Petrobangla announced on Tuesday that the supply of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) from the Maheshkhali LNG terminals has dropped by about 300 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD). The company stated in a press release that this reduction has caused low gas pressure across the country, affecting all categories of consumers.

According to the statement, adverse weather conditions have significantly disrupted RLNG supply from the Maheshkhali terminals, leading to the current situation. Petrobangla warned that until the situation improves, residential, commercial, and industrial users nationwide may continue to experience low gas pressure.

Petrobangla expressed sincere regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to consumers and assured that normal supply would resume once conditions improve.

Revenue collection at Benapole Customs House, the country’s largest land port, fell drastically in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Against a government target of Tk 11,290 crore, only Tk 6,559 crore was collected, leaving a shortfall of Tk 4,731 crore. Import and export activities also declined significantly, with total imports dropping by about 197,000 tons compared to the previous year.

Officials and traders attributed the revenue slump to reduced imports, global trade slowdown, foreign currency shortages, changes in tariff structures, and irregularities. Imports of high-duty items such as industrial raw materials, electronics, machinery parts, and chemicals fell sharply, directly cutting customs and VAT income. Business leaders said daily truck movements for both imports and exports have nearly halved compared to the previous year.

Customs authorities stated that investigations into weight-scale manipulation and other irregularities are ongoing, with legal actions already initiated in some cases. Stakeholders emphasized that improved digital monitoring, transparency, and anti-corruption measures could help restore revenue performance.

Bangladesh’s overall inflation rate declined slightly in June 2026, standing at 9.16 percent on a point-to-point basis, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Monday. This marks a 0.26 percentage point drop from May’s 9.42 percent, though inflation has remained above 9 percent for three consecutive months. In March, the rate was 8.71 percent.

The BBS report shows that both food and non-food inflation decreased in June. Food inflation fell to 8.60 percent from 9.06 percent in May, while non-food inflation eased to 9.61 percent from 9.71 percent. Inflation declined in both rural and urban areas, with rural inflation at 9.23 percent and urban inflation at 9.01 percent. Analysts attribute the persistent high inflation to rising prices of essential goods and fuel, which continue to pressure low- and middle-income households.

BBS data also indicate that the 12-month average inflation from July 2025 to June 2026 was 8.68 percent, down from 10.03 percent in the previous year, suggesting a modest improvement in annual inflation trends.

The initiative to introduce a single-point enlistment system for auditors and audit firms in Bangladesh has stalled, despite a target to implement it by January 15, 2026. According to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the delay stems from the absence of recommendations from the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) and the NGO Affairs Bureau regarding special qualification requirements. FRC Chairman Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan said the council has renewed its request to these agencies and will issue an order once their inputs are received.

The single-point enlistment plan was approved during the interim government period to streamline the registration process under the FRC, eliminating the need for auditors to register separately with multiple regulatory bodies. Representatives from the FRC, Bangladesh Bank, BSEC, IDRA, NBR, MRA, NGO Bureau, ICAB, and ICMAB participated in the initial meeting that set the January 2026 deadline. While some agencies, including BSEC and Bangladesh Bank, have submitted their conditions, IDRA and the NGO Bureau have yet to respond.

The FRC argues that the unified enlistment would reduce duplication, lower administrative costs, and save time for auditors and firms currently required to meet 33 conditions and submit 48 documents across different regulators.

The US Department of Energy reported that the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve has dropped by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, marking its lowest level since April 1983. The decline is part of an agreement involving the withdrawal of a total of 172 million barrels from the reserve.

According to Al Jazeera, the global energy market continues to feel the effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during wartime. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this crucial maritime route, making its disruption highly significant for global energy stability.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, indirect talks have begun in Qatar. As a result, the Strait of Hormuz is gradually reopening to shipping, with discussions emphasizing the importance of maintaining normal maritime operations.

The government has cancelled the remaining term of the contractual appointment of Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance issued a notification on Monday announcing the decision.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, central bank officials compelled all contractual officers, including deputy governors, to resign. After the formation of the interim government, Deputy Governors Kazi Sayedur Rahman and Md. Khurshid Alam submitted their resignations upon government advice. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury and Kabir Ahmed were appointed to the vacant positions on September 8, 2024. The government has now revoked Chowdhury’s appointment.

The decision marks another change in the central bank’s leadership structure under the interim administration, though no further details were provided in the official notification.

The government of Bangladesh announced tax reductions on 63 essential goods in the current fiscal year’s national budget to ease consumer costs. Despite the policy’s aim to reduce import and marketing expenses, retail prices of key items such as rice and edible oil have not fallen. Instead, market instability has increased, with some products becoming more expensive.

According to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the benefits of the tax relief are being absorbed by traders rather than reaching consumers. CAB Vice President S.M. Nazer Hossain stated that the government’s intention to reduce public hardship through lower taxes has not materialized in practice. CAB attributes the situation to weak market monitoring and the influence of dishonest traders. The organization noted that import taxes on items like rice, wheat, livestock, onions, garlic, and edible oils were reduced to as low as 0.5 percent, yet retail prices remain unchanged.

Market analysts warn that if the government’s revenue sacrifices do not translate into consumer benefits, the policy’s purpose will be undermined. CAB has urged stronger regulatory action to curb unethical business practices and restore market stability.

An event marking National Rural Development Day 2026 was held in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur, organized by the upazila administration and the local rural development office. The discussion, themed “Developed Villages, Prosperous Nation, Bangladesh First,” took place on Monday morning at the Upazila Agriculture Training Auditorium, with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sajia Shahnaz Toma presiding.

In her address, the UNO emphasized that rural development should not be limited to infrastructure but must also prioritize education, health, women’s empowerment, and employment generation. She called for coordinated efforts among government and non-government institutions to achieve sustainable progress and highlighted the importance of delivering services to grassroots communities. She also mentioned ongoing initiatives to promote women’s entrepreneurship through proper use of cooperatives and microcredit.

At the end of the event, loan checks were distributed among beneficiaries and students to support rural economic activities. Local officials, freedom fighters, journalists, and representatives from various cooperatives attended the program, expressing optimism that continued rural progress would accelerate national economic growth.

Industry and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir visited the Sitakunda factory of Progoti Industries Limited (PIL), a Green Factory Award-winning automobile assembler, on Monday afternoon. He was welcomed by Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) Chairman Md. Anwarul Alam, Additional Secretary Md. Firoz Uddin, and PIL’s Acting Managing Director Mohammad Abu Saim, along with officials, employees, and labor leaders.

During the visit, the BSEC Chairman briefed the minister on the factory’s main production lines and overall operations. He emphasized the importance of modernizing the plant in line with current market demands and presented plans for launching an environmentally friendly electric vehicle (EV) assembly project. The minister expressed satisfaction with the factory’s production capacity and future plans, acknowledging Progoti’s pioneering role in Bangladesh’s automobile industry.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir assured full policy and administrative support from the government to help Progoti Industries modernize and adopt eco-friendly technologies. He later met with factory officials and workers, encouraging them to continue working with dedication for the company’s progress.

Israel’s military is preparing to release around 10,000 reserve soldiers by the end of July due to a severe budget deficit, according to reports published Sunday in local media. Currently, about 60,000 reservists are on active duty, and the number may be reduced to 50,000. The move reflects significant financial pressure on the army, though a final decision has not yet been made and is expected within days.

Reports indicate that Israel’s defense spending has risen sharply, creating a major financial strain. The decision comes amid a dispute between the defense and finance ministries over the defense budget. The army argues that multiple regional conflicts require record-level funding, while the finance ministry warns that such increases would worsen the government’s deficit.

An interim compromise has reportedly been reached, allowing the army to receive additional funds on the condition that it reduces reliance on reserve forces and cuts operational expenses.

Bangladesh’s overall inflation rate declined in June 2026, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Monday. The national point-to-point inflation fell to 9.16 percent, down from 9.42 percent in May, which had been the highest level in 16 months. The latest figures show a decline in both food and non-food inflation, offering some relief after months of elevated prices.

BBS reported that food inflation dropped by 0.46 percentage points to 8.60 percent in June, compared to 9.06 percent in May. Non-food inflation also eased slightly, falling by 0.10 percentage points to 9.61 percent from 9.71 percent. In rural areas, overall inflation decreased to 9.23 percent, while in urban areas it fell to 9.01 percent. Both regions experienced reductions in food and non-food inflation rates.

The data indicate a modest but broad-based easing of price pressures across Bangladesh, following a period of sustained inflationary pressure earlier in the year.

Bangladesh Bank has granted Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery Limited special permission to open import letters of credit (LC) with a 100 percent cash margin, even though the company is a corporate guarantor of a defaulted loan. The central bank issued the directive on Monday, suspending the application of Section 27Ka(3) of the Bank Company Act, 1991, for the company until June 30, 2027. The decision was made under the authority of Section 121 of the same law, with the condition that no financial loss to the government or Bangladesh Bank may result from this facility.

According to the source, Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery is the corporate guarantor of a defaulted loan of Abdul Monem Limited at state-owned Agrani Bank. As of March 2025, Abdul Monem Limited had defaulted loans totaling Tk 698 crore across 24 banks and financial institutions, including Tk 455 crore owed to Agrani Bank. The refinery sought the special LC facility on June 7, citing existing international contracts for raw sugar imports and potential daily penalties of about USD 23,000 if delayed.

The refinery is currently operated by Abul Khair Limited under a sales agreement, marketing sugar under the 'Starship Sugar' brand, though ownership transfer is still pending.

Revenue collection at Benapole Customs House, the country’s largest land port, fell sharply in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Against a government target of Tk 11,290 crore, only Tk 6,559 crore was collected, leaving a shortfall of Tk 4,731 crore. The decline coincided with a significant drop in trade volume, as both imports and exports through the port decreased notably.

Data show that total imports through Benapole fell to 1.4 million metric tons in 2025–26 from 1.6 million metric tons the previous year. Revenue also dropped by about Tk 470 crore compared to 2024–25. Traders attributed the shortfall mainly to reduced imports of high-duty goods such as industrial raw materials, electronics, machinery, and chemicals. They suggested that improved digital monitoring, scanning, and anti-corruption measures could curb irregularities.

Port officials said allegations of manipulation in weight scales and other irregularities are under investigation, with legal action promised against those found guilty. The customs commissioner affirmed that strict vigilance is in place to prevent revenue evasion.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh will be brought under complete digitalization as quickly as possible to expand banking and financial services to citizens’ doorsteps. Speaking as chief guest at the ‘Innovation Showcasing 2025–26’ program organized by the Financial Institutions Division on Monday, he said the initiative aims to simplify public services, enhance transparency, and save time and costs. The minister emphasized that inclusive development requires participation from all citizens, including workers, farmers, and small entrepreneurs.

He noted that a high-level government team is currently in Estonia to study its technological excellence and model for possible adaptation in Bangladesh’s financial sector. Chowdhury urged banks and insurance companies to assess how many of their clients are receiving digital services and to encourage customers to adopt online platforms. He added that expanding digital coverage across all financial institutions will help citizens access services easily from anywhere, boosting national productivity.

The event was chaired by Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek and attended by senior officials from the division, Bangladesh Bank, and top executives from banks, insurance, and financial organizations.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abul Muktadir stated that ship recycling in Bangladesh is now being conducted using scientific methods that comply with international and environmental standards. He made the remarks on Monday morning after visiting the PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The minister said the government aims to bring all ship recycling yards under green certification to enhance Bangladesh’s global market acceptance.

During a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, the minister discussed industry challenges, prospects, and development plans. He noted that the sector once faced international criticism for pollution, unsafe working conditions, and poor hygiene, but significant improvements have been made through modern technology and better safety measures. Several yards have already received international recognition.

Muktadir added that Bangladesh previously dismantled about 45 percent of ships sold for recycling worldwide, but its position weakened due to global competition and policy challenges. The government is now working to restore its leading status while reviewing national policies on the Hong Kong and Basel Conventions to balance international compliance with national interests.