Three ministers of the Bangladesh government visited the Teesta Barrage and surrounding river areas in Kaunia, Rangpur, on Friday afternoon to assess the overall condition of one of the country’s largest irrigation projects. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny, and State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad observed the river’s current state, erosion-prone zones, and the living conditions of nearby residents.

During the visit, the ministers held discussions with local representatives, administrative officials, and stakeholders about long-standing regional issues, including river erosion, flood control, irrigation expansion, and the much-discussed Teesta Master Plan. Local and central leaders highlighted the importance of development initiatives centered on the Teesta River, noting that millions of people in the basin face recurring floods, erosion, and water shortages.

Speakers emphasized that implementing an integrated and long-term plan could boost agriculture, create jobs, prevent erosion, and strengthen the regional economy. The ministers assured that the government is committed to sustainable development and improving living standards in the Teesta basin, urging cooperation from all concerned parties.

The government of Bangladesh has approved a grant of Tk 140 crore 11 lakh 8 thousand for private orphanages across the country as the second installment of the 2025–26 fiscal year. The Ministry of Social Welfare sanctioned the funds for 4,209 registered private orphanages in 64 districts, benefiting 116,759 orphaned children. The Directorate of Social Services issued an official order confirming the allocation, which will be distributed through local social services offices under the 2014 grant allocation and distribution policy.

According to the Directorate, the total allocation for private orphanages in the current fiscal year amounts to Tk 280 crore, with the first installment of Tk 139 crore 88 lakh 76 thousand already released. Each child will receive Tk 12,000 for six months, covering January to June 2026, primarily for food and basic needs. The ministry emphasized strict monitoring to ensure proper use of the funds.

Officials noted that the grant plays a vital role in improving living conditions for disadvantaged children and supporting the operational costs of financially constrained orphanages nationwide.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny has assured a permanent solution to the suffering of people affected by erosion and flooding along the Teesta River. Speaking on Friday, June 19, 2026, after inspecting the Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, he said that planned embankment construction and dredging could protect the region’s residents. Acting under the Prime Minister’s directive, a team of experts has been mobilized to address the issue.

The minister highlighted that water flow from upstream in Gajoldoba, due to open gates in a neighboring country, has intensified erosion and flooding, making life difficult for locals. He emphasized the necessity of the Teesta Master Plan, describing it as vital not only for the northern region but for the entire country. The government plans to implement sustainable dredging and embankment projects to mitigate the crisis.

Anny added that the long-term project would require multiple meetings and would eventually be submitted to ECNEC for approval, similar to the Padma Barrage Project. He expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen the national economy and transform the livelihoods of northern Bangladesh’s agricultural communities.

The Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association has proposed that all types of restaurants, including street food vendors, be brought under VAT registration and that a uniform 5 percent VAT rate be applied to both restaurant and catering services. The proposal was presented at a press conference held at the association’s headquarters in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, following the announcement of the proposed 2026–27 national budget. The association argued that the current system, which imposes 5 percent VAT on restaurants and 15 percent on catering services, creates inequality in business competition and complicates tax administration.

In a written statement, the association’s secretary general Imran Hasan said that rising LPG and electricity prices and high inflation have significantly increased operating costs in the restaurant sector, which has not received adequate attention in the proposed budget. The association also called for a business-friendly tax environment, one-stop service for restaurant operations, a specific industrial policy for the sector, and mandatory certification from the association.

The group welcomed the government’s proposal to offer depreciation benefits for new restaurant investments outside Dhaka but urged authorities to ensure low-interest loans, reduce operational costs, and maintain policy stability to encourage investment and job creation.

The Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum has announced seven demands, including restructuring the board of directors and returning ownership of Islami Bank Bangladesh to its original owners. The demands were presented by the forum’s convener, Professor Nurun Nabi Manik, at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday. The forum emphasized that Islami Bank plays a vital role in the national economy through remittance flows, SME financing, and public savings.

Speakers at the event expressed concern over the bank’s governance and stability following the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman and the removal of Managing Director Omar Farooq Khan. They stated that since May 24, customers have been organizing human chains, submitting memorandums, and holding press conferences to press their demands. The forum also met with Bangladesh Bank’s deputy governors Kabir Ahmed and Dr. Ismail Hossain to discuss the situation and called for reinstating the former managing director.

The forum announced sit-in programs on June 21 in front of Islami Bank Tower and on June 22 in front of Bangladesh Bank, warning of tougher actions if their demands remain unmet.

Popular actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba is returning to OTT nearly two years after his last release, 'Golam Mamun'. He stars as investigative journalist Zahid in the upcoming web series 'Headline', directed by Saleh Sobhan Anim. The series will premiere on the streaming platform Hoichoi on June 25, with its trailer already generating excitement for its intense portrayal of journalism and truth-seeking.

According to the source, the story explores the struggles of uncovering truth while balancing family ties, personal conflicts, and moral dilemmas. Apurba expressed enthusiasm for portraying a layered character that evolves through emotional and realistic challenges. He said the story’s pace, mystery, and contemporary relevance made the project irresistible, promising viewers both entertainment and reflection.

The series also marks the OTT return of Lux star Afsan Ara Bindu after three years. Featuring a star-studded cast including Yash Rohan, Sarika Sabrin, and others, 'Headline' is expected to spark new excitement among OTT audiences with its blend of journalism and crime drama.

A section of the Jamuna River protection embankment at Gobindpur in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha has collapsed under water pressure, causing blocks on the 10th section to sink into the river. The embankment, built at a cost of nearly one hundred crore taka to prevent erosion, has left around 250 families living along the riverbank in fear and anxiety after the sudden collapse.

Local residents blamed the contractor for substandard and unscheduled work, alleging that the project was completed hastily and in violation of official guidelines. They said the Water Development Board (WDB) had not yet formally accepted the work when the collapse occurred, raising questions about the project’s durability and transparency. Residents expressed frustration that despite government spending, poor construction has left them at risk of losing their homes.

The Saghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer said the WDB authorities have been informed and that prompt action will be taken. However, no responsible officials from the WDB or the contractor were immediately available for comment.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a major reduction in gold prices across the country. In its latest adjustment, the price of 22-carat gold has been lowered by Tk 4,374 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 228,556. The revised prices took effect from 10 a.m. on Monday, following two consecutive rounds of price increases and one round of VAT adjustment.

According to the new pricing, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 218,292 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 187,440, and traditional gold Tk 153,148. The previous adjustment, made just a day earlier, had added Tk 2,508 in VAT, setting the 22-carat rate at Tk 232,930 per bhori. That rate also took effect from 10 a.m. on the same day.

So far this year, BAJUS has adjusted gold prices 77 times, including 39 increases, 37 decreases, and one VAT adjustment. In 2025, the association made 93 adjustments, with 64 increases and 29 decreases.

Buyers and sellers in Dhaka have reported a noticeable rise in rice prices, contradicting government statements that supply and prices remain stable. Field visits to major markets such as Karwan Bazar, Badamtoli, and Nayabazar revealed that prices of rice, flour, and pulses have increased compared to pre-Eid levels, while vegetables, chicken, and eggs have become cheaper. Consumers expressed frustration, saying the price hikes are straining low-income households.

Traders said corporate buyers have again driven up paddy prices, leading to higher retail rice costs. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s daily price list also confirmed the increase. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, however, stated that no major instability exists and that only minor variations are normal. The Food State Minister assured that national grain reserves exceed 2 million tons and that the government is ready to intervene if needed.

The proposed 2026–27 budget includes tax cuts on about 60 essential items, including rice, lentils, and oil, aiming to control inflation and stabilize food prices in the long term.

A joint study by researchers from Oxford University and Leiden University has found that the world’s wealthiest 10 percent of consumers are responsible for annual environmental damage worth 570 trillion US dollars. The study, published on June 19, 2026, reveals that the climate and biodiversity losses caused by this group exceed the economic output of any country except the United States and China. Most of these high-consuming individuals live in developed nations, with over half of the US population and 40–45 percent of the European Union’s population falling into this category.

The research identifies two main sectors driving the damage: food, particularly red meat linked to deforestation, and energy use, including air travel and home heating or cooling reliant on fossil fuels. On average, each person in the top 10 percent causes between 2,300 and 7,500 dollars in annual environmental harm, rising to as much as 63,000 dollars in the United States. Biodiversity loss accounts for up to 56 percent of total damage, while climate impacts make up 36–45 percent.

Researchers suggest that governments could impose taxes on luxury goods, wealth, and carbon emissions from this group to reduce pollution and fund sustainable development.

Dr. Muhammad Umer Chapra, a pioneering Islamic economist who passed away on June 13, 2026, is remembered for linking economics with ethics, social justice, and human welfare. His theories warned that interest-based financial systems ultimately harm societies by concentrating wealth and undermining collective prosperity. His ideas have gained renewed relevance as Bangladesh faces a severe banking crisis marked by record loan defaults.

According to the report, non-performing loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector reached 35.73 percent of total distributed credit in the first quarter of the fiscal year, exceeding 6.44 trillion taka—the highest in 25 years. Although later reduced to about 30 percent, this decline resulted from lenient rescheduling policies rather than actual recovery. The crisis has exposed deep governance failures, political influence, and misuse of Islamic banking principles, as several Shariah-based banks collapsed and were merged into a state-run entity.

The article concludes that Chapra’s framework—emphasizing profit-and-loss sharing, strong central oversight, and ethical financial governance—offers practical lessons for Bangladesh. True reform, it argues, requires independent supervision, transparent auditing, and risk-sharing finance aligned with Chapra’s moral-economic vision.

Bogura City Corporation, newly established and home to nearly one million residents, is facing severe challenges in waste management. The city generates 250 to 300 tons of waste daily, but limited resources—only 18 trucks, mostly rented, and one loader—make removal difficult. Both official dumping stations in Joypurpara and Erulia are currently closed, forcing waste to be dumped on private land near highways. The city administration has requested government funding of 2 billion taka for new dump trucks, loaders, and two permanent dumping stations.

Environmental experts warn that open dumping is contaminating air, water, and soil, threatening biodiversity and public health. The city’s executive officer admitted that without a large-scale budget project, modern waste management cannot be implemented. A previous proposal for waste recycling and biogas production under the Bogura Urban Infrastructure Development Project was never realized.

Local environmental groups expressed frustration that despite earlier foreign project proposals, including one from the Netherlands worth 3.5 billion taka, no recycling system has been established. The city administration says discussions with the government continue to find a sustainable and scientific solution.

Global oil prices declined following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, which raised expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon. On Friday, Brent crude fell by 54 cents, or 0.68 percent, to 78.31 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by 46 cents, or 0.60 percent, to 76.14 dollars per barrel.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the United States has lifted restrictions on all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that American forces are no longer blocking the movement of ships traveling to or from Iran’s ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The easing of maritime restrictions and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to the downward pressure on global oil prices, signaling a possible stabilization in energy trade routes.

In Narsingdi’s Shibpur upazila, numerous small and large hills are being cut down, reportedly under the protection of influential local groups. Residents allege that these groups, using the names of ruling party leaders, are removing soil from the hills day and night with heavy machinery. The excavated soil is being sold to nearby ceramic factories and used to fill ponds, causing severe environmental degradation. Locals claim that despite witnessing the destruction, administrative officials remain inactive due to the influence of powerful individuals.

Union Parishad Chairman Benzir Ahmed Khan confirmed that no permission was taken for hill cutting in the affected areas, while the local environmental organization warned that such activities are destroying the natural balance. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated she was unaware of any ongoing hill cutting but would act if informed. The Department of Environment reiterated that hill cutting is illegal under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995 and punishable by law.

Environmental activists fear that if the destruction continues, Shibpur’s natural beauty and ecological stability could vanish within a few years.

A farmer named Md. Sher Ali, aged 52, died after being struck by lightning while planting rice in Chhoto Shalua village under Darshana Police Station in Chuadanga on Thursday afternoon. Another farmer, Alomgir, was injured in the same incident. Both were taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared Sher Ali dead after examination. Alomgir is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

Sher Ali was the son of the late Kasem Ali from Chhoto Shalua village, while the injured Alomgir is the son of Jitu Mia from the same village. The sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over the family and the local community, with residents expressing deep sorrow and concern.

Local observers have warned that lightning risks increase during the monsoon season and advised farmers to avoid working in open fields during adverse weather. They urged people to seek shelter in safe places when conditions worsen.