Cattle farmers across Bangladesh are expressing concern over potential losses ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, as the cost of animal feed has risen sharply while buyer turnout remains low. Farmers in districts such as Joypurhat, Pabna, and Bogura report that despite completing preparations for sacrificial animals, high feed prices and limited demand are squeezing profits. Many medium-sized cattle are in higher demand than large ones, but overall sales remain slow. Some farmers also claim that cattle are entering from India, adding pressure to local markets.

In Joypurhat, once home to over 65,000 dairy farms, many have closed due to rising feed and labor costs. Local officials confirm that about 326,000 animals are ready for sacrifice, exceeding local demand by over 120,000. In Pabna’s Bera upazila, supply has doubled compared to demand, with more than 92,000 animals prepared. Farmers there fear that oversupply and high costs will reduce profits. Authorities report that border surveillance has been tightened to prevent illegal cattle entry and that local administrations are ensuring animal health and market security.

Officials note that national cattle production has increased significantly, reducing dependence on imports, though farmers warn that without government support, the dairy and livestock sector could face long-term risks.

More than 400 farming families affected in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh have received food assistance. The distribution took place on Tuesday at the premises of the Longair Union Parishad, where Member of Parliament Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu handed over the aid packages to the farmers.

The event was chaired by Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N M Abdullah-Al-Mamun. Among those present were Upazila Project Implementation Officer Jahangir Alam, BNP leader Sheikh Md Ishaq, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, and Longair Union Parishad administrator Fazlul Haque, along with people from various professions.

The initiative aimed to support local farmers who had suffered losses, though the source did not specify the cause or extent of the damage.

Bangladesh has initiated the process of increasing electricity prices at both wholesale and retail levels. Power generation and distribution companies have submitted proposals to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), which began a two-day public hearing in Dhaka on Wednesday. The proposals suggest raising wholesale rates by 17 to 21 percent and retail rates by 14.21 to 17.76 percent. Distribution companies aim to implement the new rates from early June, pending final approval.

According to the Power Division, the government currently incurs a loss of about five taka per unit of electricity, with production costs exceeding 12 taka per unit while the average selling price remains just over seven taka. Despite a subsidy of 38,637 crore taka in fiscal year 2024–25, the sector still recorded a loss of 17,021 crore taka. The government seeks to reduce subsidies by 10,000 to 16,000 crore taka through the proposed price adjustments. Experts have criticized the move, linking it to long-standing mismanagement and corruption in the sector.

The Power Development Board has also proposed revising the consumer slab structure to reduce subsidies for wealthier users while protecting low-income households.

The Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh has announced that starting July 1, all government revenues and receipts must be deposited into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) through the e-challan system. A circular issued by the Finance Division on Tuesday also instructed that all funds currently held in government accounts at commercial banks be transferred to the Bangladesh Bank’s TSA by June 30.

According to the circular, any alternative payment methods maintained by government offices must be discontinued immediately. The decision aims to strengthen government cash management and ensure real-time deposits of public funds. The ministry noted that manual deposits through commercial banks had made it difficult to determine the government’s actual cash position.

The circular further explained that funds held in government accounts at commercial banks could not be used promptly when needed, prompting the move to centralize all deposits under the Treasury Single Account system.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of a planned military strike on Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He stated that the decision was made to allow room for diplomatic discussions to resolve the crisis. Following the announcement, international crude oil prices dropped by more than one percent.

According to market analysts, the price of Brent crude fell to around 110 dollars per barrel, while U.S. WTI crude declined to about 103 dollars per barrel. Investors and energy traders are now closely monitoring diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, as concerns persist over the long-term stability of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, previously handling about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any instability in this region could have a significant impact on global energy markets.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has warned that no one will be allowed to manipulate the dollar exchange rate. He stated that punitive measures will be taken against anyone buying or selling dollars above the official rate. The directive was issued during a meeting with treasury officials from all commercial banks held on Tuesday morning at the central bank’s Jahangir Alam Conference Room in Dhaka.

The meeting, organized by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department, discussed the current and future state of the foreign currency market. According to participants, the governor emphasized that all dollar transactions must remain transparent and within regulatory limits. He also ordered banks to stop selling dollars in the forward market and cautioned against any actions that could destabilize the market.

Treasury officials later suggested that a clear list defining what constitutes manipulation would help ensure compliance. The meeting ended without a final decision. Bangladesh Bank had introduced a market-based exchange rate in May of the previous year as part of an IMF loan condition, with the interbank rate now at 122.75 taka per US dollar.

Over the past 12 months, the Indian rupee has experienced an unprecedented depreciation of about 11.86 percent against the Pakistani rupee. The exchange rate dropped from 3.2913 Pakistani rupees per Indian rupee in May 2025 to 2.9010 by May 2026. This decline began after the 2015 'Operation Sindur' ceasefire mediated by then U.S. President Donald Trump and has continued despite the end of military tensions.

The report suggests that the rupee’s weakness reflects deeper structural issues in India’s economy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, rather than solely global factors such as the strong U.S. dollar or Middle East conflicts. The Indian rupee also lost nearly 10 percent against the Bangladeshi taka during the same period. Analysts and international observers, including a Financial Times report, have linked the rupee’s fall to declining confidence in Modi’s administration.

A Japanese bank, MUFG, noted that the rupee’s depreciation is likely to persist through the year regardless of developments in West Asia, indicating that India’s internal economic vulnerabilities remain a key concern.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller on Tuesday at the minister’s office in the Secretariat. The meeting focused on bilateral trade relations, investment opportunities, and the removal of existing non-tariff barriers between Bangladesh and the European Union. Both sides emphasized the importance of making the trade environment more transparent, business-friendly, and efficient.

The commerce minister described the EU as one of Bangladesh’s key trading partners and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding trade ties. He highlighted ongoing policy and institutional reforms aimed at boosting exports, attracting investment, and simplifying trade procedures. The minister also mentioned that the draft import policy order had been published online for public feedback.

Ambassador Miller expressed the EU’s interest in strengthening trade cooperation with Bangladesh and praised the government’s initiatives to improve the business climate. He noted that while some complex issues may take time to resolve, the EU and its business community are ready to share expertise and collaborate toward sustainable solutions.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced new guidelines for adding money from bank cards to personal mobile financial service (MFS) accounts. According to a circular issued on Tuesday, users must now complete a token transaction of up to 500 taka when linking a card to an MFS account for the first time. Regular transactions using that card can begin 24 hours after the token transaction is successfully completed.

The central bank stated that this is a temporary measure. Starting August 1, the token transaction will no longer be required if the MFS account is verified to be registered under the same name as the cardholder. In that case, users can directly link their cards for add-money transactions.

Additionally, all add-money transactions from cards to MFS accounts must be categorized as fund transfers rather than merchant payments. Card issuers must also ensure that the beneficiary wallet number is visible during transactions. If these requirements are not implemented by July 31, the add-money feature via cards will be suspended from August 1.

Singapore has expressed its intention to expand trade and investment in Bangladesh. The announcement came during a courtesy meeting between Singapore’s non-resident High Commissioner Derek Loh and Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Discussions covered reducing the bilateral trade deficit, increasing Singaporean investment, cooperation in renewable energy, agricultural exports, food security, and environmentally friendly industries.

Minister Muktadir said Bangladesh is eager to strengthen trade and investment relations with Singapore, highlighting the country’s investment-friendly environment, improved infrastructure, skilled workforce, and export-oriented industries. He noted that there are significant opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, logistics, port infrastructure, and green industries.

High Commissioner Loh emphasized Singapore’s interest in major projects such as the Bay Terminal, describing it as a key initiative involving an investment of around USD 800 million to 1 billion. He said the project would enhance port efficiency, reduce demurrage costs, and create new opportunities for exporters, while also helping to attract further foreign investment.

The Burimari land port in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat will remain closed for all import and export activities for eight days due to the Eid-ul-Azha holidays and weekly closures. The suspension will be in effect from May 25 to June 1, halting trade between Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan. However, immigration services for passport-holding travelers will continue as usual through the Burimari check post, according to port officials.

The Burimari C&F Agents Association issued a notice on Monday confirming the closure. Mustafa Salauddin Opel, president of the Burimari Importers and Exporters Association, stated that trade operations will resume on June 2. Saifur Rahman, the immigration police officer-in-charge, reiterated that passenger movement will not be affected. Assistant Commissioner of Customs Motlubur Rahman added that the National Board of Revenue has directed all customs houses and land customs stations to remain partially open, except on Eid day, to ensure continuity of national trade.

Limited internal administrative work will continue at the Burimari customs station during the closure period, following the NBR directive.

Stone extraction at the Madhyapara hard rock mine in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, has been suspended since Tuesday morning because of a shortage of explosives. The mine’s General Manager (Administration and Services), Syed Rafizul Islam, confirmed that the imported ammonium nitrate stock has run out, forcing a temporary halt in production. He said the explosives are expected to arrive within 15 days, and maintenance work will continue in the meantime.

Officials from the contracting company Germania Trust Consortium (GTC), responsible for extraction and maintenance, stated that while extraction is paused, maintenance operations remain active. The mine, operated by Madhyapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL), began commercial production in May 2007 and employs about 700 underground workers across three shifts. MGMCL renewed a six-year contract with GTC in September 2021, under which the company extracts an average of 5,500 metric tons of rock daily.

The mine has faced similar shutdowns in previous years due to explosive shortages, including in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2025, highlighting recurring supply challenges.

Small and marginal traders across Bangladesh have erupted in anger after the government sharply increased market periphery lease fees from 260 taka to 6,000 taka, a 23-fold jump. The new rates were set under the “Hat o Bazar Sthapan o Byabosthapona Bidhimala-2025,” issued by the Ministry of Land on October 6, 2025. Traders described the move as a threat to their survival and warned of nationwide protests if the decision is not withdrawn.

According to the report, traders have submitted multiple written appeals to the land minister but claim no effective action has been taken. Many argue that the sudden and steep increase is unjustified, noting that previous adjustments between 1990 and 2023 ranged only from 5 to 20 percent. Local officials in Uzirpur said they are bound to implement the central policy and cannot alter it.

Trader associations are preparing for larger demonstrations, including rallies and human chains, demanding a revision of the new fee structure. Experts warn that such a drastic rise could severely disrupt rural markets and damage the grassroots economy.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government aims to transform Bangladesh’s jute sector from its current export earnings of about $1 billion into a $5–7 billion industry. He made the statement on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Jute Diversification Promotion Center’s Multifarious Jute Products Fair 2026 in Dhaka. The event was chaired by the ministry’s secretary, Abdun Naser Khan, with State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam attending as a special guest.

The minister highlighted that in 1972–73, jute and jute goods accounted for nearly 90 percent of Bangladesh’s export income, but the sector’s share has since declined. To revive its potential, the government has adopted time-bound plans focusing on quality seed production, technological advancement, and product diversification. He emphasized achieving self-sufficiency in jute seed production, reducing import dependence, and promoting high-value product design and innovation.

Muktadir added that collaboration with leading Chinese universities is planned to enhance productivity, seed development, and market-oriented design. A coordinated roadmap involving the Jute Diversification Promotion Center and private partners is being prepared, while state-owned jute mills are set to be operated under private management for modernization and profitability.

Stone imports from India through the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj resumed on Tuesday after a 17-day suspension. More than 150 Indian trucks carrying stones entered the port between morning and afternoon, confirmed Mainul Islam, port manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited. The import halt had begun on May 2 and continued until May 18 due to protests over increased LC values.

An online meeting between importers and exporters from both countries was held on Tuesday morning, where both sides agreed to set the customs valuation of stone at 14 dollars per ton. Previously, stones were imported at a maximum LC value of 13 dollars per ton, but Indian authorities had raised it to 15 dollars, prompting traders to stop imports in protest.

With the resumption of stone imports, port workers have expressed relief as trade activities return to normal levels at the Sonamasjid land port.