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.

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.

Asian stocks were mostly higher Wednesday despite declines on Wall Street, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates, with expectations high that it will raise rates. US stock futures also edged higher. Markets widely expect the Fed to raise interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as US inflation remains elevated and above the central bank's target. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.7% to 63,923.00, despite official data showing the country recorded its fourth straight monthly trade deficit in August. South Korea's Kospi gained 1.4% to 6,717.97, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.2% to 24,715.18. The Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.7% to 3,891.60. AI-related stocks remained volatile after US technology leaders called for slower development of artificial intelligence to improve safety. SoftBank Group, a major investor in OpenAI, fell 1.5% after gaining 7.5% the previous day. Tokyo Electron, which makes chip manufacturing equipment, rose 2.1%, while Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings declined 1.9%. South Korea's SK Hynix gained 4.1%, while Samsung Electronics rose 2%. Taiwan's Taiex advanced 0.7%, while TSMC, Taiwan's leading AI chipmaker, slipped 0.2%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 8,696.50, while India's Sensex gained 0.5%. Oil prices declined early Wednesday after rising the previous day, as tensions between the US and Iran continued and the closure of a key Saudi oil pipeline added to concerns over global supplies. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.9% to $107.76 a barrel, although it remained well above the roughly $72 level recorded before the war began in late February. US benchmark crude dropped 1.5% to $104.24 a barrel. On Tuesday, Wall Street's S&P 500 fell 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.6%. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.8%. US AI stocks showed signs of stabilizing. Nvidia gained 0.6%, while Advanced Micro Devices rose 2.2%. Rising US Treasury yields have also weighed on stocks. Bond yields have increased as the energy crisis caused by the Iran war has added to inflationary pressure, while the US national debt has continued to grow. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was close to 5% early Wednesday after briefly reaching 5.04% this week, its highest level in years. In currency trading, the US dollar fell to 154.93 Japanese yen from 155.10 yen. The euro rose to $1.1554 from $1.1544.

Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the United States reached $1.612 billion during the first two months (July-August) of FY2026-27, marking an 11.42 percent growth compared to $1.447 billion recorded during the same period of the previous fiscal year. According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, the July-August export earnings already account for 20.8 percent of last year's total full-year figure of $7.744 billion. The monthly export average for the US market currently stands at $806.46 million in FY2026-27, running ahead of the flat monthly average benchmark of $645.38 million implied by FY2025-26's full-year performance.  However, this growth was driven almost entirely by a sharp 25.65 percent surge in August, following a slight contraction of 0.18 percent in July. Analysis of the data indicates that if the current year-on-year growth pace of 11.42 percent holds throughout the remaining ten months of the fiscal year, total RMG exports to the US in FY2026-27 would reach approximately $8.629 billion up from $7.744 billion recorded in FY2025-26, said Mohiuddin Rubel, Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, a think tank in apparel sector.  

The Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (West) has detected an estimated Tk3.76 crore in revenue evasion by J-Creation, an online clothing retailer, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said Tuesday. The commissionerate conducted a sudden raid on the premises of J-Creation in Mirpur on Sept 13 following a tip-off. The business sells Punjabi outfits, sherwanis and other readymade garments through online platforms. During the raid, officials found evidence of VAT evasion and seized a CPU and relevant documents, according to the NBR. The authorities subsequently examined the company’s sales records and initially found evidence of revenue evasion amounting to around Tk3.76 crore. The seized documents are now being examined further, and legal proceedings for filing a case are underway, the NBR said.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase on Sunday approved the purchase of nine cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 2026 through international quotation and direct procurement processes. The decision was taken at the committee’s 44th meeting of 2026 held with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair, where three proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division were discussed. Of the nine cargoes, five will be procured through the Request for Quotation (International) process under Rule of the Public Procurement Rules 2025. TotalEnergies Gas & Power Ltd of the UK was recommended as the supplier for the 52nd cargo of the year at $28.95 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). Vital Asia Pte Ltd of Singapore was recommended for the 56th cargo at $29.795 per MMBtu. The five cargoes are scheduled for delivery in October. The 52nd cargo is scheduled for October 9-10, the 53rd for October 12-13, the 54th for October 14-15, the 55th for October 15-16 and the 56th cargo for October 27-28. The committee also recommended approval for the direct purchase of two LNG cargoes from D’ARAB Inc. of the United States at $17 per MMBtu. In another proposal, it recommended the direct purchase of two LNG cargoes from Mind Mingle LLC of the United States at $19 per MMBtu.

Business leaders, regulators and capital market professionals have discussed the opportunities, challenges and regulatory reforms needed to encourage greater corporate participation in Bangladesh’s capital market. They made the observations at a thematic dialogue titled “Capital Market Growth Dialogue: Pathway to Listing”, jointly organised by IDLC Investments Limited and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at the CCCI office at the World Trade Center in Agrabad, Chattogram. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan attended the programme as the chief guest, while Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Chairman Mominul Islam and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman were present as special guests. Senior representatives from regulatory authorities, stock exchanges, leading business groups, corporate houses and capital market institutions took part in the discussion. The participants focused on ways to make the listing process easier and more attractive for established companies, particularly through initial public offerings (IPOs) and direct listings. They discussed how greater access to the capital market could help companies raise long-term funds, strengthen their capital base, reduce dependence on bank financing and support business expansion. Prospective issuers from Chattogram also raised concerns about the existing regulatory framework and sought clarification from representatives of BSEC, DSE and CSE. BSEC Chairman Masud Khan said that due to the lengthy listing process in Bangladesh’s capital market, businesses often raise funds from the money market or other sources. As a result, the capital market does not gain the desired momentum, and businesses also do not achieve sustainable growth. “To make it easier for large and quality companies to list directly on the capital market and raise funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission is taking necessary steps in collaboration with stakeholders,” he said. CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque said many business owners are reluctant to enter the capital market because listed companies are required to pay dividends even when they do not make a profit. They also have to navigate various regulatory complexities after listing. There should be an opportunity for companies to pay dividends when they make profits and not pay dividends when they incur losses, he said. Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman of IDLC Finance, said, “The mutual fund market in Bangladesh is still not robust enough. There are also several challenges in the IPO process. Therefore, BSEC has to work with the NBR to ensure that tax-related policies do not conflict with the interests of the capital market.” M Jamal Uddin, Managing Director and CEO of IDLC Finance, said, “It is time for businesses in Bangladesh to look beyond traditional bank financing and consider the capital market as a reliable source of long-term funding. With a more advanced and transparent valuation process, companies can now enter this market with greater confidence and achieve a fair value for their businesses.” IDLC Investments CEO Mesbah Uddin Ahmed said his organisation was providing support to companies seeking to enter the capital market, including assessing their readiness, funding needs, ownership dilution and appropriate valuation methods. Representatives from BSEC, DSE and CSE also addressed concerns raised by prospective issuers and discussed possible ways to further streamline the listing process. The participants said greater corporate participation would help develop a deeper, more diversified and sustainable capital market while reducing excessive dependence on bank-based financing.

Prices of flour, refined flour (maida) and aromatic rice have risen sharply in Dhaka kitchen markets, adding to pressure on bakeries, biryani businesses and middle-income households amid a continued shortage of soybean oil. A visit to markets in Shantinagar, Rampura, Badda and Shahjadpur on Friday found loose flour selling at Tk 50 per kg, up from Tk 45 last week, while the maida price climbed to Tk 80-85 per kg from Tk 70-75. Aromatic rice prices jumped by Tk 20 per kg even after the Ministry of Commerce halved the export quota for the variety. Quality loose aromatic rice is now selling at Tk 200 per kg, up from Tk 180 a week earlier, while packaged aromatic rice ranges between Tk 220 and Tk 240 per kg. Buyers said the same rice cost only Tk 150-160 per kg a month ago. More than a week after soybean oil prices were raised, supply has yet to return to normal. Most shops are out of bottled one-litre soybean oil, forcing many buyers to purchase costlier rice bran or sunflower oil instead. Retailers said repeated requests to oil companies and dealers for supply have gone unanswered, adding that their per-litre commission has been cut. They also alleged several companies are withholding soybean oil unless retailers place orders for other products alongside it. Bakery and biryani businesses warned they will be forced to raise prices further if the trend continues. Anwar, manager of Maa Biriyani in Badda, said they used to sell chicken polao at Tk 120 per packet but now charge Tk 150, adding that even the new price may soon become difficult to sustain amid the continued rise in costs. Adib Rahman, owner of Adib Live Bakery in Rampura, said bakery associations have asked members to raise prices of all maida-based products by 20 percent, noting that not raising prices erodes profit while raising them drives away customers. Buyers blamed both global volatility and a lack of government market monitoring for the price spikes, saying reduced oil supply and indiscriminate flour price hikes cannot be justified. "There is no point in market monitoring for show. Why are not big corporate companies supplying oil to the market? They must be held accountable, otherwise consumer interest will remain ignored while companies protect only their own," said Afsana, a consumer at Rampura market. Another buyer, Imdad, said grocery bills are rising every month due to price hikes across the board, compounding pressure from higher electricity costs on middle-income families like his. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), overall inflation stood at 8.26 percent in August, with food inflation at 7.02 percent. Though overall inflation eased compared to July, buyers say the relief is not visible in the market.

The Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS) has cut gold prices again, reducing the rate of 22-carat gold by Tk 2,158 per bhori to Tk 2,31,880, including VAT. The new prices came into effect at 10:00am on Friday, according to a notice issued by the association. BAJUS said the latest adjustment was made in line with a decline in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) in the local market. Under the revised rates, a bhori (11.664 grams) of 21-carat gold will cost Tk 2,21,441, 18-carat gold Tk 1,90,123 and traditional gold Tk 1,55,306, all including VAT. The association said the new rates will remain effective until further notice, while making charges will vary depending on the design of the jewellery. As VAT is already included in the sale prices of gold and silver ornaments, it cannot be collected separately from customers. Existing rules for the exchange and purchase of ornaments will remain unchanged, apart from applicable VAT, making charges and stone costs. BAJUS last adjusted gold prices on September 9, cutting the rate by Tk 1,108 per bhori and setting the price of 22-carat gold at Tk 2,34,038. So far this year, gold prices have been adjusted 114 times in the local market -- increased 56 times, decreased 57 times and revised once for VAT. Silver prices were also cut, with the rate of 22-carat silver reduced by Tk 116 per bhori to Tk 5,016, including VAT. The price of 21-carat silver was set at Tk 4,782, 18-carat at Tk 4,082 and traditional silver at Tk 3,091 per bhori. Silver prices have been adjusted 69 times so far this year -- 35 increases and 34 decreases -- compared with 13 adjustments in 2025, when prices were increased 10 times and decreased only three times.