Testimonies from 14 of 28 witnesses have been completed in the illegal wealth case against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed. On Wednesday afternoon, six witnesses gave their statements before Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5, presided over by Abdullah Al Mamun. As the accused remains absconding, cross-examination of the witnesses could not take place. The court scheduled the next hearing for July 16, confirmed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.

The case was filed on December 15, 2024, by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam, accusing Benazir Ahmed of acquiring wealth beyond known income sources, concealing asset information, and money laundering. Following investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on November 30, 2025. The court accepted the charges on March 8, 2026, issuing an arrest warrant, and began trial proceedings on May 3, 2026.

According to the charge sheet, Benazir declared assets worth about Tk 12.2 crore, while investigators found evidence of assets exceeding Tk 15.6 crore, indicating Tk 11 crore in unexplained wealth.

Turkey has increased transit fees for ships passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits by about 15 percent, effective July 1, 2026. The country’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed the adjustment to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, stating that the new rate will be 6.70 US dollars per ton, up from the previous 5.83 dollars set in 2022. The revision is part of the ministry’s annual review process.

The Bosphorus and Dardanelles are among the world’s busiest and most strategically important maritime routes. This latest increase continues a trend of fee adjustments that began in 2022, after nearly four decades of unchanged rates at 80 cents per ton since 1983. In 2022, Turkey raised the fee more than fivefold to 4.8 dollars per ton as part of a policy shift.

According to preliminary estimates by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkey expects to earn about 254 million US dollars from ship transits between July 2025 and June 2026, roughly 31 million dollars more than the previous fiscal year.

A devastating fire broke out on Wednesday morning at a jhoot (garment waste) warehouse named Ma Marjan Enterprise in Dakshin Sastapur area of Fatullah, Narayanganj. The blaze, which started around 7:30 a.m., caused an estimated loss of about Tk 4 million. Four units from the Shibu Market Modern Fire Station responded to the scene and brought the fire under control after nearly two hours of effort.

According to Abdullah Al Arifin, Deputy Assistant Director of Narayanganj Fire Service, the 150-foot-long warehouse was completely burned, while a nearby tea stall and a wood shop sustained partial damage. Initial investigations suggest that the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit.

Local residents reported seeing smoke rising from the warehouse before the flames quickly spread, creating panic in the area. People from nearby houses moved their furniture to safety. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause and total extent of the damage.

The house rent allowance for teachers employed in MPO-listed private educational institutions has been raised by 15 percent of their basic salary, effective from Wednesday, July 1, 2026. According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), the issue of increasing the allowance has been finalized, and teachers and staff will receive the enhanced benefit from July.

Earlier, on October 21, 2025, the Ministry of Finance approved a 15 percent increase in the house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers and employees of private institutions. The ministry’s approval letter stated that, considering the government’s budget limitations, the allowance would be implemented in two phases: 7.5 percent from November 1, 2025, and an additional 7.5 percent from July 1, 2026, making a total of 15 percent of the basic salary, with a minimum of 2,000 taka.

The DSHE confirmed that the finance ministry’s directive has now come into effect, ensuring that eligible teachers and staff will receive the revised allowance starting this month.

A Noakhali court has postponed the verdict in the widely discussed case of five-year-old Asma Akter’s rape and murder for the third time. The Special Child Tribunal in the district, presided over by Judge Farzana Akter, set a new date of July 6 for the verdict announcement. The decision was confirmed by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Advocate Shukla Saha.

According to the case details, Asma, daughter of Maulana Md. Shahjahan from Megha village in Chatkhil upazila, went missing on March 24, 2022. Nine days later, police recovered her body from a septic tank behind the house based on information from the accused, Shahadat, her 26-year-old cousin. During investigation, Shahadat confessed in court that he raped and then strangled the child to death before hiding the body.

The brutal killing sparked widespread outrage across Noakhali, prompting protests, human chains, and demonstrations organized by political, social, and educational groups. Locals have consistently demanded swift justice and the death penalty for the accused.

A human chain was organized in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur to protest alleged home grabbing, vandalism, looting, and physical abuse by a local influential person. The event took place on Wednesday morning at Purba Huglipara village, led by victim Motahara Begum. She claimed that the disputed property, recorded under SA Khatian No. 119, originally belonged to her late father-in-law Nasir Uddin Sarkar and was inherited by her mother-in-law, Nasimon Khatun.

According to the affected family, their rival Nurul Amin, with the help of local miscreants, attacked their home, causing damage and inflicting physical and mental abuse. They also alleged that Amin blocked their only access road by building a wall, leaving the family confined for nearly three years and forcing them to move through a rear window. A written complaint was submitted to the Parbatipur Assistant Commissioner (Land) seeking redress and reopening of the road.

Local leaders, including the acting president of the Parbatipur Upazila Mahila Dal, expressed solidarity with the victims and demanded immediate administrative action. Nurul Amin denied the allegations, claiming he lawfully purchased the land and built a boundary wall within his property.

Iran and Oman are preparing to jointly impose a toll on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report citing an Iranian official and four diplomats. The move comes despite open objections from the United States. The New York Times reported the plan on Tuesday, noting that the two countries intend to charge a fee for passage through the strategic waterway.

Earlier this month, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point plan allowing commercial ships to transit the strait safely without paying any fees. However, that agreement, like other parts of the deal, is valid only for a 60-day negotiation period. As part of the arrangement, Iran and Oman were tasked with developing a joint plan for the strait’s management.

If the proposed toll is implemented as part of a post-war regional business model, it would end the centuries-old tradition of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global maritime route.

At Chittagong University, Ulfatur Rahman Rakib, chief organizer of the Chhatra Shakti unit, was assaulted by activists of the Chhatra Dal on Tuesday night near Shahjalal Hall. The university’s proctor, Professor Dr. Hossain Shahid Sarwardi, was also reportedly pushed and hit while trying to control the situation. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m., and allegations were raised against 20 to 25 Chhatra Dal members, including sports secretary Abdullah Al Mamun and joint general secretary Mohammad Javed.

The violence stemmed from a dispute during a football match screening organized by Chhatra Dal on June 29, when a quarrel broke out between students Dishan, Yafir, and Mamun. Following that, Dishan and Yafir were allegedly beaten by Chhatra Dal activists. On Tuesday, Dishan and his associates reportedly attacked Mamun, prompting further clashes. Rakib was later called to the scene and beaten.

University authorities said they were collecting information and would take legal action if necessary. Chhatra Dal leaders acknowledged tensions and promised organizational measures if any member was found guilty.

Former Mexican forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández sparked renewed debate over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by sharing a detailed post on his official Instagram account. In the post, he recounted how his mother-in-law once asked who was better between the two football icons. Chicharito responded by describing Messi as a symbol of innate talent, saying his play seems to defy the laws of physics and that teams build their strategies around him.

In contrast, he portrayed Ronaldo as a self-made warrior whose greatest strength lies in discipline. According to Chicharito, Ronaldo has repeatedly proven himself across countries, leagues, and styles through hard work, sacrifice, and mental toughness. He concluded by writing, “Messi is Superman, and Ronaldo is Batman,” explaining that Superman was born extraordinary, while Batman became exceptional through courage and effort.

The post quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread discussion. Many praised Chicharito’s balanced view, and most agreed that both players remain unique inspirations in football history despite their different paths.

Ten of the eleven Thai commercial ships that had been stranded in the Hormuz Strait since late February have now safely crossed the waterway, according to a statement from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The vessels, either Thai-flagged or chartered by Thai operators, had been unable to leave the area following the outbreak of military conflict in the region on February 28.

The ministry confirmed that only one Thai ship remains in the high-risk zone. It stated that this remaining vessel is expected to depart the strait as soon as its cargo loading is completed. The release of the ships marks a significant relief for Thailand’s maritime trade operations, which had been disrupted for several months due to the regional instability.

The ministry’s statement did not specify further details about the conflict or the measures taken to secure the ships’ passage, but it emphasized the government’s continued monitoring of the situation to ensure the safety of Thai vessels operating in the area.

Former State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Advocate Dipen Dewan is set to return to his constituency in Rangamati on Wednesday, one month after resigning from his ministerial post. His personal assistant Md Al Amin confirmed the visit, saying Dewan will meet local BNP leaders and activists at the district party office and later attend various official and political programs in the area.

Dewan had resigned from his ministerial position on June 1, citing health reasons, only three months after taking oath as minister. Since his resignation, he had been staying at his residence in Dhaka and attended the national parliament’s budget session during that period.

Local party sources said his supporters in Rangamati are preparing to welcome him with a motor procession from Ghagra in Kaukhali upazila, reflecting enthusiasm among followers ahead of his return.

Local administration in Kaukhali, Pirojpur, conducted an eviction drive under the eighth China Maitree Bekutia Bridge on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The operation targeted illegal restaurants and food stalls built with concrete and iron structures on government land and river areas beneath the bridge, which had been turned into a tourist spot.

According to the report, the illegal establishments were damaging the environment and beauty of the area. After issuing prior notices to the occupiers, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Md. Asaduzzaman led the eviction when the encroachers failed to remove the structures voluntarily.

The official stated that the Bekutia Bridge area, now recognized as a tourist destination in the southern region, will not allow any unauthorized construction in the future.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that a political crisis has emerged due to the government’s failure to honor the results of a referendum. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning during a citizens’ gathering and discussion meeting held in Dhaka-15 constituency, organized to address public suffering in the area.

Speaking on the national budget, Rahman said that the outcome was close to what he had anticipated. He emphasized that only through joint efforts of the government, opposition parties, and ordinary citizens could the country’s problems be resolved quickly. He also urged cooperation with law enforcement to improve public security and advised families to remain vigilant about their children’s movements and companions.

The event reflected ongoing political tensions and calls for collective responsibility in addressing governance and social issues in Bangladesh.

A major controversy has erupted in European football following Germany’s elimination from the World Cup. According to a report by German outlet Bild, four national team players—Leon Goretzka, Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, and Malick Thiaw—allegedly declined to take penalties during the sudden-death shootout against Paraguay. Captain Joshua Kimmich reportedly asked Goretzka twice to step up, but he refused. Defender Jonathan Tah eventually took the shot, which went over the bar, allowing José Canales to score and secure Paraguay’s 4-3 victory and a place in the round of 16.

The report notes that neither the German Football Federation, head coach Julian Nagelsmann, nor any of the players involved have issued an official statement regarding the claim. Following Germany’s third consecutive World Cup failure, questions have resurfaced about the team’s mental preparation, leadership, and ability to handle pressure.

The controversy may prompt internal reviews within German football as the federation faces scrutiny over player confidence and decision-making under high-stakes conditions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he called on Iran to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Modi said the discussion also covered recent developments in the Middle East.

In a statement, Modi welcomed progress in talks with the United States and expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts would bring lasting peace to the region. He reiterated the importance of maintaining free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for India and the wider world.

Experts cited in the report noted that India imports about 40 percent of its oil and nearly half of its gas through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the strategic importance of the waterway for the country’s energy security.