Brahmanbaria-2 Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana said the country would have benefited if the home minister had shown as much interest in his own ministry as he does in others. She made the remarks on Friday while speaking to local journalists after inspecting road construction progress in Ghagrajuri village of Chuntta Union, Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria. Rumin Farhana stated that Bangladesh’s current law and order situation is more fragile than at any time in the recent past. She warned that without visible improvement in the economy and law enforcement, the government could face unfortunate consequences. Referring to the newly announced national budget, she questioned its feasibility and said she had raised these concerns in parliament. She also accused local BNP leaders and activists of engaging in what she called a “case business,” alleging that they repeatedly file cases and seek bail in a cycle. She urged the home minister to address the issue, reminding him that he would one day be held accountable for his actions.

Two men died while attempting to rescue a mason who fell ill inside an under-construction septic tank in Raozan upazila of Chattogram on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the house of the late Kartik Das in Jhikuti Para area of Noapara Union. The deceased were identified as Pradip Das, 38, and Samiran Das, 28, who were brothers-in-law. The injured mason, Shah Alam, was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. According to family members, Shah Alam became unconscious while working inside the tank. Pradip Das entered to rescue him and managed to lift him up but then lost consciousness himself. Samiran Das then went down to help but also failed to come out. Fire service personnel later recovered all three victims. Police confirmed that the two men were declared dead at a local hospital. Authorities suspect the deaths may have been caused by toxic gases and lack of oxygen inside the closed tank, though some locals attributed the tragedy to supernatural causes.

A protest rally and human chain were held in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur on Friday, demanding a Bangladesh free from Indian dominance and condemning recent remarks by West Bengal political leader Suvendu Adhikari about Rangpur. The event took place at Gangachara Zero Point, where participants from various local professions joined under the slogan of turning the dream of occupying Rangpur into a nightmare. Speakers at the human chain, including leaders of the Anti-Indian Hegemony Movement, expressed concern over alleged attempts to dominate Rangpur and criticized the construction of a large Ram temple in Palashbari, Gaibandha. They asserted that Rangpur’s people would not compromise on their land, dignity, or sovereignty and urged Adhikari to understand the local reality before making claims. Organizers from the Anti-Indian Hegemony Tawhidi Janata said the program aimed to raise public awareness about national interests, regional dignity, and the country’s sovereignty. The event concluded with another protest march through the Gangachara Zero Point area.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs, Dr. S M Ziauddin Hayder, stated that the current government not only makes promises but also works to fulfill them. Speaking at a reception organized by the Jhalakathi Press Club on Friday morning, he said the government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership has already begun implementing initiatives such as family and farmer cards, tree planting, canal and river dredging, healthcare, and employment programs. Dr. Hayder emphasized that the BNP believes in knowledge-based and development-oriented politics. He said that the Prime Minister’s nationwide development plans will soon become visible to the public. To strengthen grassroots healthcare, health centers will be established in every ward of unions and municipalities to ensure uninterrupted medical services. Addressing journalists, he assured that the current government will not use digital security laws to suppress or control the media. He also mentioned plans to establish a housing area for journalists on government land to resolve accommodation issues in Jhalakathi.

Youth Jamiat Bangladesh’s Sunamganj district branch organized a protest rally and gathering on Friday after Juma prayers, demanding the cancellation of the death sentence against former district student Jamiat leader Hafiz Naeem Ahmad Arif in the Suranjit Sengupta murder attempt case. The rally started from Madania Madrasa premises and ended with a gathering at the city’s traffic point. The event was presided over by district Youth Jamiat president Hafiz Twaha Hossain and conducted by general secretary Maulana Obaidul Haque Chowdhury. Central vice-president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Sheikh Maulana Abdul Bashir, attended as chief guest and said the death verdict was based on a false and fabricated case, calling it contrary to justice. He demanded immediate cancellation of the verdict and acquittal of Hafiz Naeem Ahmad Arif. Speakers at the rally alleged that the case was politically motivated and that innocent individuals were implicated. They argued that since other accused in the same case were acquitted, Arif should also be freed, warning of a larger movement if their demand is not met.

Police have rescued two missing schoolgirls, Afsana (13) and Asha Moni (11), from Dhaka ten days after they disappeared from Gopalpur village in Bogarchar Union of Bakshiganj upazila, Jamalpur. The rescue took place on Thursday night with the assistance of Shah Ali Police Station, who helped Bakshiganj police recover the girls from a government shelter center in Mirpur. The girls had reportedly left home on June 17 in search of jobs after being influenced by a friend. According to the report, the girls wandered around Mirpur after failing to find employment. Locals, suspecting something unusual, questioned them and learned they had been deceived. They were then placed under the care of the Mirpur government shelter center. Following legal procedures, police handed the girls over to their families. Afsana is an eighth-grade student at Gopalpur Co-operative Girls High School, while Asha Moni studies at a local Noorani madrasa. The families, who had filed a missing persons complaint with Bakshiganj police, expressed relief after their daughters were safely returned home.

A case has been filed against 12 people, including six named suspects, following the shooting of 12-year-old schoolboy Ethan Ahmed Prem during an anti-drug human chain in Comilla city. The boy’s father, Yunus Mia, lodged the case late Thursday night at Kotwali Model Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Touhidul Anwar confirmed that one suspect named Shraban has been detained in connection with the incident. Prem, a sixth-grade student at Katabil Rafiquddin Memorial High School, was shot while returning home during a school break. He was first treated at Comilla Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors have not yet removed the bullet due to its position near his lungs. His parents described his condition as critical. Local residents said the attack occurred after tensions between two groups, known as the Apu and Sabbir groups, escalated over drug trade disputes. Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury visited the victim’s family and stated that law enforcement and public representatives share responsibility for the incident. Police operations to arrest the remaining suspects are ongoing.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has returned to Dhaka after completing his first foreign visits as head of government, covering Malaysia and China. According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, he landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:47 p.m. Bangladesh time on June 26, 2026. The Prime Minister departed Beijing Daxing International Airport at 5:15 p.m. local time aboard a China Southern Airlines flight. During his departure from Beijing, Tarique Rahman and his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, received a red-carpet farewell. China’s Presidential Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong was present at the airport to convey good wishes. The couple walked along the red carpet before boarding their flight to Dhaka. The Prime Minister had left Dhaka on June 21, 2026, for a two-day official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. After completing that visit, he traveled to Dalian, China, on June 22 before concluding his trip and returning home.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has called for strengthening the inspection system of madrasa educational institutions across Bangladesh. He made the directive on Friday at a meeting with acting officials of examination centers under the Dinajpur Education Board and the Rangpur Division’s Madrasa and Technical Education Boards, held at the Dinajpur District Shilpakala Academy Auditorium ahead of the 2026 HSC and equivalent examinations. The minister noted that the number of madrasa inspectors remains low, leaving many institutions outside proper oversight. He instructed madrasa boards to coordinate with other education boards to expand inspection activities. Milan also mentioned plans to introduce common question papers for shared subjects in madrasa and technical education, similar to those used in general education boards. Addressing concerns about exam security, the minister warned that anyone spreading rumors about question leaks would face legal action. He emphasized that no leniency would be shown toward those involved in misinformation or rumor campaigns related to the examinations.

Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of missing BNP leader and former Sylhet-2 MP M. Elias Ali, stated that she seeks justice, not revenge, for enforced disappearances. She made the remarks on Friday at a discussion organized by the victims’ relatives’ group ‘Mayer Dak’ at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka, marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026. Luna emphasized that if those involved in disappearances are not brought to justice, such acts may recur in the future. Earlier at the same event, Dhaka-14 MP Barrister Arman described himself as a proud survivor of enforced disappearance, vowing to continue sharing his story so that future generations do not face similar fates. He also declared that fascist forces would not be allowed to return to Bangladesh. The event highlighted personal testimonies and calls for accountability regarding enforced disappearances in the country, aligning with the international observance against torture and impunity.

An attempt to push three individuals into Bangladesh through the Meherpur border was thwarted early Friday morning. According to local reports, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) tried to send the group through the 135/7S barbed-wire gate near the 136 main pillar at the Dhala border in Gangni upazila. The Dhala BOP camp commander, Habildar Shishir Kumar, confirmed the incident. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents resisted the move, forcing the BSF to take the individuals back across the fence. Local sources said the three people, two men and one woman, were initially sent toward Bangladesh during the night and were later seen near the zero line. After facing resistance, they remained in no man’s land until the BSF retrieved them between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. Their identities remain unknown, and BGB has not issued an official statement on the matter. Separately, reports indicated that two more people were pushed near the Kazipur-Sheoratola border early the same morning, but BGB has not commented on that incident either.

Four months after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, the involved parties have begun talks in Switzerland aimed at ending the conflict. Observers expect that a lasting agreement could ease the global economic strain caused by the war, which has disrupted trade and driven up energy prices. Since the conflict began, international energy markets have faced volatility, with oil prices surging and global commerce suffering setbacks. Businesses and consumers worldwide have borne higher costs as a result. Yet, amid the turmoil, certain sectors have profited significantly. Defense equipment manufacturers, oil and gas producers, and investment banks have recorded notable gains due to increased demand for arms, rising energy prices, and a shift toward safer investments. Analysts suggest that if the Swiss negotiations succeed, both Middle Eastern security and global economic stability could improve, offering relief to businesses and consumers affected by wartime pressures.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread devastation in Caracas and surrounding areas. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed on Friday that the death toll had risen to 589, with 2,980 people injured. Rescue teams and local residents have recovered bodies and rescued several survivors from the rubble, while hundreds of buildings have collapsed. An opposition-run website collecting information on missing persons reported that relatives had listed more than 50,000 people as missing by Friday morning. Rescue operations continue using heavy machinery, but efforts are hampered by severe infrastructure damage, communication breakdowns, and the scale of destruction. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s damage assessment models, the number of fatalities could exceed several thousand, with a strong possibility of surpassing 10,000 if conditions worsen.

Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury from Comilla-6 has warned of a long march if authorities fail to take strong action against drug trafficking and terrorism in the border area of Golabari. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Friday at the Comilla Deputy Commissioner’s office, he said he would lead people to the streets and even resign from parliament if necessary. Chowdhury questioned why operations and arrests had not yet been conducted in Golabari, comparing it to the previously controlled Jungle Salimpur area. He urged the deputy commissioner and police superintendent to identify and list the main offenders and take immediate legal action. He also demanded stricter measures from the district public prosecutor regarding bail for accused individuals in murder and drug cases. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Md. Reza Hasan and attended by officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh, police, and local administration. Chowdhury reiterated that there would be no compromise in the fight against drugs and terrorism.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that the government will initiate a special allowance program for families of enforced disappearance victims. He made the statement on Friday at a national dialogue titled “Right to Compensation and Rehabilitation,” held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka, marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026. The minister said a proposal will be submitted to include the allowance in the current budget and reaffirmed that legal actions against those responsible for disappearances will continue. Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament Barrister Kaiser Kamal emphasized that it is time to claim rights and ensure justice, expressing hope for a parliamentary committee on disappearances and a stronger Human Rights Commission. The event was attended by several lawmakers, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, and family members of disappearance victims, who shared their experiences and expectations regarding compensation, rehabilitation, and justice. The initiative signals a policy move toward institutional support for affected families and accountability for past disappearances.