The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has introduced new eligibility conditions for appointing principals, vice principals, head teachers, and assistant head teachers in private educational institutions. Under the revised MPO policy, candidates with a third division at any stage of their academic career will be deemed ineligible. The updated policy has received final approval from the ministry and is awaiting publication as an official gazette, likely within a week. Additionally, the ministry has finalized the decision to recruit institutional heads through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). The amended regulations stipulate that recruitment will involve examinations, though the distribution of marks between written and oral tests will be determined by the NTRCA board. While a 100-mark evaluation was proposed by the policy revision committee, the final policy leaves this decision to NTRCA’s discretion. The move aims to ensure merit-based and standardized recruitment in private education management.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is being taken to London for advanced medical treatment following a decision by her medical board. An air ambulance has been prepared for her transfer, expected late Thursday night or early Friday morning. According to a statement signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a total of 14 individuals will accompany her on the trip. Among them are six doctors—Dr. Abu Jafar Md. Zahid Hossain, Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqi, Dr. Shahabuddin Talukder, Dr. Nuruddin Ahmed, Dr. Jafar Iqbal, and Dr. Mohammad Al Mamun. Family member Sayeda Shamila Rahman, several BNP officials, and two members of the Special Security Force will also join the delegation. Domestic aides Fatema Begum and Rupa Shikdar are part of the entourage as well. The trip marks a significant step in Khaleda Zia’s ongoing health management efforts abroad.

The process to take BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to London for medical treatment has begun, though her departure has been delayed due to technical issues with the Qatari Emir’s air ambulance. Initially expected to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday night, the aircraft may now land around midnight or early Friday morning. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed the delay, noting that Khaleda’s flight to London could be pushed past 10 a.m. Friday. Khaleda will be accompanied by 14 people, including doctors and family members. Her daughter-in-law, Zubaida Rahman, is flying from London to Dhaka Thursday night and will accompany Khaleda back to London. Khaleda previously traveled to London in January for treatment on the same air ambulance and returned to Bangladesh in May after recovery.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India for a two-day official visit, marking his first trip to the country since the start of the Ukraine war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed him at Delhi’s Palam Air Base, where the two leaders exchanged hugs and greetings before departing together. The visit includes a private dinner hosted by Modi, reciprocating Putin’s similar gesture during Modi’s Moscow trip last year. On Friday, Putin is scheduled to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, attend an official reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and hold high-level bilateral talks at Hyderabad House. He will also inaugurate a new Russian state television channel operating from India and attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Discussions are expected to focus on defense, energy, and trade cooperation between the two nations. Putin is set to depart India on Friday night.

At a public rally in Berhampore, Murshidabad, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the SIR issue as a political weapon to advance its communal agenda. She claimed that more than half of the deaths linked to SIR incidents involved Hindus, rejecting the BJP’s religious polarization narrative. Banerjee reaffirmed that she would never allow NRC or detention camps in the state. Addressing concerns over the amended Waqf Property Act, she assured that all Waqf properties would remain protected and dismissed rumors about religious sites being misclassified. Her remarks followed violent clashes in Jangipur and Umarpur over the Waqf law, which left three dead and displaced thousands. Banerjee also criticized the BJP for fielding independent candidates in Bihar to divide votes and reiterated that border control is the central government’s responsibility. She invoked Murshidabad’s secular heritage, urging people to reject divisive politics.

A Pakistani national named Rais Khan was released from Kashimpur Central Jail in Bangladesh after 26 years in detention. He had been imprisoned since September 29, 1999, following his arrest under the Narcotics Control Act in a case filed by Ramna Police Station. His sentence was handed down on July 7, 2005, and officially expired on September 24, 2024. Despite completing his sentence, he remained in custody as a released prisoner awaiting repatriation. On Thursday, December 4, at around 12:30 p.m., Rais Khan was formally handed over to representatives of the Pakistani Embassy in the presence of special branch officials. Jail authorities confirmed that he is the son of Din Mohammad from Gulzar Hijri police station area in Karachi, Pakistan. His release marks the end of a prolonged legal and diplomatic process between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Environmental and Forest Affairs Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that while former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will continue to receive Special Security Force (SSF) protection as a declared Very Very Important Person (VVIP), her family members, including her son Tarique Rahman, will not be entitled to the same privilege. The clarification came after public speculation following the government’s recent gazette notification assigning SSF to Khaleda Zia’s security. Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia, who has been hospitalized at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for eleven days, is being prepared for transfer to London for advanced medical treatment. Her personal physician, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, confirmed that arrangements are being made to fly her out in a special air ambulance provided through the initiative of the Amir of Qatar. The government has expressed readiness to assist with all necessary procedures for her overseas treatment if her family requests further support.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed its desire for the upcoming national election to be held on schedule, without unnecessary delays. Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin in Dhaka, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the party aims to restore citizens’ voting rights and remain within the electoral process. BNP proposed extending polling hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., reducing voters per booth, increasing marking stations, and adding more ballot boxes to ensure smooth voting. The party also requested that passports be accepted as valid identification for voter registration, particularly for expatriate Bangladeshis lacking national ID cards. Additionally, BNP urged the Election Commission not to use private presses for printing ballot papers, citing security concerns. The CEC assured that the commission would discuss these proposals and decide in its upcoming meeting. BNP reiterated its commitment to timely elections despite political tensions and Khaleda Zia’s illness.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a new program calling for nationwide prayers for the recovery of its chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who remains in critical condition at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. According to a press release signed by senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, prayers will be held after Friday’s Juma prayers in mosques across the country, while followers of other faiths are urged to pray in their respective places of worship. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to transfer Khaleda Zia to London for advanced medical treatment, with a Qatar-sent air ambulance expected to depart at midnight. She will be accompanied by 14 people, including seven doctors, family members, and aides. Khaleda Zia has been hospitalized since November 23 and has spent the past eight days in the hospital’s coronary care unit under close observation. Her condition remains critical but stable, with ongoing dialysis and mechanical ventilation support.

The Election Commission of Jagannath University (JnU) has announced a revised schedule for the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and hall elections, now set for December 30. Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Mostafa Hasan confirmed the decision following a special syndicate meeting on December 4. The university will reopen on December 8, and preparations will continue until election day. According to the new timeline, candidates’ dope tests will be held on December 9 and 10, with the final candidate list published on December 11. Nomination withdrawals are scheduled for December 13–14, and campaigning will run from December 15 to 27. Voting will take place on December 30, with results expected by December 31. The election was previously delayed due to campus closure following earthquake concerns and student demands, which led to suspension of key pre-election activities including dope testing and candidate list publication.

Bangladesh’s Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has approved the Police Commission Ordinance aimed at making the police force more people-oriented and accountable. Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced the decision during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The five-member commission will be led by a retired Supreme Court judge and include senior officials, academics, and human rights experts with at least 15 years of experience. The commission will work with the government to ensure the police operate independently and uphold human rights. It will also investigate public complaints against police, address internal grievances of police personnel, and recommend reforms for modernization, training, and welfare. Additionally, the commission will advise the government on necessary legal research and policy development to enhance transparency, efficiency, and professionalism within the police force.

Britain is grappling with a threefold crisis involving economic, geopolitical, and political challenges. The Office for Students has warned that up to 50 UK universities could face bankruptcy within two years due to declining international student numbers and frozen tuition fees, forcing institutions to cut staff and merge programs. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government suffered a setback in its attempt to join the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense fund after talks collapsed over financial contributions. The failure casts doubt on post-Brexit cooperation ambitions. Domestically, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has launched a new left-wing party, ‘Your Party,’ positioning it as an alternative to Labour but already facing internal divisions. The party’s rise reflects discontent among traditional leftists and could reshape Britain’s political landscape. Together, these developments test Starmer’s leadership as the country navigates economic strain, strained EU relations, and ideological fragmentation.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), led by A M M Nasir Uddin, is set to meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin on December 10 to finalize the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum. According to an EC commissioner, the schedule announcement is expected within a few days after the meeting. The commission will also hold an internal meeting on December 7 to discuss the timetable. The EC has indicated that the election and referendum will likely take place in the first half of February 2026, before Ramadan. Preparations are reportedly complete for holding both votes on the same day, with mock voting already conducted. The commission is considering extending voting hours and increasing the number of booths to accommodate the dual-ballot process. The final decision on these logistical matters will be made in the upcoming EC meeting.

Two Bangladeshi youths were shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in separate incidents along the Lalmonirhat and Moulvibazar borders on December 4. In Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila, 25-year-old Sukhiram Urang was reportedly shot without provocation near the Muraichhara border. Locals took him to Kulaura Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) confirmed the incident and said a flag meeting with BSF was underway after the Indian side denied involvement. Earlier the same night, 30-year-old Sabuj Islam from Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila was killed near the Jagatber border when BSF personnel opened fire on a group allegedly attempting cattle smuggling. His body was later handed over to Indian police. Both incidents have heightened tensions along the Bangladesh-India frontier, prompting official communications between the two border forces to investigate the shootings and prevent further escalation.

The Indian Air Force, in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, has rescued more than 50 people from severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. Among those rescued are three Bangladeshi nationals, along with citizens from India, Belarus, Iran, South Africa, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, the UK, Australia, and Pakistan. India launched 'Operation Sagar Bandhu' on November 28 to provide emergency assistance, deploying naval ships and aircraft to deliver over 40 tons of relief materials, including tents, food, and medical supplies. Additionally, 80 members of the National Disaster Response Force and a five-member medical team were sent to assist in rescue operations. The cyclone has left at least 474 people dead and 356 missing, affecting around 450,000 families. Large parts of the country remain without electricity or safe water, and authorities continue to face difficulties reaching remote areas due to ongoing floods and landslides.