Police in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, detained a 20-year-old woman named Sumaiya Akter on Thursday morning for allegedly attempting to abduct a five-year-old schoolgirl. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at Tullapara Government Primary School in Kunda Union. According to school sources, Sumaiya introduced herself as the girl’s aunt and tried to take her from the classroom. The headteacher became suspicious and contacted the child’s mother, who confirmed that the woman was not a relative. The school authorities then handed Sumaiya over to Nasirnagar police.

Police stated that Sumaiya claimed to be from Kishoreganj district and is currently in police custody. Nasirnagar Police Inspector (Investigation) Sohel Shikder said legal action would be taken if the victim’s family or the school filed a written complaint.

The detained woman remains under investigation as police await a formal complaint to proceed with legal measures.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s reserved seat Member of Parliament Advocate Sabikun Nahar Munni expressed concern in parliament over widespread food adulteration in Bangladesh. Speaking during the 22nd day of the 13th National Parliament’s first budget session, she questioned the food minister about government measures to ensure safe and unadulterated food. Munni remarked that while drugs appear free from adulteration, food items, especially fruits during the current season, are often contaminated, leaving consumers uncertain about what is safe to eat.

In response, the food minister acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, noting that adulterated food contributes to serious health problems such as cancer and kidney disease. He added that the Prime Minister is highly concerned about the matter. The exchange highlighted growing parliamentary attention to food safety and public health risks linked to adulteration.

The discussion underscored the need for stronger government initiatives to monitor food quality and protect consumers from harmful substances in the market.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued the official gazette recognizing BNP candidate Sarowar Alamgir as the elected Member of Parliament for the Chattogram-2 constituency in the 13th National Parliament. The decision followed receipt of the High Court verdict declaring his candidacy valid. The EC stated that after publishing the gazette on Thursday, a letter will be sent to the Parliament Secretariat to arrange his oath-taking.

Earlier, Alamgir had won the February 12 election, but the EC withheld the gazette due to legal complications over his candidacy. Although the returning officer initially accepted his nomination, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Muhammad Nurul Amin appealed to the EC alleging loan default. On January 18, the EC upheld the appeal and canceled Alamgir’s candidacy, prompting him to file a writ petition in the High Court.

The High Court later suspended the EC’s decision and allowed Alamgir to contest under the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol. The Appellate Division permitted his participation but ordered the result and gazette to remain pending until final judgment. With the latest High Court ruling, the legal barrier to publishing the result and taking oath has been removed.

At least eight Palestinians were killed and 17 others injured in fresh Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip within the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry reported that intense bombardment has made it difficult for rescue and civil defense teams to reach those trapped under rubble or lying on the streets, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

The report stated that since the ceasefire agreement brokered by international mediators in October last year, Israeli forces have repeatedly violated the truce. Since then, at least 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and 3,507 injured in Israeli military operations. Despite the ceasefire, drone and missile strikes have continued in various parts of Gaza, deepening humanitarian distress and anger among local residents.

The ongoing attacks have heightened concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza as rescue efforts remain severely hampered by continuous bombardment.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, informed parliament that twelve Bangladeshi nationals have died so far in the ongoing Middle East war centered on Iran. The casualties include five in Lebanon, three in Saudi Arabia, two in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Iraq and Bahrain. He shared the information during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

The minister said that under the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board’s funding, a total of 186 people, including 12 women and eight children, have been brought back from Iran amid the conflict. He added that one of the deceased was buried abroad, while nine bodies have already been repatriated to Bangladesh. Families of the deceased received financial support of 35,000 taka for burial expenses and an additional 50,000 taka as special assistance.

Chowdhury also announced logistical improvements at airports, including new freezing ambulances in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram, additional trolleys at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and wheelchairs for injured or ill workers. Plans are underway to establish a migrant lounge and medical corner at Sylhet Osmani International Airport.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) conducted a mobile court operation at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in Dhaka, fining two businesses a total of Tk 600,000 for selling substandard baby food and cosmetics. The operation, led by BSTI Executive Magistrate Sabekun Nahar, found that Almas Super Shop was selling baby food items such as chocolate, flavored drinks, and powdered milk without BSTI testing or clearance, resulting in a Tk 500,000 fine. Online-based Sofia’s Beauty House was fined Tk 100,000 for selling low-quality cosmetics.

According to a BSTI press release, the drive aimed to ensure safe and quality products and protect consumer health. BSTI officials Md. Safayet Hossain and Ahsan Habib Khan assisted in the operation. The agency stated that similar monitoring and mobile court activities are being conducted nationwide to safeguard consumers.

BSTI also urged consumers to purchase only BSTI-approved and quality-certified products, pledging to continue and strengthen such drives in the public interest.

The Ministry of Public Administration of Bangladesh has promoted 172 officers from the rank of deputy secretary to joint secretary. The order was issued on Thursday afternoon, July 9, 2026, following approval from the Prime Minister’s Office earlier in the day. The promoted officials have been appointed as special duty officers (joint secretary) under the ministry and are required to submit their joining letters either directly to the senior secretary or via email.

According to the ministry, the promotions include officers from the 24th and 25th batches of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre who had previously been left out. About 190 officers from the 24th batch were recommended for promotion, while 80 from the 25th batch were considered. The remaining officers from the 25th batch will be promoted later. The ministry also retains the authority to amend or cancel any promotion if adverse information about any officer emerges.

The ministry noted that the next phase of promotions for the 24th batch, to the rank of additional secretary, remains under review.

The verdict in the widely discussed gang rape case at Sylhet’s MC College dormitory will be announced on July 14, five years after the incident. The decision was set by Judge Swapan Kumar Sarkar of the Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal following the completion of arguments from both prosecution and defense. The case involves members of a banned faction of the student organization Chhatra League, accused of assaulting a newlywed woman after tying up her husband.

According to court sources, the case was transferred from the Women and Children Tribunal to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in May of the previous year, where testimony from 24 witnesses was recorded. The witnesses included the victim, her husband, the investigating officer, a magistrate, and medical experts. DNA tests matched evidence with six of the eight accused. The prosecution expressed some dissatisfaction over inconsistencies in the plaintiff’s testimony.

The case stems from a 2020 incident when the couple was attacked near MC College, and the woman was assaulted inside the dormitory. Police and RAB arrested the suspects within three days, and a charge sheet was filed in December 2021.

A second robbery within 24 hours occurred in the haor area of Itna upazila in Kishoreganj on Wednesday night. The incident took place near the Bogadubi canal adjacent to the Borshikura-Sherpur bridge in Badla Union. Victim Sadoranjan Das, a resident of Jatrabari village in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj, said he and two others were traveling by boat to buy ducklings in Damiha area of Tarail upazila when seven helmeted men armed with local weapons stopped their boat. The robbers allegedly took cooking utensils, engine parts, two mobile phones, and Tk 75,000 in cash.

A local guard, Ful Mia, said he heard cries for help from a boat and found two frightened men, later taking them to Borshikura market. Resident Rumel Mia added that locals pursued the robbers by boat, but they escaped toward Elongjuri Union under cover of darkness. Itna Police Station Officer-in-Charge Habibullah Khan stated that no written complaint had been received yet and that legal action would follow upon receiving one.

Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency has reported that a US airstrike struck the Ak Takeh Khan railway bridge in Golestan province, northern Iran. The bridge is part of a vital rail corridor linking Tehran with China, Iran’s largest trading partner. The incident reportedly disrupted a route that had been used to transport goods to Russia during periods when US sanctions complicated access to Iranian seaports.

According to the report, Iranian authorities plan to complete repairs on the damaged bridge quickly. The railway line crossing the bridge connects Iran with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan before reaching China, making it strategically important for regional trade and freight movement.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, underscores the bridge’s significance for Iran’s overland trade network and its role in maintaining economic links amid geopolitical tensions.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that dialysis services for kidney patients will be introduced at the upazila level across Bangladesh. The initiative will be implemented in phases, expanding through upazila health complexes, district hospitals, and medical college hospitals. He made the announcement on Thursday at a discussion in Dhaka focused on expanding primary healthcare in urban areas, organized by the Directorate General of Health Services.

The event presented evidence-based results and lessons from the ‘Alo Clinic’ model, with participation from senior health officials and representatives of UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The minister also said that steps are being taken to increase the number of ambulances to ensure patients in remote areas can reach advanced medical centers quickly.

He emphasized that every citizen, regardless of financial capacity or location, has the right to quality healthcare. The government aims to strengthen public hospitals to boost public trust and ensure accessible healthcare for marginalized communities, with support from international partners to improve public health services amid rapid urbanization.

Bangladesh recorded two additional dengue-related deaths and 190 new hospital admissions in the past 24 hours, according to a press release from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday. The previous day saw three deaths and 251 infections. In the first nine days of July, a total of 1,643 people have been infected and six have died from dengue. Last month, 2,907 infections and 13 deaths were reported.

The DGHS report detailed that between Wednesday and Thursday morning, 48 patients were admitted in Barishal division, 34 in Chattogram, 31 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 40 in Dhaka South, 22 in Khulna, six in Mymensingh, seven in Rajshahi, and two in Sylhet. During the same period, 193 patients were discharged from hospitals.

As of July 9, a total of 7,747 dengue patients have been hospitalized this year, with 24 deaths recorded. Among the deceased, two died in January, two in February, one in May, 13 in June, and four in July. In 2025, Bangladesh reported 102,861 dengue cases and 413 deaths.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka and a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded the National Environment Award 2025 for his contributions to environmental research and technological innovation. The award was presented by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center during the national ceremony marking World Environment Day 2026.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Salam was nominated in the category of environmental research and technology innovation through a gazette issued on June 7, 2026. The university’s public relations office stated that he has been conducting research for nearly 25 years on environment, air pollution, atmospheric science, climate change, and public health, earning international recognition for his work. His studies have significantly contributed to improving air quality in Bangladesh and identifying pollution sources.

Dhaka University teachers and officials congratulated Dr. Salam on receiving the award. This year, three individuals and three institutions were honored with the National Environment Award 2025 for their contributions to environmental conservation, education, and innovation.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-6 has arrested Khabir Molla, identified as the leader of the notorious Khabir gang and one of Khulna’s top criminals, during a special operation in the Gazirhat area under Dighalia Police Station on Wednesday evening. The arrest took place around 5:20 p.m. as part of RAB’s regular anti-crime drive. Law enforcers recovered a one-shooter gun, two rounds of fresh ammunition, and a Chinese axe from his possession, which were seized in the presence of witnesses following legal procedures.

According to RAB, Khabir Molla, aged 47 and son of Kawsar Molla from Jangushia village in Dighalia, has long been involved in professional robbery and terrorist activities. Police records show that he faces 13 cases across Khulna and Narail districts, including charges of murder, arms possession, and robbery.

RAB stated that a case under the Arms Act has been filed against him at Dighalia Police Station, and he is being handed over for further legal action. The agency affirmed that similar operations will continue to bring armed criminals and major suspects under the law.

A church under construction in Subhasgram’s Buri Bottola area of Sonarpur, West Bengal, was attacked and vandalized by a group of about 100 people on July 9, 2026. The attackers allegedly broke into the building, damaged pillars, and destroyed three crosses on the roof. Members of the small Christian community said they were also threatened during the assault. Witnesses reported that the incident occurred while painting work was underway inside the church.

The attackers reportedly identified themselves as members of the Hindu Jagaran Manch and accused local Christians of converting people with financial inducements, a claim denied by the victims. The church belongs to the Presbyterian Church of India and serves 116 members from around 50 families. Police detained three suspects and filed a case under charges of trespassing, damage, and criminal intimidation. Authorities said the situation is now calm.

Christian leader Herod Mallik announced that a delegation had visited the site and called for a protest rally on July 14. The incident has sparked political controversy, with the CPI(M) accusing the ruling BJP of fostering communal tensions in the state.