National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has called on Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) to take into account the illness of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia when announcing the election schedule. Speaking at a policy dialogue in Dhaka on Friday, he emphasized that while the EC should show empathy, the electoral process must not be halted for any particular political party.

Nahid Islam stated that the EC should work to unite all political parties and ensure a smooth start to the electoral journey. He clarified that NCP has no objection to the timing of the election schedule and that the polls should be held as planned. Addressing speculation about alliances, he said NCP has not entered into any formal or informal agreements with other parties and is preparing independently.

He added that NCP seeks to promote a new political culture based on democracy and economic justice, distancing itself from traditional parties that have lost public trust. The party aims to present itself as a fresh alternative in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Special prayers were held across Bangladesh on Friday seeking the speedy recovery of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. From Rajbari to Bagerhat, and from Noakhali to Mymensingh, mosques hosted prayer gatherings following the Jumu’ah prayers, joined by BNP leaders, activists, and local worshippers. In several districts, including Panchagarh, Pirojpur, and Kushtia, local BNP units and affiliated organizations arranged Qur’an recitations and milad ceremonies.

Party leaders such as Barrister Ragib Rauf Chowdhury, Engineer M.A. Matin Khan, and Dr. Mohammad Jalal Uddin attended regional events, emphasizing unity and collective supplication for Zia’s health. The BNP’s central and district committees coordinated the observances, which also drew participation from journalists and civic representatives in some areas.

The widespread prayer initiative reflects the party’s concern over Khaleda Zia’s ongoing health condition and aims to demonstrate solidarity among supporters nationwide. BNP officials indicated that similar religious gatherings may continue until her condition improves, underscoring the symbolic and emotional significance of the events for the party’s grassroots base.

Two small shop owners in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila have reported receiving unusually high electricity bills despite minimal power consumption. One tea stall owner, who operates with only a single light and fan, was billed 55,550 taka for the month, while another small food shop owner received a bill of 24,216 taka. Both claim their usual monthly bills range between 200–800 taka.

The incidents occurred in Litukhan Bazar of Dighirpar Union, sparking concern among local traders. The affected owners said they contacted the local Palli Bidyut office, which advised them to visit in person. Tongibari Palli Bidyut zonal officer Abdus Salam acknowledged that the issue might stem from a meter reading or billing system error and assured that an on-site inspection would be conducted to resolve the problem.

The cases have drawn attention to potential flaws in rural electricity billing systems, raising questions about transparency and accountability in utility management across Bangladesh’s countryside.

On the 33rd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, former Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque named 'Babri Masjid' in Raninagar, Murshidabad, West Bengal. The ceremony took place on December 6 at noon, coinciding with the date of the original mosque’s destruction in Ayodhya in 1992. Local authorities deployed heightened security to ensure the event proceeded peacefully.

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court declined to intervene in a petition seeking to halt the construction, effectively removing legal barriers to the project. Kabir announced that the mosque’s construction would take around three years, funded by donations from devout Muslims. He urged for police cooperation to maintain peace during the event.

The move comes as Ayodhya’s Ram Temple nears completion following the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict. The Murshidabad project has drawn attention for its timing and symbolism, reflecting ongoing religious sensitivities in India’s socio-political landscape.

The Chattogram Divisional Public Library, located on KC Dey Road, has remained closed for seven years since renovation work began in January 2018. Despite multiple government assurances, the Tk 281 crore modernization project has stalled, leaving over 111,000 books and valuable furniture at risk of decay. The contractor, RP Enterprise, abandoned the project before completion, halting progress even though officials claim 92–95% of the work is done.

Writers, students, and cultural activists have voiced frustration, saying the prolonged closure has eroded reading habits and deprived young people of access to knowledge. Many fear the city’s cultural identity is fading as youth turn to digital distractions. Library officials report that only a small administrative office operates temporarily on the fifth floor, while the main reading halls remain unusable.

Authorities have requested an extension from the national planning body to resume construction. Residents urge the government to reopen the historic library within the year, warning that further delay could permanently damage Chattogram’s intellectual and cultural landscape.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the party would create employment for 15 million unemployed people within one year if it returns to power. Speaking during a campaign event in his Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency, he said the pledge reflects BNP’s commitment to restoring the rule of law and ensuring equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion or background.

Ahmed accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government of depriving citizens of their voting rights for 17 years through what he described as state conspiracies. He emphasized that under BNP leadership, democratic and human rights would be reinstated, and the unfinished work of late President Ziaur Rahman would be completed under acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

The statement comes as BNP intensifies its campaign ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. Analysts note that the job creation promise aims to appeal to Bangladesh’s large youth population facing unemployment challenges.

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) has rejected a report published by the online news outlet *Amar Desh*, which claimed that Ansar members were deployed to guard a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In a statement issued Friday evening, the paramilitary force described the report as entirely false and clarified that no Ansar personnel had been assigned to the site.

According to the official statement, neither district nor local Ansar authorities were aware of any such deployment, and no official order had been issued. The Ansar further explained that two night guards currently stationed at the location were appointed by the municipal authority and were not members of the Ansar VDP, nor did they wear its uniform. The clarification followed *Amar Desh*’s earlier claim that two Ansar members were specifically posted to protect the statue.

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over misinformation in local media and the sensitivity surrounding symbols of national leadership. The Ansar’s denial aims to prevent reputational damage and ensure public trust in official communication channels.

Members of the Hindu community in Dohar upazila organized a special prayer and blessing ceremony on Friday evening for the recovery of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place at the Joypara Golabari Harisabha Temple, with Dhaka District BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq attending as chief guest. The gathering was presided over by Advocate Ranjit Saha and conducted by Bikash Sarkar, senior joint convener of the Dohar Volunteer Team.

Several BNP and allied organization leaders, including Masud Parvez, Abul Hashem Bepari, and representatives from the Puja Celebration Council and Hindu Mahajot, were present. Meanwhile, a separate prayer event was held in Nawabganj after Friday prayers, organized by Dhaka North Chhatra Dal President Salahuddin Ahmed, where local BNP leaders also prayed for Khaleda Zia’s health.

These parallel events reflect cross-community concern for the former prime minister’s health and signal continued grassroots mobilization within the BNP network amid her prolonged illness and limited public appearances.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Ahmad Tayebur Rahman Hiron, convenor of the Gauripur Upazila unit in Mymensingh, citing violations of party discipline and involvement in organizational conflicts. In a press release signed by Mymensingh North District BNP convenor A.K.M. Enayet Ullah Kalam and joint convenor Motahar Hossain Talukder, the party announced that senior joint convenor Md. Habibul Islam Khan Shahid will serve as acting convenor.

According to party sources, the expulsion followed internal unrest after the BNP’s executive committee nominated engineer M. Iqbal Hossain as the preliminary candidate for the Mymensingh-3 (Gauripur) constituency. Supporters of Hiron reportedly protested the nomination decision, demanding a change, which intensified factional tensions within the local unit.

The leadership reshuffle underscores growing internal challenges for the BNP ahead of potential national political movements. Party insiders suggest that maintaining unity at the grassroots level will be crucial as the BNP prepares for upcoming electoral and organizational activities.

National Citizen Party (South) chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah announced he will contest the upcoming Comilla-4 (Debidwar) parliamentary election independently, even if he receives only ten votes. Speaking at a campaign rally in Rajamehar village, he rejected the idea of forming alliances, emphasizing loyalty to party principles over political expediency. Abdullah said his supporters include educated youth and university students who are actively engaging with his campaign.

He outlined a series of pledges focusing on women’s education, employment training, and empowerment, as well as initiatives for religious clerics to gain small business support through microcredit. Abdullah also proposed scholarship and monitoring programs for meritorious students and language training centers to prepare migrant workers for better opportunities abroad. He criticized false campaign promises about household gas supply, calling them misleading and economically unsustainable.

Abdullah’s independent stance highlights growing local-level political diversification in Bangladesh’s electoral landscape, where smaller parties seek to assert identity amid dominant alliances. His campaign themes reflect a focus on social reform and grassroots empowerment.

National Citizen Party (NCP) northern region chief organizer Sarjis Alam has indicated that his party is keeping the door open for forming an electoral alliance ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. Speaking in Panchagarh on Thursday night, he said discussions are ongoing with like-minded centrist political groups to ensure that any coalition aligns with the country’s and people’s interests.

Sarjis emphasized that the NCP seeks partners who support reform, oppose external dominance, and uphold communal harmony in Bangladesh’s political landscape. He noted that while an earlier date had been set for announcing the alliance, the party decided to expand its framework to include more parties. The NCP leader also announced that the party’s first list of nominated candidates would be released within two days, with a goal to field candidates in all 300 constituencies by December.

Political observers view the NCP’s approach as an attempt to broaden its influence and appeal to reform-minded voters seeking transparent and inclusive politics.

A 15-year-old boy has been accused of raping a five-year-old girl in Sripur village under Chandpur Union, Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district. The assault reportedly occurred on Tuesday, December 2, when the minor lured the child into his home. The victim’s family filed a case on Friday night, December 5, after initial attempts to settle the matter privately failed.

According to police, the accused’s mother initially tried to suppress the incident by urging the victim’s mother not to disclose it. The child later fell ill and was taken to Kushtia General Hospital for treatment. Kumarkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Amirul Islam stated that the delay in filing the case was due to efforts to resolve the issue within the families. Authorities have since registered a rape case and launched an operation to arrest the accused.

The case has sparked local outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of children and stricter enforcement of sexual assault laws in rural Bangladesh.

A Bailey bridge on the Habiganj–Baniachong regional road collapsed on Friday morning when a stone-laden truck attempted to cross, causing two deck panels to give way and trapping the vehicle mid-bridge. The incident has completely halted road communication between Habiganj district town and the upazilas of Baniachong and Ajmiriganj, affecting residents of more than fifty surrounding villages.

Baniachong Upazila Executive Officer Mahamuda Begum Sathi confirmed that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has already begun repair work. RHD Executive Engineer Zakir Hossain stated that the truck’s heavy load made removal difficult, requiring partial unloading before towing. He added that repair operations would continue overnight, with normal traffic expected to resume by Saturday morning.

Local authorities have urged commuters to use alternative routes until the bridge is restored. The collapse highlights the vulnerability of older Bailey bridges under heavy transport loads, prompting calls for structural assessments across the region.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that if the party forms the next government, it will introduce a new economic and financing model aimed at creating 10 million jobs within 18 months. Speaking at the National Youth Policy Dialogue in Dhaka, he said the BNP’s approach would eliminate the need to seek loans from multinational institutions such as the IMF and World Bank.

Khasru emphasized that the proposed model would focus on uninterrupted power supply and major investments in the information technology sector. He claimed that the plan is based on detailed research and sector-specific financing strategies, not political rhetoric. The event, jointly organized by Dhaka Forum Initiative (DFI) and Youth School for Social Entrepreneurs (YSSE), was attended by around 250 students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs.

His remarks come as Bangladesh continues to implement a $5.5 billion IMF loan program initiated in 2023. BNP’s proposed shift signals a potential departure from traditional external borrowing, raising questions about alternative funding sources and fiscal sustainability if the party returns to power.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been awarded the FIFA Peace Award, recognizing his claimed contributions to global peace initiatives. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the honor, emphasizing football’s role as a symbol of unity and the importance of acknowledging individuals who bring people together in turbulent times.

According to FIFA, Trump was recognized for his involvement in peace efforts linked to the Abraham Accords and mediation attempts in conflicts involving Rwanda–DR Congo, Cambodia–Thailand, Kosovo–Serbia, India–Pakistan, Egypt–Ethiopia, Armenia–Azerbaijan, and Israel–Hamas, as well as his continued efforts regarding the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Infantino previously remarked that Trump’s mediation work after the Israel–Gaza ceasefire was comparable to Nobel Peace Prize–level efforts.

However, the decision has drawn criticism. Outlets like The New York Times noted that Trump’s claims of ending multiple wars remain disputed, and Human Rights Watch has questioned FIFA’s transparency in the nomination and selection process, saying the organization has not responded to its inquiries.