Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that the current government has allocated the highest-ever budget for the education sector, amounting to 2 percent of the total national budget. He acknowledged that learning outcomes remain unsatisfactory but said the government is identifying problems and working toward solutions. The minister made these remarks on Sunday at the opening of a workshop titled “Analysis of Bangladesh’s Education Sector” held in Banani, Dhaka, where State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj was present as a special guest.

Bobby Hajjaj stated that efforts are underway to align primary, secondary, higher secondary, and tertiary education under a unified framework. The government aims to reduce primary education costs and will introduce pre-primary classes in all schools. Within 180 days, initiatives such as mid-day meals, uniforms, bags, and shoes for primary students will be implemented. He also announced that teacher transfers will be managed by local administrations and that untrained teachers will not be allowed to teach after two years.

The state minister added that sports and cultural education will be mandatory in the 2027 curriculum, and a fixed school calendar will be introduced. The government is restructuring the curriculum, teacher training, infrastructure, and administration to improve education quality.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that late President Ziaur Rahman initiated a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political history by establishing Bangladeshi nationalism and institutionalizing democracy. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion titled “Media and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka to mark Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary. The event was chaired by National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan attending as special guest.

Before the discussion, guests visited a photo and information exhibition on Ziaur Rahman’s life, work, and political philosophy. Mirza Fakhrul emphasized the need for more research on Ziaur Rahman’s contributions, describing his leadership as multidimensional and visionary. He said Ziaur Rahman’s two most significant achievements were the establishment of Bangladeshi nationalism and the institutionalization of democracy, which expanded political participation.

Zahir Uddin Swapan noted that Ziaur Rahman supported the development of a free and responsible media and took a positive stance on press freedom.

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday as part of mediation efforts aimed at ending the months-long war between Iran and the United States, according to Iranian media reports. The delegation includes an adviser to Qatar’s foreign minister, as reported by Iran’s ISNA news agency, citing AFP.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency stated that the purpose of the visit is to review recent progress in the diplomatic process. The trip comes at a time when diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran continue in an effort to resolve the broader conflict in the Middle East.

The visit underscores Qatar’s ongoing role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations, though details of the discussions and potential outcomes have not been disclosed.

Chhatra Dal organized a protest rally in Lakshmipur on Sunday afternoon, condemning what it described as a staged abduction drama by Chhatra Shibir, false accusations against the government made online, and incidents of violence against women by alleged secret activists. The demonstration took place at the premises of Lakshmipur Government College as part of a central program.

The rally, arranged by the college unit of Chhatra Dal, began at the college grounds and marched through several streets before concluding with a brief assembly. District Chhatra Dal joint convener Akbar Hossain Munna, college unit president Ismail Hossain Rony, and general secretary Bahadur Hossain Nobel addressed the gathering.

Other local leaders, including municipal Chhatra Dal joint convener Arman Hossain Kiran, Sajjad Hossain Shuvo, and several college unit office bearers, were also present at the event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the alleged police assault on national cricketer Nayeem Hasan in Chattogram. In a statement issued to the media on Sunday, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, president of the party’s central youth and sports division, expressed outrage over the incident. He described the reported beating, harassment, and mistreatment of Nayeem Hasan by police officers at Lalkhan Bazar as a barbaric and deplorable act.

According to the statement, Nayeem Hasan was allegedly attacked by police while returning home to Chattogram after playing a Dhaka Premier League match. Despite identifying himself, he was reportedly beaten with a pipe and choked, which Jamaat said reflects a serious threat to citizens’ safety. Jubayer argued that merely withdrawing or suspending the officers involved would not be sufficient punishment for such a grave offense.

The party demanded an immediate, impartial, and swift investigation into the incident and called for strict legal and departmental action against those responsible. Jamaat also extended sympathy to Nayeem Hasan and his family, urging authorities to ensure the safety of all athletes and youth in the country.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced in parliament that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was arrested in Dubai, will be brought back to the country soon. The police headquarters earlier confirmed his arrest, describing it as a historic success for the Bangladesh Police. The minister said the National Central Bureau (NCB) is working closely with Interpol, and the government was officially informed of the arrest on June 12. Under diplomatic procedures, Bangladesh must request his return within 30 days of the arrest.

A Dhaka court had earlier ordered Interpol to issue a red notice against Benazir Ahmed on February 10, 2025, following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Another court had issued an arrest warrant on March 8, 2025, in a case alleging illegal wealth accumulation. The ACC filed the case on December 15, 2024, and later submitted a charge sheet on November 30, 2025, accusing him of acquiring assets beyond known income, concealing wealth information, and money laundering.

According to the charge sheet, Benazir declared assets worth about Tk 12.2 crore, while investigators found properties totaling over Tk 15.6 crore.

During his visit to Cox’s Bazar, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called Chittagong University Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman to inquire about his well-being and campus affairs. The meeting took place on Saturday afternoon after the Prime Minister visited the grave of Wasim Akram, the first martyr of the July movement in Chittagong. Noman was later taken to the home minister’s residence, where Dr. Zubaida Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed were present.

Following the meeting, Noman said the Prime Minister asked about his health and sought information on various academic and administrative matters at the university. Noman briefed him on student issues, including shuttle train disruptions, severe commuting difficulties, and housing shortages. According to Noman, the Prime Minister listened attentively, instructed his private secretary to take notes, and assured that the problems would be addressed.

Wasim Akram, who was martyred during the July uprising, had been a follower of Noman and was active alongside him in the movement until his death.

Hundreds of people gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London to demonstrate in support of Palestine as sentencing was announced for four members linked to the group 'Palestine Action'. Police arrested more than a hundred protesters under anti-terrorism laws, citing support for a banned organization.

Protesters carried placards reading 'Saving lives is not terrorism' and 'I support Palestine Action'. The arrests occurred amid ongoing legal and political disputes over the status of Palestine Action. In February 2026, the UK High Court ruled that the government’s ban on the group was unlawful, but the government has maintained the prohibition while awaiting further proceedings.

The incident highlights continuing tensions in the UK over activism related to Palestine and the legal boundaries of political expression under counterterrorism legislation.

Israel’s security cabinet is set to convene an emergency meeting tonight, local time, to discuss developments related to Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the meeting will focus on the potential implications of a possible peace agreement or memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

Military analysts cited in the report suggest that such an agreement could pressure Israel to make concessions regarding its operations in Lebanon. Despite these concerns, Israel reportedly maintains a stance of keeping the Iranian and Lebanese fronts separate. The Israeli military has intensified its operations, striking 70 targets in Lebanon overnight, bringing the total to 400 attacks in the past week.

The escalating conflict has become a central issue ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, with opposition leader Yair Lapid criticizing the government. Meanwhile, residents in northern Israel have expressed anger over what they see as the government’s failure to ensure their safety, saying they had to seek shelter 16 times in one night.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local villagers in Kurigram’s Roumari upazila foiled another push-in attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) early Sunday. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. near the 1060 main pillar at the Bottola border, where BSF allegedly tried to push two children, one woman, and three young men into Bangladesh. BSF claimed the group were residents of Kangshi village in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district.

Following reports of the attempted intrusion, BGB personnel and hundreds of local villagers took up positions along the border to prevent entry. Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of Jamalpur 35-BGB Battalion, stated that BGB remains firm in protecting national sovereignty and border security. He added that surveillance and security measures have been further strengthened across the border area.

According to BGB, the force remains on high alert to prevent any illegal entry or subversive activity along the Bangladesh-India frontier.

Swiss citizens are voting on Sunday in two major and contentious referendums, one proposing to limit immigration to keep the national population below 10 million by 2050, and another to tighten access to civilian service as an alternative to military duty. The votes, held under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, are expected to be closely contested, with polls showing narrow margins. Most ballots were cast by mail, and early results are expected by Sunday afternoon.

The far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) initiated the “No to a 10 Million Switzerland” proposal, arguing that excessive immigration has caused housing shortages, rising rents, crowded trains, and traffic congestion. Critics, including the government, parliament, and business sectors, warn that the measure could harm the economy and strain relations with the European Union. Justice Minister Beat Jans described the vote as highly significant, cautioning that it could trigger a “Brexit-like” scenario for Switzerland.

Recent surveys indicate that opponents of the immigration cap hold a slight lead, but for the proposal to pass, it must win both a majority of votes and support from more than half of Switzerland’s 26 cantons.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that an agreement with Iran would be signed on Sunday, but Iranian officials have not yet issued a final decision. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is still reviewing the draft memorandum of understanding. More than 24 hours have passed since his statement, yet no official confirmation has been made.

Araghchi explained that the proposed agreement consists of two phases. The first phase focuses on ending the ongoing war, while key issues such as nuclear matters and sanctions will be addressed in a second, 60-day phase. He added that both supporters and opponents of the deal exist within Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and a collective decision will ultimately be reached.

Araghchi also noted that Lebanon would not be excluded from the agreement and that discussions include lifting the naval blockade and establishing new management for the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran reported that the deal could be completed on Sunday or within the next few days.

Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that media houses have become business-oriented, which he described as a matter of concern for independent journalism. He made the remarks on Sunday morning at a discussion meeting held at the Press Club to mark the death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.

Fakhrul stated that the media no longer functions as a true media institution but rather as representatives of business houses. He criticized the culture of flattery within the media and urged journalists to stand against it. He expressed hope that journalists would use their freedom responsibly and assured them of his support.

During the event, the BNP secretary general also praised Ziaur Rahman for his contributions to national development, democracy, and Bangladeshi nationalism. He said that if Ziaur Rahman had lived another ten years, Bangladesh would have progressed further, and he described Tarique Rahman as carrying Zia’s legacy forward.

Arif Ullah, a political activist from Eidgaon in Cox’s Bazar, described his long struggle against fascism and the persecution he faced for his writings and activism. Known for his nationalist ideals and anti-fascist poetry, Arif said his outspoken stance led to repeated attacks and legal cases. He was imprisoned, and even his young nephew was detained and tortured by police. In 2018, he was severely injured during election-related violence and later charged under the Digital Security Act and Explosives Act, forcing him into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Arif’s 2012 book, 'Bangladesh Infected by Digital Virus,' was launched by the then Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. He also organized protests, including a symbolic cricket match demanding justice for a missing political leader. After falling ill abroad, Arif returned to Bangladesh in February 2026 to participate in election activities and later sought medical treatment in Dhaka. Despite his sacrifices, he said he holds no party position and remains unacknowledged by his political peers.

Arif expressed his wish to meet the Prime Minister once to present the poem that led to his exile, believing such a meeting would complete his lifelong struggle.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana A.T.M. Masum alleged that the current government is engaging in widespread politicization across all sectors, surpassing even previous administrations. Speaking on Saturday night at the Jamaat’s Chawkbazar-Bangshal Zone Unit conference in Dhaka, he claimed the government avoided holding local elections after the national polls and instead appointed party loyalists as administrators in local institutions. He further accused the authorities of attempting to control banks and insurance companies, including appointing former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khurshid Alam as chairman of Islami Bank.

Masum said the government has failed to restore public confidence after the election, citing rising concerns over corruption, extortion, and violence by ruling party activists. He warned that the government’s disregard for public expectations and silence on border incidents could lead to severe consequences. He urged the authorities to implement the “July Charter” to build a new Bangladesh.

Other Jamaat leaders at the event criticized the government’s economic policies, calling the proposed budget anti-people and urging reforms to support business and employment growth.