At least 18 people were injured in a clash between supporters of the Awami League and the BNP in Boalia village of Falsi Union under Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah on Saturday morning. The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a dispute over fishing rights in a local pond and long-standing local rivalries. Police and local sources said the conflict first erupted on Friday afternoon when Rakibul Islam, brother of Falsi Union Parishad chairman and upazila Awami League vice-president Advocate Bazlur Rahman, was seriously injured.

Tensions flared again the next morning, leading to violent clashes between supporters of Bazlur Rahman and those of former UP member and BNP leader Mashiur Rahman. Both sides used local weapons, resulting in repeated chases and counter-chases that spread panic in the area. The injured were taken to Harinakundu Upazila Health Complex, Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, and Kushtia Sadar Hospital, with several reported in critical condition.

Police later brought the situation under control and deployed additional forces to prevent further violence. Authorities said the situation is now stable and an investigation is underway.

Member of Parliament Barrister Mahabubul Alam Salehi from Kurigram-3 has accused the government of staging a show over the Teesta Master Plan by bringing in experts and conducting what he called a farce with local residents. Speaking at a human chain event on the banks of the Teesta River in Kaliganj, Lalmonirhat, on Saturday, June 20, he said that while protests occur in Teesta, the budget benefits go to Padma. Salehi urged the government to fulfill the prime minister’s pre-election pledge to implement the Teesta Master Plan and allocate funds from unused ministry budgets.

Kurigram-1 MP Anwarul Islam also criticized the absence of any allocation or outline for the Teesta project in the national budget, questioning the sincerity of those who once led the Teesta movement and now hold ministerial positions. He warned that Rangpur residents might besiege Dhaka if their demands remain unmet. Thousands of locals, including farmers and teachers, participated in the human chain, voicing frustration over water scarcity in the dry season and flooding during monsoon.

Participants called for immediate implementation of the Teesta Master Plan to improve livelihoods and end regional disparities.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party, stated that Bangladesh now faces three major challenges: implementing state reforms, protecting national sovereignty, and ensuring justice for the Awami League. He urged citizens to remain united against corruption, extortion, and partisan politics. Patwari made these remarks on Saturday at a divisional rally of an eleven-party alliance held at the Circuit House grounds in Khulna, which focused on implementing the referendum verdict, easing public suffering, and controlling commodity prices.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also addressed the gathering, calling for a new revolution to uphold Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. He warned that if the government bows to hegemonic forces, the opposition will not remain silent. Rahman urged supporters to prepare for another movement. Upon his arrival in Khulna earlier in the day, he was received by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and local leaders.

The event reflected growing coordination among opposition parties emphasizing reform, sovereignty, and anti-corruption agendas.

State Minister for Railways and Road Transport Habibur Rashid announced that the government will take strict measures against terrorism, extortion, and drug-related activities. He made the statement on Saturday at a check distribution event for the Rural Infrastructure Development Project held at the Abdul Aziz School and College field in Madartek, Sabujbagh, Dhaka.

Rashid emphasized that both he and the government have a clear stance against terrorism, extortion, and drugs, pledging to suppress those involved or supporting such activities. He called for unity to prevent the spread of these crimes and to contribute to building a better Bangladesh. The minister also said the government aims to deliver public services directly to citizens, following the Prime Minister’s directive to stay close to the people.

Earlier, Rashid inaugurated a free health camp organized by Square Pharmaceuticals at Abdul Aziz Bhuiya and Begum Shayesta Nurania Hafizia Madrasa in the same area, attended by local political representatives.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has warned that Israel is facing growing risks as the ongoing war continues. In an interview with Channel 12, he blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s unrealistic policies for the situation, saying the country is paying the price for their decisions.

Ya'alon argued that the government should have begun negotiations with Lebanon as early as October 2024. Instead, by extending the conflict, Israeli soldiers have continued to lose their lives. He claimed that personal and political interests are driving the government’s actions.

The former minister further alleged that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to maintain his far-right coalition. He cautioned that as Israel moves toward elections, if the current situation remains unchanged, the state itself could face existential danger.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Maulana Mamunul Haque has publicly addressed the long-debated 'Room 501' incident at Narayanganj’s Royal Resort. In a detailed Facebook post published on Saturday, he described the April 3, 2021 event as a case of 'state-sponsored mob terrorism' led by police and local activists. Haque said he was staying with his wife Jannat Ara when law enforcement and media personnel forcibly entered their room and broadcast live footage. He claimed both he and his wife confirmed their marital relationship during questioning.

Haque’s post elaborated on his marriage to Jannat Ara, her previous divorce, and his decision to keep the marriage private due to social and legal complications. He accused the then Sheikh Hasina government and intelligence agencies of harassment, character assassination, and spreading false propaganda about a temporary marriage. He asserted that their marriage was legitimate under Islamic law and that he faced political persecution for refusing to cooperate with state agencies.

He concluded by declaring the '501 incident' a failed conspiracy against him and vowed to treat it as a symbol of victory over political oppression.

Two Union Parishad chairmen from Tazumuddin upazila in Bhola were arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police in Dhaka on charges related to sabotage. The detainees are A K M Shahidullah Kiran, organizational secretary of Tazumuddin Upazila Awami League and chairman of Chandpur Union Parishad, and Mehedi Hasan Mishu Hawlader, president of the upazila’s Jubo League and chairman of Sonapur Union Parishad. They were detained late Friday night, June 19, from the Dhaka launch terminal area by the DB police’s Uttara zonal team.

According to a source from the upazila Awami League, both men were returning from a rally in Dhaka organized in support of the Awami League when they were arrested. However, Tazumuddin Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman stated that the station had no official information about the arrests but confirmed that both individuals were accused in a case filed at the station and were currently on bail.

The report did not specify the details of the sabotage allegations or the next legal steps following the arrests.

The BJP-led West Bengal government officially celebrated June 20, 2026, as the first ‘West Bengal Day’. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1947 decision in the Bengal Legislative Assembly that led to the partition of Bengal and the western region’s integration with India. The previous Trinamool Congress government had rejected the idea of celebrating the partition, instead designating the Bengali New Year’s Day as West Bengal Day.

According to the BJP, June 20 symbolizes the creation of West Bengal and its union with India. Party leaders and affiliated historians describe it as the day marking the homeland for Bengali Hindus, crediting Syama Prasad Mookerjee for opposing the United Bengal Plan and ensuring a separate state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the celebrations in Kolkata, which included floral tributes to Mookerjee across districts.

However, some historians, including Harvard professor Sugata Bose, criticized the observance, arguing that the partition was already determined by the Mountbatten Plan and that June 20 should be remembered as a tragic day rather than a day of pride.

The Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has fractured into three separate factions just weeks after the announcement of election results in West Bengal. The party, which had ruled the state for 15 consecutive years, disintegrated within 28 days of its defeat. Most state legislators have formed a new bloc under Ritabrata Banerjee, calling themselves the 'Real Trinamool' and acting as the main opposition in the state assembly. Meanwhile, at least 20 Members of Parliament in Delhi have left to join a new party named NCPI, pledging support to the ruling NDA coalition. The original party remains under Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, now referred to as the 'Kalighat Trinamool'.

Analysts attribute the split to three main factors: the party’s lack of ideological foundation and dependence on populist politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategic involvement in encouraging defections, and internal discontent over Abhishek Banerjee’s corporate-style leadership. The BJP reportedly sought to replace Mamata’s confrontational politics with a more cooperative opposition in the state.

The rapid disintegration marks a major turning point for the 28-year-old party, raising uncertainty about its future political relevance in West Bengal and national politics.

An audio clip circulating on social media allegedly contains a conversation about shooting Chattogram-15 (Lohagara-Satkania) MP Shahjahan Chowdhury in the leg. Despite the spread of the recording, the lawmaker said on Saturday evening that he is not taking the threat seriously. He described the remarks as a joke made by individuals angered by his efforts to stop illegal sand extraction in the area.

In the audio, a voice is heard questioning why the MP would visit Lohagara and suggesting he should be shot in the leg if he does. Another voice is claimed to belong to Shahjahan’s personal assistant, Arman Uddin. The MP stated that he knows Arman personally and that both have opposed illegal sand mining, which may have provoked resentment among certain groups.

Following the audio’s release, local political circles expressed concern, and some social media users called for a full investigation. Local sources noted that disputes over sand extraction in Lohagara’s canals and streams have long caused tension, and the leaked conversation has reignited public debate.

Barrister Md. Abdus Salam, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. The appointment, effective for a three-year term, was announced through a circular signed by Mohammad Alamgir Haque, Assistant Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Saturday.

According to the circular, President Md. Shahabuddin, who also serves as the President of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, made the appointment under the authority granted by Article 10(1) of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Order, 1973 (President’s Order No. 26 of 1973). In a separate notification, a 14-member ad hoc managing board has been formed to ensure smooth administrative operations of the organization. Professor Md. Rafiqul Kabir has been named vice chairman, and Dr. Toufiq Md. Mosharraf Hossain (Rana) has been appointed treasurer.

The managing board will serve for three months from the date of issuance of the notification, as stated in the circular.

Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, emphasized that mastering modern media is essential for achieving political and ideological success for Islamists. Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of the ‘Majlis Media Network (MMN) Orientation Workshop’ at Darul Khilafah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Paltan, he said that media is a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and establishing state and political narratives. The day-long workshop was organized by the party’s central media cell with participation from selected representatives across the country.

Haque called for developing skilled manpower proficient in modern media language, strategy, and technology to effectively promote Islamic ideals. He urged responsible and professional media operations based on facts and objectivity. At the closing session, the party’s Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad said that building a creative and responsible media team is vital to communicate the organization’s ideology and programs to the public.

The workshop included sessions on news gathering, writing, photo and video production, social media management, fact-checking, and organizational communication, with discussions led by media professionals and researchers.

Jamaat-e-Islami organized a protest march in Mirpur’s Rupnagar area on Saturday afternoon, denouncing an attack on the workers and supporters of Dhaka-16 MP Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Baten. The demonstration followed an alleged assault by ruling party activists that disrupted a meeting with constituents. The protest began with a rally led by central Majlis-e-Shura member and Dhaka-16 regional director Md. Nasir Uddin, who accused BNP activists of attempting to destabilize the political environment through violence.

Nasir Uddin urged BNP in Dhaka-16 to abandon negative politics and warned that the public would reject them if they continued such actions. He asserted that Jamaat members would not be silenced by attacks or conspiracies and called on the authorities to end political provocation and return to lawful politics. The rally, presided over by Rupnagar Thana Ameer Abu Hanif, was attended by several local leaders and concluded after marching through major roads in Mirpur-11.

According to reports, the previous day’s attack injured 10 to 15 Jamaat activists, including a ward councilor candidate. MP Abdul Baten blamed Rupnagar police for failing to prevent the incident and demanded the arrest of those responsible.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 20 people into Bangladesh through the Chauka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. The incident occurred late Friday night and became public on Saturday. BGB’s firm stance led to a brief face-off between the two border forces before BSF withdrew and halted the push-in attempt.

According to local sources and BGB officials, the 20 individuals included 11 women, four children, and five men. After the standoff, they were kept on the Indian side of the no-man’s land and later taken back by members of the 119 BSF Battalion from Sukdebpur Camp. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commander of the 59 BGB Battalion, confirmed the incident and said the attempt was successfully resisted.

He added that BGB remains on high alert along the border and has intensified patrols and surveillance to prevent any future push-in attempts.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, called on citizens to be ready for another inevitable revolution to resist neo-fascism. He made the remarks on Saturday, June 20, 2026, while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at Khulna Circuit House ground. He said 200 million people are prepared to defend the country’s independence and sovereignty, warning that submission to hegemonic powers would not be tolerated.

The rally was organized to press demands including implementation of referendum results, alleviation of public suffering, and control of commodity prices. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar presided over the event, with LDP President Col. (Retd.) Dr. Oli Ahmed and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque among the special guests. Dr. Rahman criticized the previous Awami League government for breaking promises on democracy and social justice and accused it of using state forces against citizens.

He cautioned that if parliamentary solutions fail, mass movements from fields across major cities could create a new wave of public awakening that would eventually form the next government.