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Amid the turmoil, US energy exports have reached record highs, while the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective May 1.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.

Continuous rainfall over recent days has submerged ripe Boro paddy fields in several areas of Natore’s Singra upazila and Tangail’s Madhupur upazila. Farmers are struggling to harvest waterlogged crops, with seedlings sprouting on wet paddy due to lack of sunlight. In Singra, early flooding and rising water from the Atrai River have threatened hundreds of farmers’ crops across the Chalan Beel region. Only about 15 percent of the 36,610 hectares of cultivated land has been harvested so far.

Local residents and farmers in Singra are working together to protect their fields, filling sandbags to block floodwater despite limited resources. Women are also participating in the effort. The local agriculture office and the area’s Member of Parliament have visited affected zones and pledged immediate assistance. In Madhupur, around 500 bighas of paddy in the Haoda Beel area have gone underwater, putting debt-ridden farmers and sharecroppers in distress.

Officials warned that if water does not recede quickly, many farmers could face total crop loss, turning a promising harvest season into a financial disaster.

Eighteen rice mills in Chandpur are on the verge of closure due to the growing dominance of corporate businesses, frequent power outages, and a shortage of paddy. According to local mill owners, three mills—Mokka Auto Rice, Topadar Auto Rice, and Baba Auto Rice—have already shut down, while fifteen others are operating intermittently. The Chandpur District Rice Mill Owners’ Association reported that corporate firms have captured the rice market through financial strength and advanced technology.

Association president Abdur Rahim Sarkar said that major companies such as City, Meghna, Bashundhara, Fuad, Pran, and Mojumdar now control both domestic and international rice sourcing and packaging, offering a wide range of consumer-friendly pack sizes. Local mills, limited to 25–50 kg sacks, cannot compete with these marketing strategies. Mill owners also cited insufficient local paddy supply, frequent power cuts, and dependence on crushers as key obstacles.

Owners warned that without government financial incentives and measures to curb corporate dominance, the remaining mills may soon close, leaving around two thousand workers unemployed.

In Banshkhali, Chattogram, more than 300,000 coastal residents remain vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges as no permanent or sustainable embankment has been built in the past 35 years. The 37-kilometer embankment, destroyed by the 1991 cyclone, has yet to be properly reconstructed. Although the government recently allocated Tk 4.53 billion for rebuilding, locals have alleged irregularities and poor-quality work, leaving large sections cracked and ineffective during monsoon season.

Residents from areas including Khan Khanabad, Kadam Rasul, Chhanua, Boroghona, Gondamara, and Premashia report that seawater regularly floods their homes and farmlands, causing severe crop losses and forcing thousands into waterlogged conditions. Local leaders and residents have urged immediate action for a permanent embankment, citing long-standing political promises that remain unfulfilled. Agricultural officials warn that rising sea levels and salinity are damaging farmland, freshwater sources, and fisheries.

Banshkhali’s Member of Parliament Maulana Zahirul Islam has visited the site and warned contractors against corruption, insisting that reconstruction must follow the approved schedule.

Heavy rainfall and nor'wester storms have caused extensive damage across several districts in Bangladesh, submerging boro paddy fields, uprooting trees, and disrupting power and road connections. The incidents occurred over the weekend, leaving thousands without electricity and isolating several areas due to fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

In Bhola and Pirojpur, storms uprooted trees and damaged power lines, cutting electricity in multiple unions. In Natore’s Singra upazila, early floods and continuous rain have threatened ripe boro crops, with only a small portion harvested so far. Habiganj’s Lakhai upazila saw hundreds of hectares of farmland submerged, while in Sylhet’s Beanibazar, most boro fields were inundated. In Chattogram’s Mirsarai, around 20,000 customers lost power after trees and poles collapsed. In Sunamganj and Tangail, breached embankments and heavy rain submerged large areas of farmland.

Local officials reported ongoing efforts to restore power and assess agricultural losses. Farmers in several regions are struggling to save their crops, with authorities promising immediate measures to mitigate further damage.

Speakers at a national convention in Dhaka on May 3 emphasized that Bangladesh’s energy crisis cannot be solved without first addressing corruption and policy failures. The session, held at the Diploma Engineers Institute and organized by the National Citizen Party’s Reform Implementation Committee, focused on energy security and future strategies. Participants called for reducing dependence on oil imports by expanding solar power and implementing structural reforms in the energy sector.

Economist Dr. Khan Zahirul Islam argued that corruption and flawed policies, not resource shortages, drive the crisis, citing misuse of installed capacity and large-scale financial irregularities. Other speakers, including Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and energy analyst Shafiqul Alam, highlighted sovereignty concerns, rising import dependence, and the need for solar and waste-to-energy initiatives. They also criticized inefficiencies in power generation and subsidies.

Speakers urged the government to waive import duties on solar equipment, review costly power contracts, and prioritize rooftop solar projects to cut costs and reduce load-shedding. They warned that without swift reforms, Bangladesh’s energy dependence and fiscal burden will continue to grow.