Environmental and Forest Affairs Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that while former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will continue to receive Special Security Force (SSF) protection as a declared Very Very Important Person (VVIP), her family members, including her son Tarique Rahman, will not be entitled to the same privilege. The clarification came after public speculation following the government’s recent gazette notification assigning SSF to Khaleda Zia’s security. Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia, who has been hospitalized at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for eleven days, is being prepared for transfer to London for advanced medical treatment. Her personal physician, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, confirmed that arrangements are being made to fly her out in a special air ambulance provided through the initiative of the Amir of Qatar. The government has expressed readiness to assist with all necessary procedures for her overseas treatment if her family requests further support.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed its desire for the upcoming national election to be held on schedule, without unnecessary delays. Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin in Dhaka, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the party aims to restore citizens’ voting rights and remain within the electoral process. BNP proposed extending polling hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., reducing voters per booth, increasing marking stations, and adding more ballot boxes to ensure smooth voting. The party also requested that passports be accepted as valid identification for voter registration, particularly for expatriate Bangladeshis lacking national ID cards. Additionally, BNP urged the Election Commission not to use private presses for printing ballot papers, citing security concerns. The CEC assured that the commission would discuss these proposals and decide in its upcoming meeting. BNP reiterated its commitment to timely elections despite political tensions and Khaleda Zia’s illness.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a new program calling for nationwide prayers for the recovery of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who remains in critical condition at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. According to a press release signed by senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, prayers will be held after Friday’s Juma prayers in mosques across the country, while followers of other faiths are urged to pray in their respective places of worship. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to transfer Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical treatment, with a Qatar-sent air ambulance expected to depart at midnight. She will be accompanied by 14 people, including seven doctors, family members, and aides. Khaleda Zia has been hospitalized since November 23 and has spent the past eight days in the hospital’s coronary care unit under close observation. Her condition remains critical but stable, with ongoing dialysis and mechanical ventilation support.

The Election Commission of Jagannath University (JnU) has announced a revised schedule for the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and hall elections, now set for December 30. Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Mostafa Hasan confirmed the decision following a special syndicate meeting on December 4. The university will reopen on December 8, and preparations will continue until election day. According to the new timeline, candidates’ dope tests will be held on December 9 and 10, with the final candidate list published on December 11. Nomination withdrawals are scheduled for December 13–14, and campaigning will run from December 15 to 27. Voting will take place on December 30, with results expected by December 31. The election was previously delayed due to campus closure following earthquake concerns and student demands, which led to suspension of key pre-election activities including dope testing and candidate list publication.

Bangladesh’s Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has approved the Police Commission Ordinance aimed at making the police force more people-oriented and accountable. Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced the decision during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The five-member commission will be led by a retired Supreme Court judge and include senior officials, academics, and human rights experts with at least 15 years of experience. The commission will work with the government to ensure the police operate independently and uphold human rights. It will also investigate public complaints against police, address internal grievances of police personnel, and recommend reforms for modernization, training, and welfare. Additionally, the commission will advise the government on necessary legal research and policy development to enhance transparency, efficiency, and professionalism within the police force.

Britain is grappling with a threefold crisis involving economic, geopolitical, and political challenges. The Office for Students has warned that up to 50 UK universities could face bankruptcy within two years due to declining international student numbers and frozen tuition fees, forcing institutions to cut staff and merge programs. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government suffered a setback in its attempt to join the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense fund after talks collapsed over financial contributions. The failure casts doubt on post-Brexit cooperation ambitions. Domestically, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has launched a new left-wing party, ‘Your Party,’ positioning it as an alternative to Labour but already facing internal divisions. The party’s rise reflects discontent among traditional leftists and could reshape Britain’s political landscape. Together, these developments test Starmer’s leadership as the country navigates economic strain, strained EU relations, and ideological fragmentation.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), led by A M M Nasir Uddin, is set to meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin on December 10 to finalize the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum. According to an EC commissioner, the schedule announcement is expected within a few days after the meeting. The commission will also hold an internal meeting on December 7 to discuss the timetable. The EC has indicated that the election and referendum will likely take place in the first half of February 2026, before Ramadan. Preparations are reportedly complete for holding both votes on the same day, with mock voting already conducted. The commission is considering extending voting hours and increasing the number of booths to accommodate the dual-ballot process. The final decision on these logistical matters will be made in the upcoming EC meeting.

Three Supreme Court lawyers in Bangladesh have issued a legal notice demanding the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam within 24 hours. The notice follows the release of a report by the National Independent Investigation Commission on the 2009 BDR massacre, which named Baharul Alam among five police officials allegedly failing in their duties. The notice, sent to the Chief Adviser’s Principal Secretary and secretaries of the Home, Public Administration, and Law ministries, warns that legal action will follow if the government does not act promptly. The commission, formed in December last year after public pressure, submitted its findings on November 30 to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The BDR mutiny in February 2009 led to the deaths of 74 people, including 57 army officers. The report’s mention of the current IGP has sparked widespread debate within the administration and public circles.

New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be arrested if he enters the city, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Netanyahu, who faces allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7, 2023 Gaza attacks, has dismissed the charges and confirmed his plan to visit New York for the New York Times DealBook Forum. Mamdani stated that any world leader under ICC warrant would face arrest upon entering New York. Netanyahu responded that he would only engage in dialogue with Mamdani if the mayor recognized Israel’s right to exist. Despite Mamdani’s statement, analysts consider Netanyahu’s arrest highly unlikely, given the U.S. government’s historical opposition to ICC actions against Israeli officials and previous sanctions imposed on ICC judges and prosecutors during Donald Trump’s administration.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has transferred 13 deputy commissioners (DCs) from various divisions, including Lalbagh, Motijheel, and Gulshan, as part of a major administrative reshuffle. The order, signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on Thursday, December 4, states that the transfers will remain effective until further notice and are to be implemented immediately. In a separate order issued the same day, the DMP also reassigned officers-in-charge (OCs) of 50 police stations across the capital. The reshuffle aims to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen law enforcement management within the city. Such large-scale transfers are part of routine administrative measures often taken to ensure transparency, accountability, and improved policing performance in Dhaka’s metropolitan area.

Bangladesh Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar has confirmed that the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum will be announced any day after December 7. The election and referendum are planned for the second week of February 2026, before Ramadan. The Election Commission (EC) claims to be fully prepared for both events, having already conducted mock voting to test the dual-ballot system. To accommodate the extended voting process, the EC is considering increasing voting hours and the number of booths. Law enforcement, mobile courts, judicial magistrates, and electoral inquiry teams will be deployed to ensure order, with body-worn cameras introduced for the first time. The commissioner emphasized that violators of the electoral code of conduct will face strict legal action. He also noted that the interim government is cooperating fully with the EC to ensure a free, fair, and credible election that could set a new benchmark in Bangladesh’s democratic history.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its second phase of candidates for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, naming nominees for 36 constituencies across the country. The announcement was made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Thursday afternoon. Among the newly declared candidates, four are from Dhaka constituencies: Hamidur Rahman for Dhaka-7, Habibur Rashid for Dhaka-9, Sheikh Robiul Alam for Dhaka-10, and S M Jahangir Hossain for Dhaka-18. Earlier, BNP had revealed candidates for 13 other Dhaka seats, including senior leaders such as Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, and Amanullah Aman. The party said that candidates for Dhaka-13, Dhaka-17, and Dhaka-20 will be announced later. The BNP’s phased nomination process reflects its strategic preparation for the national election amid a competitive political environment.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has transferred officers-in-charge (OCs) of 50 police stations as part of a major reshuffle ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national parliamentary elections. The order, signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on Thursday, December 4, mandates immediate implementation of the changes. This move follows a recent nationwide lottery-based reassignment of OCs to 527 police stations, though no metropolitan stations were included in that earlier process. The latest DMP order specifically targets the capital’s police leadership, signaling administrative adjustments likely aimed at ensuring neutrality and efficiency in law enforcement during the election period. The reshuffle is part of broader preparations by law enforcement agencies to maintain order and transparency throughout the electoral process.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its second batch of candidates for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, naming nominees for 36 constituencies across the country. The announcement was made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during a press conference at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Thursday, December 4. The list includes candidates from districts such as Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Jessore, Narail, Khulna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Tangail, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Dhaka, Gazipur, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Comilla, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar. Earlier, on November 3, the BNP had announced 237 candidates in the first phase. With this second list, the party has now nominated candidates for a total of 273 out of 300 parliamentary seats, as it continues preparations for the national polls.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) is preparing to grant registration to two new political parties ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. One of these is 'Amjanatar Dal', led by member secretary Tarek Rahman, who staged a 134-hour hunger strike in November after his party was initially denied registration. The other party, 'Janatar Dal', is chaired by Brigadier General (Retd.) Md Shamim Kamal. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that a reinvestigation found both parties met the necessary conditions, including verified offices at district and upazila levels. The EC will issue a public notice on December 9 to allow objections before finalizing registration. Tarek Rahman said his party will receive the butterfly symbol and that all requirements have been fulfilled. The decision follows earlier provisional approvals for three other parties in November, marking an expansion of Bangladesh’s political landscape ahead of the national polls.