Boeing Vice President Paul Righi met with Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, at her office on Monday. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on various aspects of Boeing’s agreements with the government and explored opportunities for leasing aircraft to meet the country’s current aviation needs.

During the meeting, Paul Righi expressed Boeing’s interest in leasing narrow-body aircraft, particularly from the 737 series, to Bangladesh. Minister Afroza Khanam Rita emphasized the importance of advancing the leasing process as soon as possible to support the nation’s aviation capacity and service expansion.

The meeting highlighted ongoing cooperation between the government and Boeing, signaling potential progress in Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen its civil aviation fleet through international partnerships.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that the government has a concrete plan to strengthen Bangladesh’s stock market and make it a vibrant source of long-term financing. Responding in writing to a parliamentary question, he said the government aims to enhance governance, transparency, accountability, and investor education to build a sustainable and dynamic capital market. Plans include developing a strong bond market, listing fundamentally sound companies, and bringing unlisted state-owned enterprises to the market.

The minister detailed initiatives such as introducing exchange-traded funds, sukuk, green bonds, commodity and financial derivatives, and improving mutual fund governance to encourage wider participation. He also highlighted measures to curb irregularities, strengthen enforcement, modernize and digitize the market, and ensure whistleblower protection and corporate governance.

Ongoing legal reforms include merging the 1969 Securities and Exchange Ordinance and the 1993 BSEC Act into a new 2025 law, reviewing the draft Capital Market Stabilization Fund Act 2026, and updating corporate governance and debt securities rules. The government also plans to integrate investment education into school curricula and expand public awareness through training and media programs.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh’s per capita income reached 2,769 US dollars in the 2024–25 fiscal year. He cited official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics while responding to a written question from Dhaka-18 Member of Parliament S.M. Jahangir Hossain in the National Parliament on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The minister stated that one of the government’s key goals is to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. To reach this milestone, the government is preparing action plans focusing on investment, employment, economic democratization, creative economy, and sports economy. He emphasized that the government is working simultaneously across multiple sectors—employment, investment, production, exports, remittances, skill development, social protection, and macroeconomic stability—to increase citizens’ income.

The announcement reflects the government’s broader economic strategy aimed at sustainable growth and inclusive development through diversified policy initiatives.

In response to a parliamentary question from MP Hasnat Abdullah, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the top 20 loan defaulters in Bangladesh. The disclosure took place on Monday, April 6, 2026, during a question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. According to the minister, as of December 31, 2025, total defaulted loans amounted to Tk 5,44,831.88 crore, while loans defaulted by current members of parliament and their affiliated entities totaled Tk 11,117.31 crore.

The minister’s list showed that half of the top 20 defaulting institutions are owned by or associated with S Alam Group. The companies include S Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd., S Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd., S Alam Refined Sugar Industries Ltd., S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Ltd., and S Alam Trading Company Pvt. Ltd., among others. Other major defaulters named include Beximco Communications Ltd., Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Ltd., and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd.

The disclosure highlights the concentration of large-scale loan defaults among a few major business groups, raising renewed attention to financial governance and accountability in the banking sector.

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government approved six projects out of eight discussed. The meeting, held on Monday at the Secretariat with the Prime Minister presiding, reviewed a total of eight projects and deferred two for further consideration. Originally, 19 projects were scheduled for presentation, but time constraints led to the session being adjourned after partial discussion.

According to the Planning Ministry’s public relations officer Jasim Uddin, the remaining projects from the agenda will be discussed in next week’s meeting. This session marked a departure from the long-standing practice of holding ECNEC meetings at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Officials indicated that the decision to hold the meeting at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Room was made to accommodate the Prime Minister’s current workload and Secretariat-based activities.

Education Minister and Minister of Primary and Mass Education Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced new information regarding teachers’ festival allowance. Speaking on Monday, April 6, 2026, at a meeting with center secretaries of the Mymensingh Education Board and the region’s madrasa and technical boards, he said the allowance would be increased by 10 percent this year. The implementation is expected around Eid-ul-Azha, and the government is working to make it effective.

The minister noted that teachers’ festival allowance had not been raised for nearly 17 years. He emphasized that the government was taking steps to ensure the increase is realized. Meanwhile, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the pay scale structure for government primary school teachers. He made the remarks after visiting several schools in Dhaka to review infrastructure and development progress.

The announcements indicate a renewed government focus on improving teachers’ financial and institutional conditions, with implementation efforts already underway.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed the Bangladesh Parliament that as of December 31, 2025, the total amount of defaulted loans in the country stood at Tk 5,44,831.88 crore. He also stated that loans linked to current Members of Parliament and their associated entities amounted to Tk 11,117.31 crore. The information was presented on Monday during a parliamentary question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, in response to a question from NCP lawmaker Abul Hasnat (Hasnat Abdullah).

In his reply, the finance minister presented a list of the top 20 loan defaulting institutions. The list included companies such as S. Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd., S. Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd., S. Alam Refined Sugar Industries Ltd., Sonali Traders, Bangladesh Export Import Company Ltd., Global Trading Corporation Ltd., Keya Cosmetics Ltd., Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Ltd., Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd., and Beximco Communications Ltd., among others.

According to the minister, Tk 3,330.08 crore of the total defaulted loans were not shown as defaults following court directives.

Fishermen near Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf caught 101 maunds of hilsa fish in a single haul on Sunday afternoon. The catch was brought to the island’s jetty, where local traders purchased the fish for about Tk 3.3 million. The fish, weighing between 500 grams and over one kilogram each, were caught by the trawler ‘FB Dwip,’ owned by Abul Kalam of Jaliapara. The trawler, led by skipper Nurul Islam, had gone to sea on Friday morning with 15 fishermen and made the large catch early Sunday.

Local fish trader Faruk bought the entire catch, according to the fishermen. Abdul Gani, president of the Shah Porir Dwip Small Fish Traders Association, said hilsa had been scarce in recent months, causing financial strain for fishermen. The large sale is expected to help recover earlier losses, and the fish are being sent to Dhaka and other districts.

The Teknaf Upazila Fisheries Office stated that government-imposed fishing bans during breeding seasons have contributed to increased hilsa production and size.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has assured business leaders that the Export Development Fund (EDF) will be increased to 5 billion dollars. The commitment came during a meeting at the central bank on Monday with representatives of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), including its Secretary General Md. Alamgir. He told reporters that the EDF, formed from foreign currency reserves to support exporters, had previously stood at 7 billion dollars but had fallen to about 2.2 billion dollars. Business leaders urged that the fund be raised to 5 billion dollars, and the governor responded positively, promising a gradual increase.

During the meeting, FBCCI representatives also emphasized the need to keep interest rates stable and eventually bring them down to single digits to boost investment and competitiveness in the industrial sector. They called for increased private sector credit flow by reducing government borrowing pressure and ensuring financing for productive sectors. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem added that the EDF reduction had been influenced by IMF conditions and proposed raising it further to 8 billion dollars in the future.

The business community also requested extending the loan default period from three to six months, preventing cross-defaults among related firms, and lengthening loan rescheduling terms from five to ten years. FBCCI further recommended introducing low-interest green financing to promote solar and renewable energy investments.

Grameen Bank organized a colorful ceremony in Dhaka’s Mirpur to honor its founder and Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, marking the bank’s 50th founding anniversary and the 20th anniversary of his Nobel Prize. The event, held at the bank’s headquarters on Sunday, brought together former and current officials, employees, and associates in a festive atmosphere. Dr. Yunus was warmly received by the bank’s chairman, board members, managing director, and senior management team before addressing a town hall session as the chief guest.

In his speech, Dr. Yunus recalled the early struggles of Grameen Bank and the origins of the microcredit concept during the 1974 famine. He described how small loans to poor women in Jobra village helped them become self-reliant and empowered within their families and communities. This was his first visit to the headquarters since stepping down as managing director in 2011.

During the visit, Dr. Yunus toured his former residence, the Grameen Cheque stall, and joined a photo session and lunch with staff, emphasizing the need to make the bank’s operations more dynamic and inclusive.

Iran has reintroduced the concept of the 'oil weapon' by restricting oil tanker movement through the Hormuz Strait in response to continued US and Israeli airstrikes in the Gulf region. This move has triggered a global oil shortage and sharp price increases, with Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel and analysts warning prices could reach $140 if the conflict continues. On March 20, the Trump administration temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil for 30 days to stabilize prices, signaling limited policy options.

The article draws parallels between Iran’s current strategy and the 1973 Arab oil embargo, when Arab OPEC members halted exports to Israel-supporting nations, causing a fourfold price surge and forcing the US to alter its Middle East policy. Then, as now, energy restrictions achieved political leverage over Western powers.

Experts cited in the report note that despite larger petroleum reserves among OECD countries today, these would only cushion short-term disruptions. Iran’s actions have exposed the limits of US military power and underscored that oil remains a potent geopolitical tool even after five decades.

A month-long closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised fears of a global energy crisis worse than the 1970s oil shock. Former Maersk director Lars Jensen told the BBC that the U.S.-Israel war with Iran could trigger economic disruption far greater than that of the 1970s. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol echoed this concern, calling it the biggest global energy security threat in history. The blockade has severely disrupted oil and gas shipments from Gulf countries, which supply about one-fifth of the world’s oil.

Analysts note that the 1970s crisis stemmed from a deliberate oil embargo by Arab producers during the Yom Kippur War, causing prices to quadruple and triggering global recession and inflation. In contrast, experts say today’s market is more diversified and resilient, though developing nations remain highly vulnerable.

Consultants warn that even if the strait reopens soon, supply shortages and high energy costs could persist for six to twelve months, with stability depending on the de-escalation of the ongoing conflict.

The Bangladesh government is facing severe fiscal pressure as revenue collection in the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year fell short by over Tk 710 billion, while foreign loan disbursements remained far below expectations. To cover expenses, the government borrowed Tk 1.05 trillion from domestic sources, mostly from the banking sector. Rising global oil prices have increased import costs, forcing the government to provide large fuel subsidies, including Tk 160.45 billion for diesel and octane between March and June.

Exports have declined for eight consecutive months, with earnings down 4.85 percent in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Despite record remittance inflows of USD 3.75 billion in March, economists warn that the Middle East conflict could disrupt this key source of foreign exchange. Former World Bank economist Dr. Zahid Hossain noted that balancing income and expenditure has become difficult and warned that further borrowing or money printing could fuel inflation.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury acknowledged three major challenges—weak inherited economy, election pledges, and rising oil prices—while emphasizing investment and resource efficiency over money printing. Economic advisers stressed the need to rely on revenue mobilization and reduce subsidies to maintain stability.

Bangladesh has begun experiencing widespread power outages even before the onset of summer due to a severe fuel shortage and rising electricity demand. On Sunday, the national grid supplied 12,894 megawatts against a demand of 13,530 megawatts, resulting in 607 megawatts of load shedding across the country. Officials from the Power Division and related agencies said that fuel shortages have limited electricity generation capacity, with oil-based power production dropping by nearly half within a day.

According to official data, gas-based plants are producing between 4,500 and 5,000 megawatts, while coal-based plants contribute about 4,000 megawatts. Imports from India’s Adani, Bheramara, and Tripura plants average 1,800 megawatts. The Power Development Board (PDB) owes around Tk 46,000 crore to power producers, including Tk 14,000 crore to private oil-based plants. The PDB has requested Tk 20,000 crore in emergency funds to maintain supply during the summer and irrigation season.

The government has also adjusted its energy-saving measures, allowing shops and malls to remain open until 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., following appeals from business owners.

Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Arab Emirates are facing severe hardship as regional conflict and economic stagnation disrupt their livelihoods. The report describes widespread fear of drone and missile attacks, coupled with a sharp decline in income as schools and tourism sectors have stalled. Taxi drivers have seen earnings fall by about 70 percent, while many cleaners and construction workers have lost their jobs. Rising food and housing costs have pushed many into crisis, and several expatriates have been detained for unknowingly sharing war-related videos online.

Information technology specialist Mohammad Minhaj Uddin and Dubai-based worker Mohammad Zahed Ullah told the newspaper that many Bangladeshis are living in uncertainty and fear, with some killed or injured in recent attacks. They said diplomatic support from Bangladesh remains limited, while supply chain disruptions through the Hormuz Strait have driven up prices of essentials and fuel. Companies are cutting costs and delaying salaries, forcing many workers to consider returning home.

According to official data, the UAE hosts 1–1.2 million Bangladeshi workers, contributing 15–18 percent of Bangladesh’s total remittance. Prolonged instability could significantly affect the country’s foreign exchange reserves.