United News of Bangladesh

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.

Ending a continuous depreciation trend spanning five and a half years, the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) has shown signs of appreciation against the US dollar, according to a Bangladesh Bank (BB) report released on Sunday. On a point-to-point basis from June last year to June this year, the value of the Taka appreciated by 0.06 percent. Furthermore, between August 30 and September 17, the local currency strengthened by 0.77 percent against the greenback. Central bank data shows that the Taka experienced an unbroken streak of depreciation against the US dollar from 2021 until September 17 this year. During this period, the exchange rate surged from Tk 85.80 per dollar to a record high of Tk123.95—reflecting a devaluation of Tk38.20, or 45.05 percent. However, the trend began reversing in the second half of this year. After peaking at Tk 123.95 on August 30, the dollar rate dropped by 95 paisa to Tk 123.00 on September 17, resulting in a 0.77 percent gain for the Taka over those three weeks. According to central bank statistics End-December 2019: The dollar traded at Tk 84.90. End-December 2020: The dollar fell by 10 paisa to Tk 84.80, appreciating the Taka by 0.12 percent due to lower pandemic-era import demand, reduced global commodity prices, and robust remittance inflows. End-December 2021: Rising import demand and surging global prices pushed the dollar to Tk85.80, devaluing the Taka by 1.18 percent. End-December 2022: Fueled by the Russia-Ukraine war, global fuel and commodity prices spiked, increasing import bills while exports and remittances slowed. The dollar jumped to Tk105.85—a Tk 20.05 or Tk23.37 percent increase—devaluing the Taka by an equivalent margin. End-December 2023: Continued pressures raised the dollar rate by Tk4.15 or 3.92 percent to Tk 110.00. End-December 2024: The dollar climbed another Tk 10.00 to Tk 120.00, eroding the Taka’s value by 9.09 percent over the year. End-December 2025: Depreciation persisted as the dollar reached Tk122.33, up Tk 2.33 or 1.94 percent over the year. The Bangladesh Bank report also compared regional currency movements from June last year to June this year Depreciated Currencies: The Indian Rupee depreciated by nearly 9.5 percent, the Sri Lankan Rupee lost over 10 percent, and the Indonesian Rupiah declined by around 9 percent. Appreciated Currencies: The Malaysian Ringgit and Chinese Yuan both gained nearly 4 percent, while the Pakistani Rupee appreciated by around 2 percent. The central bank noted that after a prolonged period of weakening, the Bangladeshi Taka has shifted to a relatively stronger position. Economic Implications A depreciating Taka directly elevates import costs for fuel, industrial raw materials, and food items, passing price increases onto consumers, driving inflation, and dampening real purchasing power—especially for low- and middle-income households. It also increases the domestic currency burden of servicing foreign debt. Conversely, a strengthening Taka relieves pressure on import expenditures and lowers the local currency cost of foreign debt servicing, though the broader impact will depend on future trends in imports, exports, remittances, foreign exchange reserves, and international market conditions.

Expatriate Bangladeshis sent over US $1.87 billion in remittances during the first 19 days of September 2026, marking a slight monthly increase compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) data. During the corresponding period from September 1 to September 19 in 2025, the country received $1.86 billion in remittances. The latest figures reflect a 0.4 percent growth for the month up to September 19 in the current fiscal year (FY 2026–27). Between September 17 and September 19 alone, remittance inflows stood at $130 million. The overall fiscal year-to-date performance shows a stronger upward momentum. From July 1 to September 19 of the current fiscal year (FY 2026–27), total remittance inflows reached $7.70 billion. This represents a 13.8 percent yearly growth compared to the $6.76 billion received during the same period in FY 2025–26 (July 1 to September 19, 2025).

The growing trend of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Bangladesh's banking sector is placing severe pressure on the nation's financial system, with default loans now exceeding 32 percent of total disbursements and disrupting the natural cycle of credit recycling. National Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah, former Professor and Chairman of the Department of Development Studies at University of Dhaka, highlighted these concerns while delivering the 23rd Nurul Matin Memorial Lecture on "Ethics in Banking," organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) on Saturday. Bangladesh Bank Governor and Chairman of the BIBM Governing Board, Md Mostaqur Rahman, presided over the event. BIBM Director General Dr. Md. Ezazul Islam delivered the welcome address, while Professor and Director (Research, Development and Consultancy) Md. Shihab Uddin Khan offered the vote of thanks. In his memorial lecture, Dr. Mahbub Ullah observed that the core engine of the banking system—the continuous recycling of loan funds through deposit collection, lending, and reinvestment—has been severely disrupted. Because a significant portion of disbursed loans is not returning on time, banks are facing severe liquidity pressures and constrained lending capacity. He pointed out that prolonged financial losses and mounting NPLs have left several banks struggling to maintain required capital reserves under international Basel-II standards. Consequently, even solvent institutions are adopting hyper-cautious lending postures, leaving eligible entrepreneurs and industrial enterprises starved of working capital and investment financing—a scenario that threatens national production, employment, and overall economic growth. Dr.  Mahbub Ullah warned that without sustainable measures, systemic risks will escalate, calling for immediate good governance, ethics, accountability, and proper risk management in loan approval and recovery processes. Presiding over the function, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman emphasized that a bank's true strength relies not just on capital, technology, or liquidity, but fundamentally on public trust. He urged bankers to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards to safeguard depositor confidence. BIBM Director General Dr. Md. Ezazul Islam stressed that banking decisions impact the broader economy because banks handle public funds. He noted that board members and top executives must lead by example to establish a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability across financial institutions. Concluding the session, BIBM Director Md. Shihab Uddin Khan stated that ongoing banking sector reforms aim not merely to keep troubled banks afloat, but to build a robust, governance-driven financial architecture that protects depositors, directs credit toward productive sectors, and ensures operational transparency. The lecture was attended by economists, senior bankers, academics, and representatives from various professional sectors.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman FCMA on Saturday said no lobbying or recommendation will be allowed in selecting entrepreneurs under the Tk 60,000-crore incentive package announced by the central bank. “In the past, we saw influential people showing greater interest in such incentive packages. This time, no bureaucrat or banker will be involved in the final selection. A successful entrepreneur will select new entrepreneurs,” he said. The governor was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion with stakeholders on implementing the Bangladesh Bank-announced incentive package for private-sector development at the Bangladesh Bank Rangpur office. He said the central bank was working to make the entrepreneur selection process free from influence and transparent. “Any recommendation for financing under the incentive package will be considered a disqualification for the entrepreneur,” he said, adding that the policy would be followed in financing entrepreneurs in every upazila. He said the government had planned to engage young people in economic activities following the July mass uprising. “Initially, we will provide loans to 5,000 new young entrepreneurs across the country under the incentive package,” he said. The maximum loan amount will be Tk 20 lakh, he said, adding that applicants below 28 years of age with viable business ideas will be eligible. Of the Tk 20 lakh, Tk 10 lakh will be provided as a bank loan and Tk 10 lakh as a grant, he said. The governor said the government was working to promote industrial development in the northern region. Under the incentive package, Tk 3,000 crore has been allocated for setting up agro-based industries, he said. The maximum financing limit will be Tk 30 lakh for agricultural production, Tk 40 crore for storage, transportation, marketing and infrastructure, Tk 40 crore for agro-based production and processing, and Tk 15 crore for agricultural exports. Besides, Tk 2,000 crore in special financing is being provided for the export-oriented frozen food sector. The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Bank Rangpur office Executive Director Md Salah Uddin. Among others, Bangladesh Bank headquarters Additional Director Mohammad Salahuddin Topadar, Rangpur office Director AKM Kamruzzaman, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Emdadul Hossain, Women Chamber President Shahanaz Parvin Shaheen, Metropolitan Chamber Director Nazmul Alam Nazu, Nasik Plan and Pot proprietor Shahinur Islam, farmer Mahir Islam and business leaders from eight districts of Rangpur division attended the meeting.

The Bangladesh Communications Professionals Society (BCPS) is planning to introduce a national-level recognition for outstanding development communication and creative content documenting life-changing stories, initiatives and social impact by NGOs, INGOs, development partners and government agencies. The proposed Devcom Award was discussed at a consultation meeting between a BCPS delegation and Channel i Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar, Head of Program Harun Or Rashid and Head of iScreen Mahbub Rahim Udoy at the Channel i conference room today. The meeting also discussed possible cooperation in communication, media and creative work, including joint initiatives to develop quality communication content and create opportunities for communication professionals to share their work and experiences. BCPS Chairperson Tony Michael Gomes led the delegation. BCPS Executive Committee members Sahos Mostafiz, Asad Rassel, Nusrat Akther and Maliha Tabassum were also present. Faridur Reza Sagar said Channel i has been involved in various development initiatives and considers development communication an important part of its storytelling. “Channel i is a pioneer in many development initiatives that have made significant contributions to the development sector. Devcom is also a core value of our storytelling. We want to recognise good work and encourage the next generation to carry this legacy forward,” he said. The proposed award is expected to recognise work across different areas of communication and creative practice. The name, categories and timing of the award are yet to be finalised. Tony Michael Gomes said development communication content has received limited recognition in Bangladesh, despite the contribution of communication professionals working in the sector. “Development content has not received adequate recognition in Bangladesh. As a result, creative professionals working in this sector have had limited opportunities to take their storytelling to a wider national audience,” he said. He added that the communication landscape has changed considerably in recent years with the growth of digital media, new content formats and artificial intelligence. “Communication work is changing rapidly, particularly with the growth of AI and digital media. BCPS is focusing on skills development for communication professionals and building closer cooperation with media organisations and development partners,” he said. Established in 2018, BCPS brings together professionals working in development communication, media, advocacy, campaigns, public relations and knowledge management. The organisation has arranged a number of professional development initiatives, including the Development Communications Conclave, Leadership Masterclass, Visual Storytelling Workshop and CV Writing Sessions. The proposed award is part of BCPS’s broader effort to strengthen professional networks and create opportunities for collaboration among communication professionals, media organisations and development-sector stakeholders. Photo Caption: BCPS delegation meets Channel i Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar to discuss the proposed BCPS Award for development communication and creative work.

Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has raised gold prices again, increasing the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 1,691 per bhori to Tk 2,34,621, including VAT. BAJUS announced the new prices in a notice on Saturday, saying the price of tejabi gold (pure gold) had increased in the local market. Considering the overall market situation, the association revised the prices, which came into effect from 10am today. Under the new rates, one bhori (11.664 grammes) of 21-carat gold has been set at Tk 2,24,065 per bhori, 18-carat gold at Tk 1,92,398 and traditional-method gold at Tk 1,57,172. BAJUS said the new prices will remain effective at all jewellery shops until further notice. However, labour charges will apply depending on the design of the jewellery. As VAT is included in the selling price of gold and silver jewellery, jewellers cannot collect VAT separately from customers. BAJUS's previous rules will remain in place for jewellery exchange and purchase, excluding specified VAT, labour charges and the price of stones. BAJUS last adjusted gold prices on Sept 12, when it raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 1,050 per bhori to Tk 2,32,930, including VAT. So far in 2026, gold prices in the country's market have been adjusted 116 times. Prices have been raised on 58 occasions, lowered on 57 occasions and VAT adjusted once. Meanwhile, silver prices have also been increased. The price of 22-carat silver has been raised by Tk 116 per bhori to Tk 5,132, including VAT. The price of 21-carat silver has been set at Tk 4,957 per bhori, 18-carat silver at Tk 4,257 and traditional-method silver at Tk 3,208. Silver prices have been adjusted 70 times so far in 2026, with prices increased on 36 occasions and reduced on the remaining 34 occasions.

The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) opened on Thursday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bringing new business opportunities under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 framework into focus. Running from September 17 to 21, the expo has attracted more than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions. The exhibition area covers about 170,000 square meters, with participating enterprises up 5.3% from the previous edition. Timor-Leste is taking part for the first time as a full ASEAN member and co-host, bringing all 11 ASEAN member states together in Nanning, reports CGTN. AI and the newly opened Pinglu Canal are also key focuses of this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas showcasing their potential to drive regional cooperation. The latest CGTN survey shows that 90.9% of global respondents believe the continued hosting of CAEXPO demonstrates China's commitment to high-standard opening up. Meanwhile, 89.5% see the expo as an important platform for business exchanges, industrial matchmaking and sharing regional development opportunities. China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 opens new areas for cooperation The expo comes as China and ASEAN begin implementing the upgraded CAFTA 3.0 framework, which aims to facilitate trade, strengthen supply chains and expand cooperation into emerging sectors. Science and technology authorities and high-tech institutions from countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have sent delegations to the expo. China has made significant advances in areas such as AI, electric vehicles and renewable energy, said Destarata Mustafa, counselor for political affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing. "We hope to expand cooperation with China in these fields." More than 50 trade and investment promotion activities are being held during the expo, focusing on trade and investment facilitation, regional economic integration, and cross-border industrial and supply chain cooperation. In the CGTN survey, 84.5% of respondents said deeper China-ASEAN free trade cooperation will inject greater momentum into openness, cooperation and stable growth in the global economy. AI takes center stage at China-ASEAN Expo AI is taking a prominent role at this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center and the newly established Nanning AI Compound. The AI exhibition area at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center showcases AI products and technologies covering consumer applications, smart homes, intelligent terminals, robots and embodied intelligence, alongside AI technologies from ASEAN countries. At the 10,000-square-meter Nanning AI Compound, more than 150 AI companies, including Huawei, iFlytek and Unitree Robotics, are presenting applications across 11 themed sections, focusing on industrial and everyday use. The venue will also feature an AI-themed market, service robots, robot competitions and performances. The new exhibition area is also designed to facilitate more targeted cooperation through an intelligent matchmaking system. More than 8,000 pairs of potential cooperation partners have been pre-matched, while nearly 2,000 additional matchmaking sessions are scheduled during the expo. The system has collected around 60 cooperation demand projects from ASEAN countries and matched them with nearly 40 Chinese projects to help companies pursue potential partnerships. The emphasis on practical applications reflects growing efforts to connect China's AI capabilities with the specific industrial and consumer needs of ASEAN markets. How Pinglu Canal could strengthen China-ASEAN trade The newly opened Pinglu Canal has become another highlight of the expo, with a dedicated exhibition area showcasing the 134.2-kilometer waterway and its potential to strengthen regional connectivity. Connecting the Xijiang River shipping network with the Beibu Gulf, the canal allows vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes to reach the sea directly, creating a more efficient route from China's southwestern hinterland to international markets. The canal is expected to shorten shipping distances between southwest China and Southeast Asia by more than 560 kilometers, reduce logistics costs by 18% to 30% and save about 5.2 billion yuan (about $775 million) annually. It also strengthens the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor linking western China with Southeast Asia through railways, roads, waterways and ports. According to the CGTN survey, 87.6% of respondents said multimodal transport, including river-sea and rail-water transport, when efficiently connected with cross-border industrial and supply chain cooperation, will further facilitate regional trade and investment. The new connectivity comes as China-ASEAN trade continues to expand. In the first seven months of 2026, trade between the two sides reached $744.41 billion, up 24.7% year on year and accounting for 21.8% of China's total foreign trade.