A prolonged strike at Chattogram Port has escalated into a national crisis, disrupting supply chains and threatening market stability ahead of Ramadan. The strike, initially an eight-hour protest, has turned indefinite following opposition to the government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to foreign operator DP World. As a result, over 120 ships are waiting to unload, including at least 35 carrying essential Ramadan goods such as dates, lentils, chickpeas, sugar, and edible oil. Importers face rising storage costs, and analysts warn that these expenses will likely push consumer prices higher.

The port’s operations have slowed to half capacity, causing severe congestion and revenue losses at the Chattogram Customs House. Business leaders and shipping agents report that each day of delay costs importers tens of thousands of dollars, which will ultimately burden consumers. The government has banned gatherings near the port, ordered regular labor bookings, and formed a six-member committee to assess revenue losses and identify those responsible.

Labor leaders insist the strike will continue until the lease plan is canceled, while port authorities have declined to comment on the pending agreement with DP World.

Operations at Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) have come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike called by the Nationalist Workers Party and the Sramik Oikya Parishad (SKOP). The strike, initially an eight-hour work stoppage, escalated into a full shutdown after the government decided to appoint a foreign operator at the terminal. Despite warnings and transfer orders from the Ministry of Shipping, protesting workers have refused to leave their posts. The port has now accumulated 37,000 containers, with 120 cargo ships waiting offshore.

The unrest follows a High Court ruling on November 30 that upheld the legality of hiring a foreign operator, prompting preparations for a contract between Chattogram Port Authority and global terminal operator DP World. However, the agreement, scheduled for February 1, was postponed amid the protests. Business leaders and port users have expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, warning of severe impacts on trade and the national economy.

Port officials say the situation is being monitored by the government’s top level, while industry associations caution that continued paralysis could damage Bangladesh’s global trade reputation and cause market instability.

Foreign loan approvals for Bangladesh’s private sector fell sharply in fiscal year 2024–25, with only USD 454.6 million approved across 43 applications, compared to over USD 1.4158 billion for 76 applications the previous year. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) reported the 75 percent decline in its annual report, attributing it to reduced investment and lower demand for imported capital machinery.

BIDA officials explained that the slowdown in domestic investment has reduced the need for foreign borrowing. Policy Exchange of Bangladesh’s chairman Dr. M Masrur Reaz noted that private sector credit growth dropped to 6.2 percent, the lowest in decades, reflecting weak domestic demand and slower economic output. He expressed hope that investment and loan demand would recover under a newly elected government.

Sources added that higher global interest rates and the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar have increased borrowing costs, further discouraging foreign loans. BIDA’s recent reform allowing short-term loans to be processed directly through banks also affected the reported figures.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional 171 million US dollars from 16 commercial banks. The transaction took place on Wednesday, February 4, and was confirmed by the bank’s Executive Director and Spokesperson, Arif Hossain Khan. The cutoff price for the purchase was set at 122.30 taka per dollar.

According to the information provided, this is the second round of dollar purchases in February, bringing the total for the month to 389.5 million dollars. The central bank has been conducting multiple auctions to buy dollars during the 2025–26 fiscal year. As of the latest data, Bangladesh Bank has purchased a cumulative total of 4.32 billion dollars through these auctions.

The continued dollar purchases indicate the central bank’s ongoing efforts to manage foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic currency market, as reflected in its repeated interventions through auctions.

Workers and employees at Chattogram Port began an indefinite strike on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, demanding cancellation of the lease of the NCT terminal to foreign company DP World and withdrawal of mass transfer orders. The strike was announced a day earlier by the Port Protection Struggle Council, coordinated by Md. Ibrahim Khokon. Council coordinator Md. Humayun Kabir said the protest would continue until the government withdraws from the lease process. Since morning, no trucks or lorries have entered the port, and workers have refrained from duty.

The strike follows three consecutive days of eight-hour blockades organized by labor groups including the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. Port activities such as container handling, cargo delivery, and vehicle movement have come to a standstill, though unloading from large to small vessels at outer anchorage continues. Over a hundred ships are reportedly waiting offshore, many carrying Ramadan consumer goods.

Labor leaders and importers blame the government and port authority for the deadlock, while a shipping adviser stated the timing of the protest before Ramadan would be investigated for possible intent to raise prices.

The Bangladesh government has decided to hire a British law firm to represent it in an international arbitration case filed by S Alam Group founder Saiful Alam and his family. The case is being heard at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under the World Bank. The firm will be paid an hourly fee of 1,250 US dollars. The decision was approved on Tuesday at a meeting of the government’s advisory committee on public procurement, chaired by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.

Following the meeting, Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the S Alam family had filed a case in London challenging the government’s actions related to alleged money laundering. He said the arbitration notice from ICSID required a formal response from Bangladesh and described the matter as complex. He confirmed that the government would appoint a British firm but did not recall its name.

The arbitration case was filed in October last year, alleging that Bangladesh’s seizure and punitive actions over alleged money laundering caused losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the S Alam family. The family claims protection as Singaporean citizens under international investment law and Bangladesh’s 1980 Foreign Private Investment Act.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the interim government has already arranged the necessary funds to implement the new pay scale, ensuring that future elected administrations will find it difficult to reverse the decision. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the Advisory Council on Procurement at the Secretariat, noting that implementation may take some time.

Discussing the government’s financial management, the adviser said the interim administration has worked to leave behind a relatively stable economic foundation for the next government. He explained that the fragile economic situation that emerged after August 5, 2024, had been largely stabilized over the past one and a half years. On the upcoming referendum, he said the government has allocated funds in the budget for its organization but is not supporting any specific outcome. He added that election expenses are higher this time due to the referendum.

Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that several unnecessary projects initiated by the previous government were discontinued, temporarily reducing employment. However, he described these measures as necessary for maintaining long-term economic balance.

The government of Bangladesh has approved separate proposals to purchase about 210,000 tonnes of fertilizer from various sources to meet farmers’ demand. The approval came on Tuesday during the fifth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

According to the decisions, the committee approved the import of 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer from Morocco’s OCP Nutrécrops under the 11th optional lot at a cost of Tk 319.51 crore, priced at USD 651 per tonne. It also approved two separate proposals to import 30,000 tonnes each of TSP fertilizer from the same supplier under the 17th and 18th lots, each costing Tk 184.53 crore. Additionally, 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer will be imported from Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden Company under the first lot of 2026 for Tk 323.92 crore.

Further approvals include 30,000 tonnes of bagged granular urea from Bangladesh’s KAFCO for Tk 153.08 crore and 40,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea from Saudi Arabia’s SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company for Tk 205.31 crore. Officials said these imports will ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply for farmers and support food security.

Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, the largest urea producer in Bangladesh, has resumed production after a temporary shutdown. The production restarted on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m., according to factory sources. Operations are currently running at 75 percent capacity due to low gas pressure, with plans to gradually return to full capacity once gas supply improves.

Factory General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque stated that production was restarted despite the risk of low gas pressure, considering the demand during the agricultural season. The decision was made to keep the plant operational on a limited scale to meet fertilizer needs.

Earlier, on January 22, the factory’s booster tripped when gas pressure dropped to 8 kilograms, forcing a complete shutdown of urea production for safety reasons. The resumption aims to stabilize fertilizer supply during the ongoing farming period.

Energy and power sector experts in Bangladesh have called for a national consensus to address the country’s worsening electricity and fuel crisis. Speaking at a seminar organized by Just Energy News in Dhaka, they said that despite surplus generation capacity, the sector faces severe financial and structural pressure due to high costs, import dependence, dollar shortages, subsidy burdens, and weak governance. They urged the new government to take immediate steps alongside realistic and sustainable long-term planning.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jalal Ahmed attributed the crisis to long neglect of primary energy and limited LNG import capacity. Former BUET professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain noted that 97–98% of Bangladesh’s energy relies on fossil fuels, with 60% imported, creating economic strain. Other speakers, including former Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and economists Mushtaq Hossain Khan and M. Tamim, highlighted institutional corruption, inefficient contracts, and policy failures as key causes. They warned that without transparency and reform, losses exceeding Tk 50,000 crore annually could persist.

Participants emphasized that political unity, transparency, and public awareness are essential for sustainable energy security and economic stability.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced another increase in gold prices within less than six hours. In a notice issued on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the association set the new price of 22-carat gold at Tk 262,090 per bhori, marking a rise of Tk 10,906. The revised rate took effect from 4 p.m. the same day.

According to the BAJUS statement, the adjustment was made due to a rise in the price of pure gold in the local market. The organization stated that the new rate reflects the overall market situation and the recent increase in the cost of raw gold.

The rapid price revision within such a short period highlights volatility in the domestic gold market, influenced by fluctuations in the price of pure gold as reported by BAJUS.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, offering 13,559 permanent positions across eight job categories. The online application process began on February 3, 2026, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 19, 2026. Applicants must submit educational certificates, national ID information, a color photograph, and a signature image through the official website https://ngi.teletalk.com.bd. The application fee is set at 223 taka.

According to the circular, both new and experienced candidates may apply depending on the position requirements. The recruitment is for permanent government service under the NTRCA. Specific details regarding age limits and salary grades will follow the official circular. The announcement was originally published on January 29, 2026, and further information is available on the NTRCA website at https://ntrca.gov.bd.

The recruitment drive aims to fill a large number of teaching positions nationwide, providing opportunities for qualified individuals to join the education sector under permanent government employment.

Workers at Chattogram Port began a 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday morning, protesting the government’s decision regarding the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) agreement and demanding cancellation of transfer orders for several employees. The strike, organized by the Bandar Raksha Sangram Parishad, follows three consecutive days of eight-hour daily work stoppages. The announcement was made Monday by coordinator Md. Humayun Kabir at the port building premises.

Since the strike began, no workers have reported for duty, and truck and lorry movement through the main gate has ceased, halting import-export operations. The port has faced growing congestion, with 35 mother vessels anchored offshore carrying essential goods. Private depots under the port’s jurisdiction have also experienced severe operational slowdowns. Business groups expressed concern over mounting economic losses and urged immediate resolution through dialogue or other means.

Labor leaders accused the government of handing over key port facilities to foreign entities, specifically DP World, and claimed that authorities were taking punitive actions instead of engaging in discussions. They vowed to continue the movement until the government withdraws from the NCT deal and cancels the transfer orders.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued a new ordinance transferring all existing private Export Processing Zones (EPZs) under the direct control of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). The 'Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zone (Repeal) Ordinance, 2026' was published in the official gazette by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The announcement was confirmed by the ministry’s public relations officer, Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim.

Under the new ordinance, the 1996 law governing private EPZs has been repealed, and all such zones will now be recognized as private economic zones under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010. Existing licenses will remain valid, and bonded and concessional facilities will continue. The ordinance also dissolves the former Governor Board and Executive Cell, transferring their staff to BEZA while retaining their employment conditions. Ongoing legal proceedings involving the dissolved bodies will now fall under BEZA’s jurisdiction.

The government stated that the 1996 law was originally enacted to promote private investment and export trade but has now been repealed considering current needs. The ordinance takes immediate effect.

An indefinite strike has been declared at Chattogram Port demanding cancellation of the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company and withdrawal of mass transfer orders for employees. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by Md. Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Port Protection Struggle Council, who stated that the strike would continue until their demands are met. Another coordinator, Md. Humayun Kabir, said the movement would persist as long as the government does not withdraw from the lease process.

The strike follows three consecutive days of partial work stoppages and a 24-hour program earlier on Tuesday. Port operations have come to a standstill, halting import deliveries, container handling, and cargo vehicle movement, though lighter vessel unloading at outer anchorage remains normal. Leaders and activists from the Nationalist Workers Party and SKOP are participating in the protest.

Port authorities have transferred at least 16 employees, including Humayun Kabir, to other ports for participating in the movement. The ongoing disruption has raised concern among business communities and stakeholders over the paralysis of the country’s main seaport.