Breaking news, industry insights, policy updates, and market intelligence on Bangladesh's export economy — RMG, pharmaceuticals, leather, jute, agriculture, and emerging sectors. Curated for trade professionals, exporters, buyers, and policymakers.
📊 Economy & Finance
A CPD study reveals that supply shortages, trader collusion, and hoarding are the most frequent causes of high food prices in Bangladesh. Price spreads exceed 100% for potatoes, brinjal, and green chilli, hitting low-income households hardest.
📊 Economy & Finance
A World Bank report reveals that extreme heat costs Bangladesh an estimated $1.3-1.8 billion annually, wiping out 465,000 full-time jobs in Dhaka. The RMG sector faces a $65.8 billion export earnings threat by 2030 if heat stress goes unaddressed.
📊 Economy & Finance
S&P Global has revised its long-term outlook on Bangladesh to negative from stable, citing persistent weakness in the domestic banking sector, fiscal constraints, and elevated risks from volatile global energy markets. The agency projected annual GDP growth to average 4.5 percent over the next three years, well below the government's recent growth targets.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh is likely to announce the 9th national pay scale only after IMF loan negotiations conclude in October. The IMF has advised a two-year deferral, citing weak revenue mobilisation and fiscal pressures. The National Pay Commission had recommended 100-140% salary increases.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh left Tk 1.08 trillion of ADP funds unspent in 11 months of FY2025-26, with execution rate falling to 48% from 92.74% in FY2022. GDP growth contracted to 2.22% in Q3 FY2026 as industrial output turned negative, according to Planning Commission and BBS data.
📊 Economy & Finance
Anis Ahmed, founder and Group CEO of Singapore-based MGH Group operating in 26 countries, has been elected Chairman of Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) effective July 27, 2026. He previously served on EBL's Executive Committee and as Chairman of its Risk Management Committee.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh Bank loans tied up under court stay orders jumped eightfold to Tk 182,419 crore by end-2025, with the number of cases rising from 226 to 845 in three years. Bankers and CPD warn of strategic defaulters exploiting legal loopholes to block recovery.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh received $2.437 billion in workers' remittances in the first 26 days of July 2026, registering 26.1% year-on-year growth, Bangladesh Bank data shows. Expatriates sent $138 million on July 26 alone, supporting forex reserves and external sector stability.
📊 Economy & Finance
Experts at an MCCI-PEB roundtable warned that 75-80% of Bangladesh bank lending flows to corporates, leaving SMEs underserved. BRAC Bank's Syed Abdul Momen cited data showing unsecured SME loans (2% NPL) outperform collateral-backed loans (7% NPL), challenging collateral-focused lending culture.
📊 Economy & Finance
Dhaka Bank PLC has signed a credit guarantee agreement with PKSF under the ADB-supported Credit Enhancement Scheme. The partnership will enable Tk 2,800 crore in guaranteed loans to marginal, cottage, and micro enterprises across Bangladesh in FY2026-27.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh Bank reports full-fledged Islamic banks NPL ratio surged to 58.4% in March 2026 from 29.2% a year earlier, while fourth-generation banks hit 52.2%. ADRs of 120.3% for Islamic banks and 101.6% for 4th-gen banks raise systemic risk warnings.
📊 Economy & Finance
Southeast Bank sponsor Rehana Kashem has announced plans to sell 10 lakh shares of the bank, according to a disclosure filed with the stock exchanges.