Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin on Thursday announced that the country’s 13th national parliamentary election will be held on February 12, alongside a national referendum. The announcement, made in a televised address, marks the formal start of the election process for all 300 constituencies.

Shortly after the schedule was declared, Reuters published an interview with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in which he expressed his intention to step down following the February election. Shahabuddin, who became Bangladesh’s 22nd president in April 2023 during the Awami League government, said he wishes to leave office but will continue to serve until a new government is formed, as required by the constitution.

Shahabuddin’s statement comes amid a transitional political period following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. His potential resignation could open the way for a new political alignment once the election concludes, signaling a possible shift in Bangladesh’s post-crisis governance landscape.

Bangladesh’s Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has announced that admissions for students selected through the digital lottery for government and private secondary schools will begin on December 17 and continue until December 21. If seats remain vacant, the first waiting list will be used from December 22 to 24, and the second from December 27 to 30. All admission activities must be completed by December 30.

The DSHE circular instructs schools to carefully verify each student’s documents, including original birth certificates and parents’ national ID cards. Institutions must strictly follow quota policies and reject any student found to have provided false information. School heads will face disciplinary action for any irregularities in the admission process.

According to the published results, 305,499 students were selected in the first list, including 107,521 for government schools. In private schools, 197,978 students were selected, leaving 874,273 seats vacant, highlighting a significant gap between applications and available admissions.

Two advisers to Bangladesh’s interim government, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Mahfuz Alam, have submitted their resignations to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. However, the resignations will not take immediate effect, as the official election and referendum schedules for the 13th National Parliament have yet to be announced.

Environment and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan explained that one of the resigning advisers intends to contest in the upcoming election and therefore cannot remain in a non-political government. He will complete pending official duties before the schedule is declared. The other adviser’s future political plans remain unclear. Hasan added that the interim government has introduced several legal and democratic reforms during its tenure, and their success will depend on future political practice and the results of the upcoming referendum.

The Chief Adviser will decide who will take over the vacated ministerial responsibilities once the resignations become effective after the election schedule is announced.

The Bangladesh interim government has reassigned responsibilities across three ministries following the resignation of two student advisers. A Cabinet Division notification issued on Thursday evening confirmed the reshuffle. Adilur Rahman Khan, previously overseeing the Industries and Housing ministries, will now also manage the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry. Syeda Rizwana Hasan has been appointed adviser to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, while Asif Nazrul will take charge of the Youth and Sports Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios.

The resignations of student representatives Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajib, accepted by the President on Wednesday, prompted the changes. Both had been appointed as part of the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, formed in August last year after the July mass uprising. The council currently includes 20 advisers, most handling multiple ministries.

Political observers note that the reshuffle aims to maintain administrative stability ahead of the expected election schedule announcement, as the interim government continues to balance technocratic and activist representation.

A tragic incident in Rajshahi’s Tanore upazila ended late Thursday night when rescuers recovered the body of Sajid, a young boy who had fallen into a deep tube well. Fire Service and Civil Defence teams conducted a 33-hour-long rescue operation before reaching the child, who was trapped about 50 feet below ground. Despite being swiftly transported to the Tanore Upazila Health Complex, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Lieutenant Colonel Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Operations at the Fire Service, confirmed the child’s death and detailed the extensive rescue efforts. The operation involved specialized equipment and continuous coordination among local authorities and emergency teams. Residents had gathered at the site throughout the ordeal, hoping for a positive outcome.

The incident has sparked renewed concern over safety measures surrounding deep tube wells in rural Bangladesh. Authorities are expected to review existing regulations and consider preventive steps to avert similar tragedies in the future.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of 1,936.5 acres of land owned by businessman Mohammad Saiful Alam, chairman of S. Alam Group, and his family members. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sought the order to prevent the transfer or disposal of assets during an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and illegal loan activities. The court valued the seized properties at approximately BDT 16,940 crore.

According to the ACC’s petition, Alam and his associates allegedly obtained loans from various banks under false pretenses and diverted the funds to acquire assets in Bangladesh and abroad. The agency argued that immediate asset freezing was necessary to ensure potential recovery of misappropriated funds. ACC Deputy Director Tansin Munabil Haque filed the petition, and the commission’s spokesperson confirmed the court’s decision.

This order follows earlier actions against S. Alam Group, including the freezing of shares in 105 companies and an Interpol red notice request against Alam and senior executives. The case underscores growing scrutiny of large conglomerates and financial transparency in Bangladesh’s corporate sector.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem has called for the trial of former Vice-Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal and other university officials who were in charge during the July uprising. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, December 11, at the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal, Kayem alleged that those responsible for the violence against students would face justice in an independent Bangladesh.

Kayem, along with DUCSU Literary and Cultural Affairs Secretary Mosaddeq Ali Ibn Mohammad and Transport Secretary Asif Abdullah, gave statements to the tribunal’s investigation agency earlier in the day. He claimed that evidence had been submitted showing that Maksud Kamal brought outsiders onto campus to attack students, and accused some interim government figures and teacher groups of trying to protect him.

The DUCSU VP further alleged that the attacks on students were brutal and comparable to wartime atrocities. He said the testimonies were part of efforts to hold accountable those involved in killings and repression during the July movement, including individuals linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in Bangladesh has officially released the results of the digital lottery for student admissions from grades one to nine in both government and private schools. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon, following a morning session dedicated to the technical execution of the lottery. According to the published results, 107,521 students were selected for government schools, while 197,978 were chosen for private institutions.

The digital lottery was conducted under the direct supervision of DSHE and the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. DSHE Director Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel stated that the selection was carried out automatically through software, ensuring compliance with the Education Ministry’s policies and seat availability. Officials emphasized that the system guarantees transparency, accuracy, and fairness, eliminating previous concerns about manual selection and admission irregularities.

Education authorities believe the digital process will strengthen public trust and help curb admission-related corruption, marking a significant step toward digital governance in the education sector.

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president, Zahidul Islam, has alleged that some political parties in Bangladesh continue to practice what he described as a 'fascist culture,' despite expectations of reform after August 5, 2024. Speaking at a rally in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, in support of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nurul Amin, he said that corruption, terrorism, and internal violence persist within certain political circles.

Zahidul Islam emphasized that his organization is not against any individual or party but opposes those involved in extortion, tender manipulation, and political killings. He called for justice and equality in Bangladesh, arguing that the country’s large population could become a powerful workforce if properly guided. He also criticized past and current governments, accusing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina of authoritarian practices and political repression.

The event, chaired by former secretary Golam Hossain, was attended by several Jamaat and Shibir leaders. The remarks reflect ongoing political polarization and the persistence of historical grievances within Bangladesh’s Islamist political movements.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, will return to Bangladesh soon. Speaking at the inauguration of a BNP workshop titled “Nation-Building Plan” in Dhaka, Fakhrul urged party members to ensure that the entire country ‘shakes’ with enthusiasm when Rahman sets foot in the country. The event, held at the Krishibid Institute, was attended by leaders from various BNP wings.

Fakhrul emphasized that the BNP must achieve a decisive victory in the upcoming national election to lead Bangladesh toward progress. He described the BNP as a party rooted in the nation’s liberation and democratic struggles, asserting that it represents the people’s aspirations. The workshop, chaired by senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, focused on strategic planning for national development under a potential BNP-led government.

Rahman, who has been living abroad for years, remains a central figure in BNP politics. His anticipated return is expected to energize the party base and reshape the opposition’s campaign strategy ahead of the next election.

Bangladesh’s interim government has decided to withdraw the 15 percent value-added tax (VAT) on Dhaka Metro Rail tickets, a move expected to cost the state around Tk 40 crore in annual revenue. The decision was approved at a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on December 11, according to his press secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Officials said the exemption aims to ease commuting costs for Dhaka residents, as the metro rail has become a vital part of the city’s daily transport network, serving roughly 250,000 passengers each day. The VAT had been imposed on July 1, 2024, by the previous administration. The same meeting also approved tax reductions on dates ahead of Ramadan and endorsed several legal amendments, including the Commercial Court Ordinance and the Registration Amendment 2025.

Analysts note that while the VAT removal may reduce short-term revenue, it could encourage greater public transport use and ease urban congestion. Further fiscal adjustments may be needed to offset the revenue shortfall.

Bangladesh’s interim government announced that the size of its advisory council will remain unchanged during the election period, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Following a council meeting on Thursday, Alam stated that all preparations for the upcoming national election have been completed and that the interim administration aims to ensure a peaceful vote.

During the meeting, three laws were approved, the value-added tax on metro rail services was lifted, and import duties on dates were reduced. Bangladesh also formally recognized the island nation of Grenada. Alam noted that despite around 2,000 protests over the past 16 months, no live ammunition was used. However, he warned that future road blockades over political demands would face strict action. The resignations of two student advisers will take effect with the election schedule announcement.

Additionally, the government announced financial assistance of 2 million taka for each family of the 36 victims of the Milestone tragedy, and 500,000 taka plus free medical care for the injured.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been placed on elective ventilator support due to worsening respiratory complications and severe infections, according to a statement from her medical board on Thursday. The board reported that her oxygen levels had dropped and multiple organ complications had developed, prompting doctors to initiate dialysis after her kidney function ceased.

The medical board, comprising both local and foreign specialists, stated that advanced antibiotic and antifungal treatments are being administered. Khaleda Zia has been under continuous observation at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital since November 23, when she was admitted for health tests. Her condition became critical on November 27, leading to her transfer to the Critical Care Unit.

The board urged the public and media not to spread speculation or misinformation regarding her treatment. Political observers note that her health crisis comes amid heightened political activity within the BNP ahead of upcoming national events.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has called on party leaders and activists to mobilize nationwide ahead of the next general election, describing the contest as an 'electoral battle' crucial for Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democracy. Speaking virtually at a Dhaka event titled 'Plan to Build the Nation,' he urged grassroots leaders to engage directly with citizens, promote the party’s agenda, and counter misinformation spread by rivals.

Rahman emphasized that BNP’s campaign should focus on the party’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, and on uniting public opinion around it. He warned that the election would be far more challenging than many expect and stressed that only a strong democratic movement could safeguard the country’s future. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir added that Rahman would return to Bangladesh soon, calling for full-scale preparation to ensure electoral victory.

The event, attended by over a thousand divisional leaders, marked a renewed push by the opposition to energize its base amid growing political tension and uncertainty over the electoral process.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has announced the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, set for February 12, following a 16‑month gap since the student‑led uprising. Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin declared the timetable in a televised address on December 11, confirming that a national referendum on implementing the July Charter will be held on the same day.

To accommodate both the parliamentary election and the referendum, the commission extended the voting period by one hour, with polling to run continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number of secret voting booths at polling centers will also increase to ensure smoother management. This will be the first national election under the new commission formed on November 21, 2023, after the fall of the Awami League government.

Over 127.6 million citizens are eligible to vote, including more than 300,000 expatriate Bangladeshis registered for postal ballots. The simultaneous vote marks a key test for the new election authority’s capacity to conduct a credible and inclusive process.