National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam told Parliament on Sunday that he rents a car for security reasons but has not yet been able to pay the rent for the current month. His remarks came in response to comments about his use of a luxury vehicle, as he explained the necessity behind it.

During the same parliamentary session, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mujibur Rahman said that state activities should be conducted in every mosque in Bangladesh. Participating in the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, he argued that if the country follows the principles of Medina, interest-based transactions must be stopped and zakat should be implemented.

Mujibur Rahman also criticized the absence of the term “zakat” in the finance minister’s 34-page budget speech, noting that while many issues were addressed, the concept of a zakat-based economy was not included.

NCP Member of Parliament Nahid Islam stated during a budget discussion on Sunday that the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner should have apologized upon arriving in Bangladesh. He alleged that India had directly and indirectly supported the Awami League’s hold on power and should seek forgiveness for its role over the past 16 years. Nahid also accused India of sheltering individuals involved in past violence and criticized recent border killings by Indian forces.

He urged the government to curb corruption, implement the July Charter, and bring to justice those involved in money laundering and economic exploitation. Nahid criticized the concentration of political and economic power under the Awami League, claiming that a few companies now dominate Bangladesh’s business sector. He also called for reforms in the banking sector and accountability for major business groups accused of corruption.

Nahid emphasized the need for structural reforms, fair governance, and the implementation of referendum-based reforms to combat corruption and protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democracy.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has dismissed as baseless and misleading the social media claims that multiple bodies were recovered from the Turag River. The clarification came during a press briefing held at the DMP Media Center on Sunday afternoon, where Joint Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain stated that the allegations had been thoroughly investigated.

According to the DMP, no evidence of any murder or body recovery was found within the jurisdictions of Turag, Pallabi, or Rupnagar police stations. No complaints, general diaries, or cases were filed regarding such incidents. The DMP also confirmed that the matter had been officially addressed on the verified social media pages of Bangladesh Police. Citizens were urged not to spread or believe unverified information that could cause public unrest.

The DMP further clarified that the rumor initially circulated as if the incident occurred under its jurisdiction. However, only one body was recovered by the Aminbazar River Police, and an unnatural death case was filed at Darussalam Police Station, which falls under the River Police’s authority.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku told parliament on Sunday that two power stations in Bangladesh’s national grid have been shut down due to technical faults, removing about 3,000 megawatts from the transmission system. He said this disruption has forced authorities to impose load-shedding across various parts of the country, including Dhaka. The minister added that he has discussed the issue with the leader of the opposition and expects the situation to improve within two days.

The statement came during a parliamentary session under Rule 300, where Tuku explained the reasons behind the recent power shortages. His remarks followed a separate comment from National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, who criticized the ruling party for alleged increases in leaders’ wealth during their tenure and mentioned personal financial difficulties.

The minister’s assurance of quick recovery suggests that the government expects the technical problems to be resolved soon, potentially stabilizing electricity supply across the country.

The Teesta River at Dalia point in Nilphamari has risen above the danger level, prompting flood concerns in nearby low-lying and char areas. According to measurements taken at 6 p.m. on Sunday, the water level stood at 52.22 meters, which is 7 centimeters above the danger mark of 52.15 meters. Officials from the Water Development Board (WDB) attributed the rapid rise to continuous rainfall and upstream runoff from the hills.

As the water crossed the danger level, homes in low-lying areas of Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas began to experience water intrusion. Seedbeds of Aman paddy and jute and vegetable fields in char regions are at risk of submergence. Local residents have expressed concern over possible riverbank erosion and the safety of embankments.

The WDB’s flood forecasting center reported that the situation is under constant observation and warned that water levels could rise further if upstream inflows continue. Local authorities have been alerted and are prepared to respond. Officials expect the water to start receding after midnight, though heavy rainfall is forecast for the next three days, prompting continued caution among riverside residents.

Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman stated that state activities should be conducted in every mosque across Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday while participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year in the Jatiya Sangsad.

During his speech, Mujibur Rahman criticized the absence of the term 'zakat' in the finance minister’s 34-page budget speech, arguing that an Islamic economy should include zakat as a central element. He said that if the model followed is that of Medina, interest must be abolished and zakat implemented. He also commented on the cultural background of the finance and home ministers, referring to their familiarity with Quranic teachings.

The MP further objected to the government’s reliance on debt, saying the country should not be run through borrowing. He emphasized that Bangladesh should operate using its own resources rather than depending on loans.

During Sunday’s budget discussion in the Bangladesh Parliament, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee posed a pointed question to Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, asking whether BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders would again go to jail together. The minister made the remark while criticizing the opposition and recalling past political struggles under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of unity.

Chowdhury humorously responded to the opposition leader’s inaudible comment by saying, “Shall we go to jail again?” before asserting that such a situation would not recur because the people stand with Tarique Rahman and the legacy of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. He further stated that the BNP-led government would not act out of vengeance, claiming that good governance and development projects would serve as their response.

The minister highlighted ongoing water resource initiatives, including dredging 20,000 kilometers of canals and addressing river erosion across major rivers. He also mentioned plans for the Padma Barrage and the Teesta Master Plan, noting China’s assurance of support for Bangladesh’s river management efforts.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam told the National Parliament on Sunday that many leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have increased their wealth even while being imprisoned during the Awami League government. He added that due to security concerns, he has to rent a car for travel but has not yet been able to pay the rent for the current month.

Earlier in the same session, Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman stated that state activities should be conducted in every mosque across Bangladesh. Participating in the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, he said that if the country follows the principles of Medina, interest must be abolished and zakat should be implemented.

Mujibur Rahman criticized the absence of the word “zakat” in the national budget, noting that although the finance minister’s 34-page budget speech covered many topics, it did not include a zakat-based economic framework.

Pakistan’s media regulator PEMRA has suspended the broadcast license of Geo News for 15 days, citing allegations that the channel aired content offensive to religious sentiments. According to Reuters, the decision followed the airing of a special program titled “Safar-e-Ishq” on June 26, which reportedly contained scenes that provoked public complaints. PEMRA stated that the material could incite unrest and threaten law and order, prompting the suspension order issued late on June 27. The directive applies to all distribution platforms, including satellite and cable networks.

In a statement on June 28, Geo News apologized for the incident, describing the broadcast as an unintentional error and confirming that the disputed content had been removed from all its platforms. Local media reported that Ibtisam Zahid, head of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, filed the complaint that led to the investigation. PEMRA has also instructed Geo News to review its editorial oversight and internal monitoring systems.

Religious sensitivity remains a highly regulated issue in Pakistan, where similar controversies have previously affected other media outlets. The country ranks 153rd out of 180 in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

A poor woman from Nizampur Union in Habiganj Sadar upazila was shocked after receiving an electricity bill of about Tk 25.7 million for the current month. The unusually high bill, issued in her name, caused widespread astonishment in the area and quickly spread across social media. Her family, who usually paid between Tk 100 and Tk 150 per month, were left confused and anxious about the massive amount.

Local residents began discussing the matter after seeing the bill, and many shared photos of it online, questioning how such an error could occur for a poor household. The incident drew attention to the local Palli Bidyut office, which later clarified that the bill resulted from a technical mistake during data entry.

Habiganj District Palli Bidyut General Manager Md. Zillur Rahman confirmed that a numerical input error in the computer system caused the issue. The bill was immediately corrected, and the customer will only need to pay the actual amount due.

A police investigation committee has recommended departmental action against a sub-inspector and two constables for allegedly harassing national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan at Khulshi Police Station in Chattogram. The committee submitted its report to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali on Sunday, who confirmed that the officers were found liable for misconduct. The then officer-in-charge (OC) Arif Hossain received observations in the report but was not found responsible enough for disciplinary measures.

The committee, led by Deputy Commissioner (West) Alamgir Hossain, analyzed the incident and included seven administrative recommendations in its report. The investigation followed an incident on June 12, when police stopped Nayeem Hasan’s autorickshaw at Lalkhan Bazar and took him to Khulshi Police Station, where he was allegedly assaulted. Following the incident, SI Shafiqul Islam and Constable Md. Rasel Chowdhury were suspended, and OC Arif Hossain was withdrawn from duty.

A case filed by Nayeem Hasan’s brother against two police members and a police informant remains under investigation, while the report’s observations on the OC have sparked renewed administrative discussions.

A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced human rights activist Mostakin Sharif and his wife Jannatul Naima to seven years in prison for torturing their domestic worker, Hawa Akter, eight years ago in South Banasree. The verdict was delivered on Sunday, June 28, 2026, by Judge Shahanaj Sultana of Dhaka’s Third Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. Both convicts were also fined 50,000 taka each, with an additional six months of imprisonment in default of payment. They were present in court when the judgment was announced and were later sent back to prison.

According to the case details, on October 31, 2018, police rescued 14-year-old Hawa Akter from the couple’s residence in a severely injured condition. The investigation revealed that from July 7 to October 31, 2018, the couple had confined and tortured her using heated rods, iron spatulas, and other means, causing serious burns and injuries. The court began the trial on September 19, 2022, after framing charges, and heard testimony from nine witnesses.

The ruling concludes a prolonged legal process that began with the 2018 case filed by Khilgaon police following the rescue of the victim.

Bangladesh and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the export of Bangladeshi jackfruit to the Chinese market. The agreement, concluded during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, is viewed as a significant step for Bangladesh’s agricultural export sector. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two countries signed a total of 17 MoUs covering areas such as infrastructure, disaster management, digital economy, and agricultural trade.

Experts note that despite being an agriculture-based economy, Bangladesh has yet to achieve its full export potential. Access to China’s vast market could help increase farmers’ income and expand the agricultural economy, while also opening new markets for other produce. However, challenges remain in maintaining international quality standards, improving processing, storage, and packaging systems.

Global demand for jackfruit is rising, with the export market growing from USD 2 billion in 2012 to USD 3.7 billion in 2023. Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest producers, currently holds only 0.3 percent of global exports. Experts emphasize that enhancing processing capacity and ensuring quality compliance are essential for Bangladesh to compete internationally.

National Parliament Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan has called for vigilance to ensure that the spirit of the July Movement is not undermined by any bureaucrat, lawmaker, or minister. Speaking on Monday during the general discussion on the proposed 2026–27 national budget, the Lakshmipur-4 MP emphasized that honoring July fighters should go beyond allowances or declarations and be reflected in administrative decisions as well.

Nizan shared personal experiences from visiting July fighters receiving treatment in Bangkok before Eid-ul-Azha, recounting the story of a wounded fighter and his wife who married after the July events. He criticized bureaucratic insensitivity in handling the fighter’s employment and urged that the ideals of the movement be preserved across all levels of governance.

He also praised the constructive tone of the current budget discussions between the ruling and opposition parties, citing patience and restraint as key democratic values. Nizan further called for initiatives to support activists affected during the 17-year movement and warned government members against actions that could humiliate the BNP or its leadership.

U.S. President Donald Trump has again issued a stern warning against Iran, saying the United States is prepared to increase military pressure if necessary. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday, Trump wrote that a time may come when the U.S. will have no choice but to complete the military action it had successfully begun, suggesting that such a move could end the existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Defense analyst and former Austrian military attaché Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera that Trump’s remarks should not be taken literally. He said the comments were aimed not only at Iran or the international community but also at domestic political audiences in the United States. According to Pusztai, such threats are not unusual for Trump, who knows that additional military pressure or new attacks would not significantly harm Iran.

Pusztai added that Washington might consider reimposing a blockade in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a situation could again expose Gulf countries to heightened regional tensions.