United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur on Thursday said the country’s economic policy is independently formulated and not dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank. “If we follow their prescriptions blindly, the exchange rate could surge to around Tk 170–180 per US dollar, as has happened in Pakistan and Sri Lanka,” he said. The governor made the remarks while speaking as the special guest at the ‘Investment Dialogue with Local Partners’ held at the multipurpose hall of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on Thursday. Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan was also present as the chief guest in the programme. Dr Mansur said inflation is expected to fall to 5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year, FY2025-26. Consequently, the policy rate would likely be reduced to 8–9 percent, with lending rates settling between 10 and 11 percent. He cautioned that reducing interest rates without controlling inflation could destabilise the exchange rate and the money market, responding to businesses’ demands for lower lending rates. Citing examples from India and China, the governor noted that their low interest rates—3 percent and zero percent, respectively—reflect their economic conditions, which differ from Bangladesh’s. “We are not currently taking IMF loan installments because some conditions cannot be fulfilled at this time for the sake of our economy. When needed, we will take IMF loans after fully meeting the global lender’s conditions,” he added. About the financial sector, Dr. Mansur said it has now emerged from previous data manipulations that had posed serious risks to the country. For instance, while official figures under the previous regime showed single-digit inflation, actual inflation was around 12–13 percent, with lending rates in single digits, leaving depositors with negative returns. Similarly, defaulted loans were underreported, shown below double digits, though they stood at around 35 percent in September 2025. Current accounts have now been corrected. On the question of recovering defaulted loans through the sale of industry assets, the governor clarified that industries should not be penalized for individual mismanagement. He cited the example of the SS power plant of S. Alam Group, which continues to operate with support from Bangladesh Bank for LC openings. The project involves about US $2.5 billion in investment, 80 percent of which is foreign-owned. Although the plant is running, S. Alam will not retain any profit, as all funds will be used to repay liabilities, he added. Dr Mansur pointed out that Bangladesh Bank has received 1,300 applications for loan restructuring, approving 250 of them. The remaining applications have been forwarded to respective banks for customer- and client-based restructuring. He projected that defaulted loans will decrease by 5 percent by March FY2025-26, but bringing overall non-performing loans to a reasonable level may take 8–10 years. Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser on International Affairs, and Mohammad Abdur Rahman Khan, FCMA, Chairman of NBR, participated in the dialogue, held Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BEZA and BIDA, in the chair.

Trading at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) began on a downward note Thursday, with most listed companies seeing price declines. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index dropped by 38 points in the first hour of trading. The Shariah-based DSES index slid 9 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index also fell by 9 points. Market data shows that prices fell for the majority of traded issues, with 284 companies declining against 48 advancing, while 48 remained unchanged. The turnover during the first half exceeded Tk 168 crore. The bearish trend persisted at the CSE as well, where the overall index lost 45 points. Only 20 issues advanced compared to 48 that declined, and 10 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE reached Tk 7 crore in the same period.    

Thailand on Wednesday lifted a 53-year-old restriction on the afternoon retail sale of alcoholic beverages, a move aimed at boosting year-end tourism and supporting businesses such as bars and convenience stores. The prohibition on selling beer, wine, and spirits between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., first introduced in 1972 during military rule, will be lifted on a 180-day trial, after which authorities will assess its impact. The amendment, published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, allows alcohol sales from 11 a.m. to midnight, with patrons at nightlife venues permitted to drink until 1 a.m. While Thailand is largely Buddhist, discouraging alcohol consumption, drinking remains widespread. Authorities had expressed concerns that extending sales could worsen drunk-driving incidents. Previously, afternoon alcohol sales were inconsistently enforced, with exemptions for airports, hotels, and certain entertainment venues. Temporary bans were also imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic to curb virus spread. The trial aims to balance public safety with economic benefits during the holiday season. Source: AP 

Speakers in a policy dialogue stressed the urgent need for a dedicated Tk 2,500 crore soft loan fund for the shrimp and frozen food sector to boost export. They said to overcome stagnant production and falling global competitiveness, which has seen the industry drop from the second to the seventh largest export earner. The demand was made during the policy dialogue titled ‘Transforming Policy Support for Reviving Bangladesh’s Shrimp Sector', held on Wednesday night. Speaking as the Special Guest, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur said that exporters from any sector, including frozen food, have the opportunity to take loans of up to Tk 5 crore from the Export Development Fund (EDF). Such a provision that is already in place but often goes unutilized by shrimp exporters. However, Dr. Mansur suggested that the main issue might not be financing for the processing industry. "I believe financing is not the problem in the shrimp processing industry. Loan facilities can be increased at the farmer level. But their productivity must be prioritized first. Better technology and improved breeds are needed," he added. The Governor emphasized that while the central bank is prepared to offer policy support, entrepreneurs must lead export expansion efforts with realistic planning. He added that both the private sector and the government must actively identify scopes for expansion and potential export opportunities. In a study paper presentation, Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, Research Director of the Policy Research Institute (PRI), strongly advocated for the creation of a dedicated Tk 2,500 crore shrimp aquaculture fund. This fund is proposed to be extended to shrimp farmers and facilitators as a soft loan at a 4 percent interest rate. The facility would be categorized to support the processors, small holding farmers, women entrepreneurs, Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) investors.   The presentation highlighted the severe challenges facing the industry. Despite having vast marine and freshwater resources, the frozen food sector, once a top export earner, is suffering from stagnant production, high costs, and low global competitiveness, the study finds. The sector's export value dropped to US $334 million in 2024, down from $441.5 million in the last fiscal year. Though the e industry provides livelihoods to over 17 million people, and potential opportunities to earn $5 billion, the shrimp export sector remains backwards. Farida Akhter, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, was present as the Chief Guest at the dialogue. Mohammad Shajahan Choudhury, President of the Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFEA); Iqbal Ahmed Obe, Chairman and Managing Director, Seamark (BD) Ltd; and Md. Tariqul Islam Zaheer, Senior Vice-President of BFFEA, among others, spoke at the event. The academicians, entrepreneurs and sector experts attended the event.

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to China on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focused on trade cooperation and high-level diplomacy, with a key goal of encouraging Beijing to help push Russia toward agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Macron’s office said the trip aims to strengthen economic ties and promote a more balanced trading relationship that supports “sustainable, solid growth that benefits everyone.” France hopes to draw greater Chinese investment and widen access for French exports. Both sides are expected to sign agreements in sectors including energy, aviation and the food industry. The French president also plans to defend “fair and reciprocal market access” amid ongoing trade tensions between the European Union and China. The EU recorded a trade deficit of more than 300 billion euros ($348 billion) with China last year, while China alone accounts for nearly half of France’s total trade gap. Recent disputes have ranged from electric vehicle subsidies to China’s retaliatory probes into European brandy, pork and dairy imports. Paris welcomed China’s recent decision to exempt most cognac producers from punitive measures, noting France remains China’s top supplier of wine and spirits. Russia’s frozen assets become key bargaining chip in Ukraine peace negotiations Macron will also discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine with President Xi Jinping, following talks on Monday in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about possible ceasefire terms. A senior French diplomatic official said Paris wants Beijing to use its influence to push Russia toward “a ceasefire as quickly as possible,” followed by negotiations that guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security. France also expects China to avoid supplying Russia with any materials that could prolong the conflict. China’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated that Beijing supports “dialogue and negotiation” and claims it has played a “constructive role” since the war began. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday evening and visit the newly restored Qianlong Garden in the Forbidden City. On Thursday, he will meet Xi at the Great Hall of the People before taking part in a Franco-Chinese business forum. He will later meet Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress, and Premier Li Qiang. The French presidential couple will then travel to Chengdu in Sichuan province. On Friday, Macron and Xi will meet in Dujiangyan, home to one of the world’s oldest irrigation systems, before Macron visits students at Sichuan University. Chengdu also hosts the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where Yuan Meng — the first giant panda born in France and named by Brigitte Macron — now resides. France recently returned a pair of pandas that had lived in the country for 13 years and produced three cubs. Source: AP 

The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Tuesday approved a proposal to procure 2.20 lakh metric tons of wheat from the United States under a Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement. The approval came from a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held virtually with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The Ministry of Food proposed the import which will be executed by the Directorate General of Food The wheat will be supplied by Agrocorp International PTE Ltd, authorized by U.S. Wheat Associates. The consignment will cost Tk 842.06 crore, with the price set at US$312.25 per metric ton. Officials who were present in this meeting said the import is intended to bolster public food stock and ensure adequate supply for social safety net programmes.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for December, raising the rate of a 12kg cylinder to Tk 1,253, up by Tk 38 from last month’s Tk 1,215. The revised price was announced on Tuesday afternoon and will come into effect this evening, according to BERC. The regulator has also adjusted the price of autogas, setting it at Tk 57.32 per litre, up from Tk 55.58. In November, BERC reduced LPG prices by Tk 26 and cut autogas prices by Tk 1.19 at the consumer level.

For Pioneering Contributions to Conception and Development of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and Leadership in Its Practical Application -On November 17, 2025, the Honda Foundation held the 46th Honda Prize Award Ceremony and a commemorative lecture at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The foundation awarded the prize medal and diploma to this year’s laureate, Dr. Kenichi Iga (honorary professor at the Institute of Science Tokyo, and 18th president of the former Tokyo Institute of Technology), for his pioneering conception and development of the Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL). The foundation is a public interest incorporated foundation established by Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and his younger brother Benjiro. At the opening of the ceremony, Hiroto Ishida, President of the Honda Foundation, delivered opening remarks: "The surface-emitting laser conceived and promoted by Dr. Iga is now indispensable to people's lives. It supports our society in many areas, including high-speed data communication and facial recognition on smartphones. Dr. Iga’s efforts, from the conception of this new technology to leading its fundamental research, practical application, and subsequent widespread adoption, represent a great achievement that truly embodies the spirit of the Honda Prize." Following the ceremony, Dr. Iga delivered a commemorative lecture titled "Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL): Born Small and Grown Big -- From Smartphones to Huge Data Centers." In the lecture, Dr. Iga shared episodes from his journey, starting with his boyhood in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. Raised in a nature-rich environment, he became interested in electricity and electronics after building his own radio. He also reflected on his university days, where he devoted himself to research with the support of a scholarship from "SAKKOKAI," a foundation established in 1961 by Honda founders Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa to support young researchers.

The license for the newly established Sommilito Islami Bank PLC was formally handed over by Bangladesh Bank (BB) to representatives of the Ministry of Finance on Monday. The establishment of the new bank was approved by the Bangladesh Bank Board of Directors on Sunday (November 30). The license handover ceremony took place in presence of officials from both the central bank and the Ministry of Finance. Md. Azizuddin Biswas, joint secretary of the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the ministry, received the license document on behalf of Nazma Mobarek, secretary of the FID. Representing the Bangladesh Bank were Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor, Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, Deputy Governor, Md. Badiul Alam, Executive Director and Head of Banking Regulation and Policy Department, and Bayezid Sarker, Director of the Department of Banking Regulation and Policy, who formally presented the license to the Ministry of Finance representatives. The formation of Sommilito Islami Bank PLC is part of a broader banking sector reform, aiming to consolidate multiple Shariah-based banks.

Bangladesh received its highest monthly remittance inflow of the current fiscal year FY 2025-26, crossing US $2.88 billion November. This substantial inflow translates to an average daily remittance of approximately $96.3 million. In the five month of the current fiscal year Bangladeshi expatriates sent $13.03 billion remittance while it was $11.7 billion in the previous fiscal year. According to updated data released by the Bangladesh Bank on Monday, the remittance flow in November saw a significant increase of 31.37 percent compared to the previous month of October. The total remittance figure for November stands at $2.88. Of this amount, state-owned banks received $587.76 million as remittance, specialized banks handled $298.95 million, and the largest share, around $2.0 billion, came through private banks. Foreign banks accounted for the remaining $5.94 million. The central bank also provided a weekly breakdown, showing consistent high flow throughout the month, with the largest weekly amount of $768.48 million arriving between November 9 and 15, and the smallest being $43.18 million on November 1st. The November figure significantly surpasses the inflows of the preceding months of the current fiscal year: October saw $2.56 billion, September recorded $2.68 billion, while August and July inflows were $2.42 billion and $2.47 billion, respectively. This robust performance follows the record-breaking remittance year of FY2024-25, where expatriates sent $30.32 billion, marking the highest annual inflow in the country's history so far.