The article discusses the rapid expansion of e-commerce in Bangladesh and globally, highlighting how technology has transformed daily life and business practices. Online shopping has become a key part of modern living, allowing consumers to purchase goods and services easily from home through websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. This shift has saved time and effort while enabling businesses to reach customers beyond local boundaries.

Despite its benefits, e-commerce faces several challenges. Consumers often cannot verify product quality before purchase, leading to trust issues and occasional fraud. Delayed or incorrect deliveries and technical disruptions also affect reliability. The article notes that in Bangladesh, young entrepreneurs are driving growth through social media-based ventures, supported by mobile banking systems that simplify online payments.

To ensure sustainable growth, the piece emphasizes the need for strong data protection, secure transactions, and ethical business practices. Government policy and public awareness are seen as essential for building a safe and trustworthy e-commerce environment that can further strengthen the national economy.

A rare comet will be visible in the skies of the Southern Hemisphere for the next two weeks before disappearing from view for approximately 170,000 years. According to astronomer Josh Aoraki of Auckland’s Te Whatu Stardome in New Zealand, the comet had been traveling through the Northern Hemisphere but is now visible in the south after orbiting the Sun.

Aoraki explained that the comet is bright but not visible to the naked eye, requiring binoculars, a telescope, or a camera to observe. He added that while it is not bright enough for unaided viewing, it is relatively easy to photograph. The comet’s brightness is expected to gradually fade over the coming two weeks.

Residents of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the Pacific region are advised to look toward the western horizon shortly after sunset, ensuring an unobstructed view. The best viewing time will be within the first hour after the Sun sets.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast storms with wind speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour in seven districts by Monday evening. The warning, issued in a special advisory for inland river ports from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., covers Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram, and Sylhet. These areas may experience temporary gusty or squally winds from the west or northwest, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms.

Due to the risk of rough weather, river ports in the affected regions have been advised to hoist cautionary signal number one. The weather office has also urged vessels operating in these areas to navigate carefully to avoid accidents.

The advisory highlights the likelihood of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity in the mentioned districts, prompting authorities and residents to remain alert throughout the day.

A four-storey building in the Palpara area of Chandpur city has tilted onto an adjacent structure, prompting local authorities to order the evacuation of both buildings. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, creating panic among residents. Chandpur Municipality officials visited the site, posted warning notices, and advised all occupants to move to safer locations immediately.

According to reports, the leaning building belongs to Md. Shahjahan, constructed in 2015, while the neighboring building owned by Md. Shah Alam Dhaly was built in 2012 with municipal approval. Shah Alam said his building became risky after the adjacent one began leaning, while Shahjahan stated he was unsure of the cause but claimed his construction followed municipal rules.

Municipal urban planner Md. Sohrab Hossain said initial inspections suggest a construction defect may have caused the tilt, putting both buildings at risk. The municipality plans a detailed investigation before taking further action.

Several branches of five recently merged banks in Chattogram’s Agrabad area were locked by depositors on Monday morning. Acting under the banner of the Depositors Association, hundreds of customers marched to the area and forced staff out of Exim Bank’s Agrabad branch before locking it. They later locked branches of Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank PLC as well. The protest began around 11 a.m. and ended at about 12:30 p.m., when police oversaw the reopening of the branches.

Depositors said they have been unable to withdraw money from these banks since the final period of the Awami League government. Despite having large deposits, even small cheques are not being cleared. They alleged that government funds supplied to repay depositors are being used for staff salaries instead. The interim government’s decision to merge weak banks has not improved the situation, according to protesters.

Police reported that extra forces were deployed in Agrabad ahead of the pre-announced protest and that the situation is now normal.

A public interest writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the legality of the bilateral trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States on February 9, 2026. The petition was submitted on Monday morning by Supreme Court lawyers Mohammad Maidul Islam Polok and Subir Nandi Das.

According to the petition, the agreement is described as unreasonable, structurally unequal, and harmful to Bangladesh’s national interests. It alleges that the authorities failed to protect the country’s economic sovereignty and public welfare during the negotiation and signing process. The secretaries of the foreign, finance, and commerce ministries have been named as respondents in the case.

The writ also raises constitutional questions regarding the agreement’s validity, citing concerns over disproportionate obligations on Bangladesh, adverse tariff structures, erosion of regulatory autonomy, and potential harm to domestic industry, agriculture, and environmental protection.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is reshaping global energy dynamics, forcing countries to reconsider their dependence on unstable regions for fuel supply. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has already caused significant changes in global markets, with energy trade patterns shifting rapidly.

Amid the turmoil, US energy exports have reached record highs, while the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective May 1. Analysts view this as a major turning point for the global oil market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has described the situation as the largest global energy security challenge in history.

Experts suggest that the ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with OPEC’s fragmentation and the search for alternative supply routes, could permanently alter the global energy order.

Iran’s health sector is facing a severe crisis as recent war and sanctions have sharply disrupted the country’s medical supply chain. Grigor Simonyan, head of the Iran mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said that the conflict has caused major interruptions in supply systems, leading to a significant rise in medicine prices. Locally produced medical equipment had previously met much of the demand, but the war has damaged the entire supply chain, increasing pressure on the system and driving up costs.

Simonyan added that the number of patients has risen notably in recent weeks, particularly after a ceasefire announcement, as uncertainty has prompted more people to seek treatment. Iranian officials confirmed that prices of some medicines have doubled, while others have increased up to tenfold due to shortages of essential materials and raw inputs.

Long-standing U.S. sanctions, recent military attacks damaging major pharmaceutical producers, and port blockades have further complicated the situation. Government sources said prices of about 20 percent of all medicines have already changed, raising serious concern among ordinary citizens.

A scenic natural spot known as ‘Mini Switzerland’ near Kuakata, Patuakhali, has become a major attraction for travelers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Located about 13 kilometers east of Kuakata Zero Point, the area features lush forests, grasslands, small hills, and a lake merging with sea waves. Tourists enjoy camping, photography, and the rare experience of watching both sunrise and sunset from one place. The nearby ‘Red Crab Island’ is also gaining popularity for its unique coastal ecosystem.

Local guides say the name ‘Mini Switzerland’ originated from a travel blogger’s viral video showcasing the area’s beauty. Tourism stakeholders believe that with proper planning and eco-friendly management, the site could become one of Bangladesh’s leading eco-tourism destinations. They emphasize the need for environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure development.

Authorities have announced plans to improve road connectivity and develop tourism-friendly facilities around the area. Officials stated that any future projects will prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable growth to strengthen Kuakata’s position as a diverse tourism hub.

Bangladesh Bank has adopted a short-, medium-, and long-term financing plan to reopen closed factories and increase employment. The initiative aligns with the BNP government’s election pledge to create ten million jobs within the first 18 months. The central bank discussed the plan with 20 commercial banks’ business and credit risk departments in a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed. Banks requested government-backed credit guarantees to mitigate potential lending risks.

According to meeting details, short-term loans will support factories with active utility connections but lacking working capital, while medium-term financing will assist those with disconnected utilities or damaged equipment. Long-term loans will target factories requiring new machinery or utility reconnections. Banks expressed limited capacity for self-financing due to past sectoral losses and sought government or central bank funds. A 19-member committee formed on April 26 was tasked with preparing a full financing report.

The central bank is consulting stakeholders to design low-interest support packages, though the IMF has discouraged new refinancing funds under its ongoing loan program. Priority will go to factories not involved in major financial crimes or money laundering.

Despite spending nearly Tk 10,000 crore on several drainage and infrastructure projects, Chattogram continues to suffer from severe waterlogging after even brief rainfall. Officially, project progress exceeds 90 percent, yet the port city remains inundated. Experts attribute the persistent problem to poor coordination among agencies, weak maintenance, and ineffective waste management. The issue has drawn attention in parliament, where the Prime Minister expressed regret and assured that efforts are underway to resolve it.

Three major agencies—the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Water Development Board, and Chattogram City Corporation—are implementing projects worth Tk 14,257 crore, but delays and inefficiency have extended three-year projects to eight years. Experts say unplanned urbanization, hill cutting, and siltation of canals have worsened the crisis. Around 1.9 million tons of waste are generated annually, much of which ends up in canals, blocking water flow.

Officials acknowledge that the City Corporation lacks the manpower and technology to maintain the expanded drainage network. The local government ministry has also criticized the previous administration for assigning large projects to inexperienced agencies, creating further complications.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced its revenue collection target for the 2025–26 fiscal year to Tk 4.3 trillion after failing to meet earlier goals. Initially set at Tk 4.99 trillion and later revised upward to Tk 5.54 trillion, the target proved unattainable as collections fell short by about Tk 1 trillion in the first nine months. Although the official target remains unchanged on paper, NBR officials confirmed that the revised internal goal is now Tk 4.3 trillion.

According to NBR sources, Tk 2.88 trillion has been collected so far from income tax, VAT, and customs combined. To meet the new target, the agency must collect Tk 1.42 trillion in the remaining three months—over Tk 47,000 crore per month—far above its previous monthly record of Tk 37,000 crore. Officials acknowledge that achieving even the reduced goal will be challenging.

The report links the revenue shortfall to political upheaval following the August 5 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, economic disruptions from corruption and capital flight, and slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme. Ongoing global instability, rising fuel prices, and declining garment exports have further constrained revenue growth.

Boro paddy collection in Moulvibazar has not yet started due to adverse weather conditions. Although farmers are willing to supply paddy, they are currently unable to do so. The district food department stated that since there are still four months left, they expect to complete the full collection within that period.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, this year’s Boro cultivation target covered 62,400 hectares, including 27,355 hectares in haor areas and 35,045 hectares in non-haor regions. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have submerged 5,042 hectares, completely damaging 2,282 hectares and partially affecting 2,160 hectares. Farmers are struggling to harvest ripe paddy due to bad weather and a shortage of labor, while high water levels have made mechanical harvesting impossible.

The district food controller said the government plans to buy 6,004 tons of paddy directly from registered farmers at Tk 36 per kilogram. However, continuous rainfall and rising river levels have raised concerns about possible flooding in the coming days.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain emphasized citizen awareness during the ongoing month-long canal and drain cleaning campaign aimed at reducing waterlogging in the city. During an inspection of activities in East Madarbari, West Madarbari, and Pathantuli wards on Sunday, he said that a clean city cannot be achieved by the corporation alone and that residents must act responsibly.

The mayor explained that despite cleaning efforts, indiscriminate disposal of plastic, polythene, and waste continues to hinder permanent solutions. He noted that the Water Development Board is constructing a Swiss Gate in the Gulzar Khal area, and temporary embankments have caused short-term water accumulation in nearby areas during recent rainfall. He apologized to residents for the inconvenience and stated that the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Engineering Brigade and the Water Development Board have been instructed to complete the work quickly.

According to the mayor, completion of the Swiss Gate will help control tidal water and significantly reduce waterlogging. Ongoing renovation of Hijra Khal and Jamalkhan Khal is also expected to improve drainage and benefit city residents once completed.

The Bangladesh government is currently experiencing relief over the electricity and fuel situation, as the country has gone six consecutive days without any load-shedding. According to officials from the Power Division, electricity demand and supply have remained balanced across all nine zones, with peak-hour demand fully met. The Energy Division also confirmed that fuel reserves are sufficient for the entire month of May, with 355,169 tons of fuel oil in stock as of Sunday. Petrol pumps across the country are operating smoothly, and long queues have disappeared.

Officials attribute the stable power supply partly to unseasonal rainfall, which has kept electricity demand lower than usual. Meteorologists expect intermittent rain to continue until at least May 10, helping maintain normal temperatures and easing pressure on the power grid. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has taken measures to increase diesel reserves, with additional shipments being unloaded and more on the way.

The improved situation follows months of severe fuel shortages and public unrest earlier this year. Government interventions, including price adjustments and tighter supply management, have restored stability to both the electricity and fuel sectors.