Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will hold its board of directors election on Sunday. Ahead of the vote, sixteen candidates from the club category met in Dhaka on Friday to share their plans and seek support from councilors. During the meeting, Tamim Iqbal, current head of the BCB’s ad hoc committee and Old DOHS Club councilor, called on elected representatives to put Bangladesh cricket’s interests above personal identity or background once they assume office.

Tamim, a former national captain, noted that Bangladesh cricket has faced instability in recent years due to multiple leadership changes, which have affected the sport’s environment. He emphasized the need to end this turbulence and restore stability to a game that represents the pride and emotion of millions of Bangladeshis. Tamim also said that criticism and questions are natural but expressed confidence that genuine intent and effective work by elected members will gradually build trust.

The upcoming election is expected to pave the way for new leadership in the BCB, and Tamim hopes the new board will prioritize the broader interests of Bangladesh cricket over personal gain.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly taken back 28 people who had been stranded for two days in the no man's land along the Bangabari border of Gomastapur upazila in Chapainawabganj. The group had been pushed toward Bangladesh but was stopped by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). According to BGB’s 16th Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, the individuals were no longer visible on Saturday morning, suggesting that BSF took them back into Indian territory overnight.

BGB sources said that around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, members of the 12th Battalion of Ashrafpur BSF Camp attempted to push the group—comprising 12 men, 10 women, and 6 children—across the border near pillar 203/6-R. Due to BGB’s resistance, they could not enter Bangladesh and remained in the no man’s land for two days. The BGB commander confirmed that the entire border area under the 16th Battalion remains under constant surveillance.

The BSF has not officially communicated with BGB regarding the incident, leaving some details unconfirmed.

Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the United Nations flag in Sudan’s Abyei region have been posthumously awarded the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. The medals were presented at a ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres handed the medals to Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, on behalf of the fallen peacekeepers.

The honor recognizes their courage, dedication, and sacrifice in the cause of international peace and security. The six honorees—Corporal Md Masud Rana, Privates Md Jahangir Alam, Md Sabuj Mia, Md Mominul Islam, Shamim Reza, and Santo Mondol—were killed in a drone attack on December 13, 2025, while serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei in Kadugli, Sudan. This year, 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from 33 member states received the medal posthumously.

During the ceremony, the Secretary-General observed a minute of silence in memory of nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have died since 1948 and acknowledged the contributions of over 50,000 personnel currently serving in missions worldwide.

Hamas has declared that it will not surrender its weapons at this stage, rejecting calls for disarmament. The announcement came through a statement by Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said that a final decision on the group’s arms would be made only after discussions with other Palestinian factions.

Badran explained that when the National Committee for Gaza Administration assumes responsibility for the enclave, only the official weapons of the Palestinian police would be visible in public. He emphasized that this does not mean Hamas will formally hand over its weapons, but rather that non-official arms will not be displayed. He added that the issue would be discussed within a broader national framework.

The statement comes as a reliable source told Al Jazeera that Hamas is preparing to send a delegation to Cairo for renewed talks. The disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza remain key unresolved issues in the U.S.-mediated ceasefire plan of October 2025.

A report from Dhaka highlights the severe educational deprivation faced by children living in urban slums such as Karwan Bazar, Kamalapur, Mohammadpur, and Agargaon. Many children, particularly girls, are unable to attend school due to poverty, child labor, and early marriage. UNICEF and BRAC data show that about 40 percent of slum children never access formal education, and most who do drop out before completing primary school. Environmental challenges, lack of space, and discriminatory behavior by teachers further worsen the situation.

Teachers and parents interviewed in the report describe a cycle of hardship where families prioritize daily survival over education. Many children start working in garment factories or as domestic helpers at an early age. Although NGOs operate temporary schools and the government provides free books and stipends, these efforts remain insufficient to meet the needs of slum populations. Poor infrastructure, teacher misconduct, and lack of supportive learning environments discourage attendance.

The report concludes that despite constitutional guarantees of education as a basic right, slum children remain excluded from mainstream schooling, trapped in poverty and child labor with limited prospects for change.

The United States has approved the sale of weapons worth $1.98 billion to Kuwait, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State. The announcement comes as Kuwait, one of the Gulf countries affected by Iranian attacks during the Middle East conflict, seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities. The sale includes drone defense technology to be purchased from Anduril, a defense technology company founded by a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The State Department said the proposed sale aligns with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. It emphasized that the deal would enhance the security of a major non-NATO ally and support political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The statement framed Kuwait as an important force for regional stability and development.

The approval underscores Washington’s continued defense cooperation with Gulf partners, reflecting its strategic interest in maintaining regional balance and countering emerging threats.

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, envoys of US President Donald Trump, met with technology experts at a national research laboratory in Tennessee on Thursday, according to Axios citing a US official. The meeting took place as the United States resumed attacks on Iran while simultaneously engaging in talks aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear program.

Scott Roker, vice president of the Nuclear Materials Security Program at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said the laboratory has a history of removing highly enriched uranium worldwide. He told CNN that the facility has the expertise to handle, convert, and transport such materials safely, but noted that no one in the US has experience retrieving uranium buried underground. Intelligence assessments indicated that a June 2025 US strike on Iran’s Isfahan complex buried much of Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile without destroying it.

Roker described the meeting as an encouraging sign, suggesting it was necessary to involve US government experts in the ongoing discussions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the talks with Iran are technical and could take several months.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran has only about 21 to 22 percent of its missile capability remaining following a US military operation. In an interview with NBC News, Trump said American forces had completely destroyed Iran’s military infrastructure, leaving the country with a fraction of its previous missile strength.

However, his remarks appear to contradict a report published by The New York Times citing US intelligence agencies. That report indicated Iran had regained operational access to 30 of its 33 missile bases along the Strait of Hormuz and retained roughly 70 percent of its pre-war missile stockpile.

The differing assessments highlight a significant gap between the US administration’s public statements and intelligence evaluations regarding the extent of damage to Iran’s missile program.

Law enforcement agencies in Chattogram have placed fifteen local businessmen under surveillance for allegedly financing the activities of the banned Chhatra League. According to the report, these businessmen, coordinated by a former Chattogram Chamber director, have been supplying funds collected from pro-Awami League donors. The money is reportedly distributed to field-level operatives through female associates and deposited into prison accounts of detained leaders. Police and intelligence units have begun monitoring these financial flows as part of an ongoing investigation.

Sources cited in the report indicate that the banned organization has divided Chattogram city into two operational zones to plan flash processions and acts of sabotage. Two trained cadres, identified as Sadman and Jony, are said to be leading these groups under the remote supervision of exiled former ministers and an ex-MP. Police recently arrested 68 participants following major processions in the GEC and Oxygen areas, uncovering details about the group’s coordination and funding network.

Analysts quoted in the report warned that administrative inaction and political divisions among opposition parties have emboldened the banned group, urging renewed unity among anti-fascist political forces to prevent further unrest.

After weeks of speculation and diplomatic tension, Iranian footballers have finally received US visas to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The White House confirmed that the players were granted approval ahead of their first match in Los Angeles. However, Iran reported that several technical and administrative officials have yet to obtain their visas, with the semi-official Fars News Agency claiming that the US has so far refused to issue them.

The issue gained attention after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, complained that team members had not received visas even ten days before the tournament. Against the backdrop of strained Iran-US relations following recent military actions involving the US and Israel, the World Cup has become a focal point of geopolitical discussion. Tehran had earlier sought to move its preparations and matches to co-host Mexico due to visa complications.

Despite the tensions, Iran’s ambassador said the team’s participation in the US demonstrates a commitment to peace. The team is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana, Mexico, for training before playing its first match against New Zealand on June 15.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next Monday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. The visit comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un strengthens his strategic partnership with Russia to ease economic isolation. Analysts say Xi aims to present a united front against the West while reaffirming Beijing’s influence over Pyongyang, which has recently leaned closer to Moscow.

Kim is expected to use his improved ties with Russia to seek greater economic benefits from China, while maintaining balance between his two powerful neighbors. North Korea’s renewed defense pact with Moscow and its supply of arms to Russia in exchange for oil, food, and technology have reduced its dependence on Beijing, raising concerns in China about losing regional leverage.

The summit may also touch on nuclear issues, though Kim has ruled out talks with Washington over his nuclear program. Analysts note that Beijing’s stance on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions appears to be softening, viewing Pyongyang’s arsenal as a potential strategic advantage against the United States and its allies.

Bahrain has urged residents to move to safe shelters after Iran launched attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in response to US strikes. Early Saturday morning, warning sirens sounded across Bahrain, prompting authorities to issue an alert for citizens and residents to remain calm and seek nearby safe locations. The Ministry of Interior announced the advisory through a message on social media platform X at around 4:15 a.m. local time.

Earlier in the week, Bahrain reported that its air defense system had intercepted and destroyed three missiles and several drones. The recent escalation follows a series of retaliatory actions between Iran and the United States, with Bahrain now taking precautionary measures to protect its population.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the extent of the attacks or any casualties, but the alert indicates heightened security measures and ongoing regional tension.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out a missile strike on what it described as an 'enemy base' in the Middle East. According to a statement published by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the attack was launched in response to U.S. military aggression near Iran’s Sirik city and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iran fired seven ballistic missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. In a separate statement, the U.S. military said it had struck radar installations in southern Iran after shooting down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. The radar sites hit were located in Goruk and Qeshm Island.

The exchange of strikes marks a sharp escalation in military activity between Iran and the United States in the region, raising concerns about further instability in the Gulf area.

Iran launched seven ballistic missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain just hours after US forces struck Iranian radar sites and intercepted attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The US military said six of the missiles were intercepted midair and the seventh failed to reach its target. CENTCOM confirmed there were no American casualties and dismissed Iran’s claim of damaging the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain as false.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it attacked ‘enemy bases’ across the Middle East using aerospace missiles. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the strikes were carried out in response to what Iran described as US aggression near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, particularly around the Iranian city of Sirik and Qeshm Island.

The exchange marks a sharp escalation in military tensions between Iran and the United States in the Gulf region, with both sides issuing conflicting accounts of the attacks and their outcomes.

The United States military has claimed responsibility for airstrikes on radar installations in southern Iran. The announcement came on Friday, when the US Central Command stated that four Iranian drones had been shot down after being launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. Following the interception, US forces targeted coastal surveillance radar facilities on Goruk and Qashem islands.

According to the Central Command, the Iranian drones posed a threat to regional maritime navigation, prompting the strikes to prevent further attacks. The incident marks another escalation between the two countries despite a temporary ceasefire declared on April 8, which was brokered by Pakistan.

Efforts to achieve a lasting end to hostilities have so far failed, with both sides continuing to exchange proposals and counterproposals for peace. Leaders from both nations have also indicated their readiness to resume attacks if necessary, underscoring the fragile nature of the current truce.