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
Fu-wang Foods (DSE-listed, Z category, 992 employees) lays off factory for 6 months citing gas pressure near zero and rising raw material costs. First listed company lay-off amid gas crisis. Energy crisis costs industry Tk 2,387cr daily.
📊 Economy & Finance
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent $2.148B in 22 days of August, 25.6% YoY increase. July-August total $5.006B, 19.5% growth. $117M in 3 days (Aug 20-22). Formal banking channels strengthening.
📊 Economy & Finance
IOM Bangladesh Chief Laura Tomm Bonde says investing remittances in SMEs creates jobs, strengthens economy. Migration linked to 25% of workforce. Poverty rate would be 10% higher without overseas employment. Debate for Democracy event.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh targets 34.5% investment-GDP ratio for FY27, up from 27.93%. Economists call it over-ambitious. 5-year framework targets 8.5% GDP growth by 2031. CPD Prof Mustafizur Rahman says target impossible. Energy crisis cited.
📊 Economy & Finance
World Bank Group studying feasibility of Mortgage Refinance Company (MRC) in Bangladesh. BSEC Chairman Masud Khan chaired 19 Aug meeting. Aim: deepen primary mortgage market, mobilise capital market funding for affordable housing.
📊 Economy & Finance
Islamic banks remittance receipts fell 27% YoY to $448M in June 2026, share down to 16% from 22% YoY. Conventional banks rose 7.25% to $2.37B. BB report: "unstable situation in Islamic banking sector." Middle East crisis factor.
📊 Economy & Finance
Oil hits 3-week high: Brent $91.47 (+0.49%), WTI $85.39 (+0.53%). Strait of Hormuz uncertainty persists as Trump says waterway open, Iran says shut. Ceasefire expired 18 Aug. 1/5 of global oil+LNG transits Hormuz. Bangladesh exposed.
📊 Economy & Finance
Khatunganj wholesale sugar price rises Tk 200/maund (Tk 3,600 to Tk 3,800) in 2 weeks. Gas and power shortages cut local production. S Alam shutdowns tighten supply. Traders fear further increases. International booking rates unchanged.
📊 Economy & Finance
GED plan targets USD 4,591 per capita income and 8.5% GDP growth by FY2031. Current income USD 2,958. Three-phase transformation plan. Inflation target 5% by 2031. Banking sector reform plan included.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh spent Tk 47bn (42.73%) of FY27 Tk 110bn LNG subsidy budget in 1.5 months. 9x increase YoY. Spot LNG $22/MMBtu (2x pre-war). Cabinet approved cargo at $23.93/MMBtu. FY26 actual: Tk 166bn vs Tk 60bn budget.
📊 Economy & Finance
Bangladesh Bank and PKSF sign Tk 5,000cr deal to create 200,000 jobs through microenterprise financing. Three components: financial services, business clusters, skills development. Revolving fund model.
📊 Economy & Finance
Over $8 billion of World Bank project aid undisbursed due to procedural delays (11.8 months average), flawed feasibility studies, and project director changes. 15 of 37 projects facing serious implementation challenges. ERD analysis reveals systemic issues.