More than 70 secretaries from various ministries in Bangladesh have opposed proposals for a steep pay hike under the upcoming ninth pay scale, urging the Pay Commission to make realistic recommendations in line with the government’s financial capacity. The commission has so far held four rounds of consultations with secretaries and discussions with over 250 organizations, both online and in person. While some groups have demanded salary increases up to three or four times the current levels, a significant number of secretaries have cautioned against such moves, emphasizing fiscal sustainability. Commission officials said the process of gathering opinions was challenging due to scheduling constraints but noted that the feedback is being carefully reviewed. They expect to finalize and submit the recommendations within the stipulated timeframe, with special attention to minimum wage structures and grade reclassification.

Bangladesh’s November Economic Update and Outlook report by the General Economics Division (GED) highlights a mixed economic scenario. While bank deposits have shown robust growth, private sector credit expansion remains sluggish. The report notes that overall inflation has fallen to single digits, largely due to declining food prices and improved supply conditions. Food inflation dropped from 12.66% to 7.08%, while non-food inflation slightly rose to 9.13%, reflecting ongoing pressure in housing, transport, and healthcare costs. The report also indicates that rice prices, which surged earlier in 2025, have begun to decline as new Aman harvests entered the market and government procurement boosted domestic reserves. Despite steady economic growth, the National Board of Revenue continues to fall short of its collection targets. Export performance remains volatile, though moderate recovery is expected in the coming months.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced that the use of the Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) will become mandatory from January 1 to modernize and digitize the country’s bond management process. According to an official circular, all bonded warehouse license holders must use CBMS for issuing Utilization Permissions (UP) related to duty-free raw material imports. No services will be provided through manual or alternative methods after the deadline. The automated CBMS software, launched earlier with 24 modules, is currently being used on a limited scale in three customs bond commissionerates. NBR stated that the system has been upgraded based on user feedback to make it more user-friendly. The mandatory use of CBMS is expected to enhance service speed, transparency, and accountability, while reducing costs, time, and disputes. The NBR reaffirmed its commitment to continuing digitalization efforts to achieve full automation and transparency in revenue management.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has submitted the salary proposal for November for MPO-listed teachers and staff of private schools and colleges to the Ministry of Education. According to the Education Management Information System (EMIS) cell, the proposal has also been uploaded to the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS) of the Ministry of Finance. However, due to the temporary absence of key iBAS technical personnel abroad, the salary disbursement process may face slight delays. Officials expect that teachers and staff will receive their November salaries and allowances between December 8 and 9. Each month, institution heads submit online salary bills, which are verified and coordinated with the Finance Ministry before final approval and bank disbursement. The government has implemented a digital billing and approval system to ensure timely, transparent, and efficient salary processing for MPO-listed teachers and employees.

The 1,320-megawatt Bangladesh-India Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, Bagerhat, achieved a national record by producing 700 million units of electricity in November, meeting 11.5 percent of Bangladesh’s total power demand. The plant’s public relations deputy general manager, Anwarul Azim, confirmed the achievement on December 1, noting that it marks the highest monthly production by any power plant in the country. The record reflects the facility’s industrial efficiency, use of high-quality coal, and effective resource and financial management. Previously, the plant regularly supplied around 600 million units to the national grid. The first 660-megawatt unit began operation in December 2022, and after the second unit came online nearly a year later, the plant reached this record output for the first time in November.

Bangladesh Bank has approved the final license for the newly formed 'Combined Islamic Bank', created through the merger of five struggling Islamic banks — First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank. Former senior secretary Dr. Mohammad Ayub Mia has been appointed as the chairman of the new state-owned institution, which is set to begin full operations in early December. The merger was initiated after repeated liquidity support failed to stabilize the financial conditions of the individual banks, whose share prices and net asset values had sharply declined. The new bank will have a paid-up capital of Tk 35,000 crore, with Tk 20,000 crore contributed by the government and Tk 15,000 crore from depositors’ shares. The authorized capital has been set at Tk 40,000 crore. The initiative aims to restore stability and confidence in the country’s Islamic banking sector.

Bangladesh’s stock market experienced a significant downturn on Monday, December 1, marking the second trading day of the week. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw widespread losses across almost all sectors, with the benchmark DSEX index dropping 64 points to close at 4,914. The DSE Shariah Index fell 16 points to 1,028, while the DSE-30 index declined 21 points to 1,895. Out of the traded companies, only 38 gained, 322 declined, and 28 remained unchanged. Trading volume also decreased notably, with total transactions amounting to Tk 415.9 crore, down from Tk 492.54 crore in the previous session. Simtex Industries led in turnover with Tk 22.42 crore, followed by Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag and Dominage Steel Building. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the decline, with 131 companies losing value and total transactions amounting to Tk 3.29 crore. Market analysts attributed the fall to ongoing investor uncertainty and weak buying sentiment.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 17 development projects worth Tk 15,383.51 crore, including the third revision of the Dhaka Metro Rail Line-6 project. The approval came during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Of the total cost, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,609.70 crore from foreign loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approved projects include sustainable agricultural development in Chattogram, quality potato seed production and distribution, drilling of three gas exploration wells, construction of 1,560 flats for July martyrs’ families in Mirpur, and a 220 MW solar power project in Sonagazi. Other projects cover urban resilience in Narayanganj, autism and NDD services, digital entrepreneurship, and health sector improvements. Two proposed projects were sent for further review.

According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank, remittance inflows to Bangladesh surged by 24.6 percent in the first 29 days of November 2024, reaching USD 2.681 billion. During the same period last year, remittance receipts stood at USD 2.152 billion. From July to November 29 of the current fiscal year, expatriate Bangladeshis sent a total of USD 12.83 billion, compared to USD 11.09 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year. The strong growth in remittance inflows reflects continued resilience among overseas workers and may help strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves amid ongoing economic challenges. Economists view this upward trend as a positive sign for Bangladesh’s balance of payments and domestic liquidity conditions.

Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a third revision of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 project, extending its completion deadline by three years to December 2028. The project, which originally aimed to finish by the end of 2025, will now cost Tk 32,718 crore—Tk 755 crore less than previously estimated. The cost reduction comes mainly from the cancellation of four planned station plazas at Uttara North, Uttara Center, Agargaon, and Motijheel, as well as savings in land acquisition, civil works, and consultancy services. The extension is needed to complete the 1.16-kilometer Motijheel–Kamalapur section. MRT Line-6, Bangladesh’s first metro rail system, currently operates from Uttara to Motijheel. The revised plan also includes increased expenses for salaries, consultancy, and foreign loan interest payments, which rose by Tk 270 crore.

Bangladeshi taxpayers can legally reduce their payable taxes by investing in specific sectors recognized for tax rebate eligibility. According to the National Board of Revenue guidelines, five major investment areas qualify for such benefits: life insurance, provident fund, savings certificates, deposit pension schemes (DPS), and treasury bonds or shares. Life insurance premiums paid under the policyholder’s name are considered eligible investments, while provident fund contributions by both employer and employee also qualify. Savings certificates, issued by the government, offer both high returns and maximum tax rebate opportunities. DPS accounts allow regular monthly deposits that accumulate into a lump sum, which is treated as an investment for tax purposes. Additionally, investments in government treasury bonds and listed company shares are eligible for tax rebates, with treasury bonds capped at BDT 500,000 and no upper limit for share investments. These options provide both financial security and tax-saving opportunities for individuals.

The issue of allowing private companies direct listing on Bangladesh’s stock market has resurfaced amid discussions on the draft Initial Public Offering (IPO) Regulations 2025. Market stakeholders, including the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the DSE Brokers Association (DBA), argue that enabling direct listing for large private and multinational firms would increase quality share supply and restore investor confidence. DBA President Saiful Islam proposed a hybrid model allowing company directors to sell part of their shares directly through IPOs to attract more firms to the market. Currently, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) bans direct listing for private companies, though government firms may do so. BSEC officials clarified that direct listing falls under listing regulations, not IPO rules. Critics recall past controversies, such as the 2009 Summit Group listings that led to market manipulation allegations. Despite concerns, experts stress that new quality listings are vital to overcome the ongoing liquidity and confidence crisis in the capital market, where no new company has been listed for over a year.

Bangladesh’s Pay Commission has completed four rounds of consultations with secretaries from all ministries as part of its effort to finalize recommendations for the upcoming ninth pay scale. Over 70 secretaries participated in the meetings, offering practical and realistic suggestions rather than ambitious proposals. The commission also gathered input from more than 250 organizations and through online submissions. Officials stated that reviewing and incorporating these opinions is underway, with more than half of the work already completed. Commission Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan expressed optimism that the final report could be submitted within the scheduled timeframe, possibly by next month. The new pay scale is expected to emphasize adjustments to the minimum salary structure and grade reclassification. Stakeholders, including the Secretariat Officers and Employees Association, have expressed satisfaction with the commission’s progress and transparency in the decision-making process.

The Bangladesh government has announced a Tk 2 per liter increase in the prices of all types of fuel, effective from December 1. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources issued a notification on November 30, stating that the adjustment aligns with the revised automatic pricing formula, which sets fuel prices monthly based on global market fluctuations. Under the new rates, diesel will cost Tk 104 per liter, octane Tk 124, petrol Tk 120, and kerosene Tk 116. The ministry said the revision aims to ensure a stable and affordable fuel supply for consumers while maintaining consistency with international price trends. This marks the latest adjustment under the government’s automated pricing system, introduced to make domestic fuel pricing more responsive to global market changes and reduce subsidy pressures on the national budget.

Workers from several factories under NASA Group staged a protest and human chain on Sunday in front of the main gate of the Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), demanding payment of overdue wages and reinstatement of their jobs. According to protesters, production at NASA Spinning Limited and NASA Spinners began to decline in April 2025, and the factories were fully shut down in September, leaving many workers unpaid for several months. Despite repeated assurances, the company has not provided a clear timeline for settling the dues. A recent company notice issued on November 29 further fueled workers’ anger as it lacked any commitment to payment. BEPZA General Manager Abdullah Al Mahbub urged patience, assuring efforts to resolve the issue, while NASA Group’s Executive Director Major Abdul Hafiz cited financial challenges but promised ongoing efforts to pay workers. The protest ended peacefully under tight security with no reported incidents.