Sylhet-born Mohib Chowdhury has been elected unopposed as president of the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI), the largest organization of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom. The election results were announced on Tuesday at the BBCCI Conference Hall in London, where the election commission formally declared the new committee.

Mohib Chowdhury, originally from Kubajpur in Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, is the founding president of the London Bangla Press Club and a former editor of the weekly Naton Din newspaper. The newly elected executive committee includes Professor Dr. Sanawar Chowdhury as senior vice president, Abdul Wache Chowdhury as vice president, Musleh Ahmed as director general, Abdul Mumin as deputy director general, Abul Kalam Azad as finance director, and Mostafa Ahmed Lucky as membership director.

The new committee pledged to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, continuing BBCCI’s longstanding role in promoting entrepreneurship and protecting the interests of Bangladeshi businesspeople.

In Sreemangal of Moulvibazar, pineapple farmers are facing financial losses despite a bumper harvest this season because of the absence of adequate cold storage and processing facilities. The district has seen record production of the Honey Queen variety, which is in high demand nationwide. However, without proper preservation systems, large quantities of pineapples are wasted each year, leaving growers anxious about market fluctuations and falling prices during peak production.

Local farmers and traders have expressed concern that the lack of storage forces them to sell quickly at lower prices. Daily pineapple trade in local markets is estimated at around half a crore taka. Business owners have long demanded the establishment of a modern cold storage facility in the region to protect their produce and stabilize prices.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, pineapples are cultivated on 1,223 hectares across several upazilas, producing about 22,774 metric tons valued at roughly Tk 68.32 crore. Officials noted that pineapple farming is emerging as a key economic sector for Moulvibazar but stressed that preservation and processing infrastructure are essential for sustainable growth.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have dropped significantly, with the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announcing a reduction of Tk 5,482 per bhori for 22-carat gold. The new rate, including VAT, is set at Tk 225,290 per bhori and took effect from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The association stated that the adjustment follows a decline in the price of pure gold in the local market.

According to the revised pricing, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 215,142 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 184,758, and traditional gold Tk 150,932 per bhori. BAJUS confirmed that these rates will remain in force across all jewelry outlets until further notice. Labor charges will vary depending on design, and customers will not be charged VAT separately, as it is already included in the sale price.

The association had previously raised gold prices on June 22, 2026, by Tk 4,432 per bhori, setting the 22-carat rate at Tk 230,772. BAJUS also mentioned that a decision regarding VAT on silver jewelry will be announced soon.

A historic drop in onion prices has plunged farmers in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi into deep financial distress. Prices have fallen far below production costs, forcing thousands of growers to bear heavy losses. Farmers report that where onions previously sold for Tk 2,500–3,000 per maund at this time of year, prices have now dropped to Tk 800–1,000 depending on the variety. Storage losses, weight reduction, and oversupply have worsened the crisis.

Local farmers complain that prolonged storage has caused onions to dry out and rot, while irregularities in weighing have further reduced their returns. Abdul Momin, a farmer at Baneshwar market, expressed frustration, saying that the current price barely covers basic household needs. Traders attribute the price collapse to excessive supply, noting that high production and limited storage capacity have forced farmers to sell quickly.

Upazila agriculture officer Smriti Rani Sarkar confirmed that oversupply has driven prices down but expressed hope for a rebound soon. Farmers are urging the government to improve market regulation, expand storage facilities, and ensure fair prices to prevent future production and market crises.

District and sub-registrars in Bangladesh, responsible for both land registration and valuation, are facing allegations of long-term revenue fraud. Reports suggest that a network of officials and land grabbers has been manipulating land classifications to register high-value plots as low-value categories such as ‘nal’ land, depriving the government of millions in revenue. The issue has placed the registrars under scrutiny for allegedly aiding fraudulent land reclassification.

According to the Land Ministry, the government is planning to overhaul the traditional valuation process by expanding the valuation committees and including representatives from other ministries. Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu and Senior Secretary Saleh Ahmed confirmed that the ministry is working to bring all land-related services under one administrative framework to curb irregularities. Data from areas like Gulshan and Tejgaon show drastic differences in registration fees between land categories, highlighting the scale of potential revenue loss.

Experts and officials note that outdated land records and unlinked digital systems allow such discrepancies to persist. They suggest integrating land use data with registration systems to minimize tax evasion and improve transparency in land administration.

The Tengratila gas field in Doarabazar, Sunamganj, has remained inactive for over two decades following two major explosions on January 7 and June 24, 2005. As the 21st anniversary of the second explosion passes, residents express frustration over the lack of government action to restart operations. The field, once a key supplier for local industries, has been left idle, raising questions about legal and geopolitical factors behind its prolonged closure.

Local speculation links the inactivity to possible Indian interests, as the field lies only 7–10 kilometers from the Meghalaya border. Experts warn that underground gas reserves do not follow political boundaries, and extraction on the Indian side could cause a “drainage effect,” drawing gas from Bangladesh’s territory. Despite an international court ruling holding Canadian company Niko liable for damages, the site remains dormant.

Community leaders, environmental activists, and local officials have urged the government to conduct new surveys and resume production, citing national energy shortages and fears that valuable gas reserves may be slipping away across the border.

A BBC Bangla report published on June 24, 2026, outlines key financial terms such as default loans, distressed loans, loan rescheduling, and bankruptcy in Bangladesh’s banking sector. According to central bank data, by December 2025, about 60 percent of total outstanding loans worth Tk 18.2 trillion were classified as distressed, meaning they carried a high risk of default. The report notes that non-performing loans currently total Tk 5.88 trillion, with the default rate exceeding 30 percent across all types of banks.

Dhaka University’s Professor Md. Shahidul Islam Zahid attributes the high default rate to weak management, audit irregularities, misuse of power, and poor regulatory oversight. He warns that when 30–35 percent of loans become uncollectible, the banking system faces severe stress. The report also explains that distressed loans are not yet defaulted but at high risk, and that rescheduling allows borrowers to renegotiate repayment terms under specific conditions.

The analysis emphasizes that rising default loans reduce banks’ liquidity and lending capacity, affecting investment and deposit security across the economy.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed the National Parliament that several business sectors, including grocery stores and beauty parlors, are planned to be brought under the Value Added Tax (VAT) system in the upcoming 2026–27 fiscal year. He disclosed this plan on Wednesday while responding to a question from reserved seat MP Selina Sultana during the parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

According to the minister, the sectors expected to come under VAT include sellers of ready-made garments or fabrics, confectionery, cosmetics shops, plastic and ceramic household goods, shoe stores, hardware sellers, decorators, mobile phones, air conditioners, refrigerators, ovens, and other electronics, as well as paint, sanitary fittings, tiles, corrugated sheets, rods, cement, furniture, sweet shops, and restaurants.

The minister also stated that in the 2024–25 fiscal year, a total of 1,41,586 crore taka was collected as VAT revenue.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed lending to commercial banks by printing new money, providing around Tk 9,000 crore in liquidity support to Islami Bank over the past week. The central bank said the assistance was necessary to help the bank manage heavy deposit withdrawals following unrest over the appointment of its chairman. The funds were created through new money issuance, and economists warned that such actions could exert limited inflationary pressure.

According to officials, Islami Bank had failed to maintain its required cash reserve ratio and faced difficulties meeting customer withdrawal demands. The central bank extended the loan under its lender-of-last-resort function to stabilize the banking system. Former officials and economists noted that while money creation increases supply theoretically, the impact on overall inflation is expected to be minimal due to the limited scale of the support.

Bangladesh Bank stated that the liquidity assistance was temporary and would be repaid within the stipulated period, ensuring the excess money returns to the central bank. The move aimed to restore depositor confidence and prevent further instability in the financial sector.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Dalian, China. The session, titled “Innovation at Scale,” began at 9 a.m. local time on June 24 at the Dalian International Conference Center in Liaoning Province. The WEF President and Chief Executive Officer delivered the opening remarks. Alongside Bangladesh, the prime ministers of China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, and Guinea also participated in the session.

On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Rahman held discussions with several heads of government to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of mutual interest. He also joined a photo session with world leaders during the session break.

According to the report, Rahman’s participation in the “Summer Davos” is expected to expand opportunities for investment and employment in Bangladesh while enhancing national capacity through the adoption of best practices from other countries.

Global oil price trends are increasingly being influenced by China, as the United States and Iran continue discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring Middle Eastern oil supplies. Analysts say China, though not part of these talks, has become the most significant player in determining the next phase of the global oil market. As the world’s second-largest crude oil consumer, China has mitigated the impact of disrupted supplies exceeding 11 million barrels per day by reducing imports, using its vast reserves, and expanding clean energy use.

These measures have helped stabilize international prices despite a supply shortfall exceeding one billion barrels. Brent crude fell below 78 dollars per barrel on Monday, reflecting expectations of resumed trade through the Hormuz Strait. Analysts from Société Générale noted that while the Iran war has affected 14 percent of global supply, prices have not surged as in past crises, crediting China’s balancing role. Experts warn, however, that reliance on reserves cannot last indefinitely, and if prices drop, China may resume large-scale stockpiling, potentially reshaping the market again.

The International Energy Agency cautioned that if Middle Eastern production normalizes, global supply could exceed demand by 4.7 million barrels per day next year, making China’s future buying decisions crucial for market stability.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced that the government aims to ensure a trustworthy and competitive environment for global investors under the message ‘Bangladesh is open for business’. He made the statement at a press conference held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dalian, China, during the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos 2026. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman is attending the event, marking his first participation in a global summit as head of government.

Amin said Bangladesh’s participation focuses on attracting foreign investment, creating employment, and linking sustainable development and climate resilience with international partnerships. He noted that the WEF President and CEO Alois Zwinggi met with the Prime Minister to discuss investment growth and employment creation. The Prime Minister also addressed the ‘Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape’ session, presenting Bangladesh’s climate initiatives and future plans, including river dredging, tree planting, and renewable energy expansion.

According to Amin, the Prime Minister’s engagement is enhancing Bangladesh’s global stature while opening new opportunities for investment, employment, and knowledge exchange through international collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam stated that the government’s current budget focuses on addressing the fragile economic situation and reducing public suffering. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion on the 2026–27 fiscal year budget organized by the MBA Association of Bangladesh at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Highlighting instability in the banking sector, he criticized a previous law limiting depositor refunds to one lakh taka if a bank went bankrupt, arguing that such policies had pushed the sector toward collapse. He expressed deep concern over money laundering and inflation, claiming that about 30 lakh crore taka had been laundered abroad, forcing the dollar rate to rise from 82 to 130 taka, which severely burdened ordinary citizens.

The Chief Whip urged that the budget be viewed from a humanitarian perspective rather than as mere numbers. He called for unity to alleviate the suffering of marginalized people, recover looted wealth, and rebuild the economy through constructive criticism and necessary reforms.

Bangladesh’s trade deficit for the 2024–2025 fiscal year reached 24.168 billion US dollars, according to Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He presented the figures in parliament on Tuesday, noting that export earnings totaled 55,191.24 million dollars while imports stood at 79,359.24 million dollars. The largest deficit was with China at 17,868 million dollars, followed by India at 7,859.87 million dollars. Other major deficits were recorded with Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Qatar, and Malaysia.

The minister said Bangladesh remains heavily dependent on the ready-made garment sector, which accounts for 84 percent of total export income. To reduce reliance on a single product, the government has extended bond facilities to exporters in eight additional sectors, including leather, jute, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, ICT, light engineering, frozen food, and plastics. The National Board of Revenue has issued the necessary orders to support this diversification.

He added that Bangladesh is pursuing free trade agreements and GSP Plus benefits with the European Union, China, and India to mitigate potential tariff challenges after graduating from least developed country status in 2026.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed the National Parliament that the National Security Intelligence Directorate has identified 31 tea estates as high-risk due to labor unrest over unpaid wages. He made the statement on Tuesday in response to a question from BNP lawmaker Selina Sultana during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The report, dated May 18, 2025, highlighted wage disputes and management disorder following some owners abandoning their estates in August 2024.

The minister said that although there is no current policy for identifying sick tea gardens, the Bangladesh Tea Board has taken several measures to address wage arrears and restore normal operations. Two committees were formed to reopen the closed Burjan and Phultola estates, and financial aid was provided from the Tea Board’s welfare fund. Both gardens are now operating normally.

He added that the government arranged special exports of unsold tea from 12 National Tea Company estates to pay workers’ dues and continues to ensure rations, healthcare, housing, and other welfare benefits for tea workers. A family card program is also being introduced to improve living standards.