France has finalized the sale of its remaining gold holdings stored at the U.S. Federal Reserve, completing a long-term initiative to repatriate and modernize its gold reserves. The Banque de France earned nearly 13 billion euros, or about $15 billion, after upgrading 129 tonnes of gold between July 2025 and January 2026 and replacing them with new, compliant bars now stored in Paris. The central bank stated that the move was a practical financial decision, not a political one.

By consolidating its reserves in Paris and adopting modern-standard bars, France has made its gold easier to manage and trade internationally. The transaction, which represented about 5 percent of France’s total 2,437-tonne reserve, took advantage of high gold prices and favorable market conditions. Instead of refining and transporting the old bars, the bank purchased equivalent new gold in Europe, maintaining the overall reserve size.

According to Reuters, the Banque de France reported 11 billion euros in exceptional foreign exchange income in 2025, with total gains reaching nearly 13 billion euros after 2026 transactions. The bank plans to upgrade an additional 134 tonnes of gold to international standards by 2028.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has connected its ASYCUDA World customs system with Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Transaction Management System (FXTMS) to enable real-time online verification of bank invoices. The integration was formally inaugurated by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday. According to NBR, customs officials will now be able to verify commercial invoices digitally without requiring hard copies.

Before this integration, banks had to submit certified commercial invoice hard copies to customs offices. Now, all invoice data will automatically transfer from the central bank’s FXTMS to the ASYCUDA system in real time. NBR stated that once the process is fully implemented, commercial invoices will be mandatorily attached to bills of entry. The initiative, jointly implemented by NBR and Bangladesh Bank with support from all commercial banks, marks a major step toward a paperless customs system.

The new connection is expected to reduce paperwork, curb revenue evasion, simplify and speed up import-export clearance, limit trade-based money laundering, and create a reliable database for product valuation.

City Bank has received approval to raise Tk 1,200 crore through a bond issuance with a seven-year tenure. The approval was granted at a regular meeting of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) chaired by Khandaker Rashed Maksud. According to a press release signed by BSEC Director and Spokesperson Abul Kalam, the bond will be offered through private placement to institutional investors, banks, corporate entities, individual investors, and mutual funds. Each bond unit will have a face value of Tk 10 lakh and will be listed on the Alternative Trading Board (ATB) of the stock exchange.

The bond will be unsecured, non-convertible, fully redeemable, and carry an interest rate equal to the average of the upper limit of six-month fixed deposit rates plus an additional 3 percent. Shariah-based, foreign, and post-2012 approved banks will be excluded from the average rate calculation. It will be a subordinated bond, meaning other creditors will be paid before bondholders in case of bankruptcy.

Funds raised will be used by City Bank to provide loans in corporate, retail, and SME sectors. EBL Investments will act as trustee, while City Bank Capital Resources and IDLC Investments will serve as arrangers.

Syed Moin Uddin Ahmed has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier. The appointment was announced on Tuesday through a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The position had remained vacant for several years before this appointment.

According to the circular, Ahmed’s appointment is on a one-year contractual basis, effective from his joining date. He must resign from any other professional, business, or institutional affiliations, whether governmental, semi-governmental, or private, as a condition of his appointment.

Officials believe that filling this long-vacant DMD position will help accelerate the administrative operations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has called for ensuring full independence and protection for Shariah boards in all Islamic banks. Speaking at a recent exchange meeting at the central bank’s headquarters, he emphasized that no obstacles should hinder the boards’ activities and that the central bank will guarantee their security. The meeting, organized by the Islamic Banking Regulation and Policy Department, brought together top Shariah scholars, advisory board members, and senior officials to discuss the current state, challenges, and future direction of Islamic banking.

The governor noted that past money laundering incidents in the Islamic banking sector were partly due to inadequate oversight. He stressed that empowering Shariah boards and prioritizing their guidance would help restore effective supervision and prevent political influence in banking operations. Participants at the meeting underscored the need to strengthen supervisory committees, secretariats, and audit systems, and to ensure legal independence for these bodies.

Speakers also proposed mandatory Shariah knowledge for bank directors and executives, annual external audits, and the introduction of Shariah compliance ratings to enhance transparency and public trust in the sector.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in jet fuel prices, raising the rate by about 25 taka per liter. The new prices will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, according to an official notification issued the same day. This marks the second price hike in less than two weeks, following a 90-taka increase on March 24.

Under the new pricing, domestic flights will now pay 227.08 taka per liter, up from 202.29 taka. For international flights, the price has been raised from 1.3216 dollars to 1.4806 dollars per liter, compared to the previous rate of 0.7384 dollars. BERC stated that the adjustment was made to align with current market conditions, import costs, and trends in the global energy market.

The commission confirmed that the revised rates will remain in effect until further notice, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance domestic pricing with international fuel market fluctuations.

Watermelon farmers in Feni are facing severe financial losses due to off-season rain, a fuel shortage affecting transport, and a sharp fall in market prices. Despite an increase in cultivation this season, yields have dropped, leaving many farmers unable to recover their investments. In Sonagazi’s Dakshin Char Chandina, ten farmers invested Tk 11.6 million across 90 acres, but a lack of wholesale buyers has left their harvests rotting in the fields. Farmers are now feeding unsold watermelons to livestock as their produce spoils.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, watermelon cultivation in Feni rose from 774 hectares last year to 1,299 hectares this year, with Sonagazi alone exceeding its target. Last season’s sales reached Tk 1.5 billion, and expectations were high for Tk 2.5 billion this year. However, rain damage, transport costs inflated by the global fuel crisis, and virus outbreaks have dashed those hopes. Farmers report earning less than one-third of their production costs.

Local officials acknowledged the crisis, citing fuel shortages and weather disruptions as key factors. Authorities said they would assist with transport fuel if formally requested, while affected farmers are urging both government and private support to recover from the losses.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced that electric school buses can now be imported without any customs duty. NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said the decision is part of the government’s broader plan to reduce fuel consumption in public transport. He made the announcement on Tuesday during a pre-budget meeting with several transport sector organizations in Agargaon, Dhaka. An official order (SRO) will be issued soon to implement the exemption.

According to the NBR chairman, the government aims to lower fuel use in the transport sector, starting with vehicles used for students. The duty waiver for electric school buses will take effect before the upcoming national budget, as the government does not want to delay the initiative. He also mentioned that the upcoming budget will include several changes related to the electric vehicle sector.

The move signals an early step toward promoting electric mobility in Bangladesh’s transport system, with immediate implementation expected once the SRO is issued.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman stated on Tuesday that Bangladesh’s fuel situation is not in a critical state, despite some supply challenges. Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat’s PID conference room, he said that while there are concerns about shortages of petrol and octane, the overall supply has only slightly declined compared to last year. Diesel supply fell from 396,098 metric tons in March 2025 to 363,512 metric tons in March 2026, while octane supply rose slightly to 37,439 metric tons. Petrol supply decreased from 46,371 to 39,998 metric tons.

Dr. Rahman attributed the current situation partly to panic buying and illegal hoarding, noting that some individuals may be stockpiling fuel for resale or smuggling. He reported that 74 operations were conducted in April against illegal fuel storage, resulting in 114 cases and fines totaling 313,000 taka. As of April 6, national reserves stood at 114,122 metric tons of diesel, 10,151 metric tons of octane, and 13,805 metric tons of petrol.

He added that the government continues to bear heavy subsidies in the energy and power sectors, with outstanding dues exceeding 45,000 crore taka, keeping the situation under financial pressure.

Workers of Nasa Group staged a protest on Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026, blocking the Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad area in Cumilla. They erected barricades on both sides of the highway, halting vehicle movement and causing a traffic jam stretching about 10 kilometers. The demonstration was organized to demand payment of long-overdue wages.

Protesting workers said they have been struggling to survive without salaries for a long time and accused the company of attempting to shut down operations illegally. One worker, Taslima Akter, stated that they would continue the blockade throughout the day if their demands were not met. A traveler named Ariful Islam, who was heading from Feni to Dhaka, expressed frustration over the sudden road closure and questioned the need to block a national highway for wage demands.

Cumilla Sadar South Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Mostafa said that if the workers did not clear the highway soon, authorities would take necessary action to restore traffic flow.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, told the National Parliament on April 7, 2026, that there is a regular system for adjusting fuel prices, which is reviewed every month. He stated that Bangladesh is currently the only country where fuel prices have been kept unchanged.

The minister said the government is sourcing fuel from all possible channels to maintain stable supply. He added that operations against illegal hoarding and black market activities will continue to ensure market discipline. Presenting data to Parliament, he reported that the country currently holds 164,944 metric tons of diesel in reserve.

He further informed that by the end of April, Bangladesh will import an additional 138,000 tons of diesel, 71,443 tons of octane, and 36,000 tons of petrol to strengthen supply security.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education seeking approval for festival allowances for 390,239 teachers and employees working in non-government educational institutions under the MPO scheme. The proposal was sent to the ministry’s budget branch on Monday, and the allowance will be disbursed upon official approval.

According to DSHE, the proposal covers 302,693 teachers and staff from schools and 87,546 from colleges. The process will follow the existing system used for monthly salary and allowance disbursement, where institutions submit online requests, which are then verified by DSHE and coordinated with the Ministry of Finance for fund release.

Education sector stakeholders believe that if approved, the move will fulfill a long-standing demand and enhance the festive spirit among teachers and staff during the celebration period.

Two ships carrying a total of about 51,000 tons of fuel are scheduled to reach Bangladesh waters on Wednesday under the supervision of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). According to BPC officials, one vessel named MT Central Star, flying the Marshall Islands flag, is bringing around 26,000 tons of refined octane, while another vessel, MT Eastern Queens, is carrying 25,000 metric tons of furnace oil. Both ships are expected to take one to two additional days to reach the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port.

BPC’s public relations officer Farzin Hasan Moumita confirmed the arrival schedule. Officials said unloading operations will begin promptly once the ships dock at the jetty. Despite ongoing global conflict affecting supply chains, BPC continues efforts to maintain steady fuel imports and distribution across the country.

The timely arrival of these shipments is expected to support Bangladesh’s domestic fuel supply and help stabilize the energy distribution system amid challenging international conditions.

Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the country’s top 20 loan defaulters in the National Parliament on Monday. The report showed that 11 of these companies belong to the controversial S Alam Group. Two companies each from Beximco Group, owned by Salman F Rahman, and Sikder Group, owned by Ron and Rick Haque Sikder, were also listed. The minister did not disclose the total amount of defaulted loans for these entities.

The report noted that S Alam Group had taken loans totaling Tk 225,000 crore during the previous Awami League government, causing significant losses to several Islamic banks. These struggling banks were later merged into a new entity, Sammilit Islami Bank, with government and depositor contributions. The finance minister also stated that as of December, total defaulted loans in Bangladesh stood at Tk 544,831.88 crore.

The government has initiated measures to recover defaulted loans, including monitoring progress on top defaulters, updating banking guidelines, and publishing lists of willful defaulters. The minister emphasized ongoing reforms to stabilize the economy and strengthen financial discipline.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that by the end of September last year, 23 banks in the country faced a combined capital shortfall of Tk 2.82 trillion, up from Tk 1.56 trillion in June. The increase is attributed to a surge in non-performing loans, which reached Tk 6.44 trillion. The report also notes that the banks failed to maintain the required loan-loss provisions, resulting in a provision deficit of Tk 3.44 trillion and pushing the sector’s capital adequacy ratio (CRAR) to a negative 2.90 percent, below the international minimum of 10 percent.

Among the affected institutions, four state-owned banks accounted for Tk 37,698 crore of the deficit, nine private banks for Tk 36,607 crore, eight Islamic banks for Tk 175,822 crore, and two specialized banks for Tk 32,477 crore. The largest individual shortfall was recorded at First Security Islami Bank with Tk 65,090 crore. Bangladesh Bank’s assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui explained that rising defaults have increased provisioning needs, while limited profits have prevented banks from meeting those requirements.

The report indicates that banks outside these 23 institutions remain adequately capitalized, suggesting that the broader sector’s stability depends on addressing the weaknesses of the deficit banks.