Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Malaysia was fruitful and that the labor market between the two countries is expected to reopen soon. He made the remarks at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, noting that local government elections could begin in September and all elections would be completed within a year.

According to the adviser, Bangladesh and Malaysia have signed a free trade agreement, which he described as significant. He added that Malaysia will assist Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya crisis and in joining the ASEAN regional bloc. The adviser also commented on political matters, saying that decisions regarding the Awami League would be made by the International Crimes Tribunal.

The statements indicate that bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia is set to expand in trade and labor relations, with potential implications for Bangladesh’s foreign employment sector and regional engagement.

Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has reintroduced a bill in the House of Commons demanding an independent public inquiry into what he described as Britain's involvement in genocide. The move came shortly after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation. Corbyn criticized Starmer, saying that although he was stepping down, the government's role in what Corbyn called one of the greatest crimes of the time should not be forgotten.

Corbyn had first introduced the bill last year, seeking an investigation into the UK's alleged participation in Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The proposed inquiry covered issues such as arms supplies to Israel, the use of British intelligence aircraft, and the use of Royal Air Force bases. Starmer’s government had rejected the bill during its second reading.

Following that rejection, Corbyn organized a two-day tribunal on Gaza, where testimonies were heard from Palestinian civilians, doctors, aid workers, and legal experts, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Law enforcement agencies have taken strict security measures in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 area and its surroundings. From Tuesday morning, additional personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Detective Branch (DB), and other security units have been deployed to maintain order and prevent any acts of sabotage.

The heightened security comes in connection with the 77th founding anniversary of the banned Awami League. Authorities have set up barricades at entry points to Dhanmondi 32, with officers stationed nearby to monitor movement. Public access in the area has been restricted as part of the precautionary measures.

These steps are aimed at ensuring stability and preventing any disruption to law and order during the politically sensitive period.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended the oral examination for clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent licenses, which was scheduled between June 21 and 24, 2026. The suspension came a day after the schedule was announced, citing unavoidable reasons. Earlier, the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy (CEVTA) conducted the first-ever written test for the licenses in Chattogram, where 2,521 candidates participated out of nearly 3,000 shortlisted applicants. Only 210 passed, and most politically affiliated candidates reportedly failed, leading to pressure on NBR.

Officials involved said the written test was part of the new C&F Agent Licensing Rules 2026, designed to ensure transparency in the licensing process. They alleged that political influence had previously dominated license distribution. After the results excluded most ruling party activists, discontent spread among political circles, and attempts were made to alter the results. A list of 110 candidates was reportedly sent to CEVTA for inclusion, but officials refused to comply.

The CEVTA director confirmed that the oral test was postponed following NBR’s directive but said he was unaware of the specific reasons. The NBR chairman did not respond to requests for comment.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that the banned Awami League’s alleged terrorist activities would be resisted with public support. He made the statement on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after leading a protest march in front of the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka. The march was organized to protest what BNP described as provocative actions by Awami League members marking the party’s founding anniversary.

The procession, led by Rizvi, began in front of the BNP’s central office, circled the Nightingale intersection, and ended at the same location. In a brief address following the march, Rizvi said that fallen fascism would not be allowed to return to Bangladesh. He accused the Awami League of attempting to destabilize the country using laundered money and of depriving citizens of their rights and normal life during its rule.

Rizvi emphasized that BNP and its supporters would continue to resist any attempts to create unrest or revive authoritarian practices in the country.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued a public notice prohibiting the carrying of weapons and the use of fireworks during the observance of the holy Ashura. The directive, signed by DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, was announced on Tuesday morning. It states that on Friday, June 26, Tazia processions will take place at various locations across Dhaka, and the ban will remain in effect throughout the duration of these events.

According to the notice, participants in previous processions have sometimes carried sharp or blunt weapons such as machetes, knives, scissors, spears, lances, swords, and sticks, which have occasionally led to unwanted incidents and caused fear among residents. The DMP emphasized that such actions pose a threat to public safety and disrupt the solemnity of the religious occasion.

The order, issued under sections 28 and 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (Ordinance No. III/1976), also bans the lighting of fireworks and firecrackers during the Muharram period, as these are deemed inconsistent with the spiritual atmosphere of Ashura.

UK Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has resigned less than two years after his landslide election victory. His departure is widely linked to his government's stance on Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the United Kingdom’s continued support for Israel. Local elections and opinion polls indicated that many former Labour voters turned away from the party over its Gaza policy, shifting support to centrist or left-leaning alternatives.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Green Party leader Zack Polanski sharply criticized Starmer’s approach, accusing him of moral failure and complicity in atrocities. During his tenure, Starmer maintained intelligence and military cooperation with Israel, authorized arms exports, and faced allegations of ignoring evidence of war crimes. His government also banned the pro-Palestinian group “Palestine Action” and restricted entry to critics of Israel, while granting diplomatic privileges to Israeli officials.

Although Starmer’s administration recognized the State of Palestine in 2025 with conditions and imposed limited sanctions on Israeli settlements, his inconsistent foreign policy and domestic crackdowns left him isolated. Observers noted that his resignation followed growing dissatisfaction across political and public spheres.

The BJP-led West Bengal government has renamed Kolkata’s historic ‘Sohrabardi Avenue’ as ‘Gopal Mukherjee Road’, a move announced on June 20 and described by Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari as a correction of a long-standing historical error. Adhikari claimed the previous name honored a figure responsible for political violence, while the new name recognizes a ‘true protector and savior’. The decision was made public through Adhikari’s post on X, calling it a historic step taken on West Bengal Day.

Opposition leaders and historians have strongly contested the decision, arguing that the avenue was not named after Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the last Premier of undivided Bengal, but after his uncle Dr. Hasan Suhrawardy, a renowned physician and educator. Critics, including Trinamool Congress leaders Saket Gokhale and Kunal Ghosh, urged the government to verify historical records, warning that punishing the wrong person’s legacy would be a grave mistake.

The controversy deepened as reports highlighted Hasan Suhrawardy’s humanitarian contributions and Gopal Mukherjee’s violent role in the 1946 Kolkata riots. Observers described the renaming as politically motivated historical distortion that undermines Kolkata’s cultural identity.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon informed the National Parliament that Bangladesh currently has a total of 1,969 registered media outlets. He provided the information while responding to a question from ruling party member Dewan Mohammad Salauddin, representing Dhaka-19 constituency.

According to the minister, the country has 59 television channels, including four state-owned and 55 privately approved ones. Out of these, 39 channels, including the four state-owned, are currently broadcasting. Regarding print media, there are 1,436 daily newspapers published nationwide, with 593 based in the capital and 843 from other districts. Additionally, there are 474 registered online news portals, categorized as 282 general, 131 daily newspaper-affiliated, and 61 regional portals.

The data presented in Parliament outlines the current structure of Bangladesh’s media landscape, reflecting the distribution of television, print, and online news outlets across the country.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in China on Monday, June 22, 2026, after completing a two-day official visit to Malaysia. His aircraft landed at Dalian International Airport at 8:55 p.m. Bangladesh time. Earlier that day, he departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5 p.m. local time on a special Bangladesh Biman flight. His wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, is accompanying him on the trip.

According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, the Prime Minister will spend two busy days in Dalian before traveling to Beijing, where the main programs of his state visit to China will begin. During his stay in Dalian, he will attend the Annual Meeting of the World International Economic Forum. At Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Bunga Raya Complex VIP terminal, Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Zulkifli Hasan bid farewell to the Bangladeshi leader. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Manjurul Karim and Deputy High Commissioner Shahanara Malika were also present.

The visit marks the start of a multi-day engagement in China, beginning with international economic discussions in Dalian before moving to official meetings in Beijing.

During Monday’s general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget in Bangladesh’s parliament, several lawmakers raised concerns over drug trafficking, terrorism, and lingering authoritarian influence. NCP MP Abdullah Al Amin questioned whether the country’s drug crisis was being fueled by external forces, urging the Home Minister to clarify the promised post-Eid joint anti-drug operation. NCP MP Nusrat Tabassum said that despite the fall of dictatorship after the July uprising, its violent influence and threats persist.

BNP MP Reza Ahmed demanded strong action against armed groups operating in the Padma river char areas across Kushtia, Natore, and Rajshahi, citing murders linked to land and sand disputes. He also called for more police vehicles to control rampant drug smuggling along border areas. Other MPs discussed issues including port management policy, the disappearance of historical figures from textbooks, expatriate harassment, and worsening power shortages.

Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mahbubur Rahman Belal criticized the budget as unrealistic and warned that ignoring the results of a recent referendum could destabilize the country if reforms are not implemented soon.

Sylhet city Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have demanded the cancellation of the withdrawal order of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sarwar Alam, calling for his reinstatement. The demand was made by central working committee member and Sylhet city Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam during a city Jamaat meeting on Monday. He alleged that the current BNP-led government, which came to power through the July uprising, is operating in an authoritarian manner and removed the popular DC to clear the way for unethical activities.

According to Fakhrul Islam, DC Sarwar had earned public admiration through initiatives such as anti-drug drives, welfare funds for imams and muezzins, housing plans for expatriates, and restoring order on city footpaths. He also mentioned that Sarwar sealed three donation pots at the Shahjalal shrine and installed official donation boxes to ensure financial transparency, which allegedly led to his removal. The decision has reportedly sparked public anger and street protests in Sylhet.

Jamaat leaders warned that such actions could discourage honest officials and harm public trust. They urged the government to reverse the decision and restore Sarwar Alam to his position.

The United States has announced a conditional plan to release Iran’s frozen assets, requiring that a major portion of the funds be used to buy American soybeans, corn, and wheat. The plan was revealed by US Vice President JD Vance after a high-level meeting between US and Iranian officials at Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Resort. According to Vance, the initiative aims to ensure that the released funds support humanitarian and public welfare purposes rather than terrorism financing.

Vance said the US and Qatar are jointly developing a special monitoring mechanism to oversee how Iran uses the released funds, with both Washington and Doha sharing control over approvals. He added that Jared Kushner is working with Qatar on a joint proposal to implement the plan, which would strengthen Iran’s food security while boosting US agricultural exports. Vance described the initiative as a “classic Trump deal” that could benefit both nations.

The US vice president also stated that Washington has been consulting with regional allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Lebanon. While Gulf countries view the move as a step toward regional stability, Israeli officials remain concerned about any concessions to Iran.

Private University Chhatra Dal organized a protest march in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, denouncing what it described as the Awami League’s and its affiliates’ attempts to destabilize law and order through provocative activities and threats to the administration. The march began at Prime Asia University on Kamal Ataturk Avenue in Banani and concluded at Gulshan-2 Circle, with participation from leaders and activists representing around 45 to 50 private universities in the capital.

The protest was led by the organization’s president, Md. Abu Horaira, accompanied by general secretary M. Rajibul Islam Talukder (Bindu) and senior vice president Risalat Islam Sajib. In a brief rally following the march, Horaira urged students to remain united against any conspiracies or anti-state activities, emphasizing the historical role of private university students in national crises. Talukder stated that the student body would continue to stand for democracy, rule of law, and citizens’ rights, calling on members to cooperate with authorities in maintaining peace and vigilance on campuses.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to stability, democratic values, and a peaceful academic environment across universities.

Said Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, Member of Parliament for Madaripur-1 (Shibchar), expressed strong dissatisfaction in the National Parliament over the acute electricity shortage in his constituency. Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, he said that frequent load-shedding has led to public anger, with residents blaming local representatives. Hanzala warned that if the crisis is not resolved quickly, it will become difficult for elected officials to maintain their credibility.

He criticized the absence of the power minister in parliament, saying it prevented lawmakers from conveying the real situation on the ground. Hanzala urged the government, through the Speaker, to take immediate and permanent measures to end the electricity crisis. He also condemned the removal of historical figures such as Haji Shariatullah, Shahjalal, Shah Paran, and Titumir from textbooks, arguing that their stories once inspired patriotism among youth.

Additionally, Hanzala highlighted the harassment faced by expatriate workers at airports and issues with passports and national ID cards. He called on relevant ministries to act swiftly to address these problems.