Seventeen days after losing her husband, 28-year-old Rokshana Begum of Chattogram received financial assistance from District Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam. Her husband, Suman Ahmed, a 37-year-old rickshaw puller, had died after three months of illness, leaving behind Rokshana and their two young children without any income. With savings exhausted on medical expenses, she struggled to pay rent and meet daily needs, prompting her to seek help from the district administration.

Rokshana’s written appeal described her family’s dire condition and was reviewed by the DC, known for his humanitarian initiatives. Upon receiving the application, he arranged immediate financial support for the family. Officials noted that losing the sole breadwinner often pushes families into deep uncertainty, especially affecting children’s futures.

Rokshana expressed gratitude, saying the DC personally listened to her situation and offered both financial help and encouragement for her children’s education. The DC stated that while the aid might not solve all her problems, it conveyed the message that she is not alone. The assistance provided initial relief and renewed hope for Rokshana’s ongoing struggle to rebuild her life.

Three people died in separate lightning strikes in Kendua and Madan upazilas of Netrokona on Thursday morning. The incidents occurred between early dawn and morning hours. The victims were identified as Shamsul Huda, 55, of Digli village in Kendua; Ashraful Islam, 25, of Dauki village in the same upazila; and Rajib, 24, of Kaital village in Madan. All three were struck by lightning while engaged in outdoor activities near their homes.

According to police and local sources, Shamsul Huda was fishing in a nearby wetland when lightning struck, killing him instantly. Around the same time, Ashraful Islam was hit near a canal in Dauki area, while Rajib was electrocuted by lightning while checking a fishing trap near his house. Police and local representatives visited the sites, recovered the bodies, and began legal procedures. Kendua Police Station’s officer-in-charge confirmed the deaths and said the bodies would be handed over to the families after completing formalities.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious during thunderstorms as the region continues to experience unstable weather conditions.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun said the ongoing energy shortage, particularly in gas supply, has become the biggest challenge for investors in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday during a workshop titled “Investment Flow and Facilities in Bangladesh,” organized by BIDA with participation from journalists. Mahmud noted that resolving the crisis is urgent but cannot be achieved overnight, estimating it may take one and a half to two years even if work begins immediately.

He explained that much of his official time is now spent coordinating with the Ministry of Energy, as renewable energy alone cannot meet industrial electricity demand. Mahmud added that new power stations would still require gas, which current infrastructure cannot adequately supply. He also stated that foreign investment proposals have increased by about 40 percent since last year’s investment summit, though implementation is delayed due to election-related uncertainty and global conflicts affecting fuel supply.

Mahmud further mentioned plans to prioritize domestic investors this year and highlighted upcoming cooperation with China, including economic zones in Anwara and Mongla. He also discussed reforms such as the new “BanglaBiz” one-stop gateway and a unified business identification number to simplify investor services.

Dhaka University has once again been named the top university in Bangladesh in the ‘QS World University Rankings 2027: Top Global Universities,’ published by UK-based education and research organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on June 18, 2026. The university also maintained its position among the world’s top 600 institutions. This year, QS evaluated a total of 1,504 universities worldwide based on nine indicators, assigning each a maximum score of 100 to determine final rankings.

Dhaka University achieved an overall score of 28.3, with the same score in Academic Reputation, reflecting its longstanding contribution to higher education and research. It performed strongly in Employment Outcomes with a score of 95.0, and in Employer Reputation with 50.8, indicating strong graduate acceptance in the job market. The university also scored 61.1 in International Research Network and 60.6 in Sustainability, highlighting progress in global collaboration and social responsibility.

However, the university scored lower in Citations per Faculty (8.0), Faculty-Student Ratio (8.0), International Faculty Ratio (2.0), and International Student Ratio (1.4), suggesting room for improvement in research output and internationalization.

Independent Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana expressed frustration in the Bangladesh National Parliament, stating that no party—neither the ruling nor the opposition—was willing to take responsibility for her. She made the remarks on Thursday while participating in the general discussion on the proposed 2026–2027 national budget. During the session, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, she requested additional time from the Speaker to discuss issues concerning her constituency.

Farhana explained that she needed a few extra minutes to highlight development matters in her area, emphasizing that she belonged to neither the government nor the opposition. Addressing the Speaker directly, she appealed for the use of his special discretion to grant her the extra time. Her comments underscored the challenges faced by independent lawmakers in securing procedural support within parliamentary discussions.

The exchange took place during the ongoing budget debate, reflecting the procedural and representational difficulties encountered by non-affiliated members in Bangladesh’s parliamentary system.

A group of activists from the banned Awami League, along with its prohibited student and youth wings, staged a sudden procession in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area on Thursday morning and detonated several crude bombs. The incident occurred around 9:15 a.m. near the Mohakhali Bus Terminal, spreading panic among locals. Police later detained three individuals identified as Mizanur Rahman Hawlader, Shamim Ar Baby, and Shamim Hossain.

Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the incident, stating that the group set off four to five explosive devices before fleeing. Law enforcement launched an immediate operation and arrested three suspects from the scene. Authorities said legal action would be taken against those detained and that an investigation was underway to determine who was involved and the motive behind the explosions.

The report also noted that a similar flash procession by Awami League activists in Dhaka last Friday led to the arrest of eight people, who were later placed on four-day remand by the court.

Bangladesh-linked deposits in Swiss banks increased by 41 percent in 2025, reaching 834.2 million Swiss francs, equivalent to about 12,759 crore taka. The data, released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) on Thursday, showed that deposits had been 589.5 million francs in 2024. This marks the second-highest level after 2021, when deposits peaked at 871.1 million francs.

According to the SNB’s annual report “Banks in Switzerland,” the sharp rise in 2025 was mainly driven by deposits from Bangladeshi banks, which grew 43 percent to 822.7 million francs. These accounted for 98.6 percent of total Bangladesh-linked deposits, up from 97.8 percent in 2024. Bank officials in Bangladesh said such placements are part of normal banking operations and not indicative of illicit assets. Personal deposits, however, fell by about 10 percent to 11.4 million francs.

The SNB report also noted that Switzerland now exchanges financial account data with 101 countries under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework, but Bangladesh has yet to commit to joining. Among South Asian nations, Bangladesh ranked second after India in total deposits for 2025.

Dr. Md. Mohibul Ahsan has been elected president and Md. Golam Dastagir general secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Officers Association in its 11th executive committee election. The voting took place on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UGC auditorium, and the results were announced by Chief Election Commissioner Mosammat Jesmin Parvin, Director of the International Cooperation Division. The newly elected 11-member committee will serve for the next two years.

Dr. Ahsan currently serves as Additional Director of the Public University Management Division, while Dastagir is Deputy Director of the Public Relations and Publications Division. Other elected members include two vice presidents, a joint secretary, and several departmental secretaries. The election was conducted in a festive and cordial atmosphere, according to the chief election commissioner, who urged stronger cooperation among officers.

In his post-election remarks, Dr. Ahsan pledged to represent all UGC officers, implement his election commitments, and promote a discrimination-free and merit-based work environment.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that no member of the current parliament is a loan defaulter. He clarified that while some members may have outstanding loans, none have been declared defaulters by a court. The minister made these remarks on Thursday in response to a point of order raised by Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam.

Ahmed explained that under the Representation of the People Order and related regulations, anyone declared a loan defaulter by a court is deemed ineligible to contest parliamentary elections. Therefore, those who have been elected to parliament cannot be considered loan defaulters under the law.

He further noted that any claim suggesting that loan defaulters were nominated in the current parliament contradicts the legal interpretation of eligibility criteria for members of parliament.

Madrasah teacher Tajul Islam testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday, describing his abduction and prolonged detention by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). He stated that he was held in isolation for one year and eight months, during which he was repeatedly beaten and pressured to confess involvement in militant activities. Tajul said he was taken from his workplace in Manikganj in April 2015 by 10 to 15 men and later learned that DGFI had detained him.

According to his testimony, he was interrogated and tortured in several secret facilities, including rooms marked with RAB-4 and RAB-10, before being handed over to Akbar Shah police in Chattogram in December 2016. He said false cases were filed against him under anti-terrorism and arms laws, and he spent eight years in prison before being released on bail in January 2025. Tajul named former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her military adviser Tarique Siddique, and DGFI officials as responsible for his abduction and demanded justice.

The case is part of an ongoing crimes against humanity trial concerning enforced disappearances allegedly carried out during the Awami League government’s rule.

Maulana Muhiyuddin Rabbani, Secretary General of International Majlis Tahaffuz Khatme Nabuwwat Bangladesh, has expressed gratitude and congratulations to Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, for abolishing the long-standing practice of bowing the head when entering the National Parliament. In a statement released to the media on Thursday, Rabbani said the decision aligns with the faith and values of the country’s devout citizens and deserves appreciation.

He noted that the move reflects respect for the religious beliefs, cultural heritage, and moral values of Bangladesh’s majority population, strengthening national identity and self-respect. Rabbani described the Speaker’s decision as one of foresight, courage, and sensitivity to public sentiment, ending a practice that had long been a source of debate.

Rabbani further urged authorities to review other state practices inconsistent with the nation’s religious and cultural values and to adopt systems aligned with national consciousness. He prayed for the Speaker’s well-being and expressed hope that state institutions would continue to act in harmony with public faith and democratic principles.

A detainee and Youth Dal activist, Shahidullah Russell, aged 41, died on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, while receiving treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital under the supervision of prison authorities. He had been held at Cumilla Central Jail since May 11 after being arrested with 102 yaba tablets from Shasanpara village in Lalmai upazila on May 10. According to the senior jail superintendent, Russell had been suffering from pneumonia-related illness and was given medication on May 19. His condition worsened on June 15, and after further deterioration on June 17, he was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 3 p.m. following cardiac shock.

Russell was a resident of Atiti Khondokar Bari in Perul Uttar union of Lalmai upazila and an active member of the local Youth Dal. Following his death, Lalmai Upazila BNP general secretary Yusuf Ali Mir Pintu described him as a dedicated party worker and called for an investigation into whether any irregularities or conspiracies were involved in his arrest and subsequent death.

After postmortem examination, the body was handed over to the family.

National Citizens Party convener Nahid Islam told the national parliament on Thursday that many members of parliament are loan defaulters. He said he had raised the issue before the election and again in his first parliamentary speech, mentioning the number of defaulters without revealing names. Nahid Islam argued that if so many loan defaulters sit in parliament, it could justifiably be called a parliament of loan defaulters, adding that the ruling party’s two-thirds majority had brought them in.

During the same session, BNP lawmaker Md. Selim Bhuiyan highlighted local law enforcement challenges, stating that police in his area lack vehicles to pursue drug dealers. He urged the government to provide vehicles and ensure action against yaba traders.

The remarks underscored growing concerns about financial accountability among lawmakers and operational limitations faced by police in combating narcotics-related crimes.

BNP Member of Parliament Md. Selim Bhuiyan alleged that local police and administrative officials are biased toward the ruling Awami League. Speaking in the national parliament on Thursday, he said police often claim they lack vehicles to arrest yaba traders, yet remain inactive even when provided with resources. He urged that the police administration be reorganized to effectively implement the national budget.

Bhuiyan further claimed that many police officers are directly involved with drug dealers and users, asserting that the police and local administrators, including UNOs and DCs, act as Awami League loyalists. He said these officials are merely transferred between stations without any real change in their political alignment. According to him, this partisan behavior undermines the authority of BNP lawmakers and hampers governance.

He concluded that meaningful reform of the police administration is essential if the government intends to implement the budget properly.

The European Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have announced an additional €14 million (around Tk 200 crore) in aid for Rohingya refugees living in Ukhiya and Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The announcement was made on June 18, 2026, ahead of World Refugee Day. The funding aims to sustain emergency assistance and protection programs for 1.2 million Rohingya refugees and to support local host communities.

According to the EU and UNHCR, the new funding will benefit both refugees and at least 70,000 Bangladeshis by expanding skill development programs and access to clean cooking fuel (LPG). EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller said the EU remains committed to supporting both refugees and host communities, emphasizing the need to focus on education, skills, and livelihood opportunities. UNHCR Representative Ivo Freijsen highlighted the importance of continuous support for Rohingya families enduring hardship for nine years.

The initiative seeks to uphold refugees’ dignity, enhance self-reliance, and prepare them for voluntary, safe, and dignified return to Myanmar. It is part of the 2025–2026 Joint Response Plan, which requires $710 million to meet urgent needs of 1.2 million refugees until repatriation becomes possible.