Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 600 billion stimulus package aimed at revitalizing the economy by reopening closed factories, boosting agricultural production, expanding exports, and creating new jobs. Of the total, Tk 410 billion will come from commercial banks, while the central bank will refinance Tk 190 billion. Borrowers will pay a 7 percent interest rate, with the government subsidizing 6 percent. The central bank expects the initiative to generate employment for over 2.5 million people. Governor Mostakur Rahman made the announcement at a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday.

The governor said economic growth had slowed over the past three years, with GDP falling from 5.8 percent to an estimated 3.7 percent. Key sectors such as garments, textiles, ceramics, IT, and manufacturing have been hit hard. The package allocates funds across multiple sectors, including Tk 200 billion for closed industries and services, Tk 100 billion for agriculture and rural activities, and Tk 30 billion for export diversification. The central bank will also support creative and green investments.

Rahman emphasized that strict measures have been introduced to prevent misuse of funds, excluding willful defaulters. He added that the scheme will not inject new money into the market, as it will operate through existing bank liquidity.

A businessman named Rafiqul Islam Munshi, aged 45, was hacked to death inside his own shop in Narsingdi’s Raipura upazila on Saturday night. The incident occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Bhai Bhai Store near Hatubhanga Station in Mirjanagar Union. Rafiqul, son of Saharaj Khalifa, had long been involved in the tiles and construction materials trade. His wife discovered his body after he failed to return home by 10:00 p.m.

Police and local sources said the shop’s shutter was down but not locked when his wife arrived. Upon entering, she found her husband’s bloodied body and called for help. Locals gathered, and police recovered the body and began an investigation at the scene. The crime team from Raipura Police Station cordoned off the area for evidence collection.

According to Officer-in-Charge Mujibur Rahman, multiple sharp weapon injuries were found on the victim’s body. The motive and those responsible remain unknown. The killing has caused shock in the area, and the victim’s family has demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

A tourist went missing after being swept away by a strong sea current at Guliakhali Beach in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Saturday afternoon. According to local sources, five friends from Cumilla had gone to the beach for recreation and entered the water near the estuary area. Within moments, large waves and a deep channel caused them to be separated by the current. Locals quickly launched a rescue operation, saving four of them alive, while one remains missing.

One of the rescued tourists, Mohin Hasan, is receiving treatment at Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex. He said none of them were good swimmers and that the strong current made it impossible to control themselves. Sitakunda police confirmed that four were rescued and one is still missing. Fire Service officials said the rescue operation was temporarily suspended in the evening due to high tide and strong currents, and a diving team from Chattogram will resume the search the next day.

Local residents and observers noted that the estuary area is highly risky and lacks warning signs, lifeguards, and safety measures, urging authorities to strengthen safety management for tourists.

Md. Shakhawat Hossain, Chief Executive Officer of Unique Hotel and Resorts PLC, has been honored with the “Tourism Leadership Excellence Award 2026” for his outstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality sector. The award was presented at the 2nd TOAB International Tourism Award 2026, organized by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), where State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat handed over the recognition.

Hossain was specially praised for introducing the concept of “cricket tourism” in Bangladesh, which opened new opportunities for the country’s tourism industry. He also played a key role in initiating the first agreement between the Bangladesh Tourism Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The event celebrated excellence across 13 categories in tourism, hospitality, and aviation, attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, industry leaders, and professionals from around 10 countries.

Under Hossain’s leadership, Unique Hotel and Resorts PLC, which operates The Westin Dhaka, Sheraton Dhaka, and HANSA – A Premium Residence, continues to strengthen Bangladesh’s premium hospitality sector through service quality, destination branding, and sustainable practices.

An elderly man named Rubel Hossain, aged 60, was arrested in Dhaka’s Kalabagan area on Friday for allegedly attempting to rape an eight-year-old girl by luring her with chocolate. The incident occurred at a house on North Circular Road, and the accused was sent to court on Saturday following his arrest.

According to Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Fazle Ashik, the victim’s family filed a case on the day of the incident. Rubel, who lives with his brother’s family and has no wife or children, allegedly called the child into his home when it was empty. Local residents noticed the situation, detained him, and informed the police. Both the victim and the accused were taken into police custody.

Sub-Inspector Dulal Haque, the investigating officer, stated that Rubel admitted to the allegations. The court has ordered him to be sent to jail as legal proceedings continue.

Authorities have opened the Bogura–Rangpur-bound flyover lane of the Hatikumrul Interchange on the Jamuna Bridge West Link Highway in Sirajganj ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The move aims to make travel smoother for people heading to northern Bangladesh. Officials expect the new lane to significantly reduce long-standing traffic congestion and travel delays. The lane was opened on May 21 for trial use, bringing relief to drivers and passengers using the busy route.

The Jamuna Bridge West Link Highway is a key route connecting at least 22 districts across northern and southern Bangladesh. During Eid, daily traffic on this 22-kilometer stretch between the Jamuna Bridge roundabout and Hatikumrul roundabout can rise to 45,000–50,000 vehicles. The new lane is part of the ongoing SASEC-2 project, costing about Tk 738 crore, and is expected to be completed by December. Around 60 percent of northbound vehicles are projected to use the new lane.

Sirajganj police have also strengthened security and traffic management, deploying over 600 personnel to ensure safe and uninterrupted Eid travel for passengers and traders.

The Dhaka University (DU) branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union has formed a new committee, with Durjoy Roy elected as president and Muhammad Mostakim as general secretary. The announcement came on Saturday, the final day of the organization’s 36th conference and council session, which began on Thursday under the slogan emphasizing renewal and progress.

The council session was presided over by outgoing president Meghmallar Basu and conducted by outgoing general secretary Main Ahmed. Central leaders, including the union’s president Tamjid Haidar and vice president Asif Zaman, attended as representatives. The session began with a condolence motion and a minute of silence, followed by reports from the outgoing committee’s key office bearers. After dissolving the previous committee, a new 27-member body was unanimously approved, leaving two positions vacant.

The newly elected vice presidents are Madhusudan Karmakar, Orthi Anjum, Fatin Ishraq, and Sabbir Hossain. Assistant general secretaries are Israt Jahan, Fahim Intisar, and Zubair Ibn Imam, while Mishkatul Mashiath has been appointed as organizational secretary.

Dhaka University’s Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun from the Department of Japanese Studies has been appointed as a full-time member of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC). The Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division issued the notification on Saturday, stating that his four-year appointment takes effect from the date he joins. Dr. Mamun has already submitted his joining letter to the UGC chairman.

According to the notification, the appointment was made under the University Grants Commission Act of 1973. Dr. Mamun has an extensive academic background, including a PhD in International Economic Development from the University of Huddersfield in the UK and a Fulbright Research Professorship at Adelphi University in the United States in 2024. He has also served as a Japan Foundation Fellow at the International University of Japan in 2023.

Dr. Mamun’s research focuses on Japanese studies, development planning, international development cooperation, and political sociology. He has taught at universities in the UK, Japan, India, and Indonesia, and collaborated with various national and international organizations including ERD, UNDP, and JETRO.

A local leader of the Olama Dal in Feni has been accused of vandalizing the boundary wall of the graveyard of July Movement martyr Ikram Hossain Kausar. The incident reportedly occurred last Friday night, and a written complaint has been submitted to the Feni district administration. The wall was being built under a district council package worth three lakh taka in Rajeshpur village of Parshuram upazila.

According to the complaint, when the contractor began construction, Olama Dal member Mohammad Ibrahim and several others obstructed the work on May 10. After the authorities were informed, construction resumed, but the newly built wall was later demolished. Contractor Dulal Bhuiyan confirmed the damage, while Ibrahim claimed the land belonged to his family and denied involvement in the vandalism.

Feni district NCP member secretary Shah Waliullah Manik condemned the incident and demanded legal action. Police have visited the site, and the officer-in-charge of Parshuram Police Station said the matter is under investigation for further legal steps.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a reduction in jet fuel prices by Tk 39.57 per liter, effective from Saturday midnight. Under the new rate, domestic flight operators will pay Tk 165.88 per liter, down from Tk 205.45. The commission disclosed the decision in a notice issued on Saturday.

Earlier, on May 7, the price of jet fuel was reduced by Tk 22.35 per liter, following a Tk 25 increase on April 7 and a Tk 90 hike on March 24. The latest adjustment also affects international flights, with the price per liter lowered from USD 1.33 to USD 1.08.

BERC officials stated that the new rates were determined after a hearing that considered the average international market price between May 5 and May 21, the exchange rate of the US dollar for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s LC settlements, and the prevailing diesel price.

The Bangladesh Labour Party has called for the public execution of the person responsible for the brutal assault and murder of a child named Ramisa. In a statement issued on Saturday, party chairman Dr. Mustafizur Rahman Iran and acting secretary general Khandaker Mirajul Islam urged the government to take immediate action to stop ongoing killings, rapes, and terrorism across the country. They emphasized that the safety and dignity of women and children must be ensured by the state.

The leaders criticized the home minister’s recent remarks, saying they reflect a lack of understanding of the country’s reality. They argued that the justice system has often failed to curb crime and deliver justice, leading to growing public demand for exemplary punishment. The statement also mentioned several other victims of sexual violence and murder, calling for swift trials and the creation of anti-harassment cells within all political parties.

The party urged citizens of all political, religious, and social backgrounds to unite in a social movement against violence and injustice.

Islamic scholar, writer, and researcher Tahmidul Mawla stated that marrying four women at the same time is neither Sunnah nor a virtuous act. He made the remarks in a recent video, emphasizing that the practice is only permissible under certain conditions rather than being encouraged or rewarded.

Mawla explained that Islamic law requires equality among all wives for those who have more than one. He cited that if a husband spends seven days with one wife, he must spend the same amount of time with each of the others. He referred to an example from the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) life, noting that even during illness, the Prophet maintained fairness by staying in the house of the wife whose turn it was.

The scholar’s comments aimed to clarify misconceptions about the religious status of having multiple wives, stressing that fairness and justice are central conditions in Islamic teachings.

The Ministry of Law has appointed a special public prosecutor to expedite and ensure a fair trial in the Ramisa murder case. A notification regarding this appointment was issued on Saturday by the Law and Justice Division of the ministry.

According to the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898, Section 492, Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu has been appointed as the special public prosecutor to represent the state in the case under trial at the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Suppression of Violence Against Children. The case, filed at Pallabi Police Station under case number 35 dated May 20, 2026, involves charges under Sections 9(2)/30 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, and Section 201 of the Penal Code.

The appointment aims to facilitate the timely and proper conduct of the judicial proceedings in this sensitive case.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that public expectations from engineers are very high and urged them to take a more active, responsible, and effective role in the country’s development and the creation of a new Bangladesh. He made these remarks on Saturday at the Engineers Institution Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in Ramna, Dhaka, during a reception marking the 78th founding anniversary of the institution, also known as Engineers Day.

The event, presided over by Engineer Mohammad Riazul Islam (Riju), honored several engineers and members of parliament, including Sanjida Islam (Tuli), Moinul Islam Khan (Shanto), and Md. Ashraf Uddin (Bokul), for their contributions in various sectors. The minister emphasized that IEB is not only a professional organization but also a key contributor to Bangladesh’s progress and development.

He further stated that after the July uprising, a new sense of building a new Bangladesh has emerged among the people and called for unity to achieve that goal. The event was attended by engineers, professionals, and distinguished guests from different sectors.

Former interim government adviser and National Citizens Party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has publicly challenged the current State Minister for Local Government, Mir Shahe Alam, to disclose specific files where alleged irregularities occurred. The challenge was issued during a live broadcast on Asif Mahmud’s verified Facebook page on Saturday night, following allegations made by the minister. In his statement, Asif Mahmud said the minister’s claims required clarification and urged that any relevant files be made public for transparency.

Mir Shahe Alam had earlier alleged that during the interim government period, Asif Mahmud approved a project file without the secretary’s signature. He also announced that an investigation covering the period from 2009 to 2026 had been ordered, with a report due within 60 working days. The minister cited irregularities in Pirojpur development projects, claiming that Tk 6,000 crore had been withdrawn without work being completed, leading to a halt in all local projects for two years.

The minister added that field inspections would soon begin in Pirojpur to restart suspended projects and address corruption in road and bridge construction across several districts.