Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based training in the current era. He stated that while every technology has both positive and negative aspects, it is essential to ensure the positive use of AI in teaching, research, and knowledge development. He made these remarks on Tuesday at the closing and certificate distribution ceremony of a workshop titled 'Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Research' held at the university’s Graduate Training Institute (GTI). The Vice-Chancellor further noted that educators must carefully consider the acceptable extent of AI use in both teaching and student evaluation. He stressed that proper and responsible use of technology is vital for improving the quality of education. The workshop aimed to enhance teachers’ skills in applying AI for teaching, research, and technology-based knowledge practices, with participation from faculty members of various departments. The event was presided over by GTI Director Professor Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque, with Professor Dr. Md. Ruhul Amin, Convener of the Dean Council, attending as a special guest. Certificates were distributed among participating teachers at the closing session.

Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Saiful Islam held a press conference on Tuesday at his office in Narayanganj, alleging that an online journalist attempted to extort him. He claimed that Shahin Mia, identifying himself as a reporter for the online portal Oporadh Bichitra, demanded either three Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar air tickets with hotel accommodation or Tk 50,000 in cash. When the demand was refused, Shahin Mia allegedly threatened to publish defamatory news against the UNO. According to Saiful Islam, after he declined to pay, Shahin Mia, in collaboration with the Upazila Engineer Akhtar Hossain, published a report accusing him of embezzling funds from the one percent land registration fund. The report was also circulated on social media. The UNO clarified that he has no authority to spend money from that fund, which is managed and audited under government procedures involving local representatives and officials. Saiful Islam urged media professionals to take action against unethical journalism and sought cooperation to ensure justice. He reiterated that the land registration fund is used for development projects as per government regulations and that related information is regularly shared publicly.

A high-level parliamentary delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will travel to Iran to attend the funeral, farewell, and state ceremonies of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei. The delegation, invited by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on July 3 and remain in Iran until July 9. The team will be led by Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP, with members Md. Nurul Amin MP, Dr. Md. Keramat Ali MP, and Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman. According to party sources, the delegation aims to express deep condolences, sympathy, and solidarity with the government and people of Iran. During the visit, they are expected to meet senior Iranian leaders and relevant government officials as part of official programs. Jamaat-e-Islami expressed gratitude to the Iranian government for the invitation and assistance in facilitating the visit. The party believes the visit will further strengthen the longstanding fraternal ties, mutual understanding, and bilateral cooperation between the peoples of Bangladesh and Iran.

Five expatriates from Sylhet’s Kanaighat upazila, who died in a road accident in Qatar’s Shahaniya area, were buried in their family graveyards after a collective funeral on Tuesday afternoon. The funeral took place at Akuni Madrasa field, attended by thousands of locals. Their bodies had arrived earlier that morning at Sylhet MAG Osmani International Airport, where officials from the district administration and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment formally handed them over to relatives. The bodies were flown from Qatar’s Hamad International Airport on Monday night with financial support from the Bangladesh Wage Earners’ Welfare Board. The deceased were identified as Abdul Kadir, Mustak Ahmed Afnan, Zubair Ahmed, Jasim Uddin, and Jibal Ahmed. Local lawmaker Mufti Maulana Abul Hasan and community representatives attended the funeral. The Welfare Board provided each family with an initial grant of Tk 35,000 for burial expenses and promised an additional Tk 300,000 in compensation. The ministry confirmed that necessary steps were taken to ensure the families received the bodies and their entitled government assistance following the June 21 accident that killed six people, including the five Bangladeshis.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 73,066 Palestinians have been killed and 173,514 injured since Israel began its military operations in October 2023. Despite a ceasefire that took effect last October, 1,053 Palestinians have been killed and 3,406 injured since then. In the past 24 hours alone, eight people were reported dead and 26 injured in Gaza. The ministry stated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists. The casualty figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry could not be independently verified. Israel has described its military actions as operations directed against Hamas. The report underscores the severe human cost of the ongoing conflict and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with no indication of a lasting resolution.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi sharply criticized the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh over alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a rally in Bijnor on Monday, Owaisi claimed that if a Muslim had been part of the Ram Temple Trust, that person would have been killed in an 'encounter' and their house demolished. He alleged that the accused in the current case were moving freely and that law enforcement had failed to take timely or strict action. The controversy stems from allegations that large sums of money and valuable gifts donated by devotees to the Ram Temple Trust were misappropriated. The temple, built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque, has long been a symbol of religious and political tension in India. Reports indicate that police have begun an investigation and made several arrests, while the issue has sparked political debate ahead of upcoming state elections. Owaisi’s remarks drew loud applause from supporters at the rally, reflecting the charged political and communal atmosphere surrounding the case.

The Appellate Division has declared BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury’s candidacy for the Chattogram-4 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election invalid. Following the verdict delivered on Tuesday, June 30, Senior Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud told reporters that the Election Commission (EC) will determine its next steps only after receiving the full written judgment from the court. He explained that the EC will act according to the court’s directive, whether it involves holding a re-election or declaring the runner-up as the winner. The commission will review the matter upon receiving the full or advance copy of the verdict but will not seek it proactively since it is not a party to the case. The copy will reach the EC through the concerned parties or the court itself. Earlier, despite allegations of loan default, Aslam Chowdhury’s nomination had been upheld by the EC on January 18. Subsequent legal challenges led to the Appellate Division’s final ruling on June 30, invalidating his candidacy and leaving the election outcome for Chattogram-4 pending further decision.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced in Parliament that rape cases can now be filed online, including general diaries (GD) and first information reports (FIR). He said this change has reduced social and political interference that previously discouraged victims from reporting incidents. The minister made the statement on Tuesday during a discussion on the Home Ministry’s budget proposals. Ahmed explained that the rise in recorded rape cases reflects improved reporting rather than an increase in crimes. He said the government has achieved significant progress in law and order, with police now acting promptly in rape and murder cases. He cited examples of quick trials and arrests based on DNA evidence. The minister emphasized that police are not making arrests based on political affiliation and that opposition parties are taking internal action when their members are involved in crimes. He added that maintaining law and order is essential for national stability and development, calling for public cooperation and political awareness. The minister also mentioned new initiatives to strengthen the Department of Narcotics Control with armed units, training, and modern laboratories across districts.

Ali Akbar Dareini, a researcher at Iran’s Center for Strategic Studies, has accused the United States of not faithfully implementing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he stated that the MoU required the U.S. to release Iran’s frozen assets without any conditions, but Washington has not fulfilled that obligation. Dareini explained that the MoU was designed to be implemented in two phases: the first aimed at building mutual trust and the second focused on advancing toward a final agreement. He alleged that the U.S. had already failed to meet its responsibilities under the MoU, potentially hindering future negotiations. According to him, the first article of the MoU included a U.S. commitment to halt all military operations on behalf of itself and Israel, but the U.S. later made a separate deal with Israel and Lebanon, contradicting the MoU. Dareini further claimed that the U.S. continues to hold Iran’s funds illegally as leverage. The report noted that the U.S. has not yet issued any response to these allegations.

A Tangail court has sentenced a man to death for abducting and killing a five-year-old child and concealing the body. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Judge A N M Iliyas of the Tangail Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. The convict, Md Nurunnabi, 27, from Nawdholutia village in Gopalpur upazila, also received a total of 20 years in prison and fines amounting to 50,000 taka. According to the prosecution, Nurunnabi abducted Rayhanul Islam Araf, aged five, from Gangapara village in Gopalpur on October 8, 2024. Following the abduction, the child’s grandfather filed a case with Gopalpur Police Station. Police later arrested Nurunnabi, who confessed to kidnapping the child for ransom, killing him, and hiding the body. Based on his confession, the body was recovered from a ditch beside a railway line in Kaliakoir, Gazipur. The court found Nurunnabi guilty of murder, abduction, and concealing the body, imposing separate sentences and fines for each charge. After the verdict, he was sent to prison.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman announced that Islami Bank has so far received Tk 13,000 crore in liquidity support. He disclosed this information on Tuesday during the presentation of the monetary policy for the first half of the 2026–27 fiscal year. According to the governor, banks received Tk 17,000 crore in liquidity support during the Awami League government and Tk 51,000 crore during the interim government. He added that no funds were provided in the first four months after the current administration took office, but the liquidity assistance was extended to Islami Bank due to its financial crisis. The announcement highlights the central bank’s intervention to stabilize Islami Bank’s liquidity position as part of broader monetary management efforts for the new fiscal year.

Bangladesh Bank has announced the monetary policy for the first half of the 2026–27 fiscal year, setting the private sector credit growth target at 6.8 percent through December. The policy was published on the central bank’s website on Tuesday afternoon, outlining the revised target as part of its updated monetary framework. According to the information released, private sector credit growth stood at 5 percent in May of the previous fiscal year, while the full-year target for 2025–26 had been set at 8.5 percent. The new target represents a reduction compared to that earlier goal. Meanwhile, the target for domestic credit growth has been fixed at 10.5 percent. The announcement reflects Bangladesh Bank’s continued efforts to manage credit expansion and align monetary policy with current economic conditions for the upcoming fiscal period.

At least 25 passengers were injured when a passenger bus lost control and fell into a roadside ditch in Gopalganj on Tuesday afternoon. The accident occurred near the Sonasur bus stand area on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. The bus, operated by Sebagreen Line, was traveling from Pirojpur to Dhaka when it lost control while overtaking a truck. According to local sources, among the injured were women and children. Twenty of the injured passengers were taken to Gopalganj Medical College Hospital and Gopalganj 250-bed General Hospital for treatment. Bhatiapara Highway Police Sub-Inspector Nripen Chandra Das confirmed the incident, stating that police and fire service teams, with the help of local residents, rescued the injured and sent them to hospitals. The report did not mention any fatalities or the condition of the injured passengers beyond their hospitalization.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are currently in Doha but will not hold any direct meetings with Iranian officials. A ministry spokesperson said the American representatives will meet with mediators to review ongoing discussions and diplomatic progress, but no direct talks with Iran are scheduled. Earlier, US President Donald Trump had claimed that a meeting between the two countries would take place in Doha at Iran’s request. However, Iran has consistently denied plans for direct negotiations with the United States. Qatar’s statement aligns with Tehran’s position, reaffirming that no such meeting is planned. Qatar also confirmed that Iran’s $6 billion in frozen assets held in South Korea have not yet been transferred to Tehran. As Qatar continues to play a key mediating role in easing tensions between Washington and Tehran, the absence of direct talks leaves uncertainty over the future of diplomatic progress.

Supporters of BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury blocked the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway on Tuesday afternoon in protest against the cancellation of his nomination for the Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency. The blockade took place at several points in Sitakunda, where protesters felled large trees across the road, causing a severe traffic jam stretching about 40 kilometers. Thousands of passengers were stranded for hours as hundreds of vehicles became stuck on both sides of the highway. Eyewitnesses reported that around 2:30 p.m., demonstrators used electric saws to cut roadside trees at Chhoto Darogarhat and placed the trunks across the highway. Similar blockades were later set up in Barabkunda and Kumira unions, where some truck drivers were forced to park their vehicles haphazardly on the road. The disruption completely halted traffic in both directions. According to the officer-in-charge of Bar Aulia Highway Police Station, law enforcement personnel were deployed to the scene and were working to remove the blockades and restore normal traffic flow.