A 14-year-old boy named Faisal Ahmed was killed by lightning in Valuka, Mymensingh, on Sunday afternoon, June 14, 2026. Faisal, the son of Nizam Uddin from Bishnupur village in Muktagacha upazila, lived with his father in Valuka Municipality’s Ward No. 7. His father worked in the scrap business, and Faisal drove a rickshaw. After returning home from work and handing over his earnings, he went to play in a nearby field, where the lightning strike occurred.

Local sources reported that Faisal collapsed on the ground after being struck. A woman passing by noticed the incident and called for help. Nearby residents rushed to the scene and took him to Valuka Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The Valuka Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Zahidul Islam, confirmed that the family had informed the police and arrangements were being made to take the body to their home village in Bishnupur, Muktagacha.

The incident highlights the recurring risk of lightning strikes during the monsoon season in rural Bangladesh.

Dhaka University organized a ceremony on Sunday at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building premises to celebrate Russian Language Day and the 227th birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, regarded as the father of modern Russian literature. The event was attended by Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of Dhaka University, as chief guest, and Alexandra A. Khelovnoy, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy and Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, as special guest.

In his remarks, Professor Salam highlighted Pushkin’s global recognition and the enduring humanistic and cultural values in his works. He said the celebration honors both a great literary figure and the richness of the Russian language, which fosters understanding and cooperation among nations. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting international education and cultural exchange.

Special guest Alexandra Khelovnoy emphasized that the Russian language opens access to global knowledge in science, literature, and technology, creating new opportunities for Bangladeshi students in higher education and research through Russian government scholarships.

Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered 10 live grenades, 28 rounds of ammunition and 2 kilograms of cannabis from a salt field in Teknaf’s Jadimura area on Saturday night. The recovery was made during a special operation based on secret intelligence that armed militants were storing explosives underground near the Naf River for transport through Bangladesh’s border area. The details were disclosed by Lieutenant Commander Md. Muttaqin Siddiqui, Station Commander of Coast Guard Teknaf, during a briefing on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Coast Guard, the recovered items included two 34mm MK-1 hand grenades, eight 40mm HEDP grenades and 28 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, reportedly of a type used by the Myanmar military. The operation also seized 2 kilograms of cannabis. Authorities said surveillance continues to identify and apprehend members of the militant group active in the area.

Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon stated that similar operations will continue to maintain law and order and curb militant activity along the border.

Acting Managing Director of Islami Bank, Altaf Hossain, announced that customer service quality will improve starting tomorrow despite ongoing liquidity challenges and heavy withdrawal pressure. He made the statement after a meeting with Bangladesh Bank officials, including Governor Mostakur Rahman, where the bank’s liquidity situation and operational stability were discussed. The central bank has provided Islami Bank with cash support for the first time to help maintain normal operations.

Hossain stated that daily withdrawals currently range between Tk 1,100 crore and Tk 1,200 crore, yet efforts continue to ensure uninterrupted service. He said the bank’s current account position is now positive, and internet banking services will soon be fully restored. The acting MD described the chairman appointment issue as political, not managerial, and emphasized that management’s main responsibility is to maintain business and customer service continuity.

In a video message, Hossain apologized for recent service disruptions, assured depositors that their funds are safe, and urged customers not to withdraw more than necessary. He expressed confidence that, with central bank assistance and customer cooperation, the bank will soon return to full normalcy.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman held a meeting with senior officials of Islami Bank on Sunday afternoon at the central bank’s headquarters. The meeting began at 4 p.m., confirmed Assistant Spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui of Bangladesh Bank. According to him, the purpose of the courtesy meeting was to brief the governor on the bank’s current overall situation and the latest updates on its business activities.

A high-level delegation from Islami Bank attended the meeting, led by the bank’s acting Managing Director. The team also included two Additional Managing Directors and six Deputy Managing Directors. The delegation was expected to inform the governor about the bank’s ongoing operational status.

The meeting comes amid continued attention to Islami Bank’s internal and business affairs, as the institution seeks to strengthen its service quality and maintain regulatory communication with Bangladesh Bank.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates with Interpol’s assistance, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on June 14. The arrest was confirmed through an official email from the UAE’s Directorate General of Federal Criminal Police and National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi. Benazir, accused in multiple corruption cases, is currently in police custody there. The government has begun the formal extradition process, which must be completed within 30 days under UAE law.

A previous interim report by the Disappearance Commission alleged that during his tenure as Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Benazir encouraged officers involved in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The report described these acts as part of an institutional system that normalized and rewarded such crimes. It also stated that the culture of impunity persisted even after the 2024 change of government.

The home minister called the arrest a historic success for Bangladesh Police, saying it demonstrated that no one is above the law and marked progress toward ending impunity.

Mufti Amir Hamza has been granted bail in two separate defamation cases by the Sirajganj Sadar and Chauhali Amli courts. He appeared before the courts on Sunday afternoon and applied for bail through his lawyer. The information was confirmed by Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel, the APP and general secretary of the Sirajganj District Lawyers Association.

According to case details, Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel filed a defamation case on April 2 against Hamza for allegedly calling the Minister of Power and Energy and BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku an atheist and anti-Islamic. The court had earlier issued a summons and later a warrant when Hamza failed to appear, though he obtained eight weeks of anticipatory bail from the High Court on April 27. In another case, the Sirajganj Sadar Amli Court granted him bail over alleged derogatory remarks about Arafat Rahman Koko, the late son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The second case was filed on January 20 by VP Shamim Khan, joint secretary of Sirajganj District BNP, after Hamza’s comments at a religious gathering on January 16 spread on social media and sparked anger among BNP supporters nationwide.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a bulkhead engaged in illegal sand extraction in the Jhapar Char area of Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira, on Sunday morning. The operation was conducted by a patrol team from the Neeldumur Battalion (17 BGB) at around 6:40 a.m. Following the seizure, the bulkhead was taken to the BGB’s Palton Ghat area. A mobile court later sentenced two individuals to imprisonment and imposed a fine of one lakh taka.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Shyamnagar upazila, Rashed Hossain, and the in-charge of the Burigoalini River Police Outpost, Maruf Hossain, were present at the scene. After investigation, the mobile court sentenced Md. Nazrul Islam of Dargahpur village to 10 days of imprisonment and Md. Aktarul Zaman of Raduli village to 14 days of imprisonment. Both were handed over to Shyamnagar Police Station for legal processing.

According to the 17 BGB commanding officer, the operation was carried out early in the morning, leading to the arrests and seizure.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that the current government has allocated the highest-ever budget for the education sector, amounting to 2 percent of the total national budget. He acknowledged that learning outcomes remain unsatisfactory but said the government is identifying problems and working toward solutions. The minister made these remarks on Sunday at the opening of a workshop titled “Analysis of Bangladesh’s Education Sector” held in Banani, Dhaka, where State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj was present as a special guest.

Bobby Hajjaj stated that efforts are underway to align primary, secondary, higher secondary, and tertiary education under a unified framework. The government aims to reduce primary education costs and will introduce pre-primary classes in all schools. Within 180 days, initiatives such as mid-day meals, uniforms, bags, and shoes for primary students will be implemented. He also announced that teacher transfers will be managed by local administrations and that untrained teachers will not be allowed to teach after two years.

The state minister added that sports and cultural education will be mandatory in the 2027 curriculum, and a fixed school calendar will be introduced. The government is restructuring the curriculum, teacher training, infrastructure, and administration to improve education quality.

Four buffalo farmers were abducted from a buffalo enclosure on a Jamuna river char in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura on the night of June 11, 2026. According to a case filed with Sariakandi Police Station by Sohel Rana of Lalpur upazila in Natore, a group of 10–12 abductors tied up the victims while they were asleep in a temporary shed near the enclosure and took them away by boat toward Kazipur upazila in the west.

The abducted farmers were identified as Yunus Mondol, Mofel Mondol, Masud Mondol, and Faruk Mondol, all residents of Lalpur upazila in Natore. Sohel Rana said the abductors later demanded a ransom of Tk 2 million through a phone call on the night of June 12 before disconnecting the line.

Sariakandi Police Station Officer-in-Charge A F M Asaduzzaman stated that although the case was filed locally, the river police in Sirajganj are investigating the incident. Multiple police teams are working to rescue the victims and arrest the suspects.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 11 people into Bangladesh through the Darshana Joynagar border in Chuadanga early Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. near the Darshana international check post. Among those gathered were eight men and three women. Following BGB’s prompt response and assistance from local residents, the push-in attempt failed, and BSF later removed the individuals from the border area.

According to eyewitnesses and BGB sources, BSF had assembled the group of Bengali-speaking individuals on the Indian side of the border, apparently preparing to send them into Bangladesh. Upon learning of the situation, BGB personnel took immediate defensive positions along the border, supported by local villagers. BGB’s 6th Battalion Commander, Lt. Colonel Nazmul Hasan, confirmed the incident, stating that the push-in attempt was successfully resisted and the individuals were subsequently taken away by BSF.

The incident underscores continued vigilance by BGB along sensitive border points to prevent unauthorized crossings and maintain border discipline.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has granted permission to interrogate former Inspector General of Police A K M Shahidul Haque and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman in a case related to the killing of student leader Md. Nuruzzaman Jony. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury with judges Md. Manjurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, issued the order on Sunday. The court also set June 26 for submission of the investigation report.

According to the prosecution, Jony, then general secretary of the Khilgaon unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, was allegedly abducted by police on February 19, 2015, near Dhaka Central Jail and later killed in a staged gunfight at Khilgaon playground. The case accuses the then DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and IGP Shahidul Haque of crimes against humanity. Both former officials were brought to the tribunal from prison before the hearing.

The tribunal’s order allows one day of interrogation for each accused and extends the time for investigators to submit their findings later this month.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that late President Ziaur Rahman initiated a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political history by establishing Bangladeshi nationalism and institutionalizing democracy. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion titled “Media and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka to mark Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary. The event was chaired by National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan attending as special guest.

Before the discussion, guests visited a photo and information exhibition on Ziaur Rahman’s life, work, and political philosophy. Mirza Fakhrul emphasized the need for more research on Ziaur Rahman’s contributions, describing his leadership as multidimensional and visionary. He said Ziaur Rahman’s two most significant achievements were the establishment of Bangladeshi nationalism and the institutionalization of democracy, which expanded political participation.

Zahir Uddin Swapan noted that Ziaur Rahman supported the development of a free and responsible media and took a positive stance on press freedom.

A police officer named Md. Faruk Hossain, aged 52, died by suicide in the police barracks of Taltoli Police Station in Barguna. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, June 14, 2026, after he reportedly consumed gas tablets. He was taken to the Upazila Health Complex around 9:30 a.m., where doctors declared him dead. Faruk Hossain was the son of Ratan Ali Gazi from Angaria village in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi district.

Police and hospital sources said Faruk returned to the barracks after completing his night duty and later fell ill. A handwritten note was recovered from the scene, in which he stated that no one was responsible for his death and requested that his family be informed he had died of a stroke. He also left instructions regarding his burial and communication with family members.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (Amtali Circle) Md. Tarikul Islam Masud said the reason behind the suicide is being investigated. The family will be consulted before taking further steps.

Multiple illegal structures have reportedly been built on the embankment in Kuakata’s Gangamati area of Dhulasar Union, Patuakhali, allegedly under the protection of local influential figures. A tin-shed house has already been completed near the Dholai Market section, while several other wooden and tin structures are under construction. Locals said the embankment protects the area during natural disasters, and continued encroachment could damage it, threatening public safety and government property.

Residents accused several individuals, including Dhulasar Union Chhatra Dal president Yasin Arafat, Rakib, and Saiful Joardar, of involvement in the illegal occupation and construction. Yasin Arafat denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. Attempts to contact Rakib and Saiful Joardar were unsuccessful.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Yasin Sadek stated that the land belongs to the Water Development Board and that necessary legal action and eviction drives will follow once the relevant authority issues a requisition. The Water Development Board’s executive engineer could not be reached for comment.