Public confidence in union parishad village courts across Rangpur Division’s six districts has grown notably, with more people seeking justice through these local institutions. From January to May 2026, a total of 13,101 cases were filed, of which 11,506 were resolved. The courts handle both criminal and civil disputes at minimal cost, allowing marginalized citizens to pursue justice close to home.

Union Parishad chairmen reported that despite the rising caseload, limited monitoring, lack of training, and absence of courtroom facilities hinder smooth judicial operations. They urged the government to provide financial support and training to strengthen the system. The Local Government Division, with UNDP assistance, is conducting awareness and training programs to enhance court efficiency and public participation.

Officials and stakeholders, including local chairmen, women representatives, and legal aid officers, emphasized that village courts are particularly beneficial for poor and marginalized groups, especially women. They believe that stronger government support and enforcement mechanisms would further boost public trust and reduce case backlogs in higher courts.

India has opened all gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage, causing a rapid rise in the Teesta River’s water level. At the Teesta Barrage point in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, the river is flowing just below the danger mark and may cross it at any time. According to the Water Development Board, heavy rainfall in India over recent days has led to increased water flow toward Bangladesh, raising fears of severe flooding in the district.

Officials reported that at 6 a.m. on Saturday, the water at Dalia point was five centimeters below the danger level. The flow, which had decreased earlier, began rising again from Saturday morning. Thousands of families living along the riverbanks in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat are at risk of being marooned as low-lying areas may soon be inundated.

Authorities have urged residents in riverbank areas to remain alert. The Teesta Barrage’s 44 gates have been kept open to manage the rising water, and the Water Development Board continues to monitor the situation closely.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is facing significant shortfalls in its preparations to organize the upcoming local government elections. Key election management and conduct regulations remain unfinalized, and there is a notable shortage of essential election materials. The EC has yet to decide on procurement due to the government’s pending decision on the election schedule and starting level. According to EC sources, 8.34 million items are required, but only 5.9 million are currently in stock, leaving a deficit of about 2.45 million.

The government has indicated plans to begin local government elections gradually from September or October, starting with union council polls subject to budget approval. However, due to preparation gaps, only limited-scale elections, such as for union councils or municipalities, may be held this year. The EC also faces delays in finalizing the revised codes of conduct and election management rules, which are still open for stakeholder feedback until June 30.

The shortage of materials such as ballot box locks, marking seals, and indelible ink pens, along with pending regulatory approval, poses a major challenge for the EC to meet the proposed election timeline.

The Ministry of Social Welfare in Bangladesh has initiated a cleanup drive following reports of irregularities in the Family Card pilot program. The move came after media reports revealed that 62 affluent individuals in Jashore had received cards meant for low-income families. According to ministry sources, 325 cards were canceled due to recipients’ financial solvency or government affiliation, while a total of about 1,800 cards were revoked nationwide. The ministry is now conducting verification and corrective actions under the pilot guidelines.

Investigations found that some data collectors failed to conduct proper field surveys, leading to inclusion of ineligible individuals and exclusion of vulnerable groups such as river erosion victims in Sunamganj and ethnic minorities in Bandarban. The ministry has ordered reinvestigations in affected areas and begun administrative action against officials responsible for data manipulation. Issues with SIM and mobile financial service accounts also delayed payments to thousands of beneficiaries.

Social Welfare Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that the pilot’s purpose is to identify flaws before nationwide rollout. The government plans to train university students for improved data collection and expand the program under the 2026–27 budget, which allocates Tk 14,500 crore for Family Card benefits to 4.1 million women.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is leaving for Malaysia on Sunday afternoon for his first state visit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The two-day visit will be followed by a four-day trip to China starting June 22, where Rahman will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The visit is expected to include the signing of 13 memorandums of understanding, two agreements, an action plan, and a protocol note between Bangladesh and China.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam announced the details at a press briefing, noting that discussions during the China visit will cover the Teesta mega project, river management, and potential participation in China’s global initiatives. Rahman will also attend the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos in Dalian and address the Bangladesh Investment Forum in Beijing to promote investment opportunities.

During the Malaysia visit, Bangladesh will request Kuala Lumpur to recruit more Bangladeshi workers. The foreign secretary emphasized Malaysia’s historical support for Bangladesh and its role in ASEAN, noting that Dhaka seeks to strengthen ties and cooperation on labor and regional issues.

Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Stability Report 2025 reveals that due to High Court stay orders, banks cannot classify Tk 182,419 crore in loans as defaults. These stays stem from 845 writ petitions filed by 1,379 borrowers, allowing them to appear as regular clients and access new loans and rescheduling facilities. The report shows that the volume of loans under court protection rose by nearly 80 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The central bank notes that this legal tactic hides the true scale of non-performing loans and strains liquidity across the banking sector. Some borrowers have used these stays to qualify for national elections despite outstanding debts. Former Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H. Mansur criticized the widespread issuance of such stays, calling them harmful to financial stability. The central bank has directed banks to strengthen their legal teams to expedite loan recovery cases.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, total non-performing loans, including those under litigation, now amount to Tk 771,123 crore, with the sector posting a combined net loss of Tk 136,666 crore last year.

The Bangladesh government is facing complications over whether to cancel or uphold a border fence agreement signed during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. The interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus had earlier decided to revoke the deal, calling it anti-national, but the process stalled after the new administration took office following the 13th national election. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the matter would be reviewed before any action is taken.

Security and geopolitical analysts have labeled the Hasina-era memorandum on border fencing as a violation of international law and a threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty. They argue that India’s construction of barbed-wire fences along the 4,156-kilometer border, including sections built within the zero line, breaches the 1975 Bangladesh-India Joint Border Guidelines. Indian authorities, however, maintain that the fencing complies with bilateral protocols and is aimed at curbing cross-border crimes.

Experts and former officials have urged the government to disclose and annul any agreements deemed contrary to national interest. The Home Ministry is currently examining the issue, but no visible progress has been reported since the change of government.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals, the only Bangladeshi company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) since 2005, is facing a major risk of delisting. The company failed to publish its audited financial statements for the 2024–25 fiscal year within the required six months, leading to suspension of its Global Depository Receipt (GDR) trading since January 2, 2026. Under AIM rules, if GDR trading remains suspended for six months, the company may be delisted by early July.

Six institutional investors in London have written to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) seeking a resolution to avoid delisting. BSEC confirmed it is treating the matter seriously to protect investor interests and Bangladesh’s image. The company’s shares continue normal trading on the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges, but only GDRs are traded in London.

The delay stems from a legal dispute over BSEC’s appointment of independent directors to Beximco Group companies, which halted board meetings needed to approve the financial report. BSEC officials said trading can resume only after court resolution and board approval of the pending audit.

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India took back 20 people, including women and children, from the zero line of the Chowka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on Saturday afternoon. The return followed a flag meeting between the border forces of Bangladesh and India. The incident was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commander of the 59 Mahananda Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

According to BGB and local sources, the BSF attempted to push in the group of 20 people through the Chowka border area on Friday night. A BGB patrol team reached the spot and obstructed the attempt, leading the group to remain at the zero line. Two rounds of company commander-level meetings were later held between the two sides, after which the BSF took the individuals back into Indian territory.

BGB officials stated that the situation along the border is now normal. To prevent further push-in attempts, BGB has strengthened patrols and surveillance in the area.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured full cooperation to investors interested in reviving closed and loss-making state-owned factories. Speaking at a roadshow for domestic and foreign investors at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, he urged business leaders to move forward with confidence, promising all possible assistance from the government. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Industries, the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Rahman emphasized that the government’s main responsibility is to remove obstacles and create pathways to overcome challenges, but acknowledged that this cannot be achieved by the government alone. He called for collective effort, noting that gradual and planned action can solve existing problems. During the three-hour discussion, detailed information on 44 factories was presented, including their locations, infrastructure, investment incentives, and expansion potential.

Business representatives participated in an open discussion, raising around 50 questions that were addressed by relevant authorities. Senior ministers, advisers, and top officials attended the event, along with representatives from major Bangladeshi industrial groups and several Japanese corporations and organizations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will depart Dhaka on Sunday for an official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. His flight, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon. Following the Malaysia leg, Rahman will travel directly to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Foreign Minister Asad Alam Siam announced at a press briefing that this will be Rahman’s first foreign trip since his government took office in February. During the China visit, Bangladesh and China are expected to sign 15 to 17 bilateral instruments, including 13 memorandums of understanding, two agreements, one action plan, and one protocol. Discussions will also cover the long-anticipated Teesta project. The prime minister’s delegation will include around 27 to 28 members.

The visits are described as part of a broader diplomatic initiative to strengthen Bangladesh’s economic partnerships, attract foreign investment, and enhance regional connectivity. Rahman will also attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, or Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian from June 23 to 25 before returning home on Friday night.

The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over the government's decision to retain the existing 10 percent income tax on private universities in the national budget. In a statement signed by the association’s director Belal Ahmed, the organization called on the government to reconsider the tax policy in the interest of students and the higher education sector.

According to the statement, the association had earlier presented the rationale for withdrawing the tax to the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, the National Board of Revenue, and other policymakers, but no positive response was received. It noted that private universities already pay significant amounts in VAT and other taxes for infrastructure, technology, laboratories, and educational services. The additional 10 percent income tax, the association warned, would hinder institutional development and indirectly increase the cost of higher education for students.

The association emphasized that private universities operate as non-profit entities under existing law, and imposing income tax raises a policy question internationally. It urged authorities to view investment in education as a long-term investment in human resource development rather than an expense.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mahdi Amin, announced that more than 65,000 schools participated in this year’s Primary School Gold Cup tournament. He made the statement on Saturday at the Army Stadium in Dhaka after the final match of the event. According to him, the tournament saw participation from 1.1 million boys and 1.1 million girls, totaling 2.2 million students, with over 123,000 matches played across the country.

Mahdi Amin described the tournament as possibly the largest football event of its kind in the world. He emphasized that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the initiative reflects a vision for an education system that encourages both intellectual and moral development. He highlighted the importance of nurturing good citizenship, family values, and creativity through education, sports, and cultural activities.

He further stated that the government will continue to support all participants, ensuring opportunities for every child to express their hidden talents. The adviser congratulated both winners and participants, calling them the future builders of a prosperous Bangladesh.

Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that direct train operations on the Pabna-Dhaka route will begin in August. He made the statement on Saturday evening at a meeting with government officials and local dignitaries at the Pabna Circuit House. The minister said locomotives for the route are ready, and new coaches are expected to arrive in July. Once the coaches are received, the direct service will start on a priority basis.

He added that two new train routes are planned to launch in August, starting with the Dhaka-Pabna service followed by the Dhaka-Khulna route. The minister also emphasized restoring discipline in the transport sector through coordinated efforts involving owners, workers, and all stakeholders, prioritizing public interest over any specific group.

Regarding the relocation of the Kazirhat ferry terminal, Robiul Alam stated that preliminary work has begun, including completion of the feasibility study and development project proposal. The government is committed to implementing the project promptly, considering its public importance and long-standing local demand.

Barishal Metropolitan Police conducted a special operation over the past 24 hours, resulting in the arrest of 77 individuals across the city. The information was confirmed through a press release from the BMP Media Cell. Separate operational teams from four police stations and the Detective Branch carried out the drives in different areas of Barishal.

According to police data, the arrests include 13 individuals with outstanding warrants, 57 in regular cases, six under the Barishal Metropolitan Ordinance, and one under other laws. The operation aimed to maintain law and order and suppress criminal activities within the city.

Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Al Mamun Ul Islam stated that such operations will continue to ensure public safety and control crime in the metropolitan area.