Prime Minister Tarek Rahman attended the 81st founding anniversary celebration of Dhaka Medical College, known as DMC Day 2026, held on July 11, 2026. After inaugurating the event by releasing doves and balloons at Shaheed Milon Square, he participated in a discussion titled “Thoughts of DMCians on Modernizing Bangladesh’s Health System” at the college auditorium. During the session, he exchanged views with doctors, officials, and students, answering questions and listening to their suggestions.

When asked about his vision for the health sector, the Prime Minister humorously pointed to his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, saying, “I don’t have health in my head, she does,” prompting laughter across the auditorium. The participant then remarked that if Dr. Rahman took initiatives in this area, it would make them even prouder.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, State Minister Dr. M A Muhith, Health Services Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, and the Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman were also present at the event.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said that leaders of the previous fascist government used state facilities to illegally occupy canals, leading to waterlogging and floods. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Chattogram Circuit House during a meeting with 16 local MPs, the city mayor, and administrative officials to coordinate flood relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts in Chattogram and the three hill districts.

The minister stated that the current democratic government is working to reduce public suffering, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman closely monitoring the disaster situation in Chattogram. He added that the prime minister is in constant contact with local authorities and personally overseeing relief needs. Amit also mentioned that the government held a three-and-a-half-hour conference on Friday to review recent activities and that work has begun according to the new plan.

He further said that Ansar, BGB, and the army are delivering relief to remote areas, and that he would visit Banshkhali to oversee increased relief distribution. The state minister noted that the state minister for water resources would visit Chattogram the next day to discuss river dredging plans.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman spent time with students of Kazi Fazlul Huq Women’s Hostel at Dhaka Medical College on Saturday morning. The visit followed the inauguration of “DMC Day 2026” at 10 a.m., marked by the release of balloons and pigeons. Dr. Zubaida Rahman had lived in this hostel during her medical studies, making the visit a sentimental return for her.

During the event, the Prime Minister wished the students success in their future endeavors, while Dr. Zubaida Rahman shared emotional recollections of her student life at the college. She encouraged students to remain forward-looking despite life’s challenges and to build the institution’s reputation globally through excellence in medical service. The couple’s arrival was met with enthusiasm, and students later took selfies with them.

The visit highlighted the personal connection of the Prime Minister’s family with Dhaka Medical College and underscored the importance of inspiring current students toward professional and institutional pride.

Continuous rainfall and a sudden flash flood in Rangamati’s Rajsthali upazila submerged the Sadek Poultry Farm, killing around 1,500 chickens. The incident occurred late Friday night in Dak Bangla Para of Bangalhalia Union, causing losses estimated at over five lakh taka. The farm’s owner, young entrepreneur Md. Sadek, said he and his workers tried to save the birds but failed as floodwaters from a nearby mountain stream inundated the area.

Sadek explained that he had established the poultry farm with loans from various NGOs to overcome unemployment. Now, with his home flooded and his livestock lost, he has been left destitute. He appealed for assistance from the administration and local benefactors to recover from the disaster.

Following the incident, Major Md. S. Arefin, commander of the Bangalhalia Army Camp, visited the damaged farm and assured Sadek of support. Local Union Parishad member Shimul Das was also present during the visit.

Former interim government legal adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul has called on ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh immediately and face the legal process. In a Facebook post on Saturday, he questioned why she should wait until December if she truly intends to come back, urging her to present her position before the court and the public.

Nazrul welcomed Hasina’s stated willingness to return, noting that both the previous interim government and the current BNP government had formally requested India to facilitate her return. He said the government wants to bring her under the law for trial, while Hasina has expressed interest in returning. He raised questions about her accountability for the July uprising that led to her ouster, as well as incidents such as the BDR mutiny, Shapla Chattar killings, enforced disappearances, and corruption allegations during her rule.

Nazrul further stated that while Hasina’s family left the country before the July uprising, many Awami League activists continue to face legal uncertainty. He urged her not to delay if she truly plans to return, and not to mislead her party members with repeated announcements if she does not.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging at Benapole, the country’s largest land port, submerging imported goods worth crores of taka. Several sheds and yards near Gate No. 3 were flooded, disrupting storage, transport, and unloading operations. The port authority has deployed power pumps to remove water, but the effort has been hampered by ongoing rain.

Port users and traders have blamed the recurring problem on the absence of an effective drainage system despite multiple infrastructure projects. They alleged that authorities were repeatedly informed but took no lasting action. A committee formed earlier to address drainage issues has shown no visible progress. Many importers, lacking insurance coverage, are now facing significant financial losses.

Business leaders expressed frustration that despite Benapole generating around Tk 10,000 crore in annual revenue for the government, the drainage crisis persists. The port director said water removal is underway and expects improvement once the rain stops.

On June 17, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a preliminary agreement with Iran at France’s Palace of Versailles, aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping and allow Iran to resume oil sales. The deal was intended to ease years of sanctions and encourage peaceful relations. However, within a month, three ships were attacked near the strait, prompting Trump to revoke Iran’s oil export permission and order airstrikes on more than 170 Iranian military sites. No new talks have been scheduled since.

Both Trump’s military and diplomatic strategies have failed, returning the United States to sanctions and strikes. Vice President J.D. Vance warned of harsher responses to future attacks, while experts questioned the effectiveness of repeating past measures. Former diplomat Richard Haass said no clear strategy is visible as both sides escalate attacks on energy facilities.

The situation is further complicated by Iran’s internal turmoil following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and public anger toward government officials. Disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved, leaving future negotiations uncertain.

BNP Vice Chairman and Noakhali-4 (Sadar-Subarnachar) MP Md. Shahjahan announced that Noakhali’s Sadar and Subarnachar areas will be freed from drug-related crimes, extortion, and teenage gangs. He stated that many youths involved in such gangs are linked to political organizations, emphasizing that legal measures alone are insufficient and that a social movement is needed to combat drug abuse. He made these remarks on Friday evening while addressing a fruit festival organized by the Subarnachar Upazila Welfare Association at the Noakhali Club auditorium in Dhaka.

Shahjahan noted that girls now outnumber boys in schools, meetings, and examinations, attributing this to boys’ growing involvement in drugs and gang activities. He warned that such trends are causing boys to fall behind academically and socially. The MP also said he had instructed law enforcement through the district law and order committee to ensure that students up to the tenth grade do not remain outside after evening without valid reasons, and that legal action should be taken against violators.

Several former government officials and BNP leaders attended the event, which was presided over by Md. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Subarnachar Upazila Welfare Association.

Bangladeshi actress Pori Moni has publicly spoken in detail for the first time about her 2021 arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). In a Facebook post published at midnight on Friday, she claimed that her detention on August 4, 2021, was completely unlawful and carried out under the direction of then RAB chief and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. She expressed gratitude to former RAB intelligence head Lt. Col. Khairul Islam for recently acknowledging certain truths about the incident in an online talk show.

Pori Moni stated that she was falsely implicated in fabricated cases, placed on a seven-day remand, and kept in jail for 20 days, which caused severe personal and professional damage. She described the experience as a painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history, saying her dignity and character were unjustly questioned. She emphasized that she seeks truth, justice, and humanity rather than revenge, urging that no innocent person should face similar injustice in the future.

She expressed hope that the court would soon clear her of the charges and questioned whether the state could restore the honor and peace she lost.

A violent robbery took place in the Padmarkanda Dighirpar area of Kathalia Union under Madhabdi Police Station in Narsingdi. The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. when a group of five to seven robbers simultaneously attacked at least three houses. They broke into the home of victim Minhajul Islam, held him at gunpoint, and looted gold ornaments and cash after assaulting him. The robbers also detonated several crude bombs to spread panic before fleeing, injuring three people who tried to resist them.

Following the attack, fear and tension gripped the Kathalia and Padmarkanda areas. Residents demanded stronger night security and the immediate arrest of those involved. Madhabdi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kamal Hossain confirmed the robbery and said police had identified several suspects. He assured that arrests would be made soon and that the affected families would file formal complaints after visiting the station.

Police are continuing their investigation at the scene, and the community remains on high alert amid calls for swift justice and improved safety measures.

The European Union has directed Meta to change the ‘addictive design’ of Facebook and Instagram, warning that failure to comply could result in substantial fines. The preliminary assessment, released on Friday from Brussels, accuses Meta of failing to reduce risks for children and vulnerable adults by maintaining features that keep users engaged for long periods, such as infinite scroll, personalized feeds, and autoplay videos.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen stated that protecting Europeans’ physical and mental health should be a priority for social media platforms. The European Commission said Meta must modify its design to disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce effective screen time breaks, and make recommendation algorithms less engagement-driven. Meta disagreed with the findings but said it would work constructively with the EU.

If the preliminary decision becomes final, the EU could fine Meta up to six percent of its global annual revenue. The move follows growing EU pressure on major tech firms to strengthen online safety for minors, similar to earlier warnings issued to TikTok.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations have distributed dry food and essential relief items among flood-affected families in South Chattogram. The distribution took place on Friday across several unions of Satkania upazila, including Sadar, Kanchana, Chhadaha, and Dhemsha, as well as in different areas of Lohagara upazila such as Sadar and Adhunagar.

The relief packages included flattened rice, puffed rice, biscuits, pure drinking water, and other dry food items. These were provided to families facing food shortages due to the ongoing floods. BNP representatives stated that their relief efforts would continue to alleviate the suffering of affected residents and ensure necessary assistance reaches those in need.

Local residents welcomed the humanitarian initiative and expressed gratitude for the timely support provided by the BNP and its volunteers.

The United States has asked Iran to make a public commitment to stop attacks on commercial ships and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Washington intends to raise this demand in talks scheduled to begin Saturday in Oman. US media, citing unnamed officials, reported that Tehran privately admitted to President Donald Trump’s advisers that the recent ship shooting was a mistake, blaming an uncontrolled internal faction for the incident.

According to senior US officials quoted by CBS News and Reuters, Washington wants Iran to publicly acknowledge the attack as an error and to declare the waterway open for safe navigation. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner are expected to lead the US delegation. A Qatari delegation also visited Tehran on Friday to help ease tensions and facilitate dialogue.

The Oman talks follow a June ceasefire agreement and a 14-point memorandum aimed at expanding the truce and defining future maritime administration of the strait in coordination with Oman and other Gulf states.

A woman named Lucky Akter jumped into the Sugandha River with her five-year-old daughter on Friday night in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi district. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. near the ferry ghat area. Local residents quickly intervened and rescued both the mother and child alive, providing them with initial medical care.

According to Lucky Akter, she had been under severe mental stress due to fears that her daughter would be taken away from her. She said she had ongoing marital disputes with her husband, Saidul Islam, and had recently divorced him. Following the separation, attempts were allegedly made to take her daughter from her, which led to her emotional breakdown and the desperate act.

Nalchity Police Station Officer-in-Charge Touhiduzzaman confirmed that both mother and child are now safe. Police visited the scene and are investigating the cause of the incident. Legal action will be taken after the investigation is completed.

A widespread outbreak of Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes severe watery diarrhea, has been reported in 31 US states, with thousands of infections confirmed in recent weeks. Michigan has been hit hardest, where over 1,000 cases were identified in just two weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 843 confirmed cases were recorded between May 1 and July 9, with more than 1,500 additional suspected cases under review. No deaths have been reported, though 86 people have been hospitalized.

The CDC stated that the infection, known as cyclosporiasis, spreads through contaminated food or water, not from person to person. The exact source of the current outbreak remains unknown, but past incidents have been linked to raw produce such as salad mixes, cilantro, basil, raspberries, peas, and green onions. Most patients had not traveled abroad before falling ill, suggesting a domestic contamination source.

Health authorities in Michigan have advised restaurants and food handlers to wash produce thoroughly, cook leafy vegetables when possible, and discard outer layers of lettuce and green onions to reduce risk. The CDC expects case numbers to rise as new data emerge.