Two small shop owners in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila have reported receiving unusually high electricity bills despite minimal power consumption. One tea stall owner, who operates with only a single light and fan, was billed 55,550 taka for the month, while another small food shop owner received a bill of 24,216 taka. Both claim their usual monthly bills range between 200–800 taka.

The incidents occurred in Litukhan Bazar of Dighirpar Union, sparking concern among local traders. The affected owners said they contacted the local Palli Bidyut office, which advised them to visit in person. Tongibari Palli Bidyut zonal officer Abdus Salam acknowledged that the issue might stem from a meter reading or billing system error and assured that an on-site inspection would be conducted to resolve the problem.

The cases have drawn attention to potential flaws in rural electricity billing systems, raising questions about transparency and accountability in utility management across Bangladesh’s countryside.

The Chattogram Divisional Public Library, located on KC Dey Road, has remained closed for seven years since renovation work began in January 2018. Despite multiple government assurances, the Tk 281 crore modernization project has stalled, leaving over 111,000 books and valuable furniture at risk of decay. The contractor, RP Enterprise, abandoned the project before completion, halting progress even though officials claim 92–95% of the work is done.

Writers, students, and cultural activists have voiced frustration, saying the prolonged closure has eroded reading habits and deprived young people of access to knowledge. Many fear the city’s cultural identity is fading as youth turn to digital distractions. Library officials report that only a small administrative office operates temporarily on the fifth floor, while the main reading halls remain unusable.

Authorities have requested an extension from the national planning body to resume construction. Residents urge the government to reopen the historic library within the year, warning that further delay could permanently damage Chattogram’s intellectual and cultural landscape.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the party would create employment for 15 million unemployed people within one year if it returns to power. Speaking during a campaign event in his Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency, he said the pledge reflects BNP’s commitment to restoring the rule of law and ensuring equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion or background.

Ahmed accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government of depriving citizens of their voting rights for 17 years through what he described as state conspiracies. He emphasized that under BNP leadership, democratic and human rights would be reinstated, and the unfinished work of late President Ziaur Rahman would be completed under acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

The statement comes as BNP intensifies its campaign ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. Analysts note that the job creation promise aims to appeal to Bangladesh’s large youth population facing unemployment challenges.

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) has rejected a report published by the online news outlet *Amar Desh*, which claimed that Ansar members were deployed to guard a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In a statement issued Friday evening, the paramilitary force described the report as entirely false and clarified that no Ansar personnel had been assigned to the site.

According to the official statement, neither district nor local Ansar authorities were aware of any such deployment, and no official order had been issued. The Ansar further explained that two night guards currently stationed at the location were appointed by the municipal authority and were not members of the Ansar VDP, nor did they wear its uniform. The clarification followed *Amar Desh*’s earlier claim that two Ansar members were specifically posted to protect the statue.

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over misinformation in local media and the sensitivity surrounding symbols of national leadership. The Ansar’s denial aims to prevent reputational damage and ensure public trust in official communication channels.

Members of the Hindu community in Dohar upazila organized a special prayer and blessing ceremony on Friday evening for the recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place at the Joypara Golabari Harisabha Temple, with Dhaka District BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq attending as chief guest. The gathering was presided over by Advocate Ranjit Saha and conducted by Bikash Sarkar, senior joint convener of the Dohar Volunteer Team.

Several BNP and allied organization leaders, including Masud Parvez, Abul Hashem Bepari, and representatives from the Puja Celebration Council and Hindu Mahajot, were present. Meanwhile, a separate prayer event was held in Nawabganj after Friday prayers, organized by Dhaka North Chhatra Dal President Salahuddin Ahmed, where local BNP leaders also prayed for Khaleda Zia’s health.

These parallel events reflect cross-community concern for the former prime minister’s health and signal continued grassroots mobilization within the BNP network amid her prolonged illness and limited public appearances.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Ahmad Tayebur Rahman Hiron, convenor of the Gauripur Upazila unit in Mymensingh, citing violations of party discipline and involvement in organizational conflicts. In a press release signed by Mymensingh North District BNP convenor A.K.M. Enayet Ullah Kalam and joint convenor Motahar Hossain Talukder, the party announced that senior joint convenor Md. Habibul Islam Khan Shahid will serve as acting convenor.

According to party sources, the expulsion followed internal unrest after the BNP’s executive committee nominated engineer M. Iqbal Hossain as the preliminary candidate for the Mymensingh-3 (Gauripur) constituency. Supporters of Hiron reportedly protested the nomination decision, demanding a change, which intensified factional tensions within the local unit.

The leadership reshuffle underscores growing internal challenges for the BNP ahead of potential national political movements. Party insiders suggest that maintaining unity at the grassroots level will be crucial as the BNP prepares for upcoming electoral and organizational activities.

National Citizen Party (South) chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah announced he will contest the upcoming Comilla-4 (Debidwar) parliamentary election independently, even if he receives only ten votes. Speaking at a campaign rally in Rajamehar village, he rejected the idea of forming alliances, emphasizing loyalty to party principles over political expediency. Abdullah said his supporters include educated youth and university students who are actively engaging with his campaign.

He outlined a series of pledges focusing on women’s education, employment training, and empowerment, as well as initiatives for religious clerics to gain small business support through microcredit. Abdullah also proposed scholarship and monitoring programs for meritorious students and language training centers to prepare migrant workers for better opportunities abroad. He criticized false campaign promises about household gas supply, calling them misleading and economically unsustainable.

Abdullah’s independent stance highlights growing local-level political diversification in Bangladesh’s electoral landscape, where smaller parties seek to assert identity amid dominant alliances. His campaign themes reflect a focus on social reform and grassroots empowerment.

National Citizen Party (NCP) northern region chief organizer Sarjis Alam has indicated that his party is keeping the door open for forming an electoral alliance ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. Speaking in Panchagarh on Thursday night, he said discussions are ongoing with like-minded centrist political groups to ensure that any coalition aligns with the country’s and people’s interests.

Sarjis emphasized that the NCP seeks partners who support reform, oppose external dominance, and uphold communal harmony in Bangladesh’s political landscape. He noted that while an earlier date had been set for announcing the alliance, the party decided to expand its framework to include more parties. The NCP leader also announced that the party’s first list of nominated candidates would be released within two days, with a goal to field candidates in all 300 constituencies by December.

Political observers view the NCP’s approach as an attempt to broaden its influence and appeal to reform-minded voters seeking transparent and inclusive politics.

A 15-year-old boy has been accused of raping a five-year-old girl in Sripur village under Chandpur Union, Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district. The assault reportedly occurred on Tuesday, December 2, when the minor lured the child into his home. The victim’s family filed a case on Friday night, December 5, after initial attempts to settle the matter privately failed.

According to police, the accused’s mother initially tried to suppress the incident by urging the victim’s mother not to disclose it. The child later fell ill and was taken to Kushtia General Hospital for treatment. Kumarkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Amirul Islam stated that the delay in filing the case was due to efforts to resolve the issue within the families. Authorities have since registered a rape case and launched an operation to arrest the accused.

The case has sparked local outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of children and stricter enforcement of sexual assault laws in rural Bangladesh.

A Bailey bridge on the Habiganj–Baniachong regional road collapsed on Friday morning when a stone-laden truck attempted to cross, causing two deck panels to give way and trapping the vehicle mid-bridge. The incident has completely halted road communication between Habiganj district town and the upazilas of Baniachong and Ajmiriganj, affecting residents of more than fifty surrounding villages.

Baniachong Upazila Executive Officer Mahamuda Begum Sathi confirmed that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has already begun repair work. RHD Executive Engineer Zakir Hossain stated that the truck’s heavy load made removal difficult, requiring partial unloading before towing. He added that repair operations would continue overnight, with normal traffic expected to resume by Saturday morning.

Local authorities have urged commuters to use alternative routes until the bridge is restored. The collapse highlights the vulnerability of older Bailey bridges under heavy transport loads, prompting calls for structural assessments across the region.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that if the party forms the next government, it will introduce a new economic and financing model aimed at creating 10 million jobs within 18 months. Speaking at the National Youth Policy Dialogue in Dhaka, he said the BNP’s approach would eliminate the need to seek loans from multinational institutions such as the IMF and World Bank.

Khasru emphasized that the proposed model would focus on uninterrupted power supply and major investments in the information technology sector. He claimed that the plan is based on detailed research and sector-specific financing strategies, not political rhetoric. The event, jointly organized by Dhaka Forum Initiative (DFI) and Youth School for Social Entrepreneurs (YSSE), was attended by around 250 students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs.

His remarks come as Bangladesh continues to implement a $5.5 billion IMF loan program initiated in 2023. BNP’s proposed shift signals a potential departure from traditional external borrowing, raising questions about alternative funding sources and fiscal sustainability if the party returns to power.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia underwent a successful endoscopy on Friday afternoon at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital. According to her medical board, the procedure effectively stopped internal bleeding in her stomach. The process was carried out under strict medical supervision, and her condition remains stable though unchanged.

Plans to transfer the 80-year-old leader to London for advanced treatment were postponed due to a technical fault in the special air ambulance provided by the Amir of Qatar. A replacement German-made air ambulance is expected to arrive in Dhaka by Saturday, with her departure now tentatively scheduled for Sunday. BNP leaders confirmed that a team of specialist doctors and close family members will accompany her.

Khaleda Zia, who has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks, suffers from multiple chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney complications. The medical board, led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, continues to coordinate with foreign specialists from China and the UK for her ongoing care.

Dhaka North BNP convener and Dhaka-16 candidate Aminul Haque has alleged that a few political parties in Bangladesh are misusing religion to deceive the public and gain political power. Speaking at a prayer and campaign rally in Rupnagar on Friday, he criticized these parties for not participating in people’s movements before August 5 and questioned their sudden religious positioning.

Haque specifically pointed to Jamaat-e-Islami’s past, recalling its controversial role during the 1971 Liberation War and accusing it of collaborating with Pakistani forces. He argued that those now presenting themselves as Islamic parties had remained inactive for years. The BNP leader also highlighted the contributions of party founder Ziaur Rahman and chairperson Khaleda Zia in uniting the nation and restoring democracy.

The event concluded with a procession supporting the BNP’s election symbol, the paddy sheaf, through Rupnagar and Eastern Housing areas, signaling the party’s intensified campaign efforts in Dhaka-16.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has claimed that party chief Khaleda Zia’s health is in grave danger due to what he described as continued political repression under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule. In a Facebook post on December 5, Rahman accused the government of subjecting Zia to imprisonment and harassment, saying her life now faces a critical stage.

Rahman’s statement coincided with the anniversary of the fall of military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1990, which he recalled as a milestone in Bangladesh’s democratic struggle. He praised Khaleda Zia’s leadership during that period and alleged that the current Awami League government has again undermined democracy. Rahman urged opposition supporters to remain united to restore democratic values and resist what he called authoritarian governance.

The remarks come amid ongoing political tensions and concerns over Khaleda Zia’s deteriorating health. BNP leaders have repeatedly demanded her release for medical treatment abroad, while the government maintains that legal procedures must be followed.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has donated financial aid to the Baitul Mamur Jame Mosque in Dhaka’s Korail slum, which was severely damaged in a recent fire. The donation was handed over on Friday by BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam on behalf of Rahman. Following the Friday prayers, a special prayer session was held seeking the recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and the well-being of Tarique Rahman.

Several BNP-affiliated doctors and medical students attended the event, including Dr. S.M. Shahidul Hasan Babu and Dr. Zahidul Kabir. The fire, which broke out on November 25, destroyed parts of the slum and affected hundreds of residents. Under Rahman’s direction, BNP organized a two-day medical camp on November 27–28, providing healthcare to about 3,000 people.

The donation reflects BNP’s continued engagement in humanitarian relief efforts and community outreach following disasters. Party leaders indicated that mosque repairs would begin soon, with further assistance planned for affected residents.