India is planning to transfer its stake in Iran’s Chabahar Port to an Iranian company, according to a report by Business Standard. The move comes as the U.S. sanctions waiver allowing India’s investment and use of the port is set to expire on April 26, 2026. To avoid potential sanctions risks, India is taking strategic steps before the waiver period ends.

The report adds that India is considering an interim arrangement under which an Iranian operator will manage the port during the sanctions period. Once sanctions are eased or lifted, India may resume its operations at the facility. This approach is based on a mutual understanding between the two sides.

India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone, a subsidiary of India Ports Global Limited, had been managing the port since December 24, 2018. The current plan reflects India’s effort to maintain its long-term strategic interests while navigating international restrictions.

Farmers across the vast haor wetlands of Kishoreganj are now busy harvesting boro paddy, but the festive mood is overshadowed by frustration over low market prices and high production costs. Despite golden fields stretching across Austagram and nearby areas, thousands of farmers are facing severe financial strain due to waterlogging from heavy rains and soaring expenses for irrigation, fertilizer, transport, and labor.

Field visits revealed that production costs have increased several times compared to last year, leaving farmers unable to cover even daily wages by selling a maund of paddy. Many reported selling wet paddy at only Tk 700–800 per maund, far below the Tk 1,200 production cost. The Department of Agricultural Extension said 104,535 hectares of land were cultivated in Kishoreganj’s haor areas this season, targeting 1.3 million metric tons of output.

Although the government fixed the procurement price at Tk 36 per kilogram on April 22, small and marginal farmers remain doubtful about receiving fair prices due to middlemen’s influence. Locals have demanded direct government purchase from genuine farmers to eliminate syndicates and prevent further losses.

Import, export, and immigration operations at Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh resumed on Saturday morning after a four-day closure caused by elections in West Bengal, India, and a government holiday. Following the reopening, consignments of LC stones were imported from Bhutan and India. By 4:30 p.m., 196 trucks carrying stones, ginger, and sugar had entered the port, with the remaining trucks expected by 6 p.m.

On the export side, 76 trucks carrying soybean meal, cotton rem, jute roll, and Nasir goods departed from Bangladesh. The clearing and forwarding (C&F) association’s general secretary Jahangir Alam said that after the four-day break, the port’s activities restarted smoothly, restoring vibrancy among workers and traders. The port manager, Abul Kalam Azad, confirmed the resumption of operations.

The Banglabandha land port typically handles around 250 trucks daily from India and Bhutan, and the return to normal operations is expected to stabilize cross-border trade flows.

The Barapukuria thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, has been shut down again after operating for only 15 hours. The plant had resumed production at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 24, following a 48-hour closure caused by a boiler pipe burst and a broken cooling fan that halted its 125-megawatt first unit on Wednesday night. However, production stopped again around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday when another boiler tube burst.

The complete shutdown of the plant has caused power outages across Parbatipur and eight northern districts. Chief engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique stated that production was halted due to the tube burst and that the boiler steam needs time to cool down. He estimated that full repair work could take five to six days to complete.

The repeated technical failures have disrupted electricity supply in the region, and restoration is expected only after the repair process is finished.

Farmers in Bogura have completed onion harvesting with strong yields, but they are not receiving fair prices. While storage-grade onions from Pabna and Kushtia are selling at Tk 35–40 per kilogram, regular onions are priced between Tk 25–30. Traders and growers report that market supply has dropped, pushing prices up by about Tk 5 per kilogram in the past two days. They expect prices to double before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha if the trend continues.

Light rain before harvest caused minor damage in several onion-producing districts, including Pabna, Faridpur, Rangpur, and Natore, leading to lower prices for blemished onions. In contrast, the dry, long-lasting “murikata” variety is being stored by farmers and traders, reducing immediate market supply. Nationally, onion production targets have been met, with major output from Pabna, Kushtia, Rajshahi, and Rangpur regions.

Wholesalers in Bogura’s markets say farmers are storing onions due to dryness and quality, while large traders are stockpiling murikata onions. This storage trend is tightening supply and driving prices upward, with expectations of further increases in the coming days.

The United States has seized cryptocurrency assets worth $344 million connected to Iran, according to a statement released on Friday by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent. He announced the action through a post on social media platform X, emphasizing that the Treasury Department will continue efforts to systematically weaken Tehran’s ability to generate, transfer, and repatriate funds.

Besent added that the seizure was carried out by imposing sanctions on multiple digital wallets associated with Iran. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said that digital assets are now being targeted alongside traditional methods such as fake companies used to evade sanctions.

The announcement underscores Washington’s ongoing strategy to curb Iran’s access to international financial systems through both conventional and digital channels.

The European Union has incurred an additional $28 billion in energy import costs following the outbreak of the Iran-United States war, according to a report published on April 25, 2026. The surge in prices has forced the EU to announce a series of emergency measures to ease the mounting pressure on its energy expenditures. The European Commission stated that this marks the second major energy shock in less than five years, following the disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The International Energy Agency and the airport industry association warned that Europe, which imports about 70 percent of its aviation fuel, could face shortages within weeks. They urged EU member states to suspend aviation-related taxes to mitigate the impact of rising costs. The crisis has already affected several sectors, including fisheries, where many European fishermen have halted operations due to soaring fuel and raw material expenses.

Germany’s chemical industry association said the conflict has severely undermined the country’s economic prospects, with sales continuing to decline. The International Monetary Fund has also downgraded growth forecasts for 21 eurozone countries and the United Kingdom.

Residents of Cumilla are enduring severe power outages that have disrupted daily life across the district. According to local reports on April 25, 2026, urban areas experience four to five hours of load-shedding daily, while rural communities face 10 to 12 hours without electricity. The prolonged outages have hit children, the elderly, and students particularly hard, with SSC examinees expressing frustration over their inability to study at night. Agricultural activities have also been affected as irrigation pumps remain idle, raising fears of crop losses.

The situation has strained essential services, including rural clinics and pharmacies, where power shortages threaten the preservation of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines. Small businesses and hotels report declining sales as customers avoid going out in the heat. Officials from the Cumilla Palli Bidyut Samiti and Power Development Board cited a supply shortfall, noting that while local demand is around 1,800 megawatts, only 1,000 to 1,100 megawatts are available. Nationwide, on April 23, electricity demand reached 15,650 megawatts against production of 13,945 megawatts, forcing authorities to impose load-shedding.

Officials said they are prioritizing power supply for irrigation between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m., but rural residents continue to face long hours without electricity.

Shipping companies are now paying up to four million dollars to secure priority passage through the Panama Canal, according to the Associated Press. The sharp rise in fees follows the effective shutdown of vessel traffic through the Hormuz Strait, which has disrupted global shipping routes and forced many ships to seek alternative passages.

Normally, the Panama Canal charges fixed rates, but auction prices for priority slots have surged as demand increased. Ships rerouting to avoid the Hormuz Strait are competing for faster transit options to prevent multi-day delays, significantly raising costs.

The situation highlights the broader impact of the Hormuz crisis on global trade and shipping expenses, underscoring how regional disruptions can ripple through international supply chains.

A prolonged heatwave combined with severe power outages has disrupted daily life across Khulna and the southwestern region of Bangladesh. Since early April, residents have faced extreme heat and frequent load-shedding lasting up to 10 to 12 hours a day. According to the West Zone Power Distribution Company, on Thursday at 1 p.m., electricity demand in 21 districts under Khulna Division was 801 megawatts, while supply reached only 643 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 158 megawatts. In Khulna district alone, 44 megawatts of load-shedding was required.

The outages have severely affected businesses and households. Shopkeepers in Khulna city reported sharp declines in sales as customers avoid hot, unventilated stores. Fish sellers and other refrigeration-dependent traders are suffering losses due to spoilage. Rising fuel prices have also caused transport disruptions, with long queues at petrol stations and increased fares. Students taking the ongoing SSC exams are struggling to study amid the frequent blackouts.

Local civic group Sujan’s Khulna secretary criticized the government for failing to manage the ongoing electricity and fuel crisis, warning that the situation could worsen if not addressed soon.

In Chattogram’s Khatunganj, one of Bangladesh’s largest wholesale spice markets, prices have remained largely stable over the past two months despite increased demand ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. However, retail markets across the country have seen sudden price hikes. Retailers attribute the rise to higher transportation costs caused by a fuel crisis, which has doubled freight charges and slowed delivery times from production areas to major markets.

Traders report that while wholesale onion prices range between Tk 22 and Tk 28 per kilogram, retail prices are significantly higher, with similar gaps seen for garlic, chili, and coriander. Imported dry chili now sells at Tk 400 per kilogram, up by Tk 8–10 in two weeks, while coriander and nutmeg prices have also risen. In contrast, turmeric prices have declined slightly. Business leaders warn that if fuel and transport costs continue to rise, spice prices could surge further before Eid.

Market associations urge government monitoring to reduce the widening gap between wholesale and retail prices and prevent potential market instability.

Bangladesh has formally sought an extension of its timeline for graduating from least developed country (LDC) status, citing global financial challenges and the need for a smoother transition. The request was presented by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, during the general debate of the ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum 2026 held at the UN headquarters on Thursday. The country asked to move its graduation date from November 24, 2026, to November 24, 2029.

Bangladesh first qualified for LDC graduation in 2018 and 2021 based on three criteria—per capita income, human assets, and economic and environmental vulnerability. The original graduation date was set for 2024 but was extended to 2026 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government’s letter to the UN Committee for Development Policy highlighted domestic and international challenges, including geopolitical tensions, reduced development aid, climate impacts, trade barriers, and energy uncertainty.

The ambassador emphasized that Bangladesh is prioritizing macroeconomic stability, rebuilding business confidence, strengthening the banking sector, and expanding support for vulnerable populations to ensure a sustainable transition.

A report published on April 25, 2026, accuses the former Awami League government of widespread corruption and mismanagement in Bangladesh’s major infrastructure projects. It claims that several mega projects, including the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Padma Bridge, and Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, were marked by excessive costs, poor planning, and delays. The interim government’s white paper committee and task force found that eight major projects exceeded initial budgets by 7.52 billion dollars, citing weak planning, delays, and corruption as key causes.

The report highlights that projects such as the Karnaphuli Tunnel are operating far below expectations, incurring heavy losses and failing to deliver promised benefits. It also notes that 95 percent of these projects were financed through foreign loans, creating severe repayment pressure. The railway sector, despite massive investment, continues to suffer losses due to inefficiency and inflated costs.

According to the report, inflated construction costs, project delays, and poor design have turned many of these ventures into burdens for citizens. Projects like the Gazipur-Airport BRT and Lal Khan Bazaar-Airport Elevated Expressway remain incomplete, causing public suffering and raising questions about accountability.

Islami Bank Bangladesh, once considered the country’s top financial institution, has fallen into deep crisis following years of alleged irregularities and loan fraud linked to S Alam Group. According to the report, the group and its affiliates defaulted on Tk 57,175 crore in loans, representing 62 percent of the bank’s total non-performing loans as of December last year. The group reportedly took about Tk 70,000 crore in loans under various names, including relatives and paper-based entities, after gaining control of the bank in 2017 through an intelligence agency.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) later reported that S Alam Group’s total loans, both direct and indirect, amounted to Tk 105,483 crore. The bank has filed 24 civil and 368 criminal cases against the group, while the Anti-Corruption Commission has also initiated several cases. Islami Bank’s acting managing director said the group has not repaid its loans, and legal recovery efforts are ongoing. The bank has also signed three non-disclosure agreements with foreign entities.

After the interim government removed S Alam’s control, Islami Bank’s board was restructured, reducing total defaulted loans to Tk 92,115 crore by December. However, reports suggest S Alam is now attempting to regain influence through former employees and supporters.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that the waivers allowing purchases of Russian oil and petroleum products will not be renewed. According to an Associated Press report, Besant confirmed that no new exemptions will apply even to Russian oil currently in transit. He also ruled out any extension of time limits for Iranian oil, stating that sanctions remain in place and no oil is leaving Iran.

This decision reflects the United States’ firm energy policy aimed at maintaining pressure on both Iran and Russia. Analysts cited in the report view the move as a continuation of Washington’s broader strategy to tighten sanctions and limit the energy revenues of these two countries.

The announcement underscores the US commitment to enforcing its sanctions regime without exceptions, signaling continued economic pressure on Moscow and Tehran.