A leader of the banned student organization Chhatra League was detained at Rajshahi University and handed over to police by the university administration. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday near the university’s Paris Road area, when a group of students identified and detained Solaiman, a 2019–20 session student of the Botany Department and former religious affairs secretary of the Shahid Habibur Rahman Hall unit. His home district is Tangail’s Madhupur.

According to the university proctor’s office and students, Solaiman had previously been accused of torturing students during the July movement, including holding one at gunpoint. Witnesses said his mobile phone contained evidence of communication with the banned organization’s university branch general secretary. The proctor confirmed that the university handed him over to police after verifying the evidence.

Motihar Police Station’s officer-in-charge stated that Solaiman is an accused in an anti-terrorism case involving the banned Chhatra League and was recently seen at a rally in Shah Makhdum area. Police are keeping him in custody and plan to present him before court.

India’s latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report shows the country’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. Two decades ago, the rate stood at 3.3. Experts attribute the decline to higher education levels, career focus, rising living costs, and growing emphasis on personal freedom. Many couples now choose to delay or forgo parenthood altogether.

Specialists note that educated and financially independent women are increasingly prioritizing careers and self-development over traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood. The availability of fertility options such as egg freezing, now offered by over 2,000 centers, allows women to delay childbirth. Meanwhile, India’s infant mortality rate has dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024, further influencing smaller family sizes.

Regional disparities remain: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh record higher fertility rates of 2.9 and 2.6, while Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala report rates near 1.2–1.3. Some states, including Andhra Pradesh, have introduced cash incentives for additional births, but experts argue that addressing underlying social and economic factors will be more effective than urging larger families.

Two people were killed by lightning strikes in Netrokona district on Sunday morning during rainfall. According to local residents and police sources, the victims were Jamal Munshi, a 55-year-old farmer from Sapmara village, and Sabuj Mia, a 53-year-old CNG driver from Kutubpur village, both in Sadar upazila.

Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Sarkar of Netrokona Model Police Station confirmed the incident and said that an unnatural death case has been filed. Netrokona Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Mushfiqur Rahman stated that the government has provided Tk 20,000 in immediate financial assistance to each bereaved family for burial and funeral expenses.

The local administration’s prompt response aims to support the affected families following the sudden lightning tragedy.

A dispute at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on June 13 escalated after a patient’s death led to allegations of assault and misconduct. The deceased, Nur Nahar Begum, was admitted to the hospital’s cardiology unit early Saturday and died shortly afterward. Her son, Rifat Hossain, allegedly assaulted a doctor following claims of negligence. In response, intern doctors and students halted emergency services for two hours and later demanded punishment for the assault.

Family members accused the interns of withholding the body and preventing them from seeing it. They claimed the body was removed from an ambulance and kept in the morgue until Rifat was forced to perform public squats as punishment. The hospital director, Brigadier General Ashiqur Rahman, denied that the body was intentionally withheld, citing safety concerns amid chaos. He confirmed that legal action would be taken against those involved in the assault.

Three members of parliament later visited the hospital and condemned the incident, emphasizing that humane behavior and professional ethics are integral to medical service.

Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, declared that the “zero hour” had arrived and launchers were being prepared, signaling heightened readiness amid escalating tensions in Beirut. In a post on social media platform X, he said a miscalculation in Beirut had exhausted Iran’s patience and that necessary orders had been issued. Velayati emphasized Hezbollah’s key role in the resistance axis and warned that if unrest in Lebanon continued, the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb could be used to choke off economic lifelines.

His remarks were widely viewed as a strong warning from Tehran amid rising regional instability. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern over recent attacks in Beirut, urging all parties to exercise restraint. He said Israel’s recent strikes had delayed the signing of a proposed U.S.-Iran peace agreement by several hours but remained hopeful it would be finalized on Sunday.

According to Reuters, mediators believe the U.S.-Iran deal is nearing completion, though Tehran remains unwilling to accept terms that would allow Israel to continue military operations across the region.

The Jahangirnagar University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir held a protest march on Sunday night condemning parliamentary remarks by BNP lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury about hijab, niqab, and purdah. The demonstration began at Murad Chattar around 10:30 p.m. and ended with a brief rally at Battala after marching through key campus roads. Participants chanted slogans defending hijab as a woman’s right and rejecting any insult toward Islamic dress.

At the rally, Shibir’s JU secretary Md. Mazharul Islam described the MP’s comments as inappropriate and disrespectful, urging authorities to take effective action and demanding a public apology. He emphasized that no woman should be demeaned for her clothing choices and called for respect toward female students’ attire in educational institutions. JU Shibir president Mostafizur Rahman accused political parties of fostering anti-Islamic sentiment and said such remarks in Parliament were unacceptable.

The protesters demanded that Monirul Haque withdraw his statement and apologize publicly, urging respect for religious values and personal freedom across society.

A daylong free medical camp was organized last Saturday in the remote char area of Ashariadah on the Padma River in Rajshahi. The initiative, funded and arranged by the Rajshahi Battalion (1 BGB), aimed to provide healthcare services to thousands of residents who have long been deprived of medical care due to geographic isolation, poor communication, and financial hardship. The camp offered health checkups, medical consultations, and free medicines to underprivileged men, women, and children.

A team of one BGB doctor and seven experienced physicians from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital provided treatment, assisted by the acting medical officer of the Rajshahi Sector. Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Shahriar, commanding officer of 1 BGB, said the force works tirelessly for the security and welfare of border residents and expressed satisfaction at being able to deliver medical services directly to the char area. Local residents expressed gratitude, noting that the area’s only health complex has been inactive for years due to the absence of doctors.

According to local representatives, this was the largest medical camp held in the region so far, and BGB plans to continue such welfare activities in the future.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that the government plans to recruit 100,000 health workers across Bangladesh to strengthen the national healthcare system. Of these, 80,000 will be women who will provide home-based health checkups, screenings, and primary care services. The initiative aims to ensure quality healthcare reaches every household. The minister made the announcement on June 14, 2026, while inaugurating the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital, where he also launched ICU operations for ten district hospitals.

During the event, the minister said that 20 new hospitals will be built nationwide, including two specialized hospitals for women with 1,500 beds each, and 18 others with 1,000 beds. These facilities will offer kidney dialysis, cancer treatment, rehabilitation, maternal care, and general medical services. Each hospital will receive five modern ambulances, and four helicopters will be added for emergency patient transport.

The minister expressed dissatisfaction over the poor management and cleanliness at Narayanganj General Hospital and gave the district civil surgeon a 48-hour ultimatum to improve conditions.

Rafi Uz-Zahid, owner of Hakka Dhaka restaurant, withdrew his bail petition after initially applying for it in connection with the Bailey Road fire case that killed 46 people two years ago. The hearing took place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, before Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah. Advocate ABM Ibrahim Khalil represented the accused, while prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Suman opposed the bail. After hearing both sides, the court kept the order pending, but the defense later withdrew the petition.

Prosecutor Suman confirmed the withdrawal and expressed confusion over the sequence of events, noting that he was first informed the bail was rejected and later told it had been withdrawn. Earlier, on May 23, Rafi Uz-Zahid had surrendered before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s court and was sent to jail after his surrender plea was rejected.

The case stems from the February 29, 2024 fire at the Green Cozy Cottage building on Bailey Road that killed 46 people and injured many. The CID submitted the charge sheet on April 2, 2026, naming 22 accused, including restaurant owners operating in the building.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, accused in multiple corruption cases, has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates with assistance from Interpol, according to Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. Authorities found several passports, including one from Portugal, and a UAE residence permit in his possession. He was detained at Dubai Airport after being identified by an AI camera system while waiting for a transit flight from London.

Bangladesh police officials said the AI camera flagged his presence, triggering an alert to airport authorities who quickly located and arrested him. The UAE police charged him with entering the country using forged travel documents. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh had earlier sought international cooperation to apprehend him in connection with illegal wealth accumulation cases.

The UAE’s Ministry of Interior formally notified Bangladesh of the arrest on June 12. The home minister stated that Bangladesh must submit an extradition request within 30 days under UAE law, and the government has already initiated the necessary diplomatic procedures to bring him back.

Member of Parliament Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan from Comilla-10 (Lalmai-Nangalkot) constituency has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Lalmai Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nuruzzaman, declaring that he has shown the officer a 'red card'. Speaking at a meeting with local journalists at the Lalmai Upazila Auditorium on June 13, he said the OC’s conduct was unsatisfactory and that he had already spoken to senior police officials seeking the officer’s removal.

The MP alleged that since joining Lalmai Police Station, OC Nuruzzaman had not taken visible legal action against Awami League activists and had failed to play an expected role in law enforcement. Mobashwer Alam further claimed that the officer was often unavailable and uncooperative, adding that his behavior raised questions about neutrality. He stated that he had discussed the issue with the DIG and Superintendent of Police but saw no action taken, warning that he might raise the matter in Parliament.

OC Nuruzzaman declined to comment on the issue. The MP’s remarks have sparked widespread discussion in local political and administrative circles, with observers noting concern over the public dispute between an elected representative and a police officer.

Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam announced that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will begin supplying electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid by the end of August 2026. He made the statement in parliament while responding to a question from a ruling party member representing Jamalpur-3. The minister said the plant is currently in the commissioning and start-up phase, which is the final and most complex stage before commercial power generation.

According to Anam, fuel loading for Unit-1 began on April 28, 2026, under Stage-B of the project. Ongoing activities include reactor fuel installation, boric acid addition, reactor and primary circuit testing, safety verification, and subcriticality tests. The next steps involve bringing the reactor to a critical state, conducting integrated control and safety system tests, and gradually increasing reactor power from 10–12 percent to 35–40 percent for technical evaluations.

The minister expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating that after all tests and commissioning are completed, the generator will be synchronized with the national grid approximately 114 days after fuel loading, initially supplying around 300 megawatts of electricity.

Police in Madaripur have arrested a woman named Kulsum Begum, aged 42, in connection with a human trafficking case and are searching for her son-in-law, Kuddus Rahman, aged 35. Kulsum was detained on Saturday night from Keranibat in Shibchar upazila and sent to court on Sunday afternoon. The case involves the alleged trafficking of a young man named Salaullah, aged 22, from Char Khoajpur village.

According to the case statement, Kuddus Rahman took 2 million taka from Salaullah’s family, promising to send him to Italy. On October 29, 2025, Salaullah was taken to Libya via Saudi Arabia, where he was reportedly detained and tortured by a trafficking group. The traffickers later demanded another 2 million taka as ransom through a video message. Despite the payment, the victim has been missing for six months, and his family fears he may have been killed.

Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the arrest and said police operations are ongoing to capture the remaining suspects, including the son-in-law.

An Israeli attack on southern Beirut has intensified tensions across the Middle East, with analysts warning it could severely undermine ongoing efforts toward a potential agreement between the United States and Iran. Sami Nader, director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, described the strike as a critical test for US-Iran negotiations, noting that Israel seeks to keep the Hezbollah conflict separate from the talks while Iran insists on linking the two issues.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Nader said Israel is pushing to isolate the Hezbollah front from diplomatic discussions, whereas Iran views the connection as essential to advancing any deal. He added that the incident could completely derail the potential agreement. Nader also pointed to Israel’s internal political dynamics, where right-wing factions have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not taking a tougher stance against Hezbollah and for aligning with US President Donald Trump’s position on avoiding escalation in Lebanon.

Analysts believe Iran’s response to the Beirut strike will determine whether regional tensions escalate further or if diplomatic channels remain open.

Residents of Chanpur village in Latifpur Union, Mirzapur upazila of Tangail, staged a unique protest on Sunday afternoon by planting rice seedlings on a muddy road in front of the Khandakar Para Mosque. They said the 1.5-kilometer stretch from Chanpur Bridge to Bhuluya Bridge has remained unpaved for 55 years since independence, despite repeated appeals to authorities.

Locals explained that the road, built on a Water Development Board embankment, has deteriorated due to heavy truck traffic carrying soil and bricks. The uneven surface becomes muddy and impassable during rain, making it difficult to transport patients or even carry the dead to burial grounds. Residents, including Fazle Rabbi and several youths, joined the symbolic protest demanding immediate paving of the road.

Latifpur Union Parishad Chairman Ali Hossain Rony said five brick kilns nearby cause constant heavy vehicle movement, worsening the road’s condition. He added that a project proposal has been sent to the LGED headquarters for approval, after which the road will be paved.