The Trump administration has directed all U.S. embassies to halt scheduling interviews for student and exchange visitor visas until further notice. A letter from the State Department stated that no additional appointments should be made. On the same day, the administration also announced the termination of all federal financial agreements with Harvard University, which were worth approximately $100 million.

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, visited the General Staff Headquarters in Tehran and met with Iran’s Chief of General Staff Mohammad Bagheri to discuss strengthening bilateral defense cooperation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continued his four-nation tour, arriving in Azerbaijan after stops in Iran. He is expected to visit Tajikistan next. During his Iran visit, he also met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam was released on Wednesday morning after being acquitted by the Supreme Court in a war crimes case where he had previously received the death penalty. He was freed from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where Jamaat members were present to welcome him.

GOP leader Rashed Khan has called for the restructuring of the interim government's advisory council, labeling its members as "incompetent" except for the Chief Adviser. He demanded transparency regarding national dialogues and a clear roadmap for judicial reforms and elections. Fellow GOP leader Abu Hanif added that certain groups are trying to pit reform against elections, and reiterated the need for visible progress in both areas.

Activist Umama Fatema criticized former Shibir members who, she claims, infiltrated Chhatra League and contributed to a toxic student political culture post-August 5. “For 15 years, many of them used Chhatra League’s name to assert dominance in student halls,” she wrote. Fatema further accused them of sabotaging student causes while pretending to represent the general student body. “They didn’t even join anti-rape protests or movements against rigged elections,” she added.

Bangladesh Bank reported on Tuesday that the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves have increased to approximately $25.80 billion. However, according to the IMF’s BPM6 standard, usable reserves stand at $20.56 billion. Earlier, economist Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated that reserves were at $27 billion and projected to rise to $30 billion next month.

Former Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira (84) and his wife were released from police custody late Monday night after being detained in Jamalpur. Officer-in-Charge Abu Faisal Md. Atik confirmed there were no charges against Hira, who appeared confused and unable to articulate his whereabouts. Considering his age and mental state, he was released into the custody of his wife, Salma Khatun, whose own health is reportedly poor. The couple had earlier been detained by local BNP activists in Sherpur while attempting to sell land. Notably, Hira served as Land Minister in 2009.

Shahriar Alam Samyo was assaulted after a verbal altercation with a group of known drug dealers at the food court in Suhrawardy Udyan on the night of May 13, according to DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali. The dispute reportedly began when Samyo asked to see their electric vehicle, often used for self-defense. The altercation escalated, and a drug dealer named Rabbi attacked Samyo with a Swiss gear knife, injuring his leg. The Detective Branch has arrested eight more suspects, bringing the total number of arrests in connection with the murder to eleven.

Students of Satkhira Government College have submitted formal memorandums to the college administration and the district commissioner, demanding that Assistant Professor Nadira Yasmin not be allowed to join the institution. Accusing her of religious defamation, they called for a full investigation and legal action. They also urged authorities not to assign or transfer anyone perceived to hold anti-Islamic views to educational institutions in Satkhira. Previously, public backlash erupted against attempts to mobilize support in favor of her transfer.

A missile strike turned a Gaza school—used as a shelter—into an inferno late at night, killing at least 36 people, including 18 children and 6 women. Seven-year-old Ward Sheikh Khalil survived the attack but lost six family members. From her hospital bed, she tearfully recounted the tragedy: “The missile fell on us. The school burst into flames. I saw my mother and siblings burn in front of my eyes.” Al Jazeera confirmed that Ward is one of the few survivors from her immediate family.

To ensure smoother travel during the Eid-ul-Adha holiday, the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has proposed shifting two days of public holiday—June 3 and 4—to before Eid, reducing post-Eid time off. The group has submitted 11 recommendations, including a crackdown on unfit buses and ferries, strict action against fare overcharging, removal of illegal vehicles like battery rickshaws from highways, prevention of extortion, and effective management of traffic at toll booths and makeshift cattle markets near highways.

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck several parts of Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, in the early hours of Tuesday. The tremor was felt at 2:24 AM. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was near Moirang city in India’s Manipur state, at a shallow depth beneath the earth’s surface. No immediate reports of damage have been received from any part of Bangladesh. Geographically, the epicenter was approximately 354 kilometers from Dhaka.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur revealed that an estimated $18 to $20 billion has been illegally siphoned out of the country. Speaking at an event, he stated that documenting these transactions is time-consuming but currently underway. Once the investigations are complete, steps will be taken to repatriate the funds. He also mentioned that a joint investigative task force is already operational and may be expanded. In FY 2023–24, the Financial Intelligence Unit received 17,345 suspicious transaction reports—a 22.96% increase from the previous year.

In a recent notification, the Ministry of Public Administration has transferred three additional secretaries. Among them, Additional Secretary Hawlader Md. Rakibul Bari has been appointed on deputation as the Secretary of the Information Commission, filling the post that remained vacant since the removal of Commissioner Masuda Bhatti on January 20. Meanwhile, Noor Md. Mahbubul Haque, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, has been transferred to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Shariful Islam, Director General and Registrar of the Department of Cooperatives, has been reassigned as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, Adviser on Religious Affairs, stated that the government-managed Zakat fund is playing a significant role in poverty reduction. He stressed that strengthening this fund could further accelerate national efforts to combat poverty.

Addressing Zakat recipients, he urged them to utilize the funds wisely to become self-reliant. “Invest this money to establish yourself in society. Engage in income-generating activities such as livestock and poultry farming, fish cultivation, vegetable farming, or setting up cottage industries. These initiatives will help speed up poverty alleviation,” he said.

During the event, he distributed Tk 615,000 among 64 financially distressed individuals.