Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, cancelled his official visit to New Delhi and returned home after facing immigration complications at Indira Gandhi International Airport. He arrived back in Bangladesh around 11 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026. Indian immigration authorities had detained him on Sunday for additional verification when his name appeared on a security watchlist.

According to a News18 report cited in the source, Dr. Rahman was traveling as part of an official delegation to attend a government meeting in India. His name was flagged during routine immigration checks, prompting further scrutiny. Sources indicated that the issue stemmed from administrative delays in updating records. Although his name had previously been removed from a social media–related blacklist, the immigration database had not been updated in time.

Neither Indian nor Bangladeshi authorities issued any official statements regarding the incident. The reasons for his earlier inclusion on the watchlist and the delay in updating immigration records remain unclear.

The National Editors Council (NEC) has begun a seminar in Dhaka to mark the Black Day commemorating the closure of newspapers during the Baksali regime. The event started at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the DFP conference room in the Information Building on Circuit House Road. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan attended as the chief guest, while NEC joint convener and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman presided over the session.

Editors from various media outlets, senior journalists, and officials from institutions under the Ministry of Information were present at the seminar. The event was organized to reflect on the historical suppression of press freedom and to bring together key figures from the media and government sectors.

The seminar underscores the continued relevance of discussions on press freedom and media rights in Bangladesh, as participants revisit a significant period in the country's media history.

The killing of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka has become one of the country’s most politically charged and controversial cases. Hadi, a prominent figure in post-uprising politics, was shot at close range while traveling by rickshaw and later died in Singapore on December 18. The murder triggered nationwide protests and widespread public grief. Investigators from the Detective Branch and CID labeled it a politically motivated and planned assassination, identifying Shahin Ahmed as the alleged financier and Faisal Karim Masud as the shooter.

The case gained international attention after Indian police arrested two suspects near the Bangladesh border in March 2026. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed India’s Home Minister Amit Shah had asked her not to comment on the arrests, sparking speculation about Indian knowledge of the case. Bangladeshi authorities are seeking extradition of the suspects while emphasizing due legal process.

The investigation has revealed suspicious financial transactions exceeding Tk 1,270 crore, raising questions about broader political or criminal involvement. Analysts view the case as a test of Bangladesh’s judicial transparency and its ability to ensure justice amid regional political sensitivities.

Jagannath University (JnU) has been allocated a revenue budget of Tk 186.6 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The allocation is part of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) total approved budget of Tk 12,300.04 crore for 58 public universities and the UGC itself. The approval came during the UGC’s 187th full commission meeting held on June 11. Of the total, Tk 12,001.82 crore was designated for public universities and Tk 298.58 crore for the UGC.

According to UGC sources, Tk 7,428.43 crore of the total university budget is for operational expenses and Tk 4,573.39 crore for development projects. Jagannath University’s allocation is comparable to other major institutions such as Islamic University (Tk 188.4 crore), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Tk 186.66 crore), and Khulna University (Tk 182.92 crore). Dhaka University received the highest revenue budget of Tk 949.36 crore.

The UGC also unified research budgets of universities and the commission to avoid duplication, transferring Tk 200 crore from universities to the UGC’s research fund, which now totals Tk 226 crore. With an additional Tk 12 crore for foreign scholarships, the total scholarship allocation stands at Tk 238 crore.

A controversy has emerged in Cumilla’s Daudkandi over the disappearance and subsequent recovery of Islami Chhatra Shibir central leader Md. Jisan Mia. He was found on Friday night in Laksam after claiming he had been abducted, but police later stated he had gone into hiding voluntarily. Police said Jisan’s brother had filed a missing person report, and tracking his phone led them to Liza Akter, who was later taken into custody. Liza alleged that Jisan had a long-term relationship with her and had staged his own abduction after refusing to marry her, prompting her to file a rape case against him.

Daudkandi police officials confirmed that Jisan is under treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, where a four-member medical board has been formed to assess his condition. The hospital authority said initial tests found no major health issues. Meanwhile, Liza and her father reportedly remain in police custody, and her family has been unable to contact them. Shibir’s central publicity secretary stated that the organization has expelled Jisan after confirming his romantic involvement and that they have yet to uncover the full truth behind his disappearance.

Three other individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, and investigations are ongoing.

The trial of former Dhaka South City mayor Fazle Noor Taposh, former textiles and jute minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and 26 others begins today before International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka. The case concerns the killing of nine people, including Farhan Faiyaz and Mahmudur Rahman Saikat, during the July Revolution in Mohammadpur. The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, will hear the opening statement and record the first witness testimony. The trial was initially scheduled for June 8 but was postponed to June 15.

On May 10, the tribunal formally framed charges and ordered the trial to proceed. Four accused are currently in custody and were brought to court from prison. The prosecution has brought three specific charges, including allegations that senior police officials and political leaders ordered the use of Chinese rifles and shotguns against unarmed protesters on July 17–19, 2024, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

The charges also include accusations of crimes against humanity, with the prosecution claiming that the attacks were carried out knowingly and under the direction of the accused.

Bangladesh Bank has annulled the appointments of Islami Bank’s chairman and all board directors to restore depositor confidence amid a severe liquidity crisis. The central bank appointed its executive director, Mohammad Zahid Hossain, to assume full board responsibilities. The decision was announced on Sunday following a meeting between the central bank and Islami Bank’s top officials, invoking powers under sections 45 and 47(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Earlier the same day, Bangladesh Bank provided Islami Bank with a special loan of Tk 2,500 crore at 11.5 percent interest for 90 days to ease the liquidity crunch. The crisis began after the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman triggered unrest among depositors and shareholders, leading to massive withdrawals. The bank’s current account balance had dropped to Tk 439 crore, halting check settlements and ATM operations.

Despite the emergency support, Islami Bank branches continued facing heavy withdrawal pressure, with customers limited in cash access. The central bank stated it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure financial stability and depositor protection.

The International Crimes Tribunals in Bangladesh are set to begin trials in four new cases of crimes against humanity within this month. The cases include the killing of nine people, including Farhan Faiyaz, in Mohammadpur during the July uprising; the killing of 23 people in Badda; the shooting and maiming of two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in Jessore; and the crossfire killing of two individuals in Barishal. Three of the cases will be heard in Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, while one will be heard in Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. A total of 42 accused are named across the four cases.

Among the key accused are former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former ministers Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Kamrul Islam, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, and former MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam confirmed that investigations were completed on a priority basis and that the prosecution is prepared to present all evidence during the trials.

The first hearings, including opening statements and witness testimonies, are scheduled between June 15 and June 17, marking the formal start of proceedings in these high-profile cases.

Bangladesh’s first budget under the current BNP government proposes a record allocation of Tk 1,36,606 crore for education, raising the sector’s share to 2 percent of GDP. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the plan in parliament, emphasizing technical education, research, innovation, and third-language learning to link education with economic growth. The budget also sets a goal to raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP within five years.

Education experts welcomed the increased allocation as a reflection of the government’s election pledges but noted that it still falls short of UNESCO’s 4–6 percent guideline. Several educators and organizations expressed concern that the budget lacks directives to improve teachers’ living standards, salaries, and benefits, particularly for MPO-listed and ibtedayi madrasa teachers. They warned that without addressing teachers’ welfare, the goal of “education with happiness” would remain unfulfilled.

Analysts urged transparent implementation and effective use of funds to ensure quality education and skill development aligned with labor market needs.

Tension erupted in Bangladesh’s Parliament on Sunday after ruling party MP Monirul Haque Chowdhury made remarks about the attire of women MPs from Jamaat-e-Islami’s reserved seats. His comments, perceived as inappropriate, led opposition members to stand in protest, disrupting proceedings for several minutes. Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal later expunged the remarks related to personal freedom, which helped calm the situation.

Opposition Whip Nahid Islam condemned the remarks as an unpardonable offense and a form of discriminatory behavior, arguing that they violated constitutional and parliamentary norms. She said the comments infringed on religious and personal freedom. The Deputy Speaker reiterated his earlier ruling that no member should comment on personal freedom or dignity in Parliament, emphasizing the need to uphold decorum and respect.

Monirul Haque Chowdhury later expressed regret, stating he had not intended to demean anyone and requested that any objectionable parts of his speech be expunged. The Deputy Speaker confirmed that the relevant portions had been removed from the record.

A young man from Madarganj in Jamalpur, Bangladesh, has been missing in Russia for 17 days after reportedly being deceived into joining a war zone instead of receiving promised construction work. Family members said they learned through an audio message circulating on social media that he may have been killed in a drone attack, though no official confirmation has been received. The missing man, Maful alias Mofiz, 23, went to Russia on May 7 through a broker from Chandpur.

According to relatives, Maful had complained that he was handed over to the Russian military instead of being given masonry work. His last contact with family was on May 29, after which his phone was switched off. His mother, sister, and other relatives have demanded the return of his body and punishment for those involved in sending him abroad under false pretenses. Local officials said the family has been advised to contact the embassy and that higher authorities will be informed.

No government or diplomatic source has yet confirmed Maful’s death, leaving his fate uncertain.

Police and fire service personnel recovered the decomposed body of a young man named Md. Abdullah Pashari, aged 22, from inside a sunken ship in Umedpur area of Parerhat Union, Jhalokathi upazila of Pirojpur, on Sunday afternoon. The joint operation took place around 5 p.m., following a missing person report filed three days earlier. Abdullah was the son of Alal Pashari from Umedpur village.

According to family sources, Abdullah had been missing for three days. His brother, Rana Pashari, found his shoes and mobile phone near the sunken vessel named MV Green Estrol-1, which had previously sunk near Parerhat fish port. Following this discovery, a general diary was filed at Jhalokathi Police Station on June 13. Police later requested assistance from the fire service to locate the missing man.

The officer-in-charge of Jhalokathi Police Station, Md. Mohabbat Khan, confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed. The body has been sent for autopsy, and further legal steps will follow after the post-mortem report clarifies whether the death was accidental or intentional.

Chittagong University witnessed separate protest programs by the university units of Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir on Sunday night, June 15, 2026. The two student organizations held back-to-back demonstrations at the Zero Point area, leading to a brief period of tension on campus. Witnesses said Chhatra Dal began its rally around 10 p.m., marching through Shah Amanat Hall and Sohrawardy Mor before returning to Zero Point for a short assembly. About fifteen minutes later, Chhatra Shibir held a similar march along the same route.

Chhatra Dal’s protest was part of a central program accusing Chhatra Shibir of staging “abduction dramas.” At their rally, Chhatra Dal leaders condemned Shibir’s alleged past and vowed to resist such actions. Meanwhile, Chhatra Shibir organized its protest in response to BNP lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury’s remarks about the hijab. Shibir leaders criticized the comments as inappropriate for a national representative and also voiced concerns about certain provisions of the rape law and the government’s stance.

Although the demonstrations created temporary tension, no untoward incidents were reported. University authorities and law enforcement remained on alert to maintain order.

Bangladesh has launched the 700 MHz spectrum band, a move expected to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure. The announcement came during an event in Dhaka organized by mobile operator Grameenphone to mark the activation of the new spectrum. Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Rehan Asif Asad said the initiative will expand quality network coverage across urban and rural areas, enhance digital inclusion, and accelerate economic growth by improving access to essential services.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Md. Emdadul Bari stated that the use of the 700 MHz spectrum will reinforce the telecommunications sector and help ensure equal access to digital services for all citizens. Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman noted that the new spectrum will increase 4G network capacity, deliver faster data speeds with lower latency, and prepare the network for future technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Officials expressed optimism that the deployment of the 700 MHz band will accelerate Bangladesh’s digital transformation and improve mobile internet quality nationwide.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam conducted a sudden cleanliness drive in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area to raise public awareness against indiscriminate waste disposal. During the inspection, he expressed dissatisfaction over garbage scattered in front of several permanent and temporary shops and urged traders to dispose of waste only in designated places. Dustbins were distributed among the business owners as part of the campaign.

A mobile court led by an executive magistrate of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) fined nine traders a total of Tk 19,500 for environmental pollution and littering. After the inspection, the state minister told reporters that the government aims to make Dhaka a cleaner and more livable city within its capacity, emphasizing that citizens must also act responsibly by keeping waste in proper locations for easy collection.

Senior officials from the ministry and DSCC, including the chief executive officer Md Zahirul Islam and chief waste management officer Air Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, were present during the operation.