A shocking incident in Ishwardi, Pabna, where eight newborn puppies were drowned in a pond inside a sack, has sparked nationwide outrage in Bangladesh. The act, allegedly committed by a government official’s wife and her son, drew widespread condemnation after a video of the grieving mother dog went viral on social media. Authorities have canceled the official’s housing allocation and initiated an investigation. The case has reignited debate over the country’s weak animal protection laws. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2019, killing or torturing animals, including stray dogs and cats, is punishable by up to two years in prison and fines, but enforcement remains limited. Legal experts note that only authorized livestock officials can file complaints, making it nearly impossible for citizens to pursue justice. As a result, many cases are filed under the Penal Code’s Section 429, which is difficult to apply to stray animals due to valuation issues. Animal rights groups are demanding stronger legal mechanisms and accountability.

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.

An army sergeant named Mamunur Rashid, aged 40, was killed in a road accident in Natore’s Baraigram upazila on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 7:30 pm at Bahimali Farm area on the Bonpara-Lalpur road when a drum truck collided with the autorickshaw he was traveling in. Mamunur Rashid, son of Abdul Majid Mondal from Bormoina village in Lalpur upazila, was serving at the Chattogram Cantonment. He was returning to his workplace after leave and was en route to Bonpara when the accident took place. Locals rescued him and took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Police confirmed that military officials would handle the legal procedures related to the death of the army member. The tragic incident highlights ongoing road safety concerns in the region.

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.

The syndicate of Begum Rokeya University (BRU) has recommended the dismissal of Tabiur Rahman Pradhan, head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, after finding evidence of recruitment forgery. The decision was made during the university’s 118th syndicate meeting on November 26. According to official records, irregularities occurred in the 2011 recruitment process when Tabiur Rahman’s name was added to the waiting list after the selection board meeting, altering the merit order and violating recruitment rules. He was later appointed temporarily to a professor/associate professor position without proper advertisement or selection procedures. The syndicate concluded that his appointment was fraudulent and recommended termination and further action. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shawkat Ali confirmed the decision but said it would be officially announced after the resolution is passed. Tabiur Rahman claimed he had not been formally notified of the decision. The case highlights long-standing irregularities in faculty recruitment at the university.

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.

Police in Ishwardi, Pabna, Bangladesh have arrested Nishi Rahman, wife of a government officer, for allegedly killing eight puppies by sealing them in a sack and drowning them in a pond. The case was filed late Tuesday night under Section 7 of the Animal Welfare Act 2019 by Upazila Livestock Officer Aklima Khatun. The incident drew widespread condemnation on social media and from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, which called the act inhumane and damaging to the country’s image. Following the incident, the local administration ordered Nishi Rahman’s husband, Hasanur Rahman, an official of the Small Farmers Foundation, to vacate his government quarters. Hasanur later expressed regret, claiming his wife acted out of concern for their children’s safety but did not intend for the puppies to die. The case has reignited discussions on animal cruelty and enforcement of animal welfare laws in Bangladesh.

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.

Ten former army officers were brought before the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka on Wednesday in connection with a case alleging enforced disappearances and torture, categorized as crimes against humanity. The accused include former senior officers of the Bangladesh Army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), such as Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam and Brigadier General Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar. The case also names 17 defendants in total, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several former top officials, who are currently absconding. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, is scheduled to hold a hearing on the formal framing of charges against all accused. Security around the tribunal and High Court premises was tightened, with police, army, RAB, and intelligence personnel deployed to maintain order during the proceedings.