Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Planning Ministry, said that former president Ziaur Rahman initiated the continuity of agricultural production in Bangladesh. Speaking on Friday morning at the Farmers’ Partner Congress organized by the Department of Agriculture in Palash, Narsingdi, he stated that Ziaur Rahman made the country self-sufficient in food and created the capacity to export after meeting domestic demand.

Moin Khan added that the modernization of agriculture, the increase in high-yield rice production, and the achievement of food self-sufficiency were possible due to initiatives started by Ziaur Rahman. He also mentioned that the current generation of leadership is advancing the country following Ziaur Rahman’s development philosophy. To improve farmers’ livelihoods, a canal excavation program has been relaunched to boost agricultural output.

He further noted that the obstruction of river and canal flows has affected agricultural production, and efforts are underway to restore these flows to enrich agriculture. The event concluded with certificate distribution, seed and fertilizer handouts, and financial aid for farmers’ medical support.

Football fans in Mongla, Bagerhat, have launched festive celebrations ahead of the World Cup. On Friday afternoon, supporters of Brazil organized a colorful rally in the Mongla Port Municipality area to express their love and support for their favorite team. The rally, which began at 5 p.m., paraded through key streets of the town, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere.

Participants carried Brazil’s national flags, jerseys, and colorful banners while chanting slogans and singing in support of the team. Fans of all ages joined the event, turning the town into a vibrant sea of yellow and green. Several supporters said Brazil represents beauty, creativity, and joy in football, and they expressed hope for the team’s strong performance in the tournament.

The rally concluded with fans wishing success for Brazil in the World Cup and expressing optimism that the festive spirit would continue throughout the tournament.

At least 47 people were killed and 97 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attacks took place from midnight until Friday afternoon, with the deadliest strike reported in the Harouf area, where nine people, including three women, were killed and 14 others wounded.

Additional casualties were reported in several other areas. Six people, including a woman and a child, were killed in Al-Duweire, seven in Habboush, and three, including a child, in Arab Salim. Three more deaths occurred near Baalbek in Tal Abyad. Other affected locations included Al-Sharkiyah, Kfarsir, Al-Qatrani, Nabatieh, Deir Al-Zahrani, Kfar Roummane, Kfar Jawz, Jebchit, Kakaiyat Al-Jisr, Adshit, Al-Raihan, Abba, Al-Abbasiya, and Ain Bourday.

The Health Ministry further reported that since Israeli attacks began on March 2, a total of 3,980 people have been killed and 12,001 injured across Lebanon.

A public meeting on anti-drug awareness and eradication was held in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, on Friday afternoon at the Soaibnagar Kamil Madrasa premises. The event, organized by local civil society, called for stronger social resistance against drug dealers and users, urging law enforcement to take strict legal action. Jhenaidah-4 Member of Parliament Maulana Abu Talib attended as the chief guest, alongside Kaliganj Police Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain and several local leaders.

During his speech, MP Abu Talib expressed concern over an attack on a retired police officer allegedly by drug traders, describing it as a result of standing against narcotics. He stated that a group had long operated under political protection but warned that such impunity would no longer continue. He declared that drug dealers must either abandon their trade or leave the area, emphasizing that the public is now aware and will not tolerate drug activities.

OC Jellal Hossain reaffirmed that anti-drug operations would continue despite obstacles or criticism, urging citizens to assist police with information.

A Saudi Arabia-based expatriate named Al Amin, aged 40, died suddenly at a residential hotel in Gulistan, Dhaka, on Friday, June 19, 2026. He had returned to Bangladesh on June 13 and went to meet a woman he befriended on Facebook about six months earlier. According to police, the incident occurred at Hotel Ramna under Paltan Police Station. Al Amin was found unconscious in the hotel washroom and was later declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police confirmed that the body has been sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death. The woman who accompanied him said Al Amin had brought gifts for her and suddenly collapsed after entering the washroom. His family stated that he had traveled to Dhaka to deliver some items to an acquaintance. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and witness statements to clarify the circumstances.

Authorities have cautioned against speculation until the post-mortem report is available. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of Paltan Police Station.

Cumilla University (CuU) unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, has received a new 12-member convening committee after five years. The central Chhatra Dal leadership, through a notice signed by President Md Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir on June 18, 2026, approved the new committee. Mostafizur Rahman Shuvo, a student of the English Department (2008–09 session), was named convener, while Md Abul Bashar from the Anthropology Department (2012–13 session) was appointed member secretary.

The central committee instructed the new leadership to form a full convening committee within ten days and to hold a council within one month to elect new leadership. However, members expressed doubts about meeting the timeline, as similar directives in the past were not implemented. The previous 31-member committee, formed in June 2021 for three months, had continued for nearly five years without renewal.

Mostafizur Rahman Shuvo stated that the new committee would expand through discussions with active members and include those who had long contributed to the organization. He emphasized unity and inclusion of both experienced and new activists in future organizational activities.

Dinajpur City Jamaat-e-Islami organized a daylong training camp for its advanced activists on Friday at a city auditorium. The program ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and aimed to enhance ideological, organizational, and moral development among participants. Professor Dr. Md. Shoaibur Rahman delivered a session on the importance of Islamic ideals in personal and social development, while central and local Jamaat leaders addressed various aspects of organizational improvement.

Former district Ameer Md. Anwarul Islam emphasized ideological and ethical advancement, and current district Ameer Principal Anisur Rahman discussed record-keeping, self-assessment, and personal skill development. The event was presided over by city Ameer Md. Sirajul Salehin and conducted by city secretary Kamrul Hasan Russel. Group discussions were led by several city Jamaat officials focusing on strengthening organizational activities and community engagement.

More than fifty advanced activists from twelve wards of Dinajpur Municipality attended the camp. The program concluded with a special prayer for the welfare of the nation and the Muslim Ummah.

Police have arrested Awami League leader and former union parishad chairman Babul Sheikh in connection with a case filed over an attack on a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) election rally and motorcade in Sirajganj. The arrest took place early Thursday night at his home in Tarash municipal area, and he was later sent to jail through the court on Friday. According to Tarash police, Babul Sheikh was named in the case as an accused in the attack and attempted murder of former BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan Talukder.

Police sources said the incident occurred on December 12, 2018, during the campaign for the 11th national parliamentary election, when BNP candidate Abdul Mannan Talukder attended a rally at Binodpur Bazar in Baruhas Union. It was alleged that Babul Sheikh and other Awami League activists carried out an armed attack, vandalized vehicles, and detonated explosives. The case was filed much later, on September 11, 2024, by Baruhas Union BNP president Asaduzzaman, naming 99 accused including former Awami League MP Abdul Aziz.

The arrest marks a significant development in a politically sensitive case that had remained pending for several years.

A businessman named Jamal Hossain was seriously injured in Comilla’s Racecourse area after being attacked and shot at allegedly by a local youth gang leader, Akibur Rahman Akib, and 12 others. The incident occurred early Thursday morning when Jamal was on his way to prayers. His wife, Taslima Akhter, filed a written complaint at Kotwali Model Police Station, accusing the group of attempting to kill her husband for refusing to pay Tk 2 million in extortion.

According to the complaint, the dispute began a year earlier over a land purchase by Jamal Hossain. The accused allegedly tried to build a boundary wall on the property and later demanded money to allow its sale. When Jamal refused, they threatened him with death. On the day of the attack, the assailants reportedly abducted him, assaulted him with sharp weapons, and fired a gunshot that missed.

Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway. The accused denied involvement, while local BNP officials stated that Akib is not affiliated with the party. The victim’s family has demanded swift legal action against all suspects.

The Sylhet district administration has installed a donation box at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (R.A.) following a similar initiative at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.A.). On Friday, before the Jumma prayer, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam visited the Shah Paran shrine, delivered a speech at the mosque, and issued directives to ensure transparency in income and expenditure as well as to prevent gatherings involving alcohol or drugs at the shrine premises.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for a master plan for shrine development, including a medical center, prayer facilities for women, and enhanced security. He stated that donors expect transparency and accountability in the use of their contributions and warned that any misuse of funds or illegal activities would face strict action. He also clarified that the government would not take any share of the shrine’s income, but donations must be collected only through the official boxes.

Earlier, on Thursday, a new donation box was installed at the Shahjalal shrine, and three traditional donation pots were sealed. The administration said the move aims to make the donation process more organized and secure, though some devotees expressed dissatisfaction with the initiative.

The government of Bangladesh has announced plans to expand Sylhet Airport to attract more foreign tourists, according to Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita. She made the statement on Friday, June 19, during the inauguration of a festival at the Phulchhara Tea Garden field in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar. The minister said the initiative aligns with efforts under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership to advance the country’s tourism sector.

Rita added that the government is formulating plans to create employment opportunities and promote ethnic tourism. She also pledged to work on establishing an Ethnic Cultural Academy in response to local demands. The expansion of Sylhet Airport is part of a broader strategy to present Sylhet as a global tourism destination.

State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, speaking as a special guest, noted that the government’s election manifesto emphasizes balanced regional development and the growth of community, ethnic, and water tourism. The Bangladesh Tourism Board organized the Harmony Festival to revive and sustain the diverse cultures of small ethnic groups.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Jahangirnagar University unit, staged a unique protest on Friday during the education minister’s visit to the campus. They displayed placards criticizing the university administration for alleged failures, academic stagnation, and harassment of students. The placards carried satirical messages addressing issues such as the university’s exclusion from global rankings, administrative inefficiency, and lack of research focus.

During the demonstration, Jahidul Islam Imon, president of the Jahangirnagar University branch of the Students’ Union, sharply criticized the current administration. He alleged that students face harassment and injustice at every stage, from admission to certificate collection, and argued that the institution no longer functions as a true university. Imon added that despite a change in vice-chancellor after a historic uprising, no meaningful academic or administrative reforms have occurred.

The protesters stated that their movement would continue until the university is run with students’ interests as the top priority.

An attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push four individuals into Bangladesh through the Khalpara border area of Buripota Union in Meherpur Sadar upazila was foiled early Friday. Locals spotted the four people near international border pillar 116 on the Indian side of the zero line. Due to the strict stance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), they were not allowed to enter Bangladesh.

According to local accounts, the group consisted of one man and three women who were seen standing suspiciously on the Indian side before disappearing from sight. Residents said the BGB’s strong presence prevented the push-in attempt. Villagers later joined BGB personnel to help monitor the border and pledged to work together to stop illegal crossings.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Hasan, commanding officer of Chuadanga Battalion-6 of the BGB, confirmed that the attempt had been thwarted and that surveillance along the border had been intensified. However, no formal statement from the BGB had been issued as of the report’s publication.

Police have arrested Md. Rafin Talukdar, a member of the convening committee of the Babuganj Upazila Chhatra League in Barishal, and sent him to jail custody through the court. The arrest took place late Thursday night around 11:30 p.m. at his home in Chhatiya village under Madhabpasha Union, during a raid conducted by the Airport Police Station.

According to family sources, Rafin Talukdar is the son of Md. Sirajul Islam Talukdar of Chhatiya village in Ward No. 8 of Madhabpasha Union. He is a final-year degree student at Government Barishal College. The family claimed he had returned home after hearing about his mother’s illness.

Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman confirmed the arrest and Rafin’s position in the Chhatra League but declined to disclose details about the specific case under which he was detained.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the government is implementing infrastructure development projects across various regions as part of the Prime Minister’s announced development program. He stated that efforts are underway to ensure safe water for every citizen in urban and municipal areas. Tuku made these remarks on Friday while inaugurating the construction of a 680-cubic-meter capacity overhead water reservoir near the Eidgah field in Ward No. 6 of Tangail Municipality. The project is being implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering under the Water Supply System Expansion and Development Project.

The minister said the government is working tirelessly to improve people’s living standards and that such projects will accelerate the pace of development. He added that once the overhead water tanks in Ward No. 6 and the Ashekpur Bypass area are completed, local residents will have access to safe and pure water, which will play a vital role in improving public health.

The event was attended by local officials, political leaders, and residents of the area.