Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (Health) Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haider announced that separate development projects worth about Tk 800 crore have been undertaken for Jhalakathi district. The plan includes construction and improvement of rural roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure. He made the announcement on Thursday morning at a development and assistance distribution meeting held at the Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Dr. Haider said that Tk 150 crore has been allocated for building the country’s first Cultural Village in Jhalakathi. Land acquisition has started for a modern sports complex, which has been included in the Annual Development Programme. The complex aims to promote youth sports participation, reduce drug abuse, and create employment opportunities through trainer recruitment. He also mentioned that steps are being taken to protect the Sarengal Bazar area of Keora Union from river erosion and that the process to upgrade Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital to 250 beds is progressing.

At the end of the event, assistance was distributed among people with disabilities, farmers, and families affected by fire incidents.

The Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that the monthly car maintenance allowance for government officials, from deputy secretaries to top-level officers, will remain at Tk 50,000. A previous initiative to reduce the allowance by half, to Tk 25,000, has been withdrawn. The decision was confirmed through an official circular issued by the ministry.

The allowance applies not only to civil government officials but also to officers in the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the armed forces. Over the past week, the finance division and the Ministry of Public Administration exchanged letters regarding the proposed reduction, which reportedly caused dissatisfaction among many officials.

The finance division sent a letter to the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday afternoon instructing that no further action be taken on the earlier proposal made on July 9. As a result, the existing monthly car maintenance allowance of Tk 50,000 remains unchanged.

In Cumilla’s Titas upazila, a canal re-excavation project under the Prime Minister’s Special Priority Program and the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP) failed to meet its completion deadline. The upazila administration returned Tk 4,556,703 of unused funds to the government treasury to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending. The project, inaugurated by the local Member of Parliament, aimed to restore water flow, improve drainage, and boost agricultural productivity across a three-kilometer stretch from Darigaon Kathalia River to Gangaprasad.

According to the Project Implementation Office, only 1.067 kilometers of the canal were re-excavated before the June 30 deadline, with Tk 3,172,000 spent on wages, equipment, and transport. Local farmers said the incomplete work left persistent problems of waterlogging during monsoon and irrigation shortages in the dry season. Project Implementation Officer Saidul Islam stated that the remaining funds were returned as per government rules.

Officials said future projects will emphasize stronger planning and supervision to ensure timely completion and full benefits for local residents.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing to begin online income tax return submissions for individual taxpayers by the last week of July 2026. Although the fiscal year has already started, the filing process has not yet opened. NBR sources said preparations are nearly complete, and the system will launch soon to facilitate early submissions under a new incentive scheme. The initiative follows last year’s policy that made online filing mandatory for most individual taxpayers, excluding five specific categories.

According to NBR officials, corporate entities will also be brought under the online filing system for the first time, though that process may take two to three more months. The software provider Synosis IT is upgrading the system to align with recent tax law changes and plans to hand it over to NBR by July 20 for review. NBR is also working with Bangladesh Bank and commercial banks to enable automatic inclusion of banking data in tax returns, though this will remain optional.

Officials believe automated data integration with banks and other agencies could reduce tax evasion and increase government revenue collection.

Global gold prices dropped sharply on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as escalating conflict in the Middle East heightened investor anxiety over inflation and potential interest rate hikes. At 9:49 a.m. Bangladesh time, spot gold fell 0.6 percent to 4,034.42 dollars per ounce, while U.S. August futures declined 0.3 percent to 4,039.90 dollars. Analysts linked the decline to rising oil prices and renewed geopolitical tensions.

According to IndusInd Securities senior research analyst Jigar Trivedi, continued attacks between the United States and Iran have driven oil prices higher, reviving inflation fears and pressuring the gold market. The U.S. carried out two strikes on Iranian coastal defenses and missile bases and reimposed naval blockades, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran on U.S. military sites in neighboring countries. Tehran described the confrontation as an “existential struggle.”

Although U.S. inflation eased slightly in June due to lower energy costs, markets remain uncertain about the Federal Reserve’s next moves. CME FedWatch data indicated a 73 percent probability of a rate hike in December. Fed officials reaffirmed their commitment to controlling inflation, while prices of silver, platinum, and palladium also fell alongside gold.

The government of Bangladesh has yet to finalize the long-awaited ninth national pay scale for public servants. A meeting of the National Pay Commission-2025 recommendation committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, was expected to approve the new structure but instead decided to conduct further reviews on key financial and administrative issues. The final recommendations will be sent to the Cabinet after several more meetings.

According to officials, the new pay structure will apply to civil servants, judicial officers, and members of the armed forces. The government is proceeding cautiously due to the financial impact and implementation schedule. The commission had proposed raising basic salaries by 100–140 percent, with the lowest grade increasing from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the highest from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000. IMF’s warnings on expenditure control were also discussed, but policymakers emphasized domestic economic realities, including inflation and reduced purchasing power.

Economists believe the new pay scale could boost consumption but also raise government spending. The Cabinet’s decision and subsequent finance ministry notification will determine when the new structure takes effect.

Speakers at a seminar in Barishal on Wednesday called for upgrading the Bhanga–Kuakata highway to six lanes, citing its narrow condition as a major obstacle to industrialization in Bangladesh’s southern coastal region. The discussion took place at a divisional workshop on industrial survey organized by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), where participants highlighted the need for improved infrastructure to support investment and regional development.

Barishal Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed said the region has not attracted the expected level of investment and lacks major factories. He noted that large tracts of acquired land in Patuakhali and near Payra Port remain unused. Speakers emphasized that developing industries based on local resources such as hilsa fish, coconut, betel nut, and guava could accelerate economic growth. They also underscored Kuakata’s potential as a tourism hub if infrastructure and services are expanded.

Participants agreed that the poor condition of the Bhanga–Kuakata road discourages investors and hampers transport of raw materials, goods, and tourists. They argued that a six-lane upgrade could open a new era for industrial and tourism development in the southern region.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku announced that a comprehensive list of entrepreneurs in the fisheries and livestock sectors will be prepared to ensure sustainable development. He made the statement on Wednesday during a virtual meeting with divisional directors of fisheries and livestock, held at the ministry’s conference room.

Tuku said that a national database will be created through coordination among divisional, district, and upazila-level officials to collect information on farmers and entrepreneurs. He emphasized that educated youth engaging in commercial and science-based farm management can enhance productivity, create employment, and strengthen food security. The minister noted that planned use of inputs reduces production costs and increases profitability, while unplanned use leads to financial losses.

He added that after the list is prepared, divisional meetings will be held with farmers to gather opinions on challenges and opportunities, helping formulate realistic policies and action plans. The government, he said, is committed to strengthening the sector in line with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, employment, and production growth.

Bangladesh Bank has relaxed conditions for fully foreign-owned industrial enterprises to obtain foreign loans. According to a circular issued on Wednesday, these companies can now borrow from their parent companies, affiliates, and shareholders. The policy applies to enterprises operating in export processing zones, economic zones, high-tech parks, and other manufacturing and service sectors outside these zones.

Under the new rules, firms outside special zones may take interest-free short-term loans for working capital without prior approval from Bangladesh Bank. They may also secure interest-bearing loans at a maximum annual all-in cost of 3 percent for business needs such as raw material procurement. Loans must be repaid in a lump sum at maturity and can be rolled over for up to three years. For loans between one and five years, companies can borrow up to USD 50 million interest-free for capital expenditures and up to USD 5 million with interest. Longer-term loans beyond five years are also allowed with a maximum interest rate of 3 percent annually.

Industry stakeholders said the move will help foreign-owned firms access low-cost financing and attract more foreign investment into Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Bank has handed back control of Al-Arafah Islami Bank to its previous owners, reinstating 14 entrepreneur directors to the bank’s board. The central bank issued an official letter to the bank’s managing director on Wednesday confirming the decision. Five independent directors appointed earlier by Bangladesh Bank will remain on the board.

According to Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, the decision was made because the bank’s financial condition has improved compared to before. He noted that while other banks with dissolved boards have not been able to locate their original entrepreneurs, Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s situation is different, allowing the return of control to its previous owners.

The reinstated entrepreneur directors include Badiur Rahman, Selim Rahman, Ahamedul Haque, Rafiqul Islam, Imadur Rahman, Nazmul Ahsan Khaled, Khalilur Rahman, Anwar Hossain, Abdus Salam, Liaquat Ali Chowdhury, Enayet Ullah, and representatives from KDS Garments, KDS Textile, and KY Steel Mills.

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) achieved record performance in investment and employment during the 2025–26 fiscal year, overcoming global economic challenges and a national export decline. BEPZA contributed 17.51 percent to Bangladesh’s total exports of 48 billion US dollars, with exports from its eight EPZs and one economic zone reaching 8.41 billion dollars. While national exports fell by 0.58 percent from the previous year, BEPZA’s exports grew by 2.2 percent.

A total of 36 companies from countries including China, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and Bangladesh signed lease agreements with BEPZA, proposing investments worth 717.71 million US dollars—the highest in its history. These projects are expected to create about 75,744 jobs once fully operational. Actual capital investment reached 286.46 million dollars, while net FDI inflow stood at 221.58 million dollars, accounting for 19.61 percent of the national total.

BEPZA’s managed zones now employ 558,691 workers, up from 533,527 a year earlier, marking its highest employment level. Its 451 operating industries export to 129 countries, diversifying Bangladesh’s export base beyond garments.

Suspicious transaction reporting in Bangladesh’s financial sector increased by 74 percent in the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). The agency’s annual report, presented by BFIU head Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun at Bangladesh Bank, recorded 30,199 suspicious transaction reports compared to 17,345 in the previous fiscal year. Mamun attributed the rise partly to changes following the government’s fall and said banks now report more freely without fear.

The report shows that banks remain the dominant source of suspicious transaction and activity reports, accounting for over 95 percent of total submissions in 2024–25, up from 92 percent the year before. Banks filed 28,755 reports, nearly 80 percent higher than the previous year and more than double the figure from 2022–23. The BFIU also facilitated 1,314 information exchanges among domestic agencies, including police, CID, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Board of Revenue.

In contrast, cash transaction reporting declined to 19,454 cases in 2024–25 from 23,900 the previous year, indicating a shift in reporting patterns within the financial system.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has announced the court-ordered seizure of assets worth Tk 760 billion belonging to Sheikh Hasina and ten industrial groups, both domestically and abroad. BFIU chief Ikhtiaruddin Md Mamun disclosed the information on Wednesday during the release of the unit’s annual report at Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters. Of the total amount, Tk 570 billion was frozen within Bangladesh, while Tk 190 billion in foreign assets was also seized.

Mamun stated that efforts are underway to recover assets that were allegedly stolen from the country, expressing optimism about providing positive updates by the end of the year. He emphasized that the BFIU does not consider political affiliations when freezing bank accounts, noting that any suspicious transactions, including those involving members of the interim government, would be investigated.

The announcement highlights the BFIU’s ongoing drive to curb illicit financial flows and recover misappropriated wealth, signaling a broader effort to strengthen financial transparency and accountability in Bangladesh.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ long-anticipated direct flight between Dhaka and New York now depends on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety evaluation. Bangladesh must pass the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) assessment and achieve Category One status through the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate the route. Preparations are underway, with ICAO’s pre-audit scheduled from October 26 to November 6, 2026, followed by a final audit in 2027. Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said that if progress continues as planned, the flight could begin in early 2028.

Officials report that about 75–80 percent of preparations are complete, including installation of advanced security equipment and internal audits. Three high-level committees are overseeing nine key safety areas to meet international standards. Bangladesh aims to exceed a 75 percent safety score, improving on its 2018 result of 68.55 percent.

Experts warn that inspector shortages, limited regulatory independence, and administrative challenges could hinder progress. However, authorities remain optimistic that ongoing modernization and oversight will strengthen Bangladesh’s global aviation standing and pave the way for the Dhaka–New York route.

The United States has imposed new sanctions aimed at dismantling a major Iranian shipping network allegedly used to evade existing restrictions on Tehran’s oil trade and other activities. The U.S. Treasury Department said the network, led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, was helping Iran bypass previous sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated that Washington is shutting down the financial infrastructure that enables Iran to threaten U.S. national security and the international maritime system.

According to the Treasury, the move is part of a broader effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran, following similar sanctions issued last year and in April this year. Under the new measures, more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Shamkhani’s network have been sanctioned. All assets of the listed parties within the United States will be blocked, and U.S. citizens or companies are prohibited from conducting any transactions with them.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment immediately on the new sanctions, according to the report sourced from Reuters.