At a meeting with NCP, National Consensus Commission Vice-President Prof. Ali Riaz said there is now a real chance to build a new Bangladesh. “Our job is to prevent the return of fascist rule,” he declared. While acknowledging differing views on reform proposals, he emphasized the need to identify consensus points and develop a national charter reflecting public aspirations. He praised NCP for their role in resisting authoritarianism and called for continued commitment to state reform.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Bangladesh’s future won’t be shaped by global leaders like Trump, Modi, or Xi, but by its own people. “We must unite like we did during the uprising,” he said, expressing confidence in the country’s potential. He also thanked Dr. Yunus for his efforts and warned that failure to resolve U.S. tariff issues could escalate problems. Fakhrul urged special focus on addressing the needs of farmers.

Russia has declined to extradite former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite growing pressure from Syria’s new government under President Ahmed Al-Shara to bring him back for trial over crimes against the people. Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Alparus Kutrashev, said Assad continues to reside in Moscow under the condition of avoiding media and political activities. “President Putin made the decision to grant him asylum, and that remains unchanged,” he said.

Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem stated on Friday that the group will not consider disarmament. “The term ‘disarmament’ must be erased from our vocabulary,” he said. Senior leader Wafic Safa added that any negotiations over weapons would only occur after Israel completely withdraws from southern Lebanon and releases prisoners. He also stressed that Hezbollah has already transferred control of nearly 190 out of 265 military sites south of the Litani River to the Lebanese army.

During a meeting with the National Consensus Commission, NCP convenor Nahid Islam stated that the 2024 uprising was not meant to replace one party with another but to establish a democratic system that upholds public rights through meaningful reforms. He emphasized the need for constitutional change and stronger judicial and electoral frameworks. “We must ensure no return to authoritarianism or fascism,” he added, urging the public to embrace the July Charter as a symbol of this commitment.

At least 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Friday, with most victims from Gaza City and northern Gaza. The widespread assault has pushed the death toll beyond 51,000 since October 23. Despite a ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to block the entry of food and essential aid into the Gaza Strip. This marks a further violation of the second agreement and worsens the humanitarian crisis.

Rafiqul Islam, joint general secretary of the Awami League’s Labagamara North Union unit in Cumilla, attended a local Jamaat-e-Islami conference, claiming he did so as a Muslim participating in Islamic events. “The event was held in my village, and I felt obligated to attend,” he stated. However, Jamaat leaders denied any knowledge of him or other Awami League members attending the event, asserting that members of other parties are typically not allowed to attend their gatherings.

Retail onion prices have surged from Tk 30–35 to Tk 70 per kg. Investigations reveal that a syndicate of middlemen has been hoarding onions, citing the ban on Indian imports to create market instability. The group aims to send a message that the domestic supply cannot meet demand without Indian imports. Experts warn that this group is attempting to push local onion prices over Tk 100 in the coming months. Vegetable prices have also increased, prompting experts to recommend stricter government market control, similar to measures taken during Ramadan.

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two BNP factions in Chuknagar Bazar, Khulna, over control of market lease operations. One group was led by Sheikh Helal Uddin, chairman of Atlia Union Parishad and current general secretary of the local BNP unit, while the other group was headed by former general secretary Daulat Sardar. The altercation escalated when both groups attempted to collect lease fees even after the lease term had expired. Police and army personnel intervened to restore order.

At a party meeting on Friday chaired by NCP convenor Nahid Islam, it was announced that the party will launch a protest in Dhaka demanding reforms in the judiciary and the holding of National Assembly elections. The party has reorganized 64 districts into 19 zones for better organizational management. It was also decided that district committees will have 31–51 members and sub-district committees 21–41, with convenors required to be at least 40 years old. Allegations of misconduct led to the formation of a new internal disciplinary and investigation committee.

As part of the weeklong celebration of the Sangrai festival, a key event for the Marma community, a three-day “Friendship Water Festival” concluded in Bandarban. The closing ceremony was attended by Hill Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma and diplomats including EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, and Dutch representative Andre Karstens. The adviser said the event showcased the peaceful coexistence in the hills to foreign guests and stressed that all residents of the hills are equals. The festival committee expressed gratitude for the diplomatic engagement and called on all citizens of Bangladesh to remain united in harmony, like the colorful Sangrai celebrations.

Azizur Rahman Azad, a student leader from Islami Chhatra Shibir, wrote on Facebook that over 11,000 political cases are currently filed against their members. He said that in October, the party’s central leadership met with legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, who promised to resolve the cases soon. However, Azad claims there has been no progress in the past eight months, and his passport application was repeatedly denied due to pending cases. Despite four visits to the Agargaon and Uttara passport offices, nothing was resolved until he secured a court order—twice. “Yesterday, I finally received a message: ‘Your passport is ready for delivery.’ If this is how I’m treated, imagine what the general public must go through,” he added. In a warning, he said, “Those sitting in power under the guise of reform are eroding citizens’ fundamental rights. If a mass uprising erupts, the responsibility will lie with these so-called advisers.”

Yemen has launched a ‘Zulfiqar’ ballistic missile at a military base near Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Jaffa, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed the strike and added that joint military operations also targeted two American aircraft carriers—USS Truman and USS Vinson. Yemen’s Defense Ministry further reported shooting down a U.S. MQ-9 drone over Sana’a province. The Israeli attack came in retaliation to U.S. strikes in Yemen that killed 74 people and injured 171 others.

Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have taken control of 185 out of Gaza’s 365 square kilometers—around 50% of the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that 30% of Gaza has been turned into a “buffer zone,” displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel is also working to block all cross-border access with Egypt. To divide Gaza more strategically, military corridors have been established in Philadelphi, Morag, and Netzarim. Around 80% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. At least 40 people were reported killed on Thursday, according to Civil Defense authorities.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested three Indian nationals at the Daulatpur border in Kushtia with 69 bottles of Phensedyl. In separate operations, BGB also seized 14 kg of marijuana and 485 yaba tablets abandoned along the border. The detainees—Md. Jewel Mondal (25), Md. Rakibul Mondal (35), and Md. Bapon Mondal (32)—are all residents of Murshidabad, India. Two Bangladeshi citizens, Md. Nizam Mondal (45) and Md. Sharif Mondal (25), managed to escape. The arrested individuals have been handed over to local police.