Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has announced that the repo interest rate will remain at 10% for now but may decrease in the coming months—if inflation drops below 7%. “We've made some progress in curbing inflation, which now stands around 8.5%. We want it to go below 3%, or I won't be satisfied,” said the governor. He emphasized a dual strategy of managing inflation through both supply and demand measures. Despite last year’s dollar crisis, essential imports like electricity, fertilizer, and LNG were not disrupted. He noted that interest rates on treasury bills and bonds have already decreased from 12% to 10%.

The United States has finalized a trade agreement with Pakistan that includes plans for the joint development of the country’s substantial oil reserves. Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the deal, stating that the selection process for oil companies to lead the project is underway. “Who knows, maybe one day they’ll sell oil to India!” he quipped.

While details of the agreement are yet to be disclosed, Trump noted ongoing talks with other nations regarding trade. “This afternoon, I’ll be meeting with South Korea’s trade delegation. They currently impose a 25% tariff, but they’ve proposed a reduction, which I’m eager to review,” he said. Trump added that several countries are offering tariff reductions, which he believes will significantly help reduce the U.S. trade deficit.

Donald Trump has announced a 15% tariff on South Korean imports as part of a new trade agreement. Without the deal, South Korea would have faced a 25% tariff. The move comes shortly after Japan agreed to similar terms, increasing pressure on Seoul.

Under the deal, South Korea will invest $350 billion in the U.S. While officials in Seoul are touting it as a win—especially given last year’s $56 billion trade surplus with the U.S.—items like steel and aluminum will face a 50% tariff in line with Trump’s global trade policy. Despite the hike, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung welcomed the agreement.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 50% tariff on selected Brazilian imports. Brazil responded with warnings of retaliatory measures. As the U.S. is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner after China, the tariff increase could significantly impact its economy.

Previously, Trump accused Brazil of targeting U.S. tech firms and harassing former President Jair Bolsonaro. However, several key Brazilian exports have been exempted from the new tariff list.

The Israeli Embassy in Canada has strongly condemned Canada’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine, saying it amounts to rewarding Hamas for the October 7, 2023 attacks. In a statement, the embassy said:

"Recognizing a Palestinian state without accountability, effective institutions, or humane leadership is equivalent to endorsing the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7."

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will officially recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. He emphasized that the move is intended to support a two-state solution. Canada also expressed hope that the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, will hold general elections by 2026, excluding Hamas and ensuring the new state remains demilitarized.

Foreign missions in London have expressed deep condolences over the tragic training aircraft crash at Dhaka’s Milestone School and College that claimed the lives of multiple children. A condolence book was opened at the Bangladesh High Commission on July 23–24. Countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Spain, Sri Lanka, and others sent messages of sympathy. Organizations like the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Crisis Group also conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims.

Chinese garment maker Honda (Bangladesh) Garments Company Limited will invest $41.33 million in the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirersarai, Chattogram. The agreement signed on July 30 aims to produce 72.1 million pieces of various garments annually, including T-shirts, suits, and children’s wear, generating employment for over 10,000 Bangladeshis. BEPZA assured full support for smooth operations and praised Bangladesh’s skilled workforce. Honda plans to introduce advanced, automated technology and create local teams for global market connections.

Bangladesh Bank will unveil the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) for the first half of fiscal year 2025-26 tomorrow. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur will formally present the MPS at a press conference at the bank’s headquarters. The announcement will cover inflation control, private sector credit growth, and economic development under the current monetary policy. Key officials, including the head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit and the bank’s chief economist, will attend the event.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that a 25% tariff could be imposed on Indian exports if a trade agreement with the United States is not finalized soon.

Despite five rounds of negotiations, no deal has yet been reached, increasing pressure on New Delhi. A senior Indian official confirmed that a U.S. delegation is scheduled to visit India by mid-August for further talks. “We’ve made significant progress,” the official said, but acknowledged that Trump could still order steep tariffs via executive action.

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that talks with the U.S. are “progressing well,” noting that India has proposed reducing tariffs on several products and is working to ease non-tariff barriers. Meanwhile, Trump announced plans to notify nearly 200 countries about a new "global tariff" structure his administration intends to introduce.

Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) PLC has announced the launch of a new subsidiary named ACI Biosciences Limited, with an authorized capital of BDT 1 billion. ACI will hold 90% of the shares, pending regulatory approval. Despite recent financial losses, including a loss of BDT 9.11 per share in the first three quarters of 2024-25, the company continues to invest in growth. ACI’s latest credit rating remains strong, reflecting confidence in its long-term stability.

Hong Kong-based Honda Industries will invest $250 million in Bangladesh to set up three factories—two garment processing units and one knitting and dyeing unit—creating 25,000 jobs. The decision follows government support and a previously signed MoU at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025. Chairman Han Chun met with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and presented factory designs for the Mirsarai Economic Zone. The first phase will begin with an $80 million investment, with full project completion expected by the end of 2025.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen expressed China's full readiness to implement the Teesta River Comprehensive Project and emphasized that the next move rests with Bangladesh. He also criticized U.S. trade tariffs, stating they contradict WTO rules and could destabilize the global economy.

Yao highlighted China's intent to work jointly with both Bangladesh and Pakistan, aiming to build a prosperous, sovereign region. He clarified that this initiative is not a coalition against any third party. On domestic affairs, Yao expressed confidence in Bangladesh's interim government to hold a fair election and reiterated that repatriation is the only sustainable solution for the Rohingya crisis. Regarding the recent Milestone incident, he said a team of Chinese technical experts would arrive in Dhaka soon to investigate.

According to a report from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh paid approximately $4.087 billion in principal and interest to development partners in the recently concluded fiscal year. This marks the highest amount of loan repayment ever made by the country in a single fiscal year.

The repayment amount represents a 21.2% increase from the previous fiscal year’s payment of $3.372 billion. Interest payments alone rose to $1.491 billion, up 10.5% compared to $1.349 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24.

The ERD data also reveals that Bangladesh signed new loan agreements worth $8.323 billion with development partners during the fiscal year 2024-25, down from $10.739 billion in the prior fiscal year.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban-led Afghan government. Araghchi stressed the urgent need for a ministerial-level OIC meeting to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He also highlighted Iran's efforts to ensure a dignified and rights-based return process for Afghan refugees. In response, Muttaqi called for an immediate end to what he described as genocidal acts in Gaza and urged that the dignity of Afghan returnees be respected.

Saudi Arabia will provide BDT 2.44 billion (approximately USD 208 million) for the construction of eight iconic mosques in Bangladesh under a royal grant. The announcement was made by Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdullah Jafar H. Bin Biya during a meeting with Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain at the Secretariat on Saturday. The advisor said construction would begin as soon as possible. He also acknowledged the contributions of nearly 3.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia through remittances and noted their role in achieving Saudi Vision 2030. Additionally, the ambassador assured improvements in facilities during Hajj, including more washrooms in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, uninterrupted water and power supply, and larger bedding arrangements in Mina tents.