The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has criticized the government for taking what it called a weak step in appointing the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. At a media briefing held on Saturday at the CPD office in Dhanmondi, Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the appointment process lacked transparency and that the state had the opportunity to select a more acceptable candidate. He emphasized that a stronger and more credible procedure should have been followed for such an important position.

Moazzem noted that discussions and criticisms have emerged regarding the current governor’s links to loan defaults and special privileges, suggesting that alternative candidates could have been considered to avoid controversy. He also highlighted the need for a clear qualification framework and a formal vetting process for future appointments. CPD praised former governor Ahsan H. Mansur for his reform efforts despite challenges and suggested that retaining experienced leadership could have been beneficial.

The organization further recommended establishing a legal basis and specific criteria for future appointments, similar to India’s Reserve Bank selection process, and warned against loosening financial market regulations amid existing sectoral weaknesses.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul announced that the Family Card initiative aims to make families economically self-reliant. Speaking at Natore Circuit House on Saturday, February 28, 2026, she said the card will be issued in the name of the senior female member of each family, such as a mother or sister. The project is designed to be universal, with no specific target group, and will gradually include all families.

Sharmin explained that previous welfare cards, including widow, elderly, agricultural, and maternity allowances, faced corruption during distribution. To address this, the government plans to move toward an integrated system that consolidates all benefits into a single card. The Family Card will provide 2,500 taka per family, a higher amount than existing cards.

Initially, the program will prioritize extremely poor, poor, and lower-income families based on a proximity test and scoring system, with eventual expansion to middle- and upper-income groups.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has formally accepted Bangladesh’s request to delay its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by three years and has begun reviewing the proposal. The matter was discussed during the CDP’s five-day meeting in New York, and officials indicated that a final decision could take several weeks. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism subcommittee, confirmed receipt of the government’s letter but clarified that acceptance of the request does not mean approval, as the committee will first assess the justifications provided.

The Economic Relations Division sent the formal application on February 18, citing global and domestic disruptions that hindered preparation for graduation. The letter referenced the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East instability, global financial tightening, and slow trade recovery. Domestically, it mentioned financial irregularities, political changes in July 2024, and pressure from hosting displaced Myanmar nationals, all contributing to economic instability.

According to CDP sources, a preliminary assessment report may be ready within two weeks, with a final recommendation expected by September following approval from the UN General Assembly.

Farmers in Nakla upazila of Sherpur have become distressed due to an artificial shortage of DAP fertilizer and sales at prices higher than the government-fixed rate. Despite normal supply, several BADC and BCIC-approved dealers allegedly bypassed buffer warehouses and unloaded fertilizers directly into their own storage facilities. Reports suggest that some warehouse officials colluded with dealers to reduce transport costs and share profits from the irregularities.

Local sources said that Nakla has 10 BCIC-approved and 70 BADC-approved fertilizer dealers. On Sunday morning, locals and journalists intercepted two dealers storing fertilizers illegally, leading to the seizure of about 49 tons of urea by agricultural officials and police. Farmers complained that DAP fertilizer, officially priced at Tk 1,050, was being sold for Tk 1,400, while other fertilizers were also overpriced. Dealers were accused of creating an artificial shortage to raise prices.

Sherpur’s deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension stated there was no real shortage of DAP fertilizer and that delays in imported fertilizer transport might cause temporary issues. He added that allegations of overpricing were under investigation and action would be taken if proven.

The East India Company, once the foundation of British colonial rule in India, has permanently closed after declaring bankruptcy. The company, which had been revived in London as a luxury goods brand, failed to overcome financial difficulties and ceased operations. Reports indicate that in October 2025, a liquidator was appointed, and the company owed more than £600,000 to its parent entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, along with significant tax and employee liabilities. Its Mayfair store and website have since been closed.

The company, originally founded in 1600 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, had dominated trade across India and Asia before being dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874. Indian entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta had purchased the rights to the company’s name in 2010, relaunching it as a retailer of premium tea, chocolate, and spices. The revival had drawn global attention as a symbolic reversal of colonial history.

The closure marks the end of a modern chapter for a name long associated with both global trade innovation and colonial exploitation.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat announced that the government is committed to ensuring halal animal protein such as meat, milk, and eggs reach people at affordable prices. He made the statement on Friday, February 27, 2026, while inaugurating a distribution program at Dewanganj Kamil Madrasa field in Jamalpur, aimed at supporting low-income families during the holy month of Ramadan.

The minister explained that demand for animal products rises during Ramadan, increasing financial pressure on poor households. To address this, the government has launched the initiative to make these essential items available at fair prices. Temporary sales centers have been set up across the upazila to distribute the products daily within fixed hours.

According to the announcement, the program will continue until the 27th of Ramadan, ensuring that a large number of people can access affordable meat, milk, and eggs throughout the period.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh must increase taxes and boost investment to manage the country’s difficult economic situation. Speaking on Friday afternoon while inspecting land for a government hospital near the Marine Drive area of Patenga in Chattogram, he emphasized that without investment, employment opportunities cannot be created. He said the BNP government’s major program focuses on generating employment and that both domestic and foreign investments are being encouraged.

The minister added that the government is also working to improve education quality and bring major reforms to the health sector, fulfilling promises made before the election. He mentioned that the upcoming budget will prioritize employment creation. Plans include establishing a general hospital with specialized units, a nursing institute, and a technologist institute in the Marine Drive area to address shortages in these sectors.

He further noted that several potential sites are under consideration for the hospital project, and the government will select the most suitable one after evaluating all factors.

Fresh allegations of corruption and nepotism have emerged in the Jet A-1 underground pipeline project in Narayanganj. The project, designed to supply aviation fuel to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, has been linked to companies allegedly influenced by Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, a former security adviser to Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death for genocide. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) initiated the project in 2017 through a contract with the Navy Welfare Foundation Trading Company Limited (NKFTCL), but repeated delays, cost disputes, and contractor changes have plagued its progress.

Initially valued at Tk 183.77 crore, the project faced multiple route changes and cost escalation requests from subcontractors China Machinery Engineering Construction Corporation and Baraka Engineering Limited. After disagreements over revised pricing, NKFTCL attempted to hand over the project to Buildstone Construction Company Limited, allegedly linked to Siddiq, at a higher estimated cost. Following the July revolution, the interim government reassigned the project to Engineering Construction Battalion 24 with a reduced budget of Tk 420 crore.

Energy experts have warned that political interference could jeopardize fuel security. BPC officials expressed concern that ongoing corruption investigations against Siddiq may further delay the project’s completion.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over whether the newly appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank can perform his duties independently and free from conflicts of interest. In a statement issued on Thursday, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman questioned the impartiality of a governor who is a businessman involved in the ready-made garment and housing sectors, and who previously rescheduled loans for his own enterprises. TIB noted that the appointment was made hastily and raised doubts about the governor’s ability to act independently of business lobbies and loan defaulters.

The statement further highlighted that a large portion of parliament members and cabinet ministers are businesspersons, many of whom are loan defaulters. TIB warned that appointing a businessperson with a history of loan rescheduling to lead the central bank could send a negative signal nationally and internationally. The organization also argued that the appointment contradicts the ruling party’s electoral pledge to ensure good governance and transparency in the banking sector.

TIB cautioned that the decision could undermine efforts to restore stability, curb inflation, and strengthen financial discipline, especially at a time when the economy faces significant challenges.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that citizens have been left with a heavy debt burden due to past decisions in the power sector. Speaking on Thursday, February 26, at the ministry’s conference room during the handover ceremony of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) executive committee, he said it is better to endure hardship than to remain trapped in debt.

The minister criticized previous governments for failing to follow earlier policy guidelines that limited private participation in power generation to 35 percent. He noted that private involvement has now reached 82 percent, reducing government control and increasing financial liabilities. He also highlighted inefficiencies such as idle power plants requiring capacity payments and a rise in system loss from 6 percent to 10 percent over 19 years. Each percentage point of system loss equals about 5 million taka in losses.

Tuku said the government aims to reduce system loss to 3 percent, starting with a directive to bring it down to 5 percent. He added that discussions are underway with private power producers to reach a balanced solution without raising electricity prices.

Bangladesh’s domestic debt increased by more than Tk 1.13 trillion during the 14 months of the interim government, according to data from Bangladesh Bank. The total domestic debt stood at Tk 9.24 trillion in July 2024, when the Awami League government was in power, and rose to Tk 10.36 trillion by the end of October 2025. This growth indicates continued borrowing from domestic sources, creating additional pressure on revenue management.

Bangladesh Bank data show that the government borrowed Tk 5.49 trillion from banks and Tk 4.88 trillion from non-bank sources, reflecting a strong reliance on domestic financial institutions. The upward trend in borrowing had already been visible earlier, with domestic debt increasing by about 10 percent year-on-year as of October 2024.

The report suggests that while new borrowing from banks may be slowing, the overall rise in domestic debt continues to strain fiscal stability and highlights the government’s dependence on internal financing channels.

Bangladesh Bank’s newly appointed governor, Mostakur Rahman, announced an 11-point plan on his first day in office aimed at accelerating economic recovery and strengthening growth. The central bank’s spokesperson released the written plan on Thursday, outlining measures to maintain macroeconomic stability while promoting investment-driven expansion to create employment opportunities.

According to the official statement, the interim government had stabilized the economy at a low equilibrium after a fragile period, and the new governor emphasized the need to move toward sustainable, inclusive growth. His plan includes maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring inclusive growth beyond GDP expansion, reopening closed factories and businesses, reconsidering high interest rates, controlling inflation, ensuring good governance in the banking sector, adopting objective-based and rule-based management, delegating authority to speed up operations, coordinating with other government agencies, and protecting the central bank’s reputation.

The announcement marks the governor’s first policy direction since assuming office, signaling a focus on stability, governance, and coordinated economic management.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan announced that newly appointed governor Mustakur Rahman has formally taken charge after stepping away from all business affiliations. The statement came on Thursday, February 26, following a meeting between the new governor and officials from various departments of the central bank.

According to the spokesperson, the governor’s main objective is to create employment opportunities. The meeting focused on high interest rates and inflation, with emphasis on maintaining price stability while exploring ways to ease interest rates. The governor also highlighted the importance of reopening closed factories and promoting inclusive economic growth through job creation.

Khan added that the governor instructed departments to coordinate their activities and prepare an action plan to ensure the government does not face challenges due to lack of coordination. The meeting reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to good governance and policy coherence across departments.

The new government has decided to waive agricultural loans of up to 10,000 taka, including interest, for farmers across Bangladesh. The decision was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026, during the first cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. According to official estimates, around 1.2 million farmers will be freed from a total debt burden of approximately 1,550 crore taka.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Nasimul Gani informed reporters that the initiative aims to strengthen farmers’ financial capacity and revitalize the agricultural sector. The waiver applies to outstanding loans of up to 10,000 taka, covering both principal and interest, and will directly benefit marginal farmers who have struggled to repay small loans.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, government and private commercial banks, as well as specialized banks, are owed about 1,550 crore taka in agricultural loans as of February 25. These loans will now fall under the waiver scheme, providing direct relief to about 1.2 million farmers nationwide.

Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Food Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that with proper planning, efficient management, and effective field-level initiatives, agro-products could become Bangladesh’s leading export items. He emphasized that if newly appointed officers work closely with farmers and communities, agricultural potential can be turned into economic strength, ensuring food security and socio-economic development. The minister made these remarks on Thursday, February 26, at the closing ceremony of a five-day orientation course for newly recruited 44th BCS (Livestock) cadre officers at the Soil Resource Development Institute in Dhaka.

He noted that many countries with limited agricultural seasons have made agriculture the foundation of their economies, while Bangladesh’s favorable climate and fertile soil allow year-round production. However, he stressed that more initiatives are needed to achieve the desired economic success. The minister also highlighted the benefits of properly processing and using cow dung to reduce chemical fertilizer use, protect the environment, and preserve soil fertility.

He urged the new officers to serve people with honesty, responsibility, and competence, saying that proper use of natural and agricultural resources would help build a prosperous and sustainable Bangladesh for future generations.