A mother and her young son died after being electrocuted while pumping water from a pond in Chatkhil, Noakhali. The incident occurred around 1:15 p.m. on Friday at Munshur Member’s house in Chayani Tobga village under Ward 9 of Chatkhil Municipality. The victims were identified as Anjana Rani Ghosh, 35, and her eight-year-old son Rahul, both residents of the same village.

According to police and local sources, several owners, including Dulal Chandra Ghosh, were using an electric motor to pump water from a shared pond. Rahul reportedly came into contact with an electric wire connected to the motor and was electrocuted. His mother Anjana was also electrocuted when she tried to rescue him. Both died on the spot, casting a pall of grief over the area.

Chatkhil Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Monnaf said police visited the scene and would take legal steps after speaking with the victims’ family members.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny has assured a permanent solution to the suffering of people affected by erosion and flooding along the Teesta River. Speaking on Friday, June 19, 2026, after inspecting the Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, he said that planned embankment construction and dredging could protect the region’s residents. Acting under the Prime Minister’s directive, a team of experts has been mobilized to address the issue.

The minister highlighted that water flow from upstream in Gajoldoba, due to open gates in a neighboring country, has intensified erosion and flooding, making life difficult for locals. He emphasized the necessity of the Teesta Master Plan, describing it as vital not only for the northern region but for the entire country. The government plans to implement sustainable dredging and embankment projects to mitigate the crisis.

Anny added that the long-term project would require multiple meetings and would eventually be submitted to ECNEC for approval, similar to the Padma Barrage Project. He expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen the national economy and transform the livelihoods of northern Bangladesh’s agricultural communities.

The Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association has proposed that all types of restaurants, including street food vendors, be brought under VAT registration and that a uniform 5 percent VAT rate be applied to both restaurant and catering services. The proposal was presented at a press conference held at the association’s headquarters in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, following the announcement of the proposed 2026–27 national budget. The association argued that the current system, which imposes 5 percent VAT on restaurants and 15 percent on catering services, creates inequality in business competition and complicates tax administration.

In a written statement, the association’s secretary general Imran Hasan said that rising LPG and electricity prices and high inflation have significantly increased operating costs in the restaurant sector, which has not received adequate attention in the proposed budget. The association also called for a business-friendly tax environment, one-stop service for restaurant operations, a specific industrial policy for the sector, and mandatory certification from the association.

The group welcomed the government’s proposal to offer depreciation benefits for new restaurant investments outside Dhaka but urged authorities to ensure low-interest loans, reduce operational costs, and maintain policy stability to encourage investment and job creation.

A proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Education to rename the historic Shibganj Pilot Girls’ High School in Bogura as ‘Shibganj Mir Shahe Alam Pilot Girls’ High School, Shibganj, Bogura’. The proposal, dated June 9 and signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shirin Akter of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, has triggered local discussions and controversy. The school, established in 1973, is the only pilot girls’ school in Shibganj upazila.

According to the ministry’s letter, the proposal will be reviewed under Article 14.5 of the 2023 amendment to the Private Educational Institutions Policy 2022. Authorities have been instructed to conduct an on-site inspection to assess the rationale, necessity, and local opinion regarding the name change and to submit a comprehensive report with recommendations.

Separate letters have been sent to the Chairman of the Rajshahi Education Board and the Deputy Commissioner of Bogura for investigation and opinion. The ministry will make a final decision based on their findings. Local sources report mixed reactions, with some supporting the change and others urging preservation of the school’s traditional name.

Nasir Uddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), declared that his party would not make any compromise with the current government over the issue of state reform. He made the statement on Friday, June 19, 2026, while speaking to journalists before visiting the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat. Patwari said the government was not implementing necessary reforms, prompting his party to take to the streets. He also commented that if the BNP government denied 75 percent of the people, its downfall would not take long.

After visiting the shrine, Patwari planted two trees in the premises of the Sixty Dome Mosque and joined the Friday prayers there. During his interaction with reporters, he elaborated on his party’s stance regarding state reform, ongoing judicial processes against Awami League members, and issues concerning loan defaulters. He also discussed various aspects of national politics and urged collective efforts to preserve Bagerhat’s historical and religious heritage.

Local NCP leaders, administrative officials, and other participants were present during his visit and discussions.

The Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum has announced seven demands, including restructuring the board of directors and returning ownership of Islami Bank Bangladesh to its original owners. The demands were presented by the forum’s convener, Professor Nurun Nabi Manik, at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday. The forum emphasized that Islami Bank plays a vital role in the national economy through remittance flows, SME financing, and public savings.

Speakers at the event expressed concern over the bank’s governance and stability following the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman and the removal of Managing Director Omar Farooq Khan. They stated that since May 24, customers have been organizing human chains, submitting memorandums, and holding press conferences to press their demands. The forum also met with Bangladesh Bank’s deputy governors Kabir Ahmed and Dr. Ismail Hossain to discuss the situation and called for reinstating the former managing director.

The forum announced sit-in programs on June 21 in front of Islami Bank Tower and on June 22 in front of Bangladesh Bank, warning of tougher actions if their demands remain unmet.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) thwarted a third attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push three Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, near the Kalirhat border under Patgram upazila. According to BGB and local sources, BSF members from Cooch Behar district’s Mathabhanga police station area brought the three individuals near the barbed wire fence and tried to send them into Bangladesh under cover of darkness.

Members of BGB’s 61 Teesta Battalion from the Kalirhat Border Outpost were patrolling the area when BSF noticed their presence. The attempt was then abandoned, and BSF took the three Indian citizens back inside Indian territory. BGB confirmed that the situation in the area remains normal.

To maintain control and prevent further incidents, BGB has strengthened round-the-clock surveillance along the border with the support of local residents.

The government of Bangladesh is set to open five specialized 200-bed children's hospitals within the next six months in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Cumilla. According to officials, the hospitals in Barishal and Khulna are expected to begin operations in early August, with all necessary preparations nearly complete. Each hospital will feature intensive care units (ICUs), central air conditioning, and space for future expansion. Procurement of furniture and medical equipment has already been finalized.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has inspected the hospital sites in Khulna, Barishal, and Cumilla, confirming that the Barishal hospital will open on August 1. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has instructed the Public Administration Ministry to ensure recruitment of 1,475 staff members per hospital. The initiative follows the Prime Minister’s directive on May 10 to operationalize unused children’s hospitals across six divisions.

Officials indicated that the Rajshahi hospital will begin with outpatient services within three months, while other facilities will gradually expand services after launch.

Police in Chattogram detained six leaders of the banned organization Chhatra League on Friday afternoon while they were preparing for a rally near the city’s 2 No. Gate area. The arrests were made on the Akhtaruzzaman flyover by officers from Panchlaish Police Station. The station’s officer-in-charge, Zahidul Islam, confirmed the operation.

According to police and local sources, several members of the banned group had gathered to organize a procession when a police patrol team intervened. The activists fled onto the flyover and attempted to resume their rally before being apprehended. Among those detained is Sharif Hossain, reportedly a close associate of former Awami League councillor Mobarak Ali. Police stated that Sharif faces four cases, including one linked to the July 2024 massacre, while the other five detainees are also accused in multiple cases under various national laws.

Authorities said legal action has been initiated against the detainees, who will be presented before court on Saturday. Police surveillance in the area has been intensified to prevent further unrest.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, central executive member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation, has accused the ruling party of creating division within the July unity by not pledging constitutional reform at the start of governance. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the Unit Presidents’ Conference organized by the Comilla Metropolitan Jamaat.

Presided over by Comilla Metropolitan Ameer Kazi Din Mohammad and conducted by Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, the event was attended by several central and local Jamaat leaders. Selim Uddin said his party aims to build humane cities where no one remains unemployed or hungry, emphasizing welfare-oriented activities such as free medical services for thousands.

Earlier in the morning at a youth gathering in Uttara, he pledged that if elected, Jamaat would prioritize building a safe and corruption-free city within five years through modern surveillance systems. He also urged young people to engage in sports and avoid drugs and crime to contribute to national development.

The youth wing of the Conscious Consumers Society (CCS), known as Consumer Youth Bangladesh (CYB), has formed a new committee for its Dhaka College branch. The announcement was made on Friday, June 19, 2026, approving a 25-member committee for a one-year term. Philosophy student Md. Mahdiuzzaman Mahmud has been appointed president, while Khandaker Abu Zar from the Department of Islamic History and Culture will serve as general secretary. The approval came from CYB’s central president Mohammad Delowar Hossain and general secretary Md. Sultan Mahmud.

The newly announced committee includes vice presidents Ibrahim Ali Jibon and Yamin Galib, joint general secretaries Mehrab Hossain Ratna and Sumon Fakir, and several other members responsible for organizational, media, cultural, and financial affairs. The committee also includes six executive members.

The Conscious Consumers Society, established in 2013, works to raise awareness about food adulteration and consumer rights across Bangladesh. The organization operates in 350 police stations, 64 districts, and 79 major educational institutions with over 200,000 volunteers actively engaged in its initiatives.

Police in Patiya, Chattogram, have solved the mystery behind the killing of five-year-old Md. Jahhan, whose body was found 36 hours after he went missing. The child disappeared on Tuesday afternoon while playing near his home in the Eastpara area of Patiya municipality. Later that night, his father filed a general diary with Patiya Police Station. On Thursday morning, police recovered Jahhan’s body, packed in a sack, from a nearby drain. The main accused, neighbor Sadia Sultana Niha, along with her parents, was detained.

Investigators said Niha confessed to killing Jahhan with a hammer after luring him into her yard. To cover up the crime, she wrote a ransom note demanding three lakh taka, initially to frame a neighbor but later to mislead investigators. Police stated that Niha acted alone, while her parents tried to protect her after learning of the incident. Hundreds of locals later protested outside Patiya Police Station, demanding exemplary punishment.

Police officials confirmed that Niha admitted her involvement and will be sent to court for a statement under Section 164. A case is being processed, and further investigation is ongoing.

A female activist of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has accused two party leaders of sexually harassing her at a hotel bar in Chattogram. The allegations were made at a press conference on June 19, where the woman claimed that central leader A S M Suja Uddin and city leader Sadia Afrin lured her to the venue under the pretext of a meeting about party positions. She alleged that Suja Uddin behaved inappropriately, made indecent proposals, and tried to intimidate her when she refused.

According to the complainant, Sadia Afrin initially accompanied her to the hotel but later left, leaving her alone with Suja Uddin, who allegedly made repeated advances and offered political and financial incentives. The woman said she left the place after feeling unsafe. The incident reportedly occurred on June 14 at the Peninsula Hotel in Chattogram.

Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nur Hossain Mamun confirmed that a general diary has been filed and the matter is under investigation. Authorities stated that the truth of the allegations will be determined after the investigation concludes.

Police in Banshkhali, Chattogram, arrested one suspected drug dealer and seized 10,000 yaba pills along with a truck used for transportation. The operation took place on Thursday night near Imandar Market on the Chattogram-Banshkhali regional highway, following a tip-off. The arrested individual was identified as Hafiz Hawlader, 28, from Bagerhat district. The truck, bearing registration number Dhaka-Metro-N-13-9205, had been parked suspiciously for a long time before being searched by police.

Sub-inspector Arif Hossain of Banshkhali Police Station confirmed the arrest and filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act against Hafiz Hawlader. Officer-in-Charge Rabiul Haque stated that police operations to eliminate drugs and yaba trafficking in the area will continue.

The seizure highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts in Chattogram to curb illegal drug trade and maintain public safety in the region.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that those who do not respect the people's verdict cannot claim to be supporters of democracy. He made the remarks on Friday morning at a workers’ conference organized by Narayanganj Metropolitan Jamaat at the central Eidgah ground. The event was chaired by city Jamaat Ameer Maulana Abdul Jabbar and attended by several central and local leaders. During the conference, Dr. Rahman announced Abdul Jabbar as Jamaat’s candidate for the Narayanganj City Corporation election.

Dr. Rahman said Jamaat’s stance during the election was clear in favor of a referendum, accusing the government of covertly campaigning against it. He claimed that despite 67.8 percent voter participation, the referendum’s outcome was not properly valued. He criticized the government for appointing loyalists to key institutions, including the central bank and universities, as part of an attempt to establish one-party rule. He also lamented the loss of Narayanganj’s industrial reputation, citing unresolved cases like the Taqi murder and the seven killings.

He urged the government to respect the referendum results and warned against creating new political godfathers in Narayanganj.