Zulkarnaine Sayer has claimed that notorious criminal Subrata Bain worked with India's intelligence agency RAW, conducting covert missions in Bangladesh and other countries. Bain allegedly received commando training in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh along with associates Molla Masud and Golam Murtuza Babu. Missions included the assassination of a Nagaland separatist's wife and child, and the murder of Mustakim, a Bihari-origin kebab shop owner in Dhaka.

Faez Tayeb Ahmed, Special Assistant on ICT to the Chief Adviser, reported that a nationwide telecom disruption is underway due to storm surges and power outages caused by a low-pressure system. A total of 5,904 mobile network sites have gone offline. Severely affected regions include Barisal, South Sylhet, Tangail, Chandpur, Mymensingh, North Dhaka, Comilla, Noakhali, and South Chattogram.

On Sunday, climate activist Greta Thunberg and fellow campaigners will set sail for Gaza aboard a humanitarian vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla. Their mission is to protest the ongoing war and blockade imposed by Israel. European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who will be aboard, stated that the goals include condemning the siege and genocide, challenging Israeli impunity, and raising global awareness. Earlier this month, a similar vessel Thunberg planned to board was damaged by a drone strike.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim of the International Crimes Tribunal has stated that formal charges against Sheikh Hasina will be submitted before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha holidays. The charges are being prepared under the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun are also accused in the same case. Earlier, the legal adviser indicated a possible verdict before July.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus in a bilateral summit during which six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed. Key agreements include a policy-based development loan to support economic reforms and climate resilience, and the construction of a dual-gauge double railway line between Joydebpur and Ishwardi (Phase 1). Tokyo will provide $1.063 billion in aid, including $418 million in development policy loans and $641 million for railway upgrades. Additionally, Japan will offer a $4.2 million grant for scholarships.

Bangladesh will continue supporting UN peacekeeping operations, Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said during a reception for injured peacekeepers. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman noted the country's unmatched contributions to global peace and honored 168 fallen peacekeepers. Bangladesh has actively participated in peacekeeping since 1988 and currently deploys 5,180 personnel in nine missions. The event was attended by top officials, diplomats, and UN representatives. Earlier, the day began with the “Peacekeepers Run/Rally 2025” held in Dhaka and divisional cities.

The banking sector in Bangladesh is facing a severe crisis due to unprecedented looting under the previous Awami League government. Defaulted loans have soared to 20%, with predictions of reaching 35%. Rampant embezzlement and money laundering have led to a liquidity crisis, falling income, rising non-performing assets, and worsening capital adequacy. Eleven banks earned no returns on assets in the last quarter, while 82% of loans have become unrecoverable. Experts stress the need for urgent reforms to restore stability and confidence.

The government has suspended the export of rawhides, including wet blue leather, for three months to ensure proper utilization in local factories during Eid-ul-Azha. As per a Bangladesh Bank circular, commercial banks are barred from accepting any LCs for rawhide exports. The move aims to boost value-added leather exports by processing hides domestically. The decision follows a May 21 meeting of a special committee formed to manage Eid-related leather issues. The ban takes effect from Eid day and will remain in place for three months.

In a meeting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasiruddin stated that the Election Commission has not yet received the verdict from the Appellate Division. Once the copy of the verdict is received, they will analyze the legal aspects and decide on the next steps. He also mentioned that the term of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will expire on June 1. The Election Commission issued a gazette on April 27 declaring Ishrak as the mayor after his appeal. However, his swearing-in was halted after an appeal was filed against the gazette.

On the occasion of UN Peacekeeping Day, General Walker-uz-Zaman, the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, said that Bangladesh’s contribution to global peacekeeping has earned international recognition, and the country remains steadfastly committed to maintaining world peace. He paid tribute to 168 brave soldiers and police officers who lost their lives while serving in various peacekeeping missions. Currently, 5,180 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are deployed across nine peacekeeping missions worldwide. General Zaman also noted that 3,645 women from the Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police have successfully participated in peacekeeping missions, with 444 women currently serving in these roles.

A Dhaka court has granted an 8-day remand for Subrata Bain in an arms case. Speaking to the press earlier, Bain said, “Write the truth. I have a family too. I’ve remained silent since 1987. In 2022, I was brought back to the country in handcuffs and held in the ‘Mirror Room,’ where I was beaten with iron rods. At 3 AM on August 5, I was dumped on the street.” He added, “I carry a weapon to survive — who wants to die?” During the hearing, Bain requested that his prayers not be missed while in custody. The court directed police to accommodate the request.

In light of a recent U.S. court decision to suspend a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi exports, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed cautious optimism in an interview with Nikkei Asia. He stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump aims to reduce trade deficits with all partners. If the U.S. proposes increased purchases of American products, Bangladesh is open to reducing imports from other countries accordingly. “We import a lot of cotton from Central Asia and India. Why not buy from the U.S. instead, to help reduce the trade imbalance?” Yunus said. He expressed hope that such measures would ultimately benefit Bangladesh.

When asked by Nikkei Asia about the reason for his resignation, the Chief Adviser stated that while he had not discussed this matter in Bangladesh, addressing it in Japan would cause major issues. According to Nikkei Asia, Dr. Yunus had told Nahid Islam that if political parties fail to agree on reforms and election deadlines, he might consider resigning. In response, Dr. Yunus remarked that discussing this matter abroad could cause significant problems, as he had not raised the issue in Bangladesh. He also highlighted that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, approximately $234 billion had been siphoned out of Bangladesh. Furthermore, $11-12 billion worth of funds have been identified and confiscated within Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus stressed that if such funds were recovered, they would be spent on education and healthcare, with the aim of transforming the lives of the poor and aiding young entrepreneurs.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed will present the national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 on June 2. A pre-recorded budget speech will be broadcast at 4 PM on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. The government has also requested all private TV channels and radio stations to air the speech simultaneously. Sources indicate the upcoming budget may include a deficit of Tk 2.26 trillion. Allocations for operating and non-development expenditures are expected to total Tk 5.45 trillion, while development spending may reach Tk 2.45 trillion. An estimated Tk 20.8 billion may be earmarked for election-related activities in the new fiscal year.

At a seminar in Tokyo, NBCC Chairman Mikio Kesagayama announced Japan’s readiness to welcome 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next five years. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, present at the seminar, said the government will do everything necessary to create employment opportunities for Bangladeshis in Japan. Yunus witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding. Watami Group President Miki Watanabe added that their school in Bangladesh currently trains 1,500 students annually, with plans to double that number.