The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) has announced new and stricter rules for the visa appointment process, including changes to appointment slots, webfile uploads, and medical visa procedures. The updated guidelines, published on Monday, specify that applicants can sign up and upload webfiles between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., while appointment booking will begin at 5:00 p.m. for those who successfully upload their webfiles.

According to the directive, the uploaded webfile must be the original PDF of the visa application form and cannot be older than 30 days. Any altered, edited, or tampered files will not be accepted. For medical visas, IVAC stated that applicants must visit the specific hospital for which the visa was issued. Changing hospitals requires prior approval from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The notice further warns that changing hospitals without FRRO approval will be considered a violation of visa regulations and may result in future travel restrictions to India.

Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam informed the National Parliament that despite a High Court ban, vehicles such as autorickshaws, battery-powered rickshaws, nosimon, korimon, and bhotbhoti continue to operate on highways. He stated that joint operations are being conducted at key highway points by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), highway police, and district administrations to address the situation.

The minister made these remarks on Monday in response to a question from Rangpur-3 MP Mahbubur Rahman Belal during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. In the same session, Sheikh Robiul Alam also provided updates on other transport-related matters, including the number of registered motorcycles in the country and the inclusion of Narayanganj city in the proposed MRT Line-2 route.

The ongoing enforcement efforts aim to ensure compliance with the High Court directive and improve highway safety by restricting unauthorized vehicles from operating on major routes.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, Dhaka North City Jamaat-e-Islami chief and mayoral candidate, has alleged that a group is deliberately attacking religious institutions and shrines across Bangladesh to falsely implicate Jamaat-e-Islami. He made the remarks on Monday while visiting injured khatib Abdul Momen of Mirpur Mazar Mosque at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka.

Selim Uddin said these attacks aim to destabilize the country and destroy religious harmony. He demanded that those responsible for the shrine attacks and vandalism be identified and brought to justice swiftly. During the visit, party leaders offered prayers for the injured khatib’s recovery.

Later, Selim Uddin met the family of martyr Abdul Hannan in Mirpur-13, honoring the sacrifices of those killed and injured in the July uprising. He reiterated his call for the prosecution of all individuals involved in past massacres.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has concluded hearings on the appeal concerning BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury’s candidacy for the Chattogram-4 constituency. The four-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice, has scheduled June 30 for delivering its verdict on whether Chowdhury can take oath as a Member of Parliament.

The dispute originated from allegations of loan default against Aslam Chowdhury. On January 18, the Election Commission declared his nomination valid, but a bank challenged that decision in the High Court, which later dismissed the petition. The bank and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md. Anwar Siddiqui subsequently appealed to the Appellate Division. On February 3, the court allowed the appeal, permitting Chowdhury to contest the election but ordered that the results remain withheld until the appeal’s resolution. Despite this, Chowdhury was unofficially declared the winner in the February 12 election.

Senior lawyers from both sides, along with two court-appointed amicus curiae, participated in the final hearing. The Election Commission is expected to await the June 30 verdict before announcing the official result.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Saiful Islam on Monday demanded a statement under Rule 300 in Bangladesh’s National Parliament after Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahedur Rahman was reportedly denied entry into New Delhi. Speaking on a point of order, the MP said that despite proper diplomatic communication, Rahman was kept waiting for two hours at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport before being allowed entry, after which he chose to return.

The lawmaker questioned whether the incident reflected a diplomatic failure and urged the government to clarify what actions had been taken. In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the issue did not qualify as a point of order but could be considered if a formal notice was submitted.

The incident has drawn attention to diplomatic procedures and the handling of official visits, though no further government response was recorded in the session.

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle met with the Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP on Monday at the opposition leader’s office in the National Parliament Building. The meeting took place in a cordial and positive atmosphere, attended by senior officials from both sides, including Australian First Secretaries Harry Thomson and Anna Peterson.

Discussions covered Dr. Rahman’s upcoming visit to Australia, the roles of government and opposition in strengthening democracy after the national election, and ways to reinforce parliamentary democracy. The two sides also exchanged views on achieving a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis and enhancing Bangladesh’s economic prospects, with particular emphasis on the energy sector.

During the meeting, the Australian High Commissioner praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s constructive role in parliament, and both parties explored avenues to advance mutual bilateral interests in the future.

The government has decided to temporarily relocate the Mohakhali bus terminal depot to Purbachal as part of a broader plan to reduce Dhaka’s chronic traffic congestion. Buses from the Gulistan area will be shifted to Sayedabad and Kanchpur. The decision was made on Monday at the third high-level meeting on traffic management modernization, chaired by Prime Minister Tareque Rahman at the Secretariat. Communication expert Md. Hadiuzzaman and administrators of Dhaka’s two city corporations briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hadiuzzaman said the temporary depot relocation aims to reduce terminal-centered traffic jams, with buses arriving at terminals only at scheduled times. Alternative sites have also been identified for Sayedabad and Fulbaria terminals. A detailed proposal is expected within seven days, after which implementation will begin. Authorities also plan to introduce a modern traffic signal system in Shahbagh next week.

Officials from both city corporations confirmed joint cooperation in the relocation process. The meeting also discussed the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project’s future, emphasizing its potential as an effective transport corridor, and addressed plans to rehabilitate street vendors rather than evict them.

A ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, brokered by President Donald Trump, has placed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under new political and diplomatic pressure. Caught between Trump’s stance and the hardline position of his own coalition partners, Netanyahu faces a difficult balancing act. On Sunday, he posted a birthday message to Trump on social media but made no public comment on the ceasefire or the ongoing conflict along the Lebanon border.

Several members of Netanyahu’s government criticized the agreement, calling it harmful to Israel and the free world, and arguing that it fails to ensure Israel’s security. Trump has stated that he wants the Iran conflict to be a thing of the past and urged both Israel and Hezbollah to halt hostilities. He described Hezbollah’s recent rocket attack on northern Israel as minor and urged Israeli restraint, despite calls from Netanyahu’s allies for a strong response.

Analysts suggest the Lebanon issue may be part of the broader Iran-US deal, though full details remain undisclosed. Israel is not a direct party to the agreement, leaving uncertainty over what is expected from it.

The European Union (EU) has highly praised Bangladesh for its disaster management initiatives, describing the country as a global role model in disaster preparedness, relief operations, and post-disaster rehabilitation. The commendation came from EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller during a courtesy meeting with Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu at the Secretariat on Monday morning.

During the meeting, Ambassador Miller said the EU would extend further cooperation to Bangladesh in key areas such as earthquake rescue operations, early warning systems, and the construction of rescue centers. He also expressed hope that relations between Bangladesh and EU member states would deepen during the current government’s tenure. Miller noted that Bangladesh’s preparedness and rehabilitation efforts have set an example on the global stage.

Minister Dulu thanked the EU for its continued support in disaster and development sectors and sought stronger diplomatic efforts from the EU to expedite the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. State Minister Engineer M. Iqbal Hossain and Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan were also present at the meeting.

On June 15, 2026, an article by editor Maruf Kamal Khan in the newspaper Amar Desh called for the establishment of an independent media commission to restore and strengthen press freedom in Bangladesh following the end of what he described as a fascist regime. The piece traced the historical suppression of journalism from the 1975 BAKSAL era to recent years, arguing that fear, greed, and political subservience had long undermined the media’s ability to resist authoritarianism.

The author recounted how successive governments, particularly under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina, restricted press freedom through newspaper closures, arrests, and censorship. He contrasted these periods with what he termed the “golden era” of journalistic freedom under President Ziaur Rahman. The article emphasized that a free press is essential for democracy, accountability, and national reconstruction.

Khan urged the current democratic government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to form a media commission headed by a former chief justice, including representatives from ministries, editors, unions, and the National Press Club. He also called for reviewing cases against journalists, reviving the Press Trust, and ensuring editors’ dignity and journalists’ safety.

Widespread allegations of irregularities, favoritism, and nepotism have surfaced in the preparation of government aid and incentive lists for farmers affected by heavy rainfall and flash floods in Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj. Local farmers claim that genuine victims, sharecroppers, and smallholders were excluded, while names of influential individuals, political activists, and their relatives were included. A written complaint has been filed with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) demanding investigation into the alleged misconduct.

According to the report, thousands of acres of ripe paddy were submerged during April’s unseasonal floods, causing severe losses to farmers. The government announced humanitarian and incentive programs to support affected farmers. The upazila agriculture office collected data and submitted 3,180 names, of which 2,180 were approved by the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry. However, new allegations emerged during relief distribution in Singpur union, where several farmers claimed they were unfairly excluded.

The UNO stated that there is no scope for favoritism in the list preparation but assured that any written complaint would be investigated seriously to ensure fair distribution of aid.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon stated that the media serves as the mirror of society and the state, emphasizing that it must be flawless. He said this responsibility lies primarily with the media itself and called for unity among all stakeholders to achieve this goal. The minister made these remarks on Monday at a seminar titled “Media’s Failure in Facing Fascism,” organized by the National Editors Council (NEC) at the Department of Films and Publications auditorium in Dhaka, marking the anniversary of the 1975 press shutdown.

Swapon noted that past efforts to strengthen the media were partial and incomplete, preventing the development of a robust media institution in Bangladesh. He stressed the need for consensus and collective action to establish an independent and responsible media commission. The minister also highlighted that democracy cannot be practiced effectively without institutionalizing the culture of diverse opinions.

The seminar, chaired by NEC co-convener and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, featured editors and journalists from across the country, who discussed media freedom, political influence, and the need for unity to safeguard press independence.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared that efforts to overthrow Iran’s government will continue. In a post on social media platform X, he described the joint campaign to weaken Iran as successful and said those gains must not be wasted. Smotrich called for Israel to pursue the mission creatively and ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.

Despite pressure from the United States to halt attacks, Smotrich pledged to keep targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. He said the operations were necessary to guarantee the immediate security of Israeli fighters and residents in the country’s north. His remarks came as Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon, even after the United States and Iran reached an agreement that Tehran said included a commitment to stop such attacks.

The statements highlight ongoing tensions between Israel, Iran, and the United States, as well as divisions over the recent US-Iran deal, which Smotrich labeled harmful to Israel and the free world.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that the agreement between the United States and Iran is not binding on Israel. In a post on social media platform X, he emphasized that Israel is an independent and sovereign nation, not subordinate to the United States. Ben-Gvir asserted that Israel would not be part of any deal that fails to ensure its security.

He further argued that Israel should not agree to anything less than the complete disarmament and dismantling of Hezbollah. He insisted that Israeli forces should not withdraw from areas they have captured and cleared of what he described as terrorist infrastructure. Ben-Gvir warned against returning to a situation where thousands of armed fighters are stationed near northern Israeli settlements and said Israel would not remain silent in the face of any attacks.

His remarks highlight internal political divisions within Israel regarding the US-Iran understanding and a potential ceasefire along the Lebanon border, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has ordered the relocation of Dhaka’s Sayedabad, Gulistan, and Mohakhali bus terminals as part of a broader plan to reduce the capital’s long-standing traffic congestion. The directive was issued on Monday during the third high-level meeting on traffic management modernization held at the Secretariat. Communication expert Md. Hadiuzzaman and administrators of Dhaka’s two city corporations briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hadiuzzaman stated that an interim depot for Mohakhali terminal buses has been designated in Purbachal to minimize congestion, with buses operating on fixed schedules. Alternative sites have also been identified for Sayedabad and Fulbaria terminals. A detailed proposal is expected within seven days, after which implementation will begin. Additionally, a modern traffic signal system will be tested in Shahbagh next week.

Dhaka North and South City Corporation administrators confirmed joint cooperation in establishing the new depots and completing the Kanchpur inter-district terminal. The meeting also discussed the Bus Rapid Transit project’s future and plans to rehabilitate street vendors instead of eviction.