Bangladesh Bank will unveil the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) for the first half of fiscal year 2025-26 tomorrow. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur will formally present the MPS at a press conference at the bank’s headquarters. The announcement will cover inflation control, private sector credit growth, and economic development under the current monetary policy. Key officials, including the head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit and the bank’s chief economist, will attend the event.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that a 25% tariff could be imposed on Indian exports if a trade agreement with the United States is not finalized soon.

Despite five rounds of negotiations, no deal has yet been reached, increasing pressure on New Delhi. A senior Indian official confirmed that a U.S. delegation is scheduled to visit India by mid-August for further talks. “We’ve made significant progress,” the official said, but acknowledged that Trump could still order steep tariffs via executive action.

Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that talks with the U.S. are “progressing well,” noting that India has proposed reducing tariffs on several products and is working to ease non-tariff barriers. Meanwhile, Trump announced plans to notify nearly 200 countries about a new "global tariff" structure his administration intends to introduce.

Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) PLC has announced the launch of a new subsidiary named ACI Biosciences Limited, with an authorized capital of BDT 1 billion. ACI will hold 90% of the shares, pending regulatory approval. Despite recent financial losses, including a loss of BDT 9.11 per share in the first three quarters of 2024-25, the company continues to invest in growth. ACI’s latest credit rating remains strong, reflecting confidence in its long-term stability.

Hong Kong-based Honda Industries will invest $250 million in Bangladesh to set up three factories—two garment processing units and one knitting and dyeing unit—creating 25,000 jobs. The decision follows government support and a previously signed MoU at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025. Chairman Han Chun met with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and presented factory designs for the Mirsarai Economic Zone. The first phase will begin with an $80 million investment, with full project completion expected by the end of 2025.

According to a report from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh paid approximately $4.087 billion in principal and interest to development partners in the recently concluded fiscal year. This marks the highest amount of loan repayment ever made by the country in a single fiscal year.

The repayment amount represents a 21.2% increase from the previous fiscal year’s payment of $3.372 billion. Interest payments alone rose to $1.491 billion, up 10.5% compared to $1.349 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24.

The ERD data also reveals that Bangladesh signed new loan agreements worth $8.323 billion with development partners during the fiscal year 2024-25, down from $10.739 billion in the prior fiscal year.

A four-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, will travel to the United States on Monday evening to discuss newly imposed tariffs. Senior Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed that bilateral meetings will take place on July 29–30 in Washington, marking the third round of negotiations.

Previous discussions were positive, Rahman said, and hopes are high for a favorable outcome. He added that a final decision may be announced before August 1 and assured that any increase in U.S. imports will not negatively affect local consumers.

Economist and former central bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh currently lacks well-functioning institutions. At a book launch event in Dhaka, he said that 80% of the country’s banking resources are misallocated and that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates $35 billion will be required to restructure the sector. He added that both legal integrity and procedural systems have deteriorated. Mirza Fakhrul Islam, Secretary General of the BNP, also spoke at the event, claiming that corruption has increased fivefold. Both speakers called for urgent democratic reforms and structural changes in political power.

Pakistan is close to finalizing a trade agreement with the United States, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He said a team has been formed under the Prime Minister’s directive to coordinate the deal, which could be concluded within days. The agreement is expected to focus on minerals, offshore gas, and broader commercial cooperation. Dar also invited U.S. investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan.

A progress review meeting on customs and VAT revenue collection was held under the leadership of NBR’s Chairman of the Internal Resources Division, Md. Abdur Rahman Khan. The chairman praised the performance of high-achieving commissionerates and customs houses. He emphasized preventing tax evasion, expediting cargo clearance, timely audits, and regular updates on bonded licenses and BIN suspensions. Plans are underway to introduce a new software system as an alternative to ASYCUDA, following a successful pilot. The meeting stressed the importance of trade facilitation and risk management in boosting revenue.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has officially invited Bangladesh for final tariff negotiations in Washington on July 29, confirmed Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman. The Bangladeshi delegation will be led by Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin. Discussions may also be held virtually. Bangladesh hopes to negotiate a reduction in the current 35% tariff rate and has proposed duty-free imports of cotton, wheat, LNG, aircraft, and agricultural products from the U.S. A deal has already been signed to import 700,000 tons of wheat.

Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that Bangladesh will not take any actions that compromise its national interests in response to the recent imposition of U.S. tariffs. Speaking at the Secretariat on Thursday, he confirmed that a formal letter has been sent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and a request has been made for an online meeting.

Regarding the appointment of lobbyists, Sheikh Bashir noted that while businesses may engage lobbyists independently, the government has not taken any such initiative. He stressed that the government remains actively engaged in discussions and is not passive on the issue.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a “massive” trade agreement with Japan. According to Trump, the deal will see Japan invest $550 billion in the United States and impose a 15% reciprocal tariff.

The agreement will also open Japanese markets to American automobiles, trucks, and agricultural products. Speaking at the White House, Trump called the deal "one of the largest in history." Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa also praised the agreement as a success.

Bangladesh has submitted its final position paper to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), seeking a reduction in the 35% additional tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. The country has also requested a third round of negotiations to be held on July 26–27.

The previous discussions ended without a breakthrough, raising uncertainty about potential tariff relief. The new tariffs are scheduled to take effect from August 1.

In an inter-ministerial meeting, Bangladesh decided to increase imports of U.S. goods—including wheat, soybeans, LNG, and military equipment—and to lower tariffs on some American products. However, the talks remain under a non-disclosure agreement, keeping key details confidential.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is considering hiring a lobbying firm in Washington, although securing one has reportedly become increasingly difficult.

Citigroup forecasts silver prices could exceed $40 per ounce within the next three months due to increased demand and supply constraints. The long-term target is set at $43 per ounce for the next 6 to 12 months. Silver prices have already risen over 30% this year, driven by strong fundamentals and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, gold reached a record $3,500 per ounce in 2025 but may decline gradually to between $2,500 and $2,700 next year.

Intel is no longer among the world’s top 10 semiconductor companies, according to CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Once a dominant force, Intel has fallen behind due to strategic missteps and late entry into AI development. Competitors like NVIDIA, AMD, and TSMC have surged ahead. While the company is trying to regain ground, experts say it faces an uphill battle. Despite challenges, Intel hopes recent leadership changes can help reclaim relevance in the rapidly evolving semiconductor and AI industries.