Former Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has been arrested and is currently being transported to the Detective Branch (DB) office for questioning. Police sources confirmed the development but did not immediately disclose the reason behind the arrest. The sudden move has sparked widespread speculation in political and legal circles. Habibul Awal served as the CEC of Bangladesh and played a key role in overseeing previous national elections. Further updates are expected as authorities prepare an official statement on the matter.

A major power outage struck several areas of Dhaka, including Rampura, Gulshan, Banani, and Farmgate, following a technical fault at the PGCB substation in Rampura around 10 PM on Saturday. The Bangladesh Power Development Board confirmed that the issue affected mainly DPDC-served areas, while DESCO areas remained largely unaffected. PGCB engineers are working to resolve the issue, which is expected to be fixed within an hour. Several other neighborhoods also reported disruptions, with efforts underway to restore full power supply.

Dhaka, June 22, 2025 — In the last 24 hours, 329 people have been admitted to hospitals across Bangladesh with dengue fever, while one person has died from the mosquito-borne disease, the DGHS has confirmed. Regional data shows that of the newly hospitalized patients: Barisal Division: 136 Chattogram Division: 64 Dhaka Division (excluding city): 38 Dhaka North City Corporation: 21 Dhaka South City Corporation: 43 Khulna Division: 15 Rajshahi Division: 10 Mymensingh Division: 2 Meanwhile, 301 dengue patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals in the past 24 hours. With this, the total number of recoveries this year has risen to 6,817.

The Bangladeshi government has started the process of repatriating citizens stranded in Tehran due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. A list of about 100 nationals has been prepared, with the first group expected to return next week. The return will be coordinated with neighboring countries, though specific transit partners were not disclosed. The Foreign Ministry has urged all interested Bangladeshis in Iran to register with the embassy in Tehran. Emergency hotline numbers have also been provided for direct communication.

Professor Mahmudul Haque of Begum Rokeya University has been granted bail in the murder case of shopkeeper Shomes Uddin, who died during a police chase amid a protest in Rangpur. The bail was approved by the Rangpur Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. Haque’s lawyer claimed the plaintiff neither knows him nor mentioned him directly. Students and colleagues protested, calling the case a conspiracy against a teacher who spoke out against injustice. The next hearing is set for July 2 for the investigation report submission.

Dhaka, June 22, 2025 — The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reported 5 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours across Bangladesh. During the same period, 36 new infections were confirmed, with a test positivity rate of 5.80%. According to official data, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the country has now reached 29,515. Of these, 16 deaths have occurred in 2025. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bangladesh has recorded a total of 2,051,978 confirmed cases, with 433 infections reported so far this year.

Over two-thirds of Bangladesh’s foreign loans disbursed in the first 11 months of FY2024 were used to repay previous debts, according to the ERD. Out of $5.6 billion received, $3.78 billion went toward servicing past loans. Loan disbursements fell by over 20% compared to last year, while debt repayment rose by 23%. Sluggish project implementation has also slowed new disbursements. Loan commitments from development partners dropped nearly 31%. Despite export and remittance growth, the government faces rising debt pressure and reduced foreign loan demand in the next budget.

A 55-year-old woman was brutally attacked on a New York subway after being asked if she was Muslim. The attacker, 34-year-old Naveed Durrani, confronted her on a train in Queens, asked about her religion, and launched a violent assault when she answered “Yes.” The woman sustained serious injuries, including a broken nose. Police later arrested Durrani on hate crime charges. A GoFundMe has been launched to help with her medical bills, living expenses, and mental health support as she recovers from the trauma.

BNP leader Aminul Haque declared that those who collaborated with the Awami League over the past 17 years of “oppression” should not only avoid political association with the ruling party but should also be shunned altogether. “Those who remember the oppression cannot, and should not, mix with the Awami League. It’s a sin to even see their faces,” he said. Aminul vowed that party loyalists who suffered during protests would be prioritized during membership renewals, excluding those who maintained ties with Awami League figures. He also alleged that domestic and foreign conspiracies are delaying elections despite hopes raised by the interim government. He warned corrupt leaders within the party to be cautious.

Gana Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur has warned that complete national consensus will remain elusive unless certain rigid parties soften their positions. “We’ve compromised on many points for the sake of unity, but two or three parties remain stubborn. If this continues, even Judgment Day won’t see a full consensus,” he said. Nur reiterated support for limiting prime ministerial terms to two and called for structured discussions on proportional representation in upper chambers and the presidential election process. Revolutionary Workers Party leader Saiful Haque added that efforts are ongoing to make the constitution more accountable and to balance power effectively.

Dhaka University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), Dr. Mamun Ahmed, faced strong criticism from BNP-aligned teachers’ group Sada Dal over allegations of favoring Awami League supporters and appointing controversial Chhatra League-affiliated individuals to faculty positions. On Sunday, Sada Dal leaders blocked his office for over two hours demanding accountability. They issued a seven-day ultimatum to resolve these issues, warning of stricter actions if ignored. While some questions were answered, many remain unresolved, prompting plans for further protests.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has proposed that no individual should serve as prime minister for more than 10 years in their lifetime. “We don’t need to complicate this with discussions about terms or tenure. Aside from three parties, there’s broad agreement on this point,” he said. Taher stressed that this aligns with the people’s aspirations and should be adopted through national consensus, citing international precedents for such limits.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that every American in the Middle East is now a legitimate target following U.S. strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites. The IRGC vowed to use unexpected measures beyond the enemy’s anticipation and confirmed it will continue attacks targeting Israel. Since Israel’s attack on Iran on June 13, the region has witnessed multiple missile and drone assaults, escalating tensions further in an already volatile area.

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. According to Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan, Majid Mosaeibi was hanged after completing all judicial procedures, including approval by the Supreme Court. Mizan reported that Mosaeibi had been found guilty of attempting to pass “sensitive information” to Mossad.

Southeast University (SEU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST), USA, at WUST’s Virginia campus. SEU Vice Chancellor Dr. Yusuf Mahbubul Islam and WUST Chancellor Abu Bakar Hanif signed the agreement, with WUST President Dr. Hasan Karabuk present. The MoU aims to foster student and faculty exchange, joint research, academic workshops, and innovation-focused initiatives. Officials believe this partnership will enhance international collaboration and contribute to the quality development of higher education in both countries.