Starting July 1, government employees in Bangladesh will receive a revised dearness allowance. According to a senior official at the Finance Ministry, officers from grade 1 to 9 will receive a 15% allowance, while those in grades 10 to 20 will receive 20%. However, the 5% special incentive introduced in FY 2023–24 will be discontinued with the implementation of the new rates.

The High Court has dismissed the writ petition seeking to block Ishraque Hossain’s swearing-in as Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor, clearing the path for his oath. However, the petitioner’s lawyer announced plans to appeal the Election Commission’s gazette notification in the Appellate Division. Ishraque’s counsel, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, argued that only a party to the case—such as Fazle Noor Taposh—can file an appeal in the Election Appellate Tribunal, not an unrelated lawyer posing as a petitioner.

The High Court has dismissed the writ petition seeking to delay BNP leader Ishraq Hossain’s oath as DSCC mayor. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stated that there is now no legal obstacle to Ishraq assuming office. "If the oath is not administered by May 26, it will constitute contempt of court," he warned. Supporters of Ishraq have been protesting for eight consecutive days to demand his swearing-in. Ishraq has also called for the resignation of two student advisers.

Yasin Mia Sheikh, a July Uprising fighter, joined the Russian army and was killed in battle on March 27. His family was informed on April 1, but the body remained unlocated until now. His brother, Md. Ruhul Amin Sheikh, confirmed that Yasin’s body is currently preserved at Rostov Bondan Military Hospital. The family has submitted a request to the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board for urgent repatriation. The Bangladeshi embassy in Russia said repatriation efforts are underway.

Two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem condemned the attack, calling it a "senseless killing" and vowed justice. "We are actively investigating and will bring the perpetrator to justice," she said. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

The tenure of the Women’s Reform Commission has been extended by 10 more days, now valid until May 31. A gazette notification issued Tuesday confirmed the decision, stating the extension aims to allow the commission, formed on November 18 last year, to complete its work. The commission had submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on April 19.

Forty-three Australian senators and MPs have sent a letter to Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, urging immediate action on three key demands: announcing a clear electoral roadmap, ensuring justice for victims of the July uprising, and disbanding the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The letter, sent via email, was confirmed by BNP’s International Affairs Secretary Md. Rashedul Haque.

Indian security forces have killed 27 Maoist insurgents, including Nambala Keshava Rao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), in a major counter-insurgency operation. Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the operation, saying this is the first time in three decades that a top Maoist leader has been neutralized.

Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, was a native of Telangana and took over the reins of India’s largest armed leftist insurgency group from Muppala Lakshmana Rao in 2018. The successful raid marks a significant milestone in India’s decades-long battle against Naxalite violence.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain stated that there has been no clear decision yet regarding the “pushback” of individuals recently “pushed in” from India into Bangladesh. “Those who are confirmed Indian citizens must be taken back by India,” he said. Hossain added that communication with Delhi is ongoing to ensure that no actions fall outside agreed protocols. “We do not expect immediate responses within a day. They have shared their position and provided a list. We are currently reviewing that list through the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he explained. Hossain also clarified that treaties can only be annulled through mutual consent or specific provisions, and Bangladesh has not taken steps to cancel any such agreements unilaterally.

Prominent thinker Farhad Mazhar has criticized the slogan “My Body, My Choice”, calling it an extremist ideology that undermines societal and moral norms. He argued that individuals cannot do whatever they wish with their bodies, emphasizing that suicide, for example, cannot be considered a personal decision. “This slogan, though seemingly about liberation, actually promotes a hyper-individualistic mindset detached from social responsibility,” he said. Mazhar added, “Though I own my body, I cannot decide to take my own life because I am a part of society and the state.” Echoing this sentiment, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Nurul Islam Bulbul said that in the name of women’s rights, there is now a push to legitimize homosexuality and sexual permissiveness—actions he claimed are unacceptable in a country where 90% of the population is Muslim.

Several Indian citizens, particularly from West Bengal, have been applying for political asylum in European countries like France by falsely claiming Bangladeshi nationality. French media outlet Le Monde and the French National Court of Asylum (CNDA) report that Biswajit Das and his wife Rinku Das from Nadia district entered France in 2022 with forged Bangladeshi birth certificates and citizenship documents.

Experts say asylum applications citing religious and political persecution are more likely to be approved if the applicant claims to be from Bangladesh. This growing trend of fraudulent claims is damaging Bangladesh’s global image and could affect genuine asylum seekers.

Faruk E Azam, Disaster Adviser and Bir Protik, acknowledged that while Bangladesh has earned international praise for cyclone and flood preparedness, its capacity to handle earthquakes remains weak. “Earthquakes strike without warning, and public awareness is crucial to minimizing risks,” he said. He stressed the importance of government coordination in rescue and rehabilitation efforts and urged strict enforcement of building codes to reduce structural vulnerabilities.

Bangladesh Bank is set to release newly designed paper currency ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, featuring graffiti drawn by students during and after the historic July Mass Uprising. The redesigned notes also highlight iconic national landmarks, replacing the traditional portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Key features include:

৳20 note: Image of Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur

৳50 note: Famine artwork by the legendary artist Zainul Abedin

৳100 note: Images of the Sundarbans, featuring deer and the Bengal tiger

৳500 note: Historic Ahsan Manzil in Old Dhaka

৳1,000 note: Illustrations of Bangabhaban and the National Martyrs' Memorial

৳5 note: Portraits of July revolution martyrs Abu Saeed and Mugdha

৳10 note: Symbol of youth unity and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

The initiative is being praised for capturing the spirit of youth activism and national heritage.

Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan commented that India’s restrictions on importing certain Bangladeshi goods via land routes may temporarily harm businesses, but in the long run, it opens a door for increased self-reliance. In another post, he noted that Starlink could revolutionize Bangladesh’s telecom sector, particularly by delivering high-speed internet to remote regions currently beyond the reach of optical fiber networks.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has sharply increased prices of key commodities just before Eid-ul-Azha. The new prices reflect a BDT 35 hike per liter of oil, BDT 20 per kilogram of lentils, and BDT 15 per kilogram of sugar. From Thursday, subsidized sales to low-income families holding smart family cards will begin. The new rates are:

Oil: BDT 135 per liter (previously BDT 100)

Lentils: BDT 80 per kg (up from BDT 60)

Sugar: BDT 85 per kg (up from BDT 70)
In addition to cardholders, general consumers will also be able to purchase Eid essentials from special TCB trucks operating nationwide.