The Jahangirnagar University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir held a protest march on Sunday night condemning parliamentary remarks by BNP lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury about hijab, niqab, and purdah. The demonstration began at Murad Chattar around 10:30 p.m. and ended with a brief rally at Battala after marching through key campus roads. Participants chanted slogans defending hijab as a woman’s right and rejecting any insult toward Islamic dress.

At the rally, Shibir’s JU secretary Md. Mazharul Islam described the MP’s comments as inappropriate and disrespectful, urging authorities to take effective action and demanding a public apology. He emphasized that no woman should be demeaned for her clothing choices and called for respect toward female students’ attire in educational institutions. JU Shibir president Mostafizur Rahman accused political parties of fostering anti-Islamic sentiment and said such remarks in Parliament were unacceptable.

The protesters demanded that Monirul Haque withdraw his statement and apologize publicly, urging respect for religious values and personal freedom across society.

Member of Parliament Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan from Comilla-10 (Lalmai-Nangalkot) constituency has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Lalmai Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nuruzzaman, declaring that he has shown the officer a 'red card'. Speaking at a meeting with local journalists at the Lalmai Upazila Auditorium on June 13, he said the OC’s conduct was unsatisfactory and that he had already spoken to senior police officials seeking the officer’s removal.

The MP alleged that since joining Lalmai Police Station, OC Nuruzzaman had not taken visible legal action against Awami League activists and had failed to play an expected role in law enforcement. Mobashwer Alam further claimed that the officer was often unavailable and uncooperative, adding that his behavior raised questions about neutrality. He stated that he had discussed the issue with the DIG and Superintendent of Police but saw no action taken, warning that he might raise the matter in Parliament.

OC Nuruzzaman declined to comment on the issue. The MP’s remarks have sparked widespread discussion in local political and administrative circles, with observers noting concern over the public dispute between an elected representative and a police officer.

Residents of Chanpur village in Latifpur Union, Mirzapur upazila of Tangail, staged a unique protest on Sunday afternoon by planting rice seedlings on a muddy road in front of the Khandakar Para Mosque. They said the 1.5-kilometer stretch from Chanpur Bridge to Bhuluya Bridge has remained unpaved for 55 years since independence, despite repeated appeals to authorities.

Locals explained that the road, built on a Water Development Board embankment, has deteriorated due to heavy truck traffic carrying soil and bricks. The uneven surface becomes muddy and impassable during rain, making it difficult to transport patients or even carry the dead to burial grounds. Residents, including Fazle Rabbi and several youths, joined the symbolic protest demanding immediate paving of the road.

Latifpur Union Parishad Chairman Ali Hossain Rony said five brick kilns nearby cause constant heavy vehicle movement, worsening the road’s condition. He added that a project proposal has been sent to the LGED headquarters for approval, after which the road will be paved.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has announced protest programs opposing the government’s initiative to make music, dance, and drama compulsory in primary education. Party chief Maulana Mamunul Haque criticized the move as contrary to the religious and social values of the majority population. He demanded the cancellation of the initiative and called for strengthening moral and religious education at the primary level. The party will hold a protest in Dhaka on June 18 and nationwide demonstrations on June 19.

Speaking at the party’s central executive meeting in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, Mamunul Haque also criticized the proposed 2026–27 national budget, saying it lacks solutions to people’s basic problems and may increase public debt and taxes. He expressed concern over rising prices, unemployment, corruption, and irregularities in the banking sector.

The meeting also condemned recent remarks by the Indian High Commissioner and urged the government to take a stronger stance on border killings, water-sharing issues, and national security. Party leaders called for ending alcohol production, gambling, and activities they described as socially harmful.

A Feni court has issued a public notice ordering former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 177 other absconding accused to appear within ten days in the murder case of student Mahbubul Hasan Masum, who was killed during the July uprising in Feni. The notice, signed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Salamat Ullah, was published in a national daily on Saturday. It warns that if the accused fail to appear within the stipulated time, the trial will proceed in their absence.

The case was filed on 4 September 2024 by the victim’s brother, Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, following the death of Masum after being shot during a student protest in Feni’s Mohipal area. Police submitted a charge sheet against 221 individuals on 31 July 2025, and arrest warrants were issued for 171, including Sheikh Hasina, on 14 January 2026. So far, 51 accused have been arrested, and some have given confessional statements.

The case remains under trial, with legal proceedings continuing against the absconding accused under relevant sections of the Criminal Procedure Code.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that the process of transferring primary school teachers will now be managed by local administrations. Speaking at a UNICEF-organized workshop titled “Bangladesh Education Sector Analysis” in Banani, Dhaka, he said the move follows directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and aims to decentralize the transfer system.

Hajjaj explained that teacher transfers had long been plagued by syndicates and corruption, hindering education quality. To ensure transparency and accountability, the government has introduced a new decentralized mechanism. Under the policy, separate committees will be formed at upazila, district, divisional, and city corporation levels to review and approve transfer applications periodically.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, speaking at the same event, highlighted the government’s increased education budget and initiatives such as free school uniforms, mid-day meals, and inclusion of sports and cultural education to improve learning outcomes and reduce dropout rates.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at the Cabinet Division in the Prime Minister’s Office at Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday. The meeting reviewed the progress, implementation process, and potential benefits of the BRT route stretching from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Joydebpur in Gazipur.

Experts at the meeting shared their opinions on various aspects of the project, including design, station management, passenger services, operational structure, and overall efficiency. The discussion focused on ensuring effective implementation and improving service quality for commuters.

The meeting was attended by Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam, State Minister for Road Transport and Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, senior officials from relevant ministries, and teachers from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

The Bangladesh Parliament witnessed heated exchanges on Sunday after Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed delivered two statements under Rule 300, one of which concerned the arrest of expelled Islami Chhatra Shibir central leader Zisan Mia Pradhan. Zisan was arrested by police on charges of rape and forced abortion. Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher questioned the minister’s decision to make two statements and to raise a sub judice matter in Parliament, demanding that the remarks be expunged. The session turned noisy as both government and opposition members stood up and shouted, prompting Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal to intervene and promise a review of the issue.

The Home Minister detailed that Zisan had developed a relationship with a woman through Facebook, allegedly raped her multiple times under false promises of marriage, and later forced her to terminate her pregnancy. He said some social media users had misrepresented Zisan’s disappearance to blame the government, prompting him to clarify the facts in Parliament. Taher accused the minister of using the issue to target a political group and questioned why neither the accused nor the victim was accessible to the media.

Deputy Speaker Kamal urged all members to act responsibly and said the matter would be examined to determine if parliamentary norms were breached before moving on to the supplementary budget discussion for fiscal year 2025–26.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan told Parliament that the government is considering establishing permanent centers for public examinations across Bangladesh. Responding to a question from Naogaon-4 MP Ikramul Bari Tipu, he said a feasibility study proposal is under approval to assess the possibility of setting up separate or permanent exam centers. Once the study is completed, decisions will be made based on student numbers, geography, infrastructure, land availability, and financial capacity.

During the same session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, the minister also discussed ongoing initiatives to build new residential halls in public universities to ease accommodation shortages. He noted that student union elections have been held in several universities and that the government continues to provide guidance for remaining institutions. Additionally, he mentioned that the government is actively considering funding to settle pending retirement benefit applications for MPO-listed teachers and staff.

The minister further stated that the government is committed to maintaining a peaceful academic environment and coordinating with law enforcement to prevent campus unrest.

A new political dispute has erupted in Israel following reports of a ceasefire in Lebanon. Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s own governing coalition, along with opposition parties, are strongly opposing the decision to halt attacks in areas such as Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiya. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have publicly called for continued military action in Lebanon.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that the growing distance between Netanyahu and other politicians is driven by the upcoming general election. Netanyahu had promised the Israeli public certain strategic goals that remain unfulfilled, and his rivals are portraying the ceasefire as a “strategic failure.” Even coalition partners are now claiming that Netanyahu has become politically weak and less accepted by the U.S. administration. All sides are reportedly seeking to exploit this situation ahead of the October election.

Some political analysts believe Netanyahu might resort to his old tactics, possibly delaying the election by escalating military actions or creating new tensions to regain political leverage.

Journalist leaders issued a stern warning to the management of the Daily Janakantha during a sit-in protest held on Tuesday in front of the newspaper’s office in Dhaka. The protest was organized by the Janakantha Journalists, Officers, and Employees Unity Council in response to mass layoffs, show-cause notices, alleged harassment, and the closure of the newspaper’s office. Speakers demanded the immediate withdrawal of termination and show-cause letters, payment of overdue salaries and benefits, and reopening of the office.

Dhaka Union of Journalists acting general secretary Didarul Alam accused Janakantha of continuing to act in favor of authoritarian forces and taking illegal decisions against patriotic journalists and employees. Dhaka Reporters Unity president Abu Saleh Akon alleged that Janakantha had a history of controversial activities and that many journalists had suffered mentally and physically due to its management’s actions. Other speakers claimed that individuals close to the ruling Awami League and Indian influence were still active in the newspaper’s management.

The participants warned that if their demands were not met, they would declare the head of human resources unwanted, besiege the office, and launch a larger movement.

Bangladesh’s Parliament postponed a scheduled discussion on the border push-in issue, prompting strong dissatisfaction from Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem. The proposal, accepted earlier for Sunday’s session under Rule 147, aimed to address alleged illegal push-ins and border killings by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and related actions by the West Bengal government. Kasem questioned the justification for delaying what he described as a matter of national importance concerning citizens’ safety and sovereignty.

According to parliamentary sources, Kasem had received official notice that his proposal was accepted and forwarded to the Home and Foreign Ministries. However, he was later informed that the discussion was postponed due to unavoidable reasons. Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal clarified that the postponement was temporary, citing time constraints during the ongoing budget session, and expressed hope that the discussion would take place later.

The proposal sought effective diplomatic and state measures to stop the alleged push-in trend and protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and human rights along the border.

In Kapasia upazila of Gazipur, financial assistance was distributed among poor and distressed residents from the discretionary fund of the local Member of Parliament. The event took place on Sunday morning at the Kapasia Upazila Parishad auditorium, where 134 individuals from different unions received a total of Tk 183,500. The ceremony was presided over by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Nahidul Haque, with Gazipur-4 MP Principal Salahuddin Ayubi attending as the chief guest.

Special guests included Maulana Shefaul Haque, Naib-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Gazipur District, Maulana Farhad Hossain Molla, Ameer of Kapasia Upazila Jamaat, and Maulana Shamsul Alam, a member of the Gazipur District Majlish-e-Shura, along with local dignitaries and media representatives. In his remarks, MP Ayubi emphasized moral responsibility toward the poor and the importance of social harmony and cooperation in building a humane and welfare-oriented Kapasia.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the government’s support and called for the continuation of such humanitarian initiatives. Local officials, political leaders, and community members attended the event.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita issued a stern warning to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Manikganj, urging them to value their positions and fulfill the people's expectations. She cautioned that those who fail to do so would not be retained in their posts. The minister made these remarks on Sunday afternoon while addressing the district law and order committee meeting at the Manikganj Deputy Commissioner's office.

Rita expressed frustration over the lack of effective solutions to various problems in Manikganj and instructed all government officials to work harder for the welfare of local residents. She emphasized that, due to her busy schedule, she could not stay in the district for long and therefore expected officials to act on her behalf to serve the people. She reminded them of their oath to work for citizens.

During the meeting, the minister directed officials to take effective measures to resolve water supply issues, eliminate waterlogging, improve roads, and combat drug abuse in the district.

Mufti Amir Hamza has been granted bail in two separate defamation cases by the Sirajganj Sadar and Chauhali Amli courts. He appeared before the courts on Sunday afternoon and applied for bail through his lawyer. The information was confirmed by Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel, the APP and general secretary of the Sirajganj District Lawyers Association.

According to case details, Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel filed a defamation case on April 2 against Hamza for allegedly calling the Minister of Power and Energy and BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku an atheist and anti-Islamic. The court had earlier issued a summons and later a warrant when Hamza failed to appear, though he obtained eight weeks of anticipatory bail from the High Court on April 27. In another case, the Sirajganj Sadar Amli Court granted him bail over alleged derogatory remarks about Arafat Rahman Koko, the late son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The second case was filed on January 20 by VP Shamim Khan, joint secretary of Sirajganj District BNP, after Hamza’s comments at a religious gathering on January 16 spread on social media and sparked anger among BNP supporters nationwide.