A mobile court in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali sentenced a local broker to one month of simple imprisonment for harassing people at the land office. The verdict was delivered on Sunday afternoon by Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Rasel Munshi after the accused was detained based on complaints. The convicted individual, identified as Md. Bablu Hasan, 28, from Chatra village under Deuli Subidkhali Union, had reportedly been extorting extra money from citizens seeking land registration and online application services. Following public complaints, he was apprehended and immediately tried by the mobile court. According to the Assistant Commissioner (Land), operations against brokers at the land office will continue to prevent harassment and ensure transparency in public services.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) opened fire at suspected Indian smugglers inside the Satkhira border early Sunday. The incident occurred near the Taluigacha border area around 4:30 a.m., when a BGB night patrol team noticed suspicious activity about 50 yards inside Bangladesh territory near main pillar 13. According to BGB officials, the patrol ordered the suspects to stop and identify themselves, but they attempted to flee toward India. The BGB then fired shots to stop them, citing security concerns. The smugglers managed to escape through nearby bushes under cover of darkness. Following the incident, BGB conducted extensive searches in the surrounding area but made no arrests. Authorities reported that the attempted smuggling operation was thwarted. BGB sources said the border area has since remained calm. Security measures have been tightened, with increased intelligence surveillance and intensified patrols in Taluigacha and adjacent border zones to prevent further smuggling or untoward incidents.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were severely disrupted on Sunday due to adverse weather conditions. Continuous rainfall since early morning forced at least two international flights to divert to Sylhet and Kolkata. More than fifty arrivals and departures were delayed beyond their scheduled times, according to airport authorities. Airport sources confirmed that a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Dubai landed at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport, while a China Southern Airlines flight from Guangzhou was diverted to Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Flights from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Madinah, Syedpur, Jeddah, Chattogram, and Kuala Lumpur also faced delays as aircraft circled in the air before landing. Officials said heavy overnight rain, reduced visibility, and strong winds created operational challenges, prompting safety-driven diversions and rescheduling. The disruptions caused significant inconvenience for passengers waiting at Dhaka airport as delayed international arrivals affected overall flight management.

Comilla University held its first official 'Resistance Day' event on Sunday afternoon at the university’s open stage, but the family of Abdul Kaiyum, the only student from the university killed during the July 2024 mass uprising, was not invited. Kaiyum, a student of the Accounting and Information Systems department from the 2018–19 session, was shot in Savar’s New Market area on August 5, 2024, while participating in the anti-discrimination student movement’s 'Long March to Dhaka' program. He died the following day while under treatment. Kaiyum’s mother said that the university administration did not invite them and that she was unaware of the event. The ceremony featured Comilla University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M. M. Shariful Karim as chief guest, with Dhaka University Professor and Public Service Commission member Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous as the main discussant. The event included discussions, remembrances, and cultural performances. According to the university administration, the Syndicate’s 110th meeting officially declared July 11 as 'Resistance Day' to commemorate the students’ protest and resistance against police attacks during the early phase of the July 2024 uprising.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, the Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North city chief and mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said the party is working to build a strong social base to transform the capital into a safe, clean, and livable city. Speaking at a gathering in Mirpur on Sunday, he stated that if Jamaat is entrusted with DNCC’s responsibility for the next five years, visible and positive changes in Dhaka would be possible. Selim Uddin described Dhaka as one of the world’s most polluted cities, suffering from noise, air pollution, and waterlogging, with residents facing insecurity. He emphasized the need for honest, skilled, and principled leadership to resolve these crises and called for modern, technology-based civic services. He also urged greater focus on solar power, proper use of natural resources, and a corruption-free administration to make Dhaka a modern and attractive city. He further noted that insecurity discourages foreign investment and stressed the importance of ensuring rule of law and public safety. He advocated for effective traffic management and learning from successful international practices.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh’s new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be designed to safeguard public interest and national economic security. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, July 12, 2026, he emphasized that the government will not join any IMF initiative that undermines the welfare of the people. The minister criticized the previous IMF program adopted by the former government, describing it as contrary to public interest and incompatible with a democratic administration. He stated that the current government withdrew from that program to protect the nation’s economic priorities. Chowdhury reiterated that the main goal is not merely to secure funds but to ensure the protection of Bangladesh’s economic sovereignty and citizens’ welfare. He also announced plans to revise the country’s visa policy to make it simpler and more modern, aiming to attract more foreign tourists and investors while strengthening global confidence in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Parliament on Sunday observed a one-minute silence in memory of Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar, former acting president, speaker of the national parliament, and member of the BNP standing committee. Lawmakers from both the government and opposition stood in silence during the session, where a condolence motion was also presented and discussed. Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar passed away at 4:19 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka. He was 94 years old. BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep sorrow, describing Sarkar as an experienced politician, skilled parliamentarian, and true patriot. Rahman highlighted Sarkar’s courageous and wise leadership during the 17-year anti-autocracy movement and his lasting contributions to democracy and citizens’ rights. Sarkar’s death marks the loss of a veteran political figure whose legacy remains significant in Bangladesh’s democratic history.

A Royal Bengal tigress that was seriously injured in a poacher’s trap has been released back into the Sundarbans after months of medical care. The release took place at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday in the Andhar Manik area of the Chandpai Range in the eastern Sundarbans. The event was attended by State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam and senior forest officials. The minister said the government prioritizes the protection of the Sundarbans and its biodiversity and emphasized public cooperation in wildlife conservation. According to the Forest Department, the tigress was trapped on January 3 in the same area and rescued after being tranquilized. She was taken to the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division’s rehabilitation center in Boyra, Khulna, where a five-member veterinary team treated severe leg injuries caused by the trap. The tigress, aged about nine to ten years, has now regained full health and agility, with increased weight and restored hunting ability. Officials said the decision to release her in the original location was made after expert consultation in a virtual meeting held on May 21.

Police recovered three unidentified bodies from the Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College Hospital areas on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Two bodies were found near the Amar Ekushey Hall area in Shahbagh around 10:30 a.m., while another was recovered from behind the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital earlier that morning. All three were declared dead after being taken to the hospital. According to police sources, the deceased were believed to be homeless individuals who lived on the streets. Officers suggested that illness may have caused their deaths. The bodies were sent to the morgue for autopsy, and efforts to identify them are ongoing. Shahbagh police handled the recovery of the two bodies near Dhaka University, while the Dhaka Medical police camp oversaw the third case. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact causes of death, pending post-mortem results, but initial assessments indicate natural or illness-related causes.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed all administrative units to prioritize the protection of lives and property amid the ongoing disaster situation across Bangladesh. Speaking at a virtual meeting on Sunday, July 12, 2026, with divisional commissioners, police officials, and local administrators, he warned that any negligence in duty would not be tolerated. The meeting was held from the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat. Rahman emphasized ensuring safety for people affected by continuous rainfall and waterlogging, urging rapid relief distribution, medical support, and effective coordination among all agencies. He instructed officials to maintain transparency and accountability in relief operations, ensure safe shelter conditions, and provide special care for women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women. Law enforcement agencies were told to remain alert to prevent crimes such as theft, looting, or relief misappropriation during the crisis. Officials from various regions reported on flood conditions, rescue efforts, and relief progress. The Prime Minister reviewed the situation and ordered all departments to stay prepared with manpower and equipment to respond to potential risks and continue working closely with affected communities.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in six divisions due to active monsoon conditions. According to a forecast signed by meteorologist Khondaker Hafizur Rahman, areas in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience intense rainfall within the next 24 hours from noon on July 12, 2026. The department defines heavy rainfall as 44 to 88 millimeters within 24 hours, while precipitation exceeding 88 millimeters is considered very heavy. In the past 30 hours, Dhaka recorded 179 millimeters of continuous rain, including 97 millimeters in the first 24 hours and 82 millimeters in the following six hours. Patuakhali recorded the highest rainfall nationwide at 132 millimeters during the same period. Waterlogging caused by the heavy rain and inadequate drainage has submerged roads and alleys across the capital, creating severe disruption for residents and visitors.

Rajshahi University teacher, writer, and public intellectual Selim Reza Newton has reported receiving death threats and continuous online harassment targeting him and his family. In an interview published on July 12, 2026, he said his social media inbox has been flooded with threats, obscene messages, and calls to track his movements. Newton described the attacks as part of a coordinated campaign aimed at discrediting the July student uprising and intimidating those associated with it. He alleged that the campaign involves doxing, vulgar comments, and manipulated photos of his family members, which he called a form of psychological terror. Newton linked the harassment to political motives, claiming it was orchestrated to deny and distort the history of the July uprising. He stated that he is collecting evidence and plans to consult lawyers and possibly file complaints with cyber authorities. University colleagues condemned the threats, calling them premeditated and urging the government to ensure his safety. Rajshahi University officials acknowledged awareness of the issue but said Newton has not yet filed a formal complaint. They noted that identifying specific perpetrators in cyberbullying cases can be difficult without official reports.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam and the party’s chief organizer for the southern region, Hasnat Abdullah, distributed relief materials among flood-affected residents in Anwara upazila of Chattogram. The distribution took place on Sunday afternoon at Dovashi Bazar in the 3rd Raypur Union, where hundreds of families have been stranded by floodwaters for several days. Speaking to journalists afterward, Nahid Islam criticized the government’s handling of the ongoing flood crisis, saying people were suffering while authorities failed to respond effectively. He urged citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to unite in helping those affected. The opposition whip also condemned the poor condition of coastal embankments and alleged negligence by local administration and lawmakers, noting that no government relief had reached the area. He further claimed that corruption during the previous Awami League government had worsened embankment problems and vowed to ensure that new budget allocations for embankment repairs would be used transparently. NCP student leaders Abu Bakar Mojumdar and Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi were also present at the event.

National Parliament Whip and Habiganj-3 Member of Parliament Alhaj GK Gaus has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad and BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar. The condolence message was issued on Sunday afternoon, describing Sarkar as a veteran politician, distinguished lawyer, and a central figure in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democracy. GK Gaus stated that as Speaker of the National Parliament, Barrister Sarkar performed his duties with skill, wisdom, and impartiality, playing an important role in strengthening the country’s parliamentary democracy. He added that the nation has lost a respected political personality with his passing. The Whip prayed for the forgiveness of Sarkar’s departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. The message concluded with prayers that Barrister Sarkar’s good deeds be accepted and that he be granted a place in Jannatul Ferdous.

The United States carried out another round of early-morning airstrikes on Iran on Sunday, targeting military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said the operation, authorized by President Donald Trump, aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway. Iranian state media reported explosions in Sirik, Qeshm Island, Jask, and areas west of Bandar Abbas, though local authorities said no civilian casualties had been reported. The strikes mark the latest escalation in hostilities that resumed on July 7, despite a memorandum of understanding signed last month to halt fighting. The US said it struck about 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, including drone, missile, and naval facilities, after Iran allegedly attacked a Cyprus-registered ship. Iran has responded with counterattacks on US bases across the Middle East, while asserting its sovereignty over the strait. The Trump administration considers Iran’s drone strikes a violation of the ceasefire agreement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise restraint and resume negotiations, warning that continued escalation could endanger regional stability and leave thousands of seafarers stranded in the waterway.