In Cumilla city, allegations have surfaced that Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) products distributed at low prices for Ramadan are being given short in weight. At the Racecourse area on Thursday afternoon, a truck operated under dealer Parvin Akter of Faruk Store was found delivering goods with 100 grams less per kilogram, 200 grams less for two kilograms, and about 50 grams less for half a kilogram, despite using digital scales. The TCB package includes sugar, lentils, chickpeas, oil, and dates.

Following complaints, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection inspected the site and confirmed the irregularities. The Faruk Store owner was fined Tk 10,000 for the discrepancy. Each of the five TCB trucks in Cumilla serves 400 families daily, totaling 2,000 households. Reports suggest that around 600 grams of goods are being withheld per person, amounting to about Tk 24,000 in value per truck.

TCB’s deputy director Mamunur Rashid Gazi stated that any allegations of favoritism or corruption against authorized dealers would be investigated and addressed accordingly.

Bangladesh’s newly appointed Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury faces a major challenge as repayment periods for several foreign-funded mega infrastructure projects begin. Over the past decade, projects such as the Padma Rail Link, Metro Rail, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and Cox’s Bazar Rail have driven infrastructure growth but also created heavy debt burdens. With grace periods ending, large installments and interest payments in foreign currency are now due, straining the national budget.

According to official documents from the Asian Development Bank and the Planning Commission, project costs have risen 30–70 percent beyond initial estimates. The Padma Rail project’s cost rose from Tk 26,000 crore to Tk 39,000 crore, while Metro Rail’s cost increased from Tk 21,000 crore to over Tk 33,000 crore. Repayments for some projects, including Cox’s Bazar Rail and Karnaphuli Tunnel, have already started, while others like Rooppur will begin in 2028.

Experts warn that without improved revenue collection, subsidy reduction, and better project management, Bangladesh could face severe fiscal pressure within five years, potentially forcing budget cuts and new taxes to meet repayment obligations.

The United States trade deficit widened sharply in December, reaching a five-month high of $70.3 billion, according to the Commerce Department. The goods trade shortfall for 2025 hit a record $1.24 trillion, despite tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on foreign-manufactured products. Imports rose 3.6 percent in December to $357.6 billion, driven by higher purchases of industrial supplies, copper, crude oil, and capital goods such as computer accessories and telecommunications equipment. Exports fell 1.7 percent to $287.3 billion, though semiconductor and pharmaceutical shipments increased.

The report showed that trade made little or no contribution to fourth-quarter GDP growth. American companies boosted imports of computer chips and other technology goods from Taiwan to support large-scale investments in artificial intelligence. While the goods trade deficit with China dropped nearly 32 percent to $202 billion amid ongoing tensions, trade shifted toward Taiwan and Vietnam, where deficits rose sharply. Factory employment declined by 83,000 jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, underscoring limited benefits from tariffs.

Economists noted that strong imports may reflect robust business investment, particularly in AI-related infrastructure such as data centers, suggesting continued demand for technology equipment.

The Bangladesh government has begun reviewing its controversial power purchase agreement with India’s Adani Group. A high-level meeting was held at the Secretariat on Thursday to examine inconsistencies and details of the deal. The session, lasting about ninety minutes, was attended by four ministers, the prime minister’s adviser, and international experts. The meeting also discussed other unequal power and energy contracts signed during the previous Awami League administration. The review follows recommendations from the National Review Committee, which labeled the Adani Power Limited deal as one of the world’s worst and “suicidal” for Bangladesh, urging its renegotiation or cancellation.

The committee’s report highlighted that Bangladesh pays Adani significantly higher rates than other Indian suppliers, with imported electricity costing 85 percent more. The Power Development Board reported paying over 300 billion taka to Adani, including capacity charges exceeding 4.5 billion taka monthly. Ministers stated that decisions will prioritize national and public interests, considering all legal and international obligations. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed uninterrupted power supply during Ramadan and the upcoming irrigation season.

Officials indicated that further discussions will follow as the government evaluates the committee’s recommendations and explores options for revising or terminating the deal.

The government of Bangladesh has formed a 15-member cabinet committee to finalize the Family Card initiative aimed at protecting marginal and low-income families. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday announcing the formation of the committee, with the Finance Minister appointed as its chair.

According to the notification, the committee includes the Minister for Women and Children Affairs, the Minister for Social Welfare, and several advisers including Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Mahdi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad. Secretaries from the Cabinet Division, Women and Children Affairs, Election Commission Secretariat, Finance Division, ICT Division, Local Government Division, Planning, and Social Welfare Ministries are also members.

The committee’s formation marks a step toward implementing the Family Card program, which is designed to provide social protection to vulnerable families across the country.

Global oil prices have increased following renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, driven by the deadlock in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. According to a Reuters report, crude oil benchmarks showed an upward trend on Thursday, reflecting market concerns about potential supply disruptions.

At the start of trading, Brent crude futures rose by 23 cents, or 0.3 percent, reaching 70.58 dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 65.44 dollars per barrel. On Wednesday, both benchmarks had already climbed by more than four percent, marking their highest levels since January 30.

Analysts attribute the price surge to heightened military activity by both nations in key oil-producing regions and fears of supply interruptions. Traders have adjusted prices in response to the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Iran standoff.

The government has formed a committee led by the finance minister to implement the planned Family Card program, Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced on Thursday after a meeting at the Secretariat. The committee is expected to submit its report within three days. The minister said the Family Card will provide more than double the financial assistance compared to existing card and allowance programs, while those current initiatives will continue. The new card will be distributed universally, and assistance will be delivered to beneficiaries through information technology.

Dr. Zahid Hossain described the Family Card as a new innovation of the BNP aimed at expanding and strengthening social protection programs. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo stated that the Family Card will be launched on a trial basis before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

The initiative marks a significant step in the government’s social welfare planning, with digital delivery expected to enhance transparency and accessibility once the pilot phase begins.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu announced that the government will launch the Family Card program on a pilot basis before Eid, during the upcoming Ramadan. The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday at the Secretariat, after which the minister briefed reporters about the plan.

Mintu said the Family Card initiative was included in the government’s election manifesto, and discussions are ongoing about how to implement it effectively. He explained that the program is intended to be universal, without restrictions, though a committee has been formed to determine the rollout process. Initially, the cards may be distributed to the ultra-poor, followed by the poor and middle-income families.

When asked about political implications, the minister dismissed concerns raised by the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which warned of electoral consequences if the program was delayed. He assured that the project would indeed begin before Eid and that the government is finalizing the operational mechanism.

In Parshuram municipality of Feni, lease prices for seven markets under municipal authority have risen sharply, with tenders finalized at rates four to five times higher than last year. The permanent cattle market was leased for Tk 6 million, compared to Tk 2.09 million in 2025, while the CNG stand went for Tk 2 million, up from Tk 443,000. The tender process, held on Wednesday, covered eight markets including vegetable, fish, poultry, and meat markets, most of which saw unprecedented bids.

Traders fear that the steep lease rates will lead to higher fees and prices for livestock and transport, causing hardship for buyers and passengers. They also worry that lessees may impose extra charges to recover costs, potentially harming both sellers and consumers. One lessee, requesting anonymity, said they would collect fees at a reasonable level to protect farmers and traders.

Parshuram municipal administrator and assistant commissioner (land) S.M. Shafayat Akhtar Nur stated that the tenders were opened without any syndicate involvement and that high bidders with proper documentation would receive leases following verification.

State Minister for Fisheries, Livestock, Agriculture, and Food Sultan Salauddin Tuku announced that the government has launched an initiative to provide affordable protein-rich foods, including milk, eggs, meat, and fish, to low-income families across Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramadan. The program aims to include around one million families nationwide, with expectations that it will help stabilize market prices and benefit general consumers.

The announcement was made on Thursday at the Livestock Research Institute in Mohakhali during the inauguration of a special Ramadan sales program for milk, eggs, and meat. The minister said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership to work for public welfare. He emphasized honesty, dedication, and teamwork in implementing the prime minister’s promises.

Tuku added that such programs will ease the burden on low-income groups affected by price hikes during Ramadan and that the government plans to expand the initiative in the future. He also mentioned upcoming plans to introduce family, agriculture, and health cards to fulfill electoral commitments.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced a revised metro rail schedule for the capital during the holy month of Ramadan. The new timetable, effective from the first day of Ramadan until the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, was set to match the altered working hours of government offices. According to a DMTCL office order issued on 16 February, the first train from Uttara North to Motijheel will depart at 6:30 a.m., with the last train leaving at 9:30 p.m. In the opposite direction, the first train from Motijheel will depart at 7:15 a.m., and the final one at 10:10 p.m.

Train intervals, or headways, will range between 5 and 20 minutes depending on passenger demand, with peak-hour services operating every 5.5 to 6 minutes. To accommodate iftar time, passengers are now allowed to carry up to a 250-milliliter water bottle inside stations or trains, though other food items remain prohibited. DMTCL has instructed passengers to dispose of empty bottles in designated bins.

The company added that weekend and public holiday operations will continue under the previous schedule, with the new timing applicable only on working days.

Despite record imports of daily essentials ahead of Ramadan, prices in Chattogram’s Khatunganj wholesale market continue to rise. Warehouses are full and trading is brisk, yet consumers report price hikes of 5 to 7 taka per kilogram for most items in the six days following the election. Market monitoring by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and district magistrates, including fines, has not curbed the increases.

Traders say imports were higher than in previous years, but initial disruptions from the election and port labor unrest delayed market activity. Although supply is now normal, importers have reportedly raised prices as demand grows. Former Khatunganj Traders’ Association president Sulaiman Badsha said importers set the prices and that current hikes lack justification given adequate stock.

According to Chattogram Customs House, imports before Ramadan included 2.15 lakh tons of chickpeas, 10.38 lakh tons of edible oil, 3 lakh tons of sugar, and nearly 1 lakh tons of dates. CAB Chattogram president S.M. Nazer Hossain alleged that business syndicates are manipulating prices and urged stronger administrative action to stabilize the market.

The government has launched strict measures across Bangladesh to control markets, stabilize essential commodity prices, and maintain law and order during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. In Sitakunda, a mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun fined three businesses a total of Tk 28,000 for selling expired or overpriced goods and failing to display price lists. Similar initiatives were reported in Goaland, Raiganj, and Sreemangal, where local administrations held preparatory meetings and joint monitoring drives.

In Goaland, officials discussed preventing hoarding, adulteration, and artificial shortages while ensuring fair prices and uninterrupted utility services. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sathi Das emphasized strict oversight to deter dishonest traders. In Raiganj, the monitoring committee pledged regular inspections and firm action against price manipulation. In Sreemangal, joint teams from the administration, consumer rights authority, and business associations inspected markets to ensure accurate pricing and product quality.

According to local administrations, these monitoring and enforcement activities will continue throughout Ramadan to protect consumer rights and prevent market instability.

At the onset of Ramadan, prices of essential food items in Naogaon have risen sharply, according to a field report published on February 18, 2026. The prices of chicken, eggplant, green chili, lemon, ginger, garlic, and dates have all increased, while lentils, chickpeas, and edible oil remain stable. Broiler chicken now sells for 190–200 taka per kilogram, up by 30–40 taka in a week, while garlic and ginger prices have climbed to 130–140 taka per kilogram.

Consumers report struggling to balance household expenses as costs rise without corresponding income growth. Many blame unscrupulous traders for exploiting Ramadan demand and call on the new government to tighten market monitoring. Vendors, however, attribute the price hikes to higher consumer demand rather than supply shortages.

The Naogaon office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection stated that markets are being monitored daily and warned that legal action will be taken against any trader found manipulating prices. Officials said further price changes will depend on import levels in the coming weeks.

In Cumilla, lemon prices have risen sharply at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, with retail traders reportedly reducing prices when cameras appear. The incident occurred at Rajganj market on Wednesday afternoon, where a trader sold lemons at Tk 120 per four instead of Tk 140 after noticing a camera, selling out his stock within ten minutes. Across Rajganj, Ranir Bazar, Tomchom Bridge, Badsha Mia, and Chawk markets, lemons were selling at Tk 30–40 per piece, up from Tk 6–30 just three days earlier.

Trader Shahid Mia said lemon supply had dropped as it was not the harvest season, leading to higher prices and disputes with buyers. Consumers such as college teacher Rahim Mirza and resident Asaduzzaman Monir criticized the price hikes and urged government monitoring. Officials from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection confirmed that lemon and eggplant prices were high due to low production but warned traders against excessive profit. The district administration said all traders had been cautioned not to raise prices during Ramadan and that regular market monitoring was underway.

Authorities also fined three businesses for lacking price lists and pledged continued inspections to stabilize the market.