An interim framework for a new trade agreement between the United States and India has been released, aiming to reduce additional tariffs imposed on India during the Trump administration. The deal seeks to rebuild energy ties and expand economic cooperation, potentially reshaping global supply chains. Under Washington’s pressure, India agreed to allow entry of certain US agricultural products into its market, a move that has drawn criticism from farmers and opposition parties.

The agreement permits imports of high-protein animal feed, corn, and ethanol byproducts from the US, expected to benefit India’s $30 billion poultry industry by lowering feed costs. However, soybean and oilseed growers may suffer due to reduced demand and falling prices. The inclusion of duty-free soybean oil and cotton imports has raised further concerns, though the government says import quotas will protect domestic producers. Apple and dry fruit imports are also covered, but officials expect minimal harm since domestic supply is insufficient.

India’s major farmers’ union, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has called for a nationwide strike on February 12 to protest the deal, citing threats to the agricultural sector.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a landmark trade agreement granting duty-free access for garments made in Bangladesh using US-imported cotton and synthetic fibers. Under the deal, both countries will reduce mutual tariff rates to 19 percent, and apparel produced with US raw materials will face no counter-tariffs when exported to the American market. The agreement is expected to reshape Bangladesh’s export strategy by allowing direct sourcing of cotton from the US and exporting finished goods back to the same market with tariff exemptions.

Trade analysts note that Bangladesh’s textile industry has long depended on Indian cotton, but frequent policy shifts, export bans, and price instability in India have created supply risks. According to the National Board of Revenue, India’s share in Bangladesh’s cotton imports fell from 31.39 percent in 2021 to 15.9 percent in 2025, while Brazil and the US have strengthened their positions. Textile mill owners believe the new deal will ensure more reliable supply chains and reduce dependence on India.

Industry data show that US cotton imports reached 346 million dollars in 2024–25, up from 278 million the previous year, and this share is expected to grow further under the new arrangement.

Bangladesh has signed a new trade agreement with the United States, reducing its counter-tariff rate by one percentage point to 19 percent. The deal, finalized a week after a separate US-India trade understanding, includes a key provision allowing certain Bangladeshi garments made with US cotton and synthetic fibers to enter the American market duty-free. This clause has sparked concern among Indian textile exporters and cotton traders, who fear losing competitiveness in the US market where Indian products still face an 18 percent tariff.

India’s textile sector, which contributes 2.3 percent to its GDP and sends about 30 percent of its exports to the US, had initially welcomed Washington’s tariff reduction from 50 to 18 percent. However, the new Bangladesh-US deal is seen as undermining that advantage. Analysts note that Bangladesh, the world’s largest cotton importer, may now shift more purchases toward US cotton, further pressuring Indian cotton exporters.

The development has already affected Indian textile and yarn company shares, while the opposition Congress party criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, calling the deal a dual blow to India’s economy and textile workers.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a trade agreement establishing a 19 percent tariff rate, announced on Monday. The deal includes exemptions for certain textiles and garments made with US materials. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said Washington committed to a mechanism allowing some Bangladeshi apparel using US-produced cotton and man-made fibre to enter the US market with zero reciprocal tariff. The White House confirmed that Bangladesh will grant preferential market access for a wide range of US industrial and agricultural goods.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh will also ease non-tariff barriers by accepting US vehicle safety and emissions standards, recognising Food and Drug Administration certifications, and lifting restrictions on remanufactured goods. The two nations highlighted commercial deals involving aircraft procurement, $3.5 billion in US agricultural purchases, and $15 billion in energy product imports over 15 years. The accord followed nine months of negotiations that began in April last year.

The reduced tariff is expected to help Bangladesh’s apparel sector, which accounts for over 80 percent of export earnings, remain competitive with India, whose tariff rate now stands at 18 percent. The announcement comes days before Bangladesh’s national election under its interim government.

Political groups in the European Parliament reached an agreement on Tuesday on the EU-US trade deal, originally struck in July 2025 by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The deal, which still requires ratification, sets US tariffs at 15% on EU exports, while the EU will cut its tariffs on US goods to zero. The Parliament’s International Partnership Committee will vote on February 24, followed by a plenary session as early as March.

The approval process had been frozen in January after Trump announced plans to impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries involved in an Arctic military mission. Work resumed weeks later, leading to a compromise that includes a sunset clause expiring in March 2028 unless renewed, and a suspension clause triggered if the US violates the deal. Socialist MEP Bernd Lange said the Greenland issue prompted the inclusion of a sovereignty criterion for possible suspension.

The Parliament’s version also adds safeguards to protect the EU market and an automatic reintroduction of tariffs if the US fails to reduce its own tariffs to 15% on over 400 steel-related products. After the plenary vote, negotiations with EU member states will determine the final terms.

Bangladesh Bank has extended the age limit for opening a 'Student Banking' account to 25 years, allowing school, college, and university students to access the service. The central bank issued a new policy on Monday, replacing the previous rule that restricted eligibility to students under 18. Under the revised guidelines, account holders will now be able to use credit cards in addition to debit cards, and the service previously known as 'School Banking' will now operate under the name 'Student Banking'.

The new policy also increases the monthly ATM withdrawal limit from 15,000 to 25,000 taka upon parental request, compared to the earlier 5,000-taka cap. Students can now deposit up to 25,000 taka per month, with a maximum account balance of 300,000 taka. Those studying abroad will no longer need separate student files or accounts, as the same account can be used for remittance and educational transactions.

The policy further allows students to take loans for educational materials under parental guarantee, aiming to make financial services more accessible to young learners.

The government of Bangladesh is preparing a compensation plan for general shareholders affected by the merger of five Islamic banks. Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said the issue is under policy consideration but involves complex technical calculations. He explained that compensation will be provided gradually after completing the necessary assessments. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the government’s procurement advisory committee on Tuesday, he emphasized that depositors’ protection had been the government’s first priority.

Dr. Ahmed noted that the government has already provided Tk 42,000 crore to safeguard depositors’ funds, ensuring that customers could fully recover their deposits. Only after securing depositors’ interests is the government now focusing on shareholders. He acknowledged that compensating shareholders is difficult because several banks have negative net asset values, making conventional loss recovery methods impractical.

Possible compensation options include partial share allocations or direct financial payments, though the final model will take time to determine. Dr. Ahmed added that broader banking reforms require sustained efforts, stronger regulatory capacity, and rebuilding market confidence to achieve long-term economic stability.

Bangladesh Bank has announced revised office and transaction hours for all scheduled banks during the upcoming Ramadan. The Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department issued a circular on Tuesday stating that banking transactions will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while office hours will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All scheduled banks across the country will operate within this timeframe throughout the holy month.

According to the circular, there will be a short break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., during which internal arrangements may allow transactions to continue. Normally, banks conduct transactions from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and official activities continue until 6:00 p.m. The circular also noted that regular office hours will resume after the end of Ramadan.

The adjustment aims to accommodate the special needs of employees and customers during the fasting period while ensuring uninterrupted banking services through internal coordination.

Thousands of passengers in Tongi, Gazipur faced severe transport shortages on Tuesday as they tried to travel home ahead of the national election. Long waits at bus stops along the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway yielded few available buses, and fares surged from the usual 200 taka to as high as 500 taka. Many commuters, unable to find seats, resorted to traveling on pickup trucks and mini-trucks at inflated prices, risking their safety to reach their destinations.

The rush followed factory closures in the industrial area of Tongi, where numerous garment and other factories declared holidays for employees to vote. Crowds filled Tongi Bazar, Station Road, Millgate, Cherag Ali, College Gate, and Gazipura, as well as the Tongi Railway Junction, where passengers waited from early morning but could not board overcrowded trains. Some reported paying up to 650 taka for long-distance bus tickets.

Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police Inspector Zahid Majumdar said the shortage occurred because many long-distance buses had not yet returned from previous trips, forcing passengers to take unsafe transport options despite warnings.

Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Adviser Farida Akhter stated that she is not departing her position with a sense of failure, emphasizing that price control of meat and fish is beyond her authority. She made the remarks on Tuesday during a press briefing at the ministry’s conference room, noting that her 15–16 months of work should not be judged as a complete measure of performance.

Akhter explained that her ministry focused on improving production quality rather than relying on unregulated livestock fattening practices. She highlighted efforts to curb excessive fishing caused by the use of sonar, which had reduced the availability of hilsa and other fish species. According to her, the ministry successfully stopped this overfishing trend. She also mentioned that the sector received subsidies worth 100 crore taka, including electricity rebates, and that the number of beneficiaries increased from 132,000 to 1.5 million.

The adviser added that fishermen from the Sundarbans and haor regions would receive VGF support, underscoring the ministry’s continued commitment to vulnerable fishing communities.

The Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Jamalpur resumed urea production at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, after completing repair work following a blackout caused by rodent damage to electrical wiring. The factory had been shut down since the night of February 5, when a short circuit in the power plant halted electricity supply and production.

According to factory officials, emergency repairs restored power and allowed operations to restart. General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque stated that urea production has resumed at 75 percent capacity, with additional safety and monitoring measures introduced to prevent similar incidents. Deputy General Manager (Administration) Md. Delwar Hossain confirmed that mechanical faults in the power plant were fixed and that production will gradually increase as gas pressure stabilizes.

The factory’s management emphasized that normal operations have resumed and that preventive steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted production in the future.

The ongoing strike at Chattogram Port, called to protest the leasing of the NCT terminal to a foreign company and disciplinary actions against workers, has been suspended until February 15. The Port Protection Struggle Council announced the suspension late Sunday night through a press release signed by coordinators Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon. The statement said the decision was made to help stabilize market prices ahead of the 13th national election and the upcoming Ramadan. Workers were instructed to return to work from 8 a.m. Monday.

The council noted that workers felt reassured after the government’s shipping adviser and BIDA chairman declared that the port would not be leased to foreign entities during the current administration. However, concern spread among workers after the port authority temporarily suspended 16 strike leaders and canceled their housing. Following the withdrawal of the blockade, container handling and cargo transport resumed, restoring normal operations at the port.

According to port officials, vessel movements and cargo deliveries have returned to normal, bringing relief to the country’s import and export sectors after nine days of disruption.

Cuba has decided to suspend the supply of jet fuel to aircraft for one month due to a severe energy crisis attributed to U.S. actions. A European airline official confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that from midnight Monday, planes traveling to and from Cuba will no longer be able to refuel there. As a result, long-haul flights must now stop in other countries for refueling, and Air France has already implemented such measures.

The crisis deepened after Venezuela halted oil shipments to Cuba in January 2023 following U.S. measures. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order allowing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. In response, the Cuban government has introduced emergency measures, including a four-day workweek for state institutions, restricted provincial transport, temporary closure of some tourism facilities, reduced school hours, and relaxed attendance requirements at universities.

Cuba’s power plants are under strain due to the fuel shortage, raising the risk of blackouts. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the country is ready to hold talks with the United States but not under pressure.

Gold prices surged to unprecedented levels, reaching an all-time high of $5,600 per ounce on January 29 before easing to just under $5,000 on Sunday. The surge reflects growing investor demand for gold as a secure asset amid fluctuating economic conditions and rising geopolitical tensions. Al Jazeera’s explainer details how gold’s value is determined by its weight in troy ounces and purity in karats, with one troy ounce equaling 31.1035 grammes.

Gold’s global pricing is set on spot markets in US dollars, primarily through exchanges in London and New York. Local prices vary due to currency conversion, dealer premiums, and taxes. For instance, India imposes a 3 percent GST on gold, while the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates levy none. The United States holds the world’s largest gold reserves at 8,133 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,350 tonnes and Italy with 2,451 tonnes.

Over the past decade, gold’s price has quadrupled from $1,250 in 2016 to around $5,000 today, underscoring its enduring role as a safe haven asset during periods of market volatility and uncertainty.

Bangladesh and China have signed a framework agreement for a project titled 'Procurement of Four New Ships,' valued at 1.67 billion RMB (approximately Tk 2,486.31 crore). The agreement was signed on Sunday by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on behalf of Bangladesh, and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen on behalf of China. Under the framework, China will provide a concessional loan at 2 percent interest for 20 years, including a five-year grace period.

According to an ERD press release, a loan agreement between the ERD and the Export-Import Bank of China will be signed soon under this framework. The project will enable the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to purchase four new vessels, including two crude oil mother tankers and two mother bulk carriers.

The new ships are expected to enhance BSC’s capacity to transport crude oil and essential goods, contributing to Bangladesh’s long-term energy security and accelerating national development, according to the report.