United News of Bangladesh

Prominent economist and Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh Masrur Riaz on Monday said the ongoing global trade war has created new opportunities for Bangladesh as American imports are shifting away from China. “Amid this situation, Bangladesh, as a non-aligned or openly non-political country, can become a promising destination,” he said. Masrur was addressing a seminar titled ‘Bangladesh's Actions in the Context of Trade War and the Role of FBCCI’, organised by Bangladesh Business Forum (BBF) at a city hotel on Monday. He stressed the need for improving competitiveness, trade facilitation, product diversification and governance to capitalise on such opportunities. Speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC) Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman underscored the importance of identifying new growth drivers to keep the economy on track in the wake of the recent political change. He called for recognising harassment in business activities as a ‘state malady’, much like corruption is indexed globally. “While the readymade garment (RMG) sector exists, new sectors must be explored,” he said, pointing to pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT and leather as potential areas. Business leaders at the programme, however, criticised the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), saying the apex trade body has failed to play any effective role while the business community continues to face problems, including the energy crisis.

Former directors of Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) on Monday voiced strong opposition to the government’s plan to merge five private banks into a state-owned Islamic bank. At a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club, they rejected the central bank’s initiative, terming it ‘unjust’ and ‘unacceptable’.  “If SIBL needs money to run the bank, Bangladesh Bank should provide it and we return it later through business. There is no justification for taking it over,” said former SIBL director Dr Md Jahangir. Former chairman Dr Major (retd) M Rezaul Haque alleged that the bank had earlier been ‘seized at gunpoint’ and now the authorities were trying to bring it under state ownership again. “What is our fault? No one has the right to take away our bank. We have already filed a writ petition with the court, and the government must wait for its disposal,” he said. Former chairman Sultan Mahmood Chowdhury argued that businesspeople were best suited to run banks. “We are businessmen. If we cannot manage this bank, how can others? This is our asset. Can the government just take away someone’s house or property?” he asked. Asaduzzaman, another former director, said, “We built this bank with great efforts, bringing in money from expatriates. Why should it now be nationalised?” The central bank has already moved forward with a plan to merge five struggling Shariah-based banks, Social Islami, EXIM, First Security Islami, Union and Global Islami, into a single large Islamic bank. The government has given its consent to the initiative.  

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has once again raised gold prices, setting a new record in the country’s history. The price of 22-carat gold has been increased by Tk 2,718 per bhori, taking it to Tk 181,550, according to a BAJUS press release issued on Sunday night. The new rate will come into effect from Monday (Sept 8). BAJUS attributed the latest hike to an increase in the price of pure gold in the local market. As per the revised rates, 21-carat gold will now cost Tk 173,304 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 148,541 and traditional gold Tk 123,067 per bhori (11.664 grams). Read more: Gold Investment in Bangladesh in 2025: Safe Haven or Risky Bet? Buyers will also have to pay an additional 5% VAT set by the government, along with a minimum 6% making charge fixed by BAJUS. The making charge may vary depending on design and quality, it added. Earlier, on September 3, BAJUS raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 3,044 per bhori to Tk 178,832 — which was then the highest in the country’s history.

Bangladesh Bank, in a directive, asked all scheduled banks and financial institutions to submit their annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budgets by February every year. Chowdhury Liaquat Ali, Director of the Sustainable Finance Department (SFD) of the central bank, issued a notice in this regard on Sunday (Sep 7) and sent it to the top executives of the banks for immediate execution. The notification also stated that these institutions have to submit their CSR budget, along with a board memorandum, by the end of February each year. The submission must also include information on the previous year's net profit after tax, based on the December-end figures. Bangladesh Bank has taken this measure is intended to ensure the proper use of CSR funds, as per the established policy guidelines, said in the directive. The circular also states that if the approved CSR budget is later revised, a copy of the revised budget must be submitted along with the semi-annual report.

Bangladesh received US$516 million in inward remittances in the first six days of September. In the first six days of September last year, expatriates sent $556 million in remittances. The remittance flow dropped by 7.1 percent between the periods compared. The expatriates have sent $5.41 billion in remittances from July to September 6 in the current fiscal year 2025-26. In the previous fiscal year, expatriates sent $4.69 billion in remittances in the same period. Accordingly, remittances have grown by 15.4 percent. The expatriates sent a record US$2.48 billion in remittance in July and $2.42 billion in August. Bangladesh’s remittance earnings reached a new high, receiving $30.33 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25. This represents a 27 percent increase from the $23.74 billion received in FY2023-24.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves stood at US$30.3 billion on Sunday after the payment of $1.5 billion in import bills of the last two months—July and August—through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). In May-June 2025, the central bank paid $2.02 billion in ACU bills. After the ACU settlement, the central bank's gross foreign exchange reserves stood at $30.30 billion. In the account of the International Monetary Fund, the forex reserves stood at $25.39 billion. The gross reserve at this time last year was $19.46 billion. ACU is an international transaction settlement system. This system settles transactions between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In the system, the central bank of the respective countries pays their import liabilities every two months.

The country’s two stock exchanges witnessed a rise in the first hour of trading with most company shares advancing. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX gained 4 points in the first hour, while the Shariah-based DSES added 3 points. The blue-chip DS30, however, slipped 2 points. Of the issues traded, 213 advanced, 107 declined and 69 remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 400 crore during the period. Stock indices rise in early trading at DSE, CSE The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also saw a modest rise, with its overall index advancing 3 points. Out of 105 issues traded, prices rose for 51, fell for 45 and remained unchanged for 9. The turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 2 crore in the first hour.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) recorded its highest turnover in a year on Wednesday, surpassing the previous peak seen on August 11, 2024. On the fourth trading day, shares and units worth Tk 1397 crore changed hands on the DSE, the highest single-day turnover so far in 2025. Earlier, the highest turnover was Tk 2010 crore recorded on August 11 last year. The DSE’s key index, DSEX, gained 10 points, while the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 indices closed almost flat. Of the 396 companies traded, prices rose for 184 issues, declined for 165, and remained unchanged for 47. Market data showed most ‘A’ category stocks, which generally offer the highest dividends, advanced, while ‘B’ and ‘Z’ category shares saw losses. In the block market, 28 companies traded shares worth Tk40 crore, with Khan Brothers topping the list with Tk 12 crore in transactions. Stock indices rise in early trading at DSE, CSE Intech Limited led the DSE gainers with over 9% rise, while HR Textile declined the most, losing 10%. The upward momentum was mirrored in the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the broad index rose by 78 points. Among the 242 companies traded on the CSE, prices increased for 123, declined for 94, and remained unchanged for 25. The turnover on the CSE stood at Tk21 crore, up from Tk14 crore in the previous session. Intech Limited also topped the CSE gainers with a 10% rise, while Fareast Finance and Investment Ltd slumped 10% to become the worst performer.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange Brokers’ Association of Bangladesh (DBA) has appreciated Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission’s (BSEC’s) decision to directly list 10 multinational companies, including Unilever and Nestlé, in the country’s capital market. DBA President Saiful Islam said the move has instilled confidence among investors and market intermediaries regarding the inclusion of large domestic and foreign companies in the market. “Effective implementation of the commission’s initiative to list domestic and foreign companies in the stock market will increase product availability, meet investor demand, and strengthen our capital market into a more robust and prosperous platform,” Saiful said. For a long time, he said, no high-quality companies have entered the bourse, which has limited meaningful participation from domestic and foreign investors, leaving the market less stable and sustainable. “In the greater interest of the capital market, we have actively engaged with relevant government ministries, BSEC, DSE, and other stakeholders through correspondence, meetings, seminars and dialogue sessions to advocate for listing quality domestic and foreign companies. The benefits of these efforts are now coming to fruition,” Saiful added. The interim government has taken steps to directly list 10 multinational companies, including Unilever, Novartis, Syngenta, and Nestlé Bangladesh, on the stock market. Stock indices rise in early trading at DSE, CSE Last month the Ministry of Finance sent letters to the Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce, and the Power and Energy Division to take the necessary measures for implementation. Sector analysts said the entry of multinational companies into the capital market is expected to have a positive impact on investment and the economy. It could also reduce government reliance on debt while improving overall market valuation, they said.

Bangladesh Bank has bought a total of $995 million from commercial banks over the past one and a half months through eight dollar auctions, as part of its efforts to stabilise the exchange rate and support remittance and export flows. Bangladesh Bank has purchased $47.5 million from eight commercial banks through a multiple price auction, reinforcing its intervention in the foreign exchange market to stabilise the taka and support remittance and export inflows. The auction was held on Tuesday, when the central bank bought the greenback at rates ranging between Tk121.70 and Tk121.75, with the cut-off set at Tk121.75, said Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan. With this, the central bank’s total dollar purchase from commercial banks over the past one and a half months has reached $995 million through eight auctions. Bangladesh Bank launched the auction mechanism on July 13, when it bought $171 million at Tk121.50. This was followed by $313 million on July 15 at the same rate. Bangladesh Bank buys $83 million from 11 banks to keep dollar stable at Tk 121.50 On July 23, the central bank bought another $10 million at a higher cut-off of Tk121.95. It purchased $45 million more on August 7 at Tk121.35-121.50, and $83 million on August 10 at Tk121.47-121.50. Continuing its intervention, the central bank on August 28 bought $149.5 million at a cut-off of Tk121.70. According to the latest data, Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $31.39 billion in gross terms and $26.40 billion under the BPM6 accounting method as of September 2. Officials said the central bank’s dollar purchases are aimed at containing volatility in the forex market while ensuring adequate liquidity for banks handling remittance and export settlements.