United News of Bangladesh

The World Bank has agreed to support Bangladesh in dealing with external economic shocks related to oil and gas supplies and supply-chain disruptions, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Tuesday. He said the issue was discussed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga at the UN Headquarters in New York. Khosru briefed reporters in front of the UN Headquarters after the meeting, which lasted about half an hour. He said the discussions focused on Bangladesh’s partnership with the World Bank and how the two sides can work together under the partnership framework to support the country’s development trajectory. “External shocks are creating problems for the economy due to issues related to oil, gas and supply chains, which are beyond Bangladesh’s control. We discussed what role the World Bank can play, and it has agreed to come forward with support,” the minister said. He said Bangladesh and the World Bank agreed to work together to ensure that supply-chain disruptions do not hamper the country’s development trajectory. Khosru said the meeting also discussed the government’s social programmes, including the Family Card and Farmers’ Card, which he said were appreciated by the World Bank. He said the World Bank will support such programmes, and the two sides also discussed expanding initiatives aimed at creating young entrepreneurs and generating employment. “We have already rolled out programmes for young entrepreneurs based on 50 percent grants and 50 percent concessional loans. We discussed how we can expand these programmes together with the World Bank,” the minister said. He said the government wants to take youth entrepreneurship and employment programmes to a larger scale so that entrepreneurship among young people can generate more jobs and further employment in the economy. “The role of the young generation is extremely important in the economic trajectory we are pursuing towards a trillion-dollar economy by 2034,” Khosru said. He said the government will work with the World Bank to provide greater support for young entrepreneurs and create more employment opportunities. The minister said the meeting also covered the World Bank’s role in helping Bangladesh address economic pressures caused by external factors, particularly energy and supply-chain challenges. “We have to maintain our development trajectory, and we need to ensure that supply-chain problems do not disrupt it. We agreed to work together on how the World Bank and Bangladesh can address these challenges,” he said. Khosru also said the government is seeing positive signs in several areas of the economy. “We are seeing signs of improvement in the capital market. We are reforming and trying to recapitalise our banks, and there are signs of improvement there. Our exports are increasing, remittances are increasing, and our rating has moved from negative to stable,” he said, adding that the signs in the economy are very positive. The minister said Bangladesh and the World Bank will continue working together to address critical supply-chain problems while sustaining areas of positive economic growth. Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir was also present at the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.   Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s UN engagements began on Tuesday with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses, followed by the opening session and high-level General Debate of the General Assembly. During his brief New York stay, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral and high-level meetings with heads of state and government and leaders of international organisations. He is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24.  

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman on Tuesday called for greater Indian investment in Bangladesh’s technology-driven, export-oriented and manufacturing sectors. He made the call when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on the Governor at the central bank's head office in the capital. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and financial relations between Bangladesh and India. To improve the trade balance between the two neighboring nations, the Governor urged India to import more goods from Bangladesh. The Governor expressed interest in expanding the usage of 'Bangla QR', implementing cross-border digital payments, and seeking India's experience and potential technical cooperation in these areas. Underlining the importance of further easing foreign investment, the Governor said Bangladesh Bank has already undertaken several investor-friendly policy initiatives. These measures will allow foreign investors to easily repatriate their invested capital and profits to their home countries. Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Kumar Badhe and Second Secretary (Economic and Commerce) Gourab Kumar Agarwal accompanied the Indian High Commissioner during the meeting. Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman and Deputy Governor Md. Sarwar Hossain were present alongside the Governor on behalf of Bangladesh Bank.

Expatriate Bangladeshis sent US $2.063 billion in remittances during the first 21 days of September in fiscal year 2026-27, according to official data released by Bangladesh Bank. This ($2.063 billion) reflects a 1.6 percent growth compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year (1–September 21, 2025), when the country received $2.031 billion in remittances. On a single-day basis, remittance inflow stood at $69 million on September 21, 2026. With this latest inflow, cumulative remittance receipts for the current fiscal year (FY 2026-27)—spanning from July 1 to September 21, 2026—reached $7.888 billion. This marks a robust 13.8 percent year-on-year growth compared to the $6.930 billion ($6,930 million) recorded during the same period of the preceding fiscal year (July 1 to September 21, 2025). The steady growth in remittance inflows provides continued support to the country's foreign exchange reserves and broader macroeconomic stability.

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) is set to begin disbursing Tk 37.60 crore in compensation to 17,332 aggrieved investors of five defaulted brokerage houses from its Investor Protection Fund. DSE Chairman Mominul Islam disclosed this at a press conference held at the DSE Tower in Dhaka's Nikunja on Tuesday. The disbursement will commence on September 28. The affected investors are clients of five brokerage firms: Mashiur Securities, Tamha Securities, Crest Securities, Shah Mohammad Sagir & Co. Ltd., and Banco Securities. According to DSE data, the total amount of misappropriated funds exceed Tk 250 crore. During the press conference, the DSE Chairman said each affected investor will receive a maximum of Tk 5 lakh against their verified claims. Mominul Islam mentioned, "It will take slightly over two months to complete the entire fund distribution process." Assuring market stakeholders, the DSE Chairman said that regulatory supervision and monitoring systems have been further strengthened to prevent any brokerage firm from defaulting in the future. He further informed that four cases regarding the misappropriation of investors' funds by these brokerage firms are currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), while one case is pending in court.  

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has launched the ‘Hajj Agent Kafela Card’ to facilitate financial transactions for Holy Hajj pilgrims. Under the facility, users will be able to withdraw Saudi Riyal from Mastercard-branded ATMs in Saudi Arabia, enjoy payment facilities at all POS machines, and access the Balaka Lounge at the airport free of charge up to 4 times a year through this card. Each Hajj pilgrim can load foreign currency equivalent to $1,200 into the card. The card will be issued and delivered instantly without any charges. Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, NDC, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, inaugurated the card as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting between Islami Bank and members of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) at a hotel in the capital recently. Mohammad Zahir Hussain, Chairman of the bank, presided over the meeting, while Md. Altaf Hossain, Managing Director (Acting), delivered the welcome speech. Sohail Alim, Director of Mastercard Bangladesh, attended the program as a special guest. Dr. M Kamal Uddin Jasim, Additional Managing Director of the bank, thanked the audience. Senior executives and officials of HAAB and the bank were present on the occasion.

A total of 90,098 depositors withdrew Tk 3,245 crore from Sammilito Islami Bank in the first 20 days of September, according to a press release issued by the bank. During the same period, the bank received Tk 2,700 crore in fresh deposits. The press release stated that between September 1 and September 20, as many as 1,79,682 account holders submitted applications to withdraw a total of Tk 6,975 crore. Of them, 90,098 customers were paid Tk 3,245 crore. Meanwhile, 32,074 new bank accounts were opened with Sammilito Islami Bank over those 20 days, bringing in Tk 378 crore in new deposits through these accounts. Overall, the bank mobilized a total of Tk 2,700 crore in fresh deposits from various sources during this timeframe, the bank data showed. Sammilito Islami Bank was formed through the merger of five Islamic banks—First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank. The newly merged entity currently operates 761 branches nationwide. Earlier on August 31, the Bank Resolution Department of Bangladesh Bank issued directives regarding deposit withdrawals for the bank. Following the central bank guidelines, Sammilito Islami Bank began receiving applications from individual account holders for principal deposit refunds on September 1, and started disbursing funds to customers on September 7.

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the recently increased fuel prices, criticising the government's decision to raise prices by Tk 20 per litre across all fuel categories . In a statement sent to the media on Monday, the association said global fuel prices are currently on a downward trend, yet the government raised domestic fuel prices at midnight, deepening an already volatile economic situation marked by rising commodity prices, mounting inflation, and growing unemployment caused by factory closures linked to the energy crisis. The association said that instead of standing by people amid this crisis, the government within seven months of taking office, has raised fuel prices twice, a move it termed "anti-people," It would trigger further hikes in transport fares, freight costs, and prices of goods, along with rising costs in industrial production, it said. It urged the government to urgently reverse the decision and restore the previous fuel prices. The statement further said it is a reality that governments sometimes operate commercial ventures and, at other times, provide subsidies in the public interest. Amid the country's severe financial crisis, it said, the government has a responsibility to keep the economy running and rein in inflation by offering subsidies in the energy sector, thereby standing beside the country's struggling population.

The government has revised retail prices of diesel, octane, petrol and kerosene, with the new rates coming into effect from Monday (Sept 21). According to a notification issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Sunday, diesel will be sold at Tk 135 per litre, octane at Tk 165, petrol at Tk 160 and kerosene at Tk 155. The diesel price was Tk 115 per litre, octane Tk 145 per litre, petrol at Tk 140 per litre, and kerosene at Tk 135 per litre. The revised prices replace those set through a notification issued on Aug 31, 2026. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division said the revised prices have been approved by the competent authority and will be effective from Sept 21. The detailed price structure has been attached to the notification as Annexure-A. The ministry also said that for distances beyond the first 40 kilometres from a depot, the road transport charge for carrying petroleum products by tank lorries will be determined in accordance with the rates set by a notification issued on Sept 26, 2023. The latest revision comes as the government continues to adjust domestic fuel prices under its pricing framework.

The 14th meeting of the Board of Directors of state-owned Shariah-based Sammilito Islami Bank PLC held on Sunday (September 20), at the board room of the bank’s head office in Motijheel. Quazi Shairul Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended by board members Lt. Col. (Retd.) Md. Khan Sobayel Bin Rafiq PhD, Asma Akhter FCA, K M Zakaria, and Mohammed Ahsan Habib Chowdhury FCA. Managing Director Abedur Rahman Sikder and Company Secretary (Current Charge) Md. Monirul Islam were also present, according to a press release. During the meeting, the board reviewed the bank's overall operational activities and approved various investment proposals. The board also issued necessary directives to bank management to intensify investment recovery drives and expedite regular banking operations.

Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman and CEO of ETBL Holdings Limited, has been unanimously re-elected President of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)-Bangladesh for a two-year term. The ICC-Bangladesh Board also unanimously elected Rupali Chowdhury, President of the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and A K Azad, former FBCCI president and Managing Director of Ha-Meem Group, as Vice Presidents. Mahbubur Rahman is Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) and Chairman of Eastland Insurance PLC. He previously served as president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). He also served as founding Vice President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vice President for West Asia of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Headquartered in Paris, ICC is a global business organisation with a presence in more than 170 countries, representing around 45 million companies and more than one billion workers worldwide. ICC is also the only private-sector, non-sovereign organisation granted permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. The 19-member ICC-Bangladesh Executive Board includes FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul Hoque; DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed; MCCI President Kamran T. Rahman; CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque; BIA President Sayeed Ahmed, MP; BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan; BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem; BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell; LFMEAB President Syed Nasim Manzur; Envoy Textiles Chairman Kutubuddin Ahmed; Evince Group Managing Director Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez); IOE (Bangladesh) Limited Chairman Aftab Ul Islam; Mir Akhter Hossain Limited Managing Director Mir Nasir Hossain; Shohagpur Textile Mills Chairman and CEO and BAB Chairman Abdul Hai Sarker; Square Textiles PLC Chairman Tapan Chowdhury; and Transcom Group CEO Simeen Rahman.