Bangladesh’s jute millers have warned of a countrywide shutdown from February 1 if the government fails to resolve an acute shortage of raw jute, which they say has already disrupted production and forced several mills to close.

As Bangladesh looks toward its next government, fiscal policy will be central to the economic debate. Rising development needs, climate vulnerability, and higher debt-servicing costs make stronger domestic revenue mobilisation unavoidable. Yet the real question is not whether Bangladesh needs more revenue, but how it can raise it without undermining private investment, growth, and jobs.

The United States may announce a reduction in the reciprocal tariffs imposed on Bangladesh by the end of this week or early next week, Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy on international affairs to the chief adviser, said yesterday.

Banking is no longer limited to brick-and-mortar branches. People are banking remotely using the internet more and more. Of late, mobile applications have come up as a new and inviting option, and a growing number of customers are using apps for banking in Bangladesh.

Spinning mills will remain closed from February 1 if the government does not withdraw the duty-free import of yarn, a move aimed at protecting the local spinning sector.

Six non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) out of 35 are set to be liquidated finally due to poor financial health, after the Bangladesh Bank (BB) board approved the move yesterday.

Sales growth of prescribed medicines has slowed to single digits, ending the double-digit expansion the pharmaceutical market enjoyed for years before the pandemic, as rising production costs and currency depreciation collide with prolonged inflation.

The task force submitted its report to the chief adviser today

The government is planning a general salary increase, which will double the wage bill

The ICT Division, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and Bangladesh Computer Samity are jointly organising the four-day show

The special envoy to the chief adviser briefed the media about Bangladesh’s engagement at the WEF

It will establish a factory to produce bra cups, bra wire, and luggage hardware.

BJMA claimed that a handful of middlemen have stockpiled raw jute in warehouses, creating an artificial crisis in the domestic market

The disclosure comes a week after the ninth National Pay Commission proposed a new salary structure for government employees

Its revenue rose 13 percent year on year to Tk 459.24 crore

The interim government has approved a Tk 100 crore subsidy package for the fisheries and livestock sectors and decided to extend a 20 percent rebate on electricity bills to farmers and hatcheries, aiming to cut production costs and support agro-based industries.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC recently organised its “Annual Business Conference 2026” at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) will push private firms to the capital market to ease the economy’s dependence on the banking sector and reduce non-performing loans (NPL), said the central bank’s governor, Ahsan H Mansur. He also called attention to improving the bond market as a financing source.

In 2026, the message from the Bangladesh Bank is blunt. The year will reward prepared banks and punish complacent ones.

Over the past month, two major developments have stood out in the Asian telecommunications market. Telenor, the Norwegian telecom company, has finalised the sale of its Pakistan operations, nearly two years after announcing its exit, and reached an agreement to sell its stake in Thailand, further shrinking its presence in Asia.