Bangladesh's foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to weaken, with fresh foreign equity investment falling 5% year-on-year in the April-June quarter of 2026, marking a second consecutive quarterly decline.

Fresh equity investment had plunged 70.34% in the January-March quarter. Meanwhile, total net FDI fell 22% quarter-on-quarter in April-June, despite a recovery in reinvested earnings, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank data.

Economists said repeated downgrades to Bangladesh's sovereign credit ratings in recent years were among the factors discouraging foreign investment. Investors consider sovereign ratings an important indicator when assessing a country's investment risks.

The high level of non-performing loans in Bangladesh's banking sector has also sent negative signals to potential investors, they said. These concerns are weakening appetite for new projects and contributing to the decline in fresh equity investment.

Fresh equity investment represents new foreign capital entering the country. Its continued decline signals growing reluctance among foreign investors to commit capital to new projects in Bangladesh.

According to Bangladesh Bank, fresh equity investment stood at $77.42 million in April-June 2026, down from $81.3 million in the same quarter a year earlier, a decline of 4.77%.

Total net FDI, comprising fresh equity investment, reinvested earnings and inter-company loans, reached $346.94 million in the quarter, up from $307.62 million a year earlier.

This represented a 12% year-on-year increase, driven largely by higher reinvestment by existing foreign companies. However, net FDI fell 22% from the January-March quarter.

Reinvested earnings refer to profits that foreign companies already operating in Bangladesh retain in the country and invest back into their businesses. While this boosts overall FDI, it does not indicate an increase in new foreign investors entering the market.

In April-June, reinvested earnings rose to $269.1 million from $168.2 million in the same period a year earlier. This suggests that a substantial share of total FDI came from existing investors rather than new entrants.

Gross inflows of reinvested earnings stood at $664.35 million during the quarter, while outflows amounted to $403.45 million, leaving a net inflow of $260.91 million.

Inter-company loans recorded the steepest decline among the three components of FDI. Net inflows fell 67.04% quarter-on-quarter, from $26.13 million in January-March 2026 to $8.61 million in April-June. Compared with $58.08 million in the same quarter a year earlier, the figure was down 85.17%.

Gross inflows from inter-company loans totalled $333.8 million during the quarter, while outflows reached $325.19 million, leaving only a small net contribution to overall FDI.

The World Bank has identified weaknesses in Bangladesh's banking sector as one of the most serious risks to the economy. The NPL ratio stood at 33.2% in June 2026.

The banking sector's overall capital adequacy ratio fell to negative 2.6% in December 2025, far below the minimum regulatory requirement of 10%.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's sovereign credit rating has come under pressure in recent years amid persistent economic vulnerabilities, weak revenue collection, pressure on foreign exchange reserves and growing stress in the banking sector.

As of October 2026, the picture is mixed: Moody's affirmed Bangladesh's B2 rating and revised its outlook to stable in September, while S&P and Fitch maintained their B+ ratings but revised their outlooks to negative.

For Doug Rende, who runs an aluminum product manufacturer in the US state of Ohio, President Donald Trump's tariffs have meant millions of dollars more in annual costs -- and recently, the Iran war has made shipments even more expensive.

Rende is chief executive at Shapes Unlimited, one of many American producers smarting from Trump's economic policies as midterm elections approach.
"Frustrating would be one word," Rende told AFP."And I think that we're sensing a lack of trust in not only the administration but the governmental process, the role of Congress to rein in executive power," he added.

Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has wielded executive authority to slap tariffs on various products and countries.

Besides aluminum, the duties hit steel and autos too, while US trading partners face additional tariffs that vary by country.

Even as some American manufacturers have benefited as their foreign competitors encounter higher barriers, others struggle with ballooning costs and persistent uncertainty.

Trump's spiraling trade fight with Canada and war with Iran have only deepened worries.

Grievances over Trump's trade policies are among fault lines that Democrats hope will work in their favor as they push to flip control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November's vote.

Rende's company in North Jackson, Ohio, makes and distributes aluminum building products used in fixtures like fences.

Trump's tariffs on aluminum have steadily climbed, from 10 percent during his first presidency to 25 percent and then 50 percent last year, and Rende has felt the impact.

"This year alone, it's upwards of $4.5 million to $5 million in additional costs," Rende said.

"There's only so much that the end consumer is willing to eat," he added. "So, we absorb a healthy portion."

These added costs include steeper transportation fees, as fuel prices surged with the US-Israel war on Iran. Surcharges are "upwards of $6,500 per container" of goods from suppliers, Rende said.

As a result, he has paused recruitment for new jobs while investing in more robotic assembly.

Sam Miller, another Ohio manufacturer who makes kitchen and bathroom products, has been hit on both fronts in Trump's trade wars, paying tariffs on imported materials from Asia while finding it harder to expand into Canada because of trade tensions.

"It's been difficult for businesses to manage," Miller told AFP from his factory floor in Warren as a machine hummed nearby, cutting countertop material. "I do think that there will be a shift away from Republican views."

Although Miller received refunds after the Supreme Court struck down many of Trump's duties, the US leader has since reinstated many of them.

Deteriorating US-Canada ties add to his challenges, with Washington and Ottawa slapping tariffs on each other's products after trade negotiations collapsed in August.

"We're selling into Canada and it is particularly straining on both us and our customers," Miller said.
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He originally planned on opening a distribution facility in Canada this year, but progress has slowed.

Guy Coviello, president of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, told AFP he is monitoring tariffs, the Iran war and immigration very closely.

These are a "mixed bag" for firms but negative overall, said Coviello, whose business group has some 3,000 members.

Some firms have lost customers or had to downsize, he said.

Canada is also Ohio's biggest export market, with a third of Ohio's exports going to the country.

"Where it gets even more complicated is that there are some goods that go back and forth across the border multiple times," he said.

The Iran war adds to stresses, raising freight costs and hitting aluminum supplies due to drone attacks in the Middle East.

With a lack of new US aluminum smelters, Coviello said: "We are all for tariffs for critical items such as defense and medical industry."

But he added: "We have to be careful when you're talking about products that are not crucial and are not available in the US."

Bangladesh Bank has proposed three mechanisms to facilitate remittance transfers by Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Maldives, including the use of Maldivian rufiyaa, travel-related transactions and a bilateral currency swap arrangement.

In a letter dated 8 October to Ahmed Munawar, governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman said Bangladeshi workers continued to face difficulties sending their earnings home despite efforts to strengthen formal foreign exchange channels in the Maldives.

He proposed cooperation between the two monetary authorities to establish safe, efficient, transparent and cost-effective mechanisms for transferring workers' earnings through formal banking channels.

Under the first proposal, Bangladesh Bank wants to explore the use of Maldivian rufiyaa through an appropriate arrangement under the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). The corresponding funds would be paid to beneficiaries in Bangladesh in taka through authorised dealer banks.

The second proposal involves allowing licensed banks and money transfer operators in the Maldives to make eligible travel-related payments in rufiyaa for Bangladeshi nationals travelling to the country. In Bangladesh, authorised dealer banks could issue taka-denominated cards, with settlements handled through an agreed regulatory mechanism.

The third proposal seeks to explore a bilateral currency swap arrangement between Bangladesh and the Maldives to facilitate the repatriation of Bangladeshi workers' earnings.

Bangladesh Bank said the proposed mechanisms would be subject to regulatory approval and compliance with the laws of both countries.

The central bank also expressed its readiness to hold discussions with the MMA through a joint delegation comprising Bangladesh Bank officials and representatives of the Bangladesh Mission in the Maldives.

The proposed meeting would focus on regulatory requirements, operational arrangements and settlement mechanisms for implementing the initiatives.

The BB letter said the proposals would require regulatory approval and compliance with both countries' laws.

According to 2024 data, the Maldives had more than 200,000 foreign workers, including over 100,000 Bangladeshis.

According to Bangladesh Bank's country-wise remittance data, Bangladesh received about $118 million in remittances from the Maldives in FY2025–26, down from $141.1 million in FY2024–25. That represents a year-on-year decline of approximately 16.4%

According to Bangladesh Bank data, Bangladesh received $38.05 million in remittances from the Maldives during the first three months of the current fiscal year.

Challenges in sending remittances from the Maldives

Banks and exchange houses are reluctant to accept the Maldivian local currency directly. As a result, Bangladeshi expatriates have to buy US dollars on the curb market and send the money home through banks or exchange houses.

They also have to pay high commissions to transfer money through formal channels, leaving migrant workers facing financial losses in both the two ways.

Yields on treasury bills fell below 8% in today's (11 October) auction for the first time since October 2023, as excess liquidity in the banking sector and weak private-sector credit demand drove down the government's short-term borrowing costs to their lowest levels in nearly three years.

Treasury bill yields last fell below 8% in October 2023, after which interest rates on Treasury bills and bonds continued to rise.

In the latest auction held today, yields on 91-day, 182-day and 364-day Treasury bills fell below 8%, marking a notable development as yields across all three tenors dropped below the threshold simultaneously.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, the yield on 91-day Treasury bills declined to 7.65%, while those on 182-day and 364-day bills fell to 7.75% and 7.89%, respectively.

On 2 October 2023, yields on the 91-day, 182-day and 364-day Treasury bills stood at 7.45%, 7.60% and 8.25%, respectively.

At the auction held on 4 October this year, the yield on the relevant Treasury bills stood at 8.13%. The latest figures indicate a decline of 48 basis points in the yield over just one week.

Earlier, at the 6 September auction, yields on 91-day, 182-day and 364-day Treasury bills stood at 8.59%, 8.65% and 8.73%, respectively. Although yields declined in several subsequent auctions, the 11 October auction marked the first time in the recent series that all three tenors fell below 8%.

Treasury bills are one of the government's key instruments for raising short-term funds. Lower yields can reduce government borrowing costs, while excess liquidity in banks can increase demand for government securities.

Private-sector credit growth has remained below 5% for six consecutive months, reflecting subdued demand for bank loans.

Meanwhile, surplus liquidity in the banking sector surged 45% over the past year to exceed Tk4 lakh crore, according to a central bank report. However, the vast majority of these funds have been parked in government Treasury bills and bonds rather than flowing into private-sector lending.

The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) commenced the week on a sour note today (11 October) as broad-based selling pressure erased early gains amid investor apprehension over upcoming corporate earnings disclosures and escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

The broad-based DSEX index fell 24 points to settle at 5,451, while the blue-chip DS30 index edged down 2 points to close at 2,103.

Market participation also thinned out, with total daily turnover at the Dhaka bourse slipping 6.64% to Tk568 crore compared to the previous session.

Out of the 385 issues traded, only 79 advanced, while 264 declined and 42 remained unchanged.

Brokerage firms attributed the negative performance to heightened caution among market participants surrounding the fiscal year-end earnings and dividend announcement season of June year-end companies, alongside concerns over the broader macroeconomic outlook.

EBL Securities noted in its daily market commentary that the capital market opened on a positive note with sustained buying interest across the board through mid-session. However, intense profit-taking and liquidations emerged thereafter, eroding earlier gains and ultimately dragging the benchmark index into negative territory at the close.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited echoed similar views, adding that selling pressure intensified after mid-session and pushed the index to an intraday low of 5,451 points.

On the sectoral front, textiles dominated liquidity, accounting for 23.9% of the day's total turnover, followed by the miscellaneous sector at 11.1% and general insurance at 8.8%.

Most sectors posted negative returns, with general insurance taking the hardest hit with a 3.5% correction, followed by mutual funds at 2.9% and life insurance at 2.2%.

On the flip side, paper, fuel and power, and miscellaneous sectors posted modest gains of 1.0%, 0.8%, and 0.6% respectively.

Beximco topped the turnover chart, followed by GQ Ball Pen, Evince Textile, Saiham Textile Mills Limited, and Sonali Aansh Industries Limited.

Aziz Pipes Ltd emerged as the top gainer on the Dhaka bourse, surging 9.96%, while Anlimayarn, Baraka Patenga Power, S Alam Cold Rolled, and National Bank also featured prominently on the gainers' list.

Conversely, MBL First Mutual Fund was the day's worst performer, plunging 10%, followed by Phoenix Finance First Mutual Fund, Exim Bank First Mutual Fund, CAPM IBBL Mutual Fund and First Prime Finance Mutual Fund.

Mirroring the capital's bourse, the Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed lower. The selective CSCX index dropped 17 points to end at 8,999, while the all-share CASPI index slipped 25 points to settle at 14,635.

Gold rose for a second straight session on Friday, touching a one-week high, as bargain buying emerged after bullion fell to two-month low earlier this week, while traders assessed the likelihood of further US Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

Spot gold rose 1.5 percent to $4,194.36 per ounce by 03:29 p.m. EDT (1929 GMT), heading for a weekly gain of about 1.3 percent.
The metal fell to a two-month low on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and rising US Treasury yields weighed on the non-yielding metal.

US gold futures for December delivery gained 1.4 percent to settle at $4,216.3. Bullion gained due to “bargain hunting at the lows, as a floor has been building in the $4,000-region,” said Rhona O’Connell, head of market analysis at Stone X.

“It is arguable that a further Fed hike is already priced in but so is the expectation for continued official sector net purchases. Without any Black Swan event I find it hard to see gold breaking convincingly higher.”

US 10-year Treasury yields were off over two-decade highs hit on Wednesday.

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said on Thursday the US central bank [will need to hike rates again to bring inflation back to its 2 percent target](https://www.reuters.com/world/india/gold-rises-softer-dollar-easing-yields-fed-outlook-focus-2026-10-09/).

Traders are pricing in a 19 percent chance of a rate hike in October and an 84 percent probability of at least one 25-basis-point increase by December, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.

Gold tends to lose its appeal compared to yield-bearing assets in a high interest-rate environment.

“The coming week’s CPI release may act as a catalyst for gold’s next big move... Still-stubborn inflation that pushes the Fed into a steeper rate-hike cycle may force spot gold to re-test the psychological $4,000 support once more,” said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Bybit.

Meanwhile, gold demand in India was sluggish this week as prices rebounded, while trading in top consumer China was subdued during the holiday-truncated trading period.

Bangladesh is exploring a deal to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Algeria amid supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood held a meeting with Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdelouahab Saïdani yesterday (11 October) to discuss energy cooperation, including possible memoranda of understanding on LNG and LPG imports, according to a statement from the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

The meeting also covered preparations for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to Algeria. Energy Secretary Md Ziaul Huq was present.

Algeria, a North African country on the Mediterranean coast, has emerged as an alternative petroleum supplier for South Asian countries amid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Its shipping routes to South Asia bypass the strait, offering an alternative to traditional Middle Eastern supply routes.

Algerian LNG and LPG exports have traditionally gone mainly to Europe, but recent geopolitical shifts have prompted South Asian countries to diversify their energy sources.

GQ Ball Pen Industries, the maker of the once-popular Econo ballpoint pen, has returned to profitability after nine consecutive years of losses, posting a net profit of Tk1.31 crore in FY26 as it cuts operating costs and earns rental income from its commercial property.

The company last reported a profit of Tk1.55 crore in 2016. Its earnings per share (EPS) stood at Tk0.12 in FY26, while its net asset value (NAV) per share was Tk143.60 and net operating cash flow per share Tk0.58, according to the company's disclosure.

Following the earnings disclosure and dividend announcement, the company's share price rose 6.65% to Tk609.30 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). Its market capitalisation stood at around Tk510 crore.

Uzzal Kumar Saha, managing director of GQ Ball Pen, told The Business Standard that the company had scaled down operations because of ageing machinery, helping reduce operating costs.

"As our machinery is too old, we are cutting down operations following shareholder approval at the last annual general meeting, which has helped us reduce operating costs," he said.

The company has also benefited from rental income generated by its multi storey commercial building in Uttara, which has provided a steady revenue stream alongside income from investments, he added.

GQ Ball Pen has recommended a 12.5% cash dividend for FY26, up from the 10% cash dividend paid to general shareholders for FY25. The company's annual general meeting is scheduled for 30 November, with 4 November set as the record date.

Despite returning to profitability, the company faces the longer-term challenge of reviving its core pen-manufacturing business, which has lost ground amid intensifying competition and changing consumer preferences.

At its last AGM for FY25, shareholders approved a plan to modernise and replace ageing machinery through a balancing, modernisation, rehabilitation and expansion (BMRE) programme. However, the company plans to finance the initiative from its own resources rather than taking on additional bank loans.

"Currently, bank loans have become costly, with interest rates reaching 15-16%. So, we will implement the BMRE using our own funds, which will take time," Uzzal said.

Once the modernisation programme is completed, the company plans to rebrand its flagship Econo pen to restore its former popularity, he added.

Founded in 1981, GQ Ball Pen Industries once transformed the local writing-instrument market with its Econo brand. The company enjoyed strong growth for nearly three decades, but its business began losing momentum around 2012 as large conglomerates entered the ballpoint pen market with new designs, greater financial resources and stronger marketing capabilities.

In its FY25 annual report, the company acknowledged that competition from large conglomerates had weakened its business and that regaining market share would require substantial investment in new machinery, moulds and marketing.

The company also disclosed that shareholders had advised management at several annual general meetings to invest surplus funds in new industrial ventures. It said it had invested a total of Tk28.17 crore in land, fixed deposit receipts and private and publicly listed companies rather than concentrating its investments in a single sector.

The company acknowledged that returns on investments were not guaranteed and said it would seek to recover investments or minimise losses. It also said it would segregate investments and make provisions where necessary.

Meanwhile, rental income from its 14-storey commercial building in Uttara has emerged as an important source of support for the business. The company said its investment income remained unaffected despite difficulties in its core operations.

According to the company's September shareholding data, sponsors and directors held 37.77% of its shares, institutions 1.47%, foreign investors 0.05% and the general public 60.71%. Listed on the stock market in 1986, the company has paid-up capital of Tk8.92 crore.

A company insider said GQ Ball Pen was established by Qazi Saleemul Huq Kamal and Salma Huq.

Quazi Saleemul Huq, popularly known as Econo Kamal, was a former BNP lawmaker from Magura. In 2018, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a corruption case. Following the fall of the previous regime, the Supreme Court acquitted him in the case.

As global economic uncertainty looms preceding the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Bangladesh prepares to negotiate a fresh loan of up to US$4.0 billion to cushion shocks.

The new government continues discussion for the International Monetary Fund's funding after discontinuing a part of a previous lending package in view of its hard-to-digest terms.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, ministry officials and the Bangladesh Bank governor and officials are attending the meetings, where the country's financing needs and reform commitments will be under discussion.

The talks, scheduled alongside the October 12-18 meetings, will focus on the proposed loan's size and policy conditions, including exchange-rate management, banking-sector reforms, electricity and fertiliser subsidies, and domestic revenue mobilisation, according to finance ministry officials.

"If discussions make sufficient progress, an IMF mission could visit Dhaka later this month, with the government aiming to finalise a new programme by January next year," says one official.

The negotiations form part of a much wider international agenda. Finance ministers, central-bank governors and development policymakers from around the world are meeting as geopolitical conflicts disrupt energy supply, borrowing costs squeeze public finances and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) raise questions about productivity and employment.

Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva has warned that high energy prices, rising public debts and the expansion of AI are creating "competing pressures on the global economy".

The meetings are expected to examine how countries can preserve financial stability and sustain growth while managing these risks.

For Bangladesh, the discussions carry direct economic implications. The country is seeking fresh IMF financing after having decided to abandon its previous programme halfway, while continuing to face weak revenue collection, banking-sector vulnerabilities, inflation and pressure on foreign-exchange reserves.

The previous arrangement, initially signed for $4.7 billion in January 2023 and later expanded to $5.5 billion, was negotiated under the Awami League government and subsequently revised during the interim administration.

Bangladesh received $3.8 billion in five instalments, but the sixth tranche was delayed after discussions were suspended in November last year. The new government subsequently sought a successor arrangement.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said in Dhaka last week that the government had terminated the existing programme and would no longer accept its conditions.

"The IMF will give us money, the World Bank will give us money-forget about it. I have terminated the IMF programme, as you have seen. Their conditions are not acceptable to us," he said at an event in the capital some weeks back.

The planned Bangkok negotiations nevertheless indicate that discussions over a new arrangement are continuing, with the government seeking terms it considers more compatible with its economic priorities.

IMF mission chief for Bangladesh Ivo Krznar said in a June-3 statement that a successor arrangement could allow both sides to agree on a programme reflecting the country's current challenges and the new administration's objectives.

He added that any agreement would need to address Bangladesh's balance-of-payments needs and be supported by credible policy commitments, subject to the Fund's procedures and executive board approval.

The scale of the financing request and the associated reforms will be central to the negotiations. Bangladesh could qualify for between $4.0 billion and $5.0 billion based on its IMF quota, according to finance ministry officials.

The Washington-based Fund is expected to seek clearer commitments on revenue collection and time-bound measures to address weaknesses in vulnerable banks, the finance ministry officials said. The Fund also wanting the government to introduce excise duty on fuels to help increase revenue earnings.

The wider economic backdrop makes the outcome particularly important. The World Bank's latest Bangladesh Development Update projects growth of 3.4 per cent in both FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, while revenue collection remains exceptionally low at 8.3 per cent of GDP.

Weak investment, inflation and financial-sector problems continue to weigh on the outlook.

Meanwhile, the World Bank is discussing potential crisis assistance with dozens of countries facing higher energy and fertiliser costs. Its president, Ajay Banga, has said the institution could expand available support if the effects of the global energy shock intensify.

The Bangkok meetings will also feature the World Bank's 'Small AI, Big Jobs' event on October 12 and 'Mobilizing Private Capital for Jobs' on October 14, reflecting the institutions' focus on employment and investment alongside immediate financial risks.

US consumer sentiment ticked down in October, survey data showed Friday, with sharp declines seen among those with lower incomes as cost of living worries in the world’s largest economy soar.

The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index stood at 46.3 this month, down from 48.1 in September.
While this marked just a small monthly dip, the preliminary report flagged that “sentiment for lower-income consumers and those with smaller stock portfolios dropped steeply.”Survey director Joanne Hsu added that those groups have fewer resources to withstand price hikes.“Frustration over cost-of-living continues to mount, as consumers across the political spectrum believe that the trajectory of the economy has weakened since the beginning of the year,” she said.October’s consumer sentiment reading was 13.6 percent below the same period last year.

Meanwhile, expectations of inflation ticked up, bolstered by rising costs due to war in the Middle East.

Year-ahead inflation expectations rose from 4.6 percent to 4.7 percent this month, Hsu said.

This is substantially higher than the 3.4 percent reported in February, before US-Israel attacks targeting Iran sparked Tehran’s blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, sending energy costs rocketing.

Prices at US gasoline pumps have since surged, with steeper costs cascading through the US economy.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) PLC has launched a month-long cybersecurity awareness campaign throughout October to strengthen digital security among its employees and Trading Right Entitlement Certificate (TREC) holders.

For the first time, the country's premier bourse is observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month through a dedicated initiative aimed at curbing online fraud, promoting secure digital operations and strengthening responsibility for data protection across the capital market.

As part of the campaign, the DSE premises have been decorated with awareness banners and festoons, while employee workstations feature customised desktop wallpapers with security guidelines. The campaign focuses on helping market participants identify and mitigate cyber risks, including suspicious emails, phishing links and malicious software.

The bourse is also conducting interactive online training sessions via Zoom for TREC holders, grouping participants according to their operational needs. An online quiz competition has been launched to assess their cybersecurity knowledge, with top performers set to receive recognition.

TREC holders demonstrating strong cybersecurity compliance will receive certificates at the DSE's regular "Meet and Greet" event to encourage proactive security measures at brokerage houses.

The campaign is being implemented through collaboration among several DSE departments. The Information Security Section (ISS) is leading the initiative by developing training modules, preparing awareness materials and coordinating the quiz competition, with support from the IT infrastructure, network, public relations and publications departments, and the Office of the Managing Director.

DSE authorities said technical safeguards alone were not enough to protect a technology-driven capital market, stressing that user awareness and responsible digital behaviour are equally important. The bourse expects the initiative to strengthen cybersecurity awareness among stakeholders and help build a secure, reliable and resilient digital stock exchange.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will remain open for trading and official activities on Saturday (17 October) ahead of the Durga Puja holidays.

Trading normally remains closed on Saturdays due to the weekly holiday. However, the bourses have decided to keep their operations open on 17 October following the government's announcement of a public holiday on 22 October for Durga Puja.

Trading and administrative activities at both exchanges will remain suspended for three consecutive days, from 20 to 22 October, in line with the government-declared holiday schedule.

All regular trading and official activities will take place according to the usual schedule on Saturday to adjust for the holiday arrangements, according to the bourses.

Trading and office operations at the exchanges will resume on Sunday, 25 October, after the Puja holidays and the weekly weekend.

Bangladesh is aggressively pursuing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with 10 nations and economic blocs to safeguard its export competitiveness ahead of its scheduled graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

Alongside bilateral negotiations, Dhaka is seeking entry into the 19-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Simultaneously, the government has requested a three-year extension to its graduation timeline, currently set for 24 November 2026, citing global economic headwinds and the imperative for domestic structural reforms.

According to a Commerce Ministry progress report presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on 7 October, Bangladesh has completed 38 feasibility studies on potential trade partners and is actively negotiating terms with key global markets.

Negotiations advance across key markets

The ministry revealed that Bangladesh is pursuing FTAs with the European Union, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Turkey, Nepal, Canada, and Mauritius, while negotiating CEPAs with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking to The Business Standard, Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan noted substantial momentum across several tracks:

Japan: Bangladesh signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on 6 February 2026, described by the ministry as the country's first formal FTA, which currently awaits ratification.

European Union: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in April seeking an FTA. Both sides have appointed negotiating teams, with initial online discussions expected by late October or November.

South Korea: Negotiations are complete and awaiting cabinet approval. Dhaka aims to sign the deal by December.

Singapore & UAE: Bangladesh has wrapped up four rounds of FTA talks with Singapore and expects to finalise terms after six rounds. Meanwhile, Cepa negotiations with the UAE are moving into a third round in March, with target completion by year-end.

Malaysia & South Asia: Malaysia has finalised the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a 20-chapter FTA, with first-round talks scheduled for 27–29 October in Dhaka. Bilateral preferential trade agreement (PTA) draft texts have been exchanged with Nepal, alongside ongoing trade expansion efforts with Bhutan under a 2020 PTA.
Extension request under review

Bangladesh formally submitted its request for a three-year LDC graduation extension to the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN-CDP) on 18 February. The application remains under review.

Graduating from LDC status will trigger the withdrawal of preferential tariff access and duty-free benefits across major global markets. Exporters warn this shift will directly impair price competitiveness and squeeze export growth. In response, the government is framing a 'Trade Negotiating Pool' and a market-access roadmap to prioritise key markets and establish clear timelines.

Navigating US market uncertainties

Preserving access to the United States, Bangladesh's largest single-country export destination, remains a top priority. Exports to the US reached $9.05 billion in FY26, up 4.09% year-on-year.

However, market terms remain fluid. A reciprocal trade agreement signed on 9 February set a 19% tariff on Bangladeshi goods in exchange for preferential access for US industrial and farm goods. While initial discussions included zero-tariff treatment for specific Bangladeshi textile quotas, those provisions are currently inactive, leaving average garment tariffs at 25.62%.

Both the Commerce Ministry and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) view ongoing engagement as vital to maintaining access. Additionally, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is considering a three-year tariff-rate quota for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, which could exempt products containing US cotton and textile inputs from Section 301 tariffs.

Experts urge strategic discipline

Trade analysts and business leaders warn that multiplying trade agreements will not yield automatic dividends without a cohesive strategy.

Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), cautioned that Bangladesh must evaluate the cost-benefit balance of every deal:

EU Priority: Securing an EU arrangement is vital, as losing preference could put nearly half of Bangladesh's export basket under strain.

Selective Focus: A deal with Singapore yields limited added value since it already imposes zero tariffs on most goods. Similarly, a standalone FTA with Malaysia may prove redundant if Bangladesh successfully joins RCEP.
Adding to this perspective, Abul Kasem Khan, former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), emphasised that trade deals alone cannot substitute for structural reform:

"Low-cost labor is no longer a sufficient competitive edge. Bangladesh needs a comprehensive roadmap addressing supply chain efficiency, logistics, energy security, and workforce upskilling. Despite years of debate, meaningful export diversification has lagged, we must fix underlying operational bottlenecks and modernize our foreign investment strategy."

Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation is interested in expanding its existing investments in Bangladesh and entering new industrial sectors, including fertiliser production, information technology and ship recycling.

The corporation also sees opportunities to modernise the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO), improve natural gas efficiency and increase fertiliser production capacity. The Japanese trading group is an equity investor in KAFCO.

Marubeni President and CEO Masayuki Omoto discussed the investment opportunities at a meeting with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at the commerce ministry office in Dhaka yesterday, according to a press ministry statement.

Omoto also expressed interest in new investments and technological cooperation in the production of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilisers.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s potential in the information technology sector, he noted that hundreds of Bangladeshi engineers employed by Bangladesh Japan Information Technology (BJIT), a joint investment venture, were providing services to international markets, including Japan.

He said there were further opportunities to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence and IT offshoring.

The discussions also covered investment in modern, environmentally friendly technologies for the ship recycling industry, a proposal for Toyota vehicle manufacturing and ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply to economic zones.

Small modular reactor (SMR) technology was also discussed as a potential option for ensuring long-term energy security, the ministry statement said.

Muktadir said the government was prioritising the simplification of company registration, trade licensing and investment approval procedures. It was also working to ensure that foreign investors could repatriate profits and capital.

He assured that Japanese companies looking to expand their investments in Bangladesh would receive the necessary government support.

The minister said Japanese technology, expertise and investment could play a significant role in developing Bangladesh’s manufacturing industries.

There were opportunities to expand joint ventures in shipbuilding and ship recycling, automobiles, agro-based industries and high-technology sectors, he said, adding that the government was advancing necessary reforms to facilitate investment in these areas.

He also said efforts were underway to move the jute industry beyond conventional products towards diversified, higher-value goods. Priorities included developing new products by blending jute fibres with cotton, viscose and polyester, improving seeds and expanding research activities.

Both sides also discussed the importance of deepening Bangladesh-Japan economic relations, capitalising on the potential benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries, and expanding long-term partnerships in industry and technology.

Marubeni, one of Japan’s major general trading companies, operates across sectors ranging from food and agriculture to energy, infrastructure and technology. The group reported revenue of ¥7.79 trillion in the fiscal year ended March 2025 and employed more than 52,000 people worldwide, according to its Integrated Report 2025 and financial results.

In Bangladesh, Marubeni has a business and capital alliance with local IT service company BJIT Group. Under the alliance announced in April 2023, Marubeni invested in BJIT Ltd, the group’s core company, and BJIT Global Pte Ltd, which manages overseas sales, to expand offshore digital transformation services, according to a Marubeni announcement.

Marubeni has also installed about 1,300 megawatts of gas-fired and hydropower plants in Bangladesh and supplied the entire railway system for Dhaka Metro Rail’s MRT Line 6, according to a company statement issued in April 2023.

For Doug Rende, who runs an aluminum product manufacturer in the US state of Ohio, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have meant millions of dollars more in annual costs -- and recently, the Iran war has made shipments even more expensive.

Rende is chief executive at Shapes Unlimited, one of many American producers smarting from Trump’s economic policies as midterm elections approach.

“Frustrating would be one word,” Rende told AFP.

“And I think that we’re sensing a lack of trust in not only the administration but the governmental process, the role of Congress to rein in executive power,” he added.

Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has wielded executive authority to slap tariffs on various products and countries.

Besides aluminum, the duties hit steel and autos too, while US trading partners face additional tariffs that vary by country.

Even as some American manufacturers have benefited as their foreign competitors encounter higher barriers, others struggle with ballooning costs and persistent uncertainty.

Trump’s spiraling trade fight with Canada and war with Iran have only deepened worries.

Grievances over Trump’s trade policies are among fault lines that Democrats hope will work in their favor as they push to flip control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November’s vote.

Rende’s company in North Jackson, Ohio, makes and distributes aluminum building products used in fixtures like fences.

Trump’s tariffs on aluminum have steadily climbed, from 10 percent during his first presidency to 25 percent and then 50 percent last year, and Rende has felt the impact.

“This year alone, it’s upwards of $4.5 million to $5 million in additional costs,” Rende said.

“There’s only so much that the end consumer is willing to eat,” he added. “So, we absorb a healthy portion.”

These added costs include steeper transportation fees, as fuel prices surged with the US-Israel war on Iran. Surcharges are “upwards of $6,500 per container” of goods from suppliers, Rende said.

As a result, he has paused recruitment for new jobs while investing in more robotic assembly.

Sam Miller, another Ohio manufacturer who makes kitchen and bathroom products, has been hit on both fronts in Trump’s trade wars, paying tariffs on imported materials from Asia while finding it harder to expand into Canada because of trade tensions.

“It’s been difficult for businesses to manage,” Miller told AFP from his factory floor in Warren as a machine hummed nearby, cutting countertop material. “I do think that there will be a shift away from Republican views.”

Although Miller received refunds after the Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s duties, the US leader has since reinstated many of them.

Deteriorating US-Canada ties add to his challenges, with Washington and Ottawa slapping tariffs on each other’s products after trade negotiations collapsed in August.

“We’re selling into Canada and it is particularly straining on both us and our customers,” Miller said.

He originally planned on opening a distribution facility in Canada this year, but progress has slowed.

Guy Coviello, president of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, told AFP he is monitoring tariffs, the Iran war and immigration very closely.

These are a “mixed bag” for firms but negative overall, said Coviello, whose business group has some 3,000 members.

Some firms have lost customers or had to downsize, he said. Canada is also Ohio’s biggest export market, with a third of Ohio’s exports going to the country.

“Where it gets even more complicated is that there are some goods that go back and forth across the border multiple times,” he said.

The Iran war adds to stresses, raising freight costs and hitting aluminum supplies due to drone attacks in the Middle East.

With a lack of new US aluminum smelters, Coviello said: “We are all for tariffs for critical items such as defense and medical industry.”

But he added: “We have to be careful when you’re talking about products that are not crucial and are not available in the US.”

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has proposed a base price of Tk 214 crore per MHz for a block of E-GSM spectrum with limited interference, a lower-frequency band that helps mobile operators extend network coverage and improve indoor connectivity.

It has also proposed a price of Tk 178 crore per MHz for another block with higher interference.

The telecom regulator has decided to seek government approval for the proposed prices before holding the auction, which it intends to conduct this year.

For customers, the additional spectrum could improve network coverage and capacity, particularly in areas where mobile networks face congestion or coverage gaps. It could also support more reliable mobile internet services as operators deploy additional capacity.

A total of 8.4MHz of E-GSM spectrum will be up for auction.

According to BTRC documents, the 3.4MHz block with limited interference has a proposed base price of Tk 214 crore per MHz for 15 years, down 10 per cent from the benchmark price of Tk 237 crore.

The other 5MHz block, which faces higher interference from neighbouring India, has been priced at Tk 178 crore per MHz, a 25 per cent reduction from the same benchmark.

The commission has also formed a committee to prepare auction guidelines covering the bidding process, bid increments, spectrum tenure, payment arrangements, application processing fees, bid earnest money and annual spectrum charges.

The pricing decision comes as the telecom regulator seeks to make additional lower-band spectrum available to mobile operators to improve network quality and expand coverage, particularly in remote areas.

The proposed rates reflect differences in interference levels and the limited period for which the spectrum would be available. Both blocks are expected to be allocated only until 2030.

After 2030, spectrum allocation from this band would shift to the 850MHz band in coordination with neighbouring countries to achieve a lasting resolution.

The 3.4MHz block covers the paired frequency ranges of 885–888.4MHz and 930–933.4MHz. The 5MHz block covers 880–885MHz and 925–930MHz.

According to the BTRC, the latter block experiences significantly higher interference across substantial parts of the country because of cross-border signals from India. As a result, it cannot be used as effectively nationwide as the other block.

The regulator believes the proposed discounts would account for these technical limitations and the short allocation period while ensuring that the spectrum benefits consumers and generates revenue for the government.

The pricing proposal follows consultations among the BTRC, the Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance.

In a letter dated September 7, the Posts and Telecommunications Division asked the BTRC to proceed with the auction in line with the Finance Division’s opinion, as well as recommendations from the Spectrum Management Committee and applicable laws, regulations and guidelines. The division also instructed the regulator to obtain government approval wherever required.

The Finance Division said determining the base price of spectrum for auction falls within the BTRC’s statutory management process under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001, and does not constitute the fixing of rates, charges, tariffs or fees that would require its consent on that basis.

Since the actual spectrum price would be determined through competitive bidding, the Finance Division had no objection to the BTRC addressing technical interference issues in accordance with applicable standards recommended by the International Telecommunication Union.

“The Finance Division and the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry have already opined that setting spectrum prices falls within BTRC’s jurisdiction. Despite that, we have decided to seek government approval, specifying the proposed price for the spectrum,” said BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari.

Of the 10MHz E-GSM band under consideration, 1.6MHz has already been allocated to Robi Axiata PLC, according to BTRC documents. The regulator is now preparing to auction the remaining 8.4MHz.

The Spectrum Management Committee recommended auctioning the available spectrum after finding that multiple operators had expressed interest in the same blocks.

The BTRC has argued that additional lower-band spectrum is urgently needed to improve mobile network quality and expand coverage.

The commission has also formed a committee comprising officials from its spectrum management, legal, engineering and finance-related departments to prepare the auction guidelines.

Bangladesh's import payments rose by nearly 11 per cent year-on-year in July-August of fiscal year 2026-27, driven largely by higher global petroleum prices, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.

The upward trend may persist in the coming months, with import demand potentially rising further ahead of Ramadan, a senior BB official told The Financial Express.

"Higher prices of fuel oils in the global market pushed up import costs during the period under review," the official said, attributing the volatility in the international oil market mainly to tensions in the Middle East.

Actual import payments, measured by the settlement of letters of credit (LCs), for petroleum products surged by more than 38 per cent to $2.04 billion in July-August of FY27, up from $1.48 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to the central bank's latest statistics.

In FY26, petroleum import payments increased by 6.42 per cent to $10.68 billion from $10.03 billion in FY25.

Overall import payments rose by nearly 11 per cent to $12.47 billion in the first two months of FY27, compared with $11.26 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the opening of fresh LCs, generally known as import orders, increased by 17.91 per cent to $13.94 billion during the period, up from $11.82 billion a year earlier.

However, imports of capital machinery, or equipment used in production, declined by 5.52 per cent to $0.29 billion from $0.31 billion in the same period of FY26.

Imports of industrial raw materials also fell by 2.19 per cent to $3.80 billion from $3.89 billion.

In contrast, imports of intermediate goods rose by more than 29 per cent to $0.82 billion from $0.64 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier.

"The upward trend in imports indicates that the economy is gradually recovering despite ongoing geopolitical tensions," Md Ezazul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), told The Financial Express.

He said elevated and volatile global petroleum prices had increased the country's import payment obligations and that the trend could continue until December 2026.

Islam, a former executive director of the central bank, said actual imports could gradually increase as the government pursued an expansionary fiscal policy aimed at boosting investment, particularly in productive sectors.

He added that the central bank's growth-supportive monetary policy, including stimulus packages, alongside improved political stability and better prospects for private-sector investment, could accelerate import growth in the coming months.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, a local electronics giant listed on the stock exchange, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kenya-based North Light Holdings Limited to expand its global presence.

The partnership aims to strengthen Walton's brand profile and increase its market share in the designated territory, according to a disclosure published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) today (11 October).

North Light Holdings Limited is a private company registered under Kenyan law, with its corporate headquarters in Nairobi.

"The collaboration aims to build a mutually beneficial business relationship focused on rolling out a comprehensive business roadmap. This will involve continuous product procurement, targeted marketing initiatives, quality customer service, and robust product promotion," it said.

According to the website of North Light Holdings, the Kenyan company, founded in late 2018, holds diversified corporate conglomerate built on a single conviction: that world-class standards and disciplined execution belong in every market including the dynamic, fast-growing regions where opportunity is greatest and reliable partners are scarcest.

From telecommunications and IT infrastructure to security solutions, laboratory and quality-control services, energy retail, real estate, and international trading, our portfolio spans the sectors that keep modern economies connected, safe, and moving.

North Light continues to expand its footprint, launch new ventures, and invest in the technologies that will define the next decade, it said.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) PLC's operating loss widened 13.54% year-on-year to Tk16.58 crore in FY26, while its net profit fell 28.35% to Tk20.59 crore amid subdued trading activity.

According to disclosures approved by its board on 8 October, the operating loss increased from Tk14.60 crore in FY25. Net profit after tax fell from Tk28.74 crore in the previous fiscal year, pulling earnings per share (EPS) down to Tk0.32 from Tk0.45.

A CSE official said the exchange remained profitable mainly because of interest income from fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) held with different banks. However, a shortage of listed products and low trading turnover resulted in an operating loss.

Despite the decline in profit, the board recommended a 3.25% cash dividend for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2026.

The dividend recommendation is subject to shareholders' approval at the annual general meeting (AGM), scheduled for 10 December at the CSE Building conference hall in Agrabad, Chattogram. The record date for dividend entitlement is 8 November.

The exchange's net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) stood at Tk1.05 in FY26, slightly down from Tk1.06 in FY25. Net asset value (NAV) per share also edged down to Tk11.93 as of June 2026, from Tk11.96 a year earlier.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir on Friday said Bangladesh faces an additional $4.12 billion burden on energy and fertiliser imports over seven months due to the Middle East crisis.

“If this war continues, then we have to count almost $600 million per month,” he said, stressing that developing countries should not be left to bear the costs of global crises without adequate international support.

The PM’s adviser made the remark, addressing a high-level conference titled ‘An Asia for Everyone: Public Services, Social Protection and the Promise of Shared Prosperity’ at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, just ahead of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings.

He said the international community must take responsibility for the economic costs borne by developing countries through no fault of their own.

Titumir said Bangladesh would need an additional $1.82 billion for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, around $70 million for fertiliser and $2.21 billion for oil during the seven months from March to September due to the crisis.

“But we don't see multilateralism. We don't see international voices. We don't see action, we see inactions,” he said, criticising what he described as the lack of effective action by the international community and civil society to address the economic consequences of the crisis for countries that were not responsible for it.

He urged international organisations and civil society groups to make the issue a priority during the upcoming World Bank and IMF meetings in Bangkok.

He pointed out the non-action of the global community and a government that is counting the cost.

The adviser said inequality was not simply a matter of differences in people's living conditions but was also created and sustained by public policies and the distribution of political power.

“If we are to deal with it, then we must deal with the politics of it and political settlement of it, which means that we have to deal with how power is skewed,” he said.