Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced that the upcoming national budget will expand the scope of family cards, farmer cards, and religious sector programs. He said allocations for social safety programs have been increased, and financial grants for treating critical illnesses have been doubled. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday at a meeting with divisional officials at the Department of Social Services office in Agargaon.

Zahid Hossain stated that around 4.02 million people will be brought under the family card program next year. The government is also working to transform orphaned children into skilled human resources. Grants for patients suffering from cancer, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, thalassemia, and congenital heart disease will be raised to 100,000 taka, with total allocations proposed to increase from 3 billion to 6 billion taka. The minister said the program’s third pilot phase is expected to be completed by June.

State Minister Farzana Sharmin noted that despite many institutions under the ministry, coordination remains a challenge. The new work plan emphasizes better coordination to improve service quality.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a significant reduction in gold prices across the country following a decline in international markets. The price of 22-carat gold has been lowered by Tk 3,266 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 234,855. The revised prices took effect from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, according to a BAJUS press release.

BAJUS stated that the decision was influenced by a sharp fall in global gold prices, which impacted the local market. The last price adjustment occurred on May 25, when the association raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 2,158 per bhori to Tk 238,121. Prices for 21-carat, 18-carat, and traditional gold have also been revised accordingly.

So far this year, BAJUS has adjusted gold prices 70 times, increasing them 37 times and reducing them 33 times, reflecting continued volatility in both domestic and international markets.

Commerce, Industry and Textile Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that within the next 18 to 24 months, the Ministry of Commerce will be transformed into an efficient and people-oriented institution. Speaking at a review meeting at the ministry’s conference room in Dhaka, he outlined four priority areas: ensuring market stability, revitalizing the tea industry, addressing post-LDC trade challenges, and controlling essential commodity prices.

He noted that even after 55 years of independence, a sustainable framework for price stability of essential goods has not been established. The ministry plans to build a long-term mechanism to maintain market stability year-round. The minister also emphasized strengthening the tea industry through coordinated efforts between public and private sectors, and preparing for Bangladesh’s transition from LDC to developing country status by expanding trade agreements and training officials for international negotiations.

Muktadir further mentioned plans to transform the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) into a modern resource center modeled after examples from Turkey, Malaysia, and India, to serve as a reliable data hub for both government and private sectors.

A human chain demonstration by customers and employees of Islami Bank was held in Chapainawabganj on Tuesday afternoon at Baten Khan Mor in the town. The event lasted for about an hour and was organized to express concerns about attempts to destabilize the bank.

Speakers at the demonstration alleged that during the previous authoritarian government, S. Alam had taken control of Islami Bank. They claimed that after the change of government, as the bank began to recover, a group was again trying to create instability. Participants called for maintaining the bank’s regular operations and ensuring its stability.

The demonstration reflected ongoing tensions surrounding Islami Bank’s management and operations in the post-government transition period, with participants urging continued normal functioning of the institution.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has expressed a positive stance on Bangladesh’s proposal to extend its preparation period for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category until November 24, 2029. CDP Chair Professor José Antonio Ocampo informed the Bangladesh government that the committee considers the extension appropriate, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance issued on Tuesday.

The CDP emphasized that the additional time should be used to address structural challenges and implement necessary policy reforms, not to delay them. Bangladesh formally requested the three-year extension on February 18, 2026, followed by a letter from the Prime Minister to the UN Secretary-General on April 6 seeking support. The committee noted that Bangladesh has exceeded all three LDC graduation criteria by a significant margin and is unlikely to regress in the near or medium term. However, it also cited global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, including Middle East tensions and energy market volatility, as potential risks.

The CDP welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to its Smooth Transition Strategy and stressed the importance of continued international cooperation, including concessional financing, technical assistance, and trade capacity building, during and after the transition period.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced a reduction in liquefied petroleum (LPG) gas prices for consumers on Tuesday. The price of a 12-kilogram cylinder has been lowered from 1,940 taka to 1,885 taka. Additionally, the price of autogas has been reduced from 89.50 taka per liter to 86.93 taka per liter.

According to the report, the last price adjustment occurred on April 19, when the 12-kilogram cylinder price was increased by 212 taka to 1,940 taka. Seventeen days earlier, on April 2, BERC had raised the price by 387 taka to 1,727 taka. This means that within two consecutive revisions, the 12-kilogram cylinder price had increased by a total of 599 taka before the latest reduction.

The new pricing decision reflects a reversal of recent hikes and is expected to provide some relief to consumers following consecutive increases in April.

Lebanon’s Finance Minister Yassine Jaber has warned that the country’s financial losses from the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict have already exceeded $20 billion and could reach $25 billion if the fighting continues. The statement was reported by correspondent Zeina Khodr, citing the minister’s assessment of the escalating economic toll.

Jaber cautioned that the full extent of the economic and social damage will only become clear once the conflict ends, particularly when displaced residents begin returning to their devastated communities. He noted that the destruction of infrastructure, housing, and local economies will make the country’s reconstruction process significantly more difficult in the long term.

Analysts cited in the report said that if the conflict drags on, Lebanon’s economy could face an even deeper crisis, with recovery potentially taking many years.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) in Bangladesh’s banking sector have increased by Tk 314.88 billion over the past three months, according to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank. As of the end of December, total NPLs stood at Tk 5.57 trillion, representing 30.60 percent of total loans distributed at that time. By the end of March this year, the figure had risen to Tk 5.88 trillion, or 32.26 percent of total loans.

The report also shows that the total outstanding loans in the banking sector currently amount to Tk 18.24 trillion. The data highlights a continuing upward trend in defaulted loans within the country’s financial system, reflecting growing stress in the banking sector.

The increase in NPLs underscores ongoing challenges in loan recovery and credit management across banks, as indicated by the central bank’s updated figures.

Customers of Islami Bank Bangladesh held a human chain and protest in Chattogram on Tuesday demanding the removal of the bank’s chairman, Khurshid Alam. The demonstration took place around 11 a.m. in front of the bank’s regional office in Agrabad under the banner of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum.

Participants alleged that the current management system of the bank does not adequately protect customer interests and called for the chairman’s removal. They urged authorities to intervene and ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability within the institution. Protesters emphasized the need to restore customer confidence and safeguard depositors’ expectations.

Leaders of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum and clients from various professions joined the event. Police from Double Mooring Police Station maintained a watchful presence to ensure order, and the protest concluded peacefully with participants leaving the area afterward.

India and Oman’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into effect today amid the ongoing US-Iran war that has severely disrupted maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The pact, signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat in December last year, grants duty-free access for India’s labor-intensive exports to Oman. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the implementation, calling it a milestone for expanding markets, boosting exports, attracting investment, and creating jobs.

The Hormuz Strait handles about 20 percent of global oil consumption and 25 percent of seaborne oil trade, but conflict has tightened Iranian control, disrupting India’s energy imports from Gulf states. Oman’s ports, including Salalah and Duqm, remain operational due to their location outside the strait, making Oman a reliable trade and energy route during regional instability.

Under CEPA, Oman will eliminate tariffs on 98.08 percent of its tariff lines, covering 99.38 percent of India’s exports, while India will reduce or remove tariffs on 78 percent of its lines. The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral trade, though Oman’s small market size may limit export growth.

Global crude oil prices fell slightly as traders focused on uncertainty surrounding ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude dropped by 75 cents to 94.23 dollars per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 85 cents to 91.31 dollars. The price drop followed a sharp rise just a day earlier.

The report noted that despite a price increase on Monday, oil prices had fallen by more than 16 percent in May amid hopes for a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran and the continuation of a ceasefire. Market participants had expected that such an agreement could boost Iranian oil exports and increase global supply.

Senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva said that although traders had hoped the potential deal would reduce uncertainty, no significant change in market conditions was observed as of Tuesday morning.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) under the Ministry of Social Welfare has issued a revised recruitment circular for 1,485 positions across 52 categories under the revenue sector. The online application process, to be completed through Teletalk Bangladesh Limited’s designated website, opened on June 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will continue until June 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. Both male and female candidates aged between 18 and 32 years as of June 1, 2026, are eligible to apply, with certain departmental candidates receiving age relaxation.

The circular covers a wide range of posts from grade 13 to grade 20, including positions such as principal assistant, computer operator, field supervisor, social worker, and office assistant. Applicants who previously applied under the March 27 and June 9, 2024, notices for the same posts do not need to reapply. Application fees range from 56 to 112 taka depending on the post category, payable via Teletalk prepaid numbers within 72 hours of form submission.

Detailed information and the application form are available through the DSS official website at https://dss.gov.bd/pages/notices.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed on Tuesday that the wife of Islami Bank Chairman Khurshid Alam has defaulted on a loan taken under her company’s name from First Security Islami Bank. The loan, amounting to 30 million taka, has remained unpaid for a long period. However, there is no loan registered under Khurshid Alam’s own name.

The report indicates that the defaulted loan is tied to the wife’s business entity, but it remains unclear whether Khurshid Alam acted as a guarantor for the loan. The disclosure comes amid broader concerns over rising non-performing loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector.

Bangladesh Bank data show that defaulted loans have increased by 310 billion taka over the past three months, reflecting growing pressure on the financial system.

In Sherpur upazila of Bogura, fish traders and farmers have been severely affected after the owners suddenly closed the local wholesale fish market at midnight on Monday. The owners cut off electricity, water, and ice supply and blocked access roads with vehicles, halting all trading activities. As a result, traders, wholesalers, and fish farmers faced heavy financial losses, with some forced to sell fish at reduced prices or return unsold stock.

According to affected traders, around 50 vehicles carrying about 600 maunds of fish were traded daily before the closure. They had started operations only six months ago under a three-year agreement, but the owners unilaterally shut down the market without prior notice. The disruption has sparked widespread concern among traders and locals, who fear damage to the local economy if the issue remains unresolved.

Former association president Abdul Hannan Bepari said the owners had long sought to move the business to another site, while owner representative Ranjila Parvin stated that the land lease was withdrawn in the community’s interest and traders were offered refunds, which they declined.

Customers of Islami Bank have resumed protests in Dhaka demanding the resignation of newly appointed chairman Khurshid Alam and all board members, along with the reinstatement of former managing director Omar Farooq Khan. The demonstration began at 9 a.m. Tuesday in front of Islami Bank Tower in Motijheel under the banner of the Conscious Customers Forum. Law enforcement agencies have been deployed in large numbers, including water cannons and armored vehicles, to maintain order.

Protesters expressed concern over recent changes in the bank’s board and the appointment of the new chairman, calling for transparency in management. Witnesses reported that customers, shareholders, and people from various professions gathered at the site, chanting slogans and voicing their demands. On Monday, a similar protest and human chain were held at the bank’s headquarters, where clashes reportedly occurred between demonstrators and police.

The unrest follows the resignation of former chairman Professor M. Zubaidur Rahman on May 24 and the subsequent appointment of Khurshid Alam, a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank. The board later accepted Omar Farooq Khan’s resignation in a virtual meeting chaired by Alam.