Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that, despite internal political complications, the Iranian people are uniting around their leadership. When asked about threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin declined to comment specifically but noted growing national solidarity in Iran.

He added that Israel’s initial aim was to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, not to cause regime change. “Israel has failed to strike Iran’s underground uranium enrichment sites—they remain intact. It's time for all sides to pursue compromise,” Putin said.

Government employees demanding the repeal of the civil service ordinance have given the administration a 48-hour deadline. If their demands are not met, they plan to launch a blockade at the Ministry of Finance starting Sunday.

On Thursday around 11:30 AM, the protestors gathered in front of Building No. 4 at the Secretariat, chanting slogans and staging a sit-in protest.

In the interest of judicial transparency, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has appointed senior Supreme Court lawyer A.Y. Mashiuzzaman as amicus curiae in a contempt of court case against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The hearing, originally scheduled for June 3, includes co-defendant Md. Shakil Alam, also known as Shakil Akand Bulbul of Gobindaganj, Gaibandha. The tribunal emphasized the importance of maintaining impartiality in the judicial process.

The possibility of a U.S. military strike on Iran has sparked division within former President Donald Trump's support base—particularly among his core "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) followers. Many are voicing strong opposition to involving the United States in another Middle Eastern conflict.

Prominent Trump ally and former White House strategist Steve Bannon warned, “We can't do this again. We don’t want another Iraq.” Influential MAGA voice Tucker Carlson also criticized any move toward military escalation. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed these sentiments, saying, “Those who want to drag the U.S. into a war between Israel and Iran are not true MAGA. We're tired of endless foreign wars.”

A group of demonstrators staged a protest in front of the White House, urging the U.S. government to stay out of any potential war between Israel and Iran. Protesters also decried the billions of dollars in military aid provided to Israel. With three U.S. aircraft carriers currently stationed in the Middle East, activists demanded that military assets on board—including aircraft and munitions—be used strictly for defense.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has strongly opposed any U.S. involvement in a potential Israel-Iran conflict. In a statement, Sanders wrote, "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not the president of the United States and does not determine our foreign or military policy." He emphasized that if Israel chooses to go to war with Iran, it is their decision—and the U.S. should stay out of it entirely.

The Wall Street Journal reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted policy-level approval for a potential military strike on Iran to halt its nuclear program. However, he has not yet issued a final order.

Trump is reportedly waiting to see whether Tehran shows willingness to reach a last-minute agreement. One of the potential U.S. targets is Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which could only be destroyed with the most powerful bombs available.

When previously asked about the possibility of a strike, Trump commented ambiguously: “I may or may not do it.”

North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed deep concern over Israel's military actions in Iran, strongly condemning what it describes as the "mass killing of civilians" as a crime against humanity. The ministry warned that these state-sponsored terrorist attacks could escalate into a full-scale war in the Middle East. It also accused Israel—backed by the United States and Western powers—of acting like a "cancerous entity" in the region and posing a serious threat to global peace and security.

Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that in today's world, information has become a strategic weapon for ensuring national security. “National security no longer relies solely on military strength—it is increasingly dependent on public opinion,” she said.

According to her, withholding information and suppressing the truth can jeopardize both sustainable development and national security. “Disinformation acts as a psychological weapon. To counter this, we need truth, trust, and information-based public awareness,” she emphasized, calling for national unity in this regard.

Rizwana Hasan also pointed to historical parallels, noting that misinformation and conspiracies were among the key reasons behind the defeat in the Battle of Plassey. “Similarly, in today’s digital age, rumors spread through social media pose a serious threat to both national development and security,” she added.

She identified the climate crisis as a critical national security issue for Bangladesh and noted that the UK is ready to assist Bangladesh with satellite-based data and training support.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has finalized four recipients for the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025 in recognition of their exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation and research. The awardees are:

Md. Fazle Rabbi

Sherpur Bird Conservation Society

Professor Dr. Md. Monowar Hossain

Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka

Each recipient will receive a 22-carat gold medal (two tolas in weight), a cheque for BDT 100,000, and an official certificate of honor.

France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that the country will carry out extensive two-day raids across the nation to curb illegal immigration. The operations are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, involving nearly 4,000 security personnel.

The raids will focus particularly on hotspots with a significant presence of irregular Bangladeshi immigrants, especially around Gare du Nord station in northern Paris — a key arrival point for Eurostar trains coming from Britain. So far this year, French authorities have apprehended 47,000 illegal immigrants.

The Interior Minister warned that migrants are being urged to quickly obtain proper legal documentation and seek legal assistance to avoid detention during these enforcement actions.

A court has directed prison authorities to take the necessary steps to solemnize the marriage between singer Mainul Ahsan Noble and the woman who had earlier filed a rape case against him, based on mutual consent. The bride is a former student of Eden Mohila College. Noble's lawyer stated in court that the case was a result of misunderstandings, and both parties now wish to marry, prompting the court to grant approval.

In a recent meeting, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted river water flow during development project planning. “We must give utmost importance to preserving our river systems. Bangladesh is a deltaic country, and under no circumstances should our water flows be hindered,” he stated.

During the meeting, the Asian Development Bank’s Bangladesh Country Director, Ho Yun Jong, along with a team from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), presented the detailed framework, strategy, and implementation plan for the ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project.

The Chief Adviser added, “Our vision is to create an investment hub in this region. The project must be designed to connect neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan as well.”

Chattogram, June 18 — Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has issued a stern warning against the ongoing "ambulance business" at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), vowing tough action to dismantle the illegal syndicate profiting from patients' distress.

“We will not tolerate the commercialization of emergency ambulance services at CMCH,” said the mayor. “When a patient passes away, some ward boys call specific ambulances in exchange for commissions. This is a form of exploitation involving fourth-class staff, influential individuals, and even political figures.”

Dr. Shahadat emphasized the need for a coordinated multi-agency task force to break up the powerful network operating within and around the hospital. He called for an urgent joint meeting involving hospital authorities, law enforcement, and the city administration.

The mayor also addressed irregularities involving local pharmacies near the hospital, alleging that several of them are charging patients inflated prices for medicines, ignoring government price regulations.

“The Chattogram City Corporation will take strict action against any pharmacy found violating pricing rules,” he added.

Dhaka, June 18 — Ishraq Hossain, elected as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, will not be sworn into office as the legal window for administering the oath has expired, according to government officials.

Local Government Division Advisor Asif Mahmud explained, “The final date for administering the oath was May 26. Although a file was initiated, we sought legal advice from the Law Ministry regarding the matter, which is still under judicial consideration.”

Following consultation with the Attorney General and other legal experts, the ministry was advised that due to the case being sub judice (under judicial review), there is no scope to proceed with the swearing-in.

Asif Mahmud added that the official gazette term of the Dhaka South City Corporation expired on June 1, further ruling out the possibility of any oath-taking at this stage.