BNP Joint Secretary General and Narsingdi district BNP president Khairul Kabir Khokon stated that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s health condition remains critical and she cannot yet be declared out of danger. Speaking at a prayer gathering organized by the Chinishpur Union BNP on Wednesday, Khokon said Khaleda Zia is currently under close observation in the CCU. He alleged that attempts were made to harm her through slow poisoning due to jealousy over her immense popularity. Khokon added that the entire nation stands with the Zia family and prays for her recovery. He expressed hope that Khaleda Zia will live to see her son assume state leadership and witness the establishment of a government elected directly by the people. The event concluded with prayers for her speedy recovery, attended by several senior BNP leaders from Narsingdi district.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, scheduled for February, will be peaceful and celebratory, marking a moment of pride for the nation. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course 2025 at Mirpur Cantonment on Wednesday, he praised the dedication of course participants and emphasized the importance of their acquired knowledge for national development and strategic policymaking. Dr. Yunus commended the armed forces for their contributions to national security and disaster response. He also highlighted the National Defence College’s role as a center of excellence in security and development studies, preparing capable leaders to tackle evolving global and national challenges. Additionally, he sought prayers from citizens for the recovery of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Government primary school assistant teachers across Bangladesh began a 'complete shutdown' on Wednesday, December 3, locking up schools and suspending ongoing annual examinations. The protest, organized by the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, aims to press a three-point demand that includes pay scale adjustments and improved employment status. Teachers are also staging demonstrations in front of local assistant education officers’ offices. While most schools remain closed, reports indicate that some in Dhaka and other divisional cities continue examinations. The movement follows several days of partial work abstention by teachers. Meanwhile, assistant teachers of government secondary schools, who had been on strike since December 1 over a four-point demand including BCS cadre inclusion, have suspended their protest considering the importance of annual exams. However, due to the sudden announcement, many students were unaware, resulting in exam disruptions in several schools. Authorities expect normal examination schedules to resume from Thursday.

Students of Eden Mohila College in Dhaka staged a road blockade on Wednesday, pressing a five-point demand that includes keeping the college exclusively for women and preventing the dissolution of any departments. The protest began around 11 a.m. near Gate No. 2 on the Azimpur-Nilkhet road, halting traffic and causing significant congestion in the area. Demonstrators chanted slogans rejecting co-education and calling for the preservation of the college’s current structure. Their demands also include keeping the university open 24 hours instead of limited hours, maintaining Eden as a higher education institution rather than reintroducing intermediate courses, and opposing any move to downgrade it into a single faculty. Police reported that although the students briefly left the road, they later resumed their sit-in, prolonging the traffic disruption and causing inconvenience to commuters in one of Dhaka’s busiest routes.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that the illness of party chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking at a prayer gathering organized by the BNP’s Krishak Dal in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan on Tuesday, Rizvi claimed that Khaleda Zia’s unwavering stance for the country and sovereignty has earned her public affection. He criticized Sheikh Hasina for abolishing the caretaker government system, which he said was originally established by Khaleda Zia in 1996 to prevent political killings. Rizvi accused Hasina of ruling the country according to her own will rather than trusting the people. He also urged the interim government not to take actions that would cause public suffering and to prioritize the welfare of citizens.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking suspension of all activities related to Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition, submitted by Advocate Iarul Islam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Congress, challenges the legality of appointing secretaries, returning officers, and assistant returning officers from the executive branch instead of from within the Election Commission. The writ also requests the formation of an Electoral Service Commission and a rule asking why the current system should not be declared illegal. The petitioner argues that assigning election duties to deputy commissioners and upazila executive officers compromises neutrality, as they represent the government. He claims that the executive branch has lost public trust and that only Election Commission personnel should manage the election process. The Chief Election Commissioner earlier announced that the election schedule would be declared in the second week of December, with preparations nearly complete.

Two leaders of the National Jubo Shokti’s Rajshahi unit, Mehedi Hasan Farabi and Soyaib Ahmed, have been temporarily suspended for threatening journalists during a political event. The suspension was confirmed by the organization’s central office on Tuesday night, citing serious breaches of organizational discipline. The two leaders allegedly threatened to lock journalists inside a conference room at a hotel where they were covering a dispute over the National Citizen Party’s new district committee. Following the incident, video footage circulated on social media, sparking widespread criticism from journalist associations in Rajshahi. Several media organizations, including the Rajshahi Television Journalists Association and the Rajshahi Editors Forum, condemned the behavior as a threat to press freedom and demanded strict disciplinary action. The suspended leaders have been asked to submit written explanations within two days, failing which further measures will be taken according to party rules.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has issued a formal response regarding the trial and conviction of British MP Tulip Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana and niece of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a high-profile plot corruption case. The ACC stated that it thoroughly reviewed all prosecution materials and found strong evidence linking Siddiq to the misuse of influence to secure land plots for her family when Hasina was in power. The commission noted that Siddiq was convicted by Special Tribunal No. 5 for influencing her aunt to allocate government plots to family members. Witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence allegedly show her deep involvement in the illegal process. The ACC also mentioned Siddiq’s connection to several London properties purchased through offshore entities, questioning the source of her wealth. It dismissed her claim of being unable to defend herself, stating she refused to participate in the trial. The ACC concluded that there is no basis for her innocence under Bangladeshi law.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah stated that Bangladesh’s electoral system suffered significant damage during the tenure of the previous government and that the Election Commission (EC) is now working to restore its integrity. Speaking at a journalist training workshop in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, he emphasized that reforming the system cannot be done by the Commission alone and requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders, including journalists. Sanaullah also mentioned the introduction of QR code scanning to prevent fake journalists from accessing polling areas. Additionally, he noted that the number of polling centers cannot be increased and estimated that each voter will take about 3 minutes and 52 seconds to cast their vote. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed added that the Commission aims to deliver the best election of the century and that the upcoming election and referendum are complementary processes.

A national independent investigation commission formed by Bangladesh’s interim government has reportedly found evidence suggesting the involvement of the Awami League and then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters. The commission’s report, submitted after 11 months of inquiry, includes testimony from prisoner witness Mohammad Abdul Matin, who revealed that Hasina was scheduled to visit Pilkhana on the day of the killings but did not go. Another witness, tailor Akash, described making a uniform for then-State Minister for Home Affairs Sohel Taj shortly before the massacre, an unusual act that drew attention among officers. The 2009 BDR mutiny, one of the deadliest incidents in Bangladesh’s military history, saw 57 army officers killed by mutinous border guards. The commission’s findings, if verified, could have significant political implications, reigniting debate over accountability for the tragedy.

The Appellate Division of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court will issue its order on Thursday regarding a leave-to-appeal petition challenging the legality of the interim government formed after the August 5 uprising. A seven-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed concluded the hearing on Wednesday, December 3. During the session, the Attorney General and other state lawyers argued that the petition was based on a misconception and that questioning the legitimacy of a government formed through a popular uprising was contradictory. The petitioner, senior lawyer Mohsin Rashid, had earlier filed the writ in December last year, claiming that the then Chief Justice and Appellate Division judges were unable to advise the President under Article 106 of the Constitution due to taking refuge in the cantonment, rendering the government formation unconstitutional. The High Court had previously dismissed the writ, but the petitioner sought permission to appeal that decision.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), shared an emotional Facebook post on Tuesday night following a daylong campaign in his constituency of Debidwar, Cumilla. After conducting rallies and door-to-door visits in Bhani and Sultanpur unions, he reflected on his late mother and the emotional distance created by her passing. In his post, Hasnat expressed deep nostalgia and regret for unfulfilled promises, such as building a home for his mother, while also finding solace in serving the people. He described his journey across the country as one filled with uncertainty but guided by purpose. Hasnat also reflected on the struggles of young political activists and expressed hope that they would remain close to their families and mothers. His message blended personal grief with political reflection, resonating with themes of loss, duty, and compassion.

According to a recent intelligence report submitted to Bangladesh’s top authorities, fugitive Awami League leaders, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are allegedly coordinating from India to destabilize the country ahead of the upcoming national election. The report claims that these exiled figures are issuing instructions via voice calls and online platforms to incite violence, spread misinformation using artificial intelligence tools, and create communal unrest. It warns that armed groups and extremists in border districts may be mobilized to disrupt voting and intimidate minority voters. The report also highlights the risk of illegal weapons being used to provoke clashes during the election period. Security experts and political analysts have urged heightened vigilance by law enforcement agencies and the Election Commission to prevent potential violence and ensure a fair electoral process. Authorities have reportedly intensified surveillance and are planning stronger operations to recover illegal arms and maintain order during the election period.

The United States has indefinitely suspended all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, citing national and public security concerns. The Trump administration stated that the decision aims to strengthen immigration controls and reassess potential security risks. The affected nations include Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Sudan, and Yemen, among others. Officials referenced recent incidents involving immigrants, including the arrest of an Afghan national linked to an attack on the National Guard in Washington, as factors prompting the move. Since returning to office, President Trump has intensified enforcement of immigration laws, expanding crackdowns on illegal immigrants and tightening rules for legal immigration as well. The new directive calls for a comprehensive review of all pending cases, with possible re-interviews to reassess applicants’ security profiles. Critics argue the policy disproportionately targets Muslim-majority countries, while supporters claim it reinforces national safety.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has announced plans to introduce QR codes on journalist identity cards to prevent the use of fake press credentials during the upcoming national elections. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah stated that this measure aims to ensure transparency and security at polling centers. Speaking at a training workshop for journalists on Wednesday, he emphasized that the election will be of a different magnitude compared to previous ones, and that the media plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining electoral transparency. Sanaullah also mentioned that each voter is expected to take an average of 3 minutes and 52 seconds to cast their vote, and that increasing the number of polling centers is not feasible. Meanwhile, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the EC Secretariat clarified that in the upcoming referendum, voters must respond with a clear 'yes' or 'no' to each of the four questions, without partial agreement or disagreement options.