Oil prices fell sharply on Monday as uncertainty grew around a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran. A senior US official said final approval for the deal to end ongoing hostilities could take several more days. Brent crude dropped more than five percent to about 95 dollars per barrel, though prices remain roughly 30 percent higher than before the conflict began.

US and Iranian officials issued conflicting statements about the progress of the talks. Both sides indicated that a deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments currently restricted by Iran. Analysts view the possible agreement as a political opportunity for President Donald Trump to distance himself from a long-unpopular war, though key issues such as Iran’s nuclear program may remain unresolved.

Regional tensions persist, with Israeli politicians warning the deal might fail to limit Iran’s nuclear capacity, and clashes continuing between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s leaders, acting as mediators, visited China for talks with President Xi Jinping, underscoring Beijing’s stake as Iran’s largest oil buyer.

A sudden nor'wester storm struck Chandpur on Monday afternoon, killing one person and injuring ten others. The storm caused two passenger launches to collide near the Chandpur launch terminal, disrupting river transport on the Dhaka–Chandpur route. Witnesses said a tree fell on a moving CNG auto-rickshaw at Chandra Chourasta, killing 60-year-old Helal instantly. Several launches, pontoons, and jetties at the terminal were also damaged by the strong winds.

During the storm, the passenger launch ‘Mayur-2’ lost control and hit another vessel, ‘Eagle-7’, as it was docking. Panic spread among passengers, leading to a rush to disembark, during which several people, including women and children, were injured. Some of the injured were taken to Chandpur General Hospital for treatment.

Fire service, coast guard, and police personnel quickly launched rescue and safety operations, moving passengers to safety and restoring order. According to BIWTA officials, two launches and several port structures were damaged, and repair work is underway to ease passenger suffering.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has announced an extensive plan to ensure a clean and joyful Eid-ul-Azha for city residents. At a press conference held at the National Eidgah on Monday, DSCC detailed preparations for the main Eid congregation and waste management operations. The main Eid prayer will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the National Eidgah, with an alternative arrangement at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque if weather conditions are unfavorable. Facilities such as air conditioning, water, sanitation, and medical services have been arranged, along with tight security coordination.

For waste management, DSCC will begin transporting sacrificial waste from the Kalabagan STS to the Matuail landfill at 1:30 p.m. on Eid day, aiming to complete removal within eight hours by 9:30 p.m. An estimated 33,942 tons of waste will be generated over three days, handled by 13,453 personnel and 117 vehicles. The corporation is distributing disinfectants and biodegradable bags across 75 wards and will monitor operations through a central control room.

DSCC has urged residents to dispose of waste only at designated spots and maintain cleanliness by using disinfectants after sacrifices.

Mohammad Nurul Amin, a veteran banker with over four decades of experience, has been appointed as the new chairman of the board of directors of Bangladesh Krishi Bank. The appointment was made on Sunday by the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh.

Amin has served in key leadership roles across several prominent banks and financial institutions in the country during his 42-year career. Before assuming his current position, he worked for about 13 years as managing director and chief executive officer of Meghna Bank and NCC Bank. He is widely recognized for his strategic leadership and contributions to the development of the banking sector.

He previously chaired major industry bodies including the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB), the Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Dealers Association (BAFEDA), and Primary Dealers Bangladesh Limited. His academic background includes degrees in economics from the University of Dhaka and diplomas from Oxford and Cambridge universities. His leadership is expected to strengthen governance and modernization efforts at Bangladesh Krishi Bank.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan, once hailed as a blueprint for transforming the Middle East, is now facing major setbacks. The ambitious initiative, launched a decade ago to diversify the economy beyond oil through technology, tourism, and investment, is being reassessed amid financial and geopolitical pressures. Several mega projects, including the $500 billion NEOM city, have been scaled back, delayed, or risk cancellation as the 2030 deadline approaches.

Analysts attribute the slowdown to economic strain and regional instability. Falling oil prices before the recent Middle East war reduced Saudi revenues, while the ongoing conflict has created uncertainty for long-term investments. Foreign investment has also fallen short of expectations, with experts citing unrealistic planning and exaggerated projections by officials and consultants. Previous projects, such as the King Abdullah Economic City, similarly failed to meet expectations.

Despite setbacks, Vision 2030 has brought visible social changes, including women’s driving rights and international entertainment events. However, the new regional war has further clouded Saudi Arabia’s economic outlook, particularly in technology and manufacturing sectors, though mining remains stable.

Bangladeshi producer Abdul Aziz has clarified that no characters in the upcoming film 'Masud Rana' were created using artificial intelligence. The film, jointly produced by Jaaz Multimedia and Impress Telefilm, is set to release in theaters across Bangladesh during Eid-ul-Azha. Aziz stated that while some visual effects incorporate AI technology, all characters were performed by real actors, including lead actor Rasel Rana, who won Channel i’s reality show 'Ke Hoben Masud Rana'.

The film, directed by young filmmaker Saikat Nasir, marks the return of the iconic Bangladeshi spy character 'Masud Rana' to the big screen after years of anticipation. Aziz mentioned that the project took nearly five years to complete and has already received positive feedback from the censor board. Actress Puja Cherry plays the role of Sohana, while Syeda Tithi Omni appears as Obonita. All three lead performers are new faces in cinema.

Nasir described 'Masud Rana' as Bangladesh’s equivalent of James Bond, emphasizing the film’s technical ambition and urging audiences to watch it during Eid.

Local residents in Jamalpur blocked the Jamalpur-Tangail highway on Monday afternoon demanding a permanent solution to waterlogging that has persisted for 19 years. The protest took place near the district bus terminal and the BSCIC office, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway. Participants from at least five affected areas, including Doripara and Dapuniya, alleged that around 500 acres of farmland and numerous homes have been damaged over the years, yet authorities have failed to take effective action.

According to the report, the residents had also blocked the highway the previous day but withdrew after receiving assurances from the administration. When no visible steps followed, they resumed their protest. Police arrived to control the situation but were turned back by demonstrators. Later, local political and human rights representatives intervened, promising swift action, after which the protesters lifted the blockade. A brief period of unrest occurred during the event.

In a separate incident, residents of Shekher Vita area blocked the Jamalpur-Madarganj road over similar waterlogging issues, ending their protest after municipal officials pledged remedial measures.

Seventeen years after Cyclone Aila struck on May 25, 2009, the coastal residents of Satkhira in southwestern Bangladesh continue to suffer from its long-lasting devastation. The cyclone destroyed homes, farmland, and fisheries, leaving thousands destitute. In Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila, one of the worst-hit areas, at least 39 people died and over 243,000 were displaced. Many families still live on government land near embankments, facing acute shortages of drinking water and employment.

Repeated cyclones such as Amphan in 2020, Bulbul, and Rimal in 2024 have deepened the crisis, with May now seen as a month of fear for coastal communities. Despite ongoing embankment repairs, many areas remain at risk of collapse. Around 30–35 percent of residents in Gabura and Padmapukur unions have become landless, and over 500 families live on river chars. Local leaders report that most roads damaged by Aila remain unrestored.

Authorities have declared Gabura a model union, with a 10.2 billion taka project underway to build sustainable embankments and promote afforestation. Yet residents question how many more disasters must come before their lives become secure.

Authorities at Chattogram Port have formed special task forces and teams to ensure uninterrupted cargo handling during the seven-day government holiday that began on May 25 for Eid-ul-Azha. The initiative aims to keep the country’s main import-export gateway operational despite the extended break.

BGMEA Director Rakibul Alam Chowdhury urged port and customs officials not to treat the holiday as a complete shutdown, warning that production could face major disruptions otherwise. BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder Bipul said the long post-Eid holiday period poses challenges for importers and exporters, calling for all stakeholders to remain active.

Commodore Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Member (Marine and Harbor) of Chattogram Port, said two special task forces will oversee cargo unloading at outer anchorage and operations at jetties and yards, while another team will handle security. Assistant Commissioner Sharif Md. Al Amin of Chattogram Customs House confirmed that sufficient personnel will continue working during the holidays to maintain customs operations, emphasizing interdepartmental cooperation.

Bangladesh has introduced a 25 percent fare discount for elderly and physically disabled passengers on metro and train travel. The program was inaugurated on Monday at Dhaka’s Farmgate Metro Station, with Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam MP attending as chief guest. Senior officials from the concerned ministries were also present at the event.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to make public transport more humane, inclusive, and citizen-friendly. Elderly citizens aged 65 and above and persons with disabilities or special needs will receive a 25 percent discount on single-journey metro tickets upon presenting valid identification. The same discount applies to train tickets purchased both online and at counters, with age verification based on national ID information. Existing 50 percent discounts for disabled passengers in certain train classes remain in effect, while a new 25 percent reduction has been added for all air-conditioned classes.

Officials believe the program will make the country’s public transport system more inclusive and passenger-oriented.

During the seven-day Eid-ul-Azha bank holiday from May 25 to 31, customers across Bangladesh faced difficulties withdrawing cash from ATM booths. Despite Bangladesh Bank’s directive to ensure uninterrupted ATM services, several booths ran out of cash or imposed withdrawal limits. Field visits in Dhaka’s Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar, and Karwan Bazar areas revealed that many booths of weaker banks were out of service, while some stronger banks also restricted withdrawals or blocked transactions from other banks’ cards.

Social media users reported frustration, describing the situation as mismanagement and unfair to customers needing cash for Eid expenses. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan stated that the central bank had supplied sufficient cash to all banks and that any shortages were due to individual banks’ internal management. He warned that banks neglecting service continuity could face action.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank had issued a circular instructing all scheduled banks to maintain adequate cash in ATMs, ensure technical readiness, strengthen booth security, and keep mobile financial and online payment services operational during the holiday period.

In Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, 250 impoverished residents received financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Each beneficiary was given 2,000 taka, totaling 500,000 taka in distributed aid. The distribution ceremony took place on Monday afternoon at the upazila parishad conference room.

The financial aid was handed over by Abdul Muntakim, Member of Parliament for Nilphamari-4 constituency. The event was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arifur Rahman, local Jamaat leader Abdur Rashid Shah, secretary Ferdous Alam, and Press Club president Abu Hasan Sheikh, among others.

The initiative aimed to support underprivileged families during the religious festival, ensuring they could celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with dignity and financial relief.

Tea garden workers in Habiganj have begun an indefinite work stoppage demanding payment of overdue wages, rations, and festival bonuses, along with seven other points. The strike started on Monday morning across four estates—Deundi, Lalchan, Mritinga, and Noapara—located in Chunarughat and Madhabpur upazilas. Around 5,000 workers are reportedly facing severe hardship due to weeks of unpaid weekly wages, leading to growing frustration and uncertainty over salaries and bonuses.

A tripartite meeting was held on May 6 in Srimangal between owners, workers, and the labor department, where it was decided that all arrears would be cleared promptly. The meeting also agreed on repairing dilapidated housing before the monsoon and ensuring medical facilities as per labor law. However, the workers allege that the owners failed to implement these decisions, prompting the strike. Workers have been staging sit-ins at local temples instead of reporting to the gardens and factories.

According to the Deundi Tea Garden Panchayat Committee president, the strike will continue until the seven-point demands are met.

More than one million taka worth of teak trees have been stolen from Satchari National Park in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj. Witnesses reported that two large teak trees were recently taken from the Dumurtola area, while similar thefts occurred a month earlier in Kapai, Kunimora, and Telmachhra areas. Despite repeated incidents, forest officials have been accused of inaction, with reports suggesting that they only file general diaries instead of taking effective measures.

The report alleges that a coordinated syndicate involving forest officials, police, and timber thieves is behind the illegal logging and smuggling of valuable trees. The smugglers reportedly maintain secret communication with law enforcement through messaging apps. Although there were recent gunfights between forest guards and bandits in the nearby Rema-Kalenga forest, police have not taken significant action, leading to public frustration and fear.

Forest range officer Mehedi Hasan said two trees were stolen in the past four months and that cases have been filed with investigations ongoing. Environmental activists warned that continued tree theft threatens biodiversity and ecological balance in Satchari.

The Dhanua Kamalpur land port in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, will remain closed for seven consecutive days during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. Starting Monday, all import and export activities through the port will be suspended, according to port authorities. Operations are scheduled to resume on June 1.

The port handles the import of 34 types of goods, including stone from India, and exports various Bangladeshi products such as plastic. It plays a significant role in the economic development of northern Jamalpur, providing daily employment for 6,000 to 8,000 workers when operational.

The temporary closure is part of the national holiday schedule for Eid, after which normal trade and labor activities are expected to resume without disruption.