A formal petition has been submitted to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser seeking the dismissal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Baharul Alam after his name appeared in the National Independent Investigation Commission’s report on the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) massacre. The petition, sent by Supreme Court lawyer and National Lawyers Council chairman S.M. Zulfiqar Ali Junu, argues that the IGP’s continued service undermines public confidence and judicial transparency.

The 2009 BDR mutiny, one of the deadliest episodes in Bangladesh’s history, claimed the lives of 57 army officers and many others. The commission’s recent report has reignited debate over accountability and justice. The petition emphasizes that a top law enforcement official’s alleged involvement or negligence in such a national tragedy could obstruct impartial investigation and erode trust in state institutions.

Legal experts and civil society observers are urging the interim government to act on the commission’s recommendations to uphold rule of law and restore public confidence in the justice system.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced a proposal to form a trilateral alliance with Bangladesh and China, signaling Islamabad’s intent to create a new framework for regional cooperation outside the long-paralyzed South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Speaking at the Islamabad Conclave Forum, Dar said the initiative could expand beyond the region and emphasized collaboration over conflict.

The proposal comes as South Asia faces heightened political and diplomatic strains. India–Pakistan relations remain frozen after years of hostility, while Bangladesh–India ties have deteriorated following political upheaval in Dhaka. Analysts suggest Pakistan’s move reflects frustration with SAARC’s ineffectiveness and a desire to diversify regional partnerships. Academic Rabeya Akhtar called the plan ambitious, while others see it as a pragmatic response to shifting alliances.

Experts warn that if realized, the alliance could deepen India’s isolation and intensify regional rivalries, particularly between New Delhi and Beijing. Observers will watch whether Dhaka formally engages with Islamabad’s initiative or maintains a cautious stance amid competing strategic pressures.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Tarique Rahman will soon return to Bangladesh and lead the party in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Speaking to journalists in Dhaka on Saturday, he said preparations are underway for Rahman’s return and for the party’s participation under his leadership.

Chowdhury also clarified that Dr. Zubaida Rahman’s political involvement remains her personal decision. Regarding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s possible travel abroad for medical treatment, he said the final decision depends on her medical board. Adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury added that a royal air ambulance from Qatar is ready to transport her to London once doctors approve.

Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since November 23 under a medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder. The board includes Dr. Zubaida Rahman, who recently arrived in Dhaka to assist in her mother-in-law’s care and possible transfer abroad.

A massive crowd gathered in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, on December 6 to mark the foundation-laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the Babri Mosque, 33 years after its demolition in Ayodhya. The event, organized by suspended Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir, drew thousands of participants and religious leaders from across India and abroad, including Saudi Arabia. Kabir claimed that nearly 300,000 people would attend, with arrangements made for food and accommodation for tens of thousands.

The initiative has triggered significant political controversy in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress suspended Kabir a day before the event, citing disciplinary reasons, while police questioned him regarding the gathering’s security implications. Kabir emphasized that the mosque and associated facilities—including a hospital and university—would be built without government funding to preserve religious sanctity.

Authorities have heightened security in the area amid concerns over communal sensitivity. Observers note that the ceremony’s timing, coinciding with the demolition anniversary, could influence regional political dynamics and interfaith relations in the state.

More than 193,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile application, according to the Election Commission (EC). As of Saturday morning, the EC’s website reported 193,874 registered expatriate voters, including 174,909 men and 18,965 women. Saudi Arabia and the United States lead in registrations, with 38,269 and 19,271 voters respectively.

The EC urged expatriates to provide accurate and complete addresses during registration to ensure delivery of postal ballots. Registrants can correct address errors through the app’s edit menu until December 6. The registration deadline has been extended to December 25, allowing global participation from any location. EC officials also announced that an in-country postal voting system will be introduced for government employees, detainees, and voters stationed outside their constituencies.

The ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, launched on November 18, marks Bangladesh’s first large-scale digital initiative to include overseas citizens in national voting, signaling a significant step toward inclusive electoral participation.

Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), announced on social media that she will contest the upcoming Dhaka-9 parliamentary seat nomination while strictly adhering to the legal campaign spending limit of 2.5 million taka. In her post, she criticized the widespread practice of candidates underreporting expenses to the Election Commission and starting their political journey with dishonesty.

Jara declared that she would publicly disclose all campaign income and expenditures, promising to maintain complete transparency. She urged citizens and volunteers to contribute time and skills instead of money, forming a grassroots team to support her campaign. Her initiative aims to demonstrate that elections can be conducted honestly, without reliance on wealth or muscle power.

Political observers note that Jara’s stance could spark broader discussions on electoral integrity and campaign finance reform in Bangladesh, where high spending and opaque funding are long-standing concerns.

BNP Standing Committee member and former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of never believing in Bangladesh’s independence and attempting to establish one-party rule through BAKSAL. Speaking at a women’s rally in Chakaria’s Islamnagar on December 6, he claimed that the people’s uprising had removed her from power and alleged that she served the interests of a neighboring country. The event was part of Ahmed’s campaign activities in Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency ahead of the upcoming national election.

During his speech, Ahmed asserted that the forthcoming election would be fair and internationally recognized, emphasizing that citizens are now more aware of their voting rights. He urged voters to support the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, and prayed for the recovery of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. Ahmed pledged that if BNP returns to power, it will restore democracy, rebuild the economy, and ensure justice and civil liberties. Thousands of supporters, including local BNP leaders, reportedly attended the rally.

Political analysts note that Ahmed’s remarks reflect BNP’s intensified campaign rhetoric as the election approaches, highlighting deep political polarization in Bangladesh.

An air ambulance from Qatar is on standby to transport BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical treatment once her medical board grants approval. BNP adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury confirmed that the Royal authorities in Qatar have arranged the aircraft, which is reportedly sourced from Germany. He added that the party is maintaining constant communication with Qatari officials regarding the arrangements.

Khaleda Zia remains under intensive observation at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she has been receiving treatment since November 23. Doctors say she has not yet regained the physical stability required for air travel, delaying her transfer. The medical board, led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder and including Dr. Zubaida Rahman, has been meeting daily to review her condition and test results.

BNP sources indicate that once the board issues a ‘green signal,’ the air ambulance will immediately depart for Dhaka to carry her to London. The situation continues to be closely monitored by both medical and political stakeholders.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah has declared that he will contest the upcoming election in Devidwar independently, without forming any alliance. Speaking at a courtyard meeting in Rajamehar Union on Friday night, he said he would continue working for the people even if he received only ten votes, emphasizing his commitment to the constituency over electoral success.

Hasnat addressed speculation that he would not secure more than 500 votes without joining a coalition, asserting that he is personally engaging with voters across Devidwar. He noted that many local elders have urged him to consider alliances, but he remains determined to stand alone. According to him, educated youths and students from various universities have already joined the NCP and are actively supporting his campaign.

He added that young people and women are increasingly aligning with his party’s symbol, the Shapla (water lily), and expressed confidence that his campaign would rely on grassroots volunteers rather than financial resources or formal agents.

In West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, expelled Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir initiated the foundation-laying ceremony for a new mosque named 'Babri Masjid' in Beldanga on Saturday. The event, organized across 25 bighas near Moradighi, is expected to draw nearly 300,000 attendees, including religious scholars from Saudi Arabia. Around 40,000 biryani packets have been prepared for guests, with total event costs estimated between ₹6–7 million.

Kabir, recently ousted from the Trinamool Congress for anti-party activities, has continued the initiative despite political backlash. Local police, following Calcutta High Court directives, have deployed about 3,000 officers to maintain order and traffic flow along National Highway 12. Authorities have expressed concern over potential congestion due to the large turnout.

The event has stirred unease within the Trinamool Congress, as Kabir’s move is seen both as a show of defiance and a test of his local influence. The ceremony, beginning with Quran recitations, is scheduled to conclude by late afternoon under police supervision.

Eight Islamist and like-minded political parties held a large-scale rally in Sylhet’s historic Alia Madrasa field today, aiming to demonstrate unity and public strength ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Central leaders from all eight parties attended, with speeches scheduled from noon to late afternoon. Organizers built a large stage and installed around 100 microphones to accommodate the expected massive turnout.

The rally, coordinated by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sylhet city leader Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, focused on five key demands, including a referendum on the July National Charter Implementation Order and ensuring a level playing field in the election. The city was decorated with banners, arches, and posters, as organizers anticipated attendance from across the Sylhet division.

Political observers note that the gathering could signal renewed cooperation among Islamist parties seeking greater influence in national politics. The event’s outcomes may shape future alliances and policy debates around electoral reform and Islamic governance principles.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent remarks pose a threat to national security. Speaking at a press conference on December 5, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General said Khan continues to believe that the country cannot function without him in power, describing his political career as over and driven by ego and emotion.

Chaudhry accused Khan of inciting citizens to withhold electricity bill payments and discouraging overseas remittances, actions he said undermine the state. He also warned that negative comments against the army’s leadership would not be tolerated. The ISPR chief emphasized that the army remains apolitical and loyal to the constitution, rejecting any attempt to drag it into politics.

The statement comes amid growing tensions between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the military establishment. Analysts suggest the remarks signal a hardening stance by the army, potentially deepening Pakistan’s political polarization ahead of future elections.

Pakistan’s federal government has imposed a complete ban on all meetings with former Prime Minister Imran Khan inside Adiala Jail, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Friday. The minister described Khan as a ‘war-mongering extremist’ and said the decision was taken under prison regulations to prevent political directives being issued from inside the facility.

Tarar warned that any attempt to disrupt law and order outside the prison would be met with swift and strict action. He accused Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of trying to push the country toward economic default by allegedly writing to the IMF and orchestrating violent attacks on military installations on May 9. The minister also claimed that PTI members were distancing themselves from Khan’s ‘Taliban-like mindset’.

The government is reportedly considering imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold. Tarar emphasized that there would be no dialogue with groups promoting extremism or anti-state narratives, signaling a further hardening of Islamabad’s stance against Khan and his supporters.

December 6 marks the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India—an event that continues to shape South Asia’s political and cultural discourse. The destruction of the 16th-century mosque, built by Mir Baqi in 1528, was not merely the fall of a structure but a symbolic rupture in India’s pluralistic and secular fabric. The incident exposed the fragility of state institutions when confronted with religious nationalism.

The Babri demolition followed decades of tension, from the 1949 idol installation to the 1980s rise of Hindutva politics and the 1990 Rath Yatra led by L.K. Advani. The Liberhan Commission later concluded the demolition was premeditated, not spontaneous. Human rights data indicate over 2,000 deaths in communal violence between 1992 and 2002, reflecting the deep societal scars left by the event.

The 2019 Supreme Court verdict granting the disputed land for temple construction reignited debates on justice and secularism. Analysts argue that December 6 remains a moral reminder—civilization cannot be built on destruction but on coexistence, equality, and the courage of reason.

The Bangladesh Labour Party has officially severed its two-decade-long political alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The decision was announced on Friday, December 5, following a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee at its Nayapaltan headquarters, chaired by party chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran. A press release confirmed that the Labour Party will no longer maintain any political cooperation or joint programs with the BNP.

Party leaders accused the BNP of showing disregard and betrayal toward its allies, breaking promises related to movements, elections, and coalition governance. They alleged that BNP’s nomination process under Tarique Rahman favored controversial figures and was influenced by financial transactions, undermining the party’s moral leadership. The Labour Party also recalled years of sacrifice, including arrests, attacks, and deaths of activists in joint movements.

The decision marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s opposition landscape, as the once 20-party alliance continues to fragment. The Labour Party announced plans to pursue its own reformist political agenda focused on social equality and democratic governance.