A BNP leader in Cumilla’s Daudkandi has been accused of illegally taking control of government land originally allocated to a landless person for rehabilitation and farming. The land, granted to Masud Alam in the 1989–90 fiscal year, was reportedly occupied by Abul Hashem, joint convener of Cumilla North District BNP, who is also Alam’s cousin. Locals allege that Hashem has held the land for 36 years and is now preparing to construct a multistoried building there.

Residents claim that Hashem’s political influence has prevented any protest, while the local administration has remained inactive. Daudkandi BNP convener Abdul Latif Bhuiya described the construction as illegal and unethical, urging legal action if irregularities are proven. Hashem, however, denied the allegations, stating that he lawfully transferred the land to his name through the sub-registry office and has been using it since.

Daudkandi’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer said no formal complaint has been received, while the district commissioner confirmed that transferring or constructing on land allocated for the landless is legally prohibited.

The National Editors Council (NEC) has been formed to safeguard press freedom, improve journalistic standards, and protect the professional interests of editors. The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting held at the office of the daily Amar Desh, where editors from various national dailies participated. The meeting appointed Shafik Rehman, editor of Jaijaidin, as convener and Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, as joint convener of a 13-member convening committee.

Other members of the committee include editors from Naya Diganta, Kaler Kantho, Jugantor, Protidiner Bangladesh, Sangram, The New Nation, Wada, Manab Kantha, Loksomaj, Daily Peoples View, and Jalalabad. The editors agreed on the necessity of forming this new organization to address the deterioration of the media sector during one and a half decades of authoritarian rule.

The meeting also decided to draft the organization’s constitution, initiate training programs to enhance journalistic excellence, and organize a national convention involving editors from national and regional newspapers as soon as possible.

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the government to ensure justice within 15 days for the brutal killing of four-year-old Fahima Akter in Sylhet. He made the appeal while visiting the victim’s family, who lost their daughter in a widely discussed case involving abduction, attempted rape, and murder. During the visit, he expressed deep sympathy to the grieving parents and assured them of his support for fair justice.

Dr. Rahman stated that repeated incidents like this occur due to impunity and delayed trials. He emphasized that the gruesome killing of Fahima has deeply pained the entire nation and urged people from all levels of society to unite and remain vigilant to prevent such tragedies in the future. Family members shared their grief and details of the incident with him, and he listened attentively.

Several senior Jamaat leaders accompanied Dr. Rahman during the visit, including Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, and Maulana Habibur Rahman. Later, the opposition leader spoke to journalists at a press briefing.

A man was beaten to death by locals on Tuesday morning in Bamondi area of Gangni upazila, Meherpur, after being suspected of theft. The incident occurred in front of Zaman Filling Station, where a group of four allegedly attempted to steal tires from Khokon Enterprise by breaking its lock. One suspect was caught by the shop owner’s nephew, Tushar, while the others fled with tires reportedly worth about three lakh taka.

According to local sources, the captured man was assaulted by residents and died at the scene. Police later recovered the body and sent it to Meherpur General Hospital morgue. Gangni Police Station Officer-in-Charge Uttam Kumar Das confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Authorities are working to identify the deceased, who is believed to be from Pabna district, and to locate the other members of the alleged theft group.

A passenger named Naosad, aged 24, was killed when a Dhaka-bound passenger bus collided with a battery-run autorickshaw at Tulshiganga Bridge intersection on the Naogaon-Bogura regional highway around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Two children traveling in the autorickshaw were injured and taken to Naogaon 250-bed General Hospital for treatment. Following the accident, local residents blocked the road in protest.

The collision crushed the front part of the autorickshaw, killing one passenger on the spot and injuring the two children. The blockade halted traffic on both sides of the highway, creating a long tailback. Police later intervened to bring the situation under control, and vehicular movement resumed after about two hours.

According to the officer-in-charge of Naogaon Sadar Police Station, legal procedures are underway, and the deceased’s body will be handed over to his family after completion of formalities.

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.