Bangladesh Bank has paid $1.37 billion to settle the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) bill for the January–February period, according to Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The payment was made on Sunday, and as a result, the country’s foreign exchange reserves are expected to drop below $35 billion.

As of March 5, Bangladesh’s gross reserves stood at $35.49 billion, while the BPM6-based reserve was $30.76 billion. The central bank typically settles ACU obligations from its reserves, leading to a temporary decline after each payment. In previous cycles, Bangladesh paid $1.53 billion for November–December, $1.61 billion for September–October, and $1.50 billion for the preceding two months.

The Asian Clearing Union is a regional payment arrangement among nine central banks in Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, and the Maldives. It facilitates settlement of import and export transactions among member countries every two months.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power and Energy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, announced that electricity prices will not rise for now, despite public fears fueled by opposition claims linking potential hikes to the ongoing war. Speaking at an event organized by the Northern Region Student Forum at the National Press Club on Sunday, he said the country’s fuel reserves are increasing as two oil tankers have anchored to deliver supplies.

The minister explained that one tanker has already anchored and another was expected later in the day, which will further boost reserves. However, he emphasized that rationing will continue until the war ends to ensure sustainable consumption. He urged citizens and party members to remain vigilant against fuel smuggling and black-market activities.

Tuku reiterated that although reserves are improving, prudent management is essential to maintain stability until supply chains normalize. The government aims to balance fuel availability with responsible usage during the uncertain duration of the conflict.

A massive fire continued to burn for nearly ten hours at Tehran’s fuel storage tanks following an Israeli strike, according to BBC Persian. The blaze, which began overnight, has filled the skies over large parts of the Iranian capital with thick black smoke. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities have not yet brought the fire under control.

Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization has urged residents to stay indoors and avoid open spaces due to severe air pollution. The Iranian Red Crescent issued a warning about possible acid rain, explaining that explosions at the oil depot released large quantities of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. The agency cautioned that any resulting rainfall could be highly dangerous and acidic.

The Red Crescent advised citizens to avoid rubbing skin exposed to such rain, to rinse affected areas with cold water, and to change any wet clothing immediately, sealing it in a closed bag to prevent further exposure.

The government will ensure that workers receive their wages and bonuses before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Sunday. He made the statement after a meeting on law and order held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, which also discussed preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr and Independence Day.

The minister said the discussions focused on maintaining law and order during the Eid period, particularly in the garment sector and road transport, to ensure a smooth and comfortable holiday journey. Two separate meetings were held to address these issues. To coordinate efforts, the additional inspector general of industrial police has been designated as the focal point to work with BGMEA, labor representatives, and transport authorities.

The government’s coordinated approach aims to prevent disruptions and ensure public comfort during the festive season, according to the minister’s briefing.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said that irregularities and corruption in the environmental sector will no longer be tolerated. He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to journalists at the Feni Circuit House. The minister warned that anyone involved in such misconduct will be held accountable. He also announced that the traditional method of brick production using burnt clay will be phased out, with a gradual shift toward environmentally friendly block bricks.

Mintoo emphasized the government’s firm stance on protecting the environment and improving public living standards. He said a 180-day special action plan has been adopted to combat climate change impacts, including a nationwide tree-planting campaign from May to August. Expressing concern over Dhaka’s severe air pollution, he noted that it ranks among the worst globally and harms both public health and the economy.

The minister stressed that reducing pollution is a collective national responsibility, not just a government task. He urged transparency and accountability in all development activities to ensure genuine progress across the country.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new guideline to implement the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model in the country's banking sector, aligning loan risk management and financial reporting with international standards. The central bank announced that the new system, based on the International Financial Reporting Standard IFRS-9, will take effect in 2028. Under this framework, banks must set aside provisions for potential loan losses before loans actually turn bad, replacing the current practice of provisioning after losses occur.

According to the guideline, loans will be classified into three stages depending on risk level, with provisions calculated for 12-month or lifetime expected losses. The new approach will also adjust interest income recognition based on loan risk, providing a more accurate reflection of banks’ income and exposure. Bangladesh Bank has allowed an additional five years for capital adjustment to ease the transition.

The guideline marks the first comprehensive step by Bangladesh Bank to implement IFRS-9, following a 2020 directive from the Financial Reporting Council. Several South Asian countries have already adopted similar standards.

The government of Bangladesh has introduced a monthly honorarium program for imams, muezzins, priests, monks, pastors, and other religious service workers across the country. The pilot phase, to begin before Eid-ul-Fitr, will cover 6,438 mosques, temples, Buddhist monasteries, and churches. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration, Md. Ismail Jabiuallah, at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Dhaka.

Under the plan, imams will receive Tk 5,000 per month, muezzins Tk 3,000, and mosque caretakers Tk 2,000. Priests, monks, and pastors will receive similar amounts according to their roles. Additionally, religious workers will get festival bonuses of Tk 1,000 for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, and Tk 2,000 for Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima, and Christmas. The pilot phase will cost about Tk 27.13 crore, to be disbursed through Sonali Bank by March 15.

The government plans to expand the scheme nationwide over four fiscal years, with an estimated annual cost of Tk 4,400 crore by 2029–30. A six-member committee has been formed to draft policy guidelines and recommend measures for skill development and job security of religious workers.

Bangladesh’s Food, Fisheries and Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government will take initiatives to export food items to Japan. He made the statement on Sunday after a meeting at the Secretariat with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by Chief Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide. The meeting discussed the JICA-funded Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project and the possibility of introducing a unified food business licensing system similar to those in Japan and ASEAN countries.

The project, worth Tk 2,409.70 crore over ten years, aims to strengthen food safety testing capacity in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna through the establishment of a Food Safety Reference Laboratory, two regional testing labs, and a training facility. The minister emphasized that achieving international food safety standards would make food exports easier and called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure safe food from production to consumption.

He thanked JICA for its financial support and expressed optimism that the project’s successful implementation would bring discipline to the country’s food management system.

Bangladeshi musician Haider Hossain has dismissed rumors of his death that spread on social media last Saturday evening. Several Facebook groups and pages circulated fake photo cards, some even using the names of news outlets. The artist spoke to the media, saying he was embarrassed by the situation and had been receiving nonstop phone calls. He confirmed that he is healthy and described the rumors as undesirable and inappropriate.

The false reports caused widespread concern among his fans, prompting Haider Hossain to clarify the matter himself. A few years earlier, he had made headlines due to health complications. In June 2022, he was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack and had a stent placed in his heart. Haider Hossain is a significant figure in Bangladesh’s band music history, co-founding the band Winning and later collaborating with pop icon Azam Khan.

The incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread online, especially regarding public figures, and underscores the need for responsible social media behavior.

Maize cultivation in Sherpur’s Sreebordi upazila has reached record levels this season, with 1,315 hectares brought under cultivation across ten unions—an increase of about 600 hectares from last year. Favorable weather conditions have raised expectations of a bumper harvest, according to local agricultural officials. Farmers in key unions such as Kakilakura, Velua, Sreebordi Sadar, and Tatihati have led the expansion.

Officials noted that rising demand for maize as food, livestock, and poultry feed, along with its relatively low susceptibility to pests, has encouraged farmers to shift from rice to maize. Farmers reported average yields of 30 to 35 maunds per bigha, with production costs around 25,000 taka per bigha. They also use maize stalks as fuel and leaves as cattle feed, making the crop more profitable than rice.

However, some farmers complained that fertilizer shortages and high DAP prices could reduce profits. The upazila agriculture officer described maize as a highly profitable crop with low maintenance needs and said its cultivation is likely to continue increasing if its diverse uses expand further.

Eight fuel-carrying ships transporting LNG, LPG, and chemical products have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and Chattogram Port after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Four of the vessels have already anchored at the outer mooring, while the remaining four are expected to arrive by March 14. The Chattogram Port Authority confirmed the arrivals on Sunday, noting that the ships successfully passed through the Hormuz Strait on February 28, before the onset of conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

According to port sources, the shipments include LNG carriers from Qatar’s Ras Laffan Port and LPG and chemical carriers from Oman’s Sohar Port. The vessels Al Zour, Al Jasassiya, Lusail, and others brought tens of thousands of tons of LNG and LPG. Two Liberia-flagged ships carrying LNG are also due to dock on March 11 and 14. The port authority stated that fuel vessels are being given priority for berthing and unloading to ensure timely handling.

The arrival of these ships is part of a total of 15 vessels that recently entered Bangladesh’s waters carrying energy and industrial raw materials.

In Dinajpur’s Khansama upazila, the age-old practice of plowing fields with bulls is rapidly disappearing as modern agricultural machinery takes over. Once a common sight across rural Bangladesh, the bond between farmers and their cattle symbolized the country’s agrarian heritage. Today, tractors and power tillers dominate the fields, leaving only a few farmers still using bulls for plowing.

The shift reflects the broader transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture through technological advancement. While modern tools have made farming faster and easier, they have also displaced traditional methods that were integral to rural life and culture. Agricultural experts note that bull-driven plowing remains an important part of the nation’s farming history and cultural identity.

Some observers believe that alongside embracing new technology, efforts should be made to preserve this traditional practice as a living symbol of Bangladesh’s rural heritage.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that while the country’s overall default loans fell by Tk 870 billion in the last quarter of the previous year, five merged banks saw their non-performing loans rise by Tk 65 billion. The combined default loans of these banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Global Islami, and Union Bank—reached Tk 1.66 trillion, accounting for 84.22 percent of their total loans.

Officials attributed the increase to financial misconduct by former bank leaders Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Saiful Alam, who allegedly took large sums under various names and failed to repay. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit reported that S. Alam Group alone withdrew Tk 1.02 trillion from these banks. Persistent liquidity shortages and capital deficits led the government to merge the five institutions.

Bangladesh Bank has been working for a year on the merger, including legal and policy preparations, asset and liability reviews, and simulation exercises for a new state-owned Shariah-based bank. The merged entity will have Tk 350 billion in paid-up capital, of which Tk 200 billion will come from the government and Tk 150 billion from deposit-to-share conversions.

A sudden and severe shortage of petrol and octane has hit filling stations across Barishal city and surrounding areas since late Friday night. Motorists have been forced to return empty-handed as most stations display signs announcing the unavailability of fuel. Long queues formed at the few stations with limited supplies, leading to frustration and altercations between drivers and station staff.

Station owners attribute the crisis to panic buying, saying drivers are purchasing three to four times their usual fuel needs amid fears of a broader shortage linked to conflict in the Middle East. Some customers, however, accuse station owners of hoarding fuel for profit. Managers at several stations confirmed that petrol and octane stocks were depleted by Friday night, leaving only diesel available.

Officials from Meghna Petroleum’s Barishal depot said the shortage resulted from excessive demand rather than supply failure and assured that the situation should normalize within a few days once new shipments arrive.

At least 15 ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and raw materials for the cement industry have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Twelve of the vessels have already arrived at Chattogram Port, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The ships managed to pass through the strait just before it was closed following a joint Israel–United States attack on Iran.

According to port and energy officials, the vessels include four carrying LNG, two with LPG, and nine transporting cement raw materials such as clinker, gypsum, limestone and stone. The arrivals have eased concerns over potential fuel shortages amid regional tensions. One LPG ship named Sevan arrived from Oman’s Sohar Port with 22,172 tons of LPG, while another, GYMM, carried 19,316 tons. Two LNG carriers, Al Zour and Al Jassaniya, arrived from Qatar with about 126,000 tons of LNG. Additional ships are expected from Qatar and other Gulf ports in the coming days.

Officials cautioned that risks remain, as two LNG carriers and one crude oil vessel are still stranded beyond the Hormuz Strait.