Bangladesh Bank has imposed new restrictions on its officials and employees regarding participation in training, seminars, and workshops both at home and abroad. According to an office order issued on Wednesday, officials are now prohibited from attending any such events funded by government or private banks, financial institutions, or any organization that receives services from or supplies goods and services to the central bank. The directive takes immediate effect.

The order further states that Bangladesh Bank officials cannot act as trainers or examiners in programs financed by banks or financial institutions. Participation as speakers or trainers in domestic seminars is allowed only with prior approval from the Human Resources Department-2, and no honorarium may be accepted from the organizing institution. The central bank said the move aims to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain neutrality in its operations.

The decision follows reports that some officials had traveled abroad at the invitation of supplier companies, with allegations that certain departments provided undue advantages to those firms in procurement processes.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed his First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, as the head of the country’s special cyberspace headquarters. The presidential directive emphasized establishing an integrated governance system in cyberspace, curbing divergent narratives, and preventing overlapping activities among responsible institutions.

The appointment comes amid the 75th consecutive day of widespread internet disruptions and restrictions across Iran. On February 28, the Iranian government cut off international internet connections, coinciding with attacks involving Israel and the United States. Telephone communications with foreign countries have also been severely affected.

The move signals the administration’s focus on tightening control over digital communications and coordination among state agencies during a period of heightened cyber and connectivity challenges.

India has increased the import duty on gold and silver from 6 percent to 15 percent, effective from Wednesday, according to a government order cited by Reuters. The move aims to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves and limit imports of the two precious metals. The new structure includes a 10 percent basic customs duty and a 5 percent agriculture infrastructure and development cess.

Experts said the higher duty could dampen demand in the world’s second-largest consumer of precious metals but may help narrow India’s trade deficit and support the rupee. However, they warned that the steep tariff could revive smuggling, which had declined after a previous duty cut in 2024. Surendra Mehta of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association noted that the government’s decision was expected as part of efforts to reduce the current account deficit, though it may affect demand amid already high prices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to avoid buying gold for a year to protect foreign reserves. Bullion traders reported that banks had paused imports for over a month due to a 3 percent integrated goods and services tax, leading to a 30-year low in April imports. Imports may fall again following the latest duty hike.

A proposed $1.5 billion Trump International Hotel and Tower project on Australia’s Gold Coast has been cancelled after relations between local developer Altus Property Group and the Trump Organization deteriorated. Altus executive David Young announced on LinkedIn that his firm had withdrawn from the project, citing the Trump brand’s increasingly negative image among Australians due to U.S. military posturing around Iran and global tensions. He described the decision as purely business-related and denied any personal conflict with the Trump family.

The Trump Organization responded by accusing Altus of failing to meet basic financial obligations despite months of discussions and repeated promises. The project, planned for Surfers Paradise in Queensland, was still listed on Altus’s website with claims of preliminary approval and an August construction start. However, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate confirmed that no formal application had been submitted to the city council.

Griffith University’s Professor Paul Burton noted that many ambitious tower projects in the region have stalled before construction, emphasizing that while AI can generate attractive designs, real-world financing and credibility remain decisive challenges.

Severe flooding has hit Haluaghat upazila in Mymensingh following heavy rainfall and flash floods from the Indian Garo Hills. Rising water levels in local rivers have inundated several unions, leaving thousands of residents trapped and causing extensive damage to homes and farmland. The situation worsened after continuous overnight rain caused the Menongchari River in India to overflow into Bangladesh’s Boraghat River, breaching embankments and flooding nearby villages.

At least six villages in Gazirvita Union are reported to be underwater, with crops such as boro paddy, peanuts, maize, and other seasonal produce submerged. Farmers fear severe losses if the water does not recede soon. Residents said the water rose rapidly overnight, forcing many to move belongings to higher ground as homes were flooded and daily life disrupted.

Flood pressure is reportedly highest in Kaliyani Kanda and Boalmara areas, where roads are submerged and communication severely hampered. Attempts to reach the Haluaghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer for comment were unsuccessful.

The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) has warned that around two million Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Arab Emirates could face serious livelihood risks if the ongoing war in the Middle East continues. The warning was issued at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Wednesday, where RMMRU presented a report titled “The Ongoing War Situation in Iran and the Gulf Region: Impacts and Actions for Bangladeshi Migrant Workers.”

According to the report, the conflict has already disrupted business activities across the Gulf region, causing uncertainty in the labor market. Declining investor confidence, rising costs, and infrastructure damage could halt projects and eliminate expected employment opportunities. The report also noted that disruptions in mobility have created a secondary crisis in the recruitment process, leading to disputes between agents and prospective workers over recruitment costs.

RMMRU highlighted the absence of a crisis response fund or real-time monitoring system to address job losses, forced returns, or stranded migrants. Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, RMMRU’s founding chair, emphasized the need for new labor markets, skill development, language training, and modernization of the education system to adapt to long-term global labor market changes.

The government of Bangladesh has announced new prices for sacrificial animal hides ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon that the price of salted cowhide in Dhaka has been set between Tk 62 and Tk 67 per square foot. Outside Dhaka, the rate will range from Tk 57 to Tk 62 per square foot.

According to the minister, the price of salted goat hide has been fixed at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per square foot, while the price for she-goat hide has been set between Tk 22 and Tk 25. The announcement comes as part of the government’s annual price determination process for raw hides during the Eid-ul-Azha season, when large numbers of animals are sacrificed across the country.

The new rates are expected to guide traders and tanners in the upcoming hide collection and processing period during the festival.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has forecast that global oil supply will decline by 3.9 million barrels per day throughout 2026 due to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In its latest report, the agency said the stalemate in the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, has led to a rapid depletion of global oil inventories.

According to the IEA, global oil demand is also expected to fall by 420,000 barrels per day this year. The agency noted that more than ten weeks after the start of the Middle East conflict, the continuing supply shortfall through the Hormuz Strait is driving inventories down at a record rate.

The report added that the ongoing deadlock and fast-declining reserves could signal a potential rise in oil prices in the near future.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on May 13, 2026, approved nine development projects with a total estimated cost of Tk 36,695.72 crore. Of this amount, Tk 36,490.93 crore will come from government funds and Tk 204.79 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, was chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

The approved projects include three new, five revised, and one extended project. Among them are initiatives under the ministries of culture, health, ICT, social welfare, defense, housing and public works, water resources, and power, energy and mineral resources. Notable projects include the Padma Barrage (Phase 1), Chattogram City Outer Ring Road (5th revision), and infrastructure for Hi-Tech City-2. Senior ministers and government officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was also informed about two additional projects costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved by the planning minister, including infrastructure development at Mymensingh Zilla School and construction of an airmen barrack complex at Kurmitola Air Base.

Delegations from China and the United States have begun trade discussions in South Korea, according to Chinese state media reports released on Wednesday. The meeting is taking place near Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing. No further details about the discussions have been disclosed.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier confirmed plans to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, both of whom have previously led multiple rounds of trade negotiations. The talks are believed to be final preparations for potential announcements expected during an upcoming summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Last year, Washington and Beijing imposed reciprocal tariffs exceeding 100 percent on each other’s goods, but in October they agreed in South Korea to suspend the trade war for one year.

Bessent stated that economic security is national security and announced he would travel to Beijing for the Trump-Xi summit, accompanied by more than a dozen business executives, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The Padma Barrage Project has received final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chair Tareq Rahman on Wednesday at the Secretariat. The first phase of the project, proposed by the Ministry of Water Resources, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board between this year and June 2033 at a cost of Tk 344.97 billion, fully funded by the government. The total estimated cost of the entire project is Tk 504.43 billion.

According to planning commission sources, the project aims to mitigate dry-season water shortages caused by the Farakka Barrage by storing about 2,900 million cubic meters of water in the Padma River. The stored water will help revive five rivers—Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Baral, and Ichamati—by supplying around 800 cubic meters per second during the dry season. The first phase includes constructing a 2.1-kilometer barrage at Pangsha in Rajbari with 78 spillways, 18 under-sluice gates, two fish passes, and a navigation lock.

The project is expected to enhance agriculture and fisheries production and benefit 19 districts across four divisions in its initial phase, with further expansion planned in later stages.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a 50 percent reduction in the number of vehicles in his official motorcade. The decision, announced amid a global energy crisis, aims to cut fuel consumption and promote the use of electric vehicles. The Special Protection Group responsible for Modi’s security has already begun implementing the directive.

The move comes as several Bharatiya Janata Party–ruled states follow suit. Chief Ministers Rekha Gupta of Delhi, Bhajan Lal Sharma of Rajasthan, and Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh have also decided to reduce the size of their official fleets. The global energy shortage has been exacerbated by the ongoing United States–Iran war, which has driven up crude oil prices and disrupted supply chains.

Modi urged citizens to adopt a “nationally responsible” lifestyle, use local products, and avoid unnecessary gold purchases for one year to ease pressure on foreign currency reserves. He also advised against foreign travel and destination weddings abroad.

Scientists have warned that a 'super El Niño' could develop in 2026, intensifying global heat and wildfire risks. According to data compiled by World Weather Attribution, from January to April this year, more than 150 million hectares of land have already burned worldwide, 20 percent higher than previous records. The phenomenon, which warms the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, is expected to disrupt global weather patterns as the Northern Hemisphere enters summer.

Imperial College London wildfire expert Theodore Kipping said the wildfire season has started unusually early, with Africa losing about 85 million hectares and Asia around 44 million hectares to fires so far. He warned that the risk of wildfires could increase later this year as El Niño heightens the likelihood of heatwaves and droughts in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the Amazon rainforest.

The World Meteorological Organization stated last month that El Niño conditions are expected to begin in May, potentially bringing drought to parts of Australia, Indonesia, and South Asia, while causing floods and rising temperatures elsewhere.

The European Union is preparing to present a plan this summer to ban social media use for minors, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She announced the initiative on Tuesday, citing growing pressure from several member states to strengthen child protection online. The proposal aims to address concerns about the impact of addictive online platforms on children.

Support for stricter regulation has increased in recent months, with France, Spain, Greece, and Denmark leading calls for stronger measures. Von der Leyen made the remarks at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, where she highlighted the rapid pace of technological advancement and its deep influence on childhood and adolescence.

Several EU countries are already moving toward national legislation on this issue. The European Commission has also formed an independent expert panel on online child safety to assess potential measures to combat addiction and social anxiety among minors. Similar restrictions have already been implemented in Australia and Indonesia.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh is expanding the farmer card distribution program from 15 to 19 upazilas, with pilot implementation expected to begin in June 2026. A 13-member core committee met at the ministry to discuss potential challenges and future steps. The initiative, one of the government’s 31 election pledges, aims to provide cards to landless, marginal, and small farmers.

The program’s oversight is under discussion within the government. A prime minister’s adviser is working to bring the World Bank under the program’s supervision to ease financial pressure, while the agriculture minister prefers domestic management for equitable distribution. Pre-pilot phases revealed several issues, including land ownership complications and mismatches in beneficiary data during fund transfers.

The farmer card is designed to offer 10 types of benefits, including cash incentives, subsidized inputs, irrigation support, and easy loans. The government plans to distribute cards to 16.5 million farmers over four years at an estimated cost of 6.81 billion taka.