Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Md. Abu Bakkar (42), a fugitive sentenced to life imprisonment in a gang rape case, after 21 years in hiding. He was apprehended in the Karnafuli Tea Estate area of Chattogram.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police ARM Mozaffar Hossain stated that during initial interrogation, Abu Bakkar admitted to being the convict sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor and fined one lakh taka in connection with the gang rape case. Following his arrest, he was handed over to Fatikchhari Police Station for further legal procedures.

The indefinite ban on public entry to the ancestral estate of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj has been lifted. Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nazrul Islam officially reopened the site, which holds historical and cultural significance tied to the poet. Visitors can now enter the premises by purchasing a ticket for 30 Taka. The site had been closed since June 11 following an incident of vandalism and assault, prompting authorities to restrict access by placing a notice on the main gate.

At least 40 people were injured in a violent clash between residents of Majhbari and Bankura villages in Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj. Police fired several rounds of blank shots to bring the situation under control.

The conflict reportedly began when Riazul of Bankura village took money from Faruk Hossain of Riyazul Kandi village for a scrap business but failed to repay it on time. Faruk then informed his father-in-law, Alinur Daria, a resident of Majhbari village.

When Alinur and his supporters went to Riazul’s house to demand the repayment, an argument broke out between the two parties. Matters escalated around 9:30 AM when an announcement was made through the mosque loudspeaker, calling villagers to gather. A violent clash ensued between the two groups, leaving around 40 people injured.

Police had to fire multiple rounds of blank shots to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Following the much-anticipated meeting between Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman stated that there is no disagreement regarding the election date.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “We don’t see any problem regarding the election date. Both sides have made this clear in the joint statement. We now hope that the Election Commission will announce the date soon.”

He further noted that the joint statement also addressed the issues of reforms and justice. “We are reasonably confident that we will see progress on these matters before the election,” he added.

As Iran closes its airspace following escalating hostilities with Israel, flights to neighboring Iraq are also being canceled one after another. Qatar Airport’s flight information boards show numerous cancellations of flights to both Iran and Iraq.

For security reasons, several airlines are avoiding Iraqi airspace altogether. The development follows threats from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, who warned that if Iran faces attacks from the U.S. or Israel, American bases in Iraq will become “legitimate targets.” The Iraqi government is reportedly engaging in talks with these groups to prevent further escalation.

Sabekunnahar Mitu, a woman entrepreneur from Faridpur, is exporting eco-friendly handicrafts made from jute, hogla leaves, water hyacinth, and straw to Europe through her company LAM Creations. With two factories and over 500 workers, her business produces over 50 types of sustainable products. Earning around Tk 500,000 in monthly profit, she has been recognized by Bangladesh Bank for her achievements. Mitu aims to expand further with government support, bringing economic empowerment to rural communities and promoting environmentally conscious manufacturing.

Container handling at Chattogram Port has plummeted due to the extended government holidays for Eid-ul-Azha. Typically, the port clears around 5,000 containers daily, but this number dropped to less than half during the break. As of Thursday morning, import containers at the port rose from 28,000 on June 4 to over 39,000—an 11,000 increase in seven days. A pre-Eid customs work stoppage and transport strike had already caused vessel congestion. Although port officials say there's still enough space, traders warn further delays could severely affect service quality. Port operations remained active during the holidays, except on Eid day itself.

A UN report reveals that global tech companies increased their carbon emissions by an average of 150% between 2020 and 2023, driven by rapid growth in artificial intelligence and data center energy use. Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet saw emissions spike by over 130%. Experts warn that AI systems alone could soon emit over 100 million tons of CO₂ annually. Data centers now consume 1.5% of global electricity, with usage projected to surpass Japan’s annual demand by 2030 if unchecked.

Ten months after the interim government took charge promising sweeping reforms, conditions at Dhaka Medical College Hospital remain dire. Overcrowding, staff shortages, and unhygienic conditions plague the facility, where patients often share beds and even pay bribes for treatment. Despite the submission of a reform report in May, no visible improvements have occurred. Emergency access is blocked by vendors and vehicles, sanitation is appalling, and syndicates continue illegal operations. Authorities admit challenges but say slow progress is being made in infrastructure and logistics.

Despite growing demands for change, Bangladesh’s public universities continue to suffer from political interference, recruitment irregularities, and infrastructural deficiencies. Student protests at multiple institutions have led to the removal of a few vice-chancellors, but no major reforms have followed. Issues such as unplanned department expansion, underfunded research, and lack of student housing persist. Experts highlight the need for curriculum updates, merit-based appointments, and governance reform. While minor initiatives are underway, long-term improvement depends on structural changes and consistent funding support.

A culvert constructed in Yusufpur village of Patuakhali under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at a cost of Tk 2.78 million has remained largely unusable due to the absence of a connecting road. Despite the structure being completed long ago, no access road has been built, leaving residents facing severe hardship. Locals from Yusufpur and nearby villages are forced to navigate knee-deep mud and walk along a narrow embankment to get by. Md. Moksedul Alam, Project Implementation Officer of Kalapara Upazila, stated that work on the connecting road is planned to begin soon and residents will benefit shortly.

Rajshahi University’s former vice chancellor Dr. Abdus Sobhan is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for appointing 138 staff in violation of ministry orders. Despite repeated requests, the university administration has failed to provide necessary documents, causing significant delays in the investigation. The ACC warns it may file a case under Section 19(3) for obstructing the process. A three-member ACC committee is handling the probe. University officials admit partial cooperation but cite missing records as the reason for delays.

In the span of 24 hours, the Jamuna Bridge authority collected Tk 279,692,000 in tolls, with 38,539 vehicles crossing the bridge. According to Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, Executive Engineer of the Jamuna Bridge Site Office, this toll revenue was recorded between Wednesday midnight and Thursday midnight. He added that while traffic volume was higher in the Dhaka-bound lanes, there were no reports of major congestion on the highway.

Bangladesh's leather industry is bracing for a 10–15% drop in rawhide collection after Eid-ul-Azha, falling to around 8 million from over 9 million last year. Despite growing global demand, exports may stumble again due to the inoperative Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Savar. Tannery owners call it the sector’s biggest obstacle, suggesting BDT 300 crore investment could revive operations. While seasonal traders continue collecting salted hides, government-fixed prices prevail. Salt preservation efforts and new export permissions offer slight relief amidst structural bottlenecks.

The results of the SSC and equivalent exams are expected by July 25, following the standard two-month timeframe after exams. Practical tests concluded on May 25, and script evaluation is in full swing. Despite initial reluctance, most examiners have now collected answer sheets after a directive was issued. OMR submissions are ongoing and will close by June 15. Over 1.92 million students registered under 11 boards this year, though some were absent. Authorities assure that results will be published following standard assessment procedures.