Bangladesh Bank has eased loan facilities for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) importers, allowing them to import gas on credit for up to 270 days. The central bank issued a circular on Monday, stating that LPG, usually imported in bulk and later bottled for retail, will now be treated as an industrial raw material for trade credit purposes. This classification enables importers to access the same deferred payment terms available for other industrial raw materials under existing foreign exchange regulations.

According to the circular, banks have been instructed to assist importers in obtaining buyer’s credit from foreign banks and financial institutions. Additionally, offshore banking units have been authorized to provide bill discounting facilities to support the sector. The move aims to address the time-intensive nature of LPG storage, bottling, and distribution processes.

The decision comes amid a supply shortage that has pushed the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder up to 2,500 taka, significantly above the government-fixed rate, causing hardship for consumers and businesses.

A joint operation by the army and the local administration was carried out in Ward 6 of Bajalia Union under Satkania upazila in South Chattogram to prevent illegal hill cutting. According to the upazila administration, the raid took place around 1 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsuzzaman, following a tip-off. Clear evidence of hill cutting was found at the site, but no suspects were apprehended. The perpetrators fled, leaving behind an excavator, which was later disabled with army assistance to prevent future misuse.

The upazila administration stated that operations against environmentally destructive activities such as hill and farmland soil cutting will continue. It also warned that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for environmental damage and threats to public safety. Local residents reported that illegal hill cutting and soil sales had been ongoing in the Bajalia area for a long time, and the recent operation has brought relief to the community.

Japan has launched a deep-sea expedition to extract rare minerals in an effort to reduce its dependence on China. On Monday, the scientific drilling vessel Chikyu departed from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka at 9 a.m. local time, heading toward the remote Pacific island of Minami Torishima. The area is believed to contain vast reserves of rare minerals. The mission, led by JAMSTEC, involves experimental drilling at a depth of 6,000 meters, marking a world first, and will continue until February 14.

The initiative comes as China, the world’s largest supplier of rare minerals, exerts pressure on Japan amid heightened political tensions following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Taiwan in November. Cabinet Office program director Shoichi Ishii stated that Japan aims to diversify supply sources and build domestic production capacity to avoid overreliance on any single country. Researcher Takahiro Kamisuna noted that regular extraction near Minami Torishima could secure a stable domestic supply chain for Japan’s industries.

Reports indicate that China has recently delayed imports of Japanese goods and slowed rare mineral exports, further motivating Japan’s push for resource independence.

A mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tania Akter Lubna fined two excavator operators a total of one lakh taka for illegally cutting and selling soil from farmland and government land in Bhitikandi Union of Titas upazila, Cumilla. The operation took place on Sunday in the Dorikandi area, where excavators were found removing soil from the banks of the Gomti River near local brickfields.

According to local residents, a powerful group has long been involved in illegal soil extraction due to weak administrative monitoring. The activity has reportedly damaged the fertility of agricultural land, weakened riverbanks, and increased the risk of embankment collapse. Heavy vehicle movement has also deteriorated local roads and caused severe dust pollution, disrupting normal farming and daily life.

Following the mobile court’s action, the excavators were removed from the site. The administrative move came after local journalists drew attention to the ongoing illegal activities, prompting authorities to intervene.

Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes reported that personal data of about 17.5 million Instagram users has been leaked and shared on the dark web. The leaked dataset includes usernames, full names, email addresses, phone numbers, partial physical addresses, and other contact details. The breach has raised serious concerns about user privacy and platform security.

According to Malwarebytes, although no passwords were exposed, the leaked information could still be exploited for identity theft or financial fraud. A hacker using the alias 'Solonik' reportedly released the data for free on a dark web forum last week. Following the leak, users from various regions have complained about receiving numerous password reset emails, which analysts believe may be linked to unauthorized login attempts using the exposed email addresses.

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, denied any direct hacking or intrusion into its systems. The company attributed the surge in password reset emails to a technical issue and assured that user accounts remain secure.

Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has fallen by 40 percent due to ongoing tensions and border clashes, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The closure of key border crossings has disrupted the movement of goods, severely affecting bilateral trade. Official Afghan data show that total trade between the two countries declined from 2.461 billion dollars in 2024 to 1.766 billion dollars in 2025, a decrease of 695 million dollars.

During the same period, Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan dropped from 817 million dollars to 505 million dollars, while imports fell from 1.644 billion dollars to 1.261 billion dollars. Economic analysts have emphasized that Afghanistan should not rely on a single trade partner or transit route. They suggest developing alternative corridors through Iran, Central Asia, and air routes to reduce dependence on Pakistan and achieve long-term economic stability.

Major trade crossings such as Torkham and Spin Boldak have remained completely closed for about three months, halting cargo transport and causing financial losses for traders on both sides.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has advised that banks may use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support public awareness activities related to the upcoming national referendum. The suggestion came during a meeting with managing directors and chief executives of all banks held at Bangladesh Bank on Sunday. The referendum, scheduled for February 12, aims to implement the July National Charter, and the interim government is conducting awareness campaigns to encourage a ‘yes’ vote.

During the meeting, the governor emphasized that raising public awareness about the referendum is a collective responsibility and that banks should contribute to informing citizens about the potential impacts if the charter is not implemented. He also urged caution in fund management during the election period, noting that the central bank has injected about Tk 46,000 crore into the market after purchasing over USD 3.75 billion this fiscal year.

Separately, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has intensified monitoring of cash transactions to prevent the use of illicit funds ahead of the election, requiring weekly reporting of transactions exceeding Tk 1 million until further notice.

The Bangladesh government will raise Tk 10,000 crore from Samiliti Islami Bank by issuing a Sukuk bond named 'Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1'. According to a Bangladesh Bank press release issued on Sunday, the bond will have a maximum tenure of 10 years, and the bank will receive an annual profit rate of 9.75 percent. The government is scheduled to receive the funds from the bank on January 14.

The Shariah Advisory Committee of Bangladesh Bank, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, held meetings on January 7 and 8 to finalize the issuance under the Ijara (lease) method. The Sukuk will be issued through private placement directly in favor of Samiliti Islami Bank. The underlying assets for this Sukuk include seven housing projects built by the Public Works Department for government employees and specific train services operated by Bangladesh Railway.

The issuance aims to mobilize funds for government projects while adhering to Islamic financial principles, as outlined by the central bank’s advisory committee.

Mobile Business Community Bangladesh, a group representing grey market mobile traders, has called on the government to make import taxes on mobile phones more reasonable. The appeal was made on Sunday at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha, where the group also accused a nine-member syndicate, including Smart Technologies Limited’s managing director Md. Zahirul Islam, of manipulating the system related to mobile registration and import.

At the event, representatives including Golam Mahfuz Jony from Jamuna Future Park said traders want to contribute to national revenue if fair tax policies are introduced. They argued that current measures unfairly label them as illegal traders and harm consumers who rely on affordable used phones. The group also demanded the release of detained traders and warned of unrest if further arrests occur.

Speakers further alleged irregularities in implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), claiming it poses national security risks because data may be stored abroad. They urged the government to ensure any implementation is handled domestically, even suggesting military oversight if necessary.

Bangladesh’s interim government spent about USD 3,877.74 million in 2025 to import 109 LNG cargoes, up from USD 3,022.32 million for 86 cargoes in 2024, according to Petrobangla officials. The imports totaled 350,766,440 MMBtu of LNG, reflecting a USD 855.42 million increase from the previous year. Officials said the rise was driven by growing industrial demand and insufficient domestic gas supply.

Petrobangla and Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) reported that LNG was procured under long-term, short-term, and spot market contracts. QatarEnergy supplied 40 cargoes worth USD 1,204.49 million, while Oman’s OQ Trading delivered 16 cargoes under long-term deals and five under short-term contracts. Bangladesh also purchased 48 cargoes from the spot market through suppliers including PetroChina International and TotalEnergies Gas & Power. The government plans to import 115 cargoes in the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Officials noted that daily gas demand reached 3,800 million cubic feet against production of 2,594.7 million cubic feet on January 5–6, 2026. The Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan 2023 projects demand to rise to 6,240 million cubic feet per day by 2030.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin stated that the ongoing IPL issue has not caused any negative impact on trade between Bangladesh and India. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday after a meeting on the new import policy order, he said that business activities with India are continuing normally.

The adviser emphasized that Bangladesh believes in open trade with all countries and does not take country-specific bilateral decisions unless domestic trade is disrupted. He added that various trade measures with India are being monitored to assess any possible effects. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman noted that daily events rarely affect bilateral trade, though India’s closure of several land ports last May reduced Bangladesh’s exports. He clarified that Bangladesh did not take any countermeasures.

Rahman further explained that the decision to halt jute exports to India was made to maintain domestic supply and not to harm another country. He reiterated that Bangladesh’s trade policies are designed to protect internal markets rather than target any nation.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin announced that a meeting will be held on January 19 to review commodity prices ahead of Ramadan. He made the statement after a meeting at the Secretariat, noting that all relevant stakeholders will participate in the review to assess the overall market situation.

He also confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce has prepared a draft of the new Import Policy Order (IPO) for 2025–2028, introducing major changes from the existing 2021–2024 policy. The adviser said the revisions aim to liberalize and simplify trade procedures. Final approval will be sought through the Cabinet before details are disclosed.

Responding to questions about current tensions between Bangladesh and India, Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated that no impact on bilateral trade has been observed so far.

The ‘Ami Probashi’ app has introduced a new visa verification service for Bangladeshi migrant workers traveling to Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. According to a press release issued on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the platform’s operator announced that migrants can now verify their visas before departure by calling the helpline number 16768. The service aims to make the verification process simple and accessible through both the app and the hotline.

The initiative is designed to protect migrant workers from visa-related fraud and ensure safe and transparent migration. After calling the helpline and providing visa details, the ‘Ami Probashi’ team will verify the information. Once verification is complete, an SMS will be sent to the user confirming whether the visa is valid or invalid. If the visa information is not found in the system, users will be advised to contact the relevant embassy.

The service is already operational, offering Bangladeshi workers a reliable way to confirm visa authenticity before traveling to the three Gulf countries.

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided not to announce a new pay scale for public servants before the upcoming national election, citing financial constraints and the approaching polls. Instead, the Pay Commission has been instructed to continue its work and prepare a framework for the next administration. The final meeting of the commission, chaired by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, is expected on January 21, after which recommendations will be submitted to the chief and finance advisers.

According to commission sources, the new pay structure—known as the ninth pay scale—is in its final stage. Three salary ratio proposals of 1:8, 1:10, and 1:12 were considered, with 1:8 being finalized. Minimum salary proposals range from Tk 16,000 to Tk 21,000. The 23-member National Pay Commission 2025 was formed on July 27 to adjust government salaries in line with inflation and economic conditions. The commission’s term ends in mid-February, coinciding with the February 12 national election.

Officials indicated that the interim government will finalize recommendations but leave implementation to the next elected administration. Until then, public employees will continue receiving dearness allowances as per existing rules.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has announced up to threefold increases in internet speeds across all existing packages while keeping monthly prices unchanged. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology disclosed the decision in a statement on Sunday, noting that the move aims to ensure improved digital services for customers. BTCL said the initiative will provide more reliable, faster, and higher-quality internet access, supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

According to the new structure, the 5 Mbps ‘Sulav-5’ package priced at 399 taka has been upgraded to a 20 Mbps ‘Sashroyi-20’ package. Similarly, the 12 Mbps ‘Sulav-12’ package at 500 taka now offers 25 Mbps, and the 15 Mbps ‘Campus-15’ package at the same price has been raised to 50 Mbps. Higher-tier packages have also seen significant boosts, with speeds reaching up to 170 Mbps for 1,700 taka.

BTCL stated that the enhanced speeds will play an important role in supporting online education, office work, video streaming, gaming, and other digital services across the country.