The Bangladesh government has decided to hire a British law firm to represent it in an international arbitration case filed by S Alam Group founder Saiful Alam and his family. The case is being heard at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under the World Bank. The firm will be paid an hourly fee of 1,250 US dollars. The decision was approved on Tuesday at a meeting of the government’s advisory committee on public procurement, chaired by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.

Following the meeting, Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the S Alam family had filed a case in London challenging the government’s actions related to alleged money laundering. He said the arbitration notice from ICSID required a formal response from Bangladesh and described the matter as complex. He confirmed that the government would appoint a British firm but did not recall its name.

The arbitration case was filed in October last year, alleging that Bangladesh’s seizure and punitive actions over alleged money laundering caused losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the S Alam family. The family claims protection as Singaporean citizens under international investment law and Bangladesh’s 1980 Foreign Private Investment Act.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the interim government has already arranged the necessary funds to implement the new pay scale, ensuring that future elected administrations will find it difficult to reverse the decision. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the Advisory Council on Procurement at the Secretariat, noting that implementation may take some time.

Discussing the government’s financial management, the adviser said the interim administration has worked to leave behind a relatively stable economic foundation for the next government. He explained that the fragile economic situation that emerged after August 5, 2024, had been largely stabilized over the past one and a half years. On the upcoming referendum, he said the government has allocated funds in the budget for its organization but is not supporting any specific outcome. He added that election expenses are higher this time due to the referendum.

Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that several unnecessary projects initiated by the previous government were discontinued, temporarily reducing employment. However, he described these measures as necessary for maintaining long-term economic balance.

The government of Bangladesh has approved separate proposals to purchase about 210,000 tonnes of fertilizer from various sources to meet farmers’ demand. The approval came on Tuesday during the fifth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

According to the decisions, the committee approved the import of 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer from Morocco’s OCP Nutrécrops under the 11th optional lot at a cost of Tk 319.51 crore, priced at USD 651 per tonne. It also approved two separate proposals to import 30,000 tonnes each of TSP fertilizer from the same supplier under the 17th and 18th lots, each costing Tk 184.53 crore. Additionally, 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer will be imported from Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden Company under the first lot of 2026 for Tk 323.92 crore.

Further approvals include 30,000 tonnes of bagged granular urea from Bangladesh’s KAFCO for Tk 153.08 crore and 40,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea from Saudi Arabia’s SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company for Tk 205.31 crore. Officials said these imports will ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply for farmers and support food security.

Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, the largest urea producer in Bangladesh, has resumed production after a temporary shutdown. The production restarted on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m., according to factory sources. Operations are currently running at 75 percent capacity due to low gas pressure, with plans to gradually return to full capacity once gas supply improves.

Factory General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque stated that production was restarted despite the risk of low gas pressure, considering the demand during the agricultural season. The decision was made to keep the plant operational on a limited scale to meet fertilizer needs.

Earlier, on January 22, the factory’s booster tripped when gas pressure dropped to 8 kilograms, forcing a complete shutdown of urea production for safety reasons. The resumption aims to stabilize fertilizer supply during the ongoing farming period.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced that users must cancel the registration of their mobile phones before transferring or selling them. The directive follows the full implementation of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system, which became fully operational on January 1. According to a notice from BTRC’s Spectrum Division, the NEIR aims to ensure transparency and security in mobile phone management across the country.

BTRC stated that all active mobile phones on the national network have been automatically registered under the NEIR system. The initiative is designed to curb the use of illegal and stolen mobile devices. The commission further clarified that deregistration is also required when changing SIM cards or transferring a registered phone to another user. The process requires the last four digits of the national ID or passport number used during SIM purchase.

For more information, users are advised to visit neir.btrc.gov.bd, call the BTRC helpline at 100, or seek assistance from customer care centers of mobile operators.

Energy and power sector experts in Bangladesh have called for a national consensus to address the country’s worsening electricity and fuel crisis. Speaking at a seminar organized by Just Energy News in Dhaka, they said that despite surplus generation capacity, the sector faces severe financial and structural pressure due to high costs, import dependence, dollar shortages, subsidy burdens, and weak governance. They urged the new government to take immediate steps alongside realistic and sustainable long-term planning.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jalal Ahmed attributed the crisis to long neglect of primary energy and limited LNG import capacity. Former BUET professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain noted that 97–98% of Bangladesh’s energy relies on fossil fuels, with 60% imported, creating economic strain. Other speakers, including former Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and economists Mushtaq Hossain Khan and M. Tamim, highlighted institutional corruption, inefficient contracts, and policy failures as key causes. They warned that without transparency and reform, losses exceeding Tk 50,000 crore annually could persist.

Participants emphasized that political unity, transparency, and public awareness are essential for sustainable energy security and economic stability.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced another increase in gold prices within less than six hours. In a notice issued on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the association set the new price of 22-carat gold at Tk 262,090 per bhori, marking a rise of Tk 10,906. The revised rate took effect from 4 p.m. the same day.

According to the BAJUS statement, the adjustment was made due to a rise in the price of pure gold in the local market. The organization stated that the new rate reflects the overall market situation and the recent increase in the cost of raw gold.

The rapid price revision within such a short period highlights volatility in the domestic gold market, influenced by fluctuations in the price of pure gold as reported by BAJUS.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, offering 13,559 permanent positions across eight job categories. The online application process began on February 3, 2026, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 19, 2026. Applicants must submit educational certificates, national ID information, a color photograph, and a signature image through the official website https://ngi.teletalk.com.bd. The application fee is set at 223 taka.

According to the circular, both new and experienced candidates may apply depending on the position requirements. The recruitment is for permanent government service under the NTRCA. Specific details regarding age limits and salary grades will follow the official circular. The announcement was originally published on January 29, 2026, and further information is available on the NTRCA website at https://ntrca.gov.bd.

The recruitment drive aims to fill a large number of teaching positions nationwide, providing opportunities for qualified individuals to join the education sector under permanent government employment.

Workers at Chattogram Port began a 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday morning, protesting the government’s decision regarding the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) agreement and demanding cancellation of transfer orders for several employees. The strike, organized by the Bandar Raksha Sangram Parishad, follows three consecutive days of eight-hour daily work stoppages. The announcement was made Monday by coordinator Md. Humayun Kabir at the port building premises.

Since the strike began, no workers have reported for duty, and truck and lorry movement through the main gate has ceased, halting import-export operations. The port has faced growing congestion, with 35 mother vessels anchored offshore carrying essential goods. Private depots under the port’s jurisdiction have also experienced severe operational slowdowns. Business groups expressed concern over mounting economic losses and urged immediate resolution through dialogue or other means.

Labor leaders accused the government of handing over key port facilities to foreign entities, specifically DP World, and claimed that authorities were taking punitive actions instead of engaging in discussions. They vowed to continue the movement until the government withdraws from the NCT deal and cancels the transfer orders.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued the Fisheries Protection and Conservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, amending the 1950 law to prohibit fishing using electricity or electrofishing devices in any river, canal, or waterbody. The ordinance was promulgated by the President under Article 93(1) of the Constitution and took immediate effect. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the ordinance, confirmed by the ministry’s public relations officer Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim.

The amendment expands the legal definition of “waterbody” to include rivers, streams, estuaries, canals, haors, baors, lakes, floodplains, ponds, dighis, enclosures, and seasonally submerged wetlands. It also introduces explicit bans on using explosives or electric devices for fishing and allows strict legal action against violators. A new provision authorizes the government to declare “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures” (OECMs) to protect aquatic biodiversity beyond designated protected areas.

The ordinance empowers the government to take necessary steps to prevent damage to inland and coastal aquatic ecosystems and to issue directives for sustainable fisheries management, aiming to preserve fish resources and ecological balance.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued a new ordinance transferring all existing private Export Processing Zones (EPZs) under the direct control of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). The 'Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zone (Repeal) Ordinance, 2026' was published in the official gazette by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. The announcement was confirmed by the ministry’s public relations officer, Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim.

Under the new ordinance, the 1996 law governing private EPZs has been repealed, and all such zones will now be recognized as private economic zones under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010. Existing licenses will remain valid, and bonded and concessional facilities will continue. The ordinance also dissolves the former Governor Board and Executive Cell, transferring their staff to BEZA while retaining their employment conditions. Ongoing legal proceedings involving the dissolved bodies will now fall under BEZA’s jurisdiction.

The government stated that the 1996 law was originally enacted to promote private investment and export trade but has now been repealed considering current needs. The ordinance takes immediate effect.

An indefinite strike has been declared at Chattogram Port demanding cancellation of the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company and withdrawal of mass transfer orders for employees. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by Md. Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Port Protection Struggle Council, who stated that the strike would continue until their demands are met. Another coordinator, Md. Humayun Kabir, said the movement would persist as long as the government does not withdraw from the lease process.

The strike follows three consecutive days of partial work stoppages and a 24-hour program earlier on Tuesday. Port operations have come to a standstill, halting import deliveries, container handling, and cargo vehicle movement, though lighter vessel unloading at outer anchorage remains normal. Leaders and activists from the Nationalist Workers Party and SKOP are participating in the protest.

Port authorities have transferred at least 16 employees, including Humayun Kabir, to other ports for participating in the movement. The ongoing disruption has raised concern among business communities and stakeholders over the paralysis of the country’s main seaport.

The government of Bangladesh will sell milk, eggs, beef, and dressed broiler chicken at subsidized prices throughout the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The initiative, jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Livestock Services, aims to ensure affordable access to animal protein for the general public. According to a ministry press release issued on Tuesday, the program will run for 26 days—from the day before Ramadan until the 25th of Ramadan—through mobile sales centers.

Under the plan, dressed broiler chicken will be sold at Tk 245 per kilogram, pasteurized milk at Tk 80 per liter, eggs at Tk 8 each, and beef at Tk 650 per kilogram. The ministry held a meeting on February 1, chaired by adviser Farida Akhter, to finalize measures for maintaining steady supply and stable prices of meat, milk, and eggs during Ramadan.

Initially, 25 key locations in Dhaka and city corporation areas have been selected for the mobile sales operation, including Secretariat, Farmgate, Mirpur, Azimpur, Uttara, and others. The number of outlets will gradually increase in coordination with local authorities and entrepreneurs.

A major uncertainty has emerged over the government’s plan to dissolve the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and create two separate divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Implementation. Although the Administrative Reorganization Implementation Committee, chaired by the Chief Adviser, approved the proposal on January 20, no gazette notification has been issued to set an effective date. Officials expressed concern that the absence of such a notification has stalled the process, with administrative reluctance reportedly growing amid an election atmosphere and anticipation of a new government.

An NBR official said the necessary administrative cooperation was lacking, pushing the initiative into uncertainty. The interim government’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan had earlier stated that the restructuring would be completed by mid-February, but that timeline has not been met. The reform process had already faced strong internal resistance, including strikes and protests by NBR staff, leading to disciplinary actions and investigations.

Officials now doubt whether the incoming government will implement the plan, as policy priorities may differ. Some believe donor pressure, including IMF loan conditions, could influence the eventual decision.

At least 30 people have died in Japan over the past two weeks due to record levels of heavy snowfall, government officials confirmed on Tuesday. Among the victims was a 91-year-old woman found buried under nearly three meters of snow outside her home. The northern Aomori Prefecture has been the hardest hit, prompting the central government to deploy military forces to help manage the situation, as some remote areas remain buried under up to 4.5 meters of snow.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, directing all ministries to take preventive measures against snow-related accidents and fatalities. Authorities said strong cold airflows along the Sea of Japan coast have caused snowfall more than double the usual levels. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that snow-related incidents since January 20 have resulted in 30 deaths.

Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said military assistance was requested to support elderly residents living alone with snow removal. He warned that the risk of roof collapses and snow slides remains extremely high as temperatures fluctuate.