Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that the government plans to send 10 million skilled workers abroad over the next five years. He made the statement in parliament while responding to questions from lawmakers during the national budget session. The minister said that 110 training institutions, including 104 technical training centers and six institutes of marine technology, are currently providing skill development training in 55 trades and courses to prepare workers for overseas employment.

Chowdhury added that the government is working to ensure safe, regular, and orderly migration while controlling migration costs and curbing fraud by middlemen. A new digital platform, the Overseas Employment Platform (OEP), has been launched to make the migration process more transparent and accountable. The government has also introduced the 2025 regulations for licensing recruiting agents and registering sub-agents to bring them under legal oversight.

He further stated that district and upazila-level migration coordination committees have been formed to implement local migration activities, and that the government continues to assist expatriate workers, including repatriating deceased workers’ bodies at state expense.

China and Taiwan are on high alert as Typhoon Bavi, one of the most powerful tropical storms in recent years, approaches from the southeast of Taiwan. The storm’s center has wind speeds of around 200 kilometers per hour, and it spans nearly 1,000 kilometers—roughly the size of France. Forecasts indicate that Bavi could skirt northern Taiwan before making landfall in China’s Fujian province on Saturday evening. Taiwan’s defense ministry has placed about 29,000 troops on standby, while meteorologists warn of up to one meter of rainfall in northern mountainous areas.

The storm arrives as parts of China are still recovering from Typhoon Maysak, which killed at least 39 people in Guangxi earlier in the week. In Taiwan, fishing boats have sought shelter, residents are lining up for sandbags, and farmers are rushing to harvest crops. Japan’s Okinawa region has also issued high alerts, with airlines canceling dozens of flights.

Scientists cited in the report link the increasing intensity of such storms to climate change and the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, which is raising sea temperatures and fueling stronger typhoons across East Asia.

A Chattogram court has sentenced Babu Sheikh, aged 50, to death for the murder of child Jannatul Nayeem Ira Moni in Sitakunda. The verdict was delivered on Thursday at 3 p.m. by Judge Jannatul Ferdous Aleya of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4. Alongside the death penalty, the court imposed life imprisonment for abduction, ten years of rigorous imprisonment for attempted rape, and a total fine of 250,000 taka. Babu Sheikh was present in court during the verdict.

According to court records, on March 1, Babu Sheikh lured Ira to the Chandranath Hill area, attempted to rape her, and when unsuccessful, slit her throat and left her in a ravine. Locals rescued her and took her to hospitals, where she described the assault before dying on March 3. Police arrested Babu the next day, and he later confessed. The prosecution presented 16 of 17 witnesses, and the court set July 9 for the verdict after closing arguments on July 2.

Ira’s family expressed satisfaction following the judgment, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Barishal on July 13, with extensive preparations underway by the divisional administration and the BNP. Coordination among administrative offices, law enforcement agencies, and related departments has been intensified to ensure a smooth and orderly visit. A preparatory meeting was held on Thursday morning in Barishal, chaired by District Commissioner Md Mamun Khondaker, and attended by senior officials, law enforcement representatives, and BNP leaders.

Divisional Commissioner Md Khalil Ahmed stated that all necessary arrangements are being made for the visit, which will include multiple programs in Gournadi and Barishal Sadar areas. According to the meeting, the Prime Minister will depart from his residence at 6:30 a.m. and participate in tree-planting events in Batagor Union and near the Trish Godown killing ground area before attending a BNP organizational meeting at the District Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin inspected preparation sites and said BNP leaders and activists are working together to ensure the programs are conducted peacefully and successfully.

A female teacher in Mohanganj, Netrakona, has accused Md. Solaiman Hossain, a member of the district Olamaleague’s convening committee, of sexual harassment. The teacher, employed at a Darul Arqam Ibtedayi Madrasa run by the Islamic Foundation, submitted a written complaint to the district Islamic Foundation’s deputy director on June 22. The accused, a former teacher at the same institution, allegedly made indecent proposals and comments, causing mental distress. The deputy director confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation would begin after his recovery from an injury.

According to the complaint, Solaiman continued to harass the teacher and her family even after being transferred to another madrasa in Atpara upazila. He allegedly threatened the teacher’s husband and pressured her to withdraw the complaint. The teacher claimed that previous complaints had been dismissed due to political influence. The latest incident reportedly occurred on June 21, when Solaiman verbally abused and attempted to assault her outside the district Islamic Foundation office.

Solaiman denied the allegations, calling them false and motivated, and claimed the teacher had submitted a forged academic certificate against which he had earlier complained.

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has arrested four additional members of a Jessore-based yaba trafficking group during a continued intelligence operation in Dhaka. The arrests took place on the night of July 6 in the Dholai Par area under Shyampur Police Station. Authorities seized 14,500 yaba tablets, 110,000 taka in cash, four mobile phones, and two motorcycles used for drug transport. The operation followed information obtained from a previous arrest involving 16,000 yaba tablets.

The detainees—Prince Mahmud, Monira Begum Misti, Zahirul Haque Tuhin, and Joli Begum—reportedly admitted to long-term involvement in organized yaba trading. The DNC stated that the group collected yaba shipments in Dhaka and transported them to Jessore by motorcycle to avoid law enforcement surveillance. Investigators found that the suspects maintained close personal and family ties, enabling them to operate as a coordinated network.

A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, at Shyampur Police Station. The DNC said efforts are ongoing to identify other members, financiers, and associates of the network, and that nationwide intelligence monitoring and special operations will continue.

A Mymensingh court has sentenced three adult defendants to death for the murder of five-year-old Nishamoni in Dobaura upazila. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by Judge Sudipta Sarkar of the Child Violence Suppression Tribunal at the Mymensingh Chief Judicial Magistrate Court building. The convicts—Arif, Rakib, and Siam—were also fined 200,000 taka each. In the same case, juvenile defendant Maruf was sentenced to 11 years in prison by Judge Mezbah Uddin Ahmed of the Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal. All four accused were present during the verdict.

According to the case details, Nishamoni went missing on June 14 from near her home in Tangahati village. Her body was later found buried in the riverbed of the Kangsha River. Following signs of assault, police launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of four suspects who confessed to the crime. The case was prosecuted by Special Public Prosecutor Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, while Advocate Mokbul Hossain Sarkar represented the defense.

After the verdict, the victim’s family expressed satisfaction and urged for swift execution of the judgment, saying they now see hope for justice.

The Washington-based research organization The Bengal Council has released a new policy paper analyzing the recently signed United States–Bangladesh trade agreement. Titled “The Cotton Corridor: Bangladesh’s Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the United States and the Path Forward,” the six-page paper examines the strategic importance, potential, and implementation aspects of the deal signed earlier this year. It emphasizes that the agreement should be seen not merely as a tariff reduction initiative or political issue but as the institutional basis for a long-term economic partnership between the two nations.

The paper discusses five key areas: Bangladesh’s export economy, the agreement’s core commitments, the global geopolitical and trade context, prospects for bilateral cooperation, and institutional challenges in implementation. It highlights that effective execution of the zero-tariff benefit for garments made with US cotton could significantly enhance Bangladesh’s apparel competitiveness. The report also notes that the deal could influence Bangladesh’s relations with other partners such as the EU, India, and China, while opening opportunities in investment, technology, supply chain stability, cybersecurity, and development finance.

Eight recommendations are proposed, including launching the zero-tariff corridor swiftly, strengthening parliamentary oversight, managing third-country relations strategically, and using the agreement to drive domestic reforms.

At least 6,000 sailors have been stranded in the strategically vital Hormuz Strait amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. The information was confirmed by Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in an interview with NBC News. He warned that reckless attacks in the area have once again placed innocent sailors’ lives at extreme risk, emphasizing that no seafarer should have to risk their life merely to fulfill professional duties.

Dominguez added that behind these numbers are ordinary sailors and their families, who are paying a heavy humanitarian price for the ongoing conflict. The situation has raised serious concerns about the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region.

According to the report, the conflict’s impact is directly affecting thousands of workers involved in global maritime trade, as the security of shipping routes through the Hormuz Strait remains uncertain.

A recent survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Research found that overall American support for Israel has dropped significantly. One in three adult Americans believe Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The poll also revealed that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his strong criticism of Israel, is more popular among Jewish Americans than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Among Jewish-American respondents, about 30 percent said Israel has committed genocide, while 49 percent disagreed. Netanyahu remains deeply unpopular among Jewish Americans, with nearly six in ten expressing dislike and only one-third viewing him favorably. In contrast, 44 percent of Jewish respondents said they like Mamdani, while 39 percent view him negatively and 17 percent had no opinion.

The survey further showed that Netanyahu’s popularity is low among the general US population, with only 20 percent expressing a favorable view and 38 percent unfavorable, while 41 percent offered no opinion.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stopped an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push seven individuals into Bangladesh through the Companyganj border in Sylhet. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Kalairag Kauar Tuk border area. The seven people are currently positioned in the no-man’s land between the two countries.

According to BGB and local sources, the attempt took place near sub-pillar 33 of the 1251 main border pillar. BGB personnel intervened and prevented the push-in, forcing the individuals to return to the Indian side, where they are now located about 50 yards inside Indian territory. The commander of the Kalasadek Border Outpost confirmed that the situation was under control and that a letter had been sent to BSF requesting a flag meeting on the matter.

The border area remains calm following the incident, and both sides are expected to address the issue through official communication channels.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh has decided to dismiss 57 police officers who went into hiding following the July mass uprising. An official notification issued on Thursday confirmed the dismissal of three officers—Mishu Biswas, Jewel Chakma, and Mahmudul Hasan—while the remaining names are being finalized. The ministry has already begun issuing formal orders for the terminations.

According to ministry sources, at least 82 cadre officers have been absent without leave since August 5, 2024. After completing the necessary legal procedures, the government reached a final decision to dismiss 57 of them. The list includes several assistant and additional superintendents of police, as well as deputy commissioners from various units.

The dismissals mark one of the largest disciplinary actions within the police force in recent years, signaling the government’s intent to address absconding officers linked to the unrest.

South Korea’s Supreme Court has upheld a seven-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, confirming lower court rulings related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, rejected appeals from both prosecutors and Yoon’s defense team, stating that no legal errors were found in earlier judgments. Yoon remains imprisoned and is also serving a separate life sentence for leading a rebellion through the declaration of martial law.

The case centered on allegations that Yoon obstructed full cabinet discussions before declaring martial law, used a forged signature of the prime minister, and ordered the destruction of related documents. He was also accused of directing misleading press releases and instructing a military commander to delete secure communications data. Prosecutors had sought a ten-year sentence, while lower courts initially imposed five years, later increased to seven by the appellate court.

Yoon’s lawyers expressed deep regret over the Supreme Court’s decision, claiming the case was resolved without sufficient review. They announced plans to challenge the ruling on constitutional grounds.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has initiated short-term training programs aimed at enhancing university students’ employability and soft skills. The announcement came during a meeting at the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project office, where officials discussed the design of the new training modules. The programs will cover soft skills, ethics, values, and life-oriented competencies. Before finalizing the content, UGC will conduct an assessment to identify skill gaps and training needs among students.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed stated that the framework for the initiative is expected to be finalized within three months, with plans to gradually include students from all universities. A separate two-day ‘Professional Knowledge Sharing Program’ for vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, and treasurers is also being planned to strengthen university governance and leadership. Additionally, a seven-day capacity-building course for associate professors and professors will be introduced.

The UGC is updating its strategic plan for long-term higher education reform, aligning it with government priorities and current realities, with completion targeted within the current month.

Three active members of the notorious Boro Jahangir gang surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the Sundarbans, handing over weapons, ammunition, and a walkie-talkie. The surrender took place on Wednesday afternoon near the Tambulbunia Forest Office area under Sharankhola Police Station in Bagerhat. During the same operation, a fisherman held hostage by the gang was rescued alive. The information was confirmed in a press release by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon on Thursday morning.

According to the Coast Guard, the surrender occurred as part of ongoing operations titled “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans” and “Operation Mangrove Shield,” aimed at eliminating forest banditry and ensuring the safety of fishermen and forest workers. The three who surrendered were identified as residents of Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Khulna districts.

Since February 12 of this year, Coast Guard operations have recovered 49 firearms, various ammunition, and rescued 41 hostages while arresting 42 bandits. Legal processes and rehabilitation efforts for the surrendered members and rescued individuals are currently underway.