Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh fell by nearly 26 percent year-on-year during October to December, according to the Bangladesh Bank’s quarterly update released on Tuesday. The report shows net FDI at 363.8 million dollars, down from 490 million dollars in the same period a year earlier. However, compared with the previous quarter, investment rose 15.47 percent from 315 million dollars in July–September.

The interim government has managed to stabilize the financial sector after the fall of the previous Awami League administration, preventing further decline in foreign reserves and improving remittance inflows. Yet, new foreign investment remained weak amid political unrest, energy shortages, high inflation, and elevated interest rates. Sector insiders said these factors discouraged investors and slowed business activity.

China was the top investor during the quarter with 77.2 million dollars, followed by Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Singapore. The power sector attracted the highest investment at 102 million dollars, followed by banking, textiles, and telecommunications. Despite some quarterly improvement, the overall investment climate remained unsatisfactory, the report indicated.

Oil prices dropped sharply following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, leading to a positive shift in global financial markets. According to Reuters, the change was observed on Tuesday night New York time. U.S. crude oil prices fell by about 16 percent to $94.59 per barrel, while Brent crude declined by roughly 15 percent to $92.35 per barrel.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas is transported, is closely linked to this development. Following the ceasefire announcement, markets reacted quickly: oil prices fell, bond prices rose, and U.S. stock markets gained. Investors believe oil supply could stabilize after recent disruptions.

The announcement came just before the expiration of a deadline set by President Donald Trump, bringing relief to investors. Analysts noted that despite the sharp drop, oil prices remain higher than at the end of February.

A high-level Bangladeshi delegation is traveling to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a four-day visit aimed at reopening Malaysia’s closed labor market. The team includes Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Expatriate Affairs Dr. Mahdi Amin. Ministry sources confirmed that ministerial-level meetings will be held with Malaysia’s Human Resources and Home Ministers. The issue of a pending case against a syndicate involved in manpower export may also receive attention during the talks.

According to ministry officials, the closure of this major labor market has hurt Bangladesh’s manpower exports and economy. Despite repeated efforts, Dhaka has struggled to persuade Malaysia to lift the suspension, as Kuala Lumpur has not clarified its conditions and continues to delay. Recruiting agencies and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) have objected to three of Malaysia’s ten conditions, prompting the ministry to request their relaxation.

Officials said the government remains committed to reopening the market, though early discussions may face challenges due to Malaysia’s unclear stance. The labor market was last closed on May 31, 2024, leaving about 18,000 workers unable to depart.

Global oil prices fell sharply following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire. Within just 15 minutes of the announcement, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by more than 12 dollars per barrel. By Tuesday night in New York, the May delivery price of WTI crude had fallen by 12.4 dollars, or 10.66 percent, to 100.90 dollars per barrel.

The announcement came just before the expiration of Trump’s previously set deadline, bringing relief to investors who had been unsettled by escalating tensions. Earlier, a US attack on Iranian oil fields and Tehran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz had caused severe volatility in the oil market.

The ceasefire news eased immediate market fears, though the report did not specify how long the price stability might last or what further diplomatic steps could follow.

France has finalized the sale of its remaining gold holdings stored at the U.S. Federal Reserve, completing a long-term initiative to repatriate and modernize its gold reserves. The Banque de France earned nearly 13 billion euros, or about $15 billion, after upgrading 129 tonnes of gold between July 2025 and January 2026 and replacing them with new, compliant bars now stored in Paris. The central bank stated that the move was a practical financial decision, not a political one.

By consolidating its reserves in Paris and adopting modern-standard bars, France has made its gold easier to manage and trade internationally. The transaction, which represented about 5 percent of France’s total 2,437-tonne reserve, took advantage of high gold prices and favorable market conditions. Instead of refining and transporting the old bars, the bank purchased equivalent new gold in Europe, maintaining the overall reserve size.

According to Reuters, the Banque de France reported 11 billion euros in exceptional foreign exchange income in 2025, with total gains reaching nearly 13 billion euros after 2026 transactions. The bank plans to upgrade an additional 134 tonnes of gold to international standards by 2028.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has connected its ASYCUDA World customs system with Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Transaction Management System (FXTMS) to enable real-time online verification of bank invoices. The integration was formally inaugurated by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday. According to NBR, customs officials will now be able to verify commercial invoices digitally without requiring hard copies.

Before this integration, banks had to submit certified commercial invoice hard copies to customs offices. Now, all invoice data will automatically transfer from the central bank’s FXTMS to the ASYCUDA system in real time. NBR stated that once the process is fully implemented, commercial invoices will be mandatorily attached to bills of entry. The initiative, jointly implemented by NBR and Bangladesh Bank with support from all commercial banks, marks a major step toward a paperless customs system.

The new connection is expected to reduce paperwork, curb revenue evasion, simplify and speed up import-export clearance, limit trade-based money laundering, and create a reliable database for product valuation.

City Bank has received approval to raise Tk 1,200 crore through a bond issuance with a seven-year tenure. The approval was granted at a regular meeting of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) chaired by Khandaker Rashed Maksud. According to a press release signed by BSEC Director and Spokesperson Abul Kalam, the bond will be offered through private placement to institutional investors, banks, corporate entities, individual investors, and mutual funds. Each bond unit will have a face value of Tk 10 lakh and will be listed on the Alternative Trading Board (ATB) of the stock exchange.

The bond will be unsecured, non-convertible, fully redeemable, and carry an interest rate equal to the average of the upper limit of six-month fixed deposit rates plus an additional 3 percent. Shariah-based, foreign, and post-2012 approved banks will be excluded from the average rate calculation. It will be a subordinated bond, meaning other creditors will be paid before bondholders in case of bankruptcy.

Funds raised will be used by City Bank to provide loans in corporate, retail, and SME sectors. EBL Investments will act as trustee, while City Bank Capital Resources and IDLC Investments will serve as arrangers.

Aspire to Innovate (a2i) has launched the second version (Framework 2.0) of the National Information Portal, Bangladesh.gov.bd, to make government information management more modern, dynamic, and secure. The announcement was made on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, through a press release. Implementation of the new version began on December 21, 2025, across ministries under the supervision of the Cabinet Division and the ICT Division. Currently, around 52,000 government offices are connected to the system, with over 35,500 websites already hosted on the new platform.

The new version has been verified and certified by the Software and Hardware Quality Testing and Certification Center for its functionality and security. According to project officials, the upgraded portal will strengthen Bangladesh’s digital service system, ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and easier access to public information. Citizens can now access government service details, application processes, required documents, and office addresses from home, along with tenders, job circulars, and citizen charters.

Technically, the platform now includes a cloud- and microservice-based architecture, making it faster, more stable, and scalable. Enhanced security features such as single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and SSL encryption have also been added.

Syed Moin Uddin Ahmed has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier. The appointment was announced on Tuesday through a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The position had remained vacant for several years before this appointment.

According to the circular, Ahmed’s appointment is on a one-year contractual basis, effective from his joining date. He must resign from any other professional, business, or institutional affiliations, whether governmental, semi-governmental, or private, as a condition of his appointment.

Officials believe that filling this long-vacant DMD position will help accelerate the administrative operations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has called for ensuring full independence and protection for Shariah boards in all Islamic banks. Speaking at a recent exchange meeting at the central bank’s headquarters, he emphasized that no obstacles should hinder the boards’ activities and that the central bank will guarantee their security. The meeting, organized by the Islamic Banking Regulation and Policy Department, brought together top Shariah scholars, advisory board members, and senior officials to discuss the current state, challenges, and future direction of Islamic banking.

The governor noted that past money laundering incidents in the Islamic banking sector were partly due to inadequate oversight. He stressed that empowering Shariah boards and prioritizing their guidance would help restore effective supervision and prevent political influence in banking operations. Participants at the meeting underscored the need to strengthen supervisory committees, secretariats, and audit systems, and to ensure legal independence for these bodies.

Speakers also proposed mandatory Shariah knowledge for bank directors and executives, annual external audits, and the introduction of Shariah compliance ratings to enhance transparency and public trust in the sector.

A moderate earthquake was felt across parts of Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon, with its epicenter located near Silchar in India’s Assam state. The tremor, measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale, occurred at 2:48 p.m. Bangladesh time and was recorded about 350 kilometers from Dhaka. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated 11 kilometers northwest of Silchar at a depth of 10 kilometers. No major damage or casualties have been reported so far.

The earthquake was also felt in several areas of Assam as well as in Bangladesh’s Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and other border regions. Residents in these areas experienced brief panic as the ground shook unexpectedly. Authorities have not reported any significant structural damage or injuries.

The tremor highlights the region’s seismic sensitivity, particularly along the Bangladesh-India border, where moderate quakes are occasionally recorded.

A mobile court in Vedarganj upazila of Shariatpur demolished an illegal lead production factory on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, following allegations of severe environmental damage. The operation, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate K.M. Rafsan Rabbi, took place in the Mahishkandi area of Ramvadrpur Union and lasted several hours. Officials from the Department of Environment, Fire Service, and local police participated in the raid, during which the entire factory was destroyed using an excavator.

According to the mobile court, a group had been illegally collecting old batteries from various parts of the country, burning them to extract lead, and selling it to different businesses without any license or approval. Local residents complained that toxic smoke and waste from the factory had severely polluted the environment, causing illness and death among livestock. Authorities had previously fined and ordered the factory to shut down, but operations resumed secretly at night.

Officials stated that lead pollution poses a serious threat to public health, agriculture, and livestock, and assured that strict action against such illegal factories will continue. The demolition brought relief to local residents, who expressed hope for continued enforcement against environmental violations.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in jet fuel prices, raising the rate by about 25 taka per liter. The new prices will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, according to an official notification issued the same day. This marks the second price hike in less than two weeks, following a 90-taka increase on March 24.

Under the new pricing, domestic flights will now pay 227.08 taka per liter, up from 202.29 taka. For international flights, the price has been raised from 1.3216 dollars to 1.4806 dollars per liter, compared to the previous rate of 0.7384 dollars. BERC stated that the adjustment was made to align with current market conditions, import costs, and trends in the global energy market.

The commission confirmed that the revised rates will remain in effect until further notice, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance domestic pricing with international fuel market fluctuations.

Watermelon farmers in Feni are facing severe financial losses due to off-season rain, a fuel shortage affecting transport, and a sharp fall in market prices. Despite an increase in cultivation this season, yields have dropped, leaving many farmers unable to recover their investments. In Sonagazi’s Dakshin Char Chandina, ten farmers invested Tk 11.6 million across 90 acres, but a lack of wholesale buyers has left their harvests rotting in the fields. Farmers are now feeding unsold watermelons to livestock as their produce spoils.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, watermelon cultivation in Feni rose from 774 hectares last year to 1,299 hectares this year, with Sonagazi alone exceeding its target. Last season’s sales reached Tk 1.5 billion, and expectations were high for Tk 2.5 billion this year. However, rain damage, transport costs inflated by the global fuel crisis, and virus outbreaks have dashed those hopes. Farmers report earning less than one-third of their production costs.

Local officials acknowledged the crisis, citing fuel shortages and weather disruptions as key factors. Authorities said they would assist with transport fuel if formally requested, while affected farmers are urging both government and private support to recover from the losses.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced that electric school buses can now be imported without any customs duty. NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said the decision is part of the government’s broader plan to reduce fuel consumption in public transport. He made the announcement on Tuesday during a pre-budget meeting with several transport sector organizations in Agargaon, Dhaka. An official order (SRO) will be issued soon to implement the exemption.

According to the NBR chairman, the government aims to lower fuel use in the transport sector, starting with vehicles used for students. The duty waiver for electric school buses will take effect before the upcoming national budget, as the government does not want to delay the initiative. He also mentioned that the upcoming budget will include several changes related to the electric vehicle sector.

The move signals an early step toward promoting electric mobility in Bangladesh’s transport system, with immediate implementation expected once the SRO is issued.