India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is closely observing developments related to Bangladesh’s Teesta mega project and possible discussions on purchasing Chinese J-10 fighter jets. He made the remarks during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, noting that India’s development cooperation with Bangladesh is based on mutual understanding and regular review.

The statement came as Bangladesh and China agreed to strengthen cooperation on Teesta and other transboundary river management. During his recent visit to China, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tareq Rahman declared the Teesta project a national priority and pledged to implement it at any cost. Chinese officials have stated that their cooperation with Bangladesh is not aimed at any third country. Meanwhile, China’s ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, said discussions are underway to form a new platform for diplomatic and defense cooperation.

According to reports, India remains concerned about the Teesta project’s progress under Chinese involvement, while the long-pending Teesta water-sharing deal between Bangladesh and India remains unresolved due to opposition from West Bengal’s state government.

Iran has organized a large-scale farewell ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking the end of his nearly four-decade-long influence over the country’s politics, religious leadership, and regional geopolitics. The government is presenting the event as a demonstration of national unity, with President Masoud Pezeshkian describing the public turnout as a strong response to terrorism and oppression. The ceremony extends beyond Iran, with related events in Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala attended by senior Shia leaders and high-level delegations from countries including Russia, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Tehran aims to use the event to signal that the foundations of the Islamic Republic remain firm despite the leadership transition. The farewell serves as the first major test for the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, providing a platform to establish his legitimacy. Military officials have stated that the massive participation demonstrates that the late leader’s path continues under new leadership.

Through this nationwide mobilization, Iran seeks to affirm institutional stability, public support, and the continuity of its political and religious unity.

Massive crowds have gathered outside the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran to pay their final respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The complex opened to the public at 6 a.m. local time, but thousands had already lined up since dawn. The ceremony marks the beginning of a week-long mourning period across Iran and Iraq, with state-organized events allowing citizens to honor Khamenei and his deceased family members.

Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack during the early phase of the ongoing war, which also claimed several of his relatives. Iranian authorities expect between 15 and 20 million mourners to gather in Tehran over the next three days. Security has been tightened across the capital, with road closures and airspace restrictions. Foreign dignitaries from Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, China, India, and other nations have attended the ceremonies.

Following the Tehran events, Khamenei’s funeral procession will travel to Qom and later to Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala before his burial in Mashhad, his birthplace, on Friday. His son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Ali Khamenei is not attending due to security threats from Israel.

Thousands of residents gathered at the Chakpara border area in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj after Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel suddenly turned off their floodlights on Friday night. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m., prompting locals to rush to the border and remain there until about 12:30 a.m. amid growing tension.

According to local accounts, the BSF switched off the lights on the Indian side, which led residents to suspect a possible push-in attempt. In response to loud protests and shouting from the Bangladeshi side, the BSF later turned the lights back on. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commanding officer of the 59th BGB Mahananda Battalion, confirmed that locals had gathered out of concern over potential cross-border movement and said that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were maintaining a strict watch at the Chakpara border.

Authorities reported that the situation remained under control, though heightened vigilance continued along the border area.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that journalists have a duty to identify political mistakes and guide leaders toward the right path. He made the remarks on Friday at the Thakurgaon Press Club’s Anisul Haque Auditorium while exchanging greetings with the newly elected executive committee.

Mirza Fakhrul emphasized that politicians are not above criticism and that the media must ensure accountability by presenting the truth to the public. He expressed concern that journalists often face attacks and harassment for publishing factual reports. Referring to government election pledges, he mentioned that two new upazilas have been approved in Thakurgaon and related activities have already begun. He urged responsible leadership and effective management in the new administrative units.

He called on journalists to value work over individuals, highlight good performance, and report fearlessly against irregularities, corruption, and anti-public activities. He expressed hope that the new press club committee would strengthen public trust through objective and responsible journalism.

An anti-drug awareness rally and assembly organized by the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami took place in Banshkhali, Chattogram. The event began on Friday morning at Jaldi Miar Bazar and concluded at Jaldi GS Plaza Market premises. Jamaat MP Maulana Zahirul Islam attended as the chief guest and stated that a network in the past had severely damaged the country through drug trafficking.

During his speech, Zahirul Islam said that a national consensus has now formed against drugs, yaba, and both online and offline gambling. He added that effective legislation on these issues would soon be enacted in the National Parliament. The MP emphasized that around 30 percent of the country’s youth population represents the main force for building the future of Bangladesh and urged them to play an active role in resisting drugs and gambling.

The event concluded with a special prayer for national welfare and the establishment of a drug-free society. Local Jamaat leaders, youth representatives, religious scholars, teachers, lawyers, public representatives, and people from various professions attended the gathering.

Representatives from various countries gathered in Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla to pay their final respects to former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His coffin was placed alongside four others, including a small one containing the body of his 14‑month‑old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, according to CNN.

Iranian state media reported that Khamenei and several family members were killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.–Israel attack. The other coffins beside him contained the remains of his son‑in‑law Mesbah‑ul‑Huda Bagheri, his eldest daughter Sayyeda Bushra Hosseini Khamenei, and his daughter‑in‑law Zahra Haddad Adel, wife of current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. All coffins were draped in Iran’s national flag, and a photograph of the young granddaughter was placed before her small casket.

The ceremony drew international attention as global representatives offered condolences, underscoring the scale of loss within Iran’s most influential political family.

The Bangladesh Army has established a new unit called the Second Bangladesh Battalion, comprising four companies named after the first four caliphs of Islam: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. Two additional companies have been proposed, to be named after Fatima and Ayesha, but these have not yet been approved. The decision has drawn attention from Indian media outlets, which have described the naming as highly sensitive and ideologically significant.

Indian news platforms such as Aajtak Bangla and Navbharat Times have framed the move as a shift from Bangladesh’s earlier practice of naming army units after war heroes of the 1971 Liberation War. Reports suggested that the change could indicate a move away from the country’s secular foundations. Some Indian outlets, including Northeast News, interpreted the naming as a sign of growing Islamisation within the Bangladesh Army.

The reports also noted that several Indian Army units carry names linked to Hindu deities and symbols, such as Bhairav Battalion, Brahmastra Corps, Sudarshan Chakra Corps, and Vajra Corps, reflecting religious and mythological associations within India’s own military structure.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, declared that there will be no compromise on the nation’s independence and sovereignty. Speaking as chief guest at a meeting with journalists at the Netrakona Circuit House conference room on Friday morning, he said no aggression would be tolerated on any part of the country’s territory. He added that, if necessary, citizens would stand alongside the Border Guard Bangladesh to defend the borders.

Addressing the issue of drug control, Dr. Rahman said the government had introduced a bill in Parliament to regulate narcotics, but Jamaat demanded complete eradication instead of mere control. He argued that drugs were destroying society and the younger generation. Referring to a parliamentary discussion, he mentioned that a member alleged the largest drug consignment entered through the home minister’s constituency and called for effective action if the claim proved true.

The meeting was chaired by Netrakona district Jamaat Amir Maulana Sadeq Ahmad Haris and attended by several central and local Jamaat leaders and activists.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed held a meeting in Tehran on Friday morning. The discussion focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation, addressing issues of mutual interest, and enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.

During the visit, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also paid courtesy calls on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with other senior officials. The Bangladeshi delegation is in Iran to attend the funeral and state mourning ceremonies of the late Ayatollah Khamenei.

The delegation, led by Speaker Ahmed, includes several members of parliament and political representatives from Bangladesh. They arrived in Tehran on Thursday and were received at the airport by Iranian Deputy Speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei.

Public anger is reportedly intensifying in Iran following the funeral and memorial events for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Abbas Aslani, a senior research fellow at Tehran’s Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera that the ceremonies could spark demands for revenge against the United States and Israel. He noted that the official slogan for the event, 'We must awaken,' signals that Iran’s policies and continuity remain unbroken despite the assassination.

Aslani described the burial as a deeply emotional moment for ordinary Iranians bidding farewell to their leader, while also serving as a potential rallying point for calls for retaliation. He emphasized Khamenei’s steadfastness in resisting external and international pressure and credited him as the architect of Iran’s defense and resistance systems, as well as a key figure in preserving national independence.

The report suggests that the funeral could become a focal point for renewed unity and heightened anti-Western sentiment within Iran.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has accused the BNP of denying the spirit of the July uprising after coming to power. Speaking as the chief guest at a Jamaat-e-Islami members’ training camp in Dhaka’s Jatrabari zone on Friday, he expressed anger that the government did not organize any state program on the second anniversary of the July mass uprising. He alleged that the government was betraying the blood of the July martyrs and called on it to clarify whether it still believes in the July spirit.

Masum warned that no government that betrays the nation can survive and urged the authorities to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum’s verdict. He said the government would be forced to honor the martyrs by implementing the charter. The event was presided over by Jamaat’s Dhaka South Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdus Sabur Fakir and attended by several central leaders.

Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair also criticized the government, saying it was showing fascist tendencies by not tolerating democratic criticism.

Bangladesh’s Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad emphasized the need for truthful journalism to combat misinformation and rumors, describing them as major obstacles to media freedom. He made the remarks on Friday, July 3, at a workshop in Cox’s Bazar organized by the Department of Information and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The event focused on the role of journalists in implementing the government’s election manifesto and development vision.

Ahmad said the government believes in transparency and accountability and is working to rebuild strong relations with media at all levels after what he described as a difficult 17-year period for the press. Highlighting Cox’s Bazar’s strategic importance due to its border with Myanmar, tourism sector, and regional connectivity prospects, he underscored the need for regular training to enhance local journalists’ professional capacity.

Deputy Chief Information Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam discussed journalists’ responsibilities in preventing rumors, while Hasina Akter addressed the Department of Information’s role in promoting the government’s development agenda. Local media leaders and reporters also shared their experiences and challenges during the open discussion.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and political adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working relentlessly to fulfill the commitments made during the election. Speaking at a prayer and discussion meeting at Dhakeshwari Temple on Friday, organized by Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and indigenous communities to mark the 45th martyrdom anniversary of President Ziaur Rahman, Rizvi said the prime minister is closely monitoring progress in agriculture and health sectors and ensuring no shortfall in implementation.

Rizvi highlighted that individuals earning up to four lakh taka annually are exempt from income tax under the new budget, and the proposed tax on grocery shops has been withdrawn. He also mentioned a reduction of 357 taka in the price of a 12-kg gas cylinder, describing these as measures reflecting the government’s focus on public welfare. He praised the current environment of free expression and accountability, attributing it to a people’s movement that restored voting rights and democratic governance.

Rizvi further called for unity among all religious and ethnic groups, emphasizing shared struggles and rejecting attempts to create divisions within the nation.

An old episode of Channel i’s live talk show ‘To the Point’ has gone viral, featuring former army officer and politician Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam as a guest and Soma Islam as the host. In the video, Soma Islam asks whether Tarique Rahman truly loves Bangladesh or democracy. The video was shared on Thursday by Daily Amar Desh joint editor M Abdullah and Al Jazeera investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer, drawing renewed attention online.

The talk show, recorded before the political shift of 2024, shows Soma Islam questioning Tarique Rahman’s leadership and describing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as facing a “leadership crisis.” She noted that grassroots activists appeared frustrated and lacked proper guidance. Soma Islam also remarked that the party chief was leading from abroad through virtual meetings and repeatedly apologizing to the public, which she said made the party’s future uncertain.

The video shared by M Abdullah and Zulkarnain Saer has reportedly received around 350,000 views, reflecting significant public interest in the resurfaced discussion.