The Volaganj Sadapathar Tourist Center in Companyganj Upazila, Sylhet, will reopen from June 6 after an indefinite ban was imposed on May 30 due to safety concerns amid hazardous weather. The ban was initially enforced by the Upazila administration to protect tourists. However, following a unanimous decision by the Upazila Tourism Development Committee, the restriction has been lifted, allowing tourists to safely visit the popular destination once again.

A cattle trader named Hannan was seriously injured after being beaten by volunteers hired by the leaseholder at a temporary cattle market in Molla Bazar, South Keraniganj. The incident occurred when Hannan attempted to leave the market with his cows, leading to an argument. Police intervened, and the attackers allegedly assaulted Inspector Mosharraf Hossain. The leaseholder claimed it was a misunderstanding that was resolved, and the trader received medical attention. Police said the dispute was later settled between both parties.

Ahead of his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus met with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke. During the meeting, Cooke congratulated Yunus on receiving the King Charles Harmony Award, to which he responded, “It’s a great honor.” Yunus informed her that the second round of dialogue between the National Consensus Commission and political parties has commenced and is expected to conclude soon. He also expressed interest in acquiring technical assistance and training from the UK to strengthen Bangladesh’s marine research initiatives.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Mazumder, warned that those who publish or promote false or misleading information intended to confuse the public will face legal action. “The recent reports regarding Freedom Fighter titles are fake, fabricated, and baseless,” he said. While the government welcomes constructive criticism, no one has the license to deliberately publish false reports, he added.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain has said the government communicates its official stance on upcoming elections to all international partners. According to him, elections are expected to take place between December and June.

Touhid noted that irregular travel activities are causing issues abroad, including visa suspensions from several countries—problems largely caused by Bangladeshis themselves. He emphasized internal accountability before blaming others. On the issue of U.S. student visas, he said the government has no direct influence. On the bright side, he mentioned India’s cancellation of transshipment facilities has had no negative effect on Bangladesh, as alternatives have been established.

All import-export operations through Benapole Land Port will remain suspended for 10 days from June 5 to June 14 in observance of Eid-ul-Azha. However, cross-border movement of passport-holding travelers between India and Bangladesh will continue as usual.

Shamsur Rahman, President of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, confirmed that all customs and port-related activities, including trade operations, will be on pause during the holiday. Normal operations will resume on the morning of June 15.

Benapole Port Director (Traffic) Md. Shamim Hossain said enhanced security measures are in place to prevent any untoward incidents during the holiday closure. Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ahmed added that despite the suspension of trade, traveler movement will remain uninterrupted. Due to an expected surge in passenger traffic, immigration staff have been placed on standby to manage the rush efficiently.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has stated that a limited scope for legalizing undisclosed income—commonly referred to as black money—is being proposed as an “exit route” for individuals wishing to bring such funds into the formal economy.

Addressing the issue, he clarified that the proposal aims to help individuals who, for various reasons, have kept money unreported over the years. However, he emphasized that this is not a move to endorse the act of hiding income.

Earlier, Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed remarked that if such an opportunity were to be offered, it should come with a significantly higher tax rate than in the past. “We’re not claiming this is an ideal initiative,” he noted.

Abdur Rahman Khan also mentioned that the previous provision to legalize black money by paying a 15% tax was scrapped after the new government took office. Another provision, which allows for immunity from questioning if one buys land or property while paying a slightly higher tax, is set to expire on June 30. “We have not extended this facility either,” the NBR chairman added.

India has continued the practice of pushing people across various border points into Bangladesh, according to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Tawhid Hossain. In response, Bangladesh is preparing to send another official letter to the Indian government, either today or tomorrow.

"We want this issue resolved through proper consular procedures. It's not feasible to stop this physically," said Hossain. He added that India has raised some concerns, claiming procedural delays on Bangladesh’s part. “We have reviewed the matter and found that an old list is still being referenced. In many cases, we’ve already received individuals after verifying them against India’s submitted list.”

Economic Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has confirmed that electricity produced by the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant will be supplied to the national grid by December this year. The construction of the 2400 MW nuclear power plant in Ruppur is progressing rapidly. He also mentioned that an agreement was signed with Nepal on October 3, 2024, under which 40 MW of hydropower will be imported at an affordable rate to meet the summer electricity demand. Furthermore, to ensure transparency and accountability in the power sector, the “Electricity and Energy Rapid Supply Enhancement Act, 2010” has been repealed. A national committee has been formed to review the agreements made under this law and to recommend changes.

As part of preparations for trade dialogue with the United States, the 2025-26 budget proposes full import duty waivers on 110 items and reduced tariffs on many more. Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the proposal includes withdrawing supplementary duties on 9 items and reducing them on 442 others. Exempted goods include various yarns, nuclear reactor parts, boilers, hydraulic turbines, gas turbines, milking machines, and other dairy farm equipment. The move aims to address the nearly $6 billion trade deficit with the US.

Chief Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, in his budget speech, criticized the ruling Awami League for leading the financial sector to near ruin through systemic misgovernance. He revealed that the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio surged from 10.11% in June 2023 to 20.20% by December 2024—nearly doubling in just 18 months. To restore public trust and address structural challenges, the interim government has initiated key reforms, including the drafting of the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2025 and the formation of three task forces aimed at stabilizing the sector.

Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Ahsan H. Mansur, formally handed over the designs of six new currency notes to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The handover ceremony was attended by Economic Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma, and Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.

In the proposed national budget for FY 2025–26, the Chief Economic Adviser has recommended increasing duties and VAT on a range of consumer goods, including mobile phones, washing machines, LPG cylinders, and cosmetics such as lipsticks. The VAT exemption benefits for manufacturing items like washing machines, microwave ovens, blenders, juicers, irons, rice cookers, and pressure cookers have been partially reduced. VAT on plastic household items has been doubled to 15%, although environment-friendly alternatives remain exempt. The VAT exemption period for locally produced LPG cylinders has been extended, but the exemption itself has been slightly reduced. Import valuation for cosmetics used on the lips, eyes, and face has been significantly increased, potentially raising their market prices.

Economic Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed stated that a marginal increase in VAT on biscuits is unlikely to significantly affect the poor, though he did not justify the hike as entirely reasonable. “Bread affects everyone equally—rich and poor alike,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to keep the VAT on essential items like bread, biscuits, and cakes within tolerable limits. He also noted that the government has imported essential food items like wheat, chickpeas, soybean, and lentils to ensure food security. “When we took office, food reserves were nearly depleted. We are working to bring them to satisfactory levels,” he added. He acknowledged price fluctuations in the global market, including rising fertilizer costs and mixed trends in rice and soybean prices, calling it a significant challenge.

In his budget speech, Economic Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed announced that the government has decided not to increase electricity prices for now, in light of ongoing high inflation. He stated that a long-term plan is underway to reduce subsidies in the power sector by lowering overall production costs. Measures include reviewing power purchase agreements and conducting energy audits. He also revealed plans to supply 648 million cubic feet of gas from domestic sources this year, with an additional 1,500 million cubic feet expected by 2028.