Continuous rainfall, nor'wester storms, and flash floods from upstream have caused extensive crop damage worth about Tk 340 crore in the haor regions of Habiganj district. The most affected crop is Boro paddy, the main source of livelihood for local farmers. According to the district’s Department of Agricultural Extension, over 11,000 hectares of Boro fields have been submerged, with many completely destroyed and others partially damaged.

Officials reported that Boro paddy was cultivated on 123,644 hectares this season, of which around 62 percent had been harvested before the flooding. The remaining fields were inundated by sudden rain and floodwaters, worsening the situation in Azmiriganj, Baniachong, Lakhai, Nabiganj, and Bahubal upazilas. Breaches in embankments along the Khowai and Korangi rivers have intensified the flooding, leaving vast farmlands underwater and farmers in despair.

The agricultural department has prepared a preliminary list of about 21,000 affected farmers, though locals claim the actual number is higher. Officials fear that if the water does not recede soon, the losses could increase further.

The leadership of the National Pension Authority, the agency implementing the Universal Pension Scheme, has changed. Dr. Md. Suratuzzaman has taken charge as the new Executive Chairman, while Sheikh Kamrul Hasan has joined as a member. The appointments were made through a notification from the Finance Division under the Ministry of Finance. Dr. Suratuzzaman, from the 15th batch of the BCS (Administration) cadre, has been appointed on a two-year contractual basis.

According to the announcement, Dr. Suratuzzaman previously served in several key administrative roles, including as Assistant Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He has also been involved in social activities and writing. Sheikh Kamrul Hasan, from the 15th batch of the BCS (Audit and Accounts) cadre, has been appointed as a member for one year on a contractual basis.

Hasan has held leadership positions in various financial institutions and served as Chief Accounts Officer, Finance Controller (Army), and Divisional Controller of Accounts. He also worked in senior roles in the Board of Investment, Ministry of Shipping, and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and served as First Secretary (Commercial) at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

Cybercriminals are using a new method called 'SMS pumping attacks' that does not require installing malware, stealing passwords, or hacking accounts. Through this technique, attackers send international SMS messages that generate revenue for them while the costs are charged to unsuspecting users. The process often begins with a single click on a deceptive CAPTCHA-like page.

According to Malwarebytes researcher Pieter Arntz, fake CAPTCHA pages are being used in an ongoing cyber campaign to trick mobile users into unknowingly sending multiple international SMS messages. Attackers lure users through malicious ads or fake telecom websites with minor spelling errors in their domains. Once users click a button, their SMS app opens with prewritten messages and recipient lists.

The attack involves sending messages to dozens of international numbers across 17 countries, including Azerbaijan, Myanmar, and Egypt, where SMS charges are high. This scheme, known as 'international revenue share fraud,' can result in bills of up to 30 dollars for individual users. Experts advise avoiding sending SMS to verify identity, not clicking suspicious links, and recognizing that genuine CAPTCHA pages never open SMS apps.

Infrared imaging data collected this year indicate that the flames inside Turkmenistan’s Darvaza gas crater, known as the ‘Door to Hell,’ have weakened significantly. The monitoring organization Capterio found that the fire’s heat intensity has dropped by more than 75 percent over the past three years. The crater, located in the Karakum Desert about four hours from Ashgabat, has burned continuously for decades and remains a popular attraction for adventurous tourists.

Turkmenistan’s government has long sought to extinguish the fire, citing environmental and health concerns. A 2024 publication from the Turkmen Energy Forum stated that two wells were drilled near the crater to extract natural gas, which officials linked to the reduced flames. However, Capterio’s analysis suggests the decline began before the drilling, leaving open the possibility of natural causes.

The site emits methane gas, averaging about 1,300 kilograms per hour between 2022 and 2025, according to Carbon Mapper. Scientists note that while the fire converts methane into less harmful carbon dioxide, the flames are unlikely to extinguish completely soon.

Australia has announced the creation of a national fuel reserve of 1 billion liters to address the global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the government-owned stockpile will primarily ensure long-term supplies of diesel and aviation fuel. He emphasized that the main goal is to protect Australia from the negative impacts of the current crisis. Details of the plan are expected to be presented in next week’s national budget.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen noted that although Australia is one of the few members of the International Energy Agency, it previously had no national fuel reserve. He said the government is preparing for potential future shocks as global conditions become increasingly unstable. Australia currently has only two oil refineries, making it highly vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains.

The country relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for fuel imports, a route that has been nearly closed since February 28 following U.S. and Israeli attacks toward Iran, severely affecting global oil and gas transport.

A 23-member Pay Commission led by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan has submitted a comprehensive report recommending significant salary and allowance increases for Bangladesh’s government employees. The proposal, if implemented, could more than double current pay levels. The commission suggested raising the minimum basic salary from 8,250 taka to 20,000 taka and the maximum from 78,000 taka to 160,000 taka, with overall increases ranging from 100 to 140 percent.

The government currently spends 1.31 trillion taka annually on 1.4 million employees and 900,000 pensioners. Implementing the new structure could require an additional 1.06 trillion taka. Separate reports have also been prepared for the Judicial Service Pay Commission and the Armed Forces. A 10-member high-level committee led by the Cabinet Secretary has been formed to analyze all three reports and finalize a phased implementation plan.

The proposed pay scale aims to reduce the salary ratio between the highest and lowest grades from 1:9.4 to 1:8 while keeping the existing 20-grade structure. Special pay steps have been recommended for top administrative positions, to be announced later by official notification.

The Bangladesh government spent Tk 71,253 crore on interest payments for domestic and foreign loans during the first six months of the current fiscal year (July–December), marking a 22 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Finance Ministry’s latest quarterly debt bulletin. In the previous fiscal year’s first half, interest payments totaled Tk 58,392 crore.

The bulletin shows that domestic debt accounted for the largest share, with Tk 61,866 crore paid in interest—25 percent higher than the previous year—while foreign loan interest rose by 5 percent to Tk 9,387 crore. The report attributes the rising debt servicing burden to lower-than-targeted revenue collection, which has forced the government to rely more heavily on borrowing, particularly from domestic banks. Revenue shortfall in the first nine months reached nearly Tk 1 trillion, a record level.

The bulletin notes a strategic shift toward domestic borrowing to reduce currency risk and stabilize liquidity. As of December, total government debt stood at Tk 22.06 trillion, up from Tk 21.44 trillion in June 2025.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has set a target to bring 2 million new business entities under VAT registration in the 2026–27 fiscal year. The plan includes expanding VAT coverage to all upazilas, particularly in rapidly growing business areas, and incorporating temporary shops in Dhaka with high sales volumes. Businesses with annual transactions up to 3 million taka will remain exempt from mandatory VAT registration. Currently, about 795,000 businesses are registered for VAT.

NBR data shows that during a special campaign in December of the previous year, 131,000 new businesses registered for VAT, surpassing the monthly average of 8,000–10,000. Since VAT was introduced in 1991, only around 800,000 businesses have registered. Business groups have urged the government to expand VAT coverage instead of raising rates, arguing that compliant taxpayers face disproportionate burdens.

The NBR also plans to simplify and digitalize the VAT system, including mandatory online return filing, simple software for small businesses, and a possible minimum monthly VAT of 500–1,000 taka payable semiannually or annually.

Depositors from five banks staged a protest in Chattogram on Wednesday morning demanding the return of their deposits. The demonstration took place around 10 a.m. at the city’s New Market intersection under the banner of the ‘Combined Islamic Bank Depositors Association’—Chattogram Division.

Participants expressed anger over remarks by a Bangladesh Bank spokesperson, calling for the withdrawal of what they described as defamatory comments. One depositor said they were becoming destitute while being unfairly labeled as wrongdoers. The association’s president, Abul Kalam Azad, warned that the movement could expand if their demands were not met, emphasizing that depositors’ money sustains bank operations.

Kotwali Police Station’s officer-in-charge Aftab Uddin said the area is a VIP zone with key installations, so protesters were asked to gather at New Market intersection but later moved to Alkaran intersection. He confirmed that adequate police were deployed to maintain security.

Global oil prices declined for a second consecutive day after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a possible peace agreement with Iran. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude dropped by $1.69, or 1.5 percent, to $108.18 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by $1.67, or 1.6 percent, to $100.60. The previous day, Brent had already fallen by nearly 4 percent.

Analysts said Trump’s announcement suggested a potential easing of tensions in the Middle East. He stated that U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz would be temporarily suspended to ensure safe navigation and that there was a chance for an understanding with Iran, though he provided no details. Iran has not yet issued any response. Experts believe that if shipping in the Gulf normalizes, global oil supply could increase, putting downward pressure on prices, though full stability may take time.

Despite the peace signals, Trump confirmed that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue. Analysts noted that while short-term relief has returned to the market, geopolitical uncertainty remains.

Vast haor areas across Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrakona, and Kishoreganj have been severely affected by sudden floods and prolonged waterlogging during the boro harvest season. The flooding submerged ripe paddy fields, destroying the only annual crop for many farmers. The article questions why sustainable solutions remain elusive despite recurring disasters and highlights that the crisis extends beyond individual losses to threaten national food security.

The report explains that haor agriculture is entirely dependent on natural cycles, making it highly vulnerable to upstream water surges, untimely rains, and climate change. It stresses that the damage to boro crops could disrupt the rice market, raise prices, and increase hardship for low-income households. The author urges the government to declare the affected areas as disaster zones to enable rapid relief, debt rescheduling, and distribution of seeds, fertilizers, and cash support.

The article further calls for regional water management cooperation, institutional accountability, and a context-specific agricultural policy. It warns that without transparency and effective oversight in embankment projects, recurring failures will persist, endangering both farmers’ livelihoods and national food stability.

The crude oil carrier MT Ninemiya entered Chattogram waters on Wednesday, heading to the Kutubdia channel anchorage before noon. According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), customs formalities will be completed there, and lightering will begin before evening to transport the crude oil to the Eastern Refinery jetty. Two lighter tankers were dispatched early Wednesday, and unloading at the refinery depot is expected to finish by night. Preparations are underway to restart all refinery units on Thursday morning.

BPC sources said Eastern Refinery, the country’s only state-owned oil refinery, imports crude oil from Saudi Arabia for processing and marketing through BPC. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) handles crude transport. Due to a two-month supply disruption, two of the refinery’s three main units were shut down. The refinery is now preparing to resume full operations after 22 days of closure.

BSC officials explained that shipping through the Hormuz Strait was suspended due to war, prompting Bangladesh to use Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port as an alternative route. The refinery used the downtime to repair two major units, which are now expected to increase production capacity.

Raw jute exports from Bangladesh have remained suspended for eight consecutive months, causing widespread frustration among farmers, exporters, and workers. The government initially imposed the restriction to protect jute mills from raw material shortages, but the ban has persisted far longer than expected. Only 18 companies with prior telegraphic transfers have been allowed to export 6,377 tons of jute, mostly to India. The Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) reports that the interim government’s September 2025 directive made raw jute a conditional export item, effectively halting exports.

BJA Chairman Khandaker Alamgir Kabir said the ban has disrupted the sector, leaving exporters burdened with rent, loan interest, and wages despite no income. Farmers and suppliers are suffering losses as mill owners have reduced purchase prices, while around 100,000 workers have become jobless. Kabir alleged that the former textile and jute adviser imposed the ban unilaterally to benefit mill owners, many of whom he is linked to. Business leaders have repeatedly urged the government to lift the ban, warning that continued restrictions could discourage jute cultivation.

Exporters have requested the new government to withdraw the letter of credit restrictions to resume normal trade operations.

A workshop on disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities was held in Khulna with financial support from the Government of Japan and the World Food Programme (WFP), and implemented by the organization Sushilon. The event took place on Tuesday at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Khulna’s Deputy Director (Local Government) and Acting Deputy Commissioner Md. Ariful Islam attended as chief guest, while other officials from the district administration, WFP, and local organizations participated.

During the experience-sharing session, the guests emphasized strengthening future DRR initiatives through greater public participation and extending project timelines. They also highlighted the need to incorporate local contexts into planning and to enhance the capacity of Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs). Participants included government officials, engineers from LGED and the Water Development Board, UDMC members, contractors, journalists, and Sushilon staff.

Sushilon has been implementing various initiatives under the DRR program to improve the disaster resilience of coastal communities in Khulna. The project is executed at the field level by UDMCs with technical support from the Upazila Taskforce Committee.

Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth has warned that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, caused by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, is triggering a real shortage in global oil supply. Speaking at a Milken Institute discussion on Monday, Wirth said that with 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments halted, demand will have to decline to match tightening supply, leading to an economic slowdown that will first hit Asia.

Wirth explained that Asia’s heavy dependence on Gulf oil production and refining makes it the most vulnerable region, followed by Europe. He noted that commercial surpluses, shadow fleet tankers, and strategic reserves are nearly exhausted. The United States, as a net exporter of crude oil, will be less affected initially but will eventually feel the impact as well. The last Gulf shipment is currently being unloaded at Long Beach port in California.

The Chevron chief compared the potential scale of the disruption to the oil crises of the 1970s. The report also noted that U.S.-based Spirit Airlines has ceased operations due to soaring jet fuel prices linked to the supply disruption.