Bangladesh’s State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M A Muhit, announced that the government will introduce an ‘e-health card’ system to digitally connect all levels of healthcare, from primary centers to specialized hospitals. The initiative aims to create a national referral network where each citizen will have a unique health ID. When patients visit hospitals, their medical records will automatically appear in the system, ensuring continuity of care and improved coordination across facilities.

Dr. Muhit explained that the e-health card will allow patients to access their complete medical history and prescriptions electronically. It will also help reduce unnecessary medication by maintaining transparent electronic records. The system is part of the government’s broader plan to digitalize the healthcare sector, improve efficiency, and ensure timely treatment through a structured referral process.

According to the minister, the e-health card will modernize patient management, enhance transparency, and strengthen Bangladesh’s overall health infrastructure by integrating digital tools into everyday medical services.

Bangladesh inaugurated its first ocean satellite ground station at the University of Chittagong, marking a new phase in the nation’s capacity to collect and analyze satellite-based data from the Bay of Bengal and coastal regions. The inauguration took place on Tuesday morning, led by State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin. The ceremony was attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmad, and representatives from China, including Cultural Counsellor Li Xuepeng and Professor Dr. Fu Bin of the Second Institute of Oceanography.

During the event, the state minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring necessary infrastructure such as electricity and high-speed internet to achieve the project’s goals. He noted that the satellite would play a vital role in marine resource management, fisheries, maritime transport, and coastal development. The vice-chancellor described the day as historic for the university, highlighting that the China-funded facility would benefit students and researchers nationwide by providing real-time ocean and fisheries data.

The project is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s research and operational capabilities in oceanography and coastal resource management.

A report from the technology desk of Amar Desh, published on June 5, 2026, highlights key precautions users should take before selling their old phones. It warns that negligence can expose personal data such as photos, videos, banking details, and documents to others. Users are advised to back up all important data to cloud storage or computers before proceeding.

The article emphasizes logging out of all linked accounts, including Google and Apple IDs, before performing a factory reset. It also instructs users to delete banking and financial apps, remove saved passwords, and take out SIM and memory cards to prevent data leaks. After completing a factory reset, users should restart the phone to verify that no personal information remains.

According to the report, following these simple steps ensures that personal data remains secure even after the device changes hands, making the phone resale process safer and more responsible.

The Bangladesh Navy has officially received a 70-ton capacity floating crane named ‘BNFC Boliyan’, built by Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited (DEW) to enhance its logistics, repair, and maintenance capabilities. The handover ceremony took place on Thursday with Admiral M Nazmul Hasan attending as the chief guest, alongside senior officials from the Navy Headquarters and DEW Limited.

Construction of the crane began with a keel-laying ceremony on June 30. The vessel measures 45 meters in length, 15 meters in width, and 3 meters in depth, and can travel at a maximum speed of 10.5 miles per hour. The floating crane is designed to support the repair and maintenance of naval ships both at jetties and at sea.

According to the source, the BNFC Boliyan will also play a crucial role in lifting, transferring, and replacing heavy machinery, mechanical equipment, and various naval components with improved efficiency and safety.

Egypt has inaugurated the East Nile route of the Cairo Monorail, Africa’s first fully driverless monorail system, on May 6, 2026. The 56.5-kilometer line connects Cairo’s Nasr City International Stadium area with the new administrative capital being built in the desert to ease congestion in the capital. A second 43.8-kilometer West Nile route is under construction to link 6th of October City with Giza. Once both routes are operational, the network will exceed 100 kilometers, surpassing China’s Chongqing Monorail as the world’s longest.

The Cairo Monorail project, valued at about 2.3 billion pounds, was launched in 2019 to expand the city’s transport capacity beyond its three metro lines, which already carry around 500 million passengers annually. The system, built and operated by a consortium led by French rail manufacturer Alstom, includes 68 trains made up of 272 coaches built in Derby, England. Each train can carry up to 45,000 passengers per hour in each direction at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Alstom describes the monorail as environmentally friendly, with low noise levels and the ability to recover up to 99 percent of braking energy, reducing fuel use. The Egyptian government expects the new capital to eventually house 6.5 million people and create 2 million jobs.

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton and Executive Engineer (Electricity) A.B.M. Asaduzzaman Sweet are scheduled to visit France from June 20 to 30, 2026, for an 11-day study tour on street and lighting technology. The visit aims to enhance their knowledge of energy-efficient outdoor lighting systems. RCC’s Chief Executive Officer Rezaul Karim sought approval for the trip from the Local Government Division on May 12, citing an invitation from Signify Bangladesh Limited.

According to the letter sent to the ministry, the officials will visit Signify France’s Outdoor Lighting Application Center to learn about new electricity-saving technologies for streetlights. Signify Bangladesh Limited will cover all expenses of the trip. The company’s manager, Mehedi Hasan, said they import French-made streetlights and sometimes take clients to observe production processes when purchase orders are placed.

However, Hasan could not confirm which dealer supplied streetlights to RCC. Attempts to contact Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton for comment were unsuccessful.

The United States Department of Defense has initiated an 18-month competition titled 'Drone Dominance' to accelerate the expansion of its drone fleet. According to a Washington Post report, the Pentagon aims to identify the most promising manufacturers capable of producing low-cost combat drones. The initiative follows growing recognition of drones’ effectiveness in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, prompting the U.S. military to seek rapid enhancement of its drone capabilities.

The competition invites both established defense firms and emerging startups, including companies founded by drone racers and hobbyists. The winning firms could receive contracts worth up to $1.1 billion to produce as many as three million drones. The drones being tested cost around $5,000 each and are designed for single-use missions. Early rounds of the contest, such as one held at Fort Benning, Georgia, saw 26 companies participate, with British firm Skycutter emerging as a top performer.

Pentagon officials stated that future warfare will likely depend heavily on affordable swarms of drones, and the program aims to bypass lengthy procurement processes to foster faster innovation.

The Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of new surveillance equipment worth about Tk 950 million for the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) to enhance content blocking and filtering capabilities. The decision was made on May 20 at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The equipment includes next-generation firewalls, hybrid packet brokers, switch management cards, and accessories for six partially connected data centers. Dhaka-based Global Brand PLC was selected as the lowest bidder.

The NTMC, originally formed in 2008 and renamed in 2013, has faced longstanding allegations of privacy violations and unauthorized surveillance. Following a UN fact-finding report and public criticism, the previous interim government dissolved the NTMC in December 2025 and created a new structure called the Center for Information Support under the Home Ministry. The current administration later amended laws to align surveillance practices with international standards.

Officials stated that the new system aims to strengthen internet security and enforce the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, though public debate over surveillance practices continues.

Malaysia has begun enforcing a new regulation that bans children under 16 from opening social media accounts, effective Monday. The rule requires platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to implement age verification systems and block underage accounts. Companies failing to comply could face fines of up to 10 million ringgit. Parents will not be penalized if children bypass the restriction. Authorities said the move aims to protect minors from harmful content, cyberbullying, and addiction risks.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission stated that the policy seeks to make service providers more accountable and ensure age-appropriate safeguards, not to restrict children’s access to digital technology. Platforms must introduce “safety-by-design” features and curb manipulative designs that encourage excessive use. A grace period will be provided for implementing age verification systems.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Meta’s regional policy director warned the blanket ban could push teens toward unsafe online spaces, while academics raised privacy concerns over ID-based verification. Critics also questioned the law’s effectiveness, noting parents could still help children bypass the restrictions.

The government is taking steps to increase internet speed and make Teletalk services more accessible to customers, according to ICT Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the new Madhupur Press Club building in Tangail on Sunday afternoon. The minister said that delivering Teletalk services to customers’ doorsteps is only a matter of time, with some procedural issues still being addressed.

During the event, Swapon also highlighted the growing drug problem in Madhupur and Dhanbari, urging journalists and the administration to work together to eliminate it. He stated that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward drug abuse. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by senior journalist Zainal Abedin and attended by local officials, political leaders, and journalists.

Before the discussion, the minister unveiled the nameplate of the new press club building and participated in a special prayer.

Around 100 drones fell from the sky during a light festival in Australia, startling spectators near Sydney Harbour. The incident occurred during the 'Star-Bound Drone Show', part of the annual 'Vivid Sydney' festival. The drones crashed into the water and onto the wharf, breaking apart upon impact.

According to the UK-based operator Skymagic, an unexpected change in the radio frequency environment caused 89 drones to lose positional accuracy, triggering their automatic emergency landing systems. Witnesses reported hearing loud crashing sounds as the drones hit the concrete marina. Skymagic stated that none of the drones fell outside the designated safety zone. Festival organizers apologized to attendees for the disruption and inconvenience.

Subsequent shows have been canceled pending a full investigation by Skymagic and government agencies. The 'Star-Bound Show' featured 1,000 specially designed drones scheduled for 22 performances over 11 nights and had launched just one day earlier.

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, developed by U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk’s company, crashed into the Indian Ocean after a test flight and subsequently exploded. The launch took place at 5:30 p.m. local time on Friday, marking the first major test of the third-generation version of Starship. Live footage showed the spacecraft reaching space and completing several planned maneuvers before catching fire and exploding during a controlled descent over the ocean.

According to the source, SpaceX considered the test a success despite the explosion, as the main objective was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new design. During the flight, Starship executed a maneuver to flip from an inverted position and reignite its engines to regain control. Although one engine failed, the remaining engines allowed the spacecraft to maintain stability.

The test provided SpaceX with data on the performance of its redesigned systems, which the company views as a step forward in its ongoing development program.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, announced that all digital services will be designed to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. Speaking on May 21, 2026, at an event marking Global Accessibility Awareness Day at the BIDA Auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, he said accessible websites and apps have already been developed so that no one is left behind. He emphasized that accessibility is a right, not charity, and that technology must align with human needs, abilities, and diversity.

The minister added that new technologies will help integrate persons with disabilities more actively into mainstream society, turning them into valuable assets for the nation. The ICT Division will take all necessary initiatives to ensure their dignified participation. State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin said the government will fully support public and private initiatives promoting digital accessibility. ICT Division Secretary Kazi Anwar Hossain noted that Bangladesh’s digital progress will be complete only when every citizen can use digital services with dignity, freedom, and equality.

The event was attended by officials from a2i, Sightsavers, Friendship, and CRP, among others.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology’s (RUET) rover research and innovation team, Team Agrodut, has achieved 13th place globally in the Anatolian Rover Challenge 2026 (ARC 2026). The team also earned one of the highest design scores, securing 48.59 out of 50. The main phase of the competition will be held from July 29 to August 2 at the Middle East Technical University (METU) campus in Ankara, Turkey, where rover teams from around the world will participate.

Founded in 2017, Team Agrodut has consistently represented Bangladesh in international rover and space robotics competitions. It previously ranked sixth in the 2018 Indian Rover Challenge, 27th in the 2019 European Rover Challenge, and 11th globally in the 2023 International Rover Design Challenge, where it was Bangladesh’s top team. The group also reached the semifinals of IRDC 2025 and the finals of IRC 2025.

Beyond competitions, the team developed a bomb disposal robot for the Bangladesh Army in 2024, reflecting its practical engineering expertise. Team Agrodut aims to advance autonomous rover technology and inspire young innovators while preparing for future global contests.

Bangladesh will celebrate two decades of high-speed internet and digital transformation on May 21, marking the 20th anniversary of the country’s first submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 4, inaugurated in 2006 at Cox’s Bazar by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard national data infrastructure and digital sovereignty on this milestone occasion.

Before 2005, Bangladesh’s international communication relied entirely on satellites, resulting in slow internet speeds and high costs. The launch of SEA-ME-WE 4 connected Bangladesh to a global network stretching from Singapore to France, initially offering 22 Gbps capacity. Through successive upgrades, the cable’s capacity has reached about 4,650 Gbps by 2024. The project spurred rapid growth in freelancing, e-commerce, mobile banking, and digital public services across the country.

Following the success of SEA-ME-WE 4, the second cable SEA-ME-WE 5 was launched in 2017, and the third, SEA-ME-WE 6, is nearing completion. Together, these systems will raise total capacity to about 38 Tbps, exceeding projected national demand for 2027. BSCCPLC has also initiated plans for a fourth cable to further strengthen Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure.