MD Masudur Rahman, a Bangladeshi-born politician from Hajiganj in Chandpur, has become a prominent figure in Connecticut’s mainstream politics. After arriving in the United States with only a few hundred dollars and a backpack, he gradually built a successful business career before entering public service. Rahman currently represents Connecticut’s 4th Senate District, which includes Manchester, Glastonbury, Andover, and Bolton. First elected in 2022 as a Democratic Party candidate, he is now serving his second term and has received his party’s nomination for a third.

Rahman’s early years in the U.S. were marked by struggle and perseverance. He worked various jobs before establishing businesses in healthcare, import-export, and construction, creating thousands of jobs in Connecticut. His involvement in community and political organizations grew from a desire to increase representation for Bangladeshi-Americans in mainstream politics.

As chair of the Senate Planning and Development Committee, Rahman has led initiatives to address housing shortages, particularly for low-income residents. He continues to encourage Bangladeshi youth to engage in politics and pursue leadership roles through hard work and determination.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2026 with several significant amendments. The changes include raising the tax-free income limit for individual taxpayers and withdrawing the proposed rule requiring disclosure of investment information. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the bill, which was passed by voice vote under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The amendments followed the Prime Minister’s directives during budget discussions.

Under the revised proposal, the tax-free income limit will rise to 400,000 taka for fiscal years 2026–27 and 2027–28, 450,000 taka for 2028–29 and 2029–30, and 500,000 taka for 2030–31. The government also withdrew proposals that would have made Tax Identification Numbers mandatory for most bank accounts and property registrations. The minister proposed reducing the income tax rate for private universities from 10% to 5% and expanding tax benefits for ethnic minorities.

Additional proposals include lowering import duties on raw materials, reducing VAT on digital advertising to 5%, and cutting taxes on locally produced vehicles and jewelry. These measures aim to support domestic industries, improve tax compliance, and ease public concerns.

Fresh violence broke out in Kalikachchha Bazar area of Sarail upazila in Brahmanbaria on Monday evening, following the burial of a man killed in an earlier clash between two villages. Police fired tear gas shells and blank shots to bring the situation under control after hundreds of people attacked, vandalized, and looted more than a hundred shops, setting several on fire. Traffic on the Sarail-Nasirnagar-Lakhai regional highway was halted for hours due to the unrest.

According to police and local sources, the conflict stemmed from a long-standing financial dispute between Mosharraf Hossain of Surjakandi village and Hadim Mia of Dharmatirtha village. The dispute escalated into a violent confrontation on Sunday evening, resulting in Hadim Mia’s death. After his burial on Monday afternoon, residents of Dharmatirtha village launched retaliatory attacks on businesses owned by people from Surjakandi village.

Assistant Police Superintendent Md Jahangir Alam said additional police forces were deployed to restore order and that those involved in the violence were being identified for legal action. The situation was later reported to be under control.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on the young generation to build a knowledge-based and sustainable Bangladesh through science, technology, research, and innovation. He made the call on Monday, June 29, at a colorful event jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka. Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated a nationwide tree plantation program for secondary school students and also launched the National Startup, Science Project, and Innovative Idea Exhibition.

During the event, the Prime Minister was accompanied by his spouse Dr. Zubaida Rahman. He visited various science projects, startup initiatives, and innovative ideas presented by students, praising their creativity and assuring full government support to advance such initiatives. Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, the Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, and senior officials from the education ministry and directorate were also present.

The event highlighted the government’s focus on fostering innovation and sustainability among students to strengthen the country’s knowledge economy.

Depositors under the banner of the ‘Combined Five Islamic Bank Depositors Association’ held a protest rally and submitted a memorandum in Chattogram on Monday, June 29, 2026. The demonstration began at New Market intersection and concluded at the Bangladesh Bank’s Chattogram regional office. A six-member delegation from the association handed over a three-point memorandum to the regional head of Bangladesh Bank.

Their demands included withdrawal of the decision to impose a ‘haircut’ or deduction on customer funds, restoration of normal banking operations, and full protection of deposits. The Bangladesh Bank representative assured that the memorandum would be forwarded to the governor for positive consideration.

Following the submission, a brief rally was held at New Market intersection where association leaders, including President Md. Abul Kalam Azad and General Secretary Jahangir Hossain, urged swift action to safeguard depositors’ interests and warned of tougher programs if their demands were not met.

A major corruption scandal has emerged surrounding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, built on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Allegations surfaced over the past month that large sums of donations and valuable gifts from devotees were misappropriated by individuals linked to the temple’s managing trust. Police have launched an investigation and arrested several people. The controversy has gained political traction ahead of upcoming state elections.

The temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about two and a half years ago, is managed by the independent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is not under direct government control. Some of its top officials are reportedly connected to the RSS, an ideological ally of the ruling BJP. The scandal intensified after former accounts supervisor Mahipal Singh publicly raised allegations of financial irregularities. Opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav claimed that crores of rupees in donations had disappeared, prompting the state government to form a three-member inquiry committee.

Under growing pressure, long-time general secretary Champat Rai and several trustees resigned. Devotees and some BJP supporters have demanded full accountability and transparency in the handling of temple funds and valuables.

Photos of missing persons now cover the outer walls of Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela, as families continue searching for loved ones following a powerful earthquake. Thousands remain unaccounted for, prompting relatives to move from one hospital to another in hopes of finding survivors. Many of the missing are residents of the coastal area of La Guaira.

Eyewitness Yerinker Bermúdez, who narrowly survived the quake, said he is now searching for friends who lived in his collapsed building. He expressed frustration at the government’s lack of assistance, saying that neighbors and volunteers have been conducting rescue operations with their bare hands. Outside the hospital, crowds wait anxiously, scanning patient lists for familiar names.

Inside the hospital, conditions remain tense. Doctor Santiago Casanova said the first few days were extremely difficult, though the number of injured has since declined. However, he cautioned that the decrease is not a positive sign, as the chances of finding survivors under the rubble are diminishing with time.

Bangladesh Police has expressed its intention to build an integrated security framework to address global crime challenges. The force organized its first coordination meeting titled 'Diplomatic Security Cooperation, Information Sharing and Capacity Building of Bangladesh Police' on Monday in Dhaka. The meeting, chaired by Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, was attended by senior officials from the Home and Foreign Ministries, foreign diplomats, embassy security officers, representatives of international organizations, and senior police officials.

A keynote paper presented by Additional DIG Belal Uddin highlighted that global crime has become increasingly complex, with violent extremism, organized crime, cybercrime, and digital fraud posing major challenges. It also noted the rise of AI-driven crimes, deepfakes, misinformation, and disinformation as global security concerns. Senior officials from the Foreign and Home Ministries emphasized the importance of diplomatic security cooperation, information exchange, and inter-country coordination.

The meeting recommended enhanced collaboration between Bangladesh Police and other nations to combat money laundering, financial crime, cybercrime, and human trafficking through improved information sharing and joint initiatives.

A two-week regional training program on industrial safety has begun at the Chattogram Port Training Center, aiming to modernize and upgrade the port’s safety systems to international standards. The program, titled “Regional Training Course on Industrial Safety,” was inaugurated on Monday as part of a joint initiative by the Chattogram Port Authority and the EU-funded Global Ports Safety Project. Twenty officials from France, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are participating.

Commodore Ahmed Amin Abdullah, Member (Harbour and Marine) of the Chattogram Port Authority, attended the opening ceremony as chief guest, while French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charpente served as special guest and keynote speaker. Abdullah emphasized the importance of such training for improving safety at seaports, and the ambassador noted that the program would strengthen participants’ ability to identify and manage industrial risks.

The training, supervised by international industrial safety expert Olivier Salvi, includes hands-on sessions on safety management for high-risk facilities such as container terminals, hydrocarbon depots, oil and gas installations, and chemical storage sites.

Police in Fatullah, Narayanganj, arrested a woman on Monday morning for allegedly killing her husband. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. in the Mirzabari Mor area of West Delpara under Kutubpur Union. Law enforcement recovered a machete and a knife believed to have been used in the killing. The victim, Jahangir Alam, 42, was from Dhalkhanagar Lane in Old Dhaka, while the arrested woman, Farzana Akter Munni, is the daughter of Ayub Ali from West Delpara.

According to local accounts, this was Munni’s second marriage. She divorced her first husband about five years ago and later married Jahangir Alam, with whom she had a one-and-a-half-year-old son. Police said the couple had long-standing marital conflicts. Preliminary investigation suggests Munni mixed sleeping pills into her husband’s food on Sunday night, rendering him unconscious before attacking him with a machete and knife the following morning.

Police recovered the body and sent it to Narayanganj General Hospital morgue. A murder case is being prepared, and further legal proceedings are underway.

RAB has uncovered the motive behind the murder of housewife Kulsum Akter Kajol, wife of a Kuwait expatriate, in Fulgazi, Feni. The main suspect, her distant nephew Md. Ariful Islam, aged 31, was arrested from Uttar Dharmapur area on Monday, June 29, 2026. According to RAB, Arif entered the victim’s home by cutting through the tin roof intending to commit robbery to repay a loan. When Kajol saw him, a scuffle ensued, during which he attacked her with a sharp weapon, causing fatal injuries.

Local residents heard Kajol’s groaning after dawn prayers and gathered at the house, prompting Arif to flee through the back door. RAB officials revealed the arrest and confession during a press briefing at the Feni RAB office at noon on June 29. The victim’s father had earlier filed a case with Fulgazi Police Station under sections 457/302/34 of the Penal Code.

RAB stated that legal proceedings against the accused are underway following his confession and the completion of initial interrogation.

The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement 3,465 times since it took effect in October 2025. According to the office, Israeli attacks during the ceasefire period have killed at least 1,045 Palestinians and injured another 3,380. The office also alleged that Israel failed to comply with the agreement’s humanitarian aid provisions.

Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, 156,000 aid trucks were supposed to enter Gaza, but the media office claimed Israel allowed only 55,539 trucks. In a statement, it accused Israel of pursuing a “policy of planned genocide” in Gaza and urged the ceasefire mediators to take effective measures to ensure Israel fulfills all terms of the signed agreement.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023, at least 73,043 Palestinians have been killed and 173,417 injured in the Gaza Strip.

A man named Hafizur Rahman, aged 34, was killed by a lightning strike in Noyachar Azmir Para village under Char Rajibpur upazila of Kurigram. The incident occurred on Monday morning around 10 a.m. when Hafizur went to the field in search of work. He was struck by lightning and sustained severe injuries. Local residents rescued him and took him to Rajibpur Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

According to family sources, Hafizur Rahman was the eldest son of Md. Nuru Mia of the same village. The lightning strike occurred suddenly while he was outdoors, leading to his death despite immediate efforts to save him.

The report highlights the tragic loss caused by the lightning incident in the rural area of Kurigram, emphasizing the vulnerability of people working in open fields during adverse weather conditions.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has advised students to prepare themselves to work for the welfare of the country. He made the remarks while speaking to a group of students who came to observe the national parliament’s budget session during the midday recess. The Prime Minister’s spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was also present at the time.

On Monday, June 29, a total of 45 students from four educational institutions in Madaripur district visited the parliament to watch the budget session. They were waiting in front of the Prime Minister’s Office inside the parliament building when he stopped to speak with them on his way to an event at the China Friendship Conference Center. The Prime Minister encouraged the students to engage not only in studies but also in sports, culture, and other creative activities.

The students expressed excitement and gratitude for the memorable experience of meeting the Prime Minister. The visit was organized by Md. Jahandar Ali Mia, Member of Parliament for Madaripur-2, and included tours of key parliamentary sites to learn about its history, architecture, and functions.

The Netherlands and Morocco are preparing for one of the most anticipated matches in the World Cup round of 32, scheduled for tomorrow at 7 a.m. Bangladesh time. The Dutch advanced as Group F leaders with seven points, while Morocco also collected seven points to finish runners-up in Group C. Both teams remain unbeaten, each securing two wins and one draw in the group stage, setting the stage for a high-intensity knockout encounter.

The Netherlands, three-time World Cup runners-up, began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Japan before defeating Sweden and Tunisia with fast-paced attacking football. Coach Ronald Koeman’s side aims to maintain their rhythm despite the absence of injured defender Jurriën Timber. Forward Cody Gakpo continues to play despite personal tragedy, with teammates expected to rally behind him.

Morocco, impressive in the previous World Cup, have again shown strong form, drawing with Brazil and defeating Haiti and Scotland. Striker Ismail Saibari made history as the first African to score in all three group matches, posing a major threat to the Dutch defense. The match promises both revenge and redemption as Morocco seeks to overturn their 1994 World Cup loss to the Netherlands.