The ongoing chaos over fuel has driven up truck and covered van fares by 20% to 30% on key routes, disrupting goods transportation across Chattogram, Benapole, Khulna and the northern region.

The increase has added pressure on both traders and consumers supplying essential commodities, with traders warning that higher transport costs could soon push up market prices.

In the Benapole, uncertainty in fuel supply is directly driving up transport expenses. Truck driver Abul Kasem said fares have jumped by Tk5,000 to Tk7,000 within a few days, warning that prolonged disruption could cripple their business.

Similar pressure is evident on the Khulna route, where rising transport costs for perishable goods are already feeding into the market. Watermelon trader Altaf Hossain said a 20-tonne truck that once cost Tk20,000 now requires at least Tk25,000, forcing buyers to pay more.

In the northern region, the fuel shortage has emerged as a major challenge during the peak season for transporting seasonal agricultural produce.

Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Saju, owner of a cold storage facility in Bogura, said it is now the peak potato transport season, yet vehicles cannot operate regularly. Even when they do, higher fares are unavoidable due to fuel scarcity.

The poultry sector is also beginning to feel the strain, with rising transport costs complicating market supply and demand.

Truck driver Israfil Alam, who supplies chickens to Dhaka from northern districts, said fares from Rangpur have increased from Tk18,000–19,000 to around Tk21,000.

Trader Suman Ali, who transports chillies from Bogura to Chattogram, reported a similar trend, with per-truck costs rising from Tk28,000 to between Tk35,000 and Tk37,000.

Fears of rise in essential prices

Rising transport costs amid the fuel shortage are feared to push up consumer prices, with traders warning of further increases in essential goods.

Benapole truck driver Abdus Sobhan said, "I transport one truckload at a time. I now pay Tk4,000 more than before. Owners will pass this cost onto the goods."

He added, "There is no real diesel shortage. Trucks are running with adequate fuel. Owners are using the fuel crisis to justify fare hikes."

Transport owners said irregular supply is driving costs. Azim Uddin Gazi, president of the Benapole Truck Owners' Association, said, "Petrol and octane face minor issues, but diesel is sufficient. Delays in timely supply are pushing up fares, as pumps provide only half the required fuel."

Business representatives blamed weak supply systems and hoarding. Ejaz Uddin Tipu, joint secretary of the Jashore Chamber, said, "There is no real market shortage. Some hoard fuel, straining pumps, and truck owners exploit this to raise fares."

Pumps continue rationing in Ctg

Even with scheduled depot deliveries, most Chattogram filling stations remain closed or ration fuel. Pump owners said rationing continues despite its official removal.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) confirmed fuel arrives regularly, but pump owners said quantities are insufficient, and intermittent deliveries prevent consistent supply.

On Sunday, 13,000 litres of octane and 9,000 litres of diesel arrived at the city's QC pump, but surging demand strained stocks. At CMP Filling Station, 2,363 litres of diesel and 2,574 litres of octane were available in the afternoon, with sales ongoing.

Government vehicles at CMP received full allocation, while private motorcycles were limited to Tk500 and cars to Tk2,000. QC Filling Station followed the same rationing system. In contrast, Apollo Filling Station was fully closed, and Wasa Mor pumps operated at limited capacity.

One pump owner added, "We sell exactly what comes from the depot. We cannot turn customers away, so rationing is necessary."

Mohammad Mainuddin, member secretary of the Chattogram division of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association, told TBS, "Our stations have no fuel shortage. We sell only what dealers supply. Tag officers are deployed to maintain normal supply. The main issue is hoarding—many store excess fuel at home. Public awareness can restore normal operations."

Trust Bank PLC has launched its distribution finance facility for TAP distributors, dealers, and merchants at the bank's head office in Jahangir Gate.

The programme was attended by the Managing Director & CEO of Trust Bank PLC, Ahsan Zaman Chowdhury, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.

The facility will provide working capital financing to TAP's distribution network, with the aim of promoting digital financial services and supporting the expansion of the SME sector across Bangladesh.

Inflow of remittances witnessed a year-on-year growth of 425.3 percent reaching US$339 million in the first four days of April, according to the latest data of Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued.

Last year, during the same period, the country’s remittance inflow was $65 million.

During the July to April 5, 2026 of the current fiscal year, expatriates sent remittances of $26,548 million, which was $21,850 million during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The government is set to borrow an additional Tk 5,000 crore from the banking sector through a special auction of 91-day treasury bills on April 8, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) officials.

This will be the new government’s second such off-cycle borrowing in just over a week, which will effectively push the total bank borrowing for the fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) well past the full-year target set in the budget.

The surge in borrowing comes as the government struggles to balance rising expenditure against weak revenue mobilisation.

Spending pressures have mounted from several fronts: emergency fuel oil purchases amid elevated global energy costs linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, new welfare initiatives including the family card scheme and farm loan waivers, and broader expansion in public outlays, said officials familiar with the matter.

Election expenditure by the interim government had also drained state funds.

At the same time, the National Board of Revenue fell short of its eight-month collection target by 28 percent, leaving a gap of Tk 71,472 crore.

According to central bank data, the government had already raised Tk 5,000 crore through a similar special auction on April 1. Combined with regular borrowing, the two tranches will effectively breach the Tk 1,04,000 crore ceiling set for banking system borrowing in the FY26 budget.

Between July last year and April 1, the interim government and the new BNP-led government had together borrowed at least Tk 1,03,526 crore, or 99.54 percent of the annual target, with nearly three months of the fiscal year still remaining.

A year earlier, net borrowing over the same period stood at Tk 27,739 crore.

Of the amount borrowed so far this fiscal year, Tk 17,386 crore came from the central bank directly, Tk 71,575 crore from commercial banks, and Tk 9,564 crore from non-bank sources.

As per the FY26 budget, borrowing targets from non-banking systems and foreign sources were set at Tk 21,000 crore and Tk 96,000 crore respectively.

Analysts note that borrowing directly from the central bank carries particular inflation risks. However, a structural factor has enabled the current pace of commercial bank borrowing: anaemic private sector credit demand.

Private sector credit growth fell to a decade-low of 6.03 percent in January and remained unchanged in February, BB data show. With few private borrowers, commercial banks have been willing to lend to the government instead.

“The government generally borrows through special treasury bills when its demand for funds increases,” said Md Ezazul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management. “Weak revenue collection could also be driving the special auction.”

The government finances budget deficits and public expenditure by issuing treasury bills – short-term instruments – and bonds for longer tenors. These are sold through the central bank to commercial banks, financial institutions, and individual investors, and are considered low-risk investments.

With banking system borrowing already at the annual ceiling and the fiscal year not yet done, economists warn the trajectory raises fresh concerns about inflation, crowding out of private investment, and longer-term fiscal sustainability.

Inflation eased to 8.71 percent in March, offering slight relief to consumers, but analysts warn that prices may remain sticky in the coming months as the US-Israel war on Iran drives up costs and disrupts supply chains.

Food price inflation fell to 8.24 percent from 9.3 percent the previous month, according to data released yesterday by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Non-food inflation, however, edged up to 9.09 percent from 9.01 percent in February.

The moderation follows a spike to 9.13 percent in February, a ten-month high, when higher food prices ahead of Ramadan and increased election-related spending fuelled demand, pushing the Consumer Price Index.

Md Deen Islam, professor of economics at Dhaka University, said, “Food prices carry a large weight in the consumer basket, and the decline in inflation might be driven mainly by a moderation in food prices.”

Three factors -- improved supply of food due to no major climate shock, the lagged effects of relatively tighter monetary policy, and subdued aggregate demand -- may have helped contain overall price increases, he added.

However, the persistence and slight increase in non-food inflation to 9.09 percent signal that underlying cost pressures in the economy remain strong, noted the professor.

“Non-food components such as energy, transport, and imported goods continue to be affected by exchange rate depreciation and elevated global prices,” he said.

Bangladesh has been grappling with stubborn inflation for more than three years, with the burden falling hardest on poor and low-income households, who spend a disproportionate share of their earnings on food.

In March, rural inflation was marginally higher at 8.72 percent compared to 8.68 percent in urban areas.

Zahid Hussain, former lead economist at the World Bank’s Dhaka office, said food inflation above 8 percent shows that price pressures persist.

“A slight easing in March is not unusual, but it does not mean inflationary pressure has disappeared,” he said.

Birupaksha Paul, professor of economics at the State University of New York, echoed the sentiment, saying the decline in inflation is not significant. “Expected inflation is on the rise and most part of it is fear driven.”

Ashikur Rahman, principal economist at the Policy Research Institute (PRI), said the March moderation should be read with caution.

“The spike observed in February was largely driven by a temporary surge in consumption, typically associated with heightened political and electoral activity.

“Such demand-side pressures tend to be short-lived, and the subsequent correction in March reflects the dissipation of this transient effect rather than a structural easing of inflationary pressures,” he said.

The economist pointed out that the broader inflation outlook remains fragile. Rising global fuel costs from the Middle East conflict could force adjustments in administered energy prices, with direct and second-round effects on transport, production, and food supply chains.

Besides, he added, “Supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict could elevate import costs, particularly for essential commodities, thereby feeding into domestic inflation.”

Hussain, meanwhile, noted that government-set fuel prices remained unchanged, with even an expected April adjustment deferred. “If fuel prices had been adjusted at the pump level, the impact would have shown up in the CPI,” he said. “But the impact is inevitable.”

For instance, he pointed out that the exchange rate already saw an impact in March. In the interbank market, the rate increased by nearly one taka. But the effect of that on import prices will take time -- likely showing up in April -- because payments for March imports were largely made earlier.

Prof Islam said the divergence between declining food inflation and rising non-food inflation suggests the recent improvement is narrow and not yet indicative of a broad-based disinflation.

He expects inflation to remain relatively sticky in the near term, with the Middle East conflict posing a significant upside risk.

In this context, PRI’s Rahman said macroeconomic management must stay vigilant.

He backed Bangladesh Bank’s contractionary monetary policy stance as “necessary to contain demand-side pressures,” but added that monetary policy alone would not suffice.

“Complementary fiscal discipline and targeted supply-side interventions, particularly to stabilise food markets, will be critical in anchoring inflation expectations and safeguarding macroeconomic stability in the months ahead,” he said.

OPEC+ agreed ‌on Sunday to raise its oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a modest rise that will largely exist on paper as its key members are unable to raise production due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

The war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil route - since the end of February and cut ​exports from OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq, the only countries in the group which were able to significantly raise ​production even before the conflict began.

Crude prices have surged to a four-year high close to $120 a barrel, translating into soaring ⁠prices for transport fuels which are pressuring consumers and businesses across the globe, and triggering government action to conserve supplies.

The OPEC+ quota increase of 206,000 bpd ​represents less than 2% of the supply disrupted by the Hormuz closure, but it signals readiness to raise output once the waterway reopens, OPEC+ sources have said. Consultancy ​Energy Aspects called the increase "academic" as long as disruptions in the strait persist.

"In reality it adds very few barrels to the market," said Jorge Leon, a former OPEC official who now works as head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy.

"When the Strait of Hormuz is closed additional barrels from OPEC+ become largely irrelevant."

OPEC+ CONCERNED ABOUT ATTACKS ON ENERGY ASSETS

Eight members of ​OPEC+ agreed to the increase in May quotas at a virtual meeting on Sunday, OPEC+ said in a statement.

Besides the disruptions affecting Gulf members, others ​such as Russia are unable to increase output - in Moscow's case due to Western sanctions and damage to infrastructure inflicted during the war with Ukraine.

Inside the Gulf, damage to infrastructure from ‌missile and ⁠drone attacks has also been severe. Several Gulf officials have said it would take months to resume normal operations and reach production targets even if the war stopped and Hormuz reopened immediately.

A separate OPEC+ panel that also met on Sunday, called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, expressed concern about attacks on energy assets, saying they were expensive and time-consuming to repair and so have an impact on supply, OPEC+ said in a statement.

Two months into the Iran war, and the feds, still on the sidelines, are waiting—the riskiest strategy of all.

Iran said on Saturday Iraq was from any ​restrictions to transit Hormuz, and shipping ​data on Sunday showed a tanker ⁠loaded with Iraqi crude passing through the strait. Still, it remains to be seen if more vessels will take the risk involved, a source close to the issue said.

WAR CAUSES WORLD'S WORST OIL SUPPLY DISRUPTION

May's OPEC+ increase is the ​same as the eight members had agreed for April at their last meeting held on March 1, just as the ​war began to disrupt ⁠oil flows.

A month later, the largest oil supply disruption on record is estimated to have removed as many as 12 to 15 million bpd or up to 15% of global supply.

Oil prices could spike above $150 - an all-time high - if flows via Hormuz remain disrupted into mid-May, JPMorgan said on Thursday.

OPEC+ groups 22 members including Iran. In recent years ⁠only the ​eight countries meeting on Sunday have been involved in monthly production decisions, and they started in ​2025 to unwind previously agreed output cuts to regain market share.

The eight raised production quotas by about 2.9 million bpd from April 2025 through December 2025, before pausing increases for January to ​March 2026.

The eight hold their next meeting on May 3.

Bangladesh’s stock market fell to a nearly two-and-a-half-month low yesterday, with the benchmark index dropping more than 2 percent amid rising concerns over global energy prices following escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, declined by 107.46 points, or 2.06 percent, to close at 5,112.27. The index last hovered near this level on January 26.

Market participants attributed the downturn to growing uncertainty surrounding the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has heightened fears of prolonged energy price volatility.

“As tensions escalated over the weekend, investors became concerned that energy prices could rise further or remain elevated for a longer period,” said Asif Khan, chairman of EDGE AMC (Asset Management Company) Limited.

The other two indices on the DSE also declined.

The shariah-based DSES fell 18.47 points, or 1.74 percent, to 1,041.10, while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 35.02 points, or 1.77 percent, to 1,945.34.

Turnover stood at Tk 512 crore, down 18.21 percent from the previous trading session. The pharmaceuticals sector dominated trading, accounting for 17.1 percent of total turnover.

Block market transactions amounted to Tk 17.51 crore, representing 3.4 percent of the day’s turnover.

Among the major turnover leaders, Asiatic Laboratories Limited fell 4.52 percent, followed by ACME Pesticides Limited (3.81 percent), Summit Alliance Port Limited (0.99 percent), and Dominage Steel Building System Limited (1.35 percent).

Out of the traded issues, only 25 advanced, while 354 declined and the rest remained unchanged.

According to a daily market update by Shanta Securities, the downturn was driven by negative movements in travel and leisure, banking, and paper and printing stocks, despite gains in debentures, information technology and miscellaneous sectors.

No sector ended in positive territory, with mutual funds, ceramics and jute among the worst performers, said UCB Stock Brokerage Limited.

At the Chittagong Stock Exchange, the CASPI index also declined, shedding 228.40 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 14,473.09.

The Opec+ oil cartel agreed on Sunday to again increase oil production quotas, while warning that repairing energy facilities, such as those damaged in the Middle East war, is “costly and takes a long time”.

For the second month in a row, Opec+ countries -- which include key oil producers Russia and Saudi Arabia, as well as several Gulf countries that have been targets of Iranian airstrikes -- agreed to raise quotas by 206,000 barrels per day (bpd) from May.

But Opec+ warned that damage to energy infrastructure increases oil market volatility, potentially hitting global supplies well into the future.

Its statement also stressed “the critical importance of safeguarding international maritime routes to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy”.

The text did not mention the Iran war directly, but the conflict -- which has roiled global energy markets and caused prices to surge -- clearly weighed on the decision.

The United States and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, and Tehran has retaliated by striking targets across the region.

In addition to hitting key energy facilities in a number of neighbouring countries, Iran has virtually halted ship traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz by threatening to attack tankers passing without permission.

That has badly restricted exports from the Gulf region, and raised questions about whether oil can reach global markets even if Opec+ members in the region manage to ramp up production.

Before the war, about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through the Strait.

Ukraine has also been striking Russian oil industry facilities as it seeks to fight back against Moscow’s ongoing invasion.

Last month, the eight-strong V8 (Voluntary Eight) group in the Opec+ cartel also raised production quotas by 206,000 bpd.

On Sunday, the V8 said in a statement that “any actions undermining energy supply security, whether through attacks on infrastructure or disruption of international maritime routes, increase market volatility” and make it more difficult for Opec+ to manage global prices.

The eight countries -- Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman -- praised members that managed to find alternate exports routes to deliver oil, “which have contributed to reducing market volatility”.

Prime Bank PLC has reached a major milestone by becoming the first bank in Bangladesh to offer a consumer loan secured against treasury bonds.

The initiative marks a significant development in the country's banking and financial services sector.

After receiving guidance from Bangladesh Bank on Thursday evening, 2 April 2026, the bank completed the first loan disbursement by the following morning. The swift turnaround, the bank said, reflects strong operational coordination and execution capacity across the institution.

The new product enables customers to unlock liquidity by borrowing against their treasury bond holdings, allowing them to meet financial needs without selling their investments. According to the bank, the offering reflects Prime Bank's commitment to delivering modern, customer-focused financial solutions in response to evolving market demand.

The rollout of the initiative was made possible through close collaboration among several teams, including Gulshan Branch, the Credit Administration Division, Credit Risk Management, and the Wealth Management unit. Their coordinated efforts ensured a smooth and rapid approval and disbursement process.

Additional Managing Director of Prime Bank PLC M Nazeem A Choudhury said, "This achievement reflects our capacity to innovate within regulatory frameworks while delivering meaningful value to our customers. We remain focused on introducing progressive financial solutions that enhance accessibility, flexibility and efficiency."

With this development, Prime Bank continues to strengthen its reputation as a forward-looking financial institution, setting new standards in innovation and contributing to the evolution of Bangladesh's banking landscape.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has ordered a formal enquiry into Robi Axiata, the country's second-largest mobile network operator, over alleged financial irregularities, governance concerns and disclosure failures.

The decision was taken in the last week of March, when the Commission exercised its statutory authority to launch an investigation and appoint a dedicated enquiry team.

BSEC director and spokesman Abul Kalam told TBS that the investigation committee was formed based on specific complaints received by the regulator. He said the complaints involve possible financial irregularities and violations of laws and regulations.

The committee will closely examine financial records, compliance with securities rules, corporate governance practices, and whether any material information was concealed or misreported, Kalam said.

He added that the purpose of the investigation is to verify the facts and recommend appropriate actions based on the findings.

Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata, said, "We are conducting all our activities in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and will provide all necessary support to the relevant regulatory authority."

On Sunday, the company's share price fell 2.40% to Tk28.50 on the DSE.

Probe committee

In an official order, BSEC said the enquiry will focus on issues outlined in the Terms of Reference, including accounting treatment, related-party transactions, corporate governance practices, and compliance with disclosure requirements during the financial years 2021 and 2022.

The three-member enquiry committee, comprises Md Rafiqunnabi, deputy director of BSEC; Tanmoy Kumar Ghosh, assistant director of BSEC; and Gias Uddin, manager of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

The committee has been instructed to complete the enquiry and submit its report within 60 working days from the date of the order.

Accounting and management review

One of the central areas of investigation involves alleged accounting irregularities, specifically claims of "masking", where operating expenditures were reportedly misclassified as capital expenditures in FY21 and FY22.

The regulator will examine the scale of such misclassifications, identify potential beneficiaries, and assess the overall financial impact on the company's reported performance.

The inquiry will also assess the involvement of senior management, including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and the board audit committee, to determine whether these practices were approved, ignored or concealed.

Related-party transactions, governance

Another key focus area is conflicts of interest and related-party transactions. The BSEC will examine the dual role of Thayaparan S Sangarapillai, who served as chairman of Robi Axiata while also acting as an independent director of EDOTCO Group Sdn Bhd from 2016 to 2025.

All transactions between Robi Axiata and EDOTCO, including lease agreements, infrastructure-sharing arrangements and any share transfers, will be reviewed to determine whether they were conducted at arm's length or resulted in any value leakage to Axiata Group Berhad or its affiliates.

Corporate governance issues are also under scrutiny. The inquiry will investigate the resignations of independent directors Akhtar Sanjida Kasem and Kamran Bakr, who reportedly stepped down citing "undue interference" in board affairs.

The regulator will also review the fairness and independence of an internal inquiry process chaired by Sangarapillai, particularly in light of previous allegations against him.

The investigation will assess whether principles of natural justice, impartiality and shareholder protection were properly upheld.

Disclosure and shareholder concerns

In addition, the Commission will examine Robi Axiata's annual reports for 2021 and 2022 to determine whether there were any omissions of material information.

Compliance relating to the disclosure of material non-operating income and expenses, as well as transparency in related-party transactions, will also be reviewed.

Shareholder concerns raised at the company's last annual general meeting will be part of the enquiry, particularly issues related to expenses on legal proceedings and forensic audit costs, as well as the company's alleged lack of response to investor queries.

Financial performance

Robi Axiata posted a net profit of Tk937 crore in 2025, its first annual profit since listing on the stock exchange five years ago. The earnings represent a 33.3% year-on-year increase compared to 2024.

Riding on improved profitability, the board recommended a 17.5% cash dividend, or Tk1.75 per share, the highest since its market debut in 2020.

The proposed payout accounts for 97.8% of the company's total profit for the year. In 2024, Robi Axiata declared a 15% cash dividend.

Market stakeholders have urged the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to expedite the listing of profitable state-owned enterprises, calling on the regulator to present the issue to the newly elected government as a priority to help revive the struggling capital market.

The call came during a monthly coordination meeting held at the commission's headquarters today (5 April), where senior officials, including Chairman Khondoker Rashed Maqsood and other commissioners, met with representatives from various market institutions and stakeholder groups.

The meeting focused on a wide range of pressing issues affecting the country's capital market, with particular emphasis on increasing the supply of quality stocks.

Participants stressed that the prolonged absence of new listings has significantly weakened investor confidence and reduced market depth.

Although new initial public offering (IPO) regulations have already been introduced, they noted that the pipeline of fresh listings remains thin. In this context, the listing of profitable government-owned companies was identified as one of the most effective ways to inject momentum into the market.

Saiful Islam, president of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh, told The Business Standard that the market has been in decline for an extended period and requires immediate intervention.

He said initiatives to list state-owned enterprises had been taken during the interim government's tenure, with some preparatory work already completed. With a new government now in place, he urged the regulator to act swiftly to move the process forward.

Highlighting a specific case, he pointed to Central Depository Bangladesh Limited as a profitable institution that continues to generate strong earnings from its core operations but remains unlisted.

He called for expedited steps to bring the company to the market, saying such a move would enhance transparency and offer investors access to a fundamentally strong entity.

Governance reforms, market development

Another key issue raised at the meeting was the long-pending review of the demutualisation scheme of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

Stakeholders expressed concern over the lack of visible progress in revisiting the framework, which they said is essential for improving governance and operational efficiency at the bourse.

In response, the BSEC chairman assured participants that the commission would take necessary steps in this regard.

The discussion also covered broader reform initiatives, including efforts to upgrade the market from frontier to emerging status, implementation of electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) systems, and plans to launch a commodity exchange.

Participants stressed the need for stronger coordination among market institutions, improved corporate governance, and stricter measures to prevent manipulation and irregularities.

They also discussed expanding investor education programmes, introducing new financial products, and ensuring the accuracy of price-sensitive information disclosures.

Addressing investor protection, stakeholders highlighted the importance of compensating affected investors through dedicated protection funds, as well as resolving issues related to negative equity and unrealised losses.

During the meeting, the BSEC Chairman Maqsood reiterated the commission's commitment to ongoing reforms, noting that major regulatory frameworks – including new margin rules, mutual fund regulations, and public offering rules – have already been introduced.

He added that corporate governance regulations are in the pipeline and will be finalised soon.

The chairman said bringing large public-interest companies into the capital market remains a top priority for the regulator, but achieving this would require strong government support and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders.

The government has taken initiatives to set up nine new factories with the aim of creating employment, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, minister for Commerce, Industries, Textiles, and Jute ministry said today (2 April).

Speaking in parliament, the minister stated that the ministry has planned to establish new industrial enterprises to eliminate unemployment.

The factories are listed below.

Urea Formaldehyde-85 (UF-85) Plant: A detailed techno-economic feasibility study is currently underway to establish a UF-85 factory on the vacant land of Ghorashal Polash Fertilizer Public Limited Company (GPFPLC), under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
New TSP Fertilizer Factory: Efforts are ongoing to appoint an international consulting firm to conduct a detailed techno-economic feasibility study for a new fertilizer factory with an annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes at TSP Complex Ltd. (TSPCL).
Starch and API Complex: Initiatives have been taken to implement a project titled "Starch Factory and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Complex" on the premises of Khulna Newsprint Mills Ltd. (KNML) and Khulna Hardboard Mills Ltd. (KHBML). The techno-economic feasibility study and the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for this project have been completed.
Karnaphuli Paper Mills Ltd. (KPML) Expansion: Initiatives have been taken to set up a full-fledged paper mill including afforestation, a Soda Ash and Baking Soda plant, a Sodium Sulfate plant, an Activated Bleaching Earth plant, a Titanium Dioxide plant, a Sulfuric Acid plant, and a Synthetic or Polyester Fiber plant on the KPML premises. The techno-economic feasibility study is complete, and the drafting of the DPP is in progress.
Basic Chemical Factory: An initiative has been taken to establish a Chloro-Alkali and chlorine-related basic chemicals factory on the premises of Chittagong Chemical Complex (CCC).
Insulator and Sanitaryware Plant: Plans are in place to set up an eco-friendly, energy-efficient modern insulator and sanitaryware plant at the Bangladesh Insulator and Sanitaryware Factory Ltd. (BISFL).
WPP Bag Manufacturing: A pre-feasibility study has been completed to establish a WPP bag manufacturing factory as a backward linkage industry at the GPFPLC premises, utilizing existing management, land, and utilities.
New Urea Factory in Bhola: There is an initiative to set up a new urea fertilizer factory in Bhola district. Site selection activities are ongoing following the completion of a pre-feasibility study.
Modern Glass Factory: A pre-feasibility study has been completed for a modern glass factory using advanced technology on 197 acres of unused land adjacent to the Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory.

The minister further mentioned that while the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) does not directly establish industrial enterprises, it creates industrial estates or parks where entrepreneurs set up their own factories.

Currently, there are 83 BSCIC industrial estates or parks across the country, housing 6,223 industrial units.

To eradicate unemployment, the BSCIC will take initiatives to establish more industrial estates/parks based on specific proposals, raw material availability, entrepreneur demand, and the availability of uncultivated, unused, or abandoned land through the district administration, subject to feasibility studies.

Entrepreneurs will be able to establish various industrial units in those locations.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) has retreated from an earlier announcement that the government had set up a formal Private Sector Advisory Council.

Late last night, Bida issued a clarification, hours after a widely shared statement named nine prominent business leaders as the inaugural members of the body.

The Daily Star had reported on the basis of Bida’s original press release, circulated yesterday afternoon.

In the revised message posted on its Facebook page, the authority said the meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was convened to hear observations and recommendations from selected entrepreneurs and to help set priorities for private sector-led growth.

But the authority in the revised message said it was not a formal advisory council of the government or the prime minister.

“The meeting had no organisational or legal basis. However, similar engagements would continue in the future,” said Bida.

In its initial announcement, Bida Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury described the council as “one of the key reforms proposed by Bida”.

The first statement said the nine business leaders who attended yesterday’s meeting had been personally selected by the prime minister to serve on the council.

They were Arif Dowla, managing director of ACI; Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear; Hafizur Rahman Khan, chairman of Runner Group; Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman of PRAN-RFL Group; Ziaur Rahman, managing director of Bay Group; Abdul Muktadir, chairman of Incepta Group; Md Abdul Jabbar, managing director of DBL Group; Sohana Rouf Chowdhury, managing director of Rangs Group; and Syed Mohammad Tanvir, managing director of Pacific Jeans Group.

In its clarification, the authority attributed the confusion to “misleading information circulating on social media” but did not acknowledge that its own press release had announced the council’s formation and named its members.

Nor did it explain why it had made those assertions in the first place, or what had changed in the space of a few hours.

Contacted, Ashik Chowdhury said the original purpose was to create a platform where the prime minister would hear directly from businesses. The prime minister heard from local businesses, especially those in manufacturing.

He said no notification was issued regarding the formation of the advisory council.

“So there is no legal or organisational basis.”

The government seeks to procure another 200,000 tonnes of urea amid supply concerns centring on the unrest in the Middle East. US-Israel’s war on Iran has significantly disrupted the shipment of the major crop nutrient through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles nearly one-third of global fertiliser trade.

State-run Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) floated two separate tenders on April 2, seeking quotations from international suppliers on or before April 16 to supply the input through Chittagong and Mongla ports.

The latest move comes less than a week after the corporation, which runs six urea factories and two non-urea fertiliser factories, issued revised tenders to buy 200,000 tonnes of urea from a wide range of suppliers to build stocks before the start of the major rice crop season, rain-fed Aman.

“We are opening all the windows so that we get the fertiliser wherever possible and in whatever quantity we get,” said BCIC Chairman Md Fazlur Rahman. “But we are preferring government-to-government contracts to tenders to get supplies,”

Except for the state-to-state contract, there is no plan to float any more tenders to procure urea now.

Bangladesh requires over 26 lakh tonnes of the nitrogen-based fertiliser, and three-fourths of urea demand is met through imports as local factories can not operate fully amid gas diversion to other sectors.

The government, early last month, shut five out of six urea factories in the country after the closure of the Hormuz Strait fuelled price hikes due to supply fears from the Gulf, especially Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas.

As of last week, the Bangladesh government had a stock of 373,100 tonnes of urea, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

While there is no supply shortage until June, the country requires a reserve of around 600,000 tonnes of urea ahead of the July-September Aman sowing period, the BCIC chairman said.

Bangladesh imports urea mainly from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, all of which ship fertiliser, gas, and oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

As supply through the shipping chokepoint has shrunk, fertiliser prices have gone up, raising concern over crop yield in the coming seasons. For example, urea surged to $725.6 per tonne in March, up by 54 percent from the pre-war period of $472 a tonne, according to World Bank Commodities Price Data (the Pink Sheet).

The BCIC chief said Saudi Arabia can ship 100,000 tonnes of urea, and his office informed the Foreign Affairs Ministry so that it can receive clearance from Iran regarding shipment through the Strait.

The UAE has informed that it could supply nearly 30,000 tonnes through other routes, he said, adding, “We have kept close communication with Russia and China.”

Officials at the agriculture ministry said the government is exploring all sources to procure both urea and non-urea fertiliser to ensure that crop production is not hampered due to a shortage.

Dhaka Bank PLC has signed a corporate health agreement with Ascent Health Limited, a diagnostic centre in Dhaka, to offer benefits on medical services.

Under the agreement, the bank’s cardholders and employees will receive up to a 30 percent discount on pathological tests, with sample collection available from home or at doctors’ chambers through Ascent Health Limited.

Md Mostaque Ahmed, deputy managing director and chief emerging market officer of the bank, and Anwarul Iqbal, chief executive officer of the diagnostic centre, signed the agreement at the bank’s head office in Dhaka recently, according to a press release.

The agreement also includes access to consultations with experienced doctors across multiple specialties, including internal medicine, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, dermatology, nephrology, neurology, gynaecology and paediatrics.

Bangladesh has moved to buy three additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the spot market for May delivery in its rush to secure supply amid fears of supply cuts from the Gulf region, especially Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters of gas.

With the initiative, the government has floated tenders to buy 12 LNG cargoes from the spot market since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28.

The delivery of nine cargoes for April has been confirmed, though at much higher prices, said a senior official of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL), a state-run entity.

Bangladesh has to pay around $20 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) to buy LNG as prices have surged amid strained supply after the war on Iran began, and the conflict has inflicted damage on production sites and export hubs in the Gulf countries, including the Ras Laffan Industrial City complex in Qatar, which is home to processing units for LNG, according to reports.

Average prices of LNG cargoes were $10–11 per mmbtu during normal market conditions, said the official on condition of anonymity.

The RPGCL invited price proposals in a notice published on its website on April 1, seeking delivery between May 2 and May 9.

Bangladesh currently meets nearly 30 percent of its gas demand through imported LNG, as domestic production falls short of the daily requirement of around 2,650 million cubic feet.

The ongoing war on Iran has disrupted shipments of energy and fertiliser through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 25 to 30 percent of global oil and 20 percent of LNG trade.

This has pushed up global energy prices and intensified competition for supplies among key importing countries.

The dollar ​rose sharply from two straight sessions of losses on Thursday after US President Donald Trump’s speech on Iran ‌undermined market expectations of a swift end to the conflict, renewing a bid for safe-haven assets.

Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran in the next two to three weeks during his televised speech on Wednesday, offering no concrete timeline to open the Strait of Hormuz or end a war that has rattled ​investors and roiled markets.

Iran’s military responded with a warning for the US and Israel of “more crushing, broader and more destructive” ​attacks in store.

The US dollar rose, even against other safe-haven currencies including the Swiss franc and the Japanese yen.

The dollar strengthened 0.6 percent to 0.799 against the Swiss franc .

Against the Japanese yen , the dollar was up 0.5 percent at ​159.57, nearing the psychologically important 160 level that sparks investor worries of intervention by Japanese authorities.

“In the last couple of days there was ​a bit of optimism that the war was going to end soon and President Trump’s address to the nation yesterday sort of undermined that hope,” said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex in New York.

“There’s nothing new that he said; it’s just that he didn’t provide any ​kind of morsels to feed the hope. I think this is the only fundamental right now that matters. If you think ​the war is going to end soon, you buy risk. If you think that it’s not going to end soon, you sell risk.”

The euro fell ‌0.45 percent to $1.1536 while sterling slid 0.63 percent to $1.3222 , with both giving up some recent gains.

The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, climbed 0.46 percent to 100.02.

Just as when oil spills, a shortage seeps slowly. Fallout from a blocked Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries 20 percent of ​the world’s supply, will spread steadily across the planet.

The directional part is simple. Because days in transit ‌cost money, ships prioritize geographically closer markets. Some 80 percent of oil flowing through the Strait goes to Asia, according to the International Energy Agency. About 95 percent of Japan’s oil imports come from the Middle East. Tankers that left the Gulf on February 27, the day before the ​United States and Israel attacked Iran, reached those ports.

Pain radiates from there. Exports to Europe are smaller, with ​even less destined to the Americas. Once these shipments stop, however, price signals will brighten. A gallon of US diesel retails for $5.49, the American Automobile Association says. Although it’s 46 percent higher than a month ago, ​it pales next to places like Singapore, where it’s now more than $15 a gallon. Coastal US producers are already exporting higher ​quantities, causing local prices to rise.

Jet fuel is getting hit hard and other refined products are next in line. Gulf countries have been adding facilities to convert crude into feedstocks, lubricants and more. Many can no longer ship overseas. The Middle East, for example, exported more ​than $10 billion of kerosene tailored for aircraft engines last year. Much of it is now inaccessible, leaving big importers like ​Europe critically short of supplies. Prices have more than doubled, even faster than Brent crude. For unhedged airlines, their expenses will rise 25 percent, ‌based on IEA figures and current prices.

Furthermore, Mideast crude tends to be denser and contains more impurities, making it cheaper. Asian plants are generally equipped to refine it. They must now pay up for pricier light, sweet oil, and probably generate less output.

The goods that can be made also will vary. While refineries have some wiggle room, a barrel of WTI, the US oil ​benchmark, generates significantly more heavy ​naphtha, the main precursor to gasoline, than Arabian Heavy. And heavy oil can be turned into more asphalt and ship fuel. US producers are being signaled to drill more, which will translate into proportionally extra ​gasoline, leaving other customers wanting.

US truckers are bound to feel the pinch more severely than ​car drivers. Removing so much crude from the system, however, will push up prices far and wide. Whether it’s transportation, manufacturing or farming, big users of oil and its byproducts will all suffer. The impact is just a matter of how much and when.

US and ​Israeli attacks on Iran that started on February 28 have led to ​the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil and refined products, to nearly all shipping traffic.

Gold fell sharply from two-week highs on Thursday after US ‌President Donald Trump said that Washington would continue its military campaign in Iran in the coming weeks, driving oil prices higher and dampening hopes of interest rate cuts.

Spot gold declined over 2.8 percent at $4,622.59 per ounce, as of 0719 ​GMT, after falling over 4 percent earlier and snapping a four-day winning streak. US gold futures slid ​3.4 percent to $4,649.

The pullback followed bullion’s climb to its highest level since March 19, before Trump’s remarks.

In a prime-time address, Trump said the US would carry out aggressive strikes on Iran ​and was nearing “completion of its main strategic objectives” in the conflict. It disappointed investors who had hoped ​for clearer signals of an end to hostilities.

Prilink Securities, a brokerage firm at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, plans to sell 7 lakh shares of SME-listed Craftsman Footwear and Accessories, a shoe manufacturer and exporter, worth Tk2.35 crore.

In a disclosure, Prilink Securities, which is a placement shareholder of Craftsman and acquired its shares during the company's listing through a Qualified Investor Offer, expressed its intention to sell the shares.

Last month, the brokerage also announced plans to sell 10 lakh shares. Today, Craftsman Footwear shares rose 2.74% to close at Tk33.70 on the DSE.

Craftsman Footwear raised Tk5 crore in 2024 by issuing shares at Tk10 each for expansion, working capital, and loan repayment. The disclosure also said Md Zahirul Islam and Md Abu Syed Titu are directors of the company and also chairman and managing director of Prilink Securities.

The export-oriented company has two production units for local and export markets. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, it reported revenue of Tk76.76 crore, with 97% from exports worth Tk74.36 crore.

The company made a profit of Tk4.32 crore, down from Tk5.44 crore a year earlier, and declared a 10.50% cash dividend. As of December 2025, sponsor-directors held 45.22% of its 2.8 crore shares, institutional investors 32%, and the general public 22.78%, according to DSE data.