BIDA Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun has announced plans to establish a free trade zone over 400 acres in Anwara Upazila of Chattogram. He described the initiative as a “game-changer” for Bangladesh’s economy. He further revealed a potential $800 million investment in the Chattogram Port Container Terminal. "Our annual FDI barely exceeds $700 million. If a single project can bring in $800 million, it would be a significant boost to our economy," he said. He emphasized Chattogram’s central role in national development, declaring, “Dhaka is our political capital, but Chattogram is destined to become the commercial capital.”

Negotiations between the Bangladesh government and the IMF over loan disbursement have reached an impasse. A key sticking point is the IMF's demand to allow full market-based exchange rate for the Bangladeshi Taka. While Bangladesh has met two other conditions, it insists that full market liberalization is not currently feasible. The IMF has warned that without compliance, the next loan tranche will not be released. Despite increased dollar inflows, Bangladesh values the IMF deal for the signal it sends about economic stability. Both sides continue talks, unwilling to walk away from the agreement.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved nine development projects, including the revitalization of lakes in Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara. The total cost is estimated at Tk 3,756.20 crore, funded by government allocations, foreign aid, and institutional contributions. Other approved projects include the establishment of Rabindra University, internal container and barge terminal at Khanpur, disaster risk management, and irrigation system improvements in Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat.

In a meeting with Canadian trade envoy Paul Thoppil, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called for expanded bilateral economic cooperation and increased investment. Thoppil said, “We believe in Bangladesh’s economic potential. That’s why we’ve brought our business leaders here.” Dr. Yunus emphasized that the current reform phase is like recovering from a 15-year-long earthquake, and international support is crucial for continued progress.

Despite paying $1.883 billion to the Asian Clearing Union for March-April imports, Bangladesh’s actual foreign reserves remain above $20 billion, according to the central bank. Gross reserves stood at $22.06 billion at the start of the day but dropped to $20.18 billion by day’s end. Total gross reserves, by central bank calculation, exceed $25 billion. Notably, reserves peaked at $48.06 billion in August 2022 before plummeting due to capital flight allegedly enabled by the ruling regime.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, during his visit to Dhaka, expressed interest in hiring more Bangladeshi workers and ensuring safe migration. In his meeting with Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Matteo stated that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may visit Bangladesh before September to boost bilateral ties. He praised the Bangladeshi community in Italy and called for more such responsible migrants. Prof. Yunus assured Italy of Bangladesh’s commitment to combat illegal migration and human trafficking through joint efforts.

In April, Bangladesh received $2.75 billion in remittance, the second-highest monthly figure recorded by the Bangladesh Bank. The remittance amounted to approximately BDT 33,574 crore, reflecting a 34.64% increase compared to the previous year. The remittance for the first 10 months of the current fiscal year has increased by 28.30%.

After a meeting with the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Vice President, Salehuddin Ahmed, the Economic Adviser to the government, reported that the ADB is pleased with Bangladesh's economic achievements compared to other countries. The ADB confirmed its support for reforms in the banking sector and National Board of Revenue (NBR), along with providing necessary assistance for the government’s realistic and achievable budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Salehuddin emphasized the importance of reducing expenditures and improving efficiency.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan has announced a tougher stance on individuals who evade taxes, do not file returns, or exploit tax exemptions. He emphasized the need for accountability, revealing that the government loses as much revenue from tax exemptions as it collects annually. NBR data shows a large number of TIN holders fail to submit tax returns, placing an unfair burden on regular taxpayers.

Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, stated that Bangladesh may withdraw from its loan agreement with the IMF if excessive conditions are imposed. Accepting all terms could further weaken the economy. If new conditions are attached to the next tranche of the $4.7 billion loan, Bangladesh will reconsider continuing the agreement.

The Indian government has imposed an immediate ban on all imports, direct or indirect, from Pakistan. Pakistani vessels are also prohibited from docking at Indian ports. A Commerce Ministry notice stated the ban was enacted in the interest of national security and public policy. The Wagah-Attari trade route was shut down after the Pahalgam attack, though limited indirect trade continued until now. The trade volume, however, was minimal.

India has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess its loan support to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan received a critical $7 billion bailout to stabilize its economy. In March, the IMF approved an additional $1.3 billion for climate resilience projects. India has expressed concerns regarding the effective utilization and transparency of these funds.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has stated that the next seven months are critical for the nation’s economic future. “This period could either build Bangladesh or break it,” he wrote. The interim government has adopted an ambitious plan to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port sixfold. Alam stressed that such progress is only possible through partnerships with top global port operators. “If successful, this will send a strong message to international investors that Bangladesh is open for business.” He also noted that the global economic order born out of the Bretton Woods system is fading, suggesting that now might finally be Bangladesh’s time — if politics allows it.

Bangladesh repaid more than $3 billion in foreign debt during the first nine months of the 2024–25 fiscal year, with $2.01 billion in principal and $1.2 billion in interest, according to an ERD report. Total loan inflows during the period were about $4.81 billion, with the largest disbursements from the ADB ($1.22B), World Bank ($1.07B), and Japan ($890M). Meanwhile, the country received fresh aid commitments totaling $3 billion, a sharp drop from $7.24 billion in the same period last year.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves stood at $27.41 billion at the end of April, with the IMF-compliant BPM6 method showing reserves at $22.05 billion. Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Arif Hossain Khan expressed confidence that IMF targets for June will be met. April saw record remittance inflows of $3.29 billion, the highest in the country’s history.