The 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair, organized by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce, has largely turned into an entertainment venue rather than achieving its founding goal of promoting Bangladeshi products in global markets. Despite being labeled an international event, the fair now focuses more on local sales and leisure activities, with visitors describing it as resembling a street market. The fair, which began in 1995 to connect local entrepreneurs with foreign buyers, currently hosts 324 stalls but only 11 foreign pavilions, and the presence of international buyers is minimal.

Export-related stakeholders say the fair has failed to generate meaningful export orders, as most stalls sell locally produced or rejected goods instead of export-quality products. Business leaders and associations, including BGMEA and EAB, argue that specialized expos such as the Global Sourcing Expo are more effective for export promotion. EPB officials acknowledge challenges in attracting foreign participants due to visa, customs, and accommodation issues but maintain that the fair still serves as a branding and networking platform.

Experts suggest shortening the fair’s duration and introducing sector-based pavilions and business-to-business zones to restore its international relevance.

Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka on January 28 called for stricter policies and higher import duties on cosmetics and beauty products to curb the spread of counterfeit and low-quality items. The event, jointly organized by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and the Association of Skin Care and Beauty Products Manufacturers and Exporters of Bangladesh (ASBME), highlighted the growing threat of substandard cosmetics to public health and domestic industry.

DNCRP Director General Faruk Ahmed warned that failure to control fake products could endanger future generations, while economist Dr. Mohammad Ainul Islam emphasized that cosmetics are linked to public health and social well-being. Several industry representatives, including former FBCCI director Ishakul Hossain Sweet and importers’ association secretary Shahid Hossain, demanded a reduction in the 127.72% import duty on raw materials to make local production competitive, alongside higher tariffs on finished imported goods.

Participants also urged stronger market surveillance, consumer awareness, and a ban on informal imports through luggage parties to protect consumers and ensure sustainable growth of the domestic cosmetics sector.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has resumed direct flights on the Dhaka-Karachi-Dhaka route after a 14-year suspension. The inaugural flight BG-341 departed from Dhaka at 8 p.m. on Thursday for Karachi, marking the re-establishment of direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan. A ceremony was held at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to commemorate the occasion.

According to a Biman press release, the route is expected to play a key role in expanding trade, education, and cultural exchange between the two countries. The return flight BG-342 will depart Karachi at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and arrive in Dhaka at 4:20 a.m. local time the same day. The first flight carried 150 passengers. Under the winter schedule, flights will operate every Thursday and Saturday following the same timing.

The launch event was attended by Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, and Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Dr. Md. Shafiqul Rahman.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional $55 million from five commercial banks, bringing its total dollar purchases to $3.93 billion since the start of the current fiscal year. The central bank’s Executive Director and spokesperson, Arif Hossain Khan, confirmed the transaction, noting that the move aims to maintain market balance amid increased foreign currency supply.

According to the report, the dollar market in Bangladesh became unstable in 2022, when the exchange rate rose from 85 to 122 taka per dollar. Over the past three fiscal years, the central bank sold about $34 billion to support the market, while buying only around $1 billion during that period. Following the fall of the previous Awami League government, the current administration took strict measures to curb money laundering, resulting in higher export earnings and remittance inflows.

Khan stated that the current market has more dollar supply than demand, and the central bank is buying dollars to prevent an excessive fall in the exchange rate, which could harm remittance and export sectors. As of January 22, the country’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $32.66 billion, or $28 billion under BPM-6 standards.

An international tribunal has ruled in favor of Bangladesh in the Tengratila gas field explosion case, ordering Canadian company Niko to pay $42 million in compensation. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), based in Washington, delivered the verdict. Petrobangla Chairman Engineer Rezanur Rahman confirmed the ruling on Thursday. The compensation includes $40 million for the loss of approximately 8 billion cubic feet of gas and an additional $2 million for environmental and other damages.

The Tengratila gas field, located in Chhatak, Sunamganj, was discovered in 1959 and later handed over to Niko in 2003 for exploration. Two major explosions occurred on January 7 and June 24, 2005, causing extensive damage to gas reserves and surrounding properties. Bangladesh initially demanded Tk 746 crore in compensation, which Niko refused to pay, leading to a 2016 lawsuit in Washington seeking Tk 9,250 crore.

According to Petrobangla, the tribunal found that Niko’s failure to follow international petroleum industry standards and take necessary precautions directly caused the explosions, making the company liable for the damages.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has firmly denied rumors about his resignation or taking leave. Speaking at an emergency press conference at Bangladesh Bank on Thursday, January 29, 2026, he stated that he neither applied for leave nor had any intention to do so. Mansur emphasized that his work schedule keeps him busy until late at night, leaving no scope for taking leave.

During the briefing, Mansur alleged that a certain group, driven by jealousy, was spreading misinformation and inciting unrest by distributing money related to Sammilita Islami Bank. He claimed that this group was deliberately running a campaign against the newly established Islamic bank. Mansur reiterated his belief in democratic practices and the right to protest but said the bank’s performance would prove its commitment to customer satisfaction.

The governor’s remarks directly addressed circulating rumors and sought to reassure the public and banking sector stakeholders about the stability of Bangladesh Bank’s leadership.

The Workers Party has announced a two-day strike protesting the lease of Chittagong port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company. The strike will halt all operations on Saturday and suspend administrative activities on Sunday. The announcement came Thursday through separate press conferences by the Workers Party and the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), which expressed support for the protest.

Earlier in the day, the High Court declared the process of appointing a foreign operator at the NCT terminal legal. Following the ruling, port branch leaders and activists of the Workers Party held a protest march and later a press conference in Agrabad. They warned that handing over the terminal to a foreign operator would endanger national security, cause job losses for Bangladeshi workers, and result in significant foreign currency outflow.

SKOP leaders, speaking at the Chittagong Press Club, urged the interim government to withdraw from the leasing decision and warned of tougher action, including a complete shutdown of the port, if the decision is not reversed.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has temporarily suspended its previously announced plan to shut down all textile mills across the country from February 1. The decision followed clear government assurances and positive progress in ongoing discussions. BTMA stated that the move was made considering national interests, the upcoming election, and the need to maintain industrial stability.

A key meeting was held on January 27 at the Ministry of Commerce, chaired by Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, to address the ongoing crisis in the ready-made garment and textile sectors. The meeting reviewed the challenges facing the spinning sector, with the adviser acknowledging their legitimacy and promising swift, fair, and practical solutions. Senior officials from the National Board of Revenue, the Ministry of Finance, and industry associations including BGMEA and BKMEA attended the session.

BTMA expressed hope that resolving the spinning sector’s crisis would enhance export competitiveness, safeguard employment, and strengthen overall economic stability. The association said future programs would be announced after reviewing the situation.

After nearly two months of suspension, rice imports through the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, have resumed. As part of trade activities with India, a total of 1,188 metric tons of non-basmati parboiled rice entered Bangladesh by Thursday afternoon. The information was confirmed by Kamal Khan, Operations Manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, who detailed the import schedule between January 24 and 28.

According to customs officials, the average cost per kilogram of the imported rice ranged between Tk 50 and Tk 70, depending on the type. Samir Chandra Ghosh, Deputy Director of the Sonamasjid Plant Quarantine Center, said the last rice consignment through this port arrived on December 3 of the previous year, totaling 563.7 metric tons. Import operations had remained halted since then.

The resumption marks a continuation of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India through one of the country’s key land ports, potentially stabilizing local rice supply after the import gap.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued the 'Microfinance Bank Ordinance, 2026' to strengthen microcredit operations, create employment, reduce poverty, and ensure ownership for small borrowers. According to the ordinance, published in a gazette by the Legislative Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, microfinance borrowers will now become shareholders, holding at least 60 percent ownership in the new bank. The bank will be established with an authorized capital of Tk 500 crore and a minimum paid-up capital of Tk 200 crore, under a license from Bangladesh Bank.

The ordinance defines the Microfinance Bank as a social business institution, requiring profits to be reinvested in social and poverty alleviation sectors rather than distributed as dividends. The nine-member board will include four borrower-elected directors, three nominated directors, two independent directors, and a managing director without voting rights. The bank will provide loans for self-employment, accept deposits, and offer technical and administrative support to small entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh Bank will act as the licensing authority and may dissolve the board or remove directors if necessary. The government will announce the effective date of the ordinance through a separate notification.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for individual taxpayers to file their income tax returns for the 2025–26 fiscal year by one month. According to a special order issued on Thursday, taxpayers can now submit their returns online without any penalty until February 28. This marks the third time the NBR has extended the filing period for the current tax year.

The NBR has also made online submission of tax returns mandatory for individual taxpayers, except for five specific categories. The extension aims to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their online filings under the new mandatory system.

The decision reflects the NBR’s ongoing efforts to facilitate compliance and streamline the digital tax filing process for individuals across the country.

Iran’s national currency, the rial, fell to a record low against the US dollar on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. In the free market, one dollar traded for 1,620,500 rials, marking the steepest decline in the country’s currency history. According to currency tracking website Bonbast, the previous day’s rate was around 1.5 million rials per dollar, meaning the rial lost about 150,000 in value within a single day.

The sharp depreciation comes amid ongoing anti-government protests that began late last month. In response to the unrest, Iran’s government shut down internet access on January 7, making it difficult to obtain reliable exchange rate data from regional markets in Istanbul, Baghdad, and along the Afghan border. Bonbast noted that the blackout has obscured the rial’s true market value.

Market instability intensified after US President Donald Trump announced that a large American naval fleet was moving toward Iran. Analysts fear possible naval blockades or attacks on Iran’s oil and gas facilities. Economists believe continued political tension, economic crisis, and international pressure could further weaken the rial.

Bangladesh’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector has plunged into severe instability over the past month, with widespread shortages, closed filling stations, and prices soaring beyond consumers’ reach. Despite steady demand growth, supply has sharply declined as several major private companies reduced or halted imports. Officials and industry insiders attribute the crisis to long-term planned decisions and the dominance of a powerful business syndicate, rather than solely to international sanctions or Middle East unrest.

According to official data, LPG demand has increased 25-fold in 15 years, but imports fell from 1.61 million tons in 2024 to 1.47 million tons in 2025. Eight large companies, many linked to the former ruling party, have cut imports over the past 18 months, creating a severe supply gap. U.S. sanctions on Iranian-linked vessels further disrupted shipping, leaving many LPG pumps closed nationwide.

Experts and industry leaders have urged the government to intervene directly in LPG trading to stabilize the market. They argue that with proper monitoring and infrastructure development, the state could regain control within six months and restore order to the energy sector.

The Bangladesh government plans to provide incentives to potato farmers after many suffered losses due to low market prices. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, farmers have reduced potato cultivation this season compared to last year, raising concerns about lower production. Farmers are shifting to other vegetables such as eggplant, pumpkin, and bottle gourd following advice from agricultural officials. Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury confirmed that the incentive plan aims to support affected growers.

Officials said domestic potato demand is around nine million tons, but last season’s production reached over 11.5 million tons, leaving a surplus that could not be exported due to excessive pesticide and fertilizer use. Only certain varieties like Sunshine, Granola, and Diamond are being exported. Exporters noted that limited cultivation of export-quality potatoes restricts market potential despite strong global demand.

Export data from the Export Promotion Bureau show a decline in potato exports from 62,726 metric tons in 2021–22 to 32,392 metric tons in 2022–23, with export earnings dropping from over $33 million in 2013–14 to around $10 million in recent years.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is in the final stage of negotiations with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to purchase 14 new planes, including ten Dreamliners (787-9 and 787-10 series) and four Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The proposed deal, valued at around $3.7 billion, may be signed within the current month if both sides finalize terms. The airline has placed at least 20 conditions and sought maximum price reductions, while Boeing has prepared a revised draft agreement reflecting possible concessions.

According to Biman sources, the National Negotiation Committee—comprising secretaries from key ministries and the airline’s board chairman—is leading the talks. The government and Biman’s board have already given policy approval for the purchase. Boeing has shown willingness to adjust prices and payment terms, and both parties are working to finalize details such as advance payments, delivery schedules, and training provisions.

If signed this month, the aircraft deliveries will continue through 2035. Biman expects the new planes to expand its international operations and address current fleet shortages that limit route frequency and new route launches.