Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has accused the United States of launching new attacks aimed at overshadowing the final farewell ceremony of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the IRGC, US forces struck several bridges along the road to Mashhad, where Khamenei is scheduled to be buried on Thursday. The group stated that the attacks targeted bridges in southern coastal provinces and two bridges in eastern provinces leading to the holy city of Mashhad.

In a statement, the IRGC said Iran retaliated by striking targets in Bahrain and Kuwait. The force warned that if the United States carries out further attacks, Iran will launch severe retaliatory strikes on other American bases in the region. Earlier, Iranian state media IRIB reported that US forces fired seven missiles at the Ak Tekhe Khan bridge outside the city of Akkala.

The IRGC described the US actions as an attempt to diminish the significance of what it called a “historic” farewell ceremony for Khamenei.

Global oil prices increased following new US airstrikes in Iran that killed eight Iranian soldiers. According to Reuters, as of 12:54 a.m. GMT, Brent crude rose by 78 cents, or 1 percent, reaching 78.80 dollars per barrel. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also climbed 74 cents, or 1.01 percent, to 74.26 dollars per barrel.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that the US strikes occurred early Wednesday in southern Iran, targeting areas near Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The casualties included members of Iran’s air and naval forces. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on key US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The IRGC stated through state broadcaster IRIB that the attacks marked the first phase of a “punitive response,” targeting Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem bases in Kuwait, as well as Juffair and Sheikh Isa bases in Bahrain.

Police in Savar recovered the body of Babul, known locally as Kana Babul, a 55-year-old man accused in multiple criminal cases, from his residence in Dilkusha Bagh early Wednesday night. Officers from Savar Model Police Station took the body to the station before sending it for autopsy at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka.

According to police sources, Babul had recently been released on bail after a long period in custody. Investigators said he locked his room from inside and allegedly took his own life by hanging on Wednesday evening. Neighbors discovered the hanging body around 11 p.m. after breaking open the door and informed the police.

Reliable sources indicated that Babul was accused in numerous cases, including murder, robbery, mugging, and drug-related offenses, such as the killing of a night guard at Razzak Plaza near Savar bus stand.

A column published on July 9, 2026, in the Bangladeshi newspaper Amar Desh by writer Minar Rashid sharply criticizes Meher Afroz Shaon, widow of author Humayun Ahmed, accusing her of offending national sentiment through a recent online post labeled “July CDI.” The writer alleges that despite public outrage, no state action has been taken against her due to her social standing and connection to the late author.

The article expands its criticism to what it describes as widespread hypocrisy among Bangladesh’s cultural and intellectual elites. It argues that many prominent figures in the arts and media have used moral and patriotic rhetoric while engaging in personal and political misconduct. The writer connects these issues to broader moral decline and political influence within the ruling party.

The column also revisits Humayun Ahmed’s personal life, portraying his marriage to Shaon as a moral and cultural rupture that shocked the nation. It concludes by calling for an investigation into Shaon’s activities, linking them to political and ideological manipulation within Bangladesh’s cultural sphere.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned the United States that the management of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz will be determined by Tehran, not by Washington’s threats. In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf stated that the era of escaping consequences after breaking promises is over and cautioned that any attack would be met with a counterattack.

He further urged the United States not to exert pressure regarding the strategic waterway, emphasizing that decisions about its operation will follow Iranian regulations. Addressing former U.S. President Donald Trump, Ghalibaf said that unnecessary displays of power would only worsen America’s situation.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye, underline Iran’s firm stance on controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route, amid ongoing tensions with the United States.

Immigration police at Benapole land port detained Shahriar Karim Russel, a passport holder, on Wednesday evening while he was attempting to travel to India. Authorities said his name appeared on a top security list during routine verification, prompting his detention. He was later handed over to Benapole Port Police Station for legal action.

According to police sources, Russel is the son of Robiul Karim from Arappur Ukilpara in Jhenaidah town and is known locally as 'Bhatija Russel'. He serves as the current president of the Jhenaidah district unit of the Volunteer League. Police further stated that a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act is pending against him, which led to his inclusion on the immigration top list.

Officials from Benapole Port Police confirmed that Jhenaidah police have been informed to take custody of the detainee for further legal proceedings.

The United States military has announced that it carried out strikes on 90 targets inside Iran in a new phase of operations. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks were conducted in response to Iranian assaults on commercial ships and civilian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM stated that the strikes targeted Iranian military assets along the coast, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance equipment, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, and logistical infrastructure. The operation marks an escalation following an earlier US strike on more than 80 Iranian targets earlier in the week.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that the US action is part of a continuing military response to maritime threats in the region, though further details on casualties or damage were not provided.

A parent allegedly assaulted the head teacher of Farmpara Government Primary School in Chuadanga town on Wednesday afternoon. According to school sources, Samsur Rahman Shuvo entered the school around 12:20 p.m., behaved rudely, and then slapped head teacher Kaberi Karim inside her office. Other teachers intervened and removed him from the room. The incident followed a disciplinary action earlier that day when the teacher lightly slapped Shuvo’s daughter, a third-grade student, for talking during assembly. The assault video later spread on social media, prompting widespread anger and concern among teachers.

Kaberi Karim said she disciplined the student gently and never expected a parent to physically attack her. She expressed fear for her safety and hesitation to return to school. The Chuadanga District Primary Teachers’ Association condemned the incident, calling it a threat to teachers’ dignity and security. Police confirmed awareness of the case and stated that legal action would follow upon receiving a written complaint from the school.

The incident has raised concerns about teacher safety and the need for stronger measures to prevent violence in educational institutions.

Registration of property gift and donation deeds has been suspended in several parts of Bangladesh for days due to complications arising from the newly imposed donation tax and the introduction of automated e-challan payment systems. The lack of prior understanding of the e-challan process has also led to a sharp decline in the number of sale deeds, reportedly falling to half of previous levels. Overall, deed registration activity at sub-registrar offices has dropped to one-third of normal, resulting in reduced government revenue.

To address the confusion, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a clarification circular on Tuesday. The circular explains that under the Income Tax Act 2023 and the Withholding Tax Rules 2026, donation tax must be collected via e-challan for property transfers through gifts or donations, but not for sales. It also specifies that land tax receipts must show payment for fiscal year 2026–27, and certain urban property transactions require submission of income tax returns before registration.

Officials expressed hope that the clarification will resolve confusion and restore normal registration activities soon.

A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based scientific application named 'Surf IT' is being developed to provide accurate storm surge forecasts up to three days before cyclones in Bangladesh. The project, currently in its experimental phase, aims to identify potential surge locations, water heights, flooded areas, and vulnerable embankments. It is being implemented under the leadership of the NGO Uttaran, in collaboration with Action Against Hunger and North South University, with technical support from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, Water Development Board, and the Department of Disaster Management.

The model, developed with international cooperation and inspired by European Union and US forecasting systems, currently achieves about 92 percent accuracy, with a goal to reach 95–96 percent by December. It also integrates local knowledge to improve prediction of embankment vulnerabilities. The initiative emphasizes women’s leadership in disaster response, as many men from coastal areas work away from home for much of the year.

Officials plan to hand over the technology to the government after testing, enabling its integration into the national disaster forecasting system to strengthen Bangladesh’s coastal resilience.

India’s stock markets plunged sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Iran peace deal “over,” erasing about eight lakh crore rupees in market value within hours. On Wednesday, the Nifty index fell 2.12% to 23,882.05 points and the BSE Sensex dropped 2.15% to 76,503.60 points, marking their steepest decline in three months. The announcement also rattled global markets, with major indices in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. futures all falling.

The renewed Middle East tensions pushed Brent crude oil prices up 6.3% to nearly $79 per barrel, the highest in two weeks, after reports of U.S. and Iranian strikes on each other’s targets. As the world’s third-largest oil importer, India faces rising import costs and inflationary pressure when oil prices surge. The rupee weakened 0.62% to 95.555 per U.S. dollar.

Analysts said the developments heightened concerns over energy supply and foreign investor sentiment. Heavy selling by foreign investors, especially in financial and IT sectors, contributed to the broad-based decline across all 16 major sectoral indices.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on US military bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain. According to a statement broadcast on Iran’s state media IRIB, the IRGC said the strikes were part of a ‘punitive response’ to recent US attacks. The targeted sites reportedly included Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem bases in Kuwait, as well as Juffair and Sheikh Isa bases in Bahrain.

The report added that the US assault in southern Iran killed eight Iranian soldiers, identified as members of the country’s air and naval forces, in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The incident occurred early Wednesday, following threats from US President Donald Trump. Iran’s senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, warned that the United States would face an appropriate response for its ‘recklessness’ and accused Washington of destabilizing the Gulf region.

The exchange of attacks marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington, raising concerns about renewed instability across the Gulf region.

The Appellate Division of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict today, Thursday, on appeals challenging a High Court ruling that declared parts of the 15th constitutional amendment illegal. The four-member bench, led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, concluded hearings on Wednesday after three consecutive days of proceedings. The Attorney General Ruhul Kuddus Kajol had urged the court to leave the matter to Parliament, while earlier hearings included arguments from Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other parties.

The 15th amendment, passed by Parliament on June 30, 2011, abolished the caretaker government system and introduced 54 changes to the Constitution, including the formal recognition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation. Following a change of government, five prominent citizens, including Majumdar, filed a writ petition seeking to nullify the amendment. On December 17, 2024, the High Court declared several provisions unconstitutional, including sections 20 and 21 concerning the abolition of the caretaker system. The petitioners later appealed that decision, leading to the current Supreme Court proceedings.

The verdict is expected to clarify the constitutional status of the caretaker government system and related provisions.

The Bangladesh government has moved to finalize the draft of the ninth national pay scale, proposing several structural changes. A secretary committee has recommended adjusting the ratio between the highest and lowest basic salaries from 1:8 to 1:7.5, along with revisions to various allowances and a two-phase implementation plan. Although the new pay scale was announced to take effect from July 1, the official gazette has not yet been issued, and the Ministry of Finance expects a delay of two to three months.

The draft also includes differentiated annual increments by grade instead of a uniform rate. Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ Living Standard Survey 2025 has been used to guide the new structure, reflecting average household expenses. The pay commission proposed a top basic salary of Tk 160,000 and a minimum of Tk 20,000, but the secretary committee is considering Tk 150,000 for the top grade and a slightly lower minimum. Allowances such as medical and education benefits are likely to be lower than the commission’s recommendations but higher than current levels.

Implementation will occur in two stages: basic salary increases in the current fiscal year and allowance adjustments from 2027–28. The proposal is expected to reach the cabinet within two weeks for approval.

Five people, including a child, were killed when a landslide struck two houses in Lama upazila of Bandarban district early Thursday. The incident occurred in Missionpara area of Aziznagar Union following days of heavy rainfall. The victims were identified as Md Yunus, his wife Ranu Akter, their four-year-old son Md Soleman, and another couple, Jewel and his wife Kulsum Akter. A union parishad member, Rehana Begum, was injured in a separate landslide the same night.

Local authorities confirmed the deaths and said police, fire service, and civil defense teams, along with residents, carried out rescue operations. The bodies were later handed over to relatives. Lama police said an unnatural death case would be filed over the incident.

According to the upazila executive officer, residents living at the foot of hills had been repeatedly urged to move to safer areas due to continuous rain, but many ignored the warnings. The administration has pledged full support to the affected families.