In the Bangladesh Parliament on Wednesday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stood up to answer on behalf of the Minister of Religious Affairs during the question-and-answer session. His action prompted enthusiastic reactions from opposition lawmakers. Salahuddin remarked that he was responding for the sake of goodwill and added that it would be good if the opposition occasionally showed such appreciation.

Earlier in the same session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman explained the government’s decision to assign ruling party female MPs to oversee development activities in constituencies held by opposition members. The explanation came after Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem from Dhaka-14 raised a question citing media reports that ruling party female MPs were being given responsibility for monitoring development work and issuing geo letters in opposition constituencies.

The Prime Minister clarified that female MPs elected from reserved seats do not have specific constituencies under the constitution or law, implying that their oversight roles were not meant to undermine opposition MPs’ authority.

Two Awami League leaders, including Abul Hasnat, the assistant private secretary to former Planning Minister M A Mannan, have been sent to jail following court orders in Sunamganj. The leaders are Shantiganj Upazila Awami League General Secretary Md Hasnat Hossain and Jagannathpur Upazila Awami League General Secretary Rezaul Karim Riju. They appeared separately before the Speedy Trial Court of Judge Nurul Haque in Sunamganj and the cognizance court of Judge Md Emdad Hossain in Jagannathpur on Wednesday, seeking bail. Both judges rejected their bail pleas and ordered them to be sent to jail.

According to the report, a case was filed on September 2, 2024, under the Speedy Trial Act against 99 individuals, including former Planning Minister M A Mannan and three former members of parliament. Three former police officers from Sunamganj were also named in the case, in which Hasnat was listed as an accused.

The court proceedings mark a continuation of legal actions stemming from the 2024 case, though further details on the charges or next steps were not provided in the report.

Tension erupted along the Ramrampur border in Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur after members of India’s Nandirchar BSF camp allegedly tried to push an elderly man into Bangladesh early Wednesday morning. Members of Bangladesh’s 35 BGB battalion and local residents resisted the attempt, forcing the 60-year-old man to remain in the no man’s land area. A flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held for 30 minutes but failed to resolve the issue.

The situation escalated when a BSF subedar reportedly ordered his troops to open fire, prompting BGB personnel to warn that they would not remain idle and were ready to respond. Local residents also joined the protest, shouting and brandishing sticks in support of BGB. The elderly man remains stranded in no man’s land as both sides maintain heightened alert.

Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of Jamalpur 35 BGB, confirmed that the force, along with locals, resisted the push-in attempt and that efforts to resolve the matter through discussion are ongoing. BGB remains on maximum alert to prevent further incidents.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the need to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in administrative operations. He made the remarks on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session in the 13th National Parliament’s second and first budget session, responding to a query from Comilla-9 Member of Parliament Abul Kalam. The session, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, began at 3 p.m.

In his response, the Prime Minister said that during the inauguration of the 2026 Deputy Commissioners’ Conference, several directives were issued to district commissioners and divisional commissioners. These included adopting a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic delays, and ensuring integrity, merit, and competence in recruitment, transfer, and posting. He also called for reform initiatives to strengthen administrative effectiveness and accountability.

The Prime Minister further stressed accelerating digital transformation to make service delivery timely, efficient, and transparent. He directed immediate action against law violations, effective control of law and order, and strict monitoring to ensure that public services remain free from harassment, delay, and corruption.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, central executive council member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dhaka North city unit chief, and DNCC mayoral candidate, praised journalists for their contribution in addressing national crises. Speaking at a meeting with print media journalists at a restaurant in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, he said that objective reporting helps expose irregularities and plays a vital role in urban development.

The meeting was organized by the publicity and media division of Dhaka North Jamaat and presided over by Dr. Muhammad Rezaul Karim, a central executive council member and secretary. Selim Uddin highlighted Jamaat’s support for students during the July movement and its assistance to families of those killed or injured. He criticized the government for inaction over border push-in attempts and instability in the financial sector, particularly concerning Islamic Bank. He asserted that public deposit institutions should not be handed over to corrupt interests.

Rezaul Karim expressed confidence that Selim Uddin would gain strong public support in the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation election and provide capable leadership to meet citizens’ expectations.

A fire was set at the July Memorial in Moktarpara area of Netrakona town late Tuesday night, reportedly by individuals chanting slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina. Police suspect kerosene was used to ignite the fire at the steel-made structure near the Mogra River bridge. The incident caused minimal damage, and a 25-second video of the event circulated on social media the following day, showing three young men leaving the site while shouting political slogans.

Fahim Rahman Khan Pathan, a central member of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and resident of Netrakona Sadar, alleged that members of the banned Chhatra League were involved. He suggested the act was intended to demonstrate political activity ahead of a possible reformation of the district committee. Pathan described the memorial as an emotional site linked to the July Movement and accused the banned group of trying to create unrest.

Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Sarkar confirmed that senior police officials visited the scene and are analyzing CCTV and video footage to identify those responsible.

An eleven-party alliance in Bangladesh has announced protest rallies across all border districts and points on Friday to denounce alleged push-ins and border killings. The coalition also declared a nationwide protest in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area on June 15 against what it described as rising incidents of murder, rape, and deteriorating law and order. The announcements were made at a press conference organized at the central office of Jamaat-e-Islami.

At the event, Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the alliance, accused the government of authoritarian governance and failing to act against border violence. He claimed that India attempted more than 50 push-ins in the past three months and that 19 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian forces in the last 100 days. He criticized the home minister’s recent comments on border killings as contradictory to national policy and called for a stronger foreign stance.

Nasir Uddin Patowary of the NCP added that the government’s role in border areas was inadequate and urged strengthening the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has concluded defense arguments in the war crimes case against Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the suspended Awami League, and three others accused of involvement in six murders during the July uprising in Kushtia. The tribunal has kept the case awaiting verdict, meaning the judgment could be delivered at any time. The order was issued on Wednesday after defense lawyer Amir Hossain completed his arguments.

Earlier, on June 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments seeking the maximum punishment for all four accused. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam presented the case on behalf of the prosecution, with Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed and others in attendance. The accused include Kushtia District Awami League president Sadar Uddin Khan, general secretary Azgar Ali, and Kushtia City Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.

All four accused are currently absconding, according to the tribunal proceedings.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Malaysia later this month, marking his first foreign trip as head of government. The visit is expected to take place on June 21, and party members have begun preparations to ensure the trip proceeds smoothly. A festive atmosphere has been noted among supporters in anticipation of the visit.

To coordinate efforts, the Nationalist Youth Party (Jubo Dal) in Malaysia held an initial preparatory meeting on Sunday. In Dhaka, Malaysia BNP President Engineer Badlur Rahman Khan and General Secretary Md. Mosharraf Hossain Miazi also convened a meeting on the same topic, attended by party and affiliated organization leaders.

The Malaysia Jubo Dal meeting was attended by its President Md. Jasim Uddin, Vice Presidents Sheikh Md. Selim and Md. Nazmul Hasan, Joint General Secretary Sultan Bin Siraj, Organizational Secretary Md. Russel Rana, Assistant Organizational Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Babu, Abdullah Noman, Ismail Akand, and Arian Sifat, among others.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents prevented an attempted push-in by India's Border Security Force (BSF) at the Ramrampur border in Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur early Wednesday. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. when BSF members from Nandirchar camp allegedly tried to push a man, approximately 60 years old, into Bangladesh territory.

Following the incident, a flag meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. between officials from Jamalpur 35 BGB and Nandirchar BSF camp. However, the BSF personnel did not take back the stateless man and left him at the zero line, where he has remained since. BGB officials confirmed that they, along with locals, resisted the push-in attempt and are maintaining heightened vigilance along the border.

Efforts to resolve the matter through discussions are ongoing, and BGB has stated it remains on maximum alert to prevent any further push-in attempts.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that future peacekeeping missions will be modern and technology-driven. He made the statement on Wednesday morning at the International United Nations Peacekeepers Day event held at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment. The Prime Minister said the sacrifices of peacekeepers will remain a shining example in the nation’s history and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to global peace under the UN flag.

He paid deep tribute to Bangladeshi peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives for world peace since 1988, noting that 175 members have been martyred and many others injured while serving in UN missions. Rahman expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls. He emphasized that the dedication of Bangladeshi peacekeepers demonstrates their resolve to defend not only national sovereignty but also global peace.

The Prime Minister added that the government remains committed to honoring the families of fallen and injured peacekeepers and to strengthening Bangladesh’s role in future UN peacekeeping operations through modernization and technology integration.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has initiated investigations into 79,000 alleged fake freedom fighters, following widespread allegations of fraudulent certificates and misuse of state benefits. The National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) confirmed that hearings are underway against those accused of obtaining certificates through false information. The ministry previously canceled 6,476 certificates, including 2,111 for age discrepancies and 71 for proven forgery. The issue gained renewed attention after former secretary Molla Wahiduzzaman was found to have obtained a fake certificate and fled to India.

According to ministry data, the number of listed freedom fighters has increased over the decades despite natural demographic decline. The first official list in 1986 contained 102,458 names, while successive governments expanded the list, with the current total reaching nearly 198,889. JAMUKA reported that many applicants claimed refugee status during the war and some attached falsified photos. The government has pledged to ensure genuine veterans are not mistakenly excluded.

Officials said the current administration, led by Tarique Rahman, has prioritized completing the investigation and organizing public hearings to finalize the verification process.

U.S. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized a section of the American defense budget that would further integrate the U.S. and Israeli military forces. In a post on social media platform X, Sanders said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying for the provision, known as Section 224, which he claims would quietly expand U.S.-Israel military cooperation and weapons development with almost no oversight. Sanders asserted that the American people no longer want any U.S. military assistance to Israel and urged that Section 224 must be blocked.

Under Section 224, the U.S. Secretary of Defense would be required to appoint an executive agent to coordinate all aspects of military cooperation between the two countries. The coordination would include joint research and development, co-production of weapons, and integration of military systems and data networks. If passed, the bill would also expand collaboration in advanced warfare areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, and cyber operations.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights growing debate over the scope and transparency of U.S.-Israel defense collaboration.

The United Kingdom unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a representative assembly in Birmingham on Monday evening, bringing together leaders and grassroots activists from 19 zonal committees under Zone-2. The event, chaired by UK BNP convener Azad Abul Kalam and conducted by member secretary Khosruzzaman Khosru, aimed to make the party’s organizational activities more dynamic and effective. Senior leaders, zonal representatives, and local activists attended the meeting, which focused on strengthening the party’s base across the UK.

In his opening remarks, Azad Abul Kalam emphasized that those who had worked tirelessly during the party’s difficult times would lead the UK BNP and its affiliated bodies in the future. He announced that the convening committee had already begun organizational tours across all zones and that new committees would be restructured based on grassroots input, combining experienced and new leadership. Speakers highlighted the importance of unity, discipline, and ideological commitment, while pledging to exclude anyone linked to anti-party activities.

Participants expressed optimism that the assembly marked a new phase in the UK BNP’s organizational renewal and reaffirmed their respect for late party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and deceased UK BNP leaders.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that a potential war involving Iran would not turn into a prolonged quagmire for Washington similar to Iraq or Afghanistan. In an interview with USA Today, he expressed strong confidence that the United States would not face renewed debates over deep involvement in Iran in the coming years.

Vance emphasized that he believes the US will succeed in its current approach. He added that even if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, the President still has alternative options available. According to him, as long as the administration remains focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the situation will not evolve into a long-term entanglement.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect the administration’s assurance that its Iran policy will remain controlled and limited in scope.