After a long period of price stability, the Indian government has increased fuel prices nationwide. On Friday, authorities announced a hike of three rupees per liter for petrol and diesel, and two rupees per kilogram for CNG. The decision follows growing pressure on foreign exchange reserves, rising global crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee. In Delhi, petrol now costs 97.77 rupees per liter and diesel 90.67 rupees, while prices in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have also risen accordingly.

India had avoided fuel price hikes since April 2022, even cutting prices by two rupees per liter before the March 2024 general elections. However, surging crude oil import costs—rising from about 69 dollars per barrel in February to over 113 dollars in recent months—have strained the economy. As the world’s third-largest oil importer, India spent about 174 billion dollars on crude oil imports in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Economists warn that India’s current foreign exchange reserve of around 690 billion dollars may be insufficient to handle global uncertainty. Former RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra suggested reserves should reach at least one trillion dollars to ensure economic stability.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam said the corporation is working tirelessly to transform Dhaka into a livable, modern, clean, and green city. He emphasized that achieving this goal requires active participation and collective effort from the government, administration, political organizations, and city residents. Salam made these remarks on Friday afternoon while inaugurating a tree-planting program organized by Shahbagh Thana BNP near the Government Employees Hospital in the capital.

Highlighting cleanliness and mosquito control, the administrator stressed the importance of preventing dengue and chikungunya during the upcoming monsoon. He said DSCC is conducting special activities under a weekly cleaning day program across the city, but residents must also remain vigilant by keeping their homes and surroundings clean and ensuring no stagnant water accumulates.

Salam praised the BNP’s tree-planting initiative as a commendable effort that will contribute to greening Dhaka and making it more livable. The event began with the administrator planting a sapling at the site, attended by leaders of Shahbagh Thana BNP and affiliated organizations.

Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman announced that all educational institutions in Bangladesh will receive duty-free electric buses in the upcoming national budget. He said this initiative fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The minister made the announcement on Friday while addressing the annual literary and cultural competition award ceremony at Comilla Victoria Government College.

During his speech, Suman stated that a new project is being undertaken for the century-old Victoria College. He mentioned that the college’s Zia Auditorium name had been removed in the past, recalling that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had donated a bus to the college in 1993. He pledged to arrange one or two more buses for the college, either through government support or his family’s AKM Abu Taher Foundation.

The minister also highlighted several development initiatives in Comilla, including the passage of a development authority law and progress toward establishing Comilla WASA. He expressed optimism that the current Prime Minister would continue the region’s development and eventually declare Comilla a division.

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that Bangladesh will excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years. He stated that a ministry meeting decided to implement 7,000 kilometers of canal re-excavation, with 1,500 kilometers scheduled for this year. Except for one district, the work will be carried out through local administrations across 64 districts.

Speaking in Shahrasthi, Chandpur, on Friday, the minister said the new canal excavation program includes additional components such as tree planting along canal banks and fish cultivation in the canals. He emphasized that the government aims to ensure transparency in all projects and that accountability is being strengthened under the current administration.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve water management and local livelihoods through environmentally sustainable measures, according to the minister’s remarks at the event.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance strategic cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement was signed on Thursday at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright representing their respective countries. The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington confirmed the signing in a press release.

According to the embassy, the MoU aims to bolster Bangladesh’s long-term energy security amid global challenges stemming from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. It will support diversification of energy sources based on affordability and supply chain sustainability, opening new areas of collaboration between the two nations.

The agreement will facilitate capacity building, knowledge sharing, and research in oil, gas, geothermal, and bioenergy. It will also help Bangladesh import LNG, LPG, and other energy products from the United States at competitive prices. Both ministers described the MoU as a milestone and a historic advancement in Bangladesh-U.S. relations.

Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu has called on BRAC to take an active role in restoring the lost glory of Rajshahi’s traditional silk industry. Speaking at the launch of BRAC’s 2025 annual report in Rajshahi on Friday, he said the once-thriving silk sector is now nearly extinct, and BRAC’s organizational capacity and experience could help revive it. The minister expressed hope that BRAC would take responsibility for reintroducing Rajshahi silk to the global market.

He added that Prime Minister Tarek Rahman values BRAC’s work and expects its continued collaboration with the government in health and employment initiatives. Local MP Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon proposed establishing an agro-based export processing zone and specialized cold storage in the Barind region to boost employment and modernize agriculture. BRAC’s senior director K.A.M. Morshed emphasized that BRAC prioritizes Bangladesh and works independently to meet people’s needs.

According to BRAC, in 2025 it supported over 20,000 ultra-poor families in Rajshahi Division, with significant progress in poverty reduction, health services, and women’s empowerment.

Iran is increasingly relying on new land trade routes through Pakistan to maintain supply lines amid a U.S. naval blockade that has disrupted maritime commerce. Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce recently issued policy SRO 691, designating six transit corridors linking Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar ports to Iran’s Gabd and Taftan border crossings. The initiative revives a long-dormant project and provides both nations with a long-awaited relief as thousands of Iran-bound containers remain stranded at Karachi port.

The corridors are based on a 2008 bilateral road transport agreement between Iran and Pakistan that had remained inactive for years. Experts cited in the report said the routes could reduce Iran’s dependence on risky sea lanes and help sustain limited regional trade despite sanctions and tensions. Test shipments, including frozen meat bound for Uzbekistan, have already used these routes, showing potential for broader regional connectivity.

Analysts noted that while the corridors may not fundamentally transform Iran’s economy, they could ease pressure from sanctions and maritime restrictions by enabling overland cargo movement from Pakistan to Iran and onward to Central Asia.

Several filling stations in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur have turned into temporary paddy drying grounds as customer traffic has sharply declined. Once busy with motorcycles, cars, and trucks, these fuel stations now host farmers spreading freshly harvested Boro paddy across paved forecourts. Farmers said they chose the stations because of the lack of open and paved spaces in villages, and the areas’ exposure to sunlight allows faster drying.

Station owners confirmed that customer numbers have dropped even after the fuel supply crisis eased. They cited higher costs, a slowdown in the transport sector, and the use of alternative fuels as reasons for reduced sales. With large open spaces lying unused, some owners have allowed farmers to dry and thresh paddy temporarily.

Local observers have warned that since petrol pumps store flammable materials, drying and threshing activities must be conducted with extreme caution. They urged both station authorities and local administration to ensure safety and prevent fire or electrical hazards.

As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, cattle farmers across Bangladesh are working intensively to prepare their livestock for the sacrificial market. In districts such as Netrakona, Jamalpur, and Bogura, farmers have invested heavily—some through bank loans and others from personal savings—to raise cattle using natural and local methods. Many farms are now in their final stages of preparation, with families and workers providing extra care, feeding, and health monitoring to ensure the animals are ready for sale.

Farmers report that the cost of cattle feed, medicine, and maintenance has risen sharply, increasing production expenses. In border areas like Bakshiganj, concerns persist about the illegal entry of Indian cattle, which could depress local prices. Livestock officials have instructed farmers to avoid harmful substances and use natural fattening methods, assuring that animals are being prepared safely. Despite higher costs, farmers remain hopeful for fair prices and potential profits if market conditions remain stable.

Officials in Bogura’s Dhunot upazila confirmed that local supply exceeds demand, indicating no shortage of sacrificial animals this year.

The Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers Association (BMGTA) has demanded that 20 percent of the upcoming national budget be allocated to the education sector. The demand was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday morning, where the association’s founder president Md. Harun-or-Rashid presented a written statement. The group also called for full festival allowances for MPO-listed teachers and the nationalization of all education systems, including madrasas.

According to the statement, the education sector received Tk 95,644 crore in the 2025–26 fiscal year, representing 12.1 percent of the total national budget, only Tk 934 crore higher than the previous year. The association noted that international standards recommend allocating 15–20 percent of the national budget or 4–6 percent of GDP to education, but Bangladesh’s allocation remains below both benchmarks. The statement added that this shortfall negatively affects marginalized communities.

The association further demanded the implementation of the ninth pay scale, government-standard medical and housing allowances, promotion opportunities for teachers, and the inclusion of independent ibtedayi madrasas under the MPO scheme.

Farmers across Cumilla are struggling to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to an acute shortage of laborers. Despite offering double the usual wages, they are unable to find workers, leaving large areas of golden paddy unharvested and at risk of damage. The crisis has spread across Chandina, Debidwar, Muradnagar, Sadar Dakshin, Brahmanpara, Burichang, Barura, and Laksam upazilas.

Farmers report that daily wages have surged from Tk 700–800 to as high as two maunds of paddy per day, yet labor remains scarce. Many rural workers have shifted to urban jobs in brick kilns, construction, garment factories, or battery-run rickshaw driving, which offer higher income with less effort. The sudden ripening of paddy across the district has further intensified demand. Heavy rainfall last week damaged around 3,000 hectares of paddy, with 36 hectares severely affected, causing losses estimated at Tk 8–9 million.

Officials said the government is purchasing paddy at Tk 36 per kilogram, but small farmers complain of complex procedures at government warehouses, forcing them to sell at lower local market prices. Agricultural experts warn that without fair pricing and mechanization support, many farmers may abandon paddy cultivation in the future.

China has expressed interest in purchasing oil from the United States, leading to a rise of more than one percent in global oil prices. The increase followed a statement from US President Donald Trump. Market data showed that the international benchmark Brent crude rose by 1.17 dollars, or 1.11 percent, reaching 106.89 dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 1.10 dollars, or 1.09 percent, to 102.27 dollars per barrel.

In addition to Trump’s statement, ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have also influenced the oil market. Although reports indicated that at least 30 ships passed through the strait last Thursday, concerns about potential detentions or attacks remain. This instability has prompted investors to anticipate further price increases.

Analysts suggest that the combination of geopolitical uncertainty and renewed trade interest between China and the United States is shaping short-term market expectations.

The newly elected government of Bangladesh, led by Tarique Rahman, has given final approval to the long-awaited Padma Barrage Project during the third meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday. The project, estimated to cost Tk 50,443.64 crore, aims to restore water flow and biodiversity in 26 districts and 123 upazilas of the country’s southwest region. The government has allocated Tk 34,497.25 crore for the first phase of implementation.

According to the Water Resources Ministry, the project seeks to mitigate the severe environmental and agricultural damage caused by India’s unilateral withdrawal of water through the Farakka Barrage. The ministry’s documents describe how reduced river flow has led to desertification, salinity, and water scarcity across large areas, threatening livelihoods and ecosystems, including the Sundarbans. Environmentalists have welcomed the approval, calling the barrage a vital step to revive dying rivers and ensure water security.

The Water Resources Minister stated that the Padma Barrage is an internal matter for Bangladesh and does not require India’s consent. The project includes construction of the main barrage, hydroelectric facilities, and dredging of major river systems to restore natural water flow.

The United Nations General Assembly is set to hold a crucial vote in New York next week on a new resolution addressing climate justice. The proposal urges member states to endorse the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion recognizing legal obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and control fossil fuel use. The initiative, led by Pacific island nation Vanuatu, seeks to reinforce international legal accountability in tackling the climate crisis.

The ICJ issued its advisory opinion last year after hearings in The Hague, which was supported by 132 countries without opposition. Small island states hailed the opinion as a historic victory. Vanuatu has since spearheaded efforts to translate that opinion into a binding political commitment, aiming to secure broad support before the May 20 vote.

The latest draft of the resolution has been softened under pressure, particularly from the United States. References to a rapid and just phaseout of fossil fuels have been replaced with a call for gradual transition, and plans for an international registry of climate-related losses have been dropped.

The United States Justice Department is preparing to withdraw all fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, according to reports citing individuals familiar with the case. The decision follows Adani’s appointment of a new legal team led by Robert J. Giuffra Jr., one of former President Donald Trump’s personal attorneys. The team presented its case at a meeting in Washington, arguing that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence and jurisdiction to pursue the matter.

During the same meeting, Giuffra proposed that if prosecutors dropped the charges, Adani would invest 10 billion dollars in the US economy and create 15,000 jobs, though officials later clarified that this offer would not influence the criminal case. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has already settled its civil dispute with Adani, imposing an 18 million dollar fine, of which Adani will pay six million. The Treasury Department is reportedly preparing a separate 275 million dollar penalty related to sanctions violations.

If finalized, the resolution would mark a major victory for the Adani Group, which has faced business obstacles due to the case since 2024.