A severe heatwave has paralyzed daily life in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India, where temperatures have hovered between 47 and 48 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days. Residents describe the conditions as unprecedented, saying there is little difference between morning and night, with early hours already feeling like midday. Markets and outdoor work largely shut down by mid-morning, and perishable goods such as tomatoes are spoiling rapidly. Laborers have shortened their working hours to avoid the most intense heat, while many seek shade under water tankers or trees.

Local hospitals are treating 15 to 20 patients daily for heatstroke and related illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Experts warn that climate change has made Banda and surrounding areas increasingly vulnerable, citing deforestation, drying rivers, and falling groundwater levels as key factors driving the temperature rise. Studies show significant forest loss in the district between 1991 and 2022.

A brief spell of rain and dust storms recently brought temporary relief, but meteorologists caution that such respite will be short-lived, with heatwaves expected to become more frequent and severe, posing a growing humanitarian risk.

Four people died after consuming toxic liquor in the Balarhat area of Mithapukur upazila, Rangpur. The incident occurred on the night of May 31, when several individuals reportedly drank banned liquor at Balarhat market and later fell ill at their homes. Three others are currently receiving treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Chattar Mia, Hujur Ali, Md. Saju Mia, and Md. Ershad Mia, all residents of different villages in Mithapukur. According to local sources, the victims’ health deteriorated rapidly due to poisoning, leading to their deaths between Sunday night and Monday afternoon. A local union parishad member said the deaths were caused by excessive and toxic alcohol consumption, and families initially tried to conceal the matter to avoid autopsies.

Mithapukur police station’s officer-in-charge Ershad Hossain stated that the incident is being treated with utmost importance, and an investigation along with necessary legal procedures is underway.

A clash broke out in the South Rampura area of Parbatipur municipality in Dinajpur on Saturday night over a dispute concerning the groom’s hand-washing ritual. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the house of Selim Kabiraj, where members of the bride’s and groom’s sides engaged in an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation. The bride was reportedly assaulted and taken away by members of the groom’s side.

According to the bride’s family, Rakib, 25, from Tentultala village in Biral upazila, and Sufia Begum, 20, daughter of Selim Kabiraj of Rampura, had been married for a year, and Saturday was the bride’s departure day. The dispute began over money related to the hand-washing custom during the ceremony. Following the incident, the bride’s relatives intercepted two microbuses carrying the groom’s party at separate locations.

Parbatipur Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Abdul Wadud stated that police intervened to bring the situation under control. Around 3 a.m., the groom’s side took the bride away after signing a written undertaking.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) in Bangladesh’s banking sector have increased by Tk 314.88 billion over the past three months, according to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank. As of the end of December, total NPLs stood at Tk 5.57 trillion, representing 30.60 percent of total loans distributed at that time. By the end of March this year, the figure had risen to Tk 5.88 trillion, or 32.26 percent of total loans.

The report also shows that the total outstanding loans in the banking sector currently amount to Tk 18.24 trillion. The data highlights a continuing upward trend in defaulted loans within the country’s financial system, reflecting growing stress in the banking sector.

The increase in NPLs underscores ongoing challenges in loan recovery and credit management across banks, as indicated by the central bank’s updated figures.

Police in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj recovered the body of a 14-year-old domestic worker named Noyoni Khatun on Monday night from a house in the Mohanbag area. The incident was confirmed by Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Matiur Rahman. Noyoni, daughter of Rubel Ali from Akhira village in Dhainagar Union, had been working at the home of a woman named Jannatul Ferdousi.

According to the residents of the house, Noyoni took her own life by hanging herself. However, local people claimed that she was murdered. Family members told police that she went into a room in the afternoon and allegedly hanged herself, but police did not find the body in a hanging position. The body had been taken down before police arrived.

Police have sent the body to the hospital morgue for an autopsy. The cause of death will be determined after receiving the report, and legal action will follow, according to the police.

Police in Sirajganj have arrested Abdul Hamid, 33, for allegedly defrauding more than 100 people of Tk 2.1 million through online investment scams. The arrest was announced at a press conference at Sirajganj Sadar Police Station on Tuesday afternoon. According to police, a case was filed on June 1 by Momtaz Begum, who said Hamid lured investors into two apps named Eco Volt and CEF, promising high profits. When the apps became inactive, he collected more money under new schemes.

Investigators said Hamid used multiple fake apps to attract unemployed youth and ordinary citizens, later shutting them down and launching new ones. When victims demanded refunds, he allegedly used a Telegram ID under the name “Hamkail Moakael,” posing as a 400-year-old spiritual figure to intimidate them. Police recovered a Walton tablet, a smartphone, and promotional materials linked to the scams.

Authorities are verifying whether others were involved. Hamid has reportedly confessed during preliminary questioning, and preparations are underway to present him before court as the investigation continues.

A violent clash erupted on Tuesday morning at the Boro Kapon point of the Sylhet-Sunamganj road over passenger pickup disputes between bus and CNG-run autorickshaw stand managers. The confrontation began around 11 a.m. when an argument escalated into a physical fight, leaving at least 12 people injured. During the incident, 10 autorickshaws were vandalized.

According to local sources, the altercation started as a verbal dispute over passenger collection rights but quickly turned violent as both sides used local weapons. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and clinics for treatment. Police were dispatched to the scene following reports of the clash.

Authorities confirmed that additional police forces have been deployed to maintain order in the area. Law enforcement officials stated that an investigation is underway and necessary legal actions will be taken to prevent further unrest.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Tuesday that Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles across Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least nine deaths. The attack included ballistic missiles, which are more difficult to intercept, according to the report cited by AFP.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that its defense systems successfully destroyed 602 of the drones and 40 of the missiles. The large-scale overnight assault marks one of the most intense barrages reported recently, underscoring the ongoing escalation in aerial warfare between the two countries.

The report did not specify which regions were targeted or provide further details on the extent of the damage beyond the reported casualties.

Customers of Islami Bank Bangladesh held a human chain and protest in Chattogram on Tuesday demanding the removal of the bank’s chairman, Khurshid Alam. The demonstration took place around 11 a.m. in front of the bank’s regional office in Agrabad under the banner of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum.

Participants alleged that the current management system of the bank does not adequately protect customer interests and called for the chairman’s removal. They urged authorities to intervene and ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability within the institution. Protesters emphasized the need to restore customer confidence and safeguard depositors’ expectations.

Leaders of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum and clients from various professions joined the event. Police from Double Mooring Police Station maintained a watchful presence to ensure order, and the protest concluded peacefully with participants leaving the area afterward.

A reception and exchange meeting was held in Goaland, Rajbari, to welcome Nurunnisa Siddika, a reserved seat Member of Parliament in the 13th National Parliament and Secretary of the Women’s Division of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The event took place on Tuesday morning at the Haji Bari Mosque field in Kewtil area of Chhoto Bhakla Union, organized by the Haji Bari Social Welfare Council. The meeting was presided over by Sheikh Mohiuddin, a former professor of Tejgaon College, and attended by several central and local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami.

In her address, MP Nurunnisa Siddika stressed the need to modernize and make the country’s judicial system more time-appropriate. She stated that Bangladesh has become a modern state, and therefore, its judicial and administrative structures should also evolve accordingly. She called for governance based on justice and the ideals of the Quran.

She further emphasized establishing justice in society, preventing corruption, and promoting human values. Local residents shared their concerns and expectations during the meeting, which the MP attentively listened to.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain stated that the prime minister was misinformed about his planned visit to Florida, United States. He made the comment on Tuesday through a Facebook post, following a viral note from the prime minister suggesting that mosquito control methods could be developed locally without traveling abroad.

In his post titled “Will misinformation and conspiracy ruin the revolutionary potential of mosquito control?”, the mayor explained that since October last year, CCC had been using mosquito larva-killing chemicals from the U.S.-based company Valent BioSciences. To reduce dependency on costly imports, he proposed establishing a joint-venture factory in Bangladesh. Valent BioSciences responded by inviting a delegation led by the mayor to visit its facilities in Chicago and Florida for feasibility assessment, with no expenses to be borne by the government or CCC.

The mayor alleged that a vested group provided false and misleading information to the prime minister, causing uncertainty over the planned visit. A government letter earlier confirmed that the summary for travel approval had been returned without authorization.

The United States Department of Defense has initiated an 18-month competition titled 'Drone Dominance' to accelerate the expansion of its drone fleet. According to a Washington Post report, the Pentagon aims to identify the most promising manufacturers capable of producing low-cost combat drones. The initiative follows growing recognition of drones’ effectiveness in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, prompting the U.S. military to seek rapid enhancement of its drone capabilities.

The competition invites both established defense firms and emerging startups, including companies founded by drone racers and hobbyists. The winning firms could receive contracts worth up to $1.1 billion to produce as many as three million drones. The drones being tested cost around $5,000 each and are designed for single-use missions. Early rounds of the contest, such as one held at Fort Benning, Georgia, saw 26 companies participate, with British firm Skycutter emerging as a top performer.

Pentagon officials stated that future warfare will likely depend heavily on affordable swarms of drones, and the program aims to bypass lengthy procurement processes to foster faster innovation.

India and Oman’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into effect today amid the ongoing US-Iran war that has severely disrupted maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The pact, signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat in December last year, grants duty-free access for India’s labor-intensive exports to Oman. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the implementation, calling it a milestone for expanding markets, boosting exports, attracting investment, and creating jobs.

The Hormuz Strait handles about 20 percent of global oil consumption and 25 percent of seaborne oil trade, but conflict has tightened Iranian control, disrupting India’s energy imports from Gulf states. Oman’s ports, including Salalah and Duqm, remain operational due to their location outside the strait, making Oman a reliable trade and energy route during regional instability.

Under CEPA, Oman will eliminate tariffs on 98.08 percent of its tariff lines, covering 99.38 percent of India’s exports, while India will reduce or remove tariffs on 78 percent of its lines. The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral trade, though Oman’s small market size may limit export growth.

The U.S. Department of Defense has imposed new restrictions on journalists’ direct access to its press office, designating the area as a “sensitive classified information center.” Acting Press Secretary Joel Valdez said the move aims to ensure security, as officials regularly handle confidential materials. Under the new rules, journalists can only enter the offices of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and the Press Secretary by prior appointment, and additional movement controls have been introduced across Pentagon press areas.

U.S. media outlets claim that since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, access for journalists to government offices has been gradually reduced. In March, the Pentagon announced that no media outlet would be allowed to maintain a permanent office inside the building. Journalists are now also required to be escorted by security personnel within the complex, a policy already facing legal challenges.

The National Press Club and Freedom of the Press Foundation have both criticized the decision, warning that it undermines transparency and accountability. They questioned the justification for labeling the press office as a classified zone and expressed concern about declining public trust in defense communications.

Global crude oil prices fell slightly as traders focused on uncertainty surrounding ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude dropped by 75 cents to 94.23 dollars per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 85 cents to 91.31 dollars. The price drop followed a sharp rise just a day earlier.

The report noted that despite a price increase on Monday, oil prices had fallen by more than 16 percent in May amid hopes for a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran and the continuation of a ceasefire. Market participants had expected that such an agreement could boost Iranian oil exports and increase global supply.

Senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva said that although traders had hoped the potential deal would reduce uncertainty, no significant change in market conditions was observed as of Tuesday morning.