A widespread heatwave has gripped Bangladesh, with mild to moderate intensity recorded across 48 districts on Wednesday. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the highest temperature was 38.5°C in Dinajpur, while Dhaka reached 36.8°C. Reduced rainfall and increased humidity have intensified the discomfort, disrupting daily life nationwide. The heatwave, which began earlier this month, has expanded from 41 districts the previous day.

Meteorologist Shahinul Islam stated that the current heatwave may continue for a few more days, with scattered rainfall likely from June 5 or 6 and increased precipitation expected around June 8 or 9, which could ease the heat. The department also forecast that June and July will see higher-than-normal temperatures and below-average rainfall, with two to three mild to moderate heatwaves likely during the month.

The combination of high humidity and frequent power outages has worsened public suffering, as people across the country struggle with oppressive heat and limited relief from rain.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has strongly protested the government’s recent decision to raise electricity prices, calling for its immediate cancellation. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and Acting President of Dhaka South, Maulana Ahmad Abdul Kaiyum, expressed deep concern over the move during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka.

Kaiyum stated that the price hike would severely affect ordinary citizens already facing economic hardship. He warned that higher electricity costs would increase production expenses, raise living costs, and weaken the competitiveness of local industries, ultimately harming the national economy. He argued that addressing system losses, electricity theft, illegal connections, and corruption in the power sector would eliminate the need for any price increase.

He further criticized the government for prioritizing profit over public welfare, saying that subsidies come from citizens’ money. Describing the price hike as an additional blow to struggling people, he urged the government to withdraw the decision and consider the public interest.

A meeting on the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) embankment was held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. According to Deputy Press Secretary Md. Sujauddoulla, the discussion focused on the long-standing waterlogging problems in the DND area and possible solutions.

After the meeting, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee stated that although a project launched in 2016 and completed in 2024 aimed to address the issue, residents have yet to experience significant benefits. He added that the completed project will be handed over to the city corporation within two weeks.

Anee further mentioned that new plans are being developed to improve the drainage system, including upgrading 30 kilometers of drainage infrastructure. He expressed optimism that under city corporation management and with collective efforts, the desired results will be achieved. Several ministers and officials, including the LGRD State Minister and the RAJUK Chairman, attended the meeting.

An employee of Banoful & Company’s Tajpur branch in Osmaninagar, Sylhet, was fined 50,000 taka and dismissed after addressing Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munmun Nahar Asha as 'Apa' during her visit on May 29, 2026. The incident occurred when the UNO, accompanied by her daughter, visited the shop in disguise as a customer. Following the exchange, she reportedly became angry and initiated a mobile court action, leading to the fine and subsequent dismissal of the employee, Abdul Mannan.

The case sparked widespread discussion locally, with residents questioning the neutrality of the mobile court and the proper use of administrative authority. Abdul Mannan later sought leniency from the UNO’s office but received no response, prompting him to approach local BNP leaders and Sylhet-2 MP Tahsina Rushdir Luna. Political intervention eventually led to his reinstatement, though he was transferred to the company’s Sylhet factory, and the fine amount will be deducted from his salary.

Local officials and managers provided differing accounts, while the UNO did not respond to calls seeking comment on the matter.

Nine officers holding the ranks of Additional Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Police have been transferred and reassigned to new posts across Bangladesh. The order, signed by Additional Deputy Inspector General Rayhan Uddin Khan from the Police Headquarters, was issued on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The officers include those from Khagrachhari, Gopalganj, Gazipur, Khulna, Habiganj, and other units.

According to the order, Muhammad Shahadat Hossain from Khagrachhari has been transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, while Mohammad Ziaul Haque from Gopalganj will serve in Gazipur. Several Gazipur Metropolitan Police officials, including Robiul Islam and Amrit Sutradhar, have been reassigned to the Armed Police Battalion and specialized training centers. Other officers have been posted to the Police Headquarters, Naval Police, Special Branch, and Railway Police.

The directive instructs all transferred officers to hand over their current responsibilities by June 15, 2026. Those failing to do so will be considered released from their duties effective June 16, as stated in the official order.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared his readiness to personally defend Islami Bank if necessary, saying he would take to the streets and stand in front to protect it. He made the remarks on Wednesday night during Jamaat’s Eid reunion event.

Rahman emphasized that Islami Bank does not belong to any political party but to the people who have deposited their money there. He stated that if depositors were attacked, he would stand before them and face any violence first. He described the bank as belonging to everyone in the country.

The Jamaat leader also criticized the appointment of what he called an associate of a “fascist” to a leadership position at Islami Bank, questioning whether the husband of a loan defaulter could serve as the bank’s chairman.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in electricity prices, prompting strong criticism from Khelafat Majlis. According to a statement issued by the party’s Amir Maulana Abdul Basit Azad and Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, BERC raised wholesale electricity rates by 19.85 percent and retail rates by 15 to 19.94 percent. The transmission charge was also increased by 23.96 percent.

Khelafat Majlis said the new price hike would make public life more difficult and lead to another round of commodity price increases. The party accused the government of shifting the burden of corruption, mismanagement, poor planning, and waste within the power sector onto ordinary consumers. It strongly protested the decision and demanded an immediate reduction in electricity and fuel prices, as well as measures to bring essential goods within consumers’ purchasing power.

The statement reflects growing political opposition to recent energy price adjustments and calls for urgent government action to ease public hardship.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned a violent attack on the family and relatives of Kushtia Member of Parliament Mufti Amir Hamza in Hasadah Bazar of Jibannagar, Chuadanga. The party expressed deep concern and demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. The statement was issued on Wednesday by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and head of Jamaat’s Central Publicity and Media Department.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on June 1 during Asr prayer time while the MP was traveling with his family to his in-laws’ house. The assailants allegedly included local residents Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, his sons Shahriar and Rimon, who reportedly injured the MP’s brother-in-law Abu Bakkar, a local journalist, and driver Saddam Hossain. The attackers also allegedly behaved indecently with female family members.

Jamaat-e-Islami urged law enforcement agencies to arrest the identified perpetrators immediately and ensure justice. The party also wished a speedy recovery for the injured victims.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) reported that the metro rail transported an average of 151,877 passengers per day between May 25 and May 31, excluding Eid day. The company released this information in a statement on Wednesday, noting that 140 scheduled trips were operated daily during the period.

To manage the increased passenger demand around Eid, DMTCL kept 10 additional trains on standby for possible deployment. The metro rail played a significant role in facilitating travel for people leaving Dhaka for their hometowns before Eid and returning to their workplaces afterward.

According to DMTCL, officials and employees worked during public holidays to maintain operations. Cleaning activities were also carried out at metro stations and surrounding areas. The company expressed gratitude to passengers and stakeholders for their cooperation in ensuring smooth, safe, and uninterrupted metro services during the Eid holidays.

FIFA is set to implement a major technological upgrade at the 2026 World Cup in North America by introducing an enhanced semi-automated offside system. The new technology will send instant audio alerts to assistant referees whenever a player is more than 10 centimeters offside, significantly reducing decision delays. Previously, similar systems could only detect offsides exceeding 50 centimeters. While the technology will assist referees, final decisions will remain under the control of on-field officials.

The system aims to improve both decision speed and player safety, as delayed offside calls have previously led to unnecessary play continuation and injuries. FIFA cited past incidents where late offside recognition contributed to serious player injuries. The new setup also includes AI-based 3D avatars, with digital scans of all 1,248 players from 48 teams, enabling more realistic and accurate offside animations for viewers.

Additionally, the technology will verify whether the ball fully crossed the line using 3D animation and embedded chips, allowing faster and more precise decisions on corners, throw-ins, and goals.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, has strongly criticized the government’s decision to raise electricity prices again ahead of the national budget. In a statement to the media on Wednesday, he said ordinary citizens should not be punished for theft, corruption, waste, and mismanagement in the power sector. He warned that the new price hike would worsen the suffering of low-income people already struggling with rising living costs.

Haque described the government’s move as arbitrary and accused the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) of failing to justify the increase at both wholesale and consumer levels. He argued that reducing corruption and inefficiency in the energy and power sectors would eliminate the need for such hikes. He also criticized BERC’s public hearings as a mere formality to legitimize government decisions.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the price hike decision and called for amendments to BERC’s existing law so that it can recommend price reductions. Haque further urged the government to include adequate allocations and a comprehensive plan for the energy and power sectors in the upcoming national budget.

Police have dismissed allegations that National Citizen Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari’s car was attacked in Benapole market on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. NCP leaders had claimed that a group of young men threw eggs and later attacked their convoy, injuring several party members after Patwari’s visit to the Sadipur border area. However, police stated that no such incident occurred and described the allegations as false.

According to NCP statements, Patwari and other central and local leaders visited the Sadipur border to protest alleged push-in attempts. The party claimed that after the inspection, some youths threw eggs at their vehicle and later attacked them in Benapole market. Patwari also shared a photo of a damaged car window on social media, saying four people were injured but others were safe.

Benapole Port Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ashraf Hossain said the situation remained peaceful and the NCP program ended normally, rejecting the party’s claims of any attack.

An allegation has surfaced that Munmun Nahar Asha, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Osmaninagar in Sylhet, fined a Banoful & Company employee Tk 50,000 for addressing her as 'Apa' during a visit to the company’s Tajpur branch on May 29. The UNO reportedly visited the shop with her daughter in disguise as a regular customer. When employee Abdul Mannan used the term 'Apa' while responding to her inquiry about sweets, she allegedly became angry, identified herself as a magistrate, and initiated a mobile court action.

According to Mannan, he was threatened with jail and forced to sign a document under pressure. He later sought leniency at the UNO office on June 1 but received no relief. Local BNP leaders intervened to help him keep his job after he was initially dismissed. The company has since transferred him to its Sylhet factory and decided to deduct the fine from his salary.

The branch manager and local officials offered differing explanations, while the UNO did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment.

France’s special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, is set to arrive in Beirut on Wednesday as Paris attempts to restore its diminishing diplomatic influence. He will meet President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss continued aid for communities affected by Lebanon’s economic collapse, Israel’s invasion and occupation of one-fifth of the country, and the uncertain future of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, in which France plays a leading role.

Analysts say France’s renewed engagement reflects concern over its declining role in Lebanon, where U.S. diplomatic and military influence has expanded sharply. Paris views Lebanon as a strategic foothold in the Middle East, rooted in historical, cultural, and economic ties dating back to the French Mandate. France’s interests include maintaining stability in Lebanese institutions, supporting the army, and safeguarding investments by companies such as TotalEnergies and CMA CGM.

With Washington now leading mediation between Lebanon and Israel, France is seeking to preserve relevance through humanitarian aid and its leadership within UNIFIL. Experts note that Paris aims to remain an indispensable diplomatic channel rather than directly challenge U.S. dominance.

A school student died after being trapped in quicksand at a stream in the Kejuri Chhara tea garden area of Sreemangal upazila, Moulvibazar, on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased, Rudra Tanti, was the son of Kamal Tanti and a seventh-grade student at Sreemangal Runner High School. He went missing around 1 p.m. while bathing in the stream with friends. After an extensive search by locals and relatives, his body was recovered from underwater.

According to eyewitness Sanjay Bonarjee, Rudra went underwater while bathing and did not resurface. His friends alerted local residents, who, along with tea garden workers and family members, conducted a prolonged search before recovering the body. Rudra’s father said he could not understand how the incident occurred but suspected that his son got stuck in quicksand and could not escape.

Sreemangal Fire Service Station Officer Solaiman Akanji stated that a rescue team was dispatched after receiving the report but was informed 13 minutes later by a local union parishad member that the body had already been recovered by residents.