Authorities have opened the Bogura–Rangpur-bound flyover lane of the Hatikumrul Interchange on the Jamuna Bridge West Link Highway in Sirajganj ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The move aims to make travel smoother for people heading to northern Bangladesh. Officials expect the new lane to significantly reduce long-standing traffic congestion and travel delays. The lane was opened on May 21 for trial use, bringing relief to drivers and passengers using the busy route.

The Jamuna Bridge West Link Highway is a key route connecting at least 22 districts across northern and southern Bangladesh. During Eid, daily traffic on this 22-kilometer stretch between the Jamuna Bridge roundabout and Hatikumrul roundabout can rise to 45,000–50,000 vehicles. The new lane is part of the ongoing SASEC-2 project, costing about Tk 738 crore, and is expected to be completed by December. Around 60 percent of northbound vehicles are projected to use the new lane.

Sirajganj police have also strengthened security and traffic management, deploying over 600 personnel to ensure safe and uninterrupted Eid travel for passengers and traders.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a reduction in jet fuel prices by Tk 39.57 per liter, effective from Saturday midnight. Under the new rate, domestic flight operators will pay Tk 165.88 per liter, down from Tk 205.45. The commission disclosed the decision in a notice issued on Saturday.

Earlier, on May 7, the price of jet fuel was reduced by Tk 22.35 per liter, following a Tk 25 increase on April 7 and a Tk 90 hike on March 24. The latest adjustment also affects international flights, with the price per liter lowered from USD 1.33 to USD 1.08.

BERC officials stated that the new rates were determined after a hearing that considered the average international market price between May 5 and May 21, the exchange rate of the US dollar for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s LC settlements, and the prevailing diesel price.

A farmer named Mohabbat Kha, aged 36, died after being struck by lightning while working in a paddy yard in Bahadurpur village under Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj on Saturday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. His wife and another woman were seriously injured in the same incident. Locals said Mohabbat was stacking paddy quickly as the sky darkened and rain seemed imminent when a sudden lightning bolt hit him directly, killing him on the spot.

The deceased was the son of Jamrut Kha and father of three children. His wife, Ruma Begum, 34, suffered burns on her right hand, while another woman, Marjina, 50, sustained severe burns on both legs. Locals took the injured to Austagram Upazila Health Complex, where they are receiving treatment. The sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over the family and the local community.

Austagram Upazila Disaster Management Officer Md. Majnu Mia confirmed the incident and said the government will provide Tk 25,000 in immediate financial assistance to the victim’s family.

Workers and employees of the Barapukuria coal mine in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, observed a two-hour work stoppage on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., demanding payment of their pending coal face bonus. The protest took place in the corridor of the mine’s administrative building. Union leaders including Farizar Rahman Topu, Raihanul Islam, and Ashraful Islam addressed the gathering, stating that although they have received face bonuses regularly since 2015, the bonus for the recently completed 1406 coal face has not been paid.

The protesters said that while Petrobangla’s board meeting on May 20 approved bonuses for company officials, the workers’ bonuses were not approved. They warned that if the bonus was not paid by Sunday, they would hold Eid prayers and continue their protest at the mine gate. Later, union representatives met twice with the mine’s Managing Director, Engineer Md. Shah Alam, who expressed support for their demand and assured that efforts were underway to release the payment.

According to mine officials, the delay occurred due to procedural complexities requiring ministerial approval. The mine currently employs 1,058 workers and employees under contractor XMC-CMC, and about one crore taka is needed to pay each worker a bonus of 7,000–8,000 taka.

Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar has made a series of explosive remarks targeting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), sports journalists, and political figures. On Friday, May 22, he posted a lengthy statement on his verified Facebook page accusing journalists of unethical practices and claiming to have evidence to support his allegations. Although he did not mention any individual by name, his comments were directed broadly at those involved in cricket administration and media.

In his post, Asif alleged that the current BCB leadership is driven by political ambition and greed, describing the state of cricket journalism as morally bankrupt. He urged media owners to reassign certain reporters away from the BCB beat to allow patriotic journalists to work freely. He also accused some journalists of spreading misinformation and focusing on trivial stories rather than national sports coverage.

Asif further claimed that remnants of a previous government still control the cricket board and called on the current administration to investigate specific individuals he described as politically connected. He asserted that he could provide proof to support his claims.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has released a draft regulation governing mergers, divisions, amalgamations, and acquisitions of listed companies. The draft, published on the BSEC website on Saturday, invites stakeholder feedback within two weeks. The regulator stated that the new framework aims to prevent past abuses in corporate restructuring that often benefited directors at the expense of general shareholders.

The draft rules prohibit backdoor listings or reverse takeovers and require at least 75 percent approval from general shareholders for any restructuring scheme. Independent valuers from BSEC’s approved panel must assess such schemes using at least two absolute and two relative valuation methods. The rules also set limits on growth projections and discount rates, require submission of audit reports, tax returns, and financial justification reports, and mandate disclosure of employee benefits and tax liabilities.

After BSEC and stock exchange review, shareholder consent and court approval will be required before final implementation. The regulation seeks to ensure transparency, accountability, and protection of investor interests in corporate restructuring.

Dhaka has been enduring an intense spell of heat and humidity for eight consecutive days, with temperatures reaching 36°C on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Despite brief rainfall of 8 millimeters in parts of the city, the heat has intensified due to high moisture in the air. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported mild heatwaves sweeping across 16 districts, including Dhaka, Khulna, and Rajshahi, and warned that the oppressive weather could continue until early June.

Meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque explained that limited rainfall has increased atmospheric moisture, preventing sweat from evaporating and making the heat feel 5–7°C higher than recorded. The extreme conditions have disrupted daily life, with laborers, rickshaw pullers, and street vendors struggling to work under the scorching sun. Public transport users were seen fanning themselves to cope with the suffocating heat.

Hospitals in Dhaka, including ICDDR,B and Dhaka Medical College, have reported a surge in heat-related illnesses such as diarrhea, dehydration, and heatstroke, particularly among children and the elderly. Doctors advised avoiding direct sunlight, staying hydrated, and refraining from consuming unsafe street food. Meteorologists said relief is unlikely until widespread rainfall occurs.

India is planning to increase its oil imports from the United States in response to the ongoing disruptions in the strategic Hormuz Strait. Sumit Ritolia, chief energy analyst at business analytics platform Kpler, told Al Jazeera that India is seeking alternative energy sources as the situation in the strait remains uncertain. Discussions are reportedly underway between India and the United States to expand oil and gas imports.

Ritolia cautioned that while the United States has the capacity to export oil and gas, it cannot fully replace the large volumes India currently imports from the Middle East. He also noted that India’s oil imports from Russia have risen, with the country continuing to buy discounted Russian crude despite Western sanctions following the Ukraine war, which has helped strengthen its energy security.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting India, where discussions are taking place on various agreements related to energy and defense cooperation, according to reports.

Water Resources Minister Md. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee MP said that Bangladesh’s destiny is tied to its rivers, emphasizing that the country’s survival depends on saving them. He made these remarks on May 23, 2026, while addressing a discussion organized by Nongor Trust at the National Press Club auditorium in Dhaka on the occasion of National River Day 2026.

The minister stated that Bangladesh has around 1,415 rivers, each considered a living entity, and called for greater public participation in river management. He noted that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election manifesto, development initiatives are being undertaken with a focus on public welfare. Over the next five years, 20,000 kilometers of canals, rivers, and reservoirs will be excavated or re-excavated, alongside measures to prevent illegal occupation and pollution.

He further mentioned that the Padma Barrage Project has been approved, which will help restore navigability and ecological balance in 24 districts of southwestern and northwestern Bangladesh. The minister also assured that the Teesta Master Plan would be approved soon after completion of expert reviews and surveys.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 60,000 crore refinancing and support fund to reopen closed factories and generate new employment opportunities. The central bank expects the initiative to create jobs for more than 2.5 million people. The announcement was made by Governor Mostakur Rahman at a press conference held at the bank’s headquarters on Saturday. He said the country’s economic growth had declined over the past three years, with GDP growth falling from 5.8 percent to 4.2 percent and possibly reaching 3.7 percent this year. Key sectors such as garments, textiles, steel, ceramics, information technology, and manufacturing have been severely affected.

According to the central bank, Tk 41,000 crore will be distributed under a refinancing scheme, while Tk 19,000 crore will come from various support programs. The refinancing portion includes allocations for closed industries, CMSME, agriculture, export diversification, and developing northern Bangladesh as an agricultural hub. The support fund covers pre-shipment credit, small entrepreneurs, leather, youth employment, rural activities, frozen fish exports, green investment, overseas employment, startups, and the creative economy.

Bangladesh Bank expects the fund to boost industrial revival, rural economic activities, and export growth, with specific allocations aimed at job creation both domestically and abroad.

The Narayanganj Sadar Upazila administration has distributed modern educational and environmental equipment to several institutions under the 'Climate-Resilient Campus Initiative'. The event was held on Saturday afternoon at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, with District Commissioner Md. Raihan Kabir as the chief guest and Upazila Nirbahi Officer S.M. Fayez Uddin presiding. Officials from various government departments, teachers, and students attended the ceremony.

According to the district commissioner, the initiative aims to ensure safe, healthy, and eco-friendly campuses. Distributed items included sanitary pad vending machines, color-coded dustbins, sustainable water bottles, Swiss water filters, and interactive digital whiteboards. These tools are expected to promote hygiene, waste segregation, reduced plastic use, and paperless classrooms. The UNO stated that in the first phase, 17 secondary schools and madrasas received the equipment, with plans to expand the program to all institutions in the upazila.

The administration also plans to organize training for teachers on climate change, waste management, and health awareness as part of the broader program.

At least 24 people have died across Afghanistan following heavy rains and flash floods over the past 48 hours, local and disaster officials confirmed on Friday. The worst-hit area was Baghlan province in the north, where 15 people were killed. Two deaths were reported in Badakhshan in the northeast, and one in Wardak in central Afghanistan.

Farooq Akhpowak, spokesperson for the Baghlan governor, said the floods caused 15 deaths and left many others injured. A local official in Badakhshan reported that two people were missing and more than a hundred houses were destroyed. The flooding followed intense rainfall that began on Wednesday, affecting multiple provinces.

Officials said the heavy downpour triggered landslides and widespread damage to homes and crops, compounding the humanitarian challenges in several regions.

In Shalla upazila of Sunamganj, at least Tk 150 crore worth of Boro rice has been submerged under water this year, along with cattle fodder valued at about Tk 200 crore. The flooding occurred due to inadequate drainage in the haor areas, leaving farmers with extensive crop damage. According to the local agriculture office, 21,700 hectares were cultivated with a production target of 143,368 tons of rice worth Tk 516 crore. Official estimates record losses of Tk 66 crore, but local farmers and social organizations claim the real damage is much higher.

Farmers report that many harvested crops rotted due to lack of sunlight and were later discarded, losses not reflected in official records. The total damage is estimated at 41,666 tons of rice, valued at Tk 150 crore. The government announced three months of continuous assistance for affected farmers, but the support has yet to reach them. Allegations of irregularities and corruption have also surfaced regarding the list of 20,250 affected farmers.

Local leaders urged the government to address both crop and fodder losses, as the haor’s farmers have lost their main source of livelihood and animal feed.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the textile sector must become competitive and modern to achieve sustainability. He made the remarks on Saturday at a seminar titled “Sustainable Transition in Employment: Preparation and Journey of Textile Students,” held at the Jute Diversification Promotion Center in Dhaka.

The minister stated that the government has no plans to establish or operate new state-owned mills, emphasizing that business operations will remain in the private sector. He said the government will focus on policy support and creating an enabling environment. Muktadir highlighted the need to update curricula at textile institutes and engineering colleges to align with technological changes. He also announced plans to involve BTMA and capable private mills with educational institutions to improve teaching quality and provide practical industrial experience.

He identified energy supply uncertainty, production costs, cost of funds, and technological limitations as major challenges for the textile industry. The government is working to address these issues while promoting man-made fibers, new product development, and value chain upgrades to enhance competitiveness.

Heavy rainfall and hill torrents from India have caused the Teesta River’s water level to rise again in Lalmonirhat. Residents along the river fear that if the water continues to increase, it may cross the danger level at any time. According to the Water Development Board, the rise began on Friday night due to continuous rain and upstream flow from India.

Officials at the Teesta Barrage Dalia control room said on Saturday that the water level had increased slightly but was still flowing below the danger mark. Locals reported sleepless nights during the monsoon months, fearing sudden water releases from India’s Gajoldoba Barrage without prior notice, which often leads to flooding and isolation of thousands of residents.

The Gajoldoba Barrage, located upstream in India’s West Bengal, controls the Teesta River through 54 sluice gates. Authorities confirmed that while the current water level remains below danger, continuous rainfall could worsen the situation if upstream discharge increases.