The government has initiated a Tk 1,800 crore mega project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to modernize rural and municipal infrastructure in Pabna district. The proposed 'Pabna District Rural Infrastructure Development Project' is currently under process at the Ministry of Local Government. It includes construction and repair of rural roads, bridges, culverts, modern markets, ghats, rail crossings, and tree plantation programs for environmental balance.

A separate project is also being prepared to address waterlogging and improve road connectivity in Pabna municipality. Local leaders and officials said the initiative, driven by the efforts of Pabna-5 MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, is nearing final approval. Stakeholders including the district citizen committee and press club leaders expressed optimism that the project will boost local trade, ease transportation of agricultural goods, and improve civic amenities.

According to LGED officials, field-level feasibility studies have been completed, and the development project proposal for drainage and road modernization is progressing rapidly. Implementation will begin once ministerial approval is granted.

The Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) has called for the withdrawal of additional tax imposed on mid-range fossil fuel-powered reconditioned cars in the proposed 2026–27 national budget. The demand was made at a press conference held at Dhaka Club, where BARVIDA President Abdul Haque warned that the increased tax would raise car prices beyond middle-class affordability and put business investments at risk.

BARVIDA stated that the new budget introduces revised engine capacity slabs, raising the overall tax burden on popular fuel-efficient cars from 132.36% to 159.80%. This could increase the price of a reconditioned Toyota Premio by about Tk 300,000 and a Toyota Axio by Tk 250,000. The association also noted that while the government promotes electric vehicles with duty benefits, the lack of charging infrastructure limits their accessibility. BARVIDA urged equal duty benefits for both new and reconditioned plug-in hybrid cars and policy support for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles.

The association highlighted that the reconditioned vehicle sector represents around Tk 20,000 crore in local investment, generates Tk 6,000 crore in annual revenue, and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across related industries.

Foreign investors are increasingly showing interest in operating existing container terminals at Chittagong Port, such as NCT, CCT, and JCB, instead of investing in new greenfield projects like Matarbari, Bay Terminal, and Laldia. Global operators including DP World and A.P. Moller-Maersk have submitted proposals to manage these ready terminals, creating a complex situation for the port authority and the ministry.

The shift in investor focus has slowed progress on major new port projects, delaying around six billion dollars in potential foreign investment. The Bay Terminal project, initiated in 2017, has seen little progress beyond design work, while Matarbari Deep Sea Port and other projects are advancing slowly despite secured funding. Meanwhile, Saudi firm Red Sea Gateway, which operates the Patenga Container Terminal, has also proposed to manage NCT despite underperforming at its current terminal.

Experts note that investors prefer ready terminals for quicker returns, while port officials maintain that each project will proceed on separate timelines. The Chittagong Port Authority has pledged to protect national interests in any future agreements.

Iran and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding that reopened the Hormuz Strait after months of closure. Despite this development, analysts warn that the global oil crisis is far from over. Data from analytics firm Kpler show that about 1.15 billion barrels of oil have been lost from global supply during the conflict, leaving the market fragile and near collapse.

The International Energy Agency reports that global oil reserves are now at their lowest since 1990, while U.S. emergency reserves have hit a 43-year low. At the G7 summit in Versailles, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that American reserves could run out within four weeks if the strait had remained closed. Although oil prices have dropped below 80 dollars per barrel from a wartime high of 126.41 dollars, experts caution that prices may rise again as supply recovery will be slow.

According to the IEA, even with an additional daily output of five million barrels, it could take nearly a year to restore lost supply. Some analysts, however, believe OPEC Plus members are eager to boost production, suggesting the crisis may ease within weeks.

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 of the National Labor Power, the labor wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), have criticized the proposed 2026–2027 national budget as failing to meet the expectations of working people and being contrary to public interest. Speaking at a national seminar titled “Workers’ Expectations and Achievements in the 2026–2027 National Budget” held at the National Press Club on Friday, they said the allocation for the labor and employment sector has been reduced compared to the previous fiscal year, which they described as inconsistent with the development and welfare needs of the country’s large labor force.

Speakers noted that key issues such as workers’ healthcare, safe housing, education, pension systems, and unemployment support have long been neglected, and the budget lacks a clear plan to revive closed industries or restore employment. They urged the government to consult labor organizations before finalizing future budgets to ensure inclusion of worker-focused measures.

The seminar also presented specific demands, including establishing a national fund for skill and technological development, introducing a rationing system for low-income workers, building specialized hospitals and affordable housing in industrial areas, expanding social security and pension schemes, and ensuring fair minimum wage adjustments aligned with inflation.

Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anny said the government is working to approve the Teesta Master Plan as soon as possible. He stated that the project is in its final stage of evaluation to ensure maximum benefits for people in the Teesta basin. The minister made the remarks on Friday while visiting the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat and exchanging views with local residents. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu and State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad were also present.

Anny emphasized that the government is committed to public welfare and is proceeding with the project to ensure long-term national and local benefits. He noted that the government has already approved the Padma Barrage Project and revived the canal excavation program initiated by late President Ziaur Rahman. Plans are underway to excavate and re-excavate about 20,000 kilometers of rivers, canals, and reservoirs over the next five years.

State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad said local and foreign experts are reviewing the Teesta project, which will be submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval once evaluations are complete.

The government of Bangladesh has approved a grant of Tk 140 crore 11 lakh 8 thousand for private orphanages across the country as the second installment of the 2025–26 fiscal year. The Ministry of Social Welfare sanctioned the funds for 4,209 registered private orphanages in 64 districts, benefiting 116,759 orphaned children. The Directorate of Social Services issued an official order confirming the allocation, which will be distributed through local social services offices under the 2014 grant allocation and distribution policy.

According to the Directorate, the total allocation for private orphanages in the current fiscal year amounts to Tk 280 crore, with the first installment of Tk 139 crore 88 lakh 76 thousand already released. Each child will receive Tk 12,000 for six months, covering January to June 2026, primarily for food and basic needs. The ministry emphasized strict monitoring to ensure proper use of the funds.

Officials noted that the grant plays a vital role in improving living conditions for disadvantaged children and supporting the operational costs of financially constrained orphanages nationwide.

The Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association has proposed that all types of restaurants, including street food vendors, be brought under VAT registration and that a uniform 5 percent VAT rate be applied to both restaurant and catering services. The proposal was presented at a press conference held at the association’s headquarters in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, following the announcement of the proposed 2026–27 national budget. The association argued that the current system, which imposes 5 percent VAT on restaurants and 15 percent on catering services, creates inequality in business competition and complicates tax administration.

In a written statement, the association’s secretary general Imran Hasan said that rising LPG and electricity prices and high inflation have significantly increased operating costs in the restaurant sector, which has not received adequate attention in the proposed budget. The association also called for a business-friendly tax environment, one-stop service for restaurant operations, a specific industrial policy for the sector, and mandatory certification from the association.

The group welcomed the government’s proposal to offer depreciation benefits for new restaurant investments outside Dhaka but urged authorities to ensure low-interest loans, reduce operational costs, and maintain policy stability to encourage investment and job creation.

The Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum has announced seven demands, including restructuring the board of directors and returning ownership of Islami Bank Bangladesh to its original owners. The demands were presented by the forum’s convener, Professor Nurun Nabi Manik, at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday. The forum emphasized that Islami Bank plays a vital role in the national economy through remittance flows, SME financing, and public savings.

Speakers at the event expressed concern over the bank’s governance and stability following the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman and the removal of Managing Director Omar Farooq Khan. They stated that since May 24, customers have been organizing human chains, submitting memorandums, and holding press conferences to press their demands. The forum also met with Bangladesh Bank’s deputy governors Kabir Ahmed and Dr. Ismail Hossain to discuss the situation and called for reinstating the former managing director.

The forum announced sit-in programs on June 21 in front of Islami Bank Tower and on June 22 in front of Bangladesh Bank, warning of tougher actions if their demands remain unmet.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a major reduction in gold prices across the country. In its latest adjustment, the price of 22-carat gold has been lowered by Tk 4,374 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 228,556. The revised prices took effect from 10 a.m. on Monday, following two consecutive rounds of price increases and one round of VAT adjustment.

According to the new pricing, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 218,292 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 187,440, and traditional gold Tk 153,148. The previous adjustment, made just a day earlier, had added Tk 2,508 in VAT, setting the 22-carat rate at Tk 232,930 per bhori. That rate also took effect from 10 a.m. on the same day.

So far this year, BAJUS has adjusted gold prices 77 times, including 39 increases, 37 decreases, and one VAT adjustment. In 2025, the association made 93 adjustments, with 64 increases and 29 decreases.

Buyers and sellers in Dhaka have reported a noticeable rise in rice prices, contradicting government statements that supply and prices remain stable. Field visits to major markets such as Karwan Bazar, Badamtoli, and Nayabazar revealed that prices of rice, flour, and pulses have increased compared to pre-Eid levels, while vegetables, chicken, and eggs have become cheaper. Consumers expressed frustration, saying the price hikes are straining low-income households.

Traders said corporate buyers have again driven up paddy prices, leading to higher retail rice costs. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s daily price list also confirmed the increase. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, however, stated that no major instability exists and that only minor variations are normal. The Food State Minister assured that national grain reserves exceed 2 million tons and that the government is ready to intervene if needed.

The proposed 2026–27 budget includes tax cuts on about 60 essential items, including rice, lentils, and oil, aiming to control inflation and stabilize food prices in the long term.

Dr. Muhammad Umer Chapra, a pioneering Islamic economist who passed away on June 13, 2026, is remembered for linking economics with ethics, social justice, and human welfare. His theories warned that interest-based financial systems ultimately harm societies by concentrating wealth and undermining collective prosperity. His ideas have gained renewed relevance as Bangladesh faces a severe banking crisis marked by record loan defaults.

According to the report, non-performing loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector reached 35.73 percent of total distributed credit in the first quarter of the fiscal year, exceeding 6.44 trillion taka—the highest in 25 years. Although later reduced to about 30 percent, this decline resulted from lenient rescheduling policies rather than actual recovery. The crisis has exposed deep governance failures, political influence, and misuse of Islamic banking principles, as several Shariah-based banks collapsed and were merged into a state-run entity.

The article concludes that Chapra’s framework—emphasizing profit-and-loss sharing, strong central oversight, and ethical financial governance—offers practical lessons for Bangladesh. True reform, it argues, requires independent supervision, transparent auditing, and risk-sharing finance aligned with Chapra’s moral-economic vision.

Global oil prices declined following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, which raised expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon. On Friday, Brent crude fell by 54 cents, or 0.68 percent, to 78.31 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by 46 cents, or 0.60 percent, to 76.14 dollars per barrel.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the United States has lifted restrictions on all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that American forces are no longer blocking the movement of ships traveling to or from Iran’s ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The easing of maritime restrictions and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to the downward pressure on global oil prices, signaling a possible stabilization in energy trade routes.

The Directorate of Primary Education has issued an urgent directive instructing all its offices and institutions to promptly pay outstanding and current land development taxes for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The order, signed by Assistant Director of the Finance and Revenue Division Selina Akhter, was circulated on Wednesday to all field-level offices under the directorate.

According to the directive, all offices under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education—including divisional deputy directors’ offices, district primary education offices, primary teacher training institutes, upazila and thana education offices, and government primary schools—must ensure payment of land development tax under code 3821102 from their allocated funds for the fiscal year. The directive emphasizes that timely payment is essential for proper management of government assets and maintaining financial discipline.

The Directorate has instructed all concerned officials to take immediate steps to comply with the order and complete the payment process without delay.