A high-level delegation from the European Union held a meeting with Nahid Islam, convener of the NCP and opposition chief whip, at the party’s central office on Tuesday. The delegation was led by EU Ambassador Michael Miller. Discussions focused on the implementation of key reforms approved in the recent referendum and the review of EU Election Observation Team guidelines to ensure transparent and credible elections. Both sides also exchanged views on institutional frameworks ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continuing dialogue and strengthening constructive international cooperation. Following the discussions, NCP leaders guided the EU delegation to view the graffiti commemorating the historic July Revolution, which reflected the aspirations and spirit of the youth during that period.

The meeting was attended by NCP International Affairs Secretary Alauddin Mohammad and Joint Convener Monira Sharmin, while the EU delegation included Deputy Head of Delegation Baiba Zarina and First Secretary (Political) Sebastian Rieger Braun.

In Patuakhali’s Dumki upazila, a woman named Asiya Begum from Pangasia Union has reportedly been denied a widow allowance card for nearly twenty years since her husband’s death in 2007. Now elderly and caring for a physically disabled son, she survives by begging from door to door. Despite repeated applications and appeals to local representatives, she claims no assistance has been provided.

Residents of South Pangasia expressed anger, questioning why a destitute woman like Asiya remains excluded from government benefits while wealthier or politically connected families receive them. They alleged that her poverty and inability to pay unofficial fees may have kept her name off the beneficiary list.

Pangasia Union Parishad Chairman Nazrul Islam Gazi responded by asking whether she had formally applied, while the local social services officer, Oliul Islam, stated that Asiya’s name was not included in the list sent by the union. He added that if the chairman submits her name, action will be taken.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has provided financial assistance to Bangladesh national women’s football team star Rituparna Chakma for the construction of her house. The donation was handed over on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s office inside the National Parliament complex during a break in the budget session. Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque, Chittagong Hill Tracts State Minister Mir Helal Uddin, Textiles and Jute State Minister Shariful Alam, and Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal were present at the event.

The report notes that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had previously supported Rituparna and her family. In 2025, when her mother required cancer treatment, BNP leaders visited their remote home in Rangamati and provided financial help under Tareq Rahman’s direction. Rituparna Chakma has been a key figure in Bangladesh’s women’s football success, contributing to SAFF Women’s Championship victories in 2022 and 2024 and helping the team qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals in 2025.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that new entrepreneurs in Bangladesh will be eligible for collateral-free loans of up to Tk 1 million. He made the statement on Tuesday during a question-and-answer session in the National Parliament, responding to a query from Sylhet-3 Member of Parliament Mohammad Abdul Malik.

The minister explained that while Bangladesh Bank currently has no interest-free loan programs for youth, it operates several refinancing schemes offering loans on easy terms and at low interest rates. The fund for the 'New Entrepreneur Refinancing Scheme' under Bangladesh Bank’s own financing has been increased from Tk 1 billion to Tk 5 billion. Through this scheme, new entrepreneurs can receive loans at a maximum interest rate of 7 percent without collateral, and up to Tk 3.5 million with collateral.

Additionally, a separate Tk 5 billion 'Startup Fund' has been established to support startup entrepreneurs, offering loans and equity assistance at a 4 percent interest rate.

All types of ferry and vessel movement on the Paturia-Daulatdia, Paturia-Kazirhat, and Aricha-Kazirhat river routes have been suspended. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed that operations were halted from 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday due to storms, rain, and adverse weather conditions. Several ferries that had already departed were anchored mid-river or at nearby terminals, while launches and speedboats remained docked at the ghats.

Passengers arriving from across the river took shelter in local shops and waiting sheds near the terminals as heavy rain continued. Many travelers were stranded and drenched, with children and elderly passengers facing the most hardship.

Authorities have not yet announced when ferry services will resume, as weather conditions remain unfavorable.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has issued a clarification following reactions from the home minister, the national parliament, and the police regarding its report titled “First 100 Days of the Post-13th National Election Government: Monitoring Governance and Anti-Corruption Commitments.” In a statement released on Tuesday, TIB said the responses from these authorities have encouraged the organization and will help make its research and governance activities more effective.

TIB emphasized that it is not an investigative agency but a research-based organization working on anti-corruption and good governance through public awareness and engagement. The group explained that its report was prepared using both qualitative and quantitative methods recognized in social science research, drawing data from direct and indirect sources, including the Bangladesh Police and three human rights organizations. It rejected the claim that the report was based solely on newspaper clippings, stating that media information is verified against multiple official and non-governmental sources before analysis.

TIB also noted that the police did not directly dispute its observation that law and order remained a concern, though comparative analysis with previous periods was beyond the study’s scope.

Islami Bank has requested Tk 10,000 crore in liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank after depositors withdrew around Tk 4,000 crore amid internal unrest. The instability followed the appointment of former deputy governor Khurshid Alam as the bank’s new chairman on May 24, 2026, after the resignation of Professor M Zubaidur Rahman. A senior bank official confirmed that the bank’s principal account balance dropped from Tk 7,015 crore to Tk 2,600 crore, leading to a shortfall in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).

The unrest began after Khurshid Alam’s appointment, which some customers and shareholders opposed, organizing continuous protests in front of Islami Bank Tower for nine consecutive days. The bank’s liquidity stress has been linked to earlier irregular loans taken by S Alam Group during the previous Awami League government, which had previously caused CRR deficits. The situation had improved under the interim government but deteriorated again under the new administration.

A Bangladesh Bank official confirmed receiving Islami Bank’s request for liquidity support but said no decision had yet been made on the matter.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed a total expenditure of Tk 8,39,505 crore in its shadow budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, representing 12.14 percent of GDP. The projected budget deficit stands at Tk 1,68,321 crore, or 2.43 percent of GDP, lower than the Tk 2,21,000 crore deficit estimated for 2025–26. The proposal was presented at a press conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka by party executive council member and MP Saiful Islam Khan Milon, in the presence of party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other alliance leaders.

The proposed allocations include Tk 2,02,245 crore for public administration, Tk 1,27,500 crore for debt interest payments, and Tk 1,25,575 crore for education and technology. Other major sectors include transport and communication, agriculture, social welfare, health, and local government. The party emphasized governance reform, anti-corruption measures, and a fair tax system prioritizing SMEs and agriculture.

Jamaat leaders described the proposal as the first alternative budget by an opposition party in Bangladesh’s history, aiming to build an equitable, corruption-free, and employment-oriented economy grounded in justice and good governance.

Farmers in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur have launched the area’s first-ever summer onion cultivation, opening new agricultural prospects. The initiative, undertaken by the upazila agriculture department, aims to increase domestic onion production and reduce dependence on imports. The project is being implemented under the 'Sustainable Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in the Cumilla Region' and currently covers about three hectares of land with the high-yielding 'Nasek Red N-53' variety.

Local farmers have shown strong interest after early signs of success, noting that they previously cultivated onions only in winter. With free seeds, fertilizers, and technical support provided by the agriculture department, they are now experimenting with summer cultivation. The department is also offering continuous training and field-level supervision to ensure proper crop management.

Officials believe that if the Haimchar model is replicated nationwide, it could help stabilize onion markets and move Bangladesh closer to self-sufficiency in onion production.

Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed an 839,505 crore taka shadow budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The proposal was presented on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Al Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area. Saiful Islam Khan Milon, a member of the party’s executive council and Member of Parliament for Dhaka-12, formally presented the 50-page document outlining the party’s alternative fiscal plan.

According to Jamaat representatives, the proposed budget prioritizes public administration, repayment of domestic and foreign debt interest, and the education and technology sectors. The party stated that the shadow budget was prepared considering the country’s overall economic structure and future development plans.

The presentation marks Jamaat’s effort to outline its economic vision despite its limited political activity, focusing on key sectors it deems vital for national progress.

India’s fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level for the first time, according to official statistics cited in a report by Al Jazeera. The Sample Registration System (SRS) data show that the total fertility rate (TFR), which was about 3.3 in the early 2000s, has steadily declined over the past two decades. Experts warn that this trend could slow population growth and affect the country’s long-term economic structure.

Analysts attribute the decline to multiple social and economic factors, including increased female education and workforce participation, greater access to contraception, and rising child-rearing costs, especially in urban areas. Regional disparities are significant, with Bihar’s TFR at 2.9 and Delhi’s at 1.2. Economists caution that a shrinking working-age population could lead to labor shortages, reduced productivity, and pressure on social security systems as the elderly population grows.

The demographic shift may also influence India’s internal politics, particularly in the upcoming delimitation process that reallocates parliamentary seats based on population. Experts suggest India must prepare for an aging society through stronger health, pension, and social protection systems.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh Television (BTV) has finalized a deal with FIFA to broadcast the upcoming Football World Cup for 3.85 million US dollars. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Department of Information’s conference room in the Secretariat on Tuesday.

He stated that the total cost, including VAT and income tax, amounts to 637.9 million Bangladeshi taka, but BTV will not have to bear the expense directly. The ministry has already recovered nearly the entire amount by selling broadcasting rights and advertisements to telecom operators, satellite channels, and OTT platforms. As a result, BTV will be able to air the matches at a nominal cost.

According to the minister, the agreement with FIFA was reached through a transparent and policy-based process at a reasonable price, ensuring that the public broadcaster can deliver the World Cup coverage efficiently and affordably.

Three people have died from burn injuries sustained in an arson attack on the homes of accused individuals in Pabna Sadar upazila. The incident occurred after the rape and murder of a teenage girl, whose body was recovered from the Padma River in Bharaara union. Two of the victims died on Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, and another died on Monday afternoon.

Police and local sources said that after the girl’s burial on June 4, an enraged crowd set fire to the accused’s houses. The fire triggered a gas cylinder explosion, injuring several nearby residents and onlookers. None of the accused or their family members were present during the fire. The deceased were identified as Suman Sheikh, Saiful Islam Sabbir, and Sapu, all local residents.

Pabna Sadar Police Station’s officer-in-charge confirmed the deaths and said legal procedures are underway. Earlier, police arrested three suspects, including the victim’s alleged boyfriend Naim, who reportedly confessed to the rape and murder.

Bangladesh inaugurated its first ocean satellite ground station at the University of Chittagong, marking a new phase in the nation’s capacity to collect and analyze satellite-based data from the Bay of Bengal and coastal regions. The inauguration took place on Tuesday morning, led by State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin. The ceremony was attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmad, and representatives from China, including Cultural Counsellor Li Xuepeng and Professor Dr. Fu Bin of the Second Institute of Oceanography.

During the event, the state minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring necessary infrastructure such as electricity and high-speed internet to achieve the project’s goals. He noted that the satellite would play a vital role in marine resource management, fisheries, maritime transport, and coastal development. The vice-chancellor described the day as historic for the university, highlighting that the China-funded facility would benefit students and researchers nationwide by providing real-time ocean and fisheries data.

The project is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s research and operational capabilities in oceanography and coastal resource management.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved eight development projects with a total estimated cost of Tk 2,266.41 crore. Of this, Tk 2,229.13 crore will come from government funds and Tk 37.28 crore from agency financing. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held on Tuesday at the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. The approved projects include three new, three revised, and two extended-duration projects.

The approved projects cover multiple sectors, including water resources, transport, public administration, health, defense, education, and power. Notable projects include maintenance and rehabilitation of the Barishal Irrigation Project, upgrading of the Anwara–Banshkhali–Chakaria regional highway, expansion of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, and construction of a cancer center at Dhaka CMH. The meeting also reviewed six smaller projects under Tk 50 crore previously approved by the planning minister, covering water supply, sanitation, waste management, postal services, military training facilities, child marriage prevention, and agricultural education.

The approvals reflect a broad government focus on infrastructure, education, and health development across Bangladesh.