Bangladesh’s banking sector is facing an unprecedented crisis marked by soaring default loans, capital shortfalls, and declining profitability. Analysts attribute the turmoil to years of mismanagement and irregularities during the previous Awami League government. According to Bangladesh Bank data, non-performing loans (NPLs) have surged to a record Tk 6.45 trillion, representing 35.77% of total disbursed loans. The sector’s provision deficit has also ballooned to Tk 3.2 trillion, while nearly half of all banks are struggling to stay afloat. Experts warn that the liquidity crunch, high interest rates, and eroding depositor confidence could further cripple investment and job creation under the new government. Former Bangladesh Economic Association president Dr. Mainul Islam estimates real NPLs may exceed 40% once written-off and renewed loans are included. Analysts urge strict legal action against top defaulters to restore stability. The worsening situation poses a major challenge for the interim and upcoming elected governments to revive confidence and ensure sustainable economic growth.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will hold its first-ever auction of the 700 MHz radio frequency band on January 14, aiming to expand the country’s telecommunications capacity. The announcement was made by Fayez Ahmed Tayyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser on posts, telecommunications, and IT, who described the move as a major milestone for the sector. The 700 MHz band, valued at around Tk 11,000 crore, has long remained unused due to regulatory and technical challenges. Joint efforts by BTRC, the Posts and Telecommunications Division, and the Ministry of Finance have paved the way for the auction. The spectrum is expected to enhance 4G and 5G network coverage, improve indoor connectivity, and expand rural access with fewer towers. Globally known as a high-value and strategic band, the 700 MHz frequency is considered the “golden band” for densely populated countries like Bangladesh due to its wide coverage and cost efficiency.

A man named Saddam Hossain, 32, was shot dead in a gunfight between two rival groups in Kandipara, Brahmanbaria town, late Thursday night. The clash reportedly stemmed from a dispute over local dominance between groups led by Lion Shakil and Delwar Hossain Dilip, the district convenor of the Swechchhasebak Dal. Saddam, a supporter of Dilip, was allegedly called out of his home before being found shot on the road. His family accused Dilip and his associates of orchestrating the killing to frame their rivals. However, Dilip denied the allegation, claiming that Shakil’s group opened fire, killing Saddam. Police said the incident was linked to an ongoing turf war between the two factions and have begun an investigation. Earlier in the evening, three people were injured in a related shooting between the same groups, escalating tensions in the area.

BNP Joint Secretary General and Lakshmipur-3 candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie alleged that people in Saudi Arabia speak highly of former President Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, while referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a 'liar'. Speaking at a courtyard meeting with female voters in Bhabaniganj Degree College field, Lakshmipur, Annie said Saudis regard Ziaur Rahman as a leader of the Muslim Ummah and a popular figure both domestically and internationally. He also reiterated that Ziaur Rahman led the Liberation War and issued the call for independence from the Kalurghat radio station. Annie further recounted his personal experiences of political persecution, including imprisonment, attacks on his home, and alleged police harassment, asserting his determination not to bow to injustice. Several local BNP and affiliated organization leaders attended the event.

The United States has deported 39 more Bangladeshi nationals, who arrived in Dhaka early Friday on a special military flight. According to BRAC’s Migration Program, 34 of them had initially traveled legally to Brazil with Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) clearance before entering the US illegally via Mexico, while the remaining five reached the US through other routes. This brings the total number of Bangladeshis deported from the US this year to over 220. BRAC officials raised concerns about the accountability of recruitment agencies and government oversight, as many migrants spent large sums to reach the US. Unlike previous deportations, the returnees were not restrained during the flight. The deportations come amid tougher immigration enforcement under Donald Trump’s second presidential term, with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increasingly using chartered and military flights to repatriate undocumented migrants after legal proceedings.

Concerns are mounting in Pakistan over the health and treatment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail. Sources within his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), allege that Khan is being subjected to physical abuse and kept in near-total isolation, with minimal contact with his family or legal team. His sister, Aleema Khan, expressed frustration over being denied visitation rights, questioning the government’s motives. While the government insists Khan’s health is stable, PTI insiders claim his condition is deteriorating due to stress, harsh treatment, and lack of communication. Reports suggest that previous visits by officials were used to misrepresent his health status. Authorities reportedly fear that public disclosure of Khan’s true condition could trigger widespread protests. His family has filed a petition in the high court seeking urgent permission to meet him.

More than 70,660 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote through the 'Postal Vote BD' app as of Friday, November 28, according to the Election Commission (EC). Among them, 59,510 are men and 11,150 are women. This marks the first time Bangladeshi citizens living abroad will be able to cast their votes through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The highest number of registrations came from the United States, followed by South Korea, Canada, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. Registration in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, was temporarily suspended due to incorrect or incomplete address entries but is expected to resume soon. The EC opened global registration on November 27, allowing expatriates to register until December 18. Officials described the initiative as a historic step toward including overseas citizens, as well as government employees and others eligible for in-country postal voting, in the democratic process.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that the Election Commission (EC) has extended the postal voter registration deadline for expatriate Bangladeshis worldwide until 11:59 p.m. on December 18. The decision follows BNP’s demand to allow more overseas Bangladeshis to register for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Fakhrul shared the update on his verified social media account, urging all expatriates with valid national ID cards to register via the Postal Vote BD app before the deadline. According to the EC, over 30,000 expatriates have already registered from countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. Once registration closes, ballot papers will be mailed to the registered voters’ addresses abroad. The initiative aims to ensure broader participation of expatriate citizens in Bangladesh’s democratic process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has pledged to establish what it calls a 'new history of governance' grounded in faith if it comes to power in the upcoming national elections. Party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, speaking at an election rally in Dhaka’s Vashantek area, said Jamaat would not be swayed by any foreign conspiracies and emphasized that the party’s popularity cannot be diminished through propaganda. He highlighted that young candidates have been nominated in all 300 constituencies, reflecting the party’s focus on youth leadership. Responding to allegations that Jamaat restricts women’s participation in the workforce, Rahman dismissed them as false, asserting that the party supports gender equality in employment. He also stated that Jamaat respects the rights of religious minorities and intends to include representatives from different faiths in parliament. The rally was attended by thousands of supporters, including Dhaka-17 candidate Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, who vowed to fight corruption and misgovernance.

Golam Faruk Abhi, a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) student leader and ex-MP from Barishal-2, is seeking to return to Bangladesh after two decades in Canada. Once a popular political figure in the 1990s, Abhi was expelled from the BNP’s student wing and later joined the Jatiya Party (Manju), winning a parliamentary seat in 1996. His supporters remain optimistic about his political comeback despite the BNP nominating another candidate for his former constituency. Abhi has applied for a travel pass from the Bangladeshi government to facilitate his return, but the process has been delayed without explanation. He insists that returning home is his top priority, while contesting the upcoming national election—either as an independent or with another party—remains secondary. Abhi has criticized bureaucratic hurdles preventing his return, calling them a violation of his constitutional rights.

Australia have named their squad for the second Test against West Indies in Brisbane, with captain Pat Cummins ruled out due to a lingering lower-back injury. Cummins, who has not played since suffering the injury four months ago, will travel with the team but aims to return for the third Test in Adelaide on December 17. Steve Smith will continue as captain, while fast bowler Josh Hazlewood also remains sidelined with a hamstring problem. Brendon Doggett is expected to open the bowling alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Usman Khawaja has been retained in the squad despite recent poor form and back pain that kept him from batting in the second innings of the Perth Test. If Khawaja is dropped, all-rounder Beau Webster could be included to strengthen the bowling lineup. The day-night Test at the Gabba begins on December 4, with Australia looking to build on their emphatic win in the first Test, which ended in just one and a half days.

A parked passenger bus was set on fire by unidentified miscreants in Dhamrai, Dhaka, late Thursday night. The incident occurred around midnight on the Suapur-Khararchar regional road under Suapur Union. According to Shamsul Haque, sub-officer of the Dhamrai Fire Service, the bus driver had parked the vehicle and left before the fire broke out. Locals noticed the blaze and, along with the driver, managed to extinguish it using water and sand before fire service personnel arrived. The driver alleged that the fire was deliberately set by miscreants. The bus owner estimated the damage at around three lakh taka. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and the identity of those responsible.

At least 12 people, including women and children, were killed and 18 others injured, among them six Israeli soldiers, during intense clashes following Israeli airstrikes in Syria’s Beit Jinn and Mazraat Beit Jinn areas near Damascus. According to Syrian state media, the attacks occurred early Friday, leaving several people trapped under rubble as rescue operations continued. Israeli forces claimed the operation targeted members of Al-Jamaa Islamiyah allegedly plotting attacks on Israeli civilians. Syrian authorities have not commented on the incident. The Israeli military confirmed six of its soldiers were wounded, three critically. Reports indicate that Israel has conducted 47 operations in southern Syria this November alone, and over 1,000 airstrikes since late 2024, expanding its control over the Golan Heights and violating the 1974 disengagement agreement. The renewed violence follows similar Israeli attacks in Lebanon, raising regional tensions.

A Tk 2 crore solar streetlight project in Maheshpur Municipality, Jhenaidah, has been mired in allegations of corruption and irregularities involving a former mayor, an engineer, and a contractor. Funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the 2020–21 fiscal year, the project aimed to install 150 solar lights to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite two deadline extensions, around 40% of the work remains incomplete. Investigations revealed fake labels, substandard materials, and inflated cost estimates—each light priced at Tk 132,500 though market value is Tk 30,000–45,000. The contractor allegedly withdrew over Tk 8.3 million for poor-quality installations. Following complaints, the new municipal administrator, Additional District Magistrate ABM Khalid Hossain Siddiqui, launched an inquiry that confirmed major discrepancies. Work has since been halted, and a show-cause notice was issued to the contractor. Authorities are awaiting a written explanation before deciding on further legal or administrative action.

Despite an abundant supply of winter vegetables in Dhaka’s markets, prices remain unusually high, frustrating consumers and leaving farmers underpaid. Vegetables such as eggplants, beans, and cauliflowers are selling at nearly double their usual seasonal rates, with eggplants priced between Tk 80–100 per kg and beans exceeding Tk 100. Vendors blame October’s heavy rains for disrupting production and damaging crops, while middlemen continue to profit heavily. Chicken prices have also risen by Tk 20 per kg due to higher feed and transport costs, though egg prices remain stable. Fish prices, particularly for hilsa, have surged, with medium-sized hilsa selling for around Tk 1,500 per kg. Market traders predict that vegetable prices may ease within a week as supply improves. However, consumers and farmers alike accuse syndicates of manipulating prices, calling for stronger government action to curb profiteering and stabilize the market.