Iran is holding a state funeral for its longest-serving Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death marks the end of a significant chapter in the country’s political history. Khamenei assumed leadership in 1989, following the Iran-Iraq war, and consolidated authority over the armed forces, judiciary, state media, and key strategic appointments.

Under his rule, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) became a dominant force in Iran’s security, politics, and economy. Khamenei oversaw the expansion of Iran’s ballistic missile program, citing the need to strengthen resistance against the United States, Israel, and regional rivals. His tenure was also defined by persistent disputes with Western powers over Iran’s nuclear program. While denying any pursuit of nuclear weapons, he maintained Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Khamenei’s regional strategy deepened Iran’s influence through alliances with friendly governments and armed groups, heightening tensions with Gulf Arab states, Israel, and the United States. His death has sparked both national mourning and renewed debate over Iran’s future leadership and political direction.

BNP National Executive Committee member Abu Naser Muhammad Rahmatullah said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working tirelessly to make women economically self-reliant and turn them into skilled human resources. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a sewing machine distribution event organized by the Udyomi Nari Foundation in front of Government Syed Hatem Ali College in Barishal city. The event aimed to train women entrepreneurs and promote self-employment.

Rahmatullah stated that sustainable national development requires women’s participation in economic activities. He emphasized that women are now contributing as entrepreneurs and job creators, becoming a driving force in the country’s economic progress. To strengthen this trend, he called for expanding skill development and self-employment opportunities. He added that various practical programs, including the Family Card initiative, are being implemented to support women’s empowerment.

Praising the foundation’s initiative, Rahmatullah said that distributing sewing machines will help women become more self-reliant and improve their families’ financial stability. The event was attended by local dignitaries, social and political figures, and women entrepreneurs.

The Sammilito Khatme Nabuwwat Parishad has announced a conference to be held on July 14 at Gopalpur Union School Field in Rangpur’s Badarganj upazila. The decision came after the organization condemned police obstruction during a faith-based discussion on Khatme Nabuwwat held at a local mosque following Friday prayers. The announcement was made at an emergency consultation meeting chaired by convenor Allama Abdul Hamid Pir Saheb Madhupuri at the group’s temporary office in Jurain.

According to the organization, some Muslims in Gopalpur Union have faced harassment and persecution by members of the Qadiani community, including alleged land grabbing and attempts at religious conversion. The group also claimed that the presence of the Qadiani National Amir in the area has worsened tensions. Leaders accused the police of hurting religious sentiments by preventing the mosque event and demanded a neutral investigation and legal action against those responsible.

The Parishad stated that the upcoming July 14 conference aims to raise awareness among local Muslims and warned that any obstruction or delay in granting permission would be the responsibility of the administration.

Maulana Jamil Siddiqi, president of the Bangladesh Qawmi Student Forum, has called for official state recognition of Qawmi madrasa students’ role in the July 2024 mass uprising. He made the demand on Saturday at the ‘July National Conference 2026’ held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Siddiqi said Qawmi students were directly involved in the mid-July uprising and provided shelter in mosques and madrasas to many protesters during the unrest. He added that their organization arranged food and medical care for the injured, noting that at least 79 madrasa students were listed as martyrs in a record published by the ‘Young Scholars Generation’ in September 2024. He urged the prime minister to ensure equal recognition for Qawmi students’ contributions in building an inclusive Bangladesh.

Several cabinet members, including the ministers for home, liberation war affairs, law, and housing, also spoke at the event, which highlighted calls for broader acknowledgment of Qawmi students’ participation in national movements.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sent a congratulatory letter to US President Donald Trump on the occasion of the United States’ 250th Independence Day. The letter, dispatched from the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, conveyed warm greetings on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh, expressing admiration for the milestone celebration.

In his message, Rahman emphasized the enduring friendship between Bangladesh and the United States since Bangladesh’s independence. He noted that bilateral relations have evolved into a strong and multifaceted partnership encompassing trade, investment, education, defense, and people-to-people ties. The prime minister highlighted recent progress in trade, energy cooperation, and investment, and expressed gratitude for continued US support in addressing the Rohingya crisis.

Rahman reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the United States in areas of mutual interest and extended best wishes for President Trump’s health and success, as well as peace and prosperity for the American people.

A major attack occurred in Dhaka’s Gulistan area on Saturday afternoon during preparations for a protest rally organized by the local unit of Jamaat-e-Islami against extortion and illegal occupation. Jamaat blamed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the assault, reporting that 15 to 20 of its members were injured. Three of the injured, who suffered stab wounds, are in critical condition and were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Islami Bank Central Hospital.

According to Abdus Sattar Suman, publicity secretary of Dhaka South Jamaat, BNP activists and local extortion groups launched a sudden attack when traders and Jamaat supporters gathered for the rally. He alleged that several BNP and Awami League figures participated in the violence, naming specific individuals. Police officer Saikat Hossain from Bangshal Police Station confirmed that law enforcement had been deployed to the scene but said no arrests were made.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions among political groups in the capital, with law enforcement maintaining presence in the area following the violence.

Former state minister for home affairs and son of Bangladesh’s first prime minister, Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, has said that an individual’s ego and arrogance can destroy both a country and a political party. He made the comment in a post on his verified Facebook account on Saturday, referring to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family.

In his post, Sohel Taj cited Sheikh Hasina’s recent statement, “I will return this year,” and argued that her arrogance has harmed the nation and the Awami League. He alleged that genocide, enforced disappearances, killings, corruption, the destruction of democracy, and the misuse of the spirit of the Liberation War have led to the party’s downfall.

He further claimed that even after leaving the country, Sheikh Hasina’s talk of returning has placed innocent party leaders and activists in greater danger.

The chief executive officer of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Md. Masud Rana, has been relieved of his duties following allegations of bias and involvement in irregularities related to the chamber’s election management. The decision was announced in a letter signed by the Election Conduct Committee Chairperson and Additional District Election Officer, Mosha. Asiya Khatun.

Earlier, rival candidates accused the election committee of favoring a particular panel by violating electoral codes. Selim Reza, the presidential candidate from the Selim-Ershad panel, held an emergency press conference demanding the dissolution of the current election committee and the formation of a new one. He alleged that the committee ignored complaints about rule violations, including unauthorized advertisements, voter gatherings, and irregularities in distributing voter ID cards.

Following these allegations, the election committee chairperson issued a show-cause notice to Masud Rana and removed him from his election-related responsibilities.

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran’s Mosalla area to mourn the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing grief and chanting slogans calling for the destruction of America and revenge, according to a BBC report. Iran’s state television said the six-day state funeral ceremonies began on Saturday. Before Khamenei’s coffin arrived, large crowds had already assembled, many carrying red flags and placards symbolizing calls for vengeance.

The ceremony drew religious figures, government officials, and foreign dignitaries who paid their respects. Among them were Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Representatives from Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, and Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman also attended.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington had given Tehran one week to bury the former leader, describing the gesture as an act of goodwill. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly 37 years, was killed on February 28 during the early stages of U.S. and Israeli attacks, with his burial taking place more than four months later.

At the July National Conference held on Saturday at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Abu Horaira, president of the private university wing of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, questioned whether Meher Afroz Shaon was more powerful than Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he accused Shaon of insulting the 'July warriors' and demanded justice for her remarks.

The event was organized jointly by the July 24 Martyrs’ Family Society and Amra July Joddha to commemorate the martyrs of the July uprising and mark the second anniversary of the '36 July' movement. The memorial meeting was presided over by Chief Whip of the National Parliament Nurul Islam Monir and attended by cabinet members, lawmakers, diplomats, military and civilian officials, and representatives of professional organizations. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs.

The student leader also highlighted the contributions of private university students to the movement during his speech.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to hold a meeting to discuss the Iran deal, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. The two leaders spoke by phone, during which Netanyahu extended greetings to Trump on the occasion of US Independence Day on July 4.

During the call, Trump described the United States as the 'guardian of global freedom,' the statement said. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that both leaders agreed to meet in the United States in the near future, although no specific date has been determined yet.

The announcement highlights ongoing coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv on Iran-related issues, but details of the planned meeting’s agenda or timing remain undisclosed.

Iran’s current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend his father’s funeral, sparking widespread discussion. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Paul Musgrave, an associate professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, suggested that security concerns likely influenced the decision. He said Iran feared that Israel might target the leadership again during a large public gathering such as a funeral.

Musgrave noted that Israel has previously used funerals or mourning events to strike political figures. He added that while Tehran’s security concerns are understandable, the long-term challenge for Iran is to ensure the Supreme Leader’s visible presence before the public. According to him, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly for several months, and the government must eventually demonstrate that he is actively leading the country.

Musgrave concluded that balancing security precautions with the need for public visibility remains a key political challenge for Iran’s leadership.

The United Arab Emirates has announced major changes to its entry and residency visa policies, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The 14-day and 60-day entry visa options have been extended to citizens of six additional countries—Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa—beyond the previously eligible Indian nationals. The list of countries whose residents qualify for certain visa benefits has also been expanded to include Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Dubai visitors can now obtain single-entry tourist visas within 48 hours through approved agencies.

Dubai authorities have revised the property-based two-year residency visa rules, removing the previous minimum property value requirement of AED 750,000 for sole ownership. For jointly owned properties, each investor must hold a share worth at least AED 400,000. The UAE has also granted a 30-day grace period to visitors previously exempted from overstay fines due to airspace closures, requiring them to regularize their status or leave by July 9.

Additionally, Dubai is introducing a “smart medical visa” to streamline healthcare travel, while visa issuance for citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan has been temporarily suspended to prevent Ebola spread.

Mohammad Shahin Malu, a July Movement activist who was injured during the 2024 mass uprising, called for giving Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ten years to lead the country. He made the remarks on Saturday at the 'July National Conference 2026' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon, Dhaka, marking the anniversary of the July-August uprising, mourning, and victory.

Speaking on behalf of injured families, Malu said that if people love their country, they should allow Tarique Rahman a decade to bring change, arguing that such time would encourage expatriates to return home for work. He alleged that the interim government had treated BNP-aligned victims of the July-August movement differently and claimed to have suffered personally for his loyalty to the party.

The conference was attended by Tarique Rahman as chief guest, along with senior government officials including the home minister, state minister for liberation war affairs, chief whip, and law minister, as well as political leaders and representatives from various sectors.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that the modern world is passing through a deep and multidimensional crisis rooted in ethnic, religious, linguistic, cultural, and geographical divisions. He emphasized that lasting solutions cannot come from dominance but through mutual respect, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence. He made these remarks on Saturday at a hotel in Dhaka while inaugurating the Al Ummah Foundation’s website and Al Ummah Journal.

The minister described the foundation’s initiative as timely amid global instability and division, expressing hope that it would serve as an open platform for intellectual exchange among people of diverse philosophies and ideologies. He said diversity in language, ethnicity, religion, and culture is a natural part of human civilization, and no group or ideology can realistically dominate the world. He added that history shows war and power displays have never provided lasting solutions, while free thought and mutual respect have advanced civilization.

Welcoming the initiative on behalf of the government, Swapan said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration supports peaceful coexistence, harmony, and an inclusive world order. He expressed hope that the Al Ummah Journal and website would enrich dialogue and understanding among different cultures and nations.