A Dhaka court has ordered police detectives to investigate a blasphemy case filed against senior lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Sunamganj-2, Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir. The case stems from his recent remarks comparing Islamic fasting (Roza) and Hindu worship (Puja) as two sides of the same coin. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Jashita Islam, accepted the plaintiff’s statement and directed the Detective Branch to proceed with the inquiry.

Following the case, Monir responded on Facebook, acknowledging the lawsuit and suggesting it was politically motivated. He stated that the complainant and witnesses were members of a particular political party and emphasized that everyone has the right to seek legal recourse. Monir reiterated his faith in the rule of law and said appropriate legal action would be taken at the proper time.

The case highlights growing political and religious sensitivities ahead of the national elections, as candidates face scrutiny over religious commentary and its potential political implications.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s health condition has shown signs of improvement, according to her medical team at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital. Results from a recent CT scan and other key tests were reported as satisfactory, prompting the medical board to reconsider earlier plans to transfer her to London for advanced treatment. The board has not yet made a final decision, but doctors said her vital parameters are improving and she is responding better than before.

A member of the medical board stated that Khaleda Zia’s condition is now more stable, and they are optimistic about her recovery in Bangladesh. Her daughter-in-law, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, is coordinating her care alongside local and foreign specialists. BNP leaders confirmed that arrangements for an air ambulance from Qatar remain available if needed. Khaleda Zia, 79, has been hospitalized since November 23 with multiple chronic ailments, including liver, kidney, and heart complications.

The board’s final decision on whether she will remain in Dhaka or be flown abroad is expected soon, depending on her continued improvement.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released the new ‘Private Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy 2025’, introducing major structural and eligibility changes for teachers and staff. The circular, issued on December 7 by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, eliminates the ‘Senior Lecturer’ position in higher secondary schools and colleges and revises qualification requirements for several posts.

Under the new framework, teachers with 13 years of teaching experience and two years in leadership roles may qualify for headmaster positions, while assistant headmasters with 15 years’ experience can be promoted to principal roles. The policy also stipulates that teachers absent without approval for over 60 days will lose eligibility for MPO benefits, and their positions will be declared vacant after that period.

For colleges, the policy sets minimum student numbers to open new departments—35 for humanities and business studies, and 25 for science. Rural institutions will require slightly lower thresholds. Education officials say the reforms aim to improve accountability and ensure balanced staffing across institutions.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has pledged to deliver what he described as the nation’s most credible and historic election in the first half of February 2026. He made the remarks on Sunday evening during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin and other Election Commission members at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

During the meeting, the CEC briefed the Chief Adviser on preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election and a planned national referendum. The Election Commission reported that logistical and administrative arrangements were progressing smoothly and that it was fully prepared to hold both events on the same day. Commissioners expressed gratitude for the interim government’s cooperation and also thanked law enforcement and military personnel for their support.

Professor Yunus commended the Commission’s readiness and reaffirmed that the interim government would continue full cooperation to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. He emphasized that the Commission was in the “driver’s seat” and that the government’s goal was to achieve a model democratic exercise for the nation.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national election, three parties—including the National Citizen Party (NCP)—have formed the Democratic Reform Alliance. Former Dhaka University student leader and anti-discrimination activist Abdul Kader reacted to the development on social media, expressing regret that the NCP has become politically marginalized within just one year of its formation.

In a Facebook post on December 7, Kader wrote that the alliance’s formation drew little attention, suggesting it added no significant political value. He lamented that a youth-driven party with early promise had become isolated due to internal leadership choices, despite public and institutional goodwill. Kader also noted that the NCP now struggles to sustain itself, relying on minimal resources and effort to remain relevant.

The new alliance named NCP convener Nahid Islam as its spokesperson, with Bangladesh State Reform Movement and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) as partners. Political observers view the coalition as an attempt to consolidate smaller reformist groups ahead of the upcoming election.

A local youth leader from the opposition BNP’s youth wing in Chandpur, Bangladesh, has announced his resignation from politics after posting a viral video of himself bathing in milk. Md Hossain Mia, a member of the Kolakanda Union Jubo Dal convening committee, shared the video on Facebook around midnight on December 6, declaring his departure from political life. The unusual act and his emotional message quickly drew widespread attention online.

In his post, Hossain expressed deep frustration and alleged that internal conspiracies and financial power had destroyed his political career. He accused both ruling and opposition factions of colluding against him. Local political figures and social media users reacted with mixed emotions—some offering sympathy, others calling his move impulsive. Rashed Zaman Tipu, acting convener of the Upazila Jubo Dal, described the decision as regrettable and urged Hossain to reconsider.

The incident underscores growing disillusionment among grassroots political activists in Bangladesh, where factionalism and financial influence often shape local politics. Observers expect further discussion within the party about internal discipline and member support mechanisms.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah called on voters to give his party a single opportunity to prove its commitment to people-oriented politics. Speaking during a series of rallies and door-to-door campaigns across several villages in Gunai Ghar South Union, Debidwar, Comilla, on Sunday, Abdullah said that if his party fails to deliver on its promises, citizens should reject them as they have done with other political leaders.

Abdullah emphasized that the NCP is not a gang-based political organization and will not rely on intimidation to win votes. He stated that the party’s mission is to rebuild Bangladesh in line with public expectations and that, with popular support, the NCP aims to form a government in the future. He also noted that the party, formed only nine months ago, has already brought positive change.

Local residents reportedly welcomed Abdullah warmly, offering hospitality and small financial contributions for election expenses, while NCP and affiliate leaders accompanied him throughout the campaign.

Barrister Naushad Zamir, son of former acting president and veteran BNP leader Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, has announced his candidacy for the Panchagarh-1 constituency in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election. Representing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Naushad will face Sarjis Alam, the northern regional organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who has also declared his intention to contest from the same seat.

Jamiruddin Sircar, a prominent figure in national politics, previously served as Speaker of Parliament and was elected multiple times from this constituency. Local BNP leaders describe Naushad as a young, clean-image candidate working tirelessly across Atwari, Panchagarh Sadar, and Tetulia upazilas to connect with voters and convey messages from BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. District BNP leaders believe his father’s popularity and the party’s strong voter base will help secure victory.

The contest is expected to draw attention as a generational political transition within the BNP, with observers viewing it as a test of the party’s organizational strength in northern Bangladesh.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has stated that the interim government has not taken a strong stance against corruption. Speaking at a press conference at the organization’s Dhanmondi office on Sunday, he said that despite decades of challenges, achieving a corruption-free Bangladesh will require time and sustained effort. TIB has not yet assessed whether corruption has increased or decreased, but Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that it continues to persist.

Addressing the upcoming 13th National Election, he emphasized that political parties should clearly outline their positions on the influence of money, muscle power, and religion in their election manifestos. He further urged parties to include commitments on anti-corruption measures, accountability, and good governance in their policy documents.

The remarks highlight growing public concern over governance transparency and the credibility of political pledges ahead of the election. Analysts suggest that stronger institutional reforms and political will are essential to restore public trust and ensure sustainable anti-corruption progress.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, secretary general of the AB Party, faced strong protests in his constituency of Babuganj, Barishal, during the foundation-laying ceremony of the Mirganj Bridge on Sunday. Local BNP activists reportedly confronted Fuad after he alleged that extortion and tender manipulation were taking place around the bridge project, which he claimed to have helped secure approval for.

Fuad accused BNP supporters of orchestrating the disruption, while BNP leaders denied the charge, saying the protest came from locals angered by his remarks. Babuganj Upazila Chhatra Dal convener Atik Al Amin stated that Fuad had falsely implied BNP’s involvement and demanded an apology, warning he would be declared unwelcome in the area. The bridge, being built over the Arial Khan River at a cost of about Tk 1,500 crore, has become a point of political contention between AB Party and BNP factions.

The incident underscores rising political tensions in Barishal-3 ahead of future elections, with infrastructure projects increasingly becoming tools of political rivalry and local influence.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin briefed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the Election Commission’s preparations for the upcoming national election and referendum, expected in early February. The meeting took place Sunday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where election commissioners and senior officials presented progress updates on logistical and administrative readiness.

The CEC informed that preparations were proceeding smoothly, with the Commission fully ready to hold the national election and referendum on the same day. He thanked the Chief Adviser and law enforcement agencies for their cooperation. Chief Adviser Yunus expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s progress and reaffirmed the caretaker government’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election.

Yunus emphasized that the interim administration aims to deliver one of the most transparent elections in the nation’s history. The meeting underscored coordination between the Election Commission and the caretaker government as Bangladesh moves toward a crucial electoral milestone.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman asserted that his party is the only political force capable of effectively controlling corruption and improving law and order in Bangladesh. Speaking at the closing session of the ‘BNP’s Nation-Building Plan’ program in Dhaka, Rahman emphasized that without addressing corruption and security issues, development plans in sectors like women’s empowerment, agriculture, and health would fail.

He argued that the BNP had previously established law enforcement agencies that improved national security, but those institutions were later misused for political purposes by authoritarian regimes. Rahman also defended the party’s record, claiming that no corruption allegations against BNP leaders had been proven in court. He criticized those who now attack the party despite having served in past BNP governments.

Rahman reiterated BNP’s commitment to democratic principles and public accountability, stating that the party would seek power only through the people’s mandate. His remarks come amid ongoing political tensions and debates over governance and corruption in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that the party would reassess the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) policy if it forms the next government. Speaking at a roundtable organized by the Center for Technology Journalism in Dhaka, he said the policy would be reviewed in consultation with all stakeholders to ensure it aligns with free-market principles and national interests.

Participants at the discussion, including representatives from technology associations and civil society, criticized the current NEIR framework for allegedly favoring certain business groups and undermining local investors. They argued that the policy, introduced under the Awami League government, risks creating monopolies and discouraging fair competition. Several speakers also questioned the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) role in implementing NEIR and called for transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Analysts suggest that the debate over NEIR reflects broader tensions between regulatory control and market liberalization in Bangladesh’s digital economy. The issue is expected to remain politically significant ahead of the upcoming national elections.

A foundation-laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya has ignited political and communal tensions in West Bengal. The event, held in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, was organized by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Humayun Kabir, who described the project as a constitutional right and a step toward healing the wounds of the 1992 demolition. Around 400 people attended the ceremony, which proceeded without reported violence.

The TMC leadership distanced itself from the event, emphasizing that while individuals may build religious structures on private land, exploiting such acts for political gain is unacceptable. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticized the initiative, calling it a politically motivated attempt to consolidate Muslim votes. BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Dilip Ghosh accused the TMC of deliberately stoking communal sentiments ahead of the 2026 state elections.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged citizens to remain vigilant against divisive forces, asserting that Bengal’s tradition of communal harmony must be preserved. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent escalation.

A case has been filed against senior advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s parliamentary candidate for Sunamganj-2, over alleged remarks equating Ramadan fasting and Hindu Puja rituals. The complaint accuses Monir of making statements that hurt religious sentiments by describing the two practices as 'two sides of the same coin.' The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, Jashita Islam, recorded the complainant’s deposition and directed the Detective Branch (DB) of police to investigate.

According to the case filed by lawyer Ridwan Hossain Robin, Monir’s comments—made in a video on the YouTube channel DSN—were intended to provoke religious tension and gain political advantage. The complaint notes that such remarks could disturb communal harmony in Bangladesh, where about 91.4% of the population is Muslim. Court officials confirmed the order for investigation.

The case underscores the sensitivity of religious discourse in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Authorities are expected to review the video evidence, and the DB’s findings will determine whether formal charges follow.