Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh will be brought under complete digitalization as quickly as possible to expand banking and financial services to citizens’ doorsteps. Speaking as chief guest at the ‘Innovation Showcasing 2025–26’ program organized by the Financial Institutions Division on Monday, he said the initiative aims to simplify public services, enhance transparency, and save time and costs. The minister emphasized that inclusive development requires participation from all citizens, including workers, farmers, and small entrepreneurs.

He noted that a high-level government team is currently in Estonia to study its technological excellence and model for possible adaptation in Bangladesh’s financial sector. Chowdhury urged banks and insurance companies to assess how many of their clients are receiving digital services and to encourage customers to adopt online platforms. He added that expanding digital coverage across all financial institutions will help citizens access services easily from anywhere, boosting national productivity.

The event was chaired by Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek and attended by senior officials from the division, Bangladesh Bank, and top executives from banks, insurance, and financial organizations.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has intensified its investigation into allegations of large-scale corruption in the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia between 2021 and 2024. The commission is scrutinizing the personal assets of recruiting agency owners accused of charging several times the government-fixed fees. So far, 232 individuals linked to 100 agencies have been charged, and 213 have been ordered to submit detailed asset statements. The total embezzled amount cited in the cases stands at over Tk 7,984 crore.

According to an ACC letter signed by former director S M M Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan, those failing to submit accurate statements within the deadline will face legal action under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. Among the accused is Golam Mostafa, managing director of Prantik Travels and Tourism Ltd, who has been asked to declare assets held in his and his family’s names. As of May 2026, 167 individuals have submitted their statements, with 25 cases recommended for full investigation.

The ACC has also filed 12 separate cases against former ministers, MPs, and local leaders accused of colluding with recruiting agencies to overcharge workers and launder the proceeds abroad.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the funeral and mourning procession of the country's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The event took place in Iran and drew participation from political, military, and religious leaders, along with a large number of ordinary citizens.

Ahmadinejad, known for his conservative political stance, had long been regarded as a loyal follower of Khamenei. Before his presidency, he served as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). During his student years, he was associated with a hardline faction of the conservative student organization 'Office for Strengthening Unity,' formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Over time, he emerged as a key figure in Iran’s conservative politics.

The funeral underscored the deep influence of Khamenei across Iran’s political and religious spectrum, as the nation’s leadership and citizens gathered to pay their final respects.

A severe wildfire in Spain’s eastern Valencia region has forced the evacuation of about 500 residents from Castellón province. The blaze, which began on Sunday, has already burned around 150 hectares of forest, according to local media reports. On Monday morning, authorities deployed 12 aircraft to help contain the fire as temperatures continued to rise under the country’s second heatwave of the summer.

Firefighters from the Asturias region have joined the efforts to control the flames, while another wildfire that began on June 26 in a mountainous area remains under management. In Catalonia’s Girona area, a separate fire that started on Friday injured 14 people and burned approximately 2,300 hectares before being brought under control on Saturday. Fire crews continued working through early Monday to prevent reignition.

Officials have warned that the intensifying heatwave could complicate containment efforts in the coming days, posing ongoing risks to affected communities and forested areas.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abul Muktadir stated that ship recycling in Bangladesh is now being conducted using scientific methods that comply with international and environmental standards. He made the remarks on Monday morning after visiting the PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The minister said the government aims to bring all ship recycling yards under green certification to enhance Bangladesh’s global market acceptance.

During a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, the minister discussed industry challenges, prospects, and development plans. He noted that the sector once faced international criticism for pollution, unsafe working conditions, and poor hygiene, but significant improvements have been made through modern technology and better safety measures. Several yards have already received international recognition.

Muktadir added that Bangladesh previously dismantled about 45 percent of ships sold for recycling worldwide, but its position weakened due to global competition and policy challenges. The government is now working to restore its leading status while reviewing national policies on the Hong Kong and Basel Conventions to balance international compliance with national interests.

A massive funeral procession for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Monday in Tehran, drawing millions of mourners from early morning. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, participants carried national flags and portraits of Khamenei, chanting slogans to pay tribute and express national unity. The event filled major streets, including Azadi Avenue, with men and women of all ages joining in prayer and mourning.

The procession included both civilians and military officials, creating an atmosphere of collective grief and reverence. Following the Tehran ceremony, the schedule announced that funeral and mourning events would continue Tuesday in the holy city of Qom. On Wednesday, special farewell and prayer gatherings are planned in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, with final burial to take place Thursday at Imam Reza’s shrine in Mashhad.

The multi-day observances reflect the scale of national mourning and the significance of Khamenei’s leadership in Iran’s recent history.

In Saidpur of Nilphamari, hundreds of battery-run auto-rickshaw, easy-bike, van, and mishuk drivers staged a protest and besieged the municipality office on Monday, demanding a reduction of the annual parking charge from Tk 2,000 to Tk 1,000. The demonstration was organized by the Saidpur Upazila branch of the Autobike Workers Welfare Society, which also submitted a memorandum to the municipal authorities. The workers warned of tougher programs within 72 hours if their demand is not met.

During the rally, labor leaders argued that the current charge is double that of other municipalities in Nilphamari district, where the annual fee is Tk 1,000. They said the increased rate has become a financial burden for low-income drivers and called for equal treatment across municipalities. The workers emphasized that their demand is fair and aimed at removing discrimination.

Municipal Executive Engineer Ayub Ali stated that the parking charge has not been increased recently and that the existing rate was set in 2019. He added that the submitted memorandum will be reviewed seriously and discussed in the next municipal meeting for a possible decision.

China has announced the successful launch of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The test took place on Monday at 12:01 p.m. local time, when a strategic submarine of the People’s Liberation Army Navy fired a training missile carrying a simulated warhead toward a designated target area, hitting it accurately. The test followed earlier warnings from regional countries that China was planning an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

Beijing described the launch as part of its annual military training and said relevant countries had been notified in advance. The event is being viewed as a rare demonstration of China’s growing military capabilities in the strategically important South Pacific, where the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have long maintained security influence. Several regional nations, including Japan, criticized the launch, with Tokyo stating it had urged China to reconsider the test.

It remains unclear whether the missile test was linked to a scheduled China-Russia joint naval exercise near Qingdao on the same day. Reports also note China’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and defense spending in recent years.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is preparing to hold local government elections in phases starting from October. According to Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud, the first phase is likely to include Union Parishad (UP) and municipal elections. He said the commission could complete preparations within one to one and a half months after coordination with the government. The EC plans to complete all levels of local government elections within about a year.

Mashud explained that the commission is considering factors such as public exams, religious festivals, monsoon conditions, and regional connectivity before finalizing the election schedule. The EC has nearly completed revisions to laws, regulations, and the code of conduct, with draft rules published online for public feedback. Key changes include higher candidate deposits, no online nomination submission, and no use of electronic voting machines or postal ballots.

Over 4,500 Union Parishads are ready for elections, with police, BGB, and Ansar to manage security. The commission aims to ensure peaceful voting and reduce violence seen in previous UP elections. The local government minister confirmed in parliament that preparations for free and fair elections are underway.

A court in Sirajganj has sentenced Abdul Latif to life imprisonment for possessing heroin. The verdict, delivered on Monday by District and Sessions Judge Iqbal Hossain, also includes a fine of 10,000 taka and an additional three months of imprisonment if the fine is not paid. Public Prosecutor Rafique Sarkar confirmed the judgment.

According to the case details, on September 30, 2017, police from Hatikumrul Highway Police Station conducted a search on a passenger bus of Rupshi Paribahan. During the operation, officers found 100 grams of heroin in Abdul Latif’s bag and arrested him. The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Ashraf Ali of the same police station.

The convicted individual, Abdul Latif, is the son of Khorshed Ali from Tang Bari village under Aminpur Police Station in Pabna district.

The process of exhuming the remains of 1990s film star Salman Shah has begun under a court directive aimed at uncovering the mystery surrounding his death. Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Parvez from the Sylhet District Administration has been appointed to supervise the exhumation. The order was sent to Sylhet last Sunday, confirmed by Prosecution Police Sub-Inspector Shah Alam. Earlier, on May 20, CID Inspector Ziaul Morshed requested exhumation for a fresh autopsy, which the court approved on May 24, directing that the procedure be conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate.

The case dates back to September 6, 1996, when Salman Shah was found dead at his home in Dhaka’s Eskaton area. Initially filed as an unnatural death case by his father, it was later converted into a murder case in 1997. Over the years, multiple investigations by CID, judicial authorities, and PBI concluded it was a suicide, a finding repeatedly rejected by Salman Shah’s mother, Neela Chowdhury.

The latest court order seeks to ensure transparency and possibly advance the long-stalled investigation into the actor’s death.

A new survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute has found that 60 percent of Israelis believe the country faces a real and clear risk of civil war. The findings, reported by Al Jazeera, also show that 79 percent of respondents rated the past year as socially bad, while 49 percent expressed pessimism about the future. Additionally, 52 percent said there is a high likelihood of an assassination attempt targeting the prime minister or another senior political figure.

Institute president Yedidia Stern said that while Israeli society demonstrates remarkable resilience and optimism, it remains deeply divided and polarized. He noted that citizens view internal division as the greatest threat and called for an urgent, long-term plan to rebuild solidarity and mutual trust.

The survey highlights growing public anxiety over political and social fragmentation in Israel, suggesting that national unity efforts may become a key priority for policymakers.

RAB-11 recovered two locally made shotguns and 12 rounds of ammunition from a bush near a poultry farm in Beltali Nayakandi area of Matlab North, Chandpur. The operation took place around 1:45 a.m. on Monday following a tip-off. Acting on the information, a team from RAB-11’s CPS section conducted a search and found a suspicious plastic bag in the bushes near the farm owned by Rasel Dewan.

According to RAB sources, the weapons were discovered during a routine patrol after receiving intelligence about the hidden bag. The search was carried out in the presence of local witnesses and under the supervision of senior officers. RAB stated that the recovered firearms and ammunition will be handed over to Matlab North Police Station.

The operation was part of RAB-11’s ongoing drive against illegal arms and narcotics. The officer-in-charge of Matlab North Police Station, Md Kamrul Hasan, said the recovered items had not yet been deposited at the station, and legal action would follow once they are received.

Begum Rokeya University (BRU) in Rangpur has once again been filled with memories of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the 2024 student uprising, as July returns. Two years after his death, friends, classmates, teachers, and fellow activists continue to honor his courage and selflessness. The campus’s familiar spots, from the English Department corridors to the Freedom Memorial, still evoke his presence and the spirit of resistance he embodied.

Friends recall Abu Sayeed as humble, compassionate, and always ready to help others, both in academic and social causes. His comrades remember his leadership during the early days of the 2024 movement, when he inspired others to stand firm against injustice. Teachers describe him as a bright, respectful, and principled student who dreamed of becoming a civil servant and protested against discrimination in merit-based evaluation.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali said the university is working to preserve his memory through the construction of a residential hall, memorial gate, museum, and monument named after him, reflecting the collective demand of students and his family.

Comilla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rozi Akter received a crest from former Chhatra League leader Iqbal Hossain, an event that drew attention after a photo of the moment went viral on social media on Sunday. The image showed Iqbal, former president of the Victoria Government College New Hostel unit of Chhatra League, presenting the crest to the DC.

Following the viral post, several local political figures expressed concern. Abu Raihan, convener of the Comilla Metropolitan Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said he was deeply saddened by the incident and questioned how such individuals could access the DC’s office. He urged vigilance regarding those he described as “fascist fugitives.” South District Chhatra Dal general secretary Azmir Sharif also questioned how a banned Chhatra League leader could present flowers to the DC and said they would discuss the matter with her. Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin stated he would speak with the DC about why she accepted the crest.

Attempts to reach DC Rozi Akter for comment were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to phone calls or messages.