The interim government of Bangladesh has issued a new ordinance transferring all existing private Export Processing Zones (EPZs) under the direct control of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). The 'Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zone (Repeal) Ordinance, 2026' was published in the official gazette by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The announcement was confirmed by the ministry’s public relations officer, Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim.

Under the new ordinance, the 1996 law governing private EPZs has been repealed, and all such zones will now be recognized as private economic zones under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010. Existing licenses will remain valid, and bonded and concessional facilities will continue. The ordinance also dissolves the former Governor Board and Executive Cell, transferring their staff to BEZA while retaining their employment conditions. Ongoing legal proceedings involving the dissolved bodies will now fall under BEZA’s jurisdiction.

The government stated that the 1996 law was originally enacted to promote private investment and export trade but has now been repealed considering current needs. The ordinance takes immediate effect.

An indefinite strike has been declared at Chattogram Port demanding cancellation of the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company and withdrawal of mass transfer orders for employees. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by Md. Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Port Protection Struggle Council, who stated that the strike would continue until their demands are met. Another coordinator, Md. Humayun Kabir, said the movement would persist as long as the government does not withdraw from the lease process.

The strike follows three consecutive days of partial work stoppages and a 24-hour program earlier on Tuesday. Port operations have come to a standstill, halting import deliveries, container handling, and cargo vehicle movement, though lighter vessel unloading at outer anchorage remains normal. Leaders and activists from the Nationalist Workers Party and SKOP are participating in the protest.

Port authorities have transferred at least 16 employees, including Humayun Kabir, to other ports for participating in the movement. The ongoing disruption has raised concern among business communities and stakeholders over the paralysis of the country’s main seaport.

The government of Bangladesh will sell milk, eggs, beef, and dressed broiler chicken at subsidized prices throughout the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The initiative, jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Livestock Services, aims to ensure affordable access to animal protein for the general public. According to a ministry press release issued on Tuesday, the program will run for 26 days—from the day before Ramadan until the 25th of Ramadan—through mobile sales centers.

Under the plan, dressed broiler chicken will be sold at Tk 245 per kilogram, pasteurized milk at Tk 80 per liter, eggs at Tk 8 each, and beef at Tk 650 per kilogram. The ministry held a meeting on February 1, chaired by adviser Farida Akhter, to finalize measures for maintaining steady supply and stable prices of meat, milk, and eggs during Ramadan.

Initially, 25 key locations in Dhaka and city corporation areas have been selected for the mobile sales operation, including Secretariat, Farmgate, Mirpur, Azimpur, Uttara, and others. The number of outlets will gradually increase in coordination with local authorities and entrepreneurs.

A major uncertainty has emerged over the government’s plan to dissolve the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and create two separate divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Implementation. Although the Administrative Reorganization Implementation Committee, chaired by the Chief Adviser, approved the proposal on January 20, no gazette notification has been issued to set an effective date. Officials expressed concern that the absence of such a notification has stalled the process, with administrative reluctance reportedly growing amid an election atmosphere and anticipation of a new government.

An NBR official said the necessary administrative cooperation was lacking, pushing the initiative into uncertainty. The interim government’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan had earlier stated that the restructuring would be completed by mid-February, but that timeline has not been met. The reform process had already faced strong internal resistance, including strikes and protests by NBR staff, leading to disciplinary actions and investigations.

Officials now doubt whether the incoming government will implement the plan, as policy priorities may differ. Some believe donor pressure, including IMF loan conditions, could influence the eventual decision.

At least 30 people have died in Japan over the past two weeks due to record levels of heavy snowfall, government officials confirmed on Tuesday. Among the victims was a 91-year-old woman found buried under nearly three meters of snow outside her home. The northern Aomori Prefecture has been the hardest hit, prompting the central government to deploy military forces to help manage the situation, as some remote areas remain buried under up to 4.5 meters of snow.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, directing all ministries to take preventive measures against snow-related accidents and fatalities. Authorities said strong cold airflows along the Sea of Japan coast have caused snowfall more than double the usual levels. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that snow-related incidents since January 20 have resulted in 30 deaths.

Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said military assistance was requested to support elderly residents living alone with snow removal. He warned that the risk of roof collapses and snow slides remains extremely high as temperatures fluctuate.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil and instead buy from the United States and Venezuela. Trump made the statement Monday night after announcing a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods. Following a phone call with Modi, Trump said the new agreement would lower U.S. tariffs on Indian products from 25 percent to 18 percent, while India pledged to remove tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. goods.

According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, the discussion also covered the Russia–Ukraine war. He said the deal would lift the additional 25 percent penalty imposed on India for buying Russian oil. As part of the agreement, India will purchase over 500 billion dollars’ worth of U.S. products, including energy, technology, agricultural goods, and coal. Trump described the deal as beneficial for both trade and global stability.

Modi expressed satisfaction on social media platform X, thanking Trump for lowering tariffs and emphasizing that cooperation between the two largest democracies benefits ordinary people. The agreement follows months of trade tension after the U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods last August.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that the country’s total foreign exchange reserves have increased to 33.24 billion US dollars as of February 2, 2026. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank, on Monday. According to the latest data, the gross reserve stood at 33.24 billion dollars, while under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM-6 calculation method, the reserve amounted to 28.74 billion dollars.

Earlier, as of January 15, the country’s gross reserve was 32.62 billion dollars, and the BPM-6 based reserve was 28.02 billion dollars. The BPM-6 method, used by the IMF, calculates net reserves by deducting short-term liabilities from total reserves to determine the actual reserve position.

The increase in reserves reflects a modest improvement in Bangladesh’s external financial position compared to mid-January, according to the central bank’s latest update.

A mild earthquake was felt in Bangladesh early Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at around 4:36 a.m. The tremor measured 4.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located in Kalaroa, Satkhira. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS), the quake struck at a depth of 150 kilometers beneath the surface, which reduced its intensity.

Residents in Satkhira, Khulna, Jashore, and surrounding areas experienced light shaking, but no immediate reports of casualties or damage were received. The deep epicenter contributed to the mild nature of the tremor.

Just two days earlier, on Sunday morning, a separate mild earthquake had been recorded in Dhaka and nearby regions. That quake, measuring magnitude 3, originated southeast of Sylhet city, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Bangladeshi short film 'Scarlet Echoes' (Bengali title 'Raktim') has been officially selected for the main competition of the 56th Tampere Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film events. Directed and written by young filmmaker Hemonto Sadik, the film is set against the backdrop of the historic July 2024 mass uprising. Out of 7,125 international submissions, only 60 films from 44 countries were chosen, with 'Scarlet Echoes' being the sole entry from Bangladesh.

The docu-fiction blends real footage from the 2024 July movement with fictional storytelling centered on Adnan, a photographer and single father, capturing the streets of Dhaka and the spirit of the people. Producer Dilruba Hossain Doel stated that the film was made without institutional support, shot mostly within the movement using a smartphone, and created entirely through voluntary collaboration.

Dedicated to late photographer Tahir Zaman Priyo, who was killed during the movement, the film will have its world premiere at the festival in Tampere, Finland, from March 4–8, 2026.

Private sector credit growth in Bangladesh fell to 6.10 percent at the end of December 2025, marking the lowest level in recent years, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank report. The growth rate stood at 7.28 percent during the same period in 2024. The central bank’s data show that private sector credit totaled Tk 17.88 trillion in December 2025, up from Tk 16.85 trillion a year earlier.

Industry insiders said the slowdown reflects weak demand for loans as businesses remain reluctant to invest or expand amid political uncertainty. Many are waiting for a peaceful political transition, and stakeholders believe that only a free and fair election could revive investment appetite. The subdued demand for credit has led to increased liquidity in the banking sector.

Bangladesh Bank had set a target of 7.2 percent private sector credit growth for the July–December period of the current fiscal year, but the actual growth fell short of that goal.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional $218.5 million from 16 commercial banks, bringing its total dollar purchases to $4.15 billion since the start of the current fiscal year, according to Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The central bank’s move aims to maintain stability in the foreign exchange market, where dollar supply currently exceeds demand.

The report notes that Bangladesh’s dollar market became unstable in 2022, with the exchange rate rising from 85 to 122 taka per dollar. Over the past three fiscal years, the central bank sold about $34 billion to support the market but bought only around $1 billion during that period. Following the fall of the previous Awami League government, the current administration tightened measures against money laundering, boosting both exports and remittances and increasing dollar inflows.

As a result of higher remittances and central bank purchases, Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $33.18 billion as of January 29, or $28.68 billion under the BPM-6 calculation, up from $20.48 billion at the time of the previous government’s departure.

Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the interim government tried to advance and stabilize Bangladesh’s economy but could not achieve everything. He warned that the coming economic challenges would be large and difficult, requiring strong measures to overcome. He made the remarks on Monday at Sonali Bank’s annual conference held at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Finance Division Secretary Dr. Khairuzzaman Mozumdar, and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek attended as special guests, while Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury presided over the event. Ahmed noted that Sonali Bank currently has no capital shortfall and a satisfactory advance-deposit ratio. He emphasized prioritizing loans for small and medium enterprises over large businesses, citing their role in job creation and lower risk.

Governor Mansur said state-owned banks often struggle to recover loans, forcing a contraction in lending. He urged Sonali Bank to move toward a fully commercial model and expand lending with greater confidence to strengthen its profitability and contribution to the broader economy.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the deadline for submitting proposals for government-funded full-length and short films for the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to a recent notice signed by Deputy Secretary Mosha. Sharmin Akhter, applicants can now submit complete package proposals until March 1. The previous deadline for submitting stories, scripts, and overall production plans was January 29.

The ministry’s notice invited producers, directors, filmmakers, film professionals, related institutions, writers, and screenwriters to submit proposals for story and script selection under the government grant program. The initiative aims to promote the film industry and encourage creativity and talent. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the ministry plans to provide grants for up to 12 full-length and 20 short films, totaling 32 projects.

According to the notice, applicants must submit 12 sets of complete package proposals, including one original copy, for both full-length and short film categories.

Public transport across Germany was largely paralyzed on Monday as thousands of bus and tram workers went on strike amid freezing temperatures. The strike, called by the major trade union Verdi, affected nearly all of Germany’s 16 federal states except one, leaving passengers stranded at empty stops. About 150 municipal transport companies suspended operations in cities including Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, causing widespread travel disruption.

Verdi said it decided to strike after talks with municipal and state employers over working conditions broke down last week. Representing around 100,000 transport workers, the union is demanding shorter shifts, longer rest breaks, and higher pay for night and weekend work. Verdi’s chief negotiator, Serhat Kanyurt, stated that the strike began as planned and urged transport authorities to return to negotiations.

Union officials said services in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg would remain halted all day. Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, confirmed its S-Bahn and long-distance trains were running normally as its employees are not part of Verdi. Union leaders warned that if no progress is made in talks scheduled for February 9, more severe actions could follow.

The Bangladesh government has decided to sell beef and other essential protein items at fair prices during the holy month of Ramadan to ease consumer expenses. The decision was made on Sunday, February 1, at a meeting held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Under the plan, beef will be sold at 650 taka per kilogram, processed chicken at 250 taka per kilogram, milk at 80 taka per liter, and eggs at 8 taka each.

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said the scope of fair-price sales will be expanded this year compared to last year. A total of 48 sales centers will be set up across Dhaka and other regions under her supervision. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, stated that the government has coordinated with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure smooth distribution.

Officials added that this year’s initiative will cover more locations than before, aiming to reduce hardship for fasting citizens during Ramadan.