Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the country’s top 20 loan defaulters in the National Parliament on Monday. The report showed that 11 of these companies belong to the controversial S Alam Group. Two companies each from Beximco Group, owned by Salman F Rahman, and Sikder Group, owned by Ron and Rick Haque Sikder, were also listed. The minister did not disclose the total amount of defaulted loans for these entities.

The report noted that S Alam Group had taken loans totaling Tk 225,000 crore during the previous Awami League government, causing significant losses to several Islamic banks. These struggling banks were later merged into a new entity, Sammilit Islami Bank, with government and depositor contributions. The finance minister also stated that as of December, total defaulted loans in Bangladesh stood at Tk 544,831.88 crore.

The government has initiated measures to recover defaulted loans, including monitoring progress on top defaulters, updating banking guidelines, and publishing lists of willful defaulters. The minister emphasized ongoing reforms to stabilize the economy and strengthen financial discipline.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that by the end of September last year, 23 banks in the country faced a combined capital shortfall of Tk 2.82 trillion, up from Tk 1.56 trillion in June. The increase is attributed to a surge in non-performing loans, which reached Tk 6.44 trillion. The report also notes that the banks failed to maintain the required loan-loss provisions, resulting in a provision deficit of Tk 3.44 trillion and pushing the sector’s capital adequacy ratio (CRAR) to a negative 2.90 percent, below the international minimum of 10 percent.

Among the affected institutions, four state-owned banks accounted for Tk 37,698 crore of the deficit, nine private banks for Tk 36,607 crore, eight Islamic banks for Tk 175,822 crore, and two specialized banks for Tk 32,477 crore. The largest individual shortfall was recorded at First Security Islami Bank with Tk 65,090 crore. Bangladesh Bank’s assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui explained that rising defaults have increased provisioning needs, while limited profits have prevented banks from meeting those requirements.

The report indicates that banks outside these 23 institutions remain adequately capitalized, suggesting that the broader sector’s stability depends on addressing the weaknesses of the deficit banks.

Bangladesh’s export and import activities have slowed sharply following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran that disrupted global oil supply chains. The instability has begun to affect operations at Chattogram Port and Customs, raising concerns over revenue collection and overall economic performance. Despite maintaining growth in the first nine months of the fiscal year, the final quarter has seen declining export volumes and reduced port activity.

Data from Chattogram Port show container handling rose 4.75 percent and bulk cargo 7.39 percent year-on-year in the first nine months, but exports have fallen steadily since January. Export container shipments dropped from 79,000 TEUs in January to 60,000 in March. Chattogram Customs collected Tk 58,432 crore in revenue during the same period, well short of its Tk 1 trillion annual target. Officials attribute the slowdown to the Middle East conflict’s impact on trade and energy supply.

Industry leaders warn that continued fuel shortages and uncertainty over government energy policy could further delay new export orders. They urge the government to outline and implement a clear plan to manage the energy crisis and inflation risks.

The Ghorashal-Polash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi resumed production at 12:10 p.m. on Monday, April 6, after remaining closed for nearly a month due to a gas supply suspension. The factory began preliminary operations on March 31 following the restoration of gas connection by Titas authorities. The plant’s General Manager (Administration), Md. Fakhrul Alam, confirmed the resumption of production.

According to factory sources, gas supply to the facility was halted on March 4 amid a nationwide gas crisis, forcing the shutdown of one of Asia’s major gas-dependent urea producers. The closure caused a daily production loss of about 2,800 metric tons of urea, valued at approximately Tk 13.44 crore per day. The factory, built at a cost of Tk 15,000 crore and operational since March 11, 2024, requires 71–72 MMC of gas daily for full-capacity production but can operate with 52–53 MMC.

Officials stated that the one-month shutdown will compel the factory to cover loan repayments, amounting to Tk 1,600–1,800 crore annually, through borrowing to offset the production gap.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will bring 60,000 income tax returns under audit for the fiscal years 2023–2024, 2024–2025, and 2025–2026. NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced the plan during a pre-budget discussion with the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at the Revenue Building in Agargaon, Dhaka. He said the selection will be made on a risk-based basis through an automated system.

The chairman explained that manual audit selection had been suspended earlier due to complaints and would only resume after the transition to an online system. With online filing now mandatory for most taxpayers in the current fiscal year, the NBR has reintroduced audits through automation. He added that 600 companies have already been selected for VAT audits under the same automated process, covering manufacturing, service, retail, wholesale, and import-export sectors.

According to the NBR, the automated selection system aims to enhance transparency, neutrality, and efficiency in tax administration while reducing revenue evasion and improving taxpayer confidence.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced plans to impose an annual limit on head office expenses claimed by foreign companies operating in the country. NBR Chairman disclosed the move during a pre-budget discussion with representatives of the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at the Revenue Building on Monday. He said many firms report large head office costs each year, which reduces their declared profits, and argued that such expenses should not rise indefinitely after the initial years of establishment.

FICCI’s tax adviser Snehashish Barua opposed the proposal, noting that existing laws such as the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and transfer pricing regulations already ensure expense justification. He warned that setting arbitrary limits could send a negative signal to foreign investors. FICCI also proposed lowering the corporate tax rate from 27.5 percent to 20 percent, arguing that Bangladesh’s rate is higher than competitors like Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The NBR chairman rejected the idea, citing revenue pressures.

FICCI President Rupali Chowdhury said foreign firms are struggling with negative growth since the pandemic and the Ukraine war, urging NBR to support businesses ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming LDC graduation.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed Parliament that current members of parliament collectively owe Tk 11,117.31 crore in loans, of which Tk 3,330.08 crore are classified as defaulted. He provided the information in response to a written question from Comilla-4 MP Md. Abul Hasnat during the ninth day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament, presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

The minister stated that the total loan amount includes debts held by MPs and institutions linked to their interests in banks and financial companies. He also mentioned that, according to court directives, the total defaulted amount of Tk 3,330.08 crore has not yet been officially recorded as defaulted.

The disclosure highlights the scale of financial obligations among sitting lawmakers and their associated entities, as well as the ongoing legal and procedural complexities in classifying certain loans as defaults.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has issued important directives to enhance non-urea fertilizer management during a meeting held at the Agriculture Building in Dhaka. The meeting, organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), focused on improving fertilizer distribution and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth across the country.

During the session, the minister highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives for balanced and sustainable development, identifying agriculture as a top priority sector. He announced a master plan to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years, with 5,000 kilometers already under implementation in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. He also stated that a farmer card distribution program will begin soon to support marginal farmers and emphasized strengthening the activities of agencies under the Agriculture Ministry to make fertilizer management more efficient.

The minister assured that the country has sufficient fertilizer reserves and that continued imports will prevent any shortage. Plans are also underway to explore the use of railways for fertilizer transport to reduce costs and improve accountability.

Boeing Vice President Paul Righi met with Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, at her office on Monday. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on various aspects of Boeing’s agreements with the government and explored opportunities for leasing aircraft to meet the country’s current aviation needs.

During the meeting, Paul Righi expressed Boeing’s interest in leasing narrow-body aircraft, particularly from the 737 series, to Bangladesh. Minister Afroza Khanam Rita emphasized the importance of advancing the leasing process as soon as possible to support the nation’s aviation capacity and service expansion.

The meeting highlighted ongoing cooperation between the government and Boeing, signaling potential progress in Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen its civil aviation fleet through international partnerships.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that the government has a concrete plan to strengthen Bangladesh’s stock market and make it a vibrant source of long-term financing. Responding in writing to a parliamentary question, he said the government aims to enhance governance, transparency, accountability, and investor education to build a sustainable and dynamic capital market. Plans include developing a strong bond market, listing fundamentally sound companies, and bringing unlisted state-owned enterprises to the market.

The minister detailed initiatives such as introducing exchange-traded funds, sukuk, green bonds, commodity and financial derivatives, and improving mutual fund governance to encourage wider participation. He also highlighted measures to curb irregularities, strengthen enforcement, modernize and digitize the market, and ensure whistleblower protection and corporate governance.

Ongoing legal reforms include merging the 1969 Securities and Exchange Ordinance and the 1993 BSEC Act into a new 2025 law, reviewing the draft Capital Market Stabilization Fund Act 2026, and updating corporate governance and debt securities rules. The government also plans to integrate investment education into school curricula and expand public awareness through training and media programs.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has launched an affordable electric vehicle (EV) service for female students to ease campus transportation amid the ongoing energy crisis. The service officially began on Monday, funded by the university’s research sector. The EV was developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering under a University Grants Commission–funded research project led by Professor Dr. Shahjada Mahmudul Hasan and inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak.

The initiative follows reduced diesel bus trips that had caused travel difficulties for students. Each vehicle costs about 500,000 to 600,000 taka to produce, significantly less than similar EVs used at other universities, which cost up to 1.8 million taka. Initially, the service will operate every 20 minutes for female students traveling between hostels and key campus points.

RUET officials stated that the project promotes research-based learning and practical experience. They plan to expand the service for all students if additional funding becomes available, aiming to establish a sustainable and modern campus transport system.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh’s per capita income reached 2,769 US dollars in the 2024–25 fiscal year. He cited official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics while responding to a written question from Dhaka-18 Member of Parliament S.M. Jahangir Hossain in the National Parliament on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The minister stated that one of the government’s key goals is to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. To reach this milestone, the government is preparing action plans focusing on investment, employment, economic democratization, creative economy, and sports economy. He emphasized that the government is working simultaneously across multiple sectors—employment, investment, production, exports, remittances, skill development, social protection, and macroeconomic stability—to increase citizens’ income.

The announcement reflects the government’s broader economic strategy aimed at sustainable growth and inclusive development through diversified policy initiatives.

In response to a parliamentary question from MP Hasnat Abdullah, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the top 20 loan defaulters in Bangladesh. The disclosure took place on Monday, April 6, 2026, during a question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. According to the minister, as of December 31, 2025, total defaulted loans amounted to Tk 5,44,831.88 crore, while loans defaulted by current members of parliament and their affiliated entities totaled Tk 11,117.31 crore.

The minister’s list showed that half of the top 20 defaulting institutions are owned by or associated with S Alam Group. The companies include S Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd., S Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd., S Alam Refined Sugar Industries Ltd., S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Ltd., and S Alam Trading Company Pvt. Ltd., among others. Other major defaulters named include Beximco Communications Ltd., Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Ltd., and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd.

The disclosure highlights the concentration of large-scale loan defaults among a few major business groups, raising renewed attention to financial governance and accountability in the banking sector.

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government approved six projects out of eight discussed. The meeting, held on Monday at the Secretariat with the Prime Minister presiding, reviewed a total of eight projects and deferred two for further consideration. Originally, 19 projects were scheduled for presentation, but time constraints led to the session being adjourned after partial discussion.

According to the Planning Ministry’s public relations officer Jasim Uddin, the remaining projects from the agenda will be discussed in next week’s meeting. This session marked a departure from the long-standing practice of holding ECNEC meetings at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Officials indicated that the decision to hold the meeting at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Room was made to accommodate the Prime Minister’s current workload and Secretariat-based activities.

Education Minister and Minister of Primary and Mass Education Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced new information regarding teachers’ festival allowance. Speaking on Monday, April 6, 2026, at a meeting with center secretaries of the Mymensingh Education Board and the region’s madrasa and technical boards, he said the allowance would be increased by 10 percent this year. The implementation is expected around Eid-ul-Azha, and the government is working to make it effective.

The minister noted that teachers’ festival allowance had not been raised for nearly 17 years. He emphasized that the government was taking steps to ensure the increase is realized. Meanwhile, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the pay scale structure for government primary school teachers. He made the remarks after visiting several schools in Dhaka to review infrastructure and development progress.

The announcements indicate a renewed government focus on improving teachers’ financial and institutional conditions, with implementation efforts already underway.