Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon stated that the media serves as the mirror of society and the state, emphasizing that it must be flawless. He said this responsibility lies primarily with the media itself and called for unity among all stakeholders to achieve this goal. The minister made these remarks on Monday at a seminar titled “Media’s Failure in Facing Fascism,” organized by the National Editors Council (NEC) at the Department of Films and Publications auditorium in Dhaka, marking the anniversary of the 1975 press shutdown.

Swapon noted that past efforts to strengthen the media were partial and incomplete, preventing the development of a robust media institution in Bangladesh. He stressed the need for consensus and collective action to establish an independent and responsible media commission. The minister also highlighted that democracy cannot be practiced effectively without institutionalizing the culture of diverse opinions.

The seminar, chaired by NEC co-convener and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, featured editors and journalists from across the country, who discussed media freedom, political influence, and the need for unity to safeguard press independence.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared that efforts to overthrow Iran’s government will continue. In a post on social media platform X, he described the joint campaign to weaken Iran as successful and said those gains must not be wasted. Smotrich called for Israel to pursue the mission creatively and ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.

Despite pressure from the United States to halt attacks, Smotrich pledged to keep targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. He said the operations were necessary to guarantee the immediate security of Israeli fighters and residents in the country’s north. His remarks came as Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon, even after the United States and Iran reached an agreement that Tehran said included a commitment to stop such attacks.

The statements highlight ongoing tensions between Israel, Iran, and the United States, as well as divisions over the recent US-Iran deal, which Smotrich labeled harmful to Israel and the free world.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that the agreement between the United States and Iran is not binding on Israel. In a post on social media platform X, he emphasized that Israel is an independent and sovereign nation, not subordinate to the United States. Ben-Gvir asserted that Israel would not be part of any deal that fails to ensure its security.

He further argued that Israel should not agree to anything less than the complete disarmament and dismantling of Hezbollah. He insisted that Israeli forces should not withdraw from areas they have captured and cleared of what he described as terrorist infrastructure. Ben-Gvir warned against returning to a situation where thousands of armed fighters are stationed near northern Israeli settlements and said Israel would not remain silent in the face of any attacks.

His remarks highlight internal political divisions within Israel regarding the US-Iran understanding and a potential ceasefire along the Lebanon border, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has ordered the relocation of Dhaka’s Sayedabad, Gulistan, and Mohakhali bus terminals as part of a broader plan to reduce the capital’s long-standing traffic congestion. The directive was issued on Monday during the third high-level meeting on traffic management modernization held at the Secretariat. Communication expert Md. Hadiuzzaman and administrators of Dhaka’s two city corporations briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hadiuzzaman stated that an interim depot for Mohakhali terminal buses has been designated in Purbachal to minimize congestion, with buses operating on fixed schedules. Alternative sites have also been identified for Sayedabad and Fulbaria terminals. A detailed proposal is expected within seven days, after which implementation will begin. Additionally, a modern traffic signal system will be tested in Shahbagh next week.

Dhaka North and South City Corporation administrators confirmed joint cooperation in establishing the new depots and completing the Kanchpur inter-district terminal. The meeting also discussed the Bus Rapid Transit project’s future and plans to rehabilitate street vendors instead of eviction.

Jamaat-e-Islami central working committee member and Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir has said that former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed could be brought back to Bangladesh from the United Arab Emirates if strong legal documentation, accurate information, and high-level diplomatic efforts are ensured. He made the observation in a Facebook post titled 'Legal and Diplomatic Process to Bring Benazir Ahmed Back to Bangladesh: A Summary' published on Monday.

According to Monir, although Bangladesh and the UAE do not have a bilateral extradition treaty, two agreements signed in 2014 on security cooperation and transfer of sentenced prisoners provide a legal basis for judicial collaboration. He cited the Extradition Act of 1974, which allows the government to pursue extradition through legal channels even without a formal treaty. He detailed that Bangladesh must submit a formal extradition request within 30 days of arrest, supported by arrest warrants, case documents, and evidence.

Monir noted that UAE courts would assess dual criminality, political motivation, and fairness of trial before approval. He referenced a past successful extradition from Dubai and concluded that Benazir’s return depends on flawless documentation, verified case details, and sustained diplomatic engagement.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and joint convener of the National Editors Council (NEC), said that collaborators of fascism in the media could return to the mainstream through self-purification, but those who justified or assisted in killings must face criminal prosecution. He made these remarks on Monday at a seminar titled “Media’s Failure in Confronting Fascism,” organized by the NEC at the DFP conference room in Dhaka’s Information Building, marking the June 16 Black Day of newspaper closures under BAKSAL rule.

The seminar was chaired by Mahmudur Rahman and conducted by Jugantor editor Abdul Hai Shikder, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan as chief guest. In his speech, Rahman criticized the Awami League’s history as one of authoritarianism and suppression of press freedom, citing past incidents and his own legal challenges. He emphasized the need for unity among editors to establish true media independence and to reform the state system.

Rahman added that while differing editorial policies are natural, editors should unite on fundamental issues like freedom of expression. He expressed hope that the current government would continue restoring media freedom initiated under Dr. Yunus’s administration.

Israeli opposition figure Yair Golan, leader of the center-left Democrats party, has sharply criticized a new agreement between the United States and Iran, claiming it has nullified all of Israel’s military achievements. In a social media post, Golan said that with a single signature, the bravery of Israeli pilots and the sacrifices of soldiers had been erased. He accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being weak, isolated, and powerless during the process.

Golan described the deal as the culmination of years of failure and argued that Netanyahu’s tenure is ending with Israel’s enemies growing stronger while the country itself becomes weaker. He warned that Israel’s defense systems, built through the blood of its fighters, are now deteriorating before the nation’s eyes. The comments reflect deep political divisions in Israel over the implications of the US-Iran agreement.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, underscores growing domestic criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership amid shifting regional dynamics following the new US-Iran accord.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama said it is unrealistic to expect that a potential agreement between Donald Trump and Tehran would represent significant progress over the 2015 nuclear deal reached during his administration. Speaking on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday, Obama noted that negotiation remains preferable to direct conflict if Washington’s conditions cannot be fully met. The remarks were reported by AFP from Washington.

Obama emphasized that any new deal is unlikely to include major positive changes compared to the earlier accord, which he described as effective for a long period before the United States withdrew from it. The 2015 agreement had been considered a landmark in limiting Iran’s nuclear activities.

The discussion comes amid heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that triggered conflict in the Middle East. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his proposed deal would permanently halt Iran’s nuclear weapons capability and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran has dismissed peace talks with Washington as meaningless.

Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, cancelled his official visit to New Delhi and returned home after facing immigration complications at Indira Gandhi International Airport. He arrived back in Bangladesh around 11 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026. Indian immigration authorities had detained him on Sunday for additional verification when his name appeared on a security watchlist.

According to a News18 report cited in the source, Dr. Rahman was traveling as part of an official delegation to attend a government meeting in India. His name was flagged during routine immigration checks, prompting further scrutiny. Sources indicated that the issue stemmed from administrative delays in updating records. Although his name had previously been removed from a social media–related blacklist, the immigration database had not been updated in time.

Neither Indian nor Bangladeshi authorities issued any official statements regarding the incident. The reasons for his earlier inclusion on the watchlist and the delay in updating immigration records remain unclear.

The National Editors Council (NEC) has begun a seminar in Dhaka to mark the Black Day commemorating the closure of newspapers during the Baksali regime. The event started at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the DFP conference room in the Information Building on Circuit House Road. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan attended as the chief guest, while NEC joint convener and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman presided over the session.

Editors from various media outlets, senior journalists, and officials from institutions under the Ministry of Information were present at the seminar. The event was organized to reflect on the historical suppression of press freedom and to bring together key figures from the media and government sectors.

The seminar underscores the continued relevance of discussions on press freedom and media rights in Bangladesh, as participants revisit a significant period in the country's media history.

The killing of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka has become one of the country’s most politically charged and controversial cases. Hadi, a prominent figure in post-uprising politics, was shot at close range while traveling by rickshaw and later died in Singapore on December 18. The murder triggered nationwide protests and widespread public grief. Investigators from the Detective Branch and CID labeled it a politically motivated and planned assassination, identifying Shahin Ahmed as the alleged financier and Faisal Karim Masud as the shooter.

The case gained international attention after Indian police arrested two suspects near the Bangladesh border in March 2026. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed India’s Home Minister Amit Shah had asked her not to comment on the arrests, sparking speculation about Indian knowledge of the case. Bangladeshi authorities are seeking extradition of the suspects while emphasizing due legal process.

The investigation has revealed suspicious financial transactions exceeding Tk 1,270 crore, raising questions about broader political or criminal involvement. Analysts view the case as a test of Bangladesh’s judicial transparency and its ability to ensure justice amid regional political sensitivities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will become permanently toll-free under a new agreement with Iran. He made the remarks during a 28-minute telephone interview with The New York Times on Sunday afternoon, according to the newspaper.

During the interview, Trump added that if Iran fails to reach a final nuclear deal with the United States, he would either resume military strikes or turn the U.S. into the 'guardian of the Middle East' in exchange for one-fifth of the region’s income. He claimed that his decision to launch attacks on Iran in February and subsequently impose a naval blockade on the country’s ports had reshaped the Middle East in favor of the United States.

The report cited the BBC as the source of additional information on the development, highlighting the ongoing complexity of U.S.-Iran relations and the potential economic and geopolitical implications of the proposed agreement.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to a maximum of 10 million. In the national referendum, about 55 percent voted against the measure while 45 percent supported it, with 60 percent voter turnout. The initiative was introduced by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, known for its anti-immigration stance. The government, business community, and major political parties opposed the proposal, warning it could jeopardize Switzerland’s free movement agreement with the European Union.

Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the result as a sign of stability and openness. The Swiss population has grown from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million today, with 27 percent being non-citizens. Opponents argued that limiting population growth would harm sectors reliant on foreign labor, such as tourism, healthcare, and elder care, and could threaten access to the EU single market. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also praised the outcome, emphasizing strong EU-Swiss ties.

Despite the rejection, concerns remain over rising housing costs, congestion, and healthcare expenses. The Swiss People’s Party vowed to continue pressing for solutions to these issues.

U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with The New York Times following the announcement of a deal with Iran. Trump said Israel’s attacks in Lebanon nearly derailed the final agreement and described Netanyahu as a very difficult person. He added that Netanyahu should be extremely grateful to the United States, arguing that Israel could not have survived long if Iran had nuclear weapons.

According to The New York Times report cited in the source, Trump claimed that missile and bomb strikes on Iran forced Tehran to agree to the deal. He warned that if both sides failed to reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, the United States would resume attacks. Trump emphasized that Iran did not want to face a third strike and valued survival.

Trump concluded that the U.S. attacks had a major influence on completing the agreement, describing their impact as significant.

The International Crimes Tribunals in Bangladesh are set to begin trials in four new cases of crimes against humanity within this month. The cases include the killing of nine people, including Farhan Faiyaz, in Mohammadpur during the July uprising; the killing of 23 people in Badda; the shooting and maiming of two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in Jessore; and the crossfire killing of two individuals in Barishal. Three of the cases will be heard in Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, while one will be heard in Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. A total of 42 accused are named across the four cases.

Among the key accused are former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former ministers Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Kamrul Islam, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, and former MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam confirmed that investigations were completed on a priority basis and that the prosecution is prepared to present all evidence during the trials.

The first hearings, including opening statements and witness testimonies, are scheduled between June 15 and June 17, marking the formal start of proceedings in these high-profile cases.