Independent Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana alleged that around 8 billion US dollars are being laundered abroad each year under the guise of import and export transactions. She made the allegation on Monday during a supplementary question to the Commerce Minister in the National Parliament session, asking what steps the ministry could take to prevent such illicit transfers and whether any government initiatives were underway.

In response, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said that identifying specific products involved in money laundering within Bangladesh’s approximately 130 billion dollar trade economy is a complex matter. He described the alleged 8 billion dollar figure as a perceived amount and noted that many imports are subject to tariffs and pre-shipment inspection clauses. The minister emphasized that any weaknesses allowing excessive laundering would require detailed study and research.

He added that the government remains aware of the issue and is conducting studies. If any concrete evidence of laundering emerges, the ministry will take appropriate action.

Bangladesh and Mauritius have agreed to reopen the Mauritian labor market for Bangladeshi workers, which had been closed for some time. The two countries reached this understanding to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on manpower export soon. According to a press release issued on Monday by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, a draft of the MoU will be sent to the Bangladesh government shortly.

The decision came after a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh’s Minister of Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, and Mauritius’s Minister of Labour, Muhammad Reza Kassam Utim. The meeting took place at the United Nations office in Geneva on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference 2026. Discussions covered the current status of Bangladeshi workers in Mauritius, reopening of the market, and future cooperation.

During the meeting, Bangladesh highlighted its capacity to supply skilled professionals across various sectors, while Mauritius expressed strong interest in hiring Bangladeshi workers, particularly for its one-stop textile industry.

The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has formally requested permission from the Prime Minister to keep all shops, markets, and shopping malls open until 10 p.m. nationwide. The association submitted its appeal on Sunday, citing that the current operating hours are negatively affecting retail trade, employment, and overall economic activity. Association president Nazmul Hasan Mahmud confirmed the submission of the appeal.

According to the association, the retail sector is a vital part of the national economy, supporting around seven million shop owners, employees, and their families. Rising costs for rent, electricity, bank loan repayments, and wages have increased financial pressure on entrepreneurs. Many customers prefer shopping in the evening due to work schedules, but early closing hours are reducing potential sales.

The association argued that extending business hours until 10 p.m. would boost sales, protect jobs, and enhance economic momentum, potentially increasing government revenue. The government had earlier reinstated a 7 p.m. closing time from June 1 to conserve electricity, with a temporary extension during Eid-ul-Azha. No final government decision on the new request has yet been announced.

Hafizur Rahman, a suspect in the murder case of Cumilla Victoria College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu, was produced before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Cumilla on Monday afternoon. After the court appearance, he was sent back to prison, confirmed Cumilla Court Police Inspector Mohammad Mamunur Rashid.

Earlier, on April 22, police from the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested Hafizur Rahman from his residence in Keraniganj, Dhaka, as a suspect in the case. He was then presented before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Mominul Haque in Cumilla, where the investigating officer sought a seven-day remand. The court granted a three-day remand instead.

Following the remand hearing on April 25, the court ordered Hafizur Rahman to be sent to jail. According to PBI Inspector Tarikul Islam, he was brought to court on Monday as part of his routine appearance related to the ongoing case proceedings.

In Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday, opposition lawmaker Akhtar Hossain questioned whether separate disaster maps exist for government and opposition constituencies. He alleged that the latest TR-Kabikha allocations, announced on April 30, excluded all opposition-held seats, with funds and relief materials directed only to constituencies of ruling party MPs.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal termed the issue a fundamental question and said that if the allegation proved true, it would be inappropriate. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu responded that allocations are provided to MPs who submit formal requests. He assured that those who have submitted their demands, including opposition members, would receive allocations within the next two days.

The minister added that the government continues various disaster management activities, including building shelters and maintaining emergency reserves with district administrations. He reiterated that opposition MPs who submitted requests would soon receive their allocations.

The Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association (BSMA) has warned that the recent electricity price hike has severely increased production costs, putting the domestic steel industry at risk. At a press conference held on Monday at the National Press Club in Dhaka, BSMA President Mohammad Jahangir Alam said the new tariff will add about Tk 1,785 per metric ton to production costs, which could rise to Tk 3,560 when other expenses such as VAT, fuel, and transport are included. The association demanded immediate withdrawal of the increased tariff.

BSMA leaders said the industry was already struggling due to low demand in the construction sector, high interest rates, currency depreciation, dollar shortages, and gas supply constraints. The sector comprises around 40 modern steel mills and over 150 re-rolling mills with a combined annual capacity of 12.2 million metric tons, though national demand is only about 5 million tons. They argued that the higher electricity cost will also raise expenses for government infrastructure projects, as about 60 percent of domestic steel is used in public development works.

The association urged the government and the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider the decision and restore the previous tariff to protect investment, employment, and industrial growth.

After 70 hours of tension at the Panchagarh border, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) removed 10 people, including women and children, from the zero line late Sunday night. The incident ended a prolonged standoff over an attempted push-in near the South Pradhanpara border of Harivasha Union in Sadar upazila. On Monday morning, the area was found empty, and both the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF had withdrawn their additional personnel.

According to local sources, the group had been staying on farmland near the border since early Friday, enduring harsh weather without shelter. They reportedly lived under the open sky amid sun and rain as the situation remained unresolved. Locals said BSF turned off border lights around midnight and later opened the barbed-wire gate to take the people away.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Sirajul Islam, commander of the 56 BGB Battalion in Nilphamari, confirmed that BSF discussed the matter with BGB before removing the individuals around 2:30 a.m.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh has released the roadmap for the 2027 Hajj, setting September 26 of the current year as the final date for pilgrim registration. The roadmap, issued by the ministry’s Hajj-1 branch, outlines that a bilateral Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia will be signed on November 8. The announcement follows a May 29 event in Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah shared the 2027 Hajj schedule with participating countries.

According to the roadmap, Hajj visa issuance will begin on January 28, 2027, and Hajj flights will start on April 8. The pilgrimage is expected to take place on May 15, subject to moon sighting. Financial transactions for Saudi-side expenses through the Nusuk Masar platform’s e-wallet will run from July 15 to December 24 of this year. Service package agreements covering accommodation, catering, and transport will be signed between July 29, 2026, and January 23, 2027.

The ministry has requested all stakeholders to complete activities according to the announced schedule, including uploading pilgrim data to the Nusuk Masar system between August 14, 2026, and January 28, 2027.

Two men died from electrocution while digging a grave in Noyamatpur village under Mulgram Union of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria on Monday around 11:30 a.m. The deceased were identified as Nuru Mia, 65, son of Jamir Hossain, and Sanaullah, 18, son of Marju Mia, both residents of Noyamatpur village.

According to police and local sources, several villagers were preparing a grave for the burial of the late Mati Sarkar’s wife. While removing a steel shield used to cover the grave, it came into contact with an overhead electric wire, causing the fatal electrocution of the two men. One of them died on the spot, while the other was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kasba Upazila Health Complex.

The attending physician at the health complex, Atik Akram, confirmed that one victim was already dead before reaching the hospital, and the other died at the scene.

The Secretary General of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), Oh Song, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The meeting took place at noon on Monday at the opposition leader’s office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. ICAPP Secretariat Officer Park Byongchan and the opposition leader’s foreign affairs adviser, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman, MP, were also present.

During the meeting, Oh Song briefed Jamaat-e-Islami on ICAPP’s activities and invited the opposition leader to attend the upcoming ICAPP Standing Committee meeting in Mongolia. He also discussed the possibility of including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a member of the ICAPP Standing Committee.

The meeting highlighted ICAPP’s efforts to strengthen engagement with political parties across Asia and foster greater participation from Bangladesh in its organizational framework.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh’s law and order situation in 2026 has improved significantly compared to 2025. He made the remarks on Monday at an award ceremony held at the Secretariat. The minister said it is up to the public to assess whether the current situation is concerning. He declined to comment on a recent report by Transparency International Bangladesh.

Ahmed noted that the police have become more people-friendly and continue to serve the public effectively. He emphasized the need to recognize their contributions and said the government is working to further motivate police officers morally. Those performing their duties with distinction will receive both certificates and financial rewards.

At the event, 15 police officers were honored for professionalism in three major cases, including the murder of a child named Ramisa. Each received a certificate and a cash award of 20,000 taka. The minister also presented IGP badges to three officers for their role in rapid arrests and significant investigative contributions.

At least 50 people were injured on Monday in a violent clash between two rival groups over the position of chairman of Baroiuri Union Parishad in Baniachong upazila of Habiganj district. The confrontation began around noon in the union parishad compound and continued for nearly two hours before police intervened.

According to police and local sources, the conflict stemmed from a leadership dispute between suspended Awami League–backed chairman Farid Ahmad and acting chairman Mizanur Rahman Kopil, who is also the vice president of the UP Jubo Dal. Farid Ahmad had been arrested earlier during an operation and was replaced by Kopil. After his release on bail, Farid attempted to resume his duties, which Kopil opposed. The long-standing tension erupted during a government relief distribution event attended by both men, leading supporters from several villages to engage in armed clashes.

Police used tear gas to disperse the groups and brought the situation under control after two hours. Additional police have been deployed to prevent further unrest, and authorities report that the situation is now stable.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that the government will provide free school uniforms, bags, shoes, and socks to students of government primary schools across Bangladesh. The initiative, aligned with electoral commitments and directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, will begin with a pilot program scheduled for July. Preparations for the pilot phase have been finalized, and the program will be officially launched by the Prime Minister.

The pilot program will initially cover several hundred thousand students, with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute supplying 500,000 eco-friendly jute school bags. The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry will assist in local-level implementation and distribution. The government aims to start the pilot within its first 180 days in office and gradually expand distribution through October, reaching over four hundred thousand students.

Based on the pilot’s success, the program will be expanded nationwide next year under PEDP-5 to bring transformative changes to primary education. The government emphasized that improving education quality remains a national priority supported by multiple ministries.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be released on July 20. He made the announcement on June 8 during a press conference at the Secretariat, where the government’s three-month program was discussed.

The minister stated that work is underway to revise the school-level curriculum. From the next academic year, four new subjects—sports, culture, technical scholarship, and ‘Learning with Happiness’—will be introduced in various classes. He added that while full curriculum reform cannot be completed within three months, partial changes will allow new textbooks to be distributed in 2027, with comprehensive updates planned for 2028.

This year’s SSC and equivalent exams were held nationwide from April 21 to May 20, with 1,857,344 students participating. The government aims to begin the next SSC exams on January 7, following the completion of the syllabus in June.

Bangladesh’s Food Minister Md. Abdul Bari informed the National Parliament that the country wastes about 3.5 million tons of food each year, citing data from the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index 2024. He said this figure reflects the overall national food waste situation. The minister made the statement on Monday during the second day of the second session of the 13th National Parliament.

Bari explained that food grains collected and stored under the Food Ministry’s management experience some losses during distribution, but the amount has been reduced through improved storage and transport systems. He highlighted that modern silos and warehouses have been built and awareness among stakeholders has increased, leading to a gradual reduction in waste.

According to the minister, food grain losses in government management dropped from 21,329.88 metric tons (0.316%) in fiscal year 2023–24 to 18,887.347 metric tons (0.28%) in 2024–25. He added that the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is working to ensure food security and raise public awareness to prevent waste.