Bangladesh’s stock market saw a sharp rebound on Wednesday following a dramatic turn in the Middle East conflict. US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire amid threats against Iran, easing global tension and triggering optimism among investors. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) responded strongly, with its main index, DSEX, rising by 161 points or 3.12 percent. Trading volume also surged by about 66 percent to Tk 991.59 crore, marking the highest turnover in one and a half months.

Former DSE Brokers Association president Ahmed Rashid Lali told Amader Desh that the ceasefire announcement had a positive impact on the market, as investors hoped it could lead to a lasting resolution. He also noted that despite a new government taking office, the lack of clarity regarding potential changes in the regulatory commission had created uncertainty among investors.

Market data showed that the DSEX climbed from 5,156 to nearly 5,318 points, while the DSE Shariah and DSE-30 indices rose by 2.88 percent and 2.77 percent respectively. Prices increased for 367 listed issues, fell for 15, and remained unchanged for 11.

A mobile court in Sirajganj conducted raids on several warehouses belonging to edible oil dealer Messrs Sanjay & Brothers and fined the company 90,000 taka under two sections of the Consumer Rights Protection Act. The operation took place on Wednesday from morning until 3 p.m. in the Kalibari area of Sirajganj town, jointly led by the district administration and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

Executive Magistrate Umme Naznin Nishat, who led the mobile court, stated that the dealer had initially claimed to own only two warehouses, but officials later discovered 11 warehouses containing various stored goods, including edible oil. The company was fined 50,000 taka under Section 43 for illegal marketing practices and 40,000 taka under Section 45 for failing to sell promised products properly.

Assistant Director Sohel Sheikh of the Consumer Rights Directorate said that more than ten warehouses were found storing food items without following proper regulations. He urged consumers to report any shortage of edible oil so that further inspections could be carried out.

A retail shop in Crystal Lake, Illinois, known as the 'Trump Truth Store + Hangout,' has temporarily closed due to a sharp decline in customer traffic. Owner Lisa Fleischman announced the closure on Facebook, citing the ongoing Iran war as the main reason for the drop in sales. She said that since President Donald Trump launched 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran on February 28, sales of political T-shirts, hats, and memorabilia have plummeted.

Fleischman told The Chicago Tribune that public interest in items such as red caps, flags, and shirts bearing slogans like 'God, Guns, and Trump' has fallen dramatically. She noted that customers appear uncertain and hesitant to wear such merchandise amid the current conflict. In recent days, she had hinted at the closure, mentioning health issues and considering shifting the business online.

Fleischman added that she could no longer cover even half of her rent and was unsure how long she could sustain the business. The store will remain closed until further notice.

Salaries for MPO-listed teachers working in private schools and colleges have not yet been disbursed for March, as processing in the government’s iBAS software remains incomplete. According to an official from the EMIS Cell of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the delay has prevented the transfer of funds to teachers’ bank accounts. The disbursement process is expected to begin by Thursday.

The Ministry of Education approved the March salary proposal for MPO-listed teachers and staff on April 5. The approval covers 303,888 teachers and employees from 17,237 schools and 87,982 teachers and employees from 2,619 colleges. Although the ministry issued the necessary government order and banks began processing payments, the incomplete iBAS work has caused the delay.

Officials indicated that once the iBAS processing is finalized, the salary payments will proceed without further delay.

A severe fuel shortage has spread across Bangladesh, disrupting transportation, irrigation, and industrial operations. Farmers, vehicle drivers, and factory owners are crowding petrol stations daily, often leaving empty-handed. In Faridpur’s Sadarpur, diesel scarcity has halted irrigation, forcing both men and women to queue for hours in hopes of obtaining fuel. Similar shortages have been reported in Mymensingh’s Valuka, where many filling stations have suspended sales and posted “no fuel” signs.

Station owners attribute the crisis to supply shortfalls and global import disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Local administrations are attempting to control hoarding and manage distribution. In Shariatpur, authorities have launched two mobile apps to ensure fair fuel allocation for farmers and vehicles, which officials say is beginning to restore order. Meanwhile, in Boalmari, Faridpur, tensions arose during diesel distribution organized by local officials and lawmakers.

Officials warn that if the shortage persists, industrial production could face major setbacks, while farmers fear reduced crop yields due to lack of irrigation fuel.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh fell by nearly 26 percent year-on-year during October to December, according to the Bangladesh Bank’s quarterly update released on Tuesday. The report shows net FDI at 363.8 million dollars, down from 490 million dollars in the same period a year earlier. However, compared with the previous quarter, investment rose 15.47 percent from 315 million dollars in July–September.

The interim government has managed to stabilize the financial sector after the fall of the previous Awami League administration, preventing further decline in foreign reserves and improving remittance inflows. Yet, new foreign investment remained weak amid political unrest, energy shortages, high inflation, and elevated interest rates. Sector insiders said these factors discouraged investors and slowed business activity.

China was the top investor during the quarter with 77.2 million dollars, followed by Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Singapore. The power sector attracted the highest investment at 102 million dollars, followed by banking, textiles, and telecommunications. Despite some quarterly improvement, the overall investment climate remained unsatisfactory, the report indicated.

Oil prices dropped sharply following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, leading to a positive shift in global financial markets. According to Reuters, the change was observed on Tuesday night New York time. U.S. crude oil prices fell by about 16 percent to $94.59 per barrel, while Brent crude declined by roughly 15 percent to $92.35 per barrel.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas is transported, is closely linked to this development. Following the ceasefire announcement, markets reacted quickly: oil prices fell, bond prices rose, and U.S. stock markets gained. Investors believe oil supply could stabilize after recent disruptions.

The announcement came just before the expiration of a deadline set by President Donald Trump, bringing relief to investors. Analysts noted that despite the sharp drop, oil prices remain higher than at the end of February.

A high-level Bangladeshi delegation is traveling to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a four-day visit aimed at reopening Malaysia’s closed labor market. The team includes Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Expatriate Affairs Dr. Mahdi Amin. Ministry sources confirmed that ministerial-level meetings will be held with Malaysia’s Human Resources and Home Ministers. The issue of a pending case against a syndicate involved in manpower export may also receive attention during the talks.

According to ministry officials, the closure of this major labor market has hurt Bangladesh’s manpower exports and economy. Despite repeated efforts, Dhaka has struggled to persuade Malaysia to lift the suspension, as Kuala Lumpur has not clarified its conditions and continues to delay. Recruiting agencies and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) have objected to three of Malaysia’s ten conditions, prompting the ministry to request their relaxation.

Officials said the government remains committed to reopening the market, though early discussions may face challenges due to Malaysia’s unclear stance. The labor market was last closed on May 31, 2024, leaving about 18,000 workers unable to depart.

Global oil prices fell sharply following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire. Within just 15 minutes of the announcement, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by more than 12 dollars per barrel. By Tuesday night in New York, the May delivery price of WTI crude had fallen by 12.4 dollars, or 10.66 percent, to 100.90 dollars per barrel.

The announcement came just before the expiration of Trump’s previously set deadline, bringing relief to investors who had been unsettled by escalating tensions. Earlier, a US attack on Iranian oil fields and Tehran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz had caused severe volatility in the oil market.

The ceasefire news eased immediate market fears, though the report did not specify how long the price stability might last or what further diplomatic steps could follow.

France has finalized the sale of its remaining gold holdings stored at the U.S. Federal Reserve, completing a long-term initiative to repatriate and modernize its gold reserves. The Banque de France earned nearly 13 billion euros, or about $15 billion, after upgrading 129 tonnes of gold between July 2025 and January 2026 and replacing them with new, compliant bars now stored in Paris. The central bank stated that the move was a practical financial decision, not a political one.

By consolidating its reserves in Paris and adopting modern-standard bars, France has made its gold easier to manage and trade internationally. The transaction, which represented about 5 percent of France’s total 2,437-tonne reserve, took advantage of high gold prices and favorable market conditions. Instead of refining and transporting the old bars, the bank purchased equivalent new gold in Europe, maintaining the overall reserve size.

According to Reuters, the Banque de France reported 11 billion euros in exceptional foreign exchange income in 2025, with total gains reaching nearly 13 billion euros after 2026 transactions. The bank plans to upgrade an additional 134 tonnes of gold to international standards by 2028.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has connected its ASYCUDA World customs system with Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Transaction Management System (FXTMS) to enable real-time online verification of bank invoices. The integration was formally inaugurated by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday. According to NBR, customs officials will now be able to verify commercial invoices digitally without requiring hard copies.

Before this integration, banks had to submit certified commercial invoice hard copies to customs offices. Now, all invoice data will automatically transfer from the central bank’s FXTMS to the ASYCUDA system in real time. NBR stated that once the process is fully implemented, commercial invoices will be mandatorily attached to bills of entry. The initiative, jointly implemented by NBR and Bangladesh Bank with support from all commercial banks, marks a major step toward a paperless customs system.

The new connection is expected to reduce paperwork, curb revenue evasion, simplify and speed up import-export clearance, limit trade-based money laundering, and create a reliable database for product valuation.

City Bank has received approval to raise Tk 1,200 crore through a bond issuance with a seven-year tenure. The approval was granted at a regular meeting of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) chaired by Khandaker Rashed Maksud. According to a press release signed by BSEC Director and Spokesperson Abul Kalam, the bond will be offered through private placement to institutional investors, banks, corporate entities, individual investors, and mutual funds. Each bond unit will have a face value of Tk 10 lakh and will be listed on the Alternative Trading Board (ATB) of the stock exchange.

The bond will be unsecured, non-convertible, fully redeemable, and carry an interest rate equal to the average of the upper limit of six-month fixed deposit rates plus an additional 3 percent. Shariah-based, foreign, and post-2012 approved banks will be excluded from the average rate calculation. It will be a subordinated bond, meaning other creditors will be paid before bondholders in case of bankruptcy.

Funds raised will be used by City Bank to provide loans in corporate, retail, and SME sectors. EBL Investments will act as trustee, while City Bank Capital Resources and IDLC Investments will serve as arrangers.

Syed Moin Uddin Ahmed has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier. The appointment was announced on Tuesday through a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The position had remained vacant for several years before this appointment.

According to the circular, Ahmed’s appointment is on a one-year contractual basis, effective from his joining date. He must resign from any other professional, business, or institutional affiliations, whether governmental, semi-governmental, or private, as a condition of his appointment.

Officials believe that filling this long-vacant DMD position will help accelerate the administrative operations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has called for ensuring full independence and protection for Shariah boards in all Islamic banks. Speaking at a recent exchange meeting at the central bank’s headquarters, he emphasized that no obstacles should hinder the boards’ activities and that the central bank will guarantee their security. The meeting, organized by the Islamic Banking Regulation and Policy Department, brought together top Shariah scholars, advisory board members, and senior officials to discuss the current state, challenges, and future direction of Islamic banking.

The governor noted that past money laundering incidents in the Islamic banking sector were partly due to inadequate oversight. He stressed that empowering Shariah boards and prioritizing their guidance would help restore effective supervision and prevent political influence in banking operations. Participants at the meeting underscored the need to strengthen supervisory committees, secretariats, and audit systems, and to ensure legal independence for these bodies.

Speakers also proposed mandatory Shariah knowledge for bank directors and executives, annual external audits, and the introduction of Shariah compliance ratings to enhance transparency and public trust in the sector.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in jet fuel prices, raising the rate by about 25 taka per liter. The new prices will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, according to an official notification issued the same day. This marks the second price hike in less than two weeks, following a 90-taka increase on March 24.

Under the new pricing, domestic flights will now pay 227.08 taka per liter, up from 202.29 taka. For international flights, the price has been raised from 1.3216 dollars to 1.4806 dollars per liter, compared to the previous rate of 0.7384 dollars. BERC stated that the adjustment was made to align with current market conditions, import costs, and trends in the global energy market.

The commission confirmed that the revised rates will remain in effect until further notice, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance domestic pricing with international fuel market fluctuations.