What is on Kharg Island, and why does Trump covet it
Hours before announcing he had called off a planned strike on Iran, President Trump said U.S. forces would seize Kharg Island, which processes 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports.
English edition
National Desk, page 85
6,888 reports translated from the Bengali original, most recent first. বাংলা সংস্করণ
Education directorate orders ban on tobacco company CSR activities in schools
The Directorate of Technical Education has ordered institutions to take steps to bar tobacco companies’ corporate social responsibility activities and to report compliance by June 15.
China alleges ‘spy turtles’ and ‘spy fish’ in its waters
China’s Ministry of State Security says foreign intelligence agencies are using sensor-fitted “spy turtles” and “spy fish” to gather sensitive maritime data in its waters.
Mistakes will happen on the path to invention, but you must not give up, Dr. Farid says
At a Chouddagram science startup and innovation fair, local lawmaker Dr. Farid urged students not to fear failure, saying mistakes are inevitable on the path to invention.
New chairmen named for 8 city development authorities, 7 are BNP leaders
The government has appointed new chairmen to eight city development authorities, seven of them BNP leaders, on one-year contracts, the Public Administration Ministry said.
Ariana Grande warns White House not to use her song for ‘barbaric work’
U.S. pop star Ariana Grande has warned the Trump administration not to use her music to promote its immigration policy, after the White House used her song in a video.
Injury-hit Morocco to face Brazil
Morocco has been dealt a double blow before the start of its World Cup campaign, losing forward Abde Ezzalzouli and defender Nayef Aguerd to injury.
US-Iran peace deal could be signed in Geneva by Sunday
A US-Iran memorandum to halt the war in the Middle East could be signed by Sunday, with Geneva the likely venue, a Western official told Reuters.
The curse Argentina must break to defend the World Cup
Predicting the World Cup champion is nothing new, and German economic analyst Joachim Klement, who correctly called the last three winners, sees several historical patterns working against title holders Argentina.
Will a Brazil-Argentina clash be seen at the World Cup?
With the World Cup under way, fans across the subcontinent are most focused on arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina, and the prospect of a showdown between the two.
Chhatra Shibir central assistant international secretary Zisan Pradhan goes missing
Zisan Pradhan, central assistant international affairs secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, has gone missing since offering Isha prayers at the Daudkandi Model Mosque on Thursday night.
Jamaat chief offers condolences to family of student killed in China
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the family of Toufiq Ahmad Sparsho, a Bangladeshi student killed in a road accident in China, to offer his condolences.
BNP leader shot dead in Khulna
Assailants shot dead a BNP leader, Gazi Rafiq, near his home in the Dakshin Labanchara area of Khulna on Friday, police said.
South Korea's former president jailed for 30 years over Pyongyang drone flights
A South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk-yeol to 30 years in prison over military drones sent to Pyongyang, the news agency Yonhap reported.
Lawyer claims pathology centre's licence, not hospital's, was cancelled at Ad-Din
The licence cancelled at Ad-Din Hospital belonged to its pathology centre, not the hospital itself, lawyer Shishir Monir claimed in a Facebook post.
Neymar set to miss Brazil's match against Morocco
Neymar is highly unlikely to feature in Brazil's World Cup opener against Morocco on Sunday after complications in his recovery, French outlet Footmercato reported.
Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire
Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire after his space company SpaceX raised a record $75 billion through an IPO.
Science and technology fair in Gangni leaves visitors impressed by students' inventions
A science and technology fair and exhibition was held in Gangni, Meherpur, to promote science and encourage inventive thinking among students.
Seven critically ill patients moved to Ad-din after Khulna city hospital fire
A fire at Khulna City Medical College Hospital was brought under control by midnight Thursday, with more than 250 patients shifted to other hospitals and seven critical patients moved to Ad-din; no casualties were…
Five percent of students to get free education
Five percent of secondary- and college-level students will be offered free education in the 2026-27 fiscal year, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said while presenting the budget.
Plan to set up 500 educational institutions
The government will set up 500 educational institutions in backward areas in the new fiscal year, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said in the proposed 2026-27 budget.
MPO policy for ibtedayee madrasas
A separate MPO policy will be framed for ibtedayee madrasas, with the education ministry directed to begin work, sources said.
Signs of storms in 10 districts
Powerful storms with thunder and rain may hit 10 districts at up to 60 km per hour, the Meteorological Department said in a warning.
South Korea beat the Czech Republic
Trailing in the second half, South Korea hit back with two goals to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 for a winning start.
US and Paraguay meet on the world stage after 96 years
Hosts the United States open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Saturday, the two sides' first World Cup meeting in 96 years.
'Algorithm' takes its name from a Muslim mathematician
The word 'algorithm', woven deeply into modern life, derives from the name of a ninth-century Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.
Lime-factory owner jailed and fined over illegal gas connection in Sonargaon
A mobile court in Narayanganj's Sonargaon jailed Md Abu Bakkar (26), owner of a lime factory, for 10 days and fined him Tk 5,000 for stealing gas through an unauthorised connection under the Gas…
China-duari nets seized in Gaffargaon; five fined
A mobile court seized about 1,750 metres of banned China-duari nets — 35 nets — from the Brahmaputra in Mymensingh's Gaffargaon and fined five people under the fish-protection law.
41 lakh women to receive Family Cards
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 14,500 crore for the Family Card programme, bringing 41 lakh women under it at Tk 2,500 a month each — within a record Tk 9,38,000 crore budget targeting 6.5%…
Elderly man stranded at Bakshiganj border handed to relatives
Shashthi Chandra Barman (68), whom the BSF tried to push into Bangladesh at Jamalpur's Bakshiganj border, was handed to his family a day after his rescue from the no-man's-land, the BGB and police said.
Local-election year: Tk 4,400 crore allocated for the EC
The 2026-27 budget allocates Tk 4,400 crore to the Election Commission secretariat — most of it expected to fund local-government elections — a 48.88% rise, though Tk 1,100 crore short of the EC's Tk…
Which goods and services may get costlier — and which cheaper
The 2026-27 budget raises duties on cigarettes, fuel cars, imported cashews, honey and more, while cutting source tax on 60 essentials to 0.5% and slashing duties on EVs, laptops, dialysis filters and gold ornaments.
Tk 55,000 crore extra for public administration; finance minister announces new pay scale
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the phased rollout of the ninth pay scale for government employees from 1 July 2026 — with at least Tk 44,000 crore of the Tk 54,572 crore…
Budget 2026-27: Tk 1,062 crore proposed for Farmer Cards
The country's 55th budget proposes Tk 1,062.50 crore for Farmer Cards covering 42.5 lakh farmers, fish, livestock and salt producers across 100 upazilas — within a record Tk 9,38,000 crore budget with a Tk…
Large haul of Indian cigarettes seized in BGB drive; one held
BGB's Sreemangal 46 Battalion seized 3,384 packets of illegal Indian cigarettes and detained one smuggler in a drive at the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar.
Income-tax returns to be allowed all year round
From the coming fiscal year taxpayers can file income-tax returns year-round, the finance minister said — with a rebate of up to Tk 25,000 for filing in the first quarter and surcharges for late…
Missing in childhood, Dulal returns home after 58 years
Delwar Hossain Dulal Chowdhury, who went missing from Chandpur's Matlab Uttar as a child around 1969, has been reunited with his family 58 years later — traced through his fragmentary memories and online maps…
Government plans 1,000 cold-storage units to protect perishable produce
The government plans to build 1,000 cold-storage units nationwide to cut post-harvest loss of potatoes, onions, garlic and other produce — against an annual potato demand of ~90 lakh tonnes versus ~45 lakh tonnes…
Budget: investment-rebate cap cut across nine sectors including savings certificates and DPS
The budget proposes cutting the investment-rebate cap — across savings certificates, DPS, life-insurance premiums and other sectors — from 15% to 10% of allowable investment and from Tk 10 lakh to Tk 7.5 lakh,…
Tk 57,301 crore proposed for secondary and higher education
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 57,301 crore for the secondary and higher education division — about Tk 10,000 crore more than last year — within total education spending of Tk 1,36,606 crore.
How education gets a 5% allocation
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government aims to raise public investment in education to 5% of GDP gradually, calling education one of the sectors most damaged under 'fascism.'
Consumer-rights drive in Chuadanga: two firms fined Tk 35,000
A consumer-rights directorate drive in Chuadanga Sadar fined two bakery and food-production firms a total of Tk 35,000 for unhygienic production and unauthorised use of the BSTI logo.
Tk 1,36,606 crore education budget proposed
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 1,36,606 crore for education — 2% of GDP — split across secondary and higher (Tk 57,301 crore), primary (Tk 46,737 crore) and technical and madrasa education (Tk 18,457 crore).
Tk 69,409 crore proposed for the health sector
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 69,409 crore for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — about Tk 34,000 crore more than the previous year, nearly double — as the finance minister targets raising…
Youth allegedly tortured over cattle-theft accusation in Gangni; villagers demand case withdrawn
Residents of Pakuria in Meherpur's Gangni allege a young man, Milon Hossain, was beaten and falsely accused of cattle theft over an old enmity, then handed to police; the investigating officer says a case…
Defence allocation rising by Tk 1,593 crore
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 42,291 crore for defence — Tk 1,593 crore more than the outgoing year's revised Tk 40,502 crore — within a record Tk 9,38,000 crore budget.
Women and children's development allocation falls to Tk 5,196 crore
The 2026-27 budget proposes Tk 5,196 crore for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs — Tk 175 crore less than the current revised Tk 5,371 crore — with funding for daycare centres, DNA…
CNG driver stabbed to death in Chauddagram; three arrested
Police arrested three over the stabbing death of CNG auto-rickshaw driver Md Hridoy (24) at Dhorkora Bazar in Cumilla's Chauddagram; though it began with a motorcycle collision, police say a love triangle was the…
Husband killed, wife injured in rival attack in Chougacha
Jewel Rana (40) was killed and his wife Maya Khatun injured in an attack by rivals at Muktadaha village in Jashore's Chougacha, after a long-running political feud, police said.
Chuadanga zila parishad administrator Sharifuzzaman Sharif honoured
Chuadanga Press Club honoured newly appointed zila parishad administrator Sharifuzzaman Sharif, who pledged to lift the district from C grade to B grade and recover council assets for public use.
Magistrate clears multiple dams along 4 km in Bagerhat
Executive magistrate Atish Sarkar cleared multiple dams blocking water flow along 4 km at Subharatkati in Bagerhat's Morrelganj, freeing about 300 bighas of farmland across five villages for double cropping.
Journalist's wife Bipasha killed by truck in Narail
Amena Hasan Bipasha (32), a community health-care provider and wife of Narail journalist Tanvir Ahmed Rubel, was killed when a truck hit her van on the Narail-Dhaka highway on her way to work.
Auto-rickshaw driver killed, 8 injured in bus crash in Gaibandha
Auto-rickshaw driver Ferdaus Mia (60) was killed and at least eight passengers injured when a Dhaka-bound bus hit his battery-run auto-rickshaw at Mather Bazar in Gaibandha's Palashbari.
280 kg of OMS rice and flour seized while being smuggled from BNP leader's dealer point in Chuadanga
Chuadanga district administration seized 210 kg of OMS rice and 70 kg of flour and fined OMS dealer and municipal BNP organising secretary Sohel Malik Sujon Tk 50,000 for allegedly trying to smuggle the…
College student electrocuted in Anwara
Abdul Hannan Shah (22), a degree first-year student at Anwara Government College, was electrocuted while cutting a betel-nut tree at his home in Chattogram's Anwara, police and family said.
Tk 6 crore of seized Indian goods vanish from Benapole port
About Tk 6 crore of Indian saris, three-pieces, babywear and cosmetics seized by customs at Benapole land port have mysteriously vanished — replaced with low-grade local goods — prompting a criminal case and a…
Highest allocations planned for education and health
The 2026-27 budget plans Tk 62,852 crore for health — Tk 49,386 crore for the Health Services Division and Tk 13,466 crore for Health Education and Family Welfare — with Tk 35,026 crore in…
Three and a half months in, the government faces a hard crisis
Just three and a half months old, the BNP government faces crises on multiple fronts — geopolitics, finances and internal discontent — according to an investigation by Shirsho News, which says the situation is…
Housewife allegedly killed over dowry in Chandpur; husband, mother-in-law held
An 18-year-old housewife, Nur Nahar, was allegedly tortured and killed in Chandpur's Haimchar for unmet dowry demands; police have detained her husband and mother-in-law while the in-laws claim suicide.
Nine arrested in drug cases in Ramgarh
Police detained nine people in separate overnight raids in Khagrachhari's Ramgarh on allegations of drug use, filing cases under the Narcotics Control Act before sending them to court.