Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s women affairs secretary and reserved seat Member of Parliament Nurunnisa Siddika questioned why boys’ education is not made free if both boys and girls have equal rights. She raised the issue during her speech in the national parliament’s budget session on Wednesday, emphasizing that for three decades, women’s education has received special focus and women have advanced significantly in education.

Siddika argued that if equality is to be ensured, boys should also receive free education. Citing examples from South Asian countries, she noted that Bangladesh offers free education only up to the fifth grade, which she said lags behind other nations. She also pointed out that while government primary schools provide food and clothing, most students study in private schools, questioning why such students should face discrimination.

She further called for resolving disparities in the lives and workplaces of teachers in government and private institutions.

Two members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF, Prasit group) were killed in separate incidents in Khagrachhari’s Ramgarh and Dighinala upazilas on Wednesday. Law enforcement recovered the body of Bobin Tripura from Premtala area of Ramgarh around 10:30 a.m. and arrested another member, Mongsanu Marma, with an AK-47 rifle. Police said the operation followed a tip-off, during which UPDF members opened fire and security forces responded, resulting in one death and one arrest.

Later the same day, around 1 p.m., another clash occurred between JSS and UPDF members in the Murogora area of Babuchhara in Dighinala, leaving Sujon Chakma dead. The UPDF denied involvement in the shootings, claiming the incidents were planned killings. Officers-in-charge of Ramgarh and Dighinala police stations confirmed recovery of the bodies.

The incidents highlight continuing tensions among armed groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, though further details on investigations were not provided in the report.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the purchase of four crore liters of edible oil and 22,500 tons of lentils for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) at a total cost of Tk 822.31 crore. The decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday. The products will be sold through TCB at affordable prices to low-income families.

According to the Finance Ministry, the committee approved 23 procurement proposals, including fertilizer imports, infrastructure development, fishery exploration, and youth employment programs. Under local tenders, Chattogram-based Payel Automatic Food Processing Mills will supply 10,000 tons of lentils at Tk 81.47 per kg, while Australia-based MCG International Pty Ltd will supply 12,500 tons at USD 559 per ton. Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd will provide two crore liters of refined palm olein at Tk 183.95 per liter, and MCG International Pty Ltd will supply two crore liters of refined soybean oil at Tk 164.77 per liter.

The approved purchases aim to strengthen TCB’s capacity to stabilize essential commodity prices and support low-income consumers.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mohammad Najibur Rahman criticized recent calls in parliament to ban political activities in mosques and to outlaw his party. Speaking on Wednesday during the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, he described such demands as fascist and said similar calls had been made in the past by leaders of another party whom the public later rejected.

Rahman argued that mosques are central to the community and referenced a past incident where a political figure was jailed and his party banned for writing a poem about faith and struggle, yet later rose to power. He also criticized the current parliamentary culture, saying lawmakers have little role in budget formulation and act merely as rubber stamps. He urged reforms to ensure members of parliament are involved in drafting and reviewing the budget through standing committees.

Rahman emphasized that true parliamentary democracy requires changing the existing culture and increasing lawmakers’ participation in the budget process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of attempting to erase the spirit of the 2024 anti-fascist movement. Speaking on Wednesday at the party’s central working committee meeting in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he said the government’s actions following the referendum contradicted its own campaign promises and amounted to deception against the nation. He warned that such decisions would ultimately backfire on the ruling party.

Dr. Rahman alleged widespread corruption, extortion, and internal conflict within the ruling party, claiming that over a hundred of its activists had been killed in recent months. He also cited attacks on Jamaat members by BNP supporters and criticized the government for politicizing state institutions, marginalizing opposition lawmakers, and steering the country toward one-party rule. He further warned that misguided economic decisions, including those affecting Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, could severely damage the national economy.

The meeting discussed deteriorating law and order, border issues, and preparations for the upcoming Majlis-e-Shura session. Dr. Rahman urged unity among citizens to build an equitable and humane Bangladesh inspired by the sacrifices of 2024’s martyrs.

The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved $450 million in financing for Bangladesh to reinforce the foundation of its banking sector, aiming to revive economic growth and create jobs. The funding, under the “Financial Sector Support Project-2,” will enhance deposit protection for small savers, improve Bangladesh Bank’s supervisory capacity, and support restructuring of state-owned banks. The announcement was made through an official press release on June 24, 2026.

According to the World Bank, the project will increase the capital of the Deposit Protection Fund, establish an effective emergency liquidity support framework, and modernize Bangladesh Bank’s ICT infrastructure to address cybersecurity risks and data gaps. The initiative comes amid rising stress in the banking sector, where non-performing loans reached 32.6 percent by March 2026, far above the South Asian average of 7.9 percent, and the capital adequacy ratio stood at negative 2.6 percent by December 2025.

World Bank officials stated that the project, part of a coordinated effort with the IMF and Asian Development Bank, will help restore confidence, strengthen crisis preparedness, and enhance the resilience of Bangladesh’s financial system.

Dhaka University authorities have imposed a ban on the entry of outsiders into the campus and decided to strictly regulate vehicle movement during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. The restrictions, effective from Wednesday, June 24, were announced through an emergency notice issued by the university’s Proctor’s Office. The decision aims to ensure overall student safety and maintain campus discipline during the tournament period.

According to the notice, key entry points including Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Burn Unit, Shibbari Crossing, Fuller Road, Palashi Mor, and Nilkhet will be under strict control. Only vehicles with Dhaka University stickers and those providing emergency services will be allowed entry. Emergency services include ambulances, vehicles carrying doctors or patients, journalists’ cars, ride-sharing services, food delivery vehicles, online shopping delivery vehicles, and other government cars.

The university administration stated that the decision may be revised based on circumstances, stakeholder feedback, and on-ground realities. It also urged cooperation from students and all concerned to maintain campus order and security.

A Facebook post by Dr. Syed Abu Ahmad Shafi, Deputy Director of the Directorate General of Health Services, has triggered strong criticism from the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF). On June 24, 2026, he wrote that journalists should be assigned to clean bathrooms and toilets in 600 district and upazila hospitals for at least one fiscal year. He added that if they succeeded, the responsibility could be made permanent. The post was later deleted after drawing backlash.

When contacted by phone, Dr. Shafi said his comment was meant to spark discussion about hospital cleanliness and that the health department alone should not bear the blame. He claimed journalists often fail to present the full picture of hospital management issues. After the controversy, he removed the post, saying he did so because some journalist acquaintances were hurt by it.

In a statement, BHRF President Protique Ejaz and General Secretary Mujahid Shubho condemned the remark as irresponsible and derogatory, saying it undermined both journalists and the media’s role in exposing problems in the health sector.

Brazil will play their final Group C match against Scotland on Wednesday at Miami Stadium, starting at 4 a.m. Bangladesh time. Although the team has already secured a place in the knockout stage, their focus now is on finishing as group leaders. Both Brazil and Morocco have four points after two matches, with Brazil holding a superior goal difference of +3 compared to Morocco’s +1. If both teams win, goal difference will determine the group winner.

Historically, Brazil has dominated Scotland, winning eight of their ten previous encounters, with two matches ending in draws. According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, coach Carlo Ancelotti is not planning major changes to the lineup that defeated Haiti. Bournemouth’s young forward Ryan may replace Raphinha in the starting eleven after being seen training with the main squad.

Neymar Jr., recovering from injury, will not start but could appear as a substitute. Midfielders Casemiro and Douglas Santos will need to avoid yellow cards to remain eligible for the knockout round.

Preparations for publishing the results of the 2025 Primary Scholarship Examination are in the final stage, according to the Directorate of Primary Education. Officials said the results are undergoing final verification to ensure accuracy and will be released any day this month once the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education gives final approval. The administration division will determine the exact date of publication after receiving ministerial clearance.

The examination was held nationwide from April 15 to 18, except in the three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban—where it took place from April 17 to 20. A total of 650,000 students participated, and 82,500 will be awarded scholarships based on merit. Of these, 80 percent will go to students from government primary schools and 20 percent to those from private institutions, with equal representation of boys and girls.

Selected students will receive financial benefits under two categories: Talent Pool and General Grade. The government is also considering a proposal to increase the scholarship amount two to four times in the future.

A court in Shariatpur has ordered the imprisonment of Jajira upazila BNP vice-president Suruj Madbar and his son Swadhin Madbar in a case involving extortion, looting, vandalism, and forcible occupation of a business establishment. The two surrendered before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Tuesday evening and sought bail, which Judge Ayesha Akter denied, sending them to jail. The case was confirmed by plaintiff lawyer Dipu Mia on Wednesday morning.

According to court documents, the accused allegedly demanded Tk 10 lakh in extortion from businessman Sobhan Madbar of Maniknagar. When he refused, his business in Kazirhat was attacked on December 2 last year, causing damage worth about Tk 40 lakh and resulting in the alleged looting and occupation of the property. Sobhan filed the case on December 12, 2025, and an arrest warrant was issued on February 26, 2026.

After receiving interim bail from the High Court in April, the accused surrendered again when the bail expired. The case remains under judicial process, and local discussions continue over the incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mohammad Nazibur Rahman from Pabna-1 constituency has criticized the limited role of parliament in the passage of Bangladesh’s proposed 2026–27 national budget. Speaking during the general discussion in the Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday, he said that lawmakers neither prepare nor properly review the budget, acting merely as a “rubber stamp.” He urged reforms to ensure parliamentary committees can scrutinize the budget before approval.

Rahman compared Bangladesh’s process with practices in countries like the United Kingdom, where finance bills are reviewed by standing committees before being presented to parliament. He argued that in Bangladesh, bureaucrats dominate budget formulation while lawmakers’ participation is confined to brief speeches. He described the proposed budget as conventional, deficit-heavy, and overly dependent on loans, calling it anti-people and inflationary.

The MP also criticized the tax system for burdening the middle class and expanding VAT on essential goods. He proposed stronger zakat-based poverty alleviation programs under religious scholars’ supervision and warned against what he termed fascist demands to ban Jamaat-e-Islami or restrict mosque-based politics.

Palestinian-American candidate Abar Kawas won the Democratic primary for the New York State Senate in Queens on Tuesday, campaigning on halting what she called funding for Israel’s actions in Gaza and promoting democratic socialism. Supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Kawas became the first Palestinian Muslim woman elected in New York State. Born and raised in New York to Palestinian parents, she emphasized immigration reform and tackling the state’s rising cost of living during her campaign.

Her victory followed Mamdani’s three consecutive primary wins, part of his effort to transform the Democratic Party into a democratic socialist force. Kawas co-founded the “Not On Our Dime!” campaign with Mamdani, which seeks to stop New York-registered organizations from sending funds to Israel. The campaign claims that New York subsidizes Israeli settlement expansion and state violence against Palestinians, calling to end state funding for Israeli war crimes.

A related bill proposes amending nonprofit laws to prevent unauthorized support for Israeli settlements. If enacted, it could halt about $60 million annually flowing from New York charities to Israeli settlements and impose fines of at least $1 million on violators.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, informed parliament that the government is considering including actions against rumor and propaganda spreaders under the Cyber Security Act. Responding to a parliamentary question on June 24, 2026, he said the government has taken legal, technical, and institutional measures to curb fake identities and misleading content on social media platforms.

The minister stated that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) regularly communicates with platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to remove harmful or false content. Efforts are underway to strengthen law enforcement agencies’ technical capacity to identify fake accounts and investigate cybercrimes. He added that the government continues to improve legal frameworks, enhance technical capacity, and promote public awareness to ensure a safe and responsible digital environment.

Anam also mentioned that BTRC issues directives to block or remove objectionable content upon requests from relevant authorities. Additionally, he noted that facial recognition-based SIM registration verification has been launched on a trial basis to enhance mobile security.

Mobile financial service provider Upay, operated by United Commercial Bank PLC, has signed a partnership agreement with Foodpanda Bangladesh, the country’s leading online food and product delivery platform. The signing ceremony took place recently at the Golden Tulip The Grandmark Hotel in Dhaka. The collaboration aims to ensure seamless, secure, and convenient digital cash collection services for Foodpanda’s delivery riders.

Under the agreement, Foodpanda riders will be able to use Upay’s digital payment platform to collect and manage payments more efficiently. The partnership is expected to make riders’ daily financial activities faster and hassle-free. Officials from both organizations stated that the initiative will introduce a rider-focused, user-friendly service structure that connects Foodpanda’s delivery ecosystem with Upay’s extensive agent network.

According to the companies, this collaboration will promote cashless transactions, enhance financial inclusion, and strengthen the foundation of Bangladesh’s digital economy by integrating Upay’s mobile financial infrastructure with Foodpanda’s wide customer and delivery network.