The United States will indefinitely oversee Venezuela’s oil sales, according to US Energy Minister Chris Wright. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Energy Event in Miami on Wednesday, Wright said that both Venezuela’s stored oil and future production will be sold on the international market under US management. The plan aims to regulate the country’s oil exports and ensure oversight of revenues.

AFP reported from Washington that former President Donald Trump had earlier announced Venezuela’s interim government would assign the marketing of 30 to 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States. Trump said on social media that proceeds from the sale of this sanctioned but high-quality oil would be held under US supervision. The initiative is intended to restore international oil flow, secure supply for American refineries, and maintain funds in a US-controlled account for future mutual benefit.

US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stated that the blockade on Venezuela’s sanctioned oil remains globally enforced. After US forces seized several tankers in the Caribbean and North Atlantic, he confirmed that the US stance against illegal Venezuelan oil trade is being strictly implemented worldwide.

The LP Gas Traders Cooperative Society Limited has announced a nationwide suspension of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder sales in Bangladesh starting Thursday, January 8, 2026. The organization issued a notice on Wednesday stating that all LPG marketing, supply, and gas extraction activities from company plants will remain halted until their demands are fulfilled.

According to the notice and a press conference held at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the traders demanded a new price adjustment for LPG cylinders by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and an end to administrative harassment and fines against distributors. They warned that if their demands were not met within 24 hours, they would enforce an indefinite suspension of LPG supply and sales across the country.

The traders’ decision follows their earlier ultimatum, and the suspension is set to continue until authorities address their stated concerns regarding pricing and regulatory treatment.

Bangladesh Bank has set a maximum passport endorsement fee of 300 taka for licensed money changers handling foreign currency transactions for outbound Bangladeshi travelers. The directive, issued on Wednesday, states that the fee will remain the same regardless of the amount of foreign currency purchased. This measure applies to all licensed money changers operating under the central bank’s authority.

According to the circular, under the existing ‘Guideline for Foreign Exchange Transactions (GFET)–2018,’ each transaction must be recorded in the traveler’s passport and, for air travel, on the air ticket with the authorized person’s seal and signature. Money changers are also required to clearly display the endorsement fee at their business premises, issue written receipts for all collected fees, and maintain proper records of all such transactions.

The directive aims to standardize service charges and improve transparency in foreign exchange dealings for travelers, ensuring compliance with existing regulatory guidelines.

A major shipment of 57,855 tons of yellow corn from the United States arrived in Bangladesh after an eight-year gap. The unloading began on Wednesday at the Confidence Cement Jetty in Chattogram Port. The vessel, MV Beltokyo, departed from Vancouver Port in Washington State and entered Bangladeshi waters on December 31. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka confirmed the arrival in a press release. The corn, produced in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, was jointly imported by Nahar Agro Group, Paragon Group, and Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Limited.

According to importers, the shipment took about 46 days to reach Bangladesh, with an import cost of USD 246 per ton and an estimated landed cost of BDT 34 per kilogram—lower than recent Brazilian imports priced between USD 251 and 260 per ton. Nahar Agro’s chairman Rakibur Rahman noted that only 30 percent of national corn demand is met locally, with imports filling the rest. The U.S. Embassy described the shipment as a milestone in agricultural and food sector cooperation between the two nations.

Officials believe that regular U.S. supply could enhance competition in the feed industry and stabilize animal protein production in Bangladesh.

Mobile phone prices in Bangladesh have increased despite a recent reduction in import tariffs. According to the report, government-registered mobile traders raised prices following the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). Allegations suggest that a mafia syndicate influenced the price hikes. Since January 1, prices have risen by Tk 500 to Tk 5,000 per handset depending on the model.

Consumers claim that official brands took advantage of the closure of grey market handset shops amid the NEIR controversy. Brands such as Redmi, Vivo, Infinix, Realme, OnePlus, and Samsung Galaxy have raised prices across various models. For example, the Vivo Y21D (8/128) model increased from Tk 21,000 to Tk 23,000, while the Infinix Smart 10 (4/64) rose by Tk 1,000 to Tk 12,000.

Mobile traders argue that rising memory component costs contributed to the price increases. Zakaria Shahid, president of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), described the tariff reduction as deceptive, suggesting that the benefits were not passed on to consumers.

Bangladesh Bank has increased the maximum home loan limit for banks with low default rates. According to a circular issued on Tuesday, banks with classified loans below 5 percent can now lend up to Tk 4 crore for flat purchases. The previous uniform ceiling for all banks was Tk 2 crore. The revised policy takes immediate effect and replaces earlier directives, while other consumer loan guidelines remain unchanged.

The central bank stated that the revision aims to address rising housing and construction material costs and growing demand in the real estate sector. Under the new rules, banks with default loans between 5 and 10 percent may lend up to Tk 3 crore, and those with over 10 percent defaults will maintain the previous Tk 2 crore limit. The loan-to-equity ratio remains unchanged at 70:30, meaning borrowers must contribute 30 percent of the property value.

The last adjustment to the home loan ceiling occurred in 2019, when the limit was raised from Tk 1.2 crore to Tk 2 crore for all banks.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will launch direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi starting January 29, marking the resumption of direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after more than ten years. According to airline officials, two weekly flights will operate on this route for an initial three-month period, continuing until March 30 of the current year. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has already granted approval for the route and designated airspace usage.

Currently, travelers between Bangladesh and Pakistan rely on transit hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai or Doha. The new direct service is expected to simplify travel, strengthen people-to-people connections, and enhance bilateral trade. Officials noted that the decision followed several months of discussions with Pakistani authorities.

Aviation experts described the Dhaka-Karachi route as both commercially and strategically significant. They believe that restoring direct air links will reinforce economic relations and mutual engagement between the two countries.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced that submission of Value Added Tax (VAT) returns will be made mandatory online from the next fiscal year. He made the announcement at an event held at the Revenue Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, marking the launch of an online VAT refund system that transfers refunds directly to taxpayers’ bank accounts.

According to the NBR chairman, while online submission of income tax returns is already mandatory, the VAT law has not yet required it. The upcoming budget will include a provision to make online VAT return submission compulsory. During the event, the chairman inaugurated the online VAT refund process by transferring Tk 45.35 lakh to the bank accounts of three taxpayers from three VAT commissionerates in Dhaka.

The NBR has instructed taxpayers who previously filed paper-based VAT returns to enter those records into the e-VAT system by March. After that, they will also be able to register online. The new system aims to ensure transparency and faster processing of refund applications without requiring taxpayers to visit VAT offices.

The Pay Commission has finalized a new date for its previously postponed full meeting on the ninth pay scale. According to the latest decision, the meeting will take place on Thursday at the Secretariat, beginning at noon. The session is expected to finalize decisions on the number of pay grades and other related matters.

Commission sources indicate that discussions are ongoing regarding whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16. Many members support keeping the current number of grades while recommending a rational increase in salaries and allowances, while others strongly favor reducing the number of grades. The commission stated that it has thoroughly analyzed opinions received from various organizations and agencies and that the report writing process is nearly complete.

The final meeting aims to reach consensus on remaining issues before setting a submission date for the recommendations. Due to the upcoming national election, the report is likely to be submitted by February, allowing the new pay scale to be implemented before the 13th National Parliament election.

Bangladesh Bank has directed all scheduled banks in the country to construct women-friendly washrooms to ease difficulties faced by female employees and customers. The central bank issued a circular on Tuesday, sending it to the managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks. The directive emphasizes that many banks lack adequate, hygienic facilities for women, causing inconvenience for both staff and clients.

According to the circular, every bank must ensure women-friendly and sanitary washrooms at their head offices, regional offices, branches, and sub-branches. The central bank further instructed that existing washrooms requiring renovation or lacking sanitary supplies must be promptly upgraded. Regular monitoring has also been stressed to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for women employees and customers.

The move aims to improve workplace and service conditions for women in the banking sector, ensuring better hygiene and inclusivity across all banking facilities.

Residents across Dhaka are facing acute gas shortages, with stoves remaining off for most of the day. Despite paying regular bills, households are struggling to cook even one meal daily, forcing many to buy costly LPG cylinders. The crisis has disrupted daily life, with families waiting late into the night for minimal gas pressure. In several neighborhoods including Jatrabari, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Rampura, and Old Dhaka, gas supply is either extremely low or absent for long hours.

The shortage stems from reduced gas production and increased system loss. According to Titas Gas, 1,796 million cubic meters of gas were wasted in the 2024–25 fiscal year, causing losses of about Tk 4,107 crore. Petrobangla data show domestic production fell to 2,647 million cubic feet per day in early January 2026, down from 2,720 million the previous year. Only 10 percent of total supply reaches residential users, while industries and power plants receive priority.

Titas Managing Director Shahnewaz Parvez said daily production has dropped by 250 million cubic feet compared to last year. He noted that without discovering new gas fields or repairing old wells, the crisis will persist.

The Finance Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance has issued a new directive increasing the maximum price limits for purchasing government vehicles. The circular, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Shawkat Ullah and released on Tuesday, allows various government departments to buy vehicles within the revised ceilings. The adjustment covers cars, jeeps, pickups, microbuses, motorcycles, ambulances, minibuses, and trucks, reflecting current market prices.

Officials explained that the new limits mainly apply to replacing vehicles older than ten years, as earlier prices were insufficient due to rising market costs. The directive applies to government, statutory, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and state-owned organizations, with registration and taxes included in the set prices. Key revisions include raising the ceiling for AC minibuses to Tk 8 million, large non-AC buses to Tk 5.82 million, and private cars to Tk 5.6 million. The single-cabin pickup limit rose to Tk 5.2 million, while motorcycle limits increased to Tk 193,000.

The Finance Division had previously suspended new vehicle purchases for the 2025–26 fiscal year, except for replacements of vehicles over ten years old. The new directive updates those restrictions in line with current market realities.

Bangladesh Bank has continued buying US dollars from local banks as supply remains strong. On Tuesday, it purchased $223.5 million from 14 banks, bringing total purchases in the first six months of the fiscal year to $3.54 billion. As a result, the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $33.18 billion, according to Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

Bankers said the increase in remittances through formal channels has boosted dollar supply, easing the earlier market crisis. Since supply now exceeds demand, the central bank is buying dollars to prevent a sharp fall in the exchange rate, which could hurt remittance inflows and exports. The move has had a positive impact on reserves.

The report notes that after the fall of the previous Awami League government, the new administration took strict measures to curb money laundering, leading to higher export earnings and remittances. Bangladesh Bank’s current intervention aims to maintain market stability and protect key economic sectors.

Bangladesh’s economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the current tensions between India and Bangladesh will not impact the country’s economy. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday after a meeting of the government’s procurement advisory committee, he said trade and purchase activities with India remain normal and there is no economic problem arising from the situation.

He described the recent incident involving cricketer Mustafizur Rahman as unfortunate, noting that Bangladesh was not responsible for initiating the issue. According to him, the sudden decision to stop the player’s participation was unexpected and regrettable, and such actions are not beneficial for either country. He emphasized that the political strain between the two nations will not affect economic or commercial relations.

Dr. Ahmed added that emotional factors may have influenced the situation and expressed hope that both sides would act with consideration to avoid harming bilateral relations. He reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s response to the incident was appropriate and that reactions naturally follow actions.

Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman has officially joined as the new Chairperson of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation. He took charge at the foundation’s office on Monday following his appointment through a government notification issued by the Ministry of Industries on January 1, 2026. The notification stated that Rahman will hold the position until a new chairperson is appointed, in addition to his existing duties as Industries Secretary.

Obaidur Rahman holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management from the University of Dhaka. A member of the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration), he has served in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Public Administration, as well as in field administration. His appointment marks him as the ninth chairperson of the SME Foundation.

The SME Foundation plays a key role in supporting small and medium enterprises across Bangladesh, and Rahman’s dual role is expected to ensure continuity in the organization’s leadership until a permanent appointment is made.