Workers of Nasa Garments staged a protest on Tuesday morning by blocking the main road near Love Road in Dhaka’s Tejgaon industrial area. The demonstration, demanding payment of salaries, leave allowances, service benefits, and other dues, brought traffic on the Mohakhali-Tejgaon corridor to a standstill. Police and eyewitnesses said hundreds of workers gathered around 10:15 a.m., occupying a large section of the road and causing severe congestion across nearby routes.

According to Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station’s officer-in-charge Mahbubur Rahman, the workers were demanding settlement of long-pending dues. Police were present at the scene to maintain order and continued discussions with the protesters. The workers claimed that despite repeated assurances, their legal entitlements remained unpaid even after factory downsizing or closure, forcing them into financial hardship.

The protesting workers presented seven demands, including payment of May 2026 wages, 2025 leave allowances, December 2025 area bills, notice pay, 120 days’ wages and benefits under labor law, full service benefits, and assurance against harassment or legal action. Similar protests by the same group’s workers occurred in April, May, and June, but no lasting resolution has been achieved.

A woman in Chattogram has accused a police detective of detaining her overnight, assaulting her, and extorting Tk 11 million under threat. According to the complaint, Lutfur Nesa, wife of expatriate Fazlul Kader Badsha, was taken from her home on December 24, 2025, by men identifying as police detectives, including Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin Raju. She was allegedly held for 16 hours at the Detective Branch office, forced to sign a document, and later compelled to pay Tk 11 million out of fear for her family’s safety. Screenshots, audio recordings, and court documents reportedly support the payment claim.

The case was filed on June 1, 2026, in the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which directed the Police Bureau of Investigation to probe the allegations. The accused officer denied the charges, claiming he only mediated a financial dispute. Civic group Sujan’s Chattogram secretary termed the allegations a serious abuse of power, while the city’s police commissioner said legal action would follow based on the investigation’s outcome.

The court-ordered investigation is ongoing, and authorities have pledged strict measures if wrongdoing is confirmed.

Rice prices in Bangladesh have risen sharply ahead of the national budget announcement, with wholesale and retail prices increasing by up to 10 taka per kilogram over the past month. Traders attribute the surge to manipulation by mill owners and corporate groups, citing the suspension of import letters of credit (LCs) as a key factor. Consumers accuse a syndicate of creating an artificial shortage to raise prices, while mill owners claim reduced paddy supply and rising costs are driving the increase. Government officials, however, maintain that no commodity prices have risen due to the budget.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, prices of fine, medium, and coarse rice varieties have increased by 1.29%, 2.50%, and 3.70% respectively in a month. Retailers in Dhaka’s major markets report that all rice types, including Miniket, Atash, and Nazirshail, have become costlier, alongside flour and soybean oil. The Consumer Rights Directorate and the Commerce Ministry have been urged to intensify monitoring to prevent hoarding and manipulation.

Officials from the Food Department said the government has sufficient reserves and can stabilize the market through imports and open market sales if necessary. The Commerce Ministry indicated that strict action may follow if syndicate activity is proven.

Bangladesh’s only super specialized hospital, launched in 2022 in Dhaka’s Shahbagh with promises of world-class treatment at low cost, remains largely nonfunctional due to corruption, mismanagement, and severe staffing shortages. Despite being inaugurated before completion, most specialized services such as kidney and liver transplants, cardiology, and cancer care are inactive. The hospital, built at a cost of about Tk 1,560 crore with South Korean funding, now operates with minimal staff and limited services.

Multiple reports detail irregularities in recruitment, procurement, and training programs. The Anti-Corruption Commission found evidence of misuse of funds, fake recruitment, and sending unnecessary personnel abroad for training. Around 80 percent of medical equipment worth Tk 283 crore has never been used, and some have already deteriorated. Patients complain of high costs comparable to private hospitals despite poor service quality.

Officials say full operation requires new laws and large-scale recruitment. The administration is reviewing previous recruitment processes and exploring ways to engage expatriate Bangladeshi specialists, but no timeline has been set for full activation.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that the media should not serve as a mouthpiece for any ruler, political party, or power center, but remain loyal only to truth and the people. He made the remarks on Tuesday, June 16, through a Facebook post marking Bangladesh’s Press Black Day.

In his statement, Bhuiyan recalled that on this day in 1975, the BAKSAL government under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shut down all newspapers except four, leaving thousands of journalists and press workers jobless and silencing the nation’s independent voice. He said that even after the fall of BAKSAL, press freedom in Bangladesh has repeatedly come under attack, particularly during the past 17 years under the Awami League government, which he accused of suppressing dissent and controlling the media.

Bhuiyan warned that if the current government continues similar practices, it would repeat past mistakes. He called on all governments to respect press freedom, emphasizing that any attack on media independence is an attack on democracy itself.

The long-delayed Chinese Economic Zone project in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila is being resubmitted for approval at the latest meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tareq Rahman. The meeting will also consider five projects worth Tk 7,003.36 crore, including three new and two revised ones. The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone project, under the Prime Minister’s Office, is among those awaiting approval.

The zone will be developed on about 800 acres in Belchura, near the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Chattogram Port, and Shah Amanat International Airport. Initiated in 2014 and formalized through a government-to-government deal with China in 2016, the project stalled due to financing and administrative delays. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will handle offsite infrastructure, while China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) will manage internal development. The project is scheduled from January 2027 to December 2031, funded by Tk 1,722 crore from the government and Tk 2,467 crore in Chinese credit.

BEZA expects the project to create about 100,000 direct and 400,000 indirect jobs and attract around USD 500 million in foreign investment, though the Planning Commission has raised concerns over high construction costs.

The appeal hearing against the High Court verdict establishing a separate secretariat for the judiciary is scheduled to begin on September 1. The information was confirmed on June 16. The case stems from a writ petition filed by lawyer Shishir Monir on August 25 of the previous year, challenging Article 116 of the Constitution, which concerns the control and discipline of subordinate courts.

In the writ, the petitioner sought to place the authority over discipline, postings, promotions, and leave of magistrates under the Supreme Court. On September 1, the High Court declared Article 116 unconstitutional and directed the formation of a separate Supreme Court Secretariat within three months. Following the verdict, the secretariat began operating formally.

However, after the current government took office, the ordinance establishing the Supreme Court Secretariat was not enacted into law, resulting in its cancellation. The upcoming appeal hearing will determine the future of the judiciary’s administrative independence.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to economist and former Dhaka University professor Abul Barkat in the case concerning the murder of businessman Abdul Wadud during the July movement in Nilkhet. The bail was approved on Monday by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman’s court, confirmed by state prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Suman. Barkat’s lawyers had earlier filed for bail after he was shown arrested in the case on Sunday, but the initial request was denied by another magistrate. The court later granted bail on a bond of 5,000 taka until the police report is submitted, clearing the way for his release as there are no other pending cases against him.

Police had arrested Barkat on July 10 from his Dhanmondi residence in a separate case involving alleged embezzlement of 2.97 billion taka from Janata Bank through Annontex Group. He was granted bail in that case by the Appellate Division on June 7 under the condition of submitting his passport to the court.

The Abdul Wadud murder case was filed at New Market Police Station by Wadud’s brother-in-law, naming 130 accused including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader.

Four members of a single family have died following a house fire in Madanpur, Narayanganj. They had been receiving treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where three of them died on Monday, June 15, 2026. The victims were identified as Ali Ahmed Mannan, aged 50, who died early in the morning; Md. Sayem, aged 19, who died around 9:45 a.m.; and Meem, aged 13, who passed away around 10:45 p.m. Earlier, on June 12, Sultana, aged 35, had succumbed to her injuries. The deaths were confirmed by resident surgeon Shawon Bin Rahman of the burn institute.

According to the institute, the fire broke out early on June 11 at their home in Madanpur, injuring five people, including the four family members. All were taken to the National Burn Institute that morning. Another child, named Hozrat Ali, received primary treatment and was later released. The condition of the four family members had been critical, with burn injuries ranging from 35 to 90 percent.

The family’s ancestral home is located in Purbadhala upazila of Netrakona district.

The trial of former Superintendent of Police (SP) Anisur Rahman and seven others begins today at International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka over the 2016 shooting of two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in Jhikargacha, Jashore. The proceedings start with opening statements and the testimony of the first witness. Three accused—then Sub-Inspector Akikul Islam and constables Sajjadur Rahman and Zahurul Haque—are in custody and were presented before the tribunal this morning. The remaining accused, including the then Officer-in-Charge Moshiur Rahman and several sub-inspectors, are absconding.

The tribunal had earlier, on April 20, ordered the commencement of the trial by framing charges against all eight accused. The opening statements and witness examination were initially scheduled for June 1 but were postponed to June 16 following a prosecution request. According to the case details, on August 3, 2016, police allegedly detained two student leaders, Ruhul Amin and Israfil, tortured them for two nights, and shot them in the legs under the direction of SP Anisur Rahman. The victims later suffered severe infections that led to the amputation of their legs.

Former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed was arrested in Dubai by city police under an Interpol red notice, confirmed by the Abu Dhabi government on June 12. Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that the government is working to bring him back quickly, with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Home, Law, and Foreign ministries preparing necessary documents. Benazir faces six corruption and money laundering cases, one under trial and five under investigation, along with multiple war crimes cases at the International Crimes Tribunal.

News of his arrest has triggered widespread fear among exiled Awami League leaders accused of corruption, money laundering, and murder. Many are reportedly seeking to relocate to safer countries. Analysts described the arrest as a milestone in international legal cooperation and a warning to fugitives abroad. Some noted that extradition may be complex, depending on diplomatic negotiations and host country decisions.

The ACC confirmed that Benazir was detained in connection with money laundering allegations and that documentation is being finalized for his repatriation. Authorities are emphasizing diplomatic efforts to ensure his return to Bangladesh.

The High Court has ordered the appointment of state defense lawyers to represent death row convicts Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter in the hearing of the Ramisa murder case. The directive was issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by a special bench led by Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty. The case has been listed for hearing, and the paper book for the death reference and jail appeals has already been prepared.

The case concerns the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. On June 7, the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Suppression of Violence Against Children, presided over by Judge Masrur Salehin, sentenced Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter to death. The death reference documents, signed by the trial judge, reached the High Court on June 9 for mandatory approval before execution.

The High Court’s special bench is expected to begin hearing the death reference and appeals soon, marking the next stage in the judicial process of the case.

Police in Chattogram have identified five of the seven armed assailants involved in the killing of Jubo Dal leader Maksudul Haque Chowdhury in the Choumuhani Bazar area of Pahartali Union, Raozan upazila. The murder took place on Saturday afternoon and was captured on a CCTV camera. The footage later circulated on social media, helping investigators confirm the identities of several attackers with assistance from locals and eyewitnesses. Authorities have not yet arrested anyone and have withheld the suspects’ names for investigative reasons.

According to police, the attackers were members of the Rayhan group, followers of fugitive criminal Sazzad Ali Khan alias Boro Sazzad. The armed team included individuals identified as Mohammad Ilias alias Dhama Ilias, Md. Yusuf, Didarul Alam, and Absar, with a backup team comprising Md. Parvez and Md. Ayub. Maksudul, a senior joint convener of Rangunia Upazila Jubo Dal and follower of BNP leader Humam Quader Chowdhury, was buried in his family graveyard in Betagi Union after funeral prayers on Sunday evening.

Police stated that further suspects may be involved and that the investigation remains ongoing.

In Gobindaganj of Gaibandha district, farmers have achieved an excellent yield of the special 'Chewn' variety of sugarcane this season. The crop, known for being consumed both by chewing and as juice, has seen strong market demand, particularly during the recent spell of intense heat. The combination of bumper production and favorable prices has brought significant satisfaction to local growers.

According to the Gobindaganj Upazila Agriculture Office, sugarcane has been cultivated on 215 hectares of land across several unions, including Kamardah, Mahimaganj, Sapmara, Darbast, Kochashahar, and Fulbari. The varieties grown include Ishwardi-16, 37, Bari-1, 42, and 17. Farmers reported higher returns this year, with prices rising from 10–12 taka per cane last season to 12–15 taka. Buyers from nearby districts, such as Bogura, are purchasing both thin and thick canes in bulk for transport.

Agriculture officials noted that the soil in parts of Gobindaganj is particularly suitable for this variety, and farmers are benefiting from the favorable conditions and strong market response.

A severe outbreak of lumpy skin disease has spread across Mirzaganj upazila in Patuakhali, killing more than 100 calves in the past week and infecting thousands of cattle. Farmers and livestock owners in all six unions of the upazila have reported widespread infections, with young calves under five years old being the most affected. The situation has caused deep concern among local farmers as no government-supplied vaccines are available, and private sources are also running short.

Farmers complained that despite contacting the upazila livestock office, they received little guidance, and many animals are dying without treatment. Local residents described the condition of infected cattle as severe, with skin lesions and high fever. Upazila Livestock Officer Alaudddin Masud confirmed that the number of cases is very high and that treatment is being provided daily, though vaccine shortages persist. District Livestock Officer Habibur Rahman said the disease is viral and that while no government vaccine exists, private vaccines are available.

The continued spread of the disease and lack of vaccines have left farmers anxious about further losses and the health of their remaining livestock.