Bangladesh Bank has announced that shipbuilding companies can regularize their defaulted loans by depositing three percent of the outstanding amount. The central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department issued a circular on Tuesday outlining the terms. The loans can be repaid over a maximum of ten years, including a two-year grace period during which only interest must be paid monthly or quarterly. Companies must apply by June 30 of this year, and banks are required to resolve applications within sixty days.

The circular explains that the global economic downturn, geopolitical instability, and military unrest in Europe have disrupted supply chains, severely affecting both export-oriented and domestic shipbuilding industries. To sustain this promising export sector and facilitate loan recovery, Bangladesh Bank introduced special rescheduling and restructuring facilities. Previously rescheduled loans may also receive up to two additional years of repayment time with a two percent down payment.

Banks must verify through special inspections that borrowers were genuinely affected by uncontrollable circumstances. Islamic banks are instructed to implement the policy in accordance with Shariah principles.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said one of Bangladesh’s major problems is policy distortion caused by excessive laws and regulations conflicting with free-market principles. Speaking on Tuesday at a seminar titled ‘Post Election 2026 Horizon; Economy, Politics and Capital Market’ organized by BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage in Banani, Dhaka, he argued that the economy has reached a low equilibrium over the past one and a half years and requires major reforms, liberalization, and market-oriented policies to recover.

He emphasized that Bangladesh’s economy and capital market are overly regulated by controlling agencies, calling for deregulation, transparency, and accountability. Khasru said his party would pursue liberalization if in power, allowing markets to operate freely. He also highlighted issues such as reckless bank lending, capital flight, and lack of accountability as key causes of financial instability.

Khasru further noted that transparency in the capital market is essential, urging the removal of “garbage accounts” and accurate disclosure of non-performing loans, which he said could reach 40 percent if properly reported. He stressed that investor confidence depends on presenting a clear and credible financial picture.

Business operators in Bangladesh have decided to import over 28,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to ensure normal supply during Ramadan. The decision was made during an emergency meeting held on Tuesday at the Rail Bhaban in Dhaka between the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Faozul Kabir Khan. During the meeting, business representatives assured that the current LPG shortage would be resolved before Ramadan.

The energy adviser instructed operators to prevent any LPG shortage before the upcoming national election and to maintain stable supply during Ramadan. He emphasized that the import commitments made for January and February must be fulfilled, assuring full government cooperation to achieve this goal. Operators explained that adverse international conditions had disrupted imports but denied charging higher prices.

According to the operators, twelve companies aim to import 167,600 tons of LPG in January and plan to increase the volume to 184,100 tons in February. They expressed confidence that meeting these targets would significantly ease the current supply crisis.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority announced that toll collection from the Padma Bridge has reached a milestone of 30 billion taka. The information was shared in a press release issued on Tuesday by Masud Rana Shikder, Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer of the authority. Since the bridge’s inauguration on June 25, 2022, both vehicle crossings and revenue have steadily increased.

According to the release, the Padma Bridge has significantly reduced travel time, created employment opportunities, and contributed positively to national GDP growth. It has also brought major improvements in the transportation of agricultural, fisheries, livestock, and industrial goods. The Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system installed at the Mawa and Jajira ends has accelerated toll operations, minimizing waiting times at toll plazas.

The statement added that automatic toll collection through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards has made travel faster and easier. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority credited public cooperation and modernization of the digital toll system for achieving this milestone and extended thanks to all stakeholders involved in the bridge’s operation and maintenance.

The Pay Commission of Bangladesh is set to submit its report on the Ninth National Pay Scale to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The commission, led by Zakir Ahmed Khan, will hold its final meeting earlier in the day at the Cabinet Division’s old building. According to commission sources, the new pay structure will be partially implemented from January 1, 2026, and fully effective from July 1, 2026–27 fiscal year.

Under the proposed structure, house rent will not increase for all grades of government employees. Instead, it will rise proportionally for grades 20 to 9 but decrease for grades 8 to 1, as higher-grade officers are already receiving significant salary hikes. The lowest salary, currently Tk 8,250, is expected to more than double, while the highest salary will rise from Tk 78,000 to over Tk 120,000, maintaining a 1:8 ratio between the lowest and highest scales.

The government has already raised operating expenditure by Tk 22,000 crore in the revised 2025–26 budget to support partial implementation. Full implementation is estimated to require an additional Tk 70,000–80,000 crore.

The Finance Division of Bangladesh has issued a new order requiring its prior approval for 26 categories of government financial decisions. Signed by Finance Secretary Dr. Mohammad Khairuzzaman Mozumder, the directive took effect immediately and will remain valid until further notice. The order aims to strengthen fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability across ministries and departments by centralizing oversight of major financial and administrative actions.

According to the order, proposals related to creation or abolition of posts, pay structure changes, vehicle procurement, outsourcing of services, and temporary labor hiring must be submitted to the Finance Division. Approval is also mandatory for expenditures exceeding budget allocations, re-appropriation between revenue and capital budgets, and honoraria above specified limits. Additionally, foreign travel expenses beyond set dollar thresholds, tax and fee proposals, and policy matters involving financial commitments or international agreements require prior clearance.

The directive further covers loan guarantees, remission of government revenue claims, and approval of pay and allowances for private or foreign experts. The Finance Division emphasized that these measures are intended to ensure consistent financial governance across all government entities.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced major labor market reforms requiring at least 60 percent Saudi nationals in 18 marketing and sales-related professions. The directive, reported by Gulf News, aims to expand local participation and reduce unemployment. Companies with three or more employees must comply within three months, and Saudi workers in these roles will receive a minimum monthly salary of 5,500 riyals.

The affected professions include marketing and advertising managers, public relations officers, graphic designers, photographers, sales managers, retail and wholesale representatives, and IT and telecommunications sales specialists. Firms failing to meet the localization target after the grace period will face fines and administrative penalties.

The initiative aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil and create more jobs for young Saudis. However, the policy is expected to significantly impact expatriate workers, particularly from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, who have long dominated Saudi Arabia’s private marketing and sales sectors.

Toyota Bangladesh Limited (TBL), a fully owned investment of Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific and Toyota Tsusho Japan, recently held a meeting with the Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashik Chowdhury, to discuss the future of the automotive industry in Bangladesh. The meeting focused on long-term growth, a sustainable automotive future, and improving the overall business environment in the country.

During the discussion, TBL emphasized its commitment to contributing to Bangladesh’s evolving industrial landscape through innovation, efficiency, and responsible business practices. BIDA welcomed Toyota Bangladesh’s participation and reaffirmed its growing support for sustainable investments that strengthen industrial capacity and promote environmentally responsible growth.

The meeting highlighted mutual interest in advancing Bangladesh’s automotive sector through collaboration between the public and private sectors, aiming to foster a more sustainable and competitive industry.

The Pay Commission led by Zakir Ahmed Khan will submit its report on new salary and allowance recommendations for government employees to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed the submission to the media. According to the report, the commission has proposed partial implementation of the new pay structure from January 1, 2026, with full implementation from July 1, 2026, marking the start of the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Sources indicate that the current minimum salary of Tk 8,250 may more than double, while the maximum salary could rise from Tk 78,000 to over Tk 120,000. The commission has recommended setting the ratio between the highest and lowest salaries at 1:8. The revised 2025–26 budget has already increased operating expenses by Tk 22,000 crore to accommodate partial implementation. Full implementation of the proposed structure is expected to require an additional Tk 70,000–80,000 crore.

The commission, formed on July 27 last year with 21 members, was tasked with submitting its report within six months and has suggested higher increases for lower-grade employees.

The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization approved the final structure and responsibilities of the newly formed Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments, officially dissolving the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The approval was granted on Tuesday during the committee’s meeting, confirming the administrative framework for the two new departments.

According to the decision, the specific duties of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments have been defined. The meeting also outlined the types of officials to be appointed to these departments and the process for staff deployment. The session was attended by six government advisers, including those from the Finance and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries, along with the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, and 14 secretaries or senior secretaries.

In total, the committee approved 11 proposals related to administrative reorganization, marking a significant step in restructuring Bangladesh’s revenue administration system.

The National Pay Commission of Bangladesh is preparing to recommend a significant rise in allowances for government employees under the ninth pay scale. The proposal includes increasing the Pahela Baishakh festival allowance from the current 20 percent of basic salary to 50 percent. The commission is expected to submit its final report to the Chief Adviser on Wednesday, with all preparatory work reportedly in the final stage. Eid bonuses will remain unchanged under existing rules.

In addition, the commission plans to recommend raising the medical allowance from 3,500 taka to a maximum of 5,000 taka per month. Two age-based categories are proposed: 4,000 taka for employees aged 40 or below, and 5,000 taka for those above 40. Retired government employees would continue to receive a monthly medical allowance of 5,000 taka.

The Finance Ministry has allocated 1,06,684 crore taka for salaries and allowances in the 2025–26 budget, about 22,000 crore more than before. The ministry indicated that either the revised salary or allowance structure may be implemented from January, with further decisions left to the next government.

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh has demanded the unconditional release of 56 imprisoned mobile phone traders and the withdrawal of what they called false cases against innocent businesspeople. The demand was made during a human chain protest held on Tuesday afternoon in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, where the organization’s general secretary, Abu Sayeed Piyas, spoke about the issue.

Speakers at the event said that decisions taken under the name of implementing NEIR have pushed around 20,000 small and medium mobile phone traders and about 2.5 million people dependent on the sector into uncertainty. They alleged that many traders were arrested in harassment cases for participating in peaceful protests. The leaders also noted that over 30 days of continuous demonstrations and shop closures have caused severe economic losses, leaving employees unpaid and traders unable to cover rent or loan installments.

Considering the national situation and the upcoming election, the organization announced a temporary suspension of its shutdown program, with all mobile showrooms set to reopen nationwide on January 22. However, they vowed to continue boycotting products from a specific syndicate accused of trying to monopolize the market under the NEIR initiative.

Farmers in Nilphamari district are reporting a bumper yield of early varieties of mustard during the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Harvesting is in full swing as growers take advantage of favorable weather, improved seeds, and government incentives. The Department of Agricultural Extension set a target of 9,023 hectares for mustard cultivation, but actual cultivation exceeded 11,000 hectares. Many farmers, previously affected by potato losses, have turned to mustard due to lower costs and higher profits.

Local farmers, including women entrepreneurs, said they achieved strong yields from early mustard varieties such as BARI-09, 14, 15, 18, and Tori-07. They noted that mustard requires less irrigation and labor, and its byproducts serve household fuel and cooking oil needs. The district’s deputy director of agriculture confirmed that quality seeds were distributed under government incentive programs, helping farmers achieve high productivity.

The success of early mustard cultivation has encouraged more farmers to adopt the crop, potentially expanding its acreage further in coming seasons if favorable conditions continue.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have reached a new record after the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announced another increase. According to a press release issued on Monday, the price of 22-carat gold per bhori (11.664 grams) has been raised by Tk 4,199, bringing the new rate to Tk 238,879. The revised prices will take effect from Tuesday, marking the highest gold price ever recorded in the country.

BAJUS stated that the decision followed a rise in the local market price of refined gold. The Standing Committee on Pricing and Price Monitoring of BAJUS made the adjustment after a meeting. Under the new pricing, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 228,031 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 195,430, and traditional gold Tk 160,147.

Alongside gold, silver prices have also been increased. The price of 22-carat silver per bhori has risen by Tk 291 to Tk 6,240, with corresponding increases for other purities as well.

The Russian Federation has donated 30,000 tons of potash fertilizer to Bangladesh through the World Food Programme. The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka. The event was attended by Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khokhin as special guest, and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP, and Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem.

According to a statement signed by the Agriculture Ministry’s Senior Information Officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Uralchem, one of Russia’s leading fertilizer producers, provided the donation. Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury noted that global fertilizer supply has become a major challenge due to climate change, unstable markets, and global crises, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation. He also stated that Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation currently holds 1.035 million tons of non-urea fertilizers, the highest since its establishment in 1961.

The ministry’s statement added that during the interim government’s tenure, Bangladesh’s agriculture sector achieved notable progress, with rice, potato, onion, vegetable, and mustard production all increasing compared to the previous three years.