Ahmad Abdul Qayyum, Assistant Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and President of the party’s Dhaka South unit, has called for full transparency regarding all agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during the Prime Minister’s recent state visits. Speaking as chief guest at the party’s monthly meeting in Dhaka on Friday, he said that no country can stand proudly if foreign deals prioritize personal or partisan interests over national welfare.

He stated that citizens have the right to know details of any international agreement affecting national sovereignty and interests. Qayyum also alleged that during previous fascist and interim governments, several foreign agreements were made that went against the country’s interests. He expressed concern that some deals signed with India under the Awami League and with the United States during the interim government could have negative long-term effects.

The Islami Andolan leader further voiced alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation, warning that instability is rising while the Home Minister continues to make statements instead of taking effective action.

Bangladesh Khelafat Movement has strongly criticized the death sentence handed to Hafez Naeem Ahmed in the 2004 attempted murder case of Suranjit Sengupta. The group described the verdict as discriminatory and unjust, noting that while several BNP leaders and other accused were acquitted, only one Islamic scholar received the death penalty.

In a statement issued on Friday, the organization’s organizing secretary Mufti Sultan Mohiuddin alleged that remnants of the former Sheikh Hasina government still influence the state apparatus, which he said was reflected in this verdict. He questioned why an Islamic scholar was sentenced when others were freed, suggesting that the decision was made to appease India and ISKCON.

The statement demanded Naeem’s release and called for the verdict to be overturned to ensure justice. It also warned that a nationwide movement would be launched if the ruling was not revoked and urged for an end to what it termed discriminatory judicial practices against religious scholars and citizens.

At a divisional conference of Jubo Shakti in Rangpur on Friday evening, Member of Parliament Atik Mujahid criticized the Home Minister for failing to maintain overall national security. He said the minister’s inability to focus on key issues has led to a deterioration in law and order. Mujahid also questioned the government’s silence regarding claims that thousands of people had entered Bangladesh illegally, calling it a serious security threat.

He further alleged that the government was discriminating against opposition parties in budget allocations, giving ruling party constituencies far more funds. Mujahid expressed frustration over the lack of progress in implementing the Teesta mega project, saying the government had only offered assurances without setting a timeline. He warned that continued river erosion was destroying farmland and homes while the government remained inactive.

National Jubo Shakti convener Advocate Tarikul Islam echoed concerns about rising insecurity and accused the government of weakness in handling Awami League activities. He urged the government to abandon its unilateral approach to governance and take effective measures to restore public safety.

Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed as false the U.S. claim that Tehran’s recently released funds will be used to purchase American agricultural products. In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf accused Washington of spreading misinformation and breaking promises, saying the distrust caused by U.S. policies has now turned against it. He also mocked the U.S. export list, saying it is filled with genetically modified soybeans and empty rhetoric.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had said that under a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan, $500 million worth of U.S. goods would be included in the initial phase, with the funds used to buy corn and wheat for Iran’s food needs. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in Bahrain that Washington seeks a deal aligned with its security and economic interests and those of its regional allies.

Iranian state and semi-official media described the agreement as a strategic success for Iran, not a concession. The Central Bank governor said the released funds could be used beyond essential goods if necessary, while ongoing talks reveal clear differences between the two sides over implementation and interpretation.

In Lakshmipur’s Raipur, police have handed over the body of Antor Majumder, who was killed in a mob beating after being accused in the murder of a mother and her three daughters. The handover took place after close family members refused to accept the body. Eventually, police arranged for a distant cousin, Titu Majumder, to receive it through the local union council chairman. The incident was confirmed by Sub-Inspector Md. Yakub of Sadar Model Police Station on Friday night.

According to police, Antor was the son of Kartik Majumder from Charbajlul Karim village in Noakhali’s Subarnachar upazila. His body underwent an autopsy at the 100-bed Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, where the residential medical officer, Dr. Arup Pal, confirmed the post-mortem was completed before the body was handed to police. Later, it was transferred to the relative.

A case has been filed at Raipur Police Station over Antor’s death in the mob beating. Sub-Inspector Aminul Islam lodged the case against unidentified individuals, according to Officer-in-Charge Shahin Mia.

A newly formed group called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) has launched a sit-in protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest, led by CJP founder Abhijit Deepke, began last Saturday at Jantar Mantar and will continue until the minister steps down. The movement emerged in response to repeated exam paper leaks and irregularities in national-level admission and recruitment tests, which have placed the Modi administration under pressure.

The CJP, created only a month ago as a satirical take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, uses the cockroach as its symbol, inspired by a controversial remark allegedly labeling unemployed youth as “cockroaches.” The protests have drawn hundreds daily, with participants carrying national flags, singing patriotic songs, and presenting flowers to police officers to maintain peace. Symbolic acts, such as banging utensils and writing demands on diapers, have been used to mock government failures.

Following widespread exam controversies, including the cancellation of a major medical entrance test, the government has tightened security measures and used military aircraft to transport exam papers. Protesters plan to expand their organizational structure and push for long-term reforms in India’s examination system.

The youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Rajshahi Metropolitan organized a rally and assembly on Friday in observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The rally began in the Alupatti area of Rajshahi city, moved through several streets, and concluded at the Central Shaheed Minar, where a gathering was held.

The event was presided over by Salauddin Ahmed, secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami youth division in Rajshahi. Abu Mohammad Selim, the city’s Naib-e-Ameer, attended as chief guest, while city secretary Imajuddin Mondol and organizational secretary Jasim Uddin Sarkar also spoke. Selim called for united efforts across society to eliminate drugs and protect the nation’s youth. Ahmed alleged that drug abuse had increased since the new government took office, questioning its role. Mondol criticized the government’s effectiveness in drug control, and Sarkar urged a stronger anti-drug stance while criticizing a parliament member’s remarks on alcohol.

Speakers demanded effective measures to build a drug-free Bangladesh, with leaders and activists from various levels of the organization participating in the event.

Electricity supply will remain suspended for several hours on Saturday, June 27, in parts of Chattogram and Natore due to maintenance and tree trimming work. Separate notices from the Chandanaish Palli Bidyut Office and Natore Palli Bidyut Samiti-2 confirmed the planned outages. In Chandanaish, power will be cut from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., affecting multiple areas including Munshef Bazar, Kerani Bari, Choudhury Market, Chandanaish Municipality, and Noapara. In Natore, power will be off from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., impacting Bonpara Municipality and several unions under Baraigram-1 and Baraigram-3 substations.

The authorities stated that the outages are necessary to remove risky tree branches near transmission lines and to conduct line maintenance. They apologized for the temporary inconvenience and noted that the duration of the power cuts may vary depending on work progress.

The maintenance work aims to ensure safer and more reliable electricity distribution in the affected regions once completed.

At least 23 Muslim religious sites, including mosques, madrasas, eidgahs, and dargahs, have been demolished across several BJP-ruled Indian states over the past 45 days, according to reports from international media and human rights organizations. The demolitions occurred mainly in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana. The U.S.-based rights group Justice for All expressed concern over the rapid rise in mosque demolitions, citing incidents in Sambhal, Varanasi, and Jaipur. Historical structures such as the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque in Varanasi and the 200-year-old Dargah Panch Piran in Delhi were among those destroyed.

Local waqf boards and caretakers alleged that the demolitions were carried out hastily and without prior notice, despite the sites’ legal and historical significance. The organization stated that these incidents do not appear to be isolated but part of a broader pattern targeting Muslim religious heritage in BJP-governed regions.

The wave of demolitions has raised serious concerns about religious freedom and minority rights in India, with observers warning of growing insecurity among the country’s Muslim population.

Brahmanbaria-2 Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana said the country would have benefited if the home minister had shown as much interest in his own ministry as he does in others. She made the remarks on Friday while speaking to local journalists after inspecting road construction progress in Ghagrajuri village of Chuntta Union, Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria.

Rumin Farhana stated that Bangladesh’s current law and order situation is more fragile than at any time in the recent past. She warned that without visible improvement in the economy and law enforcement, the government could face unfortunate consequences. Referring to the newly announced national budget, she questioned its feasibility and said she had raised these concerns in parliament.

She also accused local BNP leaders and activists of engaging in what she called a “case business,” alleging that they repeatedly file cases and seek bail in a cycle. She urged the home minister to address the issue, reminding him that he would one day be held accountable for his actions.

Two men died while attempting to rescue a mason who fell ill inside an under-construction septic tank in Raozan upazila of Chattogram on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the house of the late Kartik Das in Jhikuti Para area of Noapara Union. The deceased were identified as Pradip Das, 38, and Samiran Das, 28, who were brothers-in-law. The injured mason, Shah Alam, was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

According to family members, Shah Alam became unconscious while working inside the tank. Pradip Das entered to rescue him and managed to lift him up but then lost consciousness himself. Samiran Das then went down to help but also failed to come out. Fire service personnel later recovered all three victims. Police confirmed that the two men were declared dead at a local hospital.

Authorities suspect the deaths may have been caused by toxic gases and lack of oxygen inside the closed tank, though some locals attributed the tragedy to supernatural causes.

A protest rally and human chain were held in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur on Friday, demanding a Bangladesh free from Indian dominance and condemning recent remarks by West Bengal political leader Suvendu Adhikari about Rangpur. The event took place at Gangachara Zero Point, where participants from various local professions joined under the slogan of turning the dream of occupying Rangpur into a nightmare.

Speakers at the human chain, including leaders of the Anti-Indian Hegemony Movement, expressed concern over alleged attempts to dominate Rangpur and criticized the construction of a large Ram temple in Palashbari, Gaibandha. They asserted that Rangpur’s people would not compromise on their land, dignity, or sovereignty and urged Adhikari to understand the local reality before making claims.

Organizers from the Anti-Indian Hegemony Tawhidi Janata said the program aimed to raise public awareness about national interests, regional dignity, and the country’s sovereignty. The event concluded with another protest march through the Gangachara Zero Point area.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs, Dr. S M Ziauddin Hayder, stated that the current government not only makes promises but also works to fulfill them. Speaking at a reception organized by the Jhalakathi Press Club on Friday morning, he said the government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership has already begun implementing initiatives such as family and farmer cards, tree planting, canal and river dredging, healthcare, and employment programs.

Dr. Hayder emphasized that the BNP believes in knowledge-based and development-oriented politics. He said that the Prime Minister’s nationwide development plans will soon become visible to the public. To strengthen grassroots healthcare, health centers will be established in every ward of unions and municipalities to ensure uninterrupted medical services.

Addressing journalists, he assured that the current government will not use digital security laws to suppress or control the media. He also mentioned plans to establish a housing area for journalists on government land to resolve accommodation issues in Jhalakathi.

Youth Jamiat Bangladesh’s Sunamganj district branch organized a protest rally and gathering on Friday after Juma prayers, demanding the cancellation of the death sentence against former district student Jamiat leader Hafiz Naeem Ahmad Arif in the Suranjit Sengupta murder attempt case. The rally started from Madania Madrasa premises and ended with a gathering at the city’s traffic point.

The event was presided over by district Youth Jamiat president Hafiz Twaha Hossain and conducted by general secretary Maulana Obaidul Haque Chowdhury. Central vice-president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Sheikh Maulana Abdul Bashir, attended as chief guest and said the death verdict was based on a false and fabricated case, calling it contrary to justice. He demanded immediate cancellation of the verdict and acquittal of Hafiz Naeem Ahmad Arif.

Speakers at the rally alleged that the case was politically motivated and that innocent individuals were implicated. They argued that since other accused in the same case were acquitted, Arif should also be freed, warning of a larger movement if their demand is not met.

Police have rescued two missing schoolgirls, Afsana (13) and Asha Moni (11), from Dhaka ten days after they disappeared from Gopalpur village in Bogarchar Union of Bakshiganj upazila, Jamalpur. The rescue took place on Thursday night with the assistance of Shah Ali Police Station, who helped Bakshiganj police recover the girls from a government shelter center in Mirpur. The girls had reportedly left home on June 17 in search of jobs after being influenced by a friend.

According to the report, the girls wandered around Mirpur after failing to find employment. Locals, suspecting something unusual, questioned them and learned they had been deceived. They were then placed under the care of the Mirpur government shelter center. Following legal procedures, police handed the girls over to their families. Afsana is an eighth-grade student at Gopalpur Co-operative Girls High School, while Asha Moni studies at a local Noorani madrasa.

The families, who had filed a missing persons complaint with Bakshiganj police, expressed relief after their daughters were safely returned home.