A total of 288 dengue patients have been hospitalized across the country in the last 24 hours, marking the highest single-day admission count of the year. Of them, 261 are from Barishal alone. However, no new dengue-related deaths were reported during this period. DGHS data shows that since January this year, Bangladesh has recorded 1,161 dengue cases with 10 deaths in January, 1,535 cases with 13 deaths in February, 1,871 cases with 13 deaths in March, 2,572 cases with 20 deaths in April, and 4,345 cases with 23 deaths in May.

Ten new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The infections were detected from testing 107 samples. No new deaths were reported. With these new cases, the total number of confirmed cases in Bangladesh now stands at 2,051,770 since the beginning of the pandemic. All newly infected patients are residents of Dhaka city.

Bridge Adviser Mohammad Faozul Kabir has announced that steps will be taken soon to find a permanent solution to riverbank erosion. During a visit on Wednesday, he stated that illegal sand extraction from rivers is a major cause of erosion and vowed to put a stop to it. “It’s unacceptable for anyone to lose their home to river erosion,” he said. Accompanying him, Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed emphasized the need for a sustainable solution, noting that river management is a complex task but efforts will be made to implement solutions quickly.

Masudur Rahman Masud, Vice-President of Mymensingh North District unit of Chhatra Dal, has been expelled from the organization on charges of violating party discipline. The announcement came through a press release signed by Chhatra Dal Central Office Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam on Tuesday. The notice also instructed all party members to sever any organizational ties with Masud.

A significant meeting is scheduled between BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus in London this Friday. The meeting will take place from 9 AM to 11 AM local time at London’s Dorchester Hotel. BNP standing committee member and former minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury departed for London on Tuesday to participate in the talks. This will be their first-ever one-on-one meeting, officially arranged by the Chief Adviser’s office. Invitations have already been extended to Tarique Rahman on behalf of Dr. Yunus.

Nine regions across the country may experience thunderstorms accompanied by gusty or squally winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour by 1 AM tonight. According to the forecast, temporary rain or thunderstorms with winds blowing at 45-60 km/h from the south/southeast may occur over Faridpur, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Sylhet. River ports in these regions have been advised to display cautionary signal number 1. The weather forecast until 9 AM Thursday suggests light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with temporary gusty winds in parts of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and at isolated places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions.

Mamun Hossain Bhuiyan (32), younger brother of local Jubo Dal leader Badol, has died after being shot during an attempt to free a banned Chhatra League leader in Rupganj. According to police, Sabbir Hossain Khoka, the banned organizational secretary of Bhulta Union Chhatra League, had been hiding since the government’s fall on August 5. Recently, he reappeared in the area, allegedly engaging in criminal activities. On Tuesday, locals, including members of the Jubo Dal, captured him. In response, a man named Zaidul Islam Babu opened fire to rescue Khoka, fatally injuring Mamun, who owned an LPG gas cylinder business.

A total of 3,778 Bangladeshi pilgrims are returning home from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday across 10 separate flights. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, four of these flights have already landed in Dhaka. On Tuesday, 4,904 pilgrims returned on 12 flights, marking the first day of the return phase. The return flights will continue until July 10. This year, 86,958 Bangladeshis performed Hajj, traveling on 224 flights.

Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Odhikar Parishad, reiterated the demand for national elections between December and January, calling it the ideal period for polls. “We don’t just want basic reforms; the elections must be preceded by necessary structural changes,” he asserted. Nur credited the 2018 quota reform protests for the rise of youth-led political activism, emphasizing that students must play a central role in building a better nation. He also urged government officials to serve the public impartially rather than acting as party loyalists.

GOP leader Rashed Khan has demanded corruption probes against all advisers. “If any adviser is found innocent, we will show them respect,” he said. “They themselves promised to disclose their assets monthly. Has anyone submitted their asset details yet?” Rashed questioned. He also raised allegations that individuals who once survived on tutoring are now owners of luxury houses and vehicles. Specifically, he demanded investigations into both Adviser Asif Mahmood and his personal secretary. “We wanted elections in December, but that demand has been ignored,” he added.

The historic Rabindra Kachari Bari in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has been closed to visitors indefinitely following an attack by a group of youths. Around 11 AM on Tuesday, attackers stormed the premises, vandalized office rooms and the auditorium, and assaulted staff members. The incident reportedly stemmed from an altercation over parking fees between an employee and a local expatriate named Shahnewaz. Authorities have enforced the indefinite closure to prevent further unrest.

Police have arrested a man named Babul (50) in connection with the murder of Jamaat leader Kawsar Ahmad Milky (60) in Lakshmipur. Confirming the arrest, Lakshmipur Sadar Police OC Abdul Manna said Babul is the eighth accused in the murder case. The FIR alleges that previous disputes led to the brutal attack on Thursday afternoon in Rajibpur area. Armed with homemade weapons, the accused attacked Kawsar’s brother, Aftab Hossain Arju, leaving him seriously injured.

Fugitive and authoritarian ruler Sheikh Hasina celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in Delhi, India, alongside her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who arrived from the United States. Currently residing in a safe house in Delhi, Hasina’s absence from Bangladesh has sparked resentment among senior Awami League leaders. Many expressed frustration that while party members are facing crises back home, their leader chose to celebrate Eid abroad with her son.

An 11-year-old girl’s marriage was stopped by Durgapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Navid Rezwanul Kabir in Netrakona. Acting on a tip-off, the UNO rushed to the child’s home on Wednesday afternoon and halted the wedding, imposing a fine on the family. "Based on secret information, I stopped two separate child marriages in two different villages that day," said the UNO. Legal bonds were taken from the families, ensuring they wouldn’t arrange marriages before the girls reach the legal age. "If they attempt again, strict legal action, including imprisonment, will be taken," he warned.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has pushed back 24 more Bangladeshis through the Chanduria border of Pirganj upazila and the Chapsara border of Bhaturia union in Haripur upazila, Thakurgaon. BSF confiscated their money and belongings before sending them across the border. Later, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained the returnees and initiated legal proceedings after verification. Among them was Afzal Hossain (32), son of Abed Ali from Haripur, Thakurgaon. Expressing his frustration, Afzal said, "We committed no crime. We crossed the border legally in search of work. Now, we are returning empty-handed. Although BGB is treating us humanely, the pain remains."