Residents of Fulbaria in Mymensingh are facing increased hardship as a gas shortage has pushed up CNG auto-rickshaw fares and household cooking-gas costs. In a report published on August 17, passengers said commuting to workplaces and other destinations has become more expensive, while complaints of extra charges have emerged on several local routes. Drivers say fuel scarcity and higher operating costs have forced them to raise fares.

Fares from Fulbaria Old Bus Stand to the Mymensingh-Dhaka bypass and from Fulbaria to the old bus stand rose from Tk50 to Tk60. The fare from Fulbaria to Achim Bazar increased from Tk40 to Tk50. Drivers said they need Tk300 to Tk400 worth of gas daily, but one driver reported receiving only Tk120 worth after waiting from morning until afternoon at a Mymensingh gas station.

Passengers said the higher fares are straining household budgets, while drivers said they must sometimes buy more expensive LPG. CNG station master Insan Ali said fares would return to previous levels if gas supplies normalize. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Islam Sohag said action would be taken if excessive fares or inflated cylinder prices are proven.

The government has moved to buy five cargoes of liquefied natural gas through international tenders to meet domestic energy demand, at an estimated cost of about Tk1,100 crore. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division’s proposal was placed before the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for approval. The LNG is planned for delivery in August and September 2026 through an international quotation collection process.

The proposed delivery windows are August 23-24, August 26-27, August 29-30, September 1-2 and September 4-5, with one cargo scheduled for each period. The proposal names UK-based Blackcube International Limited and Oman-based Maxwell International SPC as the lowest bidders. Prices were determined using Platts’ published Japan Korea Marker, or JKM, energy price index.

For deliveries on August 23-24 and September 4-5, prices were set at $21.88 and $21.78 per MMBtu respectively, with the two cargoes valued at about Tk540 crore. Separate proposals also considered three additional LNG cargoes for August. Officials said a $15.50-per-MMBtu rate for deliveries on August 17-18 and August 22-23 reflected market conditions, high spot-market prices, supply risks and negotiations. Imports will begin quickly if approved.

Bangladesh’s cabinet approved a proposal to waive import duties and taxes on green chilies and tomatoes at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday. A cabinet press release, reported on August 17, 2026, said the measure aims to reduce prices of the two essential agricultural products and ensure uninterrupted market supply.

Under the proposal, the total tax burden will be reduced from 61 percent to 20.5 percent during the first month after issuance of the notification, and to 31 percent in the following month. The release cited seasonal production patterns, natural disasters, adverse weather, supply disruptions and production shortfalls as factors that can cause unusually high market prices and add financial pressure on consumers.

The cabinet also approved a draft law to abolish the existing Rapid Action Battalion law and establish a Special Response Battalion, or SRB, under the police force. It further decided to treat fiscal year 2027-28 as a nine-month transitional fiscal year, from July to March, before shifting government operations to an April-March fiscal year from 2028-29.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, known as DUCSU, created more than 430 job opportunities for Dhaka University students at 31 Chinese companies. The openings were offered during the Sino-Bangla Day 2026 job fair at the university’s Teacher-Student Centre grounds on August 17. Thousands of job seekers attended the daylong event and submitted CVs at company booths.

The fair was jointly initiated by the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh and Dhaka University, and organized by DUCSU and the Confucius Institute. Running from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., it included 31 Chinese companies from technology and other sectors. The participating companies initially collected CVs from more than 400 candidates.

DUCSU Vice President Sadik Kayem said the union undertook the initiative amid institutional failures to create employment opportunities for young people. Organizers said qualified candidates would be selected in stages after initial screening, interviews and other recruitment procedures. The event also featured cultural performances, including lion dance, tai chi, and songs from China and Bangladesh. DUCSU International Secretary Khan Jasim said organizers would seek to arrange similar events in the future.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry urged direct business contact and joint investment between Bangladeshi and Chinese entrepreneurs to reduce Bangladesh’s trade deficit with China. FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul Hoque made the call at a meeting with a business delegation from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade at the federation’s Motijheel office on Monday afternoon, August 17, 2026.

Hoque said Bangladesh imports a large volume of goods from China. Bilateral trade between the two countries is close to $20 billion, but Bangladesh faces a substantial trade deficit, while its annual exports to China are valued at less than $1 billion. He called for identifying promising sectors for joint trade and said the Chinese delegation’s visit could expand bilateral trade, raise Bangladeshi export prospects in China, and support increased investment.

Bangladeshi business representatives invited joint investment in food processing, medical devices and accessories, pharmaceuticals and APIs, renewable energy, jute, and jute products. He Tao, director of the Bureau of Commerce of China’s Honghe region, expressed interest in increasing bilateral trade and investment, citing easier import-export procedures and new business opportunities as key goals.

A severe gas shortage across Bangladesh has nearly halted production at textile mills, dyeing and finishing plants and other industries, according to a report published on August 17. Gas pressure began improving in some areas from Sunday afternoon, but supplies had not returned to normal in places including Bhaluka in Mymensingh and Sreepur in Gazipur. Industry owners described the roughly 20-day disruption as unprecedented, citing factory closures, reduced output and delayed deliveries.

Bangladesh currently needs 3,800 million cubic feet of gas daily but has supply capacity of 2,700 to 2,800 million cubic feet. A fire shut one LNG terminal on July 21, worsening the shortage, although both LNG terminals were operating on Sunday. Experts said the deeper problem is declining production from older domestic fields without sufficient output from new fields or wells.

Industry associations said factories are operating below capacity, while air shipments and overtime are increasing costs. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said resolving the energy crisis could take at least two years. Experts urged higher domestic gas production, bringing Bhola gas into the national grid and improving energy efficiency.

A daylong Sino-Bangla Day 2026 job fair was held Monday at the Teacher-Student Centre premises of Dhaka University, offering about 430 job opportunities for students. The event was a joint initiative of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh and Dhaka University, organized by DUCSU and the Confucius Institute. It ran from 10:30am to 5pm.

DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayeem said the government and universities had failed to address unemployment among young people in the country. He said DUCSU organized the fair out of a sense of responsibility to support youth employment. Referring to a recent visit to China by DUCSU leaders, he said they worked on improving people-to-people connections between Bangladesh and Chinese universities, student unions, and public and private institutions.

The report said 30 to 40 leading Chinese companies participated, while Kayeem said 31 major Chinese technology and other companies joined the fair. Thousands of students attended voluntarily, and more than 400 candidates' CVs were initially collected. Organizers and participating companies assured that qualified candidates would be recruited by companies in stages.

Bangladesh’s proposed ninth pay scale recommends raising the basic salaries of government employees by up to 100 percent across all grades from one to 20. The plan, reported on August 17, 2026, envisages implementation in two phases: basic pay in the first year and house rent and other allowances in the second year.

All members of the secretaries’ committee have signed the final report on the ninth pay scale, advancing the implementation process. Details were included in an e-book published by the Prime Minister’s Office marking 180 days of the government. The 2026-27 fiscal year allocation for salaries and allowances is Tk89,836 crore, rising to Tk141,434 crore when pensions and gratuities are included.

The Zakir Ahmed Khan Commission had proposed retaining the existing 20 grades while increasing salaries and allowances by 100 to 140 percent. It recommended lifting the minimum basic salary from Tk8,250 to Tk20,000 and the maximum from Tk78,000 to Tk160,000. The final increase rate, implementation schedule and allowance structure remain subject to the government’s next decision.

Bangladesh Bank has revised allocation rates for Shariah-based sukuk bonds across investor categories, according to a circular issued on Monday and reported on August 17, 2026. The maximum allocation for Shariah-based banks, financial institutions and insurance companies has been set at 50 percent, down from 80 percent previously. The change redistributes portions of the sukuk offering among a wider range of eligible investors.

The allocation for Islamic banking branches and windows operated by conventional banks has increased to 30 percent from 5 percent. The circular said this will allow such branches and windows to invest in a significant share of sukuk. Conventional banks, financial and insurance companies, provident funds, deposit insurance institutions, investment companies, corporate entities, charity funds and other institutional investors will receive a combined 10 percent allocation.

Individual depositors will also have 10 percent of sukuk reserved for them. Under the instructions, allocations must follow investors' liabilities or participation ratios based on total bids. If bids in a category are below its prescribed proportion, sukuk may be allocated according to submitted bid amounts. Any unused sukuk may then be distributed among other eligible investors.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue has issued a new permanent order to speed up the transparent and modern disposal of uncleared goods and goods seized over smuggling allegations at customs houses and customs stations. Permanent Order No. 43/Customs/2026 was issued on Monday, August 17, 2026, with immediate effect under provisions of the Customs Act 2023. It replaces Permanent Order No. 91, issued on July 2, 2023.

The order makes online or live e-auctions the main method for disposing of seized or uncleared goods, while allowing conventional public auctions in exceptional cases where e-auctions are not possible. ASYCUDA World will be used to prepare lists and lots of uncleared goods. Reserve prices will consider quality and quantity, with reductions of 10 percent annually after the first year, up to 40 percent. E-auction bidders must deposit 5 percent earnest money through e-payment.

Perishable essentials such as sugar, salt, lentils and soybean oil may be sold directly to TCB at NBR-set prices. Edible uncleared perishables with less than three months of shelf life may be donated to government orphanages. Claimants will receive seven working days’ notice before auction, and legal action may follow disruption or fraud attempts.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has called for rapid construction of infrastructure to resolve longstanding cargo-handling problems at the country’s airports. At a review meeting at the Commerce Ministry on August 17, 2026, he urged authorities to move ahead with temporary and permanent warehouse projects on an emergency basis rather than allowing lengthy administrative processes to delay them. The meeting reviewed cargo capacity and warehouse construction in support of expanded Bangladesh-European Union trade and investment.

Muktadir said airport infrastructure construction and management are the responsibility of relevant authorities, while customs is responsible for ensuring the legality of imports and exports, declarations, documentation and duty-related matters. Customs would operate once the necessary facilities are built, he said. He added that modern airport cargo management is important for expanding trade with the European Union and said the Commerce Ministry was ready to provide necessary support.

Participants discussed seven potential sites for a temporary warehouse near the airport and four potential sites for a permanent facility. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam stressed faster implementation while preserving transparency and accountability. Muktadir proposed an inter-ministerial coordination structure that could include a Commerce Ministry representative to speed decisions and implementation.

Bangladesh Bank has set a Tk60,000 crore lending target for banks in the agriculture and rural sectors for fiscal year 2026-27. Governor Md Mostakur Rahman announced the agriculture and rural credit policy and programme at the central bank’s Jahangir Alam Conference Hall on August 17. The target is 53.85 percent higher than the Tk39,000 crore target set in the previous fiscal year.

State-owned commercial and specialised banks have been assigned Tk20,495 crore, while private and foreign commercial banks have been assigned Tk39,505 crore. The revised policy allows certifications from local agriculture extension, fisheries and livestock officers to be used as information for obtaining farmer cards. It also relaxes the prescribed membership limit for farmer groups and provides rural lending guidance for farmers involved in income-generating crop and cultivation activities.

The policy prioritises women and marginal farmers for loans up to Tk5 lakh in fisheries and livestock and advises use of alternative collateral instead of land or immovable property. It adds hatchery fry production, poultry chick production and camel rearing to agricultural lending. Bangladesh Bank said the financing should support food production, employment, rural incomes and inflation control.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government will announce and implement a new pay scale within the current year. He made the remarks to journalists on Monday afternoon after a meeting on the pay scale at the Finance Ministry. The minister said the government is working on the new structure and discussions on different aspects are continuing.

Chowdhury said more detailed discussion is needed on the pay scale, and the relevant authorities will meet again. He said the government is considering all matters related to announcing the pay scale with great importance. The minister also gave assurance that the new pay scale would be implemented on time.

He said the government would formally present the pay scale after reaching a final and comprehensive decision. Detailed information will be disclosed by the government only after that decision is made. The finance minister asked everyone to remain patient while the discussions continue and the full decision is completed.

Istanbul Airport has emerged as one of Europe’s strongest aviation hubs, according to a report published on August 17, 2026. Less than eight years after its official opening on October 29, 2018, the Turkish airport is competing with established major European airports in passenger traffic, cargo handling and technology. In July this year, 8.15 million passengers travelled through Istanbul Airport, exceeding Heathrow’s roughly 7.9 million passengers and making Istanbul Europe’s busiest airport for the month.

The report attributes the airport’s rapid rise to Turkey’s strategic location, Turkish Airlines’ broad international network and the scale of its infrastructure. Located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, Istanbul is used as an international transit hub by large numbers of travellers. Turkish officials say that 1.5 billion people in 67 countries can be reached within a four-hour flight from Istanbul.

The airport has introduced a system, described as a European first, allowing three aircraft to use runways simultaneously for take-offs or landings. Cargo traffic rose 10.8 percent year on year to more than one million tonnes in the first six months, overtaking Frankfurt. A direct metro link is operating, while a fourth runway and annual capacity for 200 million passengers are planned.

Bangladesh’s Finance Division has increased spending authority for ministries, autonomous bodies and project directors to accelerate government project delivery and reduce delays in procurement. A recently issued circular allows entities and individuals to approve spending limits that have risen by two to three times in some cases without approval from the procurement committee. The report was published on August 17, 2026.

Under the new rules, ministries and divisions may approve up to Tk100 crore for construction works and contracts in development projects, as well as for purchasing goods, machinery and materials, up from Tk50 crore. In the operating budget, ministries may approve up to Tk100 crore for construction work and Tk50 crore for goods purchases. Their authority for hiring consultants in development projects has doubled from Tk10 crore to Tk20 crore.

Agency heads may now approve up to Tk25 crore for construction work, from Tk20 crore, and up to Tk20 crore for goods and equipment purchases, from Tk7 crore. Project directors’ powers have been set in three categories based on project size. Economist Abu Ahmed and former finance secretary Mahbub Ahmed welcomed the move but called for stronger oversight and accountability to prevent misuse or waste of funds.