Farmers harvested a record 1.73 crore tonnes of rice during the last Aman season as they expanded the cultivation of high-yielding and hybrid seed varieties

However, mobile phone ownership recorded a marginal dip

Washington is seeking to move away from unilateral trade preferences and ineffective aid toward a fairer and more reciprocal economic relationship with Dhaka centred on trade, investment and long-term cooperation

The following is a recap of those major stories as covered by Star Business

Per bhori now Tk 228,556

The Custom House, Chattogram, the country’s largest revenue-generating customs station, collected a record Tk 81,471 crore in the fiscal year 2025-26, registering a 12.37 percent year-on-year increase, driven by tighter enforcement, improved customs administration and sustained import activity.

In a major policy shift aimed at rebuilding investor confidence and lowering compliance costs, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan announced that listed companies will no longer be required to submit quarterly financial reports.

Office attendance is not merely a management practice; it is almost a cultural festival.

Rapid spoilage from heat and rain, and a chronic shortage of storage facilities have combined to push farmers in major producing regions of Pabna and Faridpur deep into losses this season, following record yields.

Bangladesh has been ranked the world’s 47th largest enabler of financial secrecy this year, up from 50th last year, reflecting that the country’s authorities have become more complicit in helping people hide their finances from the rule of law.

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has raised its trade finance facility for Bangladesh to $3.3 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 to support imports of fuel oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fertiliser.

A major government ICT infrastructure project has been hit by severe delays and allegations of financial and administrative irregularities, according to a government evaluation report.

Bangladesh is seeking an extension of the preparatory period for its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category to complete key reforms and ensure a smooth transition, rather than delay the graduation itself, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said yesterday.

The policy puzzle is uncomfortable. Bangladesh ended FY2025-26 with a strong export rebound in June, yet the full-year export performance still slipped.

Bangladesh’s exports rebounded sharply in June, but the late surge was not enough to offset weak demand earlier in the year, leaving export earnings for FY2025-26 slightly lower than the previous year.

Rapid spoilage from heat and rain, and a chronic shortage of storage facilities have combined to push farmers in major producing regions of Pabna and Faridpur deep into losses this season, following record yields.

Exports stood at around $48 billion, down by 0.58 percent from the previous year, despite a sharp June increase. This means the rebound came too late to change the annual picture. It may signal some recovery in orders, delayed shipment adjustments, or short-term buyer confidence. But it does not prove that the export sector has regained strength.

The unchanged rates will be effective from July 1, for existing savings certificates

Bangladesh Bank has launched a pilot framework to enable digital processing of trade documents under documentary collections and letters of credit (LCs), aiming to modernise cross-border trade operations.

Bangladesh is set to host its first large-scale discount shopping festival, titled “Dhaka Discount Fest 2026”, bringing together 250 local and international brands under one roof to offer consumers discounts of up to 75 percent.