Switzerland has expressed strong interest in working with Bangladesh to develop a skilled and internationally competitive workforce. The announcement came after a courtesy meeting between Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli at the ministry on Sunday. The ambassador also assured continued cooperation in Bangladesh’s overall development and safe migration management.

During the meeting, Minister Chowdhury voiced concern over the ongoing instability in the Middle East, which has forced many Bangladeshi workers to return home. He emphasized the urgent need to ensure rehabilitation, employment, and social protection for these returnees. The minister highlighted that the Overseas Employment Platform has made migration management more modern and transparent, and he sought Swiss technical assistance to further enhance it through manpower demand management, medical center integration, job portal development, and a dedicated mobile app.

Chowdhury added that the government prioritizes safe workplaces, labor welfare, and skill development. He noted that Bangladeshi workers could contribute significantly to Swiss sectors such as healthcare, caregiving, IT, engineering, hospitality, and construction, and requested more scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students and researchers.

Pakistan is considering purchasing oil and gas from Iran at lower prices following the end of the Iran–United States conflict and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran. Energy Minister Ali Parvez Malik announced the plan on Sunday, noting that the government aims to take advantage of the new trade opportunities with Iran.

Speaking in Lahore, Malik recalled that during the peak of the Iran–US conflict in April, petroleum prices had reached 460 rupees per liter, but global prices have since declined significantly. On June 17, Washington and Tehran signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan, under which the United States committed to lifting restrictions on Iran’s crude oil and petroleum exports, including related banking, insurance, and transport services.

Malik added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already passed on the benefits of lower energy costs to the public by reducing fuel prices.

Field workers of the private development organization Page Development Center in Habiganj have alleged that their jobs are not being regularized even after ten months unless they pay bribes to Area Manager Jahangir. The organization operates in 17 districts with more than 180 branches implementing various socio-economic programs. According to company policy, field workers should be regularized after six months of probation, but several former employees said they were forced to pay Tk 10,000 to secure permanent positions.

Former field workers Yasmin Akter, Mohammad Roman, and Rezuana Akter accused Jahangir and branch manager Abul Hasan of demanding bribes, verbal abuse, and harassment. Some alleged that Jahangir made inappropriate late-night video calls to female staff and threatened them if they did not respond. A loan recipient, Zahur Ali, also claimed Jahangir sought bribes for job placements through intermediaries.

Jahangir denied taking bribes, saying his strict behavior was due to the difficulty of loan recovery. Page’s director Mujibur Rahman confirmed receiving written complaints and announced a three-member committee to investigate the allegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran’s exclusive control for the next 30 days. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, he said the waterway is currently under Iran’s full supervision and management, and its full use will begin once all obstacles are removed.

Araghchi stated that he had informed Iraq’s foreign minister about the outcomes of the war imposed on Iran and the progress of the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States. He emphasized that the responsibility for the strait lies solely with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with no role for any other state or party.

He warned that any interference or unilateral action would worsen the situation and delay the reopening process of the strait. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, highlighting Iran’s assertion of authority over a key maritime route.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku announced that one of the government’s key goals is to export livestock products after meeting domestic demand. He said this during a ceremony at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Cargo Village on Sunday, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever export of hatching eggs to Nigeria. The minister emphasized that such exports will strengthen the national economy and accelerate overall development.

He noted that under the Prime Minister’s vision, every sector is being developed with an export-oriented approach, and the fisheries and livestock sector is gradually becoming a strong contributor to export diversification. The minister described the export as a milestone reflecting Bangladesh’s growing capacity and international recognition in livestock production.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, private company Kazi Farms Limited exported 10,440 Ross 308 Broiler parent hatching eggs worth 18,729 US dollars to Nigeria. Officials from the ministry, the department, and Kazi Farms attended the event, where it was stated that the department continues working to build an internationally competitive livestock sector.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United States to ensure full compliance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries, including clauses related to Lebanon. Speaking on June 28, 2026, Araghchi urged Washington to compel Israel to stop its ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon, describing the attacks as continuing despite the agreement.

He stated that Israel had also accepted the memorandum and emphasized that the United States should fulfill its responsibilities to end the conflict. Araghchi further urged Washington to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied areas in Lebanon, noting that this was the first clause of the memorandum.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect Iran’s position that the United States bears responsibility for enforcing the terms of the agreement to restore stability in Lebanon.

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin visited the Karnaphuli Paper Mills Limited (KPM) in Kaptai, Rangamati on Sunday, June 28, 2026. During the visit, he inspected the aging and deteriorated facilities of the mill and sought suggestions from the mill authorities on how the large industrial complex could be reactivated and restored to operation. The commissioner toured various production units and offered key recommendations for improvement.

At the KPM guest house, the mill’s Managing Director, Shahid Ullah, presented an overview of the mill’s past and current conditions through a projector presentation. The visit was attended by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Md. Alomgir Hossain, Kaptai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raihanul Islam, and several senior KPM officials and local representatives.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Ziauddin was welcomed with flowers by local department heads upon his arrival in Kaptai and later visited the Raikhali Headman Office.

Bangladesh’s Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu has sought South Korea’s cooperation in using advanced technology, vocational training, and research to modernize the country’s land management system. The request was made on Sunday, June 28, during a courtesy meeting at the minister’s office in the National Parliament with a delegation from South Korea’s renowned company Domyoung Meta. The meeting discussed the use of modern technology and digitalization in land management.

During the meeting, the minister briefed the delegation on Bangladesh’s future plans for digitalizing land management. He described the digitalization of land services as a major national achievement that empowers citizens and enhances transparency in government initiatives, significantly reducing the influence of intermediaries in the land sector.

Representatives from Domyoung Meta expressed interest in working in line with the ministry’s strategic digital transformation policy. They stated that, with support from local partner Dhaka Meta, they have the capacity to implement and manage land record and survey (DRS) activities efficiently and assured the minister of achieving optimal results within the shortest possible time.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain told Parliament that the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on May 27 were caused by oxygen shortage and negligence. Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, he said the hospital’s license was suspended to bring discipline to private healthcare institutions. The minister held the hospital’s owner responsible, citing mismanagement and the appointment of the owner’s wife as chief executive after the incident.

Responding to opposition criticism, Hossain said the government had only suspended the hospital’s license, not shut it down, and rejected comparisons with previous fire incidents at United Hospital and the Burn Unit, which he described as accidents. He emphasized that Ad-Din’s case involved negligence, not an accident, and described the lack of oxygen and medical response during the tragedy.

State Minister for Health Dr. M.A. Muhith also addressed Parliament, noting that 80 percent of healthcare costs in Bangladesh are paid out-of-pocket by patients. He said the new budget aims to rebuild the health system, ensure free and equitable care, and strengthen transparency and accountability in health management.

During the national budget discussion for the 2026–27 fiscal year, ruling party whip Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu mistakenly cited a Quranic verse number while quoting from Surah An-Najm. He referred to verse 53, which was actually the surah number, not the verse number. Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Mohammad Kamal Hossain raised a point of order to correct the error, clarifying that the correct reference was verse 39 of Surah An-Najm.

Following the correction, Speaker of Parliament briefly confirmed the clarification, and the Jamaat MP emphasized that Quranic verses must be cited accurately. Acknowledging the correction, Whip Nuruddin Ahmed Apu thanked the Jamaat MP for pointing out the mistake and publicly expressed his appreciation on the parliamentary floor.

The exchange occurred during the general discussion on the proposed national budget, highlighting a rare moment of cooperation across party lines in the Bangladesh Parliament.

Road Transport, Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has downplayed opposition criticism of the proposed national budget, saying he does not take their remarks seriously. Speaking on June 28, 2026, he compared Bangladesh’s deficit budget approach with that of the United States and China, arguing that concerns about revenue shortfalls are misplaced. He suggested that opposition members would better understand how to critique budgets after spending more time in opposition.

The minister stated that he had not heard significant criticism in parliament, only some concerns about possible revenue deficits. He assured that revenue collection would improve through the use of e-invoicing and reduced tax exemptions. He added that tax evasion would be addressed through identification measures and a revised VAT structure. According to him, the government aims to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio closer to 13–14 percent, similar to Nepal and Bhutan.

Sheikh Robiul Alam further noted that bank borrowing had decreased from 1.18 trillion taka in fiscal year 2025–26 to 1.12 trillion taka in the new budget, expressing confidence that revenue targets would be met.

India has reopened tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens after nearly two years of suspension. The application process began on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. The visa service had been halted since August 5, 2024, following political changes in Bangladesh and related security concerns.

The announcement was made by India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, who stated that medical visas would also be processed quickly on humanitarian grounds. He added that the service would gradually expand to other IVAC centers to fully normalize visa operations.

Applicants must apply through India’s online visa portal by selecting “Regular Visa Application,” choosing Bangladesh as the country, and selecting the tourist visa category. A valid passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages is required, along with a digital photo and printed, signed application form.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform showing himself carrying the Earth on his shoulders, drawing a parallel with the Greek mythological figure Atlas. The image, shared on Saturday, depicted Trump kneeling with an American flag draped over his body. The post came a day after U.S. forces struck an Iranian drone storage site following an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump did not include any caption, leaving the intended message unclear.

The Atlas reference alludes to the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens, later popularly depicted as bearing the world. Trump’s post follows earlier instances where he used AI-generated imagery likening himself to divine or heroic figures. A previous image showing him in priestly attire healing a patient drew criticism from some Republican supporters, who viewed it as blasphemous. Trump later said he meant to portray himself as a doctor helping people, not as Jesus.

The Independent reported that it had sought comment from the White House regarding Trump’s latest posts, which also included a comparison between his youthful photo and that of former President Barack Obama.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana has urged journalists to focus on uncovering authentic news amid the spread of misinformation, rumors, and false content on social media. She made the call on Sunday while addressing the 'BSRF Fruit Festival' organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat’s media center.

Mahbuba Farzana emphasized that Facebook is flooded with misleading information and urged reporters to revive investigative journalism to find the truth behind the news. She described journalism as a noble profession and said the ministry should show greater care toward journalists. She also noted that many young people are entering journalism and encouraged them to verify facts before reporting.

The secretary further stated that some reports published against the Information Ministry in certain newspapers were based on misinformation. She requested journalists to verify any concerns directly with ministry officials before publishing. Additional Secretary (Broadcast) Md. Shah Alam and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdul Ahmad were also present at the event.

Bahrain has reported that a residential building in Muharraq Governorate was damaged following an Iranian attack. The country’s Interior Ministry confirmed the incident, noting that no casualties were reported. In a post on social media platform X, Bahrain blamed Iranian aggression for the damage.

Earlier, Bahrain had called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session to end what it described as ongoing aggression and to hold those responsible accountable. The government strongly condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks, calling them a violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

Bahrain reiterated its appeal for international intervention through the UN to stop the attacks and ensure accountability for the perpetrators, emphasizing the need to restore calm and stability in the Gulf region.