Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Turkish Ambassador Ramiz Sen at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Wednesday. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral trade, increasing investment, and strengthening economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey.

During the discussion, the commerce minister highlighted the potential for further trade and investment growth by leveraging the existing friendly relations between the two countries. He emphasized joint ventures in sectors such as ready-made garments, textiles, agro-based industries, and light engineering. Muktadir also noted that Turkish investors could benefit from Bangladesh’s lower production costs, particularly in leather and jute products.

Ambassador Ramiz Sen praised Bangladesh’s growing economy and skilled workforce, describing the country as an attractive destination for Turkish investors. He also commended Bangladesh’s eco-friendly jute products, noting their popularity in Turkey, and congratulated the minister on his appointment following the national election.

Three ships carrying diesel and jet fuel arrived at Chattogram port this week, according to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The MT Great Princess from Singapore began unloading around 11,000 tons of jet fuel at Dolphin Jetty-6 on Tuesday morning. Two other vessels, MT Lucia Solis and MT Torm Damini, transported diesel from Malaysia, with unloading operations completed between Tuesday night and Wednesday.

The Indonesia-flagged MT Lucia Solis arrived at the port late Tuesday with about 34,000 tons of diesel and later docked at Dolphin Jetty-5 after partial offloading through lighterage. The Denmark-flagged MT Torm Damini, carrying around 32,000 tons of diesel, began unloading at the outer anchorage before reaching Dolphin Jetty-6 on Wednesday. Both ships departed Malaysia on April 9.

BPC officials explained that due to depth limitations at Chattogram port, large vessels must first discharge part of their cargo at the outer anchorage before docking at the jetty to complete unloading.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that effective measures have been taken to start the operations of the international payment gateway PayPal in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 15, during the question-and-answer session in the National Parliament. The Prime Minister said that a committee has already been formed to ensure the effective operation of high-tech parks and ICT centers and to facilitate the launch of PayPal’s services in the country.

According to the source, PayPal had previously expressed interest in operating in Bangladesh, most recently during the tenure of the interim government. In December of the previous year, then Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that PayPal would begin operations in Bangladesh. He explained that the initiative aims to make transactions easier for freelancers, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and the IT sector. During that period, PayPal’s South Asia team, based in Singapore, also held meetings with Bangladeshi freelancers and the ICT Division.

The announcement signals renewed government efforts to expand digital payment infrastructure and support the country’s growing freelance and technology sectors.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed purchasing US dollars from the market after a one-and-a-half-month pause. On Wednesday, the central bank bought USD 700 million from a commercial bank at a rate of 122.75 taka per dollar. The last such purchase occurred on March 2, when it acquired USD 250 million from two banks. Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the transaction.

From July to April 15 of the current fiscal year, the central bank has purchased a total of USD 5.56 billion. The increase in remittance inflows has prompted banks to sell dollars to the central bank. During the first 14 days of April, remittances reached USD 1.6 billion, marking a 25 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, total remittances have amounted to USD 27.81 billion, up 20.6 percent year-on-year.

The combined effect of higher remittances and dollar purchases has strengthened Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves, which now stand at USD 34.66 billion, or USD 29.97 billion under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method.

Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh might need to raise fuel prices if the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel prolongs. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a press briefing held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the Secretariat, where he discussed the progress of various government activities.

Rahman explained that the United States has begun blocking ships related to Iran, and if this situation persists, it could worsen global conditions, making it difficult for the government to continue providing fuel subsidies for an extended period. He confirmed that fuel prices would not increase in April but noted that adjustments could become necessary if the conflict continues.

Since February, retail fuel prices in Bangladesh have been set at Tk 100 per liter for diesel, Tk 112 for kerosene, Tk 116 for petrol, and Tk 120 for octane.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam told Parliament that the government is in contact with several airlines to begin international flights from Cox’s Bazar Airport. She said this during a parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister noted that the airport has received certification from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after meeting international standards and suitability requirements.

According to the minister, the runway has been extended from 9,000 to 10,700 feet toward the sea to accommodate larger aircraft, and a new international terminal building covering 17,955 square meters has been constructed. Testing and commissioning work is ongoing to make the airport fully operational. Afroza Khanam added that it will take a few more months to modernize and launch the airport as an international facility.

She also stated that Biman Bangladesh Airlines remains profitable overall, though it faces aircraft shortages. Steps are underway to add new aircraft to the fleet and improve operational efficiency to enhance profitability and service quality.

South Korea has secured the import of 273 million barrels of crude oil from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kazakhstan, according to the country’s presidential chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik. He stated that based on last year’s consumption levels, this volume would allow the economy to operate normally for more than three months without additional emergency measures. Kang also confirmed that South Korea has secured 2.1 million tons of naphtha during the same period.

The move comes as South Korea faces severe challenges due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the Israel–United States alliance. Approximately 70 percent of South Korea’s imported crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route now subject to strict navigation restrictions imposed by both Tehran and Washington. These restrictions have prompted Seoul to diversify its energy supply sources.

The new import agreements are expected to help stabilize South Korea’s energy security and reduce immediate risks linked to disruptions in Middle Eastern oil shipments.

Joint Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Monir Hossain Chowdhury, stated that Bangladesh will not face any fuel shortage in the next two months based on current supply and reserves. He made the remarks during a briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Monir, from March 3 to April 14, a total of 9,116 operations were conducted across the country, resulting in 3,510 cases filed. Authorities collected fines amounting to 15.6 million taka and sentenced 45 individuals to imprisonment. The drives led to the recovery of 542,236 liters of illegal fuel, including diesel, octane, petrol, and furnace oil.

He further detailed that the country currently holds reserves of 101,385 metric tons of diesel, 31,821 metric tons of octane, 18,211 metric tons of petrol, 77,546 metric tons of furnace oil, and 18,223 metric tons of jet fuel, ensuring stability in fuel supply for the near term.

The government will begin issuing licenses to footpath vendors in Dhaka as part of a new initiative led by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Administrator Md. Abdus Salam announced the plan on Wednesday after inaugurating a pilot project to clear the sidewalks in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He emphasized that all businesses, including those on footpaths, must obtain permission from the city corporation and operate through legal procedures.

According to Abdus Salam, the government will prepare a list of footpath vendors and issue licenses accordingly. Guidelines will also be introduced to ensure that vendors are properly spaced and that overcrowding is avoided. He added that the police will conduct a survey within a week to help bring order to the system.

The initiative aims to balance urban order and livelihood needs by regulating street vending through formal licensing and coordination between citizens and the city corporation.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that much of the anticipated damage to the global economy from the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has already occurred. During its spring meeting in Washington, the IMF released a new economic forecast, noting that even if the conflict were to end immediately, global growth would still slow down.

The IMF further cautioned that if the conflict continues and infrastructure damage worsens, global growth could fall to around 2 percent, while inflation may exceed 6 percent next year. According to IMF experts, the impact will not be uniform across countries, with Middle Eastern oil-producing nations facing the greatest losses.

Developing economies are expected to feel nearly twice the impact compared to advanced economies, particularly those dependent on energy imports. Analysts also warned that continued instability in global energy markets and supply chains could further drive inflation in food, energy, and transport sectors.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that escalating conflict in Iran and continued volatility in global energy markets could push the world economy to the brink of recession. According to the IMF, repeated shocks in the energy sector may reduce global growth from the current 3.1 percent to 2 percent.

The IMF outlined three possible scenarios. In the best case, if the war remains short-lived, oil prices could normalize to an average of 82 dollars per barrel in the second half of 2026. Under a moderate scenario, if the conflict drags on, oil prices may hover around 100 dollars this year and fall to 75 dollars in 2027, bringing global growth down to 2.5 percent from 3.4 percent in 2025. In the worst case, oil could reach 110 dollars per barrel in 2026 and 125 dollars in 2027.

IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said current supply disruptions and the lack of a clear path to peace make the moderate or adverse scenario more realistic. The organization also warned that the crisis could further fuel global inflation.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have increased again, with the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announcing a new rate effective from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The price of 22-carat gold has been raised by 2,216 taka per bhori, bringing it to 250,193 taka. The adjustment was made due to higher prices of refined gold in the local market, according to a BAJUS statement signed by committee chairman Dr. Dewan Aminul Islam Shahin.

The new price list also sets 21-carat gold at 238,820 taka per bhori after a 2,099 taka increase, 18-carat gold at 204,703 taka after a 1,808 taka rise, and traditional gold at 166,737 taka following a 1,448 taka increase. The decision was taken at a meeting of the BAJUS Pricing and Price Monitoring Standing Committee.

Just six days earlier, on April 9, gold prices had been reduced by 4,432 taka per bhori for 22-carat gold. Silver prices have also been raised, with 22-carat silver now priced at 6,065 taka per bhori, up by 350 taka.

Bangladesh’s banking sector is undergoing a severe crisis marked by soaring non-performing loans, deepening capital shortfalls, and reduced private investment due to heavy government borrowing. As of September 2025, non-performing loans reached 35.73 percent, while banks faced a provisioning gap of over Tk 1 trillion in 2024. The World Bank estimates that recapitalizing the sector would require 10 percent of GDP, or about Tk 5.5–6 trillion. Government borrowing from banks tripled between December 2020 and December 2025, reaching Tk 5.99 trillion, pushing private sector credit growth down to 6.03 percent in January 2026.

The article argues that this is not merely a banking crisis but a national economic priority requiring immediate policy action. It calls for asset recovery mechanisms, legal reforms, recapitalization with strict accountability, tax incentives for transparency, and modernization of collateral systems. It also recommends reducing government borrowing from banks, improving tax collection through digital integration, and promoting a cashless economy.

The author stresses that the success of these measures depends on ensuring the effective independence of Bangladesh Bank to restore public confidence in the financial system.

Two fuel tankers carrying a total of about 68,000 tons of diesel have anchored at the outer mooring of Chattogram port. The vessels, MT Torm Damini supplied by Unipac Singapore with 33,000 tons and MT Lucia Solis from Vitol Asia with 35,000 tons, arrived late on Tuesday night, April 14.

According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the country currently sells over 11,000 tons of diesel daily. As of April 12, the available stock was 119,000 tons, enough to meet around ten days of demand. The new shipments are expected to extend reserves by another four to five days.

BPC Chairman Rezanur Rahman stated that several vessels have already arrived and more are expected soon. He added that, alongside contracted suppliers, efforts are underway to import fuel from alternative sources, ensuring no supply shortage is anticipated this month.

The Bangladesh government has issued new directives to reduce fuel consumption by shifting official meetings, workshops, and training sessions to virtual platforms. The Cabinet Division recently sent letters to the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, all senior secretaries, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila executive officers instructing them to avoid in-person meetings unless absolutely necessary.

According to the directive, participants from field levels must join ministry or departmental programs through virtual means. For divisional programs, district-level participants will attend online, while for district-level programs, upazila participants will connect virtually. The government emphasized that these measures aim to ensure uninterrupted and efficient administrative operations while conserving fuel in light of the global energy situation.

The instruction will remain in effect until further notice, and all concerned authorities have been asked to ensure full compliance and take necessary actions to implement the directive.