Azerbaijan has announced plans to open an embassy in Dhaka following Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, signaling a new phase in bilateral relations. The announcement came during a courtesy meeting between Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s daughters, Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva, and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, energy, culture, and environmental protection. Professor Yunus recalled his previous visits to Baku and his meeting with President Aliyev during the COP-29 conference. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, conveyed the Azerbaijani President’s greetings and expressed interest in joint humanitarian and environmental projects with Bangladeshi organizations. Azerbaijan’s non-resident ambassador Elchin Huseynli confirmed that the embassy initiative followed a request from Professor Yunus last November. Officials said the new embassy would elevate bilateral engagement and facilitate people-to-people connections between the two nations.

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in the Ambag Nozordighi area of Gazipur’s Konabari police station, destroying four jhoot (garment waste) warehouses. According to the Fire Service and local residents, the blaze started in one warehouse and quickly spread to three others owned by Shahadat Hossain, Sanaullah, and Abu Sayeed. Locals initially attempted to extinguish the flames before alerting the fire department. Four units from Konabari Modern and Chourasta Modern Fire Service stations responded to the call and managed to bring the fire under control after about an hour of effort. The tin-shed warehouses and stored jhoot materials were completely burned, though no injuries or fatalities were reported. Fire Service Inspector Saiful Islam said preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit. Authorities are assessing the extent of property damage, while fire officials have urged warehouse owners to improve electrical safety and fire preparedness to prevent similar incidents.

Barrister Naushad Zamir, son of former acting president and veteran BNP leader Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, has announced his candidacy for the Panchagarh-1 constituency in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election. Representing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Naushad will face Sarjis Alam, the northern regional organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who has also declared his intention to contest from the same seat. Jamiruddin Sircar, a prominent figure in national politics, previously served as Speaker of Parliament and was elected multiple times from this constituency. Local BNP leaders describe Naushad as a young, clean-image candidate working tirelessly across Atwari, Panchagarh Sadar, and Tetulia upazilas to connect with voters and convey messages from BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. District BNP leaders believe his father’s popularity and the party’s strong voter base will help secure victory. The contest is expected to draw attention as a generational political transition within the BNP, with observers viewing it as a test of the party’s organizational strength in northern Bangladesh.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman has stated that the interim government has not taken a strong stance against corruption. Speaking at a press conference at the organization’s Dhanmondi office on Sunday, he said that despite decades of challenges, achieving a corruption-free Bangladesh will require time and sustained effort. TIB has not yet assessed whether corruption has increased or decreased, but Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that it continues to persist. Addressing the upcoming 13th National Election, he emphasized that political parties should clearly outline their positions on the influence of money, muscle power, and religion in their election manifestos. He further urged parties to include commitments on anti-corruption measures, accountability, and good governance in their policy documents. The remarks highlight growing public concern over governance transparency and the credibility of political pledges ahead of the election. Analysts suggest that stronger institutional reforms and political will are essential to restore public trust and ensure sustainable anti-corruption progress.

A 14-year-old boy named Tajim Molya died after falling from a tree while allegedly stealing betel nuts in Lohagara upazila of Narail district, Bangladesh. Police recovered the body on Sunday and sent it to Narail Sadar Hospital for autopsy. The incident occurred late Saturday night when Tajim and three friends went out after playing carrom to steal betel nuts from a local tree. According to police, Tajim’s friends — Injamul Sheikh (15), Shipon Sheikh (17), and Ibrahim Sheikh (15) — fled the scene after the fall. When Tajim did not return home, his family began searching for him. The next morning, locals discovered his body near a pond close to his home. Police later detained the three friends for questioning. Investigators said the death appears accidental, pending autopsy results. Authorities are continuing inquiries to confirm the exact circumstances and determine if further legal action is necessary.

Bangladesh’s Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that any agricultural officials found colluding in market manipulation will lose their jobs. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, December 7, he said there is no shortage of onions in the country, yet prices have risen sharply. To stabilize the market, the government has decided to allow onion imports and identify those responsible for the artificial price hike. Chowdhury stated that the Ministry of Commerce will handle traders’ malpractice while the Agriculture Ministry will ensure internal accountability. He noted that onion prices have increased by about 40 taka due to manipulation and stressed that fair pricing around 70 taka per kilogram benefits both consumers and producers. The adviser also mentioned that 70 percent of Aman paddy has been harvested with good yields, and vegetable prices remain stable. He further discussed potential subsidies for potato farmers who suffered losses this season and hinted at a new transfer policy for agricultural officers through a lottery system to prevent corruption and favoritism.

A madrasa principal, HM Mostafa Joardar, aged 52, died after being hit by a speeding motorcycle in Monohardi, Narsingdi, on Saturday night. He was declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being transferred there from Monohardi Upazila Health Complex due to critical injuries. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. while he was crossing the Dhaka–Kishoreganj regional highway near Monohardi bus stand. Mostafa Joardar, a resident of Sallabaid area under Monohardi municipality’s Ward 6, served as the superintendent of Purachar Paratala Jalal Uddin Dakhil Madrasa in Kishoreganj’s Katiadi upazila and was a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami. Police said they are awaiting a formal complaint to initiate a full investigation. Local witnesses reported that the motorcycle fled the scene immediately after the collision. Authorities have urged caution among motorists and pedestrians on the busy regional highway, where several similar accidents have been reported in recent months. The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement and improved road safety measures in the area.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, secretary general of the AB Party, faced strong protests in his constituency of Babuganj, Barishal, during the foundation-laying ceremony of the Mirganj Bridge on Sunday. Local BNP activists reportedly confronted Fuad after he alleged that extortion and tender manipulation were taking place around the bridge project, which he claimed to have helped secure approval for. Fuad accused BNP supporters of orchestrating the disruption, while BNP leaders denied the charge, saying the protest came from locals angered by his remarks. Babuganj Upazila Chhatra Dal convener Atik Al Amin stated that Fuad had falsely implied BNP’s involvement and demanded an apology, warning he would be declared unwelcome in the area. The bridge, being built over the Arial Khan River at a cost of about Tk 1,500 crore, has become a point of political contention between AB Party and BNP factions. The incident underscores rising political tensions in Barishal-3 ahead of future elections, with infrastructure projects increasingly becoming tools of political rivalry and local influence.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin briefed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the Election Commission’s preparations for the upcoming national election and referendum, expected in early February. The meeting took place Sunday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where election commissioners and senior officials presented progress updates on logistical and administrative readiness. The CEC informed that preparations were proceeding smoothly, with the Commission fully ready to hold the national election and referendum on the same day. He thanked the Chief Adviser and law enforcement agencies for their cooperation. Chief Adviser Yunus expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s progress and reaffirmed the caretaker government’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election. Yunus emphasized that the interim administration aims to deliver one of the most transparent elections in the nation’s history. The meeting underscored coordination between the Election Commission and the caretaker government as Bangladesh moves toward a crucial electoral milestone.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has officially exempted Bangladesh Railway from the requirement to submit proof of income tax return filings, known as PSR documents. The exemption was granted under Section 264(4) of the Income Tax Act 2023, recognizing the railway as a non-taxable government entity. The directive, issued on December 7 and signed by Nusrat Farzana, Second Secretary (Tax Law-1), clarifies that no tax return evidence will be sought from the state-run organization. Officials noted that government departments often face procedural complexities in managing tax-related documentation. The NBR’s decision aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and streamline administrative processes within Bangladesh Railway. The move is expected to ease compliance burdens and improve operational efficiency across the organization. Experts believe this exemption could serve as a model for simplifying tax compliance for other state-owned bodies that are not subject to income tax, potentially leading to broader administrative reforms in the public sector.

Authorities have announced a temporary closure of the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar from December 6 to 15 to facilitate preparations and development work for the upcoming Victory Day celebrations on December 16. A notice posted at the memorial gate on Saturday confirmed that visitors will not be allowed entry during this nine-day period. Officials stated that the closure is necessary to ensure smooth arrangements for the state ceremony marking Bangladesh’s Victory Day, one of the nation’s most significant commemorations. The memorial, which honors those who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 Liberation War, typically attracts large crowds in the days leading up to the event. Authorities have expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience and requested public cooperation. The site is expected to reopen to the public immediately after the official Victory Day observances conclude.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman asserted that his party is the only political force capable of effectively controlling corruption and improving law and order in Bangladesh. Speaking at the closing session of the ‘BNP’s Nation-Building Plan’ program in Dhaka, Rahman emphasized that without addressing corruption and security issues, development plans in sectors like women’s empowerment, agriculture, and health would fail. He argued that the BNP had previously established law enforcement agencies that improved national security, but those institutions were later misused for political purposes by authoritarian regimes. Rahman also defended the party’s record, claiming that no corruption allegations against BNP leaders had been proven in court. He criticized those who now attack the party despite having served in past BNP governments. Rahman reiterated BNP’s commitment to democratic principles and public accountability, stating that the party would seek power only through the people’s mandate. His remarks come amid ongoing political tensions and debates over governance and corruption in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that the party would reassess the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) policy if it forms the next government. Speaking at a roundtable organized by the Center for Technology Journalism in Dhaka, he said the policy would be reviewed in consultation with all stakeholders to ensure it aligns with free-market principles and national interests. Participants at the discussion, including representatives from technology associations and civil society, criticized the current NEIR framework for allegedly favoring certain business groups and undermining local investors. They argued that the policy, introduced under the Awami League government, risks creating monopolies and discouraging fair competition. Several speakers also questioned the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) role in implementing NEIR and called for transparency and stakeholder engagement. Analysts suggest that the debate over NEIR reflects broader tensions between regulatory control and market liberalization in Bangladesh’s digital economy. The issue is expected to remain politically significant ahead of the upcoming national elections.

Bangladesh Under-19 women’s cricket team took a 2–1 lead in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan after securing a convincing seven-wicket win in the third match held in Cox’s Bazar. Batting first, Pakistan managed only 86 runs for eight wickets, a total Bangladesh comfortably chased down in 13.3 overs. Captain Sadia Islam led from the front with a quickfire 35 off 28 balls, including three sixes, forming a crucial 45-run partnership with Jannat after an early setback. Jannat remained unbeaten on 30 off 25 balls, guiding the team to victory alongside Maimuna Nahar. Earlier, Habiba Islam and Atasi Majumdar each took two wickets to restrict Pakistan’s scoring. The final two matches of the series will also be played in Cox’s Bazar on December 10 and 12. With momentum on their side, Bangladesh will look to seal the series, while Pakistan aim to bounce back and level the contest.

Iranian authorities have arrested two organizers of a marathon held on Kish Island after images surfaced showing several female participants running without hijabs. The event, which took place on December 5, featured around 2,000 women and 3,000 men competing in separate categories. Photos of women in red T-shirts without head coverings quickly spread on social media, prompting conservative backlash and official intervention. Prosecutors in Kish described the marathon as a violation of “public decency,” though they did not clarify what specific rules were broken. Government officials said the issue extended beyond hijab law violations, calling the event’s overall nature “unacceptable.” Progressive voices within Iranian society expressed support for the women, viewing their participation as a quiet act of defiance against restrictive gender policies. The arrests highlight the enduring tension between Iran’s conservative establishment and reform-minded citizens over women’s rights and personal freedoms. The hijab debate remains central to Iran’s political and social discourse, with authorities oscillating between limited tolerance and harsh enforcement.