A severe shortage of LPG cylinders has hit Nilphamari district and its upazilas, with allegations that certain dealers and distributors have created an artificial crisis by ignoring government-set prices. Despite the official price for a 12-kg cylinder being set at Tk 1,306 for January, consumers report paying between Tk 1,800 and Tk 2,100. Many households, hotels, and small businesses have been forced to halt cooking and operations due to the scarcity.

Retailers claim they are unable to obtain sufficient supply from dealers even when offering higher prices. Some dealers are reportedly selling limited quantities without receipts and at inflated rates. Consumers and traders allege that the crisis intensified after rumors of a price hike spread, leading to hoarding and speculative selling. A distributor representative, however, attributed the higher prices to transport costs and denied wrongdoing.

Experts and consumers have urged immediate administrative action against hoarding, overpricing, and unrecorded sales, warning that the artificial shortage could worsen if enforcement delays continue.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated that there is no possibility of announcing a new pay scale before the upcoming national election. Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in a local hotel in Barishal on Thursday afternoon, he said the current interim government will not make any final decision on the matter, which he described as reasonable.

Dr. Mansur explained that the interim government might prepare a framework, but its implementation will depend entirely on the next elected government. With the election only a month away, he noted that the government’s focus is now centered on election-related activities. He expressed confidence that the next government will be able to take a comprehensive decision after reviewing previous work.

During the same event, the governor discussed the benefits of digital transactions, suggesting that mandatory QR codes for new trade licenses could boost cashless payments. He also described the country’s import policy as complex and said inefficiency among officials often delays imports, leading to price increases in the market.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company on Friday reported that a distribution pipeline under the Turag River in Dhaka’s Aminbazar area was damaged after being struck by the anchor of a cargo trawler. The incident caused extremely low gas pressure across the capital, disrupting supply in multiple neighborhoods.

According to the company, although the damaged pipeline has been repaired, water entered the line during the repair process. Combined with an overall shortage in gas supply to the city, this led to widespread low pressure in various parts of Dhaka. Titas Gas stated that technical and operational measures are ongoing to restore normal supply levels.

The company expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to customers and assured that efforts to resolve the issue are continuing.

Industrial Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan expressed optimism that the next elected government will take necessary initiatives to establish new industrial factories aimed at national industrial development and job creation. He made the remarks on Friday while visiting the Chhatak Cement Company Limited in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj district.

During the visit, the adviser said that the company’s production activities would soon resume through conversion from the existing wet process to a dry process. The visit was attended by senior officials including Local Government Secretary Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, BCIC Chairman Md. Fazlur Rahman, LGED Chief Engineer Kazi Golam Mostafa, and Chhatak Cement Company Managing Director Md. Abdur Rahman.

BCIC Chairman Md. Fazlur Rahman stated that production at the mill would start soon and that BCIC was actively working toward that goal.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have declined following payment to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). On Thursday, the central bank paid $1.53 billion from reserves to settle ACU bills for November and December, reducing the total reserves to $32.43 billion. Under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM-6 calculation method, reserves now stand at $27.84 billion. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, total reserves were $33.78 billion on January 7, while the BPM-6 adjusted figure was $29.18 billion. The ACU is a regional settlement system among nine Asian central banks, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Through this mechanism, import and export payments among member countries are settled every two months.

The latest payment marks a continued decline in reserves, reflecting the country’s periodic obligations under the ACU settlement system.

A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has hit Chattogram city over the past two weeks, leaving households and businesses struggling to find 12-kg cylinders. Despite the government-fixed price of Tk 1,253, consumers report being unable to purchase cylinders even at Tk 2,000. Visits to Bahaddarhat, Chawk Bazar, and New Market areas revealed that both retail and wholesale outlets are facing acute supply shortages, forcing many families to seek alternative fuels such as kerosene.

Traders attribute the crisis to a roughly 40 percent drop in LPG imports in December, reportedly caused by U.S. sanctions that disrupted shipping and by major importers temporarily halting operations. The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) said companies like Bengal, Bashundhara, and United suspended imports, while banking complications prevented others from opening letters of credit. Some unscrupulous sellers are allegedly exploiting the situation by charging Tk 500–800 above the official price.

LOAB President Amirul Haque expressed optimism that government approval for new imports will normalize supply within 10–15 days. However, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused importers and distributors of creating artificial shortages for profit, urging immediate government intervention.

Bangladesh and Germany have signed a grant agreement worth €21.77 million to support five projects proposed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The signing took place between Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on behalf of Bangladesh, and Heinrich-Jürgen Schilling, Country Director of GIZ Dhaka Office, representing Germany, according to an ERD press release issued on Thursday.

The projects include Policy Advisory for Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (PAP 2), Strengthening Urban Integration Capacities of Internally Displaced Persons and Supporting Host Communities (INTEGRATE), Professional Education in Industrial and Environmental Safety (PRECISE), Green Room Air-Conditioning (GRSCE), and Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S). These initiatives will be implemented by relevant ministries between 2023 and 2029, focusing on energy transition, climate resilience, vocational education, and digital skills development.

Germany has been a long-term development partner of Bangladesh since 1972, with total financial and technical commitments of about €4 billion. Currently, GIZ is supporting 18 ongoing projects in Bangladesh with a total grant assistance of €100.72 million.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased 206 million US dollars through multiple auctions from 15 commercial banks as part of its ongoing strategy to prevent the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar and to support the recovery of remittance and export sectors. The central bank confirmed that the purchase took place on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at an exchange rate of 122.30 taka per dollar.

According to official data, Bangladesh Bank has bought a total of 617 million US dollars in January 2026 alone. Since the beginning of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the cumulative purchase has reached 3,752.50 million US dollars. The move is part of the central bank’s broader effort to manage foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic currency amid ongoing economic adjustments.

The continued dollar purchases indicate Bangladesh Bank’s active intervention in the currency market to maintain exchange rate stability and support key economic sectors linked to foreign currency inflows.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, announced on January 4, 2026, and published on its official website on January 5, 2026. The authority will appoint a total of 67,208 qualified and experienced male and female candidates to one permanent job category for teacher positions. Online applications will open on January 10, 2026, and close at 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2026.

Applicants must fill out the online form by providing educational certificates, national ID information, a color photograph, and a signature image. The maximum age limit for general candidates is 35 years as of June 4, 2025, and the application fee is set at 1,000 taka. The positions are categorized as permanent government jobs under the NTRCA.

The recruitment process aims to fill a large number of teaching positions across non-government educational institutions, with the online application period providing a short window for interested candidates to complete their submissions.

Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) have accused a business syndicate of turning public suffering into profit amid a prolonged gas supply crisis. Speaking at a protest rally on Thursday in front of the Titas Gas office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, CPB leaders demanded immediate resolution of gas shortages and an end to what they described as chaos in the gas cylinder market. CPB President Sajjad Zahir Chandan said gas supply disruptions across Dhaka and other regions have severely disrupted daily life, while the interim government has failed to address the issue.

Former CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince alleged that the syndicate deliberately restricts gas supply to profit from importing and selling gas at higher prices. He also called for increased domestic production of LPG cylinders. Following the rally, a CPB delegation submitted a memorandum to the Titas Gas Managing Director, outlining seven demands including uninterrupted 24-hour gas supply, cancellation of monthly bills during supply outages, and breaking the syndicate to reduce cylinder prices.

The protest was chaired by CPB Dhaka North President Hasan Hafizur Rahman Sohel and attended by several central and student leaders.

A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has gripped Fatullah in Narayanganj, where consumers are unable to buy 12-kilogram cylinders even at double the government-fixed price of 1,306 taka. The crisis, ongoing for about 15 days, has forced many residents to search for firewood as an alternative fuel source. Retail shops have run out of stock, and those with limited supply are reportedly charging arbitrary prices.

Local residents and business owners expressed frustration over the situation, saying the artificial shortage and price hikes have worsened their daily lives and business operations. Some reported that LPG cylinders are available only on the black market, where prices range from 2,200 to 2,500 taka per cylinder, delivered by rickshaw. Retail sellers said they too face supply shortages and cannot meet customer demand.

Residents have urged the authorities to take immediate action to restore normal LPG supply and control illegal trading practices that have intensified the crisis.

Bangladesh Bank has instructed all banks to ensure that remittances sent by expatriate Bangladeshis are deposited into recipients’ accounts on the same day or the next working day. The directive, issued through a circular on Thursday, gives banks until March to fully implement the system. Authorized dealer banks must notify customers electronically as soon as remittance messages are received. Remittances received during banking hours must be credited the same day, while those received afterward must be credited the next working day.

According to the circular, the move aims to reduce delays and improve efficiency in cross-border payment processing. The central bank emphasized the use of secure electronic communication to inform customers promptly. The instruction is part of ongoing efforts to streamline remittance management and enhance the reliability of financial transactions for expatriate workers and their families.

The directive is expected to strengthen confidence in formal remittance channels and support faster fund availability for recipients across Bangladesh.

Gold prices in the international market declined on Thursday, with spot gold falling 0.4 percent to 4,435.62 dollars per ounce, according to a Reuters report. U.S. gold futures for February delivery also dropped by the same margin to 4,444.40 dollars per ounce. The current price marks a decrease of about 110 dollars from the record high of 4,549.71 dollars per ounce reached on December 29.

The report attributes the decline to a stronger U.S. dollar and increased profit-taking by investors, which have limited the upward momentum of gold prices. Alongside gold, silver prices also fell sharply, with spot silver dropping 2.6 percent to 76.08 dollars per ounce, down from its all-time high of 83.62 dollars per ounce recorded on December 29.

HSBC projected that silver prices in 2026 could range between 58 and 88 dollars per ounce, driven by investment demand and high gold prices, though the bank also warned of potential sharp declines later in the year.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) traders in Bangladesh have withdrawn their strike following a meeting with Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed. The announcement came after discussions held at the BERC office on Thursday, leading to the immediate resumption of LPG sales across the country.

According to Gas Traders Cooperative Association President Selim Khan, the strike was linked to demands that consumer rights raids on LPG shops be halted. Traders also urged authorities to fix the retail price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder at 1,500 taka. The strike had been declared on Wednesday night in response to nationwide raids and fines, with traders threatening to suspend LPG supply from all company plants until their demands were met.

In the broader context, the government has initiated steps to revise VAT and tax structures on imported and locally produced LPG amid rising shortages and price instability. Efforts are also underway to ease bank loan and letter of credit procedures for LPG imports.

In early December, Turkey’s state-run company Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) signed five agreements with Pakistan to explore oil and gas in the country’s maritime zones of the Indian Ocean. The deals, valued at over 300 million US dollars, cover three offshore blocks in Pakistan’s international waters and two onshore coastal blocks. While the agreements drew limited global media attention, they mark a significant step for both nations in expanding energy and strategic cooperation.

The partnership reflects Turkey’s effort to diversify its energy exploration map and Pakistan’s attempt to revive its long-neglected deep-sea mineral exploration. TPAO plans to deploy seismic fleets in Pakistan’s waters and open a permanent office in Islamabad, forming a consortium with state-owned Pakistani energy firms. The move comes ahead of Pakistan’s 2025 offshore bidding round, one of its most important exploration initiatives in two decades.

Beyond energy, the cooperation extends to defense, mining, and drone manufacturing, signaling a broader strategic alignment. The collaboration positions both countries to strengthen economic and security ties while expanding Turkey’s geopolitical presence in the Indian Ocean.