In a rare move in Malaysian history, former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad lodged a police complaint against current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of economic sabotage and undermining national sovereignty. The complaint, filed at the Putrajaya police headquarters, centers on the Malaysia–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed by Anwar and former US President Donald Trump on October 26. Mahathir claims the deal threatens Malaysia’s political and economic independence, increases foreign dependence, and weakens domestic policy-making power. He highlighted clauses that could compel Malaysia to comply with unilateral US sanctions and share cross-border data with Washington. Mahathir also cited 14 potential negative impacts, including risks to the halal industry, bumiputra empowerment, and rare earth exports. He demanded investigations into Anwar, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, and all officials involved. The agreement has sparked widespread criticism, with former Attorney General Tommy Thomas alleging Malaysia signed a US-drafted deal without negotiation. The controversy has intensified political debate over Malaysia’s sovereignty and trade policy direction.

The chiefs of Bangladesh’s Army, Navy, and Air Force visited former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday night, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). Khaleda Zia, who has long suffered from arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, and eye complications, has been under treatment since November 23 after a lung infection was detected. Following her release after the fall of the Awami League government in August last year, she spent over three months in London for advanced medical care before returning to Bangladesh in May. Her personal physician, Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, expressed hope for her recovery but became emotional while speaking to reporters, urging the public not to spread rumors about her condition. A medical team from the UK is expected to arrive soon to assess whether she should be taken abroad for further treatment. The interim government has declared Khaleda Zia a ‘very important person’.

Mohammad Ali Hossain, Senior District and Sessions Judge of Jashore, and Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, have been elected as the new president and general secretary of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association. The election was held online on December 2 in a festive atmosphere, with live coverage from the Judicial Administration Training Institute. Out of 2,138 eligible judges across 64 districts, 1,890 cast their votes, marking an 88% turnout. Hossain received 1,003 votes while Rahman secured 1,238 votes. A total of 45 judges were elected to 16 executive positions. In his remarks, Rahman expressed gratitude to his colleagues and pledged to modernize the judiciary, implement full judicial allowances, advance the e-judiciary project, and improve judges’ working conditions and security. The new committee also aims to enhance training opportunities and ensure fair rights for all judges nationwide.

The High Court of Bangladesh has issued a rule asking why a policy should not be formulated to regulate house rent in Dhaka. The bench, led by Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi, directed the authorities of Dhaka North and South City Corporations and other concerned parties to respond within four weeks. The order came following a writ petition seeking the implementation of the House Rent Control Act of 1991, which mandates city authorities to periodically determine rent rates based on factors such as building quality, size, road connectivity, and available amenities. Advocate Parvez Hossain, representing the petitioner, argued that the law has not been effectively enforced despite being in place for decades. The court’s move aims to ensure fair rent determination and protect tenants from arbitrary rent hikes, aligning with practices followed in many global cities.

More than 130,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote by postal ballot in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, according to the Election Commission (EC). The registrations were completed through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, which allows overseas citizens to register using their local mobile numbers. As of Tuesday noon, 130,672 expatriates had registered—114,083 men and 16,589 women. The highest numbers came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, and Canada. The EC has extended the registration deadline to December 25, from the earlier December 18, to accommodate more applicants. The app was launched on November 18 and registration is open in 148 countries. The EC also plans to introduce an in-country postal voting system for government officials, detainees, and those stationed outside their constituencies. Proper address submission is required to ensure ballot delivery abroad.

BNP Standing Committee member and personal physician of party chairperson Khaleda Zia, Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, has urged the public and media not to believe or spread rumors regarding her health condition. Speaking to journalists outside Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, he confirmed that Khaleda Zia remains in a critical state but continues to receive treatment. Both local and international doctors, including a new specialist arriving from London, are involved in her care. Dr. Zahid, visibly emotional during the briefing, thanked journalists for their cooperation over the past six years and requested continued support. He also mentioned that BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman is regularly monitoring Khaleda Zia’s condition. Preparations are reportedly in place to transfer her abroad for advanced treatment once her condition improves. Dr. Zahid reiterated the call for patience, restraint, and prayers for the former prime minister’s recovery.

In Bogura’s Shibganj, Jahangir Alam, a district member and upazila coordinator of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), has begun an indefinite hunger strike demanding the removal of syndicates controlling the agricultural sector. The protest started on Monday afternoon at the local Mugdha Square and continued into Tuesday. According to NCP’s joint coordinator Rafia Sultana, the strike aims to protest fertilizer dealer syndicates, fertilizer smuggling, artificial shortages, unfair government fertilizer allocations, and the appointment of unauthorized dealers from other upazilas. The movement also highlights issues such as potato spoilage in cold storage and calls for the liberation of farmers from exploitative practices. Several local NCP members and student leaders have expressed solidarity with Alam’s protest, and the party leadership has pledged organizational support for the ongoing hunger strike.

Bangladesh Police Headquarters has reassigned officers-in-charge (OCs) of 527 police stations across the country through a lottery system, ahead of the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule. The process aimed to ensure transparency and neutrality in law enforcement during the upcoming election period. Before the lottery, unit chiefs submitted lists of honest and impartial inspectors, which served as the basis for the random selection. The transfers covered all district-level police stations, excluding 110 metropolitan ones, where commissioners will handle postings internally. The distribution included 98 OCs in Dhaka Range, 111 in Chattogram, 64 in Khulna, 36 in Mymensingh, 46 in Barishal, 39 in Sylhet, 71 in Rajshahi, and 62 in Rangpur. Earlier, on November 26, the Ministry of Home Affairs reassigned 64 district superintendents of police (SPs) through a similar lottery process, reflecting a broader effort to maintain neutrality in law enforcement ahead of the election.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), has strongly condemned Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem for filing a cybercrime case against several Facebook pages and accounts accused of spreading misinformation and cyberbullying female leaders. In a statement issued on Tuesday, JCD leaders Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir called on Kayem to withdraw the case and publicly apologize to students. The organization described the move as unprecedented and an abuse of legal authority, claiming it undermines freedom of online expression. JCD further alleged that Kayem’s actions reflect political intolerance and misuse of the Cyber Security Act, which no longer allows defamation-related cases. The statement accused Kayem of following authoritarian tactics and using legal tools to suppress dissent rather than addressing criticism democratically.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that establishing peace and ensuring indigenous rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is not within the government’s hands but depends on the Bangladesh Army. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, he emphasized that the army holds authority over the region and possesses the capability to bring peace if it acts with genuine commitment and evidence-based initiative. He urged the army to reflect on its global peacekeeping reputation and apply the same dedication domestically. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that despite the government’s long rule, it failed to fully implement the Peace Accord, whereas the army could succeed if it demonstrates goodwill. He added that the army’s success in peacekeeping across 169 countries proves its capacity to establish peace within Bangladesh’s own borders, calling it an opportunity to enhance national and international credibility.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s formal request for a presidential pardon in his ongoing corruption cases has triggered intense political debate across Israel. President Isaac Herzog now faces three complex options: rejecting the plea, granting unconditional pardon, or offering a conditional compromise. Israeli law requires an admission of guilt before a pardon can be granted, making approval uncertain. Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s move is politically calculated to shift public focus from controversial draft exemption laws. Opposition parties demand his resignation and admission of guilt, while his Likud allies push for clemency. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, angering Israeli opposition groups. If approved, experts warn of mass protests potentially larger than the 2023 judicial reform demonstrations. Netanyahu faces three major corruption cases—known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000—alongside an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since October 2023.

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller has expressed satisfaction with the Election Commission’s preparations for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, scheduled for early February 2026. Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin in Dhaka, Miller said he was impressed by the professionalism and readiness demonstrated during a recent mock voting exercise. He described the election as a major opportunity for Bangladesh’s democratic progress and reaffirmed the EU’s support for a timely, transparent, and participatory electoral process. Miller also announced that the EU will deploy a large observer mission to monitor the election, emphasizing the bloc’s continued commitment to assisting Bangladesh in ensuring credible polls. The election schedule is expected to be announced in the second week of December 2025.

A new survey by the US-funded International Republican Institute (IRI) indicates that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) would receive 30% of votes if the 13th national parliamentary election were held soon. The poll shows Jamaat-e-Islami with 26% support, the National Citizen Party (NCP) with 6%, the Jatiya Party with 5%, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh with 4%, while other parties collectively hold 8%. Conducted between September 13 and October 12, 2025, the survey interviewed 4,985 adults across 63 districts, excluding Rangamati, with a 95% confidence level and a 1.4% margin of error. The study also found that 69% of respondents support Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and 70% express satisfaction with the interim government’s performance. Moreover, 80% of participants believe the upcoming election will be free and fair, reflecting a generally positive public outlook toward the current political transition.

Four major student unions—DUCSU, RUCSU, CUCSU, and JUCSU—have jointly called for ensuring merit-based recruitment in all government jobs and an end to alleged harassment under the guise of police verification. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the unions expressed deep concern over the exclusion of 13 candidates from the final gazette of the 17th Bangladesh Judicial Service (BJS) despite being recommended by the commission. The statement emphasized that these candidates had proven their merit through rigorous competition and should not be deprived of employment without evidence of criminal charges. The unions urged the Ministry of Law, the Judicial Service Commission, and the Public Service Commission to revise the gazette if no criminal proof is found, to make merit and qualification the sole criteria for recruitment, and to ensure transparency and fairness in the verification process. They also demanded that excluded candidates be given the opportunity to respond to allegations before any final decision is made.

A newly surfaced testimony from the National Independent Investigation Commission report on the 2009 BDR mutiny has revealed that a group of junior army officers attempted to break into an armory at the Sylhet SI&T training center the day after the Pilkhana massacre. Colonel Niamul Islam Fatemi of DGFI rushed to the scene and found officers attacking the armory door with tools, calling him a government agent. Senior officers intervened to protect him. The testimony, given by the 47th witness, also stated that Brigadier General Mamun Khaled advised Colonel Fatemi to contact Major General Tarique Siddique, then the Prime Minister’s military adviser, who said the army chief would not come. Later, Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury arrived by helicopter and calmed the officers after two hours of discussion. The 2009 BDR mutiny, in which 57 army officers were killed, remains one of Bangladesh’s darkest military tragedies.