Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in Dubai with the assistance of Interpol, according to the Bangladesh Police Headquarters. The arrest was made in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The announcement came on Sunday afternoon, June 14, 2026.

Court records show that on February 10, 2025, a Dhaka court ordered the issuance of a red notice through Interpol following an ACC request. Earlier, on March 8 of the same year, another Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Benazir Ahmed in a case alleging the acquisition of wealth beyond known income sources. The case was originally filed on December 15, 2024, by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam.

After investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet on November 30, 2025, accusing Benazir Ahmed of amassing illegal wealth, concealing asset information, and money laundering. The charge sheet stated discrepancies between his declared assets and those uncovered during the investigation.

Tea growers in Panchagarh are struggling to protect their crops as leafhopper and red mite infestations spread amid a severe fertilizer shortage. The crisis has intensified during the peak leaf-picking season, with farmers unable to apply urea and DAP fertilizers on time due to the absence of allocations for the tea sector across five districts in the Rangpur division.

According to the Bangladesh Tea Board’s 2025 data, the region has over 8,400 small-scale tea gardens producing nearly 9.77 crore kilograms of green leaves annually, contributing more than 21 percent to national tea output. Farmers report that adverse weather has worsened pest attacks and increased production costs, while local agriculture offices say fertilizer allocations for tea fall under the Commerce and Industries ministries, not the Agriculture Department.

Officials from the Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh office said a request for fertilizer allocation has been sent to the ministries. Tea growers from Rangpur’s five districts have appealed to local administrators and lawmakers for urgent intervention to secure fertilizer and pesticide supplies.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds in many areas of Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions. The 24-hour forecast issued on Sunday morning also warned of moderate to heavy rainfall in some parts of the country.

According to the synoptic situation, an extension of a low-pressure area stretches from Gangetic West Bengal to the northwestern Bay of Bengal. The monsoon is moderately active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate elsewhere over the north Bay. The forecast added that daytime temperatures may fall slightly while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

The highest temperature recorded on Saturday was 36.7 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi, while the lowest on Sunday morning was 22.5 degrees Celsius in Sandwip and Sylhet. Mymensingh experienced the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours with 104 millimeters. In Dhaka, wind speed was 10 to 15 kilometers per hour from the south and southeast, with 88 percent relative humidity at 6 a.m.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has announced a series of programs to celebrate 'Nazrul Year' from May 25, 2026, to May 25, 2027, following the Prime Minister’s declaration. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitae Roy Chowdhury shared the details at a press conference in Dhaka, stating that the initiative aims to highlight the literary and philosophical contributions of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The ministry will form a national committee, design a logo and posters, issue commemorative stamps, and organize events across all 64 districts and 74 special upazilas from June 18 to 20, 2026.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s declaration during the poet’s 127th birth anniversary celebration in Trishal, Mymensingh, on May 23, 2026. The ministry has allocated funds from the current fiscal year’s budget to support these events. In addition to cultural programs, the ministry plans to promote research on Nazrul’s works and collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spread his creations internationally.

The year-long celebration seeks to engage the new generation with Nazrul’s life, literature, and ideals, ensuring his legacy reaches both national and global audiences.

The Bangladesh cricket team will receive a Tk 20 million bonus from the government for winning their first-ever One Day International (ODI) series against Australia. The announcement was made on Saturday by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque following Bangladesh’s historic victory.

Bangladesh defeated the touring Australian side by 86 runs in the first ODI and secured the three-match series 2–0 after a five-wicket win in the second match. The third and final ODI is scheduled for Sunday. The government’s bonus recognizes the team’s achievement in securing a landmark series win against one of the world’s top cricket nations.

The announcement highlights official encouragement for the national team’s performance and marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s cricket history.

Arif Ullah, a political activist from Eidgaon in Cox’s Bazar, described his long struggle against fascism and the persecution he faced for his writings and activism. Known for his nationalist ideals and anti-fascist poetry, Arif said his outspoken stance led to repeated attacks and legal cases. He was imprisoned, and even his young nephew was detained and tortured by police. In 2018, he was severely injured during election-related violence and later charged under the Digital Security Act and Explosives Act, forcing him into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Arif’s 2012 book, 'Bangladesh Infected by Digital Virus,' was launched by the then Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. He also organized protests, including a symbolic cricket match demanding justice for a missing political leader. After falling ill abroad, Arif returned to Bangladesh in February 2026 to participate in election activities and later sought medical treatment in Dhaka. Despite his sacrifices, he said he holds no party position and remains unacknowledged by his political peers.

Arif expressed his wish to meet the Prime Minister once to present the poem that led to his exile, believing such a meeting would complete his lifelong struggle.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to withdraw the tax exemption on income earned from investments in zero coupon bonds issued by banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, or other corporations. The exemption, previously granted under the Sixth Schedule of the Income Tax Act 2023, will no longer apply from the next fiscal year. The Finance Bill 2026 proposes the repeal of the relevant clause, as presented in the National Parliament by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The change also covers zero coupon Islamic certificates.

Alongside this measure, the 20 percent tax on company dividends has been withdrawn, and the rule requiring inclusion of such income in total taxable income for non-corporate taxpayers has been canceled. The Finance Bill 2026 also introduces a new condition for tax rebates on investments in government securities, mutual funds, and similar instruments: investors must now hold investments for the full term to retain the rebate.

Officials explained that the new condition aims to encourage long-term savings and prevent early withdrawals that undermine the purpose of tax incentives.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana A.T.M. Masum alleged that the current government is engaging in widespread politicization across all sectors, surpassing even previous administrations. Speaking on Saturday night at the Jamaat’s Chawkbazar-Bangshal Zone Unit conference in Dhaka, he claimed the government avoided holding local elections after the national polls and instead appointed party loyalists as administrators in local institutions. He further accused the authorities of attempting to control banks and insurance companies, including appointing former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khurshid Alam as chairman of Islami Bank.

Masum said the government has failed to restore public confidence after the election, citing rising concerns over corruption, extortion, and violence by ruling party activists. He warned that the government’s disregard for public expectations and silence on border incidents could lead to severe consequences. He urged the authorities to implement the “July Charter” to build a new Bangladesh.

Other Jamaat leaders at the event criticized the government’s economic policies, calling the proposed budget anti-people and urging reforms to support business and employment growth.

Two women were killed in a knife attack at their home in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila late on Saturday night. The victims were identified as Anee Barua, 40, and her daughter Priyonti Barua, 16. Anee’s five-year-old son, Piyas Barua, was injured in the incident. Police recovered the bodies from their residence in Chenamoti Barua Para area near a local Buddhist temple around 11:30 p.m. on June 13.

According to neighbors, they rushed to the scene after hearing screams and found Anee and her son lying injured at the doorway, while Priyonti’s body was discovered inside the house. Anee’s husband, Sujon Barua, who works as a security guard in Chattogram city, alleged that a neighbor named Limon Barua Tejopriyo might be involved due to a financial dispute. He said his wife mentioned the suspect’s name before dying.

Anwara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Junayet Chowdhury confirmed that the bodies were recovered and that an investigation is underway. Police are continuing operations to identify and arrest those responsible, and legal proceedings are in progress.

The Titas River in Brahmanbaria, once known for its abundant water and vibrant waves, is now facing a severe existential crisis due to decades of encroachment and pollution. Field visits revealed that the river is clogged with water hyacinth, surrounded by illegal structures, and filled with waste from nearby markets and households. The lack of waste treatment has led to toxic water conditions, threatening public health and disrupting navigation.

Local residents expressed deep concern over the river’s deterioration, recalling its past economic and cultural significance. They urged authorities to take immediate action to restore the river’s flow and remove illegal occupations. Officials from the Water Development Board acknowledged that while 90 kilometers of the river were dredged in 2023, the urban section was excluded due to earlier navigability. They now plan a coordinated project to save the river and remove encroachments.

The district administration and BIWTA have pledged to demarcate the river’s boundaries based on cadastral surveys and take necessary steps against illegal structures, aiming to restore the Titas to a sustainable state.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled to record testimony today in a crimes against humanity case involving enforced disappearances and torture, naming former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others as accused. The hearing will take place before a judicial panel led by Justice Md Golam Murtuza Majumdar. According to the prosecution, an important witness will testify, though their identity has been withheld for security reasons. The witness was originally set to testify on June 3, but the tribunal rescheduled the session following a prosecution request.

The testimony phase in this case began on January 21 this year, and four witnesses, including Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman, have already given statements. Of the 17 accused, 10 are currently detained at the sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment, while seven, including Sheikh Hasina, are absconding. The detained include several former senior officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Bangladesh Army.

The tribunal’s proceedings mark the fifth witness testimony in the case, which continues to draw attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the gravity of the allegations.

The BNP government has announced a national budget of Tk 9.38 trillion for the 2026–27 fiscal year, with Tk 43,335 crore allocated jointly to the agriculture, food, and fisheries and livestock ministries. This represents 0.63 percent of GDP and 3.2 percent of the total budget, a modest rise from the previous year’s Tk 37,126 crore. However, the budget does not specify how much each ministry will receive separately, leaving unclear the exact allocation for agriculture. The author argues that the increase is insufficient given the sector’s challenges and its importance to national food security.

The article highlights that the government’s focus remains on food storage and procurement rather than direct support for farmers. It criticizes the continued emphasis on fertilizer and pesticide subsidies, which benefit chemical companies more than farmers. The piece also notes that recent diesel shortages and untimely rains devastated Boro rice crops, affecting about 200,000 farmers, yet the budget offers no relief measures. The author warns that neglecting agriculture and fisheries endangers food and nutrition security and undermines the livelihoods of millions dependent on these sectors.

An arson attack was carried out at the July Memorial in Noakhali, built to honor those killed in the July uprising. The incident occurred early Saturday, June 13, near the central Shaheed Minar on the north side of the Maijdee Judge Court Road. Police confirmed they have started efforts to identify those responsible for the fire.

The attack came to light only after a 25-second video showing the incident spread on social media later that evening. The footage showed a group of young men pouring flammable substances around the memorial and setting it ablaze, damaging its lower portion. One person in the video was heard making political statements before the group left the scene.

Sudharam Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Md Kamrul Islam, said the perpetrators themselves uploaded the video online. He added that police have inspected the site and are reviewing video footage and CCTV recordings to identify those involved.

Nearly two years after the July uprising and four months into the BNP-led government, the official judiciary website of Bangladesh still displays the names of 131 Awami League–aligned lawyers under the Chattogram section. Many of these lawyers, including party leaders and individuals accused in the July student-public killing case, were removed from their posts on 16 October 2024 when new appointments were made. However, the website continues to list them as public prosecutors and government pleaders.

Current prosecutors and officials have expressed frustration that the site has not been updated, saying it damages their image and causes confusion. They noted that even judges’ names are not regularly revised, despite a government order appointing 346 new officials in Chattogram courts in 2024. Several prosecutors, including Advocate Sarwar Hossain Lavlu and Advocate Rezaul Karim Rony, criticized the delay and called for accountability among responsible officials.

Officials working in Chattogram courts said the website is managed directly by the judiciary, and local staff lack access credentials to make updates, which may explain the persistent outdated information.

Former Awami League MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar’s recent virtual speech has reignited political tension in Cumilla following the fall of the Awami League government. Despite being in exile, Bahar’s influence allegedly continues through local networks, including some BNP leaders reportedly managing his business interests. His remarks criticizing BNP and Jamaat leaders have coincided with renewed street activity by the banned Chhatra League, which attempted a rally near Cumilla Sadar South on Sunday. Locals dispersed the gathering and handed 48 participants over to police.

Local sources claim that Bahar’s associates and several former Awami League figures still control parts of Cumilla’s contracting and development sectors. Police confirmed arrests and ongoing operations against those involved in the banned organization’s activities. Meanwhile, BNP leaders have questioned law enforcement’s effectiveness in preventing such rallies.

Separately, the Cumilla District Qawmi Madrasa Organization condemned Bahar’s alleged anti-madrasa comments and demanded his trial for sedition. At a press conference, religious leaders said his remarks insulted the country’s madrasa education system and violated constitutional rights to religious freedom.