Dhaka, June 22, 2025 — The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reported 5 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours across Bangladesh. During the same period, 36 new infections were confirmed, with a test positivity rate of 5.80%.

According to official data, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the country has now reached 29,515. Of these, 16 deaths have occurred in 2025. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bangladesh has recorded a total of 2,051,978 confirmed cases, with 433 infections reported so far this year.

Over two-thirds of Bangladesh’s foreign loans disbursed in the first 11 months of FY2024 were used to repay previous debts, according to the ERD. Out of $5.6 billion received, $3.78 billion went toward servicing past loans. Loan disbursements fell by over 20% compared to last year, while debt repayment rose by 23%. Sluggish project implementation has also slowed new disbursements. Loan commitments from development partners dropped nearly 31%. Despite export and remittance growth, the government faces rising debt pressure and reduced foreign loan demand in the next budget.

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. According to Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan, Majid Mosaeibi was hanged after completing all judicial procedures, including approval by the Supreme Court. Mizan reported that Mosaeibi had been found guilty of attempting to pass “sensitive information” to Mossad.

Southeast University (SEU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST), USA, at WUST’s Virginia campus. SEU Vice Chancellor Dr. Yusuf Mahbubul Islam and WUST Chancellor Abu Bakar Hanif signed the agreement, with WUST President Dr. Hasan Karabuk present. The MoU aims to foster student and faculty exchange, joint research, academic workshops, and innovation-focused initiatives. Officials believe this partnership will enhance international collaboration and contribute to the quality development of higher education in both countries.

Former Chief Election Commissioner AKM Nurul Huda was taken into police custody on Sunday night over allegations of conducting a fraudulent election. Earlier in the evening, local residents in Uttara detained him and handed him over to the police. Uttara West Police Station’s OC Hafizur Rahman confirmed the incident, adding that legal action will be taken after reviewing the case. Meanwhile, the BNP has filed a legal petition naming 24 individuals, including three former Chief Election Commissioners, accusing them of orchestrating a fraudulent election.

Every year, 1.19 million people die in road accidents worldwide, with 92% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. Experts at a Dhaka Ahsania Mission event emphasized the inadequacy of existing transport laws in ensuring road safety. They called for a comprehensive Road Safety Law covering infrastructure, vehicle standards, user safety, and post-crash management. The law should follow UN recommendations to significantly reduce road casualties and protect vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Additional IGP Abu Naser Mohammad Khaled stated that the upcoming national election will be vital for restoring the police force’s reputation, protecting the country, and demonstrating accountability. Speaking at the closing parade of the 55th TRC batch in Tangail, he acknowledged past mistakes highlighted by student movements and emphasized the force's renewed commitment. He urged new police members to counter public misconceptions through good conduct and professionalism. A total of 815 trainees completed their basic training and received recognition for their performance.

Hundreds of teaching job aspirants staged a protest outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday, accusing the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) of deliberately failing thousands of candidates in the latest registration exams.

The protesters, who blocked traffic during their demonstration, claimed that NTRCA unfairly altered evaluation criteria—particularly by including certificate scores in the final assessment for the first time—resulting in 40% of candidates being marked as failed.

To disperse the demonstrators and restore traffic flow, police used water cannons, fired two sound grenades, and resorted to limited baton charges. Several protesters sustained injuries in the clash. The students are demanding immediate issuance of registration certificates for those they believe were unjustly failed.

U.S. lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties have raised serious constitutional concerns over former President Donald Trump’s recent decision to authorize military strikes on Iran. Republican Congressman Warren Davidson remarked, “While President Trump’s decision may be justifiable, it is difficult to deem it constitutional.” His fellow Republican, Congressman Thomas Massie, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It is not constitutional.” On the Democratic side, Senator Bernie Sanders denounced Trump’s actions as “grossly unconstitutional,” while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated, “Bombing Iran without congressional approval is clearly an impeachable offense.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.S. strikes on Iran have “diminished the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear program.”

He added, “Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. While the Middle East remains unstable, our priority is peace and stability in the region.” Starmer urged Iran to return to diplomatic talks and resolve the crisis peacefully.

Saudi Arabia released a statement expressing grave concern over the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

The Foreign Ministry urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation, emphasizing that Riyadh is monitoring the situation closely. Saudi Arabia also confirmed that no radioactive fallout has been detected in the Persian Gulf region following the attacks.

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent multiple letters to the UN Security Council and Secretary-General António Guterres.

Calling the U.S. attack a “brutal and unlawful act of aggression,” the letter stated that the airstrikes severely impacted both regional and international peace and security. Iran demanded an emergency meeting of the Security Council and insisted on accountability for violations of international law by both the U.S. and Israel.

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has condemned the recent U.S. military strikes on Iran, calling them a "clear act of aggression" and a "direct threat to international peace and stability".
In a statement, Hamas accused the U.S. of violating international law.
Meanwhile, in retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza, Hamas claimed to have detained significant numbers of Israeli soldiers, although such moves have received criticism from Western governments.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the U.S. military action against Iran, warning that it could fuel an already volatile region.

“This is a direct threat to international peace and security,”
Guterres said in a statement.
He warned that the conflict risks spiraling out of control, with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. Guterres called on all member states to de-escalate and uphold international law, urging that diplomacy remains the only viable path forward.

Bangladesh Police arrested 1,556 individuals in the past 24 hours as part of a nationwide special operation.
According to AIG Enamul Haque Sagar of Police Headquarters, 1,029 of the detainees were wanted under existing warrants, while the remaining 527 face charges in various other cases.
The operation also led to the seizure of a significant number of locally-made and foreign weapons. Sagar noted that the crackdown will continue nationwide.