Bangladesh Bank has issued a new directive warning against the use of sample notes or paper resembling real currency in social media and marketing campaigns. The central bank’s Department of Communications and Publications announced on Sunday that such activities are legally punishable and increase the risk of counterfeit currency circulation. The notice highlighted that videos and images on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have shown marketing content using large-sized sample notes similar to genuine ones.

The bank stated that producing, using, or distributing paper resembling legal tender is a criminal offense under Section 489(E) of the Penal Code, 1860. It also warned that spreading false or misleading information through digital media could be punishable under Section 25 of the Cyber Security Act, 2023. The directive urged the public to remain cautious, avoid unauthorized promotional activities, and verify the authenticity of banknotes.

Bangladesh Bank advised citizens to learn about the security features of real notes and ensure safe transactions by visiting its official website for detailed information on currency identification.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has announced revised trading hours for the holy month of Ramadan. According to a press release issued on Monday, trading will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 1:40 p.m., followed by a post-closing session from 1:40 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. The DSE also stated that its official office operations will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during this period.

The exchange has requested investors, brokerage houses, and all related stakeholders to follow the new schedule throughout Ramadan. The adjustment aims to accommodate the special circumstances of the month while ensuring smooth market operations.

The announcement reflects the DSE’s periodic practice of modifying trading hours during Ramadan to align with the working patterns and needs of market participants.

Urea production at the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Jamalpur was halted on Sunday morning after gas pressure fell below the required level. Factory officials said the pressure dropped to 8.2 kilograms around 9:30 a.m., making it impossible to continue normal operations. The factory’s General Manager (Operations), Md. Fazlul Haque, explained that at least 10 kilograms of gas pressure is needed to maintain regular production, and the drop forced a suspension for safety and technical reasons. Production will resume once gas pressure returns to normal.

The Deputy General Manager (Administration) confirmed the temporary shutdown, citing inadequate gas supply pressure. Factory sources emphasized that recurring disruptions caused by low gas pressure could affect fertilizer supply and the agricultural season. They urged swift and effective measures to stabilize gas supply to prevent further interruptions.

Officials indicated that production could restart at any time once gas pressure stabilizes, but no specific timeline was provided for resumption.

Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali has become nearly deserted during this year’s Valentine’s Day, a time when it usually draws large crowds of tourists. Business owners and local guides report that the ongoing 13th parliamentary election and the approaching Ramadan have sharply reduced tourist arrivals over the past two weeks, raising fears of a collapse in the local tourism economy.

Hotel operators, tour guides, and shop owners describe severe financial losses as hotels remain empty and beachside shops see no customers. Mamun Khan, director of Hotel Sea Crown, said they had prepared for the Valentine’s season but faced major losses due to the lack of visitors. The Kuakata Tour Guide Association reported that 70 trained guides are currently without work, while the Tour Operators Association warned of significant revenue losses for both businesses and the government.

Tourist Police officials said patrols continue across all major beach areas to ensure visitor safety. Many local entrepreneurs believe the situation may not improve before the upcoming Eid, deepening concerns over the region’s tourism-dependent economy.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting VAT returns for the month of January by one week. As a result, businesses will now be able to file their VAT returns until February 22, 2026, instead of the usual February 15 deadline.

According to NBR sources, the extension was granted because many organizations were unable to complete their VAT submissions on time due to disruptions caused by the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Normally, VAT returns for the previous month must be submitted by the 15th of each month.

The decision aims to provide businesses with additional time to comply with tax obligations affected by the election period.

The Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, published on February 5 and 6, 2026. According to the notice, the board will appoint 48 qualified male and female candidates to six job categories on a permanent basis. The positions fall under the 16th, 19th, and 20th government pay grades, with monthly salaries ranging from 8,250 to 22,490 taka. Applicants must submit their forms online through the official website by providing educational certificates, national ID details, a color photograph, and a signature image.

The online application process began on February 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and will close on February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eligibility requirements vary by position, with educational qualifications ranging from completion of class eight to a bachelor’s degree. The age limit for general applicants is 18 to 32 years as of February 8, 2026. Application fees are set at 56 or 112 taka depending on the post.

The recruitment offers standard government employment benefits, and all details are available on the official website of the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board (https://bmeb.gov.bd).

Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), a non-governmental organization, has published a recruitment notice offering positions across several job categories. The announcement, released on February 15, 2026, states that TMSS will hire qualified male and female candidates for a total of 12+74+02 positions in 04+09+01 job categories. Applications must be submitted online between February 15 and 22, 2026, including personal, educational, and experience details as required.

According to the notice, applicants must be at least 18 years old, and educational qualifications range from completion of class eight to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, depending on the position. Both new and experienced candidates are eligible to apply. The monthly salary for the advertised posts ranges from 8,000 to 20,000 Bangladeshi taka. Applications can be submitted directly or by post.

The recruitment notice was published on February 11 and 15, 2026, and further details are available on the official TMSS website at https://tmss-bd.org.

After nine months of diplomatic and inter-ministerial negotiations, Bangladesh has finalized the Agreement on BD-US Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States. The deal reduces the previously imposed 20 percent reciprocal tariff to 19 percent and grants zero-duty access for about 2,500 Bangladeshi products in the US market, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office. The agreement follows the US Executive Order No. 14257 of April 2, 2025, which had imposed reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

The ART covers a wide range of areas including goods, services, customs procedures, trade facilitation, investment, e-commerce, labor, environment, and transparency. Bangladesh’s commitments align with existing WTO, ILO, and TRIPS agreements, meaning no new conditions were imposed. The textile and apparel sector received special benefits, allowing duty-free access for garments made with US cotton and synthetic fibers. Bangladesh also included an exit clause in the agreement, unlike other countries.

Officials expect the ART to help Bangladesh maintain competitiveness in the US market, expand trade and investment, and generate broader economic benefits.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company has announced that gas pressure will remain extremely low across all its service areas, including Dhaka and surrounding regions. The company stated on Sunday that the disruption is caused by maintenance work at one of the LNG terminals, which has significantly reduced gas supply from LNG sources. The low-pressure situation is expected to continue until midnight on Monday.

According to Titas Gas, the maintenance-related shutdown of the LNG terminal has led to a notable drop in gas availability, affecting all categories of consumers under its network. The company expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to customers and assured that normal supply would resume after the maintenance period.

The announcement serves as a caution for households and industries in the affected areas to prepare for limited gas availability until the stated time frame.

Bangladesh’s stock market saw a sharp rise following the national election in which the BNP secured a two-thirds majority and is set to form the next government. On the first trading day after the election, the Dhaka Stock Exchange’s main index, DSEX, jumped by 190 points within the first two and a half hours of trading, marking an increase of more than 3.5 percent. Trading volume also surged to around Tk 800 crore during the same period.

Analysts said investors who had been waiting on the sidelines during the election period have now become active, driving both the index and trading volume upward. They advised investors to focus on company fundamentals rather than market rumors. Among the traded issues, prices rose for 370 companies, fell for 17, and remained unchanged for 4.

The market optimism reflects renewed investor confidence following a peaceful election and the country’s return to a democratic process after 17 years.

After a three-day closure due to the 13th parliamentary election, referendum, and weekly holidays, import and export operations between Bangladesh and India resumed at Hili land port in Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur. The trade activities restarted on Saturday afternoon when Indian trucks began entering Bangladesh. Workers returned to their duties in the morning, and port operations gradually increased throughout the day.

According to port sources, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Indian cargo trucks carrying corn, spices, and fruits crossed the border and entered the Hili yard. The goods were unloaded and dispatched to various destinations across the country. Officials from Panama Port Limited, customs, and plant quarantine departments confirmed that all administrative, customs, and inspection activities had returned to normal. The Hili Importers and Exporters Group stated that traders had also resumed their business operations at the port.

The resumption of trade is expected to restore regular cross-border commerce and stabilize supply chains disrupted during the election-related closure.

Vegetable prices in Dhaka have surged sharply amid disruptions linked to the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum. Limited movement of goods-carrying trucks and the closure of most wholesale markets have reduced supply, pushing up prices of onions, garlic, and vegetables. On Saturday afternoon at Karwan Bazar, traders reported that prices of some vegetables had more than doubled, with bitter gourd selling for Tk 180–200 per kilogram, up from Tk 90–100. New onions rose to Tk 60 per kilogram, while local garlic reached Tk 140.

Across the capital’s markets, vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, green chili, eggplant, and beans were selling at Tk 10–20 higher per kilogram than before the election period. Broiler and Sonali chicken prices also increased by Tk 10–20 per kilogram. Traders attributed the rise to transport restrictions and higher freight costs, which have risen up to double. Many wholesale outlets remained closed, and retail sales were low due to fewer customers.

Vendors expressed hope that once transport operations and wholesale markets resume normal activity, supply will improve and prices will ease. Other grocery items such as oil, sugar, lentils, and eggs have remained stable.

Loan disbursement through agent banking services in Bangladesh grew by about 46 percent over the past year, according to the latest quarterly report from Bangladesh Bank. As of December 2025, total loans under agent banking stood at Tk 35,023 crore, up from Tk 24,028 crore a year earlier. Deposits also increased by 18.51 percent to Tk 49,720 crore, while remittance distribution rose by 15.48 percent. Brac Bank led loan disbursement with 72.12 percent of the total, followed by City Bank, Bank Asia, Islami Bank, and Dutch-Bangla Bank.

Industry sources attribute the growth to easier loan procedures, lower interest rates, and the convenience of accessing services locally without visiting bank branches. Agent banking allows third-party outlets to provide nearly all banking services, including account opening, deposits, withdrawals, bill payments, and remittance collection. These outlets operate mainly in rural areas, where 84 percent of agents are based.

Despite the growth in transactions, the number of agents and outlets declined in 2025. The total number of agents fell to 15,327 from 16,021 the previous year, while outlets decreased by 747, indicating consolidation within the expanding service network.

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, flower growers in Gadkhali, known as the flower capital of Jashore’s Jhikargacha, reported a sharp fall in flower prices due to the national election. Despite high demand for Valentine’s Day, sales dropped drastically. Last year, flowers worth about Tk 15 crore were sold during the same period, but this year the figure is expected to fall to around Tk 5 crore. Farmers said wholesale buyers could not reach the market because of transport disruptions linked to the election.

Growers described steep price declines across all varieties: roses sold for Tk 7–8 per piece, gladiolus for Tk 6–12, tuberose for Tk 3–5, gerbera for Tk 6–8, marigold for Tk 200–300 per thousand, gypsy for Tk 40–50 per bunch, and chrysanthemum for Tk 150–250 per hundred. Many farmers expressed frustration over losses and limited access to mobile banking services that hindered local deliveries.

Officials from local flower associations confirmed that the election and the upcoming Ramadan season reduced market activity, leaving growers without fair prices for their produce.

The United States House of Representatives has voted 219–211 to repeal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods. The resolution, introduced by Democrats and supported by six Republican lawmakers, seeks to withdraw the trade duties enacted by the Trump administration last year. Although passed in the House, the measure remains symbolic for now, as it must also pass the Senate and receive the president’s signature to become law. Analysts cited in the report suggest that Trump is unlikely to approve it.

Since his re-election, President Trump has continued to impose tariffs on Canada and recently threatened a 100 percent import duty in response to Canada’s potential trade deal with China. During the House vote, Trump warned on his social media platform Truth Social that any Republican voting against tariffs would face serious political consequences. He defended the tariffs as essential for protecting US economic and national security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, attempted to block debate on the resolution but failed. Despite a narrow Republican majority, the defection of six members allowed the proposal to pass easily.