In the first month of the ongoing conflict centered on Iran, the world’s top 100 oil and gas companies collectively earned more than $30 million per hour in excess or unearned profits, according to a special analysis by The Guardian. The report found that in March, as oil prices averaged $100 per barrel, these companies gained around $23 billion in additional profits. If prices remain at that level and supply takes months to normalize, total windfall earnings could reach $234 billion by year-end.

Among the biggest beneficiaries are Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, and ExxonMobil, all identified as major opponents of climate action. Rising fuel prices have increased costs for consumers and businesses worldwide, prompting several countries—including Australia, South Africa, Italy, Brazil, and Zambia—to cut fuel taxes, which has reduced public revenue. The European Commission is considering a proposal from several finance ministers to impose a windfall tax on companies profiting from the war.

Analysts warned that while corporate profits surge, ordinary people face higher living costs and inflationary pressures globally.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser Dr. Ziauddin Haider has warned that 80 percent of Bangladesh’s waste currently ends up in rivers and canals, posing a severe environmental threat. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the Faridpur Municipality Waste Processing Center on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, he emphasized the need to transform waste into organic fertilizer and fuel through modern recycling instead of treating it as a problem.

Dr. Haider said that under the slogan “Bangladesh First,” the BNP identified eight priority sectors, with the environment being one of them. He stressed that proper waste management is essential to protect public health, as indiscriminate dumping has spread from rural to urban areas. He called for swift waste removal, initiatives to produce fertilizer or electricity from waste, and public awareness to dispose of garbage in designated places.

During the visit, he also instructed officials to ensure the safety and health of workers. The inspection was attended by Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, Practical Action Bangladesh Country Director Ishrat Shabnam, and local BNP leaders.

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.

The Bangladesh government has enforced a 58-day ban on all types of fishing in the country’s maritime boundary of the Bay of Bengal, starting Wednesday, April 15, and continuing until midnight on June 11. The measure aims to conserve marine fish resources and ensure sustainable harvesting. The Department of Fisheries and local administrations, including those in Bhola district, have taken extensive preparations to implement the restriction.

According to the Bhola District Fisheries Office, about 63,954 registered sea-going fishermen across seven upazilas will be affected, with the highest number in Charfassion. To mitigate hardship, each registered fisherman will receive 77 kilograms of VGF rice as government assistance. Fishermen have already begun returning to shore with their nets and trawlers in compliance with the ban.

Local fishermen have urged authorities to strengthen patrols and operations during the ban to prevent foreign fishermen from entering Bangladesh’s waters. Officials stated that awareness campaigns and food aid distribution have been arranged to support compliance and enforcement.

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.

A 70-year-old farmer named Saber Ahmed was killed in a wild elephant attack in Purba Gozalia Satgharia Para area of Islamabadh Union under Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Wednesday when he was guarding his paddy field at night. According to local sources, he was sitting on a chair near a fire to protect his crops when elephants came from the nearby forest and attacked him, causing his death on the spot.

His daughter Monju Ara said that her father was the only earning member of their family, and the household depended entirely on his income. Local Union Parishad member Jubaid Ullah Jewel confirmed the incident as true.

The death highlights the continuing risk faced by rural farmers in areas adjacent to forest zones where wild elephants frequently enter farmland in search of food.

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.