The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a reduction in gold prices across the country. According to a notice issued on Thursday morning, the price of 22-carat gold has been cut by Tk 3,266 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 246,927. The revised prices took effect from 10 a.m. the same day. BAJUS stated that the adjustment was made considering the decline in the local market price of pure gold.

Under the new pricing, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 235,671 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 202,020, and traditional gold Tk 164,521. The previous adjustment occurred on April 15, when BAJUS raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 2,216 per bhori to Tk 250,193. That change also took effect at 10 a.m. on the same day.

So far in 2026, BAJUS has adjusted gold prices 56 times, increasing them 32 times and reducing them 24 times. In 2025, the association made 93 adjustments, with 64 increases and 29 decreases.

Bangladesh’s state-owned sugar mills under the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) have failed to meet their production targets for the 2025–26 crushing season. The nine operational mills produced 43,326 tons of sugar against a target of 51,857 tons, falling short by 8,531 tons, or more than 16 percent. Compared to the previous season, production dropped by 2,861 tons. Only Thakurgaon and Zeal Bangla sugar mills exceeded their targets, while North Bengal Sugar Mill recorded the highest output and Joypurhat the lowest.

The total sugarcane crushed this season was 782,673 tons, below the target of 850,000 tons. The overall sugar recovery rate slightly improved to 5.53 percent from 5.5 percent last season but remained unsatisfactory. Officials attributed the decline to outdated machinery, lack of modern processing methods, and poor-quality cane varieties. Most mills are decades old, with ten of fifteen mills having exceeded their operational lifespan.

Although a modernization plan was proposed earlier, it stalled after the government changed in 2024. A task force was formed to revive closed mills, but the finance ministry did not allocate funds, leaving production suspended and equipment deteriorating.

The United States has extended the easing of sanctions on oil sales from Iranian and Russian ships for an additional 30 days. The decision was announced by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said it followed requests from countries facing potential oil shortages due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Bessent told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that finance ministers from about ten countries made the appeal during last week’s meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The move marks a reversal from Bessent’s earlier statement last week, when he said the relaxation period would not be extended.

According to the report, the extension aims to ease supply concerns among nations dependent on oil shipments affected by the regional disruption.

Shyamal Baran Das has joined as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Upay, a leading mobile financial service (MFS) provider in Bangladesh. The announcement was made on April 22, 2026. Das brings over 25 years of experience in digital banking and financial services, with a career focused on expanding access to modern financial solutions across the country.

Before joining Upay, he held senior positions at several major financial institutions, including Additional Managing Director at Nagad, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Information Officer at Meghna Bank, Chief Digital Officer at BRAC Bank, and CEO of BRAC IT Services Limited. He has been recognized for his success in developing digital platforms and building skilled teams in the financial technology sector.

The Board of Directors of UCB Fintech Company Limited, which operates Upay, welcomed Das to the leadership team. The board expressed confidence that under his leadership, Upay will reach new heights and deliver more advanced and modern services to its customers in the coming days.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, stated that if the government can reduce theft, corruption, mismanagement, and system loss in the energy sector by ten percent, there would be no need to increase fuel prices. He made the remarks in a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, urging the government to withdraw its decision to raise fuel prices.

Haque expressed concern over severe load-shedding in rural areas, warning that it could seriously harm agricultural production, particularly boro rice cultivation. He said the ongoing crisis in the energy sector is responsible for the situation and called for coordinated government action to address it. He also noted that despite the fuel price hike, farmers and ordinary citizens are still struggling to access adequate fuel supplies.

Highlighting a severe diesel shortage, Haque said irrigation work has been disrupted in most districts, with thousands of hectares of boro crops drying out. He urged the government to immediately increase diesel supply for irrigation and take more active steps to import diesel.

Farmers in the haor regions of Sunamganj, including Madhyanagar, are receiving only Tk 650–700 per maund of paddy, far below the government-fixed price of Tk 1,440 for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Due to excessive rainfall, about 30 percent of the haor land has been submerged, and many farmers are struggling to harvest their crops as roads remain underwater and harvesters cannot be used. Rising fuel prices, labor shortages, and higher wages have further increased production costs, leaving farmers unable to recover their investments.

Local traders report a stagnant market with fewer buyers compared to previous years. Farmers blame the ineffective government procurement program for forcing them to sell at low prices, while middlemen profit from the situation. Agricultural officials acknowledge that limited government purchase centers and weak market management are key issues. They have begun listing genuine farmers for fair-price procurement.

Experts and local representatives have urged the government to expand purchase centers, strengthen direct procurement, and provide low-interest loans to ensure fair prices for farmers.

Long-distance bus operations between Rajshahi and Dhaka have remained suspended for two consecutive days, causing severe suffering for passengers. The disruption, confirmed by Rajshahi Bus Owners Association General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal, stems from an internal conflict among bus owners. As a result, no buses departed from Rajshahi to Dhaka for the second straight day on Wednesday.

Passengers with urgent travel needs were left stranded at counters without prior notice of the suspension. Many, including commuters and students, expressed frustration at the sudden halt, saying they could not make alternative arrangements. The absence of advance announcements worsened the situation, forcing travelers to return home or wait indefinitely.

According to the association, the dispute involves bus owners from Rajshahi and Natore. Discussions with local administration are underway to resolve the issue, and officials hope that normal operations may resume by Wednesday evening, though no specific timeline has been confirmed.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe’s largest airline group, has announced the cancellation of 20,000 short-haul flights from its summer schedule due to a sharp rise in fuel costs. The company said jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran war, making many routes unprofitable. The cancellations will reduce total flight capacity by about one percent and save approximately 40,000 tons of jet fuel.

According to Sky News, Lufthansa had already decided to shut down its regional unit CityLine and ground 27 older, fuel-intensive aircraft. The airline also plans to shift more flights to its lower-cost subsidiaries, City Airlines and Discover Airlines, to improve efficiency. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Limited shows that global airline capacity in May has fallen by about three percent as most major carriers cut flights.

Lufthansa further stated that it intends to reduce around 4,000 administrative jobs by 2030 to lower costs and enhance profitability.

A meeting on Boeing aircraft procurement was held at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism conference room on Wednesday. The discussion focused on a detailed outline to expand Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet to 47 aircraft by the 2034–35 fiscal year. The meeting also reviewed the inclusion of Boeing aircraft and assessed initiatives taken under the previous government.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam emphasized the need for a coordinated work plan based on route-specific revenue analysis before adding each aircraft. She stated that timely and realistic measures could make Biman more profitable and passenger-friendly. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat urged continued progress on necessary processes for Boeing aircraft inclusion and stressed ensuring timely delivery.

Millat also directed preparations to resume flights on the Dhaka–Narita route. The meeting was attended by the ministry’s secretary Fahmida Akhter, the managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and senior officials from related agencies.

The government of Bangladesh has fixed procurement targets and prices for rice, paddy, and wheat during the 2026 Boro season. The collection drive will begin on May 3 for paddy and wheat, and on May 15 for rice, continuing until August 31, 2026. The Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Home Minister Salah Uddin Ahmed, decided to procure 500,000 metric tons of paddy, 1.2 million metric tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 metric tons of non-parboiled rice, and 50,000 metric tons of wheat. The purchase prices were set at Tk 36 per kg for paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, Tk 48 for non-parboiled rice, and Tk 36 for wheat.

At a press briefing, the Home Minister said the country currently holds 1.7 to 1.8 million metric tons of rice in government stock, maintaining a mandatory food security reserve of 1.3 million metric tons. The government can raise reserves to 2.4–2.5 million metric tons if needed. He added that favorable weather is expected to yield a bumper harvest, eliminating the need for rice imports, though wheat remains largely import-dependent.

To meet wheat demand, the government plans to import 800,000 metric tons through G2G and open tender methods, including a memorandum with the United States for about 700,000 metric tons. Regional supply adjustments will ensure no food shortages across the country.

China has reduced petrol and diesel prices at the pump for the first time since the start of the Iran war, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The commission, which serves as China’s top economic planning body, stated that the decision reflects recent changes in global crude oil prices. Fuel prices in China are reviewed every ten working days based on international crude oil market trends.

The NDRC noted that the price cut will allow drivers to save about three US dollars when filling a 50-liter tank. Previously, Beijing had raised the maximum retail prices of petrol and diesel several times as global oil prices surged following the outbreak of the Iran war.

The adjustment marks a shift in China’s fuel pricing policy amid fluctuating global energy markets, aligning domestic prices more closely with international trends.

A government report stated that shipping costs through the Panama Canal have risen sharply as demand increased following the blockade of the Hormuz Strait due to the Middle East war. One liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier reportedly paid an additional four million dollars to avoid long waiting times, which typically last around five days. The surge began after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, which led to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key route for one-fifth of global oil and gas exports.

As a result, several Asian refineries have shifted to importing oil and gas from the United States via the Panama Canal instead of Gulf countries. The Panama Canal Authority reported that while daily vessel traffic remains stable, demand has increased, with average daily crossings rising from 34 in January to 37 in March, and occasionally exceeding 40 ships.

Auction prices for priority passage have also soared, with LNG and oil tankers bidding millions of dollars. The canal handles about five percent of global maritime trade, linking the U.S. East Coast with Asia.

At a pre-budget discussion held on April 22, 2026, at the Revenue Building, business leaders warned that foreign apparel buyers are redirecting their orders from Bangladesh to India due to severe gas and electricity shortages. They reported a decline in orders for July and August, raising concerns that the country’s garment industry could face a major crisis if the situation persists.

Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber, said garment production and exports have been falling for eight consecutive months. He urged the government to take effective measures to reverse the downturn. Representatives from Gazipur highlighted a diesel shortage that has disrupted industrial operations, while others called for tax exemptions on renewable energy investments in the upcoming budget to address the energy crisis.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan responded that tax incentives had previously been offered for renewable energy and would continue in the future. Business representatives from Dhaka, Sylhet, Gazipur, and Narayanganj also demanded raising the tax-free income limit to 500,000 taka and reducing corporate tax rates to ease inflation-driven production costs.

Electro Mart has received three prestigious recognitions at the third edition of the Bangladesh Retail Awards 2026, organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Bangladesh Retail Forum at a five-star hotel in Dhaka. The company was honored as Best Retailer in Electronics, Emerging Retailer of the Year, and Most Admired Retailer, reflecting its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer trust.

The Best Retailer in Electronics award recognized Electro Mart’s efforts to deliver advanced technology products, quality service, and superior retail offerings. The Emerging Retailer of the Year title was given for setting strong goals, aligning with customer needs, and offering world-class products at affordable prices. The Most Admired Retailer award acknowledged its reputation as one of Bangladesh’s most trusted electronics brands.

Electro Mart, representing global brands Konka, Gree, and Haiko, has been a leading electronics manufacturer and marketer in Bangladesh for over 25 years. The company stated that these recognitions reinforce its responsibility to maintain quality and innovation while expressing gratitude to customers for their continued trust and support.

The government of Bangladesh announced that it will begin procuring paddy, rice, and wheat from May 3 under the current fiscal year’s food procurement program, continuing until August 31. According to the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, the purchase prices have been fixed at Tk 36 per kilogram for Boro paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, Tk 48 for Atap rice, and Tk 36 for wheat.

The meeting, held at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department conference room, was attended by State Minister for Food Abdul Bari. The government has set procurement targets of 500,000 metric tons of Boro paddy, 1.2 million metric tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 metric tons of Atap rice, and 50,000 metric tons of wheat. Paddy and wheat collection will start on May 3, while rice collection will begin on May 15.

The Home Minister stated that the country currently has sufficient rice reserves, with 1.7 to 1.8 million tons stored in government warehouses. He added that Bangladesh’s total wheat demand is 8 million metric tons, of which 7 to 7.2 million tons are produced domestically, and the remaining 800,000 tons are imported through government-to-government arrangements.