In a horrifying incident, a college student was gang-raped on a moving bus while traveling from Sylhet to Nabiganj. Acting swiftly, a joint operation by the army and police rescued the teenage victim and arrested the bus driver late Sunday night. According to police, the victim, an 11th-grade student from Farmgate, was assaulted by the bus helper Liton Mia and later by the driver Shah Sabbir Mia. The incident has sparked outrage across the region.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has urged the global community to take Israel’s unregulated nuclear capabilities seriously. Highlighting that Israel has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Asif called it a major threat to global security. He reiterated that Pakistan’s nuclear program strictly adheres to international standards for national defense, while warning that the ongoing Israeli aggression could destabilize the entire region, exacerbated by biased Western support.

The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel could have far-reaching consequences for Bangladesh, especially if global oil prices surge. A potential closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz would severely disrupt global energy supplies and affect Bangladesh’s imports across various sectors. While Bangladesh maintains limited direct trade ties with both Iran and Israel, prolonged instability in the Middle East could impact Bangladesh’s economy in three key areas: energy costs, overseas labor markets, and overall import channels. Notably, Iran has already threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz.

A court has imposed a travel ban on former Jessore District Council Chairman and Awami League leader Saifuzzaman Pikul, his wife Shefali Zaman, and their two sons—Tanjib Naushad Pallab and Tanvir Naushad Arnab—amid ongoing investigations into corruption and abuse of power.

Pikul is accused of amassing illicit wealth during his tenure by misappropriating funds from various government projects, illegal sale of thousands of roadside trees, and embezzlement related to land leasing and shop allocations. The court order follows extensive evidence suggesting the illegal accumulation of wealth by Pikul and his family beyond known sources of income.

Police have arrested a man named Zakaria Ahmed Tapadar, also known as Rajon (34), for impersonating an Additional Superintendent of Police (Additional SP) in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

OC Liaquat Ali stated that Zakaria had been fraudulently presenting himself as a senior police officer while engaging in criminal activities across multiple districts. His social media profile displayed photos of him in police uniform, falsely identifying himself as an Additional SP. Zakaria is a named accused in several cases filed in Rupganj and other police stations.

A serious allegation has been made against Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mosharraf Hossain of the District Detective Branch (DB) in Manikganj. He is accused of confiscating the passport and air ticket of a Saudi-bound expatriate from Singair and refusing to return them.

The victim, Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police on Sunday. According to sources, on May 24, the OC summoned him to the DB office citing a neighbor’s complaint and seized his passport—containing a valid Saudi visa—and his flight ticket under the pretext of investigation.

Reportedly, the day before, both the expatriate and Khalilur Rahman, Joint Convener of the Union Jubo Dal, were held by authorities.

Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves have once again exceeded $26 billion, while net reserves have risen to $20.77 billion. The rise is attributed to an increase in remittance inflows, export earnings, and a $250 million disbursement from the World Bank. Despite floating the exchange rate, the value of the U.S. dollar remains stable.

Speaking at an event, former U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena remarked, “I never imagined Hasina's government would fall so easily. What happened in July was historic. August 5 will never be forgotten—helicopters carried her away as the regime fell.” He praised Bangladesh’s peaceful transition, noting that revolutionary leaders chose Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the new national figurehead, instead of engaging in power struggles. He urged political parties to support the interim government in building an inclusive political process.

According to a Reuters report, Israel plotted to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a move reportedly vetoed by the Trump administration. A senior U.S. official stated that while Israel maintained frequent communication with the U.S., the assassination plan was halted, as Iran had not directly targeted any Americans. The official could not confirm whether the veto came directly from President Trump.

Saidur Rahman, a detainee in Dhaka Central Jail, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday morning. He was known for firing shots during recent public protests. Jail authorities stated that he used a towel to hang himself from the window of his solitary confinement cell. He was pronounced dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Saidur Rahman was a former chairman of Savar’s Birulia Union Council and a member of the local Awami League.

Malaysian immigration authorities have detained 99 foreign nationals in a major crackdown on illegal labor at entertainment centers across Pahang state.

During coordinated raids on six establishments, authorities arrested 85 foreign women suspected of working illegally in customer service roles. The detained individuals include 81 Thai nationals, four Laotians, one Yemeni, and one Chinese woman. Additionally, 14 foreign men, including 12 Bangladeshis, were also detained during the operation.

All detainees have been transferred to the Kemayan Immigration Detention Depot in Bera for further legal proceedings. The operation is part of Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal employment and human trafficking in the entertainment sector.

A shocking incident has surfaced from South Chattogram Hospital and Diagnostic Limited in Karnaphuli, Chattogram, where a newborn was allegedly handed over to another couple to settle unpaid hospital bills.

According to hospital authorities, the baby's family voluntarily gave the child up for adoption to a childless couple, who in return paid the BDT 10,000 hospital bill and handed over an additional BDT 5,000 in cash. However, the child’s maternal grandfather stated that financial hardship compelled the family to agree to the arrangement.

Family members of the newborn’s mother, Joya Dash, claimed that when they informed a hospital nurse about their inability to pay the bill, she suggested handing over the baby. Allegedly, the nurse mentioned a relative who was unable to have children and subsequently took the baby with her.

Authorities are yet to confirm whether legal procedures for adoption were followed. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious ethical and legal concerns.

As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, the UK Foreign Office has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Israel for the time being. British nationals already in Israel or occupied Palestinian territories are urged to follow local guidance and take precautions for their safety. The advisory was issued with the safety and security of British citizens as the top priority.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's first unit is expected to go into operation by the end of 2025, according to Russian Ambassador Alexander V. Khokhin. Speaking at a Russia Day event in Dhaka, he highlighted the significance of the project during the 80th anniversary of WWII victory and Soviet nuclear industry. Built with Russian assistance via Rosatom, the 1,200 MW unit is in final preparations for trial operation, marking a milestone in Bangladesh’s energy and diplomatic ties with Russia.

During the Eid-ul-Azha holidays from June 5 to 13, the national emergency helpline 999 received over 14,000 calls, with 13,831 seeking police assistance. Reports included extortion at cattle markets, roads, and rivers, as well as forced relocation of livestock. A total of 1,271 Eid-related complaints were addressed. Additionally, there were over 4,000 calls related to physical assaults, over 1,000 ambulance requests, and nearly 1,000 reports of criminal activities. Authorities responded and resolved many of the reported issues during the holiday period.