The High Court of Bangladesh has issued a split verdict regarding the legality of the Chittagong Port Authority’s ongoing process to sign an operational contract with a foreign company for managing the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Justice Fatema Najib declared the contract process illegal, while Justice Fatema Anwar deemed it lawful. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, December 4. Following the split decision, the Chief Justice will now assign another High Court bench to resolve the matter. The ruling stems from a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Young Economists Forum, which questioned the legality of outsourcing NCT operations to a foreign firm without ensuring fair and competitive public bidding. The petition cited media reports highlighting concerns over the decision to hand over the terminal despite its existing operational capacity. The Attorney General represented the state, while several senior lawyers appeared for the petitioner. The final outcome will depend on the decision of the newly assigned bench.

Two military officers, including BGB Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam and former BGB Major Rafat Bin Alam, were produced before Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal under heavy security on Thursday in connection with the Rampura killings during the July–August protests that left 28 people dead. They were brought from a special military prison to the tribunal in Dhaka for a hearing on formal charges against four accused. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, will hear the prosecution’s arguments for charge framing. Two other accused—former DMP ADC Md Rashedul Islam and former Rampura Police OC Md Mashiur Rahman—remain absconding, with state defense lawyers appointed for them. Security around the tribunal has been intensified with additional police, RAB, BGB, and army personnel deployed. The hearing will also consider a defense request for virtual appearance of the detained officers.

Dhaka has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world among 126 cities, according to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQAir. As of Thursday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) score for Dhaka stood at 302, placing it in the 'hazardous' category. Several areas, including South Pallabi (374), Eastern Housing (354), Madani Avenue’s Base Edgewater (334), and Kalyanpur (304), recorded extremely poor air quality. Other zones like Grace International School in Gulshan (287) and Pirerbag Rail Line (202) were marked as 'very unhealthy.' The high pollution level is primarily due to excessive fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which was found to be over 27 times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limit. Jahangirnagar University area in Savar recorded the country’s worst air quality with an AQI of 412, while Khulna also reported hazardous levels at 302. IQAir classifies AQI above 301 as dangerous for human health.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a newly designed Tk 500 banknote as part of its 'Historical and Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh' series. The note, bearing the signature of Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, will first be issued from the central bank’s Motijheel office before distribution to other branches. The 152mm by 65mm green-colored note features the Central Shaheed Minar on the left and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on the reverse side. It includes advanced security features such as a Royal Bengal Tiger watermark, optically variable ink that changes color from green to blue, and a twisted security thread combining red and golden hues. Additional elements include tactile marks for the visually impaired, UV-reactive designs, and micro-printing of 'Bangladesh Bank'. The new note aims to enhance durability and prevent counterfeiting, continuing the series that previously introduced redesigned Tk 1000, Tk 100, Tk 50, and Tk 20 notes.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has upheld the High Court’s verdict declaring the oath and formation process of the interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, as lawful. The seven-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered the order on Thursday, December 4. The Supreme Court dismissed the leave-to-appeal petition filed by senior lawyer Mohsin Rashid, who had earlier challenged the legality of the interim government’s oath in the High Court. The High Court had previously ruled that since the people of the country had accepted the interim government, its legitimacy could not be questioned. With this decision, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the constitutional validity of the interim administration and effectively ended the legal challenge against its formation.

Following a series of mild earthquakes across Bangladesh in the past 20 days, including a 4.1 magnitude tremor felt in Dhaka on Thursday morning, the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department has issued safety guidelines urging citizens to remain calm and follow specific precautions during seismic events. The advisory, released on November 23, outlines eight key actions: staying calm, seeking open spaces if on the ground floor, using the 'drop, cover, hold' method in multi-story buildings, avoiding elevators, turning off gas and electricity after tremors, keeping away from windows and heavy objects, staying clear of trees and poles outdoors, and avoiding damaged structures after quakes. Citizens are also advised to keep emergency items like torches, helmets, medicines, and whistles handy, and to contact the 102 hotline for emergency assistance. The department emphasized preparedness over panic to minimize risks and ensure safety during future tremors.

A severe cold wave has gripped Kurigram, a northern border district of Bangladesh, disrupting normal life as temperatures dropped to 12.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning. Dense fog and chilly winds have reduced visibility, forcing vehicles to operate with headlights even after sunrise. The cold has particularly affected low-income workers, day laborers, and those dependent on daily wages, who are struggling to continue their livelihoods amid the biting weather. Residents report that the combination of fog and cold makes it difficult to leave their homes, while transport and local businesses are suffering from reduced activity. According to Subal Chandra Sarkar, acting officer at the Rajarhat Weather Observatory, the temperature recorded at 6 a.m. was 12.4°C and may drop further in the coming days, indicating that the cold spell could intensify.

In the run-up to Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the two sons of late Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former MP Delwar Hossain Sayeedi — Masud Sayeedi and Shamim Sayeedi — are contesting from Pirojpur-1 and Pirojpur-2 constituencies respectively. Both have drawn attention due to their father’s legacy but are expected to face tough competition from heavyweight candidates. In Pirojpur-1, Masud Sayeedi will compete against former minister and Jatiya Party (Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider, while BNP and NCP figures are also vying for nomination. In Pirojpur-2, Shamim Sayeedi faces former minister and Jatiya Party (Manju) chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, along with BNP’s Ahmad Suman and NCP’s Shams Istiak Rahman. Although Jamaat announced its candidates early, other parties like BNP, NCP, and Jatiya Party are still finalizing their lineups. Local voters anticipate intense contests, particularly in Pirojpur-1 and Pirojpur-2, where the Sayeedi brothers’ entry has energized the campaign field.

The Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, has accused Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs Secretary Fatima Tasnim Juma of distorting the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War through a recent social media post. In a statement issued on December 3, JCD leaders Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and Nahiduzzaman Shipon condemned Juma’s remarks, calling them an affront to the nation’s democratic aspirations. The group also criticized the university administration for failing to uphold the tradition of decorating campus landmarks during December, the month of victory, describing it as negligence toward the Liberation War’s legacy. JCD urged the administration to properly honor the contributions of Dhaka University’s teachers, students, and staff during the 1971 war and demanded accountability from DUCSU representatives for controversial actions and comments. Fatima Tasnim Juma’s post had linked the region’s anti-colonial struggles to the 1971 war and called for renewed efforts to fulfill the nation’s democratic aspirations in 2024.

A mild earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale was felt in Dhaka early Thursday morning, December 4. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake originated about 20 kilometers east of Tongi and 3 kilometers north of Narsingdi, with a depth of approximately 27 to 30 kilometers. The tremor occurred at 6:14 a.m. local time and caused brief shaking across parts of the capital and nearby districts. No immediate reports of casualties or property damage have been received. This follows a series of recent minor quakes in Bangladesh, including a 4.2 magnitude tremor in the Bay of Bengal on December 2 and another felt in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram on December 1. Authorities are monitoring the situation but have not issued any warnings, as the seismic activity remains within low-risk levels.

United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) has called on the interim government to initiate legal action against India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at the International Court of Justice over the alleged killing of two Bangladeshi nationals near the Thakurgaon border. At a protest meeting in Dhaka, the group’s chief organizer, Naeem Ahmad, accused the BSF of committing crimes against humanity and acting out of political vengeance. He demanded that the government make the discussions of flag meetings between Bangladeshi and Indian border forces public. Ahmad also urged India to abandon its current approach and rebuild a respectful, trust-based relationship with Bangladesh. Other speakers, including joint organizers Abrar Hamim and Ahsan Ullah, emphasized the need to strengthen Bangladesh’s military capacity along the border and raise public awareness against what they described as Indian aggression. The protest reflected growing frustration over recurring border incidents and perceived diplomatic imbalance between the two neighbors.

Rajshahi University has suspended three teachers and expelled five students following various allegations of misconduct. The decisions were made during the university’s 544th syndicate meeting held on December 2. Associate Professor Dr. Anik Krishna Karmakar of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering was suspended for three years and barred from exam-related duties for ten years. Professor Dr. Prabash Kumar Karmakar of Statistics and Associate Professor Mohammad Hedayet Ullah of Finance were also suspended pending further investigation. Two students had their studentship canceled, one was permanently expelled, and two others were suspended for one year. The disciplinary actions stem from incidents including alleged unethical relations and extortion involving a faculty member and students. University officials stated that final decisions on permanent termination of the teachers will depend on the findings of a new inquiry committee. The names of the punished students have not been disclosed for confidentiality reasons.

Three tenth-grade students were killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in Chatkhil, Noakhali, after losing control of their bike while returning from a tea shop late Monday night. The victims, identified as Hasibur Tanim (16), Md. Joy (16), and Md. Raihan (17), were all students of Badalkot High School. According to local sources, four friends were riding on a single motorcycle when it lost control near the Trighoria Bridge area and crashed into roadside trees. Tanim died the same night at Noakhali General Hospital, while Joy and Raihan succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday at separate hospitals in Dhaka. The bodies were later buried in their family graveyards. Police confirmed awareness of the incident but said no formal report had been filed. The accident highlights the dangers of reckless driving and overloading motorcycles among teenagers in rural Bangladesh.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has initiated an investigation against two police officials accused of amassing vast wealth through bribery and corruption. The officials under scrutiny are Jahangir Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Mahbub Hossain, a former Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Special Branch (SB). ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Akhtarul Islam confirmed the inquiry at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, stating that the ACC investigates any individual or institution when credible information is received. The probe follows a series of corruption allegations against several senior police officers who served during the government of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid the July mass movement. The ACC has already launched investigations and filed cases against several high-ranking officials, including former IGP Benazir Ahmed, SB chief Monirul Islam, and DB chief Harun-or-Rashid.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in Bangladesh has issued an urgent circular revising age regulations for student admissions from grades one to nine in both government and private secondary schools for the 2026 academic year. According to the updated directive, based on the National Education Policy 2010, students must be at least six years old to enroll in grade one. However, for the 2026 session, the minimum age is set at five years as of January 1, 2026, and the maximum at seven years as of December 31, 2026. Applicants must submit a verified copy of their online birth registration certificate with their admission form. Additionally, students with special needs will be allowed up to five extra years in age consideration. The DSHE emphasized that the online application process for admissions is currently ongoing across all metropolitan, district, and upazila-level schools under its jurisdiction.