The link road on the Chilmarir side of the Maulana Bhasani Bridge in Kurigram has developed around 100 small and large holes, making it nearly unusable for traffic. Despite several extensions of the project deadline, the road improvement work remains incomplete. The project, worth Tk 10.33 crore, began in February 2024 and was supposed to be completed by February 2025. However, only about 70 percent of the work has been finished so far. Local residents and transport workers have expressed deep frustration over the poor condition of the road.

The contractor, Rashedul Islam from Roumari, obtained the work using the license of Mir Habibul Alam from Natore. The 5.23-kilometer road from Matikata Mor to Paachpir GC Road has been progressing slowly, with rain and delays worsening the situation. Large pits and soil collapses have made the route dangerous even for pedestrians. Attempts to contact the contractor were unsuccessful, while the Upazila Engineer, Zulfiqar Ali, confirmed that the project deadline had been extended and that the contractor had been instructed to complete the work quickly.

The damaged road has disrupted daily travel and transport in the area, increasing risks for vehicles and commuters until repairs are completed.

In Lohagara upazila of Chattogram, parts of the approach road to a newly constructed bridge on the Chunati-Farenga road have collapsed before its official inauguration. Local residents allege that poor-quality materials and substandard construction caused the damage, which worsened after recent rainfall. The road is used daily by thousands of people, students, and vehicles, and its sudden deterioration has sparked anger and concern in the area.

According to local sources, soil erosion created pits and caused sections of the road to sink. Residents claim that the lack of slope protection, drainage, and soil retention measures made the road vulnerable even to light rain. The bridge was built under the Greater Chattogram Rural Infrastructure Development Project-3 during the 2023–24 fiscal year, with a budget of Tk 3.49 crore, implemented by Consultant Engineering Builders.

A representative of the contractor said they learned of the issue through a union parishad member and promised quick repairs. The upazila engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department stated that the damage was caused by rainwater and that repair work would begin once rainfall subsides.

At Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet, construction of a two‑storey garage is underway by filling the aesthetic 'Shaheed Rudra Sen Lake'. The project, which also involves cutting part of a nearby hill, has sparked negative reactions among students. The lake, excavated recently at a cost of about Tk 7.5 crore, had become a major attraction for students and visitors, symbolizing the memory of Shaheed Rudra Sen. Despite earlier suspension of work following media reports, construction has resumed.

The planned garage will accommodate only 22 vehicles, while the university’s transport pool currently holds 42 and continues to expand. Critics within the university argue that the project wastes money and damages the campus environment, as sufficient open space already exists nearby for parking. An administrative officer, requesting anonymity, questioned the necessity of spending Tk 7 crore for such limited capacity.

When approached for comment, the university’s chief engineer, Zainal Ahmed Chowdhury, reacted angrily and refused to answer questions about the lake project.

CPD Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya stated that while subsidies in the energy sector are necessary, the method of providing them remains unclear. He made the remarks on Monday morning in Dhaka during a discussion titled “National Budget 2026–27: What Is There for the Disadvantaged?” organized by the Citizen Platform.

He emphasized that GDP growth alone cannot be the sole indicator of economic success. Instead, development should be measured by improvements in people’s living standards and the extent to which economic benefits reach the population. Bhattacharya warned that without sufficient job creation in agriculture, small and medium enterprises, the ready-made garment industry, and modern service sectors, the benefits of growth will not reach ordinary citizens.

He also noted that real incomes are declining while living costs are rising. The marginal tax rate will increase by 5 percent for monthly incomes between 31,250 and 37,500 taka, potentially raising the tax burden for some within this income range.

Jagannath University (JnU) has been allocated a revenue budget of Tk 186.6 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The allocation is part of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) total approved budget of Tk 12,300.04 crore for 58 public universities and the UGC itself. The approval came during the UGC’s 187th full commission meeting held on June 11. Of the total, Tk 12,001.82 crore was designated for public universities and Tk 298.58 crore for the UGC.

According to UGC sources, Tk 7,428.43 crore of the total university budget is for operational expenses and Tk 4,573.39 crore for development projects. Jagannath University’s allocation is comparable to other major institutions such as Islamic University (Tk 188.4 crore), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Tk 186.66 crore), and Khulna University (Tk 182.92 crore). Dhaka University received the highest revenue budget of Tk 949.36 crore.

The UGC also unified research budgets of universities and the commission to avoid duplication, transferring Tk 200 crore from universities to the UGC’s research fund, which now totals Tk 226 crore. With an additional Tk 12 crore for foreign scholarships, the total scholarship allocation stands at Tk 238 crore.

Bangladesh Bank has annulled the appointments of Islami Bank’s chairman and all board directors to restore depositor confidence amid a severe liquidity crisis. The central bank appointed its executive director, Mohammad Zahid Hossain, to assume full board responsibilities. The decision was announced on Sunday following a meeting between the central bank and Islami Bank’s top officials, invoking powers under sections 45 and 47(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Earlier the same day, Bangladesh Bank provided Islami Bank with a special loan of Tk 2,500 crore at 11.5 percent interest for 90 days to ease the liquidity crunch. The crisis began after the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman triggered unrest among depositors and shareholders, leading to massive withdrawals. The bank’s current account balance had dropped to Tk 439 crore, halting check settlements and ATM operations.

Despite the emergency support, Islami Bank branches continued facing heavy withdrawal pressure, with customers limited in cash access. The central bank stated it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure financial stability and depositor protection.

Asian-Pacific stock markets recorded significant gains on Monday following news of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran that ends hostilities and allows the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose by more than 5 percent in early trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 5.7 percent. Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 2.7 percent, and Australia’s ASX200 increased by about 1.5 percent.

US stock futures also climbed in after-hours trading, with the S&P 500 up nearly 1 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising 1.6 percent. The positive sentiment extended to global markets as investors responded to the easing of geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, global oil prices fell sharply after the peace deal announcement. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped more than 4 percent to around 83.70 dollars per barrel, reflecting expectations of improved supply stability following the reopening of the key maritime route.

Bangladesh’s first budget under the current BNP government proposes a record allocation of Tk 1,36,606 crore for education, raising the sector’s share to 2 percent of GDP. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the plan in parliament, emphasizing technical education, research, innovation, and third-language learning to link education with economic growth. The budget also sets a goal to raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP within five years.

Education experts welcomed the increased allocation as a reflection of the government’s election pledges but noted that it still falls short of UNESCO’s 4–6 percent guideline. Several educators and organizations expressed concern that the budget lacks directives to improve teachers’ living standards, salaries, and benefits, particularly for MPO-listed and ibtedayi madrasa teachers. They warned that without addressing teachers’ welfare, the goal of “education with happiness” would remain unfulfilled.

Analysts urged transparent implementation and effective use of funds to ensure quality education and skill development aligned with labor market needs.

Global oil prices fell sharply on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen following a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan. Brent crude dropped 4 percent to 83.81 dollars per barrel, while US crude fell 4.7 percent to 80.89 dollars. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the formal signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on June 19. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the deal on state television.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG shipments, had been closed since February 28 after US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran. Tehran had threatened attacks on vessels using the route. The conflict had previously driven oil prices as high as 120 dollars per barrel, up from around 70 dollars before the war.

Energy analysts cautioned that oil transport through the strait would not immediately return to prewar levels, citing the need to clear mines and ease tanker congestion. Asian stock markets rose sharply as investors welcomed the agreement.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam conducted a sudden cleanliness drive in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area to raise public awareness against indiscriminate waste disposal. During the inspection, he expressed dissatisfaction over garbage scattered in front of several permanent and temporary shops and urged traders to dispose of waste only in designated places. Dustbins were distributed among the business owners as part of the campaign.

A mobile court led by an executive magistrate of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) fined nine traders a total of Tk 19,500 for environmental pollution and littering. After the inspection, the state minister told reporters that the government aims to make Dhaka a cleaner and more livable city within its capacity, emphasizing that citizens must also act responsibly by keeping waste in proper locations for easy collection.

Senior officials from the ministry and DSCC, including the chief executive officer Md Zahirul Islam and chief waste management officer Air Commodore Md Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, were present during the operation.

Bangladesh Bank has annulled the appointments of the chairman and all members of the board of directors of Islami Bank, the country’s largest Shariah-based bank. The decision was confirmed by Shahriar Siddiqui, assistant spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, and was taken on Sunday under the authority of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

According to an official notice, the central bank stated that the move was made in the interest of depositors and the public. Under section 47(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991, Bangladesh Bank’s executive director Mohammad Zahid Hossain has been assigned to exercise all powers and responsibilities of the dissolved board.

The announcement follows recent discussions between Islami Bank’s top officials and the governor of Bangladesh Bank, as well as ongoing concerns about depositor protection and governance within the banking sector.

The government has issued the revised Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Dealer Appointment and Management Policy 2025 to make subsidized goods distribution among low-income families more transparent and accountable. The updated policy, released in June 2026, restricts dealership applications exclusively to genuine grocery traders holding updated trade licenses. It also disqualifies all categories of salaried employees, including those in government, semi-government, autonomous, private, and MPO-listed educational institutions.

The new policy introduces several administrative changes, such as mandatory physical presence of dealers during official inspections, increased security deposit requirements from 30,000 to 50,000 taka, and a shortened renewal grace period of one month with a fine. It also allows district commissioners to appoint substitute dealers from nearby areas to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods. The 2025 and 2021 policies have been repealed with the issuance of this revised version.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the revision was prompted by operational complexities and weak oversight found in the earlier policy. Currently, 8,273 dealers operate across the country, with new appointments and contract cancellations ongoing.

The Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) has called for the rapid identification, legal recovery, and return of embezzled or looted funds from the country’s banking sector to protect depositors’ interests. In a press release issued on Sunday, the organization welcomed the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, noting the government’s allocation of about Tk 40,000 crore for weak banks as a key step toward restoring stability.

BAB emphasized that the recapitalization effort will only be effective if accompanied by strong measures to recover stolen assets and hold those responsible accountable. It urged visible and strict actions against willful defaulters and individuals who have harmed the banking system, warning that they should not be allowed to re-enter the sector. The association also proposed establishing an asset management company to reduce non-performing loans and strengthen bank balance sheets.

BAB cautioned that recapitalization without effective recovery would bring only temporary relief. It called for equal emphasis on reform, recovery, and accountability to ensure sustainable growth and maintain public trust in the banking system.

Bangladesh received a $1 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as budget support, raising the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves to $35.63 billion by Sunday, the highest in 43 months. The reserves stood at $34.59 billion on Thursday, according to Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

Under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves reached $31.07 billion. Earlier, on January 19 of this year, reserves exceeded the $30 billion mark for the first time under BPM6 reporting, which began in June 2023 when reserves were $24.75 billion. The highest reserve level in Bangladesh’s history was $48 billion in August 2021, but it declined sharply afterward due to increased capital outflows and a rising dollar rate from 84 to over 120 taka.

At the time of the Awami League government’s fall, reserves under BPM6 had dropped to $20.48 billion, marking a significant low before the recent recovery.

India’s latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report shows the country’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. Two decades ago, the rate stood at 3.3. Experts attribute the decline to higher education levels, career focus, rising living costs, and growing emphasis on personal freedom. Many couples now choose to delay or forgo parenthood altogether.

Specialists note that educated and financially independent women are increasingly prioritizing careers and self-development over traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood. The availability of fertility options such as egg freezing, now offered by over 2,000 centers, allows women to delay childbirth. Meanwhile, India’s infant mortality rate has dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024, further influencing smaller family sizes.

Regional disparities remain: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh record higher fertility rates of 2.9 and 2.6, while Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala report rates near 1.2–1.3. Some states, including Andhra Pradesh, have introduced cash incentives for additional births, but experts argue that addressing underlying social and economic factors will be more effective than urging larger families.