Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that all media in Bangladesh, including state outlets like Bangladesh Betar and BTV, now operate free from government interference. “No government official is calling media houses to influence reporting,” he said. He credited government initiatives for the country’s 16-place jump in the World Press Freedom Index. Alam noted that additional reforms, based on the Media Reform Commission's recommendations, will be introduced soon. He expressed optimism that Bangladesh will continue to improve in next year’s rankings while safeguarding media and journalist rights.

India has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess its loan support to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan received a critical $7 billion bailout to stabilize its economy. In March, the IMF approved an additional $1.3 billion for climate resilience projects. India has expressed concerns regarding the effective utilization and transparency of these funds.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, rising 16 places to rank 149th among 180 countries with a score of 33.71, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Last year, Bangladesh was placed at 165th. Among its South Asian neighbors, India ranks 151st, Pakistan 158th, and Bhutan 152nd—all trailing behind Bangladesh. However, Nepal (90th), Sri Lanka (139th), and the Maldives (104th) continue to outperform Bangladesh in the index.

With the winter vegetable season over, prices in Dhaka’s fresh markets have spiked. Bitter gourd is selling at Tk 60/kg, eggplant and long beans at Tk 70/kg, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk 60/kg, taro stalk at Tk 70/kg, teasel gourd at Tk 100/kg, okra at Tk 50/kg, sponge gourd at Tk 70/kg, and tomatoes at Tk 30/kg. Papaya is priced at Tk 70/kg, carrots at Tk 40/kg, cucumber at Tk 50/kg, pointed gourd at Tk 50–60/kg, and drumsticks at Tk 120–140/kg. Bottle gourd costs Tk 40–60 each. Green chilies are selling for Tk 80–100/kg. Broiler chicken is priced at Tk 180–190/kg, while beef has surged to Tk 750–800/kg.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has stated that the next seven months are critical for the nation’s economic future. “This period could either build Bangladesh or break it,” he wrote. The interim government has adopted an ambitious plan to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port sixfold. Alam stressed that such progress is only possible through partnerships with top global port operators. “If successful, this will send a strong message to international investors that Bangladesh is open for business.” He also noted that the global economic order born out of the Bretton Woods system is fading, suggesting that now might finally be Bangladesh’s time — if politics allows it.

The Pakistan Army is conducting large-scale military exercises amid recent tensions with India. The drills are taking place across several areas including Sialkot, Narowal, Zafarwal, and Shakargarh. Both light and heavy modern weaponry—such as tanks, artillery, and infantry units—are participating. The exercises include practical demonstrations of modern weapons based on tactical war strategies. Officers and soldiers are actively showcasing their professional skills during the maneuvers.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has assured India of full American support for its right to self-defense during a phone call with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The conversation followed the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which India blamed on Pakistan. Singh accused Pakistan of training and financing terror groups and destabilizing the region. Hegseth expressed solidarity with India and stressed that the world can no longer ignore state-sponsored terrorism.

Bangladesh is close to finalizing a mutual visa exemption agreement with Algeria for diplomatic and official passport holders. This was confirmed during a meeting between Algerian Ambassador Dr. Abdulwahab Saidani and Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam. The agreement has already been approved by the cabinet and is expected to be signed soon. The adviser also expressed gratitude to Algeria for being the first country to recognize Bangladesh in 1971.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Indian FM S. Jaishankar regarding the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Rubio urged both nations to cooperate in de-escalating tensions. While reiterating the US’s support for India in combating terrorism, he called on Pakistan to assist in the investigation and publicly condemn the attack. US official Tammy Bruce stated that India was advised to exercise restraint in responding to the incident.

Bangladesh repaid more than $3 billion in foreign debt during the first nine months of the 2024–25 fiscal year, with $2.01 billion in principal and $1.2 billion in interest, according to an ERD report. Total loan inflows during the period were about $4.81 billion, with the largest disbursements from the ADB ($1.22B), World Bank ($1.07B), and Japan ($890M). Meanwhile, the country received fresh aid commitments totaling $3 billion, a sharp drop from $7.24 billion in the same period last year.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves stood at $27.41 billion at the end of April, with the IMF-compliant BPM6 method showing reserves at $22.05 billion. Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Arif Hossain Khan expressed confidence that IMF targets for June will be met. April saw record remittance inflows of $3.29 billion, the highest in the country’s history.

Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh will negotiate with the United States over retaliatory tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. “We won’t provoke the U.S., but we have 90 days to resolve this issue through dialogue,” he said. He also urged businesses to become more competitive and assured that the upcoming budget would be realistic and implementable.

Amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to speak with both countries’ foreign ministers within 24 hours. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a briefing, “We’re engaging both sides and urging all parties not to escalate the situation.” The U.S. also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation in the recent arrest of an ISIS-linked suspect.

A report by Bangladesh Bank reveals that Islami Bank’s Gulshan branch approved a staggering Tk 950 crore loan in the name of a Nabil Group-affiliated trading company called “Market Master Analyzer” — a company that central bank inspectors confirmed does not exist. Although the loan was approved under a single name, only Tk 550 crore was deposited into Nabil Group’s account. The remaining Tk 400 crore was transferred to S. Alam Group.

In another case, a private bank approved a Tk 90 crore loan in the name of a company under the Uttara Group. However, the funds were rerouted through several accounts and ultimately ended up in one controlled by Beximco Group, which later withdrew the money. Meanwhile, Nasa Group secured Tk 200 crore from its own bank, Exim Bank, by using a shell company.

Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has clarified that neither he nor the ‘July’ movement had any direct or indirect involvement in the recent termination of three journalists. In a statement, Farooki responded to claims made during a recent press conference, where the journalists questioned whether a killer could be called a killer—remarks Farooki deemed hurtful to anyone sensitive to the events of July. He emphasized that each media outlet has its own editorial policies and that any employment decisions are internal matters. “Some are suggesting their jobs were lost because they questioned me. That’s laughable,” Farooki wrote, asserting, “This is not about me—it’s about July and the policies of their institutions.”