Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has reported that 1.3 million foreign workers have registered under its savings scheme since it became effective on October 1 this year. The registrations were facilitated through 60,000 employers, marking what officials describe as a positive start toward ensuring social protection for migrant laborers.

Despite the progress, the EPF noted that some employers still fail to make mandatory contributions, hindering full compliance. To strengthen enforcement and worker protection, the EPF signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with the Immigration Department during a ceremony in Putrajaya. The agreement enables secure data sharing between the two agencies, including information on temporary employment visas and other valid work permits.

EPF CEO Sazaliza Zainuddin said the partnership will enhance identity verification, speed up registration, and ensure transparency in contribution enforcement. Full implementation of mandatory contributions is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2025, supported by an integrated data system to streamline verification and compliance processes.

Bangladesh’s interim government has decided to withdraw the 15 percent value-added tax (VAT) on Dhaka Metro Rail tickets, a move expected to cost the state around Tk 40 crore in annual revenue. The decision was approved at a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on December 11, according to his press secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Officials said the exemption aims to ease commuting costs for Dhaka residents, as the metro rail has become a vital part of the city’s daily transport network, serving roughly 250,000 passengers each day. The VAT had been imposed on July 1, 2024, by the previous administration. The same meeting also approved tax reductions on dates ahead of Ramadan and endorsed several legal amendments, including the Commercial Court Ordinance and the Registration Amendment 2025.

Analysts note that while the VAT removal may reduce short-term revenue, it could encourage greater public transport use and ease urban congestion. Further fiscal adjustments may be needed to offset the revenue shortfall.

Australia has expressed interest in prioritizing Bangladesh as its second production destination for the cotton and wool industry. The announcement came during the sixth round of Senior Officials’ Talks (SOT) between Bangladesh and Australia, held in Dhaka. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral–East and West) of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The dialogue covered a wide range of bilateral issues including trade, investment, renewable energy, maritime cooperation, and technology exchange. Australia reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh’s interim government and reform initiatives, emphasizing the importance of a free and fair upcoming national election. Both sides also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and anti–money laundering efforts.

The talks concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on employment for dependents of diplomatic and consular staff. The next round of SOT is scheduled to take place in Canberra next year, signaling continued momentum in the growing partnership.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) employees have announced a strike starting December 12 at 7 a.m., suspending all metro rail passenger services in Dhaka. The workers say the decision follows the authorities’ failure to finalize and publish the company’s employment regulations, despite repeated assurances. The strike is expected to disrupt daily commuting for thousands of passengers in the capital.

Officials and employees stated that since DMTCL’s establishment in 2013, no formal employment policy has been approved for its more than 900 staff. Workers recruited after the metro’s commercial launch in December 2022 claim they have been denied essential benefits such as leave, provident fund, gratuity, shift allowance, overtime, and group insurance. They noted that an advisory committee had directed completion of the job rules within 60 working days from September 2024, but the deadline passed without progress.

The strike underscores growing frustration among employees after multiple unfulfilled promises by management. Unless resolved quickly, the standoff could affect Dhaka’s public transport reliability and erode confidence in the city’s flagship infrastructure project.

U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a new ‘Gold Card’ visa program aimed at wealthy foreign investors willing to contribute at least $1 million. Announced via his Truth Social account and later confirmed to reporters, the initiative promises expedited U.S. residency and a direct path to citizenship for qualified applicants. The program is being managed through the website TrumpCard.gov, where applicants must first pay a $15,000 processing fee before submitting their forms.

According to U.S. officials, applicants approved under the scheme will be required to make a $1 million “contribution,” described as a gift on the official site. Holders of the Gold Card visa will enjoy rights similar to those of Green Card holders, including permanent residence and work authorization. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Reuters that roughly 10,000 people have already pre-registered for the visa, with expectations of significant revenue generation.

Analysts say the program could attract global investors but may also spark debate over the ethics of selling citizenship. Further details on implementation and oversight are expected in the coming weeks.

Mobile phone traders in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar staged a major protest on Wednesday, blocking traffic at the busy SARC Fountain intersection. Their single-point demand was the resignation of Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. The demonstration began around 5:40 p.m., with traders setting fire to tires and wooden planks, chanting slogans, and reportedly vandalizing a vehicle.

Police confirmed that traffic in and around the area came to a complete halt, causing severe congestion and hardship for commuters. The traders also called for reforms to the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), the abolition of alleged syndicate control in the mobile market, and permission for open mobile imports. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently announced that NEIR will be implemented from December 16, requiring registration of all mobile devices.

Traders argue that the current NEIR framework and import restrictions threaten their livelihoods. Authorities have increased police presence, but tensions remain high as negotiations are yet to begin.

Bangladesh recorded a strong inflow of remittances in the first eight days of December, reaching USD 1.008 billion, according to Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The daily average stood at USD 126 million, marking a significant rise from USD 831 million during the same period last year. On December 8 alone, expatriates sent USD 131 million, reflecting continued momentum in foreign income inflows.

Between July and December 8 of the current fiscal year, total remittances reached USD 14.046 billion, up 18.4% year-on-year. November saw the highest monthly inflow of the fiscal year at USD 2.889 billion, followed by strong figures in October and September. The previous fiscal year (2024–25) closed with a record USD 30.32 billion in remittances, the highest in Bangladesh’s history.

Economists attribute the growth to improved banking channels, policy incentives, and seasonal demand ahead of year-end festivities. Sustained remittance growth is expected to support foreign reserves and stabilize the exchange rate amid global economic uncertainty.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has stated that informal workers make up the overwhelming majority of Bangladesh’s labor force but remain largely unrecognized and unprotected. Speaking at the ‘Women Workers in Informal and Marginal Sectors Conference 2025’ in Dhaka, she emphasized that the country’s economic assessments often overlook the contributions of informal workers, leaving them excluded from policy and social protections.

Akhter noted that around 85 percent of Bangladesh’s workforce operates in the informal sector, including tea laborers, fishers, and domestic workers, whose efforts sustain the national economy. However, economists and policymakers tend to focus on the formal sector, she said, neglecting the invisible labor that underpins economic growth. Other speakers, including former Labor Reform Commission head Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed and Oxfam in Bangladesh Country Director Ashish Damle, echoed calls for structural recognition and gender-sensitive labor reforms.

Participants urged the government to integrate informal workers into national labor frameworks, highlighting the need for leadership development and collective advocacy to ensure fair rights and representation.

Bangladesh’s economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the number of millionaire bank account holders has risen as individuals deposit long-hidden cash into banks. Speaking after a government procurement advisory meeting on December 9, he cited Bangladesh Bank data showing that accounts with deposits of at least one crore taka have surpassed 128,000.

According to the central bank’s latest report, total bank deposit accounts reached 174.6 million by September 2025, up by 5.6 million in three months. While small deposits are declining due to rising living costs, large deposits are increasing, reflecting widening income inequality. Banking officials clarified that not all crore-level accounts belong to individuals; many are held by corporations or government entities.

Economists note that the trend underscores the uneven impact of inflation and economic pressure. Wealthier groups continue to accumulate assets, while middle- and lower-income households deplete savings. The data suggest a growing concentration of financial resources among high-income earners, raising concerns about long-term economic inclusivity.

Bangladesh’s government has announced a new target of March 2026 to launch the long-anticipated direct rail service between Pabna and Dhaka. Sheikh Moinuddin, Special Assistant for Road, Bridge, and Rail Communication to the Chief Adviser, confirmed the revised timeline during a press briefing at the Pakshi West Zone Railway Office in Pabna on December 9. The project, initially expected to begin in late 2025, was delayed due to a shortage of train coaches and related logistical challenges.

Moinuddin explained that the railway department is preparing to resolve the coach shortage soon and begin operations by March 2026. He also mentioned that the underused railway station built for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be reviewed for potential integration into the new service. In addition, the government plans to upgrade Pabna’s main Abdul Hamid Road into a four-lane highway as part of a broader national infrastructure modernization initiative.

The announcement has renewed optimism among Pabna residents, who have long demanded improved connectivity with Dhaka. Officials expect the new service to enhance regional trade, reduce travel time, and support balanced economic growth across western Bangladesh.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh announced plans to register an additional 100,000 businesses for Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of December. The initiative, revealed by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan during a press conference marking VAT Day, aims to expand the country’s tax base and address the low number of VAT-paying enterprises.

Currently, Bangladesh has about 644,000 VAT-registered businesses, which the chairman noted is significantly lower than the total number of active enterprises. The NBR will conduct a month-long special drive through its VAT commissionerates to meet the registration target. Khan acknowledged that a large number of businesses remain unregistered, indicating substantial untapped potential in VAT collection.

Looking ahead, the NBR expects to bring 3–4 million businesses under VAT registration within the next two years. Plans are also underway to introduce a simplified online “one-click” VAT return system for small enterprises. The authority will observe “VAT Week” from December 10 to 15 under the theme “Register on Time, Pay VAT Properly.”

Bangladesh’s mobile and gadget retailers have decided to continue their nationwide shutdown after a second round of talks with regulators failed to resolve disputes over the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) said no positive outcome emerged from Tuesday’s meeting with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and stores will remain closed until further notice.

MBCB President Md. Aslam stated that another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday with representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). He urged members to remain calm but warned of tougher protests if demands remain unmet. The standoff has disrupted business across the country and caused public inconvenience, especially after retailers began their protest outside the BTRC headquarters earlier this week.

A high-level meeting involving government advisers, NBR, the Commerce Ministry, mobile manufacturers, and MBCB representatives is expected on Wednesday to find a resolution. The ongoing impasse raises concerns about market stability and consumer access to mobile devices during the peak sales season.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced the withdrawal of excise duty on air tickets for next year’s Hajj pilgrims. The directive, issued on December 9, takes immediate effect and will remain valid until June 30, 2025. The exemption means that pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will not have to pay the usual 5,000 taka excise duty on their flight tickets.

This is not the first time the NBR has introduced such a waiver; similar exemptions have been granted in previous years to ease the financial burden on pilgrims. Typically, the excise duty is collected at the time of ticket purchase and deposited into the national treasury. The measure is expected to reduce travel costs for thousands of Bangladeshi pilgrims preparing for the annual pilgrimage.

According to official estimates, 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj in 2025, which is expected to take place around May 26, depending on the lunar calendar.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have formally signed an agreement to construct a high-speed electric passenger rail line connecting Riyadh and Doha, marking the first major infrastructure collaboration between the two Gulf nations once seen as fierce rivals. The project, announced on December 8 through Saudi state media, will link Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport with Doha’s Hamad International Airport, passing through Al-Hofuf and Dammam.

The train is expected to exceed speeds of 300 km/h, cutting travel time between the capitals to roughly two hours compared to the current 90-minute flight. The six-year project aims to transport 10 million passengers annually and create around 30,000 jobs across both countries. The agreement was signed during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Riyadh.

Analysts view the deal as a symbol of improving Saudi-Qatari relations following years of diplomatic tension. It also aligns with broader Gulf initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and economic diversification under Saudi Vision 2030.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Monday held a crucial meeting with the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) at its Agargaon headquarters to address disputes surrounding the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. While discussions continued inside, hundreds of mobile traders gathered outside the BTRC building, staging a sit-in to press for reforms to the NEIR policy.

Traders argue that the NEIR’s implementation could harm thousands of small retailers and benefit only select groups, while also driving up handset prices for consumers due to increased taxes and regulatory costs. MBCB leaders emphasized their preference for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. In contrast, BTRC officials defended the NEIR as essential for curbing illegal handset imports, ensuring consumer safety, and improving transparency in device tracking.

A high-level joint meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to resolve the impasse, involving the Prime Minister’s economic adviser, the NBR chairman, the commerce secretary, and representatives from mobile manufacturers and traders. The outcome could determine the future of Bangladesh’s mobile phone retail market and regulatory environment.