After Eid-ul-Azha, bottle gourd prices have sharply fallen in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi, with each gourd selling for only five taka at local roadside markets. Farmers report that before Eid, they sold each gourd for 35 to 40 taka, but within a few days the price dropped so low that production costs can no longer be recovered. Meanwhile, traders are buying directly from farmers at these low prices and reselling the gourds in other districts at nearly ten times the cost.

Field visits across several villages in Durgapur revealed abundant harvests, with traders loading gourds onto trucks bound for Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, and Chattogram. Farmers blame the post-Eid market slump and transport shortages, while traders cite driver holidays and increased delivery costs. The Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension confirmed that bottle gourd cultivation reached a record 666 hectares this season, up from 521 hectares last year.

Officials acknowledged that large price gaps between rural and urban markets often result from syndicate control, and they have reported the issue to the government for review.

Bangladesh is preparing to announce a record budget of about Tk 9.38 trillion for the 2026–27 fiscal year amid mounting economic pressures. The government plans to present the budget in parliament on June 11, marking a nearly 19 percent increase from the current year’s Tk 7.9 trillion. Economists identify growing foreign debt repayments and persistent inflation as the biggest challenges to implementing the new government’s first budget.

According to the Economic Relations Division, Bangladesh paid USD 3.802 billion in foreign loan installments and interest during July–April of the current fiscal year, up 8.41 percent from the same period last year. Meanwhile, new loan commitments and disbursements have declined sharply. The government expects to spend around Tk 460 billion on foreign debt servicing next year, which could strain allocations for development and social protection.

Inflation remains another major concern, with April’s rate rising to 9.04 percent from 8.71 percent in March. Analysts warn that without effective control measures, higher living costs could undermine welfare initiatives and increase pressure on low- and middle-income households.

Independent Ebtedayee madrasa teachers, who have been staging a continuous sit-in for MPO inclusion and salary release, faced police obstruction on Wednesday when they attempted a long march to the Secretariat in Dhaka. Witnesses said police stopped the procession around 11:30 a.m., after which a five-member delegation was taken to the Secretariat for talks with the education minister. The teachers waited for hours but did not get a meeting and later returned to the National Press Club to announce a hunger strike beginning Sunday.

According to the teachers’ welfare committee, the education minister was occupied with budget session duties at the Prime Minister’s Office and could not meet them. Teachers have been demonstrating for 14 days, with many reportedly falling ill due to continuous protest without adequate food or rest. Their demands include implementation of MPO benefits for registered independent Ebtedayee madrasas verified under the 2025 policy and release of salaries approved from January 2026.

Earlier, on May 28, police also blocked a teachers’ march toward the Prime Minister’s residence, briefly detaining six representatives before releasing them. The teachers have sought intervention from both the Prime Minister and the Education Minister.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the first two matches of the three-match One Day International series against Australia, beginning June 9 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The major highlight of the selection is the return of all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain after four years, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Kazi Nurul Hasan Sohan. The second match will be played on June 11, and the final on June 14, with all games starting at 11 a.m.

From the squad that faced New Zealand in April, Afif Hossain and Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan have been dropped. Mosaddek, aged 30, last played an ODI in August 2022, marking a significant comeback to the national team. Sohan, who was not part of the New Zealand series, also returns to the lineup.

The team will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and includes key players such as Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Nahid Rana.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh has issued a revised notification for the 2023 National Film Awards following controversy over the previously announced list. The new circular, released on June 2, 2026, introduces changes in the Lifetime Achievement and Best Screenplay categories after a review process.

The initial January announcement had named filmmaker Tareque Masud and cinematographer-director Abdul Latif Bachchu for lifetime honors, which sparked debate as both were deceased, contrary to the policy that prioritizes living recipients. Allegations also surfaced that jury recommendations were ignored in several categories, prompting the ministry to initiate a review in March with input from jury board members.

According to the updated notification, Tareque Masud and Abdul Latif Bachchu will now receive posthumous honors for their special contributions, while actress Shabnam and film editor Fazle Haque will jointly receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Best Screenplay award has been reassigned to Tasnimul Hasan, replacing Niamul Mukta, after it was found that Mukta did not write the screenplay for the film “Roktojoba.”

Bangladesh advanced to the final of the SAFF Women's Championship after defeating Nepal 2-1 in the semifinal held on June 3, 2026. Under coach Peter Butler, the team secured victory through goals from Rituparna Chakma and Sagarika. Chakma’s remarkable strike from a corner just before halftime leveled the score 1-1 after Nepal had taken an early lead through Geeta Rani. Sagarika sealed the win with a decisive goal in stoppage time, assisted by Shamsunnahar Junior.

The match began with Nepal dominating early exchanges, testing Bangladesh’s defense repeatedly. Nepal went ahead in the 23rd minute, but Bangladesh gradually regained control. Goalkeeper Mili Akter made crucial saves to keep her team in contention. Chakma’s equalizer energized the side, setting up a competitive second half filled with end-to-end action.

With this result, Bangladesh reached the SAFF Women's Championship final for the third consecutive time. The team had also won the previous two titles by defeating Nepal, and now stands on the brink of a potential third championship.

A local BNP leader named Shahinur Sheikh, aged 45, was shot and injured by unidentified assailants in Rupsa upazila of Khulna. The incident occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday when Shahinur was sitting at a tea stall in the Talatala area. Two men on a motorcycle fired two shots at him, one hitting his left thigh and another grazing his forehead. He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday for treatment.

Shahinur Sheikh is the vice president of Ward No. 2 BNP in Rupsa and the son of the late Atiar Sheikh. Following the attack, tension spread in the area. Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible.

Authorities have not yet determined the motive or the identities of the attackers, and the situation in the locality remains tense as the probe continues.

The National Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament (Boys and Girls) 2026, featuring students from government primary schools across Bangladesh, will begin its national phase on Thursday at 10 a.m. The opening ceremony will take place at the National Bangla High School field in Mirpur, Dhaka, with Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan inaugurating the event. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin will attend as special guests.

The tournament began on April 6 this year at the union and municipal levels, involving students from 65,569 government primary schools. A total of 65,342 boys’ teams and 65,321 girls’ teams competed through successive stages at union, upazila, district, and divisional levels, which concluded on May 23.

From tomorrow, 16 teams—eight boys’ and eight girls’ divisional champions—will compete in the national stage, marking the start of the tournament’s final phase.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, MP, at the minister’s office in Dhaka. During the meeting, both sides discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States.

Minister Annie emphasized the strong relationship between the two countries and called for increased institutional investment in education, technical cooperation, vocational training, and research. He also urged continued US support for Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development. The minister noted that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the government had approved the Padma Barrage Project and expressed hope for the approval of the Teesta Master Plan after necessary studies.

Ambassador Christensen stated that Bangladesh’s economic growth would continue under the elected government and reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting democracy, human rights, and socioeconomic progress. The meeting was attended by Water Resources Secretary Dr. A.K.M. Shahabuddin and senior officials from the US Embassy.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP), called for national unity beyond political divisions to strengthen border security following alleged push-in attempts along the Benapole frontier in Jashore. He made the appeal on Wednesday noon while visiting the Sadipur border area, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of border residents and to take effective measures to stop border killings and seek international justice for such incidents.

During his visit, Patwari urged local communities to remain alert and united against any infiltration or push-in attempts, alongside the vigilance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). An NCP delegation accompanied him to observe the situation and protest the alleged push-in attempt. Local sources reported that individuals who had been at the zero line were moved inside Indian territory early Wednesday morning by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

BGB conducted drone surveillance in the morning but found no one at the zero line, later withdrawing extra troops while maintaining regular patrols. The situation is currently reported as normal, though local residents remain concerned.

Leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League staged another sudden rally in Chattogram city on Wednesday morning. The demonstration took place on the Oxygen-Kuwaish road in front of Evercare Hospital at the Anannya residential area. A video of the rally later spread on social media, showing participants chanting slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League.

According to Hat Hazari Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Zahidur Rahman, the Anannya residential area lies at the border of Hathazari, Chandgaon, and Bayezid Bostami police stations. After learning about the incident, police began the process of filing a case at Hathazari Police Station. As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrests had been made, but identification and operations to locate those involved were ongoing.

The incident marks another appearance of the banned organization in public, prompting renewed law enforcement attention in the area.

National Citizens Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari declared that no Indian push-in would be allowed along the Bangladesh border. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon while visiting the Sadipur border area in Benapole, Jessore. Patwari strongly protested alleged push-in attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and demanded justice for the continuous killings of Bangladeshi citizens along the frontier, calling India a killer state and the BSF a killer force.

He criticized the lack of basic facilities for residents in border areas, noting the absence of hospitals, schools, and employment opportunities. Patwari claimed that locals do not engage in smuggling but are falsely blamed by Indian actors. He urged the government to modernize and strengthen the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) with heavy weapons, patrol cars, and better pay and benefits, asserting that 180 million Bangladeshis support the force.

Patwari also condemned a former home minister’s past remarks, saying that killing any Bangladeshi without trial violates international law. He called on the government to bring India before the international court for every border killing incident.

An Awami League worker named Helal Uddin Sarkar has filed a case against a dozen BNP and Jamaat leaders in Chandarchar Union of Homna upazila, Cumilla. The case followed a clash on June 1 evening centering a Jamaat workers’ meeting. Among the accused are former and current leaders of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Krishak Dal, as well as a student and an expatriate. Police confirmed that one accused has been detained and sent to court.

BNP’s Dhaka South Chhatra Dal joint general secretary Rayhan Uddin alleged that Helal Uddin had previously campaigned for Awami League candidates and was acting under their advice to file a false case against opposition activists. Helal Uddin denied the claim, saying the photos used to link him with Awami League were edited and that he had never been involved with the party. Police officials said the case was filed based on a written complaint and that further details would be available after the investigation report.

The case has drawn attention locally due to conflicting claims about Helal Uddin’s political affiliation and the motives behind the complaint.

The election of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA), scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2026, has been suspended for unspecified reasons despite a High Court directive allowing the poll to proceed. The BSBRA election board issued a notice on Tuesday announcing the temporary suspension of all election-related activities, citing the need to ensure proper completion of necessary procedures. The notice was signed by the board’s chairman Md. Akhtarul Chowdhury and members Md. Rabel Pradhania and Ashraf Mahmud.

Earlier, on Monday, a High Court bench of Justice Bishnudev Chakraborty and Asif Hasan declared the candidacy of Amjad Hossain Chowdhury for the post of president valid and directed that his name be included on the ballot. Following the suspension, general voters expressed strong dissatisfaction, while Chowdhury alleged that the election was deliberately postponed to benefit a particular group. He argued that the decision contradicted the court’s order and deprived members of their voting rights.

Senior lawyer Syed Mamun Mahbub stated that the court had ordered immediate acceptance of Chowdhury’s nomination and equal opportunity to contest, eliminating any legal barriers to his participation.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in electricity prices across the country. On Wednesday, the commission raised wholesale electricity rates by 19.85 percent and retail rates by 15 to 19.94 percent. Transmission charges were also increased by 23.96 percent. The decision follows applications submitted between May 3 and 6 by electricity producers, transmitters, and distributors seeking higher tariffs.

During public hearings held on May 20 and 21, political leaders, consumer rights activists, business representatives, and industrialists opposed the proposed price hikes. They argued that long-standing corruption, mismanagement, poor planning, and waste were being unfairly passed on to consumers. The last electricity price adjustment occurred in February 2024, when the average wholesale rate rose from Tk 6.70 to Tk 7.04 per unit by executive order.

The electricity price revision comes shortly after the government adjusted fuel prices effective June 1, increasing octane, petrol, and kerosene by Tk 5 per liter while keeping diesel unchanged at Tk 115 per liter.