A youth leader of the opposition party’s local unit in Sathia upazila of Pabna has been arrested in connection with an attempted rape case. Police detained Abul Kashem, senior vice president of the 7th Ward unit of the Youth Wing in R-Ataikula Union, early Monday from Shahjadpur in Sirajganj district. The arrest follows allegations that on June 11, Kashem attempted to rape a seventh-grade student while she was returning home from school. The victim’s mother filed a case the next day at Ataikula Police Station.

Following the incident, local residents attacked, vandalized, and set fire to Kashem’s business establishment on Sunday in protest and to demand his arrest. In a separate move, the union’s Youth Wing expelled Kashem from the organization for alleged involvement in immoral activities. The expulsion was announced Sunday night through a statement signed by the union’s president and general secretary.

Ataikula Police Station’s officer-in-charge confirmed the arrest and said further legal proceedings are underway.

Towhid Afridi, son of MyTV chairman Nasir Uddin Sathi, has been shown arrested in a fraud case filed at Wari Police Station in Dhaka. The order was issued on Monday afternoon by Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat following a petition from the investigating officer. State prosecutor Syed Golam Murtaza Ibn-e-Islam confirmed the court’s decision. Afridi was taken to jail around noon, and while being escorted, he asked journalists to pray for his son.

According to the case statement, on January 13, 2025, an online fraud group contacted the victim, Syeda Ashfa Toaha Dyuti, through WhatsApp and Telegram, luring her with a fake job offer. The group persuaded her to invest money in stages, initially returning small amounts to gain trust before embezzling a total of 235,000 taka. The investigation officer stated that questioning of another suspect, Nishaduzzaman Nishad, revealed Afridi’s involvement, prompting the request to show him arrested.

Afridi had previously been detained by CID police in Barishal on August 24 of the previous year and has since been shown arrested in multiple cases, including one for murder, with three cases currently ongoing.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended its night guard, Md. Akamat Hossain, for alleged drug use and misconduct at the office. The suspension order, signed by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan, was published on the agency’s website on Monday. The order states that Hossain allowed outsiders to enter the office premises before and after official hours and engaged in socializing with them.

According to the NBR, Hossain had long been accused of drug use, negligence of duty, and involvement in various antisocial activities. Based on these allegations, a show-cause notice was issued to him on May 19. After reviewing his written response, the authorities found it unsatisfactory and confirmed the allegations.

As part of departmental action under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, Hossain has been suspended from government service. The order took immediate effect, and he will receive subsistence allowance as per government regulations during the suspension period.

The Argentina Fans Club in Rangpur organized a celebratory rally on Monday at noon, starting from the Public Library field and parading through the city’s main streets. Participants carried Bangladeshi and Argentine flags, images of Lionel Messi, and banners depicting the World Cup trophy. The event reflected the supporters’ enthusiasm for Argentina’s football team and their admiration for Messi’s leadership on the field.

Speakers at the rally praised Argentina’s disciplined style of play and expressed confidence that the team would win the championship again. Club president Mohammad Zahir Alam Noyon contrasted Argentina’s supporters with those of Brazil, claiming that Brazilian fans had become silent after previous matches. General Secretary Ismail Hossain Prince said most football fans in Rangpur now support Argentina and invited Brazilian supporters to join them.

The organizers also arranged a large screen at the Rangpur Public Library field for fans to watch matches together, turning the area into a festive gathering spot for local supporters.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized 1,319 bottles of Phensedyl and a large quantity of Indian medicines worth Tk 3.31 million during a raid in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. The operation took place around 1 a.m. on Monday near the Baro Hogoldora canal area. According to a press release issued by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the seized items were found abandoned at the site.

The Coast Guard stated that legal procedures regarding the seizure are currently underway. The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing regular operations in coastal and border areas to prevent drug trafficking, smuggling, and other illegal activities.

The operation highlights the Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and illegal drug trade in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain has said that stronger laws are needed to protect society from the harmful effects of tobacco. Speaking on Monday, June 15, 2026, at a discussion marking World No Tobacco Day at the International Mother Language Institute, he described tobacco as a severe addiction that harms nearly every organ of the body. He noted that loopholes in existing laws allow offenders to escape punishment and urged for stricter enforcement.

The minister warned that young people are increasingly turning from tobacco to other dangerous addictions. He highlighted the health impacts of tobacco use, including sleep disruption, appetite loss, weight reduction, and cancer of the mouth and teeth. Hossain also issued a stern warning against irregularities in the health sector, citing the closure of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital for inhumane service while keeping its medical college open.

He further stated that the country’s measles vaccination campaign has been fully successful, exceeding targets, and confirmed that no measles-related deaths were reported in the past week. Discussions on banning e-cigarettes are ongoing, he added.

Two retail outlets in Sonapur, Noakhali Sadar upazila, were fined a total of 20,000 taka for engaging in consumer rights violations, including the sale of expired baby food. The operation was conducted on Sunday afternoon by the district office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection along Sonapur University of Technology Road and Sonapur Bazar area.

During the inspection, officials reviewed purchase and sales records, checked for unauthorized marketing of baby food, verified the display of updated price lists, and monitored for excessive profit-taking. Messrs Dhaka Store on University Road and Messrs Rahmania Store in Sonapur Bazar were each fined 10,000 taka. Several other traders were cautioned, and awareness leaflets were distributed to promote compliance.

Assistant Director (additional charge) Md Asadul Islam led the operation, supported by members of the district special task force and a team from the District Battalion Ansar. Authorities stated that similar monitoring activities will continue to protect consumer interests in the future.

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail plea of economist Professor Abul Barkat in the case concerning the murder of businessman Abdul Wadud during the July uprising in Nilkhet. The decision was made on Monday, June 15, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin. The prosecution confirmed the court’s order after Barkat’s lawyers had applied for bail following his arrest in connection with the case.

Defense lawyers argued that Barkat, who had earlier received bail from the Appellate Division in a separate Anti-Corruption Commission case on June 7, was unjustly shown arrested in this murder case just before his release from jail. They cited his age, illness, and lack of direct involvement. The prosecution, however, opposed bail, claiming that investigations had found his involvement and alleged money laundering and political influence.

According to the case details, Abdul Wadud was shot dead in Nilkhet on July 19, 2024, and a case was filed by his brother-in-law at New Market Police Station naming 130 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Minister Obaidul Quader.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon stated that the media serves as the mirror of society and the state, emphasizing that it must be flawless. He said this responsibility lies primarily with the media itself and called for unity among all stakeholders to achieve this goal. The minister made these remarks on Monday at a seminar titled “Media’s Failure in Facing Fascism,” organized by the National Editors Council (NEC) at the Department of Films and Publications auditorium in Dhaka, marking the anniversary of the 1975 press shutdown.

Swapon noted that past efforts to strengthen the media were partial and incomplete, preventing the development of a robust media institution in Bangladesh. He stressed the need for consensus and collective action to establish an independent and responsible media commission. The minister also highlighted that democracy cannot be practiced effectively without institutionalizing the culture of diverse opinions.

The seminar, chaired by NEC co-convener and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, featured editors and journalists from across the country, who discussed media freedom, political influence, and the need for unity to safeguard press independence.

Police in Kalukhali upazila of Rajbari recovered the burned body of Asadul Mondol, a 24-year-old activist of Jamaat-e-Islami, on Monday morning. The body was found around 9 a.m. on farmland near the Chandana River in Surjodiah village. Local farmers discovered the body and informed police, who later sent it to Rajbari Hospital morgue for autopsy. Asadul was the son of Shahjahan Mondol from Manushmari village in the same upazila.

According to local Jamaat leaders, Asadul had gone missing around 8 p.m. the previous night, and his phone had been switched off. He was described as an active member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a final-year degree student at Mir Mosharraf Hossain College. Police officials, including the ASP of Pangsha Circle and the Kalukhali police officer-in-charge, visited the scene.

The ASP stated that the body bore injury marks and had been burned. Authorities have pledged to bring those responsible under the law swiftly.

The Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) has welcomed the central bank’s decision to dissolve the board of Islami Bank. In a statement issued from the office of ABB Chairman and City Bank Managing Director Mashrur Arefin on Monday, the organization described the move as timely and prudent for the banking sector. ABB had earlier expressed deep concern to the Bangladesh Bank governor on June 10 over the situation surrounding Islami Bank, which had taken on political dimensions and posed systemic risks.

According to ABB, the issue had extended beyond a single institution, affecting confidence across the banking industry. The organization had advised dialogue and consensus among stakeholders to resolve the matter. ABB praised the central bank’s recent action, noting that Islami Bank’s stability is crucial for the national economy due to its large customer base, deposits, remittance network, and role in trade finance.

ABB added that recent unrest had raised concerns about governance, liquidity, and depositor confidence. It expects the decision to restore stability, improve governance, and ensure a politically neutral banking environment while urging authorities to treat the issue with utmost importance.

The government of Bangladesh has granted income tax exemption benefits to 11 institutions recognized as public welfare organizations to encourage individual donations for social welfare activities. The Internal Resources Division (Income Tax) of the Ministry of Finance issued a gazette notification to this effect, under Section 76(1) of the Income Tax Act, 2023. According to the notification, any individual taxpayer donating to these approved institutions will be eligible for tax rebate benefits as per the provisions of the law.

The recognized institutions include ASHIC Foundation for Childhood Cancer, Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust, Al-Markazul Islami, Disabled Child Foundation, Sherpur Diabetic Association, Maona Diabetic Association, Bangladesh Thalassemia Association, Autism Welfare Foundation, BRAC, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission (Dhaka), and Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital. The notification was signed by Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, FCMA, Secretary of the Internal Resources Division, by order of the President.

The tax exemption will take effect from July 1, 2026, and remain valid until June 30, 2030, providing a four-year window for donors to benefit from the incentive.

Islami Bank has received an additional Tk 2,500 crore in liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank, according to Acting Managing Director Md Altaf Hossain. Speaking at the bank’s head office on Monday, he said the full amount has not yet been used. He noted that customer concerns surrounding the bank have been easing, and expressed hope that depositors who withdrew funds out of fear would soon regain confidence and return.

Hossain reported signs of improving trust, citing data from a major branch showing a 75 percent decline in account closures compared to earlier levels. He said the management is working to maintain normal operations and restore full confidence among clients. Responding to a question, he added that the former chairman’s official car would be retrieved immediately after the removal letter is delivered.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mohammad Zahid Hossain, currently overseeing Islami Bank’s board, urged depositors to continue transactions without hesitation and assured that a neutral five-member board is being formed after careful vetting to ensure efficient management.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam announced that a letter will be sent to the government to facilitate the return of former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates. He stated that three tribunal-issued warrants against Benazir have already been forwarded to the government, and copies will be sent to Interpol through the National Central Bureau. The announcement was made during a press briefing at the tribunal office on Monday.

According to Aminul Islam, investigations have found Benazir’s involvement in at least ten tribunal cases, including the Shapla Chattar case nearing completion and the Teknaf Karam Commissioner murder case, for which formal charges are ready. He added that six to seven other investigations are ongoing, alongside numerous allegations of enforced disappearances, killings, and financial crimes. The Anti-Corruption Commission has also filed a case against him. The government has reportedly applied for his extradition through diplomatic channels, a process expected to take about a month.

The Chief Prosecutor said Benazir will be brought before ongoing cases upon return and placed on remand for further investigation, particularly regarding crossfire incidents.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has directed that the Family Card program be implemented free from any political influence. He issued the instruction on Monday, June 15, 2026, during the fourth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Family Card distribution held at the Ministry of Finance conference room. District Commissioners and Upazila Executive Officers will monitor the program, and strict oversight will ensure that funds do not go to male family members.

The minister stated that the government allocated Tk 14,000 crore for the Family Card program in the 2026–27 fiscal year to improve the living standards of poor families. He emphasized that stabilizing the fragile economy and transitioning toward prosperity remain key challenges for the upcoming budget. The government aims to ensure that the benefits of the budget reach every citizen.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed and approved administrative expenses for the program, finalized the “Family Card Piloting Implementation (Amendment) Guideline-2026,” and gave policy approval to the draft “Family Card Implementation Policy-2026.” Several ministers and senior officials from relevant ministries attended the session.