Bangladesh’s opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami announced that it will deliver its formal response to the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year on Monday. The party will hold a press briefing at its central office in Moghbazar on Friday at 11:30 a.m., where central leaders will present Jamaat’s position and observations on the budget.

In a separate announcement, the Dhaka North unit of Jamaat said it will organize a rally on Thursday evening to give an immediate reaction to the budget. The rally is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in front of Uttara Badda Kamil Madrasa. The budget, amounting to Tk 9.38 trillion, was presented in the National Parliament on Wednesday by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to Jamaat’s media wing, the Friday briefing will serve as the party’s official platform to outline its assessment of the proposed budget and its implications for the country’s economy.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed increasing the monthly disability allowance to Tk 1,000 in the 2026–27 fiscal year budget. Currently, 3.45 million people receive Tk 900 each month under this program. The minister also proposed expanding the number of beneficiaries to 3.8 million.

In his budget speech in the National Parliament, the finance minister said that the number of disabled students receiving stipends would rise from 81,000 to 100,000. Their monthly stipends would range from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,400 depending on educational level. The proposal is part of the government’s broader social safety net initiatives.

The budget allocates Tk 1,44,338 crore for the social safety sector in 2026–27, compared to Tk 1,26,731 crore in the revised budget for 2025–26, reflecting an increase in social welfare spending.

The government of Bangladesh has announced a new social protection program to modernize and climate-proof the agriculture sector. In the 2026–27 fiscal year, 4.25 million landless, marginal, and small farmers across 100 upazilas will receive special 'Farmer Cards'. Each cardholder will get Tk 2,500 in annual cash support and access to ten additional benefits. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury made the announcement while presenting the national budget in parliament, chaired by Speaker Major (Retd.) M Hafizuddin.

The budget proposes an allocation of Tk 1,062.5 crore for the Farmer Card initiative, extending coverage to fishers, livestock farmers, and salt producers. A pre-pilot involving 22,065 farmers in 11 blocks across eight divisions has already been completed. The government has also implemented a loan waiver program for up to Tk 10,000 in agricultural loans and plans to introduce agricultural insurance to mitigate disaster risks.

The combined allocation for agriculture, fisheries, and food ministries in 2026–27 stands at Tk 43,335 crore, representing 0.63 percent of GDP, marking a steady increase from previous years.

Bangladesh’s finance minister has proposed allocating Tk 500 crore in the 2026–27 fiscal year budget to encourage new entrepreneurs in the information technology sector. The announcement was made on Thursday, June 11, during the minister’s budget speech in the National Parliament.

According to the minister, the proposed fund will serve as a ‘start-up fund’ aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship, women’s development, and youth entrepreneurship. The initiative reflects the government’s recognition of the IT sector’s potential and its intention to foster innovation and business growth among emerging entrepreneurs.

If approved, the allocation is expected to support the creation of new technology-based enterprises and strengthen the country’s digital economy by empowering young and female entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed a Tk 42,291 crore allocation for the defense sector in the 2026–27 fiscal year budget. The proposal, presented in the National Parliament on Thursday, marks an increase of Tk 1,593 crore from the revised allocation of Tk 40,502 crore in the outgoing 2025–26 fiscal year. The total proposed national budget amounts to Tk 9,38,000 crore.

According to the proposal, Tk 38,721 crore is earmarked for operating expenses of defense services, Tk 1,611 crore for development expenditure, and Tk 1,959 crore for operating costs of other services under the Ministry of Defense. The session was presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and marked the first budget presentation by the BNP government and Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

This is the 55th national budget of Bangladesh, reflecting the new government’s fiscal priorities and expenditure plans for the upcoming year.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, has called for legal action against actress Meher Afroz Shaon for her controversial remarks about the new Bangladesh achieved through the July Revolution. He made the appeal in a Facebook post on Thursday, criticizing Shaon for allegedly spreading propaganda labeling the revolution as terrorism.

In his post, Tajul Islam claimed that Shaon’s comments were linked to two incidents: the arson attack on the July Memorial in Netrakona and the abduction and assault of a July fighter by members of the banned student organization Chhatra League. He described both incidents as serious criminal offenses and accused Shaon of exceeding all limits with her statements.

Earlier, Shaon had posted on Facebook expressing joy that Netrakona, her in-laws’ hometown, was in the news following the two incidents. Her post sparked widespread debate and criticism on social media.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced in the proposed 2026–27 national budget that the government will allocate Tk 300 crore to strengthen the tourism sector with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly development. The plan includes establishing a specialized training institute of international standards to enhance the skills of tourism professionals and introducing global certifications through renowned institutions.

The minister said that international hospitality benchmarks will be set to upgrade training in areas such as culinary arts and other tourism-related fields. A comprehensive tourism master plan is also being finalized to integrate the sector’s potential, diversity, and creative concepts. Additionally, Tk 500 crore will be mobilized from Bangladesh Bank’s corporate social responsibility fund to support these initiatives.

According to the government, these measures aim to conserve natural resources and biodiversity while creating new employment opportunities through ecotourism, ultimately increasing tourism’s contribution to the national economy.

The Bangladesh government has allocated Tk 4,401 crore for the Election Commission Secretariat in the 2026–27 fiscal year. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the new budget during a national parliament session chaired by Speaker Major (Retd.) M Hafizuddin. The proposal was approved earlier by the parliamentary business advisory committee.

According to the budget proposal, the allocation for the Election Commission has increased compared to previous years. The commission received Tk 4,346 crore in 2025–26 and Tk 2,956 crore in 2024–25. This year’s allocation is Tk 245 crore lower than the previous year due to the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12 of the current year.

Information from the Election Commission and local government indicates that upcoming elections will be held for all city corporations, district councils, upazila councils, and union councils. The newly allocated funds will be used to conduct these local government elections, as many of these institutions are currently being run by administrators.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury proposed Tk 5,196 crore for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in the 2026–27 fiscal year, a decrease of Tk 175 crore from the revised Tk 5,371 crore in 2025–26. Presenting the proposal in Parliament, he emphasized that women’s empowerment is a key indicator of development and said the government is prioritizing legal and scientific capacity to protect women’s and children’s rights.

The budget outlines several initiatives, including new software for DNA analysis in forensic laboratories, a national database for women entrepreneurs, and the establishment of 80 modern daycare centers in two phases. Programs for the rehabilitation and social security of returning female migrant workers, protection of street and vulnerable children, and expansion of the Vulnerable Women Benefit program are also included. Additionally, 33 integrated child rehabilitation centers are operating in 17 districts.

Special projects aim to strengthen coastal women’s resilience to climate change and support children with disabilities. The minister also announced one-time financial awards for families of children killed in the July uprising and ongoing rehabilitation for injured children.

The government-imposed 58-day fishing ban aimed at protecting hilsa breeding and marine biodiversity ends at midnight on June 11, 2026. Thousands of fishermen from Patuakhali’s coastal areas are preparing to return to the sea for hilsa fishing. At major landing stations in Mahipur and Alipur, activity has resumed as fishermen clean trawlers, repair nets and engines, and stock up on ice and food supplies.

According to the fisheries department, the annual ban period was previously set from May 20 to July 23 but was revised last year to April 15 to June 11 to align with neighboring India and address fishermen’s concerns. During the ban, all fishing, transport, storage, and sale of fish were prohibited in marine and coastal areas.

Local fishermen expressed both hope and frustration. Some said they struggled to sustain their families despite government rice aid, while others complained about not being listed for incentives. Fish traders expect business to revive as fishing resumes, and officials hope the ban will boost hilsa production and stabilize market prices.

Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury proposed new benefits for private sector employees under the universal pension program while presenting the 2026–27 national budget in parliament on June 11. The proposal includes allowing participants to receive 30 percent of their total accumulated savings as a one-time gratuity upon retirement.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to strengthen social protection and make the system more inclusive. The government is taking several measures to enhance financial security for private employees after retirement through the universal pension fund. If implemented, the proposal would enable retirees to receive both a regular pension and a lump-sum payment, which many believe will improve their post-retirement financial stability.

The budget also emphasizes expanding social safety programs, increasing support for women and the elderly, raising allowances for persons with disabilities, and further strengthening the universal pension system.

The government of Bangladesh has proposed an allocation of Tk 1,884 crore for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the 2026–27 national budget, presented in parliament by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The proposal exceeds the revised allocation of Tk 1,300 crore from the outgoing fiscal year but remains below the original Tk 2,455 crore. Alongside the budget, a roadmap was introduced to transform Bangladesh into a regional aviation hub.

The finance minister outlined plans to modernize the aviation sector and accelerate tourism-driven economic growth through infrastructure upgrades, fleet expansion, and improved connectivity. Ongoing projects include terminal expansions at Jashore and Saidpur airports, full readiness of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal, and runway enhancements at Sylhet and Chattogram airports. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has finalized a contract with Boeing to purchase 14 modern aircraft worth approximately USD 3.7 billion.

The minister said these initiatives aim to strengthen international connectivity, enhance passenger services, and raise tourism’s contribution to GDP to 6–7 percent. Future plans include establishing a national air connectivity grid, new international gateways, and a digital logistics platform to support trade and transport.

The proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year has allocated Tk 40,245.83 crore for Bangladesh’s Local Government Division. Of this, Tk 6,510.04 crore is earmarked for operating expenses and Tk 33,735.79 crore for development activities. The allocation was detailed in government documents presented to the National Parliament on Thursday.

Compared to the revised budget of Tk 44,242.56 crore in 2025–26, the new allocation marks a reduction of about Tk 3,996.73 crore. Despite the decrease, the budget emphasizes major initiatives such as the nationwide safe water supply program, which includes installing new water sources, rural pipe water schemes, and arsenic mitigation in coastal and vulnerable areas. It also highlights the “Climate-Resilient Rural Infrastructure Construction and Preservation” project to strengthen rural development against climate impacts.

The budget further outlines programs to enhance rural livelihoods through road, bridge, and culvert construction, modernization of rural markets, and excavation of ponds and canals. It also prioritizes infrastructure repair for educational, social, and religious institutions and aims to improve the accuracy of birth and death registration across the country.

A woman posing as a beauty parlor worker allegedly stole gold jewelry worth about three lakh taka from two housewives in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Thursday at an apartment on the third floor of City Tower in the Madaninagar area. One of the victims, Sumaiya Khan, filed a written complaint with the local police following the theft.

According to Sumaiya Khan, the suspect arrived at her home around 9:30 a.m., introducing herself as a parlor employee and claiming to be a neighbor. After gaining entry, she offered facial services to Sumaiya and another woman. During the session, the suspect allegedly used a sedative to incapacitate them before removing a gold chain and earrings from Sumaiya and earrings from her neighbor, then fled the scene.

Siddhirganj Police Sub-Inspector Jesmin Sarkar stated that the victims have lodged a written complaint and that CCTV footage from the residence is being reviewed to identify the suspect and take legal action.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed an allocation of over Tk 1,457 crore for the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs in the 2026–27 fiscal year budget, marking an increase of about Tk 95 crore from the previous year. The proposal emphasizes physical infrastructure development and improving the living standards of small ethnic communities in the three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban.

According to the budget analysis, Tk 964.64 crore of the total allocation is earmarked for development projects, while Tk 492.36 crore is set aside for operational expenses. The plan includes Tk 658.57 crore in recurring expenditure and Tk 798.43 crore in capital expenditure. Priority areas include road connectivity, safe water supply, electrification, and tourism infrastructure, alongside vocational education and primary healthcare for remote communities. Cultural preservation programs for indigenous languages and traditions are also planned.

The government aims to boost employment and income in the hill districts through expanded agricultural and afforestation projects, reflecting a broader focus on socio-economic advancement in the region.