Detectives have arrested former Islami Bank Managing Director Muhammad Monirul Moula early Monday in connection with a large-scale loan fraud case. He was taken to the Detective Branch headquarters on Mintoo Road. In December, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case alleging that over BDT 1,092 crore (approximately $100 million) was embezzled through a fake company named “Murad Enterprise.” A total of 58 individuals, including former chairman and top executives of the bank, were named in the case.

A suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus’ Dweilaa district has left at least 20 people dead and over 50 injured. Syria's Ministry of Interior confirmed the attacker was a member of the ISIS terrorist group. The assailant first opened fire before detonating an explosive vest inside the church. Authorities reported a second suspect was involved; one perpetrator died on the spot. Syrian officials labeled it a deliberate attempt to ignite sectarian conflict, while Turkey expressed hope for unity against terrorism. The UN has condemned the attack.

Following the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called an emergency meeting scheduled for Monday. Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami has formally written to the IAEA, urging an investigation and official condemnation of the US attacks. The IAEA earlier confirmed that no unusual levels of radiation have been detected in the areas surrounding the targeted sites. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament has formally passed a proposal authorizing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks.

On Saturday night, the privately operated Titas Commuter train from Dhaka to Akhaura was forced to operate using mobile phone flashlights due to a locomotive failure. The train departed Ashuganj Station 15 minutes behind schedule at 8:48 PM but encountered problems after passing Talshahar Station. The locomotive’s headlight malfunctioned, compelling the staff to guide the train to Brahmanbaria Station using torchlight. Horns were repeatedly sounded to alert those nearby, and the train took nearly an hour to cover just eight kilometers.

Meghna Alam has filed a petition in court seeking the return of her seized mobile phone, iPad, and passport in connection with a case filed at Dhanmondi Police Station on charges of fraud and extortion.

The court held a hearing on Sunday and is scheduled to deliver its order on Monday. Previously, on April 28, the 30-day detention order against Meghna Alam under the Special Powers Act was revoked, leading to her release from custody. She has since been out on bail.

Alam was initially detained under the Special Powers Act, but no formal charges have yet been proven in court.

A high-level strategic planning meeting was held on Sunday with the goal of transforming the Mawa-Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj into a modern, eco-friendly port. The meeting brought together five key advisors: Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain, Adilur Rahman Khan, Sheikh Bashir Uddin, and Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

According to the proposal presented at the meeting, the new ICT Port Project will span approximately 29.13 acres and is intended to position Mawa-Shimulia as one of the country’s most efficient river ports. The estimated construction cost is BDT 756.71 crore, with annual maintenance expenses projected at BDT 30.89 crore.

The port is expected to handle up to 204,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of containers annually, generating a potential yearly revenue of BDT 145.25 crore.

US Senator Marco Rubio has urged the Chinese government to engage diplomatically with Iran amid threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, warning that China would suffer the most severe consequences. He added that such a move by Iran would be “another grave mistake” leading to heightened tensions and could amount to economic suicide. Rubio emphasized that the United States has the capability to counter any Iranian blockade, while noting that Iran’s parliament has already passed a motion authorizing the closure of the strategic waterway.

After nearly two hours of blackout, the power situation in Dhaka has begun to normalize following the repair of a technical fault at the Rampura grid. The issue, which started around 10 PM, initially affected the Rampura power grid and subsequently disrupted supply to several interconnected grids, plunging parts of Dhaka into darkness. Authorities have confirmed that the fault has been rectified.

A major power outage struck several areas of Dhaka, including Rampura, Gulshan, Banani, and Farmgate, following a technical fault at the PGCB substation in Rampura around 10 PM on Saturday. The Bangladesh Power Development Board confirmed that the issue affected mainly DPDC-served areas, while DESCO areas remained largely unaffected. PGCB engineers are working to resolve the issue, which is expected to be fixed within an hour. Several other neighborhoods also reported disruptions, with efforts underway to restore full power supply.

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.

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.