In Bogura, wholesale and retail onion prices fell sharply on Sunday, dropping by Tk 30–35 per kilogram within a single day. Traders reported heavy losses as they rushed to sell stocks following news that letters of credit (LCs) had been opened for importing Indian onions. The sudden price fall brought relief to consumers but financial strain to local sellers.

According to market data from Rajabazar and Fatehali markets, new onions that sold for Tk 100–110 per kg on Saturday dropped to Tk 65–70 on Sunday, while old onions fell from Tk 115–120 to Tk 70–80. Traders said the market had been unstable due to limited supply and a long halt in Indian imports. The LC announcement triggered expectations of increased supply, prompting panic selling.

Local trade leaders expect prices to stabilize soon, possibly reaching Tk 50 per kg. However, they warned that the timing of import approvals, just before new domestic onions enter the market, could cause significant losses for Bangladeshi traders.

Malaysia has announced a target to attract 300,000 tourists from Bangladesh by 2026, according to Malaysian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Mohammad Suhaimi Osman. Speaking at a gala dinner during the Malaysia Tourism Fair in Dhaka, he emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections between the two nations.

The High Commissioner highlighted that bilateral relations have expanded over the decades across trade, investment, education, and tourism. He noted that recent high-level visits, including those by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Dhaka and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser to Kuala Lumpur, have reaffirmed both countries’ dedication to deeper cooperation. Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport, one of the world’s most connected hubs, further supports this goal by facilitating travel and commerce.

Officials believe the “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” campaign and events like “Festival Malaysia” will showcase the nation’s multicultural heritage and strengthen mutual understanding. The initiative is expected to enhance Malaysia’s position as a key regional tourism and investment center in Southeast Asia.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has agreed to reform the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system following days of protests by mobile phone traders. After receiving assurances from BTRC Chairman Major General Md Emdad Ul Bari, the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) announced the suspension of their blockade until December 9.

According to BTRC sources, a joint meeting will be held to resolve NEIR-related issues, involving the Finance Adviser, NBR Chairman, Commerce Secretary, and representatives from mobile manufacturers and traders. MBCB leaders said the reforms should simplify import procedures and ensure all imported phones are listed without restriction. They also demanded reduced import duties and warned of renewed protests if tax issues remain unresolved.

The NEIR system, set to take effect on December 16, aims to curb the use of unregistered or stolen phones. The temporary suspension of protests signals a possible compromise, though traders have indicated they will resume action if their concerns are not addressed in the upcoming meeting.

The Alliance for Health Reforms Bangladesh (AHRB) has urged the Chief Adviser to prioritize the implementation of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) policy as a matter of national interest. In an open letter signed by Professor Syed Abdul Hamid of Dhaka University and Professor Syed Md. Akram Hossain of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, the group called for immediate administrative action to reduce import dependency and bolster national health security.

The letter highlights that although Bangladesh can produce most types of medicines, it remains heavily reliant on imported APIs, leaving the pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerable to global market disruptions. The AHRB recommended five urgent steps, including a production-linked incentive scheme, sustained R&D funding, stronger academia–industry collaboration, and formation of a permanent task force. Citing the success of the 1982 National Drug Policy, the group emphasized that strong political commitment and leadership are essential.

Experts argue that developing a knowledge-based pharmaceutical sector could raise the tax-to-GDP ratio and expand exports. The AHRB warned that without top-level oversight, the API policy may remain unimplemented, hindering Bangladesh’s competitiveness and health resilience.

A November 21 earthquake damaged 22 of the 97 government primary schools in Agailjhara upazila of Barishal, Bangladesh. Among them, four schools—Ashoksen, Gaila Nonapukurpar, Taltarmath, and Dakshin Bagdha—suffered major structural cracks in beams, floors, walls, and roofs. The local education office has compiled a list of affected schools and forwarded it to higher authorities for repair and safety assessment.

Teachers and students are reportedly anxious about continuing classes in damaged buildings, fearing potential collapse during aftershocks. Parents have also expressed concern over sending their children to school under such conditions. Headteachers from several schools confirmed visible cracks and immediate reporting to the upazila education office.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Md. Amjad Hossain stated that the list of affected schools has been submitted for urgent renovation approval. Local officials expect repair work to begin soon to ensure student safety and restore normal academic activities.

Bangladesh Railway has closed 20 unauthorized and high-risk level crossings along the Dhaka–Sylhet rail route passing through four upazilas of Habiganj district. The move aims to reduce frequent accidents and fatalities caused by unprotected crossings lacking safety infrastructure or signalmen. Railway officials confirmed that the closures are part of a phased plan to eliminate all 46 unauthorized crossings in the district.

According to the railway’s engineering division, the first phase targeted the most accident-prone points, with the remaining 26 crossings to be closed gradually. Many of these crossings were locally built without approval, posing serious safety hazards for both trains and pedestrians. However, local residents have expressed frustration, saying the closures were implemented without prior notice or alternative routes.

Residents and local leaders are urging authorities to construct overpasses or underpasses before closing crossings to prevent public hardship. Officials maintain that the closures are necessary to ensure passenger safety and reduce the risk of future train collisions.

Bangladesh’s bottled soybean oil price has been raised by Tk 6 per liter following a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce. The new retail price is set at Tk 195 per liter, up from Tk 189, and will take effect from Monday, December 8. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association announced the revised rates through an official press release.

The association had earlier sought government approval twice—in November—to increase prices by Tk 9 per liter, citing rising import and production costs. However, the ministry did not respond, prompting some refiners to raise prices unilaterally to Tk 198 per liter. This led to consumer backlash and government warnings. Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin confirmed that show-cause notices were issued to several companies for unauthorized price adjustments.

The latest decision aims to stabilize the edible oil market and align official prices with global cost trends. Authorities are expected to monitor compliance closely to prevent further unauthorized hikes and ensure fair consumer pricing.

Bangladesh’s overall inflation increased slightly in November, reaching 8.29 percent compared to 8.17 percent in October, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Food inflation rose to 7.36 percent from 7.08 percent, while non-food inflation eased marginally to 9.08 percent. The BBS report highlights that inflation has remained above 8 percent for several months, reflecting persistent price pressures across both rural and urban areas.

The report shows rural inflation at 8.26 percent and urban inflation at 8.39 percent, with food costs rising faster in both segments. Despite government efforts—such as raising interest rates and reducing import duties on essentials like oil, potatoes, onions, and eggs—price stability remains elusive. Wage growth in November stood at 8.04 percent, still below the inflation rate, indicating continued pressure on household purchasing power.

Economists warn that sustained high inflation, now persisting for nearly three years, poses a major challenge for the interim government. Further monetary tightening and improved supply chain management may be required to curb price growth in the coming months.

Hundreds of mobile phone traders under the banner of the Bangladesh Mobile Business Community (BMBC) surrounded the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in Dhaka on Sunday, demanding reforms to the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system. The protest, which began in the morning, blocked one side of the busy Agargaon road, causing severe traffic congestion. Demonstrators set fires at several points near the BTRC building and confined the chairman and senior officials inside for several hours.

Traders argue that the NEIR system, set to take effect on December 16, will harm thousands of small retailers by restricting the use of unregistered or imported phones. They claim the policy benefits a select group while increasing handset prices for consumers due to added taxes and procedural complexity. BMBC leaders said repeated requests for dialogue with authorities were ignored, leaving them with no alternative but to protest.

Police diverted traffic to alternate routes to ease congestion. The standoff highlights growing tension between regulators and traders ahead of the NEIR rollout, with further demonstrations likely if demands remain unmet.

Bangladesh’s Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that any agricultural officials found colluding in market manipulation will lose their jobs. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, December 7, he said there is no shortage of onions in the country, yet prices have risen sharply. To stabilize the market, the government has decided to allow onion imports and identify those responsible for the artificial price hike.

Chowdhury stated that the Ministry of Commerce will handle traders’ malpractice while the Agriculture Ministry will ensure internal accountability. He noted that onion prices have increased by about 40 taka due to manipulation and stressed that fair pricing around 70 taka per kilogram benefits both consumers and producers. The adviser also mentioned that 70 percent of Aman paddy has been harvested with good yields, and vegetable prices remain stable.

He further discussed potential subsidies for potato farmers who suffered losses this season and hinted at a new transfer policy for agricultural officers through a lottery system to prevent corruption and favoritism.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has officially exempted Bangladesh Railway from the requirement to submit proof of income tax return filings, known as PSR documents. The exemption was granted under Section 264(4) of the Income Tax Act 2023, recognizing the railway as a non-taxable government entity. The directive, issued on December 7 and signed by Nusrat Farzana, Second Secretary (Tax Law-1), clarifies that no tax return evidence will be sought from the state-run organization.

Officials noted that government departments often face procedural complexities in managing tax-related documentation. The NBR’s decision aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and streamline administrative processes within Bangladesh Railway. The move is expected to ease compliance burdens and improve operational efficiency across the organization.

Experts believe this exemption could serve as a model for simplifying tax compliance for other state-owned bodies that are not subject to income tax, potentially leading to broader administrative reforms in the public sector.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury announced that a new digital application will be launched next year to reduce bureaucratic harassment faced by entrepreneurs during business registration. Speaking at the inauguration of the seven-day National SME Product Fair on December 7, he said the app will allow entrepreneurs to complete registration processes online, minimizing direct contact with government offices.

The event, attended by industry advisers and SME representatives, highlighted persistent challenges in the SME sector, including high interest rates—15% for bank loans and up to 25% for NGO loans—driven by inflation. Speakers also noted that loan disbursement to SMEs has declined amid election-related stagnation, despite banks holding surplus liquidity of about BDT 1.5 trillion.

Stakeholders urged reforms to make bonded warehouse procedures more SME-friendly and emphasized that increased investment in industrial parks could protect agricultural land and stimulate economic recovery once demand improves.

The Alliance for Health Reforms Bangladesh (AHRB) has urged the Chief Adviser to prioritize and directly oversee the swift implementation of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) policy, calling it a matter of national strategic interest. In an open letter sent on December 7, AHRB leaders emphasized that while Bangladesh can produce most medicines domestically, the country remains heavily dependent on imported APIs, leaving its health security vulnerable to global market disruptions.

The letter, signed by Professor Syed Abdul Hamid and Professor Syed Md. Akram Hossain, highlighted lessons from the successful 1982 National Drug Policy, noting that strong political commitment and leadership were key to transforming the sector. The AHRB proposed five urgent measures: removing administrative barriers, introducing a production-linked incentive scheme, ensuring continuous R&D funding, strengthening academia–industry collaboration, and forming a permanent empowered task force.

Experts argue that developing domestic API capacity could reduce import dependence, save foreign currency, and expand exports. They stress that without knowledge-based industrial transformation, Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio will remain low, limiting economic resilience.

A new report from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) reveals that around 70% of Bangladesh’s population still relies on smoke-producing, traditional cooking fuels. The study warns that exposure to such fuels poses serious respiratory and cardiovascular health risks, particularly for women. Despite some progress, Bangladesh’s adoption rate of clean cooking fuels remains the lowest in South Asia and significantly below the average for lower-middle-income countries.

Presented at a conference in Dhaka, the BIDS research highlights the growing role of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a cleaner alternative. Since 2009, Bangladesh’s LPG market has expanded more than twenty-fivefold, largely driven by private investment and government restrictions on household natural gas connections. Researchers noted that LPG has transitioned from a niche to a mainstream fuel.

The report urges policymakers to adopt integrated supply- and demand-side strategies to ensure sustainable LPG access. It emphasizes strengthening supply chains and targeting urban, female-headed, and remittance-receiving households to accelerate the shift toward clean cooking energy and meet the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Bangladesh’s Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud has cautioned that democracy by itself cannot guarantee economic development unless politics becomes genuinely welfare-oriented. Speaking at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) annual research conference in Dhaka, he argued that when politics turns into a pursuit of privileges rather than public service, it attracts youth seeking livelihood opportunities rather than civic engagement. He also warned that vested business interests can form powerful circles that obstruct welfare-driven policymaking.

Dr. Mahmud emphasized that the country’s education system is producing unemployed graduates, and that behavioral norms and values must be studied to understand development barriers. He noted that limited reforms cannot solve deep-rooted issues such as collusion between bureaucracy and business or tax evasion, calling for broader structural reforms. The adviser stressed that effective democracy should aim to build an equitable, poverty-free society, but lamented that Bangladesh still struggles to establish even a functional democratic system. BIDS Director General Prof. A.K.M. Enamul Haque added that the two-day conference would present around fifty research papers addressing unemployment, poverty, and health sector challenges.