The Bangladesh government has issued new directives to regulate fuel purchases at filling stations as global energy markets face disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The directives, released by the Energy Division on Friday, aim to control panic buying and manage limited supplies in Dhaka, where long queues and disputes have been reported at fuel stations.

According to the new rules, filling stations must provide receipts specifying fuel type, quantity, and price for each purchase, and consumers must present previous receipts when refueling again. Dealers are required to follow allocation limits and supply guidelines, while fuel marketing companies must verify stock and sales data before releasing new allocations. The directives also set limits on how much fuel stations can draw from depots and how much consumers can buy.

The measures are intended to stabilize domestic fuel distribution and prevent hoarding as Bangladesh experiences the ripple effects of the global energy shortage.

The Kremlin has reported a significant rise in global demand for Russian energy products due to the ongoing war in Iran, according to Al Jazeera. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the conflict has increased the need for Russian oil and gas in world markets. He emphasized that Russia remains a reliable supplier of both pipeline and liquefied energy resources.

The war has also disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, which is now nearly closed. This disruption has placed many countries at risk of losing access to about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. A day earlier, the U.S. Treasury granted a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea.

Analysts cited in the report noted that if tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Russia’s role in the global energy market could become even more significant.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has issued new directives urging immediate energy-saving measures across all sectors. The announcement, made on March 6, 2026, responds to potential disruptions in international energy supply chains caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The ministry emphasized the need for precautionary actions to ensure national energy security and optimal resource utilization.

The directives call on government offices, autonomous bodies, private organizations, commercial establishments, and citizens to adopt specific conservation practices. These include reducing unnecessary gas and fuel consumption, checking gas pipelines and burners for leaks, avoiding illegal gas use, promoting public transport and carpooling, and limiting non-essential travel. Institutions are instructed to implement energy-saving measures during and after office hours.

The ministry also urged all concerned parties to raise public awareness and cooperate in implementing the guidelines to safeguard national energy security.

In Haimchar upazila of Chandpur, cultivation of black cumin on previously fallow char lands has opened new opportunities for local farmers. Due to low production costs and high profitability within a short period, black cumin is now being called the 'black diamond' by farmers. According to the upazila agriculture office, cultivation has expanded from just one hectare last year to 18 hectares this year.

Farmers are growing the crop on sandy-loam soils after the rice harvest, supported by two government projects: the Modern Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in Bangladesh’s Char Areas and the Sustainable Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in the Cumilla region. These initiatives provide materials and technical assistance to farmers.

Officials noted that the soil’s pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 is ideal for black cumin cultivation. The Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chandpur expressed optimism that with proper marketing systems, Haimchar could become a major production hub for black cumin in the future.

The United States Department of the Treasury has granted India a temporary exemption from sanctions to purchase Russian oil that remains stranded at sea. The special waiver, valid for 30 days, was announced to help maintain stability in global oil supplies. The decision was confirmed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent in a post on social media platform X.

According to Basent, the move aims to keep global oil flows steady and counter Iran’s attempts to create pressure in the international energy market. He emphasized that the measure is short-term and will not provide significant financial benefits to the Russian government, as it applies only to stranded energy shipments.

Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions on Russian oil, forcing buyers to seek alternative sources. India remains one of the largest purchasers of Russian energy, and this waiver allows limited continuation of those transactions under strict conditions.

A joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran has triggered widespread conflict across the Middle East, severely disrupting global energy and transport systems. Several sea and air routes have been closed, pushing up fuel prices and forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels. Sea-Land Shipping has already raised container transport charges on the China-Bangladesh route by USD 200–300 per 40-foot container, while other companies are preparing similar increases. Additional war surcharges are expected to be announced soon, threatening Bangladesh’s export and import sectors, especially the ready-made garment industry.

Sources report that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key energy transport route controlled by Iran, has left about 140 mother vessels carrying 350,000 containers stranded in the Gulf region. Shipping operators are reorganizing routes through longer paths such as the Cape of Good Hope, increasing costs by at least 35 percent and adding 12–15 days to delivery times. Air freight rates have also risen by up to USD 3.5 per kilogram, with airlines avoiding several Middle Eastern countries for safety reasons.

Industry representatives warn that rising freight costs could sharply increase export expenses, deepening the crisis for Bangladesh’s garment sector.

The Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA), representing insurers in London’s maritime market, has welcomed a U.S. initiative to ensure safe passage for vessels not under sanctions through the Strait of Hormuz. The association emphasized that maintaining secure sea routes is vital for global trade and economic stability. According to Neil Roberts, head of LMA’s Marine and Aviation division, around 1,000 ships are currently positioned in the Gulf and nearby waters, about half of which are oil and gas tankers.

Roberts explained that most ships remain anchored due to normal security concerns among owners and captains, though insurance coverage for these vessels remains active. Since Sunday, about 40 ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz. Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler, released Wednesday, indicated that vessel traffic through the strait has dropped by roughly 90 percent compared to the previous week.

The slowdown in maritime movement underscores heightened regional risks, with potential implications for global energy supply and trade stability if the situation persists.

Ahsan Ullah has resigned from his position as Adviser to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. According to the report, he submitted his resignation letter to the new governor on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. His decision came shortly after the appointment of a new governor, which followed the removal of Ahsan H. Mansur on February 25.

The report states that Ahsan Ullah faced internal criticism from several senior officials on the day the new governor was appointed. He cited this pressure as the reason for his resignation and did not return to the office afterward. The government appointed Mostakur Rahman as the new governor on the same day Ahsan H. Mansur left the central bank. Rahman is described as a businessman and a member of the BNP’s election management committee.

The leadership reshuffle at Bangladesh Bank has drawn attention amid reports of growing tension and concerns about the country’s economic situation, as noted by experts in the same publication.

South Korea’s stock market experienced a major decline on Wednesday following reports of a joint US-Israel military strike, prompting authorities to temporarily halt trading. The KOSPI index dropped more than 8 percent, triggering an automatic 20-minute suspension under the market’s safety mechanism. When trading resumed, the index fell further, losing over 10 percent. Officials said the circuit breaker could be reactivated if the market drops by 15 percent.

This was the first activation of the circuit breaker since August 2024. The mechanism is designed to prevent excessive volatility by pausing trading during sharp declines. The temporary halt was part of the exchange’s standard risk control measures.

Analysts noted that South Korea’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil imports and its export-driven economy make it particularly vulnerable to geopolitical instability. Disruptions in energy supply or trade routes can quickly affect investor confidence and market performance.

Bangladesh Bank has fixed the maximum rent rates for bank branches and other business centers across different regions of the country. The directive, issued on Thursday, states that banks will no longer need prior approval from the central bank if the rent remains within the prescribed limits. However, approval will be required if the rent exceeds those limits. Banks can now decide on leasing or renting business premises with their board of directors’ approval, including new contracts or renewals.

According to the circular, if the property owner is a bank director or a related party, prior approval from Bangladesh Bank will still be necessary. Approval will also be required for relocating business centers before the contract expires, or for renting premises for head offices and controlled divisions. The circular instructs banks to follow previous guidelines on advance payments, establishment costs, and rent escalation.

The maximum rent per square foot has been set at 104 taka in Dhaka City Corporation areas, with varying rates for other cities and rural areas. Banks must determine rent rationally within these limits, considering location, floor level, and building quality.

China has reportedly instructed its major oil refineries to temporarily suspend exports of diesel and petrol due to supply disruptions caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday citing unnamed sources. The directive was said to have been delivered verbally by officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) during a meeting with refinery representatives and was to take effect immediately.

The report noted that China, a net importer of crude oil, relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for energy shipments, which are currently halted. Last year, 57 percent of China’s seaborne crude imports came from the Middle East, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. Refineries were also told not to sign new export contracts and to negotiate cancellations of finalized shipments. When asked about the matter, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said they were unaware of such a decision.

Bloomberg identified PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, Sinochem Group, and Zhejiang Petrochemical as regular fuel exporters contacted by AFP, though none commented on the reported suspension.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam announced that closed state-owned jute mills will be reopened gradually under private management. He made the statement during a briefing at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in Dhaka on Thursday, ahead of National Jute Day. According to the minister, seven mills are already being reopened in phases, while others will follow later under similar arrangements.

He noted that nine leased mills currently employ 7,200 workers, contributing positively to national production and employment. The minister also said that National Jute Day will be observed on March 6, inaugurated online by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The main event will take place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, alongside a nine-day fair on jute and diversified jute products at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises from March 6 to 14.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving the jute sector as part of its broader goal to transform Bangladesh into a modern, democratic, upper-middle-income country with a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made it mandatory to use data from the ASYCUDA System’s Business Intelligence (BI) server for determining income tax based on actual information about imported goods and advance income tax payments at the import stage. The directive, issued on March 4 under the NBR’s Income Tax Wing, details procedures for tax officials to access and use the BI server. According to an NBR press release on March 5, the system will be used during tax audits, case reopenings, and corrections of faulty tax orders.

The order specifies that tax commissioners and range officers can log in to the BI server from pre-approved IP-bound computers to collect import-related data. Range officers must record the collected information in a designated register and inform relevant circle officers in writing. Initially, only range officers will have access to the BI server, not the assessing officers directly.

NBR stated that the initiative will enhance transparency, prevent tax evasion, expedite tax case resolution, and improve coordination between customs and income tax departments, marking a new phase in inter-departmental data sharing.

Depositors of five merged Shariah-based banks staged a sit-in in front of Bangladesh Bank on Thursday morning, demanding the return of their deposits and cancellation of a profit reduction decision. The demonstration began around 10 a.m. and included slogans and speeches criticizing the central bank’s previous policy. Law enforcement took strict positions around the area to maintain order.

Speakers at the human chain alleged that a former governor of Bangladesh Bank decided to cut profits on deposits from the past two years, offering only a 4 percent government concession instead. They described the move as inhumane and unfair, claiming many depositors have been unable to withdraw their principal or profits for two years, leaving families in severe financial distress.

Protesters demanded full repayment of deposits with profits for 2024 and 2025 and called for normal banking operations at the unified Islamic bank. They warned that if their demands are not met, they will besiege Bangladesh Bank on March 12.

After remaining closed for four years, the Shahjibazar 330-megawatt combined cycle power plant in Habiganj has resumed partial electricity production. The plant had been shut down since a fire on May 29, 2022, damaged its transformers. Due to a funding delay of about 4.5 crore taka, the government reportedly incurred losses of around 20,000 crore taka during the closure. Following approval of a 111.18 crore taka repair proposal in August 2025, Chinese firm Sepco-111 Electric Power Construction began restoration work and partially restarted one unit on February 27.

Currently, one unit with a capacity of 110 megawatts is supplying 40 megawatts to the national grid. Chief engineer Abdul Mannan stated that output could reach 165 megawatts within the month, potentially saving about 8 crore taka daily. The gas-based plant, inaugurated in 2017 after commercial operation began in 2016, had previously produced power at a significantly lower cost than furnace oil-based generation.

Officials expect the partial resumption to improve the national power supply situation after years of reduced capacity.