Argentina secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, but captain Lionel Messi admitted after the match that his team struggled to play their usual game. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Messi said Cape Verde tested Argentina throughout the match and that the team failed to apply effective pressure, losing rhythm and control at times.

Messi highlighted that set-pieces played a decisive role in the win, noting that Argentina had worked on this aspect and finally saw results. However, he acknowledged defensive gaps and poor pressing that allowed Cape Verde to challenge them. He added that Cape Verde’s recent performances against teams like Spain and Uruguay had already shown they would be tough opponents.

Looking ahead, Messi said Argentina must rest, correct their mistakes, and return stronger for their next match against Egypt. He described every World Cup match as being as difficult as a final, emphasizing the need for continued focus and improvement.

Maulana Tajul Islam, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief of Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenaidah, has been temporarily relieved of his duties for three months. The suspension followed allegations that he gifted a bicycle, allocated under an Asian Development Bank (ADB) program, to his granddaughter through irregular means. The decision was announced on Friday at a Rukon conference held at Al Falah Center in Kotchandpur town by district Jamaat chief and Jhenaidah-2 MP Ali Azam Md. Abu Bakar. Retired teacher Azizur Rahman has been appointed as the acting upazila chief.

According to party sources, Tajul Islam presided over the first session of the conference but was absent in the second session, during which the suspension was declared. Newly appointed acting chief Azizur Rahman confirmed that the step was taken to protect the party’s image after negative media coverage regarding the misuse of government-distributed bicycles.

Reports of irregularities in the official bicycle distribution in Kotchandpur had recently surfaced in various media and social platforms, prompting the district Jamaat leadership to take immediate organizational action.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent acceptance of the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ award in Seychelles has sparked widespread controversy. The award, received during his official visit from June 27 to 29, was presented by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and dedicated by Modi to nations fighting climate change. However, observers quickly noticed multiple spelling errors on the certificate, including incorrect spellings of ‘Republic’ and ‘Seychelles,’ which led to ridicule on social media and reports in international outlets such as The Guardian.

Fact-checkers later found that the certificate appeared to be AI-generated using an OpenAI image tool, with a watermark confirming the suspicion. The award had reportedly been created only three days before Modi’s arrival, making him its first and only recipient. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, mocked Modi’s eagerness for awards, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the honor as recognition of his environmental leadership. Seychelles’ foreign ministry later clarified that an unapproved draft had been mistakenly circulated and that a corrected version was issued.

The incident has reignited debate over Modi’s pattern of receiving newly created international honors during foreign visits, with critics viewing it as part of his image-driven political strategy.

Police in Jamalpur have arrested five people, including two former leaders of the district Volunteer League and two domestic workers, in connection with a burglary at the rented home of a judge couple. The arrests followed an incident on June 30, when burglars broke into the residence of Judges Ahmadul Kabir Sakil and Nusrat Zerin Jeny in the Amlapara area and stole valuables worth about 1.9 million taka. The suspects were sent to court on Friday, where police sought seven days of remand for four of them, but the court ordered them to jail.

According to the case report, the burglary occurred while the couple was away, and the theft included cash, gold ornaments, and a diamond ring. Police said the arrested include Nilufa, Hawwa Begum, Chan Mia, Suman Mia, and Nazmul Ibne Hossain alias Biplob. Suman and Nazmul are former district Volunteer League officials. Police stated that the suspects confessed to involvement during preliminary questioning, and one domestic worker gave a statement under section 164.

Investigators are continuing efforts to identify the main planner and recover the stolen items.

The Rangpur District Postal Employees Union has warned of an indefinite strike to press for two key demands. The announcement came during a meeting held on Friday afternoon at the Rangpur District Collectorate ground, attended by members of the Bangladesh Postal Employees Union, Bangladesh Branch Post Office Employees Association, and Bangladesh Branch Post Office Employees Unity Council. Earlier, the workers had observed a hunger strike in front of the Directorate of Posts and later announced a three-day work stoppage. They stated that if their demands remain unmet, a full strike would be held on the 6th and 7th of the month.

The extra-departmental (ED) employees said they have long been working for a daily wage of only 150 taka. They are demanding a threefold increase in pay and official recognition as departmental employees. Speakers at the meeting, including union leaders and representatives from various upazilas, emphasized that the movement would continue until the demands of about 23,000 workers nationwide are fulfilled.

Union leaders urged the government to consider their demands, stressing that postal workers deliver letters to people’s doorsteps but do not receive fair compensation for their service.

On July 3, the Gaza conflict reached its 1,000th day since the outbreak of what has been described as a genocidal war. According to a report by Middle East Monitor, despite Israel’s overwhelming military superiority, it has failed to achieve its main political objectives. The prolonged fighting has caused massive destruction across Gaza and resulted in thousands of deaths, yet the Palestinian issue remains prominent in global discourse, with resistance movements still active.

The report notes that since 1948, Israel has sought to resolve conflicts through military dominance, assuming that its superior force could permanently suppress Palestinian nationalism. However, after 1,000 days of warfare, that expectation has not materialized. The devastation has not erased Palestinian identity or their aspiration for self-determination, underscoring that military victories cannot secure strategic political outcomes.

The conflict has also raised questions about Israel’s long-standing security doctrine, which equated technological and military superiority with regional stability. Growing international criticism and legal actions against Israel’s conduct have intensified, even as some allies continue their support. The first 1,000 days of war demonstrate that occupation can destroy cities but not a people’s identity or historical memory.

Member of Parliament for Patuakhali-2 (Baufal) Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud said that those who criticize them are greeted with respect. He made the remarks on Friday, July 3, during a goat distribution event for underprivileged families organized by the Zakat Welfare Foundation in Adabaria area of Baufal upazila, where he served as the chief guest.

Dr. Masud emphasized that zakat is one of the key obligations in Islam, mentioned around 80 times in the Holy Quran, and urged everyone to be conscious and responsible in fulfilling it. He added that even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced insults for preaching Islam, and that criticism should be met with gratitude and patience. He stated that speaking out against injustice, corruption, and drugs is more important than political compromises.

He described the Zakat Welfare Foundation as a trusted organization that had been active in Baufal before his tenure as MP and announced plans to expand its activities to every union in the upazila.

A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of retired Additional Police Superintendent Md Fazlur Rahman in connection with the abduction of Sukharanjan Bali, a defense witness for Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi at the International Crimes Tribunal. Police presented Fazlur before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under Rule 34(1) of the International Crimes Tribunal Rules of Procedure after arresting him from his Dhaka residence on Thursday night. Following a hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam ordered his detention pending completion of the investigation.

According to the case documents, on November 5, 2012, plainclothes men allegedly forced Bali into a vehicle in front of the old High Court building as he arrived to testify. He was reportedly blindfolded, tortured for two months, and later detained in India’s Dum Dum Central Jail for five years before being released on bail. Investigators claim Fazlur Rahman and other officers from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch were involved in the abduction and transfer of Bali across the border.

The court ordered Fazlur Rahman to remain in custody until the investigation concludes.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has clarified that research funding for public universities has increased by about 13 percent for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. The clarification came after several media reports allegedly presented incomplete information, creating confusion among teachers, researchers, and students. According to the UGC, a total of Tk 226 crore has been allocated for research, contradicting claims that no budget was set aside for this purpose.

The UGC stated that the government has simplified and made the research funding process more transparent and researcher-friendly to avoid duplication. It emphasized that academic freedom, institutional identity, and research diversity will remain intact. On July 2, 2026, the UGC requested all public universities to submit their research plans, sub-sectoral funding needs, and budget estimates to facilitate timely fund disbursement.

Universities were instructed to prioritize greater participation of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students in research, foster collaboration between senior and emerging researchers, and align research projects with national needs and government priorities.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqul Rahman stated that there will be no compromise on Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. Speaking at a meeting with local journalists at the Netrakona District Circuit House on Friday morning, he emphasized that not even a grain of sand of the country would be surrendered. He said that alongside the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), all citizens must act as guardians of the nation.

Later, Dr. Rahman attended the Jamaat-e-Islami Netrakona district branch’s semi-annual members’ conference as the chief guest. He mentioned that his party had sent a notice to the government seeking discussion on border issues, but the government had not allowed such talks. He added that when the parliament session begins on the 7th, they will again raise the issue for discussion.

Dr. Rahman further said that if necessary, he would personally issue the notice to ensure the matter is addressed in parliament. He stressed that the parliament represents 180 million people, and a united voice from it would send a strong message of national unity to the world.

Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be buried alongside four of his family members during state funeral ceremonies that began on July 3, according to an Al Jazeera report. The funeral and burial proceedings started the previous night, with large-scale mourning processions planned. Diplomats and representatives from nearly 100 countries are expected to attend the events.

The report stated that several of Khamenei’s relatives, including his daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a three-year-old granddaughter, were killed in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike on February 28 and will be buried with him. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that European countries which supported the U.S.-Israel military operation were not invited to the state funeral.

The national mourning will continue for several days, with memorial services beginning tomorrow. The funeral procession will pass through Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala before concluding in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace, where the final burial and remembrance ceremonies will take place.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku announced that the government will take all necessary measures to protect the fish resources of the Haor region. Speaking on Friday afternoon at the inauguration of a fish fry release program at Uchipur playground in Madan upazila of Netrakona, he urged local residents to stop catching mother and juvenile fish and to remain patient as development initiatives are implemented.

Tuku stated that 16 tons of fish fry have already been released into the Haor and warned against destroying future resources for short-term profit. He assured that infrastructure development, including roads, will proceed gradually for the benefit of local people. Railways and Road Transport State Minister Habibur Rashid Habib, attending as a special guest, said that large-scale fish fry release will continue and that refraining from fishing for four months could significantly increase production and reduce local hardship.

The event was chaired by Madan Upazila BNP President Nurul Alam Talukdar and attended by officials from the Fisheries Department, the ministry, and local administration.

BNP Central Information Secretary and MP Azizul Bari Helal stated that anyone following the Awami League’s politics of occupation, extortion, and corruption would have no place in the BNP. Speaking on Friday at a farmers’ gathering in Khulna’s Rupsha Model Mosque auditorium, organized by the Bangladesh Rural Development Board to mark National Rural Development Day, he emphasized that the party would not take responsibility for any member involved in irregularities or misuse of the party name.

Helal accused the Awami League of establishing a culture of corruption and misappropriation over the past 17 years and warned that BNP members must not repeat those practices. He cited directives from acting chairman Tarique Rahman, declaring a zero-tolerance policy against such misconduct. Helal also urged the administration to take strict legal action against land grabbers and extortionists regardless of political affiliation.

Addressing rural economic issues, he noted that government agricultural loans and development funds often fail to reach genuine farmers, instead benefiting politically influential groups. He called for greater responsibility from officials to ensure that real farmers receive state support.

A 15-year-old girl named Iti was shot by unidentified assailants in the Rupsha embankment area under Khulna Sadar Police Station on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. when two helmeted youths arrived on a motorcycle and fired at her. The bullet pierced through her left leg. Locals rescued her and provided initial treatment before admitting her to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible.

According to local sources, Iti is the sister of Ashik, a police-listed top criminal in Khulna. However, law enforcement authorities have not commented on whether the shooting is connected to that relationship. The motive behind the attack and the identities of the attackers remain unknown.

Police are continuing their investigation at the scene, and further details are expected as inquiries progress.

Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon, president of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association and MP for Noakhali-1, sharply criticized the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during a public event in Chatkhil on July 3, 2026. He described the ACC as an ineffective and corrupt institution, claiming that it flatters whichever government is in power while harassing ordinary citizens and favoring large business interests. He urged that the ACC’s character as a state body must change.

Speaking as chief guest at a seed, fertilizer, and tree distribution program organized by the local agriculture department, Khokon also called on the search committee responsible for appointing the ACC chairman and commissioners to select honest and impartial individuals free from nepotism or political loyalty. He linked the country’s economic difficulties to declining public trust in banks, leading to reduced reinvestment and rising unemployment.

Khokon further warned against corruption in road and development projects, instructing local officials to ensure transparency and quality. He emphasized public safety, agricultural fieldwork, and environmental balance through tree planting initiatives in his constituency.