A 47-year-old Palestinian prisoner, Imad Rajeh Sarhan, has died in an Israeli prison, according to his family. Israeli authorities informed the family that Sarhan died of a heart attack while in custody. He had been imprisoned in Gilboa Prison since 2001 and was serving a life sentence. Sarhan was a resident of Haifa.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Club stated that Sarhan had been subjected to prolonged interrogation and systematic torture early in his detention, leading to serious and chronic health problems. They also alleged that he was repeatedly held in solitary confinement for extended periods. Over the years, Sarhan reportedly suffered from heart disease, arterial complications, and high blood pressure, requiring the use of a wheelchair in recent years.

The two organizations described Sarhan’s death as a result of medical negligence and systematic abuse in Israeli prisons, claiming such practices have intensified since the onset of the ongoing violence in Gaza. Israeli authorities have not yet issued a response to these allegations.

Bangladesh received a $1 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as budget support, raising the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves to $35.63 billion by Sunday, the highest in 43 months. The reserves stood at $34.59 billion on Thursday, according to Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

Under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves reached $31.07 billion. Earlier, on January 19 of this year, reserves exceeded the $30 billion mark for the first time under BPM6 reporting, which began in June 2023 when reserves were $24.75 billion. The highest reserve level in Bangladesh’s history was $48 billion in August 2021, but it declined sharply afterward due to increased capital outflows and a rising dollar rate from 84 to over 120 taka.

At the time of the Awami League government’s fall, reserves under BPM6 had dropped to $20.48 billion, marking a significant low before the recent recovery.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents prevented an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push nine people, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Roumari border in Kurigram on Sunday morning. The incidents occurred at the Goytapara border in Shaulmari Union and the Bhundurchar border in Roumari Sadar Union, creating tension along the frontier.

According to BGB and locals, BSF personnel from Jhalarchar Camp in Assam’s Dhubri district tried to push six people near international boundary pillar 1060-1S at Goytapara. BGB took a firm stance, and locals chased the BSF members, forcing them to retreat. The six individuals remained about 50 yards inside Indian territory. Another attempt to push three men near pillar 1066 at Bhundurchar was also thwarted by BGB and locals.

Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB’s 35 Jamalpur Battalion, confirmed the incidents and said a flag meeting was requested but BSF had not responded.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced criticism after attending a United States–Paraguay World Cup match instead of Canada’s own historic fixture. He was seen in the stands with popular singer Katy Perry, who is currently regarded as his partner. The incident occurred as Canada played Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 1–1 draw, earning their first-ever World Cup point.

Trudeau’s absence from Canada’s milestone match drew widespread attention and criticism on social media. Many questioned his priorities as a national figure during such a significant sporting moment for the country. In response to the growing criticism, Trudeau posted on social media, saying that sometimes one must fulfill responsibilities as a partner, while adding that everyone knows which team he supports for the World Cup.

The controversy highlights the scrutiny faced by public figures over personal choices, especially when national pride is involved.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Vice Chairman of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and spouse of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, emphasized that everyone, regardless of wealth, has the right to education. Speaking as chief guest at the closing and award ceremony of the 'Start-up, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing' competition organized by the Dhaka District Administration at BAF Shaheen College, she said that bringing education opportunities to underprivileged areas can help discover and nurture hidden talents.

She highlighted the importance of 'learning with happiness' to develop students into responsible citizens through teamwork, personal skill development, and moral education from an early stage. Dr. Rahman also drew attention to the poor infrastructure of schools in remote regions, citing examples from Pirojpur, Kurigram, Jhalokathi, and Chuadanga. Despite these challenges, she praised teachers and students for their perseverance in continuing education.

Dr. Rahman congratulated all participants of the science project exhibition and expressed hope that such initiatives would enhance creativity and contribute to the nation’s future development.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned a shooting inside a mosque in Khulna during Fajr prayers on Sunday. In a statement to the media, he expressed deep concern over the attack in which the mosque committee secretary and another worshipper were shot. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. at the West Zone Power Distribution Company Jame Mosque on BL College Road in Daulatpur.

Porwar described the attack as a heinous and alarming act, saying that such violence in a sacred place reflects a serious deterioration of law and order. He accused the government and the home minister of failing to curb terrorism and alleged that official negligence has encouraged such acts. According to media reports cited in his statement, the injured are Lokman Hakim, the mosque committee secretary, and Alam Sheikh, a regular worshipper.

He urged the government to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, conduct a thorough investigation, arrest the perpetrators, and bring them to justice to restore public safety.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly protested and expressed deep concern over recent remarks by India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Dhaka, Dinesh Trivedi, which the party described as contrary to Bangladesh’s territorial integrity. In a statement issued to the media on Sunday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign nation whose people remain united and determined to defend their freedom and national interests.

Porwar stated that Trivedi’s comments, made after assuming his duties in Dhaka, violated diplomatic norms and international etiquette. He criticized the envoy for portraying the peoples of Bangladesh and India as a single population and for making statements that could create confusion about Bangladesh’s distinct statehood. According to Porwar, such remarks reveal an imperialist attitude and are unacceptable from a responsible diplomat.

He urged the Bangladesh government to seek clarification from Trivedi about what he meant by “India and Bangladesh becoming one,” warning that ambiguity could cause public confusion. Porwar called for maintaining bilateral relations based on mutual respect, equality, and justice, and urged the Indian envoy to use more restrained language in the future.

The Bangladesh Parliament has formed standing committees for the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Finance. Andalib Rahman Partha, Member of Parliament from Bhola-1 and chairman of the BJP, has been appointed as the chair of the committee related to the Ministry of Law. Mushfiqur Rahman, BNP lawmaker from Brahmanbaria-4, will lead the committee on the Ministry of Finance. The proposal for the committees was presented by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal and was approved by voice vote.

The finance committee includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and several MPs from different constituencies, along with one member from the NCP. The law committee includes Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman and other MPs from various constituencies. Two members from Jamaat-e-Islami and one from the NCP have been included across the committees. As of Sunday, eight parliamentary committees have been formed out of a total of fifty planned.

The formation of these committees marks continued progress in organizing parliamentary oversight bodies following the earlier establishment of the planning ministry committee last Wednesday.

A leader of the banned student organization Chhatra League was detained at Rajshahi University and handed over to police by the university administration. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday near the university’s Paris Road area, when a group of students identified and detained Solaiman, a 2019–20 session student of the Botany Department and former religious affairs secretary of the Shahid Habibur Rahman Hall unit. His home district is Tangail’s Madhupur.

According to the university proctor’s office and students, Solaiman had previously been accused of torturing students during the July movement, including holding one at gunpoint. Witnesses said his mobile phone contained evidence of communication with the banned organization’s university branch general secretary. The proctor confirmed that the university handed him over to police after verifying the evidence.

Motihar Police Station’s officer-in-charge stated that Solaiman is an accused in an anti-terrorism case involving the banned Chhatra League and was recently seen at a rally in Shah Makhdum area. Police are keeping him in custody and plan to present him before court.

India’s latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report shows the country’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. Two decades ago, the rate stood at 3.3. Experts attribute the decline to higher education levels, career focus, rising living costs, and growing emphasis on personal freedom. Many couples now choose to delay or forgo parenthood altogether.

Specialists note that educated and financially independent women are increasingly prioritizing careers and self-development over traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood. The availability of fertility options such as egg freezing, now offered by over 2,000 centers, allows women to delay childbirth. Meanwhile, India’s infant mortality rate has dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024, further influencing smaller family sizes.

Regional disparities remain: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh record higher fertility rates of 2.9 and 2.6, while Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala report rates near 1.2–1.3. Some states, including Andhra Pradesh, have introduced cash incentives for additional births, but experts argue that addressing underlying social and economic factors will be more effective than urging larger families.

Two people were killed by lightning strikes in Netrokona district on Sunday morning during rainfall. According to local residents and police sources, the victims were Jamal Munshi, a 55-year-old farmer from Sapmara village, and Sabuj Mia, a 53-year-old CNG driver from Kutubpur village, both in Sadar upazila.

Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Sarkar of Netrokona Model Police Station confirmed the incident and said that an unnatural death case has been filed. Netrokona Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Mushfiqur Rahman stated that the government has provided Tk 20,000 in immediate financial assistance to each bereaved family for burial and funeral expenses.

The local administration’s prompt response aims to support the affected families following the sudden lightning tragedy.

A dispute at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on June 13 escalated after a patient’s death led to allegations of assault and misconduct. The deceased, Nur Nahar Begum, was admitted to the hospital’s cardiology unit early Saturday and died shortly afterward. Her son, Rifat Hossain, allegedly assaulted a doctor following claims of negligence. In response, intern doctors and students halted emergency services for two hours and later demanded punishment for the assault.

Family members accused the interns of withholding the body and preventing them from seeing it. They claimed the body was removed from an ambulance and kept in the morgue until Rifat was forced to perform public squats as punishment. The hospital director, Brigadier General Ashiqur Rahman, denied that the body was intentionally withheld, citing safety concerns amid chaos. He confirmed that legal action would be taken against those involved in the assault.

Three members of parliament later visited the hospital and condemned the incident, emphasizing that humane behavior and professional ethics are integral to medical service.

Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, declared that the “zero hour” had arrived and launchers were being prepared, signaling heightened readiness amid escalating tensions in Beirut. In a post on social media platform X, he said a miscalculation in Beirut had exhausted Iran’s patience and that necessary orders had been issued. Velayati emphasized Hezbollah’s key role in the resistance axis and warned that if unrest in Lebanon continued, the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb could be used to choke off economic lifelines.

His remarks were widely viewed as a strong warning from Tehran amid rising regional instability. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern over recent attacks in Beirut, urging all parties to exercise restraint. He said Israel’s recent strikes had delayed the signing of a proposed U.S.-Iran peace agreement by several hours but remained hopeful it would be finalized on Sunday.

According to Reuters, mediators believe the U.S.-Iran deal is nearing completion, though Tehran remains unwilling to accept terms that would allow Israel to continue military operations across the region.

The Jahangirnagar University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir held a protest march on Sunday night condemning parliamentary remarks by BNP lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury about hijab, niqab, and purdah. The demonstration began at Murad Chattar around 10:30 p.m. and ended with a brief rally at Battala after marching through key campus roads. Participants chanted slogans defending hijab as a woman’s right and rejecting any insult toward Islamic dress.

At the rally, Shibir’s JU secretary Md. Mazharul Islam described the MP’s comments as inappropriate and disrespectful, urging authorities to take effective action and demanding a public apology. He emphasized that no woman should be demeaned for her clothing choices and called for respect toward female students’ attire in educational institutions. JU Shibir president Mostafizur Rahman accused political parties of fostering anti-Islamic sentiment and said such remarks in Parliament were unacceptable.

The protesters demanded that Monirul Haque withdraw his statement and apologize publicly, urging respect for religious values and personal freedom across society.

A daylong free medical camp was organized last Saturday in the remote char area of Ashariadah on the Padma River in Rajshahi. The initiative, funded and arranged by the Rajshahi Battalion (1 BGB), aimed to provide healthcare services to thousands of residents who have long been deprived of medical care due to geographic isolation, poor communication, and financial hardship. The camp offered health checkups, medical consultations, and free medicines to underprivileged men, women, and children.

A team of one BGB doctor and seven experienced physicians from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital provided treatment, assisted by the acting medical officer of the Rajshahi Sector. Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Shahriar, commanding officer of 1 BGB, said the force works tirelessly for the security and welfare of border residents and expressed satisfaction at being able to deliver medical services directly to the char area. Local residents expressed gratitude, noting that the area’s only health complex has been inactive for years due to the absence of doctors.

According to local representatives, this was the largest medical camp held in the region so far, and BGB plans to continue such welfare activities in the future.