Commerce, Industry and Textile Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that within the next 18 to 24 months, the Ministry of Commerce will be transformed into an efficient and people-oriented institution. Speaking at a review meeting at the ministry’s conference room in Dhaka, he outlined four priority areas: ensuring market stability, revitalizing the tea industry, addressing post-LDC trade challenges, and controlling essential commodity prices.

He noted that even after 55 years of independence, a sustainable framework for price stability of essential goods has not been established. The ministry plans to build a long-term mechanism to maintain market stability year-round. The minister also emphasized strengthening the tea industry through coordinated efforts between public and private sectors, and preparing for Bangladesh’s transition from LDC to developing country status by expanding trade agreements and training officials for international negotiations.

Muktadir further mentioned plans to transform the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) into a modern resource center modeled after examples from Turkey, Malaysia, and India, to serve as a reliable data hub for both government and private sectors.

A human chain demonstration by customers and employees of Islami Bank was held in Chapainawabganj on Tuesday afternoon at Baten Khan Mor in the town. The event lasted for about an hour and was organized to express concerns about attempts to destabilize the bank.

Speakers at the demonstration alleged that during the previous authoritarian government, S. Alam had taken control of Islami Bank. They claimed that after the change of government, as the bank began to recover, a group was again trying to create instability. Participants called for maintaining the bank’s regular operations and ensuring its stability.

The demonstration reflected ongoing tensions surrounding Islami Bank’s management and operations in the post-government transition period, with participants urging continued normal functioning of the institution.

Dr. Jannatul Ferdous, Associate Professor of Pharmacy at Comilla University, has become the first Bangladeshi to receive Japan’s prestigious Asian Young Biotechnologist Award 2026. The honor was conferred by the Society for Biotechnology, Japan (SBJ), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to biotechnology research. She confirmed the news on June 2, noting that her research focuses on using nanotechnology to enhance the effective application of drugs and biomolecules.

Dr. Ferdous expressed that the achievement brings her immense pride and joy as a researcher. She believes that winning the award through competition with scientists from developed nations will inspire young researchers in Bangladesh. The SBJ will formally present the award to her during its 78th annual conference, scheduled for September 15–17 at Hokkaido University in Japan, with all participation expenses covered by the organization.

Founded in 1923, the Society for Biotechnology, Japan, is a highly regarded international scientific body dedicated to advancing research in biology, biotechnology, and life sciences.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has expressed a positive stance on Bangladesh’s proposal to extend its preparation period for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category until November 24, 2029. CDP Chair Professor José Antonio Ocampo informed the Bangladesh government that the committee considers the extension appropriate, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance issued on Tuesday.

The CDP emphasized that the additional time should be used to address structural challenges and implement necessary policy reforms, not to delay them. Bangladesh formally requested the three-year extension on February 18, 2026, followed by a letter from the Prime Minister to the UN Secretary-General on April 6 seeking support. The committee noted that Bangladesh has exceeded all three LDC graduation criteria by a significant margin and is unlikely to regress in the near or medium term. However, it also cited global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, including Middle East tensions and energy market volatility, as potential risks.

The CDP welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to its Smooth Transition Strategy and stressed the importance of continued international cooperation, including concessional financing, technical assistance, and trade capacity building, during and after the transition period.

Bangladeshi director Mabrur Rashid Bannah has faced online threats following the release of his new drama 'Helmet Bahini' during Eid 2026. The production, which Bannah wrote, directed, and acted in, portrays a student leader who supported a repressive regime during the July 2024 anti-discrimination movement and later attempts to reinvent himself after the regime’s fall. Following its release, several artists critical of the drama issued threats on social media, including actor Tomal Mahbub and producer Arshad Adnan, son of President Shahabuddin Chuppu. Adnan’s comment suggesting punitive action against anti-fascist artists drew widespread criticism before he deleted it.

Screenshots of the posts circulated widely, prompting online solidarity under the hashtag “Stand with Mabrur Rashid Bannah.” Bannah responded publicly, urging his supporters to maintain faith and perseverance in cultural activism. Several cultural figures, including lyricist Atif Abu Bakar and Dr. Md. Nur Uddin, expressed support for Bannah’s stance and praised his continued engagement with the July movement’s themes.

Former student leader Rizwan Sheikh questioned whether authorities would act against the president’s son for allegedly compiling lists of dissenting artists under state protection.

The United Nations has warned that the natural weather phenomenon El Niño is likely to return soon, potentially intensifying extreme climate and weather conditions worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported an 80 percent chance of El Niño forming before September and a 90 percent chance by November. The agency said the upcoming event could be at least moderately strong, though it declined to confirm predictions that it might become the strongest of the century.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called El Niño an “emergency climate warning,” urging countries to treat it as a global crisis. The WMO forecast indicates that nearly all regions could experience above-normal temperatures in the next three months, with heightened risks of droughts and heavy rainfall. Experts warned that agricultural production and food security could be severely affected, especially if extreme heat and drought persist.

The WMO noted that Pacific Ocean surface temperatures are already trending toward El Niño conditions. Analysts emphasized that fossil fuel use and global warming are making extreme weather more frequent and severe, calling for stronger early warning systems and faster transitions to renewable energy.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced a reduction in liquefied petroleum (LPG) gas prices for consumers on Tuesday. The price of a 12-kilogram cylinder has been lowered from 1,940 taka to 1,885 taka. Additionally, the price of autogas has been reduced from 89.50 taka per liter to 86.93 taka per liter.

According to the report, the last price adjustment occurred on April 19, when the 12-kilogram cylinder price was increased by 212 taka to 1,940 taka. Seventeen days earlier, on April 2, BERC had raised the price by 387 taka to 1,727 taka. This means that within two consecutive revisions, the 12-kilogram cylinder price had increased by a total of 599 taka before the latest reduction.

The new pricing decision reflects a reversal of recent hikes and is expected to provide some relief to consumers following consecutive increases in April.

Lebanon’s Finance Minister Yassine Jaber has warned that the country’s financial losses from the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict have already exceeded $20 billion and could reach $25 billion if the fighting continues. The statement was reported by correspondent Zeina Khodr, citing the minister’s assessment of the escalating economic toll.

Jaber cautioned that the full extent of the economic and social damage will only become clear once the conflict ends, particularly when displaced residents begin returning to their devastated communities. He noted that the destruction of infrastructure, housing, and local economies will make the country’s reconstruction process significantly more difficult in the long term.

Analysts cited in the report said that if the conflict drags on, Lebanon’s economy could face an even deeper crisis, with recovery potentially taking many years.

A severe heatwave has paralyzed daily life in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India, where temperatures have hovered between 47 and 48 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days. Residents describe the conditions as unprecedented, saying there is little difference between morning and night, with early hours already feeling like midday. Markets and outdoor work largely shut down by mid-morning, and perishable goods such as tomatoes are spoiling rapidly. Laborers have shortened their working hours to avoid the most intense heat, while many seek shade under water tankers or trees.

Local hospitals are treating 15 to 20 patients daily for heatstroke and related illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Experts warn that climate change has made Banda and surrounding areas increasingly vulnerable, citing deforestation, drying rivers, and falling groundwater levels as key factors driving the temperature rise. Studies show significant forest loss in the district between 1991 and 2022.

A brief spell of rain and dust storms recently brought temporary relief, but meteorologists caution that such respite will be short-lived, with heatwaves expected to become more frequent and severe, posing a growing humanitarian risk.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) in Bangladesh’s banking sector have increased by Tk 314.88 billion over the past three months, according to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank. As of the end of December, total NPLs stood at Tk 5.57 trillion, representing 30.60 percent of total loans distributed at that time. By the end of March this year, the figure had risen to Tk 5.88 trillion, or 32.26 percent of total loans.

The report also shows that the total outstanding loans in the banking sector currently amount to Tk 18.24 trillion. The data highlights a continuing upward trend in defaulted loans within the country’s financial system, reflecting growing stress in the banking sector.

The increase in NPLs underscores ongoing challenges in loan recovery and credit management across banks, as indicated by the central bank’s updated figures.

Customers of Islami Bank Bangladesh held a human chain and protest in Chattogram on Tuesday demanding the removal of the bank’s chairman, Khurshid Alam. The demonstration took place around 11 a.m. in front of the bank’s regional office in Agrabad under the banner of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum.

Participants alleged that the current management system of the bank does not adequately protect customer interests and called for the chairman’s removal. They urged authorities to intervene and ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability within the institution. Protesters emphasized the need to restore customer confidence and safeguard depositors’ expectations.

Leaders of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum and clients from various professions joined the event. Police from Double Mooring Police Station maintained a watchful presence to ensure order, and the protest concluded peacefully with participants leaving the area afterward.

The United States Department of Defense has initiated an 18-month competition titled 'Drone Dominance' to accelerate the expansion of its drone fleet. According to a Washington Post report, the Pentagon aims to identify the most promising manufacturers capable of producing low-cost combat drones. The initiative follows growing recognition of drones’ effectiveness in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, prompting the U.S. military to seek rapid enhancement of its drone capabilities.

The competition invites both established defense firms and emerging startups, including companies founded by drone racers and hobbyists. The winning firms could receive contracts worth up to $1.1 billion to produce as many as three million drones. The drones being tested cost around $5,000 each and are designed for single-use missions. Early rounds of the contest, such as one held at Fort Benning, Georgia, saw 26 companies participate, with British firm Skycutter emerging as a top performer.

Pentagon officials stated that future warfare will likely depend heavily on affordable swarms of drones, and the program aims to bypass lengthy procurement processes to foster faster innovation.

India and Oman’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into effect today amid the ongoing US-Iran war that has severely disrupted maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The pact, signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat in December last year, grants duty-free access for India’s labor-intensive exports to Oman. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the implementation, calling it a milestone for expanding markets, boosting exports, attracting investment, and creating jobs.

The Hormuz Strait handles about 20 percent of global oil consumption and 25 percent of seaborne oil trade, but conflict has tightened Iranian control, disrupting India’s energy imports from Gulf states. Oman’s ports, including Salalah and Duqm, remain operational due to their location outside the strait, making Oman a reliable trade and energy route during regional instability.

Under CEPA, Oman will eliminate tariffs on 98.08 percent of its tariff lines, covering 99.38 percent of India’s exports, while India will reduce or remove tariffs on 78 percent of its lines. The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral trade, though Oman’s small market size may limit export growth.

Global crude oil prices fell slightly as traders focused on uncertainty surrounding ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude dropped by 75 cents to 94.23 dollars per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 85 cents to 91.31 dollars. The price drop followed a sharp rise just a day earlier.

The report noted that despite a price increase on Monday, oil prices had fallen by more than 16 percent in May amid hopes for a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran and the continuation of a ceasefire. Market participants had expected that such an agreement could boost Iranian oil exports and increase global supply.

Senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva said that although traders had hoped the potential deal would reduce uncertainty, no significant change in market conditions was observed as of Tuesday morning.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) under the Ministry of Social Welfare has issued a revised recruitment circular for 1,485 positions across 52 categories under the revenue sector. The online application process, to be completed through Teletalk Bangladesh Limited’s designated website, opened on June 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will continue until June 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. Both male and female candidates aged between 18 and 32 years as of June 1, 2026, are eligible to apply, with certain departmental candidates receiving age relaxation.

The circular covers a wide range of posts from grade 13 to grade 20, including positions such as principal assistant, computer operator, field supervisor, social worker, and office assistant. Applicants who previously applied under the March 27 and June 9, 2024, notices for the same posts do not need to reapply. Application fees range from 56 to 112 taka depending on the post category, payable via Teletalk prepaid numbers within 72 hours of form submission.

Detailed information and the application form are available through the DSS official website at https://dss.gov.bd/pages/notices.