Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Dr. A.K.M. Shamsul Islam on Tuesday. The meeting took place at the Defence Adviser’s office in the Armed Forces Division located in Dhaka Cantonment, with a three-member delegation accompanying the High Commissioner.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged greetings and discussed ways to enhance existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Australia, particularly in the field of defence cooperation. They explored opportunities for sharing experiences and identifying potential areas for future military collaboration. The discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening the long-standing friendship between the two nations and making it more comprehensive and multidimensional.

Both parties also discussed expanding cooperation in defence and security, including training, capacity building, professional skill development, and communication. They underscored the need for continued constructive engagement to promote regional and global peace, stability, and security, expressing optimism about making the bilateral relationship more effective and productive in the future.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, alleged that the government is moving toward fascism and failing to address rising crime and economic instability. Speaking as chief guest at a civic gathering organized by Sylhet Metropolitan Jamaat at the District Shilpakala Academy auditorium, he said the government has deceived the nation over the July referendum and is appointing partisan individuals across state institutions. He warned that public anger is growing and that the government must face the consequences of its actions.

Rahman criticized the administration for the unavailability of funds in several banks, the alleged takeover of Islami Bank, and the midnight increase in fuel prices. He claimed that a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank was forcibly made chairman of Islami Bank and warned that depositors would not remain silent. He also accused the government of appointing a loan defaulter as central bank governor and said Jamaat would continue its struggle inside and outside Parliament to restore citizens’ rights.

Other Jamaat leaders at the event echoed his remarks, urging the government to abandon what they called a path of neo-fascism and to ensure law and order.

Government employees in Bangladesh will not receive any additional holiday for Ashura this year, as the religious observance coincides with the regular weekend. According to the official holiday calendar, Ashura in 2026 falls on June 26, a Friday, which is already a weekly holiday for government offices and educational institutions.

Depending on the lunar calendar, if the month of Dhu al-Hijjah ends after 29 days, the new month of Muharram will begin on June 16, making Ashura on June 26. If Dhu al-Hijjah lasts 30 days, the new moon will appear on June 17, placing Ashura on June 27, a Saturday. Both dates fall on Bangladesh’s weekend, meaning no extra leave will be granted.

Ashura, observed on the 10th day of Muharram, holds significant religious and historical importance in Islam. However, this year’s alignment with the weekend means government employees will not enjoy an extended break.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned an alleged attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push several men, women, and children into Bangladesh through the Benapole border in Jashore. In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, denounced the incident and criticized India’s policy of pushing people across the border without proper identification or diplomatic resolution.

Porwar said the attempted push-in occurred on the night of May 31 near the Sadipur Khayer Math area, but the effort failed due to the firm stance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). He stated that 8 to 10 Indian nationals, including women and children, are currently stranded on the zero line between the two countries. He called on Indian authorities to take them back and refrain from such actions in the future.

The Jamaat leader also thanked BGB for protecting national sovereignty and criticized the Bangladeshi government’s foreign policy for not protesting the incident through diplomatic channels. He urged the government to take strong legal and diplomatic measures to prevent future border violations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad stated that the party does not engage in politics for power but to establish honest, capable, and responsible leadership for the welfare of the country and its people. He made these remarks on Tuesday while addressing a workers’ conference organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Kutubdia Upazila North.

Azad said the people of the country expect leadership with transparency, accountability, and moral values, and Jamaat-e-Islami continues to work through ideological and people-oriented politics to meet that expectation. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of any government should be public welfare, protection of fundamental rights, national security, and good governance, not the personal gain of party members.

He expressed deep concern over rising fuel prices, deteriorating law and order, and growing insecurity across the country. Azad urged the government to immediately reduce fuel prices to affordable levels and take decisive measures to restore law and order. He also criticized instability in the banking sector and condemned what he described as unjust interference by Bangladesh Bank and the administration.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), is scheduled to visit the Benapole border on Wednesday to protest alleged forced push-ins from India. The NCP announced the visit on Tuesday, outlining that Patwari will reach Benapole at 11:30 a.m., inspect the Sadipur border at 11:45 a.m., and hold a press briefing at 1:00 p.m. at a local tourism hotel lobby.

According to the NCP, the purpose of Patwari’s visit is to observe border security, sovereignty, and local conditions. The announcement follows previous incidents involving Patwari, including an attack during his visit to the Jhenaidah border on May 22, where he alleged that members of student and youth organizations assaulted him in the presence of police. Earlier, he had also visited Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat to protest the killing of a Bangladeshi citizen near the border.

The NCP emphasized that the Benapole visit aims to highlight ongoing border concerns and reinforce calls for stronger national security measures.

Member of Parliament Saeed Al Noman extended assistance to families affected by a fire in a slum at I Block, Halishahar, Chattogram. On Tuesday morning, he donated 100,000 taka in cash to help the victims begin rebuilding their homes. He also arranged three daily meals and clothing for 18 members of five affected families and contacted the district commissioner to ensure the supply of tin sheets for house construction.

According to reports, the fire broke out on Tuesday morning at a house in I Block, destroying the homes of five middle- and lower-middle-class families. The blaze consumed furniture and other belongings, leaving the families destitute. Men, women, and children were forced to live under the open sky, struggling with food shortages and a lack of essential items.

The immediate relief provided by the MP aims to address urgent needs and support the victims’ recovery from the devastating incident.

Police in Chattogram have arrested 28 members of the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League, following their participation in a banned rally. The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Amirul Islam, who said the individuals were identified through video footage. The arrests took place across four police stations—Khulshi, Panchlaish, Bayezid, and Chandgaon.

According to police sources, 13 were detained from Khulshi, 9 from Panchlaish, 4 from Bayezid, and 3 from Chandgaon. The rally, organized under the banner of Omar Gani MES College Chhatra League, was held on Monday near the busy GEC intersection in Panchlaish. Videos of the procession, which reportedly involved over a hundred participants, circulated widely on social media.

Authorities noted that similar flash processions by the banned Awami League and Chhatra League groups had previously occurred in various parts of Chattogram, prompting continued police monitoring and operations.

A 15-member delegation from the Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh left Dhaka for China on Tuesday afternoon to participate in a training program. The team departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a China Eastern Airlines flight bound for Kunming, Yunnan Province. The program, organized with support from the Chinese government and the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka, will continue until June 8.

The delegation includes senior officials such as Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, NGO Affairs Bureau Director General Mohammad Zakaria, and several secretaries and directors from the Prime Minister’s Office. The training aims to enhance administrative knowledge and cooperation between the two countries.

At a reception in Dhaka on Monday, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said the initiative reflects the growing high-level engagement between Bangladesh and China. He expressed hope that the participants would apply insights from China’s development and modernization experience to Bangladesh’s progress.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has condemned the government’s decision to raise fuel prices without any discussion in parliament, calling it a deception against the people. Speaking to reporters in Badaghat Sonatola village of Sylhet after visiting the family of murdered child Fahima, he said the recent fuel price hikes—about 15 percent last month and an additional five taka per liter this month—will increase costs across all sectors and hurt ordinary citizens.

Dr. Rahman also expressed concern over the lack of progress in the Fahima murder investigation, which has seen no visible advancement after 28 days. He demanded exemplary punishment for those involved and urged the government to ensure swift justice, similar to the Ramisa murder case in the capital. He further criticized the government’s handling of the measles outbreak, questioning why vaccines were not procured in time.

He pledged legal and moral support for Fahima’s family and called on local residents to stand by them. Rahman warned that failure to deliver justice and maintain law and order would undermine the government’s legitimacy.

A youth leader named Hasibul Hossain Liton, known for appearing on stage with BNP activists in Dhamrai, was arrested in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, after chanting the slogan 'Joy Bangla' on Monday night. Police detained him in front of Takwa Mosque when he attempted to lead a procession following the funeral of former Awami League minister Tofail Ahmed. Liton, a resident of Yadabpur village in Dhamrai, is the son of Fayez Mollah and a relative of the late Tofail Ahmed. He previously served as vice president of the Mirpur Bangla College unit of the Chhatra League and currently works at a private bank, reportedly with Tofail Ahmed’s assistance.

Local BNP activists alleged that Liton had shared platforms with Habibur Rahman Badsha, general secretary of Yadabpur Union BNP, at various events. They claimed that long-time activists were being overlooked while those benefiting under the current government were gaining influence. Attempts to contact Badsha for comment were unsuccessful. Dhamrai BNP’s general secretary Shamsul Islam said he was unaware of the incident and would verify the matter for possible organizational action.

Leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Purbadhala, Netrakona, held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the party office on Roushnara Road to protest what they described as a false case filed against their members. In a written statement, the party’s assistant secretary Abu Huzaifa said that on May 20, during an open auction for a temporary Eid-ul-Azha cattle market organized by the upazila administration, some BNP activists and recently expelled individuals allegedly attacked Jamaat members, injuring several.

The statement claimed that among the injured, Agia Union Jamaat president A.K.M. Mahfuzur Rahman underwent surgery, while others including Hanif Uddin, Abul Hasnat, and Shafiullah were also hurt. Jamaat alleged that the attackers continued their activities, vandalizing and looting Mahfuzur Rahman’s business and setting fire to a motorcycle belonging to Maulana Abu Saleh Sohag. The leaders said they had video evidence of the incidents and accused local BNP figures of involvement.

The press conference presented five demands, including withdrawal of the case against Jamaat members, arrest and trial of attackers, ensuring administrative neutrality, stopping threats and assaults, and taking visible steps to prevent political violence.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is on alert along the frontier and that the government firmly opposes any illegal push-in or push-back activities. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon during an emergency press briefing at the Secretariat in response to questions about reports of Bangladeshis being detained near the border after the formation of a new BJP government in West Bengal, India.

The minister explained that if any Bangladeshi citizens are found in India, their identification must be verified through proper channels. Only if India’s central government officially sends a verified list to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will the repatriation process proceed legally. He confirmed that no such pending cases currently exist. Ahmed also addressed issues related to Jangal Salimpur, saying the government will not evict long-term residents from state land unless necessary for public projects, but will eliminate any terrorist hideouts there.

On the Pallabi child murder case, the minister said most witness testimonies have been completed and the government is assisting the court to ensure a fair and timely trial.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a firm stance against referring to cows merely as animals and against posting cow images on social media during Eid al-Adha. Speaking at a government event in Bijnor on Monday, he said cows hold the status of a mother in Indian culture and urged Muslim religious leaders to caution their followers against disrespectful behavior toward cows. He warned that strict action would be taken against cow slaughter in the state.

Adityanath also criticized religious leaders for not publicly condemning violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan, saying that speaking up for persecuted families and demanding compensation would demonstrate humanitarian sensitivity. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which he said allows persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship. He accused opposition parties of encouraging illegal immigration by opposing the law.

The remarks reflect Adityanath’s continued emphasis on cultural and religious issues alongside his support for the CAA.

Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Haakon Arald Gulbrandsen paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office in Dhaka on June 2, 2026. The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, covered bilateral issues including trade, renewable energy investment, climate change cooperation, and the Rohingya crisis. The minister expressed gratitude for Norway’s early recognition of Bangladesh in 1972 and its continued support for the country’s socio-economic development.

During the discussion, the ambassador praised Bangladesh’s recent progress and said Norway is shifting focus from traditional development aid to expanding trade and investment. The minister welcomed this approach, highlighting export diversification opportunities in pharmaceuticals, leather goods, IT services, jute, and handicrafts, and invited Norwegian investment in renewable energy, ICT, shipbuilding, and packaging sectors. He also emphasized collaboration through the Green Climate Fund and Norfund’s Climate Investment Fund.

The meeting acknowledged the contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Norway and discussed the Rohingya issue, with the minister urging stronger international efforts for safe and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continued cooperation in international forums and bilateral development.