Bangladesh has been ranked the fourth most peaceful country in South Asia in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, published on June 9 by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The country is placed 117th globally among 163 nations and territories, with an overall score of 2.226 out of 5, categorized under the 'medium' level of peace. Bangladesh outperformed India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in the regional ranking.

The GPI evaluates peace using 23 indicators across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization. Bangladesh scored 2.579 in safety and security, 2.237 in ongoing conflict, and 1.615 in militarization. Bhutan retained its position as South Asia’s most peaceful nation, ranking 16th globally, followed by Sri Lanka and Nepal. The report noted that South Asia experienced the largest regional decline in peace in 2026, with an average deterioration of 2.3 percent due to internal instability and border tensions.

The report also highlighted Bangladesh’s economic vulnerability to the Iran war, citing high LNG prices and reduced global demand as potential risks. It warned that prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could raise Bangladesh’s energy import costs by up to 2.5 percent of GDP.

Bangladesh Bank has provided a special loan of Tk 25 billion to Islami Bank to address its liquidity crisis. The assistance was extended on Sunday, according to information from the bank. The crisis intensified after the appointment of a new chairman following Eid, which triggered protests by a group of customers under the banner of the 'Conscious Customer Forum'. Many depositors began withdrawing their funds, worsening the bank’s liquidity position.

As a result, Islami Bank failed to meet customer withdrawal demands and could not maintain the required cash reserve ratio (CRR) with the central bank. Last week, the bank sought Tk 100 billion in liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank, which responded by providing an initial Tk 25 billion. During a post-budget press conference on Friday, Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman had hinted at such support, assuring that depositors would face no withdrawal problems.

The central bank’s intervention aims to stabilize Islami Bank’s operations and restore depositor confidence amid ongoing unrest over leadership changes.

During his visit to Cox’s Bazar, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called Chittagong University Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman to inquire about his well-being and campus affairs. The meeting took place on Saturday afternoon after the Prime Minister visited the grave of Wasim Akram, the first martyr of the July movement in Chittagong. Noman was later taken to the home minister’s residence, where Dr. Zubaida Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed were present.

Following the meeting, Noman said the Prime Minister asked about his health and sought information on various academic and administrative matters at the university. Noman briefed him on student issues, including shuttle train disruptions, severe commuting difficulties, and housing shortages. According to Noman, the Prime Minister listened attentively, instructed his private secretary to take notes, and assured that the problems would be addressed.

Wasim Akram, who was martyred during the July uprising, had been a follower of Noman and was active alongside him in the movement until his death.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local villagers in Kurigram’s Roumari upazila foiled another push-in attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) early Sunday. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. near the 1060 main pillar at the Bottola border, where BSF allegedly tried to push two children, one woman, and three young men into Bangladesh. BSF claimed the group were residents of Kangshi village in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district.

Following reports of the attempted intrusion, BGB personnel and hundreds of local villagers took up positions along the border to prevent entry. Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of Jamalpur 35-BGB Battalion, stated that BGB remains firm in protecting national sovereignty and border security. He added that surveillance and security measures have been further strengthened across the border area.

According to BGB, the force remains on high alert to prevent any illegal entry or subversive activity along the Bangladesh-India frontier.

Heavy rainfall and hill runoff have caused the Maharshi River in Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila to overflow, flooding low-lying areas and the main market since Saturday morning. Water entered many shops, disrupting business activities and causing hardship for traders and residents. Several roads were submerged, though immediate information on damage was unavailable.

Local residents blamed the absence of a protective embankment for the recurring floods during the monsoon season. Officials from the Water Development Board reported that the river’s southern bank overflowed in the morning but later subsided. Rainfall was recorded at 24.50 millimeters in Sherpur, 35 millimeters in Nalitabari, and 180 millimeters in Nakugaon. In Nalitabari’s Chellakhali River, water was flowing two centimeters above the danger level, raising concerns about worsening conditions.

Member of Parliament Mahmudul Haque Rubel stated that he had raised the issue of constructing a permanent embankment in the national parliament and expressed hope that a sustainable structure would soon be built to reduce public suffering.

The officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station, Md Arifur Rahman, has been withdrawn following an incident in which national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan was allegedly assaulted and harassed in Chattogram city. The order, signed by Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali, was issued on Saturday night, transferring Arifur Rahman to the police lines.

CMP Assistant Commissioner (Public Relations) Aminur Rashid confirmed the development, adding that Mohammad Solaiman, previously the officer-in-charge of Bakalia Police Station, has been appointed as the new Khulshi OC. Meanwhile, Mohammad Zahidul Kabir, a police inspector from the Counter Terrorism and Special Branch (CTSB), has been assigned as the new OC of Bakalia Police Station.

The CMP has also formed a three-member investigation committee to probe the incident. The police authorities stated that departmental action will be taken against those found responsible based on the investigation report.

Two worshippers were injured in a shooting during Fajr prayer at a mosque in Khulna city on Sunday morning. The incident occurred at the Jame Mosque of the West Zone Power Distribution Company center on BL College Road under Daulatpur Police Station. The injured were identified as mosque committee secretary Lokman Hakim, 45, and Alam Mondol, 55. According to police and locals, several armed men entered the mosque around 5:30 a.m. and opened fire targeting Lokman Hakim, hitting him in the head. Alam Mondol, who was praying nearby, was also shot. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.

Locals rushed to the scene upon hearing gunfire and screams and took the injured to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Due to his critical condition, Lokman Hakim was later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment, while Alam Mondol remains under care in Khulna. Khulna Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation has begun to identify the attackers and determine the motive.

Police stated that further details will be provided after the ongoing investigation.

The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday released the full verdict in the case concerning the murder of Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur and the first martyr of the July uprising. The tribunal upheld the death sentences of former Assistant Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain and former Constable Sujon Chandra Roy, both currently in prison. The case involves 30 accused individuals, including former university officials and police officers, with six in custody and 24 still absconding.

The tribunal’s decision follows the 2024 killing of Abu Sayeed during an anti-discrimination student movement in Rangpur. Video footage of the incident, showing police firing at Sayeed as he stood with his arms outstretched, sparked nationwide outrage and intensified the movement. The tribunal also noted that verdicts in three other cases are expected later this month.

Meanwhile, in a separate case related to a body-burning incident in Ashulia, the convicted defendants have appealed, arguing that prosecution evidence and witness statements were inconsistent and insufficient to prove their involvement.

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.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in Dubai with the assistance of Interpol, according to the Bangladesh Police Headquarters. The arrest was made in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The announcement came on Sunday afternoon, June 14, 2026.

Court records show that on February 10, 2025, a Dhaka court ordered the issuance of a red notice through Interpol following an ACC request. Earlier, on March 8 of the same year, another Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Benazir Ahmed in a case alleging the acquisition of wealth beyond known income sources. The case was originally filed on December 15, 2024, by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam.

After investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet on November 30, 2025, accusing Benazir Ahmed of amassing illegal wealth, concealing asset information, and money laundering. The charge sheet stated discrepancies between his declared assets and those uncovered during the investigation.

Tea growers in Panchagarh are struggling to protect their crops as leafhopper and red mite infestations spread amid a severe fertilizer shortage. The crisis has intensified during the peak leaf-picking season, with farmers unable to apply urea and DAP fertilizers on time due to the absence of allocations for the tea sector across five districts in the Rangpur division.

According to the Bangladesh Tea Board’s 2025 data, the region has over 8,400 small-scale tea gardens producing nearly 9.77 crore kilograms of green leaves annually, contributing more than 21 percent to national tea output. Farmers report that adverse weather has worsened pest attacks and increased production costs, while local agriculture offices say fertilizer allocations for tea fall under the Commerce and Industries ministries, not the Agriculture Department.

Officials from the Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh office said a request for fertilizer allocation has been sent to the ministries. Tea growers from Rangpur’s five districts have appealed to local administrators and lawmakers for urgent intervention to secure fertilizer and pesticide supplies.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds in many areas of Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions. The 24-hour forecast issued on Sunday morning also warned of moderate to heavy rainfall in some parts of the country.

According to the synoptic situation, an extension of a low-pressure area stretches from Gangetic West Bengal to the northwestern Bay of Bengal. The monsoon is moderately active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate elsewhere over the north Bay. The forecast added that daytime temperatures may fall slightly while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

The highest temperature recorded on Saturday was 36.7 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi, while the lowest on Sunday morning was 22.5 degrees Celsius in Sandwip and Sylhet. Mymensingh experienced the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours with 104 millimeters. In Dhaka, wind speed was 10 to 15 kilometers per hour from the south and southeast, with 88 percent relative humidity at 6 a.m.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has announced a series of programs to celebrate 'Nazrul Year' from May 25, 2026, to May 25, 2027, following the Prime Minister’s declaration. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitae Roy Chowdhury shared the details at a press conference in Dhaka, stating that the initiative aims to highlight the literary and philosophical contributions of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The ministry will form a national committee, design a logo and posters, issue commemorative stamps, and organize events across all 64 districts and 74 special upazilas from June 18 to 20, 2026.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s declaration during the poet’s 127th birth anniversary celebration in Trishal, Mymensingh, on May 23, 2026. The ministry has allocated funds from the current fiscal year’s budget to support these events. In addition to cultural programs, the ministry plans to promote research on Nazrul’s works and collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spread his creations internationally.

The year-long celebration seeks to engage the new generation with Nazrul’s life, literature, and ideals, ensuring his legacy reaches both national and global audiences.

The Bangladesh cricket team will receive a Tk 20 million bonus from the government for winning their first-ever One Day International (ODI) series against Australia. The announcement was made on Saturday by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque following Bangladesh’s historic victory.

Bangladesh defeated the touring Australian side by 86 runs in the first ODI and secured the three-match series 2–0 after a five-wicket win in the second match. The third and final ODI is scheduled for Sunday. The government’s bonus recognizes the team’s achievement in securing a landmark series win against one of the world’s top cricket nations.

The announcement highlights official encouragement for the national team’s performance and marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s cricket history.

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.