The South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) has warned that Bangladesh’s economy could face negative impacts if global energy markets become unstable due to the ongoing military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran. In a statement issued on Thursday, SANEM said rising energy prices could reduce GDP growth, exports, imports, garment sector output, and agricultural production, while inflation would increase and real incomes decline.

According to SANEM’s analysis, if global crude oil prices rise by about 40 percent and LNG prices by 50 percent, Bangladesh’s real GDP growth could fall by around 1.2 percent. Exports might drop by 2 percent and imports by 1.5 percent. Consumer prices could rise by up to 4 percent, and real wages might decline by 1 percent, reducing purchasing power. The report also warned that a prolonged closure of the Hormuz Strait could cause a severe energy crisis, as 72 percent of Bangladesh’s imported LNG comes from Qatar and the UAE.

SANEM noted inconsistencies between government austerity and energy rationing policies and their implementation. It recommended boosting renewable energy investment, infrastructure development, tax-free equipment supply, and low-interest loans to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and stabilize the economy in the long term.

Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has directed the initiation of a national-level integrated survey to determine the actual manpower demand across various sectors. He issued the directive on Thursday during a meeting at the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project office in the Copyright Building, Dhaka. The chairman emphasized that higher education should prepare students for the job market, but a lack of reliable data on sectoral skill needs and graduate output has created a gap between universities and industries.

Dr. Ahmed stated that the revised HEAT project proposal should include the manpower demand survey to bridge this gap, while also stressing transparency and efficiency in project expenditures. He advised against purchasing duplicate scientific equipment without verification and suggested a separate study to prevent waste in research spending. The chairman also called for the establishment of a modern university teacher training academy under the HEAT project and urged stronger academic engagement between teachers and students.

Officials present at the meeting noted that the proposed survey could help identify skill mismatches between higher education and the job market, aiding future policy formulation.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has described the verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case as a significant advancement in the judicial process. The party made the statement on Thursday, emphasizing that the ruling marks progress in addressing the killing of students and civilians during the July uprising. It also urged the government to swiftly arrest the fugitives still at large.

Party joint secretary general and spokesperson Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman said only two of the 25 accused have been arrested, while the rest remain absconding. The tribunal sentenced two police officers to death and handed various prison terms to 25 individuals, including a former assistant police commissioner, a former metropolitan police commissioner, and the vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University. Rahman noted that the tribunal’s verdict represents only the first stage of the legal process, with further hearings expected in higher courts.

He added that the government must act more sincerely to apprehend the convicts and ensure justice. Rahman also expressed concern over the lack of visible progress in arresting the political masterminds behind the July killings.

An agreement was signed on Thursday at the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) headquarters in Agargaon between BEZA and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). The deal outlines joint efforts to construct, operate, and share revenue from jetties in the Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar regions. Under the agreement, jetties and related facilities will be built at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Mirsarai and at the Sabrang Tourism Park in Teknaf, on 6.18 acres and 5 acres of land respectively.

The project is part of a broader initiative titled “Construction of Jetties and Ancillary Facilities in Mirsarai and Sandwip of Chattogram and Sonadia Island and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.” Net profits from the completed jetties will be shared between BEZA and BIWTA in a 45:55 ratio. Officials from both organizations attended the signing ceremony and described the initiative as a milestone for the country’s industrial and tourism sectors.

According to BEZA officials, the project will help transform NSEZ into a self-sufficient industrial zone and open new tourism opportunities at Sabrang Tourism Park. BIWTA expressed strong optimism about successful implementation.

Two parliamentary by-elections in Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 concluded under the BNP government with BNP candidates winning both seats. In Bogura-6, BNP’s Rezaul Karim Badsha secured 133,516 votes, defeating Jamaat’s Abidur Rahman Sohel by 76,611 votes. In Sherpur-3, BNP’s Mahmudul Haque Rubel won by a margin of 118,966 votes, while Jamaat’s candidate Masudur Rahman withdrew midday citing irregularities. The Sherpur-3 election had been postponed earlier following the death of a Jamaat candidate during the campaign.

Voting in both constituencies was largely peaceful, though isolated incidents occurred. In Sherpur, six individuals were detained for alleged fake voting, and two police officers were injured while controlling unrest. Jamaat’s Masudur Rahman alleged ballot fraud and the expulsion of his polling agents, claims denied by BNP’s Rubel, who said the election was fair and well-secured. Election officials reported no written complaints regarding the boycott.

In Bogura, minor irregularities were reported, including a presiding officer collecting early signatures on result sheets, later deemed a procedural mistake. Authorities described the overall voting process as peaceful and orderly.

BNP-nominated candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel has won the Sherpur-3 parliamentary by-election by a margin of more than three times his nearest rival’s votes. The unofficial results were announced by Returning Officer and District Election Officer Mohammad Jahangir Alam at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the district election office.

According to the declared results, Rubel, who contested under the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, secured 166,117 votes. His closest competitor, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Md. Masudur Rahman, received 47,051 votes. The announcement confirmed a decisive victory for the BNP in this constituency.

The report also mentioned that BNP candidates achieved victories in both Bogura and Sherpur constituencies, while opposition parties in parliament criticized alleged irregularities in the two elections.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman accused the BNP government of adopting fascist practices, citing Thursday’s two-seat by-elections as evidence. Speaking at a press briefing at the National Parliament complex on Thursday night, he said the elections showed no change in political behavior and condemned the killings of two local Jamaat leaders in Sherpur. He demanded justice through the Speaker and criticized the government for undermining democratic norms.

Dr. Rahman said the opposition had raised objections to several bills in Parliament, arguing that some sought to curtail citizens’ rights, weaken the Supreme Court’s authority, and damage the electoral system. He alleged that ministers were given unlimited time to speak while opposition members faced restrictions. The opposition walked out in protest but did not boycott Parliament, pledging to continue representing public interests.

He further warned that the BNP’s approach to local government appointments and judicial control could lead to a one-party system similar to past authoritarian models, vowing to resist any return to fascism with public support.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the initiation of direct talks with Lebanon. He stated that Lebanon had requested to sit for direct discussions, prompting him to instruct that the process begin as soon as possible.

The directive comes despite continued Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. According to the report, Israeli attacks on Beirut and other areas have resulted in 203 deaths and at least 1,000 injuries as of Wednesday. The situation remains tense as regional actors respond to the escalating violence.

The report cites Al Jazeera as the source of information, indicating that the developments are unfolding rapidly amid heightened regional tensions.

In Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Thursday, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain stated that if the Supreme Court verdict declaring him the elected mayor was considered invalid, then the entire interim government should also be declared illegal. His remarks came in response to an allegation from Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who claimed Ishraq had demanded recognition as a legitimate mayor from an election held during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

The discussion arose during a point of order while debating the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill. Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam questioned the circumstances under which Ishraq was declared mayor and why he was not sworn in despite a Supreme Court ruling and a gazette notification. Nahid Islam later clarified that he had resigned from the interim government before Ishraq’s 2025 protest and requested correction of what he called false information.

Speaker Nurul Islam Moni allowed Ishraq to respond, after which he reiterated that his mayoral verdict had been upheld by a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad has emphasized that the government’s image is closely tied to the management of Hajj and warned that any negligence will not be tolerated. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka to review overall preparations for this year’s pilgrimage. The minister said this year’s Hajj is the first under the current government and must be managed more efficiently and beautifully than in the past.

Kaikobad described pilgrims as guests of Allah and instructed officials to serve them as family members. He announced that offices and agencies providing exemplary service during the Hajj will be rewarded. Representatives from various ministries and organizations involved in Hajj management presented their readiness and pledged to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Religious Affairs Secretary, the Additional Secretary of the Hajj Wing, the Director General of the Islamic Foundation, and leaders of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, along with representatives from multiple government and private entities.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque stated that the BNP-led government must stand with the people's democratic aspirations rather than citing constitutional limitations. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the representative conference of the Industrial Area Police Station unit of Revolutionary Youth Solidarity in Ashulia.

Haque emphasized that the BNP government should fulfill the people's hopes for change and prioritize employment for millions of unemployed youth. He called for rapid expansion of investment and necessary measures to prevent frustration among young people, noting their repeated sacrifices in national movements. He also stressed that the opportunity created by the formation of a new BNP-led government to build a democratic, progressive, pluralistic, and non-communal state and society must not be wasted.

The event was presided over by Liton Mondal, convener of the Industrial Area Committee of Revolutionary Youth Solidarity, and attended by party leaders including Akbar Khan, Bepari Bindu, Babor Chowdhury, Anisur Rahman, and Faruk Hossain.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that schools and colleges in metropolitan areas will begin a combined online and offline class system, reducing holidays by one day. The initiative, set to start on Saturday, was revealed during an event at Dhonia College in Dhaka organized by the National University, the ICT Division, and UNICEF. The plan aims to promote digital education while addressing the ongoing global energy crisis triggered by conflicts in the Middle East.

Under the new schedule, students will attend classes in person on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, and join online sessions on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The policy will initially apply to institutions with large student populations in metropolitan areas and will not be mandatory for all schools. The minister emphasized that no decision should disrupt the education system.

Teachers have requested uninterrupted electricity during online classes and additional offline support for students facing technical issues. The government also announced duty-free school buses for institutions providing transport facilities to students.

Bangladesh Bank has extended the tenure of its pre-shipment credit refinancing facility, allowing clients to access loans under the scheme until December 31, 2030. The central bank’s Banking Regulations and Policy Department issued a circular on Thursday announcing the extension. The decision aims to help export-oriented sectors, including the ready-made garment industry, overcome ongoing challenges caused by global economic instability and conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

Previously, the refinancing facility was scheduled to remain in effect until April 2025. Under the revised terms, up to Tk 5,000 crore will be allocated for pre-shipment credit refinancing from the Tk 10,000 crore Export Facilitation Pre-Finance Fund (EFPF). All scheduled banks are eligible to participate but must sign new participation agreements with the central bank. Banks must apply for refinancing within one week of disbursing pre-shipment loans to exporters, with an additional 15 days allowed for justified delays.

The Banking Regulations and Policy Department-3 will manage and oversee the fund’s operations, while all previous conditions from the 2022 and 2023 circulars will remain unchanged.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of embezzling several crore taka and laundering the money abroad under the guise of operating, repairing, and maintaining the sound system installed in the plenary hall of the National Parliament building. The inquiry targets Zahidur Rahim Jowardar, Chief Executive Officer of Communication Technology Limited, along with others linked to the project.

According to the ACC, Zahidur Rahim is a close relative of former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and served as a cashier for former Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury. The information was disclosed by ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Akhtarul Islam at a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Thursday afternoon.

The ACC’s investigation marks the beginning of formal scrutiny into alleged misuse of public funds related to the Parliament’s technical maintenance, with potential implications for accountability in government-linked contracts.

Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) reported that the government granted tax exemptions totaling Tk 1,07,132 crore in the 2022–23 fiscal year, equivalent to 2.39 percent of the country’s GDP. The report, released on Thursday, revealed that the value of these exemptions was nearly 99 percent of the revenue collected from direct taxes. The data highlights how tax holidays, rebates, and exemptions have significantly reduced the amount of revenue reaching the national treasury.

According to the NBR report, more than two-thirds of the total tax exemptions were provided to businesses and institutions. Corporate tax exemptions amounted to Tk 73,989 crore, or 69 percent of the total, mainly benefiting sectors such as microfinance, social welfare, power and energy, and the ready-made garment industry. Personal income tax exemptions totaled Tk 33,143 crore, with the largest share going to salaried income.

The report recommended a phased withdrawal of unnecessary tax exemptions and aligning incentives with national priorities such as export diversification, green economy, SME growth, gender equality, and regional balance to enhance revenue collection without raising tax rates.