temperatures had hovered around 13°C for several days before falling further. Officials indicated that such an early temperature drop in December could signal the possibility of a cold wave in the coming days. Despite daytime sunshine, the chill in the early morning and evening hours has intensified, making daily life increasingly difficult for locals.

More than 70 secretaries from various ministries in Bangladesh have opposed proposals for a steep pay hike under the upcoming ninth pay scale, urging the Pay Commission to make realistic recommendations in line with the government’s financial capacity. The commission has so far held four rounds of consultations with secretaries and discussions with over 250 organizations, both online and in person. While some groups have demanded salary increases up to three or four times the current levels, a significant number of secretaries have cautioned against such moves, emphasizing fiscal sustainability. Commission officials said the process of gathering opinions was challenging due to scheduling constraints but noted that the feedback is being carefully reviewed. They expect to finalize and submit the recommendations within the stipulated timeframe, with special attention to minimum wage structures and grade reclassification.

Bangladesh’s November Economic Update and Outlook report by the General Economics Division (GED) highlights a mixed economic scenario. While bank deposits have shown robust growth, private sector credit expansion remains sluggish. The report notes that overall inflation has fallen to single digits, largely due to declining food prices and improved supply conditions. Food inflation dropped from 12.66% to 7.08%, while non-food inflation slightly rose to 9.13%, reflecting ongoing pressure in housing, transport, and healthcare costs. The report also indicates that rice prices, which surged earlier in 2025, have begun to decline as new Aman harvests entered the market and government procurement boosted domestic reserves. Despite steady economic growth, the National Board of Revenue continues to fall short of its collection targets. Export performance remains volatile, though moderate recovery is expected in the coming months.

Turkey has achieved a major milestone in military aviation with the successful test of its unmanned fighter jet, Bayraktar Kizilelma. The aircraft, developed by Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, became the world’s first unmanned combat jet to successfully fire a radar-guided beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile at a moving jet-powered target. The test, conducted over the Black Sea near Sinop province, used Turkey’s domestically developed ‘Gökdoğan’ missile and the Murad Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system built by defense firm Aselsan. The Kizilelma’s ability to detect, track, and destroy aerial targets without human pilots marks a breakthrough in autonomous air combat technology. Baykar officials stated that this achievement demonstrates Turkey’s growing aerospace capabilities and positions Kizilelma as the first and only unmanned platform officially recognized for air-to-air combat readiness. The test also featured joint flight operations with F-16 fighter jets, signaling a new era of manned-unmanned aerial collaboration.

A mild earthquake was felt in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram city, and the surrounding hilly areas just before 1 a.m. on Monday. Residents in Cox’s Bazar, Ukhiya, and Chakaria reported light tremors lasting a few seconds, prompting some to rush outdoors in fear. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the quake measured 4.9 in magnitude, with its epicenter located in Natchuang, Sagaing region of Myanmar. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed similar data. This marks the eighth earthquake felt in Bangladesh since November 21, when a 5.2-magnitude quake struck Narsingdi and was felt across the country. Experts note that the recent series of mild tremors may indicate ongoing regional tectonic activity, though no major threat has been identified yet.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced that the use of the Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) will become mandatory from January 1 to modernize and digitize the country’s bond management process. According to an official circular, all bonded warehouse license holders must use CBMS for issuing Utilization Permissions (UP) related to duty-free raw material imports. No services will be provided through manual or alternative methods after the deadline. The automated CBMS software, launched earlier with 24 modules, is currently being used on a limited scale in three customs bond commissionerates. NBR stated that the system has been upgraded based on user feedback to make it more user-friendly. The mandatory use of CBMS is expected to enhance service speed, transparency, and accountability, while reducing costs, time, and disputes. The NBR reaffirmed its commitment to continuing digitalization efforts to achieve full automation and transparency in revenue management.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has submitted the salary proposal for November for MPO-listed teachers and staff of private schools and colleges to the Ministry of Education. According to the Education Management Information System (EMIS) cell, the proposal has also been uploaded to the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS) of the Ministry of Finance. However, due to the temporary absence of key iBAS technical personnel abroad, the salary disbursement process may face slight delays. Officials expect that teachers and staff will receive their November salaries and allowances between December 8 and 9. Each month, institution heads submit online salary bills, which are verified and coordinated with the Finance Ministry before final approval and bank disbursement. The government has implemented a digital billing and approval system to ensure timely, transparent, and efficient salary processing for MPO-listed teachers and employees.

The 1,320-megawatt Bangladesh-India Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, Bagerhat, achieved a national record by producing 700 million units of electricity in November, meeting 11.5 percent of Bangladesh’s total power demand. The plant’s public relations deputy general manager, Anwarul Azim, confirmed the achievement on December 1, noting that it marks the highest monthly production by any power plant in the country. The record reflects the facility’s industrial efficiency, use of high-quality coal, and effective resource and financial management. Previously, the plant regularly supplied around 600 million units to the national grid. The first 660-megawatt unit began operation in December 2022, and after the second unit came online nearly a year later, the plant reached this record output for the first time in November.

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.

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.

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.