Bangladesh police have sent four letters to Indian authorities seeking the return of suspects in the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a key figure of the Inquilab Moncho and July Revolution. The National Central Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sent the letters to the Indian Police Service and West Bengal’s Special Task Force, but no response has been received. The main suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, were arrested in India, and their extradition delay has stalled the charge sheet process, according to CID officials.

The letters included detailed case information, suspect profiles, and evidence links. Despite diplomatic efforts under the Bangladesh-India prisoner exchange agreement, Indian authorities have not replied. CID continues its investigation and awaits India’s response, stating that legal procedures will proceed if no reply comes. The court has set July 15 for submission of the further investigation report after earlier dissatisfaction with the initial charge sheet.

Officials say questioning the detained suspects in India is crucial to uncovering the full motive behind Hadi’s killing, which occurred in Dhaka on December 12, 2025. The investigation remains stalled until their return.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The visit aims to further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Turkey. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, Sharif was received by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Dr. Yousaf Junaid, and officials from Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

According to an official statement, Prime Minister Sharif and President Erdoğan will hold detailed discussions on all key aspects of Pakistan-Turkey relations. The talks will focus on expanding trade and investment, promoting regional peace and security, and advancing issues of mutual interest. During his stay in Istanbul, Sharif will address a business conference highlighting investment opportunities in Pakistan’s special economic zones, energy, information technology, and privatization sectors.

The conference will be attended by leading Turkish business figures, investors, and government officials, with the goal of enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations.

Shariful Islam, Deputy Director of the Rajshahi District Youth Development Department, has been accused of residing with his family in the department’s guesthouse and using government property for personal purposes. Allegations also include marking absent trainees as present to withdraw allowances and irregular attendance at the office. These actions have reportedly caused dissatisfaction among staff and trainees.

According to the report, Shariful Islam took charge in October last year and has since been living in the guesthouse on the upper floor of the office building. He is alleged to have used office equipment such as a refrigerator, air conditioner, and CCTV monitor for personal use, with electricity bills paid under the office’s name. Some sources claim that trade instructors were involved in processing trainee allowances.

Shariful Islam stated that his official residence was not yet ready, prompting him to stay temporarily in the office guesthouse. He admitted using some office items personally but denied any misuse of trainee allowances. Stakeholders have called for an impartial investigation into the allegations and appropriate administrative action.

Russia’s military has claimed control over the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, located in the Donetsk region. The announcement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military command post to receive updates from senior officers. Putin described the capture as a major strategic success for Russia, emphasizing the city’s importance as a transport and industrial hub in the Donbas area.

According to Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Kostyantynivka was one of Ukraine’s key defensive positions and part of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk–Kostyantynivka defense line. He stated that Russian forces had fully taken control of the city in the fifth year of the war. Putin also noted that Ukraine had recently intensified long-range drone and missile attacks targeting Russia’s oil industry, prompting Moscow to consider expanding its border security zones.

Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s claim, leaving the situation on the ground unverified by Kyiv.

At least 15 Bangladeshi youths have gone missing after being lured to Russia with promises of construction jobs but instead sold to the Russian army for about 3,000 dollars each. According to the report, 30 men traveled to Russia in May 2026 through a licensed agency, expecting to work for a construction company. Upon arrival, they were sent to a drone company and later forced into military training for the war in Ukraine. Families reported the situation to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, which contacted the embassy in Moscow. The embassy initially assured that the workers would not be sent to war, but later many became unreachable.

Video evidence obtained by the newspaper shows several of the men wearing Russian army uniforms, with some hospitalized after drone attacks. Families held a protest in Dhaka demanding their rescue. The Bangladeshi ambassador in Moscow said the embassy has repeatedly sought consular access and requested that Bangladesh be listed among countries barred from joining the war. The expatriates’ welfare minister confirmed that three agencies were suspended and that possible negligence by embassy officials is under review.

Migration experts have called for a deeper investigation into the incident and urged stricter oversight of labor recruitment to Russia.

Canada will face Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Saturday at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time. The North American side, eliminated by Morocco in the 2022 group stage after a 2–1 defeat, now aims for redemption on a bigger stage. Morocco, meanwhile, looks to extend its historic run after reaching the semifinals in 2022.

Canada enters the match buoyed by its first-ever World Cup knockout win, a 1–0 victory over South Africa secured by Stephen Eustáquio’s 92nd-minute goal. The team impressed with high pressing intensity and has scored in six consecutive matches. However, Morocco holds the upper hand historically, winning three of their four previous encounters.

Morocco advanced after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout, completing 801 successful passes in that match—second only to Spain in World Cup records. The Atlas Lions remain unbeaten in nine matches across competitions. Both teams are expected to field nearly full-strength squads, with Canada’s Alphonso Davies returning from injury and Morocco’s Shadi Riad likely fit to play.

Egypt made history by winning its first-ever World Cup knockout match, defeating Australia in a penalty shootout in Dallas, United States. The match ended 1-1 after regular and extra time, with Imam Ashour scoring early for Egypt and an own goal by Mohamed Hany leveling the score for Australia. Egypt secured a 4-2 win in the shootout, with decisive kicks from Hossam Abdelmaguid and missed attempts by Australia’s Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington.

After the match, Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan dedicated the victory to the people of war-torn Palestine, expressing prayers for their peace and honoring their resilience. His emotional message quickly spread across social media, sparking rare scenes of celebration in Gaza, where residents gathered amid ruins to watch the game on makeshift screens.

Videos shared online showed children with Egyptian flags painted on their faces and crowds cheering in the devastated streets. For many in Gaza, Egypt’s triumph brought a brief moment of joy and unity amid ongoing hardship.

In Jamalpur town, a small mobile clothing shop run by 21-year-old Akijul Islam Saurav has drawn attention for its colorful display of T-shirts, shirts, and jerseys. Saurav, a second-year HSC student at Government Ashek Mahmud College, manages the business alongside his studies. With an initial investment of 70,000 taka from his father, he built a mobile sales cart and stocked it with clothes. Each day, after classes, he travels around the city selling garments and stores his cart at a relative’s home at night.

Saurav, from Sharifpur Union’s Byapari Para village, was inspired by his businessman father and motivated by the struggles of educated youths seeking jobs. He aims to become an entrepreneur who can create employment for others. His mobile shop allows him to reach customers directly in busy areas, and the earnings cover his educational expenses while enabling him to save money.

Development worker Jahangir Selim noted that such self-employment initiatives could positively influence the local economy and inspire other young people to pursue entrepreneurship.

In Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, the modern and eco-friendly mulching method is rapidly gaining popularity among vegetable farmers. The technique, which uses plastic sheets to cover soil beds with holes for planting, allows for higher yields at lower cost and in less time. Farmers are increasingly shifting from traditional methods to this technology-based cultivation, opening new opportunities for safe and pesticide-free vegetable production.

Field visits show that crops such as cucumber, bitter gourd, chili, bottle gourd, tomato, okra, and sponge gourd are being grown using mulching. The method helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce pest attacks, cutting down on irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide use. Although initial setup costs are slightly higher, the same beds can be reused for multiple harvests, and crops reach markets 10 to 15 days earlier, increasing profits.

According to the Shibchar Agriculture Office, around 200 bighas of land are now under mulching cultivation, mainly for chili, bitter gourd, and cucumber. Officials and experts say the expansion of this technology could lower production costs, boost farmers’ income, and positively impact the agricultural economy.

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Al-Khuraiji made an unannounced visit to Tehran to attend the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Leading a high-level delegation, Al-Khuraiji paid respects on behalf of Saudi Arabia, marking a rare gesture amid strained relations between the two regional powers.

The participation of the Saudi delegation drew significant international attention, as relations between Riyadh and Tehran had recently become tense. In March, Iran had carried out multiple attacks on U.S. bases located in Saudi Arabia, prompting strong condemnation from Riyadh. At that time, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud urged Iran to reconsider its strategy and warned that Gulf states had limited tolerance for such actions.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that the Saudi delegation’s unexpected presence at Khamenei’s funeral could signal a new message in the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.

Police in Bhangura upazila of Pabna released Jubo League leader Ripon Sarkar late Friday night after detaining him earlier on suspicion of involvement in sabotage. He was freed around 10:30 p.m., following a protest led by Shafiqul Islam Sohel, joint convener of the upazila Chhatra Dal, who, along with about 200 villagers, surrounded the police station demanding Ripon’s release.

According to police and local sources, Ripon, president of Ward No. 1 (Patulipara) Jubo League in Par-Bhangura Union, was arrested from his village on Friday evening. The protesters were later dispersed by police, after which a discussion took place in the officer-in-charge’s room between police officials, the Chhatra Dal leader, and several local figures. Following the meeting, Ripon was released on a written bond under the custody of villagers.

The officer-in-charge, Shakiul Azam, stated that Ripon had been detained as a suspect but was released after no evidence of involvement was found.

Israel has denied reports that it planned to assassinate Iranian officials Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi during peace talks. The Prime Minister’s Office in Tel Aviv issued a statement on Friday rejecting the allegations as completely baseless and false. It described reports published by The New York Times as fake news and a total distortion of reality.

According to The New York Times, citing current and former U.S. officials, American intelligence believed Israel had considered targeting Iranian negotiators earlier this year during efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran. Other U.S. media outlets reported that Israel’s wartime strategy included targeting Iran’s top political and military leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former National Security Council head Ali Larijani.

The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Ghalibaf and Araghchi were on Israel’s potential target list but were temporarily removed after U.S. requests when ceasefire talks resumed. Al Jazeera and The New York Times also reported that Ghalibaf narrowly survived attacks during conflicts in 2025 and this year.

Argentina secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, but captain Lionel Messi admitted after the match that his team struggled to play their usual game. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Messi said Cape Verde tested Argentina throughout the match and that the team failed to apply effective pressure, losing rhythm and control at times.

Messi highlighted that set-pieces played a decisive role in the win, noting that Argentina had worked on this aspect and finally saw results. However, he acknowledged defensive gaps and poor pressing that allowed Cape Verde to challenge them. He added that Cape Verde’s recent performances against teams like Spain and Uruguay had already shown they would be tough opponents.

Looking ahead, Messi said Argentina must rest, correct their mistakes, and return stronger for their next match against Egypt. He described every World Cup match as being as difficult as a final, emphasizing the need for continued focus and improvement.

Maulana Tajul Islam, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief of Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenaidah, has been temporarily relieved of his duties for three months. The suspension followed allegations that he gifted a bicycle, allocated under an Asian Development Bank (ADB) program, to his granddaughter through irregular means. The decision was announced on Friday at a Rukon conference held at Al Falah Center in Kotchandpur town by district Jamaat chief and Jhenaidah-2 MP Ali Azam Md. Abu Bakar. Retired teacher Azizur Rahman has been appointed as the acting upazila chief.

According to party sources, Tajul Islam presided over the first session of the conference but was absent in the second session, during which the suspension was declared. Newly appointed acting chief Azizur Rahman confirmed that the step was taken to protect the party’s image after negative media coverage regarding the misuse of government-distributed bicycles.

Reports of irregularities in the official bicycle distribution in Kotchandpur had recently surfaced in various media and social platforms, prompting the district Jamaat leadership to take immediate organizational action.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent acceptance of the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ award in Seychelles has sparked widespread controversy. The award, received during his official visit from June 27 to 29, was presented by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and dedicated by Modi to nations fighting climate change. However, observers quickly noticed multiple spelling errors on the certificate, including incorrect spellings of ‘Republic’ and ‘Seychelles,’ which led to ridicule on social media and reports in international outlets such as The Guardian.

Fact-checkers later found that the certificate appeared to be AI-generated using an OpenAI image tool, with a watermark confirming the suspicion. The award had reportedly been created only three days before Modi’s arrival, making him its first and only recipient. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, mocked Modi’s eagerness for awards, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the honor as recognition of his environmental leadership. Seychelles’ foreign ministry later clarified that an unapproved draft had been mistakenly circulated and that a corrected version was issued.

The incident has reignited debate over Modi’s pattern of receiving newly created international honors during foreign visits, with critics viewing it as part of his image-driven political strategy.