The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has released a draft regulation governing mergers, divisions, amalgamations, and acquisitions of listed companies. The draft, published on the BSEC website on Saturday, invites stakeholder feedback within two weeks. The regulator stated that the new framework aims to prevent past abuses in corporate restructuring that often benefited directors at the expense of general shareholders.

The draft rules prohibit backdoor listings or reverse takeovers and require at least 75 percent approval from general shareholders for any restructuring scheme. Independent valuers from BSEC’s approved panel must assess such schemes using at least two absolute and two relative valuation methods. The rules also set limits on growth projections and discount rates, require submission of audit reports, tax returns, and financial justification reports, and mandate disclosure of employee benefits and tax liabilities.

After BSEC and stock exchange review, shareholder consent and court approval will be required before final implementation. The regulation seeks to ensure transparency, accountability, and protection of investor interests in corporate restructuring.

India is planning to increase its oil imports from the United States in response to the ongoing disruptions in the strategic Hormuz Strait. Sumit Ritolia, chief energy analyst at business analytics platform Kpler, told Al Jazeera that India is seeking alternative energy sources as the situation in the strait remains uncertain. Discussions are reportedly underway between India and the United States to expand oil and gas imports.

Ritolia cautioned that while the United States has the capacity to export oil and gas, it cannot fully replace the large volumes India currently imports from the Middle East. He also noted that India’s oil imports from Russia have risen, with the country continuing to buy discounted Russian crude despite Western sanctions following the Ukraine war, which has helped strengthen its energy security.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting India, where discussions are taking place on various agreements related to energy and defense cooperation, according to reports.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 60,000 crore refinancing and support fund to reopen closed factories and generate new employment opportunities. The central bank expects the initiative to create jobs for more than 2.5 million people. The announcement was made by Governor Mostakur Rahman at a press conference held at the bank’s headquarters on Saturday. He said the country’s economic growth had declined over the past three years, with GDP growth falling from 5.8 percent to 4.2 percent and possibly reaching 3.7 percent this year. Key sectors such as garments, textiles, steel, ceramics, information technology, and manufacturing have been severely affected.

According to the central bank, Tk 41,000 crore will be distributed under a refinancing scheme, while Tk 19,000 crore will come from various support programs. The refinancing portion includes allocations for closed industries, CMSME, agriculture, export diversification, and developing northern Bangladesh as an agricultural hub. The support fund covers pre-shipment credit, small entrepreneurs, leather, youth employment, rural activities, frozen fish exports, green investment, overseas employment, startups, and the creative economy.

Bangladesh Bank expects the fund to boost industrial revival, rural economic activities, and export growth, with specific allocations aimed at job creation both domestically and abroad.

In Shalla upazila of Sunamganj, at least Tk 150 crore worth of Boro rice has been submerged under water this year, along with cattle fodder valued at about Tk 200 crore. The flooding occurred due to inadequate drainage in the haor areas, leaving farmers with extensive crop damage. According to the local agriculture office, 21,700 hectares were cultivated with a production target of 143,368 tons of rice worth Tk 516 crore. Official estimates record losses of Tk 66 crore, but local farmers and social organizations claim the real damage is much higher.

Farmers report that many harvested crops rotted due to lack of sunlight and were later discarded, losses not reflected in official records. The total damage is estimated at 41,666 tons of rice, valued at Tk 150 crore. The government announced three months of continuous assistance for affected farmers, but the support has yet to reach them. Allegations of irregularities and corruption have also surfaced regarding the list of 20,250 affected farmers.

Local leaders urged the government to address both crop and fodder losses, as the haor’s farmers have lost their main source of livelihood and animal feed.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the textile sector must become competitive and modern to achieve sustainability. He made the remarks on Saturday at a seminar titled “Sustainable Transition in Employment: Preparation and Journey of Textile Students,” held at the Jute Diversification Promotion Center in Dhaka.

The minister stated that the government has no plans to establish or operate new state-owned mills, emphasizing that business operations will remain in the private sector. He said the government will focus on policy support and creating an enabling environment. Muktadir highlighted the need to update curricula at textile institutes and engineering colleges to align with technological changes. He also announced plans to involve BTMA and capable private mills with educational institutions to improve teaching quality and provide practical industrial experience.

He identified energy supply uncertainty, production costs, cost of funds, and technological limitations as major challenges for the textile industry. The government is working to address these issues while promoting man-made fibers, new product development, and value chain upgrades to enhance competitiveness.

A government ban on cattle sacrifice ahead of Eid al-Adha has triggered a severe downturn in livestock markets across West Bengal. The enforcement of the 1950 West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act has left thousands of cattle traders, farmers, transport workers, and market laborers struggling. Hindu cattle traders, who traditionally rely on Muslim buyers during the Eid season, have expressed the most frustration, saying the restrictions have halted sales and caused major financial losses.

Videos circulating on social media show Hindu traders voicing anger and despair over the administration’s decision, claiming Muslim buyers now fear visiting markets. Some traders said they took large loans expecting Eid sales, while others described being unable to sell animals due to police surveillance. Religious leaders have urged restraint and suggested alternatives like goat or sheep sacrifice to prevent unrest.

Human rights activists and analysts noted that the long-standing economic ties between Hindu sellers and Muslim buyers in rural Bengal are under strain. Despite official claims that the move targets no community, the timing and strict enforcement have created uncertainty and hardship for low-income groups dependent on the Eid livestock trade.

India has increased petrol and diesel prices again, marking the third hike in ten days. Starting Saturday, petrol prices rose by 87 paise per litre and diesel by 91 paise per litre. The latest adjustment follows earlier increases on May 16 and May 19, when prices were raised by 3 rupees and 90 paise per litre respectively. As a result, fuel prices have climbed by at least 5 rupees per litre in major cities over the past ten days.

The price hikes come amid a fuel supply crisis linked to conflict in West Asia. Although India’s central petroleum department previously claimed there was no shortage of petrol or diesel, it had signaled that further price increases were possible. As of Friday night, petrol in New Delhi cost 98.64 rupees per litre, which has now risen to 99.51 rupees, while diesel increased from 91.58 to 92.49 rupees per litre.

The repeated hikes suggest continued pressure on India’s fuel market, with potential implications for transportation and consumer costs if global tensions persist.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, cattle markets across Dhaka have started to draw increasing numbers of buyers and sellers. Farmers and traders from districts including Kushtia, Chuadanga, Pabna, Natore, Sirajganj, and Rajshahi have brought truckloads of cattle to the city. However, sellers report that rising costs of animal feed, transport, and related expenses may push cattle prices up by 15 to 20 percent compared to last year. At the Uttara Diabari market, farmers complained about poor management, including water shortages, lack of sheds, and muddy conditions.

Some traders said they had to buy sand at their own expense to keep cattle dry and pay extra for better spots or shed space. Allegations also surfaced that pickup drivers were being charged up to 5,000 taka for entry stickers. The market leaseholder claimed that most issues were being resolved. Feed prices have nearly doubled in some cases, and transport costs have risen by several thousand taka per truck. Meanwhile, the Gabtoli market remains half full, with moderate-priced cattle attracting the most attention.

Authorities said law enforcement is on alert to prevent extortion, and temporary bank booths have been set up to ease transactions. Markets are expected to reach full activity by Monday.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, passengers across Bangladesh are facing unregulated fare hikes on air-conditioned (AC) buses, as operators continue to set prices at their discretion. Although the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regulates non-AC bus fares based on fuel price changes, it has yet to fix rates for AC buses. As a result, passengers are paying between Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,800 for Dhaka–Barishal routes and up to Tk 3,000 for Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar, far higher than non-AC fares. Despite government directives, BRTA has not finalized AC fare structures, allowing operators to continue charging arbitrary rates.

Officials previously announced that AC bus fares would be determined before Eid, and meetings were held between BRTA and transport owners to prepare proposals. However, the process remains incomplete. Transport owners argue that AC fares should not be regulated, while passenger groups and experts blame BRTA for failing to enforce oversight.

Experts from BUET warn that without model-based fare regulation and stronger enforcement, fare chaos will persist, particularly during peak travel seasons like Eid.

A one-kilometer road construction project in Raiganj, Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram, remains incomplete nearly three years after work began. The project, valued at about one crore taka and scheduled for completion within one and a half years under the rural infrastructure development program, has seen repeated delays. Despite two deadline extensions, around half of the work remains unfinished, while the contractor has reportedly withdrawn 80 percent of the project payment. Locals report severe suffering due to the poor condition of the road.

Field observations revealed the use of substandard materials, including brick debris instead of sand, leaving the road uneven and damaged by rain. Residents allege that the main contractor, Oni Traders, subcontracted the work to local businessmen without proper oversight. The upazila engineer, newly assigned to the area, said he would investigate and take legal action if irregularities are confirmed. The district engineer also promised an inquiry and possible contract cancellation if wrongdoing is found.

Repeated attempts to contact Oni Traders’ owner were unsuccessful, as his phone remained switched off.

France’s government is considering imposing an additional tax on companies that have made excessive or unexpected profits due to rising energy prices triggered by the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure indicated this in an interview with Sud Radio, saying that if certain firms earned exceptional profits in this situation, they could face extra taxation. He added that the final debate on the proposal is scheduled for the coming autumn.

Since the conflict began in late February, several opposition politicians in France have strongly advocated for a windfall tax on energy companies such as TotalEnergies. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, a route that previously carried about 20 percent of global oil shipments, has caused a severe energy crisis across Europe.

Rising fuel and food prices have slowed France’s economic growth, prompting the government to announce large-scale domestic financial support packages to protect households and businesses from the impact of the crisis.

The Shahjibazar 100-megawatt power plant in Habiganj has remained non-operational for six years despite the payment of Tk 600 crore and multiple repair efforts. The plant, expected to supply around 2.4 million units of electricity daily worth Tk 2 crore, has delivered only Tk 34 crore worth of power during its test phase. The project, initiated by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) in 2017 at a cost of Tk 890 crore, was built by China Cable Corporation Engineering (CCCCE) using a General Electric LM-S100 gas turbine. It was scheduled to begin production in June 2020 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After initial testing in 2021, the turbine blades broke, causing repeated shutdowns despite subsequent repairs and component replacements. The plant last operated briefly in early 2024 before another mechanical failure in April halted production again. PDB has paid about 70 percent of the total bill, withholding 10 percent as compensation until project completion. Officials said the government may take over operations if the contractor fails to meet obligations.

Discussions are ongoing between the Chinese and American firms for technical support, with a tentative plan to restart the plant by June 2027 if progress continues as planned.

International oil prices increased again as negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s uranium stockpile and the Hormuz Strait remained deadlocked. According to an Al Jazeera report cited on May 22, 2026, investor uncertainty over the lack of progress in the talks contributed to the price surge. On Friday, the global benchmark Brent crude rose by 2.3 percent, or 2.38 dollars, reaching 104.96 dollars per barrel.

At the same time, the price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 1.8 percent, or 1.73 dollars, to 98.08 dollars per barrel. The rise followed a nearly 2 percent drop in both benchmarks on Thursday, which had brought prices to their lowest level in about two weeks.

The report indicates that the continuing diplomatic stalemate between Washington and Tehran is keeping investors cautious, with energy markets responding to the uncertainty surrounding the region and its potential impact on global oil supply routes.

In Chattogram, the price of open salt used for preserving raw hides has sharply increased ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, despite reports of sufficient stock. Traders said the price per 74-kg sack has risen from Tk 680–700 during the last Eid-ul-Fitr to Tk 930–950 now, an increase of Tk 200–250 per sack. They alleged that mill owners and business syndicates have artificially raised prices, creating difficulties for hide traders who rely heavily on salt for preservation.

According to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Chattogram office, the district currently holds 8,670 tons of refined salt and 64,000 tons of crude salt, which is more than enough to meet the estimated 5,322-ton demand during the upcoming Eid. However, traders said the price hike is squeezing their profit margins, as tannery owners have not raised hide prices accordingly. Many wholesalers are reportedly winding up their businesses due to mounting losses and unpaid dues from Dhaka tanneries.

BSCIC officials said heavy rainfall has occasionally disrupted salt production, but there is no shortage in the market. The administration plans to monitor prices jointly with local authorities to prevent manipulation.

A recent nationwide survey has revealed that more than 90 percent of motorized vessels operating in Bangladesh are unregistered. Out of 244,660 motorized boats identified, only 22,298 are registered under the Department of Shipping. The findings, released on May 22, 2026, indicate that most vessels operate without approved designs, safety checks, or certified crews, posing serious safety and revenue concerns.

The survey, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics under the Department of Shipping’s project to build a vessel database, was carried out from May 4 to 17 across the country. It identified around 25 types of vessels, including cargo ships, passenger launches, speedboats, dredgers, and ferries. Experts warned that unapproved vessel construction and operation create significant safety risks and deprive the government of substantial revenue.

Officials noted that data collection is still ongoing in remote and hilly areas, suggesting the total number of vessels may increase slightly once the survey is complete.