Two hundred and fifty members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces serving under the STMKE unit have demanded to be reinstated in their jobs with the Kuwait Army. They made the appeal at a press conference held on Monday at the National Press Club, seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention to resolve their situation.

According to a written statement by Sergeant Ahsan Ullah, the soldiers had returned to Bangladesh on leave during the COVID-19 pandemic but were unable to go back to Kuwait due to international flight suspensions. The Army Headquarters’ PA Directorate had placed them on ‘home stay’ status with assurances of redeployment once conditions normalized. However, despite the pandemic easing, administrative complications and negligence within the STMKE cell prevented 557 personnel from resuming duty, leaving around 250 of them jobless for six years.

The affected soldiers stated that their families have been living in severe hardship for seven years and urged immediate humanitarian consideration from the Prime Minister.

At a meeting held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, Iran refused to participate in a handshake and joint photo session with the United States delegation, creating a diplomatic embarrassment for Washington. According to reports from Al Jazeera and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the organizers had arranged a courtesy meeting and photo opportunity between the two delegations, but the Iranian side declined from the outset. As a result, the planned photo session and live broadcast were canceled.

Sources linked to the meeting said the Iranian representatives avoided the media, entering the conference room only after journalists had left. The US delegation reportedly requested an additional five minutes to allow the media to exit before the Iranians arrived. Iran’s delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accompanied by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other senior officials.

Analysts cited in the reports suggested that Tehran’s refusal to engage in customary diplomatic gestures was a deliberate signal of its firm political stance toward Washington, reflecting the long-standing tension between the two nations.

Md. Ribul Jisan, a 40-year-old Union Parishad secretary, was killed in a road accident on Monday morning in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. in the Karimpur area along the Dhaka-Khulna highway when a bus hit his motorcycle, causing his death on the spot.

According to local residents and eyewitnesses, the collision took place suddenly, leaving no time for rescue. Ribul Jisan was serving as the secretary of Ishan Gopalpur Union Parishad under Faridpur Sadar upazila. Police from Boalmari station confirmed the accident and stated that legal action will be taken regarding the incident.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the bus or its driver, and an investigation is expected to follow to determine responsibility for the fatal crash.

Students in Barishal held a human chain and protest rally on Monday morning demanding action against alleged sexual harassment by Sujoy Biswas Shubho, former president of the Democratic Student Council’s Barishal University branch. The demonstration took place at the Ashwini Kumar Hall premises, organized by a group identifying themselves as 'angry students of Barishal'. Participants voiced four demands, including a call for an impartial investigation.

Speakers at the rally, including students from Government Brojomohun College, Global Village University, and Barishal University, criticized the organization’s inaction. They said that despite multiple allegations of harassment and victim blaming, no effective investigation committee had been formed and no disciplinary steps had been taken against the accused. The protest concluded with a procession through the city.

The demonstrators urged the student organization to take immediate and neutral measures to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.

Police in Tongi, Gazipur, have arrested Md. Ashikul Islam Onik, an organizational secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Ward 54 unit, in connection with a case filed by his wife alleging physical abuse over dowry demands. The arrest took place late Sunday night during a police operation.

According to case documents, the victim, Farzana Akter, filed the complaint under sections 11(g)/30 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 (Amendment Ordinance 2025), accusing her husband and several others of physically assaulting her for dowry. Following a court directive, Tongi West Police registered the case and later detained the main accused, Onik.

Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman of Tongi West Police Station confirmed that the case was filed as per court order and that the accused was sent to the Gazipur court on Monday afternoon.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, announced in parliament that all quick rental power plants have been retired. He said the decision aims to reduce dependence on short-term rental power and build a sustainable, environmentally friendly energy system. The announcement came during a parliamentary question session on Monday in response to a query from the member for Chattogram-15, Shahajahan Chowdhury.

The minister explained that under the government’s renewable energy policy, the target is to meet 20 percent of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040. A goal has also been set to achieve a capacity of 10,000 megawatts of solar power generation. He added that the government has undertaken extensive programs to expand renewable energy sources to ensure long-term energy security.

The move marks a significant policy shift from temporary rental-based electricity generation toward sustainable energy development, aligning with Bangladesh’s broader goals for cleaner and more reliable power supply.

Argentina advanced to the last 32 of the World Cup after defeating Austria 2–0 in Dallas. Lionel Messi was the standout performer, scoring in both halves to secure the victory. Argentina began the match aggressively, dominating possession and creating several chances. Despite missing an early penalty, Messi opened the scoring midway through the first half after a combination play involving Thiago Almada and defender Medina.

Austria attempted to fight back in the second half, making several attacking substitutions and threatening from set pieces. However, Argentina’s defense and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez held firm, with Martínez notably saving a free kick from Marcel Sabitzer. Late in the match, tensions rose as both teams exchanged fouls, and Laimer and Medina received yellow cards.

In stoppage time, Messi sealed the win with his second goal, converting a rebound through a crowded defense. The result confirmed Argentina’s place in the tournament’s knockout stage, highlighting their organized play and Messi’s decisive influence.

Police in Habiganj have taken heightened security measures surrounding the banned Awami League’s anniversary. To prevent any acts of sabotage or untoward incidents, checkpoints have been set up on key roads and entry points across the district.

According to reports, temporary checkpoints have been established at major intersections, highways, and upazila-level locations. Police officers stationed there are inspecting vehicle documents and searching suspicious individuals and goods. Superintendent of Police Tarek Mahmud stated that the checkpoint operations will continue as needed, with additional patrols intensified across the district. He emphasized that police remain on maximum alert to prevent any acts of sabotage or criminal activity.

The measures reflect a proactive approach by law enforcement to maintain order during a politically sensitive period in Habiganj.

A Chattogram court has sentenced three former officials of the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (T&T) to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The verdict was delivered on Monday by Divisional Special District and Sessions Judge Md. Mizanur Rahman. The court also imposed fines totaling more than one crore taka under various sections. ACC public prosecutor Md. Rezaul Karim Rony confirmed the judgment.

The convicted individuals are former senior assistant-cum-cashier Mohammad Hossain, former divisional engineer Md. Kamrul Alam, and former divisional engineer Sadiqur Rahman Khan of the T&T Chattogram office. All three were absconding during the verdict, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants against them.

According to case documents, between January 1 and December 26, 1994, Mohammad Hossain, while serving as cashier at the T&T divisional engineer (building construction) office in Chattogram, altered the amounts on 24 checks and withdrew excess funds from the bank, embezzling approximately 1.66 crore taka.

BNP lawmaker GM Siraj has called on the Indian government to restrain West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for making statements he described as anti-Bangladesh. Speaking in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday during the discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, Siraj said such remarks were becoming obstacles to the friendship between the two neighboring countries.

Siraj emphasized that Bangladesh and India share a permanent neighborly relationship that cannot be severed. He cited the recent comments of India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, who said both nations share the same sky and air, noting that the statement had sparked debate on social media. Siraj urged both sides to strengthen people-to-people ties and avoid hostility. He also requested India to stop “push-in” activities along the border and close drug manufacturing factories near the frontier.

The MP further mentioned that Bangladesh’s government had taken significant steps in offshore bidding without needing external approval, contrasting it with earlier limitations on resource extraction.

The government has decided to keep all state-owned fertilizer factories in Bangladesh operational throughout the year, ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to maintain continuous production. This decision was announced during a visit by Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Moktadir to the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) plant in Rangadia, Anwara, on June 22, 2026. The minister stated that the initiative follows directives from Prime Minister Tareque Rahman to identify and resolve operational issues in fertilizer factories.

During the inspection, the minister noted that CUFL’s machinery is outdated, leading to lower-than-expected production compared to gas consumption. He brought technical experts to assess the situation and planned discussions with CUFL and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) officials to improve production efficiency and continuity. CUFL Managing Director Mizanur Rahman highlighted the poor condition of the ammonia plant’s boilers, originally imported from Japan, which are now barely functional.

After visiting CUFL, the minister also inspected the country’s only Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer factory. Senior officials from the ministry, BCIC, and local administration accompanied him during the visits.

BNP lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Jamal, representing Jhalakathi-1, called in parliament for banning the political activities of Jamaat-e-Islami without directly naming the party. Speaking during the general discussion on the 2026–27 national budget on Monday, he argued that the group had opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and therefore should not be allowed to participate in national politics. He compared the proposed ban to restrictions placed on fascist organizations.

Jamal criticized those who use religion for political purposes, referencing controversial campaign remarks made by a Jamaat candidate in his constituency during the last election. He cited the home minister’s earlier statement that having “Islam” in a party’s name does not make it Islamic. According to Jamal, such parties mislead people by exploiting religious sentiments and should be barred from political engagement.

The remarks came amid ongoing parliamentary discussions on the national budget, where members from various parties are presenting their positions on political and social issues.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram told Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and a Jamaat alliance candidate, that many have said speaking too much can become a bad habit. He made this remark on Monday during the 13th National Parliament session.

Earlier in the same session, Reza Ahmed, a BNP Member of Parliament from Kushtia-1, demanded the passage of a law to ban all political activities and meetings in mosques and madrasas across the country. He stated that mosques are places of worship where people should pray and read the Quran, not engage in political activities. Ahmed urged the Home Minister to take steps to prohibit such gatherings through legislation.

The discussion reflected ongoing parliamentary debates over the intersection of religion and politics, with members expressing differing views on the appropriate boundaries for political engagement in religious spaces.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has blamed the previous fascist government for the ongoing salary crisis faced by madrasa teachers. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon while addressing the 20th University Day celebration and the Deans and Vice-Chancellor Awards ceremony at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU). Milon said madrasa teachers have not received their salaries for May and June, and an electronic fund transfer project initiated in 2017 has failed to complete despite escalating costs.

The minister explained that the interim government had recruited 17,000 madrasa teachers without ensuring their inclusion in the automatic fund transfer program, leading to confusion over salary allocations. He noted that more than Tk 500 crore is required monthly for madrasa teachers’ pay. Milon praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for prioritizing education in the national budget and emphasized the government’s focus on technical education and modernization of madrasa education.

The event, chaired by NSTU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani, also honored 49 teachers and students with Deans Awards and three with Vice-Chancellor Awards.

Three previously sealed cauldrons at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) in Sylhet were reopened, and the administration began counting donations collected over the past five days. The activities took place on Monday under the supervision of outgoing Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam, who visited the shrine after performing prayers.

Earlier, the administration had sealed the cauldrons and installed new donation boxes as part of a transparency initiative in managing shrine funds. The Ministry of Public Administration recently issued an order withdrawing Sarwar Alam from his post as Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and reassigning him as a Deputy Secretary. The decision followed public debate over his efforts to reform donation management at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and Hazrat Shahporan (R.).

Following his removal, protests erupted in Sylhet demanding the withdrawal of the order. Demonstrators blocked roads, held rallies, and staged sit-ins at the DC office, warning of tougher actions if their demands were not met.