Bata Bangladesh has announced a 105 percent final cash dividend for the year 2025, raising its total annual dividend to 248 percent. The company reported a turnover of 9,164 million taka despite global economic pressures, political uncertainty, and challenging geopolitical conditions. The announcement reflects Bata’s continued focus on strengthening its long-term competitiveness in the footwear market.

Throughout the year, the company emphasized customer-centric strategies, prioritizing high-growth segments such as casual, sneaker, and premium product categories. These areas showed notable progress, aligning well with evolving market trends. The expansion of Bata’s omnichannel network further enhanced customer engagement across both digital and physical platforms.

Bata Bangladesh continues to improve institutional efficiency and maintain an organized structure to navigate current market conditions. With ongoing investments in product innovation and customer service, the company aims to capitalize on future opportunities and sustain its leadership in the country’s footwear industry.

A report from Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth claims that Hezbollah’s new fiber‑optic drones are undermining Israel’s multi‑billion‑dollar defense systems during clashes in the Taybeh area of southern Lebanon. One incident involved a drone approaching an Israeli medical evacuation helicopter, forcing ground troops to shoot it down after electronic defenses failed. The drone exploded only a few meters away.

Unlike conventional drones that rely on radio or satellite signals, these first‑person‑view models are controlled through fiber‑optic cables extending up to 30 kilometers. Experts cited in the report say the drones are resistant to jamming and nearly invisible to radar due to their lightweight fiberglass construction. Military analysts suggest they can bypass Israel’s “Trophy” active protection system designed to intercept incoming missiles and shells.

Some Israeli units have resorted to using nets to trap drones, though this is not considered an effective solution. Analysts link the technology’s development to lessons from recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. Despite vulnerabilities in bad weather, the low‑cost drones pose a significant new challenge to high‑tech defense systems.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Amendment) Act, aimed at enhancing oversight of the capital market, protecting investors’ interests, and promoting the development of the securities sector. The bill, recommended by a special committee, was approved on Thursday at 11:25 a.m.

Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman had called for the bill’s postponement, but the motion was rejected through a voice vote. Alongside this, two additional amendment bills were passed to remove the age limit for appointments to top positions at the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA).

The legislative changes are expected to provide greater flexibility in leadership appointments and reinforce regulatory capacity in Bangladesh’s financial and insurance markets.

A bridge over the GK irrigation canal in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila collapsed in June 2025 due to heavy rainfall, halting all vehicle movement. For the past nine months, around 50,000 residents from 37 villages have been forced to cross the canal using a bamboo walkway built by locals. The bridge, constructed about 45 years ago, had been unstable for several years, and locals allege that heavy trucks from nearby brick kilns contributed to its collapse.

The damaged bridge lies on the Bhabanipur–Defolbari section of the Bishoykhali–Jisingar Bathan GC via Defolbari road, a key route connecting Kumrabaria and Maharajpur unions. The bamboo structure now used for crossing has also become shaky, leaving school students and farmers particularly affected. Auto-rickshaws, vans, and motorcycles remain unable to pass, severely disrupting transport between Jhenaidah, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, and Chuadanga.

Local LGED executive engineer Abul Kalam Azad said two separate project proposals for rebuilding the collapsed bridge have been submitted for approval, and construction will begin once approval is granted.

The United States has claimed to have seized nearly $500 million worth of Iranian cryptocurrency assets, intensifying its economic pressure on Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent told Fox News that about $350 million in crypto assets were recently seized, adding to a previously confiscated $100 million, bringing the total close to half a billion dollars. He added that bank accounts in several countries are also being frozen as part of the same effort.

Besent stated that former President Donald Trump had ordered the expansion of economic pressure on Iran in March of the previous year and recently renewed that directive. The US is now urging foreign governments and companies to reduce economic ties with Iran, warning of secondary sanctions on those purchasing Iranian oil. Besent said the ongoing financial campaign and naval blockade at Iranian ports could cause lasting damage to Iran’s economy.

Iran dismissed the move, saying it would only push global oil prices higher. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Besent’s comments on social media, calling them irrelevant.

The government of Bangladesh has approved five loan proposals totaling $1.9 billion from development partners, of which around $1.6 billion are classified as non-concessional loans with strict repayment terms. The approval came from the Standing Committee on Non-Concessional Loans at the Planning Ministry, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. About $1.3 billion of the total will be used as budget support to address immediate fiscal pressures.

Under the approved package, Bangladesh will receive $450 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), $500 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), $250 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and $100 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development. Officials said these loans carry higher interest rates, shorter grace periods, and tighter repayment schedules. In addition, ADB will provide another $300 million for the SASEC Dhaka–Sylhet Corridor Road Investment Project.

The committee also decided that non-concessional loans will be taken only when concessional financing is unavailable, and repayment capacity must be ensured. It set limits to keep annual repayment costs below 10% of export earnings or 15% of government revenue, and total non-concessional debt under 10% of GDP.

At least 12 people were killed in lightning strikes across seven districts of Bangladesh on Wednesday, according to local police and administrative officials. The incidents occurred in Patuakhali, Jamalpur, Barguna, Mymensingh, Bagerhat, Rangpur, and Rajbari at different times of the day. Several others were injured. Patuakhali reported the highest number of casualties, with four deaths during a nor’wester storm, while Jamalpur and Barguna each recorded two fatalities. One person died in each of the remaining districts.

In Patuakhali, lightning during a storm also killed more than 50 cows over the past two days. Local officials confirmed the deaths and said the victims were engaged in outdoor activities such as farming, fishing, and cattle tending when struck. In Barguna, authorities provided financial assistance to one victim’s family under a government relief program.

The incidents highlight the recurring danger of lightning during the pre-monsoon season in rural Bangladesh, where many people work in open fields and near water bodies, increasing their vulnerability to such natural hazards.

After a two-month government ban, fishermen from Ramgati and Komolnagar upazilas in Lakshmipur are preparing to return to the Meghna River from midnight on Thursday. The restriction, which prohibited all fishing, transport, and marketing of fish from March 1 to April 30, will officially end at 12:00 a.m. Fishermen were seen repairing nets, cleaning boats, and making final preparations to resume work.

According to the fisheries department, the ban covered about 100 kilometers of the river area from Ramgati to Shatnol in Chandpur. Around 21,500 registered fishermen in Ramgati and 11,500 in Komolnagar were affected by the restriction. Officials said the measure aimed to protect juvenile hilsa and increase fish production. Some fishermen reported receiving government assistance during the ban, while others said they did not and faced hardship.

Local fisheries officers confirmed that the restriction was effectively enforced and that fishermen would be allowed to resume fishing activities from midnight as the conservation period concludes.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign a landmark agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Thursday evening to purchase 14 new-generation aircraft. The signing ceremony, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka, marks the largest fleet expansion in the airline’s history. The deal includes eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners, and four 737-8 Max jets, with an estimated total value of about Tk 37,000 crore. Biman’s Managing Director and CEO, Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, will sign on behalf of the airline, while a Boeing representative will sign for the company.

The initiative aims to modernize Biman’s fleet, increase long-haul capacity, and strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a regional aviation hub. The event will be attended by senior government officials, diplomats, and aviation industry leaders, including the US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita will attend as chief guest.

The agreement comes as the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport nears completion, signaling a major step toward transforming Bangladesh into a regional aviation center. It also ends three years of competition between Boeing and European rival Airbus for Biman’s fleet expansion order.

A mobile court in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur fined a company named Fuel Tech Renewable Energy 60,000 taka for illegally producing furnace oil by burning old tires. The operation took place on Wednesday afternoon in Khiarjumma area of Alampur Union following complaints from local residents. The court also ordered the immediate closure of the facility for lacking required environmental clearance and authorization.

According to the report, the company had been operating for a long time in a densely populated area, causing severe air pollution through black smoke, foul odor, and toxic waste. Residents said the situation had become particularly harmful for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems. Despite repeated complaints, no effective action had been taken until this operation.

The mobile court was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Asma Ul Husna under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010). Officials from the Department of Environment, including Senior Chemist Md. Molin Mia, were present during the raid.

Bangladesh’s weather authorities have forecast at least four more days of heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country, with flood risks in five districts. As of Wednesday evening, eight divisions recorded rainfall, the highest being 105 millimeters in Hatiya, Noakhali. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that four rivers—Bhugai Kangsa, Manu, Someshwari, and Mogra—are flowing above danger levels, with flooding already affecting parts of Moulvibazar and Netrokona. The agency warned that Sylhet, Habiganj, and Sunamganj may also experience flooding as river levels continue to rise.

Meteorologists said the rainfall and storms are expected to persist until May 3, with coastal regions in Barishal and Chattogram divisions seeing the heaviest downpours. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued storm and lightning alerts, advising caution for residents and maritime operations. Ferry services on several river routes were temporarily suspended due to the weather.

Authorities have instructed all sea ports to hoist signal number three and advised fishing boats to remain near the coast until further notice, as the Bay of Bengal remains rough under strong winds and dense cloud cover.

Indian officials have proposed a controversial plan to release crocodiles and venomous snakes along riverine stretches of the India-Bangladesh border. The initiative aims to use these animals as natural deterrents in areas where fencing is difficult, to curb illegal migration and smuggling. A March 26 internal notice instructed Border Security Force (BSF) units to assess the feasibility of deploying reptiles in risky river gaps across eastern and northeastern sectors.

The 4,096-kilometer border includes challenging terrain where fencing is incomplete. Human rights activists and wildlife conservationists have expressed alarm over the plan’s potential humanitarian and ecological consequences. Analysts such as Anshuman Choudhury described the idea as cruel and irrational, arguing that animals cannot distinguish between nationals and migrants and warning of a new form of biopolitical violence. Wildlife expert Rathin Barman cautioned that crocodiles are not native to most border regions and would likely die quickly, disrupting local ecosystems.

Observers linked the move to India’s broader immigration policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which critics say target undocumented migrants and religious minorities. The plan has raised ethical and environmental concerns on both sides of the border.

The Hong Kong-flagged vessel 'Kwai Chi' has arrived in the waters of Chattogram Port carrying 26,500 tons of octane. The ship reached the outer anchorage late Wednesday night. Earlier, two other vessels—'MT Central Star' on April 8 with 26,000 tons and 'MT Navy Cielo' on April 17 with 27,000 tons of octane—had completed unloading and departed.

According to Chattogram Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim, a total of 14 fuel-carrying ships are currently within the port’s waters, five of which are loaded with diesel and octane. The unloading process is being coordinated with the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) on a priority basis. Port sources said that the Dolphin Jetty can accommodate three ships simultaneously for unloading, while larger vessels must offload through lightering at the outer anchorage.

However, rough sea conditions over the past few days have disrupted unloading operations at the outer anchorage, slowing down the process temporarily.

A new film based on the life of global pop icon Michael Jackson has cast his nephew Jafaar Jackson in the lead role, raising questions among fans about why the singer’s own sons were not chosen. The mystery was clarified in a recent interview, revealing that Michael’s sons, Prince and Bigi, prefer to remain behind the camera rather than in front of it.

Prince has stated that he does not consider himself skilled enough in singing or dancing to play his father, focusing instead on social work. Bigi, meanwhile, is more interested in directing and producing than acting. Jafaar, the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, has trained in music and dance since childhood and reportedly shares a striking resemblance to Michael’s voice and movements.

According to the film’s director, Jafaar’s natural ability and years of preparation made him the best choice to capture Michael’s iconic dance and vocal style. He trained intensively for several years and even kept the casting decision secret from his family for nearly a year.

In Sunamganj, flash floods and continuous rainfall have submerged vast areas of Boro paddy fields, leaving farmers struggling to harvest their crops. Water levels in the haor region have risen sharply, with the Surma River flowing 150 centimeters below the danger level. Farmers are cutting paddy in waist-deep water, but the harvested grains are rotting in the yards due to persistent rain. Many fields remain underwater, and the lack of workers and transport routes has worsened the crisis.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 223,511 hectares of Boro paddy were cultivated this season, targeting 1.4 million metric tons valued at about Tk 5,000 crore. So far, 50 percent of the crops have been harvested, and 2,047 hectares have been damaged by waterlogging. Officials have advised farmers to harvest ripe paddy quickly. The Water Development Board warned that embankments could be at risk due to continuous rainfall and hill runoff.

The district administration extended the closure of all sand quarries until May 5 to address the labor shortage in the haor areas, aiming to facilitate timely harvesting.