Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder stated that the integration of digital technologies in land services has significantly improved user satisfaction. “This digital transformation is essential,” he said, emphasizing the need for intensive training in survey and settlement operations at the early stages.

He revealed that the government is now earning an average daily revenue of Tk 10–12 crore through online land services. Services like land registration, land development tax, and record issuance have been fully digitized and made cashless, he added.

Chaired by the Chief Adviser, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved nine development projects, including a major upgrade of the grid power evacuation system. The total estimated cost for these projects is BDT 11,851 crore. Of this, BDT 8,046 crore will come from government funds, BDT 2,988 crore from foreign aid, and BDT 816 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has announced that newly printed currency notes will be introduced ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The new notes will feature historic landmarks of Bangladesh, with no portraits of individuals. Printing of the new Tk 20 note is nearly complete and is expected to be handed over to Bangladesh Bank next week. Printing of Tk 50 and Tk 1,000 denominations will follow shortly. The central bank will decide on the official release date. Dr. Mansur also addressed efforts to repatriate laundered money, stating that international pressure following media reports has led to the freezing of illicit funds, marking a significant first step in the recovery process.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a circular announcing an increase in the daily wage for temporary laborers working in government offices. Effective July 1, the maximum daily wage will rise to Tk 800, up from the previous range of Tk 575–600.

In Dhaka and Chattogram City Corporation areas, workers will now earn Tk 800 daily—an increase from the earlier Tk 600 for skilled workers and Tk 575 for unskilled labor. In divisional capitals and other city corporations, the new wage has been set at Tk 750, up from Tk 550–600. For district and sub-district levels, the wage for unskilled laborers will now be Tk 700, compared to the earlier rates of Tk 500–550.

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Economic Adviser to the government, has expressed concern over increasing public criticism. "Many call us incompetent—that’s fine. Criticism is a part of democracy. But such statements damage our image internationally and create negative impressions," he said.

He added, "There’s been talk of various tax exemptions. Once the budget is released, we’ll face tough questions. It’s not easy to determine what’s socially or publicly acceptable. Still, the IMF couldn’t impose everything they wanted—we’ve reached a workable solution."

Banking expert Masrur Arefin noted, "While there haven’t been major breakthroughs in the past nine months, we’ve succeeded in stopping widespread irregularities and money laundering in the banking sector. That itself is a significant achievement. However, political uncertainty is again on the rise."

According to Indian media, the Government of Bangladesh has cancelled a ₹180 crore contract with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), a defense ministry-owned enterprise based in Kolkata. The cancellation reportedly follows India’s recent restriction on transporting Bangladeshi goods, including garments, through its land ports. In response, Bangladesh has decided to revoke the order for tugboats that were intended for its Navy.

The UK’s National Crime Agency has ordered the seizure of two properties belonging to Ahmed Shayan, son of Bangladeshi MP and business magnate Salman F Rahman. One is a luxury apartment at 17 Grosvenor Square, purchased for £6.5 million in 2010. The other is a property in Gresham Gardens, North London, bought for £1.2 million in 2011. According to UK electoral data, Sheikh Rehana once resided at the Gresham Gardens property, though her current residency status is unclear.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated that the country’s foreign exchange reserves are projected to reach between $27 billion and $30 billion by the end of June. The target for the next fiscal year is to boost reserves to $40 billion. “Microloans cannot be sustained with a 26% interest rate,” he warned. According to central bank data, as of May 19, the country’s total reserves stood at $25.44 billion.

Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, announced that mango exports to China mark a new milestone in Bangladesh’s agricultural trade. On May 28, the first shipment—about 50 tons—is scheduled to be sent. The government is also working to export jackfruit and other fruits. He added that farmers are receiving support through various projects and incentives to meet international standards. A centralized management information system is being introduced for all agencies under the ministry, and a long-term plan is in place to ensure safe and nutritious food for all by 2050.

Despite the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, all customs houses and duty stations across Bangladesh will remain operational, ensuring uninterrupted import-export activities. Only Eid day will be observed as a full closure. Eid-ul-Azha is expected to be celebrated on June 6 or 7. The government has declared a 10-day public holiday starting June 5.

According to Bangladesh Bank, looters have depleted nearly Tk 2 trillion in capital from 20 banks over the past 15 years. Beyond hostile takeovers, massive loans were misappropriated. As of Q4 2024 (Oct–Dec), capital shortfalls in these banks reached Tk 1.72 trillion, up from Tk 532.53 billion in Q3. Despite some banks having surplus capital, the net sector-wide deficit now stands at Tk 1.18 trillion. Additionally, total non-performing loans (NPLs) have risen to Tk 3.46 trillion by the end of December 2024.

To pave the way for negotiations aimed at reducing additional U.S. tariffs, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has approved lowering tariffs on at least 100 import items in the upcoming budget. The decision also includes raising the tax-free income threshold, setting the minimum individual tax at Tk 5,000, and increasing the maximum tax rate to 30%. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) believes this move could help reduce the trade deficit with the U.S., especially on state-only purchases such as oil, gas, weapons, fighter jet parts, and missiles. Notably, the U.S. had previously imposed an additional 37% duty, raising total tariffs on Bangladeshi products to 52%.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan announced Monday night that the country's foreign exchange reserves have reached $25.44 billion. However, according to the IMF’s BPM6 calculation, usable reserves stand at $20.07 billion. As of May 7, reserves under BPM6 were $20.29 billion, while total gross reserves were $25.67 billion. Earlier, Bangladesh had repaid $1.88 billion in dues to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU).

The US is moving forward with a new law to impose a 5% tax on all remittances sent abroad, under the proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” introduced by Donald Trump. The bill has passed the budget committee and awaits a full congressional vote. While US citizens are exempt, non-citizens—including millions of Indian workers—will be affected. India, the top recipient of US remittances, could suffer significant economic consequences, with $32.9 billion sent from the US in 2023–24 alone.

According to Bangladesh Bank, overseas credit card spending by Bangladeshis fell to Tk 361 crore in March — a 6.25% drop from February’s Tk 503 crore. Spending in India saw a sharp 72.26% year-on-year decline, falling to Tk 27.6 crore from Tk 106 crore in March 2023. Meanwhile, spending rose in the US (Tk 57.4 crore), UK (Tk 36 crore), and Saudi Arabia (Tk 35 crore). Domestic credit card transactions jumped 26.52% in March, reaching Tk 3,755 crore compared to February.