United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has relaxed the eligibility criteria for commercial banks and financial institutions to participate in Tk 25,000 crore refinance schemes for the Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (CMSME) sector. The move is a direct response to the banking sector's escalating rate of non-performing loans (NPLs). The new directive issued by the SME and Special Programs Department said that banks and financial institutions can now access the fund even if their total classified (defaulted) loans reach up to 20 percent of their portfolio. This is a significant change from the previous condition, which required institutions to maintain a classified loan ratio of less than 10 percent to be eligible for the scheme. The central bank's decision to raise the NPL ceiling comes after the government change last year, which led to the disclosure of a large volume of previously unpublicized defaulted loans across the banking sector. While the NPL limit has been adjusted, other key guidelines of the original circular remain unchanged. The central bank emphasizes the need to prioritize lending to: •Women entrepreneurs •Entrepreneurs with special needs •Entrepreneurs affected by disasters (such as river erosion, cyclones, floods, fire, or pandemics like COVID-19) The distribution limits are also strictly defined as production and service sector at least 70 percent, business and trading sector maximum 30 percent, cottage, micro and small entrepreneurs at least 75 percent, medium entrepreneurs maximum 25 percent. About the Refinance Scheme: The CMSME Term Loan Refinance Scheme was launched by the Bangladesh Bank in July 2022. The fund, established entirely by the central bank, allows banks and financial institutions to borrow money at a 2 percent interest rate. They are then permitted to lend this money to CMSME entrepreneurs at a maximum interest rate of 7 percent. The scheme has an announced duration of three years, but loans to customers can have a term of up to five years, including a grace period. The central bank has also noted that the size of the fund may be increased if necessary.

Trading at both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges began Thursday with a steep fall, as most listed companies saw a decline in their share prices. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the key index DSEX dropped by 57 points, while the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 indices fell by 16 and 22 points, respectively. Out of all traded issues, prices of 298 companies declined, while 40 advanced and 39 remained unchanged. DSE ends 10-day losing streak; turnover dips The DSE recorded transactions worth over Tk 150 crore in the first hour of trading. The downward trend continued at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) as well, where the overall index slid by 93 points. At the CSE, prices of 73 companies fell, while 12 gained and 4 remained unchanged, with total turnover exceeding Tk 5.4 crore in the first half of the session.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a meeting at the organization's (Jamaat's) central office on Wednesday (November 12). The meeting focused on various issues related to Bangladesh's sustainable economy, different financial sectors, the tax system, and the social sector. The discussions also covered key areas crucial for Bangladesh's economic stability and growth, including policies concerning the tax structure and the overall financial health of the nation. The IMF delegation was led by Chris Papageorgiou, the Mission Chief's Advisor for Bangladesh. He was accompanied by Maxim Krasko, IMF Resident Representative in Dhaka, Ivo Krezner, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Tawhid Elahi, Economic Analyst. Representing Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were Mobarak Hossain, Central Executive Council Member, Prominent Academicians Dr. Abdur Rab and Shafiullah.

Bangladesh is set to receive a record $550 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Denmark’s global terminal operator APM Terminals, marking the largest European investment in the country’s history, according to the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA). Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday afternoon, PPPA Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said APM will build a world-class container terminal in Laldia, Chattogram, with an investment equivalent to Tk 6,700 crore. The company will bear the entire project cost. “This is the biggest-ever single investment from Europe in Bangladesh,” Ashik said, adding that APM will sign the agreement next week. A high-level delegation from APM, along with a Danish minister, is scheduled to visit Dhaka to attend the signing ceremony. SoftBank sells Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion to boost investments in OpenAI Upon signing, APM will pay Bangladesh a Tk 250 crore signing bonus, he added. The Laldia terminal, with the motto ‘Not for Sale – For Success and Growth’, will be capable of handling vessels twice the size of those currently entering Chattogram Port. Its minimum annual capacity will be 800,000 containers. The construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029. APM will operate the terminal for 30 years, sharing profits with Bangladesh on a per-container (TEU) basis. After the concession period, the government will review key performance indicators (KPIs) to decide whether to retain the operator or assign it to another entity. The project is expected to create 500–700 jobs locally, with opportunities for Bangladeshis to work at APM’s other global terminals. “APM is not investing purely for commercial purposes; their interest in Bangladesh also stems from a broader social commitment,” Ashik said. Once gets operational, he said, the Laldia Terminal will boost the country’s cargo handling capacity by 40%. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already been provided with a roadmap to prepare for the increased trade flow. To manage higher transport demand, the Roads and Highways Department has prepared a master plan to balance container movement — with 70–80% via road and the rest distributed between river and rail routes. The government is also working to fully activate the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal. Ashik said the landmark European investment has been discussed with political parties, all of whom have responded positively. Once launched, the Laldia Container Terminal will operate 24/7, and Bangladesh’s overall port capacity is expected to grow sixfold within a decade, he added.    

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday (11th November 2025) said that raids on retail and mid-level outlets have limited impact, as the main perpetrators behind market irregularities often escape accountability.  “Our goal is to protect consumers’ interests, not to restrict trade,” he said on Tuesday while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with edible oil delivery order (DO) traders at the commerce ministry. The adviser emphasised that facilitating both domestic and international trade is the ministry’s core function, and it has been working sincerely to achieve that objective. “As consumers ourselves, it’s only natural that my ministry and I will work in favour of consumer welfare,” he said, urging DO traders to cooperate and provide guidance in stabilising the market. Warning that decisive measures will be taken to protect consumer rights, Bashir Uddin said such steps would be taken regardless of who they affect. Read more: Govt working on Tk 100-crore fund to revive jute bags: Adviser Bashir He said the traditional practice of controlling the edible oil market through raids at retail or mid-level shops has proven largely ineffective. “The entire supply chain—from producers or importers to DO traders, wholesalers, and retailers—must come under regulatory oversight,” he said, adding that mill owners, DO traders, or both might be responsible for market instability. “It’s unrealistic to think a small retailer hiding 500 bottles of oil under his counter is causing market chaos. TV channels may show dramatic footage of oil seizures, the public may applaud, but in reality, such drives achieve nothing. The small grocer is blamed while the real manipulators walk free,” the adviser said. Bashir Uddin said the government will make sure no one can destabilise the edible oil market, and vowed to identify and act against the real offenders. At the meeting, DO traders complained about not receiving products on time from mill owners and urged the ministry to resolve the issue. Read more: Vitamin-fortified safe edible oil essential to protect public health: Speakers

bKash has won four awards at the “Bangladesh Fintech Award 2025” for its contribution in ensuring digital financial inclusion and secure transactions through providing innovative technologies and solutions. This year, in the 3rd edition of the award, bKash clinched ‘Winner’ position in two categories - ‘Digital Lending’ and ‘MFS/DFS’. Besides, the Mobile Financial Services (MFS) provider has also received ‘Honourable Mention’ in the ‘Payment’ and ‘Financial Inclusion’ categories. Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (retd), Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash received the awards on behalf of the company. Senior officials of bKash were also present at the event. The ceremony, organised by the Bangladesh Fintech Forum, took place at a hotel in the capital, celebrating organisations that exemplify innovation, impact and leadership in the fintech industry. bKash’s initiatives ‘The bKash Impact’ and ‘Pay Later’ won the Fintech Innovation of the Year awards respectively in MFS/DFS and Digital Lending categories. bKash users can win foreign trips, enjoy up to Tk 4,000 offers on travel payments Moreover, the ‘Pay Later’ service in Financial Inclusion category and ‘bKash Merchant App’ in Payment category received Honourable Mentions. This year’s event, supported by Mastercard and Prime Bank, honoured 14 winners and 12 Honourable Mentions across various categories.

Consumers in Bangladesh may face another rise in edible oil prices, as the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) has recommended an increase of Tk 9.27 per litre for soybean oil. In a notification on Monday, the BTTC said the proposed hike is driven by higher average Letter of Credit (LC) values, increased in-bond and ex-bond costs and a rising US dollar exchange rate. The commission said the last price adjustment meeting on July 27 had set the price of bottled soybean oil at Tk 189 per litre, effective from August 3. However, subsequent volatility in international markets and a stronger dollar have significantly raised import costs. International Market Influence In the beginning of November, the international price of soybean oil reached $1,062 per ton, while palm oil hit $1,037 per ton, prompting the need for a fresh domestic price adjustment. Proposed New Price Based on the BTTC’s proposal, which uses a dollar exchange rate of Tk 122.60, the maximum retail price (MRP) for bottled soybean oil is recommended to rise from Tk 189 to Tk 198.27 per litre. The commission also suggested increasing the price of open (non-bottled) soybean oil by Tk 8.85, bringing it to Tk 177.85 per litre. According to data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), bottled soybean oil prices in the country have already risen around 14 percent over the past year.

The government may consider compensating small investors affected by the proposed merger of five troubled Islamic banks, Bangladesh Bank said on Monday. Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank, acknowledged the concerns of retail investors and indicated that a humanitarian approach could be taken to address their losses. “If small, affected investors approach the government with an application, there is an expectation that the government may address their situation according to its capacity,” Arif told reporters at the Central Bank headquarters in Motijheel. He said the anxieties relate to investors holding shares in the affected banks through the stock market and suggested decision-makers involved in the consolidation might consider a solution beyond conventional accounting procedures. The proposed merger aims to consolidate five struggling banks into a single Islamic banking entity. Arif outlined the multi-stage regulatory process underway, clarifying that it formally began in March when the government submitted a letter of interest to Bangladesh Bank, which has since granted its consent. He stressed that the establishment of the new entity will depend on strict adherence to legal procedures, including company formation and banking authorisation.

The government may permit onion imports if prices in the local market fail to ease within this week, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said on Sunday, citing concerns over a possible supply shortage. “If prices don’t come down, we’ll allow imports — the ministry has already received 2,800 applications,” he told reporters at a briefing at the Commerce Ministry. Responding to a question about possible market manipulation or syndication behind the sudden spike, the adviser said, “Show us where the syndicate is …we’ll take action with full authority.” He said market monitoring is ongoing, with the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection and the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission continuing their surveillance. “It’s not that anything has happened to justify a Tk 40–50 per kg increase within a week,” Bashir Uddin said, adding that allowing imports now could adversely affect the overall market economy. “New onions are expected to arrive in the market within two weeks.” Commenting on recent soybean purchase deals by several companies with the United States, the adviser said private importers found the US market more competitive than Brazil, prompting them to buy from there. When asked whether the US soybean purchases would impact edible oil prices, he clarified that the contracts mainly involve soybean seeds, which yield about 25% oil, with the rest used for animal feed. “The focus here is more on feed than oil,” he added. Meanwhile, onion prices have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, surging from Tk 60–70 per kg to Tk 110–120 in retail markets.

Attorney General (AG) Md Asaduzzaman on Saturday urged Bangladesh’s political parties to make a firm public commitment to enact a strong and effective anti-discrimination act, saying such a commitment should be a prerequisite to gaining public confidence and votes. Speaking as chief guest at a civic dialogue on the necessity of the law, the country’s top legal officer cautioned that a weak or ambiguous legal framework would fail to ensure genuine justice and redress. “Political parties will not get our votes unless they commit to formulating this Act,” Asaduzzaman declared. “We need a strong Act, as a vague one cannot provide remedy. We must compel the Law Commission and the Law Ministry to act accordingly.” The Attorney General made the remarks during a high-level civic dialogue held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre. The event, titled ‘Towards a Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act’, was organised by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Citizen’s Initiative (Nagorik Uddyog), with support from the UNDP and the Swiss Embassy. The discussion brought together a diverse group of political leaders, legal experts and rights advocates, including Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, BLAST Executive Director Barrister Sara Hossain, who presented the keynote paper, and economist Dr SR Osmani. Echoing the Attorney General’s call, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convener of the Citizen’s Platform, warned that delaying an effective law would weaken the very foundations of democracy. He stressed that an anti-discrimination law is a ‘pressing necessity’ in three critical areas: ensuring fair justice by protecting citizens’ right to seek redress; fostering free and inclusive elections and enabling meaningful reforms grounded in universal human rights. Debapriya also cautioned against ‘selective advocacy’, urging that the movement must address all forms of discrimination to restore universality in rights protection. Speakers noted that despite constitutional guarantees against discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth (Article 28[1]), many marginalised communities, including Dalits, Hijra (gender-diverse) people, Indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, and Urdu-speaking communities,  continue to face systemic exclusion and social barriers.