Japanese trading and investment giant Mitsui & Co. has entered into a strategic partnership with ACI Logistics Limited, the operator of Bangladesh’s largest retail chain, Shwapno. The agreement was signed on February 25, 2026, at the ACI Centre in Dhaka, attended by senior executives from both organizations. Under the deal, Mitsui, through its subsidiary, will provide a structured convertible loan facility in foreign currency to ACI Logistics, subject to legal approvals.

Mitsui & Co., a multinational enterprise with operations in over 60 countries, is recognized for its technical expertise, global sourcing capabilities, and extensive industrial experience. The partnership aims to support ACI Logistics in achieving its strategic goals, with Mitsui expressing strong confidence in Shwapno’s leadership, operational efficiency, and ability to deliver quality products and superior shopping experiences to Bangladeshi consumers.

Looking ahead, Mitsui plans to work closely with Shwapno to enhance operational excellence, governance, supply chain optimization, and sustainability within Bangladesh’s modern retail sector.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (GAKRIBI) in Gazipur has developed the country’s first high drought-tolerant inbred soybean variety named ‘GAU Soybean 6’. The innovation, led by Professor Dr. M. A. Mannan of the Department of Agronomy, marks the university’s 94th crop variety development. The National Seed Board officially released the variety on November 11, 2025, following five years of successful field evaluation in Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Bhola with support from Solidaridad Network Asia.

The variety was selected from 250 germplasms collected from Taiwan, Bangladesh, and South Korea after three years of testing. It can withstand severe drought conditions at 50–60% field capacity and yield 3.2–3.8 tons per hectare. Each plant produces 80–100 pods, and the seeds weigh about 230 grams per 1,000. Its low trypsin content enhances protein absorption in poultry feed, making it valuable for the poultry industry. The crop matures in about three months, offering farmers higher returns in less time.

University officials described the innovation as a milestone for sustainable agriculture, with potential to strengthen food security and improve farmer livelihoods in drought-prone coastal regions.

China has announced plans to increase its investment in Bangladesh, citing the country’s current political stability. The decision was conveyed by Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon. The minister urged Chinese investors to expand their ventures in Bangladesh, emphasizing the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations.

During the meeting, both sides discussed enhancing cooperation in security, law enforcement, cybercrime prevention, police training, and trade. The ambassador noted that around 10,000 Chinese nationals are working in various sectors in Bangladesh and stressed the importance of maintaining law and order to support investment growth. He also invited Bangladesh to join China’s proposed International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud.

The Home Minister directed officials to review the expired memorandum on law enforcement training cooperation and informed the ambassador of his intention to visit China at a convenient time. Senior officials from the ministry and the Chinese embassy attended the meeting.

The Hollywood horror-thriller film 'Scream 7' is set for a global release on February 27, 2026, including screenings at Star Cineplex in Bangladesh. The film, directed by Kevin Williamson, continues the long-running 'Scream' franchise that began in 1996. It follows the story of Sidney Prescott, who has built a new life in Pine Grove, Indiana, only to face a new Ghostface killer targeting her daughter. The cast includes Neve Campbell, Jasmine Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Courteney Cox.

'Scream 7' blends modern horror with classic slasher elements, focusing on relationships, past confrontations, and a new killer. The project underwent creative restructuring after directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, departed in 2023. Filming took place from January to March 2025. Deadline Hollywood reported on February 5, 2026, that the film is expected to perform strongly at the box office, potentially becoming the franchise’s second-highest domestic opening after 'Scream 6'.

Fans speculate that this could be the final chapter of the series, though future sequels remain possible if the film achieves major success.

A Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) study has identified mustard cultivation as a promising way to reduce the economic risks faced by farmers in the haor wetlands, who rely almost entirely on boro rice. Frequent early floods often destroy the single annual crop, leaving farmers in debt and uncertainty. The research suggests that short-duration mustard can be grown on fallow land between the recession of floodwaters and the start of boro planting, allowing farmers to harvest an additional crop and lessen financial vulnerability.

The project, led by Professor A. K. M. Mominul Islam and supported by Professor Md. Parvez Anwar, has been running since 2023 under BAURES with funding from City Bank. Trials in Kishoreganj’s Mithamain area found that the BINA Sarisha-9 variety sown on November 20 produced the highest yield, while subsequent boro rice crops also performed strongly. Researchers noted that about 40% of haor land remains unused in the rabi season, and integrating mustard could make farming more profitable and resilient.

Field results and farmer feedback indicate growing interest in mustard cultivation, though challenges remain due to uneven water recession and unsuitable lowland plots.

Mostakur Rahman has been appointed as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank, replacing Ahsan H. Mansur. The appointment was confirmed through an official notification issued on Wednesday. Rahman is a Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) with over 33 years of post-qualification experience and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Dhaka.

He has been associated with several professional and industry organizations, including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Rahman has served on various key committees within these bodies and has worked closely with regulatory institutions such as Bangladesh Bank and the Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited.

As an entrepreneur and senior financial governance expert, Rahman brings more than three decades of leadership experience in corporate finance, export economy, and financial management. His background includes oversight in manufacturing, real estate, and agribusiness sectors, emphasizing financial planning, investment supervision, and governance frameworks.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur said on Wednesday that recent protests and unrest among some central bank officials were being fueled by a vested group seeking to undermine government policy decisions. Speaking at an emergency press conference at the bank’s headquarters, he stated that the recent administrative actions, including staff transfers and show-cause notices, were aimed at preserving institutional and financial stability, not serving personal interests.

Mansur explained that the government and the central bank jointly provided Tk 32,000 crore in support to stabilize seven banks, protecting around 7.6 million depositors. He said the measures, including equity support and special funds for exporters, were restoring stability in the sector. The governor defended the temporary transfers of some officials following social media misinformation and said further actions would depend on their responses.

He dismissed calls to cancel contractual appointments, noting such practices existed before. Mansur added that the bank’s CSR fund of Tk 450–500 crore was being distributed to educational and medical institutions and that the central bank earned Tk 24,000 crore in profit last fiscal year.

Mostakur Rahman, a professor in the Accounting Department at the University of Chittagong, is set to become the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. The appointment, reported by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday afternoon, will replace Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, who currently holds the position.

Dr. Mansur had been appointed as governor by the interim government following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration. He had succeeded former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder at that time. The latest change marks another transition in the leadership of the central bank amid ongoing adjustments in the country’s financial administration.

The report did not specify when Mostakur Rahman will formally assume office or the reasons behind the leadership change at Bangladesh Bank.

Officials and employees of Bangladesh Bank have warned they will begin a symbolic pen-down strike from Thursday if their demands, including withdrawal of show-cause notices and transfers of three officials, are not met. The announcement came Wednesday during a protest meeting held under the banner of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council at the central bank’s 30-storey building. Council president A.K.M. Masum Billah declared that if the demands remain unfulfilled, they will escalate their movement to demand the resignation of Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur.

Speakers at the protest accused the governor of authoritarian behavior and ignoring repeated appeals from staff. They alleged that contractual appointments have increased while effective economic policies remain absent, and that the governor’s remarks have negatively affected the banking sector. Director and assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui and executive director Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury both urged the governor to accept the employees’ legitimate demands.

If the issues are not resolved by Thursday, officials plan to hold further discussions on Sunday to decide their next course of action.

Erosion has begun along the eastern bank of the Jamuna River in Jotpara area of Chauhali upazila, Sirajganj, as water levels start to recede. The erosion, reportedly caused by the movement of sand-laden bulkheads, has put a Tk 107 crore embankment built in 2016 by the Tangail Water Development Board at serious risk. Local residents have staged repeated protests demanding a halt to bulkhead movement to protect the riverbank and the upazila headquarters.

According to the report, over 500 homesteads and farmlands, as well as the upazila parishad, educational institutions, union councils, and local markets, are under threat. The area remains geographically isolated due to poor communication and recurring river erosion. Residents claim that unrestricted bulkhead traffic is the main cause of the current erosion.

Authorities have intervened to stop bulkhead movement after locals gathered to block the river route. Police and administrative officials confirmed that operations were halted, though a few bulkheads remain stranded due to navigability issues.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested a Tk 14,000 crore soft loan from Bangladesh Bank to address a severe cash shortage ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. The appeal was made during a meeting with Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, attended by deputy governors and BGMEA leaders. BGMEA Vice President Shihab Udduja Chowdhury said the funds are needed to cover two months of wages and bonuses for workers, and the governor responded positively to the proposal.

BGMEA cited multiple challenges, including political instability, labor unrest, the 2024 movement, election-related uncertainty, and tariff issues, which have led to seven consecutive months of negative export growth. The association also urged the release of pending export incentives worth about Tk 5,700 crore to improve cash flow. Bangladesh Bank data show that Tk 2,500 crore in incentives has been disbursed so far in fiscal year 2025–26.

BGMEA proposed that the loan be repayable over 12 months with a three-month grace period, a 7% interest rate, and expansion of the pre-shipment credit refinancing scheme to Tk 10,000 crore until 2030. The group warned that delays in payments could trigger unrest and urged swift government action to protect workers and sustain the industry.

Farmers under the Aricha Kashadah Irrigation Project in Shibalaya, Manikganj, are facing fears of an irrigation crisis during the peak Irri-Boro cultivation season. The concern arises after large sandbars emerged in the Jamuna River, obstructing water flow to the project area. The project, launched on December 1, 1979, by Shahid President Ziaur Rahman under a canal excavation program, initially irrigated 1,500 acres using 20 power pumps. Currently, only three pumps remain operational, barely sustaining the system.

The project, which has supported around 2,000 farmers across 12 villages for 46 years, provides low-cost irrigation with iron-free river water, preserving soil fertility. Despite government investments of about 210 million taka for canal re-excavation and infrastructure upgrades, siltation and riverbed rise have severely reduced water availability. Farmers and local leaders warn that without dredging the newly formed sandbars, Boro cultivation could halt, leading to food shortages in the area.

Shibalaya Upazila Executive Officer Monisha Rani Karmakar said the site has been inspected and priority projects will be initiated in consultation with the agriculture department to address the crisis.

Severe rainfall in Brazil’s southeastern Minas Gerais state has caused devastating floods, killing at least 23 people and leaving more than 40 missing, according to local authorities. The worst-hit area is Juiz de Fora municipality, where 18 deaths have been confirmed. Rescue teams are searching for survivors trapped under mud and debris, while nearby Ubá city reported seven additional fatalities. At least 440 residents have been displaced as floodwaters and landslides destroyed homes and infrastructure.

Juiz de Fora’s mayor, Margarida Salomão, said the city experienced over 180 millimeters of rain in just four hours, triggering at least 20 landslides. She described the event as the most tragic day of her administration. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged full government support, emphasizing humanitarian aid, restoration of essential services, and assistance for displaced families.

The national meteorological agency warned that rainfall may continue in the coming days, potentially complicating ongoing rescue and relief operations across the affected regions.

The government will launch the Family Card program on March 10 as part of the BNP’s election pledge, initially covering one union in each of 14 upazilas. The decision was made at a committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division, according to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the program in Bogura, and the initiative will gradually expand nationwide.

After the meeting, Social Welfare Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain said the program aims to empower women by providing Tk 2,500 per card. He emphasized that the distribution will be free from political or religious bias. The rollout will begin on a limited scale, expanding from one ward to full unions and eventually to all upazilas across the country.

The meeting was attended by several senior ministers and advisers, including the finance and planning minister, local government state minister, and cabinet secretary, reflecting the government’s coordinated approach to implementing the Family Card initiative.

Prices of essential commodities in Rangpur city have sharply increased since the start of Ramadan, causing distress among low-income and working-class residents. Consumers allege that traders have formed syndicates to manipulate prices in the absence of effective market monitoring. Field visits to several municipal markets revealed significant price hikes in almost all Ramadan-related goods, particularly dates, chickpeas, spices, and poultry.

Buyers report that traders are charging arbitrary prices, with some varieties of dates selling two to three times higher than last month. Local traders attribute the rise to reduced supply, higher wholesale prices, and increased transport costs. The price of local chicken has doubled, while vegetables, lemons, and spices have also seen steep increases. Consumers demand stronger oversight of wholesale markets to prevent manipulation.

Officials from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection stated that monitoring drives will continue throughout Ramadan, warning of fines and legal action against price gouging. The Rangpur district administration confirmed that executive magistrates are conducting inspections to ensure fair pricing for consumers.