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.

Bangladesh Bank has announced temporary restrictions on mobile financial services (MFS) and internet banking to prevent misuse of funds ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The restrictions will be in effect from midnight on Sunday until 11:59 p.m. on February 12, covering a total of four days. During this period, customers of MFS providers such as bKash, Rocket, and Nagad will be allowed to send a maximum of 1,000 taka per transaction and up to 10,000 taka per day. Person-to-person transfers through internet banking and bank apps will remain suspended.

According to the central bank’s directive, the decision aims to curb potential abuse of MFS and interbank fund transfer (IBFT) systems under the National Payment Switch Bangladesh during the election period. Merchant payments and utility bill transactions will continue as usual, but other MFS services will be temporarily unavailable. Each MFS provider must establish an emergency response cell to handle complaints and monitor all transactions closely.

The directive also instructs MFS providers and banks to cooperate with the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies as needed during the restricted period.

Bangladesh’s interim government is set to sign a new trade agreement with the United States on Monday, just three days before the national election. Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said at a press conference on Sunday that the deal could reduce the recently imposed additional 20 percent trade tariff. He noted that discussions were ongoing and that the government aimed to achieve zero tariffs on garments, the country’s main export product.

Bashiruddin explained that the public disclosure of the agreement’s terms had previously led to higher tariffs, but the government still managed to bring them down to 20 percent compared to competitor countries. He expressed regret that the publication of the deal’s conditions limited Bangladesh’s negotiating flexibility. The adviser defended the timing of the agreement, citing the need to protect export earnings worth one trillion taka and safeguard around 700,000 jobs.

He also pointed out that US tariffs have been fluctuating recently, referencing a sharp increase in Korea’s tariff rate within days. The adviser said the government did not want to leave a heavy tariff burden for the next administration.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin defended his appointment as chairman of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines board, saying he acted within the law. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Sunday, he noted that 22 ministers and advisers had previously held the same position. Appointed on August 26, 2025, his dual role had drawn criticism, but he maintained that no legal boundaries were crossed.

Bashiruddin also expressed optimism that the 20 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Bangladeshi goods would be reduced following an upcoming agreement. He said Bangladesh had taken steps to narrow its six‑billion‑dollar trade deficit with the United States, including a proposal to purchase aircraft from Boeing. A negotiation team led by Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud is currently discussing the deal.

At the same event, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan detailed recent reforms, including new ordinances to regulate air ticket distribution and travel agencies, which have lowered ticket prices. She also announced new leasing rules and initiatives to make Hajj flights more efficient and affordable.

Public Private Partnership Authority CEO and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said there is no possibility of signing the lease agreement for Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with UAE-based DP World during the tenure of the current interim government. He made the statement at a press conference held on Sunday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, where the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.

Chowdhury stated that a letter from DP World arrived at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Sunday morning, in which the company appreciated the progress of ongoing negotiations and expressed satisfaction. DP World confirmed that it had reviewed the draft concession agreement but requested additional time for further evaluation. With only two working days left in the interim government’s term, Chowdhury noted that completing the approval and signing process within this period would be difficult.

Work on leasing the terminal began in 2019, and final-stage negotiations started last month. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Council has launched an indefinite work stoppage demanding that the terminal not be leased, halting container delivery operations at the port.

The interim government of Bangladesh has formed a committee to review and recommend actions on the salary-related reports submitted by the National Pay Commission-2025, Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission-2025, and Armed Forces Pay Committee-2025. The Cabinet Secretary has been appointed as the head of the committee, which includes senior secretaries from the ministries of Public Administration, Defence, Finance, Secondary and Higher Education, the Chief Adviser’s Office, Health Services, and Law and Justice, along with the Comptroller General of Accounts.

According to the report, the committee will examine the salary-related issues presented in the three commissions’ reports and prepare recommendations for the government’s next steps. The formation follows the submission of the National Pay Commission’s report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on January 21, 2026, by commission head Zakir Ahmed Khan.

Earlier, on July 27, 2025, a 21-member pay commission was established to develop a new salary structure for government employees, with a six-month deadline to submit its recommendations.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to take firm measures against the forgery and misuse of skill development certificates to preserve Bangladesh’s reputation in the international labor market. He issued the directive on Sunday at the Governing Body meeting of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) held at his office in Tejgaon. This was the second meeting of the NSDA Governing Body since its establishment in 2018.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser emphasized that NSDA provides a strong framework for developing skilled human resources based on national and international labor market demands. He warned that certificate fraud undermines the credibility of Bangladeshi workers and could erode employer trust. He highlighted the importance of a unified certification system across all training institutions to curb such malpractice and strengthen Bangladesh’s brand image abroad.

The meeting also reviewed progress on previous decisions and approved plans to establish an integrated skills ecosystem. This system aims to standardize training curricula across ministries, reduce public spending waste, and enhance the reliability of Bangladeshi skill certificates in global markets.

Bangladesh has expressed interest in buying freight wagons and coaches from Pakistan at a lower cost, according to a report by Pakistani newspaper The Dawn on February 8. A two-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by a senior official, visited Pakistan Railway’s carriage factory and workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore, as well as facilities in Islamabad. During the visit, they observed the production process of train coaches, wagons, and related components.

Officials from Pakistan Railways said the delegation included Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organization and Consular Affairs and the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Chief Mechanical Engineer Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed them on the workshop’s operations, technical capacity, and ongoing projects, and a short documentary was shown. The delegation also toured the locomotive workshop, where they were informed about engine maintenance and production. At the end of the visit, Bangladeshi representatives said the trip reflected the strong relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that enhanced railway cooperation would benefit both nations. He added that Bangladesh is also in talks with India for similar purchases but has shown interest in Pakistan as well.

Syria has signed several multi‑billion‑dollar investment agreements with Saudi Arabia aimed at rebuilding its war‑torn economy after 14 years of civil conflict. The deals, announced on Saturday by Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al‑Hilali, cover aviation, energy, housing and telecommunications. Projects include constructing a new international airport in Aleppo, launching a low‑cost airline named Flynas Syria, and implementing a major telecom initiative called SilkLink to strengthen regional connectivity.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al‑Falih said the newly launched Elaf Fund will invest about US$2 billion to develop two airports in Aleppo, while Syria’s ICT Minister Abdul‑Salam Haykal confirmed a US$1 billion telecom investment to lay thousands of kilometers of fiber‑optic cables linking Asia and Europe. The Syrian Energy Ministry also signed a separate deal with Saudi firm ACWA Power for water and energy projects. Analysts view the agreements as politically significant following Bashar al‑Assad’s ouster in December 2024 and the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

International reactions have been largely positive, though some analysts caution that many previous investment pledges in Syria have yet to become binding contracts.

Bangladesh’s Payra Port, once envisioned as the nation’s third major seaport to boost southern regional growth, has become mired in political interference, questionable contracts, and escalating costs. The project’s dredging expenses have reached 500 million dollars, financed not through regular taxation but by drawing from the country’s foreign currency reserves. Experts warn that this approach undermines economic stability and transparency, as the port continues to struggle with heavy sedimentation and limited operational progress.

The article highlights that successive governments have promoted Payra as a symbol of progress and climate resilience, despite repeated scientific warnings about the site’s unsuitability due to high silt levels. German geologist Dr. Hermann Kudrass and Bangladeshi economist Wahiduddin Mahmud both criticized the project’s economic and environmental logic, calling it a drain on public funds. Officials privately acknowledge that continuous dredging has become a permanent financial burden.

The report concludes that Payra Port now represents a broader pattern of politically driven megaprojects in Bangladesh—visibly grand but economically unsustainable, with taxpayers bearing the long-term cost while accountability remains elusive.

As Bangladesh’s new government prepares to assume power following the election, public concern is rising over rapidly increasing prices of essential goods ahead of Ramadan. The article warns that controlling the soaring market will be the administration’s first major challenge, as past political transitions have often been exploited by unscrupulous traders to destabilize prices. Commodities such as rice, lentils, oil, sugar, and vegetables have already begun to rise sharply, threatening affordability for middle- and low-income families.

The report highlights that around 2.1 million tons of food products are currently stuck at Chattogram Port, creating fears of an artificial shortage if clearance delays persist. A lack of lighter vessels and storage facilities is worsening the situation. The piece attributes market instability not to supply shortages but to syndicates that hoard goods and manipulate prices, taking advantage of weak monitoring by local authorities.

It urges immediate government intervention to dismantle these syndicates and ensure stable supply before Ramadan, emphasizing that maintaining reasonable prices will be the new administration’s first and most critical test of credibility.

Syria and Saudi Arabia have signed a multibillion-dollar investment package covering aviation, energy, real estate, and telecommunications as Damascus’s new leadership moves to rebuild after a 14-year civil war. Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al-Hilali announced the agreements, which include developing a new international airport in Aleppo, launching a low-cost Syrian-Saudi airline, and creating a telecommunications project called SilkLink to position Syria as a regional hub. Saudi Arabia’s Elaf fund will invest $2 billion to develop two airports in Aleppo, while nearly $1 billion will go into telecommunications infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia has been a key supporter of Syria’s new government, which took power after toppling Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The deals mark the largest investment since the United States lifted sanctions on Syria in December. The Ministry of Energy also signed a water agreement with Saudi firm ACWA Power, and Flynas partnered with the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority to establish “Flynas Syria,” expected to begin operations in late 2026.

US envoy Tom Barrack praised the agreements as a boost for reconstruction, while analyst Benjamin Feve cautioned that the deals may carry more political than immediate economic weight.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has informed Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur that amending the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, is not feasible during the tenure of the interim government. In a letter sent on February 5, he stated that such a fundamental law should not undergo major revisions until a new government assumes office. Consequently, the proposed amendment to the central bank order has been put on hold.

The adviser’s letter noted that the proposed changes involved key issues such as appointment and removal of top officials, elevation of the governor’s status, restructuring of the board, financial liability of the republic, and conflict of interest prevention. He emphasized that as the 1972 order forms the foundation of the country’s central banking system, any amendment must be carefully reviewed with input from stakeholders and experts.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank had submitted a reform proposal aimed at enhancing its autonomy and insulating it from political influence. The governor’s draft suggested merit-based appointments through a search committee and legal safeguards for removal procedures.

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) inaugurated two air-conditioned buses built under its own management and funding at the central repair workshop in Gazipur on Saturday. The event was attended by senior officials, including the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Sheikh Moinuddin, who described the achievement as a matter of national pride and a step toward greater self-reliance in public transport operations.

BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Molla stated that the corporation has evolved into a comprehensive state service institution, integrating passenger and freight transport with training, technical education, and workshop facilities. He said the new bus production demonstrates BRTC’s growing technical and operational capacity. The corporation also operates a central control room that monitors all buses and trucks nationwide in real time through a vehicle tracking system.

According to BRTC, the process of importing 340 modern buses from Korea is in its final stage, and plans are underway to add new trucks and coaster buses to the fleet within the year.