The Bangladesh Parliament has passed the Gambling Prevention Bill 2026, introducing 14 categories of penalties for various forms of gambling, including online and remote betting. The law replaces the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Under the new provisions, involvement in online betting can lead to a maximum of seven years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million taka, or both. The bill was presented by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and passed by voice vote on Tuesday.

During the discussion, opposition and independent lawmakers expressed both support and concern. Independent MP Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal urged stricter measures, citing the growing attraction of online gambling among children. MP Akhtar Hossain warned that the bill’s provisions allowing police to block websites and seize materials without court approval could threaten civil rights. Home Minister Ahmed defended the clause, saying immediate action is necessary to prevent evidence from being destroyed.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said his party supported the bill but hoped the government would later consider their proposed amendments to prevent misuse and protect human rights.

A teacher’s retirement farewell ceremony at Jagannathpur Government Primary School in Ishwardi, Pabna, was disrupted on Tuesday when followers of district BNP convener Habibur Rahman Habib allegedly attacked the venue. The assault reportedly occurred because Habib was not invited as a guest. Witnesses said 12 to 15 people armed with sticks vandalized the stage, chairs, tables, and banners, and destroyed prepared food, causing an estimated loss of Tk 50,000.

The event had been organized by the school to honor acting head teacher Md Jahurul Islam, with invitations extended to former district BNP president and ex-MP Sirajul Islam Sardar and several education officials. School committee president Md Fazlur Rahman and invited guest Humayun Kabir Dulal Sardar condemned the attack, calling it politically motivated and disgraceful. Upazila Education Officer Shahina Akter also denounced the incident, saying such violence at an educational institution is unacceptable.

Local sources said internal rifts within the BNP in Ishwardi-Atgharia have intensified since the recent national election, leading to repeated clashes between rival factions.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament that if the foreign ministry’s budget were reduced to one taka, Bangladesh would have to close its embassies abroad and lower the national flag. He made the remark on Tuesday during the approval process of the 2026–27 fiscal year budget while responding to cut motions on the ministry’s allocation. The minister said such a drastic cut would halt services for expatriates and prevent Bangladesh from paying its United Nations dues, risking suspension of membership.

Earlier, he proposed an allocation of Tk 1,844.43 crore for the ministry. The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, heard 26 lawmakers submit cut motions. Several MPs discussed foreign policy issues, including the Teesta project, migrant worker challenges in the Middle East, and weaknesses in Rohingya repatriation efforts.

Khalilur emphasized that the proposed budget prioritizes national sovereignty, economic growth, and strategic diplomacy. He noted that most spending supports Bangladesh’s missions abroad and announced new missions in Johor Bahru, Detroit, Buenos Aires, and Dublin. He also confirmed allocations for the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice and for operational costs of existing missions.

A high-level parliamentary delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will travel to Iran to attend the funeral, farewell, and state ceremonies of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei. The delegation, invited by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on July 3 and remain in Iran until July 9. The team will be led by Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP, with members Md. Nurul Amin MP, Dr. Md. Keramat Ali MP, and Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman.

According to party sources, the delegation aims to express deep condolences, sympathy, and solidarity with the government and people of Iran. During the visit, they are expected to meet senior Iranian leaders and relevant government officials as part of official programs. Jamaat-e-Islami expressed gratitude to the Iranian government for the invitation and assistance in facilitating the visit.

The party believes the visit will further strengthen the longstanding fraternal ties, mutual understanding, and bilateral cooperation between the peoples of Bangladesh and Iran.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi sharply criticized the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh over alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a rally in Bijnor on Monday, Owaisi claimed that if a Muslim had been part of the Ram Temple Trust, that person would have been killed in an 'encounter' and their house demolished. He alleged that the accused in the current case were moving freely and that law enforcement had failed to take timely or strict action.

The controversy stems from allegations that large sums of money and valuable gifts donated by devotees to the Ram Temple Trust were misappropriated. The temple, built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque, has long been a symbol of religious and political tension in India. Reports indicate that police have begun an investigation and made several arrests, while the issue has sparked political debate ahead of upcoming state elections.

Owaisi’s remarks drew loud applause from supporters at the rally, reflecting the charged political and communal atmosphere surrounding the case.

The Appellate Division has declared BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury’s candidacy for the Chattogram-4 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election invalid. Following the verdict delivered on Tuesday, June 30, Senior Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud told reporters that the Election Commission (EC) will determine its next steps only after receiving the full written judgment from the court.

He explained that the EC will act according to the court’s directive, whether it involves holding a re-election or declaring the runner-up as the winner. The commission will review the matter upon receiving the full or advance copy of the verdict but will not seek it proactively since it is not a party to the case. The copy will reach the EC through the concerned parties or the court itself.

Earlier, despite allegations of loan default, Aslam Chowdhury’s nomination had been upheld by the EC on January 18. Subsequent legal challenges led to the Appellate Division’s final ruling on June 30, invalidating his candidacy and leaving the election outcome for Chattogram-4 pending further decision.

Ali Akbar Dareini, a researcher at Iran’s Center for Strategic Studies, has accused the United States of not faithfully implementing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he stated that the MoU required the U.S. to release Iran’s frozen assets without any conditions, but Washington has not fulfilled that obligation.

Dareini explained that the MoU was designed to be implemented in two phases: the first aimed at building mutual trust and the second focused on advancing toward a final agreement. He alleged that the U.S. had already failed to meet its responsibilities under the MoU, potentially hindering future negotiations. According to him, the first article of the MoU included a U.S. commitment to halt all military operations on behalf of itself and Israel, but the U.S. later made a separate deal with Israel and Lebanon, contradicting the MoU.

Dareini further claimed that the U.S. continues to hold Iran’s funds illegally as leverage. The report noted that the U.S. has not yet issued any response to these allegations.

Supporters of BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury blocked the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway on Tuesday afternoon in protest against the cancellation of his nomination for the Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency. The blockade took place at several points in Sitakunda, where protesters felled large trees across the road, causing a severe traffic jam stretching about 40 kilometers. Thousands of passengers were stranded for hours as hundreds of vehicles became stuck on both sides of the highway.

Eyewitnesses reported that around 2:30 p.m., demonstrators used electric saws to cut roadside trees at Chhoto Darogarhat and placed the trunks across the highway. Similar blockades were later set up in Barabkunda and Kumira unions, where some truck drivers were forced to park their vehicles haphazardly on the road. The disruption completely halted traffic in both directions.

According to the officer-in-charge of Bar Aulia Highway Police Station, law enforcement personnel were deployed to the scene and were working to remove the blockades and restore normal traffic flow.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has declared that the International Crimes Tribunal’s sentence against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) president Hasanul Haq Inu does not meet the standards of justice. In a statement issued Tuesday night, the NCP said the tribunal sentenced Inu to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The party argued that the punishment was inadequate given the proven charges, the suffering of victims, and the sacrifices of those killed and injured.

The NCP statement, signed by office cell member Sadia Farzana Dina, noted that three of eight charges against Inu were proven, including directing arrests and torture of protesters, political persecution, and conspiracy with Sheikh Hasina. The party criticized the tribunal for allowing the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in only ten years of imprisonment. It urged the state to appeal for a more exemplary punishment.

The NCP also expressed concern over delays in trials related to the July massacre and enforced disappearances, calling for timely investigations, adequate staffing, and improved efficiency in the prosecution and investigation agencies.

Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker and freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will travel to Iran to attend the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is scheduled to depart from Dhaka on July 2 to represent the Bangladesh government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the state ceremony in Tehran.

According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the official mourning events for Ayatollah Khamenei will take place from July 4 to 9 across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. Several other members of the Bangladesh Parliament are also expected to attend the funeral on their own initiative. Iranian authorities anticipate that around 20 million people will gather for the funeral and burial ceremonies.

The formal proceedings are set to begin in Tehran and Qom on July 4, with the burial scheduled for July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace in northeastern Iran, according to Mehr News Agency reports cited in the source.

The United Kingdom has announced a new policy requiring recognized asylum seekers to repay about £10,000, equivalent to roughly 1.63 million Bangladeshi taka, as part of the cost of state-provided accommodation and support. Those who fail to make the payment will not be eligible to apply for permanent residency. The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the British Parliament on Tuesday and is part of the new Immigration and Asylum Act. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measure aims to reduce the government’s annual £4 billion spending on asylum support.

Officials compared the repayment model to a student loan system, but human rights and refugee aid groups have strongly criticized it, calling it an unfair tax on people fleeing war, persecution, and famine. Experts noted that the government’s revenue from the scheme would be limited, as fewer than 15 percent of refugees earn more than £20,000 annually even five years after receiving asylum.

The Home Office stated that income thresholds and repayment details will be set later through secondary legislation. The bill also includes provisions to strengthen age assessments and revise modern slavery frameworks.

An eleven-party alliance including Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a 36-day nationwide campaign beginning Wednesday to intensify pressure on the government to implement the referendum verdict and the July Charter. The alliance’s programs will include rallies, seminars, human chains, and prayer gatherings across districts and cities, culminating on August 5. Jamaat-e-Islami and other partners such as the National Citizens Party (NCP) will also conduct separate but parallel activities.

According to Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, the alliance’s main objective is to enforce the July Charter and the referendum’s outcome. The programs were finalized after a liaison committee meeting on June 25, with detailed schedules including district-level seminars, women’s discussions, exhibitions, and remembrance events for July Revolution martyrs. The NCP’s 36-day initiative, titled “July Awakening to Build the Nation,” will feature cultural and social events nationwide and abroad.

The campaign coincides with the second anniversary of the July Revolution, aiming to revive its spirit, demand justice for victims, and compel the government to act on the referendum’s mandate.

South Korea’s National Assembly has approved Han Seong-sook as the country’s new prime minister. The appointment was formally passed in a vote held on June 30, marking a significant leadership change under President Lee Jae-myung’s administration.

Han Seong-sook is widely recognized for her extensive experience in the technology and business sectors. She previously served as the chief executive officer of Naver, one of South Korea’s leading internet-based companies. Before assuming the prime minister’s role, she worked as the minister for small and medium enterprises, where she implemented initiatives to support industrial development, innovation, and small entrepreneurs.

Analysts believe Han’s background in technology and corporate management could positively influence South Korea’s economy, industrial policy, and innovation-driven growth. Her appointment is viewed as a strategic step toward accelerating the nation’s technology-based economic expansion.

The United States Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, striking down an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The ruling confirms that every person born on US soil retains the constitutional right to citizenship. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that citizenship is the 'right to have all rights' and reaffirmed that the framers of the 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship for all individuals born freely within the country.

Birthright citizenship has been a core constitutional principle in the United States for nearly 160 years, established under the 14th Amendment. It ensures that almost everyone born in the country automatically becomes a US citizen. The Supreme Court’s decision is being viewed as a reaffirmation of this long-standing constitutional commitment.

According to the ruling, the decision could reduce the number of undocumented residents in the coming decades, as Trump’s order would have denied citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented immigrant parents, potentially increasing the undocumented population.

The High Court has cancelled the nomination of BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury for the Chattogram-4 constituency, prompting renewed debate in the National Parliament over the issue of loan defaulters. Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md. Nazibur Rahman raised the matter on a point of order, questioning whether it could now be said that the disqualified candidate was indeed a loan defaulter. The discussion followed earlier controversy on June 18 when independent MP Rumin Farhana commented about loan defaulters in Parliament.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded that the issue did not fall under a point of order and clarified that the Election Commission would decide on any member’s eligibility based on the court’s directive. He added that Parliament must wait for the Commission’s final decision before making any conclusive remarks.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed later stated that there were no loan defaulters among current MPs, though some might have debts. He emphasized that Aslam Chowdhury was not a sitting MP, as his candidacy had been challenged and resolved by the court, making the matter final.