A BNP leader was allegedly assaulted by Jubo Dal activists in Narayanganj on Thursday afternoon. The victim, Akil Uddin Bhuiyan, a former joint convener of Siddhirganj Thana BNP, was reportedly attacked in the presence of district Jubo Dal member secretary Mashiur Rahman Roni. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. at the Narayanganj District Council premises during an event marking the 45th death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.

According to eyewitnesses, a verbal altercation broke out between Bhuiyan and Jubo Dal activists over standing positions during the inauguration ceremony. Although senior leaders initially calmed the situation, tensions later escalated into a physical attack. Bhuiyan sustained injuries, including a split lip and torn clothing. District Council Administrator Professor Mamun Mahmud condemned the assault, stating that video footage would be reviewed to identify the attackers and that no violent behavior would be tolerated within the BNP.

Bhuiyan claimed that despite resolving an earlier argument with Roni, the latter’s followers attacked him afterward. Attempts to contact Roni for comment were unsuccessful.

A views exchange meeting was held at the Jamiat party office in Sunamganj between the party’s Secretary General Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi and local leaders. The meeting took place on Thursday at 11 a.m., presided over by district president Maulana Tafazzul Haque Aziz and conducted by general secretary Maulana Taiyyibur Rahman Chowdhury. Afendi emphasized the growing need for ideal-based politics in the current national context and said the party had contested the last election in understanding with the BNP. He alleged that Jamiat faced defeat due to opposition from domestic and foreign forces.

He called on Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam to play a more organized and effective role in establishing Islamic values, justice, and a humane society. District president Tafazzul Haque Aziz reaffirmed the district unit’s commitment to party ideals and said efforts were underway to strengthen and mobilize the organization across all levels. He added that under central leadership guidance, every district unit would be made more active and people-oriented.

Several district and metropolitan Jamiat leaders attended the meeting, including vice presidents, secretaries, and youth and student representatives.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to remain in power for more than one year. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Gandhi alleged that the administrative and institutional structures supporting the government are weakening from within. He also warned that Modi might resort to emergency-like measures to retain political control as dissatisfaction grows inside key institutions.

Gandhi stated that information about Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and their families is being shared with him by insiders. He further alleged that even officials from the Election Commission and intelligence agencies are providing him with updates. The Congress leader expressed concern about India’s economic situation, claiming that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has dismantled safeguards needed to withstand global instability.

The report noted that Gandhi did not present evidence to support his claims, and there was no immediate response from the central government or the BJP. Questions have also been raised about the legality and credibility of the alleged internal information leaks.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat has dismissed as false the allegations that valuables were stolen from 150 pieces of luggage belonging to returning Hajj pilgrims at Dhaka airport. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat’s PID conference room, he said an investigation found no evidence of theft or irregularities. The allegations had surfaced on social media, prompting immediate instructions from the Prime Minister to verify the claims.

Millat stated that CCTV footage showed no mishandling of luggage, and the entire offloading and distribution process was completed within an hour. He emphasized that the ministry called the press briefing to clarify misinformation spread online and to ensure factual reporting. The minister added that the aviation authority submitted a report and video evidence confirming that no theft occurred.

He further noted that over 78,000 pilgrims traveled smoothly this year, with no major issues reported. The government expressed satisfaction with the successful management of Hajj operations and apologized for any minor inconveniences faced by returning pilgrims.

BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party aims to move forward following the path shown by late President Ziaur Rahman. He made the remarks on Thursday at a discussion and newspaper exhibition titled “Ziaur Rahman’s Independent and Neutral Diplomacy in the Current Context,” organized by the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) at its auditorium to mark the 45th anniversary of Ziaur Rahman’s death. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan presided over the event.

Mirza Fakhrul stated that Ziaur Rahman rebuilt the nation during a time of crisis by uniting political forces and promoting national unity. He emphasized that Ziaur Rahman wanted Bangladesh to be self-reliant and not dependent on any other country, which made him popular among ordinary citizens. Fakhrul added that current BNP leadership under Tarique Rahman reflects Ziaur Rahman’s ideals.

Speakers including economist Dr. Mushtaq Khan and journalist Abu Rushd discussed Ziaur Rahman’s political philosophy, foreign policy, and contributions to state-building during the event.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accused the United States and Israel of conspiring to sow internal division in Iran after failing in military confrontations. In a written message delivered on Thursday to mark the 37th death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei urged national unity to thwart what he described as enemy plots. The commemoration event took place at Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum in southern Tehran, attended by millions of people.

Khamenei said the US-led “oppressive system” cannot tolerate a strong and independent Iran, describing Israel as a “fabricated base” of that system. He claimed that the enemies, humiliated by military failures, are now waging a hybrid war using doubt, despair, fear, and division as their main tools. He warned that any speech or action spreading frustration or confusion among the public indirectly serves enemy objectives.

The message, reported by Al Jazeera, emphasized unity as essential to counter external interference and maintain Iran’s internal stability.

US Senator Chris Van Hollen has called for the release of a 20-year-old American citizen, Sama Safi, who was detained by Israeli forces from Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank. According to Van Hollen, Israeli security personnel entered Safi’s home around 3 a.m. and took her away without explanation, despite her informing them of her US citizenship.

In a video message posted on X, Van Hollen criticized the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration for their treatment of US citizens while receiving American taxpayer funding. He also alleged that previous incidents involving the deaths of US citizens at the hands of Israeli settlers and soldiers had gone without accountability.

Human rights organizations described the arrests of Palestinian students as part of an intimidation campaign aimed at pressuring Palestinian communities. Israeli authorities have not yet issued any response to the senator’s statement or the reported detentions.

A major controversy has erupted across India following the release of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam results on May 13, 2026. Students have alleged widespread irregularities and mismanagement linked to the board’s new digital evaluation system, which was hastily introduced for over 17 million candidates. The resulting errors and technical failures have triggered intense anger toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, with growing calls for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

The CBSE had implemented an on-screen marking system this year, outsourcing the process to Hyderabad-based company Koempt Edu Tech, a rebranded firm with a controversial past. Students and teachers have exposed errors such as mismatched answer scripts, blurred scans, and security flaws that allowed unauthorized access to exam data. Several students used social media to reveal these issues, forcing CBSE to acknowledge mistakes and revise some results.

In response to mounting criticism, the government transferred the CBSE chairman and secretary, but opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal condemned the move as an attempt to shield the education minister. Many students remain unable to apply for re-evaluation due to the board’s website being offline, deepening frustration nationwide.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman will visit Russia from June 7 to 9 for a three-day official trip, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. The visit follows his election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which will begin on September 8. He will serve a one-year term in that position.

The Russian statement welcomed Rahman’s stated priorities of promoting the interests of the global South and East, accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, improving the effectiveness of the General Assembly, and strengthening the UN’s role as a central coordinating body in global affairs. Moscow expressed its commitment to constructive and productive cooperation with the newly elected president.

The visit is expected to reinforce diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and Russia, particularly in the context of Rahman’s upcoming leadership role at the United Nations.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a meme on his social media platform Truth Social portraying himself as British secret agent James Bond. In another post on Tuesday, he described himself as “The Greatest Attraction.” The meme used an archival photo of a young Trump standing before a mirror with the caption “Trump 007.” The White House had earlier humorously nominated Trump for the Bond role after Amazon MGM, owned by his friend Jeff Bezos, announced a casting call to replace actor Daniel Craig.

Speculation continues over who will play the next James Bond, with actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, and Callum Turner reportedly under discussion. Daniel Craig last portrayed the character in the 2021 film “No Time to Die.”

Trump also shared a photo of himself with late pop star Whitney Houston and praised Republican candidates who won Tuesday’s state elections, though he remained silent on the Iowa governor race where his preferred candidate Randy Feenstra lost to businessman Jack Lann in the Republican primary.

UNDP Bangladesh’s Resident Representative, Stefan Liller, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. The information was confirmed to journalists by the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Zahidul Islam Rony.

The courtesy meeting reflected ongoing engagement between the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report did not include details of the discussion or any specific agenda items addressed during the meeting.

No further information was provided regarding outcomes or future cooperation plans between the Prime Minister’s Office and UNDP Bangladesh.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at simplifying the process of dismissing senior federal officials. The order, issued on Wednesday as part of a broader civil service reform, could affect around 8,000 of the highest-paid government employees, each earning up to $200,000 annually. The directive, jointly released by the White House and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), removes job protections for officials deemed to have significant influence over policy decisions.

Scott Cooper, director of the OPM, stated that only those willing and able to implement the administration’s policy priorities should remain in their roles. He added that agencies would now have the authority to dismiss employees who refuse to carry out lawful directives due to personal political beliefs.

The order follows a year after billionaire Elon Musk stepped down from overseeing government spending and workforce reduction efforts. It underscores Trump’s continued determination to control and, if necessary, remove career officials he believes obstruct his political agenda. Although earlier estimates suggested up to 50,000 officials might be affected, the current order covers far fewer. Federal labor unions had already filed lawsuits in January to block the policy before its finalization.

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two local factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Nandail upazila of Mymensingh on Thursday morning. The violence erupted at Kharua Bazar over a long-standing land dispute between BNP leaders Shawkat Ali and Abdur Rouf. Police fired eight rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, and the upazila administration later imposed Section 144 in the area to prevent further unrest.

According to local sources, the conflict stems from a 30-year dispute over two percent of land currently under court trial. Tensions escalated when Shawkat Ali attempted to build a house on the disputed land, which Abdur Rouf’s group demolished. The following day, supporters from both sides engaged in a violent confrontation using sticks and bricks, turning the market area into a battleground. Several shops were vandalized, and both groups accused each other of attacks and looting.

Police and local officials confirmed that the situation is now under control, though no case has been filed yet. The Section 144 order will remain effective until further notice.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a protest in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon opposing the government's decision to raise fuel and electricity prices. The demonstration began at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram, where the party described the move as anti-people and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the increased rates.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had earlier announced the new electricity prices at a press conference. The wholesale electricity rate was raised by an average of 19.85 percent, the transmission charge by 23.96 percent, and the retail rate by 16.68 percent. The new prices are set to take effect from June.

Protesters criticized the decision as hasty and urged the government to control the rising cost of essential commodities along with reversing the price hike.

A sedition case has been filed against former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her comments regarding the murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Bangladesh’s Inquilab Mancha. The complaint was lodged by lawyer Rinku Chatterjee Singh at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station under multiple non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to sovereignty, harmony, and public order.

The complaint alleges that Banerjee’s remarks questioned the neutrality of India’s Election Commission and central forces, potentially spreading confusion and hostility among the public. It further claims that by linking India’s central government and Home Minister to a murder in Bangladesh, Banerjee’s statements could harm India’s international image and strain diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. The complainant argued that her comments might also endanger communal harmony and national security.

According to the report, the lawyer plans to seek an arrest warrant against Banerjee when the court reopens on June 8. The controversy arose after Banerjee, speaking at a political event about a month after her electoral defeat, alleged that India’s STF had arrested suspects in the Hadi case and that the Union Home Minister had asked her not to disclose the matter.