The Water Development Board (WDB) in Comilla’s Titas upazila has reportedly suspended an eviction drive at Asmania Bazar, where land acquired for a flood protection embankment in 1996 was later occupied by shops and houses. The operation, scheduled for June 9, 2026, aimed to remove about 122 illegal structures but was halted without prior notice, sparking local anger and speculation.

Local residents alleged that around 3 million taka was collected to stop the eviction, with claims of 25,000 taka taken per shop, though no credible evidence was found. Narandia Union Parishad chairman and local Awami League president Arifuzzaman Khoka denied any financial dealings, saying the delay was for humanitarian reasons following requests from traders and representatives. WDB executive engineer Md. Rashed Shahriar stated the suspension was temporary and made at the request of local representatives and the UNO, while the UNO denied involvement.

The WDB had earlier issued notices in January 2025 for voluntary removal of illegal structures and marked the sites on June 7. Locals are now demanding a transparent investigation and resumption of the eviction drive.

A high-level delegation from the European Union met with Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, to discuss the implementation of key reforms approved in the recent referendum. The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at the NCP central office in Banglamotor, with EU Ambassador Michael Miller leading the delegation and Nahid Islam heading the NCP team.

According to the NCP, the discussion reviewed the EU Election Observation Team’s guidance to ensure transparent and credible elections. Both sides also exchanged views on institutional frameworks ahead of the upcoming local government elections. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed their commitment to continuing dialogue and strengthening constructive international cooperation.

Following the meeting, NCP leaders guided the EU delegation to view graffiti commemorating the historic July Revolution, reflecting the hopes and spirit of youth during that period.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Tuesday that Islami Bank, Mirza Fakhrul Islam, and Jamaat-e-Islami should not be equated with Islam, warning against using religion to justify all actions. He made the remarks while addressing issues surrounding Islami Bank and its recent controversies.

Ahmed demanded investigations into the dismissal of employees from Islami Bank, urging reinstatement of those unfairly terminated and review of politically motivated appointments. He stated that under the Bank Company Act, Bangladesh Bank has the authority to remove the bank’s chairman and board of directors, and any objections should be addressed through legal amendments.

The minister alleged that a group was secretly instigating unrest in the bank by posing as customers. He assured Parliament that legitimate shareholders’ shares would be properly transferred and that borrowers, including Nabil Group, who failed to repay loans, would face investigation. He also confirmed that the dismissal of around 9,000 employees in violation of regulations would be examined.

In Karnataka, demands for appointing at least five Muslim ministers in the state cabinet have intensified, sparking protests across several regions. The issue has become a new political challenge for the ruling Congress, as Muslim community leaders argue that nearly 87 percent of Muslim voters supported the party in the last assembly election and that this support should be reflected in cabinet representation.

The demand follows earlier tensions between sections of the Muslim community and Congress leadership after the Davanagere by-election, when the party chose a candidate from the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s family instead of a Muslim nominee. Since then, Muslim leaders have sought greater influence in party decisions and protested disciplinary actions against Muslim politicians, viewing them as attempts to marginalize their leadership.

Fresh demonstrations began on Friday, with protesters insisting that five cabinet positions be reserved for Muslim representatives, including one for B.Z. Zameer Ahmed. Congress leaders acknowledged the community’s sentiments but said final decisions on cabinet expansion rest with the party high command.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has called for an investigation into the dismissal of employees from Islami Bank, demanding that all those who were wrongfully terminated be reinstated. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, he also urged a review of politically motivated appointments to assess their legitimacy under existing regulations.

Salahuddin stated that Islami Bank should not be equated with Islam or any political entity, emphasizing that religious sentiment should not be misused in institutional matters. He noted that under the Bank Companies Act, Bangladesh Bank has the authority to remove the chairman and board of directors if necessary. He further alleged that a group was instigating unrest within the bank by posing as customers to create disorder.

The minister assured Parliament that legitimate shareholders’ interests would be protected and that proper investigations would be conducted into loan defaulters, including Nabil Group. He added that the previous termination of around 9,000 employees without due process would also be brought under investigation.

An eleven-party alliance in Bangladesh, including Jamaat-e-Islami, has expressed deep concern over border killings by India, push-in incidents, deteriorating law and order, and rising commodity prices. The alliance decided to announce a program addressing these issues on Wednesday. The decision was made at a liaison committee meeting held Tuesday afternoon at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka.

During the meeting, the alliance demanded immediate and effective government action to stop push-in and border killings. It also called for strengthened border security and urged the government to adopt a foreign policy based on equality and sovereignty, rejecting what it described as a submissive approach. The alliance emphasized the need to protect Bangladesh’s national interests and dignity in bilateral relations.

A press briefing has been scheduled for Wednesday at noon at Jamaat’s central office to announce the alliance’s program. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the liaison committee, with representatives from several allied parties in attendance.

Teachers from independent Ebtedayee madrasas continued their hunger strike for the third consecutive day on Tuesday in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding inclusion in the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system and release of pending salaries. Despite the extreme heat, six teachers fell ill due to dehydration and received primary medical treatment at the protest site. The hunger strike began on Sunday morning under the leadership of the Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers’ Welfare Committee.

Committee member secretary Hafez Maulana Mufti Abdul Hannan Hossain said the teachers have long been protesting discrimination but have yet to receive any government response. The teachers claim that although they applied for MPO inclusion between July 3 and 10 last year, no madrasa has been approved after ten months. They also allege that newly appointed teachers have not received salaries since January 2026, affecting about 1,690 teachers.

The protesters added that despite decades of recognition under the 1978 ordinance and 1984 madrasa board approval, no independent Ebtedayee madrasa has been nationalized or brought under MPO. Previous attempts to meet the Prime Minister and Education Minister were blocked by police, and promised meetings have not yet occurred.

A delegation from the British High Commission in Dhaka met with Md. Ismail Jabiuallah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Affairs, at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The meeting was led by Neil Gandhi and included Shahnaz Karim and Sarah L. Taylor, the Asia Foundation’s BSEA Team Leader. The adviser expressed gratitude to the UK government and people for considering Bangladesh a major development partner.

During the meeting, Shahnaz Karim inquired about the current state, effectiveness, and challenges of Bangladesh’s bureaucracy. The adviser responded that political influence and corruption had expanded under the previous Awami League government, undermining administrative efficiency and integrity. He added that the current government is working to build a merit-based administration.

The British side expressed interest in providing technical assistance for implementing and monitoring the government’s election manifesto. The adviser proposed collaboration in education, job creation, and capacity building for civil servants, including training modeled on the UK’s “Managing at the Top (MATT)” program. The British delegation responded positively to these proposals.

National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has alleged that the administrators of Dhaka’s two city corporations are conducting election campaigns using money from the government treasury. He made the allegation on Tuesday afternoon after a tree distribution program at Hossain Ali High School in Nakhalpara, Dhaka.

Asif Mahmud stated that the NCP has submitted a five-point demand, emphasizing that the administrators should not contest elections while in office. He accused them of polluting the city with numerous posters and mismanaging urban spaces by allowing cattle markets in residential areas and even near metro stations. According to him, such actions demonstrate their unfitness to serve as mayors.

The former adviser further claimed that processions by the Awami League are taking place in various areas, describing this as a failure of the Home Minister and his ministry, since all activities of the Awami League are currently banned.

The Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the management of the daily Janakantha, demanding the withdrawal of termination letters issued to journalists, officers, and employees, and the payment of all outstanding salaries and benefits. The demand was made during a sit-in protest held in front of the Janakantha building on Tuesday, organized by the newspaper’s staff unity council.

Speakers at the event, including DUJ acting general secretary Didarul Alam and senior vice president Rafique Muhammad, urged the Janakantha authorities to resolve the crisis through dialogue. They warned that the management would be held responsible for any unwanted situation if the issue remained unresolved. Participants alleged that 140 long-serving employees had been dismissed without following legal procedures or declaring a layoff, and that nearly 90 percent of those affected had worked at the paper for over three decades.

The protest concluded with a procession around nearby streets. Organizers announced that if the demands were not met within 72 hours, a larger movement would be launched to restore normal operations and protect workers’ rights.

Iran’s central committee formed in memory of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that his funeral and burial ceremonies will be held after the first ten days of Muharram. The committee said preparations are underway to honor the late leader and his family members with dignity, ensuring all necessary arrangements for the farewell, funeral, and burial events.

The statement warned against unverified information circulating in local and international media and on social platforms regarding the timing and details of the ceremonies, calling such reports baseless and misleading. The committee explained that the decision to hold the ceremonies after Ashura reflects Khamenei’s deep respect for Imam Hussein’s mourning period and aims to honor religious observances across Iran and the Muslim world.

Authorities and civic organizations are coordinating to finalize schedules and logistics to facilitate public participation. The detailed program will be officially announced later. According to earlier reports, Khamenei and several senior officials were killed in a U.S.-Israeli military attack on February 28.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) reported that India’s Border Security Force (BSF) attempted to push more than a hundred people into Bangladesh through at least eight separate points along the Jamalpur-Kurigram border in one night. The incident occurred late Monday, and BGB said the coordinated attempts were thwarted due to strict vigilance by its members and local residents. The information was released in a press statement by the Jamalpur Battalion (35 BGB) on Tuesday afternoon.

According to BGB, the push-in attempts took place near several border pillars, including 1054, 1062, 1067, 1069, 1073, 1075, 1078, and 1087. Suspicious movement was detected when trucks brought people close to the border and lights were turned off on the Indian side. BGB personnel immediately strengthened patrols, and local villagers joined in guarding the area, preventing the attempts from succeeding.

BGB stated that surveillance has since been intensified across the border region, with continuous patrols and local cooperation to prevent any illegal entry. The battalion commander confirmed that the border situation remains under control and that vigilance will continue.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned alleged attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to forcibly push Indian citizens into Bangladesh through several border points. In a statement issued on Tuesday, he described the actions as illegal, unjust, and contrary to diplomatic norms. He accused the Indian government of violating its constitution, international law, and UN human rights principles through such push-in efforts, noting that international rights groups had expressed concern but India had not responded.

According to the statement, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt to push 11 Indian nationals—including a pregnant woman and a disabled child—through the Mashalgaon border in Thakurgaon’s Haripur upazila. Similar attempts were reported in Panchagarh, Kurigram, Meherpur, Sherpur, and other districts, allegedly involving around 320 Indian citizens. Porwar said repeated efforts failed due to vigilance by BGB, Ansar-VDP, and local residents.

He urged the Bangladesh government to take necessary diplomatic measures against what he termed Indian aggressive activities and called for maintaining friendly and neighborly relations between the two countries.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and local residents prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 18 people into Bangladesh through the Kumarchar area of Dewanganj’s Bagarchar border in Jamalpur late Monday night. The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions along several border points where similar attempts have been reported in recent days.

According to Jamalpur 35 BGB and local sources, BSF allegedly turned off searchlights before trying to push the group across the border. The attempt failed due to the firm stance of BGB and local residents, who joined forces to guard the area. The situation caused temporary panic in the region. A similar attempt involving eight people was reportedly foiled the previous night at the Baraibari border.

BGB has intensified surveillance along the 72-kilometer Jamalpur border, deploying members from 15 border outposts for continuous patrols. Local representatives and community leaders are also assisting BGB in maintaining heightened alert to prevent illegal crossings.

A high-level delegation from the European Union held a meeting with Nahid Islam, convener of the NCP and opposition chief whip, at the party’s central office on Tuesday. The delegation was led by EU Ambassador Michael Miller. Discussions focused on the implementation of key reforms approved in the recent referendum and the review of EU Election Observation Team guidelines to ensure transparent and credible elections. Both sides also exchanged views on institutional frameworks ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continuing dialogue and strengthening constructive international cooperation. Following the discussions, NCP leaders guided the EU delegation to view the graffiti commemorating the historic July Revolution, which reflected the aspirations and spirit of the youth during that period.

The meeting was attended by NCP International Affairs Secretary Alauddin Mohammad and Joint Convener Monira Sharmin, while the EU delegation included Deputy Head of Delegation Baiba Zarina and First Secretary (Political) Sebastian Rieger Braun.