United News of Bangladesh

Suzuki Bangladesh (Rancon Motorbikes Limited) has officially introduced the much-awaited Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 adventure-tourer motorcycle to the local market. The dynamic new model was unveiled amidst thousands of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts during the grand ‘Suzuki Day 2026’ event held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BCFEC) in Purbachal on Tuesday. The regular market price (MRP) for the new V-Strom SX 250 has been set at BDT 4,49,950. However, to celebrate the official launch, a special introductory offer has been announced that customers who pre-book or purchase the motorcycle by October 31, 2026, can avail a TK 20,000 discount, securing it at a special price of TK 4,29,950. The day-long mega event featured an array of exciting activities for attendees, including live stunt shows, a dirt race, DJ performances, and a dedicated biking accessories exhibition. The evening’s main attraction was a vibrant live concert featuring legendary rock bands James, Warfaze and Carnival, whose energetic performances thrilled the audience.

MG Bangladesh officially unveiled its flagship all-electric S6 EV at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Conference Center through a distinctive showcase combining traditional Bangladeshi craftsmanship with modern electric mobility. The highlight of the event was a 50-foot continuous Nakshi Kantha installation extending seamlessly from a couture dress to the vehicle. Conceptualized by Creative Director Asad Sattar and his agency Kulture-kantha, the presentation connected the country's cultural heritage with automotive innovation through an elaborate visual display. The vehicle was unveiled by Kashfia Arfa, the first Bangladeshi female racer to compete in an international FIA motorsport event. The showcase featured Nakshi Kantha couture designed by Samaha Subah, CEO and Founder of SIZ, with choreography by Mahmudul Hasan Mukul. Fashion personalities Jessia Islam and Shirin Akther Sheela also participated in the runway presentation, bringing together fashion, craftsmanship, and electric mobility in a celebration of Bangladeshi creativity.

Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has reduced gold prices in the domestic market, cutting the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 3,266 per bhori to Tk 228,031. The new prices took effect from 10am Tuesday. BAJUS said the adjustment followed a fall in the price of pure (tejabi) gold in the local market. The decision was taken at a meeting of the association's Standing Committee on Pricing and Price Monitoring. Under the revised rates, 21-carat gold will sell at Tk 217,767 per bhori, down Tk 3,149. The price of 18-carat gold has been cut by Tk 2,683 to Tk 187,032, while gold of the traditional method will cost Tk 152,798 per bhori, down Tk 2,158. BAJUS last raised gold prices on October 9, when the price of 22-carat gold went up by Tk 2,216 to Tk 231,297 per bhori. The latest reduction comes just four days later. In that earlier adjustment, 21-carat gold was priced at Tk 220,916 per bhori, 18-carat at Tk 189,715, and traditional-method gold at Tk 154,956. BAJUS has also lowered silver ornament prices. A bhori of 22-carat silver will now cost Tk 4,199, down Tk 117. The price of 21-carat silver has been cut by Tk 175 to Tk 4,966 per bhori, and 18-carat silver by Tk 117 to Tk 3,441. Silver of the traditional method is now Tk 2,624 per bhori, down Tk 59.

A seminar titled “Smart Investing: Investor Awareness, Market Integrity and Fraud Prevention” was held on Sunday at the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market (BICM) multipurpose hall in observance of World Investor Week 2026. Jointly organized by BICM and the Bangladesh Academy for Securities Markets (BASM), the event was designed in alignment with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) World Investor Week theme focusing on investor resilience, digital fraud, and fraud awareness under the global slogan "Invest in your future, secure it today." BICM Associate Professor Faisal Ahmed Khan presented the keynote paper at the seminar. The event was presided over by BICM Executive President Wajid Hasan Shah, while BASM Director General Kamrul Anam Khan and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Executive Director Mohammad Shafiul Azam attended as special guests. Addressing the seminar, BASM Director General Kamrul Anam Khan urged investors to make well-considered, independent investment decisions. "You must review your own accounts and make informed choices. Following others blindly will only lead to losses; the money is yours, and so must be the investment decision," he noted. BSEC Executive Director Mohammad Shafiul Azam emphasized that market stakeholders must act as vigilant gatekeepers to safeguard investors. Stating that fraudulent activities must be halted immediately upon detection, he noted that suppressing market fraud is essential to protecting investor interests. In his presidential address, BICM Executive President Wajid Hasan Shah observed that a large section of participants in the local share market tend to chase quick, short-term profits. He stressed that the capital market is fundamentally a platform for long-term investments in sound companies, which yields superior returns over time. The seminar was also attended by BICM Director (Administration and Finance) Nazmuch Salekin, alongside faculty members, officials, and invited guests from both institutions, according to a press release.  

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed National Bank PLC to ensure adequate cash supply across all its branches and ATM booths starting October 15, 2026, enabling depositors to withdraw funds according to their demand. The directive was issued on Thursday during a meeting between Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman, National Bank PLC Chairman Prof. Dr. Melita Mehjabeen, and Acting Managing Director Jahidul Haq at the central bank headquarters. Bangladesh Bank Spokesperson Arif Hussain Khan told UNB that the Governor emphasised the cash withdrawal of depositors as per their requirements. “If the National Bank faces any difficulties including cash shortage, the central bank will stand beside the bank,” he added. According to a press release issued by the central bank, Governor Mostaqur Rahman said National Bank's recent liquidity situation and customer withdrawal demands have come to the central bank's attention.  He instructed the bank's management to take all necessary measures to protect depositors' interests, maintain public trust in the banking system, and ensure orderly banking operations. During the meeting, National Bank Chairman Prof. Dr. Melita Mehjabeen informed the Governor that recent interventions and measures taken by the central bank have helped re-establish good governance in the financial institution.  She added that positive changes have been made in senior management to boost the bank's overall operational efficiency and performance. Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governors Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Dr. Md. Kabir Ahammad, Md. Sarwar Hossain, and Md. Anisur Rahman were also present at the meeting.

The point-to-point inflation rose to 8.34 percent in September 2026 from 8.26 percent in August, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Wednesday. However, the rate was slightly lower than the 8.36 percent recorded in September last year. Food inflation increased to 7.22 percent in September from 7.02 percent in August, while non-food inflation edged down to 9.30 percent from 9.32 percent. In September 2025, food and non-food inflation stood at 7.64 percent and 8.98 percent respectively. At the rural level, general inflation rose to 8.38 percent in September from 8.31 percent in August, but remained below the 8.47 percent recorded a year earlier. Rural food inflation increased to 7.18 percent in September from 7.01 percent in August, while non-food inflation fell slightly to 9.57 percent from 9.59 percent. In September 2025, rural food and non-food inflation were 7.54 percent and 9.40 percent respectively. In urban areas, general inflation increased to 8.26 percent in September from 8.20 percent in August, while it was 8.28 percent in September last year. Urban food inflation rose to 7.25 percent in September from 7.04 percent in August. Non-food inflation, however, declined to 8.94 percent from 8.97 percent. The corresponding rates in September 2025 were 7.94 percent for food and 8.51 percent for non-food items.  

Global efforts to curb tax avoidance by multinational corporations are fundamentally altering the strategies countries use to attract foreign investment, moving the focus away from traditional tax havens toward broader economic fundamentals, according to a report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In an analytical insight following its latest (October 2026) global outlook, the IMF highlighted that international tax reforms, including the implementation of the global minimum corporate tax framework, are significantly diminishing the efficacy of low-tax regimes as a primary tool for courting global business. It noted that for decades, several jurisdictions relied on ultra-low corporate tax rates and preferential tax incentives to attract multinational enterprises. However, as international rules tighten to prevent profit shifting and base erosion, governments are increasingly forced to re-evaluate their investment promotion strategies, the organisation said. Instead of competing in a "race to the bottom" on corporate tax rates, countries are now shifting their focus toward non-tax competitive advantages, it said. These include strengthening physical and digital infrastructure, building a highly skilled labor force, ensuring regulatory predictability, and improving the overall ease of doing business. The Washington-based lender pointed out that this structural shift offers both opportunities and challenges, particularly for developing and emerging economies. While the erosion of tax-based competition levels the playing field, countries with severe infrastructure deficits or weak governance may face greater pressure to accelerate structural reforms to remain attractive to foreign direct investment (FDI). The IMF urged policymakers globally to adapt to this changing landscape by aligning domestic tax administration with international standards while simultaneously prioritizing investments in productivity-enhancing public assets, human capital, and transparent legal frameworks to secure sustainable long-term economic growth.

Around 60 university students and aspiring entrepreneurs took part in a daylong programme at Dhaka International University (DIU) on Tuesday, learning how to test business ideas and understand the policy and regulatory factors that can affect their ventures. The Campus Incubation Bootcamp and Smart Policy Reform Lab, organised by Preneur Lab Youth & Innovation Trust with support from Atlas Network, was held as part of StartKoro Season 5. The programme focused on helping participants identify problems worth solving and test whether potential customers need their proposed solutions, according to a press release. Mentors Alamin Pranto, director of Start2Scaleup, and M. Ashraful Tanvir, head of operations and administration at Preneur Lab, led the sessions, while university faculty members joined as guest speakers. Participants worked through ideation, market research, customer needs, product validation and the development of a minimum viable product (MVP). In the Smart Policy Reform Lab, they discussed the policy and regulatory environment for young businesses and put forward recommendations on issues that could affect startups and small businesses. StartKoro aims to support young people from the idea stage through validation and development of a first product to establishing a running business capable of creating employment. The fifth season has so far engaged more than 365 entrepreneurs, who have launched more than 60 new businesses, while Preneur Lab estimates that around 200 new jobs have been created. The organisers said entrepreneurship training alone may not be enough if licensing, taxation and access to finance create barriers for young businesses. Across five Smart Policy Reform Labs, participants have submitted more than 260 recommendations, which will be synthesised into policy research focusing on business registration, licence validity and SME finance. In July, the programme launched the StartKoro AI Hub, an AI-powered platform providing guidance on business registration, licences, taxation and business planning in the Bangladeshi context. By September, 100 entrepreneurs had accessed the platform. The organisers plan to expand the incubation programme from five cities to 10 and publish the policy research. The initiative aims to contribute to a startup ecosystem that is less concentrated in Dhaka and encourage young entrepreneurs to view policy engagement as part of running a business.

Digital banking services, including card transactions, ATM withdrawals, POS payments, e-commerce, QR code payments, and National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) transfers, across 19 banks are facing temporary disruptions due to scheduled system upgrades and maintenance. According to notices issued by the banks, the disruption stems from system migration under the Q-Cash network, which runs from 9:00 PM on October 4 until 12:00 PM on October 10. The affected financial institutions are Bank Asia, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Janata Bank, Bengal Commercial Bank, Community Bank, Jamuna Bank, Midland Bank, Meghna Bank, Mercantile Bank, Modhumoti Bank, National Bank, NRBC Bank, NCC Bank, Rupali Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Shimanto Bank, Social Islami Bank, Trust Bank, and Uttara Bank. While the service outages vary by institution—ranging from a few hours to several days—the simultaneous timing of maintenance across 19 banks has drawn widespread consumer concern, particularly over potential difficulties in obtaining cash during emergencies or completing online and card transactions. Addressing customer concerns, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan stated that banks routinely perform technical maintenance and system enhancements after notifying the central bank. "Each bank made its decision independently, but coincidentally, 19 banks fell into the same timeline for system upgrades," Khan said, adding that central bank officials discussed the matter with the institutions to ensure advance notices and SMS alerts were issued to clients. The banks assured customers that all affected services will be restored gradually upon completion of system migration and maintenance tasks, while expressing regret for the temporary inconvenience. Branch-based counter services will remain subject to individual bank guidelines.

Terming trust as the true foundation of capital markets, Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Investment and Capital Market, on Monday emphasized that consistent implementation of financial standards and uncompromised professional integrity are essential to win investor confidence and attract sustainable global capital. “Financial reporting, accounting, auditing, corporate governance, and risk management may appear technical, but their true foundation is trust,” Ghani said while addressing as the Chief Guest at a high-level national conference in the capital. “Investors rely on the integrity and accuracy of financial information when making decisions. If that trust is broken, investors lose money, and confidence in the entire capital market suffers,” he warned. The conference, titled “Building Investor Confidence: The Role of Professional Bodies in Audit, Reporting, Governance and Risk Management,” was organized jointly by five major accounting and secretarial bodies—ICAB, ICMAB, ICSB, IIAB, and ACCA—at the CA Bhaban in Kawran Bazar to mark the 10th Annual World Investor Week (WIW) 2026, spearheaded globally by IOSCO from October 5 to 11. Ghani noted that while Bangladesh possesses the requisite institutional framework, the main hurdle lies in execution. “The challenge is not merely adopting global standards, but implementing them consistently and effectively. We must ensure comparable companies are assessed under comparable standards and strengthen professional integrity through self-discipline, accountability, and ethical conduct.” Speaking as the Special Guest, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan underlined the need to establish reasonable audit fees to ensure quality. He announced that once BSEC establishes proper audit fee benchmarks, it will roll out stringent regulations to enforce high-quality audits compliant with the IFAC Code of Ethics. Highlighting the prolonged drought of initial public offerings (IPOs) since March 2024, ICMAB Council Member Arif Khan FCMA presented a keynote paper titled “Rebuilding Corporate Confidence in Getting Listed,” citing low valuations, sluggish approval procedures, and policy uncertainty as major barriers. Drawing lessons from India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, he called for market-driven pricing, predictable regulations, and faster clearance to revitalize IPO activity in Bangladesh. ICAB Vice President Asifur Rahman FCA presented another paper on investor resilience, emphasizing ICAB's Document Verification System (DVS) and strategic ties with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Bank, and RJSC to eliminate fake financial statements. Chaired and moderated by ICAB President Sabbir Ahmed FCA, the event also featured ICMAB President Kausar Alam FCMA, ACCA Country Manager Prawma Khan FCCA, IIAB President M. Nurul Alam FCS, and ICSB President Mohammad Shahajahan FCS as panelists.