Fifteen students of a primary school in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila fell ill after eating food provided under the school feeding program. Ten of them were admitted to the 250-bed district hospital between Wednesday afternoon and 8 p.m., according to District Primary Education Officer Saiful Islam and hospital resident physician Mahbub Hasan.

Saiful Islam said the students of Salim Dolpara Government Primary School were served eggs and bread under the program. Shortly after eating, several students began to feel unwell. Initial treatment was given locally, but ten students were later hospitalized as their condition worsened. The food had been supplied by a local NGO, Gram Unnayan Karmo (GUK). Samples of the food have been collected and sent for laboratory testing.

Dr. Mahbub Hasan said the hospitalized students are now in stable condition. He suggested that low-quality or unhygienic food and excessive heat might have caused the illness. Attempts to contact GUK officials were unsuccessful. The NGO had previously been fined for similar incidents in other schools in the district.

An embankment in the Palashtola Bakkar Mor area of Dhanua Kamalpur Union, Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur district, was breached by floodwaters following heavy rainfall and hill runoff. The breach has allowed water to enter low-lying areas, raising fears among local farmers of severe damage to Aus paddy and jute crops.

According to local sources, a section of the embankment had already collapsed about a month ago due to heavy rain, causing significant losses to Boro paddy at that time. Despite the earlier damage, no effective repair work was undertaken, and the recent downpour and hill floods have worsened the situation. Farmers now fear that hundreds of acres of farmland could be submerged if the embankment is not repaired immediately.

Local farmers have urged the administration and the Water Development Board to take urgent action to repair the damaged embankment and protect their farmland and crops from further destruction.

In Feni, a group of activists from the banned Awami League organized a sudden flash procession on Wednesday morning. Around 15 to 20 young men wearing masks marched under the banner of Feni Sadar Upazila Awami League along Station Road. The event drew attention after a video clip of the procession spread on Facebook later in the day.

The video showed participants carrying a banner featuring images of Sheikh Mujib, Sheikh Hasina, and Alauddin Nasim while chanting slogans in support of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina. The procession began at Station Road and ended at the nearby railway station platform. Police later conducted an operation in the area and arrested four individuals who had taken part in the march.

Feni Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Gazi Muhammad Fouzul Azim confirmed the arrests and said that legal action is underway regarding the incident.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified vigilance and professionalism to ensure border security, prevent smuggling, and stop the illegal transfer of state assets. Lieutenant Colonel Kawsar Mehdi, commander of the Kaptai Battalion, confirmed the heightened alert following a recent operation in the Dumdumiyachhara area of Rangamati.

During the operation, BGB personnel seized two mini power tillers and related equipment that were being transported to India for smuggling. The seizure, valued at approximately four lakh taka, took place at a checkpoint under the Dumdumiyachhara Border Outpost. According to BOP Commander Naib Subedar Amirul Kawsar, the confiscated goods are being processed for handover to customs authorities following legal procedures.

Lieutenant Colonel Kawsar stated that BGB operations will continue in the future to prevent all forms of illegal activities along the border.

A BNP activist named Mithu Ali, aged 50, died after being trampled during a reception event celebrating the release of BNP leader Abdullah Al Raihan in front of Chapainawabganj District Jail on Wednesday afternoon. Another person was injured in the incident. Witnesses said the crowd became uncontrollable as hundreds of party members gathered to welcome Raihan, who had been released on bail in a case involving the assault of a police constable.

Raihan, president of the Gomostapur Union BNP, had been arrested on May 9 in connection with the case filed by Constable Md. Shawkat. After his release, supporters greeted him with garlands, slogans, and a motorcycle rally. During the celebration, Mithu Ali collapsed amid the heat and crowd pressure and was later declared dead at Chapainawabganj District Hospital.

Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway. The death has cast a shadow of grief over the area and sparked political discussion locally.

Two school students drowned in the Meghna River at Sonargaon in Narayanganj on Wednesday afternoon while bathing with friends. The victims were identified as Meraj Hossain, a tenth-grade student of Barnamala School, and Kayes Bhuiyan, an eighth-grade student of A.K. School and College. Both were residents of Dhaka. Their bodies were recovered by a fire service diving team four hours after they went missing.

According to classmates, a group of seven students from the two schools skipped classes and went to the river to bathe. Two students initially went underwater, and when Meraj and Kayes tried to rescue them, they were swept away by the river’s current. None of the students knew how to swim. Upon receiving the news, the Narayanganj Fire Service launched a rescue operation and later handed over the recovered bodies to the families.

Officials from the fire service and the local river police described the incident as tragic and confirmed that the bodies were recovered and returned to the families after the operation.

Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam has said that the Family Card program will become a symbol of empowerment for underprivileged families. She made the remarks on Wednesday at the inauguration ceremony of the Family Card program held at the Ruhitpur Upazila Parishad field in Keraniganj. In this third phase, a total of 1,275 families from two unions of Keraniganj upazila are receiving the cards.

Farida Khanam explained that the initiative reflects the government’s vision that the family, not the individual, is the core unit of development. The Family Card aims to bring genuinely poor, helpless, and disadvantaged families under an integrated social security framework. Currently, more than 95 social safety programs are being implemented through 23 ministries, and the Family Card is designed to unify these scattered services under one platform.

She added that the card will help transform social security from a donation-based system into a citizen’s right and may eventually serve as a universal social identity card for accessing government services more easily.

A faction of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a protest march in Shariatpur’s Binodpur Union on Tuesday evening demanding the release of Asaduzzaman Liton Munshi, the general secretary of the local Awami League unit. Munshi was arrested by Palong Model Police Station on allegations of involvement with a banned organization and participation in anti-government conspiracies. The unusual protest by BNP activists in favor of an Awami League leader has sparked widespread discussion and criticism across the district.

A 40-second video of the protest circulated on social media, showing BNP activists chanting slogans for Munshi’s release, prompting mixed reactions in local political circles. Police said Munshi was detained during a raid based on secret information and that investigations are ongoing to identify others involved. Former student leader Imran Al Nazir criticized the BNP faction’s action as politically questionable and contrary to public expectations.

Local BNP leader Shahin Madbor denied that the protest was an official party program, claiming it was organized by individuals from one ward without authorization. Observers described the incident as rare and indicative of shifting political dynamics in Shariatpur.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Mohammad Mikail Islam, 52, for alleged involvement in the deaths of 18 Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to reach Greece illegally through the Mediterranean Sea. CID said in a statement on Wednesday that Mikail, a resident of Mithapur in Dirai, Sunamganj, was detained on Monday afternoon near Sylhet Airport. During initial questioning, he reportedly admitted to being part of a human trafficking network.

According to the case report, the trafficking group had promised to send a man named Masum to Greece in exchange for 1.3 million taka, collected in two installments. Masum was taken to Libya in January, and after several months, he and 44 others were sent toward Greece by sea on March 21. The boat became stranded for days, leading to severe shortages of food and water, and 18 Bangladeshis died, including Masum.

CID stated that investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the trafficking ring, trace financial transactions, and uncover any international connections.

The Bangladesh Jubo Dal has expelled Shamim Ahmed, joint convener of its Madhabpur upazila unit in Habiganj, following allegations of drug use and other unethical activities. The decision was announced in a press release issued on Saturday, stating that Ahmed was removed from both his organizational post and primary membership to maintain party discipline. The expulsion was approved by the Jubo Dal central executive committee’s president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Noyon.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in Madhabpur’s political circles, with local activists viewing the move as a reflection of the central leadership’s firm stance on maintaining internal discipline. According to local sources, the central Jubo Dal has recently taken a stricter approach toward members accused of misconduct.

The organization reiterated that such disciplinary actions are part of its policy to preserve party image and ensure smooth organizational operations based on verified allegations.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said Jagannath University has always played a significant role in Bangladesh’s history, citing its involvement in the 1952 Language Movement, the 1971 Liberation War, and the 2024 mass uprising. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while addressing the Dean’s Award 2026 ceremony at the university’s central auditorium, where he praised the institution’s legacy and pledged continued government attention.

The minister recalled his tenure from 2001 to 2006, mentioning efforts to curb book smuggling with university students and the policies that led to Jagannath’s transformation from a college into a full-fledged university under Begum Khaleda Zia. He emphasized the need for holistic student development through academics, debate, and sports, announcing that education reforms would begin in 2027 with updated syllabuses in 2028. He also criticized past university leadership and commended the current government’s dedication to education.

Member of Parliament Hamidur Rahman Hamid congratulated award recipients and urged them to build a knowledge-based, equitable Bangladesh. He also called for allocating nearby vacant land for university staff housing and improving campus facilities.

The Bangladesh Police has transferred and reassigned 12 senior officers holding the ranks of Additional Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Police. The order, signed by Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, was issued on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. According to the official circular, the transfers have been made in the public interest and must take effect by July 1, 2026. Officers failing to hand over their responsibilities within the stipulated time will be considered released from duty starting July 2.

The order lists officers from various units, including the Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Metropolitan Police divisions, and training centers. Among those transferred are officers from Shariatpur, Barishal, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Dhaka, Gazipur, and Khulna. The new postings include positions in the Special Branch, CID, Police Headquarters, and several in-service training centers.

The directive reflects routine administrative reshuffling within the Bangladesh Police aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and effective personnel management across different divisions.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon told the National Parliament on Wednesday that recruitment of teachers and staff across educational institutions in Bangladesh has been halted because of ongoing legal complications. Speaking under Rule 300, he said efforts have been made since he took office to resolve the cases, but the appeals are yet to be listed in the Appellate Division, preventing progress in the recruitment process.

He explained that appointments through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), including positions of institution heads and college principals, remain suspended due to these cases. Recruitment of office assistants-cum-night guards in primary schools is also blocked for the same reason, with thousands of cases still pending in court.

The minister further noted that around 33,000 head teacher positions remain vacant nationwide. Promotion-related complications and ongoing litigation have prevented many teachers from being promoted before retirement, leaving key leadership roles unfilled in schools.

A police couple in Khulna has been accused of physically torturing their domestic worker, who was later hospitalized with serious injuries. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at a residence in the Sonadanga residential area’s second phase. According to the allegation, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sanjay Mitra and his wife ASI Popi Halder, both stationed at Sonadanga Police Station, assaulted their domestic worker, Milon Chandra Das, allegedly over a cooking dispute. Reports claim that Milon was beaten and burned with a hot pan.

Milon, originally from Narsingdi district and the son of Okil Chandra Das, had been working for the couple since losing his parents at a young age. Following the incident, police officer Md. Saiful Islam rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors admitted him to the surgery ward after initial treatment. Saiful Islam stated that no written complaint had yet been filed by the victim or his family, but legal action would follow upon receiving one.

The incident has caused public uproar in the area, and authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation. Statements from the accused officers were not immediately available.

The Jhalakathi district administration has cancelled 33 firearm licenses belonging to 25 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations. According to an official order issued by the district administration, the decision was made following the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and in the interest of public safety.

Among those whose licenses were revoked are Hafiz Al Mahamud, General Secretary of Sadar Upazila Awami League; Rezaul Karim Zakir, Convener of the District Jubo League; and Kamal Sharif, Joint Convener of the District Jubo League. The list also includes former municipal mayor Afzal Hossain Rana, District Awami League Treasurer Monirul Islam Talukder, former Upazila Chairman Syed Razzak Ali Selim, and Joint General Secretary Mujibul Haque Akn. Other affected individuals include local representatives, political figures, Jubo Mohila League leader Yasmin Rabi Poppy, and Jatiya Party central leader M A Kuddus Khan.

Police confirmed that all firearms with cancelled licenses have been deposited at the four police stations of Jhalakathi district, and legal procedures are underway.