A growing number of unlicensed private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers are operating across Cumilla city and surrounding areas, according to a report published on June 29, 2026. Many of these facilities lack proper authorization, environmental clearance, and qualified medical staff, leading to widespread mismanagement and patient safety risks. Maternal healthcare is particularly affected, with reports of unsafe surgeries, unnecessary cesarean operations, and inadequate monitoring putting mothers and newborns in danger.

The Cumilla Civil Surgeon’s Office reported 483 registered medical facilities, though the actual number exceeds 700, with many operating without approval. Several institutions, including Satata Specialized Hospital and Cumilla Alif Hospital, have been fined for irregularities, while others resumed operations soon after closure. Officials cited manpower shortages as a barrier to regular inspections, though recent raids fined six institutions about 1 million taka.

Local journalists and environmental officials attributed the problem to weak monitoring, political interference, and the lure of profit in a growing healthcare market. Authorities acknowledged the challenge and pledged continued enforcement against unlicensed operations.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam on Monday at the adviser’s office in the Armed Forces Division, Dhaka Cantonment. The ambassador was accompanied by a three-member delegation. During the meeting, both sides discussed various issues of mutual interest, focusing on expanding military and defense cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan.

The discussions emphasized Japan’s potential technological assistance in modernizing the Bangladesh Armed Forces and achieving the country’s ‘Forces Goal’. Both parties agreed on enhancing training opportunities, regular exchange visits of military delegations, and improving professional and technical skills among armed forces personnel. They also explored new possibilities for the exchange of modern defense equipment and technology.

The meeting was viewed as a step toward further strengthening the existing friendly relations and long-term strategic cooperation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and Japan.

Four days after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, a father and his teenage son were rescued alive from the rubble near Caracas. The rescue took place in the town of Carabaleda, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, where French and U.S. rescue teams located the survivors on Sunday. The twin quakes, which hit the previous week, have left more than 1,450 people dead.

Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez praised the rescuers for continuing their efforts to find survivors, emphasizing that the mission would not be halted as long as there was hope. The discovery of the father and son has brought a rare moment of relief amid the country’s ongoing crisis.

Despite the successful rescue, thousands of people remain missing, and the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster and its broader economic challenges.

Incidents of rape and sexual violence against women and children have increased across Bangladesh, with the Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) reporting a daily average of four to five rape victims seeking treatment. The OCC treats 150 to 200 rape survivors monthly, mostly girls aged 11 to 18. Officials cite weak law enforcement and social decay as key causes. Victims face repeated questioning that worsens trauma, while unauthorized visitors often breach OCC privacy rules.

According to the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, 1,035 women and girls faced violence in the first five months of 2026, including 250 rapes and 65 gang rapes. Legal follow-up remains weak: only one-third of OCC cases result in formal complaints, and conviction rates are around one percent. Investigations are delayed due to slow medical reporting and witness absences. The Women and Children Affairs Minister acknowledged enforcement and social mindset as major challenges.

The government announced plans to establish OCCs in all 37 public medical colleges to ensure coordinated support for victims. The initiative aims to expand free medical, legal, and counseling services nationwide.

More than one million children in England required mental health care in 2024–2025, marking a 10 percent rise in a year and nearly double the figure from 2018–2019, according to BBC data. Anxiety was cited as the most common reason, accounting for 16 percent of all referrals. Suspected autism cases rose by nearly 50 percent to over 96,000, while applications for ADHD and Tourette syndrome increased by about one-quarter.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, in her annual report “Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services: 2024–25,” warned that over one-third of applicants are still waiting for treatment. More than 60,000 children have waited over two years, and fewer than one in five suspected autism cases received care, often after a year-long wait. She described the figures as severe and called for integrated support across health, education, and social care sectors.

Charity YoungMinds expressed deep concern over long delays, especially for Black, ethnic minority, and autistic children. Data also showed higher crisis referral rates among Black children and greater demand from poorer areas, highlighting persistent inequalities in access to mental health services.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told the national parliament on Monday that the proposed budget lacks any guideline for recovering laundered money and called for strong initiatives to bring it back. Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed budget, he also suggested changing the fiscal year from July–June to January–December to align with the calendar year and improve efficiency. The session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin, began at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Rahman argued that recovering even one-ninth of the laundered funds would eliminate the budget deficit and emphasized that such money belongs to the people. He urged visible and effective steps to ensure accountability and prevent future illicit transfers. The opposition leader also discussed education, health, expatriate welfare, and corruption, urging reforms and equitable treatment for all sectors. He called for better allocation for Qawmi madrasa and Ebtedayee education, improved healthcare infrastructure, and stronger research funding in universities.

He further proposed forming a task force to address expatriate workers’ issues and demanded increased allowances for freedom fighters. Rahman concluded by urging cooperation between government and opposition to ensure justice, transparency, and national progress.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union (EU) fell sharply in the first four months of 2026, marking the steepest decline among the bloc’s top ten garment suppliers. According to Eurostat data, exports from Bangladesh dropped by 19.33 percent year-on-year to 6.086 billion euros between January and April, down from 7.544 billion euros in the same period of 2025. In April alone, exports fell 19.53 percent to 1.494 billion euros. The decline has raised concern among industry stakeholders amid global trade uncertainty and domestic challenges.

Eurostat figures show that the EU’s overall apparel imports decreased by 10.42 percent during the same period, totaling 27.77 billion euros. However, Bangladesh’s export contraction exceeded the EU’s average decline. Other major suppliers such as China, Turkey, India, Vietnam, and Pakistan also saw reductions, but none as steep as Bangladesh’s. The country’s export volume to the EU fell 9.91 percent to 435.9 million kilograms, while the average unit price dropped 10.45 percent to 13.96 euros per kilogram.

Industry representatives noted that nearly half of Bangladesh’s total export earnings come from the EU, warning that a prolonged downturn in this market could negatively affect the broader economy.

A severe water crisis has hit most areas of Dhaka, with residents in Mirpur, Sheorapara, and several other neighborhoods suffering from prolonged shortages. Many households have gone months without regular water supply, forcing people to buy water from alternative sources at high cost. The shortage has disrupted cooking, bathing, and other daily activities, prompting residents to stage road blockades and street protests demanding urgent action from authorities.

Dhaka WASA officials attributed the crisis to increased demand, technical faults in supply lines, and storm damage to several wells at the Bhakurta oilfield in Savar, which supplies water to Mirpur. They said repair work is underway and that water supply should normalize soon. However, residents accuse WASA of mismanagement and alleged syndicate activities that profit from water scarcity.

According to WASA sources, around 200 of its 1,331 deep tube wells are out of operation due to mechanical issues, while power outages have further disrupted production. The agency maintains that the situation is temporary and expects improvement within days.

A fire broke out in a high-rise building in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Monday. The blaze started in an apartment on the 22nd floor, reportedly triggered by an air conditioner explosion. According to initial reports, no casualties have been confirmed so far, but authorities fear there may be injuries or fatalities. Firefighting teams are currently working at the scene to bring the situation under control.

Police from Noida’s Sector 113 station said the fire originated in a flat within the Aranya Society complex. Fire service teams responded immediately after receiving the alert and began efforts to extinguish the flames. Officials are expected to release more detailed information once the fire is fully contained and the situation stabilizes.

Authorities have not yet provided an estimate of the damage or confirmed the number of residents affected, and further updates are awaited as rescue operations continue.

Evidence has emerged that Deepak Chandra Sarkar, headmaster of Kharia Nabarun Secondary School in Paikgacha, Khulna, holds Indian citizenship. Local residents and official investigations have also raised allegations of irregularities, corruption, and misuse of school funds under his leadership. Despite multiple inquiries confirming his dual citizenship and other complaints, he remains in his position, causing public anger in the area.

According to official documents, Deepak Chandra Sarkar is listed as a voter in West Bengal, India, while also registered as a voter in Khulna’s Laskar Union. Reports allege that he engaged in nepotism and financial transactions during staff recruitment in 2024, involving around 3 million taka. Investigations into school incentive funds for the 2022–23 fiscal year found irregularities and questionable vouchers.

Several administrative investigations between 2024 and 2026 confirmed his Indian citizenship and raised concerns about a foreign national holding an MPO-approved teaching post. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and district officials termed the matter serious and referred it to higher authorities, but no action has been taken yet. Deepak Chandra Sarkar denies all allegations, claiming he is a Bangladeshi citizen.

Thousands of Malawian nationals are leaving South Africa following a surge in xenophobic violence targeting foreign workers. Many, including 27-year-old Janet Kapito, have returned home empty-handed after losing their belongings and livelihoods. The Malawian government has arranged buses to repatriate citizens before the June 30 deadline, while well-wishers have raised funds to support those stranded. According to local media, 6,936 Malawians have already returned, and authorities estimate around 10,000 remain at risk in South Africa.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs has activated a comprehensive response plan to ensure safe and dignified returns. South African authorities reported that 15,162 Malawians have been processed for deportation or repatriation. Many returnees said they had taken high-interest loans to migrate and are now struggling to repay them after losing jobs and property during the unrest. Some described hiding in open fields as violence escalated.

Community sources told Al Jazeera that xenophobic attacks often intensify around election periods. With unemployment high in Malawi, returnees face social stigma and economic hardship, and officials expect thousands more to arrive in the coming weeks.

Heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have caused the Teesta River to swell again, submerging croplands in the river’s char areas. On Sunday evening, water at the Dalia point flowed seven centimeters above the danger level, though it slightly receded by Monday morning. Authorities at the Water Development Board confirmed that all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened as a precaution, warning that water levels could rise further.

The surge in water is linked to continuous rainfall and the release of water from India’s Gajoldoba Barrage, which has led to red alerts on both sides of the border. Low-lying areas in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat and adjoining districts have started flooding, affecting roads and croplands. Local farmers reported that rising water has inundated fields of paddy, peanuts, and pumpkins, putting crops and livestock at risk.

Officials said the flood and erosion situation is being closely monitored, and residents along the riverbanks have been advised to remain alert as water levels remain near the danger mark.

Eminent Bangladeshi cultural figure and painter Mustafa Monowar passed away on Monday morning while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 90 years old. According to family sources, he had been admitted to Square Hospital after his health deteriorated. His wife, Mary Monowar, confirmed the news.

Monowar had long suffered from various health complications. In June, his condition worsened, leading doctors to move him to the ICU. He had previously been placed on life support in September 2024 but later recovered partially. Recently, he fell ill again after contracting a bacterial pneumonia infection.

Born on September 1, 1935, in Nakol village of Magura district, Monowar began his career as an art college teacher and became a pioneer of puppet shows in Bangladesh. His television programs for children inspired generations. The son of poet Golam Mostafa, he received the Ekushey Padak in 2004 for his contributions to art and culture. His death has cast a shadow of mourning across the country’s cultural community, with admirers expressing condolences online.

Iran’s senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, has issued a strong warning to Bahrain, saying Tehran will launch harsher attacks if provoked. He urged Bahrain’s people to recognize their limits and avoid forcing Iran into taking severe action.

According to the report, Iran carried out strikes on a US naval base in Bahrain on Friday and Saturday in retaliation for American attacks. Tehran claimed that the United States used Bahraini military bases to launch assaults on Iran. Bahrain, however, denied the allegation and condemned the Iranian strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.

The exchange of accusations has heightened tensions between Tehran and Manama, with both sides asserting conflicting narratives about the recent military actions.

A joint operation by RAB-9 and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered a foreign-made one-shooter gun, 1.34 kilograms of power gel explosives, and 11 non-electric detonators in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet. The raid took place on Friday night near a brick kiln in the Sonasar area of Barathakuri Union, based on secret intelligence information.

According to RAB, the items were found abandoned inside a plastic sack. No individuals connected to the recovered materials were present at the scene. Law enforcement authorities have initiated an intelligence investigation to identify and arrest those involved.

The seized weapon, explosives, and other evidence have been handed over to Zakiganj Police Station for further legal action under a general diary entry.