The Padma Barrage Project has received final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chair Tareq Rahman on Wednesday at the Secretariat. The first phase of the project, proposed by the Ministry of Water Resources, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board between this year and June 2033 at a cost of Tk 344.97 billion, fully funded by the government. The total estimated cost of the entire project is Tk 504.43 billion.

According to planning commission sources, the project aims to mitigate dry-season water shortages caused by the Farakka Barrage by storing about 2,900 million cubic meters of water in the Padma River. The stored water will help revive five rivers—Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Baral, and Ichamati—by supplying around 800 cubic meters per second during the dry season. The first phase includes constructing a 2.1-kilometer barrage at Pangsha in Rajbari with 78 spillways, 18 under-sluice gates, two fish passes, and a navigation lock.

The project is expected to enhance agriculture and fisheries production and benefit 19 districts across four divisions in its initial phase, with further expansion planned in later stages.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a 50 percent reduction in the number of vehicles in his official motorcade. The decision, announced amid a global energy crisis, aims to cut fuel consumption and promote the use of electric vehicles. The Special Protection Group responsible for Modi’s security has already begun implementing the directive.

The move comes as several Bharatiya Janata Party–ruled states follow suit. Chief Ministers Rekha Gupta of Delhi, Bhajan Lal Sharma of Rajasthan, and Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh have also decided to reduce the size of their official fleets. The global energy shortage has been exacerbated by the ongoing United States–Iran war, which has driven up crude oil prices and disrupted supply chains.

Modi urged citizens to adopt a “nationally responsible” lifestyle, use local products, and avoid unnecessary gold purchases for one year to ease pressure on foreign currency reserves. He also advised against foreign travel and destination weddings abroad.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh is expanding the farmer card distribution program from 15 to 19 upazilas, with pilot implementation expected to begin in June 2026. A 13-member core committee met at the ministry to discuss potential challenges and future steps. The initiative, one of the government’s 31 election pledges, aims to provide cards to landless, marginal, and small farmers.

The program’s oversight is under discussion within the government. A prime minister’s adviser is working to bring the World Bank under the program’s supervision to ease financial pressure, while the agriculture minister prefers domestic management for equitable distribution. Pre-pilot phases revealed several issues, including land ownership complications and mismatches in beneficiary data during fund transfers.

The farmer card is designed to offer 10 types of benefits, including cash incentives, subsidized inputs, irrigation support, and easy loans. The government plans to distribute cards to 16.5 million farmers over four years at an estimated cost of 6.81 billion taka.

Share trading of four listed non-bank financial institutions will continue on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) for now, according to DSE sources. The exchange confirmed that trading will proceed as usual on Wednesday, pending written instructions from Bangladesh Bank regarding the liquidation decision. DSE’s chief operating officer Shafiqul Islam said the exchange has sought clarification from the central bank and will act upon official communication once received.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Bank’s board approved the closure or liquidation of five non-bank financial institutions—FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing—starting in July. Among them, four are listed on the capital market. The decision followed extremely high default loan rates, ranging from 93 to nearly 100 percent, and the institutions’ failure to return depositors’ funds. The central bank plans to appoint administrators and allocate about Tk 5,000 crore in the next budget to repay individual depositors.

The liquidation will proceed under the Bank Resolution Act, which outlines procedures for restructuring or closing distressed institutions and settling creditor claims through asset sales.

Reconditioned car imports through Bangladesh’s Chattogram Port have fallen by 55 percent in March and April 2026 compared to the same period last year. The decline began after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran in late February, which disrupted global markets and raised fuel prices. In 2025, the port handled an average of 1,200 cars per month, but this year’s March and April saw only 497 and 744 units respectively. The port’s car sheds, which usually remain full, are now largely empty.

Industry figures attribute the slump to multiple factors including the Middle East conflict, rising fuel costs, and a slowdown in domestic economic activity. Former BARVIDA secretary Habibur Rahman said reduced consumer purchasing power and stalled business conditions have sharply cut vehicle sales and imports. Government and corporate car purchases have also declined due to halted loan facilities and project suspensions.

Customs officials reported that revenue from reconditioned car imports dropped from about Tk 800 crore in the first four months of 2025 to Tk 545 crore in the same period this year, reflecting the broader economic strain on the sector.

Grocery prices in the United States rose at the fastest monthly rate in four years, driven by inflation linked to the ongoing war involving Iran. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices increased by 0.7 percent in April, marking the sharpest monthly rise since 2022. Media reports noted that the surge confirms earlier warnings that the conflict with Iran is pushing up food costs for American consumers.

On an annual basis, fresh vegetable prices climbed by more than 44 percent compared to three months earlier, while staple items such as bread and milk rose by 8 percent and 6 percent respectively. Coffee and beef prices also showed sudden fluctuations, influenced by both the Iran war and other global factors. Rising transportation costs and strong demand have further contributed to the price increases.

The data suggest that US households are facing growing pressure from food inflation, with essential goods becoming increasingly expensive across multiple categories.

Bangladesh Bank has launched a comprehensive review of all bank loans exceeding Tk 20 crore disbursed since July 2025. The initiative, directed by Governor Mostakur Rahman, aims to verify whether these large loans are reaching genuine new entrepreneurs or being diverted to previously controversial or fraudulent entities. The central bank’s relevant department has already begun the scrutiny process, with a report to be submitted to the governor upon completion.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, total bank loans stood at Tk 17.77 trillion at the end of December, of which Tk 8.22 trillion involved loans above Tk 20 crore. The review follows earlier discussions under former governor Ahsan H. Mansur, who could not implement the plan before his contract was terminated. The move comes amid intensified efforts to trace and recover funds allegedly siphoned abroad by six major business groups during the former Awami League government.

Several affected banks have signed non-disclosure agreements with multinational firms to identify and recover overseas assets. The review is part of broader financial accountability measures initiated after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.

Bangladesh Bank’s board has given preliminary approval to close or liquidate five non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) starting in July 2026. The decision was taken at a board meeting chaired by Governor Mostakur Rahman. The institutions affected are FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing, all of which have default loan ratios between 93 and nearly 100 percent. The central bank cited their failure to recover defaulted loans and repay depositors as the reason for the move.

According to a central bank official, the closures will proceed under the Bank Resolution Act, with administrators and additional officers appointed to oversee the process. The government has pledged to allocate about Tk 5,000 crore in the upcoming budget to repay individual depositors. The law outlines how troubled institutions may be merged, restructured, or closed, and how their assets will be sold to repay creditors.

The decision follows earlier notices to 20 NBFIs with high default rates. After several reviews, the list was narrowed to five institutions now slated for closure.

The Planning Ministry of Bangladesh has finalized preparations to present 16 development projects worth about Tk 24,855 crore at the second meeting of the new government’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday. Among these, the long-anticipated Padma Barrage project will be tabled for approval under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and ECNEC Chair Tareq Rahman. The Water Resources Ministry proposed the first phase of the Padma Barrage project, estimated at Tk 50,443.64 crore, to be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board by June 2033, with full funding from the government.

Officials said the project aims to mitigate dry-season water shortages caused by the Farakka Barrage. The first phase includes constructing a 2.1-kilometer barrage at Pangsha in Rajbari with 78 spillways, 18 sluice gates, two fish passes, and a navigation lock. It will store about 2,900 million cubic meters of water to revive five rivers and support irrigation, fisheries, and hydropower generation. The project is expected to benefit 19 districts across four divisions and create nearly 928,000 permanent jobs.

The Padma Barrage concept dates back over two decades, with multiple feasibility studies conducted since the 1960s, culminating in a detailed assessment completed in 2013.

The popular speedboat service on the Sitakunda-Sandwip route in Chattogram is at risk of permanent closure as operators consider halting operations due to financial losses under new government fare regulations. On Tuesday, without prior notice, speedboat movement was suspended at the Kumira-Guptachhara terminal, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on both sides.

Operators, including R K Enterprise, said it is impossible to sustain business at the government-fixed fare of 260 taka per trip, which was only a 10-taka increase from the previous 250 taka. They cited rising fuel prices, maintenance costs, and terminal lease fees as key reasons for the losses. In comparison, fares on similar routes such as Noakhali-Hatia exceed 300 taka, which owners claim highlights an unfair disparity.

The speedboat service is the fastest transport link between Sandwip and the mainland, vital for medical, educational, and administrative needs. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said discussions are ongoing to resolve the issue, while the local administration insisted that operators must adhere to the government-set fare but promised a quick resolution to minimize passenger hardship.

Bangladesh Bank has instructed all banks to introduce a digital verification system using QR codes for visa-related financial documents. The directive, issued on Tuesday, aims to ensure that bank statements and other financial papers submitted by visa applicants can be verified online by embassies and visa centers. The move follows complaints that the absence of real-time verification has been causing administrative delays and higher processing costs.

According to the circular, bank statements, solvency certificates, and investment certificates submitted for visa applications must include a QR code that allows verification of key details such as account number, account holder’s name, statement period, and issue date. Banks are also required to store this information for at least six months in a verifiable format. The central bank has given institutions 90 days to implement the necessary technological systems while maintaining compliance with existing cybersecurity and data protection regulations.

The initiative is expected to streamline visa processing and enhance document authenticity for Bangladeshi applicants abroad.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has decided to modernize the Sayedabad Inter-District Bus Terminal in line with its original design to restore order in the capital’s public transport system. The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting held at Nagar Bhaban, chaired by DSCC Administrator and freedom fighter Abdus Salam, with lawmaker and transport leader Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas attending as special guest. From now on, all unauthorized bus counters will be removed, and the use of the Sayedabad terminal will be made mandatory.

The meeting outlined several key measures, including the reallocation of 110 ticket counters across six terminal blocks on a fair basis, removal of illegal structures and shops, and construction of boundary walls to ensure proper use of flyovers. Drainage improvements and removal of abandoned bus remnants were also planned. Passenger facilities will be enhanced with a modern breastfeeding center, rest areas, clean toilets, a police outpost, and neon signage.

According to DSCC, full utilization of the terminal is essential for restoring road discipline, while coordinated efforts among government, owners, and workers aim to ensure safer and more efficient passenger services.

An inclusive consultative workshop titled 'Advocating for Changed Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Collective Action' was held in Khulna on Tuesday at the Darbar Hall of Hotel Castle Salam. The event aimed to identify barriers to women’s economic empowerment, market access, and social participation, and to explore possible solutions. It was organized under Window-3 of the FAME project, funded by the French Development Agency and supervised by the Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce. Local NGO Purnima hosted the event, with the Center for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) as the lead organization and Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) as a partner.

Representatives from government and private institutions, entrepreneurs, researchers, and members of marginalized communities attended the workshop. Participants conducted a gender lens assessment to identify obstacles such as limited access to resources, market entry challenges, mobility safety, and restrictive social norms. The day-long discussions generated several recommendations.

Organizers stated that the recommendations will guide efforts to create an inclusive and gender-sensitive economic environment. A joint advocacy document will also be prepared and submitted to relevant ministries for policy consideration.

Farmers across Bangladesh are preparing sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026, with local livestock departments reporting sufficient supply to meet national demand. In Dinajpur district alone, 426,523 animals have been readied against a demand of 273,262, leaving a surplus of over 153,000. Similar surpluses are reported in Madaripur’s Shibchar, Jamalpur’s Madarganj, and Pirojpur’s Kaukhali upazilas. Farmers are busy fattening cattle using natural feed, while local administrations have instructed law enforcement to remain alert along borders to prevent the entry of Indian cattle.

Officials from livestock departments in multiple districts confirmed that animals are being raised without harmful chemicals, and training and veterinary support are being provided to ensure safe meat production. Farmers, however, expressed concern over rising feed costs and the possibility of foreign cattle entering local markets, which could affect fair prices for domestic producers.

Authorities expect that the surplus livestock will allow districts like Dinajpur to supply animals to other regions, ensuring adequate availability across the country during the upcoming Eid festival.

Rakib Hasan, a first-year history student at Kotchandpur Government College, has achieved notable success in grape cultivation in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah. In May 2024, he planted Baikunur and Black Magic grape varieties on ten kathas of land. Within a year, he earned BDT 200,000 from grape sales, making a profit of BDT 100,000 after expenses. This year, his vineyard produced grapes worth BDT 350,000, with only BDT 15,000 spent on irrigation, fertilizer, and maintenance.

Rakib began his venture without formal training, relying on online resources and personal effort. He initially invested about BDT 100,000, including BDT 46,000 for 120 saplings and additional costs for trellising and care. The Baikunur variety, originally from Russia, proved highly productive and sweet in taste. He has also started producing and selling grape saplings alongside fruit cultivation.

Kaliganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahabub Alam Roni said several farmers in the area are now growing grapes and receiving guidance from the department. He praised Rakib’s initiative, noting that the student continued his agricultural venture despite not owning land.