The article discusses the rapid expansion of e-commerce in Bangladesh and globally, highlighting how technology has transformed daily life and business practices. Online shopping has become a key part of modern living, allowing consumers to purchase goods and services easily from home through websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. This shift has saved time and effort while enabling businesses to reach customers beyond local boundaries.

Despite its benefits, e-commerce faces several challenges. Consumers often cannot verify product quality before purchase, leading to trust issues and occasional fraud. Delayed or incorrect deliveries and technical disruptions also affect reliability. The article notes that in Bangladesh, young entrepreneurs are driving growth through social media-based ventures, supported by mobile banking systems that simplify online payments.

To ensure sustainable growth, the piece emphasizes the need for strong data protection, secure transactions, and ethical business practices. Government policy and public awareness are seen as essential for building a safe and trustworthy e-commerce environment that can further strengthen the national economy.

Several branches of five recently merged banks in Chattogram’s Agrabad area were locked by depositors on Monday morning. Acting under the banner of the Depositors Association, hundreds of customers marched to the area and forced staff out of Exim Bank’s Agrabad branch before locking it. They later locked branches of Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank PLC as well. The protest began around 11 a.m. and ended at about 12:30 p.m., when police oversaw the reopening of the branches.

Depositors said they have been unable to withdraw money from these banks since the final period of the Awami League government. Despite having large deposits, even small cheques are not being cleared. They alleged that government funds supplied to repay depositors are being used for staff salaries instead. The interim government’s decision to merge weak banks has not improved the situation, according to protesters.

Police reported that extra forces were deployed in Agrabad ahead of the pre-announced protest and that the situation is now normal.

A public interest writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the legality of the bilateral trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States on February 9, 2026. The petition was submitted on Monday morning by Supreme Court lawyers Mohammad Maidul Islam Polok and Subir Nandi Das.

According to the petition, the agreement is described as unreasonable, structurally unequal, and harmful to Bangladesh’s national interests. It alleges that the authorities failed to protect the country’s economic sovereignty and public welfare during the negotiation and signing process. The secretaries of the foreign, finance, and commerce ministries have been named as respondents in the case.

The writ also raises constitutional questions regarding the agreement’s validity, citing concerns over disproportionate obligations on Bangladesh, adverse tariff structures, erosion of regulatory autonomy, and potential harm to domestic industry, agriculture, and environmental protection.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is reshaping global energy dynamics, forcing countries to reconsider their dependence on unstable regions for fuel supply. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has already caused significant changes in global markets, with energy trade patterns shifting rapidly.

Amid the turmoil, US energy exports have reached record highs, while the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective May 1. Analysts view this as a major turning point for the global oil market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has described the situation as the largest global energy security challenge in history.

Experts suggest that the ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with OPEC’s fragmentation and the search for alternative supply routes, could permanently alter the global energy order.

Iran’s health sector is facing a severe crisis as recent war and sanctions have sharply disrupted the country’s medical supply chain. Grigor Simonyan, head of the Iran mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said that the conflict has caused major interruptions in supply systems, leading to a significant rise in medicine prices. Locally produced medical equipment had previously met much of the demand, but the war has damaged the entire supply chain, increasing pressure on the system and driving up costs.

Simonyan added that the number of patients has risen notably in recent weeks, particularly after a ceasefire announcement, as uncertainty has prompted more people to seek treatment. Iranian officials confirmed that prices of some medicines have doubled, while others have increased up to tenfold due to shortages of essential materials and raw inputs.

Long-standing U.S. sanctions, recent military attacks damaging major pharmaceutical producers, and port blockades have further complicated the situation. Government sources said prices of about 20 percent of all medicines have already changed, raising serious concern among ordinary citizens.

Bangladesh Bank has adopted a short-, medium-, and long-term financing plan to reopen closed factories and increase employment. The initiative aligns with the BNP government’s election pledge to create ten million jobs within the first 18 months. The central bank discussed the plan with 20 commercial banks’ business and credit risk departments in a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed. Banks requested government-backed credit guarantees to mitigate potential lending risks.

According to meeting details, short-term loans will support factories with active utility connections but lacking working capital, while medium-term financing will assist those with disconnected utilities or damaged equipment. Long-term loans will target factories requiring new machinery or utility reconnections. Banks expressed limited capacity for self-financing due to past sectoral losses and sought government or central bank funds. A 19-member committee formed on April 26 was tasked with preparing a full financing report.

The central bank is consulting stakeholders to design low-interest support packages, though the IMF has discouraged new refinancing funds under its ongoing loan program. Priority will go to factories not involved in major financial crimes or money laundering.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced its revenue collection target for the 2025–26 fiscal year to Tk 4.3 trillion after failing to meet earlier goals. Initially set at Tk 4.99 trillion and later revised upward to Tk 5.54 trillion, the target proved unattainable as collections fell short by about Tk 1 trillion in the first nine months. Although the official target remains unchanged on paper, NBR officials confirmed that the revised internal goal is now Tk 4.3 trillion.

According to NBR sources, Tk 2.88 trillion has been collected so far from income tax, VAT, and customs combined. To meet the new target, the agency must collect Tk 1.42 trillion in the remaining three months—over Tk 47,000 crore per month—far above its previous monthly record of Tk 37,000 crore. Officials acknowledge that achieving even the reduced goal will be challenging.

The report links the revenue shortfall to political upheaval following the August 5 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, economic disruptions from corruption and capital flight, and slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme. Ongoing global instability, rising fuel prices, and declining garment exports have further constrained revenue growth.

Boro paddy collection in Moulvibazar has not yet started due to adverse weather conditions. Although farmers are willing to supply paddy, they are currently unable to do so. The district food department stated that since there are still four months left, they expect to complete the full collection within that period.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, this year’s Boro cultivation target covered 62,400 hectares, including 27,355 hectares in haor areas and 35,045 hectares in non-haor regions. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have submerged 5,042 hectares, completely damaging 2,282 hectares and partially affecting 2,160 hectares. Farmers are struggling to harvest ripe paddy due to bad weather and a shortage of labor, while high water levels have made mechanical harvesting impossible.

The district food controller said the government plans to buy 6,004 tons of paddy directly from registered farmers at Tk 36 per kilogram. However, continuous rainfall and rising river levels have raised concerns about possible flooding in the coming days.

The Bangladesh government is currently experiencing relief over the electricity and fuel situation, as the country has gone six consecutive days without any load-shedding. According to officials from the Power Division, electricity demand and supply have remained balanced across all nine zones, with peak-hour demand fully met. The Energy Division also confirmed that fuel reserves are sufficient for the entire month of May, with 355,169 tons of fuel oil in stock as of Sunday. Petrol pumps across the country are operating smoothly, and long queues have disappeared.

Officials attribute the stable power supply partly to unseasonal rainfall, which has kept electricity demand lower than usual. Meteorologists expect intermittent rain to continue until at least May 10, helping maintain normal temperatures and easing pressure on the power grid. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has taken measures to increase diesel reserves, with additional shipments being unloaded and more on the way.

The improved situation follows months of severe fuel shortages and public unrest earlier this year. Government interventions, including price adjustments and tighter supply management, have restored stability to both the electricity and fuel sectors.

Eighteen rice mills in Chandpur are on the verge of closure due to the growing dominance of corporate businesses, frequent power outages, and a shortage of paddy. According to local mill owners, three mills—Mokka Auto Rice, Topadar Auto Rice, and Baba Auto Rice—have already shut down, while fifteen others are operating intermittently. The Chandpur District Rice Mill Owners’ Association reported that corporate firms have captured the rice market through financial strength and advanced technology.

Association president Abdur Rahim Sarkar said that major companies such as City, Meghna, Bashundhara, Fuad, Pran, and Mojumdar now control both domestic and international rice sourcing and packaging, offering a wide range of consumer-friendly pack sizes. Local mills, limited to 25–50 kg sacks, cannot compete with these marketing strategies. Mill owners also cited insufficient local paddy supply, frequent power cuts, and dependence on crushers as key obstacles.

Owners warned that without government financial incentives and measures to curb corporate dominance, the remaining mills may soon close, leaving around two thousand workers unemployed.

Speakers at a national convention in Dhaka on May 3 emphasized that Bangladesh’s energy crisis cannot be solved without first addressing corruption and policy failures. The session, held at the Diploma Engineers Institute and organized by the National Citizen Party’s Reform Implementation Committee, focused on energy security and future strategies. Participants called for reducing dependence on oil imports by expanding solar power and implementing structural reforms in the energy sector.

Economist Dr. Khan Zahirul Islam argued that corruption and flawed policies, not resource shortages, drive the crisis, citing misuse of installed capacity and large-scale financial irregularities. Other speakers, including Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and energy analyst Shafiqul Alam, highlighted sovereignty concerns, rising import dependence, and the need for solar and waste-to-energy initiatives. They also criticized inefficiencies in power generation and subsidies.

Speakers urged the government to waive import duties on solar equipment, review costly power contracts, and prioritize rooftop solar projects to cut costs and reduce load-shedding. They warned that without swift reforms, Bangladesh’s energy dependence and fiscal burden will continue to grow.

In Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram, fertilizer and seed were distributed among 2,500 farmers affected by a recent storm. The distribution took place on Sunday afternoon under the initiative of the Banshkhali Agriculture Office. Member of Parliament Maulana Zahirul Islam attended the event and personally handed over the supplies to the farmers.

The event was presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jamshedul Alam, with former Upazila BNP convener Lokman Ahmad as special guest. Upazila Agriculture Officer Shyamal Chandra Sarkar delivered the welcome speech. Each farmer received 10 kilograms of DAP fertilizer, 10 kilograms of MOP fertilizer, and 5 kilograms of seed free of cost to support Aus crop production.

The initiative aimed to assist local farmers in recovering from storm damage and to promote increased Aus cultivation in the region.

Bangladesh’s export sector rebounded in April 2026 after eight consecutive months of decline, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Sunday. Export earnings rose by 32.92 percent year-on-year to 4.01 billion dollars, up from 3.02 billion dollars in April of the previous year. Compared to March’s 3.48 billion dollars, April’s earnings increased by 15.20 percent. The growth was driven mainly by the ready-made garment industry, rising demand in key markets, and an increase in new orders.

Despite the April surge, total export earnings for the first ten months of the 2025–26 fiscal year stood at 39.40 billion dollars, still 2.02 percent lower than the same period last year. The apparel sector remained the main contributor, earning 31.72 billion dollars during July–April. The United States and the United Kingdom showed the strongest growth, with exports rising 43.01 percent and 23.46 percent respectively. Leather and leather goods exports rose 5.95 percent year-on-year, while agricultural processed products saw a 65 percent jump in April.

Knitwear manufacturers’ association president Mohammad Hatem said the April rise mainly reflected shipments delayed from March due to Eid holidays. He cautioned that export performance might fluctuate again in the coming months.

Bangladesh Bank has reported that the country's total foreign exchange reserves have increased to 35,204.76 million, or 35.20 billion, US dollars as of May 3, 2026. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank. According to the latest data, the gross reserve stood at 35,204.76 million dollars, while under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserve amounted to 30,512.29 million dollars.

The previous record on April 23 showed the gross reserve at 35,117.50 million dollars and the BPM6-based reserve at 30,484.01 million dollars. The central bank clarified that net reserves are calculated following the IMF’s BPM6 methodology, which deducts short-term liabilities from total reserves to determine the actual amount.

The increase marks a continuation of reserve growth following earlier declines, reflecting a modest improvement in the country's external financial position according to the central bank’s latest figures.

The United States is experiencing a sharp rise in fuel prices as the ongoing war with Iran disrupts global oil supplies. According to data released on Saturday, the average price of gasoline in the country has climbed to $4.45 per gallon, marking an increase of 34 cents in just one week. Since the conflict began on February 28, gasoline prices have risen by $1.47 per gallon. California has recorded the highest average price at $6.10 per gallon.

Diesel prices have also surged significantly, reaching a national average of $5.64 per gallon, up from $3.76 on the day the war began. The steep increase has raised concerns across the transportation sector, which heavily depends on diesel fuel.

Analysts warn that if tensions in the Middle East persist, the energy market could face further instability, leading to higher transportation costs, increased commodity prices, and greater pressure on consumers’ living expenses.