Police in Mathbaria, Pirojpur have arrested a student leader for allegedly kidnapping a young Saudi expatriate and demanding ransom over the phone.

The accused is Naeem Hossain, General Secretary of the Student League at Mathbaria Government College. The victim, Riazul Islam, left for Saudi Arabia four years ago, but recently his mobile phone went unanswered. On June 24, a relative of Riazul in Saudi Arabia received a call from an unknown group claiming they had detained Riazul and demanding 50,000 taka as ransom. The family sent 20,000 taka before filing a police report, leading to Naeem’s arrest. Meanwhile, the expatriate’s family has confirmed that Riazul has been released by the kidnappers.

Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi has alleged that referring to recent student-led protests as "mob actions" is part of a broader conspiracy by what he calls the "fascist regime" under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He claimed that public anger and resistance against what he described as the government’s collaborators in atrocities are being deliberately mischaracterized. “Until fascism is uprooted from this country, the people’s resistance in July will continue,” he declared.

Islamabadi further asserted that a revolutionary government born out of public uprising now bears the responsibility of eradicating fascism. However, he expressed disappointment that many of the alleged accomplices of the Hasina administration have yet to be arrested or brought to justice.

He also linked the July uprising to previous mass protests, including the Shapla Chattar demonstration and the 2021 anti-Modi movement, suggesting they served as inspiration for the recent wave of student-led resistance.

Delegates from six member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) paid tribute to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on Friday morning. Notably, India and Afghanistan did not participate in the ceremony.

The delegation was led by Dr. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. After laying floral tributes, the representatives observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the fallen heroes. Delegates from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Bhutan's Governor Dasho Penjore emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Bhutan and Bangladesh. “We feel honored to pay tribute to the brave martyrs of Bangladesh,” he stated.

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major festival for the Hindu community, was celebrated on Friday in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. The event was organized by the Sirajdikhan Puja Celebration Council at the Dania Para Shri Shri Madan Mohan Radharani Jiur Temple.

Sirajdikhan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Akter inaugurated the event, expressing hope that the festival would dispel all evil forces and promote communal harmony. Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Touhidul Islam Bari inaugurated the nine-day celebration, running from June 27 to July 5, 2025.

Bangladesh recorded one new death and 10 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The deceased was a male aged between 61 and 70.

The current positivity rate stands at 4.02%. Since the onset of the pandemic, the total death toll has reached 29,519, with 20 deaths recorded so far in 2025. Total infections have risen to 2,052,073, with 528 confirmed cases in the current year.

The Ministry of Law has issued a directive requiring all government employees to remain at their workplace until the official end of the workday at 5:00 PM. The circular states that any need to leave the office during working hours must be approved by the head of the concerned department.

As per the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2019, employees must log their exit in the office register. Late arrivals could lead to salary deductions or leave cancellations, and repeated violations may result in disciplinary actions.

India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed a new restriction on imports of woven fabrics, jute products, and yarn from Bangladesh via land ports. According to an official statement, “No goods from Bangladesh will be allowed through land ports along the India-Bangladesh border. Only specific items—such as multi-fold woven fabrics, single flax yarn, single jute yarn, and unbleached jute fabric—may be imported via the Nhava Sheva seaport.”The directive clarifies that the ban will not apply to goods in transit from Bangladesh to Nepal or Bhutan. However, re-exporting these goods from India will not be permitted. This move is expected to negatively affect Bangladesh’s textile and jute sectors. It follows a previous ban issued in May on importing Bangladesh-made garments through Indian land ports.

Jamaat-e-Islami plans to plant one million trees in Dhaka to create a safer and more livable city. Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul, the party’s Dhaka Metropolitan South Amir, emphasized the importance of social forestry and family nutrition gardens for environmental protection. He called on citizens to plant at least one tree each and urged the interim government to support social forestry initiatives. The party also launched a month-long tree plantation campaign at Old Paltan College grounds, distributing saplings to participants.

BNP advisor Zainul Abedin Farroque has declared that general elections will be held before Ramadan without further delay. “The recent London meeting cleared all confusion. We must now prevent any new conspiracies,” he said.

He urged the Chief Adviser to follow the example of former Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, who held elections within three months of Ershad's fall. Farroque also criticized the current education system, blaming it on the governance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her late father. “If we fail to reform education, national development will remain a dream,” he added.

A nine-member BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is returning to Dhaka Friday night after a four-day official visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party.

Before departing China, Fakhrul stated that the visit marks a new chapter of understanding between the two parties, potentially strengthening bilateral strategic ties. The delegation visited a model community in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, and a museum showcasing China’s revolutionary and independence history for children.

BNP leader Aminul Haque announced plans to plant over 20,000 neem trees in the Pollabi and Rupnagar areas under the direction of acting party chairman Tarique Rahman. Tree planting will begin after the party's membership renewal drive ends on July 3.

He said BNP’s youth, student, volunteer, and cultural wings will be actively involved in the initiative. "BNP isn’t just about politics; we also uphold social responsibilities like environmental conservation," Aminul noted. He added that disciplinary and legal action would be taken against any party members involved in misconduct.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has banned the use of WhatsApp for official communication in a bid to enhance corporate cybersecurity and data protection. According to a notice from the airline’s IT department, employees are advised to use Microsoft Teams instead, which is globally recognized for secure and professional communication.

The circular noted that Microsoft Teams accounts can be easily set up using personal emails or phone numbers. The platform offers features such as text messaging, voice/video calls, and file sharing. The notice also highlighted the potential security risks associated with WhatsApp.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mia Golam Porwar warned that a lack of neutrality from the Election Commission could result in national catastrophe. “If the EC leans towards any political side, all aspirations of the nation will be shattered,” he said.

Porwar urged the Chief Adviser to remain cautious about the advice he receives. “You’ve pledged a free and fair election to the nation. The members of your advisory council should be transparently scrutinized. Be wary of whose advice you’re following,” he warned. He also confirmed that Jamaat plans to participate in the upcoming elections as a politically active party.

Following Iran’s declared historic victory, the National Revolutionary Council has called on Arab nations to refrain from reestablishing diplomatic relations or granting fresh recognition to what it termed the “aggressive, illegitimate state of Israel.”
The organization stated that it is now the urgent duty of Muslim countries to unite in collective struggle for the liberation of Muslims in Palestine, Arakan, and Kashmir.
Speaking at a rally near Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mohammad Shamsuddin accused Israel of gross violations of the Geneva Conventions, severe human rights abuses, and creating turmoil in the global oil market.
He asserted that ultimately, both Israel and the United States have been defeated—not only militarily but also morally.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the party believes preparations for the upcoming national elections can be completed by September. "We assume the Chief Adviser may have indicated to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to prepare for elections assuming a February timeline, but this is our interpretation. A clear picture will emerge once both parties officially communicate," he stated.

He emphasized that all political parties are seemingly in agreement on holding the national elections. "If that's the case, conducting local elections within the same timeframe would be unrealistic. Our long-standing struggle has been for a national election, not local polls," he added. Salahuddin also expressed hope that the interim government would maintain neutrality in managing the election process.