A fire broke out late Friday night at the cargo village of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, marking the second such incident in eight months. The blaze started around 11:25 p.m. near Gate 9 in a courier shed storing imported goods. Airport and fire service units, along with air force personnel, brought the fire under control within minutes, preventing major damage. Civil Aviation State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat formed a five-member investigation committee, noting that negligence could be a factor if short circuit is again found to be the cause.

Investigators described the incident as suspicious, questioning five DHL employees after finding inconsistencies in their accounts. CCTV footage showed one worker near the site moments before the fire, which erupted suddenly without signs of electrical sparks or power failure. The same DHL shed was also the source of a major fire last October, intensifying scrutiny over safety lapses in the high-security area.

Authorities said flight operations were unaffected, but business leaders expressed concern over repeated fires in a zone meant to be tightly secured. The investigation’s findings are now awaited to determine accountability and prevent recurrence.

Bangladesh and Turkey have agreed to establish a joint ministerial committee to strengthen defense and strategic political cooperation. The understanding was reached during a courtesy meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, according to statements from the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Press Wing. Both countries also agreed to hold annual foreign office consultations and a 2+2 dialogue involving their foreign and defense ministers to deepen strategic ties.

The meeting covered issues including the Rohingya crisis, climate change, trade and investment, joint production, and regional and international matters of mutual interest. Fidan conveyed greetings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and described his visit as the first step toward elevating bilateral relations to a strategic level. Prime Minister Rahman thanked Turkey for its continued support, particularly for backing Bangladesh’s candidate for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Before leaving Dhaka, Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh and praised the country’s efforts in hosting over one million Rohingya refugees. His three-day official visit included meetings with government and opposition leaders and a field visit to refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Elon Musk is on the verge of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, with his total wealth potentially surpassing one trillion dollars. As of now, the Tesla CEO holds shares and options worth 273 billion dollars. If SpaceX, his rocket and artificial intelligence company, completes its planned initial public offering next week, his fortune could rise by another 841 billion dollars. The IPO values SpaceX at 1.77 trillion dollars, nearly half of which belongs to Musk. Combined, his holdings in Tesla and SpaceX could bring his total wealth to 1.11 trillion dollars.

The report notes that Musk’s wealth is largely paper-based, tied to stock valuations rather than cash reserves. Its sustainability depends on how investors continue to value his companies. To illustrate the scale, the article compares Musk’s potential wealth to national economies and major assets worldwide. Only about 20 countries have economies larger than 1.1 trillion dollars, while the combined value of the world’s top 50 sports teams is roughly one-third of Musk’s projected fortune.

The analysis underscores how Musk’s financial standing could surpass most global benchmarks if SpaceX’s IPO proceeds as planned.

A memorial gathering was held outside Hampden Park Stadium in Scotland to honor Palestinian footballers killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The event was organized by Red Card Glasgow and took place at the main entrance of Scotland’s national stadium. Participants were seen laying wreaths and displaying footballs, jerseys, shoes, and Palestinian scarves in tribute to the deceased athletes.

According to the organizers, the purpose of the gathering was to pay respect to the memory of the Palestinian footballers and to draw attention to the impact of the ongoing conflict on the world of sports. The event highlighted the intersection between sport and humanitarian concern amid the continuing violence in Gaza.

The memorial served as a symbolic act of solidarity, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict and the loss felt within the sporting community.

A collision occurred between the Paharika Express train and a truck at Bartakia in Mirsarai, Chattogram, on Sunday morning. Following the accident, rail communication between Dhaka and Chattogram has been suspended. The incident took place early in the day, disrupting one of the country’s busiest railway routes.

The report, published by Amar Desh Online, confirmed the disruption but did not provide details about casualties or the extent of the damage. The collision site, Bartakia, lies along a key section of the Dhaka-Chattogram railway line, which connects the capital with the major port city of Chattogram.

Further information regarding rescue operations, restoration of train services, or the cause of the collision was not immediately available at the time of reporting.

Default loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector rose sharply during January–March 2026, with 44 of 61 banks reporting increases totaling Tk 31,487 crore. According to Bangladesh Bank data, total non-performing loans reached Tk 588,704 crore by the end of March, representing 32.26% of total loans, up from 30.60% in December. Officials said the rise followed post-inspection adjustments and sluggish business conditions that hindered loan recovery.

Among six state-owned banks, four saw defaults increase, led by Janata Bank, where bad loans rose by Tk 2,458 crore to Tk 74,996 crore. Private banks were hit harder, with 34 of 43 institutions reporting higher defaults. IFIC Bank recorded the largest jump of Tk 4,683 crore, followed by Islami Bank and EXIM Bank. Specialized and foreign banks, including Bangladesh Krishi Bank and HSBC, also reported increases.

City Bank’s managing director attributed the trend to slower overall economic growth. The data indicate widespread stress in both public and private banking segments, despite regulatory efforts to curb defaults.

Three tankers of a freight train derailed near Safdarpur railway station in Kotchandpur upazila of Jhenaidah early Sunday morning, disrupting train services between Khulna and Rajshahi as well as other northern regions. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. when the Parbatipur-bound oil-carrying train from Khulna reached the Safdarpur area.

According to the Safdarpur station master, nine wheels of the train’s last three tankers went off the tracks, forcing authorities to suspend all train movements on the route. A rescue train has departed from Khulna to begin recovery operations once it arrives at the site.

Train services between Khulna and northern Bangladesh are expected to remain suspended until the derailment site is cleared and tracks are restored.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has reached its 100th day, but remains deeply unpopular among Americans. The conflict has become a political liability for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, as public opinion surveys continue to show widespread opposition to the war. Many U.S. voters view the campaign as unnecessary and harmful to national interests.

A poll conducted by the University of Maryland’s Department of Peace and Development, led by Professor Shibley Telhami, found that only 16 percent of American voters believe the United States has won or is winning the war. The survey also revealed that 33 percent of Republicans and a majority of voters overall think the conflict has had more negative than positive effects on U.S. interests. Telhami described the findings as “remarkable,” noting that even Republicans increasingly see the war as damaging.

Experts cited in the report suggest that the lack of public support could politically weaken Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, where Democrats hope to regain control of Congress.

Iran has accused the United States of refusing visas to several officials and technical staff linked to its national football team just days before the World Cup begins. U.S. officials stated on Friday that all Iranian players and essential support staff had received visas ahead of Iran’s first match on June 15 in Los Angeles. They added that the U.S. remains vigilant to prevent any misuse of the visa system.

Iran’s embassy in Turkey alleged that Washington was politically interfering in sports, claiming that many management and technical advisers were denied entry. Iranian state media reported that around 15 administrative officials, including the football federation’s president, vice president, and a media officer, were refused visas. The Iranian team completed training in Turkey and departed for Mexico, where it will stay during the tournament.

Iran called the U.S. position an attempt to conceal the truth and urged FIFA to intervene. The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico amid ongoing political tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Argentina continued their winning momentum ahead of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly match held at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Coach Lionel Scaloni opted to rest captain Lionel Messi for the entire match as a precaution due to lingering muscle fatigue. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 37th minute from a penalty after Nicolás Tagliafico was fouled, while Giuliano Simeone sealed the win with a precise finish in the 51st minute following a backheel assist from Martínez.

Scaloni made several changes throughout the match but avoided risking Messi, who had sustained a minor injury while playing for Inter Miami on May 25. Although Messi has resumed training with the national team, he is yet to regain full fitness. The coach emphasized that no risks would be taken with the 38-year-old star before the World Cup.

Argentina will play their final warm-up match against Iceland on June 9 before beginning their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria. They are placed in Group J alongside Austria and Jordan.

The United States is considering using Iran’s seized assets to compensate Gulf countries if they suffer damage from future Iranian attacks, according to a Reuters report citing informed sources. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant has reportedly instructed a team to assess the extent of potential damages in Gulf allied nations and explore the use of Iranian funds for infrastructure repairs.

The report emerged as Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, told CNN that one of Tehran’s conditions for a peace agreement is the release of 24 billion dollars in Iranian assets currently frozen in the United States. Analysts believe peace talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled due to unresolved issues over Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and the fate of the seized assets.

The consideration of reallocating Iranian funds underscores the ongoing tension between the two nations and the uncertainty surrounding future diplomatic progress.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will make his first official foreign visit to Malaysia on June 21–22, 2026, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The trip, followed by a visit to China from June 23–26, is being viewed as a reflection of the new government’s balanced geopolitical outlook. The main agenda for the Malaysia visit includes reopening the long-stalled labor market, expanding trade and investment, and enhancing cooperation in education.

Analysts see the choice of Malaysia as a strategic move to maintain diplomatic equilibrium amid regional competition between India and China. By selecting a neutral and friendly Muslim-majority nation as his first destination, Rahman’s government signals its focus on national economic interests and people’s welfare over geopolitical alignments. The visit also carries symbolic importance for strengthening ties with ASEAN and the Muslim world.

If successful, the visit could help revive Malaysia’s labor market for Bangladeshi workers, boosting remittance inflows and stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy. It may also advance ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement aimed at expanding Bangladesh’s export access to Southeast Asian markets.

The second session of Bangladesh’s 13th Jatiya Sangsad begins today, Sunday, marking the first budget session of the current government. The session starts at 3 p.m., with the 2026–27 fiscal year budget scheduled for presentation on June 11. Opposition parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the 11-party alliance, are preparing to raise key issues such as electricity and fuel price hikes, law and order, and controversial appointments in Islamic Bank during the session.

The 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, is also resuming its divisional rallies after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, demanding implementation of the July Charter and referendum verdict. The alliance has announced a series of rallies across major cities through July, alongside meetings with professionals to build public support. Several opposition parties have already held protests in Dhaka against recent energy price increases.

Government sources indicate that a 17-member special committee on constitutional amendment may be formed during this session. However, opposition parties have yet to submit their nominees, raising questions about the committee’s composition if formed without them.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Jeff Bartos has threatened to cut funding to the UN, accusing the organization of harboring anti-Israel bias. In a post on social media platform X, Bartos said Washington is pursuing reforms to address what he described as an 'unreasonable prejudice' against the United States and its ally Israel. He highlighted previous reform measures, including the elimination of 3,000 bureaucratic positions and a $570 million reduction from the current year’s budget.

Bartos credited former President Donald Trump’s leadership for enabling these reforms, which he said were once thought impossible. He emphasized that the US will continue its reform process across the UN system and dismantle structures that, in his view, support bias against the US and Israel.

The statement underscores Washington’s ongoing pressure on the UN to align its operations with US and Israeli interests, signaling potential financial consequences if perceived bias persists.

Bangladesh Bank has increased interest rates to control inflation, leading to a slowdown in private investment as businesses avoid borrowing at higher costs. Following the removal of the interest rate cap, deposits have surged in financially strong banks, while weaker banks struggle with liquidity shortages. As of March, excess liquidity in the banking sector reached Tk 3.78 trillion, up 58.31 percent from a year earlier.

Bank officials said the fall of the Awami League government exposed the financial health of banks, prompting depositors to move funds to stronger institutions. This shift has created a liquidity imbalance, with some banks holding idle funds while others face shortages. The overall liquidity stood at Tk 7.02 trillion in March, exceeding the required Tk 3.16 trillion.

To utilize idle funds, Bangladesh Bank announced a Tk 610 billion stimulus package, including Tk 410 billion from banks’ own funds and Tk 190 billion from refinancing. The package targets industrial, SME, agricultural, and export diversification sectors, aiming to create over 1.6 million jobs with loans offered at 7 percent interest, significantly below prevailing market rates.