The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association reported that 360 students were killed and 109 injured in 320 road accidents across the country between January and June 2026. The association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, shared the data in a statement issued on July 11, marking the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Mirsharai tragedy. He said that despite repeated incidents, no regular awareness programs on road safety have been introduced for students, teachers, or parents. The statement recalled that the 2011 Mirsharai accident in Chattogram killed 45 students when a minitruck carrying them fell into a ditch. Chowdhury argued that the absence of government-led awareness initiatives has allowed similar tragedies to continue. To address this, the association proposed five measures, including adding road safety lessons to textbooks, holding monthly awareness sessions, marking zebra crossings near schools, deploying “road safety guards,” and forming safety committees in educational institutions. The association emphasized that implementing these steps could help reduce student fatalities and promote safer roads nationwide.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that Turkey will not engage in any direct military conflict with Israel. He made the remarks in an interview with UAE-based media outlet The National, following recent heated exchanges between officials of the two countries. Fidan emphasized that there is no logical reason or necessity for Turkey to go to war with Israel. According to Fidan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his close allies are creating provocative situations to gain electoral advantage. He claimed that Netanyahu and his associates always seek an external enemy to sustain their political standing. Fidan noted that Israel is already involved in conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and that some Israeli politicians now view Turkey as a new adversary for electoral purposes. Fidan also acknowledged that not all Israeli politicians or citizens share the same mindset, expressing appreciation that there are still sensible and rational individuals in Israel who do not follow extremist views.

Police in Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj recovered 11,788 liters of stolen soybean oil and arrested two members of an inter-district robbery gang three days after the incident. The arrests were made through a special operation based on information technology and CCTV footage analysis. A covered van and a pickup truck used in the robbery were also recovered. The arrested suspects were identified as Goni Mia, 28, from Hemayetpur, Savar, and Abhi Rahman, 28, from Kadamtali, Dhaka. According to police, efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang. The robbery occurred early on July 9 when armed assailants hijacked a covered van carrying soybean oil from Meghna Edible Oil Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Meghna Group, on the Dhaka-Mawa service road. Following the filing of a case with Srinagar Police Station, a special team from the district detective branch launched an operation. The stolen oil was recovered from a shed in Shariatpur and a ground-floor warehouse at Imran Hossain’s house in Solghar Union, Srinagar.

A Bangladeshi youth named Minhaj Uddin, aged 25, was shot dead by members of the Khasi community near the Goainghat border in Sylhet early Saturday. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. near Lakhkat station in Meghalaya, India. Minhaj, a resident of Bhadeshwar village in West Jaflong Union, reportedly used to bring goods from India for sale in Bangladesh. It remains unclear why he had crossed the border at the time of the shooting. Local sources said Minhaj entered Indian territory through the Sonarhat-Lakhkat border when the Khasi group opened fire, hitting him. Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were informed after the incident. Goainghat police visited the site and sent the body to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for legal procedures. According to the Sylhet Battalion (48 BGB) commander, preliminary findings suggest Minhaj had entered about one kilometer inside India for an unspecified purpose. BGB has since increased patrols and surveillance in the border area, and an investigation is underway.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman attended the 81st founding anniversary celebration of Dhaka Medical College, known as DMC Day 2026, held on July 11, 2026. After inaugurating the event by releasing doves and balloons at Shaheed Milon Square, he participated in a discussion titled “Thoughts of DMCians on Modernizing Bangladesh’s Health System” at the college auditorium. During the session, he exchanged views with doctors, officials, and students, answering questions and listening to their suggestions. When asked about his vision for the health sector, the Prime Minister humorously pointed to his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, saying, “I don’t have health in my head, she does,” prompting laughter across the auditorium. The participant then remarked that if Dr. Rahman took initiatives in this area, it would make them even prouder. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, State Minister Dr. M A Muhith, Health Services Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, and the Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman were also present at the event.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said that leaders of the previous fascist government used state facilities to illegally occupy canals, leading to waterlogging and floods. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Chattogram Circuit House during a meeting with 16 local MPs, the city mayor, and administrative officials to coordinate flood relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts in Chattogram and the three hill districts. The minister stated that the current democratic government is working to reduce public suffering, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman closely monitoring the disaster situation in Chattogram. He added that the prime minister is in constant contact with local authorities and personally overseeing relief needs. Amit also mentioned that the government held a three-and-a-half-hour conference on Friday to review recent activities and that work has begun according to the new plan. He further said that Ansar, BGB, and the army are delivering relief to remote areas, and that he would visit Banshkhali to oversee increased relief distribution. The state minister noted that the state minister for water resources would visit Chattogram the next day to discuss river dredging plans.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman spent time with students of Kazi Fazlul Huq Women’s Hostel at Dhaka Medical College on Saturday morning. The visit followed the inauguration of “DMC Day 2026” at 10 a.m., marked by the release of balloons and pigeons. Dr. Zubaida Rahman had lived in this hostel during her medical studies, making the visit a sentimental return for her. During the event, the Prime Minister wished the students success in their future endeavors, while Dr. Zubaida Rahman shared emotional recollections of her student life at the college. She encouraged students to remain forward-looking despite life’s challenges and to build the institution’s reputation globally through excellence in medical service. The couple’s arrival was met with enthusiasm, and students later took selfies with them. The visit highlighted the personal connection of the Prime Minister’s family with Dhaka Medical College and underscored the importance of inspiring current students toward professional and institutional pride.

Continuous rainfall and a sudden flash flood in Rangamati’s Rajsthali upazila submerged the Sadek Poultry Farm, killing around 1,500 chickens. The incident occurred late Friday night in Dak Bangla Para of Bangalhalia Union, causing losses estimated at over five lakh taka. The farm’s owner, young entrepreneur Md. Sadek, said he and his workers tried to save the birds but failed as floodwaters from a nearby mountain stream inundated the area. Sadek explained that he had established the poultry farm with loans from various NGOs to overcome unemployment. Now, with his home flooded and his livestock lost, he has been left destitute. He appealed for assistance from the administration and local benefactors to recover from the disaster. Following the incident, Major Md. S. Arefin, commander of the Bangalhalia Army Camp, visited the damaged farm and assured Sadek of support. Local Union Parishad member Shimul Das was also present during the visit.

Former interim government legal adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul has called on ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh immediately and face the legal process. In a Facebook post on Saturday, he questioned why she should wait until December if she truly intends to come back, urging her to present her position before the court and the public. Nazrul welcomed Hasina’s stated willingness to return, noting that both the previous interim government and the current BNP government had formally requested India to facilitate her return. He said the government wants to bring her under the law for trial, while Hasina has expressed interest in returning. He raised questions about her accountability for the July uprising that led to her ouster, as well as incidents such as the BDR mutiny, Shapla Chattar killings, enforced disappearances, and corruption allegations during her rule. Nazrul further stated that while Hasina’s family left the country before the July uprising, many Awami League activists continue to face legal uncertainty. He urged her not to delay if she truly plans to return, and not to mislead her party members with repeated announcements if she does not.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging at Benapole, the country’s largest land port, submerging imported goods worth crores of taka. Several sheds and yards near Gate No. 3 were flooded, disrupting storage, transport, and unloading operations. The port authority has deployed power pumps to remove water, but the effort has been hampered by ongoing rain. Port users and traders have blamed the recurring problem on the absence of an effective drainage system despite multiple infrastructure projects. They alleged that authorities were repeatedly informed but took no lasting action. A committee formed earlier to address drainage issues has shown no visible progress. Many importers, lacking insurance coverage, are now facing significant financial losses. Business leaders expressed frustration that despite Benapole generating around Tk 10,000 crore in annual revenue for the government, the drainage crisis persists. The port director said water removal is underway and expects improvement once the rain stops.

On June 17, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a preliminary agreement with Iran at France’s Palace of Versailles, aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping and allow Iran to resume oil sales. The deal was intended to ease years of sanctions and encourage peaceful relations. However, within a month, three ships were attacked near the strait, prompting Trump to revoke Iran’s oil export permission and order airstrikes on more than 170 Iranian military sites. No new talks have been scheduled since. Both Trump’s military and diplomatic strategies have failed, returning the United States to sanctions and strikes. Vice President J.D. Vance warned of harsher responses to future attacks, while experts questioned the effectiveness of repeating past measures. Former diplomat Richard Haass said no clear strategy is visible as both sides escalate attacks on energy facilities. The situation is further complicated by Iran’s internal turmoil following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and public anger toward government officials. Disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved, leaving future negotiations uncertain.

BNP Vice Chairman and Noakhali-4 (Sadar-Subarnachar) MP Md. Shahjahan announced that Noakhali’s Sadar and Subarnachar areas will be freed from drug-related crimes, extortion, and teenage gangs. He stated that many youths involved in such gangs are linked to political organizations, emphasizing that legal measures alone are insufficient and that a social movement is needed to combat drug abuse. He made these remarks on Friday evening while addressing a fruit festival organized by the Subarnachar Upazila Welfare Association at the Noakhali Club auditorium in Dhaka. Shahjahan noted that girls now outnumber boys in schools, meetings, and examinations, attributing this to boys’ growing involvement in drugs and gang activities. He warned that such trends are causing boys to fall behind academically and socially. The MP also said he had instructed law enforcement through the district law and order committee to ensure that students up to the tenth grade do not remain outside after evening without valid reasons, and that legal action should be taken against violators. Several former government officials and BNP leaders attended the event, which was presided over by Md. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Subarnachar Upazila Welfare Association.

Bangladeshi actress Pori Moni has publicly spoken in detail for the first time about her 2021 arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). In a Facebook post published at midnight on Friday, she claimed that her detention on August 4, 2021, was completely unlawful and carried out under the direction of then RAB chief and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. She expressed gratitude to former RAB intelligence head Lt. Col. Khairul Islam for recently acknowledging certain truths about the incident in an online talk show. Pori Moni stated that she was falsely implicated in fabricated cases, placed on a seven-day remand, and kept in jail for 20 days, which caused severe personal and professional damage. She described the experience as a painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history, saying her dignity and character were unjustly questioned. She emphasized that she seeks truth, justice, and humanity rather than revenge, urging that no innocent person should face similar injustice in the future. She expressed hope that the court would soon clear her of the charges and questioned whether the state could restore the honor and peace she lost.

A violent robbery took place in the Padmarkanda Dighirpar area of Kathalia Union under Madhabdi Police Station in Narsingdi. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. when a group of five to seven robbers simultaneously attacked at least three houses. They broke into the home of victim Minhajul Islam, held him at gunpoint, and looted gold ornaments and cash after assaulting him. The robbers also detonated several crude bombs to spread panic before fleeing, injuring three people who tried to resist them. Following the attack, fear and tension gripped the Kathalia and Padmarkanda areas. Residents demanded stronger night security and the immediate arrest of those involved. Madhabdi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kamal Hossain confirmed the robbery and said police had identified several suspects. He assured that arrests would be made soon and that the affected families would file formal complaints after visiting the station. Police are continuing their investigation at the scene, and the community remains on high alert amid calls for swift justice and improved safety measures.

The European Union has directed Meta to change the ‘addictive design’ of Facebook and Instagram, warning that failure to comply could result in substantial fines. The preliminary assessment, released on Friday from Brussels, accuses Meta of failing to reduce risks for children and vulnerable adults by maintaining features that keep users engaged for long periods, such as infinite scroll, personalized feeds, and autoplay videos. EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen stated that protecting Europeans’ physical and mental health should be a priority for social media platforms. The European Commission said Meta must modify its design to disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce effective screen time breaks, and make recommendation algorithms less engagement-driven. Meta disagreed with the findings but said it would work constructively with the EU. If the preliminary decision becomes final, the EU could fine Meta up to six percent of its global annual revenue. The move follows growing EU pressure on major tech firms to strengthen online safety for minors, similar to earlier warnings issued to TikTok.