Bangladeshi expatriates sent home US$2.455 billion in remittances during the first 26 days of August, according to the latest data released by Bangladesh Bank.Shopping For Authentic South Asian Apparel

Between August 1 and August 26, total remittance inflows registered a 22.3 per cent monthly growth compared to $2.007 billion received during the corresponding period of the previous year.

During the two-day period of August 25 and 26, the country received $115 million in remittances.

Cumulative remittance inflows from July 1 to August 26 in the current fiscal year 2026-27 reached $5.314 billion, reflecting an 18.5 per cent yearly growth over the $4.485 billion recorded during the same timeframe in FY26.

Central bank figures indicate a sustained upward momentum in official remittance channels, driven by strong inflows through formal banking networks.

Bangladesh has sought greater cooperation from the United States on small modular reactors (SMRs), peaceful nuclear technology and other areas of the energy sector as it looks to strengthen energy security and meet rising electricity demand.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

The Bangladesh minister stressed the importance of adopting modern and safe nuclear technologies and expanding the exchange of technology, expertise and knowledge with the US and other technologically advanced countries, according to a press statement

Anam said the peaceful use of modern and safe nuclear technology could play an important role in meeting the country's growing energy needs, strengthening energy security and supporting sustainable development.

Bangladesh remained committed to the peaceful, safe and responsible use of nuclear technology and wanted to deepen the exchange of knowledge, experience and technology with countries such as the US, he added.

US Energy Secretary Wright expressed a positive view of the potential for greater US-Bangladesh cooperation in the energy and nuclear technology sectors.

He noted that the development and expansion of modern nuclear technologies, including SMRs, were among the priorities of the US.

The two sides also discussed possible US assistance in the energy sector, technology and knowledge exchange, and ways to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation in nuclear science and technology.

They expressed interest in working together to further strengthen cooperation in nuclear science and technology as well as the broader energy sector.

The securities regulator has stepped in to protect general investors of three listed non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), urging Bangladesh Bank (BB) not to proceed with liquidation or delisting without safeguarding shareholders’ legitimate interests, official sources said.
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In a letter to the Bangladesh Bank governor, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) said general investors should not be made to bear the consequences of the financial distress of the troubled institutions.

The three NBFIs -- Fareast Finance & Investment, International Leasing and Financial Services, and FAS Finance & Investment -- are facing liquidation after the BB deemed them non-viable due to persistent losses and erosion of capital.

The three are among four financial institutions brought under resolution by the BB through an order issued on August 10 under the Bank Resolution Act, 2026.

The BSEC's intervention comes at a critical stage because resolution of a financial institution ultimately involves restructuring, transfer of assets and liabilities, liquidation or cancellation of its listing—steps that may have major implications for ordinary shareholders.

One of the BSEC's key proposals is that if the government provides compensation to any party as part of the resolution process, a portion should be allocated to general investors.

The commission also proposed a mechanism for determining the minimum value of general shareholders' interests before liquidation.

The proposal is significant for small investors, who have purchased shares of the listed NBFIs from the stock market and may face substantial losses if the companies are liquidated or delisted without an investor-compensation mechanism.

The BSEC has also opposed any move to liquidate or delist the three companies before the interests of general shareholders are assessed and disclosed.

Alternatively, a price should be fixed and publicly announced for the shares held by general investors, it said.

Such a requirement, if followed, would provide shareholders with greater clarity over what their investments are worth before the companies cease to exist as listed entities.

The securities regulator has also asked BB to consult it on investor-protection issues whenever the resolution of the companies is discussed with the government.

The BSEC further requested that it be kept informed of developments in the liquidation process.

The developments involving the three listed NBFIs could become an important test of how the country's new resolution framework balances competing interests of depositors, creditors, shareholders and other stakeholders.

For ordinary shareholders, liquidation can mean losing both their investment and the opportunity to recover any value from their shares. Unlike controlling shareholders or management, however, general investors might have had little or no involvement in the decisions that led to the financial distress.

Meanwhile, the latest financial disclosures paint a grim picture of the three listed NBFIs.

FAREAST Finance reported a negative EPS of Tk 3.75 and negative NAV per share of Tk 54.23 for January-September 2025.

International Leasing's EPS stood at negative Tk 6.71, while its NAV per share plunged to negative Tk 219.03 during the same period.

FAS Finance reported an even steeper negative EPS of Tk 10.34 for January-June 2026, with its NAV per share deteriorating to negative Tk 158.39.

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Country Representative Kazuiki Kataoka said political and social stability following Bangladesh's February 2026 general election has encouraged Japanese companies to reassess the country's market potential and investment opportunities.

In an interview with BSS, Kataoka said political and social instability had been one of the major concerns for Japanese investors under the interim government.

The establishment of a new government following the election, however, has provided companies with greater scope to formulate medium- and long-term business plans and consider investment decisions, he added.

According to JETRO's FY2025 Survey on Business Conditions of Japanese Companies Operating Overseas, 94.4 percent of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh identified "unstable political and social conditions" as an investment risk.

The figure was almost unchanged from 94.8 percent in the previous year, indicating that political and social stability remained a major concern for Japanese businesses, he said.

"Greater stability makes it easier for companies to formulate medium- and long-term business plans and make investment decisions," Kataoka said.

He noted that JETRO has recently observed an increase in visits to Bangladesh by senior executives of Japanese companies from their headquarters in Tokyo and regional offices such as Singapore.

"I believe that one factor behind this trend is that, with political and social conditions becoming more stable, more companies are reassessing Bangladesh's market potential and business opportunities," he said.

However, Kataoka cautioned that political stability alone would not automatically lead to a significant increase in investment.

He stressed the need for continued improvements in the day-to-day business environment, particularly in taxation and customs clearance, licensing and permits, and the transparency of laws and regulations.

Regarding the future of Bangladesh-Japan economic relations, Kataoka said the two countries should move beyond traditional development cooperation and build a stronger trade- and investment-driven partnership.

He also emphasized that economic relations should not be limited to Japanese investment in Bangladesh.

"Economic relations should not be limited to investment from Japan into Bangladesh. We would also welcome investment from Bangladeshi companies into Japan," he said.

"To further develop economic relations between the two countries, it is important not only to promote investment in one direction, but also to expand investment and business transactions by companies from both countries and build a relationship that generates mutual economic benefits," Kataoka added.

He said Japanese companies have shown increasing interest in Bangladesh's domestic consumer market, particularly in Dhaka.

Citing a survey by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Kataoka said Dhaka accounts for approximately 46 percent of Bangladesh's GDP, while its per capita income exceeds US$5,000.

Alongside Bangladesh's population of around 180 million, rising income levels in Dhaka are making the capital increasingly attractive as a consumer market, he said.

Kataoka pointed to the growing number of cafes, restaurants and other businesses in Dhaka offering higher levels of quality and service as an indication of rising demand for quality products and services.

He also noted that Bangladesh's relatively high tariff rates can make imported products expensive.

"As a result, some Japanese companies are considering entering the market not simply through exports, but by combining local production with local procurement," he said.

He identified food and consumer goods as sectors that could offer increasing opportunities for Japanese companies as domestic demand expands.

The combination of Bangladesh's large population, rising consumer demand and potential for local production could provide a stronger basis for Japanese investment in the coming years, he said.

At the same time, Kataoka reiterated that sustained efforts to improve the business environment would be crucial to translating growing investor interest into actual investment commitments.

The amount of cash held outside Bangladesh's banking system continued to rise in June, signalling a growing preference for physical money at a time when economic activity remains subdued and confidence in banks has yet to fully recover.Bangladesh Trade Data
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Currency in circulation outside banks, often dubbed mattress money, rose to Tk 3.36 trillion at the end of June 2026, up 13.5 per cent from Tk 2.96 trillion a year earlier, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The increase means an additional Tk 400 billion was held outside the formal banking channel over the year, potentially putting further pressure on banks' cash positions as demand for withdrawals remains elevated.

The latest figure also represents a sharp increase from Tk 3.03 trillion recorded in March, with cash outside banks rising by around 10.9 per cent in just three months.

The buildup gathered pace during the first quarter of 2026. Currency outside banks increased from Tk 2.83 trillion in January to Tk 2.86 trillion in February before jumping to Tk 3.03 trillion in March.

People familiar with the development said banks were continuing to face pressure on their vault cash as customers preferred holding physical money rather than keeping funds as deposits.

They said uncertainty surrounding the banking sector, including the unexpected change of leadership at the banking regulator and amendments to a relevant legal instrument, had not been viewed positively by depositors and other market participants.Economic Trend Analysis

Such developments have contributed to uncertainty and encouraged some depositors to hold more cash outside banks, they added.

The rise in cash holdings came as overall money supply expanded at a comparatively slower pace.

Broad money, or M2, increased 11.11 per cent year-on-year to Tk 24.16 trillion in June 2026, up from Tk 21.74 trillion a year earlier.

This means currency outside banks grew about 2.4 percentage points faster than broad money during the period, indicating that the increase in physical cash holdings outpaced the expansion of the overall money supply.

June's M2 growth was also higher than the central bank's estimated 10.80 per cent and well above the 6.95 per cent growth recorded in June 2025.

Meanwhile, reserve money (RM), which reflects the monetary base and includes currency in circulation and banks' reserves, surged by Tk 631.89 billion, registering 15.29 per cent year-on-year growth at the end of June 2026.

The faster growth in reserve money than M2 suggests that liquidity at the base of the monetary system expanded significantly, although a substantial portion of the increase in currency demand was held outside commercial banks.

Currency outside banks stood at Tk 2.96 trillion in June 2025, compared with Tk 2.90 trillion in June 2024, showing that the pace of cash accumulation has accelerated considerably over the past year.Market Analysis Service

The latest increase marks a significant shift from the relatively modest rise recorded between June 2024 and June 2025.

Industry Insiders said restoring confidence in the banking system would be crucial to bringing more cash back into formal financial channels.

They said sustained uncertainty could encourage households and businesses to maintain larger cash buffers, potentially weakening deposit mobilisation and constraining banks' ability to channel funds into productive lending.

M Masrur Reaz, chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said the rise in currency outside banks reflected heightened uncertainty among households and businesses and could indicate a preference for liquidity and precautionary cash holdings amid weak economic activity.

He said the trend could put additional pressure on banks' deposit mobilisation and reduce the funds available for productive investment if sustained.

"Restoring confidence in the banking sector is critical. Stronger governance, transparency and accountability, along with greater certainty over bank resolution measures, are needed to encourage people to keep their money within the formal financial system," he said.

Reaz added that the rise in currency outside banks should be monitored alongside deposit growth, credit demand and broader economic activity to determine whether it reflects temporary precautionary behaviour or a more persistent shift away from bank deposits.

Stock returns at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell 2% in the outgoing week, led by sharp drops in the Textile and General Insurance sectors, according to the bourse's weekly report.

Driven by broad-based selling pressure amid an ongoing energy crisis and a cautious stance by investors, stocks across 20 out of 21 sectors saw returns decline by 2.09%, with only corporate bonds managing a positive return.

As per DSE data, the textile sector's return fell by 5.16%, the highest among all sectors, followed by general insurance by 4.69%, mutual funds by 4.5%, and the IT sector's return by 4.01%. The telecom sector's return fell by 1.13%, the lowest among all sectors.

Meanwhile, stocks at the DSE experienced a significant downturn over the previous week in terms of indices, turnover and market capitalisation, with the majority of stocks suffering price declines.

Over the last week, DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, fell by over 2.25%, or 130 points, followed by DS30, the blue-chip index, by 1.28%, or 27 points, and DSES, the Shariah index, by 2.04%, or 23.58 points.

Market turnover, one of the key indicators of the capital market, fell by 49% to Tk2,286 crore, while average daily market turnover dropped by 36.88%.

Last week, stock trading occurred for four days instead of the usual five due to a holiday.

Market capitalisation, the value of total outstanding shares of the listed companies, dropped by Tk6,494 crore. Of the 388 traded stocks, 88%, or 342 stocks, declined in price, while only 35 stocks advanced and 11 remained unchanged.

EBL Securities, in its daily market commentary, said the capital bourse extended its downward trajectory for the second consecutive week, as persistent concerns over the ongoing energy crisis, a weakening corporate earnings outlook and cautious investor sentiment continued to weigh on market performance.

"The week commenced with a sharp decline as investors remained concerned about the adverse impact of prolonged gas and electricity shortages on industrial production and corporate profitability, which continued to drive negative momentum throughout the subsequent sessions.

"Although the market attempted a slight reversal in the final session on the back of selective buying interest, intermittent selling pressure continued to cap the market's recovery potential as investors remained wary of the prevailing domestic uncertainties," it said.

Investors were mostly active in Textile, followed by General Insurance and Pharma sectors.

Danish shipping and logistics giant Maersk Line has expressed interest in making direct investments in Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry.

The company also discussed the possibility of investing in the country's ship recycling sector.

The issues were discussed at a meeting held at the residence of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir in Dhaka today (29 August).

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Briks Moller and Rene Pil Pedersen, managing director of AP Moller Singapore Pte Ltd, attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the Danish ambassador said Maersk Line was interested in making direct investments in Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry.

Maersk has long operated ships and conducted shipping and logistics businesses globally.

Commerce Minister Muktadir urged Maersk to expand its investment beyond shipbuilding to Bangladesh's ship recycling industry.

"Maersk Line has a large number of large ships worldwide. Therefore, Bangladesh can emerge as a promising hub not only for the environmentally sound and internationally compliant recycling of the company's old vessels, but also for building new ships," the minister said.

The meeting noted that Bangladesh has long-standing experience and potential in both shipbuilding and ship recycling.

The participants said attracting large-scale international investment to the sectors could create greater opportunities for industrialisation and help tap the potential of the blue economy.

Such investment could also contribute to employment generation, technology and skills transfer, and the development of related industries, the meeting observed.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC has recommended a 180% cash dividend, equivalent to Tk18 per share, along with a 10% stock dividend for the financial year ended 30 June 2026, as its earnings rose year-on-year.

The decisions were taken at the company's board meeting held today (29 August), following the approval of its audited financial statements.

According to the price-sensitive disclosure, the company's earnings per share (EPS) rose to Tk33.75 for FY2025-26, up from Tk31.11 recorded in the previous financial year.

Walton attributed the growth in earnings primarily to a significant drop in finance costs, which decreased by Tk267.26 crore to represent 2.45% of sales, compared to Tk448.40 crore (6.33% of sales) in FY2024-25.

The electronics giant also reported a strong boost in cash flow. Net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) surged to Tk63.72 for FY26 from Tk52.91 in FY25. This improvement was driven by a Tk694.36 crore (8.84%) increase in customer collections alongside a 2.31% reduction in supplier payments during the year.

The company's net asset value (NAV) per share with revaluation stood at Tk381.26 as of 30 June 2026, compared to Tk363.40 a year earlier. Without revaluation, the NAV per share was Tk280.24.

Walton disclosed that the 10% stock dividend will be utilised to finance the ongoing capacity expansion of its Green Energy project under Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the company.

The record date for determining shareholder dividend eligibility has been set for 20 September 2026. The company's annual general meeting (AGM) will be held virtually on 15 October 2026 at 12pm.

The international development agency SNV will support Bangladesh in bringing small-scale urban service projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework, seeking to address limited private-sector interest caused by lengthy PPP processes.

SNV and the PPP Wing of Invest Bangladesh Authority signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Dhaka yesterday (29 August) to mainstream small-scale PPPs and help local government institutions develop and implement such projects. The signing ceremony was held at the PPP Unit office in Agargaon.

The MoU creates no immediate financial obligations. SNV will mobilise funding for its activities, while any joint financial commitments will be covered by separate agreements.

The partnership will focus on translating the existing small-scale PPP guideline into practical tools and processes for municipalities and city corporations, particularly for water supply, sanitation, faecal sludge management and solid waste management.

The partners will develop standardised templates for requests for quotation and proposals, model contracts and viability gap funding forms. They will also pilot the guideline in a selected city, strengthen the capacity of LGI officials and private-sector partners, and disseminate the finalised tools nationwide.

SNV Bangladesh Country Director Ismène RAC Stalpers said small-scale PPPs could provide a practical way for local governments to work with the private sector to improve essential urban services.

Choudhury Muazzam Ahmed, director general of the PPP Wing, said the partnership would help LGIs identify, structure and implement viable PPP initiatives.

He said it was the PPP Wing's first MoU with an international development organisation.

The initiative is being implemented under SNV's Sustainable Urban Water Cycles programme, with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.

The partnership builds on SNV's previous collaboration with the PPP Wing, including feasibility studies, PPP training for LGIs and capacity-building activities involving representatives from all 12 city corporations.

US retailers, manufacturers and small businesses are paying hefty fuel surcharges to ship their goods, not only as the US-Israeli war on Iran boosts fuel costs but also as some shippers profit from the fees.

The charges have become a growing source of tension across supply chains, with customers arguing that some companies are using them to boost profits rather than simply recover higher fuel costs. Ultimately, those extra costs can be passed on to inflation-weary consumers.

The surcharges have generated tens of millions of dollars in profit for railroad operator Union Pacific and provided a modest earnings boost for UPS, the companies said.

In the clearest publicly available example, Union Pacific collected $91.1 million more in fuel surcharge revenue than it paid for fuel during the second quarter, boosting profits by $83.2 million, or 14 cents per share.

Union Pacific's result far outpaced rivals, spurring concerns that fuel recovery charges are generating profit.

"Ultimately, fuel surcharges are a component of the overall cost we negotiate with customers and ⁠something they take into consideration when choosing Union Pacific and the service we provide," the company said in a statement.

US railroads are the only transportation providers required to report fuel costs and surcharge revenue to federal regulators, offering a rare window into the impact of the charges since the Iran war began on 28 February.

Fuel surcharges are designed to offset higher energy costs, but customers have long argued they can become disconnected from the actual cost of fuel and boost profits.

UPS and FedEx, have steadily increased the size of their fuel surcharges in recent years.

"The original part of the cost consideration almost seems to be lost in translation," said Mingshu Bates, chief analytics officer at invoice auditing firm AFS Logistics, referring to the growing surcharge rates.

When the average diesel price was $3.35 a gallon in August 2021, UPS added a fuel charge of about 9% to the base shipping rate for the everyday packages shipped to homes and businesses. That surcharge is 24.25% today for UPS and 23.75% for FedEx, according to an analysis by AFS Logistics.

UPS and FedEx, often described as a duopoly because of their dominance of the market, offer customers little room to push back because their fuel surcharges are broadly similar.

UPS Chief Financial Officer Brian Dykes said fuel surcharge collections had a "modest" net impact on consolidated ⁠operating profit in the latest quarter. Brie Carere, chief customer officer at FedEx, said they were "not a material driver of our adjusted operating income."

Neither company explained why the surcharge percentages have risen so sharply.

For contrast, the heavily regulated United States Postal Service imposed its first surcharge on April 26: 8% on most packages.

MAERSK'S 'COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE'

The issue extends beyond US railroads and parcel delivery firms. War-related disruption and higher fuel costs have rippled through global shipping networks, allowing some carriers to impose emergency surcharges and raise rates, fueling complaints that crisis-driven fees have become a profit source.

Fuel surcharges have also supported profits at container ship companies such as A.P. Moller-Maersk.

The Danish carrier reported second-quarter profit excluding items of $3 billion, almost $1 billion more ⁠than analysts expected and up from $2.3 billion the year earlier.

Maersk imposed emergency surcharges and made other adjustments to cover higher fuel costs for the roughly 70% of cargo it moves under longer-term contracts. A rate surge on the remaining spot market shipments drove profit in the quarter, executives said. The company did not directly address the impact of fuel surcharges on profits.

Chief Executive Vincent Clerc in an earnings call this month said digital investments helped the company raise rates more quickly ⁠than rivals, an ability he called a "competitive advantage." Maersk declined to elaborate further.

An analysis by supply chain data provider VesselBot showed that when marine fuel costs jumped about 30% this year, container shipping fuel surcharges surged by as much as 75%, decoupling dramatically after closely tracking fuel prices in 2025.

"After March, these charges exploded," said VesselBot CEO Constantine Komodromos.

Analysts said freight rates and surcharges in container shipping currently are driven as much by supply ⁠and demand as by underlying costs, giving carriers scope to recover more than just higher fuel bills when market conditions are favorable.

Ship operators' bargaining power is at its strongest since the COVID-era shipping boom, according to Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand.

Industry earnings reports have reinforced container cargo customers' long-standing concerns that transport providers can use periods of disruption to push through additional charges. James Hookham, director of the Global Shippers Forum, said Maersk's latest profit figures would do little to ease those fears.

"The Maersk results further enforce the 'crisis-means-cash' syndrome," Hookham said.

Eel fish, which grows naturally in haors, beels and other water bodies across Bangladesh, has emerged as a major live fish export product, helping drive a more than threefold increase in the country's live fish exports over the past decade.

Although domestic demand for eel remains limited, exporters say strong demand in international markets has created opportunities for the fish collected from natural sources to be shipped abroad.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh earned $8.05 million from live fish exports in FY2016-17. The figure rose to $25.98 million in FY2025-26, marking a 222.7% increase over the decade.

Recent trade data also indicate continued growth. Bangladesh earned $15.06 million from live fish exports during July-December of FY2025-26, up 5.98% from $14.21 million in the same period a year earlier.

Exporters say eel accounts for a significant share of live fish exports. With relatively low domestic demand, most eel collected from natural sources can be exported.

Mahmudur Rahman, proprietor of exporter HIS Investment, told The Business Standard that the company exports almost all the eel it collects because of limited demand in the local market.

China is the largest market, while Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam are also important destinations, he said. The company makes an average of two shipments a week.

Mahmudur said relatively low prices make Bangladeshi eel attractive in international markets.

Before the monsoon, exporters can receive around Tk300 per kilogram, although prices sometimes fall to Tk180. During Christian festivals, stronger demand can push prices up to around Tk600 per kilogram, he added.

However, exporters face challenges in maintaining consistent quality and supply as the industry relies heavily on naturally harvested eel.

"Alongside natural harvesting, the government needs to focus on artificial breeding and production to ensure a steady supply and maintain export continuity," Mahmudur said.

Bangladesh currently exports eel to around 15 countries, according to fisheries sector sources. Major markets include Japan, China, Mongolia, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea.

Researchers warn that continued dependence on natural harvesting could create supply constraints as exports expand. They say developing eel farming and artificial breeding will be crucial to sustaining the industry.

Researchers also see scope for increasing the value of eel through processing into higher-value products such as canned food.

Dr Paresh Kumar Sharma, head of the eel fish research team at Bangladesh Agricultural University, said eel can be processed into safe, nutritious and long-shelf-life canned food. Scientific rearing after collection from natural sources can also improve its quality, he said.

Eel contains omega-3 fatty acids and has medicinal value, according to Paresh.

His research team has experimentally produced canned eel using temperature control, hygienic processing, quality packaging and preservation technologies.

However, limited access to authorised quality-testing facilities remains a challenge for the sector, he said. BSTI approval could encourage agricultural businesses to invest in commercial canned eel production and create new export opportunities, he added.

Research is also underway on artificial production of eel fry, Dr Sharma said. Successful breeding could reduce reliance on natural harvesting and help ensure a consistent supply of quality eel, creating scope for further expansion of the export-oriented industry.

The government has identified 14 factors behind the slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), including flawed project documents, lack of skilled project directors, delays in land acquisition and lengthy procurement processes.

It has taken several measures to address the problems, including improving feasibility studies, expanding e-GP use, appointing project directors based on skills and experience, and strengthening field-level monitoring.

Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury disclosed the information in reply to a question from reserved women's seat lawmaker Rokeya Begum during the third session of the 13th parliament today (27 August). Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed chaired the session.

The minister said weak project preparation, poor feasibility studies and inconsistencies in project data were among the major obstacles to timely ADP implementation.

Other factors include delays in land acquisition and utility relocation, repeated extensions of project timelines and costs, lack of proper exit plans and delays in procurement.

The government also identified inadequate use of research findings, weak project monitoring, mismatches between financing plans and budgets, weaknesses in selecting project locations, and poor coordination and division of responsibilities among agencies.

Delays in preparing Development Project Proposals or Technical Assistance Project Proposals after securing funding from development partners were also identified as a problem.

The minister said failure to follow guidelines in appointing project directors and performing their responsibilities, along with weaknesses in results-based planning and evaluation frameworks, were also slowing implementation.

Measures to speed up implementation

The government is working to improve the quality of feasibility studies and project preparation before projects are approved, the minister said.

Use of e-GP in public procurement is being expanded, while coordination among agencies has been strengthened to expedite land acquisition and utility relocation.

For project directors, professional qualifications, skills and practical experience will receive greater priority. The government is also seeking continuity in project leadership where necessary. Regular project review meetings and closer field-level monitoring have also been strengthened.

Projects with less than 30% implementation progress will undergo reviews to assess their relevance and effectiveness. Ministries and divisions have been asked to consider restructuring, changing project scope or continuing such projects based on the reviews.

Dashboards are also being introduced at relevant ministries and divisions to monitor project progress regularly.

The government will review delays, irregularities, cost increases and revisions in projects that fail to meet deadlines and take action against responsible individuals or organisations in accordance with regulations, the minister said.

Wall Street stocks dipped while the dollar rallied Friday after Federal Reserve chief Kevin Warsh flagged fighting high inflation as a priority in a speech received as more hawkish than expected.

“We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed. Otherwise, we have work to do,” Warsh said in a highly anticipated speech.

Short-term US Treasury bonds, which reflect monetary policy expectations, saw yields spike in anticipation of a higher Fed rate after the speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Futures markets also raised the odds of a rate hike in September, while the dollar jumped against the euro and other major currencies.

At 3.7 percent, inflation in the world’s biggest economy is nearly double the Fed’s target of two percent, and investors worry that high energy prices from the Iran war could persist as winter approaches.

“On the price-stability side of our mandate, the numbers are more concerning,” Warsh said, even as he said he was “impressed” with US economic performance, with employment “doing well”.

Wall Street stocks remained in positive territory for a stretch after the speech, but later moved downward. The S&P 500 finished down 0.3 percent.

“Kevin Warsh’s speech at the Jackson Hole symposium delivered a far clearer -- and hawkish -- message than his last press conference appearance” in July, said Stephen Brown, an economist at Capital Economics.

“Hikes are not guaranteed, but Warsh is now at least suggesting he is on board with them if economic growth remains strong” and inflation remains elevated, he said. Earlier, European stocks closed higher, with Paris climbing one percent as luxury shares led gains.

Asian equity markets largely advanced Friday, though tech firms struggled to extend Thursday’s rally that came on the back of Nvidia’s profit blowout and bumper forecast, which soothed worries over the AI boom.

Tokyo and Hong Kong rose, while Seoul and Shanghai retreated.

Oil prices finished slightly lower as traders weigh assessed the mixed signals over the prospects for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz against US threats against Iran.

US officials have vowed an “economic asphyxiation” to make Iran open the Strait of Hormuz -- through which about a fifth of world oil usually passes -- after six months of war.

US consumer sentiment fell in August, survey data from the University of Michigan confirmed Friday, reflecting worries over persistent inflation as war in the Middle East weighs on the world’s biggest economy.

“Consumer sentiment confirmed its early month reading, falling about six percent from last month,” said Joanne Hsu, director of the survey.

This is 11 percent down from a year ago, with the gloominess fueled by “continued worries that inflation will remain elevated for the foreseeable future,” she added.

The university’s consumer sentiment index came in at 51.7 this month, a slight revision from the preliminary reading of 51.0 points.

This was a retreat from July’s reading of 55.2 points.

Global energy prices soared after the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in late February, plunging the Middle East into conflict.

Tehran had retaliated by attacking Washington’s Gulf allies and snarling a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. “Sentiment declines in August were seen for all political groups and were particularly acute among Republicans,” the University of Michigan survey found.

This comes just months ahead of key US midterm elections in November. Survey data added that older consumers, alongside those from lower- and middle-income groups, showed a sharper drop in sentiment.

War in the Middle East has already sent US inflation higher, with prices at the gasoline pump climbing and piling pressure on households.

“With ongoing policy uncertainty including the Iran conflict, consumers anticipate further increases in gasoline prices both in the short and long run,” Hsu said.

While year-ahead inflation expectations crept down to 4.0 percent, from 4.2 percent in July, current readings still exceed levels seen before the war began.

Chattogram Port retained its 68th position in the global ranking of container ports despite recording a 4.1% year-on-year increase in container handling in 2025.

The ranking, based on container throughput at ports worldwide in 2025, was published by London-based shipping and ports publication Lloyd's List in its latest special report, Lloyd's List: One Hundred Ports 2026.

According to the report, Chattogram Port handled 3,409,069 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2025, up from 3,275,627 TEUs in 2024.

The port slipped one place to 68th in the 2025 edition of the ranking after holding 67th position for two consecutive years.

Despite handling a record volume of containers in 2024, Chattogram fell in the ranking as other ports recorded faster growth.

Lloyd's List said growth at Chattogram remained limited, but major investments by APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway are reshaping the future of Bangladesh's main container port.

Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) began partial operations at Chattogram Port's newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in June 2024 and started full-scale operations at the terminal this year.

Meanwhile, Danish terminal operator APM Terminals is set to begin construction of the Laldia Container Terminal this month. The foundation stone for the terminal is scheduled to be laid on Sunday.

China's Shanghai Port retained the top position after handling 55,062,500 TEUs in 2025, while Singapore Port ranked second.

Historical data show that Chattogram Port has seen significant fluctuations in the Lloyd's List ranking over the past decade.

In the 2024 edition, based on 2023 data, the port retained 67th place despite a 2.9% decline in container handling.

In the 2023 edition, based on 2022 data, Chattogram slipped three places to 67th after handling 3,142,504 TEUs, down 2.2% from the previous year.

The port moved up three places to 64th in 2022.

Before that, Chattogram had advanced steadily for seven consecutive years. But in the 2021 edition, based on 2020 data, it dropped nine places to 67th, largely because the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted garment exports and reduced container handling.

The port ranked 58th in 2020, 64th in 2019, 70th in 2018, 71st in 2017, 76th in 2016, 87th in 2015 and 86th in 2014.

Port users, however, say the Lloyd's List ranking should not be treated as a complete measure of a port's overall performance.

They point out that the ranking is based primarily on container throughput, meaning a port can fall in the rankings even when its operational capacity or efficiency improves if other ports record faster growth.

For Chattogram, the latest investments in new terminals are expected to increase handling capacity and reshape its position in global rankings in the coming years.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said on Friday that high inflation in the world's largest economy was "concerning," as he opened a key central bankers' meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

"On the price-stability side of our mandate, the numbers are more concerning," said Warsh, according to prepared remarks. He added that he would be "hard pressed" to describe current financial conditions as "restrictive," a potential hint that interest rate hikes could be on the horizon.

The US central bank has missed its long-term two-percent target for inflation for more than five years, with the latest measure of the Fed's preferred gauge coming in at 3.7 percent this week.

Warsh, who has been reticent to share his views on the economy since he took office, said that the central bank's "predominant focus right now should be on prices."

"We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed. Otherwise, we have work to do," he said.

The Fed has held rates steady through 2026, but a growing faction of policymakers have called for interest rate hikes to combat inflation fueled by US President Donald Trump's war on Iran and his tariff policies.

At its last meeting in July, the Fed once again held rates, but a quarter of voting members on the rate-setting committee dissented, calling for an immediate hike.

Warsh had positives to note elsewhere in his economic outlook, however.

"I am impressed by the overall performance of the economy, which appears to have strengthened," he said, noting metrics in business capital expenditures, corporate earnings and consumer spending.

The Fed has a dual mandate to keep long-term inflation to its two-percent target while also delivering maximum employment.

Unemployment has remained relatively steady in the United States over the last year, despite seesawing job growth numbers -- mainly due to demographic shifts driven by an aging population and lower net immigration.

"On the employment side of the Fed's dual mandate, our country is doing well," said Warsh, noting he believed the current unemployment level of 4.1 percent was "consistent with full employment."

Warsh's speech also spoke of the effects of Artificial Intelligence technology on the US economy, calling the moment "a hinge point in history."

The central bank has been investigating the effect of AI on productivity and jobs through a task force formed by Warsh after he took office earlier this year.

Notably, Fed Chair Warsh's speech made no mention of the central bank's independence, which has been under unprecedented attack by Trump since the latter took office last year.

Earlier this month, Trump renewed his attempts to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and he frequently insulted and criticized Warsh's predecessor Jerome Powell as he demanded lower interest rates despite high inflation.

Chattogram port has retained its 68th position among the world’s 100 busiest container ports for the second consecutive year, despite handling 4 percent more containers in 2025 than in the previous year.

London-based shipping journal Lloyd’s List recently published the ranking in a special report titled “Lloyd’s List: One Hundred Ports 2026”. The ranking is based solely on container traffic data from seaports worldwide in 2025, rather than service quality or overall performance.

Even so, container throughput remains a key indicator of economic activity, reflecting trade volumes of industrial raw materials as well as high-value imports and exports.

According to the publication, Chattogram port handled 34.09 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2025, up from 32.75 lakh TEUs in 2024 – a year-on-year rise of 4.1 percent.

At Chattogram port, Lloyd’s said growth remained modest.

“But major investments from APM Terminals, MSC and Red Sea Gateway are reshaping the future of Bangladesh’s leading container port.”

On the global stage, China maintained its dominance in container shipping in 2025, with Shanghai retaining the top spot after handling 5.50 crore TEUs, up 6.9 percent year-on-year.

Singapore followed in second place with 4.47 crore TEUs. Six of the world’s top 10 container ports are in China, whose ports handled more than 40 percent of the 792.2 million TEUs handled by the world’s top 100 ports in 2025, a 6.3 percent year-on-year increase.

Chattogram has remained among the top 100 since 2009. Its best ranking in the Lloyd’s List over the past decade was 58th, based on 2019 container traffic and published in the 2020 rankings. Despite continued growth in container volumes since then, the port has yet to regain that position.

Commenting on the latest ranking, Mohammed Amirul Haque, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said growth in container traffic through Chattogram port was closely linked to the country’s overall economic activity.

He said container handling had continued to increase year after year despite various challenges, adding that further improvements could be achieved by overcoming energy shortages and enhancing services at both the port and customs.

He also said the good news was that both local and foreign investments were returning to Chattogram Port, while new terminals were being developed. These, he added, would significantly expand the port’s container-handling capacity once operational.

Customs authorities have seized 10 trucks carrying nearly 73 tonnes of duplex board in Old Dhaka’s Nayabazar area, days after the consignment imported duty-free under bond facilities went missing from its designated route to Khulna.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) conducted the raid overnight on August 28, recovering nine trucks loaded with roughly 73 tonnes of duplex board and a tenth carrying unidentified goods, according to a press release issued yesterday.
The shipment was originally destined for a bonded warehouse in Khulna, but the consignment strayed from the route and ended up in Nayabazar, where preparations were underway to unload and sell the goods in the local wholesale market.

Import and transport documents show the goods were imported by Sri Flexopack Ltd of Khulna from Indian exporter Mehali Papers Pvt Ltd.

Under bond facility rules, duty-free raw materials must be delivered to the importing company’s approved factory or warehouse and used solely for production.

Diverting such goods to another warehouse or market, unloading them for open sale, transferring ownership, or using them for any purpose outside approved production activities constitutes a breach of bond conditions and may amount to duty and tax evasion.

The CIID said that the responsibility of the individuals and companies involved will be determined only after the investigation is complete, documents are verified, and statements are recorded.

Authorities are also working to track down a truck that escaped during the raid, identify potential buyers or wholesalers, and dismantle the wider network believed to be behind the operation.

Britain needs a clear economic strategy focused on supporting growth ‌rather than holding it back, the boss of supermarket group Asda said on Friday.

Asda’s executive chairman Allan Leighton, who in a five decade career has also chaired Britain’s Co-operative ​Group and the Royal Mail, said the Labour government that came ​to power in 2024 had inhibited growth by piling costs on to business, such as higher employer taxes and packaging levies.

He wants ​that to change under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his new finance minister ​John Healey, who will present his first budget on October 28.

“We haven’t had an economic plan for growth, we had an economic plan that inhibited growth, so just changing that ​would make a big difference,” Leighton told reporters after Asda updated on third ​quarter trading.

“If on top of that they could introduce some things that actually encourages businesses ‌to go even faster for growth that would be even better.”

Leighton backed Healey: “He is a very sensible guy, I think he’ll probably be quite a good chancellor.”

On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that Mike Ashley, ​the retail billionaire ​behind Frasers Group (FRAS.L), opens new tab, had lambasted Burnham’s proposals to revive British shops as “delusional” and “populist”, and warned that the country’s high streets would be “further ​devastated” unless taxes were cut.

However, Healey, like his predecessor Rachel ​Reeves, ⁠has little, if any, room for tax cuts given the pressure on the public finances.

Leighton also said that England’s ongoing drought meant more food inflation was inevitable.

“In produce ⁠there ​is bound to be some because of the ​production capacity and capability at this moment in time,” he said.

However, he said Asda continued to ​inflate “behind the rest of the market.”

An upcoming comprehensive national CSR policy obligates listed companies, banks, financial institutions, insurers and other specified businesses to spend minimum 1.0 per cent of their previous year's pre-tax profit on such activities.Social Issues & Advocacy

The policy on the anvil explicitly bars the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for political purposes, including donations to political parties.

Also on the list of exclusions are normal business expenses, direct advertising and promotion, fines, mandatory compensation, regular employee benefits and personal benefits for owners or directors.

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has drafted the policy styled National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy 2026 and is now seeking stakeholder opinions on the draft. The policy will be finalised after reviewing the feedback received, officials have said.

According to the draft, the CSR policy will generally be reviewed every five years for upgrading in lockstep with changes in the business world and universal statutes.

The policy aims to establish a uniform framework for CSR activities, including spending, project selection, monitoring, reporting, and transparency, while aligning corporate initiatives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and principles of the UN Global Compact.

Under the Article 6 of the drafted policy, mandatory CSR spending will apply to listed companies, banks, financial institutions and insurance companies, state-owned-or controlled commercial enterprises, foreign and multinational companies operating in Bangladesh, and businesses exceeding specified thresholds of annual sales, assets, or pre-tax profit.

The financial thresholds will be determined in line with the National Industrial Policy 2022.Banking

The CSR activities by cottage, micro and small enterprises will remain voluntary, although simplified reporting and implementation arrangements have been proposed for them.

According to the Article 10, covered entities will have to spend at least 1.0 per cent of their pre-tax profit from the immediately preceding financial year on CSR activities.

Companies may spend more than the mandatory amount, while administrative expenses related to CSR activities will be capped at 10 per cent of actual CSR expenditure.

If an entity fails to spend the full allocated amount, it will have to disclose the reasons and plans for using the unspent funds in its annual report. The unspent amount may be carried forward into the subsequent financial year. Any income generated from CSR activities will not be treated as business profit and will have to be reinvested in CSR activities. The draft policy identifies 19 priority areas for CSR spending.

Those include education, healthcare and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, poverty reduction and livelihood development, women and child development, the welfare of persons with disabilities, the elderly and disadvantaged groups, environmental conservation, climate change, disaster management, employment and entrepreneurship development, agriculture and food security, research, science and innovation, culture and heritage, and road and public safety.

Priority will be given to disadvantaged communities, local communities affected by business operations and projects expected to generate long-term and sustainable benefits.Finance

During pandemics or major natural disasters, companies will also be allowed to allocate CSR funds to emergency activities identified by the government.

The rules place overall responsibility for CSR activities on the company's board of directors.

Large entities falling under specified categories will be required to establish separate CSR committees to oversee project selection, budgeting, implementation and assessment of outcomes.

Companies will also have to prepare annual CSR reports containing information on expenditure, major projects, beneficiaries, and outcomes.

It has provisions that include preventing "greenwashing", including unsupported claims that a product, service or operation is environmentally friendly or carbon-neutral. Companies will also be barred from portraying limited activities as broader CSR achievements without adequate evidence.

The MoC has been designated as the lead coordinating ministry for implementing the policy.

A National CSR Coordination Committee, headed by the Commerce Ministry and comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Bank (BB), Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and other relevant agencies, will be formed.Social Issues & Advocacy

The government also plans to introduce a National CSR Award to recognise companies demonstrating effective CSR practices. However, "awards may be withdrawn if they are found to have been obtained on the basis of false information", the policy mentions.

The government may also consider amending existing laws or introducing new regulations related to CSR when necessary.

Contacted, a senior commerce official said, "We have prepared a draft policy on CSR and are seeking opinions from the stakeholders. After receiving the feedbacks, the draft will be finalised by addition and subtraction."