Evidence has emerged that Deepak Chandra Sarkar, headmaster of Kharia Nabarun Secondary School in Paikgacha, Khulna, holds Indian citizenship. Local residents and official investigations have also raised allegations of irregularities, corruption, and misuse of school funds under his leadership. Despite multiple inquiries confirming his dual citizenship and other complaints, he remains in his position, causing public anger in the area.

According to official documents, Deepak Chandra Sarkar is listed as a voter in West Bengal, India, while also registered as a voter in Khulna’s Laskar Union. Reports allege that he engaged in nepotism and financial transactions during staff recruitment in 2024, involving around 3 million taka. Investigations into school incentive funds for the 2022–23 fiscal year found irregularities and questionable vouchers.

Several administrative investigations between 2024 and 2026 confirmed his Indian citizenship and raised concerns about a foreign national holding an MPO-approved teaching post. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and district officials termed the matter serious and referred it to higher authorities, but no action has been taken yet. Deepak Chandra Sarkar denies all allegations, claiming he is a Bangladeshi citizen.

Thousands of Malawian nationals are leaving South Africa following a surge in xenophobic violence targeting foreign workers. Many, including 27-year-old Janet Kapito, have returned home empty-handed after losing their belongings and livelihoods. The Malawian government has arranged buses to repatriate citizens before the June 30 deadline, while well-wishers have raised funds to support those stranded. According to local media, 6,936 Malawians have already returned, and authorities estimate around 10,000 remain at risk in South Africa.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs has activated a comprehensive response plan to ensure safe and dignified returns. South African authorities reported that 15,162 Malawians have been processed for deportation or repatriation. Many returnees said they had taken high-interest loans to migrate and are now struggling to repay them after losing jobs and property during the unrest. Some described hiding in open fields as violence escalated.

Community sources told Al Jazeera that xenophobic attacks often intensify around election periods. With unemployment high in Malawi, returnees face social stigma and economic hardship, and officials expect thousands more to arrive in the coming weeks.

Heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have caused the Teesta River to swell again, submerging croplands in the river’s char areas. On Sunday evening, water at the Dalia point flowed seven centimeters above the danger level, though it slightly receded by Monday morning. Authorities at the Water Development Board confirmed that all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened as a precaution, warning that water levels could rise further.

The surge in water is linked to continuous rainfall and the release of water from India’s Gajoldoba Barrage, which has led to red alerts on both sides of the border. Low-lying areas in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat and adjoining districts have started flooding, affecting roads and croplands. Local farmers reported that rising water has inundated fields of paddy, peanuts, and pumpkins, putting crops and livestock at risk.

Officials said the flood and erosion situation is being closely monitored, and residents along the riverbanks have been advised to remain alert as water levels remain near the danger mark.

Eminent Bangladeshi cultural figure and painter Mustafa Monowar passed away on Monday morning while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 90 years old. According to family sources, he had been admitted to Square Hospital after his health deteriorated. His wife, Mary Monowar, confirmed the news.

Monowar had long suffered from various health complications. In June, his condition worsened, leading doctors to move him to the ICU. He had previously been placed on life support in September 2024 but later recovered partially. Recently, he fell ill again after contracting a bacterial pneumonia infection.

Born on September 1, 1935, in Nakol village of Magura district, Monowar began his career as an art college teacher and became a pioneer of puppet shows in Bangladesh. His television programs for children inspired generations. The son of poet Golam Mostafa, he received the Ekushey Padak in 2004 for his contributions to art and culture. His death has cast a shadow of mourning across the country’s cultural community, with admirers expressing condolences online.

Iran’s senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, has issued a strong warning to Bahrain, saying Tehran will launch harsher attacks if provoked. He urged Bahrain’s people to recognize their limits and avoid forcing Iran into taking severe action.

According to the report, Iran carried out strikes on a US naval base in Bahrain on Friday and Saturday in retaliation for American attacks. Tehran claimed that the United States used Bahraini military bases to launch assaults on Iran. Bahrain, however, denied the allegation and condemned the Iranian strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.

The exchange of accusations has heightened tensions between Tehran and Manama, with both sides asserting conflicting narratives about the recent military actions.

A joint operation by RAB-9 and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered a foreign-made one-shooter gun, 1.34 kilograms of power gel explosives, and 11 non-electric detonators in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet. The raid took place on Friday night near a brick kiln in the Sonasar area of Barathakuri Union, based on secret intelligence information.

According to RAB, the items were found abandoned inside a plastic sack. No individuals connected to the recovered materials were present at the scene. Law enforcement authorities have initiated an intelligence investigation to identify and arrest those involved.

The seized weapon, explosives, and other evidence have been handed over to Zakiganj Police Station for further legal action under a general diary entry.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first bilateral foreign tour to China and Malaysia from June 21 to 26, 2026, has been hailed as a major success for Bangladesh. Parliament unanimously adopted a motion of thanks for the trip, highlighting China’s commitment to support the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project and Malaysia’s decision to reopen its labor market to Bangladeshi workers. Rahman told Parliament that his government prioritized national interests throughout the visits, emphasizing the “Bangladesh First” foreign policy.

During the China visit, President Xi Jinping assured full cooperation in implementing the Teesta Master Plan, valued at about one billion US dollars, to restore the river’s flow and protect livelihoods in northern Bangladesh. The two sides also signed 17 memorandums of understanding covering infrastructure, trade, and investment. In Malaysia, both governments agreed on a 33-point joint declaration across nine sectors, including labor migration, investment, and cultural exchange.

The Teesta project will involve dredging, embankment construction, and reservoir development over ten years, with PowerChina conducting feasibility studies. China described its involvement as humanitarian and research-based, while Bangladesh reaffirmed its sovereign right to pursue the plan for environmental and economic security.

Israel’s military announced it destroyed a 200-meter-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese town of Maydal Zoun. The operation, confirmed Sunday in a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, was reportedly coordinated with the United States beforehand. The tunnel allegedly contained hundreds of weapons and rocket launchers. Hours earlier, Israeli forces said they had struck Hezbollah fighters and a rocket launcher in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon.

The strike came two days after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a U.S.-mediated security arrangement aimed at easing border tensions. The deal includes deploying Lebanese troops and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon, while allowing Israel to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone. Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attacks as a clear violation of the ceasefire, asserting its right to defend Lebanon and its people.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the new security agreement, calling it a surrender to Israel and vowing to continue armed resistance. The conflict, running parallel to the Iran war, has displaced over one million Lebanese citizens, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reportedly purchased advanced military equipment from Israel, including air defense systems and computerized battle helmets for F-15 fighter jets, according to Israeli media outlet Haaretz. The report states that Qatar’s royal fleet includes three aircraft equipped with Elbit Systems’ C-MUSIC air defense system, installed between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance in Basel, Switzerland. The system uses radar and laser technology to detect and neutralize incoming shoulder-fired missiles.

Haaretz further reported that when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Tehran, his aircraft was equipped with the Israeli-made C-MUSIC system. The report also cited U.S. defense documents showing that Israeli companies won subcontracts worth $150–250 million to supply advanced components for Qatar’s F-15QA Ababil jets, including 160 JHMCS helmets and night-vision goggles. Similarly, Saudi Arabia received 462 JHMCS helmets and matching night-vision goggles as part of its F-15SA deal.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains formal diplomatic or defense relations with Israel, though reports before October 2023 suggested Riyadh was considering normalization.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will not start in the upcoming World Cup round of 32 match against Japan in Houston at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time. Although Neymar has recovered from injury and shown improvement over the past week, Ancelotti said the forward is not yet ready to play a full match. The coach emphasized that Neymar could play more than 15 minutes, but his exact playing time will depend on the match situation.

Neymar had been sidelined for 981 days due to a right calf injury and missed Brazil’s first two World Cup matches. He returned as a substitute in the group stage match against Scotland, where he showed glimpses of his old form. Ancelotti stated that he plans to use Neymar’s experience and creativity as a late-game advantage rather than taking early risks.

Ancelotti also warned that Japan is one of the world’s best teams and said Brazil is approaching the match with a final-like mindset. He reminded his players to be mentally strong and ready for any scenario, including extra time or penalties.

South Korea’s national football coach Hong Myung-bo is facing an official investigation following the team’s early exit from the World Cup. The team failed to advance beyond the group stage after consecutive losses to Mexico and South Africa, finishing third in Group A. The disappointing performance triggered widespread criticism across the country, with President Lee ordering a probe into alleged favoritism in team selection and coaching appointments.

In a message on social media platform X, President Lee expressed shock over the team’s elimination and questioned the integrity of the selection process. He directed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct a thorough investigation and identify weaknesses in the team’s management system. The president also called for reforms to prevent similar failures in the future.

Public frustration has intensified, with a petition demanding the coach’s dismissal quickly gaining support on the National Assembly’s website. Images of posters banning Coach Hong from entering shops and businesses have circulated widely, reflecting growing anger among South Korean football fans.

A large-scale tree plantation campaign was officially launched in Lalmai, Comilla, under the initiative of Comilla-10 (Lalmai-Sadar Dakshin) Member of Parliament Mobashwer Alam Bhuiya. The program, inaugurated on Sunday at Bagmara Girls’ High School, aims to plant one lakh trees during the 2026–2027 fiscal year to combat climate change and promote a greener, livable Bangladesh. The event featured a rally, discussion meeting, and symbolic tree planting, attended by teachers, students, government officials, and local dignitaries.

During his address, MP Mobashwer Alam Bhuiya described climate change as one of humanity’s greatest challenges and emphasized that tree planting is essential for maintaining ecological balance, ensuring clean oxygen, and protecting biodiversity. He urged citizens to plant and nurture at least one tree each. The initiative will cover educational institutions, government and private offices, roadsides, public lands, and homesteads, focusing on fruit-bearing, forest, and medicinal plants.

Organizers believe the program will expand greenery across Lalmai upazila and significantly raise public awareness about environmental conservation.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman is set to inaugurate a nationwide tree plantation program across more than 29,000 secondary-level educational institutions in Bangladesh. The event will be launched simultaneously from the Bangladesh-China Friendship International Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 2 p.m. on Monday, according to a press release from the Ministry of Education. The program was initially scheduled for 10 a.m. but was rescheduled to the afternoon for special reasons.

The initiative is part of the government’s electoral pledge to plant 2.5 billion trees over five years and to engage every child annually in tree planting under the “One Child, One Tree” campaign. The Ministry of Education plans to plant 50 million trees in schools, colleges, and madrasas within five years. Each institution will receive a climate awareness grant of 5,000 taka annually and will plant one fruit tree, one forest tree, and one medicinal tree this year.

The inauguration will be broadcast live on large screens in all participating institutions, where local ministers, lawmakers, community leaders, teachers, students, and parents will join the event in person.

Iran has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite remaining unbeaten in all three group-stage matches. The team, led by coach Amir Ghalenoei, faced a series of off-field challenges including visa denials for officials, disrupted training plans, and severe travel restrictions. They arrived at one match venue only 16 hours before kickoff, yet FIFA made no formal protest. Two of Iran’s goals were disallowed by VAR, including a controversial stoppage-time strike against Egypt that could have changed group standings.

FIFA’s earlier commitment to ensure equal access for all teams was questioned after its president, Gianni Infantino, said the organization was “not the king of the world.” Many observers viewed this as a moral failure to guarantee fairness. Iran’s elimination was sealed when Austria and Algeria drew 3–3, leaving Iran out of the knockout stage despite three draws.

In their farewell message, Iran’s players emphasized peace, coexistence, and respect, rejecting anger despite adversity. Captain Mehdi Taremi and coach Ghalenoei both called for keeping politics out of football and ensuring no team faces such institutional bias again.

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and resume discussions on the Hormuz Strait, according to a Reuters report citing a U.S. official. The two countries plan to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to address the ongoing dispute over the strategic waterway. The agreement follows several days of retaliatory strikes and raises hopes for maintaining an interim peace deal.

The U.S. official said that technical discussions on all aspects of a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 will continue. Both sides will observe a ceasefire, allowing ships to move freely through the strait. The memorandum includes 14 points aimed at reopening the waterway for navigation. Media outlet Axios reported that technical-level talks will proceed while both sides refrain from further attacks.

The report also noted that early Sunday, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Shortly before that, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s existence could be at risk if it violated the ceasefire agreement.