Bangladesh’s interim government spent about USD 3,877.74 million in 2025 to import 109 LNG cargoes, up from USD 3,022.32 million for 86 cargoes in 2024, according to Petrobangla officials. The imports totaled 350,766,440 MMBtu of LNG, reflecting a USD 855.42 million increase from the previous year. Officials said the rise was driven by growing industrial demand and insufficient domestic gas supply.

Petrobangla and Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) reported that LNG was procured under long-term, short-term, and spot market contracts. QatarEnergy supplied 40 cargoes worth USD 1,204.49 million, while Oman’s OQ Trading delivered 16 cargoes under long-term deals and five under short-term contracts. Bangladesh also purchased 48 cargoes from the spot market through suppliers including PetroChina International and TotalEnergies Gas & Power. The government plans to import 115 cargoes in the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Officials noted that daily gas demand reached 3,800 million cubic feet against production of 2,594.7 million cubic feet on January 5–6, 2026. The Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan 2023 projects demand to rise to 6,240 million cubic feet per day by 2030.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin stated that the ongoing IPL issue has not caused any negative impact on trade between Bangladesh and India. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday after a meeting on the new import policy order, he said that business activities with India are continuing normally.

The adviser emphasized that Bangladesh believes in open trade with all countries and does not take country-specific bilateral decisions unless domestic trade is disrupted. He added that various trade measures with India are being monitored to assess any possible effects. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman noted that daily events rarely affect bilateral trade, though India’s closure of several land ports last May reduced Bangladesh’s exports. He clarified that Bangladesh did not take any countermeasures.

Rahman further explained that the decision to halt jute exports to India was made to maintain domestic supply and not to harm another country. He reiterated that Bangladesh’s trade policies are designed to protect internal markets rather than target any nation.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin announced that a meeting will be held on January 19 to review commodity prices ahead of Ramadan. He made the statement after a meeting at the Secretariat, noting that all relevant stakeholders will participate in the review to assess the overall market situation.

He also confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce has prepared a draft of the new Import Policy Order (IPO) for 2025–2028, introducing major changes from the existing 2021–2024 policy. The adviser said the revisions aim to liberalize and simplify trade procedures. Final approval will be sought through the Cabinet before details are disclosed.

Responding to questions about current tensions between Bangladesh and India, Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated that no impact on bilateral trade has been observed so far.

The ‘Ami Probashi’ app has introduced a new visa verification service for Bangladeshi migrant workers traveling to Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. According to a press release issued on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the platform’s operator announced that migrants can now verify their visas before departure by calling the helpline number 16768. The service aims to make the verification process simple and accessible through both the app and the hotline.

The initiative is designed to protect migrant workers from visa-related fraud and ensure safe and transparent migration. After calling the helpline and providing visa details, the ‘Ami Probashi’ team will verify the information. Once verification is complete, an SMS will be sent to the user confirming whether the visa is valid or invalid. If the visa information is not found in the system, users will be advised to contact the relevant embassy.

The service is already operational, offering Bangladeshi workers a reliable way to confirm visa authenticity before traveling to the three Gulf countries.

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided not to announce a new pay scale for public servants before the upcoming national election, citing financial constraints and the approaching polls. Instead, the Pay Commission has been instructed to continue its work and prepare a framework for the next administration. The final meeting of the commission, chaired by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, is expected on January 21, after which recommendations will be submitted to the chief and finance advisers.

According to commission sources, the new pay structure—known as the ninth pay scale—is in its final stage. Three salary ratio proposals of 1:8, 1:10, and 1:12 were considered, with 1:8 being finalized. Minimum salary proposals range from Tk 16,000 to Tk 21,000. The 23-member National Pay Commission 2025 was formed on July 27 to adjust government salaries in line with inflation and economic conditions. The commission’s term ends in mid-February, coinciding with the February 12 national election.

Officials indicated that the interim government will finalize recommendations but leave implementation to the next elected administration. Until then, public employees will continue receiving dearness allowances as per existing rules.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has announced up to threefold increases in internet speeds across all existing packages while keeping monthly prices unchanged. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology disclosed the decision in a statement on Sunday, noting that the move aims to ensure improved digital services for customers. BTCL said the initiative will provide more reliable, faster, and higher-quality internet access, supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

According to the new structure, the 5 Mbps ‘Sulav-5’ package priced at 399 taka has been upgraded to a 20 Mbps ‘Sashroyi-20’ package. Similarly, the 12 Mbps ‘Sulav-12’ package at 500 taka now offers 25 Mbps, and the 15 Mbps ‘Campus-15’ package at the same price has been raised to 50 Mbps. Higher-tier packages have also seen significant boosts, with speeds reaching up to 170 Mbps for 1,700 taka.

BTCL stated that the enhanced speeds will play an important role in supporting online education, office work, video streaming, gaming, and other digital services across the country.

Karnaphuli Paper Mills (KPM) has supplied 914 tons of paper to the Election Commission (EC) through the Bangladesh Stationery Office (BSO) ahead of the scheduled deadline. The paper, valued at over Tk 110 million, will be used for printing ballots and other materials for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. KPM Managing Director Mohammad Shahid Ullah confirmed the delivery on Sunday, January 11, 2026, noting that the supply was completed before the January 15 deadline.

According to KPM, the paper order included brown, green, and pink sheets specifically requested for election use. The mill, located in Kaptai, Rangamati, had set a production target of 3,500 tons for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. In addition to the EC, KPM will supply another 1,200 tons of paper to 11 other institutions, including Dhaka University, education boards, and the National University, through the BSO.

KPM, a state-owned enterprise under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), is one of South Asia’s largest paper mills and has produced 19,030 tons of paper as of January 11, 2026.

A lake built at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in memory of Rudra Sen, the first student killed in the July Movement, is facing controversy after reports that part of it will be filled to construct a garage. The lake, built at a cost of Tk 7.5 crore, was inaugurated six months ago but still lacks any memorial plaque honoring Rudra Sen. Experts warn that filling parts of the lake could harm its natural beauty and ecological balance.

Visitors and students have expressed disappointment that the site does not visibly commemorate Rudra Sen. Activists from the university’s anti-discrimination student movement said they had repeatedly demanded a memorial monument and plaque, but the administration failed to act despite assurances. Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim stated that plans and architectural designs to honor Rudra Sen have been submitted and will be implemented soon.

Environmental specialists caution that the proposed garage could pollute the lake through wastewater and vehicle residues, potentially damaging the ecosystem.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Davao Occidental in the southern Philippines late Saturday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The quake occurred at 10:58 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 315 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in Sarangani municipality, at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the surface. Authorities confirmed that despite the strength of the tremor, there was no tsunami threat to the Philippine archipelago.

Tremors were felt across several southern provinces, including Malungon and Kiamba in Sarangani, Tupi and Koronadal in South Cotabato, and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat. Disaster officials are monitoring the affected areas for potential aftershocks and minor damage.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates.

Bangladesh’s banking sector has come under renewed pressure as government borrowing surged sharply midway through the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to the latest Bangladesh Bank report, between July and January 4 the government borrowed a net Tk 59,756 crore from banks, representing 57.45 percent of its annual target of Tk 104,000 crore. This borrowing is about 619 percent higher than the same period last fiscal year, when the government had borrowed Tk 8,312 crore.

Sector insiders noted that at the start of the fiscal year, the government had reduced development spending and benefited from strong revenue growth and foreign loans, keeping borrowing low. However, rising development expenditures, investments in Islami Bank, election-related costs, and increased subsidy and interest payments have driven borrowing upward again. To meet financing needs, the government also held two additional auctions in December, raising about Tk 10,000 crore through treasury bills and bonds.

The report shows total government debt from banks reached Tk 610,661 crore by January 4, up from Tk 550,904 crore at the end of the previous fiscal year, raising concerns about liquidity and private sector credit flow.

At least fifty areas in Dhaka have open manholes, posing serious risks to pedestrians and vehicles. The uncovered manholes, often missing due to theft, have caused frequent accidents and injuries. City officials acknowledge that around ten percent of the capital’s 75,000 manholes remain uncovered at any time. The stolen covers, valued at about four crore taka annually in Dhaka South City Corporation alone, are reportedly sold to scrap dealers for small sums.

Responsibility for installing and maintaining manholes lies with Dhaka WASA and the two city corporations. Officials admit that ensuring security for the heavy metal covers is difficult and that police involvement is needed. Despite over fifty related cases filed in various police stations, arrests remain rare. Residents complain that stolen covers are often replaced only to be stolen again, leaving roads hazardous.

To address the problem, Dhaka South City Corporation has begun installing fiber-made manhole covers in wards 66 and 67. These new covers, tested and approved by BUET, are cheaper, strong enough to withstand heavy loads, and have no resale value, which authorities hope will reduce theft and improve public safety.

Bangladesh has made significant progress toward strengthening mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday, during his visit to Washington, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman requested U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamison Greer to raise the issue of reducing the existing 20 percent reciprocal tariff on Bangladesh with U.S. President Donald Trump. The USTR agreed to bring the matter forward, which could enhance Bangladesh’s competitive position in South Asia if implemented.

The two countries also discussed a new and innovative mechanism to support Bangladesh’s export priorities. Under the proposed preferential arrangement, Bangladesh could export an equivalent amount of apparel and textile products to the U.S. duty-free, based on the square meter volume of cotton and synthetic fibers imported from the U.S. Observers believe this creative and mutually beneficial system would strengthen bilateral ties, benefiting Bangladeshi producers and workers while deepening supply chain links with U.S. raw material suppliers.

Analysts view this development as a reflection of growing trust and positive momentum in U.S.-Bangladesh economic relations, potentially marking a promising new chapter for Bangladesh in global trade.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called for legal action against individuals or groups allegedly creating an artificial crisis in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market despite sufficient reserves. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, he said a vested quarter is deliberately causing public suffering by manipulating supply, which he described as inhumane and against public interest.

Porwar warned that such actions are destabilizing the market, raising prices, and harming the national economy, particularly affecting lower- and middle-income groups. He urged the government to restore order in the LPG market, identify those involved in hoarding and unethical business practices, and take strict legal measures against them.

He further emphasized that the government must act responsibly to protect citizens’ rights by strengthening market monitoring and ensuring exemplary punishment for offenders, warning that failure to do so could lead to recurring crises. Porwar also called on the public to remain vigilant and united against any anti-public activities.

Three members of a Bangladeshi family from Fatikchhari, Chattogram, were killed in a road accident in Oman on Friday night. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. local time in the Tambeet area of Salalah when a camel suddenly entered the road, causing their car to lose control and crash. Three other family members were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Salalah.

The deceased were identified as Bilkis Akter, wife of expatriate Md Shafiur Alam; their only son Muhammad Sakibul Hasan (Sabuj); and Bilkis’s son-in-law Muhammad Didar from Harualchhari Union. The injured include Sakib’s sister, his wife, and their young daughter. Relatives said the family had traveled from Muscat to Salalah a few days earlier to visit the shrine of Hazrat Ayub (A.) and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Local representatives in Fatikchhari reported that news of the deaths cast a deep shadow of grief over the family’s village, where residents are mourning the loss of three members from one household.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur announced that at least two large and strong Islamic banks are expected to emerge in the country in the future. Speaking on Saturday at the second day of the International Islamic Finance and Banking Conference at the University of Dhaka, he said these banks would ensure healthy competition and better returns for depositors. The conference was jointly organized by the Central Shariah Board for Islamic Banks of Bangladesh and the university’s finance department.

Mansur noted that although a significant portion of the banking sector operates under Shariah principles, investment opportunities for Islamic banks remain limited, creating liquidity management challenges. He emphasized the need to develop a Shariah-compliant bond or sukuk market to ease liquidity pressure and strengthen the sector. Currently, about one-fourth of the country’s total banking assets are under Islamic management, but the corresponding investment avenues have not developed proportionately.

The governor added that the government’s initiative to establish a sukuk market would reduce financing costs and help Islamic banks manage liquidity more effectively, leading to greater stability in the overall financial system.