National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has stated that a limited scope for legalizing undisclosed income—commonly referred to as black money—is being proposed as an “exit route” for individuals wishing to bring such funds into the formal economy. Addressing the issue, he clarified that the proposal aims to help individuals who, for various reasons, have kept money unreported over the years. However, he emphasized that this is not a move to endorse the act of hiding income. Earlier, Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed remarked that if such an opportunity were to be offered, it should come with a significantly higher tax rate than in the past. “We’re not claiming this is an ideal initiative,” he noted. Abdur Rahman Khan also mentioned that the previous provision to legalize black money by paying a 15% tax was scrapped after the new government took office. Another provision, which allows for immunity from questioning if one buys land or property while paying a slightly higher tax, is set to expire on June 30. “We have not extended this facility either,” the NBR chairman added.

UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis met with Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, on Tuesday at Jamuna. During the meeting, Lewis praised the government's strong cooperation and held extensive discussions with Professor Yunus regarding Bangladesh’s development progress. They explored how the United Nations could provide comprehensive support to strengthen the government’s ambitious reform initiatives. The two also addressed the ongoing Rohingya crisis and the financial challenges it poses. Both expressed deep concern over the significant reduction in funding, which is affecting education and other essential programs.

The Election Commission has formally requested various ministries and government agencies to make the submission of National Identity Cards (NID) mandatory for all government job applications. SM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing, stated that the Election Commission wants this requirement to be included within the legal framework governing public administration. According to him, a large number of people are requesting major corrections to their NID information by citing government job applications as the reason. Enforcing the use of NID at the time of application could significantly reduce such complications. On Monday, the Election Commission held a meeting with 27 ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Public Administration. During the session, the commission presented eight arguments to support the necessity of requiring NID cards in job applications.

Lt. Col. Md. Mahbub Alam, Commander of RAB-4, stated that RAB has intensified monitoring to prevent crimes like counterfeit currency, extortion, and illegal cattle transport between markets. Temporary RAB camps have been set up in major cattle markets, including Gabtoli, with watchtowers and increased intelligence surveillance. Mobile courts are also operating to prevent ticket scalping and overcharging in public transport. Between May 1 and May 31, 17 muggers were arrested in various operations.

Adviser Farida Akhter assured the public that the country has sufficient livestock for Eid-ul-Adha, and there is no need to import cattle from neighboring countries. She added that law enforcement is maintaining strict surveillance along border areas to prevent illegal cattle entry. Veterinary teams are deployed across the country’s cattle markets, and traders are being discouraged from using artificial fattening methods.

A tragic incident occurred at Baharpur Noor-e-Madina Hafizia Women’s Madrasa in Baliakandi, where a student named Kaniz Fatema died after a water tank collapsed in the ablution area. The accident took place early Tuesday morning as Fatema and another student, Mim Akter, were preparing for Fajr prayers. Mim was injured and rushed to Rajbari Sadar Hospital. Local police, including the OC and SI, arrived at the scene and began an investigation. Legal proceedings regarding the incident are currently ongoing.

A court has imposed a travel ban on 15 individuals, including former Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed and ex-Minister Farhad Hossain, as part of an ongoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation. Others named include ex-MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury, AB Tajul Islam and family members, First Security Islami Bank officials, and individuals linked to the S. Alam Group. The ACC had sought the ban due to concerns over potential flight risks during the inquiry.

Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that significant reforms—including constitutional amendments—require political consensus. Speaking about post-"July Charter" reforms, Nazrul emphasized that changes aim to establish good governance and prevent the return of authoritarianism. He said, "Our goal is to make laws strong enough so that dictatorship cannot rise again." He noted a more open space for government criticism today as one positive reform outcome.

The Left Democratic Alliance has rejected the newly announced budget, labeling it a continuation of outdated free-market policies that fail to address core issues such as inequality, unemployment, inflation, and investment stagnation. The alliance said the public expected relief and concrete social protections—like universal rationing or a national minimum wage—which are absent. They also criticized the budget’s provision to legalize black money as unconstitutional and a betrayal of public trust.

Former Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Amiruzzaman Pintu has allegedly embezzled approximately Tk 200 crore from more than 5,000 members and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bogura. According to the victims, Pintu lured investors by promising high returns based on Shariah-compliant profit schemes. He reportedly collected the funds through a number of organizations, including one named Rainbow Multipurpose Co-operative Society. After securing the investments, he has since gone into hiding. Despite protests and attempts by victims to locate him by surrounding his office and residence, Pintu remains untraceable. One of the victims, Fazlur Rahman, stated, “Pintu is a fraud. I invested over Tk 4 lakh in hopes of receiving Shariah-based high returns. The investment eventually grew to Tk 90 lakh, of which I am still owed Tk 83 lakh.” The case has raised serious concerns over unregulated cooperative societies and the exploitation of religious sentiments for financial gain. Authorities are being urged to investigate and take action.

BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed the interim government’s budget mirrors those under Sheikh Hasina, including the provision to legalize black money. He criticized the silence of advisers when asked about election timelines and noted the declining focus on reforms. Rizvi also expressed disappointment over low allocations for health and education, arguing that the current budget favors corrupt elites and will worsen the financial pressure on the poor and middle classes.

Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Consensus Party (NCP), criticized the newly announced national budget, saying it fails to address inequality or reflect the spirit of the historic July uprising. He noted that the budget overlooks the needs of lower- and lower-middle-income groups and fails to provide meaningful employment opportunities. He also condemned the move to legalize black money, calling it unethical and contrary to the sacrifices made during the July movement. Nahid further highlighted the significant cut in the budget for the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and warned that increased taxes on e-commerce and digital transactions could have negative consequences.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has criticized Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus for lacking engagement with political parties. He stated that Yunus repeatedly claims only one political party wants elections but provides no explanation or accountability. Manna said that Yunus often avoids direct questions, responding with a smile or silence, and despite calling five meetings with all parties, practical dialogue has been absent. “When people ask whether elections will be held, their concern is justified,” Manna added.

In a recent meeting of the Consensus Commission, all major political parties, including the BNP, have reached an agreement to amend Article 70 of the Constitution under specific conditions. These conditions include exceptions for votes on money bills, confidence votes, and constitutional amendments—outside of which, MPs will be allowed to speak freely in Parliament. The BNP has proposed an additional clause: party MPs must not vote against the party line or speak out on matters concerning national security or during wartime. If there is no consensus on this point, the BNP plans to issue a note of dissent and include the matter in its party manifesto. However, consensus was not reached on three other key proposals: appointing opposition MPs as chairs of all parliamentary standing committees, reforming the voting process for women’s reserved seats, and defining the term and scope of a caretaker government.

Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud has acknowledged widespread corruption in several large-scale development projects. He emphasized that the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) will be employed for stricter oversight going forward. “Many projects have been initiated without proper analysis, leading to double the expected cost,” Mahmud said. Citing the Joydebpur-Ashulia Bus Transit Project, he noted that Tk 3,000 crore has already been spent, and another Tk 3,000 crore will be required due to flawed planning. He also highlighted frequent technical issues in the metro rail system, stating that such modern projects are often introduced hastily to create a spectacle, without considering long-term technical sustainability or local capacity for technology transfer.