A delegation from the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, led by its chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, paid floral tribute to the coffin of eminent academic, writer, and researcher Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq at Dhaka University on Monday morning. The delegation also prayed for the forgiveness of his departed soul.

Following the tribute, Mojibur Rahman Monju described Professor Huq as a true guide of moderation who envisioned a Bangladesh rooted in the spirit of the red and green flag, national identity, and human values. He said the late professor was a rare personality who remained impartial and principled during national crises, symbolizing conscience and wisdom. Monju added that Huq’s death marked an irreparable loss for the nation and that his thoughts and ideals would continue to guide future generations.

Other AB Party leaders present included Abdul Halim Khokon, Selim Khan, Ripon Mahmud, Abu Bakkar Siddiq, Moshiur Rahman Milu, and Abdur Kader Munshi.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to eliminate any Iranian leaders who move forward with plans to destroy Israel. Katz made the remarks in response to the funeral procession of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming that Khamenei had been killed because he was leading efforts to annihilate Israel. Katz also stated that Israel is ready at any time to defend itself against any threat.

Earlier, Katz had said that Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba, had been ‘marked for assassination,’ a statement that sparked strong protests in Tehran. In reaction, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any threat against Iran’s people or leadership would be met with a swift and powerful response.

The exchange of threats underscores the heightened tension between Israel and Iran following Khamenei’s death and the political uncertainty surrounding his succession.

A tribunal in Khagrachhari has sentenced a man to death for raping a second-grade madrasa student. The verdict was delivered on Monday by Judge Shayela Sharmin of the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal. According to court sources, this is the first verdict since the tribunal’s formation, issued just 11 months and 14 days after the incident. The court reached its decision based on testimony from ten prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses.

Public Prosecutor Srijoni Tripura expressed satisfaction with the ruling, calling it a landmark for its speed and for addressing a heinous crime. She said the judgment would help reduce crime and ensure justice for the victim’s family. Defense lawyer Bedarul Islam announced plans to appeal the verdict to a higher court.

According to the case file, the victim was a student of Nakapa Islamia Dakhil Madrasa in Ramgarh. The accused, local shopkeeper Md. Shahin, lured the child into his shop with food and later raped her behind the shop. A case was filed under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 (amended 2003).

A mobile court in Kaliakair, Gazipur, sentenced six individuals to varying jail terms for drug use. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Upazila Nirbahi Officer A H M Fakhrul Hossain and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Fahim Shahriar. One of the convicts was also fined twenty thousand taka, with an additional three months of imprisonment in default of payment. The convicts were sent to jail on Monday.

According to court and police sources, the six were arrested on Saturday night during anti-drug operations in different areas of Kaliakair. The mobile court, held at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, sentenced four people to seven days, one person to one month, and another to one day of imprisonment without labor. The Kaliakair police confirmed that the convicts were transferred to Gazipur District Jail to serve their sentences.

The operation reflects ongoing local enforcement efforts against drug use in the region, as authorities continue to apply mobile court measures to curb narcotics-related offenses.

State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj has announced that special plans are being prepared to reduce the disparity between urban and rural education in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Monday morning after visiting Agargaon Talatala Government Primary School in Dhaka. The minister said the existing education structure would be enriched and a new curriculum formulated to address students’ deficiencies in reading and writing skills.

He added that the government is working to improve student attendance, enhance teacher competence, and raise the overall quality of primary education. Effective measures will be taken to reduce absenteeism among students, while special training programs will be arranged to strengthen teachers’ professional skills.

Hajjaj also stated that the government will identify problems in primary schools and resolve them gradually. In addition, initiatives will be taken to improve teachers’ living standards and expand their benefits.

A meeting between the chairman of the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Engineer Belayet Hossain, and a Chinese delegation was held on Sunday. Following the meeting, Hossain said Chinese businesses have shown interest in investing in Chattogram’s housing sector. He invited them to invest, noting that population pressure on the city’s core areas is increasing. He added that Chinese investors are experienced in developing large-scale mega residential projects and smart townships, which could support CDA’s master plan to build modern housing and satellite cities in Hathazari, Boalkhali, Anwara, and Karnaphuli.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with the chairmen of nine development authorities at his office, directing them to coordinate with service agencies to reduce public suffering and to make cities greener, sustainable, and livable. During that meeting, Hossain presented CDA’s current activities and proposed developing suburban areas to ease pressure on the main city. He also urged the Prime Minister to improve transport for Sandwip residents through a modern sea-truck and upgraded ferry terminals, to which the Prime Minister gave a positive response.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh held a courtesy meeting with Peter Holland, Chief Executive Officer of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting focused on the overall development of eye health services in Bangladesh, prevention of blindness, and reduction of visual impairment.

During the discussion, both sides explored ways to strengthen mutual cooperation in the field of eye health. State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhith was also present at the meeting. Following the courtesy call, a press briefing was held at the Secretariat where Dr. Muhith and Peter Holland highlighted key aspects of the meeting to the media.

The meeting underscored Bangladesh’s ongoing engagement with international organizations to enhance national eye care services and promote blindness prevention initiatives.

The government has declared Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s residence at 196 Gulshan, Dhaka, as a special class key point installation (KPI), bringing it under the highest level of national security. The decision was finalized following a June 7 meeting of the KPI-related committee, with a formal gazette notification issued on June 15 and published on Friday. The designation ensures comprehensive protection for the premises, its occupants, and official documents.

According to the source, the residence was officially transferred to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in 1981 and later handed over to Tarique Rahman after name registration in June of the previous year. Following his return to the country on December 25, he began residing there with his family and continued to use the house as his official residence after taking oath as Prime Minister on February 12. Although the state guesthouse Jamuna remains prepared for the head of government, Rahman has chosen to operate primarily from the Gulshan residence.

Under the new classification, the area will be secured by the Special Security Force and President Guards Regiment, with strict construction and surveillance restrictions within a defined perimeter.

England advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup after a thrilling 3-2 victory over host nation Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The match, delayed by an hour due to a storm, saw England take control late in the first half with two quick goals from Jude Bellingham. Despite Mexico’s strong response, including a goal from Julian Quiñones and a late penalty by Raúl Jiménez, England held on under intense pressure to secure the win. Harry Kane scored from the spot for England, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made crucial saves to preserve the lead.

The match tested England’s resilience as defender Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half, leaving the team with ten men. Manager Thomas Tuchel adjusted tactics by reinforcing the defense with Dan Burn and Jed Spence to withstand Mexico’s late surge. Supporters hailed the result as one of England’s finest away performances in recent years.

England will now face Norway in the quarterfinals as they continue their pursuit of the World Cup title.

Sixteen soldiers from Yemen’s government forces were killed and sixteen others injured in clashes with Houthi rebels in the western province of Hodeidah, according to officials and medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The fighting occurred in the Jabal Dabbas area and was described as one of the deadliest confrontations in recent years. Government-aligned minister Walid al-Qudaimi said the soldiers died defending their land and dignity.

Medical sources reported that sixteen bodies and twenty-two wounded soldiers were taken to a local hospital. A government military official stated that the Houthis launched an attack on Friday night, seizing several government positions, but government forces regained control of those areas early Saturday morning.

The conflict between Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognized government has continued since 2015. The Houthis currently control the capital Sanaa, much of northern Yemen, and the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Sikandarpur Westgaon village in Sylhet has again become tense amid violent clashes between rival factions of the ruling Awami League. The conflict, ongoing for over a decade, involves supporters of Golam Kibria, a former union chairman, and former UP member Haji Nur Hossain. Local reports describe repeated incidents of armed demonstrations, shootings, and looting, with residents living in fear. Despite police visits confirming illegal arms displays, no effective arrests or weapon recoveries have been made.

The latest wave of violence followed the reemergence of Golam Kibria and Shafiqul Islam after a period of inactivity. In recent weeks, several homes were attacked, roads were blocked, and surveillance footage allegedly showed known local youths displaying firearms. Police officials acknowledged the authenticity of the incidents but said suspects fled using nearby wetlands. Residents have accused police of inaction and demanded a permanent police camp, special drives to seize illegal weapons, and an impartial investigation committee.

Golam Kibria denied involvement, claiming he was in Dhaka for medical treatment and called for a neutral probe. Police say the matter has been reported to higher authorities for further action.

A mysterious incident occurred at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka when 71 passengers failed to board a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to Malaysia on Saturday night, despite completing check-in and immigration procedures. The issue surfaced after five passengers were found with fake e-visas at the boarding gate. The BG-386 flight eventually departed for Malaysia without 76 passengers, including those offloaded for visa irregularities.

Airport sources said the 76 passengers had been issued boarding passes without proper visa verification. Immigration authorities initially cleared them, but discrepancies were later detected at the gate. Biman officials confirmed that 10 passengers were offloaded by immigration, five were stopped for visa issues, and 61 did not appear at the gate. The flight left with 192 passengers instead of 288.

Authorities are investigating possible involvement of a fraudulent network known as “body contract,” suspected of facilitating illegal travel. Intelligence and police officials are probing whether airport or airline staff were complicit. Preliminary findings suggest the missing passengers intended to stay in Malaysia under tourist visas arranged by a travel agency.

The coffin of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was taken to Tehran’s Freedom Square on Monday, following a large funeral prayer held the previous day at the city’s Grand Mosalla mosque. According to Al Jazeera, millions of Iranians gathered around the coffins of Khamenei and his family members to pay their final respects, with mourners arriving from across the country.

The report described the ceremonies as more than expressions of grief, portraying them as demonstrations of national unity and institutional continuity after Khamenei’s assassination. Iranian leadership sought to signal that, despite his death, the state institutions he built remain intact and the transfer of power is proceeding smoothly. Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has succeeded him as Supreme Leader but has not yet appeared publicly.

The coffin will next be taken to Qom on July 7, then to Iraq’s Karbala and Najaf on July 8, and finally to Mashhad on July 9 for burial, marking the conclusion of the state mourning process.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has launched an investigation into allegations of distributing low-quality textbooks and widespread irregularities in the mosque-based child and mass education project run by the Islamic Foundation. The probe follows a report from the National Security Intelligence (NSI), which prompted the ministry to form a three-member committee led by Additional Secretary Imtiaz Hossain. The committee held a meeting on Sunday and is expected to submit its findings within ten working days.

According to the NSI report, serious corruption and financial irregularities occurred in the Islamic Foundation’s printing press, including violations of tender conditions, use of substandard paper, under-supply of materials, and alleged embezzlement of about 28.4 million taka through collusion with contractors. The report also noted that centralizing paper procurement under the printing press created opportunities for misconduct.

Complaints have emerged from various centers about poor-quality books and notebooks, particularly the use of inferior paper in drawing books and wasteful use of materials. The ongoing investigation is expected to clarify the extent of these irregularities.

A total of 250 cargo containers have gone missing from Chattogram Port despite being under customs lock due to smuggling and tax evasion suspicions. The Chattogram Custom House had restricted their release through the ASYCUDA World system, but the containers could not be located. Officials suspect a large syndicate exploited system weaknesses and breached port security to remove the containers. Over seven months, the customs authority sent five letters to the port authority seeking clarification, but no response was received.

According to customs sources, the containers were imported between 2021 and 2024 and were never cleared by importers. The issue surfaced after a company failed to locate two auctioned containers in 2025, prompting a wider investigation. Security analysts warned that the disappearance poses a serious national security threat, recalling past incidents of arms and drug smuggling through the same port. Customs officials emphasized that the port authority is responsible for container custody.

Port officials have not provided direct comments, though the port chairman recently acknowledged attempts by a syndicate to manipulate documents and digital systems. Experts said both customs and port authorities share responsibility for the security lapse.