The Government of Bangladesh has initiated a process to modernize the laws, regulations, and policies under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to align with the realities of the digital age. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced the initiative during a meeting at the ministry on Sunday, emphasizing the need for updated legal frameworks to address challenges arising from rapid technological development and the expansion of the digital ecosystem.

According to the minister, the review of all existing laws and regulations under the ministry has already begun. The committee will identify areas requiring modernization, new legislation, or legal reform. Swapan noted that the ministry’s scope has expanded beyond print and broadcast media to include numerous digital platforms that often fall outside current legal coverage. The committee has been tasked with studying relevant laws from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States to develop a framework suited to Bangladesh’s context.

The minister also stressed the importance of coordination among government and private stakeholders, including technology experts and telecommunications entities, to ensure effective regulation of digital services and cyber activities.

Two workers were electrocuted while repairing a rural electricity line in the Pakarmatha area of Kishoreganj upazila, Nilphamari, on Sunday, July 5, 2026, around 11 a.m. The victims were identified as Jayanta Roy, 26, from Kalitala, and Mumin, 50, from Suthipara, both residents of Nilphamari Sadar upazila. Locals rushed them to Kishoreganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.

According to police and local sources, the workers began repairs on an electric pole without fully disconnecting the power supply. During the work, they were electrocuted and sustained fatal injuries. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the area.

Local residents claimed that the tragedy could have been avoided if the power connection had been properly shut off and adequate safety measures ensured. Kishoreganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman confirmed the incident and said legal procedures were underway. Locals have urged authorities to investigate the cause and strengthen safety protocols to prevent similar accidents.

Former cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has dismissed a private television report alleging corruption in the July Memorial Museum project, labeling it as disinformation. In a response to digital media outlet The Descent, he said the report presented misleading information about project costs, documentary production, and implementation. Farooki stated that around Tk 130 crore had been spent so far, not Tk 150 crore as claimed, with Tk 96 crore used by the Public Works Department for infrastructure.

He explained that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs transferred funds to the Public Works Department under a government-to-government system, but the report wrongly blamed the National Museum for the entire expenditure. Farooki also objected to the report’s claim that a documentary production address was an auto-rickshaw garage, saying the films were made by young and known filmmakers. He denied that Tk 2.7 million was spent per short documentary, asserting that detailed expense records exist.

Farooki further said the government approved direct procurement due to time constraints and accused certain groups of running a deliberate negative campaign against the museum and its documentaries.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken has said his team views Brazil as a challenge rather than a threat ahead of their World Cup Round of 16 match in New Jersey on Sunday at 2 a.m. Bangladesh time. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Solbakken acknowledged that Brazil remains the favorite on paper but emphasized that football does not always follow predictions. He stated that defeating Brazil is possible if Norway gives its absolute best performance on the field.

Norway, which impressed during the group stage, now faces its toughest test against the five-time world champions. Solbakken identified Brazil’s versatile attacking lineup as the main challenge, noting their ability to adjust formations and create different attacking combinations. He added that handling Brazil’s offensive pressure will be crucial for Norway’s chances.

Solbakken also said that a Norwegian victory over Brazil would be one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. While the duel between Erling Haaland and Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães is expected to draw attention, the coach stressed that the match is ultimately about team performance rather than individual battles.

A passenger bus lost control and fell into a roadside ditch in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi on Sunday morning, killing the bus supervisor. The accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. at Purba Raypur Bottola area when the bus, traveling from Mathbaria in Pirojpur to Barishal, attempted to overtake another bus. Passengers managed to exit quickly, preventing further casualties. Traffic on the Jhalakathi-Barishal regional highway was temporarily halted following the incident.

According to police and local sources, the Nahid Super Paribahan bus lost control while trying to avoid a three-wheeler that came between two buses during the overtaking attempt. The supervisor was trapped under the bus and later declared dead at Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital. Hospital superintendent Masum Iftekhar confirmed that the victim had died before reaching the hospital.

Nalchity Police Station Officer-in-Charge Touhiduzzaman said police, fire service, and local residents jointly conducted rescue operations and worked to restore traffic flow. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Md. Aminul Islam, stated that the Awami League destroyed state institutions during its 15 years in power and committed various crimes as a political party. He said that all incidents would be tried according to law. He made these remarks on Sunday afternoon during a briefing at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Aminul Islam confirmed that an investigation is ongoing against the Awami League for alleged crimes against humanity. If the allegations are proven, the party could be legally banned. He also mentioned that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina could face trial in several specific cases, including the Shapla Chattar incident.

On Saturday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said at the July National Conference that the now-banned Awami League would never again be able to engage in politics in the country, claiming the party’s political downfall is complete.

Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev has confirmed that the country deployed Iron Dome missile defense batteries in the United Arab Emirates during its ongoing war with Iran. Speaking to Army Radio, Regev said the deployment took place at the beginning of the conflict, as the UAE recognized ballistic missiles as one of the major threats.

Regev’s statement marks the first public confirmation by an Israeli official following an April report by U.S. outlet Axios about the deployment. In May, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also confirmed that a battery had been stationed in the Gulf nation. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense reported that Iran launched around 550 missiles and 2,200 drone attacks on the country during the war.

The confirmation underscores growing military coordination between Israel and the UAE amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has directed relevant ministries and agencies to work in coordination to reduce carbon emissions and enhance Bangladesh’s potential for earning carbon credits in international markets. He issued the directive during a climate change meeting held on Sunday at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Prime Minister also instructed the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to prepare a comprehensive action plan.

During the meeting, he emphasized expanding renewable energy use, adopting eco-friendly technologies in industries, improving energy efficiency, conserving forests, and increasing tree plantation to enhance carbon absorption. He further stressed ensuring transparency in carbon credit management, developing a reliable data system, and strengthening coordination with international organizations.

Officials attending the meeting stated that effective implementation of emission reduction initiatives could increase Bangladesh’s opportunities to earn carbon credits under international standards.

A young man named Jisan was allegedly beaten to death in Fatullah, Narayanganj, on Saturday night after being accused of mugging. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in the Paschim Masdair area. According to his family, several individuals led by local imam and volunteer organizer Kawser Ahmed took Jisan from his home, tied him to an electric pole, and beat him severely. He was later left unconscious near his house and declared dead at Khanpur 300-bed Hospital.

Following the incident, locals reported that Jisan’s relatives and friends vandalized parts of the neighborhood in protest. Kawser Ahmed claimed that Jisan had a history of drug use, drug dealing, and mugging, and that angry residents attacked him after a new allegation emerged.

Fatullah Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbub Alam confirmed that the body was sent for autopsy and that visible injury marks were found. He stated that no one has the right to take the law into their own hands and assured that legal action will be taken against those involved.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant and Chairman of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front, Babu Bijon Kanti Sarkar, stated that no attacks on minorities occurred in the country after August 5. Speaking on Saturday evening at the annual Kali Puja at Char Koshunda Kali Temple in Ghior upazila of Manikganj, he said that although members of the Hindu community initially felt fear and uncertainty, investigations the following day found no evidence of violence or persecution. He also claimed that some media outlets in a neighboring country had spread misleading reports about the situation.

Bijon Kanti Sarkar added that party leaders, including Tarique Rahman, had instructed that no harm should come to any person, particularly minorities. He said teams were sent across the country to observe the situation, and they found no signs of attacks. Member of Parliament S A Jinnah Kabir, speaking as a special guest, highlighted the contributions of the Hindu community during the Liberation War and urged them to remain confident about their equal role in the nation.

The event was attended by local officials, BNP leaders, and community members, reflecting a message of communal harmony and reassurance.

Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), appeared in public for the first time in a long period. He attended the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a mosque in Tehran on Sunday morning, according to Iranian officials.

Officials said that during the early stages of the war, former IRGC chief Major General Mohammad Pakpour was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Following his death, General Vahidi was appointed as the new commander of the Revolutionary Guard. Since assuming this position, he has rarely been seen in public.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA released a video showing General Vahidi wearing a black cap while participating in the funeral ceremony.

Abidul Islam Khan, joint general secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and a former vice president candidate in the last DUCSU election, made strong remarks about the July uprising during a recent private television talk show. He said that those who mock or deny July or use disparaging language about it should face severe consequences. He described July as a turning point for Bangladesh’s change and stability, calling it a movement organized for long-term democratic stability.

Khan emphasized that his political activism stems from love for Bangladesh and its liberation, asserting that the nation comes before his organization. He urged the government to implement the July charter and adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward those who ridicule the uprising. He also recalled visiting the graves of martyrs, saying he witnessed their deaths firsthand and that the uprising was essential for national unity and existence.

He concluded by stating that July, like 1971, holds vital importance for the state and must be protected from defamation.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Samrat Hossain Bappa, 41, vice president of the youth and sports division of Dupchanchia Sadar Union, died after being injured in an attack in Bogura’s Dupchanchia area. He had been under treatment for several days following the June 25 clash in Velurchak village, which reportedly stemmed from a land dispute between Rafique Akand and BNP leader Abdul Karim Akand. According to family sources, Samrat was injured while trying to protect Rafique during the attack allegedly led by Abdul Karim. He was treated in Bogura and later transferred to Dhaka, where he died late Saturday night.

Following his death, Samrat’s mother, Josna Begum, filed a case naming Abdul Karim Akand, his wife Mithila, and six others, along with several unidentified individuals. Police confirmed the arrest of Abdul Karim and his wife, while efforts to detain the remaining suspects continue. Local Jamaat leaders announced that a protest rally and gathering will be held in Dupchanchia town after Samrat’s funeral prayers.

The incident has sparked grief and tension among local party members, according to the Jamaat district publicity secretary.

Maher Abdul Latif Yunis, a Palestinian who spent 40 years in Israeli prison, has died at the age of 68. He passed away early in the morning, according to reports. Yunis was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1983 for participating in armed resistance against Israeli occupation and for his involvement with the Fatah movement. His funeral is scheduled to take place in his hometown, Ara, after the noon prayer.

Initially sentenced to death, Yunis’s punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment, and in 2012 it was reduced to a 40-year term. He was released on January 19, 2023, after completing his sentence. Yunis was considered one of the most prominent figures in the Palestinian prisoner movement. During his imprisonment, he lost his father in 2008, who himself had previously spent eight years in Israeli detention.

Born on January 6, 1958, in Ara village, Yunis completed his primary and secondary education there before studying at an industrial school in Hadera.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi held separate meetings in Tehran with delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah, where warnings were issued about teaching Israel a lesson. The meetings took place on Saturday in the Iranian capital, coinciding with the delegations’ visit to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the discussions in an official statement.

The Hamas delegation, led by Leadership Council head Mohammad Darwish, expressed condolences over Khamenei’s death and briefed Aragchi on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Darwish praised Iran’s longstanding support for Palestine and congratulated Tehran on its military and diplomatic achievements amid ongoing conflict. In a separate meeting, Hezbollah’s senior political official and former Lebanese MP Mohammad Fneish conveyed condolences on behalf of Secretary-General Naim Qassem and commended Iran’s role during recent hostilities with the United States and Israel.

Aragchi thanked both delegations, reaffirmed Iran’s support for an independent Palestinian state, and praised Hezbollah’s resistance. He also paid tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and said Iran would continue efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Lebanon.