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.

A Dhaka court has ordered television actor Md. Niamat Ullah Bhuiyan, known as Zaher Alvi, to be sent to jail after completion of his two-day remand in a case filed over allegedly inciting his wife’s suicide. The order was issued on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid following a hearing. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Abjal Hossain Mridha, confirmed that no bail petition was submitted on behalf of Alvi. According to police, Alvi was interrogated from different angles during remand, and investigators claimed to have obtained important information relevant to the case. The investigating officer from the Mirpur Detective Branch requested that Alvi remain in custody until the investigation is completed. The case was filed by the deceased’s father, Kabir Hayat Khan, after his daughter Ikra was found dead at her Mirpur DOHS residence on February 28. Earlier, Alvi had surrendered to the court on June 18, and his bail was denied. He was later placed on a two-day remand on June 24 following a request for ten days of interrogation.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has declared that the International Crimes Tribunal’s sentence against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) president Hasanul Haq Inu does not meet the standards of justice. In a statement issued Tuesday night, the NCP said the tribunal sentenced Inu to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The party argued that the punishment was inadequate given the proven charges, the suffering of victims, and the sacrifices of those killed and injured. The NCP statement, signed by office cell member Sadia Farzana Dina, noted that three of eight charges against Inu were proven, including directing arrests and torture of protesters, political persecution, and conspiracy with Sheikh Hasina. The party criticized the tribunal for allowing the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in only ten years of imprisonment. It urged the state to appeal for a more exemplary punishment. The NCP also expressed concern over delays in trials related to the July massacre and enforced disappearances, calling for timely investigations, adequate staffing, and improved efficiency in the prosecution and investigation agencies.

France will organize a spectacular light show at the Statue of Liberty in New York to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The French Consulate announced the plan on Monday, saying the performance will be pre-recorded and broadcast at the start of ABC Network’s 25-hour special program on July 4, the US Independence Day. The event aims to present the monument in a way never seen before, highlighting its symbolic and emotional significance. French Consul in New York, Cedric Foussigno, told AFP that the two nations share a 250-year friendship that remains strong and deep, motivating France to do something special for the occasion. France originally gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886, and it has since become one of the country’s most iconic landmarks. As part of the anniversary celebrations, France also sent its air force aerobatics team to the US earlier in June. On June 9, eight Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France flew over Manhattan, painting the sky in the colors of the French flag and passing above the Statue of Liberty.

Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker and freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will travel to Iran to attend the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is scheduled to depart from Dhaka on July 2 to represent the Bangladesh government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the state ceremony in Tehran. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the official mourning events for Ayatollah Khamenei will take place from July 4 to 9 across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. Several other members of the Bangladesh Parliament are also expected to attend the funeral on their own initiative. Iranian authorities anticipate that around 20 million people will gather for the funeral and burial ceremonies. The formal proceedings are set to begin in Tehran and Qom on July 4, with the burial scheduled for July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace in northeastern Iran, according to Mehr News Agency reports cited in the source.

Bangladesh Bank has announced the monetary policy for the first half of the next fiscal year (July–December 2026), keeping the policy interest rates unchanged due to inflation not yet reaching the desired level. The announcement was made on Tuesday at the central bank’s headquarters by Deputy Governor Habibur Rahman, in the presence of Governor Mostakur Rahman, Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar, and other senior officials. According to the new policy, the central bank has maintained the repo rate at 10 percent, which is the rate at which banks borrow short-term funds from the central bank against government securities. The Standing Lending Facility (SLF) rate remains at 11.50 percent, while the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate stays at 7.50 percent, applicable when banks deposit funds with the central bank. The monetary policy statement projects that inflation will decline to 7.5 percent in the upcoming fiscal year, reflecting the central bank’s expectation of gradual price stabilization.

In Madaripur’s Kalkini upazila, large-scale illegal sand extraction from farmland is being used to fill a government canal, according to local reports on June 30, 2026. The activity is taking place in Uttar Shikarmangal village under Shikarmangal Union, allegedly led by local influential figures Jalil Sardar, Alamgir Khan, and Jahangir Khan, with dredging operations managed by a known sand trader named Biman Munshi. Sand is being pumped directly into the canal without any administrative approval, and a major section has already been filled, putting nearby agricultural land at risk of collapse. Local farmers claim their protests have been ignored and that they are facing threats from those involved. Residents allege that the filled canal area is being prepared for housing construction, undermining the government’s canal excavation program and raising fears of long-term waterlogging during the monsoon. They have urged immediate administrative and legal action to stop the illegal activity and protect public property. Kalkini Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saif Ul Arefin stated that legal measures will be taken against anyone found filling government canals with sand.

More than 58,000 buildings in Venezuela were damaged or destroyed after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, according to preliminary satellite data released by NASA. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed about 1,700 people and left thousands missing. The events mark the strongest earthquakes to hit the South American nation in over a century. Researchers Cory Sherr and Jamon van den Hecke from Oregon State University analyzed radar data collected on June 25 from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellite. Their assessment estimated around 58,870 buildings were likely damaged or collapsed. They emphasized that the findings are an early, rapid assessment reflecting surface changes consistent with destruction and have not yet been verified on the ground. NASA stated that its satellites are providing critical imagery and data to assist field teams in assessing damage and coordinating rescue operations.

The United Kingdom has announced a new policy requiring recognized asylum seekers to repay about £10,000, equivalent to roughly 1.63 million Bangladeshi taka, as part of the cost of state-provided accommodation and support. Those who fail to make the payment will not be eligible to apply for permanent residency. The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the British Parliament on Tuesday and is part of the new Immigration and Asylum Act. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measure aims to reduce the government’s annual £4 billion spending on asylum support. Officials compared the repayment model to a student loan system, but human rights and refugee aid groups have strongly criticized it, calling it an unfair tax on people fleeing war, persecution, and famine. Experts noted that the government’s revenue from the scheme would be limited, as fewer than 15 percent of refugees earn more than £20,000 annually even five years after receiving asylum. The Home Office stated that income thresholds and repayment details will be set later through secondary legislation. The bill also includes provisions to strengthen age assessments and revise modern slavery frameworks.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed announced that AI-based traffic cameras are now operational at 19 key intersections across the capital. He shared the update during the inauguration of an AI camera at Lake Road under Tejgaon Traffic Division. Previously, 15 intersections had such cameras, and four more have recently been added. The commissioner said that around 1,500 traffic violation cases have been recorded through these systems, with fines managed by the traffic department. According to the DMP, the AI cameras automatically detect violations such as speeding, unsafe lane changes, riding motorcycles without helmets, illegal parking, and obstruction of traffic flow. Notices are sent both via SMS and postal mail to registered vehicle owners, and case details are also published on the DMP traffic website. The commissioner added that about 38,000 summons have been issued so far, and efforts are underway to coordinate ownership updates for sold vehicles. He noted that the AI system has visibly improved traffic discipline, encouraging drivers to follow lanes and signals. The initiative is part of a broader plan to modernize Dhaka’s traffic management and transform the city into a smart urban center.

Bogura City, recently upgraded to a city corporation, is facing severe waterlogging due to its outdated and poorly maintained drainage system. On Monday morning, continuous rain from 9:30 a.m. to noon submerged major roads, including Satmatha, Sherpur Road, and Station Road, causing traffic disruptions and widespread public suffering. Residents allege that no significant development plan has been implemented in the area for 19 years, leaving narrow and clogged drains unable to handle rainwater. The city corporation acknowledged partial drain repairs and promised swift action in problem areas. However, locals argue that temporary cleaning is insufficient without a comprehensive drainage plan. According to city sources, Bogura has 991 kilometers of roads but only 900 kilometers of drains, 400 of which are unpaved. The administrator, M.R. Islam Swadhin, said drainage improvement work is ongoing and expected to be completed by next year, though rain is currently hindering progress.

Police in Meherpur’s Gangni upazila recovered a bomb-like object and a threatening note from the home of Akkas Ali, a 45-year-old teacher from Kosba village. The discovery was made on Wednesday morning when the homeowner found the red-taped object and the note near the staircase and informed police. The note contained threats related to a dispute over water drainage and mentioned consequences if instructions were not followed. Local sources said Akkas Ali had been in a land dispute with several neighbors for about six months. Recently, the assistant commissioner (land) and other officials visited the site to measure the disputed land. On the day of the incident, Akkas Ali was scheduled to visit the land office with documents, but before that, unknown individuals allegedly left the bomb-like object and the note at his house. Gangni Police Station’s investigation officer Al Mamun confirmed that police recovered the items and have launched an investigation to identify and bring those involved under the law.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf announced that Tehran has begun to see results from its recently signed memorandum of understanding with the United States. He stated that in less than two weeks since the lifting of sanctions, Iran exported 40 million barrels of oil. Ghalibaf shared this information in an interview with state media, describing the development as a sign of the agreement’s effectiveness. According to Ghalibaf, under the memorandum’s fourth clause, the United States was required to begin lifting sanctions immediately after signing and complete the process within 30 days. However, the sanctions were removed well before the deadline, which he described as a diplomatic success for Iran. He characterized the outcome as proof of both Iran’s military and diplomatic strength. Ghalibaf also emphasized that Iran considers the Strait of Hormuz a key strategic asset and will not retreat from its sovereign rights over the waterway. He clarified that the memorandum only temporarily exempts the United States from paying maritime service fees in the strait, without altering Iran’s sovereignty stance.