Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on every citizen of Bangladesh to plant at least one tree sapling, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a pollution-free environment for future generations. He made the appeal on Saturday after inaugurating a nationwide program to plant 250 million trees at the Dulahazara Malumghat reserved forest. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and cleaner air across the country. During the event, the Prime Minister recalled his election pledge to launch a large-scale tree planting campaign if elected. He reaffirmed the government’s target of planting five crore trees annually, totaling 25 crore over the next five years. Rahman urged all citizens to participate actively in the campaign to transform Bangladesh’s air into a cleaner and healthier atmosphere. He also directed district administrators to take initiatives to turn their respective areas into green sanctuaries. The Prime Minister expressed hope that collective efforts would ensure a safe and pollution-free environment where future generations could breathe freely.

Speakers at a discussion marking World Day Against Child Labour emphasized that birth registration is a powerful tool to prevent child labor in Bangladesh. They noted that registration establishes a child’s identity, protects rights, and ensures access to state services. Without registration, many children remain vulnerable to exploitation and early entry into the labor market. The event highlighted that only 50 percent of births in Bangladesh are currently registered, and among children under five, the rate is just 40 percent. Experts proposed amending the Birth and Death Registration Act 2004 to make all health facilities legally responsible for registering births. Since about 67 percent of children are born in such facilities, this reform could significantly raise registration rates and strengthen child protection. Speakers added that improved registration would help Bangladesh achieve full civil registration by 2030 under the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which targets the elimination of child labor and all forms of child exploitation.

Sabbir Ahmed Sadan, a student leader from Madan upazila in Netrokona, was fined Tk 500,000 after attempting a second marriage without disclosing his first. The incident occurred on Friday night in Sonakanda village of Kendua upazila. Sadan, president of the Tioshree Union unit of the student wing, had secretly married Aymona Akter, daughter of his neighbor Dhanai Mia, in 2022. When he went to marry the daughter of Shahjahan Mia, president of the local farmers’ wing, his first wife’s family revealed the earlier marriage, leading to his detention and assault by the bride’s side. He was released after paying the fine. Following his release, Sadan’s associates allegedly attacked Aymona Akter’s house on Saturday, injuring her elder sister Sumona Akter, who received treatment at Madan Upazila Health Complex. Police intervened after a 999 call from Aymona’s family and brought the situation under control. Local leaders and police officials confirmed the incident, stating that further legal action would follow if a written complaint was filed.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Bangladesh would be embarrassed if the prime minister continued to make inappropriate remarks. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing a grand rally organized by the 11-party alliance at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. During the same event, National Parliament’s Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam alleged that there were attempts to hand over Islami Bank to S. Alam, warning that the public would not accept it. Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury also spoke, saying that martyr Osman Hadi had spoken for justice and that it would be unacceptable if the BNP failed to ensure justice after coming to power. The rally reflected growing criticism from opposition figures over government actions and political accountability, highlighting tensions between ruling and opposition parties in Bangladesh.

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has alleged that efforts are underway to hand over Islami Bank to S Alam Group, warning that the public will not accept such a move. He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance in Chattogram. At the same event, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury said that martyr Osman Hadi spoke for justice and fairness, and that the BNP must ensure justice if it returns to power. Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman arrived in Chattogram to attend the rally at Laldighi Maidan. The 11-party alliance organized the gathering to press for several demands, including implementation of the people's mandate, control of commodity prices, improvement of law and order, and establishment of citizens’ rights.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the grave of martyr Md. Wasim Akram, the first martyr from Chattogram Division in the 2024 mass uprising, on Saturday afternoon in Pekua upazila. He personally drove to Wasim’s village home, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and the minister’s wife Hasina Ahmed. After offering prayers at the grave, the prime minister met Wasim’s parents and brother, expressed his condolences, and handed over a savings certificate worth Tk 2 million to the family. Md. Wasim Akram was killed by gunfire on July 16, 2024, during an attack on protesting students in Chattogram’s Bahaddarhat area amid the anti-discrimination movement. At the time, he served as joint convener of the Chattogram College unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. The prime minister’s visit highlighted official recognition of Wasim’s sacrifice during the 2024 movement. The gesture is seen as part of ongoing efforts to honor those who lost their lives in the 2024 uprising and to support their families through state assistance.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s forthcoming agreement with Iran has become a major setback for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long favored maintaining strong military and economic pressure on Tehran. The surprise announcement that a peace deal with Iran was nearing completion came while Netanyahu was meeting top Israeli security officials to discuss possible military action. According to CNN, Israel had not been informed in advance about the deal or its terms. Despite Israel’s opposition, Trump stated that Netanyahu would have no choice but to accept the agreement, emphasizing that all decisions rested with him. The White House outlined that under the deal, Iran must fully halt its nuclear program, eliminate enriched uranium, and allow long-term international inspections. In return, the U.S. would lift naval blockades, remove oil sanctions, and release $24 billion in frozen funds. Angered by Washington’s conciliatory stance, Israeli leaders instructed the military to prepare for independent action against Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the deal was close to finalization, highlighting growing tension between Washington and Tel Aviv.

Iran has announced the funeral and burial schedule for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike. State media confirmed that the multi-stage ceremonies will take place in July across several cities. Farewell events will be held in Tehran on July 4 and 5, followed by the main funeral on July 6. Additional prayers will occur in the holy city of Qom on July 7, and the burial will take place on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, in accordance with Khamenei’s final wish. Tehran’s deputy mayor Mohammad Amin Tavakoli-Zadeh said the capital’s funeral event could last at least 24 hours, with an estimated 15 to 20 million participants expected. Following Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of Iran’s new Supreme Leader in early March. The ceremonies are expected to draw massive national attention, marking the end of an era in Iran’s leadership and the beginning of a new chapter under Mojtaba Khamenei.

Heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff caused flooding in low-lying areas of Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila on Saturday morning, as the Maharshi River overflowed into the Jhenaigati town market and nearby areas. Roads were submerged, and local residents and traders faced severe disruption. The extent of damage could not be immediately confirmed. Residents complained that the absence of a protective embankment leaves the market and surrounding lowlands vulnerable to flooding every monsoon. Traders reported water entering their shops, forcing them to protect goods and disrupting normal business activities. In Nalitabari upazila, the Chellakhali River at Batkuchi point flowed two centimeters above the danger level, raising concerns of worsening conditions along riverbanks. Officials from the Water Development Board said rainfall was recorded at 24.50 millimeters in Sherpur, 35 millimeters in Nalitabari, and 180 millimeters in Nakugaon. Local authorities noted that water levels began to recede by midday. The area’s Member of Parliament stated that a proposal for a permanent embankment on the Maharshi River has been raised in the national parliament to reduce future suffering.

Bangladesh national team spinner Nayeem Hasan was detained and harassed in Chattogram following a late-night police operation based on a WhatsApp message. The message, sent at 1:28 a.m. by a sergeant of a special agency’s Khulshi zone, claimed that a specific CNG auto-rickshaw was being used for gold smuggling. Acting on that unverified tip, police intercepted the vehicle near Lalkhan Bazar and detained Nayeem and his companions without confirming their identities or checking for illegal items. According to police and investigation sources, the message lacked details about the alleged smuggling, including who was involved or where the gold was located. Despite this, the second officer of Khulshi Police Station forwarded the message to a mobile team instead of informing his superior. After Nayeem was brought to the station, the officer-in-charge recognized him and released him when no evidence of smuggling was found. A subsequent search of his belongings also revealed nothing illegal. Police later acknowledged procedural errors, and the sub-inspector responsible for the operation was removed from duty pending further investigation.

In Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat, Sheikh Tarek, a long-time activist of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, announced his resignation from the party after performing a symbolic ritual bath with milk and water. The announcement took place on Friday, following the Jumu’ah prayers, marking the end of more than a decade of his political involvement with the party. According to family and local sources, Sheikh Tarek had been associated with Jamaat for about 14 to 15 years as an active member of ward number 5 in Mansa Bahirdia Union. His public declaration of departure, accompanied by the ritual act, drew significant attention in the area and quickly spread on social media, sparking discussion and debate among locals. Local Jamaat leader Farhad Hossain stated that Sheikh Tarek was not a party officeholder and suggested that he might have misunderstood something, adding that efforts were being made to clarify the situation. The specific reasons behind Tarek’s decision to leave the party remain unknown.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the NCP, alleged that the BNP is deceiving the people of Bangladesh by running the government under Delhi’s prescription. He made the remarks on Saturday, June 13, at a grand rally organized by the 11-party alliance at the historic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram. Patwari claimed that the national election, which was supposed to be fair, had been engineered through external influence. He stated that Bangladesh’s relationship with India would only become truly normal when border killings stop, emphasizing that no Bangladeshi citizen should be unlawfully killed at the border. Patwari also criticized the government’s recently announced budget, calling it a “gazette” designed to enrich BNP leaders and lacking measures for employment generation. He accused officials across institutions of corruption and irregularities. Patwari further said that his party does not engage in extortion or corruption and is maintaining patience democratically. He warned that if limits are crossed, a new revolt could be declared from Chattogram.

A rare species of turtle weighing about 10 kilograms was caught in a fishing net in the Kholpetua River at Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira. The incident occurred on Friday when a local fisherman found the turtle trapped in his net and later kept it at his home. Following reports of the catch, local youths rescued the turtle on Saturday afternoon and handed it over to the Forest Department through members of the Community Patrolling Group. The turtle was delivered to the Kolagachia Forest Station under the Satkhira Range of the West Sundarbans. Forest officer Saiful Islam confirmed that the turtle is now in the department’s custody and further action will be taken according to higher authorities’ instructions. He described the turtle as a rare species but said its exact classification could not be immediately confirmed. Experts will determine the species after further examination, according to the Forest Department.

The family of Sohel, a resident of Mehendiganj upazila who died in a launch accident at Dhaka’s Sadarghat while returning home for Eid-ul-Fitr, has received financial assistance. On Saturday morning in Mehendiganj, State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan handed over a cheque of five lakh taka on behalf of the BIWTA Trustee Board to Sohel’s mother and mother-in-law. During the cheque distribution event, it was stated that the financial support was provided under the initiative of the BIWTA Trustee Board to express sympathy and ease the financial hardship of the bereaved family. The minister noted that while the grief of losing a loved one can never be fully healed, the assistance aims to offer some relief to the affected family. The initiative reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to support victims’ families following transport-related accidents, particularly during major travel periods such as Eid.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that a peace agreement between Iran and the United States could be finalized within the next 24 hours, based on the progress of ongoing discussions. In a message posted on social media platform X, he said that once the deal is concluded, it may be signed electronically. Technical-level discussions are expected to follow next week. Sharif praised both the United States and Iran for their commitment to the negotiation process and expressed gratitude to regional countries for their support. He described the potential agreement as a historic peace deal that could lay a strong foundation for lasting stability. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide further details on the specific terms of the proposed agreement or the issues under negotiation.