Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Md. Faruk Ahmed confirmed that no physical displacement occurred in Dhaka’s metro rail infrastructure following the recent earthquake. Speaking at a press conference in Uttara on December 1, he said that passenger safety remains the top priority and that operations were temporarily halted for thorough inspections. Engineers physically examined all metro structures for four to five hours after the tremor, including bearing pads at Farmgate and Bijoy Sarani. Two test runs were conducted before resuming public service, causing a 27-minute delay. Ahmed also addressed misinformation circulating on social media, dismissing claims that metro structures had collapsed. He clarified that only minor cracks appeared on a wall, two tiles fell, and a few ceiling pads loosened, none of which indicated structural damage. The DMTCL reassured commuters that the metro system remains safe and fully operational.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain expressed optimism that working relations between Bangladesh and India will soon return to normal following the political changes brought by the July uprising. Speaking at a Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) event in Dhaka, he noted that India is still adjusting to the new political situation in Bangladesh. Hossain also commented that the government has no official information about BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s status in London, and that it would be unusual for another country to prevent his return. Regarding former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Hossain said Delhi has not provided any official information about his stay in India. He added that Sheikh Hasina’s issue would not hinder Dhaka-Delhi relations, though Bangladesh expects her return as a convicted person. Hossain further criticized the previous government’s ‘warm’ ties with India, saying they benefited governments rather than citizens, and lamented the lack of progress on Teesta water sharing and border killings.

The Israeli military is reportedly facing the worst manpower crisis in its history, according to reserve general and military analyst Itzhak Brik. Writing in the daily Maariv, Brik stated that thousands of officers and non-commissioned officers have refused to respond to call-ups or renew their service contracts in recent months. The ongoing Gaza conflict, which has lasted nearly two years, has resulted in 923 Israeli soldiers killed and around 6,500 wounded, with about 20,000 troops suffering from post-traumatic stress. Brik warned that the shortage of personnel is now affecting equipment maintenance and operational readiness, potentially rendering the army 'paralyzed.' He blamed previous chiefs of staff for reducing manpower and shortening service terms, which pushed experienced soldiers out and left unqualified personnel in critical roles. Brik also criticized the army’s human resources management and outdated information systems, describing the situation as one of 'information blindness.'

Four people, including a child, were reportedly abducted from a shop near the hills adjacent to the Baharchhara South Shilkhali BGB checkpoint in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday evening. Witnesses said a group of 20–25 armed men descended from the hills around 7:30 p.m. and forced the victims away at gunpoint. The abducted individuals were identified as Mamun Zia’s son Achiur Rahman (20), Mohammad Islam’s son Giyas Uddin (17), Kasim Baidya’s son Putikkya (13), and Hasan’s son Abu Siddiq (10). Locals attempted to rescue them after news of the abduction spread. Shah Imran Khan, a resident of Shilkhali, confirmed the incident. However, police said that no formal complaint had yet been filed by the victims’ families. Baharchhara police outpost in-charge Durjoy Biswas stated that officers visited the scene and are investigating whether it was a kidnapping or another issue.

Two people, including a five-year-old child, died in a speedboat accident on the Naf River while returning from Saint Martin Island to Teknaf on Monday morning. The victims were identified as Mariam Begum, 35, and Mahima, 5, both residents of Saint Martin. According to local sources, the speedboat carrying seven passengers capsized near Gholar Char in the Naf River estuary. Nearby fishermen rushed to the scene and rescued the passengers, taking them to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared the two deceased. Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zayed Nur confirmed the incident and said legal procedures are underway. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, but authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the capsizing.

British Labour Party MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, niece of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Dhaka court for abusing power in allocating a government plot to her mother, Sheikh Rehana, under the Purbachal New Town Project. The verdict, delivered in absentia by Special Judge Md Rabiul Alam, also includes a fine of 100,000 taka, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in default. This marks the first time a British MP has been convicted by a Bangladeshi court. The case has drawn extensive coverage from major UK media outlets including The Guardian, BBC, Sky News, The Telegraph, and The Independent, all highlighting the unusual cross-border legal implications and Siddiq’s political ties. Siddiq, who resigned earlier this year as the UK’s City Minister amid separate allegations of financial misconduct, has not commented publicly on the ruling. The conviction has sparked renewed debate in both Bangladesh and the UK over political accountability and corruption.

Bangladesh’s primary and mass education ministry adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar announced that the long-standing demand of primary school teachers for an upgrade to the 11th pay grade is expected to be implemented, although the decision remains unofficial. Speaking in Monpura, Bhola, he urged teachers to suspend their protests and resume annual examinations. The adviser noted that the ministry has already communicated the teachers’ demand to the pay commission and is maintaining continuous dialogue with relevant departments. The ministry later issued a statement acknowledging the legitimacy of the teachers’ demand and confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the Finance Division, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Pay Commission. Once the commission’s report is finalized, the Finance Division will take necessary action. Most teacher organizations have already suspended their movements in anticipation of positive outcomes.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Md Faruk Ahmed said it was fortunate that no one was electrocuted after a youth climbed onto the roof of a metro train in Dhaka on Sunday night, causing a temporary suspension of service. The incident occurred near Karwan Bazar around 8:05 p.m., prompting authorities to halt train operations for safety reasons. Security personnel later rescued the youth using a ladder, but train services remained suspended for the rest of the night, causing inconvenience to passengers. Faruk Ahmed emphasized that public safety is the company’s top priority and that a full inspection of the metro line was carried out overnight before resuming normal operations on Monday morning. He urged media cooperation to raise public awareness and civic sense, noting that the motive behind the youth’s actions is still under police investigation.

Recent lecturer appointments at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have drawn allegations of nepotism, with claims that the institution’s long-standing merit-based tradition was violated. Reports suggest that in two departments, top-ranked candidates were overlooked in favor of relatives of current faculty members, including a professor’s wife and daughter. Alumni have expressed strong dissatisfaction, arguing that such decisions undermine the university’s reputation for fairness and meritocracy. BUET’s administration, however, has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all appointments followed proper procedures and were made in the university’s best interest. Critics fear this could set a precedent for favoritism and erode trust in the recruitment process. The controversy has sparked heated debate among BUET graduates and on social media, with many calling for greater transparency in academic hiring practices. Other departments reportedly followed standard rules without irregularities.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in Bangladesh has issued a directive mandating that all government and non-government secondary schools conduct their annual, selection, and junior scholarship examinations within the scheduled dates. According to the circular signed by Professor Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, the annual exams will run from November 20 to December 7, while the selection exams will take place from November 27 to December 11. Additionally, the junior scholarship exams are set to be held nationwide from December 28 to 31 across all lower secondary, secondary, and school-and-college institutions. The DSHE emphasized that any deviation, negligence, or irregularity by teachers or officials in conducting these examinations will result in disciplinary action. The directive aims to ensure uniformity, discipline, and transparency in the examination process throughout the country.

A Bangladeshi court has sentenced British MP Tulip Siddiq, niece of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to two years in prison for alleged abuse of power in the Purbachal New Town project. The verdict also includes Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana. Siddiq, 43, was accused of using political influence to secure plots for family members and faces a separate investigation over alleged £4 billion embezzlement linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. The Daily Mail first reported the allegations, prompting Siddiq to resign as City Minister. UK media and legal experts suggest that a confirmed conviction could increase pressure on her to resign as MP for Hampstead and Highgate. Questions have also arisen over a London flat she claimed was a family gift, though a UK government probe found no ministerial code breach. British lawyers have raised concerns about the transparency of the Bangladeshi trial and have written to the Bangladesh High Commission seeking clarification.

At a press conference in Dhaka’s RAOWA Club, Rakin Ahmed Bhuiyan, son of former BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed, alleged that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina orchestrated the 2009 Pilkhana massacre to protect India’s interests and prolong her rule. He claimed the incident was meant to send a warning that any army officer opposing India would face a similar fate. Bhuiyan demanded immediate action against those named in the BDR investigation commission’s report and called for justice for the slain officers. He warned that failure to hold the responsible individuals accountable could lead to another tragedy like Pilkhana. Families of the victims were also present at the event, expressing their continued demand for justice and transparency in the investigation process.

The United States and Syrian joint forces have destroyed 15 Islamic State (IS) weapons depots in southern Syria, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released on Friday, November 28. The operations, conducted between November 24 and 27, targeted IS stockpiles containing over 130 mortars and rockets, as well as numerous assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and bomb-making materials. The campaign is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate IS remnants that once controlled vast territories across Syria and Iraq following its rise in 2013. Although the group has lost most of its territory, it continues to maintain limited presence in remote areas. The latest operation comes amid political changes in Syria, where interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently met US President Donald Trump, who pledged full American support to the new transitional government following the December 2024 coup that ousted Bashar al-Assad.

Severe tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides have killed more than 900 people across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka over the past week to ten days. Indonesia’s Sumatra Island was hardest hit by Cyclone Seniyar, with at least 435 deaths and more than 400 people missing. Sri Lanka, battered by Cyclone Ditwah, reported 334 deaths and extensive damage to over 25,000 homes, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. In southern Thailand, 162 people died and 3.5 million were affected, though floodwaters have begun to recede. Malaysia reported two deaths and the evacuation of 34,000 people from coastal areas. Rescue operations continue across all four nations, with military helicopters delivering aid to isolated regions. Communication and transport networks remain severely disrupted in many affected areas, while reports of looting have emerged in some Indonesian towns due to delayed relief supplies.

Popular Bangladeshi actress Rukaiya Jahan Chomok has expressed her prayers for the speedy recovery of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who remains in critical condition at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. In a social media post on November 30, Chomok called Khaleda an uncompromising leader and wished her strength and peace. Her message came as BNP leaders confirmed that Khaleda Zia’s health has not improved, with serious infections in her lungs and heart. Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that the medical board overseeing her treatment has not yet recommended sending her abroad. Meanwhile, Chomok recently appeared as a model in singer Luipa’s new music video, which has gained popularity online for her performance and appearance.