Watermelon farmers in Feni are facing severe financial losses due to off-season rain, a fuel shortage affecting transport, and a sharp fall in market prices. Despite an increase in cultivation this season, yields have dropped, leaving many farmers unable to recover their investments. In Sonagazi’s Dakshin Char Chandina, ten farmers invested Tk 11.6 million across 90 acres, but a lack of wholesale buyers has left their harvests rotting in the fields. Farmers are now feeding unsold watermelons to livestock as their produce spoils.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, watermelon cultivation in Feni rose from 774 hectares last year to 1,299 hectares this year, with Sonagazi alone exceeding its target. Last season’s sales reached Tk 1.5 billion, and expectations were high for Tk 2.5 billion this year. However, rain damage, transport costs inflated by the global fuel crisis, and virus outbreaks have dashed those hopes. Farmers report earning less than one-third of their production costs.

Local officials acknowledged the crisis, citing fuel shortages and weather disruptions as key factors. Authorities said they would assist with transport fuel if formally requested, while affected farmers are urging both government and private support to recover from the losses.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced that electric school buses can now be imported without any customs duty. NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said the decision is part of the government’s broader plan to reduce fuel consumption in public transport. He made the announcement on Tuesday during a pre-budget meeting with several transport sector organizations in Agargaon, Dhaka. An official order (SRO) will be issued soon to implement the exemption.

According to the NBR chairman, the government aims to lower fuel use in the transport sector, starting with vehicles used for students. The duty waiver for electric school buses will take effect before the upcoming national budget, as the government does not want to delay the initiative. He also mentioned that the upcoming budget will include several changes related to the electric vehicle sector.

The move signals an early step toward promoting electric mobility in Bangladesh’s transport system, with immediate implementation expected once the SRO is issued.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman stated on Tuesday that Bangladesh’s fuel situation is not in a critical state, despite some supply challenges. Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat’s PID conference room, he said that while there are concerns about shortages of petrol and octane, the overall supply has only slightly declined compared to last year. Diesel supply fell from 396,098 metric tons in March 2025 to 363,512 metric tons in March 2026, while octane supply rose slightly to 37,439 metric tons. Petrol supply decreased from 46,371 to 39,998 metric tons.

Dr. Rahman attributed the current situation partly to panic buying and illegal hoarding, noting that some individuals may be stockpiling fuel for resale or smuggling. He reported that 74 operations were conducted in April against illegal fuel storage, resulting in 114 cases and fines totaling 313,000 taka. As of April 6, national reserves stood at 114,122 metric tons of diesel, 10,151 metric tons of octane, and 13,805 metric tons of petrol.

He added that the government continues to bear heavy subsidies in the energy and power sectors, with outstanding dues exceeding 45,000 crore taka, keeping the situation under financial pressure.

Workers of Nasa Group staged a protest on Tuesday morning, April 7, 2026, blocking the Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad area in Cumilla. They erected barricades on both sides of the highway, halting vehicle movement and causing a traffic jam stretching about 10 kilometers. The demonstration was organized to demand payment of long-overdue wages.

Protesting workers said they have been struggling to survive without salaries for a long time and accused the company of attempting to shut down operations illegally. One worker, Taslima Akter, stated that they would continue the blockade throughout the day if their demands were not met. A traveler named Ariful Islam, who was heading from Feni to Dhaka, expressed frustration over the sudden road closure and questioned the need to block a national highway for wage demands.

Cumilla Sadar South Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Mostafa said that if the workers did not clear the highway soon, authorities would take necessary action to restore traffic flow.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, told the National Parliament on April 7, 2026, that there is a regular system for adjusting fuel prices, which is reviewed every month. He stated that Bangladesh is currently the only country where fuel prices have been kept unchanged.

The minister said the government is sourcing fuel from all possible channels to maintain stable supply. He added that operations against illegal hoarding and black market activities will continue to ensure market discipline. Presenting data to Parliament, he reported that the country currently holds 164,944 metric tons of diesel in reserve.

He further informed that by the end of April, Bangladesh will import an additional 138,000 tons of diesel, 71,443 tons of octane, and 36,000 tons of petrol to strengthen supply security.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education seeking approval for festival allowances for 390,239 teachers and employees working in non-government educational institutions under the MPO scheme. The proposal was sent to the ministry’s budget branch on Monday, and the allowance will be disbursed upon official approval.

According to DSHE, the proposal covers 302,693 teachers and staff from schools and 87,546 from colleges. The process will follow the existing system used for monthly salary and allowance disbursement, where institutions submit online requests, which are then verified by DSHE and coordinated with the Ministry of Finance for fund release.

Education sector stakeholders believe that if approved, the move will fulfill a long-standing demand and enhance the festive spirit among teachers and staff during the celebration period.

Two ships carrying a total of about 51,000 tons of fuel are scheduled to reach Bangladesh waters on Wednesday under the supervision of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). According to BPC officials, one vessel named MT Central Star, flying the Marshall Islands flag, is bringing around 26,000 tons of refined octane, while another vessel, MT Eastern Queens, is carrying 25,000 metric tons of furnace oil. Both ships are expected to take one to two additional days to reach the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port.

BPC’s public relations officer Farzin Hasan Moumita confirmed the arrival schedule. Officials said unloading operations will begin promptly once the ships dock at the jetty. Despite ongoing global conflict affecting supply chains, BPC continues efforts to maintain steady fuel imports and distribution across the country.

The timely arrival of these shipments is expected to support Bangladesh’s domestic fuel supply and help stabilize the energy distribution system amid challenging international conditions.

Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the country’s top 20 loan defaulters in the National Parliament on Monday. The report showed that 11 of these companies belong to the controversial S Alam Group. Two companies each from Beximco Group, owned by Salman F Rahman, and Sikder Group, owned by Ron and Rick Haque Sikder, were also listed. The minister did not disclose the total amount of defaulted loans for these entities.

The report noted that S Alam Group had taken loans totaling Tk 225,000 crore during the previous Awami League government, causing significant losses to several Islamic banks. These struggling banks were later merged into a new entity, Sammilit Islami Bank, with government and depositor contributions. The finance minister also stated that as of December, total defaulted loans in Bangladesh stood at Tk 544,831.88 crore.

The government has initiated measures to recover defaulted loans, including monitoring progress on top defaulters, updating banking guidelines, and publishing lists of willful defaulters. The minister emphasized ongoing reforms to stabilize the economy and strengthen financial discipline.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that by the end of September last year, 23 banks in the country faced a combined capital shortfall of Tk 2.82 trillion, up from Tk 1.56 trillion in June. The increase is attributed to a surge in non-performing loans, which reached Tk 6.44 trillion. The report also notes that the banks failed to maintain the required loan-loss provisions, resulting in a provision deficit of Tk 3.44 trillion and pushing the sector’s capital adequacy ratio (CRAR) to a negative 2.90 percent, below the international minimum of 10 percent.

Among the affected institutions, four state-owned banks accounted for Tk 37,698 crore of the deficit, nine private banks for Tk 36,607 crore, eight Islamic banks for Tk 175,822 crore, and two specialized banks for Tk 32,477 crore. The largest individual shortfall was recorded at First Security Islami Bank with Tk 65,090 crore. Bangladesh Bank’s assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui explained that rising defaults have increased provisioning needs, while limited profits have prevented banks from meeting those requirements.

The report indicates that banks outside these 23 institutions remain adequately capitalized, suggesting that the broader sector’s stability depends on addressing the weaknesses of the deficit banks.

Bangladesh’s export and import activities have slowed sharply following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran that disrupted global oil supply chains. The instability has begun to affect operations at Chattogram Port and Customs, raising concerns over revenue collection and overall economic performance. Despite maintaining growth in the first nine months of the fiscal year, the final quarter has seen declining export volumes and reduced port activity.

Data from Chattogram Port show container handling rose 4.75 percent and bulk cargo 7.39 percent year-on-year in the first nine months, but exports have fallen steadily since January. Export container shipments dropped from 79,000 TEUs in January to 60,000 in March. Chattogram Customs collected Tk 58,432 crore in revenue during the same period, well short of its Tk 1 trillion annual target. Officials attribute the slowdown to the Middle East conflict’s impact on trade and energy supply.

Industry leaders warn that continued fuel shortages and uncertainty over government energy policy could further delay new export orders. They urge the government to outline and implement a clear plan to manage the energy crisis and inflation risks.

The Ghorashal-Polash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi resumed production at 12:10 p.m. on Monday, April 6, after remaining closed for nearly a month due to a gas supply suspension. The factory began preliminary operations on March 31 following the restoration of gas connection by Titas authorities. The plant’s General Manager (Administration), Md. Fakhrul Alam, confirmed the resumption of production.

According to factory sources, gas supply to the facility was halted on March 4 amid a nationwide gas crisis, forcing the shutdown of one of Asia’s major gas-dependent urea producers. The closure caused a daily production loss of about 2,800 metric tons of urea, valued at approximately Tk 13.44 crore per day. The factory, built at a cost of Tk 15,000 crore and operational since March 11, 2024, requires 71–72 MMC of gas daily for full-capacity production but can operate with 52–53 MMC.

Officials stated that the one-month shutdown will compel the factory to cover loan repayments, amounting to Tk 1,600–1,800 crore annually, through borrowing to offset the production gap.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will bring 60,000 income tax returns under audit for the fiscal years 2023–2024, 2024–2025, and 2025–2026. NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced the plan during a pre-budget discussion with the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at the Revenue Building in Agargaon, Dhaka. He said the selection will be made on a risk-based basis through an automated system.

The chairman explained that manual audit selection had been suspended earlier due to complaints and would only resume after the transition to an online system. With online filing now mandatory for most taxpayers in the current fiscal year, the NBR has reintroduced audits through automation. He added that 600 companies have already been selected for VAT audits under the same automated process, covering manufacturing, service, retail, wholesale, and import-export sectors.

According to the NBR, the automated selection system aims to enhance transparency, neutrality, and efficiency in tax administration while reducing revenue evasion and improving taxpayer confidence.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced plans to impose an annual limit on head office expenses claimed by foreign companies operating in the country. NBR Chairman disclosed the move during a pre-budget discussion with representatives of the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at the Revenue Building on Monday. He said many firms report large head office costs each year, which reduces their declared profits, and argued that such expenses should not rise indefinitely after the initial years of establishment.

FICCI’s tax adviser Snehashish Barua opposed the proposal, noting that existing laws such as the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and transfer pricing regulations already ensure expense justification. He warned that setting arbitrary limits could send a negative signal to foreign investors. FICCI also proposed lowering the corporate tax rate from 27.5 percent to 20 percent, arguing that Bangladesh’s rate is higher than competitors like Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The NBR chairman rejected the idea, citing revenue pressures.

FICCI President Rupali Chowdhury said foreign firms are struggling with negative growth since the pandemic and the Ukraine war, urging NBR to support businesses ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming LDC graduation.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed Parliament that current members of parliament collectively owe Tk 11,117.31 crore in loans, of which Tk 3,330.08 crore are classified as defaulted. He provided the information in response to a written question from Comilla-4 MP Md. Abul Hasnat during the ninth day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament, presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

The minister stated that the total loan amount includes debts held by MPs and institutions linked to their interests in banks and financial companies. He also mentioned that, according to court directives, the total defaulted amount of Tk 3,330.08 crore has not yet been officially recorded as defaulted.

The disclosure highlights the scale of financial obligations among sitting lawmakers and their associated entities, as well as the ongoing legal and procedural complexities in classifying certain loans as defaults.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has issued important directives to enhance non-urea fertilizer management during a meeting held at the Agriculture Building in Dhaka. The meeting, organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), focused on improving fertilizer distribution and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth across the country.

During the session, the minister highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives for balanced and sustainable development, identifying agriculture as a top priority sector. He announced a master plan to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years, with 5,000 kilometers already under implementation in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. He also stated that a farmer card distribution program will begin soon to support marginal farmers and emphasized strengthening the activities of agencies under the Agriculture Ministry to make fertilizer management more efficient.

The minister assured that the country has sufficient fertilizer reserves and that continued imports will prevent any shortage. Plans are also underway to explore the use of railways for fertilizer transport to reduce costs and improve accountability.