Bangladesh Bank has extended the age limit for opening a 'Student Banking' account to 25 years, allowing school, college, and university students to access the service. The central bank issued a new policy on Monday, replacing the previous rule that restricted eligibility to students under 18. Under the revised guidelines, account holders will now be able to use credit cards in addition to debit cards, and the service previously known as 'School Banking' will now operate under the name 'Student Banking'.

The new policy also increases the monthly ATM withdrawal limit from 15,000 to 25,000 taka upon parental request, compared to the earlier 5,000-taka cap. Students can now deposit up to 25,000 taka per month, with a maximum account balance of 300,000 taka. Those studying abroad will no longer need separate student files or accounts, as the same account can be used for remittance and educational transactions.

The policy further allows students to take loans for educational materials under parental guarantee, aiming to make financial services more accessible to young learners.

The government of Bangladesh is preparing a compensation plan for general shareholders affected by the merger of five Islamic banks. Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said the issue is under policy consideration but involves complex technical calculations. He explained that compensation will be provided gradually after completing the necessary assessments. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the government’s procurement advisory committee on Tuesday, he emphasized that depositors’ protection had been the government’s first priority.

Dr. Ahmed noted that the government has already provided Tk 42,000 crore to safeguard depositors’ funds, ensuring that customers could fully recover their deposits. Only after securing depositors’ interests is the government now focusing on shareholders. He acknowledged that compensating shareholders is difficult because several banks have negative net asset values, making conventional loss recovery methods impractical.

Possible compensation options include partial share allocations or direct financial payments, though the final model will take time to determine. Dr. Ahmed added that broader banking reforms require sustained efforts, stronger regulatory capacity, and rebuilding market confidence to achieve long-term economic stability.

Bangladesh Bank has announced revised office and transaction hours for all scheduled banks during the upcoming Ramadan. The Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department issued a circular on Tuesday stating that banking transactions will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while office hours will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All scheduled banks across the country will operate within this timeframe throughout the holy month.

According to the circular, there will be a short break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., during which internal arrangements may allow transactions to continue. Normally, banks conduct transactions from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and official activities continue until 6:00 p.m. The circular also noted that regular office hours will resume after the end of Ramadan.

The adjustment aims to accommodate the special needs of employees and customers during the fasting period while ensuring uninterrupted banking services through internal coordination.

Thousands of passengers in Tongi, Gazipur faced severe transport shortages on Tuesday as they tried to travel home ahead of the national election. Long waits at bus stops along the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway yielded few available buses, and fares surged from the usual 200 taka to as high as 500 taka. Many commuters, unable to find seats, resorted to traveling on pickup trucks and mini-trucks at inflated prices, risking their safety to reach their destinations.

The rush followed factory closures in the industrial area of Tongi, where numerous garment and other factories declared holidays for employees to vote. Crowds filled Tongi Bazar, Station Road, Millgate, Cherag Ali, College Gate, and Gazipura, as well as the Tongi Railway Junction, where passengers waited from early morning but could not board overcrowded trains. Some reported paying up to 650 taka for long-distance bus tickets.

Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police Inspector Zahid Majumdar said the shortage occurred because many long-distance buses had not yet returned from previous trips, forcing passengers to take unsafe transport options despite warnings.

Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Adviser Farida Akhter stated that she is not departing her position with a sense of failure, emphasizing that price control of meat and fish is beyond her authority. She made the remarks on Tuesday during a press briefing at the ministry’s conference room, noting that her 15–16 months of work should not be judged as a complete measure of performance.

Akhter explained that her ministry focused on improving production quality rather than relying on unregulated livestock fattening practices. She highlighted efforts to curb excessive fishing caused by the use of sonar, which had reduced the availability of hilsa and other fish species. According to her, the ministry successfully stopped this overfishing trend. She also mentioned that the sector received subsidies worth 100 crore taka, including electricity rebates, and that the number of beneficiaries increased from 132,000 to 1.5 million.

The adviser added that fishermen from the Sundarbans and haor regions would receive VGF support, underscoring the ministry’s continued commitment to vulnerable fishing communities.

The Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Jamalpur resumed urea production at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, after completing repair work following a blackout caused by rodent damage to electrical wiring. The factory had been shut down since the night of February 5, when a short circuit in the power plant halted electricity supply and production.

According to factory officials, emergency repairs restored power and allowed operations to restart. General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque stated that urea production has resumed at 75 percent capacity, with additional safety and monitoring measures introduced to prevent similar incidents. Deputy General Manager (Administration) Md. Delwar Hossain confirmed that mechanical faults in the power plant were fixed and that production will gradually increase as gas pressure stabilizes.

The factory’s management emphasized that normal operations have resumed and that preventive steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted production in the future.

The ongoing strike at Chattogram Port, called to protest the leasing of the NCT terminal to a foreign company and disciplinary actions against workers, has been suspended until February 15. The Port Protection Struggle Council announced the suspension late Sunday night through a press release signed by coordinators Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon. The statement said the decision was made to help stabilize market prices ahead of the 13th national election and the upcoming Ramadan. Workers were instructed to return to work from 8 a.m. Monday.

The council noted that workers felt reassured after the government’s shipping adviser and BIDA chairman declared that the port would not be leased to foreign entities during the current administration. However, concern spread among workers after the port authority temporarily suspended 16 strike leaders and canceled their housing. Following the withdrawal of the blockade, container handling and cargo transport resumed, restoring normal operations at the port.

According to port officials, vessel movements and cargo deliveries have returned to normal, bringing relief to the country’s import and export sectors after nine days of disruption.

Cuba has decided to suspend the supply of jet fuel to aircraft for one month due to a severe energy crisis attributed to U.S. actions. A European airline official confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that from midnight Monday, planes traveling to and from Cuba will no longer be able to refuel there. As a result, long-haul flights must now stop in other countries for refueling, and Air France has already implemented such measures.

The crisis deepened after Venezuela halted oil shipments to Cuba in January 2023 following U.S. measures. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order allowing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. In response, the Cuban government has introduced emergency measures, including a four-day workweek for state institutions, restricted provincial transport, temporary closure of some tourism facilities, reduced school hours, and relaxed attendance requirements at universities.

Cuba’s power plants are under strain due to the fuel shortage, raising the risk of blackouts. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the country is ready to hold talks with the United States but not under pressure.

Gold prices surged to unprecedented levels, reaching an all-time high of $5,600 per ounce on January 29 before easing to just under $5,000 on Sunday. The surge reflects growing investor demand for gold as a secure asset amid fluctuating economic conditions and rising geopolitical tensions. Al Jazeera’s explainer details how gold’s value is determined by its weight in troy ounces and purity in karats, with one troy ounce equaling 31.1035 grammes.

Gold’s global pricing is set on spot markets in US dollars, primarily through exchanges in London and New York. Local prices vary due to currency conversion, dealer premiums, and taxes. For instance, India imposes a 3 percent GST on gold, while the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates levy none. The United States holds the world’s largest gold reserves at 8,133 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,350 tonnes and Italy with 2,451 tonnes.

Over the past decade, gold’s price has quadrupled from $1,250 in 2016 to around $5,000 today, underscoring its enduring role as a safe haven asset during periods of market volatility and uncertainty.

Bangladesh and China have signed a framework agreement for a project titled 'Procurement of Four New Ships,' valued at 1.67 billion RMB (approximately Tk 2,486.31 crore). The agreement was signed on Sunday by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on behalf of Bangladesh, and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen on behalf of China. Under the framework, China will provide a concessional loan at 2 percent interest for 20 years, including a five-year grace period.

According to an ERD press release, a loan agreement between the ERD and the Export-Import Bank of China will be signed soon under this framework. The project will enable the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to purchase four new vessels, including two crude oil mother tankers and two mother bulk carriers.

The new ships are expected to enhance BSC’s capacity to transport crude oil and essential goods, contributing to Bangladesh’s long-term energy security and accelerating national development, according to the report.

Bangladesh Bank has announced temporary restrictions on mobile financial services (MFS) and internet banking to prevent misuse of funds ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The restrictions will be in effect from midnight on Sunday until 11:59 p.m. on February 12, covering a total of four days. During this period, customers of MFS providers such as bKash, Rocket, and Nagad will be allowed to send a maximum of 1,000 taka per transaction and up to 10,000 taka per day. Person-to-person transfers through internet banking and bank apps will remain suspended.

According to the central bank’s directive, the decision aims to curb potential abuse of MFS and interbank fund transfer (IBFT) systems under the National Payment Switch Bangladesh during the election period. Merchant payments and utility bill transactions will continue as usual, but other MFS services will be temporarily unavailable. Each MFS provider must establish an emergency response cell to handle complaints and monitor all transactions closely.

The directive also instructs MFS providers and banks to cooperate with the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies as needed during the restricted period.

Bangladesh’s interim government is set to sign a new trade agreement with the United States on Monday, just three days before the national election. Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said at a press conference on Sunday that the deal could reduce the recently imposed additional 20 percent trade tariff. He noted that discussions were ongoing and that the government aimed to achieve zero tariffs on garments, the country’s main export product.

Bashiruddin explained that the public disclosure of the agreement’s terms had previously led to higher tariffs, but the government still managed to bring them down to 20 percent compared to competitor countries. He expressed regret that the publication of the deal’s conditions limited Bangladesh’s negotiating flexibility. The adviser defended the timing of the agreement, citing the need to protect export earnings worth one trillion taka and safeguard around 700,000 jobs.

He also pointed out that US tariffs have been fluctuating recently, referencing a sharp increase in Korea’s tariff rate within days. The adviser said the government did not want to leave a heavy tariff burden for the next administration.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin defended his appointment as chairman of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines board, saying he acted within the law. Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Sunday, he noted that 22 ministers and advisers had previously held the same position. Appointed on August 26, 2025, his dual role had drawn criticism, but he maintained that no legal boundaries were crossed.

Bashiruddin also expressed optimism that the 20 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Bangladeshi goods would be reduced following an upcoming agreement. He said Bangladesh had taken steps to narrow its six‑billion‑dollar trade deficit with the United States, including a proposal to purchase aircraft from Boeing. A negotiation team led by Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud is currently discussing the deal.

At the same event, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan detailed recent reforms, including new ordinances to regulate air ticket distribution and travel agencies, which have lowered ticket prices. She also announced new leasing rules and initiatives to make Hajj flights more efficient and affordable.

Public Private Partnership Authority CEO and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said there is no possibility of signing the lease agreement for Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with UAE-based DP World during the tenure of the current interim government. He made the statement at a press conference held on Sunday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, where the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.

Chowdhury stated that a letter from DP World arrived at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Sunday morning, in which the company appreciated the progress of ongoing negotiations and expressed satisfaction. DP World confirmed that it had reviewed the draft concession agreement but requested additional time for further evaluation. With only two working days left in the interim government’s term, Chowdhury noted that completing the approval and signing process within this period would be difficult.

Work on leasing the terminal began in 2019, and final-stage negotiations started last month. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Council has launched an indefinite work stoppage demanding that the terminal not be leased, halting container delivery operations at the port.

The interim government of Bangladesh has formed a committee to review and recommend actions on the salary-related reports submitted by the National Pay Commission-2025, Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission-2025, and Armed Forces Pay Committee-2025. The Cabinet Secretary has been appointed as the head of the committee, which includes senior secretaries from the ministries of Public Administration, Defence, Finance, Secondary and Higher Education, the Chief Adviser’s Office, Health Services, and Law and Justice, along with the Comptroller General of Accounts.

According to the report, the committee will examine the salary-related issues presented in the three commissions’ reports and prepare recommendations for the government’s next steps. The formation follows the submission of the National Pay Commission’s report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on January 21, 2026, by commission head Zakir Ahmed Khan.

Earlier, on July 27, 2025, a 21-member pay commission was established to develop a new salary structure for government employees, with a six-month deadline to submit its recommendations.