A coordination meeting chaired by Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam announced that mango harvesting in the district will start on May 22. The meeting, held on Sunday afternoon, decided that all types of early local mango varieties can be collected from that date. Among the improved varieties, Gopalbhog will be harvested from May 30, Khirsapat or Himsagar from June 2, Nak Fazli from June 5, Langra and Haribhanga from June 10, Fazli, Amrapali, and Banana Mango from June 25, and Ashwina, Bari-4, Gaurmoti, and Katina from July 5.

According to the meeting, mango orchards in Naogaon cover 30,310 hectares this year, with a production target of 387,235 metric tons. The district expects mango sales worth around Tk 4,000 crore this season. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that no immature or chemically treated mangoes may be harvested or marketed before the designated dates, and awareness campaigns will be conducted across the district to ensure compliance.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on citizens to resume working from home, citing the deepening impact of the Iran war on India’s economy. Speaking at a public rally in Telangana on Sunday, Modi said the conflict has disrupted global supply chains and increased prices of essential imports such as petroleum and cooking oil. He urged people to reduce petrol and diesel consumption and use less edible oil in cooking to help conserve foreign currency reserves.

Modi highlighted that India lacks large domestic oil reserves and depends heavily on imports of petroleum, diesel, gas, edible oil, gold, copper, and chemical fertilizers. The rising international prices of these commodities have strained India’s foreign exchange reserves. To mitigate the pressure, Modi advised citizens to avoid foreign travel and refrain from buying gold jewelry for the next year.

He also appealed to farmers to cut their use of chemical fertilizers by half, emphasizing the need for national restraint in consumption to safeguard economic stability during the ongoing global crisis.

The rapid advancement of technology has led to a surge in electronic waste, posing a severe threat to the environment and public health. Discarded devices such as smartphones, laptops, televisions, and batteries contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium that contaminate soil, water, and air when improperly disposed of. In Bangladesh, unregulated recycling centers in major cities often burn or dismantle old electronics in unsafe conditions, exposing workers and nearby residents to harmful fumes and pollutants.

The article highlights that both domestic and international factors are driving the rise of e-waste. Frequent device upgrades, low-quality electronics, and imports of used products from developed countries have intensified the problem. Many workers, including children, handle hazardous materials without protection, increasing health risks.

To address this crisis, the report calls for public awareness campaigns, safe disposal practices, and the establishment of modern e-waste collection and recycling systems. The government is urged to implement international-standard facilities to recover valuable materials without harming the environment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to refrain from organizing wedding ceremonies abroad and to conserve fuel in response to the crisis triggered by the Iran war. Speaking at a public rally on Sunday, Modi emphasized the need to reduce petrol and diesel consumption and encouraged people in cities with metro lines to use public transport.

He further called for saving foreign currency by avoiding the purchase of gold jewelry and postponing foreign travel and destination weddings for at least one year. Modi noted that a growing culture of overseas weddings and vacations among the middle class should be reconsidered in the current situation.

India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, depends heavily on oil and gas imports from the Middle East. The ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have made India one of the countries most affected by the regional instability.

Bangladesh’s education sector is expected to receive an increased allocation in the upcoming 2026–27 fiscal budget, as experts and policymakers emphasize the need to improve quality and research. Despite decades of expansion in institutions and infrastructure, the country’s education budget has remained below two percent of GDP, far short of UNESCO’s recommended four to six percent. The current BNP government, which pledged in its election manifesto to raise education spending to five percent of GDP, has indicated that allocations will gradually increase.

Education specialists, including Naogaon University Vice-Chancellor Professor Hasanat Ali, stressed that nearly 90 percent of the current education budget goes to salaries and infrastructure, leaving little for teacher training or research. Civil society groups such as Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) also urged the government to treat education funding as a long-term investment rather than mere expenditure. Opposition and government leaders echoed similar calls in parliament, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon reaffirming commitments to raise allocations.

Stakeholders suggested that the government aim to raise education spending to 2.5 percent of GDP in the next budget, reaching five percent within three years and six percent within five years, aligning with international standards.

Widespread economic turmoil has gripped Asia due to the ongoing war involving Iran, according to a report published on May 11, 2026. The conflict has triggered severe energy shortages, leading to long fuel queues, frequent power outages, and a surge in remote work across several Asian nations. Governments are struggling to protect their economies from the escalating crisis.

To manage the fuel shortage, some countries have introduced rationing systems, reinstated subsidies, or imposed export bans. Analysts warn that as long as shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, Asia’s economic situation will continue to deteriorate. Rising global oil prices have sharply increased import costs, while declining remittance inflows have weakened local currencies.

Many countries are depleting their foreign exchange reserves, borrowing at high interest rates, or cutting budgets in other sectors to stabilize their economies. The region now faces deep uncertainty and mounting financial pressure, with no immediate relief in sight.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that it will launch an Islamic interbank money market by June 30, aiming to address liquidity management challenges faced by Islamic banks that cannot participate in conventional interest-based call money markets. The initiative acknowledges a long-standing structural weakness in the country’s Islamic banking system, where banks lack a Shariah-compliant mechanism for short-term borrowing and lending.

However, economist M. Kabir Hassan argues that the proposed model overlooks the sector’s ongoing financial distress and governance failures. Several Islamic banks reportedly have negative equity, high default rates, and allegations of large-scale fund misappropriation. The author warns that introducing an interbank liquidity pipeline among such institutions could spread financial contagion rather than resolve liquidity issues. He notes that Bangladesh lacks essential Shariah-compliant instruments such as central bank sukuk or Islamic treasury bills, which are prerequisites for a functional market.

Hassan recommends that Bangladesh Bank first develop tradable Islamic financial instruments, set eligibility criteria for participating banks, ensure separate clearing systems for Islamic transactions, and strengthen Shariah supervision. He emphasizes that broader reforms, including new legislation and stronger central bank independence, are necessary to restore public trust in Islamic banking.

Global oil prices climbed after former U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s response to Washington’s proposal to end the ongoing war. On Sunday, Brent crude rose by 3.17 percent to reach 104.50 dollars per barrel, while U.S. crude increased by 3.21 percent to about 98.48 dollars per barrel. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the latest American proposal set a clear red line, but Trump dismissed Iran’s reply as completely unacceptable.

The lack of a peace deal in recent weeks has hindered the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Iranian state media reported that a senior military official warned of possible trouble for ships from countries enforcing sanctions against Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. has maintained its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, attacking two Iranian-flagged tankers last Friday.

Crude prices now stand about 20 dollars higher per barrel than before the war began, raising fuel costs for Americans. Analysts warn that Trump’s rejection could prolong the Middle East conflict, further unsettling global energy markets.

Continuous heavy rainfall, cyclone-related adverse weather, and frequent power outages have severely disrupted operations in several tea estates of Bahubal upazila in Habiganj. Both production and processing activities have been significantly affected, leading to large-scale financial losses estimated at several million taka across five major tea gardens.

According to local sources, persistent rain has prevented timely plucking of tea leaves, causing over-maturity and reduced quality. Lack of sunlight and excessive humidity have further damaged leaf development, while strong winds and landslides have broken branches and harmed plantation structures. Frequent load-shedding has also hindered tea processing, resulting in spoilage of fresh leaves and deterioration in product quality.

Representatives from the Bangladesh Tea Estate Staff Association and local plantation managers have urged uninterrupted electricity supply and immediate assistance from authorities to restore normal operations and mitigate ongoing losses.

Farmers in Bangladesh’s haor regions have suffered major losses this season due to inadequate disaster preparedness by local authorities, the agriculture department, and the farmers themselves. Sudden flash floods and continuous rainfall have submerged large areas of Boro paddy fields, leaving farmers unable to harvest their crops. Heavy reliance on machinery has worsened the situation as rising water levels rendered harvesters and reapers unusable. Labor shortages have intensified the crisis, with workers demanding higher wages but unable to meet expected productivity.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, around 455,000 hectares of land were cultivated with Boro paddy this season, of which nearly 49,073 hectares were affected to varying degrees. Between 40 and 50 percent of crops in these areas are feared lost, with an additional 10 percent at risk due to unharvested fields. Farmers in Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, and Netrokona reported that many agricultural workers have shifted to other professions such as driving auto-rickshaws, making it difficult to find laborers.

Officials said lists of affected farmers are being prepared and government assistance is under process. Experts emphasized the need for a dedicated disaster preparedness plan for haor regions and direct procurement systems to ensure fair prices for farmers.

Nineteen banks in Bangladesh received a total of Tk 263,210 crore in deferral facilities from Bangladesh Bank to offset provisioning shortfalls amid rising non-performing loans. According to 2025 financial reports, eleven of these banks reported profits, while eight incurred significant losses. Although the profitable banks showed positive net income, none were able to distribute dividends due to regulatory restrictions. The deferral mechanism allowed banks to present improved financial statements despite underlying capital pressures.

Central bank officials explained that the deferral facility is granted annually to banks with provisioning deficits to help them maintain a stable financial appearance. However, most banks have repeatedly failed to adjust their shortfalls, leading to prolonged dependency on such support. Under new dividend policy rules effective from 2025, banks with non-performing loans exceeding 10 percent are barred from declaring dividends, resulting in 34 banks unable to pay shareholders last year.

Officials noted that without the deferral facility, capital shortfalls would have been more severe, raising costs for international trade financing as foreign banks assess capital adequacy before engaging in transactions.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Myanmar shortly after midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026, shaking parts of neighboring Bangladesh. According to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake occurred at 1:36 a.m. Bangladesh time, with a depth of about 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located near 20.46°N latitude and 93.94°E longitude. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the origin to be around 11 kilometers from Sidoktaya, Myanmar. No immediate reports of casualties or major damage were received.

Residents in several areas of Chattogram city reported mild tremors lasting a few seconds, prompting some to rush outdoors in fear. The quake followed another mild tremor that shook northern Bangladesh on the afternoon of May 9. That earlier quake, measuring between 4.4 and 4.5 in magnitude, had its epicenter in Bilasipara, Assam, India, and caused brief panic though no significant damage.

The shallow depth of both quakes contributed to their being felt across border regions, highlighting the region’s seismic sensitivity.

The Ministry of Land has issued a directive requiring all landowners across Bangladesh to pay their land development tax for the current fiscal year by June 30, the date when the national budget will be passed in parliament. The ministry emphasized the use of digital methods to ensure secure and transparent land management. Citizens can now pay their taxes online through the official portal land.gov.bd without visiting local land offices.

According to the ministry, taxpayers must first register on the portal, provide relevant land record details, and then complete payment via mobile banking or card. The government introduced this digital payment system to make land administration more efficient and transparent. Failure to pay within the deadline may result in interest being added to outstanding dues under existing laws.

Officials expect that the digital transformation will enhance transparency in land tax collection, reduce bureaucratic delays, and eliminate the influence of intermediaries, saving both time and money for citizens.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam announced that at least 50,000 people will participate in a canal excavation drive and one million trees will be planted in a single day in Sylhet. He said committees will be formed at the upazila level to decide within a week which canals will be excavated and where trees will be planted. The announcement came during a meeting on implementing the Prime Minister’s priority project for nationwide canal excavation and tree plantation, held at the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, who attended as chief guest, said the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to public welfare and election pledges. He emphasized that public awareness and collective participation are essential for full success and called for turning the program into a social movement. Other speakers included Member of Parliament M.A. Malik and Mufti Abul Hasan.

The nationwide program, launched on March 16, 2026, aims to improve irrigation, control floods, reduce waterlogging, and restore water bodies. Under the plan, about 20,000 kilometers of canals will be excavated or re-excavated over five years with coordination among four government agencies.

Iran has rejected reports of an oil spill near Kharg Island, describing them as false and unfounded. Abbas Asadoroz, CEO of Iran’s Oil Terminals Company, said that after the reports surfaced, teams from the health, safety, chemical, and laboratory departments inspected the area but found no trace of pollution. He added that neither the International Maritime Organization’s MEMAC center nor Iranian authorities had received any pollution reports from the area.

Asadoroz criticized a post by the NGO Conflict and Environment Observatory on social media platform X, which claimed that an oil slick from an unknown source was spreading southward and was not being properly contained. Meanwhile, Jafar Pourkabgani, a representative from Bushehr in Iran’s parliament, also denied any oil discharge into the sea but suggested that the visible stains were likely waste and oil mixtures dumped from a European tanker, causing environmental harm.

The MEMAC center, a key regional body in the Persian Gulf, coordinates member states in responding to pollution incidents and strengthening preparedness for environmental emergencies.