Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Dalian, China. The session, titled “Innovation at Scale,” began at 9 a.m. local time on June 24 at the Dalian International Conference Center in Liaoning Province. The WEF President and Chief Executive Officer delivered the opening remarks. Alongside Bangladesh, the prime ministers of China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, and Guinea also participated in the session.

On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Rahman held discussions with several heads of government to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of mutual interest. He also joined a photo session with world leaders during the session break.

According to the report, Rahman’s participation in the “Summer Davos” is expected to expand opportunities for investment and employment in Bangladesh while enhancing national capacity through the adoption of best practices from other countries.

Global oil price trends are increasingly being influenced by China, as the United States and Iran continue discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring Middle Eastern oil supplies. Analysts say China, though not part of these talks, has become the most significant player in determining the next phase of the global oil market. As the world’s second-largest crude oil consumer, China has mitigated the impact of disrupted supplies exceeding 11 million barrels per day by reducing imports, using its vast reserves, and expanding clean energy use.

These measures have helped stabilize international prices despite a supply shortfall exceeding one billion barrels. Brent crude fell below 78 dollars per barrel on Monday, reflecting expectations of resumed trade through the Hormuz Strait. Analysts from Société Générale noted that while the Iran war has affected 14 percent of global supply, prices have not surged as in past crises, crediting China’s balancing role. Experts warn, however, that reliance on reserves cannot last indefinitely, and if prices drop, China may resume large-scale stockpiling, potentially reshaping the market again.

The International Energy Agency cautioned that if Middle Eastern production normalizes, global supply could exceed demand by 4.7 million barrels per day next year, making China’s future buying decisions crucial for market stability.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced that the government aims to ensure a trustworthy and competitive environment for global investors under the message ‘Bangladesh is open for business’. He made the statement at a press conference held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dalian, China, during the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos 2026. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman is attending the event, marking his first participation in a global summit as head of government.

Amin said Bangladesh’s participation focuses on attracting foreign investment, creating employment, and linking sustainable development and climate resilience with international partnerships. He noted that the WEF President and CEO Alois Zwinggi met with the Prime Minister to discuss investment growth and employment creation. The Prime Minister also addressed the ‘Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape’ session, presenting Bangladesh’s climate initiatives and future plans, including river dredging, tree planting, and renewable energy expansion.

According to Amin, the Prime Minister’s engagement is enhancing Bangladesh’s global stature while opening new opportunities for investment, employment, and knowledge exchange through international collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam stated that the government’s current budget focuses on addressing the fragile economic situation and reducing public suffering. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion on the 2026–27 fiscal year budget organized by the MBA Association of Bangladesh at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Highlighting instability in the banking sector, he criticized a previous law limiting depositor refunds to one lakh taka if a bank went bankrupt, arguing that such policies had pushed the sector toward collapse. He expressed deep concern over money laundering and inflation, claiming that about 30 lakh crore taka had been laundered abroad, forcing the dollar rate to rise from 82 to 130 taka, which severely burdened ordinary citizens.

The Chief Whip urged that the budget be viewed from a humanitarian perspective rather than as mere numbers. He called for unity to alleviate the suffering of marginalized people, recover looted wealth, and rebuild the economy through constructive criticism and necessary reforms.

Bangladesh’s trade deficit for the 2024–2025 fiscal year reached 24.168 billion US dollars, according to Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He presented the figures in parliament on Tuesday, noting that export earnings totaled 55,191.24 million dollars while imports stood at 79,359.24 million dollars. The largest deficit was with China at 17,868 million dollars, followed by India at 7,859.87 million dollars. Other major deficits were recorded with Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Qatar, and Malaysia.

The minister said Bangladesh remains heavily dependent on the ready-made garment sector, which accounts for 84 percent of total export income. To reduce reliance on a single product, the government has extended bond facilities to exporters in eight additional sectors, including leather, jute, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, ICT, light engineering, frozen food, and plastics. The National Board of Revenue has issued the necessary orders to support this diversification.

He added that Bangladesh is pursuing free trade agreements and GSP Plus benefits with the European Union, China, and India to mitigate potential tariff challenges after graduating from least developed country status in 2026.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed the National Parliament that the National Security Intelligence Directorate has identified 31 tea estates as high-risk due to labor unrest over unpaid wages. He made the statement on Tuesday in response to a question from BNP lawmaker Selina Sultana during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The report, dated May 18, 2025, highlighted wage disputes and management disorder following some owners abandoning their estates in August 2024.

The minister said that although there is no current policy for identifying sick tea gardens, the Bangladesh Tea Board has taken several measures to address wage arrears and restore normal operations. Two committees were formed to reopen the closed Burjan and Phultola estates, and financial aid was provided from the Tea Board’s welfare fund. Both gardens are now operating normally.

He added that the government arranged special exports of unsold tea from 12 National Tea Company estates to pay workers’ dues and continues to ensure rations, healthcare, housing, and other welfare benefits for tea workers. A family card program is also being introduced to improve living standards.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new type of account called the 'Non-Resident Convertible Taka Account' to encourage investment by expatriate Bangladeshis. According to a circular issued on Tuesday, the account will allow expatriates to deposit remittance funds in offshore banking units, use the money for domestic investments or as loan collateral, and repatriate funds abroad when needed.

The central bank stated that the initiative aims to integrate remittance flows more effectively into the financial system, expand offshore banking operations, and create greater investment opportunities for non-resident Bangladeshis. The account can be opened against foreign currency remitted through banking channels and may function as a savings, current, or term deposit account. Deposits may include remittance funds, transfers from other non-resident accounts, interest or profit income, and proceeds from approved investments.

Banking sector observers noted that the new account is expected to bring more remittance funds under formal banking channels, expand offshore banking activities, and enhance liquidity support for export-oriented industries operating in specialized zones.

The South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance’s Center for Migration Studies at North South University hosted a live webinar titled “Prime Minister’s Malaysia Visit: Will the Closed Labor Market Reopen?” on Monday. The discussion centered on Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s visit to Malaysia and the potential reopening of the Malaysian labor market for Bangladeshi workers. The session was moderated by Associate Professor Selim Reza.

Speakers highlighted the challenges faced by Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia, including documentation issues, high migration costs, work permit renewals, and limited access to legal support. Dr. Md. Mahbubul Haque noted that no formal agreement on reopening the labor market has yet been confirmed. Other participants emphasized the need for broader economic cooperation, improved worker protection, and transparent recruitment systems. They also called for stronger collaboration between civil society groups in both countries.

The webinar concluded with calls for evidence-based policymaking, sustainable diplomatic engagement, and enhanced protection for Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

The United Arab Emirates is set to launch its first passenger train service later this month, according to the state news agency WAM. The announcement followed the inauguration of Abu Dhabi’s new railway station by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed. The initial route between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will begin operations on June 30, with standard class tickets priced at 55 dirhams and premium class at 120 dirhams. The service will later expand to connect four of the country’s seven emirates.

Dubai’s railway station is scheduled to open on September 30, while Sharjah’s main station will begin operations on March 30, 2027. Authorities also plan to conduct feasibility studies for extending the network to other emirates. The new fleet will include 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers, and ticket booking opened on Tuesday.

The project reflects the UAE’s long-term vision for an integrated transport network aimed at improving connectivity, efficiency, and opportunities for investment, tourism, and urban development, according to Sheikh Khaled.

The United States is set to ease sanctions on Iran worth up to $50 billion under a long-discussed agreement between the two countries, according to reports on June 23, 2026. The deal will allow the gradual release of previously frozen Iranian assets. Initial talks in Doha, Qatar, led to a policy agreement to release $12 billion in two phases of $6 billion each, followed by a final signing ceremony planned in Switzerland. An Iranian spokesperson confirmed that the process has already been completed.

Under the proposed framework, Iran will first gain access to $12 billion, with another $12 billion expected to be released after 60 days of further discussions. If a full and final agreement is reached, the total value of sanctions relief and released funds could reach $50 billion. However, the funds will not be provided as unrestricted cash. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that the money could support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, prompting strict conditions on its use.

The released funds are expected to be used mainly for importing food, medicine, and humanitarian goods through approved U.S.-linked financial channels. Analysts suggest that if fully implemented, the deal could bring significant relief to Iran’s economy and open new opportunities for improved relations with Western nations.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said Bangladesh can raise its export earnings from the current level of about $50–55 billion to $150 billion. Speaking at a consultation workshop in Dhaka’s CIRDAP auditorium on Tuesday, he emphasized that achieving this goal requires targeted planning, policy support, research, and skilled workforce development in several promising sectors. The event was organized to present the Development Project Proposal (DPP) based on a study assessing the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s private sectors.

The minister noted that Bangladesh has met all conditions for graduation from the Least Developed Country category, but the main challenge now is to remain competitive globally. He stressed the need for greater efficiency, innovation, and technology adaptation in industries. Plans include developing international-standard training centers in the leather and light engineering sectors and launching joint research with China to boost jute-based product innovation. The commerce secretary added that a Tk 3,000 crore integrated project is being planned to strengthen export capacity and align with national budget priorities.

Officials said the project will emphasize private sector participation, digitalization, and simplified procedures to build a sustainable export model after LDC graduation.

Bangladesh will no longer send workers to Malaysia through syndicates, according to Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. He announced the decision after returning from Malaysia and said that Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister is scheduled to visit Dhaka in July. During that visit, both sides are expected to finalize a transparent and low-cost process for sending workers.

The minister stated that discussions between the two countries on labor recruitment were positive and that both governments share the same position on eliminating syndicates. The announcement follows Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s two-day official visit to Malaysia, where he met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and senior business leaders.

During the visit, Bangladesh and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation and exchanged documents on counterterrorism research and investment collaboration. Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, labor, defense, energy, digital economy, and regional issues to elevate their longstanding bilateral relationship.

After years of global and domestic challenges, Chattogram’s shipbuilding industry is showing renewed momentum. Western Marine Shipyard, one of Bangladesh’s largest private shipbuilders, has overcome the pandemic and economic downturn to resume full-scale operations. Located on 34 acres along the Karnaphuli River in Patiya, the company is currently constructing 15 vessels for both domestic and international clients, including oil tankers, landing crafts, cargo ships, and fishing vessels.

Western Marine has exported 39 ships to countries such as Finland, Denmark, the UAE, and India, earning Bangladesh about 141 million US dollars in foreign exchange. The company employs around 1,000 workers and is listed on both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges. Industry representatives say the shipyard’s revival could strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global market and stimulate local employment.

Stakeholders have urged the government to provide policy support and incentives for the sector in the 2026–2027 budget. They believe that with proper financing and modern technology, Bangladesh could further expand its shipbuilding exports and reduce import dependence.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest statistics reveal that 4,899 large borrowers, each with loans exceeding Tk 50 crore, collectively hold Tk 5.75 trillion—over 32 percent of the country’s total bank loans. This concentration has grown from 27.6 percent in March 2024, indicating a rising dominance of large corporate clients in the banking sector. Each of these accounts now averages around Tk 117 crore in loans.

The report highlights that this growing concentration poses significant risks to the banking system, as defaults by a few large borrowers could directly affect banks’ capital, liquidity, and profitability. Despite existing exposure limits, many large industrial groups have exceeded them, and Bangladesh Bank has recently relaxed these limits further, allowing banks to lend up to 25 percent of their capital to a single client until June 2028.

Meanwhile, small borrowers remain largely excluded. Over 93 percent of loan accounts hold less than Tk 10 lakh, yet together they receive only 9.19 percent of total loans. State-owned banks face the highest risk, with nearly half their loans concentrated among about 1,000 clients.

The government of Bangladesh is moving toward implementing a new national pay scale for public servants after more than a decade, following the 2026–27 budget announcement. Although the pay scale is set to take effect on July 1, the full implementation strategy has not yet been finalized, leaving government employees both hopeful and anxious. A secretary-level committee led by the cabinet secretary has discussed recommendations from the National Pay Commission and other bodies, but no final decision has been reached. Another meeting is scheduled for June 24 to determine the next steps.

According to official sources, employees may not receive the increased salary until September or October due to administrative preparations such as regulation updates and software adjustments. Discussions are ongoing about whether to implement the pay scale in phases, with an initial 50 percent adjustment possible in the first year. Employee groups are demanding full implementation from July, citing rising living costs. The government has allocated Tk 89,836 crore for salaries and allowances in the new budget, with a significant portion reserved for pay scale implementation.

Analysts note that the main challenge for the government is balancing employee expectations with fiscal capacity amid inflationary pressures.