Bangladesh’s state-owned Eastern Refinery Limited resumed full operations on Friday morning after remaining closed for 24 days due to a shortage of crude oil. The main plant was officially restarted at 8:25 a.m., and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) stated that the facility will now refine about 4,000 tons of fuel oil daily.

The refinery had halted production on April 14 when its three main units were shut down because of raw material shortages. A smaller unit had continued limited operations using remaining stock. The disruption followed a ban on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid conflict in the Middle East, which cut off Bangladesh’s usual crude supply routes. To address the crisis, the government arranged alternative sea routes to import crude oil.

On Wednesday, a tanker named MT Ninemiya arrived at Kutubdia Channel near Chattogram carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia via an alternate route. After customs clearance, unloading began that night, and refinery units were gradually restarted. The refinery’s management confirmed that maintenance was completed during the shutdown and that full-scale production has now resumed.

The US Court of International Trade has ruled against former President Donald Trump’s recently imposed 10 percent global tariff. The court stated that such a universal tariff was not justified under a trade law from the 1970s. The ruling came on Thursday in favor of small businesses that had filed the case, challenging the tariff that took effect on February 24.

According to the plaintiffs, the new tariff attempted to bypass a previous Supreme Court decision that had struck down Trump’s 2025 tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In his February order, Trump invoked Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows temporary tariffs of up to 150 days to address severe trade imbalances or prevent a sharp dollar devaluation.

The court found that the trade deficits cited in Trump’s order did not justify the use of this law, concluding that the measure was not an appropriate response under the statute.

The government of Bangladesh has initiated a process to increase electricity prices at both wholesale and retail levels, with implementation expected in June 2026. Power generation and distribution companies have submitted proposals to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), suggesting a 17–21 percent rise in wholesale tariffs and a 14–18 percent increase for consumers. Public hearings on the proposals will be held on May 20 and 21 at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka. Distribution companies aim to apply the new rates from early June, pending final approval.

According to the Power Division, the current production cost per unit exceeds 12 taka, while the average selling price is just over 7 taka, resulting in a loss of about 5 taka per unit. Despite subsidies of 38,637 crore taka in fiscal year 2024–25, the sector still incurred a loss of 17,021 crore taka. The government seeks to reduce subsidies by 10,000 to 16,000 crore taka through the price adjustment. Energy experts have criticized the move, blaming past mismanagement and corruption for the sector’s financial crisis.

The Power Development Board also proposed revising consumer slabs to protect low-income users and encourage energy savings among middle-income households.

The United States has reached a concerning milestone as its national debt has exceeded the size of its total economic output. Preliminary estimates released last week show that the country’s debt now stands at 31.26 trillion dollars, slightly higher than its GDP of 31.21 trillion dollars for the twelve months ending in March. This marks the first time since World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic that such an imbalance has occurred.

Economists have warned that the situation could push the US toward a major financial crisis if debt continues to grow faster than the economy. They argue that rising debt will make it increasingly difficult for the government to meet interest payments. Analysts also point to President Trump’s tax cuts and plans for higher military spending as factors that could worsen the fiscal strain.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, US debt could reach 120 percent of GDP by 2036, posing a significant threat to the global dominance of the dollar. The White House, however, maintains that measures are being taken to reduce wasteful spending and control expenditures.

Global oil prices rose sharply on Friday following renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran. In early trading in the US market, crude prices increased by up to 3 percent. The latest international market data showed West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbing 2.58 percent, or 2.45 dollars, to reach 97.26 dollars per barrel.

The price surge came after reports of clashes between US and Iranian forces in the strategic Hormuz Strait on Thursday. Iran accused the United States of violating a ceasefire by attacking two of its ships and later bombing civilian areas along its coast. The incident triggered immediate volatility in the global energy market.

Market analysts warned that continued instability in the Hormuz Strait, a key maritime route for global oil transport, could disrupt energy supplies and push prices even higher if tensions persist.

The government has approved a proposal to construct a 12-storey government office building with three basements in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, at a cost of Tk 108.70 crore. The approval came at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The proposal, presented by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, was one of 11 discussed, with one withdrawn by the Power Division.

According to meeting sources, the project titled “Construction of a 12-storey office building with three basements, internal sanitary, water supply and electrification works in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar administrative area” will be implemented under package W-02 by the Public Works Department. The project, approved by ECNEC on November 9, 2023, will run from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, funded entirely by the government.

Other approvals included importing 20 million liters of refined soybean oil for low-income families, purchasing vehicles for RAB, buying three LNG cargoes, approving additional costs for Jagannath University’s new campus, and sanctioning new power sub-station projects in Dhaka and Mymensingh.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of 20 million liters of refined soybean oil from Indonesia to distribute at subsidized prices among low-income families holding Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) family cards. The decision, costing over Tk 282.57 crore, was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to meeting sources, the procurement will be conducted through international open tender under the Ministry of Commerce. Of the two participating firms, Indonesia-based PT Trinity Chaya Energy was selected as the only technically and financially qualified bidder. The company will supply the oil at USD 1.151 per liter, totaling USD 23.02 million. Including import, transport, and storage costs, the total cost per liter will be Tk 178.56, about Tk 16.44 lower than the current market price of Tk 195.

Officials said the initiative aims to maintain stable edible oil supply and ease cost pressures on low-income consumers. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, TCB has set a target to procure 230 million liters of edible oil, of which 121.68 million liters have already been secured.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has recommended introducing a cashless, fast, and transparent toll collection system across all bridges under its jurisdiction. The proposals were presented on Thursday at the authority’s conference room under the ‘Human Resource Development and Capacity Building’ project, where three research papers were discussed. The studies focused on implementing a full electronic toll collection (ETC) system at the Padma Bridge, developing emergency communication protocols, and exploring toll payment through mobile banking.

Key recommendations include appointing a dedicated communication officer for each bridge, adding a live traffic tab to the authority’s website, reducing ETC registration steps from five to two, and enabling online registration. The research also suggested establishing a data-sharing system among BRTA, mobile financial services, and the Bridge Authority, as well as ensuring RFID reader accuracy and operator training. Another study proposed integrating mobile banking wallets with the ETC system for real-time balance checks and payments.

Bridge Secretary Abdur Rouf stated that the government is committed to implementing a fully cashless and automated toll system nationwide as part of building a self-reliant Bangladesh. The recommendations will be reviewed and implemented soon.

The French government is preparing special financial measures to support airlines struggling with rising global jet fuel prices. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced on Wednesday that discussions with airline representatives had made progress on several issues, including extending deadlines for social security payments, easing tax payment schedules, and allowing greater flexibility in fuel transport. The initiative comes as energy market volatility and dependence on Middle Eastern supply chains raise fears of a potential aviation crisis across Europe.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has disrupted fuel supply systems, putting pressure on European countries to find urgent solutions. Airlines across Europe have warned that if the jet fuel shortage continues, severe supply gaps could emerge within weeks. Experts note that Europe imports about 75 percent of its jet fuel from the Middle East, making the region’s instability a direct threat to the aviation sector.

France’s planned assistance is viewed as a crucial step not only for its domestic airlines but also for maintaining stability in the wider European air transport system.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that Bangladesh will transform idle state-owned industries into centers of investment and employment within the next one to two years. Speaking at an event at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka, he said the government is working to simplify business procedures, reduce logistics costs, and improve port efficiency to make the economy more competitive. He emphasized that old problems must be replaced by practical reforms and swift implementation.

The minister noted that entrepreneurs currently face 25 to 26 types of approvals to start a business, and the government plans to introduce a provisional clearance system to speed up operations. He said logistics costs account for about 16 percent of GDP, compared to the global average of 10 percent, and foreign operators are being engaged to improve port management. A Danish company has already begun operating a container terminal.

Muktadir added that around 90 state-owned industrial enterprises under the industries and textiles ministries will be gradually opened to private investment. He said modernization, new industries, and export-oriented production will be prioritized to boost employment and revenue.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced the price of jet fuel by Tk 22 per liter, effective from midnight on Thursday. The new rate for domestic flights has been set at Tk 205.45 per liter, down from Tk 227.08. For international flights, the price has been revised from USD 1.4806 to USD 1.3385 per liter, excluding duties and taxes.

According to the report, this decision follows three consecutive price hikes that had raised the rate by a total of Tk 132 per liter. Earlier in January, the price stood at Tk 94.93 per liter, which increased several times amid rising global fuel prices and the onset of conflict in the Middle East. The last increase in April had pushed the domestic rate to Tk 227.08 per liter.

The latest reduction marks the first downward adjustment in months, reflecting a shift in pricing policy after sustained increases earlier in the year.

Energy company Shell announced a significant profit increase of $1.3 billion in the first quarter of the year, despite global market instability caused by the Iran war. The British energy giant’s financial report showed total earnings of $6.9 billion for the quarter, about one-quarter higher than the same period last year. Refining operations alone contributed nearly $2 billion, driven by high prices of petrol and jet fuel.

The report noted that Shell’s total oil and gas production slightly declined compared to the previous quarter, mainly due to disruptions in Qatar linked to Middle East conflict. Shell CEO Wael Sawan stated that the company achieved strong results despite unprecedented volatility in global energy markets. Analysts said major energy firms’ trading divisions benefited from sharp oil price fluctuations.

Meanwhile, the Energy Poverty Eradication Alliance urged governments to impose a windfall tax on oil companies to offset rising household energy costs caused by the Iran war. The group argued that higher fuel prices have increased pressure on ordinary consumers.

Crude oil transfer from the outer anchorage of Chattogram port to Eastern Refinery began this week, marking the end of a two‑month raw material shortage. The MT Ninemiya, a mother tanker carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil, anchored at Kutubdia Channel on Wednesday. After customs clearance, lighter vessels started unloading the oil for transport to the refinery’s jetty. Eastern Refinery’s managing director confirmed that all units are expected to resume full operation from Friday morning.

According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the refinery had been running at limited capacity using remaining stock due to supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Hormuz Strait amid conflict in the Middle East. Eastern Refinery, the country’s only state‑owned oil refinery, imports crude oil from Saudi Arabia and produces 18 types of petroleum products including diesel, octane, petrol, jet fuel, kerosene, and LPG. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation handles crude oil transportation for BPC.

The last crude shipment arrived on February 17, forcing two of the refinery’s three main units to shut down on April 14. After 22 days of partial closure, full production is set to restart on Friday.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has issued a recruitment notice for 130 positions across seven categories. The online application process begins on May 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will continue until May 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. Both male and female candidates aged between 18 and 32 years as of May 7, 2026, are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit scanned copies of a 300x300 pixel photograph and a 300x80 pixel signature, and incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

The positions are temporary and based in Dhaka. Candidates with educational qualifications as low as completion of the eighth grade or SSC pass are eligible to apply. Application fees must be paid through Teletalk pre-paid SIM within 72 hours: BDT 223 for posts 1–3, BDT 112 for post 4, and BDT 56 for posts 5–7. The commission has stated that affidavits will not be accepted as proof of age.

The recruitment notice provides an opportunity for lower-qualified job seekers to apply for government positions within the commission’s administrative framework.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charlet at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting focused on enhancing a business-friendly environment, expanding investment, improving infrastructure, facilitating trade, and strengthening long-term bilateral partnerships between Bangladesh and France.

During the discussion, Minister Muktadir highlighted that the government is implementing continuous reforms to build a competitive and investment-friendly economic environment. He said initiatives are underway to simplify administrative procedures, digitalize approval processes, and make services faster and more efficient. The minister also emphasized the government’s priority on improving facilities for foreign investors, including easier business registration and service delivery.

Ambassador Serre-Charlet described Bangladesh as an economically promising country in South Asia and expressed interest in expanding French investment. He welcomed the government’s efforts to make the business environment more efficient. The meeting was also attended by Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, acting secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.