Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced that part of Bangladesh’s smuggled funds could be repatriated by February, with the next elected government expected to continue the process.

He acknowledged that money laundering cases require international cooperation and time, as launderers are often highly skilled in evasion. Progress has been made, with several assets already seized and details of overseas accounts and passports obtained.

Discussions are ongoing with legal firms abroad, and a clearer picture of recoverable amounts will emerge soon.

Ahmed also confirmed government approval for importing rice from Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam amid concerns over potential supply disruptions, even though domestic reserves are adequate. Fertilizer prices have dropped slightly, while rice prices have recently declined. However, he admitted that overall market management has not been entirely successful.

A sweeping crackdown is underway at Islami Bank, resulting in the dismissal of 200 employees and the demotion of 4,971 staff to special duty (OSD) status over alleged misconduct and rule violations.
The shake-up follows a controversial hiring spree after S. Alam Group assumed control of the bank in 2017, when thousands were recruited without exams—many from Patiya, leading to nearly half of today’s workforce hailing from the same area.
A senior bank official admitted: “Unqualified appointments under S. Alam’s management ruined the bank. We are now verifying merit for the institution’s survival.”
Bangladesh Bank and court directives led to a mass competency test last Saturday, but of 5,385 summoned, only 414 appeared and continue regular duties. The 4,971 absentees were made OSD the next day, while 200 employees accused of spreading misinformation or opposing the test were terminated.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Arif Hossain Khan noted this was the first time in the country’s history an exam was used to justify layoffs: “Recruitment and evaluation are under a bank’s jurisdiction, but must comply with law and policy.”

The Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an agreement worth $58.6 million in grants and $28.1 million in concessional loans to strengthen infrastructure and emergency services for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting said the new funding builds on earlier assistance provided since 2018, aimed at enhancing water, sanitation, healthcare, roads, drainage, food security, electricity, and disaster resilience.
The project will also install solar-powered streetlights in Cox’s Bazar, restore sanitation systems in Bhasan Char, boost biogas production, and construct cyclone shelters in Hatiya. Additionally, food distribution centers will be developed with better facilities for women, children, and persons with disabilities.

Bangladesh exports pharmaceuticals to over 100 countries, but exports to the U.S. remain modest — just $20 million out of $210 million in FY2023. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of a 100% tariff on drug imports now casts uncertainty over expansion into this key market. Industry experts suggest Bangladesh may face both challenges and opportunities: while competitors like India and China could be hit harder, new openings may emerge for Bangladeshi producers. CPD Research Director Dr. Khandaker Golam Moazzem warned that higher tariffs would increase consumer costs and create new competition in alternative markets.

Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has warned that several Bangladeshi companies are manipulating income and expenditure figures, with some showing “remarkable skill” in siphoning money abroad. While acknowledging that not everything in the interim government is flawless, he noted that Bangladesh’s international image has improved. Speaking at an ERF event, he also urged stronger institutional efforts to improve journalistic standards, later inaugurating the ERF Institute’s new nameplate.

Imran Khan, Bangladeshi-origin U.S. investor and former Chief Strategy Officer of Snapchat, met Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and expressed strong interest in investing in Bangladesh. Currently the Chairman of Aleph Holding, Khan praised Yunus’s lifelong mission of poverty alleviation and called Bangladesh a “frontier market” with vast opportunities in fintech, healthcare, and social business. Yunus invited Khan to visit Bangladesh soon, to which Khan responded he is planning a trip in the coming months. Yunus also proposed that global investors dedicate 1% of their portfolios to social business or create a collective social impact fund — a proposal Khan welcomed.

For the first time, the International Monetary Fund has imposed a ceiling on Bangladesh’s foreign borrowing. According to IMF conditions, Bangladesh cannot take on more than $844 million in external loans in the current fiscal year. (Note: original amount in Bengali read as ৮৪৪ কোটি ডলার — depending on reporting conventions, this could mean $8.44 billion; the IMF document referenced sets quarter-by-quarter limits.)

The IMF country report, issued after a waiver for the fourth and fifth tranches totaling $134 million in June, lists the borrowing cap among the conditions for receiving the next disbursement. It specifies quarterly ceilings: up to $191 million in the first quarter, $334 million over six months, $434 million over nine months, and $844 million for the full fiscal year. The IMF will monitor foreign borrowing on a quarterly basis.

Last fiscal year the government borrowed $857 million in external loans. In July — the first month of the current fiscal year — Bangladesh drew $202.4 million. To meet IMF conditions, the government will need to restrain foreign borrowing relative to the previous year.

Trade through Panchagarh’s Banglabandha land port has been suspended for nine consecutive days, including weekends, in observance of Durga Puja. The closure began Friday and will continue until October 4. However, cross-border travel for passport holders remains open. Port manager Abul Kalam Azad said Indian traders and transporters from Fulbari agreed to halt import-export operations during the period.

Albania has expressed interest in recruiting both skilled and unskilled workers from Bangladesh to meet its growing labor demand.
In a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus on Thursday, Albanian President Bajram Begaj said several companies have already applied to hire Bangladeshi workers. He added that cooperation could also expand in sectors like tourism.
Dr. Yunus welcomed the proposal, stressing Bangladesh’s potential to contribute with its young, energetic workforce. He urged Albania to simplify visa procedures, noting that Bangladeshis currently need to apply via New Delhi.
President Begaj assured that Albania is considering introducing an e-visa system for Bangladesh. He also stated that Albanian universities are ready to welcome Bangladeshi students under existing international admission programs.

Bangladesh received $2.23 billion in remittances in the first 24 days of September, marking a 17% increase compared to the same period last year.
Between September 1–17 alone, $1.77 billion was received, followed by another $460 million in the next seven days.
By comparison, August remittances totaled $2.42 billion, while July saw $2.48 billion. Notably, expatriates sent a record $30.32 billion during the 2024–25 fiscal year.

The Indian government has introduced new regulations to control rice exports to Bangladesh. From now on, non-basmati rice exports will only be allowed upon registering export contracts with India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The directive applies to all new letters of credit (LCs), excluding those already backed by tenders.
Bangladeshi rice importer Dinesh Poddar noted that the new policy may slow down import procedures and increase costs, which could lead to higher retail rice prices in Bangladesh.

At the U.S.-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called on leading American corporations — including MetLife, Chevron, and Accelerate — to explore fresh investment opportunities in Bangladesh.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said six Bangladeshi political leaders, part of Yunus’s delegation, were also introduced to U.S. business executives during the meeting.

The government has approved the purchase of 40,000 body cameras for use in the upcoming national election, confirmed Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. The procurement, estimated at Tk 400 crore, was cleared by the relevant purchase committee.

The adviser said the Election Commission will allocate the budget, and the cameras will be procured through UNDP to ensure transparency. Notably, the final voter list will be published on November 18, including all citizens who turned 18 by October 31.

Bangladesh’s revenue collection grew by 21% year-on-year in the first two months of FY2025–26, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

In August 2025 alone, revenue stood at Tk 27,174 crore—up from Tk 23,089 crore in the same month last year, reflecting an 18% growth.

Combined revenue for July–August 2025 reached Tk 54,423 crore, compared to Tk 45,005 crore in the same period of 2024. VAT collection at the local level surged by 33.83%, while income tax and travel tax rose by 24.17%.

However, import-export sector revenues dipped slightly to Tk 7,647 crore, down from Tk 8,007 crore in August 2024.

Economic adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has cautioned investors against treating the stock market as a regular source of income.

“Believing that profits are guaranteed from the capital market is a mistake,” he said, stressing that investments should target genuinely profitable sectors. He recommended making Sukuk bonds privately issued to encourage productive investment.

Reflecting on past infrastructure planning, he noted that even during Barrister Nazmul Huda’s tenure as communications minister, he had opposed taking World Bank loans for mega projects like the Padma Bridge. “Funds for such projects could be raised from the share market,” he added.