Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has called for a draft of a National Action Plan, or e-Safety Plan, to address fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and growing digital risks. He made the call on Saturday at a roundtable titled “Policy, Technology and Accountability in Combating Fake News in Bangladesh,” organized by the Nationalist ICT Forum at the Engineers Institution in Dhaka. The minister emphasized that policymakers must first enhance their knowledge and capacity to tackle misinformation challenges effectively. He said that proper policy formulation, a strong regulatory framework, and technology-based implementation structures are essential for managing these issues. Highlighting the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, he noted its potential long-term impacts on civilization, the economy, and employment, urging balanced consideration of both its benefits and risks. Swapan added that digital infrastructure and data security have become strategic priorities globally and called for strengthening both digital capacity and protection frameworks. He expressed hope that the proposed plan would help build a safe, technologically capable, and inclusive Bangladesh.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, currently visiting Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday morning. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, enhancing defense cooperation, and addressing regional security and mutual interests. According to the source, the two sides also discussed recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and South Asia, along with potential collaboration in the economy, energy, education, culture, healthcare, and defense industries. Prime Minister Rahman emphasized broadening areas of cooperation, while Fidan expressed Turkey’s interest in elevating the relationship to a new level of strategic partnership. This marks Hakan Fidan’s first visit to Bangladesh as Turkey’s foreign minister. During his trip, he also held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. In recent years, Bangladesh and Turkey have significantly expanded cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and humanitarian assistance.

Bahrain has condemned Iran for launching seven ballistic missiles targeting the territories of Bahrain and Kuwait early Saturday. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry described the attack as a severe violation of the country’s sovereignty and a threat to Gulf regional security. According to the ministry, the missiles were successfully intercepted, and it praised the vigilance of the Bahraini and Kuwaiti armed forces. In its statement, Bahrain accused Iran of violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which denounced Iranian attacks and any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt international navigation. The ministry urged Iran to immediately halt such unjustified assaults, fully reopen the strait without restrictions, disclose the locations of naval mines, and allow over 20,000 stranded sailors to leave the area safely. Bahrain emphasized that its patience should not be mistaken for weakness and reaffirmed its commitment to take all lawful measures to protect national security and sovereignty.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Monir has termed the health ministry’s declaration to cancel Ad-Din Hospital’s license as unlawful. He made the statement on Saturday, June 6, at a hotel in Tejgaon, Dhaka, during a meeting attended by the hospital authorities and families of the deceased infants. The Directorate General of Health Services had issued a show-cause notice to the hospital following the deaths of six newborns, asking for a response by Sunday, June 7. Monir argued that the notice’s warning of license cancellation was completely illegal. He also criticized the ministry’s investigation report, which cited oxygen shortage and increased carbon dioxide levels as causes of death, for lacking specific data on gas levels. Monir said the report failed to clarify what oxygen levels would have prevented the deaths, calling it vague. One bereaved father, Habibur Rahman, said families wanted punishment for those responsible but did not want the hospital closed. The hospital announced free lifelong treatment, jobs, and compensation for affected families. Earlier, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the investigation found negligence at Ad-Din Hospital and that legal action would follow.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Dhaka has become unlivable due to pollution and institutional decay. Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of 'Dokkhin-er Janala' organized by Dhaka South City Corporation on Saturday, he remarked that he no longer feels like living in the capital and may move to another city. He emphasized that citizens are forced to breathe polluted air and face collapsing public institutions. Fakhrul called for a movement to ensure clean oxygen and build livable cities, stressing that both citizens and policymakers must be held accountable. He questioned the effectiveness of large-scale urban projects worth billions of taka and urged proper evaluation of their benefits to residents. He also highlighted the need for deeper commitment and responsibility in city governance. Referring to the severe pollution of the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers, Fakhrul said their degradation symbolizes Dhaka’s environmental crisis. He warned that falling groundwater levels and unsafe drinking water pose grave risks and called for effective projects to restore the rivers and prevent further ecological damage.

The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 951 people have been killed and 2,984 injured in the enclave since a ceasefire took effect on October 11. During this period, 782 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble. The ministry said that in the past 48 hours alone, Israeli attacks killed five Palestinians and injured 49 others. Among the dead, two were killed in new strikes, one succumbed to earlier injuries, and one body was recovered from debris. The statement added that many victims remain trapped under rubble or on the streets, and rescue teams have been unable to reach them. The figures highlight the continuing toll of Israeli military actions in Gaza despite the declared ceasefire. According to the ministry, the situation remains critical as rescue operations face severe obstacles, leaving uncertainty about the total number of casualties still unaccounted for.

A fire broke out late Friday night at the cargo village of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, marking the second such incident in eight months. The blaze began around 11:25 p.m. near Gate 9 and was brought under control by 11:38 p.m., with full extinguishment by 1:05 a.m. Fire service units, airport firefighters, and air force personnel jointly managed the operation. No major damage or disruption to flight operations was reported. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat visited the site and formed a five-member investigation committee. He noted that while a short circuit is suspected, repeated fires in a high-security zone point to possible negligence. Airport Executive Director S.M. Ragib Samad confirmed that safety checks were ongoing even after the fire was contained. Business representatives expressed frustration over recurring fires in a restricted area storing high-value goods. They demanded a thorough investigation and accountability to prevent future incidents. The latest fire has revived questions about the airport’s safety management and oversight systems.

The verdict in the case over the brutal killing of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area will be announced on Sunday. Judge Masrur Salehin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Suppression of Child Violence is scheduled to deliver the ruling. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu, said they have proven the charges against accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter and expect the death penalty. The defense, represented by state-appointed lawyer Musa Kalimullah, said they expect justice. According to the case documents, Ramisa, a second-grade student at Popular Model High School, was lured into Swapna’s room on the morning of May 19. Her parents later discovered her dismembered body inside the accused couple’s apartment. Police detained Swapna at the scene and arrested Sohel in Narayanganj using technology-based tracking. Ramisa’s father filed the case on May 20, naming both as defendants. Following investigation and charge submission on May 24, the tribunal framed charges on June 1. Sixteen of the eighteen listed witnesses testified before the court.

Israeli forces shot and killed a seven-month-old baby in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry reported that Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle south of Hebron, injuring three members of the same family, including the infant, who later died. Palestinian news agency Wafa stated that several attacks occurred across the occupied West Bank from Friday night through Saturday. These included assaults by illegal settlers and Israeli military operations. In Atuf village, southeast of Tubas, settlers reportedly attacked a group of Palestinian farmers and took them away. A local official said the attackers were dressed in Israeli military uniforms. In Deir Dibwan, near Ramallah, settlers forced entry into Palestinian homes. When residents resisted, Israeli forces entered one of the houses, confined the occupants to a room, and ordered the removal of surveillance cameras.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has announced a protest program in Dhaka on Sunday against recent increases in electricity, oil, and gas prices, as well as alleged push-in incidents along the border. The demonstration will begin with a rally after the Asr prayer at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, followed by a procession. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the party’s Dhaka executive members held on Friday night at its central office and was later confirmed in a press release on Saturday. Party Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, who presided over the meeting, criticized the government for raising energy prices despite a decline in global fuel costs, saying it placed an excessive burden on citizens. He described the move as contrary to public interest and accused the authorities of deceiving the people. Ahmad also expressed concern over the reported push-in and harassment of Bangladeshi nationals at the border, calling it a threat to national sovereignty and citizen dignity. The party urged the government to immediately reduce energy prices and take effective diplomatic steps to stop border push-ins, while calling on its members to ensure the success of Sunday’s protest.

The United States has claimed responsibility for downing four Iranian drones and striking radar installations near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the drones were one-way attack models approaching the area, and coastal surveillance radar sites were also targeted. CENTCOM stated on social media that the drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic. In response to the US actions, Iran reportedly launched seven ballistic missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. The exchange follows a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran that began on April 8, which has failed to produce a lasting end to hostilities. The renewed confrontation underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing volatility in the Gulf region, where both nations have struggled to maintain stability amid repeated military escalations.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that mobile courts will be conducted every two to three days to strengthen dengue prevention efforts. Institutions where dengue mosquito larvae are found will face fines. He made the announcement on Saturday morning at the inauguration of a three-month special anti-dengue campaign at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi. The minister warned that this year’s dengue infections could be more severe, with risks of hemorrhagic dengue leading to bleeding soon after infection. He urged early awareness and preventive action to reduce the threat. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam also emphasized public awareness as a key factor in prevention. According to Abdus Salam, 63 wards of Dhaka South City Corporation are at risk of dengue, with 28 wards identified as highly vulnerable. He stated that dengue prevention requires joint responsibility, with citizens and the city corporation each contributing 50 percent of the effort.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard has called on Israel to end what she described as 'cruelty' and to release Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital. Her appeal followed reports that Abu Safiya had been placed in solitary confinement at Israel’s Nafha Prison. In a post on social media platform X, Callamard questioned the reasons behind such treatment, asking why those with the power to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their actions continue to fail. She emphasized that Dr. Abu Safiya should be with his loved ones and serving the many people who depend on his care, not confined in isolation. Callamard leads Amnesty International’s global human rights advocacy, campaigns, and strategic direction. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and shared by the Bangladeshi outlet Amar Desh.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced that it successfully prevented eight separate push-in attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along different border points within the past 24 hours. According to a BGB press release issued on Saturday, the incidents occurred in areas under the responsibility of several battalions, including Maheshpur, Naogaon, Teesta, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Netrakona. In each case, groups of people were reportedly brought near the border from the Indian side but were stopped by BGB patrols before they could enter Bangladesh. The BGB stated that its personnel acted with maximum alertness and professionalism to ensure border security. In Nilphamari, a flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF company commanders after ten people were positioned outside the barbed wire fence. BSF claimed those individuals were Bangladeshi nationals but failed to provide proof. BGB reaffirmed that any push-in attempts violating international border management norms or bilateral agreements are unacceptable. The force emphasized its firm commitment to protecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and maintaining strict vigilance along the border to prevent illegal entry.

FIFA has reversed its earlier decision to ban spectators from bringing water bottles into stadiums during the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The organization announced on Friday via social media that fans will now be allowed to carry factory-sealed, single-use soft plastic bottles of up to 20 ounces (approximately 590 milliliters). The initial restriction, applied to all 16 venues, had been justified on security grounds, citing risks of bottles being thrown onto the field. However, reusable hard bottles will still not be permitted. The ban had sparked strong backlash from fans, politicians, and organizations, particularly given forecasts of extreme heat across most venues, where temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Critics argued that preventing spectators from bringing their own water was unreasonable. England’s supporter group Free Lions accused FIFA of using the policy as a revenue tactic benefiting sponsor Coca-Cola, which will sell beverages inside stadiums. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the original decision “wrong,” while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the need to ensure adequate water access for fans. The 23rd edition of the World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the three host nations.