The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, held a meeting with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday, December 8, at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. The discussion focused on the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and the planned referendum, as part of the commission’s ongoing dialogue with political parties.

CEC Nasir Uddin and other election commissioners attended the meeting, while Jamaat’s six-member delegation was headed by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar. The dialogue is part of the EC’s broader effort to ensure participation and transparency in the electoral process. Although details of the discussion were not disclosed, such meetings are viewed as crucial for building consensus and addressing concerns about election management.

Observers note that the EC’s engagement with all registered political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, signals an attempt to foster inclusivity ahead of the polls. Further rounds of dialogue with other parties are expected in the coming weeks.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), expressed deep concern over the recent incident involving AB Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad in Barishal’s Babuganj area. In a Facebook post on Sunday, she condemned the use of threats and abusive slogans against Fuad, emphasizing that such behavior undermines democratic culture.

Jara stated that political differences are natural, but physical or verbal assaults on opponents are unacceptable. Her remarks followed an event where Fuad faced hostility during a foundation stone ceremony for the Mirganj Bridge. Fuad had alleged attempts of extortion and tender manipulation linked to the project, which triggered anger among local BNP activists.

Local BNP leaders denied the allegations, claiming the protest was spontaneous and warning that Fuad would be declared unwelcome if he did not apologize. The episode has reignited debate over political intolerance and the need for civility in Bangladesh’s electoral environment.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has completed its investigation against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, the Jubo League president, and five others in connection with the 2024 massacre case. The tribunal confirmed the development on Monday, December 8, marking a significant step toward formal proceedings against the accused, who are currently under a ban from political activities.

In a parallel development, 17 former ministers and state ministers from the previous Hasina administration were produced before the tribunal under tight security from Keraniganj and Kashimpur prisons. The accused include former ministers from key portfolios such as law, education, ICT, industry, and food. Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, is scheduled to review the progress of the case and determine the next procedural steps.

Legal analysts note that the proceedings could reshape accountability narratives in Bangladesh’s political landscape. The tribunal’s decisions in the coming weeks will be closely watched for their implications on justice, governance, and political stability.

The High Court of Bangladesh has placed on its cause list a writ petition seeking suspension of all activities related to the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The hearing may take place on Monday, December 8, before a bench led by Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi. The petition, filed on December 3, challenges the legality of appointing election officials from the executive branch and requests the formation of an independent Electoral Service Commission.

The writ was filed by Advocate Iarul Islam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Congress, naming the Chief Election Commissioner and other officials as respondents. It argues that appointing deputy commissioners and upazila executive officers as returning and assistant returning officers violates constitutional provisions that assign election management solely to the Election Commission. The petitioner claims that executive officials, as representatives of the government, compromise neutrality and public trust.

If the court issues a rule in favor of the petition, it could temporarily halt election preparations and prompt a review of the Election Commission’s administrative structure, potentially delaying the national polls.

National Citizens Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah has declared that his campaign will continue until extortionists are eradicated from society. Speaking at a courtyard meeting titled 'Politics in the Yard' in Padmakut Bazar, Debidwar, Comilla, on Sunday night, Hasnat said extortion today leads to tender manipulation tomorrow, warning that such practices threaten ordinary citizens’ livelihoods. He pledged to resist criminal influence in politics even if it costs him votes.

Hasnat emphasized his reliance on working-class supporters, saying that masons and laborers who were friends of his late father will serve as his election agents. He also expressed confidence in support from students, women, and expatriate Bangladeshis. Criticizing elitism in leadership, he stated that leaders who demand special treatment can no longer represent ordinary people.

The meeting, chaired by Debidwar NCP coordinator Jahangir Alam, was attended by youth organizers Nazmul Hasan Nahid, Md. Mujibur Rahman, Osman Gani Molla, and Shamim Kawser, reflecting growing grassroots mobilization within the party.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Bangladesh is scheduled to hold a hearing today regarding a contempt of court allegation against Advocate Fazlur Rahman, the BNP-nominated candidate for Kishoreganj-4 constituency. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder along with two other members, will review the case and may issue an order following the hearing. Rahman was earlier summoned to appear in person and explain his alleged derogatory remarks about the tribunal.

The contempt proceedings were initiated after a prosecution petition filed on November 26. Following the tribunal’s order on November 30, Rahman was instructed to bring his academic and professional credentials, including his Bar Council certificate. In response, he submitted a written apology to the tribunal’s registrar office on December 3, expressing unconditional regret. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam confirmed the submission.

The outcome of today’s hearing could determine whether formal legal action will proceed against Rahman. The case underscores the tribunal’s strict stance on maintaining judicial dignity and accountability in politically sensitive contexts.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) announced that 249,338 expatriates have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to cast ballots in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Of these, 228,147 are men and 21,191 are women. The EC will send ballot papers by mail to the registered expatriates’ addresses, marking the first time the country is using an IT-supported postal voting system.

The registration process began on November 19 and will continue until December 23. Eligible groups include expatriates, individuals in legal custody, and election officials on duty. Registration is open in more than 30 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Australia. According to EC data updated on December 8, the initiative aims to ensure broader participation among overseas Bangladeshis.

The EC is targeting five million expatriate voters as part of its broader effort to expand electoral inclusion. The 13th national election is expected to be held in the first half of February 2025, with postal voting seen as a key test of digital election management.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has publicly revisited the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings, alleging that the Awami League government repeatedly used its affiliated youth and student wings to suppress political opposition through intimidation and violence. In a detailed Facebook post on December 8, Alam described the night of May 5, 2013, when clashes between security forces and Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Dhaka’s Motijheel area led to numerous deaths.

Alam recounted his experience as a journalist at the time, verifying reports of gunshot victims in multiple hospitals and describing the government’s denial of casualties. He cited human rights groups that later estimated around 60 deaths, contradicting official figures. Alam also named individuals allegedly involved in the violence and linked subsequent killings to intra-party rivalries.

His statement has reignited debate over state accountability and political violence in Bangladesh. Analysts suggest the remarks could intensify scrutiny of past government actions and influence ongoing discussions about justice and political reform.

Seventeen former ministers, state ministers, and senior officials from Sheikh Hasina’s administration were produced before Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday in connection with alleged killings and crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 unrest. The accused, including former law minister Anisul Huq, former education minister Dipu Moni, and former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, were brought under tight security from Keraniganj and Kashimpur prisons. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, is scheduled to review case progress and hear formal charges.

Prosecutors have filed separate formal charges against several high-profile figures, including Salman F Rahman, Hasanul Haq Inu, and Palak. The tribunal has also accepted charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Sheikh Hasina, issuing an arrest warrant for him. Allegations include curfew-related killings and suppression of protests during the 2024 movement. Security was heightened around the tribunal premises, with law enforcement conducting strict checks on all entrants.

The proceedings mark a significant escalation in post-Hasina accountability efforts, signaling a broader judicial push into alleged state actions during the 2024 crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that he will not retire from politics even if he receives a presidential pardon in his ongoing corruption trial. Speaking to reporters on December 7, Netanyahu firmly rejected the idea of stepping down, emphasizing his intention to continue leading despite legal challenges.

Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog last month, arguing through his lawyers that frequent court appearances hinder his ability to govern effectively. His legal team contends that a pardon would serve the national interest. However, Israeli legal tradition allows pardons only after a verdict is delivered, making Netanyahu’s request highly unusual. The prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which he denies.

Opposition leaders have criticized the pardon request, insisting that Netanyahu should resign or admit guilt before any clemency is considered. Some have also called for early elections before the scheduled 2026 vote. The debate underscores deep political divisions as Netanyahu continues to lead amid mounting legal and political pressure.

An air ambulance carrying medical support for former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9. The aircraft will later depart for London around 9 p.m. the same day, pending final medical evaluations and logistical preparations by Zia’s medical team.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the flight has been granted landing permission and will operate as a special medical evacuation mission. The air ambulance is a Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, a model widely used for long-distance medical transfers due to its range and onboard medical facilities.

Zia’s planned transfer follows weeks of concern over her deteriorating health. Her medical team and party officials have been pressing for advanced treatment abroad. Any change in her condition or readiness could alter the flight schedule, officials said.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has urged party members and the public to stay alert against fake Facebook accounts operating under his name. In an official statement, he clarified that he has never opened a Facebook account and that any posts or comments attributed to him on such pages are entirely fabricated.

Rizvi stated that unidentified groups have been spreading false statements through these accounts, misleading the public and tarnishing his reputation. He mentioned that he had previously filed a general diary with the police and informed the media about the issue. The BNP leader also requested the authorities and Facebook to take immediate action to close the fake accounts.

He further appealed to his party colleagues and citizens not to be misled by any content shared from these fraudulent profiles, emphasizing the need for vigilance against misinformation on social media platforms.

The Trump administration’s newly released 33-page national security strategy has drawn contrasting global reactions, with Moscow praising it as aligned with Russia’s worldview while European leaders express deep concern. The document downplays Russia as a major threat to the United States, instead emphasizing curbing foreign influence, reducing immigration, and opposing EU censorship and regulatory controls.

European Union officials have criticized the strategy’s tone, warning that it echoes Kremlin narratives and could weaken Washington’s stance on the Ukraine war. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul argued that issues like freedom of expression should not be part of a security doctrine, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reminded that “Europe is your closest ally, not a problem.”

In Washington, Democratic lawmakers cautioned that the plan could destabilize US foreign policy. The strategy also calls for increased defense spending by Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan, and even contemplates military action in Venezuela, signaling a broader “America First” reorientation of US global engagement.

Bangladesh’s Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar announced that promotions for around 32,000 assistant teachers remain suspended because of a pending court case. Speaking to reporters after inspecting several schools in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, he said that although thousands of schools lack head teachers, the government cannot proceed with promotions until the legal dispute is resolved. He assured that efforts are underway to settle the matter, which could unlock multiple administrative bottlenecks within the primary education system.

The adviser also highlighted acute teacher shortages in remote and island areas such as Kutubdia. He stated that new recruitment drives will be launched to address staffing gaps in these regions, ensuring that isolated schools receive adequate teaching personnel. Local education officials accompanied him during the visit, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and staffing in under-resourced schools.

The resolution of the court case is expected to significantly impact teacher morale and school management nationwide, potentially reshaping the promotion process within Bangladesh’s primary education sector.

Students from Dhaka’s seven government colleges continued their sit-in late into Sunday night in front of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education on Abdul Gani Road. They are demanding immediate issuance of the ordinance for the proposed Dhaka Central University, which would transform their colleges into a unified university structure.

The protest began around 1 p.m. with processions from each college converging at the Education Bhaban. Although the students lifted their blockade at the High Court intersection in the evening to ease public suffering, they maintained their presence outside the building. Representatives said the movement would continue until the ordinance is officially issued.

The proposed ordinance, published on September 24 by the Education Ministry, suggests reorganizing the seven colleges into four interdisciplinary schools while retaining higher secondary programs. Teachers and education cadre officials have expressed concerns about losing autonomy and promotion rights, while some students support swift approval. The ministry has acknowledged ongoing revisions to the draft, noting the process will take time.