The Dhaka bourse ended the week's last session marginally higher, extending its gains for the second straight session, led mainly by large-cap stocks.

The market started Thursday's session with a positive vibe, and the DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), continued its upward trend for more than half an hour.

Later, the DSEX lost some points and exhibited ups and downs until the closure of the session amid investors' wait-and-see stance on the trading floor.

At the end of the session, the DSEX settled at 5,475 points with a gain of 11.69 points, or 0.21 per cent.

"The ailing capital market extended its recovery momentum, providing a much-needed respite from the recent downturn as bargain hunters returned to accumulate beaten-down scrips drawn by prices that increasingly offered attractive entry points," said a market review of EBL Securities.

It also said that although stronger buying allowed the market to close in positive territory, broader investor sentiment remained subdued amid expectations of lacklustre corporate earnings.

Of the top index pullers, Pubali Bank had the highest contribution of 3.2 points to the broad index, followed by Beximco Pharmaceuticals, National Bank and BRAC Bank.

Of the total issues traded on Thursday, 171 advanced, 150 declined, and 64 were unchanged. The DSE featured a turnover of Tk 5.33 billion, 12 per cent down from the previous session.

Despite the rise in indices, market participation weakened, suggesting that the market's upward movement was driven by selective buying rather than broad-based participation.

On Thursday, the majority of the blue-chip stocks closed in the green, and the DS30 index, comprising such stocks, advanced 0.42 per cent, or 8.84 points, to close at 2,105.68 points.

Investor participation was mainly concentrated in the textile sector, which grabbed 28 per cent of the market turnover, followed by pharmaceuticals and chemicals, banks, and general insurance.

Evince Textiles was the number one turnover leader with a value of Tk 248 million, followed by Saiham Textile, Sonali Aansh Industries and BRAC Bank.

BEXIMCO was the top gainer with a rise of 9.75 per cent, while New Line Clothings was the worst loser after declining 5.88 per cent on the DSE.

Customers of National Bank PLC will be able to withdraw money as required from October 15, 2026.

The Board of Directors of National Bank at a meeting on Thursday noon instructed the bank management to provide customers with all banking services as required from all branches and ATM booths of National Bank from 15 October.

"Customers will be able to withdraw money according to their requirements from all branches and ATM booths across the country," said the bank in a statement on Thursday.

From the same day, counter services, mobile app, internet banking and all other digital and online services of the bank will be fully operational, it mentioned.

Earlier on Thursday, National Bank PLC Chairman Professor Dr. Melita Mehjabeen and Acting Managing Director Zahidul Haque met Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman. BB deputy governors Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, Md. Sarwar Hossain and Md. Anis Ur Rahman were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the BB Governor emphasised protecting the interests of depositors and keeping public confidence in the banking sector intact.

He instructed the bank to take necessary measures to ensure withdrawal of money as per requirement of all its depositors.

Chairman Professor Dr. Melita Mehjabeen informed the BB governor that good governance had been established in National Bank as a result of various recent initiatives by Bangladesh Bank. Positive changes have also been brought to the senior management to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the bank.

The Chairman said, "With the overall cooperation of Bangladesh Bank and the coordinated efforts of the Board of Directors and the management, National Bank is returning to customer service at full pace".

"We are sincerely grateful to the customers who have stood by us patiently for a long time. We have always maintained a strict stance on recovering defaulted loans. No defaulter will be spared in the future either. We are determined to fully restore customers' trust through good governance, transparency and accountability," Mehjabeen added.

Acting Managing Director Zahidul Haque said that necessary preparations were being made at all branches and ATM booths to keep services uninterrupted from 15 October.

Bangladesh's capital market has recently met some key requirements for elevation to emerging status. Still, the main criterion it falls short of is the required market size, according to global index provider FTSE Russell.Read Economics

A report that FTSE Russell published this week says that, to be upgraded to emerging market status, Bangladesh must have at least five eligible stocks, each with an investable market value of at least $150 million, and a combined market value of at least $11.54 billion. Eight securities meet the first threshold, but together they lag far behind the $11.54-billion mark.

So, the solution lies in listing large-cap companies ready to issue a high volume of shares in the secondary market.

The FTSE report shows that Bangladesh has made meaningful progress in addressing the market infrastructure side of the requirements. The key improvement came in transparency, where the market moved from the label "restricted" in March 2026 to "pass" in September 2026. Here, transparency is linked to the availability and timeliness of market information, visibility of trading, market depth and trade reporting.

The country passed this criterion as the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) showed FTSE Russell that financial data companies Bloomberg and Refinitiv receive market data in real time.

The latest withdrawal of the floor price from Beximco and Islami Bank, and the easing of tax clearance for foreign investors, among other steps, helped the country meet nine prerequisites for secondary emerging status.Explore History

The floor prices imposed on listed securities for the second time in July 2022 were withdrawn in phases. The incumbent commission finally withdrew the floor prices from the stocks of Beximco and Islami Bank Bangladesh in June this year.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank in May eased the tax-certification requirement for foreign portfolio investors, following a plea from the Dhaka bourse, allowing them to obtain a tax certificate only at the time of capital repatriation.

Previously, foreign investors who sold shares had to obtain a separate tax certificate after the execution of each sale order for the sale proceeds to be repatriated.

FTSE Russell, which classifies stock markets around the world and creates investment indexes used by international investors, says Bangladesh is not on its watch list.

DSE Managing Director Nuzhat Anwar said the exchange would be able to introduce a T+1 trading cycle by December this year, but the main hurdle to entering the FTSE watch list is market size.

She also stressed that Bangladesh must strive to achieve emerging market status for the sake of its global image and to establish an investment-friendly ecosystem.Invest in Stocks

How far is Bangladesh from the required market size?

According to DSE data up to June this year, the Dhaka bourse has eight stocks that individually passed the FTSE screen test, but they have a combined investable market cap of $2.21 billion, only 19 per cent of the $11.54 billion required for the market upgrade.

The FTSE report makes it clear that market size is currently the binding constraint. It also says at least three large- or mid-cap securities are required for the upgrade.

Bangladesh has no qualifying large- or mid-cap companies under the relevant FTSE screen. Grameenphone, which has a market value of approximately $2.85 billion, may have fallen into this category, but it failed the liquidity test because its turnover is below the level required under the FTSE liquidity rule.

According to the rule, a stock must have a median daily turnover of at least 0.050 per cent of its free float in at least 10 of 12 consecutive months. In four of the 12 months, Grameenphone's median daily turnover was below the FTSE level.

That means a large market cap does not automatically qualify a stock for the FTSE index.

Of the 360 listed securities on the DSE, only eight stocks — BRAC Bank, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, City Bank, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Eastern Bank, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, Prime Bank and United Commercial Bank — satisfied all of FTSE's relevant screens. They also passed the liquidity criterion.Start Investing

However, Bangladesh has achieved only about 19 per cent of the required investable market capitalisation, leaving a gap of approximately $9.3 billion. More importantly, the DSE's entire free-float market capitalisation is only $11.08 billion.

That means even if every listed company had somehow satisfied the FTSE criteria, the existing market would still fall slightly below the $11.54-billion threshold.

Bangladesh cannot realistically address the FTSE requirement merely by improving the liquidity of existing companies. The market needs to bring in new issues with a large free float.

Under the existing securities rules, issuer companies are required to float at least 10 per cent of their outstanding shares.

Insiders say the regulator should encourage issuer companies to offload more shares.

As the flow of IPOs (initial public offerings) is expected to begin shortly, the regulator may consider urging companies to float a large volume of shares.

Oil prices settled higher on Friday as Hurricane Isaias churned toward the northern Gulf of Mexico and oil companies shut more than 70 percent of crude production in US waters.
Earlier in the session, crude prices were down as US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran to end the war in the Middle East had been "productive."Trump also teased an upcoming, undisclosed announcement on diesel and said he was considering suspending the federal gasoline tax.

Brent crude futures settled at $104.72, up 44 cents or 0.42 percent.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at $91.85 a barrel, up 36 cents, or 0.39 percent.

Plans by China, the world's top oil importer, to resume refined fuel exports after a brief halt during its Golden Week holiday, also weighed on the market.Reuters reported the development on Friday, citing sources.

On a weekly basis, Brent and WTI prices are set to rise.

Trump's Iran pledge along with China's resumption of product exports were moving prices lower, PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga said.
Prices have been volatile this week as threats to shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which carried shipments equal to about 20 percent of global oil and fuel before the war, have increased.

Trump said on Thursday that Washington was having "productive discussions" with Iran and said no attack was planned before the November 3 midterm congressional elections after media reports that he was considering an attack before then.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported the same day that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran is reviewing the US response to its proposal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.

The US is still pressuring Iran economically, imposing sanctions targeting individuals, networks and 17 vessels for transporting Iranian crude, oil products and petrochemicals.

The Iran war and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have disrupted supplies of refined fuels such as gasoline, jet fuel and especially diesel fuel.

The oil market is also contending with Hurricane Isaias in the Gulf of Mexico where producers have shut in about 1.3 million barrels per day, or 62.9 percent, of current oil production as of Thursday, according to the US Marine Minerals Administration.

Bangladesh Bank has sought Tk 600 billion annually from the government over the next five to eight years for recovery of the banking industry that witnessed a massive looting, said the central bank chief.

"Last week, we forwarded a draft proposal to the government on how to fix the banking sector. And, in the proposal we have sought Tk 600 billion annually over the next five to eight years to recover the banking sector that suffered massive money plundering," BB Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman told a meet on Saturday.

He made the remarks while replying to a question at a question-answer session with students. He attended the function as the chief guest at a function arranged to launch Bangla QR transactions at the United International University (UIU) by ONE Bank PLC in Dhaka.

"When we started working at the central bank, we saw that one -third of the total money in the banking sector had already been stolen. This is the main problem in the sector," he continued.

The governor said they need the money from the national budget and it is people's money. "Now the taxpayers' money will be given to the depositors."

He admitted that the country's revenue collection is about Tk 4.5 trillion and taking away Tk 600 billion from there yearly, surely, is a pressure.

"Until this June, you saw people gather before banks as they failed to withdraw their deposit," he said while replying to a student as to when the situation will improve.

He added they have eased the process so that depositors now can withdraw their money, particularly at some Islamic banks.

"It was outright looting in the banking sector. The plundering group looted taxpayers', public money from the banks," he said, urging society and young generation to be vigilant so that none can loot people's money in the future.

Vice-chancellor of UIU Prof Md. Abul Kashem Mia emphasized implementing and incorporating the advanced technological system in the financial sector so that corruption and irregularities can broadly be controlled.

He said introducing Bangla QR will make UIU a first cashless campus, enabling tuition fees, other fees, retail transactions on the campus charge-and hassle -free.

Managing Director of ONE Bank Muhit Rahman said that their transactions volume has significantly increased in recent times through Bangla QR Code, signaling a fast popularity of it among the users.

He announced they won't charge for using their service through Bangla QR usually being charged outside the campus.

Because of the rapid change in the financial and banking system, there will be a major shift in the transactions with security challenges, he continued.

Emphasizing the cashless transaction, the central bank boss also said that they have to spend an additional Tk 200 billion on paper-cash transactions, including its transportation, making, delivery to booths and banks, which will be half if the Bangla QR sees success.

Bangladesh needs to bring more companies to the stock market and diversify corporate financing beyond bank loans to build a more balanced and resilient financial system, speakers said at a capital market conclave in Dhaka yesterday.

Speaking at the IDLC Capital Market Conclave 2026 at Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel yesterday, they also called for encouraging financially sound companies to raise funds through initial public offerings (IPOs), direct listings and bonds, while strengthening corporate governance and investor confidence.

“We want companies to enter the capital market voluntarily, without being compelled to do so, and benefit from it,” said Masud Khan, chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).

The BSEC has already held direct discussions with several domestic, foreign and multinational companies, he said, urging private-sector entrepreneurs to give serious consideration to listing on the stock market.

Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, managing director of IDLC Investments Ltd., said companies in Bangladesh rely on bank borrowing for around 75 percent of their financing, compared with about 53 percent in India and 15-20 percent in more developed markets.

Bangladesh also has the lowest market capitalisation among neighbouring countries, underscoring the need to develop alternative sources of corporate financing.

“We are not saying that dependence on banks is bad. However, we need to work towards building a more resilient and balanced financial structure,” he said.

Mominul Islam, chairman of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), said the country’s market capitalisation was below 8 percent of gross domestic product, and the exchange aimed to raise the ratio to 20 percent by 2030.

Including bonds and government securities, the market could grow from the current equity market value of around $30 billion to more than $200 billion, he said.

“This is certainly achievable when compared with other Asian countries. However, it will require the active participation, confidence and trust of all stakeholders,” he added.

In his welcome address, M Jamal Uddin, chairman of IDLC Investments, said the financing needs of banks and financial institutions were rising alongside economic growth, making alternative sources of funding increasingly important.

A more effective capital market could provide long-term financing for businesses and ease mounting financing pressures on banks, he said.

Kazi Mahmood Sattar, chairman of IDLC Finance, said poor mutual fund management practices had undermined the confidence of savers who might otherwise invest in the stock market.

In many countries, savers rely on mutual funds when they lack the knowledge or confidence to invest directly in capital markets. In Bangladesh, however, they tend to prefer bank fixed deposits, even though deposit rates have fallen to single digits, he said.

Doreen Power Generations and Systems Limited recorded a sharp 57.68% year-on-year jump in consolidated earnings for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2026, driven primarily by a significant reduction in extraordinary impairment losses compared to the previous year.

According to price sensitive information approved by its board of directors on Thursday, the company recommended a 15% cash dividend – amounting to Tk1.50 per share of Tk10 face value – for general shareholders. Sponsor-directors will not receive this payout.

Earlier, it had paid a 10% cash dividend for FY25.

The company further reported that its consolidated earnings per share (EPS) rose to Tk5.03 in FY26, up from Tk3.19 in the preceding fiscal year.

The company noted in its official disclosure that the strong bottom-line growth stemmed mainly from lower impairment losses on non-current assets relative to FY25.

Alongside the earnings rebound, the company's cash flow position experienced robust improvement. Consolidated net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) surged 60.95% to Tk18.96 for the year, compared to Tk11.78 in FY25.

The power generator attributed the cash flow surge primarily to higher collections of revenue bills from customers during the 12-month period.

The dividend proposal will be placed before shareholders for approval at the company's annual general meeting (AGM), scheduled for 24 December 2026, via a digital platform. The record date for determining shareholder eligibility for the dividend has been fixed for 12 November.

Balance sheet metrics also strengthened during the period, with the company's consolidated Net Asset Value (NAV) per share with revaluation rising to Tk57.12 as of 30 June 2026, compared to Tk52.43 a year earlier.

On Thursday, its share price closed 0.32% higher at Tk31.40 at the Dhaka bourse.

According to the company's monthly shareholding report for September, sponsors and directors jointly hold 66.61% shares in the company, while institutional investors have 16.90% and the general shareholders have the remaining 16.49% shares.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to seek time-bound measures to resolve problems in vulnerable banks and set specific targets and deadlines for domestic revenue collection as conditions for a new loan programme, according to government officials.

The possible conditions will be discussed when a Bangladesh delegation led by the finance minister meets senior IMF officials in Bangkok later this week on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, scheduled for October 12-17, finance ministry officials confirmed to The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.

The delegation is set to leave for Bangkok today, with Dhaka seeking to finalise a new loan programme by January next year.

The team will hold separate meetings with Nigel Clarke, the IMF’s deputy managing director, and Krishna Srinivasan, director of the lender’s Asia and Pacific Department.

Discussions will focus on economic reforms, structural adjustment conditions and the timeline for finalising the proposed financial package, according to officials.

An IMF mission is likely to visit Dhaka later this month to work out the details of the proposed programme following the Bangkok meetings.

A loan proposal generally takes at least two months to reach the IMF’s executive board for approval after a staff-level mission completes its on-the-ground assessment, officials said.

CONDITIONS EXPECTED

On the banking front, the IMF is likely to seek clear deadlines for resolving problems at vulnerable banks, reducing high non-performing loans (NPLs) and recapitalising lenders, including state-owned commercial banks, according to sources.

A finance ministry official, seeking anonymity, said the government would prepare an action plan with specific implementation deadlines, which would then be finalised through mutual agreement with the IMF.

The lender is also expected to press for subsidy rationalisation in the power, gas and agriculture sectors.

On revenue mobilisation, the IMF is expected to seek specific collection targets and deadlines for meeting them, alongside measures to bring more people and businesses into the tax net, sources said.

LOAN TALKS GATHER PACE AS GOVT NEEDS $4b

Amid mounting economic uncertainty stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Bangladesh plans to seek around $4 billion in budget support from multilateral and bilateral lenders in the current fiscal year, 2026-27.

The country also faces higher import costs for energy and fertiliser due to the crisis.

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 between March and September, said Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning.

He made the remarks at a high-level conference titled ‘An Asia for Everyone: Public Services, Social Protection and the Promise of Shared Prosperity’ at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Friday, according to a UNB report.

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

Preliminary discussions with key development partners, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, have already begun.

However, prospects for securing support from these lenders will depend heavily on progress towards a new IMF programme, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The government decided in May to exit its existing IMF programme, eight months before its scheduled expiry, and seek a fresh arrangement.

The $4.7 billion programme was signed by the previous Awami League government in January 2023 and later increased to $5.5 billion by the interim government.

Bangladesh has received $3.8 billion in five tranches, while the sixth tranche was delayed after the IMF suspended talks in November last year and decided to resume discussions with the new government following the election.

In a June 3 statement, Ivo Krznar, the IMF mission chief for Bangladesh, said the government applied for a fresh package.

“The authorities’ request for a successor arrangement provides an opportunity for the Fund and the authorities to agree on a potential programme that both reflects the current challenges and incorporates the new authorities’ objectives and priorities,” reads the statement.

Any new arrangement would need to address Bangladesh’s balance-of-payments needs and be backed by strong policy commitments and a credible reform agenda, subject to the IMF’s policies and executive board approval, the statement said.

After the government sought a new programme, an IMF fact-finding mission visited Dhaka in July. The two sides have also held several virtual meetings over the past two months to review updated economic and financial data supplied by Bangladeshi authorities.

Besides the IMF officials, the Bangladeshi delegation is scheduled to meet representatives of Fitch Ratings and JPMorgan, as well as Liao Min, China’s vice finance minister, and officials of China Exim Bank. The team is also set to meet Makhtar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) exports grew 6.10 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter (July-September) of FY2026-27, reaching US$10,578.56 million against $9,970.42 million in the same period of FY2025-26, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Knitwear exports rose 6.88 per cent to $5,963.76 million, while woven exports grew 5.11 per cent to $4,614.80 million during the first quarter.

United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Canada:During the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY27), the US, the largest single-country market, imported $2,220.86 million, up 10.40 per cent from $2,011.70 million. Its share rose from 20.18 per cent to 20.99 per cent. Knitwear shipments grew 11.61 per cent to $881.28 million, and woven shipments 9.61 per cent to $1,339.58 million.

Exports to the UK increased 5.94 per cent to $1,292.13 million. Knitwear rose 10.00 per cent to $897.93 million, while woven fell 2.27 per cent to $394.20 million. The UK's share was almost unchanged at 12.21 percent.Canada took $349.65 million, up 3.85 per cent. Knitwear edged up 1.07 per cent to $181.98 million, while woven grew 7.04 per cent to $167.67 million.

Non-traditional markets:

Exports to non-traditional markets during this July-September period rose 9.40 per cent to $1,811.89 million from $1,656.28 million, lifting their share from 16.61 per cent to 17.13 per cent. Knitwear grew 9.94 per cent to $889.34 million and woven 8.87 per cent to $922.55 million.

Turkey was the standout performer, with shipments more than doubling (up 123.14 per cent) to $146.63 million. Brazil rose 41.58 per cent to $63.09 million while the UAE 18.67 per cent to $74.34 million, and Mexico 14.77 per cent to $81.72 million.

In addition, South Africa grew 9.29 per cent to $37.85 million, South Korea 8.81 per cent to $120.94 million, Malaysia 6.31 per cent to $47.80 million and Saudi Arabia 5.67 per cent to $51.64 million.

Japan, the largest non-traditional market, grew 2.61 per cent to $343.65 million. Australia rose 1.02 per cent to $209.06 million, and China was nearly flat at $71.21 million (up 0.09 per cent). Other countries combined grew 14.45 per cent to $253.24 million.

The European Union:

The EU remained the largest destination bloc, importing $4,904.02 million of Bangladeshi apparel, up 3.33 per cent from $4,746.10 million. Knitwear shipments rose 4.29 per cent to $3,113.23 million, and woven shipments 1.70 per cent to $1,790.79 million.

The EU's share of Bangladesh's total apparel exports, however, slipped slightly from 47.60 per cent to 46.36 per cent.

Among individual EU members, Germany, the largest buyer, was nearly flat at $1,122.98 million (down 0.15 per cent). Spain grew 13.73 per cent to $1,148.46 million, the Netherlands 9.02 per cent to $597.49 million, and Poland 5.77 per cent to $401.93 million. Sweden rose 14.43 per cent to $177.00 million, and Belgium 1.39 per cent to $130.09 million.

Other EU markets with growth included Romania (60.03 per cent to $47.85 million), Hungary (25.46 per cent to $44.95 million), Slovakia (27.56 per cent to $19.86 million) and the Czech Republic (1.28 per cent to $72.35 million). Smaller gains were seen in Latvia (59.29 per cent to $0.53 million) and Malta (50.32 per cent to $0.10 million).

Talking to BSS, former BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel said Bangladesh's apparel export growth in the last month remained encouraging despite the energy crisis and rising production costs, while non-traditional markets and the United States showed stronger growth than the overall export trend.

He said the export performance should be viewed in the context of the challenges faced by the apparel industry, particularly the energy crisis, which has increased pressure on production and business operations.

"Although the export figure may appear relatively low in absolute terms, the growth achieved amid the current energy crisis is definitely positive," Rubel said.

He identified the improved performance in non-traditional markets as a particularly encouraging development, noting that Bangladesh had struggled to achieve satisfactory growth in these markets for a considerable period.

According to him, export growth in non-traditional markets and the United States has exceeded the overall growth rate, indicating that Bangladesh is gradually improving its position beyond its traditional export destinations.

Rubel, also the Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice (BAV), said Bangladesh needs to reduce its excessive dependence on Europe and the United States by exploring opportunities in other markets, including Japan, Australia and India.

"Europe's performance has not been particularly strong. Therefore, we need to diversify our export destinations and explore the significant opportunities available outside the major traditional markets," he said.Bangladesh had maintained its position in the US market and that further export growth remained possible there, he added.Rubel, however, stressed that export growth alone would not be sufficient to ensure the long-term sustainability of the garment industry.

"Growth must be profitable and sustainable. We need to manage the rising costs and focus on higher-quality products and markets where we can achieve better returns," he continued.

Rubel said the recent improvement in monthly export performance offered some encouragement, adding that continued growth in the coming months could help the sector move closer to its overall annual target.

"If we can maintain the positive trend and continue to achieve incremental growth every month, we may be able to move closer to achieving our overall growth target." he said.

Rubel also emphasised that market diversification, product quality, cost management and profitable expansion would remain crucial to strengthening Bangladesh's position in the global apparel market.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today (Saturday) said the country's foreign exchange reserves had increased by US$11 billion over the past seven months to reach US$37 billion despite various economic challenges.

He also said that the country's overall debt burden had declined from 37 percent to 32 percent during the period, BSS reports.

"Foreign exchange reserves stood at US$20 billion when the then autocratic government was ousted on August 5, 2024, following the mass uprising," he said.

The state minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion on formulating strategies to install solar power systems through cooperative societies in urban and rural areas at the Samabaya Bhaban in Agargaon this afternoon.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan attended the programme as the chief guest.

Shahe Alam said the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus had increased foreign exchange reserves to US$26 billion over two years, followed by a further rise of US$11 billion in the past seven months, bringing the total to US$37 billion.

Referring to a call by an opposition party leader to halt remittance flows, he said the appeal had failed to disrupt the inflow of remittances.

"Remittances worth Tk 7,776 crore entered the country over the past five days despite the call," he said.

The state minister said expatriate Bangladeshis understood the country's political situation, recalling that remittance flows had stopped during the Liberation War, the anti-Ershad movement in 1990 and the recent movement that led to the fall of the fascist government.

Criticising the opposition's role in parliament and outside, Shahe Alam alleged inconsistencies between its statements in the Jatiya Sangsad and its public criticism of the government.

He said opposition leaders had acknowledged in parliament that the BNP had inherited crises in the oil, gas and electricity sectors, while criticising the government over power and gas shortages in their public statements.

Highlighting the potential of solar energy to help address the country's electricity crisis, Shahe Alam said Bangladesh was currently supplying 1,872 megawatts of solar-generated electricity to the national grid.

He said the government would purchase surplus electricity generated by household solar power systems and called for coordinated initiatives through the Department of Cooperatives to expand solar energy use in both urban and rural areas.

Senior officials of the Department of Cooperatives and representatives of relevant ministries and departments attended the meeting.

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has launched three dedicated country desks for investors from China, South Korea and Japan to provide faster, more targeted and effective services.

The desks were inaugurated at the ‘Meet the Investors’ event held in Dhaka yesterday.

Investors from 38 countries have invested in the eight export processing zones (EPZs) and two economic zones under BEPZA. China, South Korea and Japan are the three largest sources of investment in these zones.

The dedicated desks aim to strengthen communication with existing and prospective investors from the three countries, offer direct assistance tailored to their investment-related needs and streamline the investment process.

They will provide relevant information, guidance and necessary support to existing and prospective investors interested in investing in BEPZA’s EPZs and economic zones.

Welcoming the participants, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain said the gathering would help strengthen partnerships, hear directly from investors, understand their concerns and expectations, and identify ways to make Bangladesh’s investment environment more competitive and business-friendly.

In the 2025-26 fiscal year, BEPZA signed investment agreements with 36 enterprises, while exports from its zones reached $8.41 billion, marking a 2.22 percent year-on-year increase, the executive chairman said.

He also described the designation of BEPZA Economic Zone-1, BEPZA Economic Zone-2, Jashore EPZ and Patuakhali EPZ as full-fledged zones as another significant milestone of the year.

Expressing optimism about the newly launched country desks, Hossain said the facilities would help build closer relationships with existing investors from China, South Korea and Japan and encourage them to expand their businesses. They would also play an important role in attracting new investment to BEPZA’s zones, he added.

Representatives of the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry attended the event, along with more than 100 local and foreign investors.

Total investment in BEPZA’s zones stands at approximately $7.50 billion, while cumulative exports have reached around $130 billion. The zones account for around 20 percent of Bangladesh’s total exports.

The country's gross domestic product or GDP growth accelerated to 4.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26, helped by stronger industrial and services activity, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Wednesday.

The quarterly growth rate, measured at constant prices, was more than 2.55 percentage points higher than the corresponding quarter a year earlier, showing a broad-based improvement in economic activity towards the end of the fiscal year which many believe happened due to peaceful political atmosphere.

Despite the stronger final-quarter performance, the economy's average real GDP growth for four quarters stood at 3.68 per cent in the fiscal year 2025-26, reflecting the weaker pace of activity during much of the year.

At market prices, GDP during the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2025-26 was estimated at Tk 16,117 billion, while GDP at constant or real prices stood at about Tk 9,222 billion, the BBS data showed.

The performance was uneven across the major sectors of the economy during the fourth quarter.

Agriculture, which remains an important source of employment and rural income, recorded a 1.73 per cent contraction during the quarter, compared with growth of 3.19 per cent in the same period a year earlier.

The sharp deterioration indicates continued weakness in agricultural output and its contribution to overall economic expansion.

The services sector, which accounts for more than half of the country's economic output, performed considerably better.

Growth in services reached 4.28 per cent, an increase of 2.02 percentage points from the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Industry was the strongest-performing major sector in the quarter under review.

Industrial output expanded by 6.52 per cent in the fourth quarter ending June 2026, up by about 5.6 percentage points from the same quarter of fiscal 2024-25.

The divergence between agriculture and the other two major sectors suggests that the late-year recovery was driven mainly by industrial production and services rather than by a broad-based rebound across the economy.

The country's industrial sector recorded a significant increase in growth in the fourth quarter of FY2025–26, while growth in the agriculture sector declined and the services sector also slowed compared with the previous year.

At constant prices, the agriculture sector grew 1.73% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The sector had recorded 3.19% growth in the same quarter of the previous fiscal, meaning its growth declined by 1.46 percentage points year-on-year in the fourth quarter.

In the first three quarters of FY2024–25, agriculture sector growth stood at negative 0.12%, 1.90% and 4.61%, respectively. In contrast, this sector grew 2.11%, 3.68% and 1.74% in the first three quarters of FY2025–26, respectively.

Meanwhile, the industrial sector posted a sharp rebound in the fourth quarter. At constant prices, industrial growth jumped to 6.52% in Q4 of FY2025–26, up from just 0.92% in the same quarter a year earlier.

Industrial growth, however, remained volatile in the first three quarters of the fiscal year. The sector grew 4.80%, 5.78% and 3.33% in the first three quarters of FY2024–25, respectively, compared with 6.82%, 1.27% and negative 0.28% in the corresponding quarters of FY2025–26.

The services sector, too, posted stronger growth in the fourth quarter, rising to 4.28% in FY2025–26 from 2.26% in the same quarter a year earlier.

However, services sector growth lost momentum in the first three quarters of FY2025–26. The sector grew 4.49%, 3.48% and 7.32% in the corresponding quarters of FY2024–25, but growth slipped to 4.51%, 4.45% and 3.52% in FY2025–26.

Overall, the fourth quarter saw stronger growth in industry and services, while agriculture lost ground from a year earlier, underscoring a sharp divergence in sectoral performance across the economy.

Biman signs Airbus deal to buy 10 aircraft Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed an agreement with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for the acquisition of 10 new aircraft as the national flag carrier moves ahead with a major fleet expansion programme.

The latest Airbus package is expected to be worth more than $2 billion, according to sources concerned.

The signing ceremony, titled "Spreading Our Wings Together," was held at a city hotel at 6:30pm today (7 October).
Airbus South Asia President Jürgen Westermeier, and Biman Chairman Rumee A Hossain signed the deal.

The signed package comprises four Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft and six A321neo narrowbody jets, which are intended to support Biman's future long-haul and regional network expansion.

The aircraft are expected to be delivered from 2031, though Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said Biman has requested Airbus to deliver at least one aircraft earlier, possibly by 2028.

"Today's initiative is not merely about acquiring aircraft; it is part of the broader goal outlined in the government's election manifesto to transform Bangladesh into a modern aviation hub.

"To achieve this goal, Biman Bangladesh Airlines' fleet, route network and operational capabilities will be further strengthened. At the same time, the airline will move forward with the objective of establishing Biman as a world-class legacy airline," Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said.

The signing marked the conclusion of months of evaluation and negotiations over Biman's Airbus procurement, coming shortly after the national flag carrier expanded its Boeing acquisition programme to 25 aircraft.

The signing ceremony brought together representatives of the government, Biman and Airbus, with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, and Invest Bangladesh Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury speaking at the event.

Ambassadors of the European Union, France, UK, Spain and Germany also spoke at the ceremony.

"We regard this agreement as a strategic step in Bangladesh's growing commercial and investment relations with Europe -- relations built on international competitiveness, innovation and reliability. At the same time, it represents a strategic decision in favour of economic modernisation, safety and value for money," European Union Ambassador Michael Miller said.

Rumee A Hossain said, "The Airbus inclusion is part of our long term vision to build a sustainable mixed fleet model."

"It is a major and reasonable ambition as Bangladesh handles over 1.5 crore air passengers each year," he added.

He said that widebody aircraft will fly to the Middle East, Europe, North American and Australian routes while narrowbodies will focus on regional and medium Asian hubs.

Biman MD and CEO Kaizer Sohel Ahmed delivered a welcome speech.

The discussions over the purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft date back to the Sheikh Hasina regime.

After a meeting with then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka in September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly thanked Bangladesh for its commitment to acquiring 10 aircraft from Airbus.

In the meantime, Airbus has intensified its diplomatic and commercial engagement, while several European ambassadors have repeatedly raised the issue during EU-Bangladesh bilateral negotiations.

Biman's 35-aircraft expansion deal

The Airbus deal, together with two Boeing agreements, will take Biman's planned new-aircraft pipeline to 35 aircraft, comprising 19 widebody and 16 narrowbody jets.

Biman's latest Boeing agreement was signed in New York on 23 September under a "Right to Purchase Additional Aircraft" provision included in the 14-aircraft purchase agreement signed on 30 April.

The supplementary agreement covers five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner widebody aircraft and six Boeing 737-8 MAX narrowbody aircraft. The 11 aircraft will cost about $2.7 billion, with the price based on the same rate agreed under the April contract, the minister said.

The 30 April agreement covered the purchase of 14 Boeing aircraft worth $3.7 billion.

Together, the two Boeing agreements cover 25 aircraft -- 15 widebody jets, comprising two 787-9s and 13 787-10s, and 10 737-8 MAX narrowbody aircraft.

Under the contracts, the first Boeing aircraft is scheduled for delivery in November 2031 and the final aircraft by 2035.

The national carrier currently has 19 aircraft, mostly Boeing dominated. Through the Airbus deal, Biman now goes for a major mixed fleet operation.

Bangladesh's garment and textile industry must accelerate renewable-energy adoption and decarbonisation to protect export markets and ensure long-term competitiveness, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) leaders said at a conference today (7 October).

Industry representatives, global brands, energy and technology experts, and green-financing providers said the ongoing energy crisis has made the transition more urgent, while growing global sustainability requirements are making it necessary beyond the immediate crisis, reads a press release.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem urged manufacturers to integrate carbon reduction into factory planning and make use of emerging policy and financing opportunities to accelerate the transition.

"Carbon reduction needs to be part of every factory's planning. Government initiatives and financing opportunities are creating scope for renewable-energy expansion. We need to use these opportunities and work together to prepare our industry for the changes ahead," Hatem said.

He highlighted the potential for rooftop solar installations, financing initiatives from Bangladesh Bank and commercial banks, and BKMEA's efforts to simplify VAT and tax arrangements related to solar projects.

Hatem also called for stronger factory-level planning to prepare for Bangladesh's LDC graduation and evolving EU requirements, alongside greater coordination with government agencies over permissions and approvals.

The remarks came at the "Rapid Energy Transition Conference: Powering Security, Sustainability & Growth in Bangladesh RMG", jointly organised by BKMEA and Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Bangladesh.

The conference was attended by 71 participants, including 53 factory representatives and 10 BKMEA leaders, as well as brand representatives, industry experts, banks and renewable-energy service providers.

Eng Imran Kader Turjo, director of BKMEA and managing director of Southern Knitwear Ltd, warned that failing to keep pace with changing market expectations could jeopardise export relationships built over decades.

"It has taken us many years to establish Europe as a major export market. If we cannot meet its evolving requirements, developing another market of that scale will also take many years. What would happen to our garment and textile industry in the meantime?" he said.

Turjo said early action on decarbonisation and renewable energy could also give Bangladesh an advantage over competing sourcing countries.

"Global buyers want to source from Bangladesh. If we move ahead with decarbonisation and renewable energy early, we have an opportunity to get well ahead of competitors such as India and Pakistan," he said.

Other BKMEA leaders also stressed the need for preparation. M Ishfaq Ahsan, CIP, emphasised energy efficiency and shared responsibility with brands, while Mansoor Ahmed highlighted energy security and reducing gas waste.

Md Jamal Uddin Miah called for solar adoption to become part of factories' long-term business strategies, supported by qualified vendors and performance monitoring.

In his welcome remarks, Minhazul Hoque, director of BKMEA and director of Fatullah Dyeing & Calendaring Mills Ltd, urged manufacturers to assess where their businesses need to be over the next five to 10 years.

"Sustainability requirements are becoming issues of business competitiveness. Owners and top management need to be part of that preparation," he said.

Hoque also highlighted emerging requirements linked to Digital Product Passports and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), stressing the importance of credible environmental and carbon data.

Abil Bin Amin, executive director of ETI Bangladesh, said the current pressures also presented an opportunity to strengthen the industry.

"Gradually reducing fossil-fuel dependence and increasing renewable energy can become a business strength and a selling point for Bangladesh's RMG industry," he said.

Speakers said renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures could help address immediate energy supply and cost pressures while supporting the wider decarbonisation needed to remain competitive.

Md Nurul Aktar, director of Energypac Group, said renewable-energy investment should be accompanied by efficiency improvements and changes in workplace practices.

He proposed factory-level campaigns to switch off equipment and lighting during breaks and idle periods, supported by floor-level energy champions, daily targets and section-wise metering. Such measures could be combined with efficient machinery, rooftop solar and appropriately assessed battery storage, he said.

Munir Uddin Shamim, director-programme, evidence & learning at ETI Bangladesh, said the organisation had been promoting workplace-level energy efficiency and conservation practices since 2022.

"Workers can play a major role in identifying energy waste and making energy-saving practices part of everyday factory operations. Their participation can help translate efficiency goals into practical improvements and sustain those improvements over time," he said.

The conference featured two working sessions on the urgency of the energy transition and financing and technology pathways available to manufacturers.

In a keynote, ETI Bangladesh's Jannatul Ferdaus outlined the impact of the energy crisis on supply chains and workers' lives and livelihoods, while Priyong Sabastini examined industry signals and brand behaviour and said the renewable-energy transition and decarbonisation should be viewed as strategic tools for business resilience.

Sadia Rowshon Adhora of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) presented the environmental, social and economic benefits of solar power.

Factory, brand and financing perspectives were shared by Epyllion Group, NEXT Sourcing, Varner, City Bank and Greener Garments Initiative. Discussions highlighted management commitment, feasibility assessments, access to finance and continuous monitoring as key to successful implementation.

Participants raised concerns over financing delays, approval bottlenecks and gaps between projected and actual solar performance.

The conference recommended making decarbonisation and energy efficiency part of long-term business planning; accelerating green-finance approvals and disbursement through coordination among BKMEA, commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank; simplifying net-metering approvals; ensuring sound technical assessments and performance monitoring; exploring cluster-based renewable-energy arrangements for SME factories; and involving workers in energy-saving initiatives.

Closing the conference, Hoque called for financing barriers to be addressed and smaller manufacturers to be included in the transition.

"Renewable energy and decarbonisation are becoming necessary for the industry's long-term survival. Manufacturers cannot carry the responsibility alone," he said.

He urged factory representatives to take the discussions back to owners and management and turn them into practical investment and implementation plans.

GPH Ispat Limited, one of Bangladesh's leading steel producers, is facing severe financial pressure as an acute working capital shortage has disrupted factory operations, pushing its net revenue to a four-year low in fiscal 2025-26.

A sharp fall in production and difficulties procuring raw materials have weakened the company's market presence, while rising debt has further strained its balance sheet and debt-servicing capacity, according to the company and its audited financial report.

The company's net revenue fell 29% year-on-year to Tk3,940 crore in FY26 from Tk5,606 crore a year earlier. Revenue from MS rod sales fell 29% to Tk4,038 crore, while MS billet generated no revenue during the year.

Revenue from industrial gas, an ancillary product, fell 37% to Tk22.72 crore, while export earnings dropped 55% to just Tk8 crore.

Net profit plunged to Tk3.54 crore, leaving the company with a net profit margin of just 0.08%. The company mainly managed to remain profitable because of lower management expenses and income tax, according to the report.

A senior company official, speaking to The Business Standard on condition of anonymity, attributed the operational crisis to an escalating cash crunch.

The liquidity shortage has prevented GPH Ispat from opening letters of credit (LCs) to import sufficient scrap metal and other essential raw materials, the official said. As a result, its factories have been operating well below capacity, leaving key products such as MS rod and billet largely absent from the market.

With revenue falling sharply, the company is also under mounting pressure to meet regular debt instalments, the official added.

The financial strain follows heavy debt-financed expansion over the past decade. In 2016, GPH Ispat launched a major capacity expansion using Quantum Electric Arc Furnace and Winlink technologies, raising annual capacity to 10.50 lakh tonnes of MS billet and 7.90 lakh tonnes of MS rod and structural products.

Commercial production from the expanded facilities began in 2021, followed by the launch of specialised high-grade rebar in 2022. The expansion, however, was financed largely through commercial bank loans and capital market rights issues.

As borrowing costs rose amid sluggish sales, long-term loans increased 40.43% to Tk4,088 crore, taking total liabilities to Tk8,319 crore.

Major credit exposures include Pubali Bank at Tk559 crore, Trust Bank at Tk506 crore, United Commercial Bank at Tk436 crore, Dutch-Bangla Bank at Tk426 crore and NCC Bank at Tk284 crore. The company also has Tk705 crore in syndicated term loans and Tk601 crore in foreign currency loans.

The liquidity crisis has been compounded by a broader slowdown in Bangladesh's steel sector. The company's financial report says installed steelmaking capacity stands at 13–15 million tonnes a year, while effective demand has fallen sharply since FY24–FY25, reducing industry capacity utilisation to 30%–40%.

Weak construction activity, volatility in global scrap prices and foreign exchange restrictions have further worsened conditions. Although demand for high-quality steel remains relatively resilient, GPH Ispat's difficulty securing raw materials has limited its ability to capture market share.

To address the crisis, the company has adopted a two-pronged revival strategy involving debt restructuring and fresh capital. It is negotiating loan rescheduling with lenders to avoid default and has sought policy support from Bangladesh Bank, which is considering the matter.

GPH Ispat also plans to raise nearly Tk968 crore through a rights share issue, with most of the proceeds earmarked for repaying high-cost bank debt and strengthening its balance sheet, the senior company official said.

The government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today (7 October) signed loan agreements worth $275 million and a $2.72 million grant for projects to expand affordable housing finance and improve sustainable energy infrastructure in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission Country Director Qingfeng Zhang signed the agreements on behalf of the government and ADB, respectively.

$100m for affordable housing

The government signed a $100 million loan agreement with ADB for the Inclusive Affordable Housing Finance Project, which will be implemented by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) under the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance.

The project aims to economically and socially empower low- and middle-income families by improving access to housing. It will expand housing microfinance services for low- and middle-income borrowers while also supporting women's empowerment.

By increasing access to affordable and climate-resilient housing finance, the project is expected to contribute to poverty reduction, stronger social protection, improved living standards and inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

The loan is an ADB Ordinary Operations (Concessional) loan carrying 2% annual interest and repayable over 25 years, including a five-year grace period.

$175m loan, $2.72m grant for hill tracts

For the Sustainable Energy Development and Community Empowerment in the Chittagong Hill Tracts Project, the government signed a $175 million loan agreement and a $2.72 million grant agreement with ADB.

The project will be implemented by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

It aims to ensure a reliable electricity supply to remote and underserved communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by expanding and modernising the electricity distribution system, improving the climate resilience of power infrastructure and creating opportunities for electricity-dependent economic activities.

The $175 million concessional loan carries 2% annual interest and is repayable over 25 years, including a five-year grace period.

The $2.72 million grant will come from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), an externally financed fund administered by ADB.

ADB Executive Director Satya Srinivas Lolla attended the signing ceremony, along with senior officials from both sides.

To date, ADB has provided Bangladesh with $36.69 billion in loans and $636.52 million in grants. Its development assistance to Bangladesh mainly covers power and energy, local government, transport, education, agriculture, health, water resources, governance and financial sectors.

The DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) has urged Bangladesh Bank to extend banks' special fund for capital market investment by five years until the end of November 2031 and raise the fund size from Tk200 crore to Tk300 crore.

The association made the proposal in a letter to Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, signed by its president Saiful Islam.

Introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to boost capital market liquidity, the facility allowed each bank to create a Tk200 crore special fund with a five-year tenure. Bangladesh Bank later extended the facility, with its current tenure set to expire on 31 December 2026.
With the expiry approaching, the DBA sought an extension and an increase in the fund size, citing the market's liquidity shortage amid the current situation and Middle East tensions.

The association said the facility had supported institutional participation, market liquidity and stability, and investor confidence.

"The proposed enhancement and extension would provide continued institutional support, improve market liquidity and depth, strengthen investor confidence, and contribute to the sustainable development of Bangladesh's capital market," it said.

Under Bangladesh Bank's 2020 circular, banks and their subsidiaries could invest through the fund only in stocks that had paid at least a 10% stock or cash dividend, or both, in each of the previous three consecutive years and had at least 30% sponsor/director shareholding.

Following the extension, banks were required to submit a board-approved action plan to Bangladesh Bank within 30 days of the circular's issuance, outlining how they would gradually reduce their investment exposure under the special fund.

The central bank made timely implementation of the plan mandatory. Once the current tenure ends on 31 December 2026, remaining investments under the fund will be treated as part of the banks' capital market investment portfolios, on both solo and consolidated bases, in accordance with Section 26K of the Bank Companies Act 1991, according to the circular.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has raised the price of Jet A-1 aviation fuel for both domestic and international flights by around 10.3% for October, continuing an upward trend in jet fuel prices.

For domestic flights, the price has been set at Tk182.71 per litre, up from Tk165.65 in September. This represents an increase of Tk17.06 per litre, or 10.3%, from the previous month.

For international flights operated by local and foreign airlines, the price has been fixed at $1.1882 per litre, including customs duties and VAT.

The September rate was $1.0770 per litre, meaning the international rate has increased by $0.1112 per litre, or around 10.3%.

The revised rates were determined based on the average published Platts rate for Jet A-1 between 5 September and 4 October, the US dollar exchange rate considered in Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation's (BPC) letter of credit settlement and other relevant cost factors, according to a BERC order issued today (7 October).

The commission said it reviewed international Jet A-1 prices, the exchange rate and related costs before finalising the October rates.

The revised prices will come into effect from midnight, according to the BERC order.

Jet fuel prices have now risen for the second consecutive month.

In September, BERC raised the domestic rate to Tk165.65 per litre from Tk159.52, while the international rate increased to $1.0770 from $1.0358 per litre.

Bangladesh's stock market rebounded today (7 October) after four consecutive sessions of losses, as bargain hunting in recently battered stocks helped the benchmark DSEX gain 38 points.

The DSEX rose 38.12 points, or 0.70%, to close at 5,463.35, recovering some of the roughly 125 points it lost over the previous four sessions.

The blue-chip DS30 gained 19.11 points to 2,096.24, while the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) rose 8.79 points to 1,196.67.

EBL Securities said in its daily market commentary that bargain hunting in recently corrected stocks provided some support, although broader investor sentiment remained subdued.

The market was volatile, with selective buying initially lifting the indices before renewed selling pressure emerged mid-session. Late-session buying, however, pushed the indices into positive territory, the brokerage said.

Trading activity also picked up, with turnover on the DSE rising 7% from the previous session to Tk604 crore.

Of 391 issues traded, 191 advanced, 134 declined and 66 remained unchanged.

Evince Textile led turnover, followed by Paramount Textile, BRAC Bank, Saiham Textile and Orion Infusion.

BSRM Steel was the top gainer, rising 9.96%, followed by Evince Textile at 9.52%, BSRM Limited at 7.86%, Saiham Textile at 6.69% and Al-Arafah Islami Bank at 6.66%.

Phoenix Finance First Mutual Fund was the biggest decliner, falling 9.49%. Exim Bank First Mutual Fund dropped 6.89%, Sunlife Insurance 6.30%, First Prime Finance Mutual Fund 6.15% and Prime Bank First ICB AMCL Mutual Fund 5.88%.

Textile stocks accounted for the largest share of turnover at 32%, followed by Pharma at 9.8% and General Insurance at 9.5%.

Among sectors, Jute gained 5%, Paper 2.8% and Engineering 2.2%. Mutual Fund fell 1.5%, Financial Institutions 0.9% and Services 0.4%.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed higher, with the CSCX gaining 70 points to 9,009 and the broader CASPI rising 98 points to 14,655.

The rebound provided some relief after sustained selling pressure, but subdued sentiment and continued weakness in many stocks suggest the recovery remains fragile. Sustained buying interest will be needed to maintain the upward momentum.