The monsoon entered Bangladesh through the Teknaf coast on Saturday afternoon, marking the official onset of the rainy season in the Chattogram region, according to the Meteorological Department. The system is expected to take a few more days to spread across the entire country, with central areas likely to experience its effects within two days. Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk said that monsoon rains could begin nationwide around June 12 or 13.

Despite the monsoon’s arrival, temperatures rose on Saturday, with Noakhali recording the highest at 37.2°C and Dhaka reaching 35.2°C. The heatwave is expected to persist until the monsoon becomes fully active, with another spell likely between June 8 and 9. The department reported that the southwest winds are now replacing the summer northwesterlies, signaling a seasonal shift.

Experts noted that the monsoon’s arrival will benefit agriculture, particularly Aman rice cultivation, though farmers have been advised to protect vegetable fields from heavy rain. Rainfall across much of the country has already brought relief from the recent intense heat, easing public discomfort.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports have continued to decline in the current fiscal year, with earnings from July to May totaling 35.31 billion dollars, down 3.41 percent from the same period last year. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) reported that exports to the European Union, the country’s largest market, fell by 4.88 percent to 17.36 billion dollars. In May alone, total exports dropped 7.07 percent year-on-year, while apparel exports fell 8.29 percent.

Industry representatives said the sector’s earlier signs of recovery in April could not be sustained due to reduced orders from key markets, particularly in Europe. Mohammad Hatem of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association noted that export orders have fallen by about 30 percent, citing aggressive competition from China and India in the EU market. Former BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel added that overall demand for apparel in the EU has weakened, increasing price competition among suppliers.

Analysts warned that if the downturn in the EU market persists, it could have broader negative effects on Bangladesh’s export-driven economy, which relies heavily on apparel shipments to Europe.

Elon Musk is on the verge of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, with his total wealth potentially surpassing one trillion dollars. As of now, the Tesla CEO holds shares and options worth 273 billion dollars. If SpaceX, his rocket and artificial intelligence company, completes its planned initial public offering next week, his fortune could rise by another 841 billion dollars. The IPO values SpaceX at 1.77 trillion dollars, nearly half of which belongs to Musk. Combined, his holdings in Tesla and SpaceX could bring his total wealth to 1.11 trillion dollars.

The report notes that Musk’s wealth is largely paper-based, tied to stock valuations rather than cash reserves. Its sustainability depends on how investors continue to value his companies. To illustrate the scale, the article compares Musk’s potential wealth to national economies and major assets worldwide. Only about 20 countries have economies larger than 1.1 trillion dollars, while the combined value of the world’s top 50 sports teams is roughly one-third of Musk’s projected fortune.

The analysis underscores how Musk’s financial standing could surpass most global benchmarks if SpaceX’s IPO proceeds as planned.

Default loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector rose sharply during January–March 2026, with 44 of 61 banks reporting increases totaling Tk 31,487 crore. According to Bangladesh Bank data, total non-performing loans reached Tk 588,704 crore by the end of March, representing 32.26% of total loans, up from 30.60% in December. Officials said the rise followed post-inspection adjustments and sluggish business conditions that hindered loan recovery.

Among six state-owned banks, four saw defaults increase, led by Janata Bank, where bad loans rose by Tk 2,458 crore to Tk 74,996 crore. Private banks were hit harder, with 34 of 43 institutions reporting higher defaults. IFIC Bank recorded the largest jump of Tk 4,683 crore, followed by Islami Bank and EXIM Bank. Specialized and foreign banks, including Bangladesh Krishi Bank and HSBC, also reported increases.

City Bank’s managing director attributed the trend to slower overall economic growth. The data indicate widespread stress in both public and private banking segments, despite regulatory efforts to curb defaults.

Bangladesh Bank has increased interest rates to control inflation, leading to a slowdown in private investment as businesses avoid borrowing at higher costs. Following the removal of the interest rate cap, deposits have surged in financially strong banks, while weaker banks struggle with liquidity shortages. As of March, excess liquidity in the banking sector reached Tk 3.78 trillion, up 58.31 percent from a year earlier.

Bank officials said the fall of the Awami League government exposed the financial health of banks, prompting depositors to move funds to stronger institutions. This shift has created a liquidity imbalance, with some banks holding idle funds while others face shortages. The overall liquidity stood at Tk 7.02 trillion in March, exceeding the required Tk 3.16 trillion.

To utilize idle funds, Bangladesh Bank announced a Tk 610 billion stimulus package, including Tk 410 billion from banks’ own funds and Tk 190 billion from refinancing. The package targets industrial, SME, agricultural, and export diversification sectors, aiming to create over 1.6 million jobs with loans offered at 7 percent interest, significantly below prevailing market rates.

The southwest monsoon entered Bangladesh through the Teknaf coast on Saturday, becoming active over the Chattogram region, according to the Meteorological Department. This marks the official onset of the rainy season in that area. Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk said the monsoon could take until mid-June to spread across the country, with rain likely to begin around June 12 or 13. However, he noted that the ongoing heatwave may persist until the monsoon fully covers the country, with another spell expected between June 8 and 9.

The department reported that the highest temperature on Saturday was 37.2°C in Noakhali, while Dhaka recorded 35.2°C. Rainfall was recorded in most parts of the country, bringing relief after days of intense heat. The monsoon’s arrival is expected to increase rainfall and gradually reduce temperatures. Agricultural experts said the rains would benefit Aman rice cultivation but advised farmers to protect vegetable fields from heavy downpours.

Forecasts indicate moderate to heavy rain with gusty winds in Chattogram over the next 48 hours, and the monsoon is likely to advance toward central Bangladesh soon.

Cumilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury has emphasized that chemical waste from the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) must be treated in effluent treatment plants before being released into natural canals. He made the statement on Saturday, June 6, during a meeting with BEPZA officials at the Cumilla EPZ conference room, where he served as the chief guest.

During the meeting, chaired by Cumilla EPZ Executive Director Engineer Shafiqul Islam, Monirul highlighted the zone’s growing contribution to the national economy through increased foreign investment and satisfactory export performance. However, he warned that untreated toxic waste from industrial units is threatening the environment, biodiversity, and public health, while also harming nearby agricultural lands and farmers.

The MP called on authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure proper waste management and the efficiency of treatment facilities. He also discussed the need to expand the Cumilla EPZ southward toward the Dhaka–Chattogram highway and suggested exploring the possibility of establishing a new EPZ on the northern bank of the Gomti River.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the importance of planting trees suited to local soil and environmental conditions to maintain soil quality and ecological balance. He made the remarks on Saturday morning during a meeting on tree plantation at his Tejgaon office, attended by senior officials including the Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Abdul Awal Mintoo.

Rahman noted that soil characteristics vary across regions, and selecting appropriate tree species will improve survival rates and support environmental stability. He highlighted that climate change impacts are becoming more visible, with noticeable shifts in seasonal patterns such as reduced rainfall in June compared to previous years. He attributed part of this environmental imbalance to the decline in forest cover and vegetation.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of a national program to plant 250 million trees over the next five years. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative on June 14 in Dulahazara, Cox’s Bazar, as part of efforts to combat climate change and ensure a safer planet for future generations.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s adviser on information and broadcasting affairs, Zahed Ur Rahman, stated that the recent electricity price increase will not significantly affect market prices. He made the comment during a press briefing at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department on Saturday, responding to questions about the timing of the price adjustment ahead of the national budget.

Rahman explained that while subsidies have become costly, the government must balance spending on development, health, education, and social safety programs. He emphasized that vulnerable groups are being protected, as electricity and fuel prices were not raised for them, and many will receive allowances or family cards under the upcoming budget. Existing safety net programs, including those run by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), will continue.

He added that the Commerce Ministry will remain vigilant against any unjustified price increases in the market and that the government will act if irregularities occur.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Tirana, Albania’s capital, this week to protest a luxury resort project financed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The $1.6 billion complex is being built in one of the Mediterranean region’s most environmentally sensitive areas, where groundwork has already begun.

The site is home to nearly 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans. Public anger intensified after construction workers began laying concrete foundations and installing barbed-wire fencing around the project area. Protesters have voiced concerns over potential environmental damage and a perceived lack of political transparency surrounding the deal.

The controversy has drawn attention to the environmental and governance challenges facing large-scale foreign investment projects in Albania, though the government’s response to the protests was not detailed in the report.

A solidarity meeting was held in Rangpur demanding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan to protect the river and environment. The event took place on Friday afternoon at the District Shilpakala Academy, organized by the Teesta Bachao Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad. Participants emphasized the need for collective participation to safeguard natural resources and ensure sustainable development in the Teesta basin.

Nazrul Islam Hokkani, president of the organizing body, stated that the livelihoods, agriculture, and climate security of nearly two crore people in northern Bangladesh depend on the plan’s implementation. He criticized the lack of development in the region compared to large-scale projects in the south, noting that the financial burden of such projects ultimately falls on citizens. Hokkani also highlighted the importance of Teesta’s sand and stone resources for national development projects and opposed a complete ban on their extraction.

Local representatives, political leaders, lawyers, and journalists from the Teesta basin also addressed the meeting, expressing support for the plan’s realization.

A team of researchers in the United States has successfully achieved highly precise DNA editing in human embryos, marking what they describe as a major milestone in genetic science. Led by geneticist Dieter Egli at Columbia University, the study used a technique known as base editing, which allows for subtle DNA changes with fewer harmful effects compared to the traditional CRISPR method. The researchers reported successful edits to genes linked to heart disease risk and fetal hemoglobin production. The study is currently under peer review and has not yet been published in a scientific journal.

Scientists say the breakthrough could one day help correct genetic defects in embryos created through IVF, potentially preventing hereditary diseases. However, critics warn that the same technology could be used to select traits such as intelligence or height, raising fears of a new era of eugenics. The research’s next phase is being funded by Nucleus Genomics, a company previously criticized for predicting embryo traits.

Experts caution that the technology remains experimental, with unresolved safety and ethical questions, and emphasize the need for broad societal discussion before clinical use.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has released its shadow budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year under the theme “Bangladesh 2.0: Sustainable Growth through Reform, Employment and Investment.” The proposals were presented on June 5 at the Rupayan Tower in Dhaka by party leaders including MP Hasnat Abdullah and Dr. Atik Mujahid. The shadow budget outlines 71 actionable policy recommendations across 12 major sectors, ranging from macroeconomy and taxation to education, health, agriculture, and clean energy.

Key proposals include limiting the budget deficit to 3.09% of GDP, setting total expenditure at Tk 8.52 trillion, and targeting 13% nominal GDP growth. The NCP also proposed reducing inflation to 8% in 2026–27 and to 6% by 2027–28, raising foreign reserves to USD 32 billion, and expanding the tax base through digital registration and mandatory tax filings. Other measures cover education funding, national health insurance, renewable energy incentives, and social inclusion programs.

The party’s shadow budget emphasizes fiscal discipline, transparency, and inclusive growth, aiming to balance social spending with macroeconomic stability if implemented.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman said there is significant potential to rapidly expand trade with Turkey. The statement came after a bilateral meeting in Dhaka with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday, where both sides discussed strengthening economic ties and exploring new trade frameworks.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed the possibility of signing a free trade agreement and a preferential trade deal to enhance bilateral commerce. Dr. Rahman emphasized that the visit marked an important moment in Bangladesh-Turkey relations, reflecting both nations’ shared commitment to deepen cooperation and elevate their partnership to new levels.

He also highlighted Bangladesh’s political stability, business-friendly environment, and growing domestic market as opportunities for Turkish investment. The minister requested expanded collaboration with Turkish investment promotion agencies and urged Turkey to offer more scholarships for Bangladeshi students while inviting broader cooperation in culture, tourism, education, trade, and business connectivity.

A human chain was organized on Friday morning along the bank of the Old Gomti River in Cumilla to mark World Environment Day. The event was arranged by the environmental wing of the social and cultural organization Cumillar Jomin Family under the theme “No more plastic pollution, time to stop it.” Participants included people from various professions, journalists, teachers, environmentally conscious citizens, and representatives of social organizations.

Speakers at the event expressed concern over the country’s deteriorating environmental condition, citing encroachment and pollution of rivers, canals, and open spaces as major threats. They said the Old Gomti River, once vibrant and historically significant, has long suffered from neglect, occupation, and pollution, earning the name “Dead Gomti.”

Referring to the Hatirjheel project in Dhaka, speakers suggested that with proper planning and management, the Old Gomti River could be transformed into a modern urban recreation center, improving the city’s environment and creating new tourism opportunities. They also called on citizens to become more aware of environmental conservation.