Serious allegations of irregularities and corruption have surfaced in the re-excavation of seven canals across Feni district. The projects, located in Sadar, Daganbhuiyan, Phulgazi, Parshuram, and Sonagazi upazilas, were supposed to employ over 2,778 workers but are reportedly being executed using only a few excavators. This has deprived local laborers of employment opportunities and undermined the objectives of the government’s employment generation program. The total cost of the seven projects is about Tk 11.5 crore, but the required depth and width of the canals have not been maintained.

According to project sources, the initiative was launched in the 2025–26 fiscal year as part of the prime minister’s election pledge to boost agricultural production and reduce waterlogging. Twelve canals in six upazilas were proposed, of which seven were approved, covering a total length of 49 kilometers. Reports indicate that fake worker accounts and master rolls were created to embezzle project funds.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque stated that both wage and non-wage work must comply with project conditions and that she would consult the relevant UNOs for details.

Widespread extortion and gang violence have turned Dhaka’s Mohammadpur, Adabor, and surrounding areas into zones of fear, according to a June 20, 2026 report by Amar Desh. Residents, traders, and transport workers are being forced to pay extortion money in nearly every sector, from markets to construction. A recent killing of a political activist protesting extortion and repeated attacks on police have intensified public concern. Law enforcement agencies have set up temporary army camps and launched special drives, yet crime remains rampant.

Police data show 696 extortion cases were filed nationwide between January and May, with 236 in Dhaka alone. Experts cited political patronage and the release of underworld figures on bail as key drivers of renewed violence. Mohammadpur and Adabor now host over 50 active criminal groups, including several major gangs involved in drug trade, mugging, and contract violence.

Residents have staged protests demanding increased police presence, CCTV surveillance, and stronger patrols. Police officials claim regular operations are underway but note that offenders often secure bail, limiting enforcement impact.

Two young sisters drowned while bathing in a pond in Mohanganj upazila of Netrokona district on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred in Pabai village under Barkashia-Birampur Union during a family wedding. The victims were Niha Akter, aged 7, and Noha Akter, aged 3, daughters of local hand trolley driver Nizam Uddin. They were the couple’s only children.

According to Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizul Islam Harun, the children’s mother was busy with wedding activities while their father was also engaged in related tasks. Taking advantage of the moment, the two sisters went to bathe in the pond near their house and drowned. Locals noticed one child floating and raised an alarm, after which both were rescued and taken to Mohanganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.

Neighbor Mizanur Rahman said the deaths cast a shadow of grief over the family and the entire area.

A 14-year-old school student named Md. Mahim Sheikh died after being electrocuted while putting up a Brazil flag in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. The incident occurred on Friday evening in Dakshin Harina village under Paikbag Union of the upazila’s Pagla Police Station area. Mahim was the son of Md. Nayon Sheikh and a student of class eight at Paikbag Islamia High School.

According to police and family sources, Mahim had earlier erected a bamboo pole to hoist the Brazil flag. A few days later, the pole tilted, and while he was trying to straighten it on Friday, it came into contact with a nearby 33 kV power line. He was electrocuted and collapsed on the ground. Locals rescued him and took him first to Gafargaon Upazila Health Complex and later to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The report did not mention any further investigation or official statement regarding the incident.

Police in Jhenaidah arrested three individuals, including the headteacher of AJ International School and a local BNP leader, with 300 yaba pills during a raid on Friday afternoon. The operation took place in the Dakbangla Bazar area of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila following a tip-off about drug trading activities.

The detainees were identified as Abdul Malek, 45, headteacher of AJ International School and joint secretary of Saghanna Union BNP; Ayub Hossain, 46, from the same village; and Tanvir Ahmed alias Rupom, 35, son of Saduhati Union BNP vice-president Abdur Rahman Kamal. Police said they observed the suspects’ movements before conducting the raid and apprehending them with the yaba tablets.

According to local sources, Abdul Malek is also a former leader of the Jhenaidah Government KC College unit of the BNP’s student wing. The arrests link local political figures to alleged drug trading activities in the district.

A public meeting on anti-drug awareness and eradication was held in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, on Friday afternoon at the Soaibnagar Kamil Madrasa premises. The event, organized by local civil society, called for stronger social resistance against drug dealers and users, urging law enforcement to take strict legal action. Jhenaidah-4 Member of Parliament Maulana Abu Talib attended as the chief guest, alongside Kaliganj Police Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain and several local leaders.

During his speech, MP Abu Talib expressed concern over an attack on a retired police officer allegedly by drug traders, describing it as a result of standing against narcotics. He stated that a group had long operated under political protection but warned that such impunity would no longer continue. He declared that drug dealers must either abandon their trade or leave the area, emphasizing that the public is now aware and will not tolerate drug activities.

OC Jellal Hossain reaffirmed that anti-drug operations would continue despite obstacles or criticism, urging citizens to assist police with information.

A Saudi Arabia-based expatriate named Al Amin, aged 40, died suddenly at a residential hotel in Gulistan, Dhaka, on Friday, June 19, 2026. He had returned to Bangladesh on June 13 and went to meet a woman he befriended on Facebook about six months earlier. According to police, the incident occurred at Hotel Ramna under Paltan Police Station. Al Amin was found unconscious in the hotel washroom and was later declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police confirmed that the body has been sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death. The woman who accompanied him said Al Amin had brought gifts for her and suddenly collapsed after entering the washroom. His family stated that he had traveled to Dhaka to deliver some items to an acquaintance. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and witness statements to clarify the circumstances.

Authorities have cautioned against speculation until the post-mortem report is available. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of Paltan Police Station.

A businessman named Jamal Hossain was seriously injured in Comilla’s Racecourse area after being attacked and shot at allegedly by a local youth gang leader, Akibur Rahman Akib, and 12 others. The incident occurred early Thursday morning when Jamal was on his way to prayers. His wife, Taslima Akhter, filed a written complaint at Kotwali Model Police Station, accusing the group of attempting to kill her husband for refusing to pay Tk 2 million in extortion.

According to the complaint, the dispute began a year earlier over a land purchase by Jamal Hossain. The accused allegedly tried to build a boundary wall on the property and later demanded money to allow its sale. When Jamal refused, they threatened him with death. On the day of the attack, the assailants reportedly abducted him, assaulted him with sharp weapons, and fired a gunshot that missed.

Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway. The accused denied involvement, while local BNP officials stated that Akib is not affiliated with the party. The victim’s family has demanded swift legal action against all suspects.

An attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push four individuals into Bangladesh through the Khalpara border area of Buripota Union in Meherpur Sadar upazila was foiled early Friday. Locals spotted the four people near international border pillar 116 on the Indian side of the zero line. Due to the strict stance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), they were not allowed to enter Bangladesh.

According to local accounts, the group consisted of one man and three women who were seen standing suspiciously on the Indian side before disappearing from sight. Residents said the BGB’s strong presence prevented the push-in attempt. Villagers later joined BGB personnel to help monitor the border and pledged to work together to stop illegal crossings.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Hasan, commanding officer of Chuadanga Battalion-6 of the BGB, confirmed that the attempt had been thwarted and that surveillance along the border had been intensified. However, no formal statement from the BGB had been issued as of the report’s publication.

Police have arrested Md. Rafin Talukdar, a member of the convening committee of the Babuganj Upazila Chhatra League in Barishal, and sent him to jail custody through the court. The arrest took place late Thursday night around 11:30 p.m. at his home in Chhatiya village under Madhabpasha Union, during a raid conducted by the Airport Police Station.

According to family sources, Rafin Talukdar is the son of Md. Sirajul Islam Talukdar of Chhatiya village in Ward No. 8 of Madhabpasha Union. He is a final-year degree student at Government Barishal College. The family claimed he had returned home after hearing about his mother’s illness.

Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman confirmed the arrest and Rafin’s position in the Chhatra League but declined to disclose details about the specific case under which he was detained.

Two individuals, including Feni District Tantidal joint convener Md. Mamun, were arrested during an anti-drug operation in Feni on Friday, June 19. The operation, led by Sub-Inspector Ishtiaq Hossain of the Department of Narcotics Control, took place near the Five Star Hotel in the Daudpul area. Mamun, aged 61, and his associate Md. Abul Hossain, aged 46, were detained with 450 yaba pills. Authorities also seized a motorcycle and two mobile phones during the raid.

According to Assistant Director Mohammad Abdul Hamid of the Department of Narcotics Control, the yaba pills were recovered from Mamun during a search. Following the arrest, Sub-Inspector Ishtiaq Hossain filed a case at Feni Model Police Station. Mamun is the son of Abul Hashem from Darbarpur Union in Phulgazi, while Abul Hossain is from Jagannath Dighi Union in Chauddagram.

Feni District Tantidal convener Sarwar Jahan Shrabon stated that Mamun had submitted his nomination form for the joint convener post, which remains pending.

A groom named Jafar Munshi, a Dubai expatriate from Lakharn Anandabazar village in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj, died in a motorcycle accident on his wedding day. His sister Khadija also lost her life in the same crash. The accident occurred on June 15 when Jafar was traveling to Munshiganj Sadar with his sister, sister-in-law Farzana Akter, and a young child to shop for the wedding. Their motorcycle collided with an autorickshaw in the Madinabazar area, leaving all four seriously injured.

Khadija, aged 15, died on June 16 at a hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka, while Jafar, who had been on life support, passed away on June 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Jafar had returned to Bangladesh about a year earlier after working in Dubai and had planned to return there following his marriage. His cousin Jamal Munshi said all four victims suffered broken legs and multiple injuries. The burial is scheduled for Saturday.

The incident has cast deep sorrow over the family and community, ending what was meant to be a day of celebration in tragedy.

Police in Rajshahi have arrested three students of Rajshahi Nursing College for allegedly beating a man to death on suspicion of theft. The incident occurred on Thursday evening in front of Charu Mamar Canteen near Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, causing widespread commotion in the area. The victim, Rakibul Hasan Rocky, aged 32, was a resident of Hetemkha Karigorpara in the city.

According to police and local sources, several students detained Rakibul on suspicion of theft and assaulted him with a stamp, inflicting severe injuries on his arms, legs, and back. He was taken to the emergency department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 8:30 p.m., where doctors declared him dead. Police from Rajpara Station arrived at the scene and began an investigation. The victim’s sister later filed a murder case against unidentified persons.

As part of the investigation, police arrested three nursing students—Atik, Soyeb, and Fahim—on Friday morning. Rajpara Police Station’s officer-in-charge Abul Kalam Azad said further involvement of others is being examined, and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police will later provide official updates.

Three journalists and two RAKSU leaders were allegedly assaulted at Rajshahi University on Thursday evening while filming a suspected ragging incident in front of the Rabindra Bhaban. The victims claimed the attack occurred in the presence of the university proctor and the head of the Marketing Department. The assaulted individuals include journalists from The Daily Campus, Dhaka Post, and Dainik Manabkantha, along with two RAKSU leaders. The accused are several students from different academic sessions of the Marketing Department.

According to eyewitnesses, junior students had complained to journalists that seniors were forcing them to stand in lines under the guise of a “meet-up.” When the journalists recorded the scene, senior students became angry, denied the ragging allegations, and demanded deletion of the video. The situation escalated into verbal abuse and physical assault as more journalists and RAKSU leaders arrived. The proctor later intervened and transported some victims to safety.

University authorities, including the proctor and assistant proctor, condemned the incident as a serious breach of discipline and promised an investigation and punishment for those involved.

A case has been filed in Narsingdi against Aminur Rahman Sarkar Dolon, member secretary of the Monohardi upazila BNP, and two others for allegedly assaulting a six-month pregnant woman entrepreneur after she refused to pay extortion money. The case was lodged by the victim, Popy Akter, at the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Narsingdi. The other accused are Abdul Jabbar and Moktar Uddin Talukdar. According to the complaint, the accused had been demanding Tk 100,000 from Popy Akter and attacked her at her beauty parlor on May 7 when she refused.

The complaint states that Dolon physically assaulted her, tore her clothes, and broke her mobile phone, while the others took Tk 52,000 from a drawer and a gold chain from her neck. Locals rushed to the scene after hearing her screams, and the attackers fled after issuing death threats. She was later admitted to Katiadi Upazila Health Complex in Kishoreganj.

Popy Akter claimed that Monohardi police refused to register her complaint, prompting her to file the case in court on June 18. The accused BNP leader could not be reached for comment, while the local police chief denied knowledge of the incident. Narsingdi district BNP’s general secretary and MP Monjur Elahi suggested the case might be politically motivated and called for a fair investigation.