A fire was set at the July Memorial in Moktarpara area of Netrakona town late Tuesday night, reportedly by individuals chanting slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina. Police suspect kerosene was used to ignite the fire at the steel-made structure near the Mogra River bridge. The incident caused minimal damage, and a 25-second video of the event circulated on social media the following day, showing three young men leaving the site while shouting political slogans.

Fahim Rahman Khan Pathan, a central member of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and resident of Netrakona Sadar, alleged that members of the banned Chhatra League were involved. He suggested the act was intended to demonstrate political activity ahead of a possible reformation of the district committee. Pathan described the memorial as an emotional site linked to the July Movement and accused the banned group of trying to create unrest.

Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Sarkar confirmed that senior police officials visited the scene and are analyzing CCTV and video footage to identify those responsible.

Police have detained 19 individuals in connection with an attack on highway police and vehicle vandalism in Burichang, Cumilla, along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The incident occurred on Tuesday around 11 a.m. when a group of 30 to 35 people reportedly shouted slogans before attacking a patrol team from the Moynamoti Highway Police Station. The attackers damaged police vehicles, causing temporary disruption to traffic on the highway.

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Anisuzzaman confirmed the arrests on Wednesday afternoon, stating that operations were conducted across various parts of the district from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning. The names of the detainees were not disclosed. A press briefing was scheduled later in the day at the Cumilla police superintendent’s office to provide further details.

The incident followed the seizure of an illegal three-wheeler by the highway patrol team, which reportedly triggered the attack. The situation caused tension in the area but was later brought under control by law enforcement.

The Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing instability surrounding Islami Bank. Following a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor on Wednesday, ABB Chairman and City Bank Managing Director Masrur Arefin said the situation at Islami Bank is affecting the entire banking sector. The governor reportedly views the issue as not only a banking matter but also a political one and is seeking a resolution through dialogue among stakeholders.

During the meeting, the governor emphasized strict adherence to good governance and urged bank executives not to yield to political pressure. He also directed banks to ensure accurate reporting to the Credit Information Bureau (CIB). Discussions included plans to boost credit growth through a new government and central bank package worth Tk 60,000 crore, aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises under a refinance scheme.

The governor further noted frequent errors and delays in trade data submissions, particularly in import pricing, and advised verifying prices through global platforms before opening letters of credit to prevent financial losses.

The trial of former Member of Parliament Shamim Osman and 11 others has begun at the International Crimes Tribunal over alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings in Narayanganj during the July uprising. On Wednesday, Abul Bashar Anik, elder brother of slain activist Abul Hasan Swajan, testified as the first witness in the case.

In his testimony, Anik described that after the death of Abu Sayeed, he and his brother participated in anti-discrimination and mass movements. He alleged that on July 19, 150 to 200 armed men led by Shamim Osman, Ayon Osman, Azmeri Osman, and others attacked demonstrators at Jalkuri Link Road, killing two people and injuring several others. He further claimed that on August 5, another armed attack led by the same group left his brother fatally shot.

Anik stated that Swajan was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he underwent surgery but died the next day, August 6. He also said no inquest or autopsy was conducted before burial on August 7.

An eleven-party alliance in Bangladesh has announced protest rallies across all border districts and points on Friday to denounce alleged push-ins and border killings. The coalition also declared a nationwide protest in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area on June 15 against what it described as rising incidents of murder, rape, and deteriorating law and order. The announcements were made at a press conference organized at the central office of Jamaat-e-Islami.

At the event, Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the alliance, accused the government of authoritarian governance and failing to act against border violence. He claimed that India attempted more than 50 push-ins in the past three months and that 19 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian forces in the last 100 days. He criticized the home minister’s recent comments on border killings as contradictory to national policy and called for a stronger foreign stance.

Nasir Uddin Patowary of the NCP added that the government’s role in border areas was inadequate and urged strengthening the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

An unusual hybrid hog plum tree in Baro Kaibartakhali village of Rajapur, Jhalakathi, has become a local sensation after producing hundreds of fruits in each cluster. The small tree, planted three years ago by local driver Masud, began bearing fruit this year, astonishing villagers with its dense clusters that some estimate contain over a thousand fruits. The tree, grown without chemical fertilizers, has drawn large crowds after videos of it went viral on social media.

Masud said he used only cow dung as fertilizer and is now seeking advice from the Rajapur Upazila Agriculture Office to prevent branches from breaking under the heavy fruit load. Visitors from distant areas have been arriving daily to witness the phenomenon, taking photos and videos in disbelief.

According to Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahida Sharmin Afroze, the extraordinary yield may be due to proper care and balanced hormone distribution. The tree, now dubbed the “Hazari Amra,” is inspiring local farmers and youth to explore commercial cultivation, signaling new potential for the rural economy.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has concluded defense arguments in the war crimes case against Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the suspended Awami League, and three others accused of involvement in six murders during the July uprising in Kushtia. The tribunal has kept the case awaiting verdict, meaning the judgment could be delivered at any time. The order was issued on Wednesday after defense lawyer Amir Hossain completed his arguments.

Earlier, on June 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments seeking the maximum punishment for all four accused. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam presented the case on behalf of the prosecution, with Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed and others in attendance. The accused include Kushtia District Awami League president Sadar Uddin Khan, general secretary Azgar Ali, and Kushtia City Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.

All four accused are currently absconding, according to the tribunal proceedings.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Malaysia later this month, marking his first foreign trip as head of government. The visit is expected to take place on June 21, and party members have begun preparations to ensure the trip proceeds smoothly. A festive atmosphere has been noted among supporters in anticipation of the visit.

To coordinate efforts, the Nationalist Youth Party (Jubo Dal) in Malaysia held an initial preparatory meeting on Sunday. In Dhaka, Malaysia BNP President Engineer Badlur Rahman Khan and General Secretary Md. Mosharraf Hossain Miazi also convened a meeting on the same topic, attended by party and affiliated organization leaders.

The Malaysia Jubo Dal meeting was attended by its President Md. Jasim Uddin, Vice Presidents Sheikh Md. Selim and Md. Nazmul Hasan, Joint General Secretary Sultan Bin Siraj, Organizational Secretary Md. Russel Rana, Assistant Organizational Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Babu, Abdullah Noman, Ismail Akand, and Arian Sifat, among others.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents prevented an attempted push-in by India's Border Security Force (BSF) at the Ramrampur border in Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur early Wednesday. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. when BSF members from Nandirchar camp allegedly tried to push a man, approximately 60 years old, into Bangladesh territory.

Following the incident, a flag meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. between officials from Jamalpur 35 BGB and Nandirchar BSF camp. However, the BSF personnel did not take back the stateless man and left him at the zero line, where he has remained since. BGB officials confirmed that they, along with locals, resisted the push-in attempt and are maintaining heightened vigilance along the border.

Efforts to resolve the matter through discussions are ongoing, and BGB has stated it remains on maximum alert to prevent any further push-in attempts.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the purchase of 10,000 metric tons of lentils from the local market through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to sell at subsidized prices to low-income families. The decision, involving a total cost of about Tk 82.54 crore, was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. Rajshahi-based Nabil Naba Foods Ltd was selected through open tender to supply the lentils at Tk 82.54 per kilogram.

According to official sources, the initiative aims to maintain TCB’s regular subsidized sales program for cardholding low-income families. The lentils will be delivered in 50-kilogram bags to facilitate storage and distribution. Under TCB’s annual procurement plan for fiscal year 2025–26, the total target is 230,000 metric tons, of which 139,272 tons have already been collected. The agency estimates a monthly requirement of about 20,000 tons.

Officials noted that local procurement is more cost-effective than imports, as imported lentils from Australia or India would cost significantly more per kilogram. The new purchase will help ensure uninterrupted distribution through July.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of fuel worth approximately Tk 17,033 crore to meet national demand for the June–August 2026 period. The decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, will handle the imports through international open tenders.

According to the approved proposals, Unipek Singapore Private Limited will supply gas oil (0.005% sulfur) and Jet A-1 fuel under package PG-01, valued at about Tk 7,672.66 crore. Vitol Asia Private Limited, also based in Singapore, will deliver similar fuels under package PG-02 for Tk 6,711.75 crore and gasoline-95 unleaded under package PG-04 for Tk 748.96 crore. Another Singaporean firm, Trafigura Private Limited, will supply furnace oil (180 CST) under package PG-03 for Tk 1,900.05 crore.

The largest order goes to Unipek Singapore, while Vitol Asia secures two packages totaling around Tk 7,461 crore. These imports are intended to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply during the three-month period.

A group of young volunteers from Tangail has expanded their humanitarian initiative, the Youth Foundation, to 32 districts across Bangladesh. Founded by social worker Muid Hasan in 2016, the organization evolved from earlier efforts such as the ‘Children’s Foundation’ and the ‘Swapnopuri’ school, both launched in 2011 to support underprivileged children. The foundation now provides medical assistance, rescue operations, and burial services for unclaimed individuals, while also supporting elderly people through food, treatment, and care programs.

The foundation’s hallmark projects include ‘10 Taka Hotel,’ ‘10 Taka Iftar,’ and ‘10 Taka Book,’ designed to preserve dignity while offering affordable essentials. It also promotes self-reliance by providing sewing machines, livestock, and small business capital to disadvantaged people. Over 700 individuals have been directly supported, and around 8,000 unemployed youths trained online. Environmental initiatives include planting 5,000 trees and promoting campaigns like ‘Plastic for Trees’ and ‘One Person, One Tree.’

Future plans include training 8,000 more youths, expanding reforestation drives, and continuing low-cost social welfare programs nationwide.

Two men were killed and another injured after being electrocuted while installing an irrigation pump in a pond at Kochukata in Nilphamari Sadar upazila on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at Babur Bazar in Kochukata Union. The deceased were identified as Jalal Uddin, 45, of Hajipara village, and Mujibur Rahman, 50, of Kutipara Nadirpar village. The injured, Mithu Islam, 30, was admitted to Nilphamari Modern Sadar Hospital in critical condition.

According to Kochukata Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Rauf, the accident happened when the victims were connecting electricity to a pump set up to drain water from a pond for fishing. Nilphamari police recovered the bodies and sent them to the morgue for autopsy.

Local authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the electrocution or any ongoing investigation into the incident.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) and a noted cardiologist, inaugurated a month-long tree plantation program and the 'Future Scientist Search Science Fair 2026' in Dhaka on Wednesday. The events were organized to commemorate the 45th martyrdom anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. The inauguration took place at Curzon Hall of Dhaka University, where she planted a neem sapling, followed by the opening of the science fair at the Department of Botany’s Central Gallery. Similar tree plantation activities were also launched at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Sylhet Agricultural University on the same day.

In her speech, Zubaida Rahman emphasized the importance of tree planting for environmental protection and sustainable living. She urged teachers and students to contribute to scientific innovation addressing national challenges and proposed initiatives such as green volunteerism, climate youth fellowships, and environment-based startup funds. She also called for integrating environmental awareness into school curricula to inspire future scientists.

The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan and attended by university officials, faculty members, and students, reflecting broad institutional participation in the foundation’s commemorative programs.

The construction of the Trishal Upazila Parishad complex in Mymensingh has remained suspended for two years, despite a budget of Tk 6.82 crore. The project, launched on 10 October 2022 under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), was awarded to Khulna-based contractor M/S MI Trading and Co. The work was scheduled for completion by June 2024, but progress stopped at 40 percent after multiple deadline extensions. Construction materials, including rods and sand, are deteriorating at the site.

During construction, the contractor reportedly used 16-millimeter rods instead of the specified 20-millimeter ones, leading to the demolition of 12 RCC pillars for noncompliance. The contractor allegedly left the site in 2024 without paying workers. LGED later canceled the work order after failed attempts to contact the contractor. Site inspections revealed rusting and stolen rods from the unfinished structure.

Upazila Engineer Zobayet Hossain said the work order was recently canceled and that three notices were issued for joint measurement with the contractor. If no cooperation is received, LGED plans to conduct the measurement with an executive magistrate and proceed with a new tender.