The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has issued a strict directive prohibiting any increase in bus fares without prior government approval. The instruction, signed by the association’s secretary Md. Saiful Alam on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, states that no additional fare may be charged beyond the current rates until the government announces a final decision on fare adjustments. All transport owners and workers operating on routes across the country have been urged to comply with this order.

The association’s statement notes that the cost of operating transport services has risen sharply due to a Tk 15 per liter increase in diesel prices and higher expenses for vehicle parts and maintenance caused by the rising dollar rate. In light of these challenges, the association has called on the government to promptly and realistically adjust fares to prevent financial losses in the transport sector.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has warned of strong protests if bus and launch fares are increased unilaterally in violation of international consumer rights laws. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said transport owners’ associations were pushing for excessive fare hikes following a recent diesel price increase.

The statement recalled that in August 2022, when diesel prices rose sharply to 114 taka per liter, bus fares increased by 22 percent and launch fares by 32 percent. Although diesel prices later dropped to 100 taka, the government only made minor fare reductions on paper, and passengers did not benefit in practice. The association alleged that despite the latest 15-taka rise in diesel prices to 115 taka, transport owners are now seeking to raise bus fares by 64 percent and launch fares by 42 percent.

The Passenger Welfare Association accused certain government officials of supporting transport owners for short-term gains while excluding passenger representatives from fare adjustment discussions, warning that such actions could trigger widespread protests.

Oil prices in Asian markets declined slightly on Wednesday morning as peace talks between the United States and Iran remained stalled. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire until progress is made in negotiations with Tehran. He also stated that the United States would continue its blockade of Iranian ports until Iran presents a comprehensive proposal.

Early in the day, oil prices initially rose but later fell, with Brent crude dropping 0.3 percent to 98.20 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declining 0.5 percent to 89.21 dollars per barrel. The energy market has remained unstable since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to threaten strikes on ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The continued geopolitical tension and uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations have kept global energy markets volatile, with traders closely monitoring developments in the region.

Fuel is being sold at inflated prices across several districts of Bangladesh, with sellers citing supply shortages. Consumers are being forced to pay more for petrol, octane, diesel, and kerosene, which is driving up the prices of essential goods. In Jamalpur, new official rates have been set, but many stations are charging extra, leading to long queues and frustration among buyers.

Reports from Faridpur, Rangpur, and Bogura describe irregularities such as phone-based fuel sales, syndicate control, and deliberate supply halts. In Sunamganj, a mobile court fined a businessman for overpricing fuel, while in Chuadanga, 300 liters of illegally stored diesel were seized and resold to farmers at official rates. The Coast Guard in Bhola confiscated 4,000 liters of petrol being transported illegally, and in Narayanganj, a company was fined for selling diesel and furnace oil without valid documents.

Authorities in several districts have launched mobile court operations and enforcement drives to curb illegal sales and stabilize the market, though widespread public hardship continues.

Lawmakers in Bangladesh’s National Parliament have renewed calls to reopen the Shamshernagar Airport in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar to enhance tourism and local business. The issue was raised through an emergency notice by Moulvibazar-3 MP M Naser Rahman, who urged the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister to consider partial civilian use of the airbase currently under the Air Force. The discussion took place in a recent parliamentary session, where the agenda was confirmed by the Legislative Support Wing of the Parliament Secretariat.

The airport, built during World War II over about 800 acres, has a 6,000-foot runway and is now used for Air Force training. Local residents and expatriates claim vested interests have blocked its reopening, though they argue it would benefit the economy and tourism. Another MP, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, also supported the demand, citing easier access to nearby tourist sites such as Lawachara and Madhabkunda.

In response, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said a feasibility study is underway to assess the airport’s commercial viability. The Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce welcomed the parliamentary attention, noting that improved air connectivity could revitalize regional trade.

A white paper released under the interim government has revealed serious irregularities and policy violations in the process of granting private submarine cable licenses during the Awami League administration. The report warns that the state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) could lose up to Tk 616 crore in revenue and Tk 69 crore in dividends over the next four years. The government has ordered an investigation into the activities and consortium legitimacy of three private firms—Summit, Metacore, and Cdnet—accused of breaching licensing rules and endangering national digital security.

According to the white paper, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued three private licenses in 2022, but the companies formed a single consortium named BPCS instead of building separate cables. This consolidation undermined network reliability and concentrated strategic control, posing national security risks. The report also warns that the move could create artificial market capacity, waste public funds, and cause a steep fall in bandwidth prices, leading to significant financial losses for BSCCPLC.

Sector experts suggest suspending private submarine cable operations for three to five years after the launch of the SMW6 cable and granting BSCCPLC special protection as critical national infrastructure.

Bangladesh is experiencing an acute shortage of diesel and fertilizer, leaving farmers struggling with high prices and disrupted irrigation during the peak cultivation season. Reports from multiple districts show that diesel scarcity and frequent power outages have severely affected irrigation, while fertilizer prices have surged far above official rates. Farmers are paying up to 2,000 taka for a 50-kg bag of urea that should cost 1,350 taka. Gas shortages have forced 99 percent of fertilizer factories to shut down, limiting domestic production and deepening the crisis.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension claim that national fertilizer reserves are sufficient and that reports of shortages are exaggerated. However, field data from regions such as Jhenaidah and Nilphamari reveal inconsistent supply and price manipulation by dealers. The government has initiated the import of 500,000 metric tons of fertilizer to stabilize supply, with tenders already issued for part of the quantity.

The diesel price hike of 10–15 percent has further increased irrigation and transport costs, raising concerns about reduced crop yields and rising food prices. Economists warn that without swift action, the crisis could threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to extend the temporary relaxation of the Jones Act, a maritime law that restricts domestic shipping to American-flagged vessels, according to Axios. The decision aims to address the ongoing energy crisis caused by rising fuel prices linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Trump had initially eased the law’s requirements for 60 days starting March 18 to facilitate internal oil transport.

The 1920 Jones Act has long been criticized for increasing transportation costs due to the limited supply of U.S.-flagged ships. Supporters of the temporary waiver argue that it helps reduce logistical bottlenecks and stabilize energy prices. The Axios report noted that the earlier relaxation produced positive results, prompting Trump to consider extending the measure further.

If extended, the waiver could continue to ease domestic fuel transportation pressures and mitigate short-term energy cost spikes, though the report did not specify how long the new extension might last.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has instructed all transport owners and workers not to increase bus fares until the government issues an official decision. The directive was announced on Tuesday by the association’s secretary general, Saiful Alam, through a press release. It emphasized that operators must follow the existing fare chart and cannot charge passengers more than the current rates without a government notification.

According to the association, the transport sector is under growing financial pressure due to recent increases in diesel prices by 15 taka per liter and a rise in the dollar exchange rate, which has raised the cost of imported spare parts and overall vehicle maintenance. Transport leaders have urged the government to promptly and rationally revise fares in line with fuel and maintenance costs to maintain sector stability.

The association’s statement reflects ongoing tension between operational costs and regulated fares, highlighting the need for a balanced government response to sustain the transport industry.

The United States is considering a currency swap arrangement to help ease the dollar liquidity shortage in the oil-dependent economy of the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump confirmed the possibility in an interview with CNBC, saying the UAE’s central bank had requested the measure following economic disruptions linked to the Iran-US conflict. Trump expressed surprise at the request from such a wealthy ally but said he viewed it positively, emphasizing the UAE’s longstanding friendship with the United States.

The potential support reflects broader instability in Middle Eastern economies caused by ongoing regional conflicts. The move comes as diplomatic friction grows between the UAE and Iran after Emirati authorities arrested several Iranian nationals. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the arrests as baseless, urging the UAE to respect human rights and return to neighborly conduct.

The developments underscore the dual economic and diplomatic pressures facing Gulf states as they navigate the fallout from regional tensions and shifting alliances.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of nearly 175,000 metric tons of fuel oil worth Tk 1,698.21 crore to address urgent energy needs arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The approval came on Tuesday during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division submitted the proposals for the imports.

According to the Finance Ministry, the committee approved the purchase of 50,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM diesel and 25,000 metric tons of gasoline 95 unleaded (octane) from DBS Trading House FZCO through direct procurement, costing Tk 1,023.61 crore. Additionally, 100,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM sulfur diesel will be imported from Archer Energy LLC under the same method for Tk 674.60 crore. The ministry noted that fuel import proposals have been approved in almost every recent committee meeting.

The meeting also approved consultancy contracts for Dhaka WASA’s DESWS project and procurement of 30 million new hessian bags for the Food Department through open tendering.

Bangladesh Bank has removed Emdadul Islam from his position as Managing Director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited. The central bank also advised the company’s chairman to take necessary measures and appoint an experienced official as acting MD. The decision followed findings that Emdadul Islam concealed key information during his appointment process.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s inspection, while serving as MD of GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Emdadul Islam classified a defaulted loan of Keya Cosmetics as regular without central bank approval, reducing the company’s non-performing loan ratio from 16.04 percent to 8.86 percent. He also restructured loans of subsidiary GSP Investment in violation of central bank directives, leading to a fine of 1 million taka. Additionally, he imposed extra interest on Doreen Hotels and Resorts Limited during the COVID-19 period, ignoring regulatory instructions.

Bangladesh Bank stated that Emdadul Islam failed to disclose these issues in his application and affidavit for the International Leasing MD post, prompting his removal.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will hold joint meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, to ensure uninterrupted telecommunication services and network management amid the ongoing energy crisis. The meetings are being organized in response to concerns raised by stakeholders in the telecom sector.

Earlier, on March 12, BTRC sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting priority allocation of fuel and electricity. Following that, on March 13, the division forwarded letters to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Power Division, and all district commissioners seeking necessary action. On April 20, BTRC again wrote to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting law enforcement support for fuel transport and tower site maintenance.

The April 22 meeting will include Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, mobile operators, NTTN operators, tower companies, and the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh. The April 23 meeting will involve the Power Development Board, Rural Electrification Board, PGCB, power distribution companies, and telecom operators. The meetings aim to adopt measures to resolve energy-related challenges affecting telecom operations.

Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana criticized the government in the National Parliament for borrowing Tk 44,500 crore within just 52 days of assuming power. Speaking during a supplementary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on April 21, she highlighted that the government had already exceeded its bank borrowing target for the fiscal year. The budget had set a target of Tk 1.04 trillion, but by early April, borrowing had reached Tk 1.12761 trillion, surpassing the target by 108 percent.

Citing a Bangladesh Bank report, Rumin Farhana noted that revenue collection was about Tk 7,500 crore short of the target, forcing the government to rely heavily on bank loans. She questioned whether the government had any concrete plans to expand the tax base or increase revenue collection.

In response, the finance minister said the large borrowing figure was a carryover from the previous administration’s liabilities, not the result of the current government’s actions. He assured Parliament that the government’s policy is to gradually reduce domestic bank borrowing, with visible results expected in the next budget.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that the government will not tolerate any artificial crisis or manipulation in the market. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the task force committee on commodity prices and market conditions at the Ministry of Commerce conference room. The minister emphasized that no group or individual can hold the market hostage in a country of 180 million people.

He explained that global conditions, particularly conflicts in the Middle East, have created pressure on energy and supply chains, but the government is closely monitoring the situation and import levels remain stable. Responding to questions about soybean oil supply, he said that while bottled oil supply has slightly decreased, loose oil remains sufficient. The government is aware of any overpricing beyond fixed rates and will take necessary action.

Muktadir urged traders not to influence the market through speculation and to set prices based on the real impact of fuel costs. He called on all stakeholders to trust the government as it works toward a permanent pricing system to ensure long-term market stability.