India has increased petrol and diesel prices again, marking the third hike in ten days. Starting Saturday, petrol prices rose by 87 paise per litre and diesel by 91 paise per litre. The latest adjustment follows earlier increases on May 16 and May 19, when prices were raised by 3 rupees and 90 paise per litre respectively. As a result, fuel prices have climbed by at least 5 rupees per litre in major cities over the past ten days.

The price hikes come amid a fuel supply crisis linked to conflict in West Asia. Although India’s central petroleum department previously claimed there was no shortage of petrol or diesel, it had signaled that further price increases were possible. As of Friday night, petrol in New Delhi cost 98.64 rupees per litre, which has now risen to 99.51 rupees, while diesel increased from 91.58 to 92.49 rupees per litre.

The repeated hikes suggest continued pressure on India’s fuel market, with potential implications for transportation and consumer costs if global tensions persist.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, cattle markets across Dhaka have started to draw increasing numbers of buyers and sellers. Farmers and traders from districts including Kushtia, Chuadanga, Pabna, Natore, Sirajganj, and Rajshahi have brought truckloads of cattle to the city. However, sellers report that rising costs of animal feed, transport, and related expenses may push cattle prices up by 15 to 20 percent compared to last year. At the Uttara Diabari market, farmers complained about poor management, including water shortages, lack of sheds, and muddy conditions.

Some traders said they had to buy sand at their own expense to keep cattle dry and pay extra for better spots or shed space. Allegations also surfaced that pickup drivers were being charged up to 5,000 taka for entry stickers. The market leaseholder claimed that most issues were being resolved. Feed prices have nearly doubled in some cases, and transport costs have risen by several thousand taka per truck. Meanwhile, the Gabtoli market remains half full, with moderate-priced cattle attracting the most attention.

Authorities said law enforcement is on alert to prevent extortion, and temporary bank booths have been set up to ease transactions. Markets are expected to reach full activity by Monday.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, passengers across Bangladesh are facing unregulated fare hikes on air-conditioned (AC) buses, as operators continue to set prices at their discretion. Although the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regulates non-AC bus fares based on fuel price changes, it has yet to fix rates for AC buses. As a result, passengers are paying between Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,800 for Dhaka–Barishal routes and up to Tk 3,000 for Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar, far higher than non-AC fares. Despite government directives, BRTA has not finalized AC fare structures, allowing operators to continue charging arbitrary rates.

Officials previously announced that AC bus fares would be determined before Eid, and meetings were held between BRTA and transport owners to prepare proposals. However, the process remains incomplete. Transport owners argue that AC fares should not be regulated, while passenger groups and experts blame BRTA for failing to enforce oversight.

Experts from BUET warn that without model-based fare regulation and stronger enforcement, fare chaos will persist, particularly during peak travel seasons like Eid.

A one-kilometer road construction project in Raiganj, Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram, remains incomplete nearly three years after work began. The project, valued at about one crore taka and scheduled for completion within one and a half years under the rural infrastructure development program, has seen repeated delays. Despite two deadline extensions, around half of the work remains unfinished, while the contractor has reportedly withdrawn 80 percent of the project payment. Locals report severe suffering due to the poor condition of the road.

Field observations revealed the use of substandard materials, including brick debris instead of sand, leaving the road uneven and damaged by rain. Residents allege that the main contractor, Oni Traders, subcontracted the work to local businessmen without proper oversight. The upazila engineer, newly assigned to the area, said he would investigate and take legal action if irregularities are confirmed. The district engineer also promised an inquiry and possible contract cancellation if wrongdoing is found.

Repeated attempts to contact Oni Traders’ owner were unsuccessful, as his phone remained switched off.

France’s government is considering imposing an additional tax on companies that have made excessive or unexpected profits due to rising energy prices triggered by the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure indicated this in an interview with Sud Radio, saying that if certain firms earned exceptional profits in this situation, they could face extra taxation. He added that the final debate on the proposal is scheduled for the coming autumn.

Since the conflict began in late February, several opposition politicians in France have strongly advocated for a windfall tax on energy companies such as TotalEnergies. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, a route that previously carried about 20 percent of global oil shipments, has caused a severe energy crisis across Europe.

Rising fuel and food prices have slowed France’s economic growth, prompting the government to announce large-scale domestic financial support packages to protect households and businesses from the impact of the crisis.

The Shahjibazar 100-megawatt power plant in Habiganj has remained non-operational for six years despite the payment of Tk 600 crore and multiple repair efforts. The plant, expected to supply around 2.4 million units of electricity daily worth Tk 2 crore, has delivered only Tk 34 crore worth of power during its test phase. The project, initiated by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) in 2017 at a cost of Tk 890 crore, was built by China Cable Corporation Engineering (CCCCE) using a General Electric LM-S100 gas turbine. It was scheduled to begin production in June 2020 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After initial testing in 2021, the turbine blades broke, causing repeated shutdowns despite subsequent repairs and component replacements. The plant last operated briefly in early 2024 before another mechanical failure in April halted production again. PDB has paid about 70 percent of the total bill, withholding 10 percent as compensation until project completion. Officials said the government may take over operations if the contractor fails to meet obligations.

Discussions are ongoing between the Chinese and American firms for technical support, with a tentative plan to restart the plant by June 2027 if progress continues as planned.

International oil prices increased again as negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s uranium stockpile and the Hormuz Strait remained deadlocked. According to an Al Jazeera report cited on May 22, 2026, investor uncertainty over the lack of progress in the talks contributed to the price surge. On Friday, the global benchmark Brent crude rose by 2.3 percent, or 2.38 dollars, reaching 104.96 dollars per barrel.

At the same time, the price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 1.8 percent, or 1.73 dollars, to 98.08 dollars per barrel. The rise followed a nearly 2 percent drop in both benchmarks on Thursday, which had brought prices to their lowest level in about two weeks.

The report indicates that the continuing diplomatic stalemate between Washington and Tehran is keeping investors cautious, with energy markets responding to the uncertainty surrounding the region and its potential impact on global oil supply routes.

In Chattogram, the price of open salt used for preserving raw hides has sharply increased ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, despite reports of sufficient stock. Traders said the price per 74-kg sack has risen from Tk 680–700 during the last Eid-ul-Fitr to Tk 930–950 now, an increase of Tk 200–250 per sack. They alleged that mill owners and business syndicates have artificially raised prices, creating difficulties for hide traders who rely heavily on salt for preservation.

According to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Chattogram office, the district currently holds 8,670 tons of refined salt and 64,000 tons of crude salt, which is more than enough to meet the estimated 5,322-ton demand during the upcoming Eid. However, traders said the price hike is squeezing their profit margins, as tannery owners have not raised hide prices accordingly. Many wholesalers are reportedly winding up their businesses due to mounting losses and unpaid dues from Dhaka tanneries.

BSCIC officials said heavy rainfall has occasionally disrupted salt production, but there is no shortage in the market. The administration plans to monitor prices jointly with local authorities to prevent manipulation.

A recent nationwide survey has revealed that more than 90 percent of motorized vessels operating in Bangladesh are unregistered. Out of 244,660 motorized boats identified, only 22,298 are registered under the Department of Shipping. The findings, released on May 22, 2026, indicate that most vessels operate without approved designs, safety checks, or certified crews, posing serious safety and revenue concerns.

The survey, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics under the Department of Shipping’s project to build a vessel database, was carried out from May 4 to 17 across the country. It identified around 25 types of vessels, including cargo ships, passenger launches, speedboats, dredgers, and ferries. Experts warned that unapproved vessel construction and operation create significant safety risks and deprive the government of substantial revenue.

Officials noted that data collection is still ongoing in remote and hilly areas, suggesting the total number of vessels may increase slightly once the survey is complete.

The Indian rupee has depreciated significantly over the past year, losing about 10 percent of its value against the Bangladeshi taka and nearly 12 percent against the Pakistani rupee, according to a report by The Economic Times published on May 22, 2026. The rupee also hit a record low of 96.96 per US dollar last Wednesday. Analysts attribute the decline to global economic uncertainty, rising crude oil prices, and reduced foreign investment inflows.

Experts note that India’s heavy reliance on imported energy has made its currency vulnerable to oil price fluctuations. The ongoing stalemate in Iran–US peace talks and higher international bond yields have further driven investors away from emerging markets, putting additional pressure on the rupee. Economists warn that the depreciation could raise costs for overseas education, travel, imported goods, and international business transactions.

Analysts suggest that if import costs continue to outpace export earnings and foreign capital inflows, India’s current account deficit could deepen. The rupee’s short-term volatility is expected to persist as global geopolitical conditions, inflation, and investment trends evolve in the coming months.

A Chattogram financial loan court has issued a five-month civil imprisonment warrant against 11 individuals, including controversial industrialist Saiful Alam, also known as S Alam, for failing to repay a defaulted loan of about Tk 84.49 crore owed to Islami Bank. The order was delivered on Thursday by Judge Md Helal Uddin of Financial Loan Court-1, confirmed by the court’s bench assistant Md Ershad.

According to court sources, Islami Bank filed the case on January 20 of this year after the defendants failed to repay the loan. The bank later applied for a civil sentence under Section 34 of the Financial Loan Court Act, 2003, as no movable or immovable assets belonging to the defendants could be found and the loan remained unpaid. The court granted the application and issued the warrant.

The accused include S Alam, several family members, and associates linked to S Alam Group and Oji Travels Limited. Previous court orders had already frozen their bank accounts and seized properties amid multiple corruption and money laundering allegations during the former Awami League government.

Global gold prices declined as a stronger US dollar and rising Treasury yields weighed on the precious metal, while oil prices climbed due to stalled peace talks in the Middle East. As of 11:18 GMT on Thursday, spot gold dropped 0.6 percent to $4,517.94 per ounce, and US June gold futures fell 0.4 percent to $4,518.70. Analysts said inflation concerns and expectations of higher interest rates continued to weaken the gold market.

The ongoing Middle East tensions kept oil markets buoyant, with Brent crude rising nearly 3 percent to $107.4 per barrel. Iran stated it was reviewing Washington’s latest proposal, while US President Donald Trump said he could wait a few more days for Tehran’s response but left open the option of renewed strikes. Analysts noted that since the conflict began, gold prices have fallen more than 15 percent, while oil has gained amid energy-driven inflation fears.

Other precious metals also declined, with silver down 1.4 percent to $74.96 per ounce, platinum down 1 percent to $1,931.5, and palladium down 0.9 percent to $1,357.94.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has imposed financial penalties on the chairmen, directors, and senior officials of three publicly listed companies for breaching securities laws. The decision was made at a commission meeting held on May 19, 2026, chaired by BSEC Chairman Khondkar Rashed Maksud, and announced through a press release on May 21.

Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries was fined for providing false information in its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Its chairman, managing director, and three directors were each fined Tk 2.5 million, while the chief financial officer and company secretary received smaller fines. Genex Infosys faced penalties for failing to distribute a declared 3 percent cash dividend for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, within the stipulated time. Aftab Automobiles was ordered to pay outstanding dividends within 30 days or face additional fines, including daily penalties for delays.

The BSEC’s actions underscore its ongoing enforcement of compliance standards among listed companies to protect investors and ensure transparency in Bangladesh’s capital market.

Sri Lanka’s tea industry is facing a severe crisis as the Iran war drives up fuel prices and reduces global demand for exports. Tea workers in the Hatton region, such as Jasintha Malar from the Dunkeld estate, told Reuters they are struggling to cope with rising living costs. With cooking gas prices soaring, many families have turned to firewood, while declining exports have left workers in deep uncertainty.

According to the Export Development Board (EDB), Sri Lanka’s tea export earnings fell by 17.3 percent in March compared to the same month last year, dropping to 114.75 million dollars. Demand from Iraq, the country’s largest buyer, declined by 38 percent, while shipments to the United Arab Emirates plunged by about 93 percent due to maritime and logistics disruptions.

Dilhan Fernando, chairman and CEO of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, said the industry has been absorbing rising costs for some time, but fuel and logistics expenses are now driving inflation across trade routes from Colombo to Dubai and beyond.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where he humorously gifted her a packet of 'Melody' chocolate-caramel toffees made by Parle Products. Following Meloni’s sharing of the gift video on social media, the clip quickly went viral, sparking a wave of online memes combining their names as 'Melody'.

Within minutes of the video’s circulation, investors on Dalal Street began searching for 'Parle' on the Bombay Stock Exchange and rushed to buy its shares. However, they mistakenly purchased shares of Parle Industries, a company unrelated to Parle Products, which actually manufactures Melody toffees but is not publicly listed. Parle Industries operates in infrastructure, housing, paper, and recycling sectors.

Despite a broader market downturn due to global concerns over the Iran war, Parle Industries’ share price rose by 5 percent within an hour of the video’s release, climbing from 4.95 to 5.25 rupees. The company’s stock, which had fallen 68 percent over the past year, briefly rebounded thanks to the viral diplomatic moment.