Delegates from six member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) paid tribute to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on Friday morning. Notably, India and Afghanistan did not participate in the ceremony.

The delegation was led by Dr. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. After laying floral tributes, the representatives observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the fallen heroes. Delegates from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Bhutan's Governor Dasho Penjore emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Bhutan and Bangladesh. “We feel honored to pay tribute to the brave martyrs of Bangladesh,” he stated.

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major festival for the Hindu community, was celebrated on Friday in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. The event was organized by the Sirajdikhan Puja Celebration Council at the Dania Para Shri Shri Madan Mohan Radharani Jiur Temple.

Sirajdikhan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Akter inaugurated the event, expressing hope that the festival would dispel all evil forces and promote communal harmony. Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Touhidul Islam Bari inaugurated the nine-day celebration, running from June 27 to July 5, 2025.

The Ministry of Law has issued a directive requiring all government employees to remain at their workplace until the official end of the workday at 5:00 PM. The circular states that any need to leave the office during working hours must be approved by the head of the concerned department.

As per the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2019, employees must log their exit in the office register. Late arrivals could lead to salary deductions or leave cancellations, and repeated violations may result in disciplinary actions.

India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed a new restriction on imports of woven fabrics, jute products, and yarn from Bangladesh via land ports. According to an official statement, “No goods from Bangladesh will be allowed through land ports along the India-Bangladesh border. Only specific items—such as multi-fold woven fabrics, single flax yarn, single jute yarn, and unbleached jute fabric—may be imported via the Nhava Sheva seaport.”The directive clarifies that the ban will not apply to goods in transit from Bangladesh to Nepal or Bhutan. However, re-exporting these goods from India will not be permitted. This move is expected to negatively affect Bangladesh’s textile and jute sectors. It follows a previous ban issued in May on importing Bangladesh-made garments through Indian land ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible relaxation of oil sanctions on Iran, although the "maximum pressure" policy remains in effect. Speaking at a NATO summit, Trump stated, “Iran will need money to return to normalcy, and we want that to happen.”

However, the White House clarified that this does not mean formal withdrawal of sanctions—rather, the enforcement level may shift depending on circumstances. Earlier, Trump had said that following a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, China may be allowed to purchase oil from Iran.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has banned the use of WhatsApp for official communication in a bid to enhance corporate cybersecurity and data protection. According to a notice from the airline’s IT department, employees are advised to use Microsoft Teams instead, which is globally recognized for secure and professional communication.

The circular noted that Microsoft Teams accounts can be easily set up using personal emails or phone numbers. The platform offers features such as text messaging, voice/video calls, and file sharing. The notice also highlighted the potential security risks associated with WhatsApp.

An Israeli court has rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to postpone court hearings in his ongoing corruption trial.

Netanyahu’s legal team had sought a two-week delay, citing national security responsibilities following a 12-day conflict with Iran. However, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the request lacked sufficient justification and declined to grant the delay.

The Prime Minister currently faces three separate corruption cases.

With the current Ganges water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh set to expire next year, India is pushing for a revised agreement that would allow it to draw an additional 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs of water during the dry season (March 11 – May 11).

Under the existing treaty, both countries are entitled to 35,000 cusecs every 10 days during this period. Citing agricultural demands, India—along with support from the West Bengal state government—is seeking to increase its share, according to The Economic Times.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council has officially withdrawn its shutdown program following a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Finance.

At the June 26 meeting, three key decisions were made: the full withdrawal of the shutdown and march-to-NBR programs, reconsideration of recent transfer orders for two NBR officials, and a follow-up meeting on July 1 to discuss amendments to the Revenue Policy and Management Ordinance 2025.

For the first time in two years, Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have surpassed $30 billion, thanks to financial support from international lenders such as the IMF, ADB, and JICA.

According to Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Arif Hossain Khan, this includes two IMF tranches totaling $1.34 billion, $900 million from ADB, and significant funds from JICA. The last time reserves crossed this mark was in June 2023.

The interim government has declared August 8 as “New Bangladesh Day” and August 5 as “July Uprising Day,” marking the fall of the Awami League regime. In response, Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch, warned, “If the government observes August 8, we will observe it nationwide as ‘Revolution Betrayal Day.’”

A photo showed Hadi holding a red card, symbolizing dissent.

Legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has announced that the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs is preparing to withdraw at least 20,000 false or politically motivated cases within the next six months.

He noted that around 12,000 cases have already been recommended for withdrawal, affecting the lives of over 300,000 people. An inter-ministerial committee led by Dr. Nazrul has held 16 meetings up to May 28, recommending the withdrawal of 11,448 such cases.

Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has confirmed the arrest of 36 Bangladeshi nationals in connection with terrorism-related offenses. The arrests were made during a three-phase security operation launched on April 24 in the Selangor and Johor states.

Of those detained, five individuals have been formally charged with terrorism offenses, while 15 others are set to be deported. The remaining 16 are currently under investigation for alleged ties to the extremist group ISIS.

The Minister emphasized that Malaysia will take a zero-tolerance approach toward any attempt to use the country as a base or transit point for extremist activities.

Many young Rohingya men sheltering in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar are expressing readiness to take up arms and return to Myanmar.
“We will not stay here. We will go back to Myanmar. We will fight alongside the Arakan Army. We want independence,” said one Rohingya youth in the camps.
Another young man stated that both the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) are working together “for the cause of jihad.”
According to testimonies, at least four groups are actively recruiting and inciting refugees to join armed rebellion or “holy war.” These groups are ARSA, RSO, the Islamic Mahaz, and the Arakan Rohingya Army.
This growing unity among Rohingya factions preparing for armed resistance has raised alarm among international observers, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Speaking at the opening of Social Business Day, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said all nations must act to change the world before it reaches the brink of destruction. “Bangladesh wants to build a beautiful world, not a depressing one,” Yunus declared. He described Social Business Day as a family reunion, noting that previous governments had opposed the celebration. This year’s event was the first since August 5. Yunus also stressed that social business is the only way to ensure universal healthcare and called for an education system built on teaching people how to dream. He said Grameen University will help build a new civilization.