Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has identified 28 out of its 75 wards as high-risk areas for dengue transmission, according to DSCC Administrator Freedom Fighter Md. Abdus Salam. He announced that a weeklong special 'crash program' will begin Sunday to combat dengue in these wards. The declaration came during the inauguration of a special anti-dengue campaign at Rabindra Sarobar in the capital, attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain as chief guest.

The event marked the formal launch of a three-month nationwide campaign led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to raise awareness, destroy Aedes mosquito breeding sites, and ensure a clean environment. Speakers emphasized that personal and family awareness is essential, urging citizens to keep homes, rooftops, and surroundings clean and free of stagnant water.

Minister Shakhawat Hossain stated that extensive awareness campaigns, including public announcements, are starting immediately. He warned that mobile courts will impose maximum fines wherever Aedes larvae are found. The minister also noted that the Prime Minister had alerted authorities two months earlier, prompting joint preparations by city corporations and the health department.

A push-in attempt involving 17 people, including men, women, and children, at the Sapahar border in Naogaon failed after firm resistance from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) had tried to push the group into Bangladesh through the 238/MP border pillar area on Friday morning, June 5, but eventually took them back around 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 6. The incident was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commander of the Naogaon Battalion 16 BGB.

According to the report, the BSF continued its push-in attempt for about 19 hours, claiming the group were Bangladeshis. However, during a flag meeting, BSF could not provide proof of their nationality, leading BGB to deny entry. Witnesses said the 17 individuals were visibly distressed as BSF personnel forced them back into India late at night. BGB maintained a strict watch throughout the incident.

BGB later increased patrols in the area, and the situation remained under control. The BGB commander said the border force continues to monitor the region closely to prevent further incidents.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the importance of planting trees suited to local soil and environmental conditions to maintain soil quality and ecological balance. He made the remarks on Saturday morning during a meeting on tree plantation at his Tejgaon office, attended by senior officials including the Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Abdul Awal Mintoo.

Rahman noted that soil characteristics vary across regions, and selecting appropriate tree species will improve survival rates and support environmental stability. He highlighted that climate change impacts are becoming more visible, with noticeable shifts in seasonal patterns such as reduced rainfall in June compared to previous years. He attributed part of this environmental imbalance to the decline in forest cover and vegetation.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of a national program to plant 250 million trees over the next five years. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative on June 14 in Dulahazara, Cox’s Bazar, as part of efforts to combat climate change and ensure a safer planet for future generations.

Seven workers were killed in an explosion caused by methane gas accumulation at an illegal coal mine in Colombia. Authorities confirmed the incident occurred on Thursday in the center of Sutatausa city, with the first victim’s body recovered shortly after the blast and five more found on Friday, according to the National Mining Agency.

Regional governor Jorge Emilio Rey stated on social media that the death toll had risen to seven and announced that the National Mining Agency would conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The city of Sutatausa is observing a day of mourning in memory of the victims.

Mining accidents are frequent in central Colombia, both in legal and illegal operations, often due to noncompliance with safety regulations. In May, two other explosions, including one in Sutatausa, killed a total of 13 miners.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib stated that rising electricity and gas prices have left citizens frustrated. Speaking at an Eid reunion and joining event in a hotel in Cumilla on Saturday afternoon, he said that commodity prices have surged sharply in the past three months, exceeding increases seen over the previous seventeen years. He criticized the current government for raising utility prices within two months, despite earlier promises by the BNP government that prices would remain stable for two years.

Asif Mahmud also remarked that before elections, any unwanted incidents were often justified with the belief that everything would improve once an elected government took power. However, he claimed that issues such as killings, assaults, and protests have continued to rise under the current administration. The event was attended by NCP leaders including Tariqul Islam, Abu Bakar Mojumdar, and Navid Nawroz Shah, along with other central and local representatives.

Several leaders and activists from other parties formally joined the NCP during the event, according to the report.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has called for a draft of a National Action Plan, or e-Safety Plan, to address fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and growing digital risks. He made the call on Saturday at a roundtable titled “Policy, Technology and Accountability in Combating Fake News in Bangladesh,” organized by the Nationalist ICT Forum at the Engineers Institution in Dhaka.

The minister emphasized that policymakers must first enhance their knowledge and capacity to tackle misinformation challenges effectively. He said that proper policy formulation, a strong regulatory framework, and technology-based implementation structures are essential for managing these issues. Highlighting the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, he noted its potential long-term impacts on civilization, the economy, and employment, urging balanced consideration of both its benefits and risks.

Swapan added that digital infrastructure and data security have become strategic priorities globally and called for strengthening both digital capacity and protection frameworks. He expressed hope that the proposed plan would help build a safe, technologically capable, and inclusive Bangladesh.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, currently visiting Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday morning. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, enhancing defense cooperation, and addressing regional security and mutual interests.

According to the source, the two sides also discussed recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and South Asia, along with potential collaboration in the economy, energy, education, culture, healthcare, and defense industries. Prime Minister Rahman emphasized broadening areas of cooperation, while Fidan expressed Turkey’s interest in elevating the relationship to a new level of strategic partnership.

This marks Hakan Fidan’s first visit to Bangladesh as Turkey’s foreign minister. During his trip, he also held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. In recent years, Bangladesh and Turkey have significantly expanded cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and humanitarian assistance.

Bahrain has condemned Iran for launching seven ballistic missiles targeting the territories of Bahrain and Kuwait early Saturday. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry described the attack as a severe violation of the country’s sovereignty and a threat to Gulf regional security. According to the ministry, the missiles were successfully intercepted, and it praised the vigilance of the Bahraini and Kuwaiti armed forces.

In its statement, Bahrain accused Iran of violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which denounced Iranian attacks and any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt international navigation. The ministry urged Iran to immediately halt such unjustified assaults, fully reopen the strait without restrictions, disclose the locations of naval mines, and allow over 20,000 stranded sailors to leave the area safely.

Bahrain emphasized that its patience should not be mistaken for weakness and reaffirmed its commitment to take all lawful measures to protect national security and sovereignty.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Monir has termed the health ministry’s declaration to cancel Ad-Din Hospital’s license as unlawful. He made the statement on Saturday, June 6, at a hotel in Tejgaon, Dhaka, during a meeting attended by the hospital authorities and families of the deceased infants. The Directorate General of Health Services had issued a show-cause notice to the hospital following the deaths of six newborns, asking for a response by Sunday, June 7. Monir argued that the notice’s warning of license cancellation was completely illegal.

He also criticized the ministry’s investigation report, which cited oxygen shortage and increased carbon dioxide levels as causes of death, for lacking specific data on gas levels. Monir said the report failed to clarify what oxygen levels would have prevented the deaths, calling it vague. One bereaved father, Habibur Rahman, said families wanted punishment for those responsible but did not want the hospital closed. The hospital announced free lifelong treatment, jobs, and compensation for affected families.

Earlier, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the investigation found negligence at Ad-Din Hospital and that legal action would follow.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Dhaka has become unlivable due to pollution and institutional decay. Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of 'Dokkhin-er Janala' organized by Dhaka South City Corporation on Saturday, he remarked that he no longer feels like living in the capital and may move to another city. He emphasized that citizens are forced to breathe polluted air and face collapsing public institutions.

Fakhrul called for a movement to ensure clean oxygen and build livable cities, stressing that both citizens and policymakers must be held accountable. He questioned the effectiveness of large-scale urban projects worth billions of taka and urged proper evaluation of their benefits to residents. He also highlighted the need for deeper commitment and responsibility in city governance.

Referring to the severe pollution of the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers, Fakhrul said their degradation symbolizes Dhaka’s environmental crisis. He warned that falling groundwater levels and unsafe drinking water pose grave risks and called for effective projects to restore the rivers and prevent further ecological damage.

The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 951 people have been killed and 2,984 injured in the enclave since a ceasefire took effect on October 11. During this period, 782 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble. The ministry said that in the past 48 hours alone, Israeli attacks killed five Palestinians and injured 49 others. Among the dead, two were killed in new strikes, one succumbed to earlier injuries, and one body was recovered from debris.

The statement added that many victims remain trapped under rubble or on the streets, and rescue teams have been unable to reach them. The figures highlight the continuing toll of Israeli military actions in Gaza despite the declared ceasefire.

According to the ministry, the situation remains critical as rescue operations face severe obstacles, leaving uncertainty about the total number of casualties still unaccounted for.

A fire broke out late Friday night at the cargo village of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, marking the second such incident in eight months. The blaze began around 11:25 p.m. near Gate 9 and was brought under control by 11:38 p.m., with full extinguishment by 1:05 a.m. Fire service units, airport firefighters, and air force personnel jointly managed the operation. No major damage or disruption to flight operations was reported.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat visited the site and formed a five-member investigation committee. He noted that while a short circuit is suspected, repeated fires in a high-security zone point to possible negligence. Airport Executive Director S.M. Ragib Samad confirmed that safety checks were ongoing even after the fire was contained.

Business representatives expressed frustration over recurring fires in a restricted area storing high-value goods. They demanded a thorough investigation and accountability to prevent future incidents. The latest fire has revived questions about the airport’s safety management and oversight systems.

The verdict in the case over the brutal killing of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area will be announced on Sunday. Judge Masrur Salehin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Suppression of Child Violence is scheduled to deliver the ruling. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu, said they have proven the charges against accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter and expect the death penalty. The defense, represented by state-appointed lawyer Musa Kalimullah, said they expect justice.

According to the case documents, Ramisa, a second-grade student at Popular Model High School, was lured into Swapna’s room on the morning of May 19. Her parents later discovered her dismembered body inside the accused couple’s apartment. Police detained Swapna at the scene and arrested Sohel in Narayanganj using technology-based tracking. Ramisa’s father filed the case on May 20, naming both as defendants.

Following investigation and charge submission on May 24, the tribunal framed charges on June 1. Sixteen of the eighteen listed witnesses testified before the court.

Israeli forces shot and killed a seven-month-old baby in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry reported that Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle south of Hebron, injuring three members of the same family, including the infant, who later died.

Palestinian news agency Wafa stated that several attacks occurred across the occupied West Bank from Friday night through Saturday. These included assaults by illegal settlers and Israeli military operations. In Atuf village, southeast of Tubas, settlers reportedly attacked a group of Palestinian farmers and took them away. A local official said the attackers were dressed in Israeli military uniforms.

In Deir Dibwan, near Ramallah, settlers forced entry into Palestinian homes. When residents resisted, Israeli forces entered one of the houses, confined the occupants to a room, and ordered the removal of surveillance cameras.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has announced a protest program in Dhaka on Sunday against recent increases in electricity, oil, and gas prices, as well as alleged push-in incidents along the border. The demonstration will begin with a rally after the Asr prayer at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, followed by a procession. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the party’s Dhaka executive members held on Friday night at its central office and was later confirmed in a press release on Saturday.

Party Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, who presided over the meeting, criticized the government for raising energy prices despite a decline in global fuel costs, saying it placed an excessive burden on citizens. He described the move as contrary to public interest and accused the authorities of deceiving the people. Ahmad also expressed concern over the reported push-in and harassment of Bangladeshi nationals at the border, calling it a threat to national sovereignty and citizen dignity.

The party urged the government to immediately reduce energy prices and take effective diplomatic steps to stop border push-ins, while calling on its members to ensure the success of Sunday’s protest.