The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $5 billion financing package for Bangladesh over the next five years to help the country manage rising economic pressures caused by global conflicts and domestic financial challenges. ADB President Masato Kanda made the announcement in Dhaka on Monday during meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and senior officials. The funds will be used under the 'Integrated Growth Network Development Initiative' to improve connectivity, boost investment, and ensure balanced regional development.

According to ADB, Bangladesh’s import-dependent economy has come under strain due to higher energy, LNG, fertilizer, and transport costs linked to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, alongside persistent inflation and liquidity shortages in the banking sector. The new package will provide about $1 billion annually as part of ADB’s sovereign financing program. During the visit, loan agreements worth $1.4 billion were also signed for energy, transport, climate resilience, and social development projects.

ADB further announced an additional $250 million to address financing gaps and plans to raise its annual sovereign financing for Bangladesh by 20 percent to $2.4 billion, supporting investment-led growth, economic diversification, and governance reforms.

A recent report highlights that the United States tops global meat consumption, with 97 percent of Americans eating meat regularly, followed by Lithuania and Brazil at 96 percent. In contrast, Bangladesh ranks near the bottom, with the second-lowest per capita meat consumption worldwide. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Bangladeshis consume only 0.9 kilograms of beef and 1.36 kilograms of poultry per person annually, most of it during religious festivals.

The report notes that global meat production has increased fivefold since the 1960s, driven by population and income growth. Wealthier nations tend to consume more meat, while poorer countries treat it as a luxury. In Africa, countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania also record low consumption levels. Meanwhile, middle-income countries like China and Brazil have seen sharp increases in meat demand alongside economic growth.

Despite growing awareness campaigns promoting reduced meat intake, data from the United States and Europe show that overall consumption remains steady or slightly rising, though consumers are shifting from red meat to poultry for health and environmental reasons.

With only a few days left before Eid-ul-Azha, livestock markets in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar are witnessing heavy crowds of buyers and sellers. However, this year’s markets show a different picture as large numbers of foreign cows, reportedly smuggled through the Myanmar border, have flooded the area. Despite their abundance, conscious buyers are showing a strong preference for locally raised hill cattle that grow naturally in the region’s remote mountain areas.

Buyers and observers noted that many of the imported cows are artificially fattened using injections and harmful hormones, making their meat unsafe and unhealthy. In contrast, the naturally raised hill cattle, which graze freely on local vegetation, are considered safe, nutritious, and flavorful. As a result, even with higher prices, consumers are increasingly choosing these local animals.

The growing demand for hill cattle has brought fair prices and satisfaction to local farmers. However, stakeholders believe that stricter monitoring is needed to prevent illegal cattle imports and protect the interests of domestic livestock producers.

Import and export activities at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj will remain suspended for eight days from May 26 to June 2 due to the Eid-ul-Azha holiday. The information was confirmed by Arif Uddin Iti, general secretary of the Sonamasjid Importers and Exporters Group, who said the decision was taken jointly with the Sonamasjid C&F Agents Association. All port operations are scheduled to resume on June 3.

During the closure, passenger movement through the Sonamasjid immigration route between the two countries will continue daily, including on Eid day. According to Kamal Khan, operations manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, limited internal activities such as loading, unloading, warehousing, and transportation will continue on a restricted scale.

The temporary suspension aims to allow workers and stakeholders to observe the religious festival, while ensuring essential internal operations remain minimally functional.

Bangladesh Railway has decided not to operate the Mango Special and Cattle Special trains from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka this year. Officials said the services were discontinued because of continuous financial losses and insufficient cargo volume. The special trains had previously been introduced to transport mangoes during the harvest season and sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha at lower costs. The routes ran from Chapainawabganj through Rajshahi, Sardah, Arani, Abdulpur, and Ishwardi to Dhaka.

The initiative was originally intended to provide affordable transport for marginal mango growers, orchard owners, and livestock farmers. However, the plan failed to meet expectations as the trains often ran nearly empty, creating a large revenue shortfall. Farmers and traders said that despite lower train fares, additional costs and logistical hassles in moving goods to and from stations made road transport more convenient.

Business representatives criticized the lack of coordination between planning and implementation, noting that the project was launched without sufficient consultation. Western Railway General Manager Farid Ahmed confirmed that limited interest from farmers and traders made the services economically unsustainable.

The government has approved construction of the Padma Barrage at Pangsha in Rajbari district, 46 years after the foundation of the Ganga Dam project was laid at Moslempur in Veramara, Kushtia. Residents of Veramara have expressed anger and demanded reconsideration of the decision to exclude their area. According to the Water Resources Ministry, the main barrage will be 2.1 kilometers long with 78 spillway gates, 18 under-sluice gates, and one navigation lock. A railway bridge and a 113-megawatt hydropower facility are also planned. The project is expected to benefit 120 upazilas across 19 districts in four divisions.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman, approved the first phase of the Padma Barrage project at a cost of Tk 34,497 crore. The total master plan involves Tk 50,443 crore in two phases. The original Ganga Dam project, inaugurated in 1980, aimed to provide irrigation, flood control, and environmental benefits to southwestern and northern Bangladesh.

Officials noted that the decision comes as the Ganges water-sharing treaty with India is set to expire in December, making the new barrage strategically significant for Bangladesh.

A three-month-old infant was killed and five members of the same family were injured when lightning struck their home in Sajek Union of Baghaichhari upazila, Rangamati, early Monday around 3:30 a.m. The incident occurred in the Dane Baibachhara area during a sudden storm and heavy rain. The lightning directly hit the house of Pradeep Chakma, causing the death of his infant child, Ujjal Chakma, on the spot.

The injured family members were identified as Pradeep Chakma, 65, Maya Rani, 48, Reshmi Chakma, 28, Jerin Chakma, 15, and Nijhum Chakma, 3. Locals rescued the injured around 7 a.m. and took them to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for treatment. The Rangamati Superintendent of Police confirmed the death and injuries caused by the lightning strike.

Authorities have not provided further details on the condition of the injured or any additional damage caused by the incident.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda led a delegation that paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, which shared details of the official engagement.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A B M Abdus Sattar were present during the meeting, according to the official statement. The report did not specify the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

The visit reflects ongoing engagement between Bangladesh’s government and the ADB leadership, though no further details on the agenda or agreements were provided in the source.

Cattle markets across Dhaka have begun to fill up ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with traders bringing cows, goats, and buffaloes from districts including Kushtia, Rajshahi, Jhenaidah, Pabna, and Chuadanga. Field visits show a clear dominance of locally raised cattle this year, while Indian cattle are comparatively scarce. Traders reported low buyer turnout in recent days but expect full-scale trading to begin Monday as government and private offices close for the holiday.

At major markets such as Uttara’s Diabari and Gabtoli, thousands of local cows have arrived. Farmers like Ziaur Rahman from Kushtia and Anwar Molla from Rajshahi expressed optimism that sales will pick up once buyers start visiting. Some traders have already sold a few animals at modest profits, while others await the main rush. Buyers noted slightly higher prices than last year, with most preferred cows priced between one and 2.5 lakh taka.

Large animals such as the Brahma bull “Sultan Bhai,” sold for 8.5 lakh taka, and other giant cattle from Barishal drew crowds. However, late afternoon rain left markets muddy and temporarily empty of buyers.

India has increased petrol and diesel prices again, marking the fourth hike in two weeks. On Monday, petrol prices rose by 2.61 rupees per litre and diesel by 2.71 rupees per litre. Consumers began paying the new rates the same day. The latest adjustment follows a previous increase on Saturday, when petrol went up by 87 paise and diesel by 97 paise.

The repeated fuel price hikes come amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have raised concerns about rising costs of essential goods in India. In Delhi, the new prices stand at 102.12 rupees per litre for petrol and 95.20 rupees for diesel. Kolkata recorded the highest rates, with petrol priced at 113.51 rupees and diesel at 99.82 rupees per litre.

The continued upward trend in fuel prices has sparked fears of inflationary pressure on daily commodities, though no official response or policy statement was mentioned in the report.

Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers have crossed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz en route to Pakistan and China, according to a Reuters report citing maritime tracking data. The Bahamas-flagged LNG tanker 'Fuwairit' is currently passing through the strait and is scheduled to unload its cargo in Pakistan by Tuesday. The vessel had loaded LNG at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal in March.

Reuters further reported that another LNG tanker, 'Al Rayyan', also successfully crossed the same maritime route. After loading LNG from Ras Laffan, the ship was last seen in the Persian Gulf on May 22 and is now located beyond the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran. It is expected to reach China by June 27.

The report, based on data from Kepler and LSEG, highlights the continued flow of Qatari LNG shipments through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

The Bangladesh government has announced a large-scale initiative to explore oil, gas, and other mineral resources in the Bay of Bengal. At a press conference on May 25, 2026, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources revealed that international tenders have been invited for exploration in 26 deep and shallow sea blocks. The government plans to begin exploration by 2027, signing 25-year contracts for gas extraction and 20-year contracts for oil production with qualified multinational companies.

Officials explained that the new Model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) 2026 outlines a nine-year exploration period, including geological surveys and drilling phases. Petrobangla will hold a profit share of 40–65 percent in shallow waters and 35–60 percent in deep waters. Foreign investors will receive tax exemptions on imported equipment and may export gas or oil if Petrobangla declines to purchase. The gas price will range between USD 7.5 and 11 per MCF, linked to global oil prices.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud described the initiative as a new era for national energy security, emphasizing reduced import dependence and increased domestic production through foreign investment.

Global oil prices declined sharply after signs emerged that the Iran war might be nearing an end. Brent crude, the key international benchmark, dropped about 5 percent on Sunday. By early Monday, July futures for Brent fell to 98.47 dollars per barrel, nearly 9 percent lower than a month earlier, though still more than one-third higher than before the conflict began.

Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, rose more than 3 percent in early Monday trading, setting a new record after also closing at a record high on Friday. On Sunday, former U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that discussions with Tehran were progressing in a disciplined and constructive manner but instructed officials not to rush into any agreement.

According to June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Singapore-based Sparta, the fundamental situation has not changed significantly, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to block the supply of 10 to 11 million barrels of crude oil per day.

Bangladesh Bank has appointed Md. Khurshid Alam as the new chairman of Islami Bank following the resignation of the bank’s previous chairman, Zubaidur Rahman. The appointment was confirmed through an official letter sent to the bank’s managing director. The decision came shortly after Zubaidur Rahman stepped down from his position on Sunday.

Khurshid Alam previously served as a deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, having been appointed to the post in February 2024 under the then Awami League government for a three-year contractual term. However, after the Awami League lost power in August 2024, he and three other senior central bank officials appointed during that period were forced to resign amid staff protests. His new appointment marks his return to a key position in the country’s banking sector.

The central bank’s move to place a former deputy governor at the helm of Islami Bank indicates a reshuffle in financial leadership following political changes in Bangladesh.

The Sonahat land port in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram will remain closed for eight days during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. According to a notice signed by the convener and senior joint convener of the Sonahat Land Customs Station C&F Agents Association, all import and export activities at the port will be suspended from Monday, May 25, to Monday, June 1. Regular operations will resume on Tuesday, June 2.

The association stated that the decision was made in its monthly meeting to align with the Eid-ul-Azha holiday schedule. The Assistant Director of Traffic at the Sonahat Land Customs Station, Aminul Haque, confirmed that official administrative activities will resume on June 1 in accordance with the government holiday schedule, while import and export operations will restart on June 2.

The announcement ensures coordination between customs officials and trade representatives to manage the temporary suspension and smooth resumption of cross-border trade following the Eid holidays.