Responding to Jamaat-e-Islami’s criticism, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has denied claims that the party received any special favor from Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He clarified that Jamaat’s own earlier suggestion of holding elections before Ramadan 2026 aligns with the newly announced election timeline. Salahuddin urged Jamaat and others to view the London meeting from a national perspective, beyond narrow partisan interests.

Venezuela has strongly denounced the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran, aligning itself with nations like Saudi Arabia and Turkey. President Nicolás Maduro condemned the attack as a breach of international law and labeled Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the “Hitler of the 21st century.” He described the strikes as “neo-Nazi Zionism” and urged the world to stand against such aggression. The Israeli operation, codenamed “Rising Lion,” killed at least 78 people, including senior Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has criticized the joint statement issued by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman after their recent meeting, calling it a serious departure from the country's political norms. In a statement, Jamaat said while meetings with political leaders are understandable, issuing a joint statement following the meeting was inappropriate and has compromised Dr. Yunus’s image of neutrality. Jamaat warned that this could fuel public doubts over the fairness of the upcoming national election. The party emphasized that open consultations with all political parties inside Bangladesh would have been the proper approach. Jamaat also urged the government to ensure a level playing field and implement necessary reforms for a free and fair election.

Following Israel's surprise attack on Iran under “Operation Rising Lion,” which killed 78 including top Iranian officials and scientists, Iran responded with missile strikes in “Operation True Promise-3.” As tensions soared, Israeli PM Netanyahu retreated to a bunker. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both nations to stop the violence and pursue peace. EU leaders echoed similar concerns, stressing the importance of regional stability and restraint. Iranian missiles later struck Tel Aviv, killing one woman and injuring 48, according to Al Jazeera.

To make Sylhet more tourist-friendly, the government will stop issuing stone quarry leases, announced Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan after visiting Jaflong on June 14. Declaring the region an Ecologically Critical Area, she warned that uncontrolled stone extraction is damaging the environment. A master plan will be created to convert the area into a tourist destination, with alternative jobs provided for laborers. Mineral Resources Advisor Fayzul Kabir Khan ordered cutting power to illegal stone crushers and promised to develop tourism infrastructure in the region.

Iran has denounced ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States as pointless after Israeli airstrikes killed top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington of enabling the attacks by Israel, saying that such actions contradict the spirit of diplomacy. The scheduled sixth round of nuclear talks in Muscat now faces uncertainty. The deadly strikes led to the confirmed deaths of General Hossein Salami and General Mohammad Bagheri. Tehran has since retaliated by launching missile attacks on Tel Aviv.

NCP leader Tasnim Zara has expressed concern over the apparent slowdown of the ongoing reform movement in Bangladesh. “Over the past few weeks, it has often felt like the reform initiatives are losing momentum. Many are now wondering whether the dream of a ‘New Bangladesh’ that emerged after August 5 will actually materialize,” she wrote on social media.

Despite this uncertainty, Zara shared an inspiring moment from this morning in Chattogram’s Pahartali area, where she spotted a slogan written on a wall: “We brought independence; we will bring reform too.” She concluded by emphasizing, “Bangladesh 2.0 is still possible—if we don’t forget that crucial moment in July.”

BNP has expressed its intention to engage Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus in national development efforts if the party comes to power through the people’s mandate. BNP leader Tarique Rahman believes Dr. Yunus’s expertise will be crucial in shaping the country’s future. Although Dr. Yunus clarified that he has no interest in holding any government position, BNP wants to seek his advice on national progress. Tarique also emphasized his commitment to working with other eminent personalities for the nation’s advancement.

The ruling Awami League has expelled two local leaders from Narail’s Kalia Upazila for joining rival political parties. Mallick Monirul Islam, Organizing Secretary of the Kalia Upazila Awami League and Chairman of Iliyasabad Union Parishad, has formally joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Additionally, SM Saifuzzaman, a member of the Upazila Awami League and Chairman of Panchgram Union Parishad, has joined the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP).

According to the official expulsion letter, both leaders were ousted for violating party discipline, betraying party loyalty, and acting out of personal greed despite having benefited from the Awami League government. The party described their defection as "opportunistic and treacherous."

A 14-year-old girl was reportedly gang-raped by three youths while she was herding goats in a field in Ramgati, Lakshmipur. The accused—Jewel, Azad, and Raju—have gone into hiding since the incident. The victim’s elder sister alleged that Abdur Rahman, President of the local Krishak Dal (BNP’s farmers' wing) in Ward 3 of Char Gazi Union, along with his associate Shahab Uddin, has been issuing threats to prevent them from reporting the crime. She further claimed that Abdur Rahman demanded Tk 10,000 in exchange for resolving the matter. In response, Abdur Rahman denied involvement, stating, “I am not responsible for settling such matters. That’s why the police were not informed.”

Mosharraf Sheikh, once a humble cook employed at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence since 1996, is now reportedly a multimillionaire. Born to a day laborer’s family, Mosharraf started his culinary career at a local hotel before securing the prestigious job at the prime minister’s residence. Allegations suggest that during successive Awami League governments, he amassed wealth by illegally grabbing land from local farmers and harassing ordinary citizens in his village. He is currently on the run.

In a statement, Khelafat Majlish welcomed Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s view during his London meeting with Tarique Rahman that elections could be held before Ramadan 2026 — even a week prior — provided preparations are complete. They described this perspective as timely and constructive, particularly emphasizing the need for substantial progress on reforms and justice by February. The statement added that this announcement would help ease the country’s ongoing political instability and uncertainty.

Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gano Adhikar Parishad, has accused the local administration of imposing Section 144 in Golachipa to deliberately block their pre-announced political programs. “This move is solely aimed at disrupting political activities, further exposing the administration’s bias and its inability to conduct fair elections,” Nur said. He also alleged that BNP leader Hasan Mamun orchestrated attacks on Gano Adhikar Parishad offices and the homes of activists in Golachipa and Dashmina. “The current Deputy Commissioner wants to play the role of accomplice to this collapsing regime, under the patronage of BNP leader Hasan Mamun, much like Harun and Benazir. We demand his immediate removal,” Nur added.

During the peak lychee season in Dinajpur, around 150,000 women and adolescents find temporary employment in lychee orchards. From mid-May to early July, they engage in harvesting, sorting, counting, and packaging the fruit across villages in Sadar and Biral upazilas. Each orchard employs 30 to 40 workers, mostly women and teenage boys. Workers earn between Tk 300–400 daily, enabling many to save money while supporting their families. The Agricultural Extension Office reports lychee is cultivated on 5,500 hectares this year due to Dinajpur’s favorable climate and soil. While there’s no official data on total female laborers, the demand remains high due to their efficient and clean work.

JAGPA Vice President Rashed Pradhan has expressed optimism that fears of disunity over the national election may now be behind us. He stated that if meaningful progress is made on reform and justice, Bangladesh’s next general election could be held in early February. However, he expressed disapproval over election decisions being made or announced outside Bangladesh, insisting such decisions should originate within the country. He called for the immediate publication of the "July Charter" as a consensus among all political parties to serve the greater national interest.