Frequent power outages have severely disrupted daily life in Khulna, where residents are struggling with extreme heat and repeated electricity cuts. The outages, occurring both day and night, have made it difficult for people to sleep and carry out daily activities. Children, the elderly, and the sick are suffering the most, while businesses are also facing operational challenges due to unannounced power interruptions.

Local residents have accused the electricity distribution authorities of failing to take effective measures to stabilize the situation. However, officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCO) stated that the outages are temporary and caused by a shortfall in power generation compared to demand. On April 16, Khulna’s electricity demand reached 653 megawatts, while supply stood at 550 megawatts, resulting in a 103-megawatt shortfall. The previous day, the deficit was even higher at various times.

Affected residents have urged authorities to take urgent steps to ensure stable electricity supply and reduce load-shedding during the ongoing heatwave.

Several state-owned Chinese airlines have begun canceling international flights due to rising global fuel prices, according to reports confirmed by travelers to CNN. The cancellations include routes to destinations such as Southeast Asia and Australia. Passengers have reported receiving messages from airlines including Sichuan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, informing them that their late-April flights have been canceled.

The sudden cancellations have left some Chinese tourists stranded abroad. One traveler in Melbourne said her return flight to China was canceled, disrupting her work schedule. Another student from Hebei province expressed disappointment after her planned trip to Thailand was canceled. The disruptions come just before the five-day Labor Day holiday in May, one of China’s busiest travel periods when many citizens plan overseas trips.

Although no Chinese airline has made a public announcement, both Sichuan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines confirmed to CNN that the cancellations were part of policy adjustments.

The Bangladesh government is planning a VAT-centered revenue strategy for the 2026–27 fiscal year, setting a collection target of about Tk 3.1 trillion from value-added tax. This would form a major portion of the total projected revenue goal of Tk 6.29 trillion. The proposed national budget is expected to reach Tk 9.3 trillion, roughly Tk 1.4 trillion higher than the current year, with priorities including poverty reduction, job creation, human resource development, and inflation control.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the emphasis on VAT collection aims to meet International Monetary Fund loan conditions and raise the revenue-to-GDP ratio to 10.17 percent. The plan allocates Tk 6.04 trillion from taxes, including Tk 2.22 trillion from income tax and Tk 670 billion from customs duties. However, actual revenue collection in the first eight months of 2025–26 reached only about half of the revised target, highlighting persistent structural weaknesses and administrative inefficiencies.

Officials acknowledge challenges such as tax evasion and limited tax coverage but continue to view VAT as the most effective short-term tool for boosting revenue under current economic and international obligations.

The United States has announced it will not renew the temporary waiver that allowed countries to buy Russian oil, a move expected to significantly affect India, which had been one of the main beneficiaries of the exemption. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said the general license for Russian oil, as well as for Iranian oil, would not be renewed. The waiver had applied only to oil shipped before March 11, and that allowance has already been used.

The decision marks the end of a Trump-era measure designed to stabilize global energy prices by ensuring additional oil supply during the ongoing Middle East conflict. Since the escalation of hostilities in the region, energy prices have surged worldwide, including in the United States.

The temporary waivers were short-term measures aimed at controlling rising fuel costs. The Russian oil waiver expired on April 11, while a similar waiver for Iranian oil, which allowed about 140 million barrels to reach global markets, is set to expire on April 19. Washington’s move is seen as reinforcing its “maximum pressure” policy toward Iran.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed buying US dollars from commercial banks after a six-week pause. On Wednesday, the central bank purchased USD 70 million from one bank at a rate of Tk 122.75 per dollar. The last purchase took place on March 2, when USD 25 million was bought from two banks. Since July of the current fiscal year, the central bank has purchased a total of USD 5.56 billion. Officials said the recent purchase followed a decline in dollar demand as banks cleared earlier dues amid easing market pressure.

The central bank attributed the earlier market volatility to concerns over the Iran conflict, which had prompted banks to prepay foreign obligations. With remittance inflows rising—USD 1.6 billion in the first 14 days of April, up 25% year-on-year—dollar supply has improved. Bangladesh Bank has also set maximum buying rates for interbank and exchange house transactions to curb excessive pricing.

Officials stated that the bank is buying dollars to prevent an abnormal fall in the exchange rate, which could hurt remittance and export earnings. The country’s foreign exchange reserves now stand at USD 34.87 billion, or USD 30.20 billion under IMF’s BPM6 method.

The Middle East, particularly the Persian Gulf region, holds the world’s largest oil and gas reserves due to unique geological conditions formed over millions of years. The area contains more than 30 supergiant oil fields, each with at least five billion barrels of crude oil, and produces two to five times more oil per well than top fields in the North Sea or Russia. These vast hydrocarbon resources have made the region both a blessing and a source of geopolitical tension, as global energy markets react sharply to regional conflicts.

Geologists attribute this abundance to the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which created folded and fractured rock structures ideal for trapping hydrocarbons. The region’s limestone formations, rich in organic material from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, serve as high-quality source and reservoir rocks. Saudi Arabia’s Ghawar field and the South Pars–North Dome gas field are among the largest examples.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, despite over a century of extraction, the Arabian Peninsula and Zagros Mountains may still hold around 86 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 9.5 trillion cubic meters of gas, with new drilling technologies offering potential for increased production.

As the second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their conflict gains momentum, Tehran’s frozen assets abroad have emerged as a key point of contention. Before the first ceasefire talks began in Pakistan on April 10, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the release of Iran’s blocked funds in foreign banks must precede any discussions. Reports from Islamabad suggested Washington might release part of the assets, but the US government quickly denied this, insisting the funds remain frozen.

Iran’s total frozen assets are estimated to exceed $100 billion, largely derived from hydrocarbon sales. These funds are held in several countries, including China, India, Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Luxembourg, and the United States. Iran argues that freeing at least $6 billion would serve as a confidence-building measure in the talks. Experts note that releasing the assets could significantly ease Iran’s economic crisis, strengthen its currency stability, and reduce domestic unrest. Analysts also suggest that any US decision to unfreeze the funds would carry major diplomatic implications for regional and international relations.

The United States has decided not to extend the temporary waiver on sanctions for Russian and Iranian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the 30-day exemption, granted to stabilize the global energy market during the ongoing Middle East conflict, will not be renewed. He confirmed at a White House briefing that the waiver for Russian oil had already expired last week, and no further extension would be granted for Iran either.

Earlier, the US had allowed limited unloading and sale of Russian and Iranian oil that had been shipped before the sanctions deadline, citing rising global oil prices and supply shortages. According to Bessent, the temporary measure enabled the release of approximately 140 million barrels of oil into the global market, helping to ease supply pressures during wartime conditions.

The decision signals Washington’s intent to resume full enforcement of sanctions, potentially tightening global oil supply and influencing energy market stability in the near term.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed a 58-day ban on fishing in the country's maritime territory of the Bay of Bengal, effective from Wednesday until June 11. As a result, around 64,000 registered fishermen across seven upazilas of Bhola district have become temporarily unemployed. The restriction aims to protect fish resources during the breeding season. Each registered fisherman is set to receive 77 kilograms of rice during the ban period, distributed at a rate of 40 kilograms per month.

According to the district fisheries office, trawlers are returning from the sea to local docks, and rice distribution will begin once they arrive. Some fishermen have complained about irregularities and delays in previous relief distributions. Local officials assured that rice allocations have already reached union councils and will be distributed on time. Ice factory and fuel sellers have also been instructed not to supply trawlers during the ban.

Bhola’s district administration said it will monitor fair distribution and request NGOs to suspend loan installments for fishermen during the two-month fishing ban.

Severe power shortages have crippled daily life in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, where around 200,000 residents are enduring frequent and prolonged load-shedding. The outages, lasting several hours at a time, have left large parts of the area without electricity. According to the local power office, daytime demand stands at 10 to 12 megawatts, but supply is limited to only 4 to 5 megawatts. At night, demand rises to 16 to 17 megawatts, yet supply remains far below requirement.

Residents complain that despite government directives for uninterrupted electricity, the situation has worsened, with power cuts occurring even without storms or visible technical faults. On Wednesday, electricity was out for nearly four hours in the afternoon, returning briefly before another outage in the evening. The disruptions have severely affected education, with students struggling to prepare for ongoing and upcoming exams, and businesses facing major losses during the busy Eid season.

Officials attribute the crisis to national grid load management issues, while locals question the feasibility of the government’s promise of continuous power supply.

A video showing the public slaughter of a spotted deer near the Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram has gone viral on social media. The seven-second clip, recorded on April 11 in the Muhuri Project area of Ichakhali Union, shows two men restraining and attempting to slaughter the animal while another person stands nearby. The footage, which spread online on April 14, sparked widespread criticism and calls for the arrest and punishment of those involved.

According to the Forest Department, the coastal mangrove forest in Mirsarai once stretched about 20 kilometers and was home to thousands of deer and other wildlife. However, deforestation linked to the establishment of the national special economic zone has drastically reduced wildlife populations. Locals said the deer likely strayed into the locality after being separated from its herd due to forest clearing.

Forest officials confirmed that three individuals were involved in the incident and that a drive is underway to arrest them. They believe the suspects work at nearby farms.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed a 58-day ban on all fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal starting from midnight on April 15 until June 11. The measure aims to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the free breeding and growth of 475 fish species. The restriction applies to all types of fishing vessels, including industrial trawlers and coastal engine-powered boats.

Since 2015, the government had enforced a 65-day annual fishing ban from May 20 to July 23 under the Marine Fisheries Ordinance. However, due to dissatisfaction among local fishermen, who claimed foreign fishermen exploited the closure, the duration was reduced to 58 days last year to align with India’s fishing ban period. The same schedule continues this year.

During the ban, 311,062 registered sea-going fishermen across 14 coastal districts and Chattogram city will receive 40 kilograms of rice per month under the VGF program. In 2025, authorities conducted 3,585 operations during the ban, seizing illegal nets and vessels, and imposing fines and jail terms for violations.

India’s bond market has come under pressure as new restrictions on foreign exchange transactions have made it more expensive and complicated for foreign investors to hedge against rupee fluctuations. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) measures, aimed at stabilizing the rupee, include limits on arbitrage trading, which have reduced currency pressure but increased hedging costs in both onshore and offshore markets. Onshore one-year hedging costs have risen by about 30 basis points, while offshore non-deliverable forward (NDF) costs have surged by around 70 basis points, reaching their highest level in over 12 years.

Portfolio managers say these higher costs are eroding nearly all returns from Indian government bonds, discouraging foreign participation. The situation has been worsened by the Middle East war, which has driven up global oil prices and added strain to India’s economy, heavily dependent on imported oil. Since the conflict began on February 28, foreign investors have sold about $2.26 billion worth of Indian government bonds, with outflows accelerating after the RBI’s currency restrictions.

Analysts suggest investor sentiment may remain weak even if oil prices fall, as concerns over rupee stability persist and higher yields may be needed to attract capital back.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced its global economic growth forecast to 3.1 percent for this year, down from its earlier projection of 3.3 percent. The revision follows escalating tensions after the United States and Israel began their war on Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack regional energy infrastructure. These developments have disrupted oil and gas supplies, driving up global energy and food costs and hitting import-dependent economies hardest.

The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook report highlights that the slowdown marks a decline from last year’s 3.4 percent growth. Iran’s 2026 forecast was cut by 7.2 points to a contraction of 6.1 percent, while Saudi Arabia’s growth outlook dropped from 4.5 percent to 3.1 percent. The Middle East and North Africa’s 2026 forecast was reduced to 1.1 percent, and the Middle East and Central Asia’s to 1.9 percent. The IMF also expects global inflation to rise to 4.4 percent, up 0.6 points from January.

Oil prices remain volatile, though they eased slightly on hopes of renewed US-Iran talks. The IMF warned that the conflict’s economic impact will be uneven, with low-income and emerging economies facing the greatest strain.

Continuous power outages over the past three days have brought Chattogram city to a near standstill. Many neighborhoods, including Khulshi, Bakalia, Chandgaon, Bayezid, Panchlaish, Patenga, and Colonelhat, are receiving less than five hours of uninterrupted electricity in 24 hours. Residents report frequent blackouts without prior notice, disrupting hospitals, banks, clinics, shops, and schools. In Lal Khan Bazar, electricity reportedly fluctuates up to 15 times a day, while in Bayezid, power returns for only short intervals between long outages.

Hospitals and clinics are struggling to maintain operations as generator fuel costs soar. A doctor at Chittagong Medical College Hospital said diagnostic services and surgeries are delayed due to power instability. Private clinics report running generators up to 16 hours daily, doubling diesel expenses. Smaller clinics are unable to sustain generator use, forcing patients to leave. Banks have faced repeated server shutdowns, and schools report unbearable heat in classrooms.

Bangladesh Power Development Board spokesperson Shamim Hasan acknowledged that the fuel crisis is worsening and warned that even more severe load-shedding could occur soon.