A series of brutal killings in Chattogram has triggered widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the region’s deteriorating law and order. Recent incidents include the daylight shooting of a Jubo Dal leader in Raozan and the nighttime murder of a mother and daughter in Anwara. Attackers have been seen moving openly with heavy weapons, and even police camps have come under assault. The violence is reportedly linked to disputes over control of illegal businesses involving sand, soil, and drugs.

Police sources said that in the past 18 months, more than 50 murders have occurred across Chattogram district and city, including 25 in Raozan alone, most of them politically motivated. CCTV footage of several killings has circulated on social media, revealing the identities of suspects who remain at large. The police have identified those involved in the latest incidents but cited difficulties in arresting them due to their escape into remote hilly areas.

District police officials stated that the perpetrators have been surrounded and that a major operation is being planned to restore order soon.

Police recovered the body of a student from the hostel of Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy, a private school in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, on Tuesday night. Following the discovery, angry residents vandalized the school’s main gate and reception area around 10 p.m. in protest. The situation was brought under control after Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin Chowdhury and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kazi Atikur Rahman arrived at the scene and assured proper investigation.

The deceased, Mehedi Hasan, aged 14, was an eighth-grade student and the son of Ziauddin Zia from Raghbapur village in Ichapur Union. His family alleged that he was murdered. However, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi stated that the body was found hanging and that it could not yet be determined whether it was a case of murder or suicide until the autopsy report is received. The situation in the area is currently calm.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was greeted with a shower of flowers by tea workers during his visit to Sylhet on Wednesday morning. He landed at Osmani International Airport at 10:15 a.m., where central and local BNP leaders welcomed him. According to his schedule, there were no formal party programs in Sylhet, and he departed for Srimangal by special bus around 10:30 a.m. Along the route, workers from the Malnichhara tea estate braved the rain to greet him with flowers.

Sylhet District BNP President and City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury said that local representatives, along with central and local party leaders, were present at the airport to receive the Prime Minister. He urged party members to stand in an orderly manner along the roadside to welcome him. Organizers stated that people from all walks of life were involved in making the visit successful, and preparations were underway for one of the largest public receptions in the greater Sylhet region.

Bangladesh’s finance minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a new amendment to the Income Tax Act in parliament on June 11, 2026. The proposal states that if a company fails to pay loan interest within three years, the unpaid amount will be treated as business income and taxed accordingly. The measure aims to prevent companies from repeatedly claiming unpaid interest as expenses to reduce taxable profits.

According to the amendment, if the unpaid interest is later settled after the three-year period, it will then be considered an allowable expense for that year. The change aligns the tax law with international accounting standards under the International Financial Reporting System (IFRS), which follows the accrual basis of accounting. Previously, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) applied a cost basis, recognizing expenses only when payments were made.

Officials explained that the amendment resolves inconsistencies between accounting and tax reporting practices, ensuring that companies cannot indefinitely defer tax liabilities by delaying interest payments.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union, the country’s largest export destination, dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2026. According to Eurostat data, export earnings from January to March fell by 19.26 percent year-on-year to 4.59 billion euros, down from 5.68 billion euros in the same period of 2025. In March alone, exports declined by 19.24 percent to 1.7 billion euros, a loss of about 410 million euros compared to the previous year.

The decline was driven by both reduced export volume and lower average prices. During the three months, Bangladesh’s export volume fell by 8.32 percent, while the average price per kilogram dropped by 11.93 percent. The EU’s total apparel imports from all countries also decreased by 11.62 percent in value and 8.32 percent in quantity during the same period.

Industry stakeholders warned that since nearly half of Bangladesh’s total export earnings come from the EU, a prolonged downturn in this market could negatively affect the broader economy. They also noted that global trade shifts and stronger competition from China, India, Vietnam, and other exporters have intensified challenges in the European market.

Bangladesh’s banking sector expanded loan rescheduling sharply in 2025 to reduce reported defaults. According to the Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Stability Report 2025, banks rescheduled Tk 984.33 billion in default loans last year, bringing total rescheduled loans to Tk 4.46 trillion by year-end. This marked a significant rise from Tk 3.48 trillion in 2024, with 57 percent of rescheduled loans concentrated in the top ten banks.

The report shows that rescheduling has accelerated since 2022, when banks were given full authority to renew defaulted loans. Policy changes allowed borrowers to reschedule by depositing as little as 2 to 4.5 percent of outstanding amounts, with up to ten-year terms and two-year grace periods. Of 1,516 applications under special policy support, 250 loans worth Tk 261.14 billion were implemented. However, 39.87 percent of rescheduled loans have again defaulted.

The IMF classifies rescheduled loans as “stressed,” and combined with defaults and written-off loans, Bangladesh’s distressed credit reached Tk 10.87 trillion by December 2025, or 30.6 percent of total lending. The industrial sector accounted for the largest share of rescheduled loans at 29.56 percent.

A commentary published on June 17, 2026, examines the long history of media control in Bangladesh, linking it to authoritarian political traditions. It recalls the June 16, 1975 closure of most newspapers under the then Awami League government and argues that similar tendencies resurfaced during Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure through laws, licensing pressure, and censorship. The article claims that such control turned many outlets into echoes of power rather than voices of the people.

The analysis connects this legacy to the July 2024 student-led uprising, describing it as not only a political revolt but also a rejection of decades of information control. It says mainstream media failed to reflect public grievances over inequality, corruption, and disenfranchisement, while citizen journalism on social media broke through censorship. International outlets reportedly exposed state violence when domestic media remained silent.

The writer calls for structural reform to ensure editorial independence, abolish restrictive laws, and end corporate and political ownership influence. He concludes that the future of democracy and journalism in Bangladesh depends on restoring truth and public trust in the media.

Turkey and Bangladesh are entering a new phase of bilateral relations marked by expanding trade, defense cooperation, and cultural engagement. Following Bangladesh’s support for Turkey’s democratic government after the 2016 coup attempt and Turkey’s humanitarian role during the Rohingya crisis, ties between the two nations have strengthened significantly. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s two-day visit to Dhaka on June 5, 2026, was described as a milestone toward raising bilateral trade from USD 1.3 billion to USD 2 billion. Bangladesh proposed Turkish investment in special economic zones and emphasized partnership based on equality.

Bangladesh exports jute, garments, leather, and ceramics to Turkey, while importing cotton, petroleum, machinery, and steel. Discussions during the visit included potential free trade and preferential trade agreements. Defense cooperation has also expanded, with Bangladesh purchasing Turkish drones and rocket systems under its Forces Goal 2030 modernization plan. Culturally, Turkish television dramas, fashion, and cuisine are gaining popularity in Bangladesh, strengthening people-to-people connections.

The article suggests that establishing a Yunus Emre Cultural Center in Bangladesh could institutionalize cultural ties, further consolidating the growing partnership between the two nations.

A column published on June 17, 2026, in the Bangladeshi daily Amar Desh argues that allegations of large-scale illegal migration from Bangladesh to India are baseless and politically driven. The writer, Abul Asad, cites historical statements, Indian census data, and official records to claim that the narrative of millions of Bangladeshi infiltrators has been exaggerated by Indian right-wing groups, including the Sangh Parivar and its affiliates such as the BJP and Bajrang Dal. He asserts that these groups use the infiltration narrative to disenfranchise Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims and to create tension between the two countries.

The article references past Indian government data showing limited cross-border movement and repatriation of small numbers of people, contrasting this with inflated figures circulated in Indian political discourse. It also cites demographic studies indicating no abnormal population growth in border districts of West Bengal, arguing that economic and educational factors, not religion, explain population trends.

The writer concludes that the infiltration theory is a continuation of long-standing efforts by Indian extremists to destabilize Bangladesh and that such attempts have repeatedly failed due to the unity and resilience of the Bangladeshi people.

The Bangladesh government has initiated efforts to locate 57 fugitive police officers following the arrest of former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed in Dubai. According to police headquarters, these officers fled after August 5, 2024, and were allegedly involved in various crimes during the July uprising. Authorities are preparing to seek Interpol’s assistance to identify their locations. The fugitives include several former senior officials such as ex-DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former SB chief Monirul Islam, and former DB head Harun-or-Rashid.

Police sources said most of the fugitives are believed to be in India, while some have moved to Europe or remain in hiding within Bangladesh. Their salaries have already been suspended. The government has also obtained permission from the Home Ministry to arrest 26 of the officers. Two former IGPs, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and A.K.M. Shahidul Haque, are currently imprisoned, while seven other officers have been arrested in connection with the uprising.

An unnamed additional IGP told Amader Desh that bringing the fugitives back for trial depends on government directives.

The trial of former Member of Parliament Abul Hasanat Abdullah and three others begins today at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 in Dhaka. They are accused of crimes against humanity for the alleged crossfire killings of two men, Tipu Howlader and Kabir Molla, in Agailjhara, Barishal, on February 21, 2015. The proceedings will open with the prosecution’s introductory statement and the testimony of the first witness.

According to the case documents, the victims were political rivals of Abul Hasanat Abdullah. The charges allege that Abdullah, unable to defeat them politically, abused state power to orchestrate their deaths. He allegedly instructed then Barishal Superintendent of Police A.K.M. Ehsanullah to frame the victims in a false case, after which Assistant Sub-Inspectors Mahbul Islam and Jasim Uddin carried out the killings under the guise of a crossfire incident.

The tribunal had framed charges on May 20, 2026, ordering the trial to proceed. The two arrested police officers are to be produced from prison for today’s hearing.

A newly constructed rural road in Magura Union of Kishoreganj upazila, Nilphamari, built at a cost of about 4.5 million taka, has started to deteriorate only seven days after completion. Locals allege that substandard materials, insufficient bitumen, and disregard for construction guidelines led to the rapid damage. The incident has sparked anger and concern among residents.

According to the report, the 1.5-kilometer road from Checkpost to Darzipara village was built under the 2025–26 fiscal year’s rural infrastructure development project by contractor firm Suman Traders. Locals claim the contractor completed the work hastily during public holidays without supervision, skipping proper soil filling and layering of brick chips, sand, and stones. As a result, the road’s durability is now in question.

Magura Union Parishad Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Mithu confirmed that the work was done without oversight, while contractor owner Mosgul Haque denied any wrongdoing. Kishoreganj Upazila Engineer Mahmudul Hasan said the site would be inspected soon and necessary action taken if irregularities are found.

The government has dissolved the board of Islami Bank, Bangladesh’s largest private bank, following escalating political tensions surrounding its ownership and management. The move comes after prolonged disputes between the ruling party and the main opposition over control of the institution. The Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) met with the central bank governor to express concern, and the governor acknowledged the issue had become politicized. The author argues that such politicization undermines governance and could unsettle international confidence.

The article traces the bank’s troubled history, including alleged misuse of state agencies under the previous administration to transfer ownership to businessman S. Alam, accused of large-scale financial misappropriation. The interim government led by Dr. Yunus had restructured the bank, restoring stability, but renewed turmoil has emerged under the current elected government. The author warns that political interference in banking could jeopardize economic recovery and foreign loan negotiations.

The commentary concludes that the government must restore depositor confidence by recovering misappropriated funds, appointing competent management, and ensuring liquidity support. Failure to depoliticize the financial sector could threaten remittance inflows and overall economic stability.

High-speed competitions among long-distance buses, motorcycles, and other vehicles on Bangladesh’s highways are increasingly being filmed and shared on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, according to a June 17, 2026 report. These videos, often recorded by drivers or their assistants seeking online popularity, show reckless overtaking and dangerous driving that have led to a surge in road accidents and casualties. Despite the clear violation of traffic laws, highway police have been criticized for failing to take effective action.

Data from the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association and the Road Safety Foundation show a rising trend in accidents and fatalities, with over 600 deaths reported in May alone. Experts, including Road Safety Foundation chief executive Saidur Rahman, cited lack of speed cameras, weak enforcement, and poor coordination among agencies as key factors. Legal experts argue that existing laws already allow police to act on viral videos as digital evidence under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Cyber Security Act 2026.

They urged authorities to use AI cameras, GPS tracking, and stricter enforcement to curb reckless driving and social media glorification of dangerous behavior.

Police have arrested Arafat Sheikh, the head of former Faridpur-4 MP Nixon Chowdhury’s cyber team and the organizational secretary of Bhanga Upazila Jubo League. The arrest took place in the capital on Tuesday, according to Bhanga Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md. Mizanur Rahman.

Authorities stated that Arafat Sheikh was a fugitive accused in several cases, including vandalism at Bhanga Police Station and sabotage during an anti-discrimination movement. He was allegedly spreading misleading and objectionable information against the current MP, Shahidul Islam Khan Babul, under the patronage of Nixon Chowdhury. Police described him as one of the most wanted suspects in the area who had been in hiding for a long time.

After an extended period on the run, Arafat Sheikh was captured in Dhaka by the Detective Branch (DB) police, ending his fugitive status.