Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will undertake his first bilateral visit to China from June 22 to 26, following an official trip to Malaysia. The visit includes participation in the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Dalian on June 23, followed by high-level meetings in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and senior Communist Party officials. Over ten memoranda of understanding and three agreements are expected to be signed, covering education, human resource development, agriculture, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, media, communication, and development cooperation.

Officials from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry describe the visit as politically and strategically significant, marking a new foundation for Dhaka–Beijing relations. The two sides are expected to announce a joint declaration, the first since 2005, and formalize cooperation between the Communist Party of China and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Discussions may include Bangladesh’s support for China’s position on Taiwan, participation in the Global Development Initiative, and potential membership in RCEP, BRICS, and the SCO.

Analysts view the trip as a calculated move amid regional tensions and as an opportunity for Bangladesh to secure economic and strategic support from China while balancing broader geopolitical interests.

The suspension of the Feni District Jubo Dal Committee has been withdrawn. The announcement was made on Friday through a notice signed by Minhazul Islam Bhuiyan, Assistant Office Secretary of the Central Jubo Dal. The decision reverses the earlier suspension order issued on May 4, 2026, and reinstates the committee’s activities. The directive was implemented under the authority of Central President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon.

According to the notice, the earlier suspension had been imposed as a disciplinary measure. The committee was penalized after one of its ward-level general secretaries was found to be an accused in a case related to an attack on the motorcade of former Prime Minister and late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Allegations of internal disorder also contributed to the earlier action.

The withdrawal of the suspension restores the Feni District Jubo Dal’s organizational functions under central supervision, signaling a return to regular political activities in the district.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that she asked to take a photo with him, calling it a “made-up story.” The dispute began after Trump told Italy’s La7 television channel that Meloni had requested a photo during the recent G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. In response, Meloni expressed shock on Instagram, questioning why the US president behaves this way toward allied nations and asserting that neither she nor Italy begs for anyone’s favor.

Following the controversy, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned visit to the United States. Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella and leaders across the political spectrum voiced support for Meloni, condemning Trump’s remarks as disrespectful. Opposition senator Filippo Sensi, former prime minister Giuseppe Conte, and coalition leader Matteo Salvini all defended Meloni’s stance.

Analysts and diplomats cited the fallout as part of a broader rift between Europe and the US, intensified by Trump’s Iran war policy. Several European leaders, including Meloni, have refused to allow US bombers to use their bases, signaling a shift toward greater European strategic independence.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam announced that discussions on free trade will take place during Prime Minister Tarek Rahman's upcoming visit to Malaysia. He said there is also a possibility of signing a cultural cooperation agreement. The announcement came during a press briefing on Saturday morning.

According to the foreign secretary, the delegation will include the foreign minister, information minister, and a total of 27 members. Dhaka expects to sign two agreements and 13 memorandums of understanding during the visit. The trip will also focus on facilitating the entry of more Bangladeshi workers into Malaysia’s labor market, though final decisions depend on Malaysia’s internal review process.

This will be Prime Minister Rahman’s first foreign trip since taking office after winning the February election. The visit is scheduled for June 21–22, followed by travel to Beijing on June 23 and a return to Dhaka on June 26.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Israel would have been destroyed without his intervention. He said the United States provided Israel with advanced military capabilities, including the Iron Dome air defense system and B-2 Spirit bombers. Trump emphasized that these measures were crucial to Israel’s survival and security.

Trump also discussed his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as positive. He noted that Washington holds significant influence over Israel’s policymaking and that Netanyahu worked well with him. According to Trump, Israel respects him and values his advice, though he added that Netanyahu sometimes needs to be restrained.

The remarks were reported by Middle East Eye and highlight Trump’s continued effort to underscore his role in shaping U.S.-Israel relations during and after his presidency.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the country will deliver a strong response to any future actions taken by India. Speaking to reporters outside the parliament building on June 20, 2026, Asif said that if India undertakes any adventurous move, it will face an even stronger reply. He claimed that India’s recent defeat in a conflict would be remembered for centuries.

Asif asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any aggression and that measures will also be taken against India-backed groups active in Afghanistan. He further alleged that recent statements heard in Azad Jammu and Kashmir reflect India’s stance rather than that of Pakistanis or Kashmiris. According to him, some individuals based in the United Kingdom are providing financial and logistical support to these activities, and India-supported groups are active there as well.

The defense minister also said the government is ready to counter any potential “water aggression,” emphasizing that not a single drop of Pakistan’s water will be allowed to be taken by others.

Kishoreganj-2 Member of Parliament Jalal Uddin described drugs as a grave curse for society, family, and the state, emphasizing that drugs are forbidden in the Quran and equally prohibited for BNP leaders and activists. He made these remarks on Friday night at an anti-drug awareness meeting held at Mugdia Bazar in Masua Union of Katiadi upazila.

The MP announced that new legislation is being prepared in parliament to strengthen control over drugs and gambling. The proposed law would include a minimum two-year prison sentence for drug-related offenses and discussions are underway to deny bail until verdicts are delivered. He also suggested identifying drug users and traders through dope tests and bringing them under legal action, stressing that no political party should tolerate involvement in drug activities.

Jalal Uddin called for a collective effort by political parties, public representatives, administration, and citizens to build a drug-free society. He urged parents to be more attentive to their children and warned that drugs destroy families, increase crime, and ruin youth futures.

The article reports that incidents of forced cross-border expulsions, known as 'push-in', have resurfaced along vulnerable stretches of the India-Bangladesh border. According to the report, groups of men, women, and children are allegedly coerced at night to cross into Bangladesh, often left stranded in the no-man’s land without food or water when denied entry. The practice, described as state-managed human trafficking, violates international border management norms and bilateral agreements.

The report argues that such actions reflect India’s continued use of coercive diplomacy toward Bangladesh, aimed at exerting pressure during bilateral negotiations. It notes that these operations had largely subsided under Sheikh Hasina’s government, which maintained close alignment with New Delhi. However, following Hasina’s fall and the formation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government, border tensions have reportedly intensified as India seeks to re-engage with Dhaka.

The commentary concludes that India’s persistence with outdated strategies like 'push-in' undermines its regional image and risks alienating a new generation of Bangladeshis seeking equitable relations with their larger neighbor.

Indian media outlets have recently circulated claims that the Palestinian group Hamas has operational links in Bangladesh. The reports, amplified by some pro-Awami League journalists, originated from an article published on May 12 by the Hindutva-aligned Indian think tank Usanas Foundation. The article alleged that Hamas leaders Khaled Qaddoumi and Khaled Meshaal attended a religious event in Bangladesh in October 2024, alongside Pakistani cleric Maulana Fazlur Rahman. The claims were later echoed by Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, in an interview with NDTV, where he expressed concern over alleged Hamas-linked activities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Usanas Foundation article also cited events such as funeral prayers in Bangladesh for slain Hamas leaders as evidence of growing Hamas influence. However, no verifiable record exists of any Hamas leader visiting Bangladesh. Analysts quoted in the report argue that the Indian and Israeli narratives, supported by Awami-leaning journalists, form part of a coordinated propaganda effort against Bangladesh.

The report suggests that these allegations could strain regional relations and fuel misinformation about Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been given until the end of this week by his cabinet allies to announce a timetable for his departure. If he fails to do so, he could be forced out of the Labour Party leadership. The pressure follows Labour’s Andy Burnham winning the Macclesfield by-election by a large margin, with many MPs expecting him to become the next prime minister within weeks.

Around 200 Labour MPs are reportedly ready to sign nomination papers supporting Burnham, while his backers prefer an uncontested transition. Senior ministers including Heidi Alexander, Ed Miliband, and Shabana Mahmood have urged Starmer to set a clear exit timeline. Veteran figures David Blunkett and Harriet Harman have also called for a leadership schedule. Starmer, however, has vowed to continue and warned that a leadership contest could cause chaos within the party.

Party insiders say that if Starmer does not signal resignation or succession plans by this week, the next cabinet meeting could see major intervention. Meanwhile, his supporters are rallying behind Chief Secretary Darren Jones as an alternative to Burnham, while former health minister Wes Streeting may back Burnham in exchange for a senior role.

More than 300 leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have started preparing for the upcoming Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election, even though no official schedule has been announced yet. The city’s 41 wards have been operating without councillors since the July uprising, but political activity is intensifying as BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates begin groundwork. Among BNP hopefuls are current and former city committee members, ex-councillors, and leaders from affiliated wings such as Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal.

Two major BNP figures, current mayor and former city president Dr. Shahadat Hossain and city general secretary Nazimur Rahman, are leading contenders for the mayoral race. Shahadat, declared mayor by court in 2024 after disputing the 2021 election results, said he seeks a new mandate through a full council election. Jamaat-e-Islami has also named its city organizational secretary Shamsuzzaman Helali as mayoral candidate and plans to field women councillors for the first time.

Both parties are finalizing ward-level nominations, with BNP seeing five to twelve aspirants per ward. Local campaigning includes community meetings, social media outreach, and small-scale development initiatives.

Bangladeshi intelligence agencies have reportedly uncovered a plan by the banned Awami League to create unrest across the country ahead of its June 23 founding anniversary. According to the report, the group intends to stage sudden processions, detonate crude bombs, and vandalize vehicles in Dhaka and other key cities to spread panic and disrupt public order. Security sources said recent small-scale explosions in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Meherpur were seen as rehearsals for larger coordinated actions.

The report claims that 16 former leaders from affiliated organizations are coordinating the plan, with a Dhaka city councillor allegedly financing the operations. Police headquarters have warned that the group may attempt to raise flags and hold rallies, potentially clashing with other political groups. A parallel campaign involving a controversial “Ram temple” issue in Gaibandha is also being linked to efforts to inflame religious sentiment.

Police officials stated that strict security measures, including checkpoints and additional forces at sensitive points, have been deployed to prevent any banned organization from taking to the streets.

Iran’s National Security Committee chief Ebrahim Azizi has warned that the United States will have to pay a price if it fails to honor the commitments made under a memorandum of understanding with Tehran. He stated that the Trump administration did not uphold the first clause of the agreement, which required both sides to immediately and permanently halt military operations on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon.

In a post on social media platform X, Azizi said that Washington’s failure to adhere to the first clause demonstrates that the United States still lacks the goodwill necessary to gain the trust of the Iranian nation. He added that if this situation continues, the U.S. will face significant consequences.

Azizi further noted that the first response to the violation of the agreement’s commitments would be an intelligent and deterrent reaction from Iran. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera, according to the source.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will embark on his first bilateral visit to China from June 22 to 26, following a stop in Malaysia. The visit, which includes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, aims to establish a new foundation for Dhaka–Beijing political and strategic relations. More than ten memoranda of understanding and three agreements are expected to be signed, covering cooperation in education, human resource development, agriculture, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, media, communication, and development assistance.

Senior diplomats and analysts describe the trip as highly significant amid ongoing tensions in Dhaka–Delhi relations and debates over a recent trade deal with the United States. Bangladesh is expected to express support for China’s position on Taiwan and may announce participation in the Global Development Initiative. Discussions could also include Bangladesh’s interest in joining RCEP, BRICS, and the SCO, as well as cooperation on the Teesta River project.

Preparations for the visit are ongoing, with multiple meetings held between the Chinese embassy and Bangladesh’s foreign ministry. Observers view the trip as both a strategic and economic opportunity for Bangladesh to secure political backing and potential financial support from China.

At least 25 of Bangladesh’s 59 public universities have seen new vice-chancellors appointed since the BNP government took office, with reports indicating that political considerations have outweighed academic merit. The appointments began within a month of the new administration’s formation, replacing many who were appointed by the post-uprising interim government. Critics claim that the government is prioritizing party loyalty over qualifications, with several new vice-chancellors linked to BNP-affiliated teacher organizations such as Zia Parishad and the Sada Dal.

The Education Ministry’s search committee, reconstituted in April, is formally responsible for recommending candidates, but its procedures have reportedly not been consistently followed. Protests and controversies have erupted at several universities, including Begum Rokeya and Jamalpur Science and Technology, where appointments were quickly reversed. Opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have condemned the mass replacements as politically motivated.

The BNP’s election manifesto had pledged merit-based recruitment in public institutions, but the recent wave of politically aligned appointments has raised doubts about that commitment. Education experts have urged adherence to ethical and legal standards in university leadership selection.