A development assistance program for indigenous communities was held in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, where various supports were distributed through a lottery system. The event took place on Monday afternoon at the upazila parishad conference room, organized by the upazila administration. Upazila Livestock Officer Aminul Islam conducted the program, and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Khalek Patwari presided over the proceedings.

Under the program, beneficiaries from small ethnic groups received eight houses, twenty-seven sewing machines, and forty-one bicycles for students, along with stipends for 274 students. Organizers stated that the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of aid were carried out transparently and impartially in accordance with government policy to ensure genuine recipients received the support.

The event was attended by officials from various departments, local leaders of small ethnic groups, students, and community members, reflecting broad participation in the initiative.

Police in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria arrested a college student named Sabidul Islam Siam on Sunday night for allegedly posting critical comments about Prime Minister’s daughter Zaima Rahman on social media. Siam, a resident of Azampur village and an eleventh-grade student at Brahmanbaria Government College, was detained from a relative’s house in the district town. By Monday afternoon, he was being held at Akhaura Police Station, and police said preparations were underway to file a case against him.

The complaint was lodged by Akhaura Upazila Chhatra Dal joint general secretary Palash Mia and former municipal Chhatra Dal president Rifatul Islam, who alleged that a Facebook account under Siam’s name had made the remarks. Officer-in-Charge Md. Javed-ul Islam confirmed that multiple written complaints had been received and that legal action was being taken following the arrest.

Police stated that necessary legal procedures were in progress, but no further details about the charges or potential court proceedings were provided in the report.

American political scientist and international relations analyst John Mearsheimer has claimed that Israel’s declared military objectives in Gaza were not achieved and that the underlying aim was to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from the territory. He made the remarks on May 15 at an event organized by the Centre for Independent Studies in Australia, where he said Western media rarely discuss the true purpose of the Gaza war.

According to Mearsheimer, Israel faces two options to maintain its current state structure: an apartheid-based system, which he believes already exists, or ethnic cleansing, which he said was attempted in Gaza but failed. He argued that removing Palestinians from Gaza would require killing large numbers of civilians and making the area uninhabitable so that people would be forced to leave.

Mearsheimer noted that he was initially reluctant to describe Israel’s actions as genocide at the start of the Gaza war but said his position changed after December 2023. He now believes Israel’s conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.

A fire broke out on Monday afternoon at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port, affecting a rubber-tired gantry (RTG) crane at Jetty No. 3. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m., prompting an immediate suspension of container handling operations. Fire service personnel from the port, along with units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence and the Bangladesh Navy, responded swiftly and managed to bring the blaze under control within about half an hour.

According to port sources, the fire originated in the engine of the RTG crane and spread rapidly, causing temporary panic in the area. After the fire was contained, normal port operations resumed. The port’s Deputy Secretary (Public Relations), Md. Nahid Mostafa, confirmed that the situation was fully under control.

No casualties or major damage were reported immediately after the incident. Authorities stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of any losses.

Police in Chuadanga district arrested seven activists of the banned Awami League affiliates—Swechchhasebak League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League—during coordinated overnight raids conducted between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Monday. The operation was carried out under the direction of Superintendent of Police Ruhul Kabir Khan, with teams from Sadar, Damurhuda, and Jibannagar police stations participating. The detainees include district Swechchhasebak League general secretary Hafizur Rahman and several local leaders from different unions.

According to police sources, the arrests were made in connection with multiple cases filed over the anti-discrimination student movement. Officials stated that the operation was part of ongoing investigations and legal procedures. The arrested individuals were presented before the Chuadanga court on Monday afternoon after completion of necessary legal formalities.

District police authorities said similar special drives would continue to maintain law and order, prevent violence and sabotage, and bring accused persons under the purview of law.

BNP lawmaker Golam Mohammad (GM) Siraj stated that while a husband and wife may divorce, Bangladesh cannot have a divorce from its neighbor India. He made the remark on Monday during a discussion on the proposed national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad. Siraj urged the Indian government to stop anti-Bangladesh statements from West Bengal’s chief minister, describing such remarks as obstacles to bilateral friendship.

He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is irrelevant to the issue and criticized the government’s inability to extract maritime resources despite winning sea territory in 2014. Siraj, however, acknowledged that the current government has taken a major step in offshore bidding without needing external approval. He emphasized maintaining a respectful and lasting friendship between the two countries, noting that neighbors cannot deny each other’s existence.

Citing India’s new High Commissioner’s comment about shared skies and air, Siraj called for building heartfelt connections between the peoples of both nations. He also urged India to stop “push-in” activities and close drug factories near the border.

BNP Member of Parliament Shahadat Hossain Selim has called for the enforcement of the guest control law to curb excessive extravagance and waste at wedding and pre-wedding ceremonies. Speaking in the national parliament on Monday during discussions on the proposed budget, he criticized lavish celebrations and urged adherence to religious guidelines to reduce unnecessary spending.

Selim cited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s frugality as an example, describing his modest lifestyle and minimal food budget. He argued that implementing the guest control law and following religious principles could help reduce inflation and lower the prices of essential commodities. He also criticized the previous Awami League government for project delays, cost overruns, and corruption, which he said led to massive financial waste.

The MP praised the finance minister for presenting a balanced budget with little room for criticism and welcomed the withdrawal of the 5 percent tax deduction at source, calling it a positive step. He further suggested that loss-making state enterprises should be restructured under public-private partnerships to relieve the government of financial burdens.

A dispute arose in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on 22 June 2026 after a member described Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest against the national budget as ‘mobocracy’. Jamaat MP Rashedul Islam raised a point of order, requesting that the term be expunged from the parliamentary record. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed rejected the request, stating that the word was not obscene and did not warrant removal from the proceedings.

Opposition Leader later joined the debate, arguing that ‘mobocracy’ carried a negative connotation and was inappropriate for parliamentary use. She noted that similar post-budget protests had been organized by other parties, including the BNP, and questioned whether those too would be labeled as mobocracy. She urged the Speaker to remove the term from the record.

In his final ruling, the Speaker maintained that ‘mobocracy’ had become a common political term used to criticize undemocratic behavior, not an unparliamentary or obscene expression. He affirmed that members were free to use it in their speeches if they wished.

A scuffle broke out between members of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (student wing of BNP) and students involved in an anti-discrimination movement during the 20th founding anniversary event of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU). The incident occurred on Monday at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Ruhul Amin Auditorium while Education Minister Dr. A H M Ehsanul Haque Milan was delivering his speech as chief guest.

According to eyewitnesses, the altercation began when several students displayed placards and posters demanding that the university’s ongoing mega projects, worth Tk 3.34 billion, be handed over to the army for supervision to ensure transparency and timely completion. The protesters chanted slogans supporting army involvement, prompting counter-slogans from Chhatra Dal activists. The verbal dispute escalated into pushing and shoving, creating a tense atmosphere at the venue.

The education minister intervened immediately, urging Chhatra Dal members to maintain discipline. Chhatra Dal leaders later stated that they had only tried to prevent disorder and denied initiating any physical altercation.

The central executive council of Jamaat-e-Islami held a meeting in Dhaka on Monday to discuss various ongoing national issues and make organizational decisions. The meeting took place at the party’s central office in Moghbazar from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., chaired by opposition leader and party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. All members of the executive council were present.

According to the party’s central publicity department, the meeting discussed the country’s current political and law-and-order situation, the border push-in issue, political killings, and aspects of the proposed 2026–2027 national budget. It also reviewed the programs of the 11-party alliance and adopted several policy decisions. Additionally, the council discussed organizational matters, including preparations for the upcoming central Majlis-e-Shura session scheduled for June 26, and issued related directives.

The discussions and decisions reflect Jamaat-e-Islami’s internal preparations and policy alignment ahead of its forthcoming organizational events.

A man identifying himself as Faisal called the national emergency service 999 on Sunday, reporting that he had been shot and locked inside his home in the Chhayanir Residential area under Shah Makhdum Police Station in Rajshahi. The 999 call taker, Constable Sakhawat, and dispatcher ASI Shahidul Islam coordinated with local police for immediate action. Responding officers led by SI Momtazuddin arrived at the scene and found Faisal being assisted by several individuals, including Mir Mohammad Tarek Khaled, convener of the Rajshahi City Volunteer Team. Police rescued the injured man and sent him to a hospital.

During the initial inspection, officers discovered a pistol, magazine, and spent cartridge on the bed. The station’s officer-in-charge later informed the CID forensic team, which recovered a total of 21 items, including a 7.65-caliber pistol made in the United States, two empty magazines, one live cartridge, one fired cartridge case, gunpowder, a knife, explosive materials, and a hand grenade.

The rescued man was identified as Faisal Ibn Selim Sheikh, 35, a resident of Boalia, Rajshahi.

Police from Dhanmondi Model Station arrested ten activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations during an early morning operation on Monday in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka. The arrests took place on Satmasjid Road as the group was allegedly preparing for a flash procession. The detainees were later sent to court, according to a statement from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Division.

Authorities said the arrests were made based on secret information. During the operation, police recovered 15 caps bearing the Jubo League monogram, eight T-shirts with photos of party activists, and a banner reading “Sheikh Hasina will come, Bangladesh will smile.” Two buses and one private car used by the group were also seized.

The police statement did not provide further details about the charges or the next steps in the legal process.

The Rajshahi University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) held a protest march on Monday afternoon against what it described as threats, anarchy, and instability caused by the banned Awami League. During the demonstration, JCD unit president Sultan Ahmed Rahi announced a reward of Tk 10,000 for anyone who could identify members of the Chhatra League. The rally began at the university’s Buddhijibi Chattar and ended at the Transport Chattar after parading through key campus roads.

Speakers at the event labeled the Awami League as a banned organization and warned of strict resistance against its activities. They chanted slogans calling for direct action against what they termed autocratic rule. Senior vice president Shakilur Rahman Sohag said the people of Bangladesh no longer wanted to see Awami League politics, citing killings, disappearances, and repression under the current government.

Rahi urged activists to remain vigilant to prevent any unrest allegedly planned by the Awami League from June 23 and instructed them to take positions across Rajshahi after dawn prayers to counter such moves.

At least 14 people were killed in a devastating fire that broke out on Monday at a coaching center building in the Aliganj area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Several others were injured in the incident, according to local sources. Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly throughout the building, trapping students and staff inside. Some students reportedly jumped from the first floor to escape the flames, while videos circulating on social media showed people attempting to flee the burning structure.

Firefighters battled the blaze for more than an hour before bringing it under control. Rescue teams later recovered at least 14 bodies from the site. The building, located in a busy commercial area, also housed a pet shop and several other businesses, which contributed to panic and chaos in the neighborhood. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees for each victim’s family and additional support for the injured. Local administration officials have pledged to assist the affected families.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has announced that traffic through the Karnaphuli Tunnel will be controlled between June 25 and 30, 2026, due to scheduled routine maintenance. The diversion will take place nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with traffic redirected as needed between the Patenga-to-Anwara and Anwara-to-Patenga tubes. During this period, passengers may experience waiting times of five to ten minutes at both ends of the tunnel depending on traffic volume.

The authority has requested public cooperation to ensure safe and efficient maintenance operations. The temporary diversion aims to facilitate necessary upkeep of the tunnel infrastructure while minimizing disruption to regular traffic flow.

The maintenance work underscores ongoing efforts by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority to maintain the safety and functionality of key national infrastructure such as the Karnaphuli Tunnel.