Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed a total expenditure of Tk 8,39,505 crore in its shadow budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, representing 12.14 percent of GDP. The projected budget deficit stands at Tk 1,68,321 crore, or 2.43 percent of GDP, lower than the Tk 2,21,000 crore deficit estimated for 2025–26. The proposal was presented at a press conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka by party executive council member and MP Saiful Islam Khan Milon, in the presence of party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other alliance leaders.

The proposed allocations include Tk 2,02,245 crore for public administration, Tk 1,27,500 crore for debt interest payments, and Tk 1,25,575 crore for education and technology. Other major sectors include transport and communication, agriculture, social welfare, health, and local government. The party emphasized governance reform, anti-corruption measures, and a fair tax system prioritizing SMEs and agriculture.

Jamaat leaders described the proposal as the first alternative budget by an opposition party in Bangladesh’s history, aiming to build an equitable, corruption-free, and employment-oriented economy grounded in justice and good governance.

Farmers in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur have launched the area’s first-ever summer onion cultivation, opening new agricultural prospects. The initiative, undertaken by the upazila agriculture department, aims to increase domestic onion production and reduce dependence on imports. The project is being implemented under the 'Sustainable Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in the Cumilla Region' and currently covers about three hectares of land with the high-yielding 'Nasek Red N-53' variety.

Local farmers have shown strong interest after early signs of success, noting that they previously cultivated onions only in winter. With free seeds, fertilizers, and technical support provided by the agriculture department, they are now experimenting with summer cultivation. The department is also offering continuous training and field-level supervision to ensure proper crop management.

Officials believe that if the Haimchar model is replicated nationwide, it could help stabilize onion markets and move Bangladesh closer to self-sufficiency in onion production.

Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed an 839,505 crore taka shadow budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The proposal was presented on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Al Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area. Saiful Islam Khan Milon, a member of the party’s executive council and Member of Parliament for Dhaka-12, formally presented the 50-page document outlining the party’s alternative fiscal plan.

According to Jamaat representatives, the proposed budget prioritizes public administration, repayment of domestic and foreign debt interest, and the education and technology sectors. The party stated that the shadow budget was prepared considering the country’s overall economic structure and future development plans.

The presentation marks Jamaat’s effort to outline its economic vision despite its limited political activity, focusing on key sectors it deems vital for national progress.

India’s fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level for the first time, according to official statistics cited in a report by Al Jazeera. The Sample Registration System (SRS) data show that the total fertility rate (TFR), which was about 3.3 in the early 2000s, has steadily declined over the past two decades. Experts warn that this trend could slow population growth and affect the country’s long-term economic structure.

Analysts attribute the decline to multiple social and economic factors, including increased female education and workforce participation, greater access to contraception, and rising child-rearing costs, especially in urban areas. Regional disparities are significant, with Bihar’s TFR at 2.9 and Delhi’s at 1.2. Economists caution that a shrinking working-age population could lead to labor shortages, reduced productivity, and pressure on social security systems as the elderly population grows.

The demographic shift may also influence India’s internal politics, particularly in the upcoming delimitation process that reallocates parliamentary seats based on population. Experts suggest India must prepare for an aging society through stronger health, pension, and social protection systems.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved eight development projects with a total estimated cost of Tk 2,266.41 crore. Of this, Tk 2,229.13 crore will come from government funds and Tk 37.28 crore from agency financing. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held on Tuesday at the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. The approved projects include three new, three revised, and two extended-duration projects.

The approved projects cover multiple sectors, including water resources, transport, public administration, health, defense, education, and power. Notable projects include maintenance and rehabilitation of the Barishal Irrigation Project, upgrading of the Anwara–Banshkhali–Chakaria regional highway, expansion of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, and construction of a cancer center at Dhaka CMH. The meeting also reviewed six smaller projects under Tk 50 crore previously approved by the planning minister, covering water supply, sanitation, waste management, postal services, military training facilities, child marriage prevention, and agricultural education.

The approvals reflect a broad government focus on infrastructure, education, and health development across Bangladesh.

Islami Bank has failed to maintain its required cash reserve ratio (CRR) with Bangladesh Bank amid growing internal unrest. Following the appointment controversy of former deputy governor Khurshid Alam as the bank’s new chairman, depositors have withdrawn around Tk 4,000 crore. As a result, the bank’s principal account balance at the central bank fell from Tk 7,015 crore to Tk 2,600 crore, prompting a request for Tk 10,000 crore in liquidity support.

According to a senior Islami Bank official, the bank’s principal account remains positive but has fallen below the CRR maintenance threshold. The official confirmed that a formal request for liquidity assistance has been submitted to Bangladesh Bank, though no decision has yet been made. The unrest follows the resignation of former chairman Professor M Zubaydur Rahman on May 24 and the subsequent appointment of Khurshid Alam, which triggered protests by customers and shareholders.

Bangladesh Bank officials have acknowledged receiving the liquidity support request but stated that the matter is still under review.

Customers of Islami Bank continued their protest for the ninth consecutive day on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Chairman Khurshid Alam along with six other points. The demonstration, organized by the Conscious Customers Forum, took place in front of Islami Bank Tower from 10 a.m. This time, more than a hundred female customers joined the protest, marking the first significant participation of women in the ongoing movement.

Female participants expressed concern over allegations of financial irregularities and scandals involving the chairman, saying they feared for the safety of their deposits. They demanded Khurshid Alam’s removal and called for the appointment of a chairman with expertise in Islamic finance. Additionally, the protesters sought the reinstatement of Managing Director Omar Faruk, who was appointed after August 5.

The demonstration reflects growing dissatisfaction among depositors regarding the bank’s leadership and management decisions, with participants emphasizing the need for transparency and trust in the institution’s governance.

Bangladesh Bank has convened a special board meeting on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at its headquarters to make key decisions regarding nine financial institutions that have long been in crisis. The meeting is expected to decide on proceeding with the closure of five institutions and granting three months to four others for recovery. The institutions proposed for closure include FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing and Financial Services, and International Leasing and Financial Services.

According to central bank sources, the five institutions facing closure hold around Tk 2,700 crore in individual deposits. The meeting will also discuss how these deposits will be refunded and may consider appointing administrators to oversee the process. If approved, the appointment of administrators and the refund process will begin soon.

Institutions given three months—Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, Premier Leasing and Finance, GSP Finance, and Prime Finance—must demonstrate their ability to repay depositors within that period. Failure to do so will bring them under the resolution or closure process. The financial sector has been struggling with liquidity shortages, high default loans, and weak governance, prompting this new resolution initiative.

Share prices of Islami Bank and Beximco fell sharply after the withdrawal of floor prices became effective on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Both companies’ shares hit the lower circuit breaker limit, placing them among the top decliners in the stock market. The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) had issued an order on Monday removing the floor price restrictions and directed the country’s two stock exchanges to take necessary actions.

Following the implementation of the decision, heavy selling pressure emerged at the start of trading, with very few buyers for the two companies. Islami Bank’s share price dropped from its floor price of Tk 32.60 to Tk 29.40, a decline of 9.82 percent within the first one and a half hours of trading, with 28,000 shares changing hands in 174 trades. Beximco’s share price fell from Tk 110.10 to Tk 99.10, marking a 9.99 percent drop, with 7,863 shares traded during the same period.

The sharp declines followed BSEC’s move to lift the floor price, signaling immediate market reactions to the regulatory change.

Allegations of corruption and irregularities have surfaced at the Cumilla Rice Research Institute, where a modern rice harvester has reportedly been left unused under the open sky for a year. Despite having access to advanced machinery, the institute has been hiring laborers at inflated wages to harvest rice, leading to significant financial losses for the government. Reports also claim that a large portion of the rice produced at the institute is being divided among officers and employees instead of being used for research purposes.

A field visit to the Shashongacha area of Cumilla Sadar Upazila revealed that workers from Thakurgaon were harvesting rice manually, earning Tk 900–1,000 per day, which exceeds the local market rate. Sources indicated that this practice has caused unnecessary expenditure of public funds. Additionally, the institute’s harvester remains idle despite its potential to harvest large areas efficiently.

Farm manager Zahidul Haque Shamim stated that the institute’s harvester has been out of order for about a year, forcing them to rely on manual labor. He added that waterlogged fields have further complicated the use of machinery.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday morning, June 8, at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration Conference Room in the Secretariat. The meeting was confirmed by Deputy Press Secretary Sujan Mahmud.

The session discussed several development projects, including a new Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara, Chattogram. The proposed project, covering 800 acres, is expected to create 100,000 jobs and attract $500 million in foreign investment. The total cost is estimated at Tk 4,190 crore, with Tk 1,722 crore from the government and Tk 2,467 crore in project assistance from China. Implementation is planned from January 2027 to December 2031.

The meeting follows the earlier cancellation of the Indian Economic Zone project in Mirsarai, which had been halted by the interim government in February after the public uprising. The new proposal aims to revive industrial growth and foreign investment momentum in the region.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is considering launching a new Withholding Identification Number (WIN) system to strengthen monitoring of tax deductions at source. The proposal may be presented in the national budget speech on June 11. Under current law, institutions deduct 5 percent tax from house rent payments and deposit it into the government treasury, but there is no effective mechanism to verify whether the deductions are properly made or deposited. The WIN system aims to ensure transparency and accuracy in withholding tax collection.

According to NBR officials, the new system would help increase revenue and reduce tax evasion by tracking how much tax each institution deducts and from whom. Certificates issued against deducted taxes would assist taxpayers in claiming adjustments or refunds during annual income tax returns, while deducting authorities could prove compliance with government rules. Institutions involved in salary payments, product or service transactions, and financial institutions deducting tax on interest income would be required to register for a WIN.

The NBR is also dropping plans to reintroduce wealth tax and to allow whitening of undisclosed money in the upcoming budget, while 67 top taxpayers will receive awards to encourage compliance.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy has resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bangladesh. The bank officially informed Bangladesh Bank about his resignation, according to a press release issued on Monday by its Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Department. Bijoy is stepping down after nearly nine years in the role, subject to regulatory approval, but will continue his over 33-year career with Standard Chartered globally.

The statement added that Enamul Haque, currently the Country Chief Risk Officer and Senior Credit Officer, will assume the role of interim CEO until a new appointment is made. Bijoy had been serving as CEO since November 2017, having previously led the bank’s Global Banking division. Over his long career, he has held key positions in corporate banking, risk, and audit across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Under Bijoy’s leadership, Standard Chartered Bangladesh achieved a record net profit of Tk 3,300 crore in 2024, marking the highest annual profit by any bank in the country’s history.

Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury told parliament that the government is working to reopen Malaysia’s labor market for Bangladeshi workers. Responding to a question on Monday, he said the process is expected to be completed soon. From July 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, about 933,815 workers have been employed abroad, and the government aims to send 1.4 million workers in the next fiscal year.

The minister said diplomatic discussions are ongoing with Malaysia, Oman, the UAE, and Bahrain to reopen or expand labor markets. Bangladesh currently sends workers to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Romania, Seychelles, and Portugal, and has signed memorandums of understanding with 18 countries. The state minister also reported rising fraud through fake demand letters and said stricter embassy monitoring is needed. He added that licenses of three recruiting agencies were suspended for sending workers to Russia who were later forced into war involvement.

The ministry is also focusing on migrant welfare, including hotline services, safe homes for female workers, and plans to expand collateral-free loans for migrants.

Bangladesh’s Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud has directed the preparation of a working paper to make the existing power system safer, smarter, and more modern as the country prepares to enter the nuclear electricity era. The instruction came during a review meeting held Monday morning at the ministry with chairmen and managing directors of transmission and distribution agencies. The meeting discussed the nation’s current power transmission and distribution capacity, weaknesses, and the challenges of launching a nuclear power system.

The minister emphasized identifying potential challenges early and taking immediate steps to address them. He highlighted the importance of establishing a National Research Center to ensure safety and technical readiness before nuclear power generation begins. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) was tasked with conducting studies and preparing a concept paper, which will later be reviewed by foreign consultants experienced in nuclear power. Based on their advice, necessary upgrades to the transmission and distribution systems will be completed before nuclear power integration.

The minister also noted that unnecessary projects in the power sector have been identified and will be investigated, urging all stakeholders to work together for national development.