United News of Bangladesh

Stocks ended the week on a sharp downturn on Thursday as key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) fell significantly, with the majority of listed companies witnessing price declines. The market opened on a negative note at the DSE and failed to recover throughout the session. At the close, the benchmark DSEX index dropped 82 points. The Shariah-based DSES index lost 13 points while the blue-chip DS30 index declined 33 points. Most of the listed securities ended lower: prices fell for 308 companies, while 52 advanced and 33 remained unchanged. Turnover also declined, with shares and units worth Tk 459 crore traded during the session, down from Tk 582 crore in the previous trading day. In the block market, shares of 34 companies worth about Tk 21 crore were traded, with Orion Infusion PLC leading the chart with transactions worth Tk 4.7 crore. Intech Limited topped the gainers’ list on the DSE with a rise of over 4.5 percent, while First Finance Limited was the worst loser, shedding 10 percent. Meanwhile, the CSE also experienced a sharp fall as its benchmark CASPI index dropped 192 points. Out of the traded issues, 126 companies declined, 41 advanced and 14 remained unchanged. However, turnover at the port city bourse increased nearly fivefold to Tk 41 crore, compared to Tk 8 crore in the previous session. IFL Islamic Mutual Fund-1 emerged as the top gainer at the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Takaful Islami Insurance PLC was the worst performer, losing 10 percent.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made it mandatory to use data from the ASYCUDA system while assessing income tax in cases involving importers, aiming to enhance transparency and reduce tax evasion. In a directive issued on March 4, the NBR instructed income tax officials under its Income Tax Wing to collect and use authentic information on imported goods and advance income tax paid at the import stage from the ASYCUDA system’s Business Intelligence (BI) server. According to the order, tax officials will have to rely on this information when selecting cases for audit, reopening tax cases under the Income Tax Act, or correcting erroneous tax assessments. The directive also outlines the procedure for using the BI server of the ASYCUDA system. It states that supervisory range officers will obtain the relevant information from the server and provide it in writing to the concerned circle officers responsible for determining tax. The system will enable officials to verify key import-related information of taxpayers, including the quantity of goods imported, the declared import value and the advance income tax paid at the import stage. NBR officials said the measure is expected to ensure greater accuracy in granting advance income tax credit during tax assessment. Under the new arrangement, commissioners and supervisory range officers will be able to log into the BI server from pre-designated IP-bounded computers. After collecting information from the server, range officers will also have to record the data regularly in a specific register. The revenue authority said the initiative will make it easier to verify import-related tax data during the settlement of income tax cases, helping to ensure a transparent and accurate assessment process.

European shares slipped Thursday despite rebounds in Asia and on Wall Street, as Iran launched new attacks and threatened the U.S. U.S. futures also fell back, with the contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.5%, while that for the S&P 500 shed 0.3%. Uncertainty about the war in the Middle East has been rattling financial markets, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing. “Yesterday’s bounce in risk assets already looks less like a turning point and more like a classic relief rally in a market that briefly inhaled before realizing the room was still on fire,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. Crude prices climbed early Thursday, with Brent, the international standard, gaining 3.2% to $84 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 3.7% to $77.37 per barrel. The war brought a fresh wave of attacks by Iran on Israeli and American bases. Iran warned the United States would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and a religious leader called for “Trump’s blood,” while Israel said it had begun a “large-scale” attack on Tehran. In Germany, the DAX lost 0.5% to 24,087.63, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.6% to 8,118.25. Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.2% lower, to 10,547.82. In Asian trading, South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier, jumping 9.6% to 5,583.90. It had gained as much as 12% earlier in the day as investors hunted bargains, triggering temporary trading halts. The government announced emergency measures for the economy after the benchmark fell by the most ever in a single day on Wednesday. President Lee Jae Myung urged officials to activate an emergency financial package worth 100 trillion won ($68.5 billion) aimed at calming market volatility. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gave back some early gains, closing 1.9% higher at 55,278.06. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng climbed 0.3% to 25,321.34 after Chinese Premier Li Qiang opened the annual session of the National People's Congress with a report that set the annual target for economic growth this year at 4.5% to 5%. A draft budget put the increase in military spending at 7%, down from 7.2% in recent years. The government pledged to support the sluggish domestic economy and spur more consumer spending, but did not announce any major new stimulus. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.6% to 4,108.57. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to 8,940.30, while New Zealand's benchmark rose 0.6%. Taiwan's main share index gained 2.6%. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks got a boost as oil prices steadied, albeit temporarily. A report that said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since the summer of 2022 also helped. The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, erasing much of its losses since the war with Iran began. The Dow industrials added 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. Another report suggested U.S. private sector employers stepped up hiring last month, a potentially hopeful signal for a more comprehensive U.S. government Friday about the overall job market. Investors are worried over how long the war with Iran could last, how high inflation may go because of more expensive oil and how much damage that might do to corporate profits. Wall Street also got a lift from Big Tech stocks as Amazon rose 3.9% and Nvidia added 1.7%. Because they’re among the biggest stocks in the U.S. market in terms of total value, their movements carry more weight on the S&P 500. Wednesday’s strong reports on the economy were welcome news for the Federal Reserve, whose job it is to keep the U.S. job market healthy and inflation low. The Fed’s job has become more difficult because of the jump in oil prices, which is pushing upward on already high inflation. In other dealings early Thursday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.22 Japanese yen from 157.07 yen. The euro fell to $1.1596 from $1.1636. The dollar has advanced against other currencies partly because the U.S. is viewed as facing less risk from the war than other countries, analysts said. “When the world becomes less certain, capital gravitates toward the deepest pool of liquidity available,” Innes said, adding that the dollar “remains the market's preferred storm shelter.”

Stocks ended lower on both bourses on Wednesday, reversing early gains, while overall turnover declined significantly on the day. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index shed 2 points at the close. The Shariah-based DSES remained unchanged, while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 4 points. Despite the marginal fall in indices, most listed companies posted gains. Of the traded issues, 227 advanced, 112 declined and 54 remained unchanged. DSE gains in first half as CSE slips despite broader price rise Turnover at the DSE fell sharply to over Tk 580 crore, down from Tk 885 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 28 crore from 36 companies were traded. Orion Infusion PLC led the segment with nearly Tk 14 crore in transactions. Among the day’s top performers, Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa Limited gained nearly 7 percent to top the advancers’ chart, while GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) PLC plunged around 10 percent to emerge as the worst loser on the DSE. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed in the red, with its broad index CASPI losing 68 points. Most issues on the CSE declined, as 96 companies saw price erosion against 58 gainers, while 16 remained unchanged. Turnover at the port city bourse dropped nearly threefold to Tk 8 crore, compared to Tk 23 crore in the previous session. Zahintex Industries Limited rose 10 percent to lead the gainers at the CSE, while Hakkani Pulp & Paper Mills PLC fell nearly 10 percent to bottom the losers’ list.

Trading on Bangladesh’s bourses showed a mixed trend in the first half on Wednesday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) posting gains while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed a decline in its key index. During the first half of the fourth trading day of the week, the DSE’s benchmark index DSEX advanced by 47 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index gained 11 points. Most listed companies saw price appreciation at the DSE, with 325 issues advancing, 29 declining and 38 remaining unchanged. Turnover at the DSE stood at around Tk 330 crore in the first half of trading. Meanwhile, the CSE experienced a fall in its overall index. The CASPI lost 46 points in the first half. Despite the index decline, the majority of companies registered gains at the CSE, as 51 issues advanced against 48 decliners, while 18 remained unchanged. Turnover at the CSE amounted to Tk 4 crore during the period.

After several rounds of rises, gold prices in Bangladesh fell on Wednesday, with the rate of 22-carat gold dropping by Tk 9,214 per bhori. The new rate sets the price of 22-carat gold at Tk 268,214 per bhori (11.664 grams), according to a statement issued in the morning by the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS). BAJUS said the decision was taken considering the overall market situation particularly a decline in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) in the local market. The revised rates have come into effect immediately. Under the new pricing structure, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 256,025 per bhori while 18-carat gold is priced at Tk 219,258 per bhori. The price of traditional-method gold has been set at Tk 179,159 per bhori. The last adjustment was made on March 3, when BAJUS increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 3,324 per bhori to Tk 277,428. So far in 2026, gold prices have been adjusted 37 times in the domestic market, with rates increased 24 times and reduced 13 times. Alongside gold, silver prices have also been reduced. The price of 22-carat silver has been cut by Tk 641 per bhori to Tk 6,532. The price of 21-carat silver now stands at Tk 6,240 per bhori, 18-carat silver at Tk 5,365 per bhori, and traditional-method silver at Tk 4,024 per bhori. In 2026, silver prices have been adjusted 22 times so far, including 14 increases and eight reductions.

Global gas and oil prices surged while stock markets across the world fell sharply as the Middle East conflict intensified, raising concerns about its duration and economic impact. In the UK, gas prices hit their highest level in three years on Tuesday after significant gains on Monday, while Brent crude briefly exceeded $85 a barrel, a level last seen in July 2024. Major stock indexes in the US, Europe, and Asia also suffered losses. Investors are assessing the economic consequences of the Israel and US airstrikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory measures, including potential effects on inflation and interest rates. Analysts fear that disruption in this critical energy and shipping region could mirror the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, which drove up global energy costs, reports BBC. The UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility warned in its latest fiscal outlook that the conflict could severely affect both global and UK economies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, after meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, also expressed concern over possible economic damage, urging a swift end to the hostilities. By Tuesday’s close, London’s FTSE 100 fell 2.75%, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 dropped 3.44% and 3.46% respectively. In the US, the S&P 500 opened sharply lower but ended down 0.9%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei fell 3.3%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite declined, and South Korea’s Kospi fell over 7% following Monday’s holiday closure. UK gas prices rose above 165p per therm, a level last seen a year after the Ukraine war began, and closed at 138p, over 20% higher than Monday. Prices have doubled since the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran. The spike followed QatarEnergy halting production after “military attacks” on its facilities, later suspending output of aluminium, methanol, and urea used in fertilizers. Higher gas prices may increase household energy bills in the UK, though the impact is capped until July. Oil prices rose moderately, as crude can be sourced more flexibly, but higher fuel costs could still push up transport, food, and overall inflation, influencing central bank decisions on interest rates. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil and gas, has largely stopped after attacks on vessels. Ebrahim Jabbari, adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, warned ships against entering the region. Supertanker freight rates from the Middle East to China hit a record $400,000 per day, nearly double last week’s rate. Logistics experts say insurance risks and carrier hesitancy have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, likely driving global shipping rates higher. UK consumers may face increased fuel prices if crude remains elevated, according to Alasdair Locke, chairman of Motor Fuel Group.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has welcomed the government’s decision to release Tk 2,500 crore against outstanding cash incentives for the export-oriented ready-made garment (RMG) and related sectors. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan expressed deep gratitude and sincere thanks to the top levels of the government, including the Finance Minister, Commerce Minister, and the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, describing the move as a "critical and timely intervention" during the current crisis in the apparel industry. BGMEA pushes for quick release of Tk 5,700cr RMG incentives President Hasan noted that the fund allocation brings significant relief to factory owners who are facing immense pressure to clear workers' wages, allowances, and bonuses ahead of the upcoming Holy Eid-ul-Fitr, alongside settled utility bills for electricity and gas. The current BGMEA board recently held several rounds of productive discussions and meetings with high-level government officials, the Ministry of Finance, and Bangladesh Bank to secure the release of these stuck cash incentives. Following these efforts, the Tk 2,500 crore fund was approved within a very short timeframe. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the total allocation was granted in two phases under the first part of the third installment for the 2025-26 fiscal year: Tk 1,500 crore in the first phase and Tk 1,000 crore in the second. The BGMEA has urged its member factories to contact their respective banks to take the necessary steps to process the funds.

Bangladesh has sufficient fuel stock and there is no risk of supply disruption or price hike despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman said on Tuesday. “We have already opened letters of credit (LCs) for 15 consignments for March. For April, another 15 consignments have been scheduled, of which payment for seven has already been completed. So there is no reason for any fuel shortage in the country,” he told reporters at the BPC office in Karwan Bazar. The BPC Chairman said the country currently has fuel reserves sufficient for several days, including diesel for 14 days, octane for 28 days, petrol for 15 days, furnace oil for 93 days and jet fuel for 55 days. Iran death toll hits 787 as Israeli, US strikes intensify Responding to a question about possible supply chain disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East, the BPC chairman said a crude oil consignment was loaded on March 1 and is scheduled to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. “It will start its journey once the situation remains normal. Another consignment will be loaded on March 22. Suppliers have informed us that supply will remain uninterrupted for now,” he said. Rezanur said BPC is also exploring alternative sourcing options in view of the evolving situation. UNGA Presidency: UK to give due consideration to Bangladesh’s candidature If necessary, additional refined fuel will be imported, he added. The government last adjusted fuel prices on March 1, keeping retail prices unchanged for March. Diesel remains at Tk 100 per litre, octane at Tk 120, petrol at Tk 116 and kerosene at Tk 112 per litre.

Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday instructed commercial banks to offer special term loans to export-oriented industries to ensure timely payment of workers’ wages for February 2026. The central bank issued a circular citing both global and domestic economic pressures that have strained liquidity and production capacity in the country’s export sector. According to Banking Regulation and Policy Department (BRPD) of Bangladesh Bank, the initiative aims to maintain production momentum and support export growth despite falling orders and delayed shipments. Under the directive, banks can provide term loans to “active” export-oriented units beyond their existing working capital limits. The loan amount cannot exceed the average of the last three months’ wages and allowances paid by the respective factory. Loans will carry prevailing market-based interest rates, with no additional fees, profit charges, or commissions. Repayment must be made in equal monthly or quarterly installments within a maximum of one year including a three-month grace period. Bangladesh Bank defined “export-oriented” industries as those exporting at least 80 percent of their total production. To be considered “active,” an industry must have regularly paid workers’ salaries from November 2025 to January 2026. Eligibility must be certified by trade bodies such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) or the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). To ensure transparency and prevent fund diversion, the circular mandates that the loan amount be credited directly to the bank or Mobile Financial Service (MFS) accounts of the workers, with no cash disbursement through factory management.