Consumers across Bangladesh are facing an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as prices have soared far above official rates. Cylinders that cost Tk 1,253 only days earlier were sold on Friday for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,500, yet many areas still reported no availability. Retailers said dealers were not supplying gas, while several Dhaka neighborhoods also reported severe pipeline gas shortages. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) of failing to monitor the market, allowing manipulation to flourish.

CAB’s vice president said suppliers and retailers were exploiting the situation while the government focused on elections. The LPG Distributors Association blamed most companies for halting supply, leaving only a few active and charging extra. BERC has written to the LPG Operators of Bangladesh (LOAB) demanding enforcement of the fixed December price of Tk 1,253 per 12-kg cylinder. LOAB officials cited a 40% drop in December imports due to global shipping disruptions and higher costs.

BERC is expected to announce new LPG prices on January 4, after reviewing import cost data submitted by companies.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur river route have been temporarily suspended due to dense fog. According to the Narsinghpur BIWTC terminal authorities, the suspension began at 1 a.m. on Friday, January 2, to prevent possible accidents caused by poor visibility. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed the decision, citing safety concerns for vessels navigating the fog-covered river.

Md. Iqbal Hossain, Deputy Manager of the BIWTC Narsinghpur ferry terminal, stated that visibility on the river and surrounding areas had dropped significantly, increasing the risk of accidents. As a precaution, ferry movement was halted until conditions improve. He also confirmed that no ferries were stranded mid-river during the suspension.

The Shariatpur-Chandpur route is considered an important communication link for the southern region of Bangladesh, currently served by six ferries of varying sizes. Authorities said ferry operations will resume once the fog clears and visibility returns to normal levels.

Bangladesh set a new record in 2025 by sending more than 750,000 workers to Saudi Arabia, the highest number ever deployed to a single country in one year, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). BMET Additional Director General Ashraf Hossain confirmed the figure, noting that over 1.1 million Bangladeshi workers went abroad in total during the year, with more than two-thirds choosing Saudi Arabia as their destination.

BMET data show a 16 percent increase in worker deployment to Saudi Arabia compared to 2024, when about 628,000 workers went there. Currently, around 3.5 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, sending home over five billion dollars in remittances annually. Authorities said recent years have seen a focus on sending more skilled workers, strengthened by the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Skill Verification Program in Bangladesh in 2023.

A new employment agreement signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in October aims to enhance worker protection, wage systems, welfare, and healthcare. The deal is expected to create around 300,000 new job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in 2026, particularly under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 construction projects.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that up to five cold waves may sweep across the country during January, with temperatures possibly dropping to as low as four degrees Celsius. Director Md. Mominul Islam stated that two to three of these cold waves are expected to be mild to moderate, ranging between 8–10°C and 6–8°C, while one or two could be moderate to severe, between 6–8°C and 4–6°C.

According to the forecast, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal this month, and the country’s major rivers are expected to maintain normal water flow. The five-day weather outlook indicates dry conditions nationwide with partly cloudy skies and widespread fog, particularly from midnight to morning, which may persist until noon in some areas.

Dense fog may temporarily disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road communication. The mild cold wave currently affecting several districts could expand further, and temperatures in various regions are expected to drop slightly in the coming days.

Bangladesh’s government has confirmed that no illegal or cloned mobile phones will be deactivated within the next 90 days following the official launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on January 1. The clarification came from Faez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, who addressed public confusion over multiple phone registrations under single national IDs.

Tayyeb explained that the NEIR system, which links all mobile devices’ IMEI numbers to a national database, received over three billion data sets from operators, including historical records. This caused some users’ national IDs to show an unusually high number of active devices. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and mobile operators are jointly working to archive old data and display only currently active handsets. He also noted that the system had been initially developed in 2021 and recently upgraded with additional features.

According to the government, the NEIR will help identify stolen and illegal phones, raise public awareness, and allow citizens to monitor SIM and device usage linked to their national IDs, enhancing transparency and security in mobile communications.

Bangladesh Bank has reported that the country's foreign currency reserves stand at 33.18 billion US dollars. The figure was released on Friday, February 2, based on the central bank’s latest data. The information provides an updated view of the nation’s reserve position at the beginning of 2026.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) standard, Bangladesh’s reserves currently amount to 28.51 billion US dollars. The difference between the two figures reflects the variation in calculation methods used by the central bank and the IMF.

The report highlights the ongoing monitoring of Bangladesh’s reserve levels by both domestic and international institutions, underscoring the importance of transparency in financial reporting.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Shipping Agent Licensing Regulations 2025, introducing several procedural relaxations. According to a notification released on December 30 and announced on Friday, applicants will no longer need prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of shipping agent licenses per customs station. This change is expected to allow licensing authorities to issue licenses more quickly.

Under the new regulations, applicants are no longer required to take written or oral examinations conducted by the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Licenses will now be granted within a maximum of 30 working days upon proper submission of required documents. Previously, licenses were valid only for the specific customs station that issued them.

The updated rules now allow license holders to operate their shipping agent businesses at any seaport or river port across Bangladesh, expanding operational flexibility and simplifying the licensing process nationwide.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has received official approval to operate direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi, marking the resumption of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan. According to Geo News, the authorization will remain valid until March 30, 2026, and may be reviewed later. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan stated that Biman must strictly follow the approved route and provide detailed flight information to Karachi airport authorities before departure, ensuring operational coordination and safety compliance.

The decision comes amid increasingly close relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which have paved the way for restoring direct air services. Currently, travelers between the two countries transit through Dubai or Doha. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hossain Khan, earlier confirmed that Biman is preparing to operate three weekly flights to Karachi.

Flights are expected to begin by the end of January, potentially strengthening bilateral connectivity and facilitating easier travel between the two nations.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were disrupted on Friday due to dense fog, prompting authorities to divert several flights to ensure passenger safety. According to airport sources, nine flights were redirected to alternative airports as visibility dropped sharply in the morning.

Of the diverted flights, four were sent to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport, four to Kolkata Airport in India, and one to Bangkok Airport in Thailand. The decision was taken as part of standard safety measures during adverse weather conditions.

Authorities later confirmed that flight operations gradually returned to normal as weather conditions improved. With visibility restored, all flights resumed regular takeoff and landing schedules at the Dhaka airport.

The Pay Commission has indicated that it aims to submit its final recommendations for the ninth pay scale to the government by mid-January 2026. According to commission sources, a tentative obligation exists to complete the submission within that period, though the exact date will be confirmed after the next full commission meeting. The report could be submitted earlier if all preparations are completed on time.

Discussions within the commission remain ongoing regarding the number of salary grades and the minimum and maximum pay levels. Members are divided on whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16 or 14 grades to address pay disparities. At least two more full meetings are expected before a consensus is reached and the final report is prepared.

The commission is currently analyzing hundreds of proposals and opinions received from various organizations and departments. Officials said that the drafting process is underway, but additional time is needed to ensure the recommendations are realistic and sustainable.

A severe cold wave and dense fog have paralyzed daily life in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district. The cold weather has particularly affected day laborers, children, and the elderly, while continuous low temperatures have disrupted normal activities. Farmers are struggling to cultivate land, and livestock owners are facing difficulties protecting their animals. The dense fog, lasting from evening until noon, has reduced visibility on roads, forcing vehicles to move under risky conditions. The sun has not been visible for two days, preventing many workers from going to work.

The cold has also led to a rise in cold-related illnesses such as cough, pneumonia, and respiratory problems, especially among children and the elderly. Many patients have been admitted to the upazila health complex over the past week. Poor and homeless people are suffering acutely due to a shortage of warm clothing. Although local voluntary organizations and the upazila administration have begun distributing winter clothes, the assistance remains insufficient compared to the growing need.

Severe cold has disrupted daily life in Chuadanga, where the temperature dropped to 9.0 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, January 2, 2026. After five days without sunshine, residents finally saw the sun, but the cold remained intense. People were seen lighting fires to keep warm, while vehicles moved with headlights on due to fog. Hospitals reported an increase in patients, especially children and the elderly.

According to the Chuadanga Weather Office, the cold wave is being caused by northern winds, dense fog, and cloudy skies. The biting cold has severely affected day laborers and homeless people, forcing many to endure extreme hardship. Streets have become deserted, and poor and low-income families are struggling to find work, leading to worsening living conditions.

Acting officer Jaminnur Rahman of the Chuadanga Weather Office said humidity was 95 percent at 9 a.m. He added that the lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Jessore at 8 degrees Celsius.

Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia river route, one of Bangladesh’s key transport links, returned to normal on Friday morning after being suspended for about seven and a half hours due to dense fog. The suspension began around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday night when heavy fog over the Padma River severely reduced visibility, prompting authorities to halt all ferry and vessel movement for safety reasons.

According to local sources, the decision was taken to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles as navigation became difficult in the thick fog. During the suspension, hundreds of vehicles were stranded at both terminals, causing significant inconvenience to travelers. Operations resumed around 10 a.m. on Friday after the fog lifted and visibility improved to a safe level.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed that ferry movement was restored once conditions normalized. The report noted that such disruptions are common during winter when dense fog frequently affects ferry operations on this vital route, impacting travel and goods transport to the southern region.

Dhaka experienced severe cold and dense fog on Friday morning, disrupting normal life across the capital. The city was covered in a thick layer of fog from dawn, forcing vehicles to move with headlights on due to poor visibility. The biting cold and chilly winds made it difficult for residents to cope, even with multiple layers of warm clothing. As it was a holiday, fewer people were seen on the roads, but those who ventured out faced significant discomfort.

According to weather updates, the country’s overall weather may remain dry with partly cloudy skies. Moderate to dense fog is likely to occur in many areas from midnight to morning, possibly persisting until noon in some places. The intensity of cold has increased across the country, including Dhaka, with forecasts suggesting that the cold conditions may continue for several days.

The weather office also indicated that after January 4, the cold may intensify again, while 17 districts are expected to see a gradual reduction in the ongoing cold wave.

At least 17 people have been killed and 11 injured after sudden floods struck several regions of Afghanistan following heavy rain and snowfall, according to reports on Thursday. In Herat province’s Kabkan area, five members of a single family died when their house roof collapsed. The governor’s spokesperson, Mohammad Yusuf Saeedi, confirmed that two of the victims were children.

Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), said the casualties occurred in flood-affected districts since Monday. The floods have disrupted daily life across northern, southern, and western parts of the country. Infrastructure damage and livestock deaths have been reported, with around 1,800 families affected. Observation teams have been deployed to the worst-hit areas.

The report noted that decades of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation, and the intensifying effects of climate change have worsened the impact of natural disasters, particularly in remote regions. In August, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed more than 1,400 people in Afghanistan.