A group of 10 to 12 activists linked to the banned Awami League and its affiliates held a surprise torch procession in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, late Sunday night. Led by expatriate leader Zahid, the rally began near Nanuppur Lailakbir College and ended within minutes before participants dispersed. Several individuals in the procession were seen wearing helmets and covering their faces, as shown in videos circulating on social media. Following the viral footage, police launched an operation and arrested two Chhatra League activists named Hridoy and Ershad. Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nur Ahmad confirmed the arrests and stated that efforts are underway to identify and detain others involved in the unauthorized demonstration.

A fire erupted early Monday morning at a jhut (garment waste) warehouse in the Konabari Ambag area of Gazipur city. The blaze started around 5:30 a.m. at a facility owned by Palash Mia in the Purbo Para neighborhood. Local residents initially attempted to control the flames but failed, prompting a call to the fire service. Four firefighting units responded and managed to bring the fire under control after about one and a half hours of effort. According to Mohammad Mamun, deputy director of Gazipur Fire Service, the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have not yet been determined. Authorities have confirmed that no casualties occurred in the incident. An investigation is underway to identify the source of the fire and assess property losses.

A Dhaka court has sentenced former Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina to five years in prison, her sister Sheikh Rehana to seven years, and Rehana’s daughter, former UK Labour minister Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, to two years for their involvement in a land allocation fraud case tied to the Purbachal New Town Project. The verdict was delivered on Monday by Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on January 13, accusing Rehana of abusing power to obtain a 10-katha plot illegally. Following investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals on March 10, and the trial began on July 31 after charges were framed. A total of 32 witnesses testified during the proceedings. This ruling follows earlier convictions in November, when Hasina received a total of 21 years in three separate cases, while her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were each sentenced to five years in another case.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has ordered that Shahriar Kabir, president of the advisory council of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, be shown arrested in a case related to crimes against humanity. The order was issued on Sunday, November 30, by a three-member panel led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumdar of Tribunal-1. The tribunal also directed that Kabir be produced before it on January 12. Kabir was previously detained by police on September 16 from his residence in Banani and was shown arrested in a separate case over the shooting death of domestic worker Liza Akter during the July movement. He was later shown arrested in another case involving the deaths of Rafiqul Islam and Arif in Jatrabari. The court had earlier granted multiple remands for interrogation in these cases. The latest tribunal order adds a new legal dimension to the ongoing proceedings against the veteran writer and activist.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem announced via his verified Facebook account that he will file a lawsuit against several unauthorized social media pages accused of spreading false, fabricated, and misleading information about him. In his post, Kayem stated that the misinformation campaign intensified after the 45th BCS results, where a banned Chhatra League activist, Raisul Islam, was reportedly recommended for the police cadre. Kayem said he had contacted several government advisers, including those in the Home and Law ministries, urging legal action against Raisul and others allegedly involved in attacks on students. He further claimed that fake photo cards and propaganda materials were being circulated to tarnish his reputation. Kayem confirmed that legal proceedings against the responsible pages would begin on Monday, December 1.

Hundreds of higher secondary students from Dhaka College blocked the Science Lab intersection in Dhaka on Monday morning, protesting the proposed schooling model under the planned Dhaka Central University. The government recently decided to merge seven prominent government colleges into a new public university to reduce administrative complexity and ease pressure on Dhaka University. However, students argue that the move threatens the long-standing identity, tradition, and autonomy of their institutions. They claim the decision was made without consulting students or stakeholders and fear that the new structure could worsen teacher shortages and infrastructure issues. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already drafted an ordinance outlining the new university’s interdisciplinary structure, which would include higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs. The protesting students demand that the new system be based on affiliated institutions rather than a centralized schooling model.

Bangladesh’s Pay Commission has completed four rounds of consultations with secretaries from all ministries as part of its effort to finalize recommendations for the upcoming ninth pay scale. Over 70 secretaries participated in the meetings, offering practical and realistic suggestions rather than ambitious proposals. The commission also gathered input from more than 250 organizations and through online submissions. Officials stated that reviewing and incorporating these opinions is underway, with more than half of the work already completed. Commission Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan expressed optimism that the final report could be submitted within the scheduled timeframe, possibly by next month. The new pay scale is expected to emphasize adjustments to the minimum salary structure and grade reclassification. Stakeholders, including the Secretariat Officers and Employees Association, have expressed satisfaction with the commission’s progress and transparency in the decision-making process.

Tea workers in the Srimangal-Kamalganj area of Moulvibazar remain frustrated as their living conditions show little improvement despite repeated election promises. With nearly 450,000 voters in the Moulvibazar-4 constituency, candidates from major parties including the Awami League, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and independents are focusing their campaigns on tea garden communities. Workers demand fair wages, land rights, better healthcare, and education for their children. Local residents and union leaders say that despite the community’s historical support for ruling parties, their socio-economic conditions have barely changed. Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union leaders urge candidates to include workers’ rights in their manifestos. Opposition candidates have pledged concrete steps to improve wages, housing, and employment opportunities if elected. Many tea workers, however, remain skeptical, recalling that previous promises were forgotten after elections. The issue highlights the long-standing neglect of tea workers who contribute significantly to the national economy but continue to live in poverty.

The Government of Bangladesh has promoted 22 officials under the Ministry of Public Administration to the position of non-cadre Assistant Secretary. According to a gazette notification issued on Sunday, November 30, the promotions were made following the recommendation of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) dated November 27, 2025. The newly promoted officials have also been appointed as Special Duty Officers (non-cadre Assistant Secretaries) within the same ministry. The order, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shifa Nusrat, states that the decision has been approved by the competent authority and will take immediate effect. The promoted officials will receive salaries under the National Pay Scale 2015, in the 9th grade (Tk 22,000–53,060). The list of promoted officials was included in the official notification issued by the ministry.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has charged UK MP and former City Minister Tulip Rizwana Siddiq in a case involving alleged misuse of power by her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to allocate plots in Dhaka’s Purbachal New Town project. The charge sheet claims Siddiq influenced Hasina to secure plots for her mother Sheikh Rehana, brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and sister Azmiena Siddiq while serving as a British MP. The verdict in this case, which also names Hasina and Rehana among 17 accused, is set for Monday, December 1, by Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4. Prosecutors have sought life imprisonment for the main defendants. The case follows earlier convictions against Hasina and her children in related plot allocation scandals. Meanwhile, senior British lawyers, including former Justice Minister Robert Buckland and ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve, have criticized the trial, alleging violations of Siddiq’s fundamental rights and lack of fair legal representation.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and his wife, Afrin Taposh, following requests from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC alleged that Taposh abused his power during his tenure as mayor to amass assets worth over Tk 73 crore beyond known income sources and conducted suspicious transactions totaling more than Tk 539 crore and USD 517,527 across 27 bank accounts. Afrin Taposh is accused of acquiring Tk 6.4 crore in unexplained assets and making suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 70.89 crore and USD 395,963 through nine bank accounts. The court, presided over by Judge Sabbir Foyez, approved the ACC’s petitions to seize all relevant tax documents for both individuals to facilitate investigation under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar visited former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka late Sunday night to inquire about her health. He was accompanied by Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Dhaka-17 constituency. Upon arrival, Porwar was received by BNP Standing Committee member Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain. Several other BNP leaders, including Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam, Special Assistant Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, and Adviser Tahsina Rushdir Luna, were also present. During the visit, the Jamaat leader asked about Khaleda Zia’s latest medical condition and prayed for her full recovery. The visit reflects ongoing political and personal connections between senior leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP amid concerns over Khaleda Zia’s prolonged illness.

After a ten-month ban imposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, tourists are once again permitted to stay overnight on Bangladesh’s only coral island, Saint Martin’s. Starting Monday, four ships have been authorized to operate daily from Cox’s Bazar to the island, with the permission valid until January 31. Authorities have capped the number of tourists at 2,000 per day and mandated strict adherence to environmental guidelines to protect the island’s fragile biodiversity. Visitors must purchase tickets online through a government-approved portal containing a QR-coded travel pass. The administration has reiterated the importance of sustainable tourism, prohibiting activities such as beach lighting at night, loud music, barbecues, and the use of single-use plastics. The move follows a limited reopening in November that allowed day trips only, but no overnight stays. Officials emphasize that preserving Saint Martin’s ecological balance is a national priority, and compliance with the 12-point conservation directive is mandatory for all visitors.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s health condition has shown slight improvement and remains stable, according to interim government information adviser Mahfuz Alam. Speaking to reporters after visiting her at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka late Sunday night, Mahfuz said he came on a personal initiative to check on her condition and prayed for her recovery, acknowledging her contributions and sacrifices for the country. He stated that doctors informed him her condition has improved slightly compared to previous days and expressed optimism about further progress. Mahfuz also remarked that Khaleda Zia’s dedication to democracy continues to inspire hopes for her recovery and participation in the nation’s democratic rebuilding. Regarding BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Mahfuz said the current government is ready to provide all necessary assistance for his return to Bangladesh.

An independent national investigation commission has alleged that the ruling Awami League, under then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was directly involved in the 2009 BDR mutiny and massacre at Pilkhana, Dhaka. The report claims the event was premeditated and coordinated by then MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, with Hasina allegedly giving a 'green signal'. It also cites evidence of Indian involvement and claims the army refrained from action due to threats from India. The commission, led by retired Major General A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, submitted its findings to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who praised the effort for uncovering long-hidden truths. The report accuses several Awami League leaders, security officials, and journalists of complicity or negligence, and calls for accountability. It also notes that some evidence was destroyed and key witnesses had left the country. The findings have sparked renewed debate over the handling of one of Bangladesh’s deadliest military tragedies.