Bangladesh’s Food, Fisheries and Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government will take initiatives to export food items to Japan. He made the statement on Sunday after a meeting at the Secretariat with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by Chief Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide. The meeting discussed the JICA-funded Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project and the possibility of introducing a unified food business licensing system similar to those in Japan and ASEAN countries.

The project, worth Tk 2,409.70 crore over ten years, aims to strengthen food safety testing capacity in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna through the establishment of a Food Safety Reference Laboratory, two regional testing labs, and a training facility. The minister emphasized that achieving international food safety standards would make food exports easier and called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure safe food from production to consumption.

He thanked JICA for its financial support and expressed optimism that the project’s successful implementation would bring discipline to the country’s food management system.

Maize cultivation in Sherpur’s Sreebordi upazila has reached record levels this season, with 1,315 hectares brought under cultivation across ten unions—an increase of about 600 hectares from last year. Favorable weather conditions have raised expectations of a bumper harvest, according to local agricultural officials. Farmers in key unions such as Kakilakura, Velua, Sreebordi Sadar, and Tatihati have led the expansion.

Officials noted that rising demand for maize as food, livestock, and poultry feed, along with its relatively low susceptibility to pests, has encouraged farmers to shift from rice to maize. Farmers reported average yields of 30 to 35 maunds per bigha, with production costs around 25,000 taka per bigha. They also use maize stalks as fuel and leaves as cattle feed, making the crop more profitable than rice.

However, some farmers complained that fertilizer shortages and high DAP prices could reduce profits. The upazila agriculture officer described maize as a highly profitable crop with low maintenance needs and said its cultivation is likely to continue increasing if its diverse uses expand further.

Eight fuel-carrying ships transporting LNG, LPG, and chemical products have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and Chattogram Port after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Four of the vessels have already anchored at the outer mooring, while the remaining four are expected to arrive by March 14. The Chattogram Port Authority confirmed the arrivals on Sunday, noting that the ships successfully passed through the Hormuz Strait on February 28, before the onset of conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

According to port sources, the shipments include LNG carriers from Qatar’s Ras Laffan Port and LPG and chemical carriers from Oman’s Sohar Port. The vessels Al Zour, Al Jasassiya, Lusail, and others brought tens of thousands of tons of LNG and LPG. Two Liberia-flagged ships carrying LNG are also due to dock on March 11 and 14. The port authority stated that fuel vessels are being given priority for berthing and unloading to ensure timely handling.

The arrival of these ships is part of a total of 15 vessels that recently entered Bangladesh’s waters carrying energy and industrial raw materials.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that while the country’s overall default loans fell by Tk 870 billion in the last quarter of the previous year, five merged banks saw their non-performing loans rise by Tk 65 billion. The combined default loans of these banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Global Islami, and Union Bank—reached Tk 1.66 trillion, accounting for 84.22 percent of their total loans.

Officials attributed the increase to financial misconduct by former bank leaders Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Saiful Alam, who allegedly took large sums under various names and failed to repay. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit reported that S. Alam Group alone withdrew Tk 1.02 trillion from these banks. Persistent liquidity shortages and capital deficits led the government to merge the five institutions.

Bangladesh Bank has been working for a year on the merger, including legal and policy preparations, asset and liability reviews, and simulation exercises for a new state-owned Shariah-based bank. The merged entity will have Tk 350 billion in paid-up capital, of which Tk 200 billion will come from the government and Tk 150 billion from deposit-to-share conversions.

A sudden and severe shortage of petrol and octane has hit filling stations across Barishal city and surrounding areas since late Friday night. Motorists have been forced to return empty-handed as most stations display signs announcing the unavailability of fuel. Long queues formed at the few stations with limited supplies, leading to frustration and altercations between drivers and station staff.

Station owners attribute the crisis to panic buying, saying drivers are purchasing three to four times their usual fuel needs amid fears of a broader shortage linked to conflict in the Middle East. Some customers, however, accuse station owners of hoarding fuel for profit. Managers at several stations confirmed that petrol and octane stocks were depleted by Friday night, leaving only diesel available.

Officials from Meghna Petroleum’s Barishal depot said the shortage resulted from excessive demand rather than supply failure and assured that the situation should normalize within a few days once new shipments arrive.

At least 15 ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and raw materials for the cement industry have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Twelve of the vessels have already arrived at Chattogram Port, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The ships managed to pass through the strait just before it was closed following a joint Israel–United States attack on Iran.

According to port and energy officials, the vessels include four carrying LNG, two with LPG, and nine transporting cement raw materials such as clinker, gypsum, limestone and stone. The arrivals have eased concerns over potential fuel shortages amid regional tensions. One LPG ship named Sevan arrived from Oman’s Sohar Port with 22,172 tons of LPG, while another, GYMM, carried 19,316 tons. Two LNG carriers, Al Zour and Al Jassaniya, arrived from Qatar with about 126,000 tons of LNG. Additional ships are expected from Qatar and other Gulf ports in the coming days.

Officials cautioned that risks remain, as two LNG carriers and one crude oil vessel are still stranded beyond the Hormuz Strait.

Bangladesh has become the world’s second-largest supplier of online gig work, following India, according to studies by the ILO, Oxford Internet Institute, and the World Bank. With an estimated 1–1.2 million active freelancers, the country’s youth are increasingly engaged in digital platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. This expansion has reduced unemployment pressure and improved individual financial stability. The gig economy now spans both urban and rural areas, contributing around USD 1–1.2 billion annually to foreign exchange reserves.

However, the rapid, unregulated growth has exposed weaknesses in skill quality, professionalism, and infrastructure. Many Bangladeshi gig workers remain in low-skill, low-pay roles that are being replaced by AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Google AutoML. Language barriers, missed deadlines, and lack of contract knowledge have also weakened client confidence. Unlike the EU, Bangladesh lacks social protection, health insurance, or pension systems for gig workers, prompting the ITUC to label such economies as “digital sweatshops.”

The article stresses the need for high-value skill development in AI, data science, and blockchain, along with policy reforms to ensure stable internet, secure payment systems, and inclusion of gig work in national labor frameworks.

Bangladesh is facing widespread public anxiety and long queues at petrol stations amid global oil market instability caused by war in the Middle East. The government has urged citizens to conserve fuel and electricity, while the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) introduced rationing measures citing limited reserves. Despite official assurances of adequate supply, many stations have closed temporarily due to overwhelming demand, with reports of altercations and threats against pump operators.

According to BPC officials, the country currently holds reserves for 10 days of diesel, 17–18 days of octane, 13 days of petrol, 90 days of furnace oil, and 52 days of jet fuel, with additional shipments arriving at Chattogram port. The government is also importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) at higher spot market prices to maintain electricity supply during Ramadan and the irrigation season. Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to review the situation and announced plans to explore alternative import sources.

Authorities have deployed mobile courts to monitor fuel distribution and warned against panic buying, emphasizing that current reserves are sufficient and supply will continue normally.

Qatar has resumed the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh after a temporary production halt, according to a report by U.S.-based media outlet Bloomberg. The report stated that a tanker named 'Lebretha' departed from Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal on Friday, loaded with LNG and heading toward Bangladesh, where it is expected to arrive on March 14. Another vessel, 'Al Ghashamiya,' was also loaded with LNG earlier in the week and is currently waiting in the Persian Gulf.

Bloomberg noted that it remains uncertain whether either shipment will reach its destination, as the Strait of Hormuz—controlled by Iran—has been effectively closed to commercial shipping due to ongoing war conditions. The report added that the 'Lebretha' tanker could serve as floating storage until sea routes reopen.

Earlier, Qatar had shut down its Ras Laffan terminal, the world’s largest LNG export hub, following an Iranian drone attack. Normally, about 20 percent of global LNG supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bangladesh Railway has started selling advance train tickets for March 18 today, Sunday, March 8, to ensure smooth travel for passengers heading home for Eid-ul-Fitr. According to railway authorities, all tickets are being sold entirely online this year. To reduce server pressure, the ticket sales have been divided by region and time, with western region tickets available from 8 a.m. and eastern region tickets from 2 p.m.

Tickets for March 13 to 17 trains were sold from March 3 to 7, while tickets for March 18 and 19 are being sold on March 8 and 9 respectively. For return journeys after Eid, advance ticket sales will begin on March 13, starting with tickets for March 23. Subsequent days will see sales for March 24 to 29 tickets.

The initiative aims to manage high passenger demand during the Eid travel rush and minimize technical disruptions by staggering online ticket sales across regions and dates.

India has raised cooking gas prices as global energy markets reel from ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In Kolkata, the price of a 14-kilogram LPG cylinder rose from 879 to 939 rupees, while the 19-kilogram commercial cylinder increased by 114 rupees to 1,990 rupees. The new rates took effect on Saturday, March 7, across West Bengal, intensifying pressure on household budgets.

According to the LPG Distributors Association spokesperson Bijonbihari Biswas, supply to large customers has been temporarily restricted, and similar measures may soon apply to users of 19-kilogram cylinders. Distributors reportedly have only four to five days of gas stock left. Many residents have begun turning to wood-fired stoves as an alternative amid the price hike.

Stakeholders warn that if the conflict continues, gas prices could rise further. Local consumers expressed concern that the higher costs are straining family finances, with few affordable alternatives available.

Bangladesh Bank has received a set of recommendations from leading economists to help the country withstand potential economic shocks stemming from rising tensions in the Middle East. At a meeting held on Saturday, chaired by newly appointed Governor Mostakur Rahman, eight prominent economists advised keeping the policy interest rate unchanged, preserving foreign exchange reserves, and seeking alternative energy sources outside the Middle East.

The economists warned that recent military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could disrupt global energy supplies and increase pressure on Bangladesh’s economy through higher fuel costs, reduced remittance inflows, and dollar shortages. They emphasized the need to avoid policies that could worsen inflation, which remains high, and urged proper implementation of social safety programs such as the Family Card initiative.

Additional recommendations included accelerating the release of foreign loans, exploring energy imports from Brunei and Singapore, and forming a crisis management committee to provide regular briefings and prevent public panic. The governor pledged integrity in his role and directed banks to act free from political influence.

Bangladesh has received a major relief as 15 cargo ships carrying fuel, gas, and industrial raw materials have begun arriving at Chattogram Port despite fears of disruption in the Hormuz Strait due to the ongoing Iran-Israel-US conflict. According to port authorities, 12 of the ships have already docked, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The shipments include liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and clinker for the cement industry.

The tension around the Hormuz Strait escalated after a joint US-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, followed by Tehran’s warnings. About 20 percent of global oil and LNG supplies pass through this route, making it crucial for Bangladesh, which imports from seven Gulf countries. Four LNG ships from Qatar crossed the strait before the conflict intensified, while one more remains inside awaiting passage.

Officials noted that while current shipments have arrived safely, continued instability could complicate future cargo movements through the strait, potentially affecting Bangladesh’s energy imports.

Twelve ships that departed through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman before the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel have reached the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port. Three more vessels are expected to arrive within the week. Among the arrivals, four are carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), two contain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and nine are loaded with clinker, a raw material for the cement industry.

According to Khairul Alam Sujon, former director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, these ships left the Middle East before navigation through the Hormuz Strait was halted due to the conflict. He added that several other ships are still en route, while a few remain near or inside the strait.

Sujon stated that the government, shipping lines, vessel owners, cargo owners, and mariners are closely monitoring the war situation. If threats in the Hormuz Strait subside, normal maritime operations are expected to resume quickly.

A sudden shortage of petrol has been reported across multiple filling stations in Rangpur Division, where customers claim a syndicate is deliberately withholding fuel to create an artificial crisis. Despite government instructions on fuel distribution limits, petrol has become unavailable at most pumps, forcing consumers to buy octane instead. In response, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the district administration launched joint drives, fining and warning pump owners for non-compliance.

On Saturday, long queues formed at petrol stations as motorcyclists and car owners struggled to refuel. Several customers accused pump owners of hoarding petrol to manipulate prices, while some station managers argued that supply disruptions were due to depot closures on Friday and Saturday. However, mobile courts found evidence of petrol being withheld despite available stock.

The mobile court fined the Shapla Uniq Petrol Pump Tk 10,000 and the City Petrol Pump Tk 20,000 for creating artificial shortages. Officials confirmed that sufficient fuel supply exists and urged the public not to panic or buy excessively. The inspection drives will continue across all pumps in Rangpur.