A devastating fire broke out on Monday morning in three tin-shed colonies in the Palli Bidyut Dighirpar area of Kaliakair upazila, Gazipur, destroying around 75 houses. According to local residents and fire service officials, the blaze started around 8:30 a.m. in a room belonging to Shahnaz Begum at Mohiuddin’s colony, reportedly due to an electrical short circuit. The flames quickly spread to two nearby colonies owned by Bayezid Master. Despite efforts by locals to control the fire, it continued to spread until three units from the Kaliakair Fire Service arrived and brought it under control within an hour. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as most residents were away at work in nearby factories. Authorities are still assessing the extent of property damage, while initial investigations suggest the fire originated from an electrical malfunction.

Thirteen fishermen from Lalmohan in Bhola, Bangladesh, who had been missing for 20 days after going to sea for fishing, have been located in India. The fishermen, who set out on November 11 aboard the fishing trawler 'Ma-Babar Doa', reportedly lost their way in the deep sea and accidentally entered Indian waters. They were detained by Indian naval police and handed over to a local police station in West Bengal, though the exact location remains unknown. One of the fishermen, who is speech-impaired, managed to contact his family via video call, confirming their safety. Local police in Lalmohan have informed higher authorities, and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now working to bring them back home. The families, who had earlier protested the authorities’ inaction, expressed relief upon hearing the news of their survival and are hopeful for their early return.

Bangladesh’s stock market experienced a significant downturn on Monday, December 1, marking the second trading day of the week. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw widespread losses across almost all sectors, with the benchmark DSEX index dropping 64 points to close at 4,914. The DSE Shariah Index fell 16 points to 1,028, while the DSE-30 index declined 21 points to 1,895. Out of the traded companies, only 38 gained, 322 declined, and 28 remained unchanged. Trading volume also decreased notably, with total transactions amounting to Tk 415.9 crore, down from Tk 492.54 crore in the previous session. Simtex Industries led in turnover with Tk 22.42 crore, followed by Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag and Dominage Steel Building. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the decline, with 131 companies losing value and total transactions amounting to Tk 3.29 crore. Market analysts attributed the fall to ongoing investor uncertainty and weak buying sentiment.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the court verdict in the Purbachal plot allocation case involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and niece Tulip Siddiq. The ACC’s prosecutors stated that the judgment did not meet their expectations, as they had sought life imprisonment for the accused based on the evidence presented. On Monday, Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years, Sheikh Rehana to seven years, and Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison, along with fines of 100,000 taka each. Fourteen other accused were each sentenced to five years in prison and fined the same amount. The case, filed in January by ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, alleged abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha government plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. Following the verdict, the ACC stated it would consult with the commission to decide on further legal action.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health condition remains stable under close medical supervision. Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, he dismissed recent media reports suggesting otherwise, urging the public not to be misled. Fakhrul called on citizens and party supporters to pray for Khaleda Zia’s swift recovery. The BNP also issued a press release requesting media outlets to rely solely on statements from Khaleda Zia’s personal physician and party standing committee member A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain for health updates. Earlier, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi confirmed that Khaleda Zia continues to receive treatment at Evercare Hospital as before, while BNP’s media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan assured that verified health updates will be shared with the press in due time.

Lalmonirhat district in northern Bangladesh recorded the country’s lowest temperature of 13.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, December 1, according to the Kurigram Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Observatory. The acting officer, Shubel Chandra Sarkar, stated that the temperature could drop further in the coming days, with dense fog likely to persist. Locals reported heavy fog across Lalmonirhat Sadar and five surrounding upazilas, with visibility so low that fog appeared to fall like drizzle between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Due to poor visibility, vehicles on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway and regional roads were forced to move slowly with headlights on even during the day. Meteorologists warned that the cold wave could strengthen if the current weather pattern continues.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 17 development projects worth Tk 15,383.51 crore, including the third revision of the Dhaka Metro Rail Line-6 project. The approval came during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Of the total cost, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,609.70 crore from foreign loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approved projects include sustainable agricultural development in Chattogram, quality potato seed production and distribution, drilling of three gas exploration wells, construction of 1,560 flats for July martyrs’ families in Mirpur, and a 220 MW solar power project in Sonagazi. Other projects cover urban resilience in Narayanganj, autism and NDD services, digital entrepreneurship, and health sector improvements. Two proposed projects were sent for further review.

An independent national investigation commission formed by Bangladesh’s interim government has alleged political involvement by members of the Awami League and possible Indian influence in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre at the then BDR headquarters in Dhaka. The commission’s report, submitted to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, claims that former MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh coordinated the incident with a 'green signal' from then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Witness testimonies revealed that Taposh allegedly instructed a youth to organize a rally that entered the BDR compound, and that members of the ruling party’s youth wing participated. Several witnesses also criticized the government’s handling of the mutiny, citing failures such as not deploying tanks, not convening the National Security Council, and declaring a general amnesty that emboldened the mutineers. The commission’s findings challenge previous official narratives and suggest political and external factors behind the tragic event.

Police in Lakshmipur’s Chandraganj area have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing operation hidden behind a local engineering workshop named Nuha Auto Traders and Lathe Engineering. Acting on a tip-off, the district Detective Branch (DB) conducted a raid on Monday afternoon, discovering locally made firearms and weapon-making equipment. Although no arrests were made during the operation, police identified the workshop’s owner as Nur Uddin, also known as Jiku, from Begumganj in Noakhali. DB Officer-in-Charge Shahadat Hossain Titu stated that the workshop had been under surveillance for some time based on intelligence reports. The recovered weapons and materials have been handed over to the local police station as part of legal procedures. Authorities are currently investigating how the illegal factory operated and who else might be involved, while efforts to apprehend the owner are ongoing.

Six teenagers were abducted at gunpoint by an armed gang from a tea stall in Baharchhara Union of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday evening. The incident occurred in Shilkhali village when 10–12 armed robbers descended from nearby hills and took the boys, aged between 13 and 17, into the forested hills. Two of the abducted teens managed to escape later. Local residents report that Baharchhara has become a hotspot for robberies, kidnappings, and ransom demands, leaving villagers in constant fear. Police, led by Baharchhara Investigation Center Inspector Durjoy Biswas, launched an overnight search operation with local assistance but had not yet rescued the remaining victims by nightfall. Local political and community leaders have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation and urged authorities to restore safety in the area.

A Dhaka Special Judge Court has scheduled January 5 for the hearing on charge framing in a sedition case against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others. The Special Judge Court-9, presided over by Judge Md Abdus Salam, fixed the new date after the defense requested more time during Monday’s session. The case stems from an online meeting held on December 19 last year under the banner of 'Joy Bangla Brigade,' where participants allegedly pledged to bring Sheikh Hasina back to power through civil conflict. Investigators claim the meeting contained elements of a conspiracy against the state. Following an investigation, the CID filed a charge sheet on August 14, naming 286 accused, including several former MPs and political figures. The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants for all accused. The hearing will determine whether formal charges will proceed against the defendants.

France has called on Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following an Israeli airstrike in Damascus that killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children. The French chargé d’affaires in Syria, Jean-Baptiste Favre, expressed concern over civilian casualties and reaffirmed France’s commitment to international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two countries. He urged Middle Eastern nations to engage in efforts to make Syria a center of peace, security, and stability for the region. Reports indicate that since December 2024, Israel has conducted over a thousand airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border operations in southern Syria. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government late last year, Israel reportedly took control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, violating the previous agreement with Syria. France’s statement reflects growing international concern over escalating violence and regional instability.

Khulna is witnessing a concerning surge in HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, according to data from the ART Center of Khulna Medical College Hospital. Between November 2024 and October 2025, 100 new HIV cases were detected among 1,279 blood samples, including eight children, while 23 people died of AIDS. The previous year saw 85 infections and 20 deaths. Health experts attribute the rise to cross-border movement with India’s West Bengal, unsafe sexual practices among transport workers and traders, and unregulated blood transfusions in some clinics. Among the newly infected, 56 are from the general population, 37 are homosexual men, and seven contracted the virus through blood. Officials emphasize the need for moral discipline, safe blood use, and public awareness to curb the spread. Currently, 887 patients are registered at the ART Center, with 550 receiving regular treatment. Authorities warn that without awareness and preventive measures, the trend may worsen.

Thousands of protesters gathered outside Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s residence in Tel Aviv after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a presidential pardon in his ongoing corruption cases. The 76-year-old leader sought clemency without admitting guilt or expressing remorse, sparking outrage among opposition lawmakers and anti-government activists. Demonstrators carried effigies mocking Netanyahu and urged the president to reject the plea. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, faces three separate corruption trials involving allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. One case accuses him and his wife of accepting luxury gifts worth around $260,000 from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors, while other cases involve attempts to secure favorable media coverage. Netanyahu denies all charges, insisting through his lawyers that he expects full acquittal through the legal process. The protests reflect growing public frustration over perceived political impunity and judicial interference in Israel’s governance.

RAB-12 arrested three members of a counterfeit money syndicate in Sherpur upazila of Bogura district on Saturday afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, the elite force raided a house in Mirzapur Paschim Khalifapara area and seized 157 fake Tk 1,000 notes, totaling Tk 157,000. The detainees were identified as Nayeb Ali (42) of Natore, Enamul Haque (29) of Singra, and Rafiqul Islam (42) of Tanore, Rajshahi. The suspects had contacted a local resident, Faruk Hossain, through Facebook under the pretext of buying stones, which led to their capture. RAB also recovered three small stones, four SIM cards, three smartphones, a button phone, and Tk 4,210 in cash. During initial interrogation, the arrestees admitted to distributing counterfeit currency across different areas to deceive people. They were handed over to Sherpur police, and a case was filed under the Special Powers Act before being presented in court.