Bangladeshi producer Abdul Aziz has clarified that no characters in the upcoming film 'Masud Rana' were created using artificial intelligence. The film, jointly produced by Jaaz Multimedia and Impress Telefilm, is set to release in theaters across Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Azha. Aziz stated that while some visual effects incorporate AI technology, all characters were performed by real actors, including lead actor Rasel Rana, who won Channel i’s reality show 'Ke Hoben Masud Rana'.

The film, directed by young filmmaker Saikat Nasir, marks the return of the iconic Bangladeshi spy character 'Masud Rana' to the big screen after years of anticipation. Aziz mentioned that the project took nearly five years to complete and has already received positive feedback from the censor board. Actress Puja Cherry plays the role of Sohana, while Syeda Tithi Omni appears as Obonita. All three lead performers are new faces in cinema.

Nasir described 'Masud Rana' as Bangladesh’s equivalent of James Bond, emphasizing the film’s technical ambition and urging audiences to watch it during Eid.

Local residents in Jamalpur blocked the Jamalpur-Tangail highway on Monday afternoon demanding a permanent solution to waterlogging that has persisted for 19 years. The protest took place near the district bus terminal and the BSCIC office, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway. Participants from at least five affected areas, including Doripara and Dapuniya, alleged that around 500 acres of farmland and numerous homes have been damaged over the years, yet authorities have failed to take effective action.

According to the report, the residents had also blocked the highway the previous day but withdrew after receiving assurances from the administration. When no visible steps followed, they resumed their protest. Police arrived to control the situation but were turned back by demonstrators. Later, local political and human rights representatives intervened, promising swift action, after which the protesters lifted the blockade. A brief period of unrest occurred during the event.

In a separate incident, residents of Shekher Vita area blocked the Jamalpur-Madarganj road over similar waterlogging issues, ending their protest after municipal officials pledged remedial measures.

Seventeen years after Cyclone Aila struck on May 25, 2009, the coastal residents of Satkhira in southwestern Bangladesh continue to suffer from its long-lasting devastation. The cyclone destroyed homes, farmland, and fisheries, leaving thousands destitute. In Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila, one of the worst-hit areas, at least 39 people died and over 243,000 were displaced. Many families still live on government land near embankments, facing acute shortages of drinking water and employment.

Repeated cyclones such as Amphan in 2020, Bulbul, and Rimal in 2024 have deepened the crisis, with May now seen as a month of fear for coastal communities. Despite ongoing embankment repairs, many areas remain at risk of collapse. Around 30–35 percent of residents in Gabura and Padmapukur unions have become landless, and over 500 families live on river chars. Local leaders report that most roads damaged by Aila remain unrestored.

Authorities have declared Gabura a model union, with a 10.2 billion taka project underway to build sustainable embankments and promote afforestation. Yet residents question how many more disasters must come before their lives become secure.

Authorities at Chattogram Port have formed special task forces and teams to ensure uninterrupted cargo handling during the seven-day government holiday that began on May 25 for Eid-ul-Azha. The initiative aims to keep the country’s main import-export gateway operational despite the extended break.

BGMEA Director Rakibul Alam Chowdhury urged port and customs officials not to treat the holiday as a complete shutdown, warning that production could face major disruptions otherwise. BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder Bipul said the long post-Eid holiday period poses challenges for importers and exporters, calling for all stakeholders to remain active.

Commodore Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Member (Marine and Harbor) of Chattogram Port, said two special task forces will oversee cargo unloading at outer anchorage and operations at jetties and yards, while another team will handle security. Assistant Commissioner Sharif Md. Al Amin of Chattogram Customs House confirmed that sufficient personnel will continue working during the holidays to maintain customs operations, emphasizing interdepartmental cooperation.

Bangladesh has introduced a 25 percent fare discount for elderly and physically disabled passengers on metro and train travel. The program was inaugurated on Monday at Dhaka’s Farmgate Metro Station, with Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam MP attending as chief guest. Senior officials from the concerned ministries were also present at the event.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to make public transport more humane, inclusive, and citizen-friendly. Elderly citizens aged 65 and above and persons with disabilities or special needs will receive a 25 percent discount on single-journey metro tickets upon presenting valid identification. The same discount applies to train tickets purchased both online and at counters, with age verification based on national ID information. Existing 50 percent discounts for disabled passengers in certain train classes remain in effect, while a new 25 percent reduction has been added for all air-conditioned classes.

Officials believe the program will make the country’s public transport system more inclusive and passenger-oriented.

During the seven-day Eid-ul-Azha bank holiday from May 25 to 31, customers across Bangladesh faced difficulties withdrawing cash from ATM booths. Despite Bangladesh Bank’s directive to ensure uninterrupted ATM services, several booths ran out of cash or imposed withdrawal limits. Field visits in Dhaka’s Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar, and Karwan Bazar areas revealed that many booths of weaker banks were out of service, while some stronger banks also restricted withdrawals or blocked transactions from other banks’ cards.

Social media users reported frustration, describing the situation as mismanagement and unfair to customers needing cash for Eid expenses. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan stated that the central bank had supplied sufficient cash to all banks and that any shortages were due to individual banks’ internal management. He warned that banks neglecting service continuity could face action.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank had issued a circular instructing all scheduled banks to maintain adequate cash in ATMs, ensure technical readiness, strengthen booth security, and keep mobile financial and online payment services operational during the holiday period.

In Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, 250 impoverished residents received financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Each beneficiary was given 2,000 taka, totaling 500,000 taka in distributed aid. The distribution ceremony took place on Monday afternoon at the upazila parishad conference room.

The financial aid was handed over by Abdul Muntakim, Member of Parliament for Nilphamari-4 constituency. The event was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arifur Rahman, local Jamaat leader Abdur Rashid Shah, secretary Ferdous Alam, and Press Club president Abu Hasan Sheikh, among others.

The initiative aimed to support underprivileged families during the religious festival, ensuring they could celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with dignity and financial relief.

Tea garden workers in Habiganj have begun an indefinite work stoppage demanding payment of overdue wages, rations, and festival bonuses, along with seven other points. The strike started on Monday morning across four estates—Deundi, Lalchan, Mritinga, and Noapara—located in Chunarughat and Madhabpur upazilas. Around 5,000 workers are reportedly facing severe hardship due to weeks of unpaid weekly wages, leading to growing frustration and uncertainty over salaries and bonuses.

A tripartite meeting was held on May 6 in Srimangal between owners, workers, and the labor department, where it was decided that all arrears would be cleared promptly. The meeting also agreed on repairing dilapidated housing before the monsoon and ensuring medical facilities as per labor law. However, the workers allege that the owners failed to implement these decisions, prompting the strike. Workers have been staging sit-ins at local temples instead of reporting to the gardens and factories.

According to the Deundi Tea Garden Panchayat Committee president, the strike will continue until the seven-point demands are met.

More than one million taka worth of teak trees have been stolen from Satchari National Park in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj. Witnesses reported that two large teak trees were recently taken from the Dumurtola area, while similar thefts occurred a month earlier in Kapai, Kunimora, and Telmachhra areas. Despite repeated incidents, forest officials have been accused of inaction, with reports suggesting that they only file general diaries instead of taking effective measures.

The report alleges that a coordinated syndicate involving forest officials, police, and timber thieves is behind the illegal logging and smuggling of valuable trees. The smugglers reportedly maintain secret communication with law enforcement through messaging apps. Although there were recent gunfights between forest guards and bandits in the nearby Rema-Kalenga forest, police have not taken significant action, leading to public frustration and fear.

Forest range officer Mehedi Hasan said two trees were stolen in the past four months and that cases have been filed with investigations ongoing. Environmental activists warned that continued tree theft threatens biodiversity and ecological balance in Satchari.

The Dhanua Kamalpur land port in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, will remain closed for seven consecutive days during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. Starting Monday, all import and export activities through the port will be suspended, according to port authorities. Operations are scheduled to resume on June 1.

The port handles the import of 34 types of goods, including stone from India, and exports various Bangladeshi products such as plastic. It plays a significant role in the economic development of northern Jamalpur, providing daily employment for 6,000 to 8,000 workers when operational.

The temporary closure is part of the national holiday schedule for Eid, after which normal trade and labor activities are expected to resume without disruption.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $5 billion financing package for Bangladesh over the next five years to help the country manage rising economic pressures caused by global conflicts and domestic financial challenges. ADB President Masato Kanda made the announcement in Dhaka on Monday during meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and senior officials. The funds will be used under the 'Integrated Growth Network Development Initiative' to improve connectivity, boost investment, and ensure balanced regional development.

According to ADB, Bangladesh’s import-dependent economy has come under strain due to higher energy, LNG, fertilizer, and transport costs linked to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, alongside persistent inflation and liquidity shortages in the banking sector. The new package will provide about $1 billion annually as part of ADB’s sovereign financing program. During the visit, loan agreements worth $1.4 billion were also signed for energy, transport, climate resilience, and social development projects.

ADB further announced an additional $250 million to address financing gaps and plans to raise its annual sovereign financing for Bangladesh by 20 percent to $2.4 billion, supporting investment-led growth, economic diversification, and governance reforms.

A recent report highlights that the United States tops global meat consumption, with 97 percent of Americans eating meat regularly, followed by Lithuania and Brazil at 96 percent. In contrast, Bangladesh ranks near the bottom, with the second-lowest per capita meat consumption worldwide. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Bangladeshis consume only 0.9 kilograms of beef and 1.36 kilograms of poultry per person annually, most of it during religious festivals.

The report notes that global meat production has increased fivefold since the 1960s, driven by population and income growth. Wealthier nations tend to consume more meat, while poorer countries treat it as a luxury. In Africa, countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania also record low consumption levels. Meanwhile, middle-income countries like China and Brazil have seen sharp increases in meat demand alongside economic growth.

Despite growing awareness campaigns promoting reduced meat intake, data from the United States and Europe show that overall consumption remains steady or slightly rising, though consumers are shifting from red meat to poultry for health and environmental reasons.

With only a few days left before Eid-ul-Azha, livestock markets in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar are witnessing heavy crowds of buyers and sellers. However, this year’s markets show a different picture as large numbers of foreign cows, reportedly smuggled through the Myanmar border, have flooded the area. Despite their abundance, conscious buyers are showing a strong preference for locally raised hill cattle that grow naturally in the region’s remote mountain areas.

Buyers and observers noted that many of the imported cows are artificially fattened using injections and harmful hormones, making their meat unsafe and unhealthy. In contrast, the naturally raised hill cattle, which graze freely on local vegetation, are considered safe, nutritious, and flavorful. As a result, even with higher prices, consumers are increasingly choosing these local animals.

The growing demand for hill cattle has brought fair prices and satisfaction to local farmers. However, stakeholders believe that stricter monitoring is needed to prevent illegal cattle imports and protect the interests of domestic livestock producers.

Import and export activities at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj will remain suspended for eight days from May 26 to June 2 due to the Eid-ul-Azha holiday. The information was confirmed by Arif Uddin Iti, general secretary of the Sonamasjid Importers and Exporters Group, who said the decision was taken jointly with the Sonamasjid C&F Agents Association. All port operations are scheduled to resume on June 3.

During the closure, passenger movement through the Sonamasjid immigration route between the two countries will continue daily, including on Eid day. According to Kamal Khan, operations manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, limited internal activities such as loading, unloading, warehousing, and transportation will continue on a restricted scale.

The temporary suspension aims to allow workers and stakeholders to observe the religious festival, while ensuring essential internal operations remain minimally functional.

Bangladesh Railway has decided not to operate the Mango Special and Cattle Special trains from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka this year. Officials said the services were discontinued because of continuous financial losses and insufficient cargo volume. The special trains had previously been introduced to transport mangoes during the harvest season and sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha at lower costs. The routes ran from Chapainawabganj through Rajshahi, Sardah, Arani, Abdulpur, and Ishwardi to Dhaka.

The initiative was originally intended to provide affordable transport for marginal mango growers, orchard owners, and livestock farmers. However, the plan failed to meet expectations as the trains often ran nearly empty, creating a large revenue shortfall. Farmers and traders said that despite lower train fares, additional costs and logistical hassles in moving goods to and from stations made road transport more convenient.

Business representatives criticized the lack of coordination between planning and implementation, noting that the project was launched without sufficient consultation. Western Railway General Manager Farid Ahmed confirmed that limited interest from farmers and traders made the services economically unsustainable.