Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that no product prices have increased following the newly announced national budget, despite higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. Speaking at a public rally in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria and during the inauguration of the Patli Canal re-excavation, he said taxes were reduced on 60 essential goods. He emphasized that the government’s policies aim to improve the lives of farmers, women, students, and low-income citizens.

Rahman announced plans to expand the Cox’s Bazar–Chattogram highway from four to six lanes and highlighted the government’s commitment to agricultural development. The re-excavation of Patli Canal is expected to benefit around 8,500 farmers and increase annual agricultural output by about 12,000 tons. He also said that 8,000–10,000 farmers in each district would receive agricultural cards with cash incentives.

The Prime Minister further announced initiatives for free higher education for women, expansion of stipends, and introduction of family cards to support rural households. He said special budget allocations were made for affordable healthcare and medicine supply in rural areas.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 11 people into Bangladesh through the Darshana-Jaynagar border in Chuadanga early Sunday. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. near border pillar number 75, confirmed Lieutenant Colonel Nazmul Hasan, director of Chuadanga-6 BGB. According to BGB sources, BSF had gathered the group on the Indian side with the intention of sending them across the border.

Upon receiving information, BGB personnel took immediate defensive positions, joined by local villagers. Observing the situation, BSF eventually retreated, and the 11 individuals were later removed from the zero line area. The BGB official said repeated push-in attempts had been made by BSF but were successfully resisted each time.

The report did not specify the identities or nationalities of the 11 people involved, nor did it mention any diplomatic communication following the incident.

Armed groups have established dominance across the Padma River’s island regions spanning Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna, and Kushtia, creating a climate of fear and lawlessness. On Tuesday, Azizul Hakim, a sand depot manager, was shot dead in the Charjajira area after armed men arrived by speedboat and used a drone to locate him. Police later recovered his body with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities report at least eleven active armed factions, with the ‘Kankon Bahini’ currently the most feared.

Police sources confirm multiple cases against these groups, including six involving Kankon Bahini, whose leader remains at large despite several arrests. Law enforcement officials cite the region’s vast, river-based terrain and overlapping administrative boundaries as major obstacles to operations. Recent clashes reportedly involved heavy weapons, possibly AK-47 rifles. Following Hakim’s killing, senior police officers are planning coordinated operations across the four districts.

Residents describe living amid constant gunfire, extortion, and fear, with movement restricted after dark. Locals demand long-term security measures and inter-district coordination to restore peace in the Padma’s char areas.

Authorities in Palashbari, Gaibandha, have suspended the construction of a massive Ram statue on June 11, 2026, following growing concerns over the motives and funding behind a series of large religious monuments. The project, led by Haridas Chandra Tarani, follows earlier installations of 28-foot Shiva and 53-foot Krishna statues. Local officials and residents have questioned the necessity and source of financing for the 170 million taka initiative, fearing potential threats to communal harmony and national security.

Investigations reveal that Haridas, previously arrested for fraud, had unusual access to high-level government premises and connections with influential figures. Intelligence sources suspect possible foreign links and covert activities under the guise of religious construction. Local administrators have described the project as a potential “Trojan Horse,” suggesting hidden agendas behind its religious appearance.

Senior officials from Rangpur and Gaibandha have briefed the Cabinet and recommended financial and security investigations, including scrutiny of Indian diplomatic activities in the region. Law enforcement agencies are now closely monitoring the situation to prevent communal unrest and assess any risks to state security.

A joint statement issued after the 57th director general-level meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi has sparked controversy and confusion. The meeting, held from June 8 to 11 amid heightened border tensions over alleged push-ins, omitted the term “push-in” entirely and replaced “border killings” with “deaths along the border.” While the BSF released the joint statement, BGB issued a separate press release highlighting issues such as push-ins, border killings, and illegal structures—topics absent from the joint document.

Security and diplomatic analysts questioned BGB’s stance, suggesting its delegation adopted a conciliatory tone toward BSF and failed to assert Bangladesh’s concerns. Reports indicated that BGB’s position paper had reached BSF before the meeting, while BSF shared its version only an hour before talks began. The BGB chief also reportedly held a private meeting with India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, which was not mentioned in any official statement.

BGB later denied claims of compromise, insisting it had raised all key issues firmly. However, the omission of sensitive topics from the joint statement continues to raise questions about transparency and Bangladesh’s diplomatic posture.

A mobile court in Bhangura, Pabna, sentenced a 32-year-old man named Dablue to one year of imprisonment and a fine of 500 taka for drug use. The verdict was delivered by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman on Saturday night around 8 p.m. in the Kalibari area of the municipal town. During the operation, a small packet of cannabis was recovered from the convicted youth, who is the son of the late Akkas Ali.

According to Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman, the punishment was given under Section 36(5) of the Narcotics Control Act 2018 after the allegation was proven. Sub-Inspector Ershad Ali of the local police station was present during the operation. The magistrate stated that such anti-drug drives will continue in the area.

The case reflects ongoing local enforcement efforts against drug abuse in Pabna district, with authorities emphasizing continued vigilance through mobile court operations.

The officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station in Chattogram, Md Arifur Rahman, has been withdrawn following allegations that national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan was assaulted and taken to the station. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday night that he has been attached to the police lines, and the officer-in-charge of Bakalia Police Station has been assigned to Khulshi.

Earlier, Sub-Inspector Md Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and Constable Md Russell Chowdhury of Khulshi Police Station were temporarily suspended for alleged unprofessional conduct toward Nayeem Hasan. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police also formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident.

The alleged assault occurred on Friday night in the Lalkhan Bazar area of Chattogram, sparking widespread criticism. The investigation committee’s findings are expected to determine further action.

Police in Purbadhala upazila of Netrokona arrested six people on Friday night for allegedly participating in a flash procession organized by banned units of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Awami League. The arrests followed reports of subversive activities and vehicle vandalism in different areas of the upazila. Those detained were identified as Rafiqul Islam Khokon, Masud Rana, Shahjahan, Ataur Rahman, Majharul Islam Prince, and Hazarat Ali.

According to police and local sources, the procession took place on Friday morning in Fazilpur area of the Shyamganj-Birishiri road, led by upazila Chhatra League general secretary Shahadat Hossain. A video of the event circulated on social media, showing slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina and former MP Ahmad Hossain. The footage was later shared from the verified Facebook page of the banned Awami League.

Police said a case was filed by BNP member Syed Jahangir Alam alias Monirul Haque, naming 33 individuals including Masud Rana as the main accused, with 30 to 35 others unidentified. The six detainees were sent to court, and operations to arrest the remaining suspects are ongoing.

An Indian smuggler was injured by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) gunfire at the Latu border area of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar. The incident occurred around 10:25 p.m. on Saturday during a routine patrol by a BGB team. According to the 52 BGB Battalion, two suspected Indian smugglers entered Bangladesh and were challenged by the patrol team. When the suspects attempted to attack the BGB members with sharp weapons, the patrol fired two rounds in self-defense, injuring one of them.

Following the shooting, the injured smuggler and his accomplice fled back into Indian territory. The 52 BGB Battalion confirmed that intelligence investigations and legal procedures are ongoing regarding the incident. The BGB stated that it remains vigilant in preventing cross-border smuggling and maintaining law and order along the frontier.

Authorities have not released further details about the identities of the suspects or the extent of the injury sustained by the smuggler.

Bangladesh’s proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year has been set at 9.38 trillion taka, a figure described as significant within the country’s economic context. However, a comparison with the personal wealth of Elon Musk, recently reported to have surpassed one trillion US dollars following the stock market listing of SpaceX, reveals a striking disparity.

Based on an exchange rate of 122–125 taka per dollar, Musk’s total assets are valued between 134 and 138 trillion taka. This amount equals roughly 14 times the size of Bangladesh’s entire national budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The report highlights that the sum Bangladesh allocates annually for administration, education, health, infrastructure, defense, and social safety programs is equivalent to only one fourteenth of Musk’s declared wealth.

The comparison underscores the vast global wealth gap, illustrating how the fortune of a single individual can exceed the annual financial capacity of a developing nation.

Speakers at a roundtable in Dhaka sharply criticized India’s alleged push-in of people across the border and the killing of civilians along the frontier. The event, titled “Citizen Thoughts to Prevent Push-In at the Border,” was organized by the Desh Bachao Manush Bachao Andolon at the National Press Club’s VIP Lounge. Participants accused India’s government of acting out of religious bias and questioned why pro-India political figures were not being pushed in as well.

Speakers included leaders from the National Labor Party, National Democratic Party, and other nationalist organizations. They denounced remarks by India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi about merging populations of the two countries and demanded clarification. Several participants alleged that India was pursuing hegemonic policies and exploiting Bangladesh despite its past support during the independence war.

The meeting called on Bangladesh’s foreign ministry to take a stronger stance and urged reinforcement of the Border Guard Bangladesh. Participants warned that citizens were ready to defend national sovereignty and that India’s alleged hostility toward Muslims would not go unanswered.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), held a protest march and rally in Dhaka on Saturday night, accusing Islami Chhatra Shibir of staging fake abduction and disappearance incidents to falsely blame the government. The demonstration began at the Central Shaheed Minar and ended at Shahbagh intersection, where JCD activists chanted slogans condemning Shibir’s alleged actions.

During the rally, JCD leaders claimed that Shibir was insulting real victims by fabricating disappearance stories and spreading false accusations against the government online. They further alleged that Shibir operated secret networks involved in crimes such as rape and violence against women. Central organizational secretary Amanullah Aman described Shibir’s activities as hypocrisy, while general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir cited a recent incident in Cumilla as a planned event linked to Shibir’s undisclosed committee members.

JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib also condemned the alleged acts, asserting that Shibir’s staged incidents were intended to mislead the public and discredit the government.

Many Grameenphone subscribers who purchased the company’s FIFA World Cup Pass were unable to watch the opening ceremony and the first two days of matches, despite paying for access. The issue affected users of the Bioscope streaming platform, where the matches were supposed to be available. The packages, launched on May 11, offered three options: a 24-hour pass for Tk 28, a 7-day pass for Tk 127, and a 45-day pass for Tk 199. Customers reported that the streams stopped shortly after starting, leaving them unable to view the games.

Grameenphone acknowledged a technical glitch behind the disruption. The company’s Head of Communications, Sharafuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, told Amar Desh that an unexpected technical error caused interruptions for some users during the live streaming. He said the technical team prioritized restoring service as quickly as possible and apologized for the temporary inconvenience, thanking customers for their patience.

The report noted that it remains unclear how many of Grameenphone’s 84.9 million subscribers purchased the package, but even a small portion could represent significant financial losses for affected users.

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam stated that friendship cannot be built by erecting barbed wire fences along borders or constructing dams on rivers. He made the remarks on Saturday during a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance in Chattogram.

Nahid Islam criticized the current government, claiming it has failed to achieve economic progress because it ignored the people’s mandate from the beginning. He alleged that police in Chattogram abducted a member of the national cricket team and warned that the public would face further consequences if reforms were not implemented. He also accused the government of adopting submissive policies that have led to renewed killings along the border.

He urged the government to initiate reforms and implement the July Charter immediately, warning that continued corruption and inequality would shorten the government’s time in power.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway will be expanded from four to six lanes. Speaking at a public rally in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday evening, he said the road had not been developed in the past 17 years and remained as it was left by the previous BNP government. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Patli Canal in PMkhali, associated with late President Ziaur Rahman.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the BNP government prioritizes farmers, pledging to set fair prices for salt producers and to distribute agricultural cards to 8,000–10,000 farmers per district, each receiving Tk 2,500 in incentives. He also highlighted initiatives for women’s education, including making undergraduate and degree-level education free for women and expanding stipends to reach rural areas. Additional measures include family cards for rural households and special budget allocations for affordable healthcare.

Rahman said taxes on heart rings and dialysis equipment have been withdrawn to reduce treatment costs, while taxes were increased only on alcohol and cigarettes. He reaffirmed that the government’s programs aim to improve the lives of 200 million citizens.