State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the government is working tirelessly to make marginalized communities economically prosperous and self-reliant. He made the remarks while visiting the regional center of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) in Naikhongchhari, Bandarban. The minister stated that initiatives have been taken to use the livestock sector more effectively to improve the living standards of low-income people.

He recalled that the Naikhongchhari farm was established under the initiative of late President Ziaur Rahman, focusing on the conservation and production of gayal cattle and their distribution among small and marginalized communities in the hill region. The government has expanded this goal to promote self-sufficiency among these groups. Livestock such as goats and sheep have already been distributed to farmers, and research-based initiatives are underway to enhance support for small-scale farmers.

The minister also noted that the farm’s potential had not been fully utilized due to poor management in the past, but the current government will modernize and develop it. He emphasized that empowering marginal farmers through livestock rearing is central to the government’s vision of building a self-reliant Bangladesh.

Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain stated that around 10.26 million people in Bangladesh are currently suffering from heart disease, with nearly 993,000 new cases emerging each year. He shared the information on Thursday at a financial aid event for congenital heart patients organized by the Patient Welfare Association at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M.A. Muhith attended as a special guest.

Officials highlighted that over a hundred heart disease patients die daily in the country. The Social Welfare Minister emphasized the need for public awareness alongside treatment to combat the crisis. He mentioned ongoing campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles, exercise, reduced salt and fat intake, and regular health checkups. The government has also launched special assistance packages for women and children with heart disease and allocated significant funds for complex patient support.

Dr. Muhith added that the government is modernizing the health sector to make cardiac care more accessible and affordable. He noted that about 283,800 people die annually from heart disease and related causes, and the National Institute is being equipped with advanced technology and specialist doctors.

Former IMF adviser and Habiganj-1 lawmaker Dr. Reza Kibria has called for ending policies that favor the wealthy and instead channeling direct financial support to low-income citizens. Speaking in the national parliament on Thursday during the general discussion on the proposed budget, he argued that giving extra money to millionaires has no positive effect on the economy, while even a small amount given to the poor immediately circulates through markets and keeps the domestic economy active.

Drawing on his 45 years of international experience, Dr. Kibria expressed frustration over the fragile banking system, rising inequality, and unproductive investments. He emphasized the practical importance of equitable income distribution, noting that wealthy individuals tend to save rather than spend additional funds, whereas poor households spend immediately, stimulating rural and local markets.

He urged policymakers to ensure that financial resources reach marginalized communities directly to maintain economic balance and strengthen internal demand.

Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah delivered a strong statement during the general discussion of the 13th National Parliament’s budget session on Thursday. He alleged that during the interim government period, legal actions were taken against Bashundhara Group by the Anti-Corruption Commission, but questioned the current status of those cases. Abdullah demanded transparency regarding any possible under-the-table settlements and called for legal action if no compromise had been made. He criticized the group for alleged money laundering, asset grabbing, and using media to justify political violence.

Abdullah further expressed disappointment that lawmakers must share the parliament with loan defaulters, calling it a matter of shame. He also noted that some ruling party members work as advisors to media outlets that previously portrayed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a traitor. He urged the ruling party to take a firm stance against those legitimizing enforced disappearances and killings, emphasizing that avoiding revenge should not mean avoiding justice.

He added that despite years of money being laundered abroad, no clear policy has been presented on how to recover those funds.

Thirty-two eminent citizens have called for the immediate appointment of a trusted individual from the indigenous communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a full minister to lead the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Their joint statement, released to the media on Thursday, followed the resignation of the acting minister, which they said had caused frustration among the hill communities. The signatories noted that the minister, who had been elected with the highest votes from the region, resigned citing personal reasons, raising questions and doubts among local residents.

The statement suggested that some believe the minister may have faced undue obstacles during his tenure, undermining the confidence that hill communities had placed in the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The citizens emphasized that the hill peoples have long faced discrimination and that the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was a product of cross-party consensus. They also recalled that the accord’s provisions include appointing a minister from indigenous groups.

The signatories urged the prime minister to reconsider the matter promptly and restore confidence by appointing a full minister from the indigenous population to oversee the ministry’s operations.

National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah, representing Cumilla-4, alleged in parliament that 28 lakh crore taka had been laundered abroad, as shown in a white paper released by the interim government. Speaking during Thursday’s budget discussion chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, he said those responsible now move freely in affluent Dhaka areas. Abdullah questioned the progress of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s case against Bashundhara Group and demanded transparency about any possible under-the-table settlements.

He criticized the government’s budget proposal, calling it contradictory for pledging to reduce essential commodity prices while increasing taxes, which he said would ultimately burden ordinary citizens. Abdullah also questioned the government’s promise to create over one crore jobs in five years, asking how many had been achieved in the past four months. He expressed concern over the lack of clear policy to depoliticize banks and recover laundered funds.

Abdullah urged strong action against loan defaulters and those accused of corruption, calling for laws to disqualify defaulters from parliament. He also demanded justice for enforced disappearances and political killings, urging the prime minister to ensure rule of law and accountability.

Law enforcement authorities have detained a Rohingya man in connection with an abduction and ransom demand inside a refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred on Thursday, June 25, 2026, when Mohammad Ekram, a resident of Camp-19 Block B/3, allegedly lured fellow resident Jaber Hossain from Block A/3 under the pretext of fingerprinting for passport purposes and then abducted him. The abductors later demanded a ransom of 350,000 taka from the victim’s family. The family reported the matter to the Camp-19 police camp, prompting an immediate operation that led to Ekram’s arrest.

Authorities said Ekram is being transferred from the 8 Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Camp-19 to Ukhiya Police Station for further legal action. Police sources added that another Rohingya named Shariful and four to five unidentified individuals are suspected of involvement. The APBn commander stated that a special operation is underway to rescue the abducted man and apprehend the remaining suspects.

Law enforcement operations remain ongoing in the camp area as efforts continue to locate the victim and dismantle the trafficking network.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mohammad Kamal Hossain from Dhaka-5 constituency demanded that gas supply be ensured or billing stopped if gas is unavailable. He made the statement on Thursday during the general discussion of the 13th National Parliament’s budget session. Hossain said that although his area has gas lines, residents are not receiving gas, causing severe hardship for households. He added that citizens are paying city corporation taxes but not receiving adequate services.

Earlier in the same session, opposition MP Salah Uddin from Gazipur-4 alleged that an honest deputy commissioner, Sarowar Alam, was withdrawn from Sylhet to promote corruption. He also claimed that Tk 17 crore is being embezzled weekly from the school feeding program and that new corruption reports are emerging daily in canal excavation projects.

Kamal Hossain further stated that corruption has reached such a level that bribes ranging from 10 to 15 percent are being calculated on calculators.

Khulna University authorities have reported that 39 teachers who went abroad on study leave for higher education have not returned to their posts. The university stated that some of them resigned before their leave period ended, while legal measures have been initiated against the rest. According to university policy, teachers may take up to five years of paid study leave for a PhD and up to three years for a master’s or MPhil degree, with an additional two years of unpaid leave allowed in special cases.

Registrar Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman said multiple letters were sent to the absent teachers, and 14 are currently facing lawsuits. Legal notices have also been issued to recover funds from those who resigned and to compel others to return. Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Nurunnabi noted that the total recoverable amount stands at around Tk 5.67 crore, with some teachers making partial payments or requesting installments.

Vice-Chancellor (acting) Professor Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid Khan described the trend of not returning after study leave as harmful to both the state and the university, causing prolonged vacancies and teacher shortages that negatively affect students.

A two-day Universal Pension Fair was held in Chuadanga under the theme ‘Participation in the universal pension scheme ensures a secure future life’. The event began on June 24 with a colorful rally from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, followed by an inauguration ceremony at the District Shilpakala Academy, where National Pension Authority Executive Chairman Dr. Md. Suratuzzaman inaugurated the fair. He stated that the state-guaranteed universal pension scheme is a sustainable system ensuring post-retirement financial security and that pension funds are safely invested in Bangladesh Bank treasury bonds.

Dr. Suratuzzaman announced a goal to bring 40 million people under the scheme by 2030 and urged at least one member from each family to enroll. The fair featured participation from banks, financial institutions, and government offices offering information and registration support. Workshops and cultural programs were also organized to raise awareness.

The National Pension Authority said similar fairs, workshops, rallies, and courtyard meetings will be organized across all divisions, districts, and upazilas to expand registration and awareness nationwide.

Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah delivered a fiery speech during the general discussion of the 13th National Parliament’s budget session on Thursday. He questioned why Bashundhara Group’s representatives, who could not enter the country during the interim government, have now returned confidently after the current government took office. Abdullah demanded updates on the Anti-Corruption Commission’s cases against Bashundhara and asked whether any under-the-table settlements had occurred.

He accused Bashundhara Group of money laundering, land grabbing, and using media to justify enforced disappearances and killings linked to the Awami League. Abdullah urged the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to take a firm stance against those legitimizing such acts, while welcoming Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s non-retaliatory approach but emphasizing that avoiding revenge is not the same as ensuring justice.

Abdullah also criticized the lack of clear policy to recover laundered funds over the past 17 years and expressed shame over sharing parliament with loan defaulters. He alleged that some ruling party members work as advisors to Bashundhara and its media outlets, which once labeled the prime minister as a traitor.

The Parbatya Chattogram Citizens Council (PCCN) has called for a unified tax policy covering all communities in the three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban. The demand was made at a press conference held at the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh auditorium on Thursday. PCCN leaders argued that the current system grants undue privileges to a specific group under the 1997 peace accord and criticized a recent letter by four members of parliament seeking to retain full tax exemptions for indigenous residents under the Income Tax Act 2023.

Speakers, including PCCN Chairman Kazi Md. Mojibur Rahman and analyst AHM Faruk, said the existing tax exemption violates constitutional equality and fosters economic disparity. They claimed that since 1984, indigenous groups have benefited from tax-free advantages, becoming economically dominant while Bengali residents continue to pay taxes. The council rejected claims of underdevelopment in the hills as one-sided and protested the participation of a Bengali MP in the letter supporting tax exemption.

The organization warned that maintaining exclusive tax waivers could create powerful business syndicates and urged the government to implement the proposed amendment ensuring equal taxation for all citizens.

At least 11,000 people have been reported missing in Venezuela following a powerful earthquake, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The figure is not yet official, but the situation has left residents in deep uncertainty and fear. Many are said to be psychologically distressed as buildings collapsed and large cracks appeared on roads during the quake, which struck during a long holiday weekend when most people were at home.

Rescue operations are ongoing in the capital, Caracas. An opposition political coalition has launched an online link for citizens to report missing relatives, and so far around 11,000 names have been registered. However, this number only includes those with internet access who could submit information to the authorities.

Officials fear the actual number of missing people could be significantly higher, as many affected individuals may not have been able to report their cases due to connectivity or logistical challenges.

Bangladesh and China signed four memorandums of understanding in the presence of Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The signing took place between the heads of China’s Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, and Bangladesh’s Information Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon, who represented the Bangladesh government.

According to the agreements, the two countries will enhance bilateral cooperation in news and information exchange, develop long-term partnerships in the media sector, conduct joint research on Global South media, and expand collaboration in technology use and broadcasting. The memorandums are expected to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and China and open new avenues of mutual cooperation in media and information sectors.

Information Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon left Dhaka for China on June 23 to join the Prime Minister’s state visit. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home with the delegation on June 26 night.

Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah has called for justice against media outlets that, according to him, created narratives supporting fascism. Speaking during the general discussion on the national budget session of the 13th Parliament on June 25, 2026, he questioned the status of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s case against Bashundhara Group filed during the interim government period. Abdullah noted that certain individuals linked to the group had not entered the country during that time but have since returned after the current government took office.

He demanded transparency regarding whether any under-the-table settlement had occurred and urged that any legal obstacles to action against the group be made public. Abdullah accused Bashundhara Group of money laundering, asset grabbing, and legitimizing enforced disappearances and killings through its media outlets. He also urged the BNP to take a firm stance against those who justified such acts, while welcoming the prime minister’s non-retaliatory approach but emphasizing that avoiding revenge is not the same as ensuring justice.