Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that media houses have become business-oriented, which he described as a matter of concern for independent journalism. He made the remarks on Sunday morning at a discussion meeting held at the Press Club to mark the death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.

Fakhrul stated that the media no longer functions as a true media institution but rather as representatives of business houses. He criticized the culture of flattery within the media and urged journalists to stand against it. He expressed hope that journalists would use their freedom responsibly and assured them of his support.

During the event, the BNP secretary general also praised Ziaur Rahman for his contributions to national development, democracy, and Bangladeshi nationalism. He said that if Ziaur Rahman had lived another ten years, Bangladesh would have progressed further, and he described Tarique Rahman as carrying Zia’s legacy forward.

Arif Ullah, a political activist from Eidgaon in Cox’s Bazar, described his long struggle against fascism and the persecution he faced for his writings and activism. Known for his nationalist ideals and anti-fascist poetry, Arif said his outspoken stance led to repeated attacks and legal cases. He was imprisoned, and even his young nephew was detained and tortured by police. In 2018, he was severely injured during election-related violence and later charged under the Digital Security Act and Explosives Act, forcing him into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Arif’s 2012 book, 'Bangladesh Infected by Digital Virus,' was launched by the then Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. He also organized protests, including a symbolic cricket match demanding justice for a missing political leader. After falling ill abroad, Arif returned to Bangladesh in February 2026 to participate in election activities and later sought medical treatment in Dhaka. Despite his sacrifices, he said he holds no party position and remains unacknowledged by his political peers.

Arif expressed his wish to meet the Prime Minister once to present the poem that led to his exile, believing such a meeting would complete his lifelong struggle.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana A.T.M. Masum alleged that the current government is engaging in widespread politicization across all sectors, surpassing even previous administrations. Speaking on Saturday night at the Jamaat’s Chawkbazar-Bangshal Zone Unit conference in Dhaka, he claimed the government avoided holding local elections after the national polls and instead appointed party loyalists as administrators in local institutions. He further accused the authorities of attempting to control banks and insurance companies, including appointing former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khurshid Alam as chairman of Islami Bank.

Masum said the government has failed to restore public confidence after the election, citing rising concerns over corruption, extortion, and violence by ruling party activists. He warned that the government’s disregard for public expectations and silence on border incidents could lead to severe consequences. He urged the authorities to implement the “July Charter” to build a new Bangladesh.

Other Jamaat leaders at the event criticized the government’s economic policies, calling the proposed budget anti-people and urging reforms to support business and employment growth.

Democratic lawmakers in the United States have voiced strong skepticism over a possible agreement between Washington and Tehran, describing it as a form of surrender. California Senator Adam Schiff wrote on social media that while the president claims the war is over, similar promises have been broken before. He added that the new conflict has not reduced costs and has deeply harmed the American people.

Congressman Seth Moulton called the potential deal essentially a surrender document from Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader. He told MS Now that the agreement is disastrous, noting that $100 billion has already been spent and 14 Americans have died in the war. Moulton argued that the deal reopens the same system that existed before the conflict, questioning how it could be seen as a victory.

Trump, in response, criticized former Democratic President Barack Obama’s JCPOA deal, claiming it would have enabled Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. He asserted that his own agreement would instead form a strong barrier against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In May 2026, Russian security forces detained at least eight Muslim clerics and community representatives across several regions, including Karelia, Mordovia, and St. Petersburg. Among those arrested were former mufti Wisam Bardwil and deputy mufti Al-Kheikh Nidal Awadullah Ahmed. The arrests were made on charges ranging from bribery to disobedience, while some media outlets alleged links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. State-aligned commentators and far-right groups welcomed the crackdown, portraying it as a move against extremism.

The arrests coincided with growing controversy over a proposed law restricting group prayers in residential buildings, which Muslim leaders said violated constitutional rights. Ravil Gainutdin, head of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia (DUM), publicly rejected claims that his organization was linked to extremism but avoided direct mention of the detentions. Independent and exiled media suggested the crackdown reflected rising Islamophobia and tightening state control over religious institutions.

Analysts noted that the developments highlight the Kremlin’s complex relationship with Russia’s large Muslim population, where loyalty to state policy has long been a condition for religious tolerance.

Protesters gathered outside Iran’s Foreign Ministry office in Mashhad on Saturday to oppose an upcoming agreement between the United States and Iran, which US President Donald Trump said would be signed on Sunday. Videos shared by the Fars news agency showed women in black chadors waving red and black flags and chanting slogans against Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The demonstrations come as the proposed peace deal, mediated by Pakistan, faces resistance from Iran’s hardline leaders. They argue that the agreement does not serve Iran’s national interests and could weaken Tehran’s influence in the Strait of Hormuz. Critics also claim that Iranian negotiators have made excessive concessions to secure the deal.

Additional footage circulating on social media showed protesters in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran demanding the resignation of Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled to record testimony today in a crimes against humanity case involving enforced disappearances and torture, naming former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others as accused. The hearing will take place before a judicial panel led by Justice Md Golam Murtuza Majumdar. According to the prosecution, an important witness will testify, though their identity has been withheld for security reasons. The witness was originally set to testify on June 3, but the tribunal rescheduled the session following a prosecution request.

The testimony phase in this case began on January 21 this year, and four witnesses, including Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman, have already given statements. Of the 17 accused, 10 are currently detained at the sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment, while seven, including Sheikh Hasina, are absconding. The detained include several former senior officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Bangladesh Army.

The tribunal’s proceedings mark the fifth witness testimony in the case, which continues to draw attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the gravity of the allegations.

Nearly two years after the July uprising and four months into the BNP-led government, the official judiciary website of Bangladesh still displays the names of 131 Awami League–aligned lawyers under the Chattogram section. Many of these lawyers, including party leaders and individuals accused in the July student-public killing case, were removed from their posts on 16 October 2024 when new appointments were made. However, the website continues to list them as public prosecutors and government pleaders.

Current prosecutors and officials have expressed frustration that the site has not been updated, saying it damages their image and causes confusion. They noted that even judges’ names are not regularly revised, despite a government order appointing 346 new officials in Chattogram courts in 2024. Several prosecutors, including Advocate Sarwar Hossain Lavlu and Advocate Rezaul Karim Rony, criticized the delay and called for accountability among responsible officials.

Officials working in Chattogram courts said the website is managed directly by the judiciary, and local staff lack access credentials to make updates, which may explain the persistent outdated information.

US President Donald Trump announced that a deal between the United States and Iran will be signed on Sunday. He stated on social media that once the agreement is signed, the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be opened for all. Pakistan, which has been mediating the talks, also indicated that the deal could be finalized within 24 hours and said preparations for an electronic signing are underway.

However, Iran expressed uncertainty about the timing of the signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that the exact date for signing the memorandum of understanding is not confirmed and that it will not happen on Sunday. This statement contrasts with Trump’s declaration on his Truth Social account.

Trump also referred to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, saying that at an appropriate time, once stability is ensured, the United States would collect and destroy what he called “nuclear dust.”

Former Awami League MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar’s recent virtual speech has reignited political tension in Cumilla following the fall of the Awami League government. Despite being in exile, Bahar’s influence allegedly continues through local networks, including some BNP leaders reportedly managing his business interests. His remarks criticizing BNP and Jamaat leaders have coincided with renewed street activity by the banned Chhatra League, which attempted a rally near Cumilla Sadar South on Sunday. Locals dispersed the gathering and handed 48 participants over to police.

Local sources claim that Bahar’s associates and several former Awami League figures still control parts of Cumilla’s contracting and development sectors. Police confirmed arrests and ongoing operations against those involved in the banned organization’s activities. Meanwhile, BNP leaders have questioned law enforcement’s effectiveness in preventing such rallies.

Separately, the Cumilla District Qawmi Madrasa Organization condemned Bahar’s alleged anti-madrasa comments and demanded his trial for sedition. At a press conference, religious leaders said his remarks insulted the country’s madrasa education system and violated constitutional rights to religious freedom.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that no product prices have increased following the newly announced national budget, despite higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. Speaking at a public rally in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria and during the inauguration of the Patli Canal re-excavation, he said taxes were reduced on 60 essential goods. He emphasized that the government’s policies aim to improve the lives of farmers, women, students, and low-income citizens.

Rahman announced plans to expand the Cox’s Bazar–Chattogram highway from four to six lanes and highlighted the government’s commitment to agricultural development. The re-excavation of Patli Canal is expected to benefit around 8,500 farmers and increase annual agricultural output by about 12,000 tons. He also said that 8,000–10,000 farmers in each district would receive agricultural cards with cash incentives.

The Prime Minister further announced initiatives for free higher education for women, expansion of stipends, and introduction of family cards to support rural households. He said special budget allocations were made for affordable healthcare and medicine supply in rural areas.

US President Donald Trump announced that a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran would be signed electronically during a virtual meeting on Sunday. However, the official schedule released for Trump’s Sunday engagements did not include any mention of a signing ceremony.

Trump described the proposed memorandum as a major diplomatic success, asserting that it would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He claimed that Tehran no longer seeks to pursue nuclear arms. Referring to the deal made under former President Barack Obama, Trump argued that the earlier agreement had made it easier for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, while his new deal would be the opposite and stronger.

The report cited Middle East Eye as its source but did not provide further details about the contents of the proposed agreement or Iran’s response to Trump’s announcement.

The name of former U.S. President Donald Trump has been removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., following a federal court ruling that declared the naming illegal. The removal took place on Saturday after the court’s decision, with workers taking down all signs bearing Trump’s name from the building and its surroundings, according to the center’s executive director Matt Floca.

The Kennedy Center’s board had attempted to block the removal through a last-minute appeal, but the judge rejected the request. The ruling, issued on May 29 by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, stated that only Congress has the authority to rename a national institution. The decision is viewed as a setback for the Trump administration, which had sought to attach Trump’s name to several public facilities after his return to the White House.

Crowds gathered outside the center on Friday night to witness the removal, with many expressing approval. Despite delays caused by thunderstorms, the work was completed under safety precautions, and the center had already deleted Trump’s name from its website earlier in the week.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a proposed agreement with Iran would prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He described the plan as fundamentally different from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed during Barack Obama’s presidency. Trump argued that the earlier deal provided Iran with an easy route to nuclear arms, while his proposed framework would do the opposite.

Trump also said that, unlike the Obama-era agreement, the new proposal would not involve any financial transactions with Iran. According to U.S. officials, the emerging understanding is being shaped as a “compliance-for-opportunity” framework, meaning Tehran would not receive immediate economic benefits. Any future incentives would depend on verified adherence to the deal’s terms.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, indicates that the proposed deal aims to ensure stricter verification and conditional benefits, marking a significant shift in Washington’s approach to Iran’s nuclear program.

Authorities in Palashbari, Gaibandha, have suspended the construction of a massive Ram statue on June 11, 2026, following growing concerns over the motives and funding behind a series of large religious monuments. The project, led by Haridas Chandra Tarani, follows earlier installations of 28-foot Shiva and 53-foot Krishna statues. Local officials and residents have questioned the necessity and source of financing for the 170 million taka initiative, fearing potential threats to communal harmony and national security.

Investigations reveal that Haridas, previously arrested for fraud, had unusual access to high-level government premises and connections with influential figures. Intelligence sources suspect possible foreign links and covert activities under the guise of religious construction. Local administrators have described the project as a potential “Trojan Horse,” suggesting hidden agendas behind its religious appearance.

Senior officials from Rangpur and Gaibandha have briefed the Cabinet and recommended financial and security investigations, including scrutiny of Indian diplomatic activities in the region. Law enforcement agencies are now closely monitoring the situation to prevent communal unrest and assess any risks to state security.