Bangladesh has finalized a draft trade agreement with the United States aimed at reducing the bilateral trade imbalance. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman stated that both parties are optimistic about reaching a mutually beneficial deal before proposed U.S. tariffs take effect. Bangladesh has proposed increasing imports of U.S. wheat, cotton, oil, and Boeing aircraft. Former President Trump had postponed the imposition of a 37% tariff until July 9. In 2024, Bangladesh exported $8.36 billion worth of goods to the U.S. while importing $2.21 billion. So far, 28 meetings and document exchanges have taken place as part of the negotiation process.

Exiled Iranian figure Reza Pahlavi is facing public outrage after expressing support for Israel's military actions and calling on Iranians to rise against their government. Speaking at a press conference in Paris just before a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Pahlavi's comments drew sharp criticism. Rather than backing his call, many Iranians responded with renewed national unity. His failure to condemn Israeli attacks that killed hundreds of civilians, along with his opulent lifestyle, past associations with dictatorship, and disregard for Islamic sites like Al-Aqsa, have severely damaged his credibility, according to analysts.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on individuals, entities, and vessels involved in smuggling Iranian oil under the guise of Iraqi exports. The U.S. Treasury revealed that the network, led by Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said, has sold billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil since 2020 using falsified documents. Additionally, senior officials of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-linked financial institution in Lebanon, have been sanctioned. Their assets have been frozen, and all business dealings with U.S. citizens are now prohibited.

A group of doctors has protested the recent appointment of 65 physicians at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital, calling it a "midnight recruitment" process. They alleged that the hiring was done secretly, without any official notification, competitive examination, or publication of merit-based results—something they deemed unacceptable for a public institution. Condemning the hospital administration and recruitment board, the protesting doctors demanded a transparent and merit-based hiring process. They chanted slogans like “No to quota, yes to merit,” and called for an end to irregularities.

An overwhelming majority of Iranians expressed pride in their country’s retaliatory missile strikes, according to an IRIB survey. Approximately 77% view these capabilities as a symbol of national pride, while 80.5% described the military’s performance as robust. Around 69.8% were satisfied with the effectiveness of Iran’s air defense, which reportedly downed several Israeli drones and fighter jets. About 51.8% believe the strikes have strengthened national security, and 76.8% see military capabilities as increasingly reliable. Only 13.7% believe a ceasefire will be successful, reflecting widespread skepticism about peace prospects. A large majority—78%—oppose any Western intervention to halt Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, while 57.4% expressed willingness to participate in future wars. Nearly 61.5% believe U.S. military operations have achieved little success, and 68.2% see digital platforms as tools for Israeli espionage.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has urged the government to reconsider its proposed tax increases in the FY2025–26 budget. The new budget includes a 2% advance income tax (AIT) on cotton imports and an increased VAT on yarn. BTMA warned that these measures would raise production costs, reduce working capital, and undermine the competitiveness of the textile industry, especially amid rising utility prices and other economic challenges. The association called for immediate action to reverse these policies and ensure smooth industrial operations.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that the revolutionary students and citizens who rose in July should not be labeled as a “mob,” but rather recognized as a legitimate force for establishing democracy. In a Facebook post, he noted that historically, the first instances of mob violence targeted Biharis, followed by attacks on pro-independence student and youth groups, rather than opponents of Mujibism. He argued that today’s social fascism is a reaction to political fascism and can only be addressed through dialogue, the rule of law, and democratic practices. He emphasized that even after the July uprising, law and order were maintained, proving the movement was not driven by revenge. He maintained that any breaches of law should be addressed strictly within the legal framework.

Women and child abuse in Bangladesh has escalated to the level of an epidemic, Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshed said in a press briefing. She announced that the structure for forming Quick Response Teams, led by Upazila Executive Officers, has been finalized to combat such violence more effectively. Highlighting the growing impact of politics, narcotics, and pornography on abuse cases, she called for stricter legal action to curb pornography. Over the past 10–11 months, the ministry’s hotline received approximately 281,000 complaints, through which support was provided to more than 100 women. She expressed deep concern about the failure to ensure children’s safety and called for coordinated national action.

Despite the immense potential of Bangladesh’s semiconductor industry, the country has yet to establish a strong foothold in the $600 billion global market, said BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq. He stated that Bangladesh currently earns only $6 million from this sector. However, he expressed optimism that investments worth several hundred million to billions of dollars could flow into the industry over the next five years. The government aims to expand participation through chip design, packaging, and skill development initiatives. The National Semiconductor Task Force has submitted 23 recommendations to the Chief Adviser to guide short, medium, and long-term strategies for developing this critical industry.

A sociology exam for eleventh-grade students at Khulna Government BL College was canceled after a controversial question referencing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Dhanmondi-32 residence drew heavy criticism. The exam was suspended 90 minutes after it began, citing factual inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the question paper. Assistant Professor Nityaranjan Sarker, responsible for preparing the exam, has been issued a show-cause notice. A three-member investigation committee has also been formed. The principal noted that other institutions follow BL College’s question patterns, making the error particularly unacceptable.

The U.S. government has resumed accepting visa applications from international students, but Deputy State Department Spokesperson Mignon Houston warned that any misuse of student visas or disorderly conduct on campuses would not be tolerated. “A visa is not just an entry permit—it carries ethical responsibility,” she said. Houston also emphasized the importance of U.S.-India strategic relations, especially within the Quad framework and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, former President Trump expressed optimism over a new fair trade agreement.

The National Consensus Commission has announced that political parties have reached an agreement to amend Article 49 of the Constitution, which grants the President clemency powers. The proposed amendment would require the inclusion of victims’ families in the decision-making process. There was also consensus on establishing permanent High Court benches in all divisional cities, and keeping Supreme Court operations centralized in the capital. Commission Vice-Chair Professor Ali Riaz stated that these reforms aim to prevent abuse of power and decentralize the judiciary. The discussions are progressing toward a declaration expected in July.

A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet remains grounded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 19 days after an emergency landing due to adverse weather. Repeated repair attempts by British engineers have failed, and the UK is now considering transporting the aircraft back using a C-17 cargo plane—a rare move. The fifth-generation fighter was returning from joint exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region. The aircraft remains under Indian security supervision while arrangements are made.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched investigations against five additional officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on charges of accepting bribes and facilitating tax evasion. This brings the total number of NBR officials under scrutiny in recent days to 16. Allegations suggest these officials personally profited from reducing tax liabilities and filed false cases against those who refused to pay bribes. Many of the accused are members of the NBR Reform Unity Council and were involved in the recent shutdown movement.

An Iranian missile strike on June 15 reportedly "completely destroyed" the Weizmann Institute of Science, a prominent Israeli military-affiliated research facility located south of Tel Aviv. The attack damaged at least 45 laboratories, causing an estimated financial loss of $300–570 million. The targeted strike destroyed valuable research data and samples, affecting the work of over 100 researchers.