Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain told Parliament that the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on May 27 were caused by oxygen shortage and negligence. Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, he said the hospital’s license was suspended to bring discipline to private healthcare institutions. The minister held the hospital’s owner responsible, citing mismanagement and the appointment of the owner’s wife as chief executive after the incident.

Responding to opposition criticism, Hossain said the government had only suspended the hospital’s license, not shut it down, and rejected comparisons with previous fire incidents at United Hospital and the Burn Unit, which he described as accidents. He emphasized that Ad-Din’s case involved negligence, not an accident, and described the lack of oxygen and medical response during the tragedy.

State Minister for Health Dr. M.A. Muhith also addressed Parliament, noting that 80 percent of healthcare costs in Bangladesh are paid out-of-pocket by patients. He said the new budget aims to rebuild the health system, ensure free and equitable care, and strengthen transparency and accountability in health management.

During the national budget discussion for the 2026–27 fiscal year, ruling party whip Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu mistakenly cited a Quranic verse number while quoting from Surah An-Najm. He referred to verse 53, which was actually the surah number, not the verse number. Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Mohammad Kamal Hossain raised a point of order to correct the error, clarifying that the correct reference was verse 39 of Surah An-Najm.

Following the correction, Speaker of Parliament briefly confirmed the clarification, and the Jamaat MP emphasized that Quranic verses must be cited accurately. Acknowledging the correction, Whip Nuruddin Ahmed Apu thanked the Jamaat MP for pointing out the mistake and publicly expressed his appreciation on the parliamentary floor.

The exchange occurred during the general discussion on the proposed national budget, highlighting a rare moment of cooperation across party lines in the Bangladesh Parliament.

Road Transport, Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has downplayed opposition criticism of the proposed national budget, saying he does not take their remarks seriously. Speaking on June 28, 2026, he compared Bangladesh’s deficit budget approach with that of the United States and China, arguing that concerns about revenue shortfalls are misplaced. He suggested that opposition members would better understand how to critique budgets after spending more time in opposition.

The minister stated that he had not heard significant criticism in parliament, only some concerns about possible revenue deficits. He assured that revenue collection would improve through the use of e-invoicing and reduced tax exemptions. He added that tax evasion would be addressed through identification measures and a revised VAT structure. According to him, the government aims to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio closer to 13–14 percent, similar to Nepal and Bhutan.

Sheikh Robiul Alam further noted that bank borrowing had decreased from 1.18 trillion taka in fiscal year 2025–26 to 1.12 trillion taka in the new budget, expressing confidence that revenue targets would be met.

India has reopened tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens after nearly two years of suspension. The application process began on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. The visa service had been halted since August 5, 2024, following political changes in Bangladesh and related security concerns.

The announcement was made by India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, who stated that medical visas would also be processed quickly on humanitarian grounds. He added that the service would gradually expand to other IVAC centers to fully normalize visa operations.

Applicants must apply through India’s online visa portal by selecting “Regular Visa Application,” choosing Bangladesh as the country, and selecting the tourist visa category. A valid passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages is required, along with a digital photo and printed, signed application form.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform showing himself carrying the Earth on his shoulders, drawing a parallel with the Greek mythological figure Atlas. The image, shared on Saturday, depicted Trump kneeling with an American flag draped over his body. The post came a day after U.S. forces struck an Iranian drone storage site following an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump did not include any caption, leaving the intended message unclear.

The Atlas reference alludes to the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens, later popularly depicted as bearing the world. Trump’s post follows earlier instances where he used AI-generated imagery likening himself to divine or heroic figures. A previous image showing him in priestly attire healing a patient drew criticism from some Republican supporters, who viewed it as blasphemous. Trump later said he meant to portray himself as a doctor helping people, not as Jesus.

The Independent reported that it had sought comment from the White House regarding Trump’s latest posts, which also included a comparison between his youthful photo and that of former President Barack Obama.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana has urged journalists to focus on uncovering authentic news amid the spread of misinformation, rumors, and false content on social media. She made the call on Sunday while addressing the 'BSRF Fruit Festival' organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat’s media center.

Mahbuba Farzana emphasized that Facebook is flooded with misleading information and urged reporters to revive investigative journalism to find the truth behind the news. She described journalism as a noble profession and said the ministry should show greater care toward journalists. She also noted that many young people are entering journalism and encouraged them to verify facts before reporting.

The secretary further stated that some reports published against the Information Ministry in certain newspapers were based on misinformation. She requested journalists to verify any concerns directly with ministry officials before publishing. Additional Secretary (Broadcast) Md. Shah Alam and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdul Ahmad were also present at the event.

Bahrain has reported that a residential building in Muharraq Governorate was damaged following an Iranian attack. The country’s Interior Ministry confirmed the incident, noting that no casualties were reported. In a post on social media platform X, Bahrain blamed Iranian aggression for the damage.

Earlier, Bahrain had called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session to end what it described as ongoing aggression and to hold those responsible accountable. The government strongly condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks, calling them a violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

Bahrain reiterated its appeal for international intervention through the UN to stop the attacks and ensure accountability for the perpetrators, emphasizing the need to restore calm and stability in the Gulf region.

A ninth-grade student named Rafsan Sheikh, aged 16, died after being bitten by a venomous snake in Amritnagar village of Gunbaha Union, Boalmari upazila, Faridpur, on Saturday night, June 27, 2026. He was taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital after his condition worsened, where he died early Sunday while under treatment. The incident has cast grief over his family, classmates, and the local community.

According to family and local sources, Rafsan was bitten by the snake while returning indoors after washing his hands and feet outside. Instead of taking him to a hospital immediately, his family first took him to two traditional healers in nearby areas, where several hours were lost. Health officials later confirmed that the delay critically worsened his condition. Boalmari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Nazmul Hasan stated that the local hospital had 45 antivenom doses in stock but the patient arrived too late for effective treatment.

Dr. Hasan urged the public to avoid wasting time with traditional methods and to seek hospital care immediately after any snakebite.

A human chain was organized in the Purba Bhuterdia area of Kedarpur Union under Babuganj upazila of Barishal, demanding permanent and sustainable measures to prevent river erosion. The event took place on Saturday in front of Purba Bhuterdia Secondary School near Mollarchar Bazar, initiated by local residents. The program was presided over by the school’s head teacher, Md. Mozzafar Hossain, and organized by Maulana Md. Helal Uddin. Several local leaders and community members addressed the gathering, highlighting the urgent need for government intervention.

Speakers said that the intense erosion of the Sugandha River has been destroying vast areas of farmland, homesteads, and public and private establishments every year, forcing many families into hardship. They warned that the erosion threatens not only lives and property but also the very existence of the area.

Participants urged authorities to take immediate and effective action, including installing CC blocks or geo-bags in the affected areas, to ensure long-term protection against river erosion.

In Kenya, a growing debate over language use in education is reshaping classroom experiences. Students like Lona Chepkemoi, who returned to study fashion design at a technical college in 2023, found new confidence when lessons were taught in her native Kalenjin language alongside Swahili and English. Her experience reflects a wider global issue highlighted by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring report, which notes that nearly 40 percent of students worldwide are taught in languages they do not fully understand.

Kenya’s policy allows mother-tongue instruction up to grade three, after which English becomes the main medium. However, in practice, language use varies by region and teacher ability. Across Africa, colonial-era languages such as English, French, and Portuguese still dominate classrooms, even though many children speak different languages at home. UNESCO continues to advocate for mother-tongue-based multilingual education as key to improving literacy and learning outcomes.

Kenyan educators and students acknowledge the benefits of local-language instruction but also recognize the necessity of English for higher education and global employment. Balancing these competing needs remains a central challenge for the country’s education system.

Four members of a family in Kerala, India, have died by suicide after being unable to pay their house rent. Police reported that the body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered from a river near Piravom on Sunday, marking the completion of the search for all four family members. Earlier, on Friday evening, the bodies of the girl’s visually impaired mother Viji and her two-year-old brother were found in the same river, followed by the father’s body on Saturday.

Investigators identified Viji and her son as residents of a rented house in Kothamangalam. The father, Narayanan, originally from Palakkad, had been living there with his family. Police said the family had recently sought help from the Kothamangalam police station after failing to pay rent due to financial hardship. Authorities had arranged alternative housing for them, where they were scheduled to move on Sunday.

CCTV footage from a restaurant in Piravom showed the family dining together on Thursday. Police have registered an unnatural death case and will hand over the bodies to relatives after autopsy.

Allegations have surfaced that around 50 dredgers are being used to extract sand from the Padma River in Naria upazila of Shariatpur, threatening nearby farmland and riverbanks. Locals claim that the operation, allegedly led by Naria BNP general secretary Farid Ahmed Royal, is removing sand directly from the riverbed, endangering about 5,000 acres of agricultural land in Bosarchar and Charatra mouzas. Royal, however, insists he is legally extracting sand purchased through a government auction and denies cutting sand from the riverbed.

Officials from the Water Development Board said a major river protection project was implemented in 2019 after severe erosion between 2013 and 2018 displaced 25,000 families. The auctioned sand was originally stockpiled during river dredging under that project. Local authorities confirm the auction covered only stored sand, not riverbed extraction, and have pledged to investigate the current activities.

Residents fear that unregulated dredging could undermine the costly river protection works and trigger renewed erosion. The district BNP president and local MP stated that any illegal sand extraction, regardless of political affiliation, would face legal action.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser A K M Shamsul Islam on Sunday at the adviser’s office in the Armed Forces Division located in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting was attended by a three-member delegation from Pakistan.

During the meeting, both sides discussed existing bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Pakistan. They exchanged views on enhancing military-level cooperation, sharing experiences, and strengthening training programs between the two countries.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the courtesy meeting is expected to contribute to further strengthening and expanding defense cooperation and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the future.

Kuwait has condemned Iran’s recent attack, describing it as a clear violation of the country’s sovereignty. In a statement issued by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 28, 2026, the government said Iran’s aggression undermines ongoing regional and global efforts to reduce tensions and poses a direct challenge to the international community supporting these initiatives.

The statement emphasized Kuwait’s full right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, maintain security and stability, and safeguard its citizens and residents. The condemnation followed reports that Iran launched an attack on the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, targeting U.S. forces, after the United States bombed Iran’s coastal areas in response to an earlier assault on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The developments have heightened regional tensions, with Kuwait reaffirming its commitment to defending its territory while urging restraint to prevent further escalation.

Residents of Madarganj upazila in Jamalpur are facing severe disruptions to daily life due to prolonged power outages amid intense heat. For several weeks, electricity has been unavailable for 16 to 18 hours a day, affecting both urban and rural areas. The shortage has disrupted normal routines, business operations, and students’ studies, with children, the elderly, and the sick suffering the most.

According to the Madarganj zonal office of Palli Bidyut, the upazila’s current electricity demand stands at 18 megawatts, but only 7 megawatts are being supplied—about 39 percent of total demand. The shortfall has forced authorities to impose long hours of load-shedding. Residents report frequent power cuts lasting two to three hours at a time, with electricity returning only briefly before going out again.

Local businesses are incurring financial losses, and students preparing for exams are struggling to study by candlelight. The deputy general manager of the Madarganj zonal office said the situation would improve once power supply from the national grid increases.