Prime Minister’s adviser Dr. Zahidur Rahman said he returned from India as an immediate act of protest. He made the statement on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Department of Information in Dhaka’s Secretariat, responding to a journalist’s question about his sudden return.

Rahman explained that he had traveled to India as a government representative, not in a personal capacity. He stated that an instant protest was necessary following the incident he faced there, prompting his decision to return. He added that Indian authorities made efforts to facilitate his entry, but he declined, considering it important to register a formal protest on behalf of the state. The adviser emphasized that the incident would not affect bilateral relations, noting that Dhaka seeks a rational relationship with New Delhi.

According to the report, the incident occurred at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where Rahman experienced discourteous behavior.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that the media should not serve as a mouthpiece for any ruler, political party, or power center, but remain loyal only to truth and the people. He made the remarks on Tuesday, June 16, through a Facebook post marking Bangladesh’s Press Black Day.

In his statement, Bhuiyan recalled that on this day in 1975, the BAKSAL government under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shut down all newspapers except four, leaving thousands of journalists and press workers jobless and silencing the nation’s independent voice. He said that even after the fall of BAKSAL, press freedom in Bangladesh has repeatedly come under attack, particularly during the past 17 years under the Awami League government, which he accused of suppressing dissent and controlling the media.

Bhuiyan warned that if the current government continues similar practices, it would repeat past mistakes. He called on all governments to respect press freedom, emphasizing that any attack on media independence is an attack on democracy itself.

The appeal hearing against the High Court verdict establishing a separate secretariat for the judiciary is scheduled to begin on September 1. The information was confirmed on June 16. The case stems from a writ petition filed by lawyer Shishir Monir on August 25 of the previous year, challenging Article 116 of the Constitution, which concerns the control and discipline of subordinate courts.

In the writ, the petitioner sought to place the authority over discipline, postings, promotions, and leave of magistrates under the Supreme Court. On September 1, the High Court declared Article 116 unconstitutional and directed the formation of a separate Supreme Court Secretariat within three months. Following the verdict, the secretariat began operating formally.

However, after the current government took office, the ordinance establishing the Supreme Court Secretariat was not enacted into law, resulting in its cancellation. The upcoming appeal hearing will determine the future of the judiciary’s administrative independence.

Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), was attacked by alleged BJP workers in Jaipur just before addressing a protest rally on Monday. Witnesses said the incident occurred around 3 p.m. when Dipke was being carried by supporters toward the venue. Attackers reportedly pulled his scarf and slapped him several times before trying to drag him down. CJP’s national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka shared photos of the attackers on social media, calling them BJP goons, while the party’s state spokesperson Abhishek Jain Bittu criticized the police and government for failing to prevent the assault.

Dipke later condemned the violence, saying he would not retaliate and that the attack was an attempt to divert attention from their main demand — the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities and student suicides. He vowed to continue the movement peacefully and warned that protests would intensify if the minister did not step down.

The CJP, formed as a satirical front amid public anger over exam controversies, has gained significant online support and backing from activists and artists.

Former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed was arrested in Dubai by city police under an Interpol red notice, confirmed by the Abu Dhabi government on June 12. Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that the government is working to bring him back quickly, with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Home, Law, and Foreign ministries preparing necessary documents. Benazir faces six corruption and money laundering cases, one under trial and five under investigation, along with multiple war crimes cases at the International Crimes Tribunal.

News of his arrest has triggered widespread fear among exiled Awami League leaders accused of corruption, money laundering, and murder. Many are reportedly seeking to relocate to safer countries. Analysts described the arrest as a milestone in international legal cooperation and a warning to fugitives abroad. Some noted that extradition may be complex, depending on diplomatic negotiations and host country decisions.

The ACC confirmed that Benazir was detained in connection with money laundering allegations and that documentation is being finalized for his repatriation. Authorities are emphasizing diplomatic efforts to ensure his return to Bangladesh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing political pressure after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new agreement with Iran that most Israelis oppose. The deal, announced by the White House, aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and restrict uranium enrichment. However, it has left Netanyahu politically isolated ahead of Israel’s fall elections, where polls show his support declining sharply. Once relying on his close ties with Trump, Netanyahu now finds that relationship politically costly as Israelis view the accord as undermining their security interests.

The fallout follows months of conflict involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel, with thousands killed in southern Lebanon and over a million displaced. Trump reportedly rebuked Netanyahu over Israeli strikes that nearly derailed U.S.-Iran talks. Israeli right-wing ministers and opposition leaders alike have criticized Netanyahu for appearing subservient to Washington. A recent Israel Democracy Institute poll found 61 percent of Israelis believe Netanyahu should not run again, while rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett are gaining ground.

Netanyahu, battling health issues and corruption charges, insists Israel will defend its own security interests despite U.S. pressure. Analysts say his political survival now depends on managing both domestic discontent and strained ties with Washington.

US Vice President JD Vance released a video on social media platform X explaining the details of the new peace agreement with Iran. Facing growing demands for clarity, Vance said the deal ensures the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He added that Iran would be welcomed into the global economy if it commits to halting its nuclear program, but would lack resources to rebuild it if the pledge is broken. Vance described the agreement as a major victory for the American people.

The deal has drawn increasing pressure on the Trump administration from both hardline Republicans and Democrats. Critics argue that the current agreement is weaker than the one canceled during the Obama era. Many members of Congress are now calling for greater transparency and legislative oversight of the deal.

The debate over the agreement’s strength and enforcement mechanisms is expected to continue as lawmakers seek more details from the administration.

U.S. officials have dismissed as false the reports claiming that the Trump administration plans to give Iran cash in exchange for signing a memorandum of understanding. According to Al Jazeera, Vice President JD Vance stated in several interviews that no sanctions relief has been offered to Iran as part of the agreement. President Donald Trump also wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iran has agreed never to acquire nuclear weapons and called the reports of a $300 million payment completely fake, describing them as Democratic propaganda.

Officials clarified that any potential benefits for Iran would depend on its future actions. Sanctions relief or the release of frozen assets will not occur immediately after the memorandum is signed on June 19. Instead, these measures could begin only if a final agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program is reached after a 60-day negotiation period.

The White House expects that the 60-day talks will lead to a long-term arrangement ensuring control over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Following reports of a preliminary understanding between the United States and Iran, Israel’s political arena erupted with sharp criticism. Many Israeli figures described the deal as a strategic disaster for the country and directed their anger toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At a press conference, Netanyahu vowed that Iran would never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and claimed he had resisted Iranian demands for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon.

Opposition leaders and former officials condemned both the deal and Netanyahu’s handling of it, warning that it could hurt his standing ahead of the upcoming autumn elections. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak accused Netanyahu of arrogance and misjudgment, saying Israel had grown weaker while Iran gained strength. Rival Yair Lapid called the agreement one of Israel’s greatest foreign policy failures.

Analysts noted that the deal could complicate Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, as Iran has long sought to include a ceasefire there in any U.S.-Iran agreement. Netanyahu now faces the challenge of balancing relations with Washington while maintaining military pressure in Lebanon.

Iran reportedly enlisted senior psychologists to help analyze former US President Donald Trump’s behavior during indirect negotiations with the United States. According to a report by the American outlet Drop Site News, the experts were brought in to assess Trump’s psychological tendencies and to refine messages sent to him through regional intermediaries in an effort to advance discussions aimed at ending conflict.

An Iranian official told Drop Site that two senior psychologists were added to the advisory team after the first round of bilateral talks held in Islamabad in April. The specialists were tasked with helping negotiators craft more strategic communications, taking into account what the team described as psychopathic behavioral traits in Trump. The official claimed that after implementing the psychologists’ recommendations, noticeable improvement was observed in Trump’s responses.

The report suggests that Iran’s approach was intended to make its diplomatic messaging more effective during sensitive exchanges with Washington, particularly as both sides discussed potential terms of a memorandum of understanding.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to test whether the United States is genuinely ready to respect Iran’s rights. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian wrote on social media platform X that after long and intensive discussions, nearly all members of Iran’s parliament supported the draft of the MoU.

He emphasized that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei played a crucial role in ensuring the inclusion of provisions protecting Iran’s national interests. Pezeshkian described the MoU as the result of months of dialogue and sustained diplomatic efforts, calling it an important step toward halting conflict and opening new avenues for negotiation.

The president added that Iran is prepared for all possible scenarios and suggested that if all terms of the MoU are implemented, it could become a document of national pride for the country.

Students of Dhaka University belonging to the Sanatan religious community held a protest rally and demonstration on Monday evening at the Raju Sculpture, condemning an incident in Gaibandha where an image of Lord Ramchandra was allegedly beaten with shoes. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. The event was organized under the banner of ‘Conscious Students of Dhaka University’ and included participants from Jagannath Hall and several women’s dormitories.

Speakers at the rally said the act had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and accused extremist groups of trying to create division in society. They criticized the government for failing to ensure justice in previous cases of attacks on minorities and called for swift legal action against the perpetrators. One student leader warned of a larger movement if justice was not served by Friday.

After the rally, the protesters briefly blocked Shahbagh intersection, carrying placards and chanting slogans for religious harmony, action against extremism, and the resumption of construction of the country’s largest Ram statue in Gaibandha.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran has made significant progress toward what he described as its 'final victory' against Israel and the United States. In a post on social media platform X, he called Iran’s resistance 'historic' and credited the country’s armed forces and people for their role in defending the nation against those who sought its destruction and surrender.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran will remain steadfast in protecting its sovereignty and national interests, refusing to yield under any pressure. His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have drawn widespread international attention. Iranian leaders have repeatedly vowed to continue their resistance in the face of external challenges.

The statement underscores Tehran’s ongoing defiance and signals a continuation of its current stance amid growing geopolitical friction in the region.

Analysts believe the upcoming United States–Iran agreement could significantly weaken Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing strategic goals. Early reports suggest the new ceasefire and negotiation framework lacks key Israeli concerns, causing frustration in Tel Aviv. The framework, announced Sunday, reportedly omits restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and its funding of allied groups in the Middle East. Israel fears that easing sanctions could strengthen Iran’s economy and indirectly support groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis, which have previously attacked Israel.

Uncertainty remains over how the deal will address Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of enriched uranium and future enrichment rights. Further discussions are expected during a 60-day ceasefire. Netanyahu also faces domestic political pressure ahead of elections, with polls showing him trailing. His ally, US President Donald Trump, has recently criticized him while calling Iran’s new Supreme Leader pragmatic. Observers say Netanyahu’s recent strike near Beirut may have been politically motivated, but it risks appearing as an attempt to derail the US-Iran deal.

Analysts argue that if the agreement proceeds, it could make the 2015 nuclear deal appear comparatively effective, further questioning Netanyahu’s Iran policy.

In Bangladesh’s Parliament on Monday, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam faced criticism after two newly formed union councils in his constituency were named 'Simanta' and 'Diganta', matching the names of his two sons. Opposition lawmakers alleged that the unions were named after his family members, violating the Union Parishad Act 2009, which prohibits naming unions after individuals. The minister denied the allegation, claiming the similarity was coincidental.

The controversy arose in the newly created Mokamatla upazila of Bogura-2 constituency, where several unions were reorganized last month. According to the minister, 'Simanta' was named because the area borders another region, while 'Diganta' was chosen for its distant location near the Gaibandha district boundary. He emphasized that the names were selected by the district administration, not by him.

Government MPs expressed support for the minister during the session, while the opposition reiterated concerns about political influence in local naming decisions. The issue has drawn attention to administrative transparency in local government restructuring.