Bangladesh-based Abul Khair Steel has received Guinness World Records™ recognition for the “Most Steel Rebars Produced in One Minute,” according to a report published on July 25, 2026. Under the stipulated Guinness verification process, AKS produced 52 steel rebars in one minute. Each rebar measured 108 metres in length, the report said.

The company attributed the record to the capability of what it described as the world’s fastest rebar rolling mill, advanced technology, skilled engineering and improved production management. Electric Arc Furnace, or EAF, technology is a core part of AKS’s production system and is used to produce 100% refined steel.

Abul Khair Steel Melting Limited Chief Executive Officer Imran Momin said the achievement was an international recognition of both AKS and Bangladesh’s manufacturing potential. The company also said it uses Zero Water Discharge technology to treat and reuse industrial water, alongside solar power, a Fume Treatment System for emission control, material recycling and an in-house power plant for energy management.

Persistent rain and adverse weather have driven vegetable prices sharply higher across markets in Cumilla, with most items selling for Tk100 or more per kilogram on Friday morning. Retail green chilies were selling for Tk400 per kilogram, while shoppers, particularly low-income residents, said they were struggling to manage household food costs amid the increase.

Vendors said farmland, including areas around the Gomti char, had been submerged, damaging crops and preventing timely harvesting and transport to markets. Supply shortages have raised prices of eggplant, cucumber and other vegetables by Tk50 to Tk80 per kilogram within a week. Market prices included eggplant at Tk120, bitter gourd at Tk150 to Tk160, okra at Tk120, ridge gourd at Tk130 and tomatoes at Tk140 per kilogram.

Rajganj market seller Liton Mia said farmers were not bringing enough vegetables to market and retailers had to charge more after paying higher purchase prices. Cumilla consumer rights official Kawsar Mia said inspections were underway and action would be taken against attempts to charge excessive prices. Traders said prices could fall if weather normalizes and supplies increase, but may rise further if rain continues.

Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector is facing a deep crisis as businesses scale back, consumer confidence weakens, investment declines and operating costs rise, a report published on July 25, 2026 said. Market contraction has pushed many companies toward layoffs, reduced operations or closure, while interest among new entrepreneurs has also waned. Daraz and several other platforms have reportedly reduced operations and closed delivery hubs amid continuing losses.

Analysts cited a high dollar rate, higher fuel prices and prolonged inflation as factors raising delivery and logistics expenses while reducing purchases of luxury and discretionary goods. Policy uncertainty, falling international investment, digital fraud and distrust among customers were also identified as pressures. A merchant said Daraz decided to permanently close 16 of more than 100 hubs from June 14, while alternatives were not retained for several hubs outside Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association said customers are owed Tk531 crore by 32 e-commerce companies, with 18 yet to return money. Experts called for transparent transactions, stronger consumer protection, policy support, easier loans and digital technology to lower logistics costs, saying businesses should prioritize sustainability over expansion.

BRAC Bank’s branch distribution network recorded Tk50 billion in growth in current account savings account, or CASA, deposits during the first six months of 2026. The bank said the achievement reflects growing customer confidence in BRAC Bank and the capacity of its distribution network.

The report said BRAC Bank has maintained notable deposit growth in recent years, with the latest milestone continuing that trend. The bank attributed its business expansion to relationship-based banking and customer-centric services, while describing the branch distribution network as a key contributor to the result.

BRAC Bank held an event to celebrate the achievement, attended by Managing Director and CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Branch Distribution Network Sheikh Mohammad Ashfaque, Senior Zonal Head Taher Hasan Al Mamun, regional heads, branch managers and other senior officials. Khan said customer trust and the dedicated efforts of the branch distribution network were behind the result. He said the bank remains committed to strengthening customer relationships through improved banking experiences and sustaining its growth trajectory.

A Malaysian investor delegation has expressed interest in investing in the Debiganj Economic Zone in Panchagarh, Bangladesh. The group is initially assessing the feasibility of a 100-megawatt solar power project and has also indicated interest in establishing agriculture-based industries. On Friday afternoon, the delegation met State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad before visiting the economic zone to review infrastructure, industrialisation prospects and employment potential.

Azad said the government places special importance on development in the northern region and is showing the Debiganj Economic Zone to domestic and foreign investors for that purpose. Delegation head Mr Sim described the zone as highly promising for industrial investment. He said the proposed solar project, if implemented, would add renewable energy to the national grid, while agro-based industrial development also has considerable scope.

Officials cited improved road connectivity, easy availability of agricultural products and comparatively lower production costs as factors attracting investors. An agreement to establish the economic zone was signed on 24 August 2020. The planned area was revised to 250.85 acres, including 240 acres for the zone and 10.85 acres for a connecting road. BEZA has received settlement of 185.86 acres, while acquisition of the remaining land continues.

Microloan installment collection has been suspended for three months in flood-affected areas of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari after severe flooding and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage. Dr Mohammad Zakaria, director general of the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the measure in a report published on July 25.

He spoke while visiting flood-hit South Jaldi, Ashkaria Para and Saral areas of Banshkhali on Friday and distributing relief supplies among people affected by flooding. According to Zakaria, loan recovery will remain halted in the affected areas for the next three months under instructions from the Microcredit Regulatory Authority.

During the visit, Zakaria discussed the overall condition of affected families with relevant officials and received updates on ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. He also heard accounts of hardship from flood victims and took part in humanitarian assistance activities. Local residents expressed hope that coordinated government and private initiatives would quickly ease suffering and strengthen rehabilitation work.

A technical fault has shut down one liquefied natural gas terminal, worsening residential gas shortages across Dhaka and other areas, according to a report published on July 25. Following last week’s waterlogging, gas supply has stopped entirely in some neighbourhoods, while many others face very low pressure. Residents in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Rampura and Old Dhaka reported unlit stoves, despite continuing to pay monthly bills. Some households are spending more on LPG cylinders or purchased food.

After Friday prayers on July 24, residents held a human chain outside Mohammadpur Allah Karim Mosque, demanding a permanent solution, an end to billing without uninterrupted service, action against alleged Titas negligence and illegal connections. Residents said the disruption has also affected Savar, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Mymensingh and factories in other areas. A knitwear industry representative said lower gas supply over the past three to four days was causing major production losses.

The energy division said daily supply is now 2,700 to 2,800 million cubic feet, against total capacity of about 3,800 million cubic feet. Supply to the national grid has fallen by about 450 million cubic feet since Tuesday. Titas said LNG could resume from Saturday afternoon, with pressure rising gradually and full relief taking another day or two.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said the United States has not newly imposed tariffs on Bangladesh and other trading partners, describing the reported 10 percent measure as a replacement for an existing tariff. Speaking to reporters in Sylhet on Friday, he said there had been no actual change in the tariff situation.

Muktadir said the previously imposed tariff would expire within 150 days because of a legal requirement. Once that earlier measure expires, the new tariff will take effect, he said, adding that it should be called a replacement rather than a new tariff imposition. He also said the existing tariff would remain in force after midnight on Friday, although it would operate under a different name.

He made the remarks after opening a daylong free medical camp, family planning, maternal and child services, and an eye camp for tea workers at Sylhet Government High School. Separately, CNN reported that the United States planned tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on Bangladesh and some other trading partners. The Office of the US Trade Representative said 60 affected trading partner countries account for 99.4 percent of total US imports.

A Sylhet-based trader has submitted a written application seeking the return of 6,300 kilograms of cumin seized in Habiganj, saying the goods were legally imported from India through a letter of credit. Mohammad Afzalur Rahman filed the application with the Shaistaganj customs warehouse officer on Thursday afternoon. He said his firm, Afsana Store Crusher, imported 300 sacks through Tamabil land port on July 16 and paid the required duty, VAT and taxes on July 19. He said 210 sacks were loaded onto a covered van on July 22 for delivery to a buyer in Dhaka when Border Guard Bangladesh detained the vehicle and goods.

Rahman alleged that BGB did not accept photocopies of the documents shown by the driver and took the cumin into custody. The goods were later sent to the Shaistaganj customs warehouse under case GR-160/26. BGB said the cumin was seized at a checkpoint near Teliapara rail crossing, about three kilometres inside the border, and that customs officials had said the trader's documents were forged. The customs warehouse officer said the application has been forwarded to divisional customs officials for review and a decision.

Dubai has launched the “Dubai Invite” initiative to support its tourism sector after international visitor numbers fell amid the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Under the programme, run by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, UAE residents can nominate foreign friends or relatives to visit Dubai. When nominated guests travel, residents can receive a benefit package worth 3,000 UAE dirhams, including free hotel stays, restaurant meals and tickets to attractions.

Residents can receive up to three benefit packages. Visitors must arrive by October 31, while benefits can be used until December. Nominees must be non-UAE residents, travel on valid tourist visas and can be nominated only once. The report said airline traffic at Dubai airport has fallen by half, overall business revenue has dropped by more than 50%, and many hotels are vacant. More than 10,000 applications were submitted within the programme’s first 48 hours, according to local media reports.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has been accused of spending several crore taka on corporate social responsibility activities without a legal framework or policy. Records obtained under the Right to Information Act show that from fiscal years 2021-22 to 2024-25, the regulator allocated funds to individuals and institutions for medical assistance, education, religious facilities, cemeteries, sports, picnics, insurance premiums and other purposes. Spending in those four fiscal years was Tk26.40 lakh, Tk7.1128 crore, Tk2.0242 crore and Tk87.75 lakh respectively.

BSEC spokesperson Abul Kalam said every expenditure was approved at commission meetings and that work on a CSR policy is under way. Former chairman Faruk Ahmed Siddiqui and former commissioner Helal Uddin Nizami said a non-profit government institution has no scope to conduct CSR spending. An official from the Revenue Audit Directorate said such spending would be unlawful without provisions in an institution's own law or a policy. Former commissioner Abdul Halim acknowledged that several institutions in his home area received allocations but denied influencing the approvals.

Continuous rainfall has reduced supplies of several vegetables in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat, pushing market prices higher. The report, published on July 24, said prices for most vegetables rose by Tk15 to Tk20 per kilogram within a week. Visits to Itakhola Hat, Bottoli Hat and Thana Bazar Monjar Bazar found price increases at both wholesale and retail levels, with retail prices rising more sharply. At Itakhola market, eggplant sold for Tk100-120 per kg, bitter gourd for Tk80-100 and green chilli for Tk200-220.

Vegetable sellers said waterlogging in many fields has made harvesting difficult and reduced output, cutting supplies to markets. Buyers complained that prices for the same vegetables vary within the same market, alleging that some traders charge extra. Market-related sources expect prices to decline within the next few days if rainfall eases and vegetables can be harvested and supplied normally.

Media report says manipulated statistics that inflated Bangladesh's economic performance during the Sheikh Hasina era have not ended and similar practices continue under subsequent governments. The article describes suppression of nonperforming loan data, overstated export earnings, concealed GDP realities and repeated upward budget changes as routine during that period. An interim government formed a taskforce to reform the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and submitted recommendations, but those were not implemented; the current elected government also has taken no effective steps to carry out the reforms according to the report.

The report details the taskforce composition and aims: an eight-member expert group chaired by Hossain Zillur Rahman sought institutional changes to make BBS data more transparent and reliable, and members such as Dhaka University professor Moinul Islam said they submitted all necessary reform proposals. BBS officials quoted in the piece said ministerial approval is no longer required to publish some BBS data, but one director said he lacked detailed knowledge of the earlier taskforce. The article highlights specific data inconsistencies — population counts, GDP and per capita income, inflation figures, and export statistics — and cites international assessments questioning data adequacy and experts warning of planning and resource-allocation complications caused by unreliable statistics.

Global fuel markets surged after renewed escalation of conflict in the Middle East, pushing Brent crude to $100 per barrel — the first time since May. Prices climbed sharply after the United States intensified military action against Iran and following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on oil tankers in the Red Sea, which also threatened alternative export routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz. Natural gas benchmarks rose alongside oil, with UK gas near 150 pence per therm, up from about 98 pence in late June.

Economists warn the Middle East fighting could sharply increase inflationary pressures worldwide because higher oil prices raise petrol and diesel costs, which in turn lift transport and food prices. The article notes recent impacts in developed countries: UK petrol and diesel prices have risen over the past two weeks to about £1.56 and £1.72 per litre respectively, and US average gasoline has surpassed $4 per gallon after being $3.92 a month earlier. US officials signalled a return to heightened tensions after a temporary ceasefire earlier reduced prices.

US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh told Congress that prolonged high inflation would not be tolerated and the Fed remains committed to restoring price stability, while Fed policy rates were left unchanged in a recent meeting at 3.5–3.75 percent.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the recently drafted budget, prepared after one to one-and-a-half months of effort, has been appreciated across all levels of the country and its true success depends on effective implementation. He made the remarks while addressing the first meeting with finance department officials at the ministry on Thursday, where the meeting was chaired by Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Majumdar.
The minister urged changing negative public perceptions about bureaucracy, stressing that working together can overcome any obstacle and that officials should move beyond traditional practices to adopt innovative, out-of-the-box thinking. He called for meetings to allow free and spontaneous expression of views, mutual cooperation, family-like work environments, direct presentation of problems and ideas, and objective feedback from subdivisions to enable proper decision-making.
He said the government has initiated a coordinated masterplan to develop Cox’s Bazar as an international and regional tourist hub and is reconsidering long-standing 50m and 500m coastal restrictions where development will occur, ensuring environmental protection. Work on an international airport, rail service, and improved road links from Chattogram are underway and will be coordinated to transform Cox’s Bazar into a modern digital tourism city contributing to the goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.