Jagannath University (JnU) has been allocated a revenue budget of Tk 186.6 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The allocation is part of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) total approved budget of Tk 12,300.04 crore for 58 public universities and the UGC itself. The approval came during the UGC’s 187th full commission meeting held on June 11. Of the total, Tk 12,001.82 crore was designated for public universities and Tk 298.58 crore for the UGC.

According to UGC sources, Tk 7,428.43 crore of the total university budget is for operational expenses and Tk 4,573.39 crore for development projects. Jagannath University’s allocation is comparable to other major institutions such as Islamic University (Tk 188.4 crore), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Tk 186.66 crore), and Khulna University (Tk 182.92 crore). Dhaka University received the highest revenue budget of Tk 949.36 crore.

The UGC also unified research budgets of universities and the commission to avoid duplication, transferring Tk 200 crore from universities to the UGC’s research fund, which now totals Tk 226 crore. With an additional Tk 12 crore for foreign scholarships, the total scholarship allocation stands at Tk 238 crore.

Bangladesh Bank has annulled the appointments of Islami Bank’s chairman and all board directors to restore depositor confidence amid a severe liquidity crisis. The central bank appointed its executive director, Mohammad Zahid Hossain, to assume full board responsibilities. The decision was announced on Sunday following a meeting between the central bank and Islami Bank’s top officials, invoking powers under sections 45 and 47(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Earlier the same day, Bangladesh Bank provided Islami Bank with a special loan of Tk 2,500 crore at 11.5 percent interest for 90 days to ease the liquidity crunch. The crisis began after the appointment of Khurshid Alam as chairman triggered unrest among depositors and shareholders, leading to massive withdrawals. The bank’s current account balance had dropped to Tk 439 crore, halting check settlements and ATM operations.

Despite the emergency support, Islami Bank branches continued facing heavy withdrawal pressure, with customers limited in cash access. The central bank stated it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure financial stability and depositor protection.

Asian-Pacific stock markets recorded significant gains on Monday following news of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran that ends hostilities and allows the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose by more than 5 percent in early trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 5.7 percent. Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 2.7 percent, and Australia’s ASX200 increased by about 1.5 percent.

US stock futures also climbed in after-hours trading, with the S&P 500 up nearly 1 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising 1.6 percent. The positive sentiment extended to global markets as investors responded to the easing of geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, global oil prices fell sharply after the peace deal announcement. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped more than 4 percent to around 83.70 dollars per barrel, reflecting expectations of improved supply stability following the reopening of the key maritime route.

Bangladesh’s first budget under the current BNP government proposes a record allocation of Tk 1,36,606 crore for education, raising the sector’s share to 2 percent of GDP. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the plan in parliament, emphasizing technical education, research, innovation, and third-language learning to link education with economic growth. The budget also sets a goal to raise education spending to 5 percent of GDP within five years.

Education experts welcomed the increased allocation as a reflection of the government’s election pledges but noted that it still falls short of UNESCO’s 4–6 percent guideline. Several educators and organizations expressed concern that the budget lacks directives to improve teachers’ living standards, salaries, and benefits, particularly for MPO-listed and ibtedayi madrasa teachers. They warned that without addressing teachers’ welfare, the goal of “education with happiness” would remain unfulfilled.

Analysts urged transparent implementation and effective use of funds to ensure quality education and skill development aligned with labor market needs.

Global oil prices fell sharply on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen following a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan. Brent crude dropped 4 percent to 83.81 dollars per barrel, while US crude fell 4.7 percent to 80.89 dollars. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the formal signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland on June 19. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the deal on state television.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG shipments, had been closed since February 28 after US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran. Tehran had threatened attacks on vessels using the route. The conflict had previously driven oil prices as high as 120 dollars per barrel, up from around 70 dollars before the war.

Energy analysts cautioned that oil transport through the strait would not immediately return to prewar levels, citing the need to clear mines and ease tanker congestion. Asian stock markets rose sharply as investors welcomed the agreement.

Bangladesh Bank has annulled the appointments of the chairman and all members of the board of directors of Islami Bank, the country’s largest Shariah-based bank. The decision was confirmed by Shahriar Siddiqui, assistant spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, and was taken on Sunday under the authority of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

According to an official notice, the central bank stated that the move was made in the interest of depositors and the public. Under section 47(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991, Bangladesh Bank’s executive director Mohammad Zahid Hossain has been assigned to exercise all powers and responsibilities of the dissolved board.

The announcement follows recent discussions between Islami Bank’s top officials and the governor of Bangladesh Bank, as well as ongoing concerns about depositor protection and governance within the banking sector.

The government has issued the revised Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Dealer Appointment and Management Policy 2025 to make subsidized goods distribution among low-income families more transparent and accountable. The updated policy, released in June 2026, restricts dealership applications exclusively to genuine grocery traders holding updated trade licenses. It also disqualifies all categories of salaried employees, including those in government, semi-government, autonomous, private, and MPO-listed educational institutions.

The new policy introduces several administrative changes, such as mandatory physical presence of dealers during official inspections, increased security deposit requirements from 30,000 to 50,000 taka, and a shortened renewal grace period of one month with a fine. It also allows district commissioners to appoint substitute dealers from nearby areas to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods. The 2025 and 2021 policies have been repealed with the issuance of this revised version.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the revision was prompted by operational complexities and weak oversight found in the earlier policy. Currently, 8,273 dealers operate across the country, with new appointments and contract cancellations ongoing.

The Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) has called for the rapid identification, legal recovery, and return of embezzled or looted funds from the country’s banking sector to protect depositors’ interests. In a press release issued on Sunday, the organization welcomed the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, noting the government’s allocation of about Tk 40,000 crore for weak banks as a key step toward restoring stability.

BAB emphasized that the recapitalization effort will only be effective if accompanied by strong measures to recover stolen assets and hold those responsible accountable. It urged visible and strict actions against willful defaulters and individuals who have harmed the banking system, warning that they should not be allowed to re-enter the sector. The association also proposed establishing an asset management company to reduce non-performing loans and strengthen bank balance sheets.

BAB cautioned that recapitalization without effective recovery would bring only temporary relief. It called for equal emphasis on reform, recovery, and accountability to ensure sustainable growth and maintain public trust in the banking system.

Bangladesh received a $1 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as budget support, raising the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves to $35.63 billion by Sunday, the highest in 43 months. The reserves stood at $34.59 billion on Thursday, according to Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

Under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves reached $31.07 billion. Earlier, on January 19 of this year, reserves exceeded the $30 billion mark for the first time under BPM6 reporting, which began in June 2023 when reserves were $24.75 billion. The highest reserve level in Bangladesh’s history was $48 billion in August 2021, but it declined sharply afterward due to increased capital outflows and a rising dollar rate from 84 to over 120 taka.

At the time of the Awami League government’s fall, reserves under BPM6 had dropped to $20.48 billion, marking a significant low before the recent recovery.

India’s latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report shows the country’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1. Two decades ago, the rate stood at 3.3. Experts attribute the decline to higher education levels, career focus, rising living costs, and growing emphasis on personal freedom. Many couples now choose to delay or forgo parenthood altogether.

Specialists note that educated and financially independent women are increasingly prioritizing careers and self-development over traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood. The availability of fertility options such as egg freezing, now offered by over 2,000 centers, allows women to delay childbirth. Meanwhile, India’s infant mortality rate has dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 24 in 2024, further influencing smaller family sizes.

Regional disparities remain: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh record higher fertility rates of 2.9 and 2.6, while Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala report rates near 1.2–1.3. Some states, including Andhra Pradesh, have introduced cash incentives for additional births, but experts argue that addressing underlying social and economic factors will be more effective than urging larger families.

Acting Managing Director of Islami Bank, Altaf Hossain, announced that customer service quality will improve starting tomorrow despite ongoing liquidity challenges and heavy withdrawal pressure. He made the statement after a meeting with Bangladesh Bank officials, including Governor Mostakur Rahman, where the bank’s liquidity situation and operational stability were discussed. The central bank has provided Islami Bank with cash support for the first time to help maintain normal operations.

Hossain stated that daily withdrawals currently range between Tk 1,100 crore and Tk 1,200 crore, yet efforts continue to ensure uninterrupted service. He said the bank’s current account position is now positive, and internet banking services will soon be fully restored. The acting MD described the chairman appointment issue as political, not managerial, and emphasized that management’s main responsibility is to maintain business and customer service continuity.

In a video message, Hossain apologized for recent service disruptions, assured depositors that their funds are safe, and urged customers not to withdraw more than necessary. He expressed confidence that, with central bank assistance and customer cooperation, the bank will soon return to full normalcy.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman held a meeting with senior officials of Islami Bank on Sunday afternoon at the central bank’s headquarters. The meeting began at 4 p.m., confirmed Assistant Spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui of Bangladesh Bank. According to him, the purpose of the courtesy meeting was to brief the governor on the bank’s current overall situation and the latest updates on its business activities.

A high-level delegation from Islami Bank attended the meeting, led by the bank’s acting Managing Director. The team also included two Additional Managing Directors and six Deputy Managing Directors. The delegation was expected to inform the governor about the bank’s ongoing operational status.

The meeting comes amid continued attention to Islami Bank’s internal and business affairs, as the institution seeks to strengthen its service quality and maintain regulatory communication with Bangladesh Bank.

Bangladesh Bank has provided a special loan of Tk 25 billion to Islami Bank to address its liquidity crisis. The assistance was extended on Sunday, according to information from the bank. The crisis intensified after the appointment of a new chairman following Eid, which triggered protests by a group of customers under the banner of the 'Conscious Customer Forum'. Many depositors began withdrawing their funds, worsening the bank’s liquidity position.

As a result, Islami Bank failed to meet customer withdrawal demands and could not maintain the required cash reserve ratio (CRR) with the central bank. Last week, the bank sought Tk 100 billion in liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank, which responded by providing an initial Tk 25 billion. During a post-budget press conference on Friday, Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman had hinted at such support, assuring that depositors would face no withdrawal problems.

The central bank’s intervention aims to stabilize Islami Bank’s operations and restore depositor confidence amid ongoing unrest over leadership changes.

Tea growers in Panchagarh are struggling to protect their crops as leafhopper and red mite infestations spread amid a severe fertilizer shortage. The crisis has intensified during the peak leaf-picking season, with farmers unable to apply urea and DAP fertilizers on time due to the absence of allocations for the tea sector across five districts in the Rangpur division.

According to the Bangladesh Tea Board’s 2025 data, the region has over 8,400 small-scale tea gardens producing nearly 9.77 crore kilograms of green leaves annually, contributing more than 21 percent to national tea output. Farmers report that adverse weather has worsened pest attacks and increased production costs, while local agriculture offices say fertilizer allocations for tea fall under the Commerce and Industries ministries, not the Agriculture Department.

Officials from the Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh office said a request for fertilizer allocation has been sent to the ministries. Tea growers from Rangpur’s five districts have appealed to local administrators and lawmakers for urgent intervention to secure fertilizer and pesticide supplies.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to withdraw the tax exemption on income earned from investments in zero coupon bonds issued by banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, or other corporations. The exemption, previously granted under the Sixth Schedule of the Income Tax Act 2023, will no longer apply from the next fiscal year. The Finance Bill 2026 proposes the repeal of the relevant clause, as presented in the National Parliament by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The change also covers zero coupon Islamic certificates.

Alongside this measure, the 20 percent tax on company dividends has been withdrawn, and the rule requiring inclusion of such income in total taxable income for non-corporate taxpayers has been canceled. The Finance Bill 2026 also introduces a new condition for tax rebates on investments in government securities, mutual funds, and similar instruments: investors must now hold investments for the full term to retain the rebate.

Officials explained that the new condition aims to encourage long-term savings and prevent early withdrawals that undermine the purpose of tax incentives.