The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has released three urgent notices ahead of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations scheduled to begin on July 2. The directives, published on June 17, outline rules for exam center entry, approved calculators and wristwatches, and the operation of a 24-hour control room for communication and emergency support.

The board has opened a dedicated control room to handle any exam-related issues, information exchange, or complaints from students, guardians, and exam center officials. Contact details including telephone, mobile numbers, and an email address were provided. To ensure transparency and prevent malpractice, only eight models of non-programmable scientific calculators have been approved for use. Additionally, digital or smartwatches are prohibited, with only traditional analog watches allowed.

To reduce traffic congestion and student inconvenience, exam centers will open at 8:30 a.m. for entry. However, existing rules for seating and question paper distribution will remain unchanged, according to an order signed by Exam Controller Professor Jesmin Taslima Banu.

Four members of a broker ring were sentenced to varying jail terms following a joint operation by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-9) and the district administration at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the detainees were arrested from the hospital premises and sentenced by a mobile court.

The convicted individuals were identified as Tanvir Ahmed Suman (30), Sayem Ahmed (34), Bokul Mia (56), and Suman Ahmed (28). RAB stated that the group had long been deceiving patients and their relatives to gain unethical benefits. They were involved in harassment, fraud, and commission-based dealings by referring patients to private clinics and diagnostic centers from within and around the hospital.

RAB confirmed that Tanvir Ahmed Suman and Sayem Ahmed received three months’ imprisonment each, while Bokul Mia and Suman Ahmed were sentenced to one month each.

China has announced humanitarian assistance for Iran and Lebanon in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing war conditions. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Beijing will provide aid to support recovery and reconstruction activities in both countries. Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that China is deeply saddened by the humanitarian disaster resulting from the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon.

According to the ministry, the assistance aims to help the people of both nations rebuild their livelihoods and improve economic conditions. This marks the second time since February that China has pledged aid to Tehran, following an earlier delivery in March. The announcement comes after the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28.

Meanwhile, the United States and Iran have agreed, through Pakistan’s mediation, to a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled in Switzerland on Friday. Observers view China’s aid as part of its active diplomatic and economic engagement in post-war reconstruction efforts.

A Bangladeshi youth named Nabi Hossain from Bahubal upazila in Habiganj has been abducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to his family, despite paying ransom money to a group identifying itself as a mafia gang, there has been no trace of him. The family reported that the ransom was sent to a mobile number provided by the abductors, but Nabi remains missing, leaving his relatives in severe distress.

Nabi Hossain had traveled to Saudi Arabia on January 2 through a local agent named Tarek Mia from Karimpur village. He was employed at a company near the Charmina Mosque in Riyadh’s Aziziyah area. On June 3, he last contacted his family to inform them about receiving his salary, after which his phone was found switched off. Thirteen days later, on June 15, a message demanding ransom was sent from an Imo account named Md. Mamun.

The family transferred a total of 41,000 taka through bKash as instructed, but the abductors later demanded more money. Despite the payments, Nabi’s whereabouts remain unknown, and his family continues to live in fear and uncertainty.

European Union Ambassador Michael Miller paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon, on Wednesday at the ministry office in Dhaka. During the meeting, both sides discussed various aspects of media freedom and freedom of expression in the country.

The EU ambassador praised the government’s initiative to establish an independent media commission and expressed the Union’s willingness to provide support in this regard. He noted that Bangladesh could benefit from the EU’s experience in ensuring media freedom. Minister Swapon reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting media freedom while also safeguarding citizens from misinformation and disinformation.

He added that a draft committee would be formed based on consultations with relevant stakeholders to prepare a national action plan for the proposed media commission. The commission will be established following the recommendations of that plan.

French President Emmanuel Macron is concluding the G7 summit with a dinner at the Palace of Versailles alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. The three-day summit in Evian, France, brought together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On Wednesday, discussions will focus on artificial intelligence and security risks arising from social media, marking the final day’s central theme.

AI industry leaders Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic, and Arthur Mensch of Mistral AI SAS are scheduled to join the leaders for lunch. Several European members of the G7 have advocated stronger online safety measures, a stance that has reportedly caused friction with the United States. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media use for those under 16, and France is considering similar steps.

The summit also addressed Iran and Ukraine, with efforts to reach a joint statement on Middle East and European security issues. Macron’s dinner invitation to Trump at Versailles is described as a diplomatic gesture rather than a formal gala.

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has alleged that the government has taken no visible steps to stop push-ins at the Bangladesh-India border. The claim was made on Wednesday at a press conference titled “Border Killings, Push-in and the Politics of Barbed Wire” held at the party’s central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju accused the Indian government of violating diplomatic norms, international law, and human rights through push-ins, expressing frustration over the Bangladeshi government’s lack of effective response.

General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad said no other country treats its migrant citizens as foreigners and forces them across borders under such inhumane conditions. He compared the situation to Myanmar’s past actions that led to a refugee crisis in Bangladesh. Fuad urged India to end border killings and push-ins to build a sustainable bilateral relationship based on mutual respect and dignity.

The AB Party also demanded justice and compensation for thousands of Bangladeshis killed along the border over the past five decades and called for modernization of the Border Guard Bangladesh and a new independent foreign policy based on national consensus.

Six people were killed in separate counterterrorism operations conducted by security forces in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a statement issued by the country’s Counter Terrorism Department on Sunday. The statement said that militants had set up a checkpoint on Shakardara Road to plan attacks and obstruct the movement of law enforcement personnel. When a team from Swat reached the area, the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight that left three militants dead. Authorities recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, nine magazines, and multiple rounds of ammunition from the scene, while other suspects fled.

In another statement, officials reported that members of the group “Fitna al-Kharij” were moving from Mohmand district toward Charsadda to carry out terrorist activities. Acting on this information, security forces launched an operation and came under fire from the militants. After an intense exchange of gunfire, three more bodies were recovered from the area.

The operations reflect ongoing efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter militant activity in the region.

A Dhaka court has again postponed the submission of the further investigation report in the murder case of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah set June 28 as the new date after the investigating officer, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan, failed to submit the report. This marks the 16th postponement of the report submission.

Earlier, on January 15, 2026, the case’s complainant, Inquilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, expressed dissatisfaction with the charge sheet filed by the Detective Branch and filed a petition for further investigation. The court accepted the petition and ordered a reinvestigation. The initial charge sheet, submitted on January 6, 2026, accused 17 individuals, including former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud.

According to the case details, Hadi was shot on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka’s Motijheel area while traveling after Friday prayers. He later died on December 18, 2025, in Singapore while undergoing treatment.

Rasheda K. Chowdhury, Executive Director of Campaign for Popular Education, stated that despite an increase in the education sector allocation, the government remains far from fulfilling its election pledges. She emphasized that allocation alone is not enough and called for timely fund release and good governance in expenditure. She made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a press briefing titled “How Is the Education Budget: Reality and Public Expectation,” organized by the Campaign for Popular Education.

Chowdhury also criticized the government’s plan to impose examination fees on primary students, saying it contradicts the law guaranteeing free education. The main paper at the event was presented by the organization’s Deputy Director, Dr. Mostafizur Rahman. Other speakers included Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr. Syed Shahadat Hossain, Professor at the University of Dhaka’s Institute of Statistical Research and Training; and Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD).

Bangladesh is set to establish its first-ever free trade zones in the Chattogram Port and Matarbari areas, according to Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani. The announcement came after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held on Wednesday at the Secretariat. The zones will allow both foreign and local businesses to trade without taxes, marking a new step in the country’s trade policy framework.

The Cabinet Secretary stated that two sites have been selected for the initiative—one near Matarbari Port and another adjacent to Chattogram Port—covering between 300 and 600 acres each. Alongside this development, the government also approved imports of 30,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer from Russia, 25,000 metric tons from Saudi Arabia, and raw materials for 15,000 metric tons of sulfuric acid from three countries.

He added that due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, Bangladesh is purchasing fuel from the spot market and has approved two shipments for June and early July. The government emphasized that administrative activities are progressing rapidly with a focus on public service delivery.

Amnesty International has accused the Israeli military of committing war crimes in Lebanon by ordering mass forced displacements of civilians. In a statement released on June 17, 2026, the UK-based human rights organization said that the Israeli army’s actions in southern Lebanon, including preventing displaced civilians from returning home, amount to unlawful transfers under international law.

According to Amnesty, the Israeli military expanded its use of such orders after a ceasefire took effect on November 28, 2024, declaring about 4.6 percent of Lebanese territory a no-entry zone. Following another ceasefire on April 17, 2026, the restricted area was enlarged to nearly 6 percent of the country and designated as a “forward defense” zone. Thousands of residents from several villages were reportedly barred from returning to their homes.

Lebanese officials stated that Israel has been conducting extensive attacks since March 2, resulting in more than 3,800 deaths and displacing over one million people across the country.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the third phase of the family card distribution program in Moulvibazar on Wednesday. The event took place at the historic Victoria High School field around 1:30 p.m., marking the formal launch of the initiative’s latest stage. Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at 10:15 a.m. before traveling to Moulvibazar for the ceremony.

The family card distribution program is part of a broader government effort to support citizens through structured welfare initiatives. The launch in Moulvibazar represents the continuation of this program’s expansion across different regions, aiming to ensure equitable access to government assistance.

The source also mentioned other ongoing government priorities, including preparations for future pandemics, initiatives to restore extinct local fruit species, and plans to invite bids for onshore oil and gas exploration, indicating a wider policy focus on public welfare and resource development.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the recently signed memorandum between Iran and the United States as a 'game changer' that could bring major changes. Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Carney said Canada was very satisfied with the agreement, calling it well-planned and positive. He expressed full support for the deal, emphasizing that it lays a foundation to ensure Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons.

Carney added that the agreement could help reintegrate regional economies and serve as a basis for resolving the Lebanon crisis, which was discussed at the summit. He also noted that the deal would create significant financial incentives for Iran, provided the country fulfills certain commitments in the coming months.

According to Carney, these commitments include keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and continuing discussions on transferring enriched uranium, steps that could further stabilize the region if implemented successfully.

A small aircraft crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night, killing one person and injuring five others who were on board. Police confirmed that the plane caught fire immediately after the crash. The aircraft reportedly lost contact with air traffic controllers before colliding with a moving vehicle during its attempted landing.

According to Laredo Police Department investigator Jose Baeza, there were no immediate reports of casualties among people traveling on the highway. Authorities closed both directions of the roadway following the incident to ensure safety and facilitate emergency response. Videos shared on social media showed the plane tilted against a road barrier and engulfed in flames.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash and assess any additional damage or injuries resulting from the collision.