Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the country will recover six billion dollars in previously frozen assets following a recent ceasefire agreement. He said the funds, held in Qatar, are part of a total of twelve billion dollars belonging to Iran. The release of the remaining portion is under ongoing negotiation. Pezeshkian described the lifting of oil and petrochemical sanctions as a major victory for the Iranian people.

During a visit to Qom, Pezeshkian met with Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani and praised the resilience of the Iranian nation during the war. He noted that despite the loss of leaders, ministers, commanders, elites, and students, the people, armed forces, and government stood united to defend the country. According to him, the Iranian people thwarted all attempts by the United States and Israel to destabilize Iran.

Pezeshkian added that the United States ultimately compelled Israel to accept the ceasefire agreement, marking a diplomatic success for Iran.

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.

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 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.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told the national parliament on Monday that the proposed budget lacks any guideline for recovering laundered money and called for strong initiatives to bring it back. Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed budget, he also suggested changing the fiscal year from July–June to January–December to align with the calendar year and improve efficiency. The session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin, began at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Rahman argued that recovering even one-ninth of the laundered funds would eliminate the budget deficit and emphasized that such money belongs to the people. He urged visible and effective steps to ensure accountability and prevent future illicit transfers. The opposition leader also discussed education, health, expatriate welfare, and corruption, urging reforms and equitable treatment for all sectors. He called for better allocation for Qawmi madrasa and Ebtedayee education, improved healthcare infrastructure, and stronger research funding in universities.

He further proposed forming a task force to address expatriate workers’ issues and demanded increased allowances for freedom fighters. Rahman concluded by urging cooperation between government and opposition to ensure justice, transparency, and national progress.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union (EU) fell sharply in the first four months of 2026, marking the steepest decline among the bloc’s top ten garment suppliers. According to Eurostat data, exports from Bangladesh dropped by 19.33 percent year-on-year to 6.086 billion euros between January and April, down from 7.544 billion euros in the same period of 2025. In April alone, exports fell 19.53 percent to 1.494 billion euros. The decline has raised concern among industry stakeholders amid global trade uncertainty and domestic challenges.

Eurostat figures show that the EU’s overall apparel imports decreased by 10.42 percent during the same period, totaling 27.77 billion euros. However, Bangladesh’s export contraction exceeded the EU’s average decline. Other major suppliers such as China, Turkey, India, Vietnam, and Pakistan also saw reductions, but none as steep as Bangladesh’s. The country’s export volume to the EU fell 9.91 percent to 435.9 million kilograms, while the average unit price dropped 10.45 percent to 13.96 euros per kilogram.

Industry representatives noted that nearly half of Bangladesh’s total export earnings come from the EU, warning that a prolonged downturn in this market could negatively affect the broader economy.

International oil prices increased following several days of retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran, which disrupted energy transport through the Strait of Hormuz and exposed the fragility of their interim peace agreement. On Monday, Brent crude rose by 58 cents, or 0.8 percent, to 72.57 dollars per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 88 cents, or 1.3 percent, to reach 70.11 dollars per barrel.

Analysts from ING warned that significant risks remain in the oil market, noting that if supply normalization takes longer than expected, prices could rise further. ANZ Bank analysts added that earlier assumptions about a quick recovery of oil supply from the Persian Gulf may now be reassessed. The two countries have agreed to halt attacks and plan to meet in Doha on Tuesday to discuss resolving their Hormuz Strait dispute.

Saudi Aramco resumed crude loading at its Ras Tanuma terminal last Friday after a four-month suspension, despite a helicopter crash there on Sunday that killed 14 people. Analysts cautioned that tanker congestion, damaged infrastructure, and halted production could delay a full supply recovery for the rest of the year.