Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that the government borrowed Tk 985.26 billion from the banking sector between July 2025 and March 19, 2026, equivalent to 94.73 percent of its annual target of Tk 1.04 trillion. The sharp rise in borrowing stems from a major shortfall in revenue collection, with the National Board of Revenue reporting a Tk 714.72 billion deficit in customs and tax receipts during the first eight months of the fiscal year.

Officials and analysts attribute the increased borrowing to rising government expenditure, including election-related costs, subsidies in the energy sector, and higher operating expenses. Former Bangladesh Bank chief economist Dr. Mustafa K Mujeri noted that the government has already borrowed nearly 95 percent of its target with over three months remaining in the fiscal year, raising concerns that borrowing may exceed planned limits.

Mujeri warned that continued reliance on bank loans to finance spending could pose risks to the economy. He emphasized the need for stronger revenue generation, policy reforms, and job creation to reduce dependence on debt and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s North Maluku Sea region early Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located about 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate city at a depth of roughly 35 kilometers. Following the tremor, the US tsunami warning system issued alerts for possible waves within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Authorities warned that waves between 0.3 and 1 meter above normal tide levels could hit parts of Indonesia’s coast, while smaller waves under 30 centimeters were forecast for Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Japan’s meteorological agency said only minor sea-level changes were expected, and Australia’s weather bureau confirmed no tsunami threat to its mainland or islands.

An AFP journalist in Manado, North Sulawesi, reported that residents rushed outdoors in panic as the shaking lasted for a long time, though no major damage was observed. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Authorities in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar conducted a drive on Wednesday night, April 1, 2026, against three filling stations accused of hoarding fuel while displaying ‘no fuel’ signs. The operation, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. Mahmudur Rahman Sayem under the supervision of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rifat Asma, resulted in four cases and fines totaling Tk 235,000.

According to the upazila administration, irregularities were found during monitoring of fuel supply. At Kutupalong’s Messrs Chowdhury Filling Station Ltd, 300 milliliters less fuel per 10 liters was being dispensed, leading to a Tk 75,000 fine. Yusuf and Brothers Filling Station in Palongkhali was fined Tk 50,000 for concealing information and hoarding 5,000 liters of diesel. Another Chowdhury Filling Station in Morichya was fined Tk 110,000 in two cases for excess fuel storage and meter reading faults.

Officials said such drives will continue to protect consumer interests and ensure fair fuel distribution. The UNO warned that artificial shortages and under-measurement would not be tolerated.

The United States has agreed to positively consider Bangladesh’s request for a special waiver to import refined diesel and other petroleum products from Russia. The assurance was given by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman during a meeting in Washington. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 1.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Rahman discussed Bangladesh’s energy supply challenges caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war. He requested a special exemption from the United States to allow direct imports of refined fuel from Russia. The report noted that Bangladesh had previously sent a similar request to Washington through an official letter.

The statement did not specify when a final decision might be made or what conditions could apply to the potential waiver.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government is committed to elevating farmers to the highest social status, describing the new Farmer Card as a recognition of their dignity. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the Ministry of Agriculture in Dhaka during an inter-ministerial meeting marking the launch of the pre-pilot distribution of the Farmer Card.

The minister stated that a strong agricultural economy ensures a strong national economy, noting that 70 percent of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. Through the Farmer Card, all farmers will be brought under a unified system, helping to organize the agricultural sector. The initiative aims to address mismatches between production and demand and reduce crop wastage. The card will include data on land size, soil health, acidity, crop demand, and production, ensuring fair prices for farmers.

He instructed officials to complete the Farmer Card work properly in 11 blocks across 11 upazilas. Representatives from various ministries and field administration officials joined the meeting, some participating online.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that an additional 30,000 families will be brought under the Family Card program within the remaining three months of the current fiscal year. He made the statement during the question-and-answer session in the national parliament, marking his first appearance in that format as prime minister. The program, launched on March 10 across 15 wards in 13 districts, has already provided allowances to 37,814 women-headed families.

Rahman explained that the Family Card will be issued in the name of the female head of each household, aiming to strengthen women’s control over family assets. The initiative is designed to ensure that financial assistance is used directly for food, nutrition, healthcare, and education, while also enhancing women’s decision-making power and social status. The government plans to expand the program to cover 40 million families within the next four years.

During the session, the prime minister also stated that the government would take steps to recover laundered money, describing it as the people’s trust and a national responsibility to bring it back.

A severe nor’wester struck Nilphamari district late Tuesday night, causing extensive damage across four unions in Jaldhaka and Kishoreganj upazilas. More than 200 houses were destroyed and 38 hectares of maize fields were heavily affected. Power supply from the Kishoreganj NESCO office to Jaldhaka’s Tengonmari area remained cut off through Wednesday afternoon due to damaged electric lines and leaning poles.

In Kishoreganj’s Putimari Union, around 100 houses were destroyed and nearly 200 more tilted, while about 200 hectares of maize fields were flattened. Local officials reported that many tin roofs were blown away and trees fell on houses. The Upazila Agriculture Officer said 150 hectares of maize fields were affected, with 12 hectares at risk of total loss. In Jaldhaka, the storm hit Khutamara, Dharmapal, and Golna unions, damaging about 100 houses and 26 hectares of maize.

Officials from both upazilas said field assessments are underway to finalize damage reports, while power restoration efforts continue in affected areas.

A vessel named MV MP Ultra Max 2 carrying 61,000 tons of wheat from the United States has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port under a cash purchase agreement signed within a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, according to a Food Ministry press release issued on Wednesday.

Earlier, Bangladesh received 58,457 tons and 62,150 tons of wheat in the first and second shipments under government-to-government (G2G) agreements. Sampling of the newly arrived wheat has already begun, and arrangements for quick unloading are underway. Of the total shipment, 29,450 tons will be unloaded at Chattogram Port and 31,550 tons at Mongla Port.

Under the G2G-01 and G2G-02 agreements, Bangladesh has so far imported a total of 467,884 tons of wheat from the United States. The country’s annual wheat demand is around 7 million tons, while domestic production stands at about 1 million tons, with the remainder imported by both public and private sectors.

The government of Bangladesh is considering extending weekly holidays for public sector employees as part of energy-saving measures. The move comes amid fuel supply challenges caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. A decision on the proposal is expected to be made at the cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026.

According to the report, the energy sector is struggling to manage the situation with limited fuel reserves as new supplies have declined. To cope with the pressure, the government is exploring cost-saving strategies, including reducing energy consumption through extended holidays. The cabinet will also decide whether to introduce three days of online classes per week in educational institutions.

If approved, the measures would represent a short-term response to the energy strain, aiming to reduce fuel use across government offices and schools.

A rare scene unfolded in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila on April 1 when a man transported his motorcycle on a van to a filling station amid a fuel shortage. The incident occurred at Messrs K Ali Filling Station in Sonarang area, where long queues of motorcyclists were waiting for fuel. The man, identified as Imran Hossain, brought his motorcycle by van after running out of fuel on the way to Kalibari. Unfortunately, the station’s fuel ran out just as he arrived.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Shafiqul Islam of Tongibari Police Station intervened after noticing the situation and arranged 200 taka worth of fuel for Imran through special consideration. The filling station owner, Shahidul Islam, said fuel supply had resumed only the previous evening after a week-long halt, leading to heavy demand and long queues. Each motorcycle was being given a maximum of 200 taka worth of fuel.

The owner added that despite official claims of no fuel crisis, actual supply remained insufficient, worsening the situation for both sellers and consumers.

Bangladesh is facing an escalating fuel crisis despite official claims of normal supply. Long queues at fuel stations, halted river transport, and disruptions in industrial production have become widespread. The country’s only refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), is running at reduced capacity due to a lack of crude oil, with current reserves expected to last only until mid-April. The refinery has not received new crude shipments since mid-February, as scheduled vessels from the Middle East were delayed by regional conflict.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) maintains that supply levels match those of the previous year and attributes visible shortages to panic buying and black-market activity. However, Customs data contradict BPC’s claims, showing a sharp decline in fuel imports since early 2026. Between March 2025 and March 2026, total imports by major state-run oil companies fell by over 65,000 tons. Most vessels arriving at Chattogram port in recent weeks carried gas-based fuels rather than liquid oil, further straining supply.

Officials warn that if new crude shipments do not arrive soon, ERL may face a temporary shutdown, potentially worsening the national fuel shortage.

Global oil prices rose sharply following a televised address by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he pledged to continue the war with Iran and threatened to bomb Iranian power plants. Within minutes of his remarks, the benchmark Brent crude price climbed more than 4 percent to exceed 105 dollars per barrel, while U.S. benchmark WTI rose over 3 percent to surpass 103 dollars per barrel.

The conflict began more than a month ago, during which Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. This closure has triggered a global energy crisis and driven fuel prices sharply higher, with U.S. gasoline prices surpassing 4 dollars per gallon. Despite the economic impact, Trump downplayed the significance of the disruption in his speech, asserting that the United States does not need the strait and suggesting that its allies should take responsibility for securing access.

The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices indicate sustained pressure on global energy markets if the conflict persists.

Residents of Alikadam upazila in Bandarban are facing a severe shortage of safe drinking water as a long-delayed water purification project remains incomplete. The project, launched about ten years ago with funding from the Bandarban Hill District Council and implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering, was halted within six months due to financial constraints. Despite repeated development initiatives in the district, the crucial project has not resumed.

Field reports indicate that for the past three months, Alikadam town and nearby hilly areas have been experiencing an acute water crisis. In response, the Bangladesh Army’s Alikadam Zone has been distributing drinking water to affected residents. Locals allege that small-scale ring-well projects are approved annually but are only implemented after the rainy season begins, limiting their effectiveness.

A local primary school headteacher said that both drinking and household water are scarce in the Panbazar area. The local public health engineer confirmed hearing about a new allocation of 4.6 million taka for the unfinished purification project, but work has yet to restart.

Fuel pump owners and workers in Sylhet division withdrew their indefinite strike around 3 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The strike, called late Wednesday night by the Sylhet divisional committee of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distribution Agents and Petroleum Owners Association, had shut down all petrol pumps and CNG refueling stations. The withdrawal was confirmed by the committee’s spokesperson, who said pumps were reopening gradually and normal operations were expected by 10 a.m.

The strike had been launched in protest against mobile court fines and alleged extortion. Truck drivers who had blocked the Sylhet–Dhaka highway over similar grievances also ended their blockade after discussions with police officials. The highway had been paralyzed for several hours, causing long traffic jams.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury said the situation normalized within two hours and that a meeting would be held the next morning with the divisional and district administrations to seek a permanent solution to the disputes.

NASA successfully launched the Artemis-2 mission on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in 54 years. The crew includes three Americans—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. The launch took place at 6:35 p.m. local time, drawing cheers from NASA staff and spectators after years of delays and budget increases.

Before liftoff, the astronauts delivered brief remarks, with Hansen emphasizing that the mission represents all of humanity. Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson addressed the crew, highlighting the global partnerships and the hopes of a new generation carried by the Artemis team.

The mission’s first phase will test the spacecraft’s safety and reliability. Over a roughly 10-day flight, the astronauts will orbit the Moon without landing, while also testing manual control capabilities during docking simulations.