Farmers in Sherpur, Bogura, alleged on August 22 that TSP and DAP fertilizer are being sold above government-set prices and are unavailable at official rates. They said retailers and dealers often claim stocks are exhausted when farmers seek fertilizer at fixed prices, but supply becomes available if they agree to pay more. Farmers in several unions said the situation is causing concern during the cultivation season.

According to the complaints, TSP, officially priced at Tk1,350 per bag, is being sold for Tk1,700 to Tk1,800, while DAP, set at Tk1,050, is reportedly sold for up to Tk1,600. Farmers also alleged that shop memos are often not provided. Some anonymous retailers said they must buy fertilizer from BCIC and BADC dealers at an extra Tk200 to Tk300 per bag and receive memos showing the official price. Dealers denied the allegations.

One dealer said there was no fertilizer shortage and attributed temporary demand pressure to advance purchases by farmers, though he acknowledged some shortage of DAP. Upazila agriculture officer Farzana Akhtar said sufficient fertilizer was available and legal action would follow if proof of overcharging emerged. Upazila executive officer Saiduzzaman Himu said dealers have no scope to charge above official prices.

The World Bank forecasts that Lebanon’s economy will shrink by 6.4 percent in 2026 as the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war severely disrupts the country’s recovery efforts. In a report released Friday, the bank cited a collapse in tourism, lower consumer spending, disrupted goods supply chains, heightened insecurity and prolonged displacement as major drivers of the projected contraction. Lebanese authorities say more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes and ground operations.

Lebanon has faced a severe financial crisis since 2019. Before the latest conflict, the World Bank’s preliminary estimate had suggested real GDP could grow by 4.2 percent in 2025, which would have been the country’s fastest economic growth since the financial crisis began. The bank also expects inflation to reach 17.5 percent this year, driven by supply disruptions, higher transport costs and rising oil prices, further reducing purchasing power.

World Bank Middle East director Dalia Khalifa said reforms must advance to restore confidence, preserve economic stability and secure financing for reconstruction and recovery. She highlighted banking-sector restructuring and public financial-management reform. Lebanon’s parliament last week approved amendments to a bank restructuring law, which the IMF praised as an important step. Lebanon is discussing economic assistance with the IMF, with talks set to resume in Beirut next month.

Farmers in Khetlal, Joypurhat, have alleged that some dealers and traders are selling fertilizer above government-set prices during the current Aman rice season, despite claims of adequate supply. The report, published on August 22, 2026, says growers are paying an extra Tk400 to Tk600 per 50-kilogram bag and in some cases are being denied receipts. Farmers say the higher costs are raising production expenses and increasing fears of losses.

Government prices are listed at Tk1,350 for urea and TSP, Tk1,000 for MOP and Tk1,050 for DAP per 50-kilogram bag. Farmers allege urea is selling for Tk1,900 to Tk1,950, TSP for Tk1,900 to Tk2,000, DAP for Tk1,500 to Tk1,600, and MOP for around Tk1,400. They say posted price lists do not match actual sales prices.

The agriculture department has set an Aman cultivation target of 10,850 hectares in Khetlal, with transplanting completed on about 97% of land. Dealers and officials said action would follow verified complaints, while an agriculture official said some pressure may stem from excess fertilizer use and advance storage for the potato season.

Canada has stepped back from finalising a trade agreement with the United States after last-minute negotiations failed, according to the report published on August 22, 2026. The Trump administration is preparing to impose new tariffs of up to 50 percent on nearly $20 billion in Canadian goods, representing about 5 percent of Canada’s total exports to the United States.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada had refused to finalise the agreement under terms agreed earlier in the week. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said last-minute changes to the proposed US terms were unfair and unprofitable, raising questions about the reliability of any agreement. He said his government would soon announce measures to support Canadian workers and businesses.

Annual goods and services trade between the two countries totals about $880 billion, while their border stretches roughly 5,525 miles. About 72 percent of Canada’s goods exports depend on the US market, meaning tariffs could pressure Canadian businesses and employment. The report also said higher costs for US importers could raise consumer prices and pose a political risk for the Trump administration before November’s midterm elections.

Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry is facing declining exports in its two major markets, Europe and the United States, contributing to factory closures and job losses in Chattogram. Eurostat data showed Bangladesh exported garments worth €8.6448 billion to Europe in the first six months of 2026, down 16.43% from €10.3444 billion a year earlier. Exports to the United States fell 5.75% to $4.0078 billion over the same period.

Chattogram Industrial Police said 50 factories closed during the past six months, including 25 permanently, leaving more than 7,000 workers unemployed. Analysis cited in the report indicates at least 20,000 workers nationwide were dismissed or laid off in the first half of the year, most of them from the garment sector. Workers reported hardship after closures and alleged unpaid dues.

Industry representatives cited weak orders, energy shortages, raw-material constraints, rising costs and global competition. They said gas-dependent textile factories were particularly affected, while operating factories were running at low capacity. Economists urged swift action to protect investment and sustain production, warning that lower exports could reduce foreign earnings and state revenue.

An opinion article by Chittagong University economics professor Dr Mohammad Saiful Islam says Bangladesh has formally asked the United Nations General Assembly to remain in the least developed country category for three more years. Bangladesh had been due to graduate from LDC status on November 24 this year under three UN criteria, but the article says the country has not completed the preparations needed for transition to upper-middle-income status.

The article contrasts the request with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s 2021 declaration that Bangladesh had become a developing country. It alleges that many economic indicators presented by the previous government were inaccurate, citing interim government finance adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed’s criticism of statistical manipulation. It says Bangladesh’s export base remains heavily dependent on ready-made garments, which account for about 82 percent of export earnings.

According to the article, graduation could end duty-free export preferences, pharmaceutical-sector TRIPS benefits, concessional lending and foreign grants. It cites estimates of average annual export losses of $17.5 billion and says Bangladesh plans revenue and financial-sector reforms during the requested extension. If planned measures are implemented, the article says Bangladesh could take on developing-country status in November 2029.

Industrial factories in Bangladesh are facing severe disruption from shortages of gas and electricity, with output reportedly falling by 25% to 30%. Factory owners and workers in Savar, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj said unreliable energy supply is interrupting production, increasing costs and raising fears of missed deliveries and lost markets. The report was published on August 22, 2026.

Textile and garment businesses said repeated power outages and low gas pressure have particularly damaged gas-dependent dyeing operations. Some firms are using diesel generators or other fuels, but owners said this adds substantial expenses and cannot sustain full operations. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said factories are extending work to 12 to 13 hours to maintain production and avoid order cancellations.

Petrobangla data cited daily gas demand of about 3.8 billion cubic feet, while supply recently fluctuated between 1.73 billion and 2.44 billion cubic feet. The power board said 21 gas-based plants were fully shut and eight partly operating because of gas shortages. Workers reported longer unpaid stays at factories and concern about job losses as some plants reduce output or close.

Bangladesh’s industrial factories are facing severe disruption from inadequate gas and electricity supplies, with production reported to have fallen by 25% to 30%. Factory owners and workers in Savar, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj described interrupted operations, rising costs and concern over delayed deliveries and lost markets. The report was published on August 22, 2026.

Textile and garment producers said repeated power cuts and low gas pressure have particularly hurt gas-dependent dyeing operations. Sadama Fashionwear in Gazipur said its dyeing unit had been shut for a week, while Mosharraf Composite Textile said output had fallen to 30% to 35% of capacity. Entrepreneurs said factories are buying additional diesel, costing an average of Tk3 crore to Tk10 crore monthly per factory in some cases.

Petrobangla data cited daily gas demand of about 380 crore cubic feet, while supply recently fluctuated from 173 crore to 244 crore cubic feet before dropping to 218 crore cubic feet. The Power Development Board said 21 gas-fired plants were fully shut and eight partly operational because of gas shortages, while average daily load-shedding in August exceeded 2,000 megawatts.

China’s decision to draw on its strategic oil reserves has helped limit pressure on global oil markets after the Strait of Hormuz was closed, according to the report published on August 21, 2026. Six months after the closure, an estimated 10 to 14 percent of global oil supplies still cannot reach the market, yet oil-market volatility has remained lower than in several previous Middle East crises.

Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil a day passed through the strait, roughly one-fifth of global daily consumption. International oil prices have risen about 50 percent in the current crisis, with Brent crude increasing from around $60 a barrel at the start of the year to a stable range of about $85 to $90.

The report contrasts the situation with the 1973 Arab oil embargo, when a 7 percent supply disruption was followed by a near fourfold price increase. Supply disruptions of 6 to 7 percent during the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait also drove prices to more than double. China has avoided buying large additional volumes of crude, preventing extra demand from adding market pressure.

The 2026 Mekong-Lancang Fruit, Coffee, Flower and Beer Carnival has opened at Hello World Living Mall in Kunming, capital of China’s Yunnan province. Bangladesh’s stall has drawn strong interest from local visitors and businesspeople, according to a Commerce Ministry press release issued Friday. The Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce is organizing the international event, which features 94 stalls displaying fruits and agricultural products from Mekong-region countries.

China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Bangladesh and Thailand are participating, with countries displaying and selling a range of fruits, agricultural and food products. Bangladesh is also participating as a co-organizer. The event is intended to strengthen regional agricultural and trade cooperation while presenting Bangladeshi agricultural diversity to international markets and creating potential new business links with China.

At the opening, Bangladesh Consul General in Kunming Shahnaz Ranu said agricultural trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China had reached new heights. She said Bangladesh’s mango has already entered the Chinese market, while jackfruit export protocols were signed during Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s China visit. Organizers expect the festival, running until August 23, to expand markets and agricultural cooperation.

Farmers in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat are turning to Philippine Black sugarcane after receiving unsatisfactory prices for rice, wheat and vegetables. The variety can be marketed in about a year and is drawing interest because growers expect strong demand and prices. Farmer Md Zakaria of Raghunathpur village has reported success cultivating it on 19 decimals of land. About eight bighas of Philippine Black sugarcane have been cultivated across the upazila this season.

Several farmers have tested the variety on small plots, including Awal Talukdar, Nurunnabi, Tajel, Idris Mondal, Yasin and Razzak. Growers said their cane is now ready for sale and they expect good returns if each stalk sells for Tk30 to Tk40. Production costs are somewhat higher than for other varieties, as soft cane requires net fencing against foxes and bamboo supports because of its height.

Agriculture officials said Philippine Black cane is soft, sweet and juicy, making it popular for chewing, while many conventional varieties are suited to molasses and sugar production. They advised selecting high or medium-high land without standing water, using good seed and ensuring proper care. The agriculture department is providing advice to help farmers obtain quality seed and expand cultivation.

Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity President Taslima Akhter called for an end to worker layoffs blamed on energy shortages at a rally outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday. The gathering demanded uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies, full implementation of the Labour Act 2026, a wage board and protection against dismissals. Akhter said workers would suffer most if production declines because of gas and power disruptions.

Akhter, also a member of the 2024 Labour Reform Commission, said the burden of industrial mismanagement or an energy crisis must not be placed on workers. She urged swift action to protect both industry and workers. She also said the Labour Act 2026 would remain limited to paper if its provisions were not implemented, citing union rights, safe workplaces, protection from discrimination and harassment, and workplace justice.

Speakers said more than 100 factories had closed over two years after the mass uprising, leaving about 40,000 workers unemployed. They said the livelihoods of around 4 million garment workers depend on gas and electricity supplies. After the rally, participants marched around the Paltan area. Organizers urged the government to direct owners against layoffs and sought jobs and social protection for displaced workers.

An analysis by online estate-planning firm Trust & Will identified 10 US metropolitan areas where millennials may find a comparatively better balance among job growth, rising incomes and housing costs. Published by Amar Desh Online on August 21, 2026, the report considers employment growth, income trends, home prices and new housing construction.

Austin, Phoenix, Boise and Jacksonville were highlighted for rapid employment growth and expanding housing construction. Austin’s job and housing growth is described as helping balance wage gains with housing costs, while Phoenix’s economic expansion and new construction may help contain those costs. In Boise, increased housing supply has pushed home prices somewhat below earlier peaks, alongside strong job and income growth.

Raleigh, Charlotte and Nashville showed positive progress in jobs, incomes and housing, while Denver and Sacramento were also included. Jacksonville’s job opportunities and economic growth have reportedly outpaced housing-cost increases. The analysis said most listed cities are mid-sized or fast-growing, but cautioned that none should be considered entirely cheap. Individual income, job type and the timing of renting or buying remain important factors.

Frequent load-shedding is disrupting tea production in Moulvibazar, where producers say electricity shortages and high fuel prices are raising costs, reducing output and harming tea quality. The report, published on August 21, 2026, says tea gardens are facing eight to 10 hours of power cuts during the day and night, despite separate feeders in some areas.

Tea leaves are meant to enter production within 14 to 16 hours of collection, but the process is taking 70 to 80 hours because of outages, according to the report. Generators cannot operate entire factories and expensive fuel increases production costs. Factory workers and managers said leaves dry out and spoil when factories stop, while dryer machines and other equipment are also being damaged.

Industry representatives said poor-quality tea is not receiving fair auction prices, leaving some tea unsold and creating concern over wages, bonuses and rations for workers. The Kamalganj zonal office of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board said insufficient supply from the national grid requires 25 to 30 percent daily load-shedding. It said separate feeders could be built for other gardens if funding is allocated.

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average, or Nikkei 225, fell as rising oil prices linked to uncertainty surrounding the Iran war weighed on investors. At the Friday midday break in Tokyo, the index was down 0.3%, putting it on course for a weekly decline of about 4%, its largest weekly fall since the week ended July 17. The report was published on August 21, 2026.

The broader Topix index also slipped 0.1% and was down 3.4% for the week. Nomura Securities strategist Maki Sawada told Reuters that investors could take profits before the weekend because Middle East uncertainty had kept both oil prices and bond yields at elevated levels.

Shipping was the best-performing sector among the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s 33 sectors, with its shares rising 2.8%. Shipping companies gained on expectations that freight rates could increase after the closure of the key maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.