Mufti Syed Muhammad Fayzul Karim, Senior Deputy Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, revealed during a public gathering in Tangail that discussions are underway with other Islamic parties to form an electoral alliance for the 2026 national parliamentary election.

“If these talks are successful, Islami Andolan Bangladesh will participate in the election as a united front,” he stated. “We are committed to this path, but if the negotiations do not yield results, we will assess the situation and decide accordingly.”

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has returned home after undergoing medical examinations at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She left the hospital at 11:17 PM on Wednesday for her residence in Gulshan, confirmed BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. Khaleda Zia had arrived at the hospital at 7:47 PM for routine health check-ups.

France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that the country will carry out extensive two-day raids across the nation to curb illegal immigration. The operations are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, involving nearly 4,000 security personnel.

The raids will focus particularly on hotspots with a significant presence of irregular Bangladeshi immigrants, especially around Gare du Nord station in northern Paris — a key arrival point for Eurostar trains coming from Britain. So far this year, French authorities have apprehended 47,000 illegal immigrants.

The Interior Minister warned that migrants are being urged to quickly obtain proper legal documentation and seek legal assistance to avoid detention during these enforcement actions.

A court has directed prison authorities to take the necessary steps to solemnize the marriage between singer Mainul Ahsan Noble and the woman who had earlier filed a rape case against him, based on mutual consent. The bride is a former student of Eden Mohila College. Noble's lawyer stated in court that the case was a result of misunderstandings, and both parties now wish to marry, prompting the court to grant approval.

In a recent meeting, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted river water flow during development project planning. “We must give utmost importance to preserving our river systems. Bangladesh is a deltaic country, and under no circumstances should our water flows be hindered,” he stated.

During the meeting, the Asian Development Bank’s Bangladesh Country Director, Ho Yun Jong, along with a team from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), presented the detailed framework, strategy, and implementation plan for the ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project.

The Chief Adviser added, “Our vision is to create an investment hub in this region. The project must be designed to connect neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan as well.”

After 17 long years, a special seminar commemorating the 44th martyrdom anniversary of the Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was organized on Thursday at Dhaka University by the BNP-supported teachers’ organization, Sada Dal.

The event was chaired by Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan, convener of Dhaka University’s Sada Dal. BNP leader Professor Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan attended as the chief guest, while Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was present as a special guest. During the seminar, Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Dhaka University, presented a detailed paper on the topic.

The previous restriction that halted all flight operations for nearly one hour during VIP flights at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been revoked. Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated this decision aims to reduce public inconvenience. He emphasized that while the Special Security Force must ensure security, they should avoid causing hardships to travelers. The lifting of the ban is expected to ease travel for ordinary passengers. Dr. Yunus also highlighted the challenges of modern security threats in today’s fast-changing technological landscape.

Chattogram, June 18 — Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has issued a stern warning against the ongoing "ambulance business" at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), vowing tough action to dismantle the illegal syndicate profiting from patients' distress.

“We will not tolerate the commercialization of emergency ambulance services at CMCH,” said the mayor. “When a patient passes away, some ward boys call specific ambulances in exchange for commissions. This is a form of exploitation involving fourth-class staff, influential individuals, and even political figures.”

Dr. Shahadat emphasized the need for a coordinated multi-agency task force to break up the powerful network operating within and around the hospital. He called for an urgent joint meeting involving hospital authorities, law enforcement, and the city administration.

The mayor also addressed irregularities involving local pharmacies near the hospital, alleging that several of them are charging patients inflated prices for medicines, ignoring government price regulations.

“The Chattogram City Corporation will take strict action against any pharmacy found violating pricing rules,” he added.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party, claimed that political parties opposing the National Constitutional Council (NCC) aim to retain a fascist system. Speaking at a political dialogue in Dhaka, he questioned whether the interim government wants to continue authoritarian practices. Nahid criticized past inaction by institutions like the Human Rights Commission and ACC, and called for reforms to reduce executive power. He supported forming the NCC but opposed including the President, Chief Justice, or authority over armed forces in it.

Dhaka, June 18 — Ishraq Hossain, elected as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, will not be sworn into office as the legal window for administering the oath has expired, according to government officials.

Local Government Division Advisor Asif Mahmud explained, “The final date for administering the oath was May 26. Although a file was initiated, we sought legal advice from the Law Ministry regarding the matter, which is still under judicial consideration.”

Following consultation with the Attorney General and other legal experts, the ministry was advised that due to the case being sub judice (under judicial review), there is no scope to proceed with the swearing-in.

Asif Mahmud added that the official gazette term of the Dhaka South City Corporation expired on June 1, further ruling out the possibility of any oath-taking at this stage.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has released the results of the 45th BCS written examination, with 6,558 candidates provisionally passing. The exam took place from January 23 to January 31 last year across eight divisional cities, including Dhaka. The full results and related information are available on the PSC website. The commission has also reserved the right to make corrections if needed for justified reasons.

Dhaka, June 18 — Australia has announced a $2 million grant to directly support the Bangladesh Election Commission’s Ballot Project, aimed at strengthening electoral processes in the country. The announcement was made during a formal agreement signing ceremony on Tuesday.

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Susan Grace Ryley, expressed her country's commitment, stating, “We are pleased to contribute $2 million directly to support the Ballot Project. We are proud to be part of this important initiative during a crucial time for Bangladesh.”

The project, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will receive a total of $18.53 million in funding from various donors. The initiative includes 16 key components focusing on capacity building, public awareness, training, and strengthening the institutional framework.

Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, Akhtar Ahmed, highlighted the importance of international support in enhancing the electoral process. UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh, Stefan Liller, also expressed hope that more development partners will join in supporting the project’s implementation.

A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for five suspects involved in a daring daylight robbery in Mirpur. On May 27, a money exchange trader, Zahidur Rahman, was shot and robbed of Tk 2.2 million behind the Fire Service Station in Mirpur-10. The accused—Mostafizur Rahman, Saikat Hossain, Md. Sohag Hasan, Jalil Molla, and Palash Ahmed—were presented in court by Detective Branch officials, who sought a 10-day remand. The court approved three days after a hearing.

AB Party Chairman Majibur Rahman Manju, speaking at the National Consensus Commission (NCC) dialogue, emphasized that meaningful reforms are essential to honor the spirit of the recent popular uprising. He stated that under the guise of the executive branch, appointments to key constitutional positions have long been made solely based on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal preferences.

Manju pointed to instances where even Supreme Court judges have publicly declared themselves "pledged politicians," and blamed partisan and incompetent appointments for systemic failures—such as the unprecedented leakage of Public Service Commission exam papers. He stressed that to ensure democratic accountability and prevent the recurrence of fascist tendencies, the AB Party supports the formation of the NCC and endorses the electoral college system for electing the President.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed voiced opposition to the proposed National Constitutional Commission (NCC), citing concerns over inadequate accountability.

He argued that the responsibilities intended for the NCC are traditionally carried out by the executive, legislature, or through constitutional provisions. “Creating a new body for these tasks may disrupt institutional balance,” he said.

On the matter of presidential elections, he emphasized that members of parliament, along with an upper house if formed, should elect the President, rather than introducing a new electoral mechanism involving approximately 70,000 votes from the grassroots level.