Crude oil transfer from the outer anchorage of Chattogram port to Eastern Refinery began this week, marking the end of a two‑month raw material shortage. The MT Ninemiya, a mother tanker carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil, anchored at Kutubdia Channel on Wednesday. After customs clearance, lighter vessels started unloading the oil for transport to the refinery’s jetty. Eastern Refinery’s managing director confirmed that all units are expected to resume full operation from Friday morning.

According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the refinery had been running at limited capacity using remaining stock due to supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Hormuz Strait amid conflict in the Middle East. Eastern Refinery, the country’s only state‑owned oil refinery, imports crude oil from Saudi Arabia and produces 18 types of petroleum products including diesel, octane, petrol, jet fuel, kerosene, and LPG. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation handles crude oil transportation for BPC.

The last crude shipment arrived on February 17, forcing two of the refinery’s three main units to shut down on April 14. After 22 days of partial closure, full production is set to restart on Friday.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has issued a recruitment notice for 130 positions across seven categories. The online application process begins on May 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will continue until May 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. Both male and female candidates aged between 18 and 32 years as of May 7, 2026, are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit scanned copies of a 300x300 pixel photograph and a 300x80 pixel signature, and incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

The positions are temporary and based in Dhaka. Candidates with educational qualifications as low as completion of the eighth grade or SSC pass are eligible to apply. Application fees must be paid through Teletalk pre-paid SIM within 72 hours: BDT 223 for posts 1–3, BDT 112 for post 4, and BDT 56 for posts 5–7. The commission has stated that affidavits will not be accepted as proof of age.

The recruitment notice provides an opportunity for lower-qualified job seekers to apply for government positions within the commission’s administrative framework.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charlet at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting focused on enhancing a business-friendly environment, expanding investment, improving infrastructure, facilitating trade, and strengthening long-term bilateral partnerships between Bangladesh and France.

During the discussion, Minister Muktadir highlighted that the government is implementing continuous reforms to build a competitive and investment-friendly economic environment. He said initiatives are underway to simplify administrative procedures, digitalize approval processes, and make services faster and more efficient. The minister also emphasized the government’s priority on improving facilities for foreign investors, including easier business registration and service delivery.

Ambassador Serre-Charlet described Bangladesh as an economically promising country in South Asia and expressed interest in expanding French investment. He welcomed the government’s efforts to make the business environment more efficient. The meeting was also attended by Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, acting secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.

The Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanom Rita, announced that Bogura will be developed into one of Bangladesh’s major aviation hubs by utilizing the potential of the northern region. On Thursday, a delegation visited the site to assess the establishment of an international-standard airport, modern airbase, pilot training center, and cargo facilities. The minister said the initiative follows the Prime Minister’s directive and marks the beginning of a large-scale aviation development plan starting from Bogura.

State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat MP stated that the plan includes constructing a 10,500-foot runway to accommodate both domestic and international aircraft. A cargo facility will also be established to support the export of agricultural and industrial products from the northern region. The government aims to expand Bogura Airport to open new opportunities in communication, trade, and aviation.

The inspection team included Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, Secretary Fahmida Akhter, and senior officials from the ministry and the airport, reflecting high-level coordination in the project’s initial phase.

Import and export activities at the Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh resumed in full swing from 10 a.m. on Thursday. The operations had been suspended for two days due to the announcement of results from the Indian state assembly elections. According to Md. Jahangir Alam, general secretary of the Banglabandha Land Port Importers and Exporters C&F Association, several previously halted goods-laden trucks have now entered the port after receiving clearance from India’s Fulbari customs station.

Alam added that the formation of a new committee at the Fulbari customs station in India may take about a week, which could delay the full restoration of regular trade activities. The resumption marks a return to cross-border trade flow between Bangladesh and India through this key northern land port.

The gradual normalization of operations is expected to ease the backlog of goods and support regional trade once the administrative processes at the Indian customs station are fully completed.

In Kishoreganj’s Austagram upazila, relentless rainfall, upstream floods, and adverse weather have destroyed vast stretches of boro paddy fields, leaving local farmers in despair. Many, including smallholder farmers from Habelipara and Daspara, have seen their crops submerged or spoiled, turning their hopes of a good harvest into financial ruin. Farmer Md. Malek, who cultivated 20 acres on high-interest loans, managed to harvest only a fraction of his crop, with the rest lost under water. The poor quality of the salvaged paddy has further reduced its market value.

Another farmer, Md. Rezaul Islam Rezu, reported similar losses, while on May 2, 2026, farmer Md. Akhtar Hossain of Alinagar village reportedly died of cardiac arrest amid mounting debt and crop failure. Thousands of farmers across Austagram now face the dual burden of natural calamity and loan repayment pressure from moneylenders and NGOs.

The report warns that without urgent government or private assistance, recovering from these losses will be nearly impossible for affected farmers.

The government of Bangladesh has announced a plan to upgrade Bogura Airfield into an international-standard airport to strengthen air connectivity between the northern and northwestern regions and the capital. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam revealed the plan during a visit to the airfield and surrounding areas on Thursday, accompanied by State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam, and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan.

Minister Khanam said the northern region holds significant potential in agriculture, industry, and tourism, and that modern infrastructure is essential for sustainable development. She noted that establishing an international airport would accelerate economic activity, attract investment, expand tourism, and create new employment opportunities.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan expressed optimism that the project would enhance both national economic growth and the region’s military and strategic capacity. He added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh will take necessary steps to begin commercial flights soon, with full cooperation from the Air Force.

Mohammad Shahjahan, Member of Parliament for Noakhali-4 (Sadar-Subarnachar), announced efforts to protect local residents from river erosion and natural disasters. Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of protective work along the Meghna River in Char Clark Union and Katakhali Ghat, he said temporary measures using geo-bags are being implemented in high-risk areas to prevent major losses during the upcoming monsoon. He added that permanent solutions, including block systems, will be introduced later to control the river and safeguard nearby communities.

The event was chaired by district Water Development Board executive engineer S M Refat Jamil and attended by several local political leaders. Due to intensified erosion in recent months, most of Katakhali Ghat has already been washed away. In response to local demands, emergency protection work covering about 350 feet of riverbank has been launched using geo-bags and geo-tubes.

Shahjahan stated that larger projects will be undertaken in the future to strengthen riverbank protection in surrounding areas.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, announced that the government will provide policy support to accelerate the country’s solar energy sector. Speaking at the inauguration of the Power, Energy and Infrastructure Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on Thursday, he said Bangladesh remains behind regional peers like India and Pakistan in renewable energy use. Under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, a committee has been formed to finalize a policy framework aimed at driving rapid growth in solar and wind power.

The minister explained that the policy will simplify imports of solar equipment such as inverters, frames, and photovoltaic panels, while emphasizing battery storage systems to meet evening peak demand. He added that the government plans to reduce tax burdens on entrepreneurs and finalize the policy within the month, with cabinet approval expected by June. Bangladesh aims to generate 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy within five years.

Tuku also outlined plans to use rooftops in Dhaka and other cities for solar power generation through private investment, using net metering to benefit both entrepreneurs and building owners.

Jahangirnagar University’s branch of the student organization Chhatra Dal has launched a live bus tracking system to make student transportation easier, safer, and more efficient. The system was inaugurated on Thursday near the Murad Chattar area by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan. Initially introduced as a pilot project on two university buses, the technology will later be expanded to all buses. Through the app, students can view the real-time location of buses on their mobile phones.

The system also provides notifications about bus arrival times at specific stops and alerts in case of delays. Student leaders said the initiative fulfills a long-standing demand from students for live bus tracking. They emphasized that the project aims to improve time management and ensure a more comfortable and secure commuting experience for students.

Vice-Chancellor Ahsan praised the initiative as a timely, technology-driven effort to reduce transportation difficulties and commended the student group for taking a student-oriented approach.

Electricity and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku stated that no final decision has been made regarding an increase in electricity prices. He announced that solar power will be made more accessible to create alternative energy sources. The minister made these remarks on Thursday while inaugurating the 'Power, Energy and Infrastructure Expo' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Mahmud noted that Bangladesh remains far behind in renewable energy compared to neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan, which have expanded solar and wind power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the government to prioritize solar and wind energy development.

Meanwhile, the government is considering raising electricity prices following a recent fuel price hike. The Power Division has given policy approval to the proposal, and the Power Development Board has suggested a 17 to 21 percent increase at the wholesale level. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has formed a technical committee to review the proposal.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that water levels in seven rivers across three districts in Bangladesh’s northeastern haor basin were flowing above the pre-monsoon danger level as of Thursday morning, May 7, 2026. The affected rivers include those in Netrokona, Sunamganj, and Habiganj districts, with eight monitoring stations recording elevated levels. Moderate to heavy rainfall was observed in the past 24 hours, including 65 millimeters in Durgapur, 45 millimeters in Jariajhanjail, and 62 millimeters in Brahmanbaria.

According to the agency, the Nalojur River in Sunamganj rose by 2 centimeters to flow 51 centimeters above the danger level, while several rivers in Netrokona, including the Dhalai-Baulai, Someshwari, Bhogai-Kangsha, and Mogra, showed varying changes in water height. In Habiganj, the Kalni and Sutang rivers also rose slightly. However, water levels in Sunamganj’s haor region were reported to be slowly receding at a rate of up to 1 centimeter per hour.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast scattered rainfall over the next five days, with no heavy downpour expected, though rainfall activity may increase afterward.

Bangladesh is expecting record mango production and exports in the 2025–26 season, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The country currently exports mangoes to 38 destinations, with Malaysia showing new interest after China joined last year. Officials said no harmful chemicals are used in export-quality mangoes, and no shipments have been rejected abroad. The DAE has set a production target of 2.795 million tons from 207,247 hectares and an export goal of 279,000 tons.

Officials noted that commercial mango farming remains profitable due to low pest risks and stable transport conditions. Fourteen districts are engaged in large-scale cultivation of varieties such as Gopalbhog, Himsagar, Langra, and Amrapali. The export season will run from May 12 to August 14, slightly extended due to weather. However, growers face challenges including a shortage of fruit-protective bags and rising air freight costs, which may affect small and medium exporters.

If export volumes decline, local supply could increase, potentially influencing prices. Farmers remain cautiously optimistic that a stable domestic market will offset export-related risks.

South Korea has extended its temporary ban on stockpiling petroleum products for another two months, the country’s Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol announced. The decision comes as global energy supply concerns persist due to instability in the Middle East. The measure, initially imposed in March to prevent unfair trading, was set to expire next week but will now remain in effect for two additional months.

According to the state news agency Yonhap, the government introduced the restriction earlier this year to curb speculative hoarding of fuel products. The extension aims to stabilize the domestic energy market and ensure fair distribution amid fears of supply disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Officials described the move as a precautionary step to mitigate potential risks to South Korea’s energy security while monitoring global developments closely.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday its decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), ending nearly six decades of membership. Analysts view the move as driven by both economic and political motives. The UAE has long sought freedom from OPEC’s production quotas to fully utilize its oil capacity. The decision comes amid regional instability following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and growing tensions with Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s leading member.

The UAE’s departure is expected to weaken OPEC’s control over global oil supply and pricing. While Saudi Arabia depends heavily on high oil prices to balance its budget, the UAE has invested heavily in expanding production and can tolerate lower prices. The move also reflects Abu Dhabi’s closer alignment with Israel and the United States, contrasting with Riyadh’s more cautious diplomatic stance. The timing coincided with a Gulf summit in Jeddah, where the UAE president was notably absent.

Analysts suggest the split could reshape regional alliances, forcing countries like Egypt and Jordan to navigate between Saudi and Emirati blocs. The rift may also influence broader Arab and Islamic cooperation frameworks, signaling a new phase of rivalry in the Gulf.