China has reduced petrol and diesel prices at the pump for the first time since the start of the Iran war, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The commission, which serves as China’s top economic planning body, stated that the decision reflects recent changes in global crude oil prices. Fuel prices in China are reviewed every ten working days based on international crude oil market trends.

The NDRC noted that the price cut will allow drivers to save about three US dollars when filling a 50-liter tank. Previously, Beijing had raised the maximum retail prices of petrol and diesel several times as global oil prices surged following the outbreak of the Iran war.

The adjustment marks a shift in China’s fuel pricing policy amid fluctuating global energy markets, aligning domestic prices more closely with international trends.

A government report stated that shipping costs through the Panama Canal have risen sharply as demand increased following the blockade of the Hormuz Strait due to the Middle East war. One liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier reportedly paid an additional four million dollars to avoid long waiting times, which typically last around five days. The surge began after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, which led to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key route for one-fifth of global oil and gas exports.

As a result, several Asian refineries have shifted to importing oil and gas from the United States via the Panama Canal instead of Gulf countries. The Panama Canal Authority reported that while daily vessel traffic remains stable, demand has increased, with average daily crossings rising from 34 in January to 37 in March, and occasionally exceeding 40 ships.

Auction prices for priority passage have also soared, with LNG and oil tankers bidding millions of dollars. The canal handles about five percent of global maritime trade, linking the U.S. East Coast with Asia.

At a pre-budget discussion held on April 22, 2026, at the Revenue Building, business leaders warned that foreign apparel buyers are redirecting their orders from Bangladesh to India due to severe gas and electricity shortages. They reported a decline in orders for July and August, raising concerns that the country’s garment industry could face a major crisis if the situation persists.

Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber, said garment production and exports have been falling for eight consecutive months. He urged the government to take effective measures to reverse the downturn. Representatives from Gazipur highlighted a diesel shortage that has disrupted industrial operations, while others called for tax exemptions on renewable energy investments in the upcoming budget to address the energy crisis.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan responded that tax incentives had previously been offered for renewable energy and would continue in the future. Business representatives from Dhaka, Sylhet, Gazipur, and Narayanganj also demanded raising the tax-free income limit to 500,000 taka and reducing corporate tax rates to ease inflation-driven production costs.

Electro Mart has received three prestigious recognitions at the third edition of the Bangladesh Retail Awards 2026, organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Bangladesh Retail Forum at a five-star hotel in Dhaka. The company was honored as Best Retailer in Electronics, Emerging Retailer of the Year, and Most Admired Retailer, reflecting its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer trust.

The Best Retailer in Electronics award recognized Electro Mart’s efforts to deliver advanced technology products, quality service, and superior retail offerings. The Emerging Retailer of the Year title was given for setting strong goals, aligning with customer needs, and offering world-class products at affordable prices. The Most Admired Retailer award acknowledged its reputation as one of Bangladesh’s most trusted electronics brands.

Electro Mart, representing global brands Konka, Gree, and Haiko, has been a leading electronics manufacturer and marketer in Bangladesh for over 25 years. The company stated that these recognitions reinforce its responsibility to maintain quality and innovation while expressing gratitude to customers for their continued trust and support.

The government of Bangladesh announced that it will begin procuring paddy, rice, and wheat from May 3 under the current fiscal year’s food procurement program, continuing until August 31. According to the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, the purchase prices have been fixed at Tk 36 per kilogram for Boro paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, Tk 48 for Atap rice, and Tk 36 for wheat.

The meeting, held at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department conference room, was attended by State Minister for Food Abdul Bari. The government has set procurement targets of 500,000 metric tons of Boro paddy, 1.2 million metric tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 metric tons of Atap rice, and 50,000 metric tons of wheat. Paddy and wheat collection will start on May 3, while rice collection will begin on May 15.

The Home Minister stated that the country currently has sufficient rice reserves, with 1.7 to 1.8 million tons stored in government warehouses. He added that Bangladesh’s total wheat demand is 8 million metric tons, of which 7 to 7.2 million tons are produced domestically, and the remaining 800,000 tons are imported through government-to-government arrangements.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has issued a strict directive prohibiting any increase in bus fares without prior government approval. The instruction, signed by the association’s secretary Md. Saiful Alam on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, states that no additional fare may be charged beyond the current rates until the government announces a final decision on fare adjustments. All transport owners and workers operating on routes across the country have been urged to comply with this order.

The association’s statement notes that the cost of operating transport services has risen sharply due to a Tk 15 per liter increase in diesel prices and higher expenses for vehicle parts and maintenance caused by the rising dollar rate. In light of these challenges, the association has called on the government to promptly and realistically adjust fares to prevent financial losses in the transport sector.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has warned of strong protests if bus and launch fares are increased unilaterally in violation of international consumer rights laws. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said transport owners’ associations were pushing for excessive fare hikes following a recent diesel price increase.

The statement recalled that in August 2022, when diesel prices rose sharply to 114 taka per liter, bus fares increased by 22 percent and launch fares by 32 percent. Although diesel prices later dropped to 100 taka, the government only made minor fare reductions on paper, and passengers did not benefit in practice. The association alleged that despite the latest 15-taka rise in diesel prices to 115 taka, transport owners are now seeking to raise bus fares by 64 percent and launch fares by 42 percent.

The Passenger Welfare Association accused certain government officials of supporting transport owners for short-term gains while excluding passenger representatives from fare adjustment discussions, warning that such actions could trigger widespread protests.

Oil prices in Asian markets declined slightly on Wednesday morning as peace talks between the United States and Iran remained stalled. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire until progress is made in negotiations with Tehran. He also stated that the United States would continue its blockade of Iranian ports until Iran presents a comprehensive proposal.

Early in the day, oil prices initially rose but later fell, with Brent crude dropping 0.3 percent to 98.20 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declining 0.5 percent to 89.21 dollars per barrel. The energy market has remained unstable since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to threaten strikes on ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The continued geopolitical tension and uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations have kept global energy markets volatile, with traders closely monitoring developments in the region.

Fuel is being sold at inflated prices across several districts of Bangladesh, with sellers citing supply shortages. Consumers are being forced to pay more for petrol, octane, diesel, and kerosene, which is driving up the prices of essential goods. In Jamalpur, new official rates have been set, but many stations are charging extra, leading to long queues and frustration among buyers.

Reports from Faridpur, Rangpur, and Bogura describe irregularities such as phone-based fuel sales, syndicate control, and deliberate supply halts. In Sunamganj, a mobile court fined a businessman for overpricing fuel, while in Chuadanga, 300 liters of illegally stored diesel were seized and resold to farmers at official rates. The Coast Guard in Bhola confiscated 4,000 liters of petrol being transported illegally, and in Narayanganj, a company was fined for selling diesel and furnace oil without valid documents.

Authorities in several districts have launched mobile court operations and enforcement drives to curb illegal sales and stabilize the market, though widespread public hardship continues.

Lightning protection rods installed in the haor areas of Sunamganj have become ineffective, leading to an increase in lightning-related deaths and growing public fear. The region, known as one of the most lightning-prone areas in the world, has recorded 68 deaths from lightning strikes between 2022 and April 18, 2026. Despite government efforts, the installed rods have failed to reduce casualties.

According to the report, the Disaster Management Department spent two crore taka during the 2021–22 fiscal year to install 18 lightning rods across six upazilas, mainly on government buildings such as union council offices and land offices, rather than in open haor fields where farmers and fishermen work. Field visits revealed that many rods are nonfunctional, with meters not working and no lightning measurement taking place. Environmental activists blamed mismanagement and climate change for worsening conditions, urging the establishment of small shelters and a weather center in Sunamganj.

District relief officials acknowledged the need for improved safety measures but cited budget and planning constraints. They stated that rods were placed in populated areas, though all are currently inactive.

Lawmakers in Bangladesh’s National Parliament have renewed calls to reopen the Shamshernagar Airport in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar to enhance tourism and local business. The issue was raised through an emergency notice by Moulvibazar-3 MP M Naser Rahman, who urged the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister to consider partial civilian use of the airbase currently under the Air Force. The discussion took place in a recent parliamentary session, where the agenda was confirmed by the Legislative Support Wing of the Parliament Secretariat.

The airport, built during World War II over about 800 acres, has a 6,000-foot runway and is now used for Air Force training. Local residents and expatriates claim vested interests have blocked its reopening, though they argue it would benefit the economy and tourism. Another MP, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, also supported the demand, citing easier access to nearby tourist sites such as Lawachara and Madhabkunda.

In response, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said a feasibility study is underway to assess the airport’s commercial viability. The Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce welcomed the parliamentary attention, noting that improved air connectivity could revitalize regional trade.

The Rangamati district administration has imposed a complete ban on all types of fishing in Kaptai Lake to ensure proper breeding, growth, and natural expansion of released fish fry. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, who also heads the Kaptai Lake Management and Operations Committee. According to a press release from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the ban will take effect from midnight on April 24 and remain in place until further notice.

During the ban, fishing, transportation, and marketing of fish from the lake will be prohibited. However, fish already caught may be landed at the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) jetty until 4 p.m. on April 25. The release of new fish fry into the lake will begin on May 2. To enforce the restrictions, joint patrols by the naval police and BFDC will be conducted, with temporary checkpoints and mobile courts operating to prevent illegal fishing.

The ministry has also launched a humanitarian program to support 26,845 affected fishing families in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, providing 40 kilograms of rice per family over two months and transport allowances to ensure food security during the ban.

A white paper released under the interim government has revealed serious irregularities and policy violations in the process of granting private submarine cable licenses during the Awami League administration. The report warns that the state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) could lose up to Tk 616 crore in revenue and Tk 69 crore in dividends over the next four years. The government has ordered an investigation into the activities and consortium legitimacy of three private firms—Summit, Metacore, and Cdnet—accused of breaching licensing rules and endangering national digital security.

According to the white paper, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued three private licenses in 2022, but the companies formed a single consortium named BPCS instead of building separate cables. This consolidation undermined network reliability and concentrated strategic control, posing national security risks. The report also warns that the move could create artificial market capacity, waste public funds, and cause a steep fall in bandwidth prices, leading to significant financial losses for BSCCPLC.

Sector experts suggest suspending private submarine cable operations for three to five years after the launch of the SMW6 cable and granting BSCCPLC special protection as critical national infrastructure.

Bangladesh is experiencing an acute shortage of diesel and fertilizer, leaving farmers struggling with high prices and disrupted irrigation during the peak cultivation season. Reports from multiple districts show that diesel scarcity and frequent power outages have severely affected irrigation, while fertilizer prices have surged far above official rates. Farmers are paying up to 2,000 taka for a 50-kg bag of urea that should cost 1,350 taka. Gas shortages have forced 99 percent of fertilizer factories to shut down, limiting domestic production and deepening the crisis.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension claim that national fertilizer reserves are sufficient and that reports of shortages are exaggerated. However, field data from regions such as Jhenaidah and Nilphamari reveal inconsistent supply and price manipulation by dealers. The government has initiated the import of 500,000 metric tons of fertilizer to stabilize supply, with tenders already issued for part of the quantity.

The diesel price hike of 10–15 percent has further increased irrigation and transport costs, raising concerns about reduced crop yields and rising food prices. Economists warn that without swift action, the crisis could threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to extend the temporary relaxation of the Jones Act, a maritime law that restricts domestic shipping to American-flagged vessels, according to Axios. The decision aims to address the ongoing energy crisis caused by rising fuel prices linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Trump had initially eased the law’s requirements for 60 days starting March 18 to facilitate internal oil transport.

The 1920 Jones Act has long been criticized for increasing transportation costs due to the limited supply of U.S.-flagged ships. Supporters of the temporary waiver argue that it helps reduce logistical bottlenecks and stabilize energy prices. The Axios report noted that the earlier relaxation produced positive results, prompting Trump to consider extending the measure further.

If extended, the waiver could continue to ease domestic fuel transportation pressures and mitigate short-term energy cost spikes, though the report did not specify how long the new extension might last.