Police in Shariatpur detained two Awami League activists following a raid on a gathering allegedly organized under the pretext of a khichuri event. The operation took place on Wednesday night, June 10, in the Bildeonia area of Rajnagar Union under Naria upazila. Acting on a tip-off, Naria police arrived at the scene, prompting many participants to flee, leaving behind cooked food and other items. Two individuals, identified as residents Saiful Islam, 22, and Zobayer Islam Onik, 21, were arrested.

According to police sources, both detainees are believed to be involved in Awami League politics. Authorities stated that the raid was part of ongoing surveillance on political gatherings in the area. The local police chief confirmed that legal action against the detainees is in process.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the locality, and police said further investigation is underway to determine the nature of the gathering and take necessary legal measures.

Sri Lanka’s government has officially acknowledged for the first time that its former intelligence chief was directly involved in planning the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament on Wednesday that then–intelligence head Major General Suresh Salle guided the attacks that killed 279 people. Salle was arrested in February on charges of aiding and abetting terrorism and allegedly met with Muslim men weeks before the bombings to gather details about a Catholic church target.

According to the minister, Salle conspired with Islamist extremists and strategically directed them to carry out the attacks. He has denied all allegations through his lawyer and began a hunger strike in prison before being hospitalized. Opposition activists in Colombo have been protesting for his release.

Following Salle’s interrogation, a court imposed a travel ban on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had appointed Salle as intelligence chief in 2019. The Criminal Investigation Department has not yet named Rajapaksa a suspect but may question him soon, as the 2019 bombings remain Sri Lanka’s deadliest terrorist attack on civilians.

Tension flared along the Bakshiganj border in Jamalpur on Wednesday following allegations of an attempted push-in involving a man near pillar 1082 of the Ramrampur border area. Local sources said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and residents prevented the attempt, leaving the man stranded on the zero line. Later, when he tried to enter Bangladesh again, BGB and locals stopped him, prompting him to return to the zero line.

A flag meeting between BGB and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) was held but ended without immediate resolution. In the afternoon, a heated exchange between locals from both sides escalated into a chase after some Indian youths allegedly threw stones at Bangladeshis. The situation prompted heightened alert along the border, with BGB maintaining control to prevent further unrest.

BGB’s Jamalpur 35 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Hasanur Rahman urged locals not to cross the zero line and to cooperate with border guards to maintain calm. The situation is currently under control, though communication between the two border forces continues.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, central executive council member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation, accused the Home Minister of creating unnecessary controversy over Islami Bank. Speaking at a press conference in a Karwan Bazar hotel on Wednesday, he said the minister’s recent remarks about the bank were made without factual basis and were regrettable. He urged the government to focus on resolving pressing national issues such as lawlessness, child abuse, and border crises instead of engaging in divisive debates.

Selim Uddin emphasized that Islami Bank is an important institution for the national economy and warned that instability or negative messaging around it could harm the country’s financial health. He also expressed concern over the border situation, calling the push-in issue a national crisis that requires inclusive political action. On the national budget, he stressed the need for effective implementation, prevention of tax evasion, and curbing corruption to ensure proper use of development funds.

He further highlighted Dhaka’s recurring waterlogging problem and the lack of elected city leadership, urging timely city corporation elections and stronger democratic opposition to enhance governance.

On Wednesday, seventy students from two educational institutions attended the budget session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. Thirty students from Habib Ullah Degree College in Vedarganj, Shariatpur, and forty from Chetana Model Academy in Mirpur, Dhaka, visited the Parliament complex around 1:45 p.m. They toured the building’s architecture and had lunch at the Parliament cafeteria before observing the day’s proceedings from the Bir Sreshtho Mohammad Ruhul Amin Gallery. Eight teachers accompanied the students during the visit.

The initiative, led by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, allows students from schools, colleges, and universities to observe parliamentary sessions as part of a civic learning program. Each day, groups from different institutions are invited to witness the sessions firsthand. Wednesday’s visit coincided with the fourth day of the budget session.

The day’s proceedings began with a question-and-answer segment led by Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tareq Rahman, under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom. Discussions were held on public importance notices, and decisions were made regarding the formation of parliamentary standing committees.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman became emotional while addressing the national parliament on Wednesday, shedding tears as he described the suffering and hardships faced by Bangladeshi expatriates. During his speech, he highlighted various problems encountered by expatriates and urged the government to take swift action to resolve them. He emphasized that expatriates are like warriors who deserve respect and recognition for their contributions.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded by praising Dr. Rahman’s remarks, describing his speech as that of a national leader rather than merely an opposition figure. The minister agreed that expatriates should be regarded as warriors, recalling their role during the July uprising when many were arrested for their involvement. He also commended the opposition for engaging in constructive discussion in parliament.

The exchange underscored a rare moment of bipartisan acknowledgment in parliament regarding the contributions and challenges of Bangladeshi expatriates, with both government and opposition voices calling for greater respect and support for them.

Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Haque emphasized that ensuring justice requires upholding the rule of law, due process, and the right to legal representation even for those accused of the most heinous crimes. He made these remarks on Wednesday at Dhaka University’s Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban during a seminar organized by the Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) to launch a research report titled “Legal Representation in Death Penalty Cases in Bangladesh: An Empirical and Conceptual Analysis.”

The minister noted that although many countries have abolished the death penalty, Bangladesh’s current social context makes its removal complex. Referring to the Ramisa murder case, he said the government demonstrated its commitment to the rule of law through prompt investigation, DNA testing, and trial, while also ensuring state-funded legal defense for the accused. He added that despite criticism on social media, the government has not deviated from fundamental legal principles.

He further stated that the government is expanding legal aid programs, strengthening district-level committees, promoting alternative dispute resolution, and encouraging pro bono legal services to ensure access to justice for the poor.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on Wednesday that he holds a diploma in Hindi and Urdu and knows some Arabic and Persian. He praised Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for delivering what he described as a strong and nationally minded speech, saying Rahman spoke not as an opposition leader but as a national leader.

During the parliamentary session, Salahuddin emphasized that expatriates should be regarded as warriors, noting their contributions during the July uprising alongside students and citizens. He said many expatriates were even arrested for their involvement in the movement. The minister also commended the opposition for engaging in constructive discussions.

In his address, Jamaat’s Ameer highlighted various problems faced by expatriates and urged the government to intervene quickly to resolve them. He reiterated that expatriates deserve respect and recognition for their role in national affairs.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed praised Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for delivering what he described as a national rather than an opposition leader’s speech in the National Parliament on Wednesday. The minister said Dr. Rahman’s remarks reflected constructive discussion and a sense of national responsibility.

During the session, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman highlighted various problems faced by expatriate Bangladeshis and urged the government to intervene quickly to resolve them. He emphasized that expatriates should be regarded as warriors who deserve respect for their contributions to the country. Salahuddin Ahmed echoed this sentiment, noting that expatriates played a significant role during the July uprising alongside students and citizens, and that many were arrested during the movement.

The exchange in parliament underscored a rare moment of cross-party acknowledgment, with the Home Minister commending the opposition leader’s constructive tone and focus on national issues.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern that the government’s draft of the National Human Rights Commission Act would prevent the commission from functioning as an independent institution. On Monday, TIB submitted 19 recommendations to the government, noting that the proposed law introduces fundamental changes from the 2025 ordinance that contradict long-standing public expectations for an autonomous commission and conflict with the Paris Principles and other international standards.

According to TIB, the draft law removes a key clause ensuring the commission’s independence from any ministry or department, potentially placing it under executive control. The selection committee for commissioners now includes the Speaker, two ministers, a ruling party MP, and the Cabinet Secretary, which TIB says risks political dominance and conflicts of interest. The organization also urged inclusion of provisions allowing the commission to inspect detention sites, recommend actions against unlawful facilities, and ensure gender and minority representation among commissioners.

TIB further recommended restoring the commission’s authority to independently investigate human rights violations by law enforcement and eliminating provisions that restrict its powers compared to the 2009 law.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a partial five-member committee for its Bogura Metropolitan unit. The announcement was made through a press release signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday. According to the release, Advocate Hamidul Haque Chowdhury (Hiru) has been appointed president, Md. Moshior Rahman Shamim senior vice-president, Md. Moniruzzaman Moni general secretary, Md. Mahmudul Hasan Tuhin joint general secretary, and Md. Sulaiman Ali organizational secretary.

The press release stated that the partial committee has been approved and that a full committee will be announced soon. The formation marks a step in reorganizing the party’s local leadership structure in Bogura Metropolitan area.

The BNP indicated that the complete committee will be declared shortly, signaling ongoing internal organizational activities within the party’s regional units.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain stated that the government aims to make persons with disabilities self-reliant and integrate them into mainstream society through education, skill development, and rehabilitation. He made the remarks on Wednesday after visiting the National Foundation for the Development of the Disabled in Dhaka.

The minister said the foundation operates colleges and separate schools for children with hearing, visual, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, with residential facilities for both men and women. He emphasized that the government is working to expand such institutions beyond Dhaka to ensure inclusive education and services nationwide. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he added, the government is committed to building a humane Bangladesh by empowering marginalized communities.

According to the minister, there are about 14 to 16 million persons with disabilities in the country, and 103 centers are currently providing services at district and upazila levels. The goal is to extend disability services to every upazila, offering therapies and training to help transform this population into a productive national resource.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Rokeya Begum has called for justice for all unresolved murder cases, including the Pilkhana massacre, the Sagar-Runi killings, and the deaths of Osman Hadi and July. She made the demand in the Bangladesh Parliament on Wednesday, urging authorities to accelerate the judicial process for these cases. Rokeya Begum is the mother of Jabir Ibrahim, a child who was killed during a student protest.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, addressing a separate event at the Parliament Secretariat’s oath room, stated that the national budget represents not only the state’s income and expenditure but also the people’s aspirations, development priorities, and future economic direction. He inaugurated the Budget Helpdesk 2026, which aims to provide research-based data and information to assist lawmakers in their parliamentary duties.

Jabir Ibrahim, known as the July martyr, was a young boy who lost his life during an anti-discrimination student movement in July-August 2024, shot by police in front of his family.

BNP Member of Parliament Abdul Moin Khan has been appointed as the chair of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Planning. The committee was formed on Wednesday in the National Parliament. Other members include State Minister for Planning Junaid Saki, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Kazi Rafiqul Islam, Mainul Islam Khan, Fakhrul Islam, Shawkatul Islam, Farida Yasmin, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Saiful Alam, and Rashedul Islam.

The proposal to form the committee was placed by Chief Whip Nurul Islam on behalf of Leader of the House Tareq Rahman, and it was later passed by voice vote. The formation marks a new parliamentary arrangement concerning oversight of the Planning Ministry’s activities.

The development reflects the ongoing structuring of parliamentary committees following the latest session, ensuring representation from multiple political parties within the legislative oversight framework.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase has approved a proposal to buy 212 double-cabin pickup vans for the Bangladesh Police at a total cost of Tk 182.32 crore. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat. The vehicles will be supplied by state-owned Pragoti Industries Limited under the direct purchase method during the 2025–26 fiscal year.

According to the proposal, the pickups are being procured to strengthen the police’s operational capacity across the country. The vehicles will support law enforcement, patrol duties, crime prevention, and emergency operations. The Finance Division has already given its consent to the purchase.

Officials expect that the addition of these new vehicles will enhance police mobility and make field operations more efficient, particularly in maintaining law and order in different regions.