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.

Bangladesh Under-19 women’s cricket team took a 2–1 lead in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan after securing a convincing seven-wicket win in the third match held in Cox’s Bazar. Batting first, Pakistan managed only 86 runs for eight wickets, a total Bangladesh comfortably chased down in 13.3 overs.

Captain Sadia Islam led from the front with a quickfire 35 off 28 balls, including three sixes, forming a crucial 45-run partnership with Jannat after an early setback. Jannat remained unbeaten on 30 off 25 balls, guiding the team to victory alongside Maimuna Nahar. Earlier, Habiba Islam and Atasi Majumdar each took two wickets to restrict Pakistan’s scoring.

The final two matches of the series will also be played in Cox’s Bazar on December 10 and 12. With momentum on their side, Bangladesh will look to seal the series, while Pakistan aim to bounce back and level the contest.

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.

Former president of the National Press Club and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Shawkat Mahmud, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Sunday, December 7. According to police officials, a DB team brought him from his residence in Malibagh to the DB office in the afternoon. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed that Mahmud is currently in DB custody but did not specify whether his detention is linked to any particular case.

Shawkat Mahmud, a veteran journalist and former vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), recently became the secretary general of a newly formed political party called Janata Party Bangladesh, launched in April with actor Ilias Kanchan as chairman. His detention has drawn attention within media and political circles, though authorities have yet to clarify the reasons behind the move.

Observers note that the arrest could have political undertones given Mahmud’s past BNP affiliation and recent political activities. Further details from law enforcement are awaited as journalists’ associations monitor the situation closely.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury announced that a new digital application will be launched next year to reduce bureaucratic harassment faced by entrepreneurs during business registration. Speaking at the inauguration of the seven-day National SME Product Fair on December 7, he said the app will allow entrepreneurs to complete registration processes online, minimizing direct contact with government offices.

The event, attended by industry advisers and SME representatives, highlighted persistent challenges in the SME sector, including high interest rates—15% for bank loans and up to 25% for NGO loans—driven by inflation. Speakers also noted that loan disbursement to SMEs has declined amid election-related stagnation, despite banks holding surplus liquidity of about BDT 1.5 trillion.

Stakeholders urged reforms to make bonded warehouse procedures more SME-friendly and emphasized that increased investment in industrial parks could protect agricultural land and stimulate economic recovery once demand improves.

Bangladesh’s Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced that the day of the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be a general holiday across the country. The decision was revealed after a review meeting on the election schedule, referendum, and related preparations. Banks and post offices may remain open as per the Election Commission’s operational needs. The advisory council will not be allowed to approve new projects after the election schedule is declared.

Sanaullah stated that the election and referendum schedule will be announced within the current week, accompanied by a televised address from the Chief Election Commissioner. Two magistrates will be assigned to each upazila from the day of the schedule announcement to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct, with additional magistrates deployed five days before voting.

Ballots will reach polling centers the night before the election, and printing for expatriate voters has already begun. The voting period has been extended by one hour, running from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., aiming to facilitate greater voter participation.

The Alliance for Health Reforms Bangladesh (AHRB) has urged the Chief Adviser to prioritize and directly oversee the swift implementation of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) policy, calling it a matter of national strategic interest. In an open letter sent on December 7, AHRB leaders emphasized that while Bangladesh can produce most medicines domestically, the country remains heavily dependent on imported APIs, leaving its health security vulnerable to global market disruptions.

The letter, signed by Professor Syed Abdul Hamid and Professor Syed Md. Akram Hossain, highlighted lessons from the successful 1982 National Drug Policy, noting that strong political commitment and leadership were key to transforming the sector. The AHRB proposed five urgent measures: removing administrative barriers, introducing a production-linked incentive scheme, ensuring continuous R&D funding, strengthening academia–industry collaboration, and forming a permanent empowered task force.

Experts argue that developing domestic API capacity could reduce import dependence, save foreign currency, and expand exports. They stress that without knowledge-based industrial transformation, Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio will remain low, limiting economic resilience.

A Dhaka court has accepted a fraud case against Beximco Group Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman, his brother and Group Chairman ASF (Sohel) Rahman, and four others over allegations of deceiving three pilots of Beximco Aviation. The plaintiffs—Captains Mahbub Alam, Rashedul Amin, and Zahidur Rahman—claimed they were defrauded of BDT 12.05 million in unpaid dues after being terminated from the company in February.

According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Tariqul Islam, the pilots were employed between 2021 and 2024 and provided flight services for the company’s helicopter operations. They later discovered that Beximco Aviation Limited was allegedly a fake entity used to exploit their services. The court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate and submit a report.

Salman F Rahman, currently in custody since August 1 following the fall of the Awami League government, faces multiple allegations of financial misconduct, including stock market manipulation and large-scale loan fraud. His relatives are reportedly abroad. The case adds to growing scrutiny of the Beximco Group’s financial dealings and political influence.

Bridge Adviser Fawzul Kabir Khan stated that the nation will stand beside whoever wins the upcoming national election, emphasizing unity and respect for democratic outcomes. He made the remarks on Sunday, December 7, during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Mirganj Bridge over the Arial Khan River in Babuganj, Barishal.

Khan urged that the election be held in a festive and peaceful environment, free from past irregularities such as polling center takeovers. He noted that the Election Commission now holds full authority over the electoral process. Addressing infrastructure issues, he said project delays often stem from local disputes, which increase costs and hinder timely completion. He called for cooperation from all stakeholders.

Navy Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain warned against extortion and local interference during construction, which can affect quality and timelines. The 1.5-kilometer bridge, with an estimated cost of Tk 1,442 crore, will connect Muladi and Hizla upazilas to the national road network once completed.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced that the schedule for Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election will be declared within the current week. Speaking to reporters after a meeting on Sunday, he said two magistrates will be deployed in each upazila from the day of the announcement to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct. The number of magistrates will increase five days before the vote. Candidates will have 48 hours after the schedule is declared to remove campaign posters.

Sanaullah added that the advisory council cannot approve new projects after the schedule is announced, and its members cannot contest while holding their posts. Voting hours have been extended by one hour, running from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ballot printing for expatriate voters will begin Monday. Government, semi-government, and state bank officials will serve as polling officers, while private bank staff will not be engaged. Election day will be a public holiday, though banks and post offices may remain open as required by the Election Commission.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a new three-party political and electoral alliance ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The coalition, unveiled on Sunday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, includes the NCP, the State Reform Movement, and the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party). Organizers said the alliance aims to uphold the spirit of the July uprising and to build a new political framework. They also indicated that more parties may join in the future.

During the press conference, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, and AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju were among the speakers. Monju stated that citizens are seeking a new political arrangement and that this alliance marks the beginning of that journey. Although the Gono Odhikar Parishad was expected to join, no representatives from the group were present.

The alliance plans to field joint candidates under a single electoral symbol, signaling a coordinated strategy to challenge established political forces in the next election.

Bangladesh’s Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam alleged that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directly ordered enforced disappearances during her tenure, with her defense adviser, retired Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, carrying out the directives. The claim was made on Sunday, December 7, during a hearing at International Crimes Tribunal-1 concerning abductions and torture allegedly conducted at the Joint Interrogation Cell, known as ‘Aynaghar’.

The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, began proceedings to frame charges against 13 accused. Three former military officers—Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui—were produced from military custody. Several others, including Tarique Siddique and former DGFI chiefs, remain fugitives. The tribunal has appointed state defense lawyers for absconding defendants and ordered public notices in national newspapers.

The case marks a rare instance of high-level accountability proceedings for alleged human rights violations under a past government, potentially setting a precedent for future war crimes or political abuse inquiries.

A new report from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) reveals that around 70% of Bangladesh’s population still relies on smoke-producing, traditional cooking fuels. The study warns that exposure to such fuels poses serious respiratory and cardiovascular health risks, particularly for women. Despite some progress, Bangladesh’s adoption rate of clean cooking fuels remains the lowest in South Asia and significantly below the average for lower-middle-income countries.

Presented at a conference in Dhaka, the BIDS research highlights the growing role of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a cleaner alternative. Since 2009, Bangladesh’s LPG market has expanded more than twenty-fivefold, largely driven by private investment and government restrictions on household natural gas connections. Researchers noted that LPG has transitioned from a niche to a mainstream fuel.

The report urges policymakers to adopt integrated supply- and demand-side strategies to ensure sustainable LPG access. It emphasizes strengthening supply chains and targeting urban, female-headed, and remittance-receiving households to accelerate the shift toward clean cooking energy and meet the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

A Pabna administrative court has granted bail to Nishi Rahman, a housewife accused of killing eight puppies by drowning them in a pond in Ishwardi. The decision was made on Sunday, December 7, by Judge Tarikul Islam of Pabna Administrative Court-2 after a hearing. Prosecutor Mosfeka Jahan Kanika confirmed the bail, noting that the offense is bailable and that the court considered the accused’s gender in its decision. The next court appearance is scheduled for January 11.

The case drew public attention after the puppies, belonging to a dog named Tom living near the Ishwardi Upazila Executive Officer’s residence, were found dead in a pond. Witnesses alleged that Rahman, wife of a local development officer, had tied the puppies in a sack and disposed of them at night. The local livestock officer filed the case, leading to Rahman’s arrest. Authorities have stated that the investigation will continue, and a charge sheet will be submitted after completion.

Animal rights advocates have called for a fair investigation and stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws in rural areas.