Two fish farms in Khanpur Union of Bagerhat Sadar upazila were allegedly poisoned by miscreants early Wednesday, resulting in the death of fish worth around one million taka. The incident occurred in the South Khanpur area, where fish from the ponds of local residents Sheikh Miranuzzaman and Jalal Sheikh were reportedly killed and taken away.

According to local sources, the remaining fish in the ponds also died from poisoning. The farms contained large prawns and various species of white fish, with total losses estimated at over one million taka. Sheikh Miranuzzaman, one of the affected owners, suspected that local drug users or members of a gang displaced from the Sundarbans might be involved. Residents have demanded a prompt investigation and punishment for those responsible.

Police investigation center in-charge BM Alamgir Hossain confirmed awareness of the incident and said authorities would examine the matter and take legal action accordingly.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, the family of slain Jubo Dal activist Turon Mia has expressed anger as no suspects have yet been arrested in connection with his alleged murder. Turon was found dead at his home on June 19 after reportedly protesting irregularities in a local government road project. His younger brother, Elaich Mia, broke down in tears before the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir on July 1, pleading for justice. The adviser later instructed the Sylhet police superintendent to ensure a proper investigation.

According to the family, influential local figures are attempting to portray the killing as a natural death to conceal the truth. They claim Turon had previously filed a written complaint on June 6 after being attacked by neighbors, but police did not record the case due to pressure. Turon allegedly refused to withdraw his complaint despite pressure from local mediators.

Police officials stated that senior authorities are aware of the case and that a detective team is working to identify the real culprits. The family continues to demand a transparent investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

In Muladi upazila of Barishal, locals forcibly took an Awami League activist from police custody after his arrest on Thursday evening. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at Ramarpul Bazar in Nazirpur Union, where police had detained Rasedul Islam Setu Bhuiyan, a local party worker whose organizational activities were banned. About fifty locals surrounded the officers and took Setu away while he was still handcuffed. The police later recovered the handcuffs through negotiation with local residents.

Following the incident, police filed a case accusing several individuals of obstructing government work and rescuing an arrestee. Muladi Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Khondaker Sohel Rana confirmed the event and said the handcuffs were retrieved soon afterward. He added that Setu had been the fifth accused in an earlier case related to a cake-cutting event marking the Awami League’s founding anniversary. A new case has now been filed over the rescue, and police are attempting to arrest Setu and others involved.

Authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend those responsible for the incident.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is under pressure as thousands of citizens from across the country travel daily to its Dhaka headquarters to correct birth dates on their National Identity Cards (NID). The EC had earlier centralized all ‘Category D’ correction applications, removing the authority of field-level officials to prevent irregularities. However, this move has led to severe public suffering, long queues, and the rise of middlemen exploiting applicants.

According to EC officials, around 1,000 ‘Category D’ applications are submitted daily, with a backlog of about 80,000 cases. The EC plans to introduce an appointment-based software system to manage hearings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and reduce overcrowding. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that field officers will not regain authority over birth date corrections due to widespread document inconsistencies and fraudulent attempts.

An internal policy dispute persists within the EC over whether to restore some authority to regional offices. A workshop is being planned to review the policy and finalize decisions aimed at easing public hardship and improving service efficiency.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has directed all electricity distribution companies to promptly resolve customer complaints regarding excessive electricity bills for June. The directive was issued during a review meeting held on July 2, chaired by Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahroukh via Zoom, with senior ministry officials, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and distribution company representatives in attendance. Customers have been urged to contact their respective distribution companies or designated hotlines to report billing issues.

The meeting followed widespread reports in media and social networks that many consumers across the country received inflated bills. While deputy commissioners said they had not received significant complaints, the Power Division emphasized immediate correction of any clerical or technical errors. It also warned that any proven misconduct by officials or employees would result in strict legal action.

The meeting also reviewed load-shedding conditions and progress of rooftop solar power programs at the district level. Distribution companies were instructed to enhance customer service and ensure quick resolution of verified complaints.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has triggered a wave of coaching changes as seven national teams parted ways with their head coaches due to disappointing performances. Six coaches resigned voluntarily, while one was dismissed by his federation. Among those stepping down were Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands, Sebastián Beccacece of Ecuador, Steve Clarke of Scotland, Marcelo Bielsa of Uruguay, Hong Myung-bo of South Korea, and Miroslav Koubek of the Czech Republic. Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi was the only coach to be officially sacked after a heavy defeat to Sweden.

The resignations and dismissal reflect the immense pressure national coaches face during the World Cup, where unmet expectations often lead to swift consequences. Each of the affected teams exited the tournament early, prompting their football associations to begin searching for replacements and reassessing strategies.

For these seven nations, rebuilding their squads and developing new tactical approaches have become immediate priorities as they look beyond the 2026 tournament toward future international competitions.

A government primary school teacher in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, has been deprived of her salary for two years due to complications with her National Identity Card (NID). Kaniz Tania Sultana, an assistant teacher at Ghilachhari Government Primary School, became a dual voter by mistake, leading to the suspension of her salary. Her family’s financial hardship reportedly drove her 14-year-old son, FTM Chowdhury Nu-Mim, to attempt suicide last Saturday. Police rescued him and took him to a hospital, where he survived.

Sultana said she has been teaching for ten years and mistakenly registered as a voter in Chattogram’s South Halishahar area while working there. After obtaining a government job, she applied in 2017 to cancel her previous NID and register under her home address. Despite submitting all required documents and applying for correction three times, her NID remains unresolved, leaving her without pay for two years. The Upazila Primary Education Officer stated that her salary will resume once the NID issue is corrected, while the Upazila Election Officer said the matter will be settled by the Chattogram regional office.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan announced that the initial public offering (IPO) process will be simplified to attract more companies to the capital market. Speaking at a Dhaka Brokers Association event on July 2, 2026, he said BSEC will meet with the Dhaka Stock Exchange, ICMAB, and merchant banks within two weeks to discuss reforms. Khan noted that IPO approvals currently lack transparency and tracking, discouraging firms from seeking market funding.

He emphasized reducing regulatory bottlenecks and empowering stock exchanges to perform their responsibilities independently. The chairman also announced plans to replace full quarterly financial reports with condensed versions following international standards, and to transition BSEC operations from paper-based to fully digital systems using XBRL and XML-based reporting. He urged lower listing fees and stronger digital trading mechanisms to prevent signature misuse.

Khan further highlighted the need for investor education, simplification of capital gains tax procedures, and effective enforcement through specialized tribunals. Market participants at the event supported deregulation and faster IPO approvals to revive market activity.

A woman named Rehena Begum Urmi, who accused Tetulia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Afroz Shahin Khasru of taking a bribe, has been sued under the Cyber Security Act. The case was filed on Wednesday morning at Tetulia Model Police Station by Monowar, a contractual employee of the upazila administration. The complaint names Rehena Begum Urmi as the main accused along with five or six unidentified individuals.

Earlier on Monday, Urmi alleged that the UNO had taken 180,000 taka from her in exchange for promising her son a job as a village police officer. After learning about the UNO’s transfer, she went live on Facebook to demand her money back and later submitted a written complaint to the district commissioner.

UNO Afroz Shahin Khasru denied the allegations, calling them conspiratorial and stating he did not know the woman. The additional district commissioner said a preliminary inquiry found no evidence supporting the bribery claim. Police confirmed the cyber case has been registered and that investigation and arrests are underway.

Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has reported a surge in border violence and human rights violations across Bangladesh during June 2026. According to its monthly observation report released on Thursday, five people were killed in separate incidents along the India and Myanmar borders, including two from Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shootings and three from landmine explosions near Myanmar. The report also noted attempts to push in over 400 people, along with multiple detentions and attacks, raising concerns about the overall human rights situation.

The HRSS report detailed that 352 women and girls were victims of abuse, while 58 political violence incidents left nine dead and 346 injured. It recorded 63 cases of killings linked to robbery, disputes, and dominance conflicts. Freedom of expression faced growing restrictions, with 47 journalists reportedly harassed or assaulted in 39 incidents. Minority communities suffered 12 attacks, injuring seven people and damaging temples, idols, and homes.

HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam described the situation as sensitive and worsening amid political tensions and security concerns, urging the government and civil society to take more accountable and active measures to protect human rights.

An eight-year-old Argentine boy named Manu Litvi, a youth player for Argentinos Juniors, received World Cup tickets after his emotional letter to Lionel Messi captured widespread attention. The incident began on Argentina’s live streaming show ‘Sería Increíble’ on the Olga channel, where Manu read his birthday letter to Messi, expressing admiration for both his football skills and his character. The video quickly went viral across digital platforms.

Following the viral response, one of Messi’s Argentine sponsors sent a surprise reply through show host Paula Chaves, inviting Manu and his family to travel to the United States to watch the World Cup live. The invitation allows Manu to fulfill his dream of seeing his idol play in person when Argentina faces Cape Verde in the round of 32.

The gesture has been portrayed as a celebration of a child’s passion and perseverance, showing how genuine admiration and dedication can turn dreams into reality.

The High Court Division of Bangladesh made significant progress in its special initiative to clear long-pending cases. On Thursday, a total of 2,411 old cases were disposed of in a single day, including 1,655 criminal miscellaneous cases and 756 writ cases. This marks another milestone in the ongoing effort to reduce case backlogs.

Since the start of the special program, a total of 26,560 old cases have been resolved over six working days. Of these, 19,836 were criminal miscellaneous cases and 6,724 were writ cases. The initiative is being carried out under the directive of the Chief Justice, focusing on both the Criminal Motion and Writ Motion Benches of the High Court Division.

The program, launched on May 7, aims to ensure faster justice for litigants, reduce case congestion, and enhance the efficiency of the judicial system. Judges of the relevant benches dedicate one day each week to prioritize hearings and disposals of old cases.

The government has decided to rehabilitate 150 officers from the army, navy, and air force who were allegedly deprived, discriminated against, or faced political retaliation during the previous Awami League administration. A notification issued by the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday confirmed the decision, signed by Secretary Md. Ashraf Uddin, and made effective immediately. The order includes 115 army, 21 navy, and 14 air force officers, granting them reinstatement, retrospective promotions, and pending financial benefits.

The directive, issued in the public interest, will be implemented by the Armed Forces Division and replaces a previous order from February 5 of the same year. The decision follows a detailed review by a high-level committee formed on May 3, led by retired Lieutenant General Abdul Hafiz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Solidarity. The committee examined applications from officers who served between 2009 and August 4, 2024, and recommended restoring their dignity and entitlements.

Earlier, the interim government had similarly granted retrospective promotions to 141 other officers who had faced comparable circumstances.

A series of left-wing victories in recent US Democratic primaries has alarmed Israeli media and pro-Israel circles, who now see support for Israel as no longer a guarantee of political success. In Colorado, Democratic Socialist candidate Melat Kiros defeated long-time pro-Israel representative Diana DeGette, marking another win for candidates critical of Israel’s influence and its actions in Gaza.

Before Kiros’s victory, similar outcomes were seen in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., where Democratic Socialist candidates backed by progressive figures also prevailed. The Democratic Socialists, a left-leaning faction often competing within the Democratic Party, are emerging as a growing force in US politics.

Israeli outlets have linked these results to shifting attitudes among Democratic voters following Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. An editorial in The Jerusalem Post warned that the Democratic Party is steadily distancing itself from Israel, noting that the once small anti-Israel “Squad” in Congress may soon represent a broader trend.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned documents related to alleged irregularities in the construction of the Purbachal stadium, consultant appointments, and financial mismanagement in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) during the tenure of former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president and ex–Youth and Sports Minister Nazmul Hasan Papon. The directive came through a letter signed by ACC Deputy Director Md. Saiduzzaman, which was also sent to the Youth and Sports Ministry secretary and the BCB chief executive officer.

According to ACC sources, a three-member team was formed in 2025 to investigate allegations of corruption and money laundering involving Papon and Beximco Pharmaceuticals. The ACC has requested all tender documents, consultant appointment records, expenditure details, and audit reports related to the Purbachal stadium project and BCB operations. It also sought records of expenditures for the Mujib 100 celebrations, the 2019 Bangabandhu BPL, and the concert organized by Indian musician A. R. Rahman.

The investigation follows reports that Papon left the country after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, with recent footage showing him in London.