An embankment in the Palashtola Bakkar Mor area of Dhanua Kamalpur Union, Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur, collapsed under pressure from hill torrents, flooding nearby low-lying areas. The incident, reported on June 19, 2026, has raised fears among local farmers of severe damage to their Aus paddy and jute crops.

According to local accounts, a section of the embankment had already broken about a month earlier due to heavy rainfall, causing significant losses to Boro paddy at that time. Despite the earlier damage, no effective repair measures were taken, allowing the recent heavy rains and hill torrents to worsen the situation. Farmers observed water rushing through the broken section, threatening to submerge surrounding farmland.

Local farmers have urged the administration and the Water Development Board to take immediate action to repair the embankment and protect their crops. They warned that without urgent repairs, hundreds of acres of farmland could go underwater, leading to major financial losses this season.

In Rangpur’s Badarganj, reckless movement of illegal sand-carrying tractors has severely disrupted the normal environment of primary education. Students are increasingly avoiding school due to fear of accidents and life-threatening risks. The issue centers around two illegal sand depots located near Kutubpur Sotapir Government Primary School, from where 30 to 40 tractors operate daily at high speed and with loud noise. Teachers report that 15 to 20 students have already stopped attending classes despite repeated efforts to bring them back.

Local residents and teachers accuse a powerful syndicate of sand traders and ruling party leaders of running the illegal operations with impunity. They allege that profits from sand sales are shared among influential figures, preventing administrative action. The continuous noise and dust have also caused severe sound pollution, affecting children’s mental development. Road safety has deteriorated as pedestrians and motorcyclists face frequent accidents.

Officials acknowledge the decline in student attendance and promise action against illegal sand extraction. However, weak enforcement of sand control laws and lack of administrative response have allowed the situation to persist.

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur, held its ‘Annual Paper Meet’ on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Academic Building. The event showcased the outcomes, innovations, and future prospects of research projects approved for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. DUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Engineer Mohammad Iqbal attended as chief guest, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Arefin Kawsar as special guest, and Professor Dr. Md. Anwarul Abedin presiding.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that research-driven knowledge creation and technology-based solutions can significantly contribute to national industry, economy, and society. He called for more publications, patents, and collaboration with industry to raise research to international standards and urged the University Grants Commission to increase financial allocations for research. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor praised researchers’ creativity and stressed the need for practical application of research outcomes.

During the event, project directors presented their research goals, methods, findings, and potential applications. Participants engaged in discussions on interdisciplinary collaboration and implementation of research results, and certificates were awarded to project directors at the closing session.

The Directorate of Primary Education has issued an urgent directive instructing all its offices and institutions to promptly pay outstanding and current land development taxes for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The order, signed by Assistant Director of the Finance and Revenue Division Selina Akhter, was circulated on Wednesday to all field-level offices under the directorate.

According to the directive, all offices under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education—including divisional deputy directors’ offices, district primary education offices, primary teacher training institutes, upazila and thana education offices, and government primary schools—must ensure payment of land development tax under code 3821102 from their allocated funds for the fiscal year. The directive emphasizes that timely payment is essential for proper management of government assets and maintaining financial discipline.

The Directorate has instructed all concerned officials to take immediate steps to comply with the order and complete the payment process without delay.

Three people died in separate lightning strikes in Kendua and Madan upazilas of Netrokona on Thursday morning. The incidents occurred between early dawn and morning hours. The victims were identified as Shamsul Huda, 55, of Digli village in Kendua; Ashraful Islam, 25, of Dauki village in the same upazila; and Rajib, 24, of Kaital village in Madan. All three were struck by lightning while engaged in outdoor activities near their homes.

According to police and local sources, Shamsul Huda was fishing in a nearby wetland when lightning struck, killing him instantly. Around the same time, Ashraful Islam was hit near a canal in Dauki area, while Rajib was electrocuted by lightning while checking a fishing trap near his house. Police and local representatives visited the sites, recovered the bodies, and began legal procedures. Kendua Police Station’s officer-in-charge confirmed the deaths and said the bodies would be handed over to the families after completing formalities.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious during thunderstorms as the region continues to experience unstable weather conditions.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun said the ongoing energy shortage, particularly in gas supply, has become the biggest challenge for investors in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday during a workshop titled “Investment Flow and Facilities in Bangladesh,” organized by BIDA with participation from journalists. Mahmud noted that resolving the crisis is urgent but cannot be achieved overnight, estimating it may take one and a half to two years even if work begins immediately.

He explained that much of his official time is now spent coordinating with the Ministry of Energy, as renewable energy alone cannot meet industrial electricity demand. Mahmud added that new power stations would still require gas, which current infrastructure cannot adequately supply. He also stated that foreign investment proposals have increased by about 40 percent since last year’s investment summit, though implementation is delayed due to election-related uncertainty and global conflicts affecting fuel supply.

Mahmud further mentioned plans to prioritize domestic investors this year and highlighted upcoming cooperation with China, including economic zones in Anwara and Mongla. He also discussed reforms such as the new “BanglaBiz” one-stop gateway and a unified business identification number to simplify investor services.

Bangladesh-linked deposits in Swiss banks increased by 41 percent in 2025, reaching 834.2 million Swiss francs, equivalent to about 12,759 crore taka. The data, released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) on Thursday, showed that deposits had been 589.5 million francs in 2024. This marks the second-highest level after 2021, when deposits peaked at 871.1 million francs.

According to the SNB’s annual report “Banks in Switzerland,” the sharp rise in 2025 was mainly driven by deposits from Bangladeshi banks, which grew 43 percent to 822.7 million francs. These accounted for 98.6 percent of total Bangladesh-linked deposits, up from 97.8 percent in 2024. Bank officials in Bangladesh said such placements are part of normal banking operations and not indicative of illicit assets. Personal deposits, however, fell by about 10 percent to 11.4 million francs.

The SNB report also noted that Switzerland now exchanges financial account data with 101 countries under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework, but Bangladesh has yet to commit to joining. Among South Asian nations, Bangladesh ranked second after India in total deposits for 2025.

Expatriate Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury stated that remittances sent by Bangladeshi expatriates are significantly enriching the national economy. He said these funds are fueling large-scale investments across the country, leading to the establishment of new industries and service institutions that are helping reduce unemployment. The minister emphasized the need for collective efforts to channel expatriate investments more effectively toward national development. He made these remarks on Thursday morning while inaugurating the newly established ‘Sylhet Holy Day Home’ at Khasdabir Point in Sylhet city.

Chowdhury added that expatriate investments not only strengthen the national economy but also create local employment opportunities. He noted that the government is sincerely working to ensure the safety of expatriates and to create an investment-friendly environment for them. The event was presided over by UK-based community leader and CEO of Sylhet Holy Day Home, Shah Munim, who highlighted Sylhet’s tourism potential and called for greater engagement of expatriates and the younger generation in travel and investment.

Several community leaders, business representatives, and journalists attended the inauguration ceremony.

Mohammad Zahid Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank and representative in charge of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC’s board, held a meeting with the bank’s officers and employees on Wednesday at Islami Bank Tower. Senior executives attended in person, while staff from across the country joined virtually. The session was chaired by Acting Managing Director Md. Altaf Hossain, with additional remarks from senior management members.

In his address, Hossain described Islami Bank as a systemically important institution in Bangladesh’s financial system, deeply linked to trade, remittances, and entrepreneurship. He acknowledged the challenges the bank has faced in recent years but emphasized that its core strength remains intact. He said that with proper leadership, guidance, and collective effort, the bank’s former reputation could be restored.

Hossain added that Bangladesh Bank has taken timely decisions to ensure financial stability and that Islami Bank’s operations will continue under full professionalism, transparency, and accountability. He noted that the process of forming a strong and credible board will be completed in due course.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Huq described the proposed Tk 9.38 trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026–27 as ambitious and visionary, asserting it will take Bangladesh to new heights and pave the way for a self-reliant nation. He made the remarks during the general discussion on the proposed budget in the National Parliament on Thursday.

The minister said the budget was prepared in line with the government’s long-term development plans, emphasizing that it reflects sustained efforts to ensure national progress and public welfare. He noted that the budget prioritizes the interests of the poor, middle class, marginalized communities, entrepreneurs, and job-seeking youth. Key allocations include continued subsidies for agriculture, expansion of family card programs, and additional Tk 6,000 crore for technical and madrasa education.

He added that the budget focuses on inflation control, tax benefits, social safety expansion, and good governance. It also aims to restore discipline in the banking sector, ensure deposit security, and curb money laundering, marking a step toward a transparent and accountable economy.

A new study has found that more than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups have died from an H5N1 bird flu outbreak on Australia’s remote Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic region. Researchers conducted drone surveys and field inspections between October last year and January this year, revealing that about 13,359 of 17,364 pups on Heard Island died since August, representing over 75 percent mortality, with some areas reaching 97 percent.

The study, published on the preprint platform bioRxiv but not yet peer-reviewed, collected samples from nine animal species, detecting the H5N1 virus in six, including southern elephant seals, king penguins, gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals, and South Georgia diving petrels. Several hundred adult king penguins also died, a higher-than-normal rate though still a small fraction of the total population.

Australia’s Environment Minister Murray Watt described the mass deaths as deeply concerning, warning that the virus could reach the mainland and urging maximum preparedness. Australia remains the only continent where H5N1 bird flu has not yet been detected.

Three fishermen were killed by a lightning strike on Thursday afternoon in the Juri River of Fenchuganj upazila, Sylhet. The victims were identified as Sabbir Mia, 40, Hamid Ali, 45, and Kabil Mia, 44, all from Kamalpur village in Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar district. According to local sources, it had been raining since morning, and two of the fishermen died instantly at the scene around 1:30 p.m. after the lightning strike.

Police were informed by nearby fishermen, and officers later confirmed recovery of two bodies. However, the body of Kabil Mia remained missing. Fenchuganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Zafar Mahfuzul Kabir said a fire service team was conducting a search operation, but heavy rain and strong currents were hindering the rescue efforts. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Azizunnahar stated that she had just received the news and was coordinating with the district administration to take necessary measures.

Rescue operations were continuing as of the latest update, with authorities facing challenges due to adverse weather conditions.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that Bangladesh has launched an initiative to revive extinct native fruit species by encouraging farmers to produce them. He made the statement on June 18, 2026, while briefing journalists at the inauguration of the three-day National Fruit Fair at the Bangladesh Agricultural Institute premises in Khamarbari. The minister toured the fair, met with entrepreneurs, and assured them of full government support.

Rashid said the annual fruit fair has sparked a revolution in fruit production across the country. He noted that the government is also introducing genetic material from imported fruit varieties to promote domestic cultivation and reduce import dependency. Using dragon fruit as an example, he said locally grown varieties are tastier and farmers are being encouraged to innovate in fruit production.

The minister further stated that the agriculture budget has increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year, while development and incentive allocations have risen by 59 percent, rejecting claims that the agriculture budget has been reduced.

For the first time in history, Bangladesh’s banking sector has collectively reported a net loss, amounting to Tk 1.36 trillion in 2025. The loss, revealed in Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Stability Report 2025, stemmed from record-high provisions against non-performing loans. Despite generating Tk 134,815 crore in interest income, banks faced higher interest expenses of Tk 147,352 crore, resulting in a negative interest margin. Operating profits before provisions stood at Tk 19,571 crore, but provisioning surged to Tk 143,855 crore, turning overall profits into deep losses.

The report shows that most banks suffered losses, including First Security Islami Bank, Exim Bank, and Social Islami Bank, while a few such as Standard Chartered, BRAC Bank, and City Bank managed to stay profitable. Sector-wide net profit dropped by Tk 148,824 crore compared to 2024, marking a 1,224 percent negative growth. Bank executives attributed the losses to long-accumulated bad loans and stressed assets totaling Tk 11 trillion.

Experts warned that with 60 percent of loans under stress and a 35 percent default rate, the sector’s financial stability remains at risk, and the crisis may deepen in the coming years.

The government of Bangladesh has planned to install underground fiber lines to deliver dynamic internet services to 87,000 villages and enhance digital access for marginalized communities. The initiative, originally launched as the ‘Tiger Project’ in 2022 and later renamed ‘D-Star’ or ‘Digital Star,’ received an initial allocation of 300 million US dollars. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission began groundwork to implement the project aimed at strengthening rural connectivity.

Progress has stalled due to disputes between mobile operators and fiber network businesses. Mobile operators have urged the government to expand spectrum coverage instead of direct fiber connections, while fiber providers argue that underground fiber connectivity at the union level would ensure better quality and resilience. The project remains pending at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council as both sides lobby for control.

Telecom experts have supported the underground approach, citing reduced risk of cable damage during natural disasters and less infrastructure clutter. The government has reportedly decided in principle to route fiber lines underground to improve reliability and minimize corruption risks.