Bangladesh’s Home and Agriculture Adviser, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, stated that the country’s law and order situation remains normal, with no major disturbances reported. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Thursday, he said minor incidents were promptly addressed and there is no cause for concern regarding banned political groups. On the agricultural front, he expressed optimism about a bumper Aman rice harvest this season, noting that prices have been fixed at Tk 34 per kg for paddy, Tk 49 for atap rice, and Tk 50 for parboiled rice. He added that vegetable production is strong and prices remain stable, though potato farmers have suffered losses and will receive incentives. He also confirmed that onion imports are unnecessary due to sufficient domestic supply.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will release the sixth installment of its loan to Bangladesh after discussions with the country's newly elected government, according to Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. Speaking after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, he said an IMF mission will visit Bangladesh in February to assess the situation before making a decision. The government has agreed to the IMF’s proposal to delay the disbursement until after the review. The IMF has advised Bangladesh to increase revenue collection, strengthen social safety nets, and continue banking sector reforms. Dr. Ahmed added that the current administration will prepare a comprehensive package for the next government covering IMF loan terms, reform conditions, and pay commission issues.

The United States has decided to stop producing the one-cent coin, known as the penny, ending a tradition that began in 1793. The final batch will be minted at the Philadelphia Mint, marking the end of over 230 years of continuous production. Although pennies will remain legal tender, their circulation is expected to decline as businesses adjust prices to round figures. The Treasury Department estimates the move will save about $56 million annually, as each penny currently costs around four cents to produce. The decision follows the growing dominance of digital transactions and the declining practical use of small coins. However, analysts warn that consumers may face an additional $6 million in annual costs due to price rounding. Attention is now turning to the nickel, which costs nearly three times its face value to manufacture.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has imposed a strict ban on the import of medicines from Pakistan, citing poor quality and frequent trade disruptions. The decision, announced by state media Alemarah News, directs Afghan traders to terminate existing contracts with Pakistani suppliers within three months and to seek alternative sources from other countries. Officials said the move aims to protect Afghanistan’s economic interests and safeguard the rights of local businesses. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar urged business leaders in Kabul to reduce dependence on Pakistan and explore new trade routes. The ban comes amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbors. Afghanistan currently imports pharmaceuticals from Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh, with an estimated annual import value of around one billion dollars before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The Bangladeshi government has decided to permit limited onion imports to stabilize prices after a sharp rise of about Tk 30 per kilogram within a month. The supply shortage emerged as the production and storage season neared its end, pushing wholesale prices in Chattogram’s Khatunganj market to Tk 100–112 per kg. Authorities say the move aims to balance market stability while protecting local farmers’ interests. The imported onions are expected to arrive within a week, though sea shipments may take up to two weeks. Bangladesh had significantly reduced onion imports in recent years, relying mostly on domestic production. However, traders warn that without immediate imports, prices could rise further before the next harvest season begins in December.

The Bangladesh government has approved the import of sugar, soybean oil, rice, and fertilizers from five countries at a total cost of Tk 998 crore. The decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. Under the plan, 12,500 tons of refined sugar will be bought from Turkey, 12 million liters of soybean oil from the UAE, and 50,000 tons of parboiled rice from Singapore. Additionally, 40,000 tons of DAP fertilizer will be imported from Morocco and 40,000 tons of granular urea from Saudi Arabia. The committee also approved several other proposals, including an e-waste management plant at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park, short-term LNG supply from Aramco Trading Singapore, and a PPP-based container terminal project at Chittagong Port with Denmark’s APM Terminals.

A Japanese consortium led by Sumitomo has expressed interest in operating and maintaining the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Iwama Kiminori, conveyed this interest during a meeting with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin at the Secretariat. The envoy said the consortium is eager to begin discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) as soon as possible. The commerce adviser noted that Japan’s involvement in Bangladesh’s airport infrastructure, along with progress on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), would strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties. The EPA is expected to provide duty- and quota-free access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market. Senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Japanese Embassy, and Sumitomo Corporation also attended the meeting.

Bangladesh’s capital market witnessed a significant downturn on the fourth trading day of the week, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) seeing its benchmark index DSEX fall by nearly 1 percent to 4,825 points. Daily turnover dropped below Tk 300 crore, totaling Tk 290.14 crore, compared to Tk 339.75 crore in the previous session. Around 77.58 percent of traded securities declined in value, with major losses led by LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, British American Tobacco, Summit Power, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, and Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries. All sectors recorded negative returns, with the jute sector suffering the steepest decline of 4.2 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also saw declines, with its CSCX index down 67.83 points to 8,447 and turnover dropping to Tk 9.81 crore from Tk 26.34 crore previously.

The Chittagong Port Authority is set to sign a 30-year concession agreement with Denmark-based APM Terminals BV, a Maersk Group subsidiary, to design, finance, build, and operate the modern Laldia Container Terminal under a public-private partnership model. Ownership will remain with the port authority, reducing government capital expenditure. The project, approved in principle by the Economic Affairs Advisory Council, involves an investment exceeding USD 800 million, marking Bangladesh’s largest European equity investment. The terminal, expected to be operational by 2030, will double vessel capacity, enhance global shipping connectivity, and cut export-import costs. It will also create 500–700 direct jobs and thousands of indirect ones while implementing global HSSE standards and digital management systems. The facility will be Bangladesh’s first green and smart port, supporting climate goals and boosting logistics, trade efficiency, and economic growth.

Petrobangla has intensified its gas exploration activities across Bangladesh with plans to drill 100 new wells by 2028 to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis. According to an official statement, 50 wells will be completed by 2025–26 and another 100 by 2026–28, including exploration and workover operations. The initiative involves BAPEX, SGFL, and BGFCL, with multiple rigs operating under both in-house and turnkey contracts. Recent discoveries include commercial gas in Jamalpur-1 and signs of crude oil in Sylhet’s Haripur field. Additional drilling is underway in Bhola to assess reserves and support the planned industrial hub there. Petrobangla expects the completion of 11 wells by early 2026 to add about 143 million cubic feet of gas per day, significantly strengthening domestic supply and reducing dependence on imports.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has stated that the country’s overall economic condition remains stable. Speaking as the chief guest at a regional seminar on MFI-Bank Linkage held at Water Garden Resort in Basail, Tangail, on Saturday (November 8), he emphasized that with continued political stability, the economy will progress even more smoothly in the coming days. The seminar, organized by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), aimed to enhance the flow of banking services and funds to rural and marginalized communities. Addressing the issue of recovering laundered money, Dr. Mansur mentioned that lawyers have been sent to the UK on behalf of several banks to establish claims against certain corporate groups. If successful, positive outcomes are expected soon. The event was chaired by MRA’s Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin and attended by top officials from various banks and NGOs.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lauded Bangladesh Bank for its success in boosting the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, praised the achievement during a press briefing in Hong Kong on October 24. He emphasized that increasing reserves remains a central objective under the IMF-supported program, particularly as Bangladesh continues to face balance of payments pressures. According to IMF data, Bangladesh’s reserves rose to $27.35 billion as of October 16, 2025, compared to $19.93 billion a year earlier. Helbling highlighted that such improvement is vital for ensuring external stability and maintaining confidence in the economy. He also confirmed that an IMF mission will visit Bangladesh this month to conduct the fifth review of the $5.5 billion loan program, assessing both reserve management progress and consistency with the central bank’s exchange rate policy.

Bangladesh has secured the second position among countries successfully exporting value-added products to the U.S., trailing Cambodia and outpacing Vietnam, according to the latest IMF report. Cambodia leads with a 21% growth in value-added exports, while Bangladesh recorded a 20% increase, primarily driven by ready-made garments, leather goods, and handicrafts. The IMF highlights that Asian countries heavily depend on markets in Europe and the U.S. for foreign currency through exports and remittances. Strengthening value addition in products enables higher export opportunities, fostering competition among exporters. While Sri Lanka maintained steady exports, other nations saw a decline. Countries like Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Thailand lagged in boosting value-added export growth. The report also kept Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast at 4.9% for the current fiscal year.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has warned that 1.2 billion young people will enter the global workforce over the next 25 years, but current economic growth is failing to create sufficient job opportunities. Speaking at the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, Banga emphasized that the world must prepare now to avoid a massive generational failure. He noted that by 2050, 85% of the world’s population will live in developing countries, where lack of education, skills, and employment could trigger inequality and instability. Banga stressed the importance of job creation in five key sectors—infrastructure and energy, agriculture and agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and mineral production and processing—and urged developing countries to modernize these sectors to attract private investment. He also called for global unity and compassion, reminding that employment, climate change, and governance are shared global challenges.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will engage in discussions with Bangladesh’s next elected government before releasing the next tranche of the $5.5 billion loan package, scheduled for December, according to Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur. Speaking from Washington, where he is attending the IMF–World Bank annual meetings, Mansur explained that the IMF made this decision in light of the upcoming national elections. Bangladesh has neither objected to nor endorsed the decision, as it currently faces no financial pressure. The Governor emphasized the importance of maintaining policy continuity rather than focusing solely on disbursement. He added that conducting a full review now would be premature, given the election period. The IMF’s Article IV mission will arrive in October for a partial assessment, with the final review expected in February, following the elections. So far, Bangladesh has received $3.6 billion of the pledged loan.