Leaders and activists of the Shibganj Upazila and Municipal units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organized a protest march and rally condemning the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, in Dhaka. The demonstration paraded through the municipal area before concluding with a protest gathering at Shaheed Mir Mugdho Square. The rally, presided over by Municipal BNP President Bulbul Islam, featured speeches from Upazila BNP General Secretary Advocate Abdul Wahab and several local leaders, including former secretary S.M. Tajul Islam and youth and student wing representatives. Speakers strongly condemned the attack, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice. Local BNP leaders emphasized that such incidents reflect a deteriorating political environment and called for ensuring safety for opposition activists. They warned that continued attacks on political figures could further heighten tensions ahead of national political activities.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has established inquiry and judicial committees across all 300 parliamentary constituencies ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and a concurrent referendum. The announcement, issued on Sunday, December 14, by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Didar Hossain of the EC’s legal wing, outlines that the committees will investigate and adjudicate any irregularities during the electoral process. According to the EC’s official schedule, nomination papers must be submitted by December 29, with scrutiny taking place from December 30 to January 4. The withdrawal deadline is January 20, followed by the final candidate list and symbol allocation on January 21. Campaigning will run from January 22 until the morning of February 10, and voting is set for February 12. The EC stated that these committees were formed in consultation with the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs. Officials say the move aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the election process, as the country prepares for a competitive and closely watched national vote.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy during a late-night raid in the Silat al-Harithiya village of the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs. The victim, identified as Muhammad Iyad Abahra, was reportedly struck by live fire, and Israeli authorities have not yet released his body to his family. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops used live ammunition and stun grenades during the operation. Palestinian statistics indicate that since October 2023, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,000 injured, and 21,000 detained across the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid escalating Israeli military and settler actions. The incident comes despite a declared ceasefire and follows a July ruling by the International Court of Justice declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. The continued clashes underscore the fragility of the truce and the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the region.

The Bangladesh government has announced it will bear all medical expenses for Inquilab Mancha convener and Dhaka-8 parliamentary candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, who remains in critical condition following brain surgery. Hadi is set to be transferred abroad for advanced treatment, with his family preparing to move him either to Singapore or Thailand, depending on medical approval. An air ambulance has already been arranged at a reported cost of 5.2 million taka. Medical sources at Dhaka Medical College and Evercare Hospital confirmed that Hadi’s condition remains unstable due to increased cerebral edema and brainstem injury. Interim government chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus assured that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure Hadi receives the best possible care overseas. The medical board continues to monitor his vital signs closely, maintaining blood pressure and respiratory stability. The final decision on whether Hadi will be taken to Bangkok or Singapore is expected soon, as doctors evaluate the most suitable facility for his neurological condition. His case has drawn national attention, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting political figures in medical emergencies.

BIRDEM General Hospital, one of Bangladesh’s leading medical institutions, has inaugurated its first outpatient medicine pharmacy under its own management. The initiative, launched on December 14 by Director General Professor Dr. Mirza Mahbubul Hasan, aims to provide patients with reliable and affordable medicines directly within the hospital premises. The hospital views this as a major step toward patient-friendly healthcare delivery. According to hospital officials, more than 4,000 patients visit BIRDEM daily. Previously, the absence of an in-house pharmacy forced patients to purchase medicines from external vendors, often at higher prices and with uncertain quality. The new pharmacy is expected to reduce such difficulties by ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict quality control in medicine distribution. Hospital authorities believe this initiative will enhance trust in BIRDEM’s healthcare services and strengthen its leadership in the national health sector. The move is also seen as a model for other hospitals seeking to improve patient access to safe and affordable medication.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with Bangladesh following the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers in a drone attack in Sudan. He conveyed his condolences during a phone call with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Sunday evening, Bangladesh time. According to the Chief Adviser’s press wing, the two leaders also discussed Bangladesh’s upcoming general election. Dr. Yunus assured Guterres that the interim government is committed to holding a free, fair, and peaceful election on February 12. Guterres expressed hope that Bangladesh would successfully complete the electoral process. During the call, he requested Yunus to convey his sympathy to the victims’ families and confirmed that injured peacekeepers were receiving medical care, with arrangements underway for their transfer to advanced facilities. Dr. Yunus thanked the UN for its support and urged swift repatriation of the deceased. The conversation also recalled Guterres’s visit to Bangladesh during the last Ramadan, underscoring the ongoing cooperation between Dhaka and the UN.

Bangladesh Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah has confirmed that the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum will be held on time, dismissing any concerns about disruptions. Following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin in Dhaka, he stated that law enforcement agencies have assured full readiness to prevent any attempts to derail the electoral process. The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Home Ministry, Armed Forces Division, Police, BGB, Ansar, and DMP, reviewed the national security situation ahead of the polls. Sanaullah said recent covert attacks, including one targeting Sharif Osman Hadi, are under investigation. He warned political parties to remain vigilant against infiltrators and misinformation on social media that could incite unrest. Authorities have intensified operations to recover illegal weapons, restrict militant movement, and strengthen intelligence coordination, particularly in border and Rohingya-populated areas. The Election Commission expressed satisfaction with current measures but emphasized the need for continued vigilance to ensure a peaceful election environment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Australian government of contributing to the conditions that led to the recent Sydney attack. Speaking at a public event in southern Israel, Netanyahu claimed that Canberra’s policies had encouraged antisemitic sentiment, which he linked to the violence that occurred on Sunday. Netanyahu revealed that three months earlier he had written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, warning that Australia’s stance on recognizing a Palestinian state was ‘pouring fuel on the fire’ of antisemitism. His remarks follow Australia’s August announcement that it would move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood, a decision that drew mixed international reactions. The comments have added diplomatic tension between Israel and Australia, as both governments face scrutiny over their handling of Middle East policy and domestic security. Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s statements may reflect growing Israeli frustration with Western allies perceived as softening their positions on Palestinian recognition.

A Dhaka court has accepted a case against the online news portal ‘Dainik Ajker Kantho’ for allegedly publishing false information implicating BNP leader Mirza Abbas in the shooting of independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi. The case was filed by Advocate Mohammad Sadiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, a member of the Dhaka Bar Association, before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam’s court. The court recorded the plaintiff’s statement and directed the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police to investigate and submit a report. According to the complaint, the portal knowingly spread false news on December 12, claiming that Hadi was shot by Abbas’s associates, allegedly to mislead the public and influence election outcomes in Dhaka-8 constituency. The plaintiff argued that the report aimed to damage Abbas’s electoral prospects and extract illegal benefits. Law enforcement agencies are reportedly close to identifying the actual perpetrators of the shooting. The case highlights growing concerns over misinformation during Bangladesh’s election season, with authorities emphasizing the need for responsible reporting and fact-based political coverage.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described the 1971 killings of Bangladesh’s intellectuals as part of a deliberate blueprint orchestrated by anti-liberation forces. Speaking at a discussion marking Martyred Intellectuals Day in Dhaka’s Engineers Institution auditorium, he said the massacre, carried out just two days before Victory Day, aimed to cripple the nation intellectually. He accused local collaborators of aiding the Pakistani army in abducting and killing the country’s brightest minds. Fakhrul further alleged that conspiracies against the nation’s progress continue in different forms, including under the current Awami League government. He criticized what he called the weakening of education, health, and economic systems, claiming these were part of a broader effort to suppress national potential. Referring to a recent attack on Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, he said attempts are being made to instill fear and silence democratic voices. He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to democracy and vowed to realize the visions of Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Ziaur Rahman for a prosperous and democratic Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar has alleged that the 1971 killing of intellectuals was part of a planned conspiracy by the Indian Army and intelligence agencies. Speaking at a discussion organized by Dhaka North Jamaat on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day, he claimed that historical evidence shows the killings occurred when Indian forces had already entered Dhaka. Porwar argued that left-leaning and pro-India intellectuals have long blamed Jamaat for the massacre, but he said new information indicates Indian involvement. He stated that by early December 1971, Indian troops were effectively controlling Dhaka, making it implausible for Pakistani forces or their collaborators to organize such killings. Citing accounts from Rao Farman Ali and others, he claimed Pakistan’s military had planned to surrender on December 14, but the date was postponed at India’s request. His remarks have drawn criticism from historians and liberation war researchers who maintain that pro-Pakistani militias were responsible for the targeted killings of Bangladesh’s leading intellectuals.

The United Nations has strongly condemned a deadly drone strike on its logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan, Sudan, which killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured eight others. The peacekeepers were serving under the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the attack as a grave violation that could constitute a war crime under international law. Sudan’s army blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the assault, amid an ongoing civil conflict between the two sides that has lasted over two years. The RSF has not yet issued a statement. Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow and condemned the attack, calling it an act against international peace and humanity. Dhaka has pledged close coordination with the UN to repatriate the bodies of the fallen soldiers and ensure proper medical care for the injured. The incident underscores growing risks for peacekeepers operating in Sudan’s volatile conflict zones.

Two US soldiers and an interpreter were killed in central Syria during a joint mission with Syrian forces near Palmyra, following an attack by Islamic State (ISIS) militants. Three other American soldiers were injured in the assault, which occurred on December 13, according to the Pentagon. The attack took place less than a month after Washington and Damascus signed an agreement to cooperate against ISIS. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the soldiers were meeting local leaders when a gunman opened fire. The assailant, reportedly a member of Syria’s security forces with extremist leanings, was killed at the scene. Syrian state media confirmed that two Syrian security officers were also wounded. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that any group targeting Americans would face “dire consequences.” President Donald Trump condemned the attack as “horrific” and promised “severe retaliation” via his Truth Social platform, calling the fallen soldiers “great patriots.” The incident risks straining fragile US-Syria cooperation and could prompt expanded counterterrorism operations in the region.

Two US soldiers and a local interpreter were killed in an ISIS ambush near Palmyra, Syria, on Saturday, December 13, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The attack reportedly involved a single ISIS militant who opened fire on a joint US-Syrian patrol vehicle before being killed in a counter-assault. CENTCOM confirmed the deaths via social media, adding that several others had been injured in earlier related incidents. US envoy Tom Barrack stated that the attack targeted a joint patrol unit operating in the region, which remains volatile despite years of counterterrorism operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the assailant was neutralized by accompanying forces. The identities of the fallen soldiers are being withheld until families are notified. Officials noted that the area where the attack occurred is outside the control of Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, underscoring the persistent instability in central Syria. The incident highlights the enduring threat posed by ISIS remnants and the risks faced by coalition troops stationed in the region.

A shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island left two people dead and eight others critically injured on Saturday, December 13, according to local authorities. The incident occurred during an examination session, prompting an immediate campus lockdown and emergency alerts. The suspect, described as wearing black clothing, fled the scene on foot and remains at large. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the casualties and said the numbers could change as investigations continue. Police found no weapon at the scene, and the shooter’s identity has not been released. The university issued an emergency message at 4:22 p.m., warning students to lock doors, silence phones, and stay hidden until further notice. Despite initial reports online claiming the suspect had been captured, police have not confirmed any arrest. The shooting has reignited concerns about campus safety and gun violence in the United States. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine how the attacker entered and exited the university premises undetected.