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Rahman said taxes on heart rings and dialysis equipment have been withdrawn to reduce treatment costs, while taxes were increased only on alcohol and cigarettes.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.

Ten district headquarters hospitals across Bangladesh are set to inaugurate new Intensive Care Units (ICUs) on Sunday under the Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness (ERPP) project. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain will formally open the ICU operations, with the main ceremony taking place at Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital at 10 a.m. The remaining nine hospitals will join the event virtually.

According to the Ministry of Health, each ICU has been equipped with pediatric ventilators and oxygen concentrators, and necessary medical staff have already been appointed. The hospitals include those in Munshiganj, Tangail, Sunamganj, Gopalganj, Chuadanga, Narayanganj, Jashore, Sherpur, Madaripur, and Bagerhat. Officials stated that the new facilities will enable both children and adults to receive advanced emergency and critical care services locally.

Health officials noted that once fully operational, these ICUs will reduce the need for patients to travel to Dhaka or other major cities for intensive care, improving access to quality treatment at the district level.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman has emphasized the need to reduce the trend of talented Bangladeshi engineers moving abroad and to create an environment that allows their skills and innovation to contribute to national development and industrialization. Speaking as the chief guest at an event held at the IEB building in Dhaka on Saturday, he said the government is prioritizing job creation, technology-based education, and innovation-friendly planning to achieve this goal.

He noted that Bangladeshi engineers have long played a leading role through their intellect, dedication, and professionalism, but many choose to settle abroad after gaining higher education and skills. The minister stressed that retaining this skilled workforce is essential for the country’s progress in development, industrialization, and technological advancement. He added that the proposed national budget gives top priority to education, particularly technical and technological fields.

Asaduzzaman also highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, and cost-efficiency in implementing development projects funded by public money. He called on engineers to ensure earthquake-resistant, safe, and environmentally friendly infrastructure and to help build a modern, self-reliant Bangladesh.

India has returned the body of Mujibur Rahman Mujib, a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man who was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) near the Dattagram border in Kulaura, Moulvibazar. The handover took place on Saturday evening around 7 p.m. through the Chatlapur customs station. Family members, police officials, senior officers from both the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF, and local union council members were present during the repatriation.

According to local authorities, Mujib, son of Azizur Rahman from Dattagram, was killed by BSF gunfire on Friday evening after 5 p.m. near the Manu River in the border area. Following the incident, BSF and Indian police recovered the body and took it to the morgue of Unakoti Hospital in India. The return of the body was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Sarkar Asif Mahmud, commander of the 46 BGB Battalion.

Mujib’s family members said he had gone to the Manu River to fish when the shooting occurred.

Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh has strongly protested the initiative to make music, dance, and drama compulsory in primary education. The organization’s leaders urged the government to reconsider and cancel the decision, emphasizing the need to appoint religious teachers in primary schools as previously promised. The statement was made at a meeting of the Dhaka South unit held at the organization’s central office in Purana Paltan, where Secretary General Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi spoke as chief guest.

During the meeting, Afendi said that most people in Bangladesh believe in religious and moral values, and the education system should nurture morality, character, patriotism, humanity, and faith-based ethics. He argued that making music, dance, and drama mandatory for young children does not align with the country’s social, cultural, and religious realities.

The leaders called for suspending the initiative and urged the government to consult educationists, religious scholars, and guardians before finalizing any decision. They also reiterated their demand for the swift implementation of the government’s earlier commitment to appoint religious teachers in primary schools.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the current government is not a people's government, accusing it of riding to power through corruption and ignoring public welfare. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a divisional rally organized by an 11-party alliance at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, reduction of public suffering, and control of commodity prices. The rally drew large crowds from across the division, with heavy police deployment around the venue.

Dr. Rahman criticized the government for failing to respect the people's mandate, alleging that 70 percent of citizens’ votes were disregarded. He warned that if the government does not change course, a movement for its removal will begin from Chattogram. Other alliance leaders, including LDP Chairman Col. Oli Ahmed and NCP Convenor Nahid Islam, accused the government of corruption, economic mismanagement, and suppressing dissent. They called for reforms, respect for democratic rights, and implementation of the July charter.

Speakers emphasized that ignoring public expectations and democratic values would threaten national unity and stability, urging the government to engage with opposition forces for meaningful reform.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the government plans to distribute 450,000 school uniforms to primary school students across the country by July. He made the statement on Saturday afternoon while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration and tree-planting ceremony of the four-story Bishweshwar Poddar Building at Panchamighat High School in Sadipur Union, Sonargaon.

The minister said that the Prime Minister has directed that every primary school student should receive a uniform. As part of a pilot project, work has already begun to distribute the uniforms. Following the July distribution, under Project Number Five, all students nationwide will receive shoes, socks, pants, shirts, salwar-kameez, and school bags.

The announcement reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to support primary education and ensure equal access to basic school necessities for children across the country.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, emphasized that programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovative technologies are essential forces for national development in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He made the remarks on Saturday at the closing and award ceremony of the National High School Programming Competition held at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The minister said the world has entered the age of AI, creating global opportunities for talented individuals. To remain competitive, he urged young people to prepare themselves with modern technological and scientific knowledge. He added that technology-skilled youth will build a prosperous Bangladesh and that developing human resources in AI, programming, and innovation is vital. The competition, organized by the ICT Division and implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council, registered 17,839 students across five categories, with 832 finalists reaching the national round.

Acting ICT Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan stated that young people will lead the country’s technology-driven future, and the government is implementing initiatives to nurture their creativity and innovation.

A young man died in a road accident while participating in a motorcycle rally of Brazil football supporters in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in front of Monsur Ali Dalal’s house at Togbi Union along the Bhola-Charfassion road. The deceased was identified as Md Ismail, aged 25, son of Md Maksud from Kunjerhat Chowkidar Bari. Witnesses said the rally had started from Borhanuddin upazila in support of Brazil during the World Cup, when Ismail lost control of his motorcycle and fell off the road.

He was rescued and taken to Borhanuddin Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. According to the residential medical officer Dr Rezwanul Islam, the cause of death was excessive bleeding.

The report did not mention any further investigation or official statements regarding the incident.

BNP leaders and activists carried out a cleanliness drive in Dhaka’s Uttara-12 area near Rupayan City on Saturday, led by Dhaka North BNP joint convener Afaz Uddin. The initiative targeted a canal flowing beside residential areas from Uttara-10’s Swiss Gate, which had long been clogged with waste, causing pollution and waterlogging. Despite heavy rain, the team worked throughout the day using an excavator to remove garbage and pile it for city corporation disposal.

Afaz Uddin said the effort was part of BNP’s declared weekly cleanliness program and that he has continued such social activities before and after elections. He expressed his intention to help transform Uttara into a modern, pollution-free city and called for intervention from relevant authorities, including the Prime Minister.

He also proposed developing a planned lake park in the Diabari area modeled after Dhanmondi and Hatirjheel, with facilities for children, the elderly, and youth recreation. Additionally, he announced the start of a tree-planting campaign in the area.

A confrontation erupted in Rangpur after the death of a patient led to allegations that doctors withheld the body in the morgue. Relatives of the deceased and local residents blocked the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway demanding the release of the body, causing a traffic jam stretching about five kilometers on both sides. The blockade was lifted around 3 p.m. after the body was handed over.

According to hospital and family sources, Nur Nahar Begum from Jumma Para in Rangpur fell ill early Saturday and was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Her relatives claimed doctors delayed providing oxygen and insisted on admission first, during which her condition worsened and she died. Angry relatives reportedly attacked a doctor, after which the body was kept in the morgue and the emergency department was closed for two hours.

Hospital Director Brigadier Ashiqur Rahman described the incident as regrettable, stating that the patient had arrived in critical condition and that a case would be filed to ensure legal action.

A farmer was killed by lightning in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the canal area of Brojoboksa village. The deceased was identified as Abdul Hamid, also known as Jhoru, aged 35, son of the late Haidar Ali of the same village.

According to his cousin Anwar Hossain, Abdul Hamid had returned home from fieldwork and was heading to the Brojoboksa canal to bathe when he was struck by lightning and died on the spot. The officer-in-charge of Kalaroa Police Station, H. M. Shaheen, confirmed that police had visited the victim’s home after receiving information about the incident.

Local authorities have acknowledged the death and conducted an initial inspection at the site, but no further details were provided in the report.

A half-hour spell of heavy rain on Saturday afternoon submerged most major roads in Dhaka, causing severe waterlogging and traffic paralysis across the city. The rainfall, recorded at 35 millimeters within thirty minutes, led to flooding in key areas including Mirpur, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Malibagh, and Motijheel. Even areas near the Prime Minister’s Office and Jahangir Gate were inundated. Although the water gradually receded by evening, residents faced major disruptions, with commuters and students struggling through flooded streets and transport shortages.

According to the Meteorological Department, the day’s rainfall was slightly less than the previous day’s, yet the waterlogging was worse due to poor drainage. Experts attributed the situation to unplanned urbanization and the city’s weak sewage system, citing clogged drains and encroached canals as key reasons for slow water discharge. Despite repeated assurances from Dhaka’s city corporations, the problem persists every monsoon.

The weather office warned that monsoon rains are likely to continue over the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding in low-lying areas of the capital.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on every citizen of Bangladesh to plant at least one tree sapling, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a pollution-free environment for future generations. He made the appeal on Saturday after inaugurating a nationwide program to plant 250 million trees at the Dulahazara Malumghat reserved forest. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and cleaner air across the country.

During the event, the Prime Minister recalled his election pledge to launch a large-scale tree planting campaign if elected. He reaffirmed the government’s target of planting five crore trees annually, totaling 25 crore over the next five years. Rahman urged all citizens to participate actively in the campaign to transform Bangladesh’s air into a cleaner and healthier atmosphere.

He also directed district administrators to take initiatives to turn their respective areas into green sanctuaries. The Prime Minister expressed hope that collective efforts would ensure a safe and pollution-free environment where future generations could breathe freely.

Speakers at a discussion marking World Day Against Child Labour emphasized that birth registration is a powerful tool to prevent child labor in Bangladesh. They noted that registration establishes a child’s identity, protects rights, and ensures access to state services. Without registration, many children remain vulnerable to exploitation and early entry into the labor market.

The event highlighted that only 50 percent of births in Bangladesh are currently registered, and among children under five, the rate is just 40 percent. Experts proposed amending the Birth and Death Registration Act 2004 to make all health facilities legally responsible for registering births. Since about 67 percent of children are born in such facilities, this reform could significantly raise registration rates and strengthen child protection.

Speakers added that improved registration would help Bangladesh achieve full civil registration by 2030 under the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which targets the elimination of child labor and all forms of child exploitation.