A daylong free medical camp organized by the Munnu Welfare Foundation in Manikganj provided healthcare and medicine to 2,000 underprivileged residents. The event took place on Saturday, December 6, at the Ghosta Government Primary School grounds in Putail under Sadar upazila. Patients received medical consultations, diagnostic services, and essential medicines at no cost.

The camp was inaugurated by Afroza Khanam Rita, adviser to the BNP chairperson and chairperson of Munnu Group of Industries. She stated that many residents of Manikganj cannot access hospitals due to distance or financial hardship, prompting the foundation to bring quality healthcare directly to their communities. Senior officials from Munnu Medical College and Hospital, including Principal Professor Dr. Abdul Karim and Director Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed Amin, were present at the event.

Organizers said similar initiatives would continue to ensure rural populations receive timely medical attention and preventive care, reducing the burden on urban hospitals.

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Kumar Verma, reiterated that India considers Bangladesh as a close and integral friend during the Maitri Diwas 2025 celebration held at the Old India House in Gulshan on Saturday evening. The event, organized by the Indian High Commission, marked the enduring partnership between the two neighboring nations.

Verma emphasized that the India-Bangladesh relationship is one of the most unique in the world, rooted in shared history, culture, and sacrifices. He recalled India’s support during Bangladesh’s Liberation War and affirmed that India will continue to stand by Bangladesh in its journey toward prosperity. The envoy highlighted that friendship with Bangladesh remains a top priority for India’s foreign policy.

The event was attended by freedom fighters, diplomats, politicians, military officials, journalists, and cultural figures from both countries. It concluded with cultural performances by Indian and Bangladeshi groups, including patriotic songs and a stage play titled “Nishshobdo 71.”

Dr. Moin Uddin Ahmad, father of missing Sylhet Chhatra Dal leader Ifthekhar Ahmad Dinar, passed away on Saturday morning at a private hospital in Sylhet. Dinar, a former joint general secretary of the Sylhet district Chhatra Dal, disappeared along with fellow leader Juned Ahmad on April 3, 2012, during the tenure of the Awami League government, and has not been seen since.

Throughout his life, Dr. Ahmad held on to the hope of seeing his son again, but that reunion never came. He was also the father of Tahsin Sharmin Tamanna, acting president of the Sylhet district Mohila Dal, and a former director of the Directorate General of Health Services. Local BNP leaders, including former Sylhet mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and advocate Emran Ahmad Chowdhury, expressed deep sorrow and condolences over his death.

The case of Dinar’s disappearance remains unresolved, symbolizing the lingering pain of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh and the enduring grief of affected families.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Workers’ Party, an affiliate of the BNP, has approved a 43-member convening committee for its Dhaka North metropolitan unit. Md. Nizam Uddin has been appointed as convener, while Syed Ziaul Haque will serve as member secretary. The announcement was made on Friday by the party’s central president, Md. Salahuddin Khan, and general secretary, Md. Altaf Hossain Sardar.

According to the central leadership, the new committee has been tasked with forming unit-level committees across all police stations in Dhaka North within the next three months. Afterward, a full-fledged metropolitan committee will be established. The committee includes Zahidul Islam as senior joint convener, with A.R. Ashiq Chowdhury, Md. Monzil Hossain, Syed Ekram Uddin Monju, and others serving as joint conveners.

Party insiders view this restructuring as part of a broader organizational effort to strengthen BNP-aligned professional groups in the capital ahead of potential political mobilizations. The move is expected to enhance coordination and grassroots engagement within the party’s worker wing.

Bangladesh’s Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated Krishna Nandi, president of the Dumuria Hindu Committee, as its candidate for the Khulna-1 constituency (Dacope-Batiaghata) — the first time a Hindu has represented the party in this seat. The announcement, made by Jamaat chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at an eight-party rally in Khulna, has triggered widespread discussion and criticism on social media.

Controversy deepened after photos surfaced allegedly showing Nandi with an Indian Hindu nationalist leader, prompting speculation about his political and cross-border links. Investigative journalist Julkar Nain Sayer confirmed the photos’ authenticity but found no evidence of AI manipulation. Nandi denied knowing the person in the images, claiming they were AI-generated and part of a smear campaign. Local Awami League supporters accused him of opportunism, citing his past ties with former minister Narayan Chandra Chanda.

Khulna-1, a Hindu-majority constituency long dominated by the Awami League, now faces an unusual electoral dynamic. Jamaat’s decision to replace its veteran candidate Maulana Abu Yusuf with Nandi has unsettled party loyalists and raised questions about strategy, minority outreach, and voter response ahead of the next national election.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will begin exhuming the remains of 114 unidentified martyrs from the July uprising on Sunday at the Rayerbazar graveyard in Dhaka. The operation aims to collect DNA samples to establish their identities, following a court order issued in August. CID officials confirmed that after forensic examination and DNA collection, the bodies will be reburied with proper procedures.

CID’s media superintendent Jasim Uddin Khan said the process will start early Sunday morning, with CID chief Mohammad Shibgat Ullah briefing the press beforehand. Forensic experts, including anthropologist and consultant Luis Fondibraider, will assist in the identification process. The burial site has been specially prepared with marble and tiles by the city corporation to preserve its sanctity.

The exhumation marks a significant step toward honoring the memory of those who died during the July movement. Authorities hope the DNA analysis will bring closure to families still searching for missing relatives and strengthen the historical record of the uprising.

Train operations on the Dhaka–Mymensingh route returned to normal two hours after a mechanical failure halted services near Sripur in Gazipur on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the engine of the Dhaka-bound Balaka Commuter train broke down near Satkhamaoir area, disrupting rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh until the engine was recovered at 6:40 p.m.

According to Sripur Railway Station Master Md. Shamim, several trains experienced schedule disruptions during the outage, but departures gradually resumed after the faulty engine was removed. Witnesses reported that the train’s engine emitted a loud noise shortly after leaving Kawraid Station, followed by oil leakage that alarmed passengers, prompting many to disembark quickly. Railway and police officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Authorities have confirmed that normal operations have resumed, though minor delays persisted into the evening. The incident highlights ongoing maintenance challenges in Bangladesh’s rail network and the need for improved engine reliability and emergency response mechanisms.

The government of Bangladesh has announced that it will permit limited onion imports starting Sunday, December 7, in an effort to curb the recent surge in domestic prices. According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture issued Saturday night, 50 import permits will be granted daily, each allowing the import of up to 30 tons of onions. Only importers who previously applied for export permissions since August 1 will be eligible to reapply, and each importer may submit only one application.

The ministry stated that the measure will continue until further notice to maintain a stable market. Onion prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, with consumers reporting an increase of 20–30 taka per kilogram within just a few days. The current retail price ranges between 140 and 150 taka per kilogram. Officials expect the controlled import initiative to ease supply pressure and bring prices down, though traders warn that logistical delays could slow the impact on retail markets.

The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) has re-elected Md. Shahidul Islam as president and Khurshid Alam as general secretary for the next full term. The decision was unanimously approved by members during the union’s biennial general meeting held on Saturday, December 6, at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The newly endorsed leadership will continue to guide the organization through its upcoming term with a full executive committee.

The meeting also confirmed other key office bearers, including Rafique Muhammad, Khandaker Hasnat Karim, and Rashedul Haque as vice presidents, Didarul Alam Didar as joint secretary, and Khandaker Alamgir Hossain as treasurer. Senior journalists and leaders from the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and National Press Club attended the event, offering congratulations and emphasizing the importance of strong, ethical journalism.

Observers noted that the DUJ’s renewed leadership aims to strengthen professional unity and advocate for press freedom amid evolving challenges facing Bangladesh’s media sector.

A section of Rajshahi University’s 60th, 61st, and 62nd batches of former students have declared a boycott of the university’s 12th convocation, citing dissatisfaction with the selection of guests and the event’s timing. The announcement came at a press conference held on December 6, where alumni alleged that their opinions were ignored in the decision-making process. University authorities, however, stated that there is no scope to revise the decision.

The convocation, rescheduled for December 17 after two postponements, will feature Education Adviser C.R. Abrar as president and Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud as a guest. Alumni representatives said they had requested reconsideration of the guest list and reopening of registration but received no response. They also demanded transparency regarding the use of convocation fees and related funds.

University officials confirmed that preparations are nearly complete and reaffirmed that the event will proceed as planned. The dispute underscores growing tensions between alumni and administration over inclusivity and transparency in major university events.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that the era of seizing power through administrative coups is over, calling instead for political unity among Islamist groups. Speaking at a divisional rally of an eight-party Islamist alliance in Sylhet on Saturday, he criticized those who had previously destabilized the country in the name of elections, saying the public had grown weary of their actions and would reject them.

Rahman urged other Islamic parties to return to their ideological roots, warning against involvement in extortion and disorder. He described the current political environment as one where ‘fascist shadows’ still linger despite the departure of previous autocrats. Other speakers, including leaders from Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, emphasized the upcoming national election as a referendum on implementing the July Charter and ensuring a level playing field.

The rally, attended by leaders from eight Islamist and nationalist parties, highlighted growing coordination among right-leaning religious groups seeking influence in the next general election.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has not yet fixed the date for announcing the election schedule, despite being fully prepared for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed made the statement on Saturday, December 6, during a journalists’ workshop at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon, Dhaka. The interim government earlier indicated that the national election would be held in February, prompting the EC to initially plan for a schedule announcement in early December.

Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin had previously mentioned the possibility of declaring the schedule in the second week of December. This year’s election will also coincide with a national referendum. Ahmed emphasized that all logistical and administrative preparations are in place and urged the media to avoid spreading misinformation. The workshop, organized by UNDP and the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED), focused on election laws, candidate conduct rules, and special provisions for election officials.

Observers expect the EC to announce the schedule soon, as political parties and voters await clarity on the election timeline.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president, Md. Zahidul Islam, stated that the organization’s struggle is directed against injustice, corruption, and oppression, not against any specific person or political party. Speaking at a reunion of former activists in Debidwar, Cumilla, he emphasized that Shibir stands against fascism, terrorism, and extortion, and will oppose any group or individual engaged in such acts.

Zahidul Islam accused previous governments of widespread corruption, claiming that over 28 trillion taka had been illicitly transferred abroad in the past 15 years. He urged citizens to support honest and patriotic leadership in upcoming elections, asserting that the public now understands the difference between right and wrong. The event was attended by local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and parliamentary candidates, who echoed calls for moral and ideological renewal.

Analysts view the remarks as part of a broader effort by Islamist student and political groups to reassert influence ahead of Bangladesh’s next national polls, amid ongoing debates over governance, accountability, and political freedoms.

At a policy seminar in Dhaka, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter called for international and government-backed climate risk funds to provide additional financing for entrepreneurs, particularly women leading environmentally sustainable businesses. Speaking at the event titled ‘Voices for Change: Putting Climate Action, Women Entrepreneurs and SMEs in Bangladesh’s Public Policy,’ she emphasized that empowering women in business should focus on visibility and opportunity, not just numbers.

Akhter highlighted that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the largest source of employment creation in Bangladesh, with 50–60% potential for women’s participation. She noted that women have a proven record of loan repayment, urging financial institutions to expand credit access for them. Despite government initiatives through Bangladesh Bank and the SME Foundation, she said opportunities remain limited for women, who make up 51% of the population.

She also warned that climate change poses daily threats to Bangladesh’s fisheries and livestock sectors, urging policy alignment to reduce methane emissions and strengthen women’s roles in climate-resilient economic growth.

Bangladesh’s interim government Education Adviser Dr. C.R. Abrar said the sacrifice of 11 scouts during the July mass uprising symbolizes the inspiration to build a new Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a national award ceremony at the Bangladesh Scouts headquarters in Dhaka, where scouts from across the country received the Shapla Cub Award, President Scout Award, and President’s Rover Scout Award.

Dr. Abrar highlighted that scouting is not merely about earning badges but about developing character, leadership, and social responsibility. He praised scouts for their service during natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and fires, emphasizing the need to expand scouting to build self-reliant, service-oriented citizens. Senior officials, including Public Administration Secretary Md. Ehsanul Haque and Home Ministry Senior Secretary Nasimul Ghani, attended the event.

The adviser noted that Bangladesh ranks fourth among 176 scouting nations and plays a leadership role in Asia-Pacific committees. He also commended the growing participation of women in scouting, calling it a positive sign for inclusive national development.