Ekushey Padak-winning poet Al Mujahidi, a leading figure in Bangla literature, passed away on Friday at 1:40 p.m. while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 83. According to family sources, he had been suffering from multiple health complications for nearly two years, including heart and kidney problems. He was admitted to United Hospital on April 23, later discharged, and then readmitted to Crescent Hospital and again to United Hospital as his condition worsened. He was placed on life support on June 16 and died following cardiac arrest.

Born on June 19, 1943, in Tangail, Al Mujahidi served as the literary editor of the daily Ittefaq for over three decades. He published more than 20 poetry collections and over 50 books, including novels, short stories, and children’s literature. His daughter Mariama said burial is likely to take place at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard on Saturday.

Relatives, admirers, and political figures expressed grief over his death, including opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, who posted condolences on social media.

The National Press Club premises in Dhaka turned festive as a fruit festival and patriotic music event were held on Friday. The celebration featured an exhibition and tasting of 42 varieties of local fruits, including mangoes, pineapples, guavas, lychees, and jackfruits. The event was inaugurated with the performance of the club’s theme song, “Press Club Amader Second Home.” Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan formally opened the festival, which was attended by club members and their families.

The opening ceremony was presided over by club president Hasan Hafiz, with a welcome address from general secretary Aiyub Bhuiyan and coordination by management committee member Kader Gani Chowdhury. Singers Tamanna Haque, Shahriar Rafat, Mini Alauddin, and Babu performed patriotic songs throughout the morning and afternoon. Several management committee members and senior club members were also present with their families.

The event highlighted the diversity of Bangladesh’s local fruits and fostered a sense of community among journalists and their families through cultural celebration.

The Louvre Museum, the world’s most visited art institution, is struggling to secure funds for urgent infrastructure and facility repairs. During a recent Senate hearing, its new director, Christophe Leribault, acknowledged the museum’s deteriorating condition and financial distress. The crisis follows a daring theft of royal jewelry worth about 100 million dollars, which exposed internal weaknesses and led to the resignation of the previous director.

Leribault, an art historian specializing in eighteenth-century art, took charge in February after the October theft incident. He stated that the museum’s equipment and infrastructure have reached the end of their functional life, and pressing building issues are accumulating. Located on the banks of the Seine in central Paris, the Louvre attracts around nine million visitors annually and houses Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”

The museum is also facing revenue losses from repeated strikes, a ticket fraud case involving about 10 million euros, water leakage, and maintenance complications, deepening its financial and operational challenges.

Tales of July began its journey on July 31, 2024, with the publication of a literary anthology. Initially conceived as a single publication, the initiative has since expanded into a multifaceted platform dedicated to research, archiving, publishing, and memory preservation related to the July Revolution. To date, it has published seven books exploring various aspects of the revolution, including personal stories, experiences, and historical narratives.

At the 2026 Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the platform released two major works: “Julaiyer Phool,” a 600-page volume chronicling the lives of 111 child martyrs, and a commemorative book on martyr Osman Hadi. Previous publications include collections of poems and memorial issues dedicated to other martyrs. Tales of July is run by a 13-member governing body led by founder and executive head poet Israfil Akand Rudra and executive director Tahsin Ahmed, with all members being university students.

The organization maintains contact with injured individuals and families of martyrs, documenting their memories and experiences. It also collaborates with researchers and institutions to collect and analyze data on the July uprising, aiming to keep history alive through continuous study and documentation.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen praised Rajshahi’s traditional Kalai Roti during a visit to the well-known “Ruman Kalai House” in the city’s New Market area on Tuesday afternoon. After tasting the dish, he expressed his delight, calling it “wonderful.” The ambassador observed the preparation process with interest, took photos and selfies, and watched the making of other local dishes including eggplant mash and goose meat.

Following the cooking demonstrations, Christensen and his wife sat down to enjoy Kalai Roti with goose meat. Speaking to journalists afterward, he said the taste of the roti, goose meat, and eggplant mash was excellent. His visit drew a large crowd of curious locals eager to catch a glimpse of the ambassador enjoying the traditional food.

The visit took place under tight police security, with members of the ambassador’s entourage accompanying him throughout the event.

France’s renowned world literature dictionary, Dictionnaire Mondial de la Littérature, published by the Larousse group, has included Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam as a significant Bengali literary figure. The entry highlights Nazrul’s birth in Churulia in 1899 and death in Dhaka in 1977, describing him as the “Poet Rebel” known for his lyrical works infused with patriotism, social awareness, and humanistic inspiration. His notable works ‘Agnibeena’ (1922) and ‘Bhanger Gaan’ are cited as examples.

According to Kazi Nazrul Islam Center adviser and researcher Khorshed Alam Patwary in Paris, the inclusion marks an important recognition of Bengali literature and culture in a long-established European literary encyclopedia. Center president and poet Sohel Ahmed added that Nazrul’s writings continue to inspire younger generations against injustice and inequality, and their organization is working to further introduce him to the French community.

Larousse’s Dictionnaire Mondial de la Littérature is known for its extensive coverage of global literature, authors, and literary movements.

Dhaka University organized a ceremony on Sunday at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building premises to celebrate Russian Language Day and the 227th birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, regarded as the father of modern Russian literature. The event was attended by Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of Dhaka University, as chief guest, and Alexandra A. Khelovnoy, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy and Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, as special guest.

In his remarks, Professor Salam highlighted Pushkin’s global recognition and the enduring humanistic and cultural values in his works. He said the celebration honors both a great literary figure and the richness of the Russian language, which fosters understanding and cooperation among nations. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting international education and cultural exchange.

Special guest Alexandra Khelovnoy emphasized that the Russian language opens access to global knowledge in science, literature, and technology, creating new opportunities for Bangladeshi students in higher education and research through Russian government scholarships.

An inscription bearing the name of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab has been discovered in Saudi Arabia. The country’s Heritage Commission announced that the finding was made during an archaeological survey in the Medina province. The discovery was part of a broader exploration that uncovered a total of 1,774 archaeological artifacts.

According to the Heritage Commission, the survey teams documented 173 previously unknown archaeological sites. Among the discoveries were 1,259 inscriptions, including 461 Islamic inscriptions, 34 written in the Thamudic language, 11 stone structures, three palaces and archaeological buildings, two caravan route milestones, and four wells. The newly found inscription featuring Caliph Umar’s name is considered one of the significant findings from the survey.

The commission noted that Umar ibn al-Khattab ruled the Islamic empire from 634 to 644 CE. The discovery adds to the growing record of early Islamic-era artifacts in the region, highlighting Medina’s historical importance in Islamic civilization.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has announced a series of programs to celebrate 'Nazrul Year' from May 25, 2026, to May 25, 2027, following the Prime Minister’s declaration. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitae Roy Chowdhury shared the details at a press conference in Dhaka, stating that the initiative aims to highlight the literary and philosophical contributions of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The ministry will form a national committee, design a logo and posters, issue commemorative stamps, and organize events across all 64 districts and 74 special upazilas from June 18 to 20, 2026.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s declaration during the poet’s 127th birth anniversary celebration in Trishal, Mymensingh, on May 23, 2026. The ministry has allocated funds from the current fiscal year’s budget to support these events. In addition to cultural programs, the ministry plans to promote research on Nazrul’s works and collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spread his creations internationally.

The year-long celebration seeks to engage the new generation with Nazrul’s life, literature, and ideals, ensuring his legacy reaches both national and global audiences.

A set of poems by Imrul Hasan titled 'Amar Desh' has been published, featuring works that explore themes of rural life, memory, and personal reflection. The poems, including 'Tileser Bari,' 'Siratul Mustaqim,' 'Happiness,' 'Onnojibon,' and 'Beily Roader Brishti,' were featured under the literature section on June 13, 2026.

In these poems, Hasan writes about returning to the countryside, the contrast between rural and urban perspectives, and the search for simplicity. His verses evoke imagery of rain, nostalgia for the 1990s, and the longing for a peaceful existence. The poet’s tone blends introspection with subtle social observation, reflecting on modern life and emotional distance.

The publication highlights Hasan’s continued engagement with themes of belonging and time, offering readers a contemplative look at everyday experiences and the emotional landscapes of contemporary Bangladesh.

Prominent Islamic scholar and preacher Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari has described so-called 'Hilla marriages'—arranged solely to make a woman permissible again for her former husband—as a major sin and a misuse of Islamic law. In a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, he urged Muslims to avoid such practices. He also shared a hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah, which condemns both the man who performs such a marriage and the one for whom it is arranged.

Azhari emphasized that every provision of Sharia is divinely ordained to ensure justice and human welfare across all times and societies. He stated that manipulating or circumventing these divine laws cannot be the act of a practicing Muslim. He clarified that normal marriages are permissible, but prearranged or staged marriages intended to make a woman lawful again for her previous husband are strictly forbidden.

He further explained that if a woman, after a lawful divorce, remarries naturally and that marriage ends for genuine reasons, she may remarry her former husband after completing the required waiting period.

A group of young volunteers from Tangail has expanded their humanitarian initiative, the Youth Foundation, to 32 districts across Bangladesh. Founded by social worker Muid Hasan in 2016, the organization evolved from earlier efforts such as the ‘Children’s Foundation’ and the ‘Swapnopuri’ school, both launched in 2011 to support underprivileged children. The foundation now provides medical assistance, rescue operations, and burial services for unclaimed individuals, while also supporting elderly people through food, treatment, and care programs.

The foundation’s hallmark projects include ‘10 Taka Hotel,’ ‘10 Taka Iftar,’ and ‘10 Taka Book,’ designed to preserve dignity while offering affordable essentials. It also promotes self-reliance by providing sewing machines, livestock, and small business capital to disadvantaged people. Over 700 individuals have been directly supported, and around 8,000 unemployed youths trained online. Environmental initiatives include planting 5,000 trees and promoting campaigns like ‘Plastic for Trees’ and ‘One Person, One Tree.’

Future plans include training 8,000 more youths, expanding reforestation drives, and continuing low-cost social welfare programs nationwide.

Shariful Sheikh, a young artist from Veramara in Kushtia, has created a stir by painting large portraits of global football star Lionel Messi on several walls near Arakandi Bazar in Bahadurpur. Covering about 16 by 10 feet, the four portraits—two in color and two in black and white—were completed entirely at his own expense. The artworks have attracted crowds of visitors who come to take photos and praise his creativity.

Shariful, a commercial artist and drawing teacher, said his admiration for Argentina and Messi began in 2002. He emphasized that the project was driven purely by passion, not commercial motives. Local residents and Argentina supporters have lauded his effort as both an expression of football fandom and a model of rural artistry. Observers noted that such large-scale depictions of international icons are rare in village settings.

Art critics and community members believe that with proper support, rural talents like Shariful could contribute significantly to the national art scene. His Messi portraits now stand as symbols of dedication, emotion, and creative spirit in the heart of Kushtia.

An article published on June 8, 2026, highlights the extensive contributions of medieval Muslim civilization to maritime technology and navigation. It explains how Arab and Persian sailors, astronomers, and engineers advanced shipbuilding, direction-finding, and cartography, creating tools such as the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and detailed sea charts that made long voyages safer and more efficient.

The piece describes how Muslim dominance over the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Mediterranean from the seventh to fifteenth centuries was supported by superior nautical knowledge and ship design, including the triangular lateen sail used on dhows. Muslim geographers like Al-Idrisi, Ibn Majid, and Al-Biruni produced precise maps and guides that served both scientific and navigational purposes. The article also notes the military applications of these technologies under the Abbasid and Fatimid caliphates, which built powerful naval fleets and bases.

It concludes that Muslim maritime innovations laid the scientific and practical foundations for later European exploration, influencing Renaissance-era navigation and shipbuilding techniques.

Twenty-four accomplished Bangladeshis were honored at the 'Bangladeshi Excellence Award in Malaysia 2026', organized by the Dhaka University Alumni Association Malaysia (DUAAM) in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The event recognized outstanding contributions in education, research, leadership, women’s empowerment, and community development among the Bangladeshi diaspora.

According to the organizers, the initiative aims to acknowledge the positive global contributions of Bangladeshis and strengthen the country’s image internationally. The ceremony featured recognition for top-cited scientists, university professors, and researchers from around the world. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Md. Monjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, attended as chief guest and congratulated the awardees, emphasizing that their achievements enhance Bangladesh’s global reputation.

Awards were presented in four categories: nine in Academic Excellence, nine in Student Excellence, four in Women Empowerment, and two in Community Engagement. Guests from various Malaysian states including Kuantan, Kelantan, Johor Bahru, Malacca, Sabah, Sarawak, and Penang attended the event, which was described as a milestone for the Bangladeshi community abroad.