China managed to add a small volume of crude oil to inventories in July, as weak refinery processing outweighed a sharp drop in imports.

China’s surplus crude for July amounted to 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) and came after the world’s biggest oil importer drew on stockpiles in both May and June amid supply constraints caused by the Iran conflict.

The return to a surplus in China’s crude availability in July comes as a surprise given the huge decline in imports, with seaborne arrivals of oil down more than 3 million bpd from levels prior to the conflict. This had seen China’s refiners draw on stockpiles by about 940,000 bpd in June and 500,000 bpd in May.

China does not disclose the volumes of crude flowing into or out of its strategic and commercial stockpiles, but an estimate can be made by deducting the amount of oil processed from the total crude available from imports and domestic output.

On this basis, crude oil imports of 8.41 million bpd and domestic output of 4.3 million bpd mean refiners had a total of 12.72 million bpd available.

China’s refiners processed 12.51 million bpd in July, according to official data released on Monday, down 15.8 percent from the same month last year and only marginally above the 12.47 million bpd from June.

Subtracting the July throughput from the total crude available leaves a surplus of about 210,000 bpd available for storage.

For the first seven months of the year China has added about 480,000 bpd to stockpiles after strong imports in the first quarter boosted the surplus of available crude.

What the numbers show is that China has not really had to tap its vast oil inventories, estimated to contain at least 1.2 billion barrels, despite dramatically cutting its crude imports since the start of the Iran war.

Since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28 shipments of crude and refined products through the Strait of Hormuz have been constrained as Iran attacked vessels, partly as retaliation but also to gain leverage for any eventual peace settlement.

Just under 20 percent of the world’s crude oil passed through the narrow waterway prior to the war, and while the volumes getting through now are disputed, even the most optimistic figures from the US government still point to a current loss of about 5 million bpd from the Middle East from pre-conflict levels.

CHINA ADJUSTS

China’s imports of 8.41 million bpd in July were up from the decade-low of 7.12 million in June, but were still more than 3 million bpd below pre-war levels.

To compensate for the lower imports, China has cut refinery processing rates, but they are still at levels sufficient to meet domestic demand.

China has instead cut exports of refined products, with shipments of 4.65 million metric tons in July being only marginally higher than the 4.36 million tons in June.

For the first seven months of the year fuel exports dropped 13.1 percent to 28.25 million metric tons, according to customs data.

Beijing placed restrictions on fuel exports shortly after the start of the Iran war, a measure aimed at ensuring domestic supply, but also one that allowed China to dramatically cut crude imports without dipping too far into stockpiles.

Beijing is easing restrictions on fuel exports for a second month in August, a move that will allow refiners to capture the elevated margins in Asia for diesel and gasoline.

However, allowing more fuel exports does lead to the question as to whether China will seek to lift crude imports, a move that may lead to higher prices given the ongoing supply disruptions from the Middle East.

China’s seaborne crude imports are estimated at 7.0 million bpd in August by commodity analysts Kpler, slightly higher than the 6.98 million recorded for July.

It’s likely that the August figure will be revised higher as more cargoes are assessed, but it is still certain to be well below the average of 11.52 million bpd for seaborne arrivals in the three months to end February.

This means that for August China is continuing to act as the main force absorbing the restricted crude supply from the Middle East.

Capital-machinery imports, crucial for setting up factories and expanding production, take an average of 13.3 days to clear through Chattogram port, with more than half of that time being consumed before customs even receives the Bill of Entry (B/E), according to a latest analysis by Chattogram Customs House.

The findings were presented recently to Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at a meeting at the CCH.

A one-day delay in cargo clearance is estimated to result in a 1.0 per cent loss of trade, according to research cited in the presentation.

There has long been a blame game over delays at Chattogram port, with customs, importers, C&F agents and port authorities frequently pointing fingers at one another.

Veteran businessman Md Fazlul Hoque, administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), however, rejected the allegation that importers deliberately delay clearance.

Importers have little reason to delay the process as they have to pay storage charges, he said, adding that, except in cases of cash-flow shortages, manufacturers would not want to prolong the clearance process.

The cost of the delays, however, is ultimately borne by businesses and consumers, as prolonged clearance of machinery can postpone factory commissioning, capacity expansion and new investment while adding to production and logistics costs.

A port operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said customs authorities often create complications in releasing capital machinery by assigning separate HS codes to parts.

He cited the example of a tractor import whose battery was assessed separately as dangerous goods, resulting in duties several times higher than the import price.

As a result, the importer could not take delivery of the goods.

At the meeting, CCH officials proposed extensive consultations with stakeholders to identify the underlying causes of delays and prepare a time-bound action plan to improve port efficiency.

Harun Rashid, CEO and country head of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, said efficient shipping lines always try to expedite cargo clearance so that vessels can move on to their next destinations.

Shipping charges incurred because of delays are not particularly high compared with the cost of keeping a vessel idle, he said.

According to the CCH analysis, capital machinery requires the longest clearance time among the major categories examined. Commercial goods and toys take 11.6 days, while food items require 11.1 days on average.

Importers and C&F agents account for around 75 per cent of the total clearance time, compared with 14 per cent for the port and 8.0 per cent for customs, according to the paper.

Former chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Syed Mohammad Arif said delays may stem from confusion over HS codes or problems involving C&F agents.

Some importers intentionally allow the clearance process to become complicated, making CCH appear to be a bottleneck, he said.

Instances of capital machinery being released within four days at the port are rare, he added.

Sometimes importers fail to provide valid Bills of Lading or have outstanding payments to suppliers, preventing shipping agents from issuing the necessary documents, Arif said.

The CCH document said even businesses entitled to green-channel clearance as Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) face clearance times of more than 11 days, despite customs assessment being conducted automatically through ASYCUDA World.

Nicholas Kallol Halder, senior executive in supply chain management at Square Pharmaceuticals, said around 40 per cent of the company's goods currently enjoy automatic customs assessment under the AEO facility.

The remaining 60 per cent still goes through scrutiny, he said.

"We applied for an upgrade to the upper tier of AEO in January, but it is still awaiting approval from the customs authorities," Halder said.

Machinery imports directly determine when a new factory can begin production or when an existing facility can expand its capacity.

To facilitate the import of capital machinery, the government offers a concessional import tax rate, with customs duty set at 1.0 per cent to support manufacturing growth.

The CCH has proposed greater use of pre-arrival processing (PAP) to address the problem. The system has proved a game changer in reducing port clearance time in India.

Under the proposed approach, much of the administrative work would be completed before cargo arrives at the port.

The analysis suggests that moving around 9.4 days of administrative work to the pre-arrival stage could reduce post-arrival clearance time to only 3.9 days.

A customs official said delays could not be fully addressed unless banking documents were automated and e-auctions, electronic seals and electronic locks were used more widely.

The CCH also reported progress in customs enforcement. Between January and June 2026, customs scanned 278,732 containers and detected 81 suspect consignments.

It also suspended or "locked" around 120 consignments a month based on intelligence, with prohibited goods such as drugs, liquor and cigarettes detected in a significant share of those cases.

The number of auctionable containers also declined to 654 in 2025 from 1,175 in 2024.

The Customs House handles around 85 per cent of Bangladesh's total trade. In FY 2023-24, it collected Tk 81,471 crore, equivalent to around one-fifth of the National Board of Revenue's total collection.

The port processes about 2,205 import Bills of Entry a day and handles around 35 lakh TEUs of containers annually.

It will take at least two years to fully fix Bangladesh’s power and gas shortages, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said yesterday.

The government had inherited major infrastructure problems in the sector, he said at an event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at InterContinental Dhaka.

Resolving the problems would take time, the minister said, but the government was working to address them as quickly as possible. “We are not wasting a single moment on this.”

Khosru said the economy could not move forward without adequate electricity and gas.

“Everyone has talked about the electricity and gas shortages. We are struggling with these problems, and we are dealing with them now. I must admit that these are also problems we inherited from the past,” he said.

Regarding gas supply, he said decisions on floating liquefied natural gas terminals and onshore storage facilities were being finalised and would be announced within the next few days.

According to the minister, Bangladesh can generate a large amount of electricity, but inadequate transmission capacity has become a major problem.

The government is also reviewing its power generation policy and energy mix, he said. The mix would include renewable energy and gas-based power, while coal would remain an option.

“We are moving towards an integrated energy mix, and we have more or less finalised the combination,” he said, expressing hope for major improvements in the electricity and gas sectors.

Khosru also said deregulation was a major priority of the current budget, although implementing it in a highly regulated country like Bangladesh was challenging.

The government has formed a task force to oversee the process and launched a website where businesses and citizens can report bureaucratic obstacles and non-compliance, he said.

On taxation, he said the government was working to address longstanding corruption and harassment. It has decided to separate tax policy-making from tax administration at the National Board of Revenue.

An expert group will develop tax policies based on their impact on taxpayers and revenue collection, he said. The government is also moving towards full automation, including real-time online tax returns and rebates.

Khosru said the banking sector also required urgent attention as many banks are facing severe capital shortages and high levels of non-performing loans, leaving some depositors unable to withdraw their money and businesses struggling to secure working capital.

Recapitalising the banks will be difficult because the losses are too large for the government to cover through the budget alone, he said.

“We are therefore exploring a combination of government support and foreign fund management to stabilise and resolve the problems in the banking sector,” he added.

US INVESTMENT

Also speaking at the event, AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal said its members included major businesses and investors in power, energy, financial services, the digital economy, healthcare and information and communications technology.

Together, these companies contribute more than 20 percent of the country’s tax revenue, he claimed.

Kamal said American companies had invested around $5 billion in Bangladesh over the past 20 years.

AmCham members also aim to invest another $5 billion in the country over the next four and a half to five years, he said.

He identified advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, life sciences, renewable energy, financial services and semiconductors as sectors with strong investment potential.

The key challenge now, according to him, is to turn Bangladesh’s potential and policy reforms into lasting investor confidence and actual investment.

The AmCham president also said reforms must be implemented consistently to build investor confidence.

He stated that the government had completed its first six months as of yesterday, during which there had been considerable discussion about reforms and deregulation.

He said steps such as creating a more predictable tax regime were positive, but investors needed to see consistent implementation.

Macroeconomic conditions directly affect businesses through financing costs, consumer demand and investment efficiency, he said.

According to Kamal, investors have three key and interconnected priorities: energy, finance and predictability.

Business leaders have called for a simpler, faster and hassle-free process for issuing and renewing trade licences, saying recent increases in trade licence and signboard fees are placing additional financial pressure on businesses.

They also urged the authorities to regulate different types of vehicles, including battery-run autorickshaws, and enforce traffic laws effectively to ease traffic congestion in the capital.

They made the demands at a view-exchange meeting jointly organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Dhaka yesterday (16 August).

Anger over fee hikes

Speaking at the meeting, former DCCI Vice President Abdus Salam said the initial fee for a trade licence was only Tk50, but the renewal fee has now risen to several thousand taka. Signboard fees have also increased significantly.

He urged the administration to ensure a hassle-free business atmosphere and consider traders' ability to pay when setting trade licenses and other fees.

Traders present at the event said they paid Tk7,800 to renew their trade licence last year, but the fee increased to Tk10,000 this year.. They also said their signboard fee increased from Tk6, 640 to Tk9,000.

The traders said businesses are still struggling to return to normal operations, while higher trade licence and signboard fees are adding to their financial burden.

Long delays in receiving renewed trade licences

Moulvibazar Traders Association President Md Ali Bhuiyan said Dhaka South officials collected outstanding trade licence fees from traders in June, but many have yet to receive their renewed licences nearly three months later.

He said the DSCC administrator was sincere in addressing traders' concerns, but field-level officials were not acting with sufficient urgency.

Trade licence process to be automated, five-year validity planned

Dhaka South Chief Executive Officer Md Khoybor Rahman said there are currently 246,180 trade licences under the corporation's jurisdiction.

Against a revenue collection target of Tk150 crore for FY26, DSCC collected Tk115 crore, he said. The collection target for the current fiscal year has also been set at Tk150 crore.

Khoybor said trade licences are important legal documents for businesses and the issuance process will be made simpler, more transparent and accountable. Steps are also being taken to automate the system, he added.

DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said arrangements would soon be made to allow traders and citizens to renew trade licences once every five years instead of annually.

The renewal process will also be made faster, easier and fully digital, he said. "Trade licences must be issued on the day of application. No delays will be tolerated."

Demand for equal enforcement of traffic laws

On traffic congestion, traders called for measures to control the number of autorickshaws on Dhaka's roads. They urged stricter regulation and safer, quality public transport.

Business leaders said private car owners face legal action for not wearing seatbelts, while similar enforcement is rare against CNG-run autorickshaws, rickshaws and other vehicles.

They also raised safety concerns over autorickshaws fitted with metal rod bumpers, which can endanger pedestrians, and called for stricter enforcement of traffic rules.

DMP Additional Commissioner Md Masud Karim said police are working to modernise law enforcement and traffic management to create a business-friendly environment.

Bangladesh’s garment industry must accelerate its shift to cleaner energy as rising power costs, dwindling gas supplies and tougher climate rules increasingly threaten the sector’s competitiveness, according to a new study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Greater use of renewable energy and more efficient machinery could help factories cut energy costs while meeting growing environmental requirements in key export markets, the study found. The findings were presented yesterday at a national dialogue on industrial decarbonisation at BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka.

The study drew on data from 350 RMG factories and 65 types of machinery across eight production categories.

It identified rooftop solar as a clear opportunity, which can potentially lower electricity costs and reduce factories’ exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.

Average monthly energy expenditure among surveyed factories stood at Tk 9.98 lakh. Meeting 30 percent of energy needs through solar could cut costs to Tk 8.46 lakh, a 15.7 percent saving, the study found.

Machinery upgrades offer another opportunity, it noted. Cutting machines represent only 5.5 percent of installed capacity but could generate 27 percent of potential replacement savings. Sewing machines account for about 85 percent of machine stock but offer less than 3 percent savings potential. Smaller factories, however, face financing constraints and older machinery.

Speaking at the event, Asif Shahriar, assistant vice-president of Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL), said limited financing capacity, a shortage of capable renewable energy service companies and the absence of standardised investment assessments are holding back industrial adoption.

Smaller factories often struggle to access financing because individual projects are too small for conventional financing models. He suggested grouping several small projects and financing them together.

Asif also backed operating expense, or OPEX-based, models in which third parties install and operate renewable energy systems while factories pay for the service, reducing the need for large upfront investments.

Fazle Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said European decarbonisation requirements leave Bangladesh with little room for delay.

He noted that Bangladesh is already behind several competing garment-producing countries in renewable energy use.

He said incentives often look better on paper than they work in practice. Even his LEED-certified platinum factory has not received the full benefit of a promised tax incentive because of how income tax is collected and adjusted.

“If the incentive does not reduce the actual tax burden, then what is the point of giving it?” he asked.

He also cautioned against assuming every industrial process can simply be electrified. New industrial zones should instead be planned around shared energy infrastructure, including steam generated as a by-product of power plants.

For existing factories, rooftop solar and efficient machinery offer quicker options, but both require financing and regulatory changes. “Funds are available, but they are not accessible enough,” Fazle Shamim said.

Mostafa Al Mahmud, president of the Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association, also criticised taxes on solar panels, batteries and other equipment.

Bangladesh now needs an emergency response in the energy sector, said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at CPD.

Gas reserves are nearing depletion, while new exploration has not kept pace with demand. Industries will therefore need alternatives for gas-dependent boilers, diesel-based transport and irrigation.

The challenge extends beyond factories and financiers, pointed out Shamim Munir Uddin, director of the Ethical Trading Initiative.

Workers should also be involved in improving energy and resource efficiency through training and greater awareness at the factory level, he said, calling for closer scrutiny of how automation is affecting energy consumption.

Policy remains a critical piece of the puzzle. Shamim Munir Uddin pointed out that factories importing renewable energy equipment are subject to around 15 percent VAT and 2 percent advance tax, creating a combined burden of roughly 17 percent.

Such measures can work against the government’s own renewable energy goals, he said.

Vidiya Amrit Khan, vice-president of BGMEA, said Bangladesh’s garment industry risks losing competitiveness if it fails to become more sustainable.

European regulations increasingly require detailed reporting on carbon emissions, energy use, water consumption and chemical discharge. Such requirements are expected to become more consequential for exporters by 2030, she said.

The biggest obstacle may be policy rather than technology, Vidiya said, with high financing costs, collateral requirements and proposed charges on open-access renewable power potentially making clean energy more expensive than conventional power. That could discourage investment, she added.

অন্যদিকে বড়পুকুরিয়া খনি থেকে উত্তোলন করা কয়লার পুরোটাই ব্যবহার হয় ওই এলাকায় স্থাপিত তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রে। সরকার জ্বালানি ঘাটতি মেটাতে দিনাজপুরের ফুলবাড়ী খনি থেকে কয়লা উত্তোলনের কথা জানিয়েছে। এ খনি থেকে উত্তোলন শুরু হলে বছরে ১৫ মিলিয়ন বা দেড় কোটি টন কয়লা পাওয়া যাবে বলে বড়পুকুরিয়া কোল মাইনিং কোম্পানি লিমিটেড (বিসিএমসিএল) সূত্রে জানা গেছে। জ্বালানি বিভাগের নীতিনির্ধারকরা জানিয়েছেন, সেক্ষেত্রে দেশে স্থাপিত তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রগুলোর জন্য আমদানি করা কয়লা চাহিদার ৭৫ শতাংশই স্থানীয় উৎস থেকে মেটানো যাবে। তাদের মতে, এতে একদিকে যেমন বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনে গ্যাসের চাপ কমবে, তেমনি সাশ্রয় হবে বিপুল পরিমাণ বৈদেশিক মুদ্রা। কমবে আমদানিনির্ভরতার ঝুঁকি।

দেশের জ্বালানি ও বিদ্যুৎ সংকট মোকাবেলায় সরকার ১০ বছর মেয়াদি একটি পরিকল্পনা প্রকাশ করবে। পরিকল্পনাটি এ মাসে জাতীয় সংসদে তুলে ধরা হবে বলে জানা গেছে। এতে স্থানীয় কয়লা উত্তোলন নীতির বিষয়টিও থাকবে বলে নির্ভরযোগ্য সূত্রগুলো জানিয়েছে। পূর্ণাঙ্গ জ্বালানি নীতি আগামী দুই থেকে তিন সপ্তাহের মধ্যে প্রকাশ করা হবে বলে জানিয়েছেন অর্থমন্ত্রী আমির খসরু মাহমুদ চৌধুরী। আমেরিকান চেম্বার অব কমার্স ইন বাংলাদেশ (অ্যামচেম) আয়োজিত গতকাল এক সভায় অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, ‘দুর্ভাগ্যজনকভাবে এখন আমরা কয়লার উত্তোলনের দিকে যাচ্ছি। ফুলবাড়ী ও অন্যান্য স্থানে উন্মুক্ত পদ্ধতিতে কয়লা উত্তোলনে এগোতে হচ্ছে। কারণ আমাদের সামনে অন্য কোনো বিকল্প নেই। বিদ্যুৎ ও জ্বালানি মিশ্রণের বিষয়ে আমরা মোটামুটি সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছি। আগামী দুই-তিন সপ্তাহের মধ্যে পূর্ণাঙ্গ জ্বালানি নীতি দেয়া হবে।’

দেশে ফুলবাড়ী কয়লা খনিতে ৫৭২ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লার মজুদ রয়েছে। এ খনি থেকে ৪৭২ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা উত্তোলন করা যাবে। বিসিএমসিএলের কর্মকর্তাদের সঙ্গে কথা বলে জানা গেছে, বছরে ফুলবাড়ী খনি থেকে ১৫ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা উত্তোলন করা যাবে। দেশে ছয়টি কয়লাভিত্তিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের জন্য বছরে ২০ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা আমদানি হচ্ছে। ফলে ফুলবাড়ী থেকে বছরে ১৫ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা পাওয়া গেলে তা দিয়ে দেশের তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রগুলোর জন্য আমদানি করা কয়লার ৭৫ শতাংশ চাহিদা পূরণ করা যাবে। বর্তমানে ফুলবাড়ী খনির ফিজিবিলিটি স্টাডি প্রস্তুত অবস্থায় রয়েছে বলে জানা গেছে।

নাম অপ্রকাশিত রাখার শর্তে বিসিএমসিএলের এক কর্মকর্তা বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, ‘ফুলবাড়ী কয়লা খনিতে ২৪০ মিটার মাটির নিচেই কয়লা, যা খুব কাছাকাছি। বছরে এ খনি থেকে বছরে ১৫ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা পাওয়া যাবে, যা দিয়ে কয়লাভিত্তিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের জন্য আমদানি কয়লার ৭৫ শতাংশ জ্বালানি চাহিদা মেটানো যাবে। সরকার কয়লা উত্তোলনে চূড়ান্ত সিদ্ধান্ত নিলে এবং যাবতীয় কাজ শেষ করতে পারলে এ খনি থেকে পূর্ণ সক্ষমতায় কয়লা উত্তোলন করতে পাঁচ বছর সময় লাগবে।’

দেশের পাঁচটি খনির মধ্যে বর্তমানে শুধু বড়পুকুরিয়া খনি থেকে কয়লা উত্তোলন করা হচ্ছে। এ খনি থেকে বছরে সাত লাখ টন কয়লা উত্তোলন করছে চীনা কনসোর্টিয়াম এক্সএমসি-সিএমসি। বিসিএমসিএল সূত্রে জানা গেছে, ফুলবাড়ী কয়লা খনি কারিগরিভাবে প্রস্তুত রয়েছে। এ খনি থেকে কয়লা উত্তোলনে কমপ্রিহেনসিভ ফিজিবিলিটি স্টাডি করা হয়েছে। ৫৭২ মিলিয়ন টন মজুদ থাকা কয়লার মধ্যে ৪৭২ মিলিয়ন টন উত্তোলন করা যাবে।

দেশে স্থাপিত কয়লাভিত্তিক সাতটি বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের সক্ষমতা ৭ হাজার ৩১২ মেগাওয়াট। বড়পুকুরিয়া তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র বাদে বাকি ছয়টি বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের জন্য বছরে অন্তত ২০ মিলিয়ন টন কয়লা আমদানি করতে হয় বিপিডিবিকে। এ কয়লার স্থানীয় বাজার মূল্য প্রায় দেড় হাজার কোটি টাকা। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের হিসাব অনুযায়ী, ২০২৪-২৫ অর্থবছরে দেশে কয়লা আমদানির ঋণপত্র (এলসি) নিষ্পত্তি হয় ১১৯ কোটি ১১ লাখ ডলারের। প্রতি ডলার ১২২ টাকা ধরলে বাংলাদেশী মুদ্রায় এ কয়লা আমদানি মূল্য ১৪ হাজার ৫৩১ কোটি টাকা।

দেশে বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন সক্ষমতায় কয়লাভিত্তিক কেন্দ্রগুলোর হিস্যা (আমদানিসহ) ২৮ শতাংশ। বর্তমানে বিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের চাহিদা প্রায় ১৭ হাজার মেগাওয়াট। জ্বালানি খাতসংশ্লিষ্টরা বলছেন, স্থানীয় কয়লা উত্তোলন করে পূর্ণ সক্ষমতায় এসব বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র চালানো গেলে আমদানি ব্যয় কমানোর পাশাপাশি গ্যাসভিত্তিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের ওপর অতিমাত্রায় নির্ভরতা কমবে।

দেশে গ্যাসভিত্তিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্রের সক্ষমতা ১২ হাজার ৪৭২ মেগাওয়াট। গ্যাস সংকটের কারণে বিপুল এ সক্ষমতার অর্ধেকও উৎপাদন করতে পারছে না বাংলাদেশ বিদ্যুৎ উন্নয়ন বোর্ড। অন্যদিকে কয়লা আমদানি করে পূর্ণ সক্ষমতা তাপবিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র চালানোর অর্থও নেই সংস্থাটির কাছে। ফলে দেশের কয়লা উত্তোলন করে বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র চালানো গেলে তা আর্থিকভাবে যেমন সাশ্রয়ী হবে, তেমনি নিরবচ্ছিন্ন উৎপাদনেরও নিশ্চয়তা দেবে। তবে তার আগে সরকারকে চূড়ান্ত সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে হবে বলে মনে করেন জ্বালানি বিশেষজ্ঞরা। জ্বালানি বিশেষজ্ঞ ও ইনডিপেনডেন্ট ইউনিভার্সিটির অধ্যাপক ম. তামিম বলেন, ‘দেশের কয়লা উত্তোলনে চূড়ান্ত সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে হলে নিরপেক্ষ সমীক্ষা প্রয়োজন। আমি মনে করি আমাদের এ পুরো কয়লা উত্তোলনের ব্যবস্থাপনাটা ভালোভাবে তৃতীয় কোনো পক্ষ, যার কোনো স্বার্থ নেই, এ রকম কাউকে দিয়ে পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষা করা দরকার। তারা যদি বলে যে এটার ঝুঁকি সীমিত আকারে এবং সে ঝুঁকি সামলানো সম্ভব হবে, কোনো সমস্যা হবে না, তাহলে আমরা এগিয়ে যেতে পারি। আর যদি বলে ঝুঁকি অনেক বেশি, তাহলে আমরা দেশীয় কয়লা উত্তোলনের চিন্তা সম্পূর্ণ পরিত্যাগ করতে পারি। ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং চ্যালেঞ্জকে ভয় পেলে চলে না। পৃথিবীর কোনো বড় প্রজেক্ট, মেগা প্রজেক্ট ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং চ্যালেঞ্জ ছাড়া হয়নি।’

দেশীয় কয়লা উত্তোলনে বিষয়ে পেট্রোবাংলার পরিকল্পনা কী সেই বিষয়ে সংস্থাটির চেয়ারম্যান মো. আব্দুল মান্নানের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগের চেষ্টা করেও তাকে পাওয়া যায়নি।

বিষয়টি নিয়ে জানতে চাইলে পেট্রোবাংলার পরিচালক (পিএসসি ও অপারেশন অ্যান্ড মাইনস) প্রকৌশলী মো. শোয়েব বণিক বার্তাকে বলেন, ‘বড়পুকুরিয়া খনি থেকে কয়লা উত্তোলন কাজ চলমান রয়েছে। ওই এলাকায় বেশকিছু স্টাডি রয়েছে। স্টাডির ওপর ভিত্তি করে কয়লা উত্তোলনের কার্যক্রম গ্রহণের পরিকল্পনা রয়েছে। তবে এ মুহূর্তে বড়পুকুরিয়া কয়লা খনির সেন্ট্রাল পার্টের উত্তর পাশে আরো ৩০০ একর ভূমি অধিগ্রহণ প্রক্রিয়াধীন রয়েছে। কোল মাইনিং ডিজাইনের জন্য শিগগিরই ছয়টি বোর হোল খনন শুরু হবে। ডিজাইন অনুযায়ী পরবর্তী সময়ে কয়লা উত্তোলনের উদ্যোগ গ্রহণ করা হবে।’

দেশে মোট পাঁচটি কয়লা খনি রয়েছে। এর মধ্যে সবচেয়ে বেশি কয়লা মজুদ রয়েছে জয়পুরহাটের জামালগঞ্জে। এ খনিতে কয়লার মজুদ রয়েছে ৫ হাজার ৪৫০ মিলিয়ন টন। রংপুরের খালাশপীরে মজুদ রয়েছে ৬৮৫ মিলিয়ন টন। দিনাজপুরের দিঘিপাড়ায় ৭০৬ মিলিয়ন টন এবং বড়পুকুরিয়ায় ৪১০ মিলিয়ন টন। দেশের বিপুল পরিমাণ এ কয়লা সম্পদ উত্তোলন নিয়ে বিভিন্ন সরকার কোনো সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে পারেনি।

এর আগে ফুলবাড়ী খনিতে কয়লা উত্তোলনের উদ্যোগ নেয়া হলে ২০০৬ সালের আগস্টে সেখানকার স্থানীয়রা আন্দোলন করেন। এ আন্দোলনটি হয় কৃষিজমির ক্ষতি, পরিবেশ বিপর্যয়, বাস্তুচ্যুতির আশঙ্কা, রফতানি ও বিদেশী কোম্পানিকে কাজ দেয়ার বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ হিসেবে। এক পর্যায়ে এ আন্দোলন তীব্র হলে আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনীর গুলিতে তিনজন নিহত ও বহু মানুষ আহত হন।

জ্বালানি খাতসংশ্লিষ্টরা বলছেন, স্থানীয় মানুষের চাহিদা, জীবনমান ও ক্ষতিপূরণ নিশ্চিত করা এবং দেশের বৃহৎ স্বার্থের বিষয়টি তাদের সামনে সঠিকভাবে উপস্থাপন করা গেলে এ প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ ব্যবহার করার সুযোগ রয়েছে।

Struggling non-bank financial institution Midas Financing PLC is facing a severe liquidity crunch to meet depositors' requirements, highlighting an urgent need for adequate liquidity arrangements to restore customer confidence, according to its statutory auditor.

In the auditor's report for the year ended 31 December 2025, AKM Kamrul Islam, managing partner of Islam Aftab Kamrul & Co, Chartered Accountants, highlighted critical financial distress under an "Emphasis of Matter" paragraph.

The report revealed that Midas Financing holds lease, loan, and advance portfolios totalling Tk788.82 crore. Of this amount, non-performing or classified loans stand at Tk432.47 crore – accounting for over 54% of its total loan book – while unclassified loans account for Tk356.35 crore.

To cover potential losses, the Bangladesh Bank mandated a provision shortfall of Tk25.98 crore against 41 individual lease, loan, and advance accounts, along with Tk6 crore in other general provisions.

Following an appeal by the non-bank financial institution, the central bank issued a letter on 22 June 2023, allowing Midas Financing to adjust the provision shortfall over five years starting from 2022.

The financial statement highlights significant capital and operational erosion. For 2025, the institution reported a net interest loss of Tk46.87 crore, a total operating loss of Tk46.36 crore, and a massive net loss after tax reaching Tk335.29 crore.

Furthermore, its Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio faces a shortfall of Tk350.07 crore, leaving shareholders' equity in the negative at Tk266.01 crore as of 31 December 2025.

The auditor also noted a compliance lapse regarding Tk9.61 lakh presented under unclaimed dividend payables, which contradicts Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission directives requiring unclaimed dividends to be reported as a separate line item.

Bangladesh Bank has approved the opening of Letters of Credit (LCs) for SS Power through Rupali Bank with a 100% cash margin until 31 December 2027.

The central bank published a gazette notification today (16 August) in this regard.

A senior Bangladesh Bank official told The Business Standard that the central bank had sent a proposal to the finance ministry seeking approval to allow the LCs to be opened. Following the ministry's approval, Bangladesh Bank issued the gazette notification.

SS Power can now open LCs to import coal, subject to certain conditions. Bangladesh Bank will not bear any liability arising from the exemption, and the company will not be eligible to seek financial assistance from the central bank.

70% of SS Power One Limited (Banshkhali coal-fired power plant) is owned by Bangladesh's S Alam Group, while the remaining 30% is owned by a Chinese company.

"SS Power itself is not a loan defaulter. However, its owner is now classified as a defaulter, which has resulted in the group being treated as a defaulter as well," the Bangladesh Bank official said.

He said SS Power is a power-generation company, and therefore the finance ministry and Bangladesh Bank have taken the decision with a view to ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.

The dollar fell on Friday after data showed US retail sales unexpectedly declined in July, helping send the euro and sterling to multi-month highs, as traders weighed Federal Reserve policy.

Retail sales dropped 0.6 percent last month after an unrevised 0.2 percent gain in June.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, which are mostly goods and are not adjusted for inflation, edging up 0.1 percent.

“We are clearly having signs of poor consumption,” said Juan Perez, director of trading at Monex USA in Washington.

“This evidence is clearly showing that there is an economic slowdown in the United States.”

Softer-than-expected consumer and producer price inflation data this week has already tempered expectations that the Fed will raise rates at its September 15-16 meeting.

Traders are now pricing in just a 31 percent probability of a September hike, alongside a 69 percent chance of a rate increase by December.

Concerns over the labor market have deepened as well, after July’s payrolls report showed employers unexpectedly shed jobs last month.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, fell 0.25 percent to 99.67.

The euro rose 0.32 percent to $1.1564 and got to $1.1585, the highest since June 17.

Sterling strengthened 0.33 percent to $1.353. It reached $1.3561, the highest since May 12.

Traders are also focused on the US conflict with Iran and efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Crude oil prices climbed on Friday over renewed attacks on tankers and a war of words between the Trump administration and Iran’s leadership.

The Japanese yen strengthened 0.08 percent to 159.37 per dollar.

It is on track for a weekly decline of around 1 percent as the effects of recent US and Japanese intervention continued to fade.

That has left traders betting that either a rate hike or another round of official buying will be needed to arrest the currency’s slide.

The government has formed a 12-member committee to oversee the development of Bangladesh’s tea industry, which is facing financial strain from years of losses, high borrowing costs, falling exports, rising production expenses and low productivity.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a notification yesterday forming the Monitoring and Advisory Committee, with the commerce minister as its chairman.

The committee’s terms of reference cover three main areas.

As per the notification, first, it will make recommendations on rescheduling classified loans held by tea garden owners and extending fresh loans to ease repayment of their existing debts.

Second, it will provide its opinion on establishing a revolving fund for the tea sector at a 6 percent interest rate.

Third, it will examine the possibility of officially declaring tea an agricultural product and commercially installing solar panels on unused tea garden land, and submit a report with its recommendations within the next 30 days.

The committee’s members include the principal secretary to the prime minister, the governor of Bangladesh Bank, the land secretary, the finance secretary, the agriculture secretary, the chairman of the National Board of Revenue, the chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board, and the chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Association.

In addition, M Wahidul Haque, former chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Association, and the chairman of the Tea Brokers Association of Bangladesh have also been included as members. The commerce secretary will serve as the member secretary of the committee.

In early June this year, a government taskforce was formed to recommend sweeping reforms in the industry.

It identified problems across eight priority areas, made 59 recommendations and laid out an implementation roadmap covering cheaper credit, tax cuts, debt restructuring, replanting, exports and investment.

The taskforce, headed by Mamun Rashid, chairman of publicly traded National Tea Company Limited, submitted its report to the commerce ministry on July 12.

One key problem identified by the taskforce is the classification of tea estates as an industry rather than agriculture, forcing owners to borrow at more than double the rate available to farmers.

Bangladesh is the world’s eighth-largest tea producer, with 172 estates producing 9.49 crore kg of tea in 2025, according to Bangladesh Tea Association data cited in the report. The sector directly employs 102,000 permanent and 40,000 temporary workers, while around 5 lakh people live within estate boundaries.

Yet tea gardens have been selling tea below production costs every year since 2019, as per the Tea Association data. In 2024, production costs stood at Tk 260 per kg against an average auction price of Tk 208.88, leaving a gap of Tk 51.12 per kg.

Exports have fallen 79 percent since 2002, while production costs have risen 78.31 percent over the past decade, with auction prices failing to keep pace.

The committee comprises representatives from government bodies, regulatory agencies and tea sector stakeholders.

The government has formed a high-level committee to recommend rescheduling existing loans of tea garden owners, extending new credit and establishing a revolving fund for the tea sector at a 6% interest rate.

The committee will also provide recommendations on declaring tea an agricultural product and commercially installing solar panels on unused land in tea gardens.

The Prime Minister's Office announced the formation of the "Monitoring and Advisory Committee for the Development of Bangladesh's Tea Industry" in a gazette notification yesterday.

The committee, chaired by the commerce minister with the commerce ministry secretary as member secretary, includes the principal secretary to the prime minister, Bangladesh Bank governor, secretaries of the land, finance, commerce and agriculture ministries, National Board of Revenue chairman and Bangladesh Tea Board chairman, among others.

According to the notification, the committee will recommend rescheduling tea garden owners' existing cash loans to ease repayment and extend new loans. It will also give its opinion on establishing a revolving fund for the tea sector at 6% interest.

Another key responsibility is to assess whether tea can be declared an agricultural product and submit recommendations on the matter.

The committee will also examine the potential for commercial installation of solar panels on unused land in tea gardens. It has been asked to submit a report with recommendations on these issues within 30 days.

The initiative brings the tea industry's financing constraints, debt burden and alternative use of unused garden land under a single policy framework. If implemented, the proposed loan restructuring and low-interest revolving fund could expand financing opportunities for tea gardens.

Besides senior government officials, the committee includes Bangladesh Tea Association chairman, former lawmaker M Ohidul Haque, chairman of the Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh, chairman of the Tea Planters and Traders Association of Bangladesh, and the president and secretary-general of the Bangladesh Bought Leaf Tea Factory Owners' Association.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir yesterday urged Lithuanian technology companies to explore investment and business opportunities in Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding ICT, fintech and other technology-driven sectors.

He made the call when Lithuanian non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh Diana Mickeviciene met him at the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat here, said a press release.Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan was present at the meeting.Muktadir said Bangladesh and Lithuania have significant scope to expand bilateral trade and investment although the existing volume of trade between the two countries remains limited.Muktadir said Bangladesh and Lithuania have significant scope to expand bilateral trade and investment although the existing volume of trade between the two countries remains limited.He particularly highlighted Bangladesh’s rapidly growing ICT sector, skilled young workforce and strong pool of freelancers, saying Lithuanian technology companies could utilise these resources to expand their operations in Bangladesh and gain access to the wider South Asian market.

“Bangladesh is now a promising destination for investment,” the minister said, adding that necessary facilities have been ensured for repatriation of investment and profits.

He said Bangladesh is providing a stable and investment-friendly environment for international investors and urged Lithuanian businesses to take advantage of the emerging opportunities.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade, investment cooperation and partnerships in technology-oriented sectors, including ICT, cybersecurity and fintech.

Ambassador Diana Mickeviciene said Lithuania is a global leader in laser technology, GovTech and fintech services.

She expressed her country’s interest in sharing expertise and technological experience with Bangladesh to support its digital transformation, technological development and cybersecurity capabilities.

The Lithuanian ambassador also emphasised the importance of building effective partnerships between the public and private sectors of the two countries, saying such cooperation could create new opportunities in technology, innovation and investment.

The meeting also stressed the need for prompt measures to expand bilateral trade, increase business-to-business contacts and undertake joint initiatives in technology-driven sectors.

India has set a maximum daily cooking gas production target of 63,810 metric tons for state-run and private refineries to ensure domestic supplies and build buffers after US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted supplies of the essential fuel, according to an August 13 government order.

Companies are required to maintain adequate infrastructure for storing and transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), either directly or through railways and road tankers, to meet specified quantities.

The federal government will update the targets every January and July to reflect new production and additional output from existing refineries.

India was buying about 90 percent of its cooking gas imports from the Middle East before the war on Iran disrupted supplies from March due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

India has set production targets for individual refiners with Reliance Industries Ltd’s domestic-market-focused refinery tasked to produce 18,000 tons a day of LPG.

State-run explorers Oil and Natural Gas Corp and Oil India Ltd, and gas utility Gail India Ltd are expected to contribute 10 percent of the nationwide target.

Fruit imports will become easier after Bangladesh Bank withdrew the mandatory 100% cash margin requirement for letters of credit (LCs), a move expected to improve supply and ease prices in the local market.

The central bank issued the directive to all banks today (16 August), allowing importers to negotiate LC margins with their respective banks based on their banking relationship.

The decision was taken as the country's foreign exchange market and transactions have returned to desired levels of stability, according to Bangladesh Bank.

In a circular, the central bank said fruits are an essential part of the daily diet of children, patients, elderly people and pregnant women.

Easing import conditions would help create a more competitive market and make fruits more affordable for consumers, it said.

Bangladesh Bank had imposed a 100% cash margin requirement on fruit imports, along with certain luxury and import-substitute goods, in September 2024 amid global economic uncertainty.

While the requirement has now been withdrawn for fruit imports, the 100% cash margin condition for other luxury goods will remain in place.

The central bank expects the move to help ensure a steady supply of imported fruits and prevent price pressures in the domestic market.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is becoming an important tool for tracking Bangladesh's real-time economic activity, providing an early indication of whether the economy is expanding or contracting before official data are available.

The observation came at a discussion titled "The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Bangladesh", organised by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) at the chamber on Sunday.

Speakers at a discussion session stressed the need for greater understanding and wider use of the index among businesses, policymakers, academics and researchers.

They also highlighted the importance of incorporating PMI into university teaching and research to promote evidence-based analysis of the economy and support better fiscal, monetary and investment decisions.

The MCCI president Kamran T. Rahman said the PMI provides an early and reliable snapshot of Bangladesh's economic activity, helping businesses, investors and policymakers understand the direction of the economy before official GDP data are available.

He also said the country's PMI remains expansion territory this year, with the growth recorded in June, a strong rise in May and a healthy rebound in July, led by manufacturing and supported by services and agriculture.

Mr. Rahman urged universities to incorporate the index into classrooms and research, saying greater academic engagement could help enrich the PMI and strengthen its use as a tool for understanding the economy.

Dr. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of PEB, said Bangladesh has lagged in adopting real-time economic tracking tools, leaving decision-makers dependent on lagged national metrics.

Foreign investors continue to pull out of the local stock market due to a mix of nearly half a dozen reasons, including policy and regulatory uncertainty, weak corporate earnings and banking-sector problems, currency risks and overall negative sentiment.

In the last fiscal year 2025-26, foreign investors withdrew a net $223 million from the stock market. The outflow in FY26 was higher than the $138 million recorded a year earlier, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

Net foreign portfolio investment has been in negative territory since FY21, meaning investors have sold more shares and other securities than they have bought.

Market insiders say the experience of past policy interventions, particularly the repeated use of floor prices, has left foreign investors wary of the market.

A floor price sets a minimum level at which a share can be traded, restricting normal price movements.

“Besides, the interest rate cap in the banking sector was another reason,” said Kazi Monirul Islam, CEO of Shanta Asset Management.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) introduced floor prices for the first time in 2020 to halt a fall in share prices during the Covid-19 pandemic. The regulator began lifting them in phases in 2021.

But the measure returned the following year. The BSEC lifted the floor price for 169 companies, while the remaining companies stayed under the restriction.

In 2023, the regulator again imposed floor prices on the 169 companies. A year later, the restriction was lifted from all but 35 companies.

After the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, the floor price was lifted from all but two companies. After taking office in February this year, the BNP government lifted the floor price on the remaining two in June.

“There were some serious bad policies; the floor price was just one of them,” said Saiful Islam, president of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA).

He said even MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) had paused regular index reviews of Bangladesh after the floor price. It has now announced that it will resume regular index reviews from November this year following the withdrawal of the floor price.

The repeated intervention also damaged confidence because foreign investors compare Bangladesh with other markets when deciding where to put their money.

“Foreign investors invest in a country compared with other countries, so, if they find any country more suitable than Bangladesh, they shift,” said Monirul.

He said the country’s macro situation has improved and policy problems are no longer on the table, but it will take time to rebuild investor confidence. “Once investors burn their finger in a place, they cannot forget it easily.”

The banking sector has also weighed on sentiment. Previously, there were rate caps both on deposits and borrowing. The interest-rate caps raised concerns among investors about banks’ profitability and the predictability of financial-sector policy.

The cap has been lifted. But currently many banks have been under visible stress, while private-sector credit growth has weakened sharply, raising concerns about corporate investment, profitability and asset quality.

Both Monirul and Saiful pointed to banking-sector problems as another reason for the decline in foreign portfolio investment.

Regulatory decisions affecting individual companies have added to those concerns. One example was the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) decision to designate Grameenphone as a significant market power, a status that curtailed the company’s earning capacity in several ways.

“Following GP’s SMP categorisation, foreign investors started selling in the Bangladesh market heavily,” said Saiful.

Weak liquidity is another problem. There are relatively few large, liquid companies with strong governance and consistent earnings that global funds can invest in comfortably.

Foreign investors also have to weigh returns against currency risk. A weakening taka can reduce the value of their returns when they convert their investments back into dollars or other hard currencies.

Saiful said the sharp depreciation of the taka had been a problem for foreign investors.

Tax and repatriation concerns have also reduced the appeal of the market, as capital-gains taxes, transaction costs and uncertainty over taking money out of the country can affect overall returns.

Yet the market is not completely off the radar of foreign funds.

“Although net foreign investment is in the negative, new investors are interested in the Bangladesh market,” said Saiful.

He said positive developments, including a credible national election, the reconstitution of the BSEC and the new leadership’s quick decision to lift the floor price, have attracted some interest.

“Now, the market needs to ensure governance and bring investable stocks. Without these, foreign investors will not come to the market.”

The Dhaka Stock Exchange has 395 listed companies, of which 195 are in the A category, 74 in the B category and 126 in the Z category, according to DSE data.

“A collective responsibility is necessary to ensure governance in all spheres of the market and listing good stocks,” Saiful added.

The government yesterday launched a fund with an initial size of Tk 400 crore to boost investment in the country’s startup ecosystem, attract local and international capital, and strengthen the venture capital industry.

Startup Bangladesh Limited (SBL), the government’s venture capital and fund management institution under the ICT Division, announced the launch of the initiative, titled “Fund of Funds,” at an event at ICT Tower in Dhaka.Over the past decade, Bangladeshi startups have attracted around $1.2 billion in investment, but local investors accounted for only about 7 percent of the total, according to a Startup Bangladesh statement.The Fund of Funds initiative will seek to address this gap by strengthening local institutional capital, attracting foreign investment, developing the venture capital industry and building a sustainable startup financing structure, it said.Over the past decade, Bangladeshi startups have attracted around $1.2 billion in investment, but local investors accounted for only about 7 percent of the total

The fund will invest in selected local and international venture capital funds with strong governance, professional fund management and credible investment strategies, according to Nurul Hai, managing director and CEO of Startup Bangladesh.

The formal process for eligible venture capital fund managers also began through a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI), he said while presenting the fund’s structure, investment strategy, fund manager selection process, co-investment mechanism and potential impact.

Speaking as the special guest at the event, Rehan Asad, the prime minister’s adviser for ICT and Telecom, said venture capital and the startup sector would play an important role in diversifying Bangladesh’s economy.

“Not only financing, but startups also need mentorship, skills, market linkages and technological support. Through the Fund of Funds, these supports must be ensured alongside investment,” he said.

“The government is committed to protecting the interests of domestic and foreign investors in Bangladesh and to facilitating the smooth repatriation of lawful profits and capital. Through collective efforts, it is possible to build a strong startup ecosystem,” he added.

Faqir Mahbub Anam, telecom and ICT minister, said Bangladesh has no shortage of talented entrepreneurs and innovative ideas, and that the government wants to build an investment-friendly environment where no promising venture is held back for lack of funding.

He said the Fund of Funds would be operated with a strong focus on skills, good governance and professionalism.

Stating that Startup Bangladesh has already invested around Tk 111 crore in 36 technology-based startups, he said the private sector must also come forward to invest in startups rather than relying only on government financing.

Initiatives must not remain limited to paper, and their benefits must be ensured through practical implementation, the minister added.

Through the Fund of Funds, more private and international capital will be brought into the country while creating opportunities for Bangladeshi startups to enter international markets, he said.

Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, chairman of Startup Bangladesh and secretary of ICT Division, said the government wants to ensure an environment where venture capital and innovation can develop naturally.

If successfully implemented, the Bangladesh Fund of Funds will not only increase investment in startups but also build a strong investment infrastructure for the country’s future economy, he said.

The country's premier bourse started the week on a dismal note today (16 August), with the benchmark index extending its losing streak for a third consecutive session amid growing concerns over the gas crisis and possible changes to margin rules.

Market insiders said concerns over the impact of gas shortages on industrial production, coupled with uncertainty surrounding regulatory changes, prompted investors to offload shares, pushing most traded securities into negative territory.

The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell 23 points, or 0.39%, to close at 5,859. The blue-chip DS30 index also declined 8 points to 2,184.

Market breadth remained heavily skewed towards losers, with 247 issues declining against 102 gainers, while 41 remained unchanged.

Despite the decline in share prices, trading activity increased significantly. Turnover rose 22% to Tk1,130 crore, suggesting that the higher transaction volume was largely driven by selling pressure.

Investors remained cautious as concerns over gas shortages and uncertainty surrounding regulatory measures continued to weigh on market sentiment.

According to the daily market review by EBL Securities, the benchmark index continued its downward trajectory as investors chose to remain on the sidelines, awaiting greater clarity on the potential changes to margin rules. Market participants are intently assessing how these regulatory amendments will impact future liquidity and trading activity.

The brokerage firm further noted that expectations of weaker corporate earnings, fueled by the ongoing gas crisis which is severely hampering factory capacity utilisation, triggered the broad-based decline.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited observed that the market performance was primarily shaped by persistent selling pressure amid cautious sentiment. While the market opened with a brief spark of buying interest that lifted the DSEX to an intraday high of 5,916 points, the gains proved short-lived.

On the sectoral front, the general insurance sector emerged as the day's primary engine of activity, accounting for 26.4% of the total turnover. It was followed by the textile and pharmaceutical sectors, which contributed 19.8% and 9.6%, respectively.

Sectoral returns were mostly negative across the board. The life insurance sector faced the steepest correction of 2.4%, followed by jute and paper.

In a rare divergence from the overall gloom, the general insurance sector managed to post a gain of 2.2%, while the telecommunication sector stayed marginally afloat with a 0.2% uptick.

In the individual scrip segment, Mithun Knitting and Zaheen Spinning topped the gainers' list, both hitting the 10% upper circuit limit. Other notable gainers included Global Insurance, Alif Manufacturing, and Pacific Denims.

On the flip side, the losers' list was led by FAR Chemical, which shed 8.07%, followed by Sharp Industries, ML Dyeing, and Yeakin Polymer. In terms of liquidity, Malek Spinning, Beximco, and Samorita Hospital remained the most traded stocks of the day.

The bearish sentiment was mirrored at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the broad CASPI index plummeted by 68 points to finish at 15,735. The Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) also ended 46 points lower at 9,581. However, much like the premier bourse, the port city exchange witnessed a significant 64% jump in turnover, which settled at Tk75 crore.

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has urged the government to introduce concessional tariffs, round-the-clock operations, and transit and refuelling facilities at Shah Amanat International Airport to unlock its full potential.

In a letter sent to Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on August 15, CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque proposed a 40 percent concession on airport facility charges, along with permission for passengers to board and disembark during long-haul flight stopovers.
He also called for transit and refuelling facilities for long-haul flights, as well as the development of a cargo village, inland container depots (ICDs), and container freight stations (CFSs) near the airport to establish it as a regional aviation and logistics hub.

“Private businesses have the ability to invest, and they are ready to do so to develop infrastructure under public-private partnership, build-own-operate, or build-own-operate-transfer arrangements,” Amirul said in the letter.

The CCCI said developing the airport as an east-west aviation gateway and a hub for tourism and logistics could help reduce the concentration of air traffic in Dhaka.

Citing the government’s efforts to attract users to Mongla Port through reduced tariffs, the trade body called for similar incentives to boost the airport’s use.

A lucrative stimulus package or concessional tariff needs to be introduced to attract more passengers and cargo and maximise the airport’s capacity, the letter said.

Amirul reaffirmed the business community’s support for the government’s vision of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034 and establishing Chattogram as a regional investment and logistics hub.

Once home to one of the world's largest jute mills, the industrial land of Adamjee in Narayanganj has been transformed into a major export and employment hub, with Adamjee Export Processing Zone (EPZ) now generating more than $1 billion in annual exports and employing over 76,000 people.

Built on the abandoned land of Adamjee Jute Mills, the EPZ has completed two decades of operation and currently hosts 47 production units that make garments, bridal wear, safety footwear, automotive components, and other specialised products for global markets.

According to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), total investment in Adamjee EPZ has reached about $847 million, while cumulative exports stand at $11.112 billion. Annual exports crossed $1 billion in FY25 and reached $1.179 billion in FY26, exceeding the $750 million target set in the original project proposal.

Md Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan, executive director of Adamjee EPZ, told The Business Standard that exports had crossed $1 billion for the second consecutive fiscal year.

"The project proposal had estimated annual exports of around $750 million once the EPZ became fully operational. But exports exceeded $1 billion in FY25. With the 10 factories currently under construction coming into production, annual exports can potentially reach $1.5 billion," he said.

He said investor interest remained strong, but all plots had already been allocated. "We are trying to expand it further," he said.

Over 76,000 jobs

The 292-acre EPZ currently employs 76,027 people, according to Bepza. With 10 factories under construction, direct employment could exceed 100,000 once they begin production.

Factories produce garments for global brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Van Heusen. The zone also makes safety equipment, footwear and automotive products, expanding beyond traditional apparel into specialised, higher-value exports.

Universal Menswear Ltd, a Romania-Bangladesh joint venture, has invested $45.91 million and employs 8,194 people, including 8,160 Bangladeshis and 34 foreign workers. It produces tailored men's suits, blazers and formal trousers and exported $97.88 million in FY26.

Super Protective Shoes (Pvt) Ltd, a Ukrainian-invested manufacturer, has invested $13.06 million and employs nearly a thousand people. It exported $12.77 million worth of safety shoes, industrial footwear, military boots and specialised footwear in FY26.

Lavryk Andrity, chairman and managing director of the company, said it was introducing specialised machinery to produce technically advanced footwear. Some machines are sourced from Europe and others from Taiwan and China.

Japanese company TS Tech Bangladesh Ltd has invested $4.67 million and employs 512 people, including 508 Bangladeshis and four Japanese workers. It exported $14.75 million last fiscal year, mainly producing automotive seat-trim covers for Japanese vehicle manufacturers.

The company sources most materials from Japan and China, processes the covers in Bangladesh and sends them to production facilities in Japan. Managing Director Satoru Onishi said the company was increasingly focusing on productivity and automation, including 3D printing for internal production work. It has gradually expanded capacity since starting operations in January 2017.

High-value bridal wear

The EPZ's diversification is also evident in specialised, high-value products. UBF Bridal Ltd, a German-invested company, produces premium wedding and evening wear, including dresses, suits, jackets, boleros, veils, petticoats and jewellery.

The company began operations in April 2022 with a $3.66 million investment and now employs 357 local workers. It exported $5.27 million in FY26.

Khadeja Akter and Rani Akter are among its sewing workers. Rani, who has been working there for nearly five years, said the favourable working environment and higher wages than factories outside the EPZ were key reasons for staying.

Md Robiul Hoque Siddiki, chief operating officer of UBF Bridal, said Bangladesh initially lacked workers experienced in producing such specialised garments. "We had to train the workers and managers ourselves," he said.

The company started with around 130 workers, and management says worker efficiency has risen from about 30% to 60% as employees gained experience.

UBF handles design, manufacturing, embellishment and finishing. Its products are exported to Germany and distributed to around 37 countries, including markets in Europe, the United States, Brazil and South Africa, while retaining their "Made in Bangladesh" identity.

The company is also developing local embroidery and lace production and plans to manufacture footwear in Bangladesh.

From jute mill to export hub

Adamjee Jute Mills was established in 1950 in Siddhirganj by the Adamjee family and became one of the world's largest jute mills. Covering nearly 1,000 acres, it grew into a large industrial community with worker settlements, markets and schools.

After independence, the mill was nationalised and placed under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC). Financial losses, management weaknesses, technological limitations and labour unrest gradually pushed it into crisis.

The mill shut down on 30 June 2002, when around 20,000-25,000 workers were employed there.

The government later decided to repurpose the abandoned industrial land. On 30 December 2004, it decided to transfer the land to Bepza, and Adamjee EPZ was formally inaugurated on 13 March 2006.

In FY2005-06, the EPZ had only $4 million in investment and $0.23 million in exports. Over two decades, modern factories have replaced the jute mill, and the same land now supports more than 76,000 jobs across 47 operating factories.

Scope for further growth

Adamjee EPZ's strategic location between Dhaka and Chattogram, connectivity and modern facilities have helped attract local and foreign investors.

Bepza expects the 10 factories under construction to push annual exports beyond $1.5 billion and employment above 100,000.

The zone's impact also extends to workers' families. At around 5:30pm during a TBS visit, five-year-old Abdullah was leaving with his mother, Shanta. She said she could work while leaving her son at the EPZ's daycare centre, which she found highly helpful.

From a jute mill that once symbolised Bangladesh's industrialisation to a modern export hub producing high-value garments, specialised footwear and automotive components, Adamjee's industrial landscape has undergone a major transformation.