According to BIDA, Bangladesh received $756 million in net foreign direct investment (FDI) between October last year and March this year. During this period, BIDA registered 739 industrial projects, including 66 wholly foreign-owned and 61 joint ventures. Additionally, BEZA signed land lease agreements with 16 firms—6 of which are fully foreign-owned and 3 joint ventures. This report comes amid recent claims from some industry players that no investment had arrived in the past eight months.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for expedited development of Matarbari’s infrastructure to transform the coastal region into a leading production and export-oriented free trade zone. “Our vision is to make Matarbari a central hub for ports, logistics, manufacturing, and energy,” he said. He emphasized the need to attract large-scale foreign investment to meet this goal and disclosed plans to establish a second exclusive Japanese economic zone in the Matarbari Integrated Development Initiative (MIDI) area.

Speaking at a seminar, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Economic Adviser to the government, affirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability in financial services. He emphasized that sustainable development rests on three pillars: accountability, transparency, and ethical governance. “These are not abstract concepts, but practical necessities,” he stated. He noted that monitoring, auditing, and implementation practices help turn policy documents into real, tangible benefits for the people.

Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has called for abandoning unnecessary and overly expensive development projects in favor of initiatives that directly benefit the public. He emphasized the need for ethical, transparent, and need-based development planning, noting that unqualified contractors often receive projects without delivering expected outcomes. He stressed the importance of thorough audits and feasibility assessments to ensure meaningful progress in the country's socio-economic landscape.

The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources reported a 21% increase in gas supply to industrial sectors in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2024. The ministry further stated that an additional 150 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied daily starting May 28. Petrobangla has also taken note of misleading statements by some industrial associations regarding gas supply, asserting that the government remains committed to improving industrial energy provisions.

The Government of Bangladesh has signed a $270 million loan agreement with the World Bank to support the “B-Strong” initiative aimed at post-flood recovery. The funds will be used to repair damaged roads, embankments, and provide rehabilitation aid to affected communities following last year’s devastating floods. The loan includes a 5-year grace period and is repayable over 30 years. It carries a 0.75% annual service charge and 1.25% interest rate, with a 0.5% maximum commitment fee on undisbursed funds.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is set to host a joint investment and trade summit with China on June 1. BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury confirmed that 250 Chinese investors and business leaders—representing around 100 companies including 6–7 from the Fortune 500 list—will attend. Delegates will also include top representatives from four Chinese Chambers of Commerce. The Chinese delegation will be led by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. A similar international investment summit was held in Dhaka in April.

Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder stated that the integration of digital technologies in land services has significantly improved user satisfaction. “This digital transformation is essential,” he said, emphasizing the need for intensive training in survey and settlement operations at the early stages.

He revealed that the government is now earning an average daily revenue of Tk 10–12 crore through online land services. Services like land registration, land development tax, and record issuance have been fully digitized and made cashless, he added.

Chaired by the Chief Adviser, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved nine development projects, including a major upgrade of the grid power evacuation system. The total estimated cost for these projects is BDT 11,851 crore. Of this, BDT 8,046 crore will come from government funds, BDT 2,988 crore from foreign aid, and BDT 816 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has announced that newly printed currency notes will be introduced ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The new notes will feature historic landmarks of Bangladesh, with no portraits of individuals. Printing of the new Tk 20 note is nearly complete and is expected to be handed over to Bangladesh Bank next week. Printing of Tk 50 and Tk 1,000 denominations will follow shortly. The central bank will decide on the official release date. Dr. Mansur also addressed efforts to repatriate laundered money, stating that international pressure following media reports has led to the freezing of illicit funds, marking a significant first step in the recovery process.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a circular announcing an increase in the daily wage for temporary laborers working in government offices. Effective July 1, the maximum daily wage will rise to Tk 800, up from the previous range of Tk 575–600.

In Dhaka and Chattogram City Corporation areas, workers will now earn Tk 800 daily—an increase from the earlier Tk 600 for skilled workers and Tk 575 for unskilled labor. In divisional capitals and other city corporations, the new wage has been set at Tk 750, up from Tk 550–600. For district and sub-district levels, the wage for unskilled laborers will now be Tk 700, compared to the earlier rates of Tk 500–550.

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Economic Adviser to the government, has expressed concern over increasing public criticism. "Many call us incompetent—that’s fine. Criticism is a part of democracy. But such statements damage our image internationally and create negative impressions," he said.

He added, "There’s been talk of various tax exemptions. Once the budget is released, we’ll face tough questions. It’s not easy to determine what’s socially or publicly acceptable. Still, the IMF couldn’t impose everything they wanted—we’ve reached a workable solution."

Banking expert Masrur Arefin noted, "While there haven’t been major breakthroughs in the past nine months, we’ve succeeded in stopping widespread irregularities and money laundering in the banking sector. That itself is a significant achievement. However, political uncertainty is again on the rise."

According to Indian media, the Government of Bangladesh has cancelled a ₹180 crore contract with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), a defense ministry-owned enterprise based in Kolkata. The cancellation reportedly follows India’s recent restriction on transporting Bangladeshi goods, including garments, through its land ports. In response, Bangladesh has decided to revoke the order for tugboats that were intended for its Navy.

The UK’s National Crime Agency has ordered the seizure of two properties belonging to Ahmed Shayan, son of Bangladeshi MP and business magnate Salman F Rahman. One is a luxury apartment at 17 Grosvenor Square, purchased for £6.5 million in 2010. The other is a property in Gresham Gardens, North London, bought for £1.2 million in 2011. According to UK electoral data, Sheikh Rehana once resided at the Gresham Gardens property, though her current residency status is unclear.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur stated that the country’s foreign exchange reserves are projected to reach between $27 billion and $30 billion by the end of June. The target for the next fiscal year is to boost reserves to $40 billion. “Microloans cannot be sustained with a 26% interest rate,” he warned. According to central bank data, as of May 19, the country’s total reserves stood at $25.44 billion.