In the Bangladesh Parliament on June 29, 2026, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam reported that the monthly operating and maintenance expenses of the Karnaphuli Tunnel in Chattogram are double its income. The tunnel earns an average of Tk 3.36 crore per month from tolls, while expenses reach Tk 6.95 crore. The higher costs are attributed to continuous electricity supply, lighting, ventilation, fire safety, CCTV, and traffic management. The minister said daily expenses were reduced from Tk 37 lakh to about Tk 22–23 lakh through cost-cutting measures, and the government is taking steps to make the tunnel profitable.

In response to other parliamentary questions, the minister said the government plans to launch the country’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur’s Shib Bari to ease traffic congestion. He also detailed actions to remove unfit vehicles, install GPS in public transport to ensure discipline, and regulate battery-powered rickshaws through mandatory registration and licensing.

Rail Minister added that a pilot project is underway to install automatic barriers at three level crossings in Dhaka with BUET’s assistance, with future plans for smart gate systems.

Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka have called for allocating at least 10 percent of Bangladesh’s national budget to agriculture research, expansion, and development. The event, titled “Budget 2026–27: Framework for Agricultural Development and Implementation Challenges,” was organized by the Agriculturists’ Association of Bangladesh (AAB) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. The discussion emphasized sustainable agricultural growth and long-term food security, urging the government to prioritize the sector in the 2026–27 budget.

The keynote paper, presented by a professor from Bangladesh Agricultural University, praised several positive initiatives in the new budget, including the introduction of a farmer card, interest waivers on small loans, low-interest credit for pulse, oilseed, and maize cultivation, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and cold storage construction in the Barind region. However, it noted that agriculture’s share in the national budget has declined to about 3.8 percent despite a total allocation of Tk 33,849 crore for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and environment.

Speakers identified key challenges such as revenue shortfalls, weak oversight, rising input costs, and poor coordination among ministries. They recommended expanding agricultural insurance, investing in climate-resilient technologies, and strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure effective implementation.

The Directorate of Technical Education has issued a recruitment circular on June 28, 2026, to fill 251 positions across 20 categories under its revenue sector. The posts are distributed among the Directorate itself, Technical Teachers Training College, polytechnic and monotechnic institutes, and regional director offices. Online applications will open on July 1 at 10 a.m. and close on July 21 at 5 p.m.

The available positions range from pharmacist, accountant, and librarian to office assistant and skilled worker, covering grades 11 to 20. Salaries vary from 8,250 to 30,230 taka depending on the grade. Application fees are set at 168 taka for grade 11 posts, 112 taka for grades 13 to 16, and 56 taka for grades 18 to 20, payable via Teletalk prepaid numbers within 72 hours of form submission.

Interested candidates must apply online within the specified period. Further details on eligibility and application procedures are available through the official link provided in the circular.

In Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram, the water level of the Dudhkumar River has risen sharply due to continuous heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff. As of the latest report, the river was flowing 23 centimeters above the danger level, with a recorded height of 29.83 centimeters at the Pateshwari point on Monday noon, up from 29.58 centimeters on Sunday night. The rising water has already flooded low-lying areas and entered nearby localities, causing concern among residents.

According to the Water Development Board, river levels across Kurigram may continue to rise over the next 72 hours, potentially leading to short-term flooding. The upazila administration has prepared dry food supplies, medical teams, and rescue boats, while flood shelters have been readied. Local authorities have instructed union parishad chairmen to maintain constant communication and have begun public announcements to alert riverside communities.

Officials warned that if water levels continue to increase, riverbank erosion could begin, intensifying the threat to nearby settlements.

A National Fruit Fair was inaugurated in Narayanganj Sadar upazila on Monday at noon under the theme 'We will cultivate fruits and preserve them all year round'. The event was organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension and inaugurated by District Commissioner Raihan Kabir.

The fair was presided over by A. Ja. Mu. Ahsan Shahid Sarkar, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Narayanganj. Special guests included Professor Mamun Mahmud, Administrator of the District Council, and S. M. Fayez Uddin, Executive Officer of Sadar Upazila. The day-long event showcased various local seasonal fruits and presented information on modern agricultural technologies and fruit cultivation and preservation.

The fair aimed to raise awareness among visitors about the importance of fruit farming and storage, highlighting the Department of Agricultural Extension’s initiatives to promote sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced a proposal to raise the personal income tax-free limit to 400,000 taka as part of the 2026–27 national budget. Speaking in parliament on Monday, he said the government aims to make the tax system more transparent and modern. The proposal includes gradual increases in the exemption threshold over several fiscal years, reaching 450,000 taka in 2028–29 and 2029–30, and 500,000 taka in 2030–31.

The prime minister noted that the government intends to ease the tax burden on individual taxpayers and provide some relief. He also mentioned that while such demands usually come from the opposition, he expressed a willingness to engage with them in spirit. The proposal was presented as part of broader budgetary measures, including a reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on certain items.

The announcement reflects the government’s stated goal of reforming the tax system to enhance fairness and efficiency, with the finance minister expected to consider the proposed adjustments in the upcoming fiscal framework.

A rare celestial lightning event known as 'Red Sprites' has recently drawn global attention after being captured over the skies of Omarama Clay Cliffs in New Zealand. Photographers Tom Rae from New Zealand and Dan Zafra and Jose Cantabrana from Spain recorded the phenomenon while photographing the Milky Way. The red lightning appeared to shoot upward from storm clouds toward space, lasting only a millisecond, making it nearly invisible to the naked eye. The event produced one of the most striking images combining the Milky Way and Red Sprites in a single frame.

Scientists describe Red Sprites as intense electrical discharges occurring in the upper atmosphere, triggered by positive charges during thunderstorms. The phenomenon, first photographed in 1989, has since been observed from the International Space Station, where astronaut Nicole Ayers captured a massive Red Sprite over North America. NASA has recognized similar images from Italy as its Astronomy Picture of the Day.

NASA’s ongoing 'Spritacular' project is collecting global images and data on Red Sprites to study their effects on the ozone layer and disruptions in aviation and submarine radio communications.

Veon Chairman Augie Fabela paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in the National Parliament Building on Monday morning, June 29, 2026. The meeting was attended by Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam, the Prime Minister’s adviser on related affairs Rehan Asif Asad, Veon board member Michelle Sweeting, and Banglalink CEO Joahan Hendrik Martinas Busse.

Discussions focused on making digital services more accessible across Bangladesh. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged Banglalink to take initiatives to deliver smartphones to consumers at more affordable prices so that people from all walks of life can access smart devices. He also called for consideration of further reducing internet costs to enhance connectivity and inclusion.

The meeting underscored the government’s emphasis on expanding digital access and affordability, aligning with broader national goals for digital transformation and inclusive technology growth.

A high-level meeting between Bangladesh and Pakistan was held to enhance bilateral trade, food supply cooperation, and industrial collaboration. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Industries, where Bangladesh’s Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Textiles Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with a delegation led by Asim Azim Siddiqui, Chairman of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider and senior officials from both countries also attended.

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, fertilizer, edible oil, pulses, chickpeas, sugar, urea, and jute. Muktadir emphasized the importance of stronger trade ties for sustainable economic growth and highlighted ongoing government reforms to promote industrialization and a business-friendly environment. Siddiqui expressed Pakistan’s interest in exporting agricultural products to Bangladesh and noted the demand for Bangladeshi jute products in Pakistan.

Both sides agreed to finalize a memorandum of understanding between the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and TCP to facilitate food trade, expected to be signed in early July. They also decided to activate the Bangladesh–Pakistan Joint Working Group and exchange business delegations to expand cooperation in agriculture and industry.

The Bangladesh government has decided to withdraw its proposal to impose a fixed-rate or 'package VAT' on small and retail businesses. The decision comes ahead of the passage of the Finance Bill as the Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury instructed the removal of the related provision. However, the requirement for a Business Identification Number (BIN) will remain mandatory for opening current accounts in banks or financial institutions, renewing trade licenses, and opening merchant accounts with mobile financial services such as bKash and Nagad.

Currently, retail businesses with an annual turnover of 5 million taka or more are required to register for VAT, while smaller businesses remain outside its scope. The new budget proposal had aimed to bring all retail businesses under VAT coverage regardless of turnover starting July 1, which triggered concern among small traders. They feared increased operational costs and potential harassment by VAT officials.

Officials cited possible implementation difficulties and the risk of medium-sized businesses exploiting the package VAT system as reasons for reconsidering the proposal.

According to the 2026–27 fiscal year budget, Bangladesh has proposed reducing the corporate tax rate for private universities, medical, dental, engineering, and information technology-based educational institutions. The proposed change would lower the current 10 percent rate to 5 percent. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) stated that the initiative aims to improve education quality, expand infrastructure, and support the private education sector.

The new proposal also includes easing previous conditions for tax reduction, making it simpler for eligible institutions to benefit. Universities and colleges approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) will be covered under this tax relief plan. The move follows long-standing demands from associations representing private universities for tax cuts or exemptions.

If implemented, the reduced tax rate is expected to provide financial relief to private educational institutions, potentially enabling further investment in academic and infrastructural development.

Bangladesh’s proposed 2026–27 national budget has reduced the capital gains tax on personal gold sales to 5 percent, down from the previous 15 percent. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced that individuals selling gold or gold jewelry will now pay tax only on the profit portion, calculated by subtracting the purchase price from the current sale price. The new rate is expected to ease the tax burden on gold transactions.

In addition to personal sales, the NBR has also revised the tax structure for gold traders. The source tax on gold and gold jewelry supply has been lowered from 5 percent to 0.5 percent. According to the NBR, the changes aim to simplify the tax system, enhance transparency in legalizing undeclared assets, and reduce the tendency to overreport gold holdings in tax files.

Officials and stakeholders believe that once implemented, the new rates will bring greater transparency to both personal and business-level gold transactions.

The government of Bangladesh has finalized a decision to raise the tax-free income limit for individual taxpayers from Tk 375,000 to Tk 400,000. The move aims to provide relief to ordinary citizens facing prolonged inflationary pressure. As a result, individuals earning less than Tk 600,000 annually, including one-third tax-free salary benefits, will not be required to pay income tax.

According to sources, the Ministry of Finance and the National Board of Revenue are introducing several last-minute amendments before the passage of the Finance Bill 2026 in the National Parliament on Tuesday. These include reconsidering the mandatory submission of Taxpayer Identification Numbers for opening bank accounts, canceling the rule requiring the declaration of actual property values, and maintaining a 20 percent tax rate on dividend income to protect stock market investors. The government has also decided to postpone the plan to impose a uniform VAT rate on retail businesses.

The interim government had earlier raised the tax-free threshold to Tk 375,000 in the 2025–26 budget. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has now approved an additional Tk 25,000 increase, bringing the total rise in one year to Tk 50,000.

The government of Bangladesh is planning to raise the tax-free income threshold for individuals to Tk 400,000 for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 fiscal years, aiming to ease the tax burden on low-income earners. At the same time, it may withdraw the proposal to make Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) mandatory for opening bank accounts, following criticism that such a rule could hinder financial inclusion.

According to official sources, the tax-free income limit could further increase to Tk 450,000 in 2028–29 and 2029–30, and to Tk 500,000 in 2030–31. These revisions may be included before the passage of the Finance Bill 2026 in the National Parliament. The current tax-free limit is Tk 350,000, while the finance minister had earlier proposed Tk 375,000 for 2026–27.

Other considerations include reducing the capital gains tax on gold sales from 15% to 5%, maintaining a 0.2% advance income tax on business-to-business transactions, and lowering the corporate tax rate for private universities and ICT-based institutions from 10% to 5%.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told the national parliament on Monday that Bangladesh has entered a democratic phase and urged all to look ahead rather than dwell on the past. Speaking during the discussion on the proposed national budget, he said foreign currency reserves had declined due to money laundering but emphasized that the government is working to stabilize the economy.

Rahman described the proposed budget as 'life-friendly,' noting that for the first time after a budget announcement, prices of essential goods had not increased. He said the government aimed to provide relief to citizens amid economic challenges, corruption, and money laundering concerns. The budget, he added, seeks to build a just, humane, and inclusive economy while easing the burden on low-income groups.

The prime minister highlighted that duties on 61 essential items had been withdrawn to keep prices stable. He said the budget’s main goal is to restore economic discipline and create a foundation for sustainable growth.