The dollar fell against most major currencies on Wednesday after the US signalled it may be nearing a deal with Iran, while the Japanese yen suddenly jumped to a more than two-month high as markets braced for ​another round of official buying from Tokyo.

The yen rose by as much as 1.8 percent earlier in a swift ‌move that left the dollar at a session low of 155, around its weakest since February 24. The dollar had earlier broadly strengthened against a range of currencies before a sudden move lower against the yen, which triggered speculation of another round of intervention.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama ​earlier in the week warned against speculative moves in foreign exchange, after a brief jolt higher in the yen sparked ​speculation Tokyo had again intervened to support the currency.

“As I have said repeatedly, we will take decisive measures against speculative moves, in accordance with the statement signed between Japan and the United States last year,” Katayama told ​reporters after the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting in Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Finance of Japan could not be reached immediately for ​comment during a local holiday.

Part of the problem for Japanese authorities in staving off persistent weakness in the yen lies in markets that are beyond their immediate control, such as higher US Treasury yields, which favour the dollar, and oil, CIBC Capital Markets head of G10 FX strategy Jeremy ​Stretch said.

“It’s very tough to get the yen down if oil is going to remain elevated and/or US Treasury yields ​are, in terms of 10-years, you’re nearer 4.4 percent than you are 4.2 percent. So that was always going to be the difficulty the Japanese were ‌going to have.

The fact that we’ve been able to get it back to 156.5, given the fact that we’ve still got 10-year yield at 4.42 percent and oil is still closer to $100 than 75, I guess, is some degree of success,” he said.

Most other major currencies also extended gains as dollar weakness persisted, after President Donald Trump said he would briefly pause an operation to ​help escort ships through the Strait ​of Hormuz, citing progress towards ⁠a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

That came shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the United States had achieved its objectives in its military campaign against Iran.

HSBC's Bangladesh operations posted a 23% decline in net profit in 2025, weighed down by higher provisions against rising classified loans and lower income from government treasury investments.

According to the multinational bank's audited financial statements for 2025, net profit after tax stood at Tk823 crore, down significantly from Tk1,086 crore in 2024.

The decline in profit was largely driven by a sharp increase in provisions. HSBC set aside Tk265.96 crore in provisions in 2025, up 149% from the previous year. At the same time, income from treasury bond holdings fell 17% year-on-year.

During the year, the bank's classified loans surged 134% to Tk748.20 crore, accounting for 3.99% of its total loan portfolio.

The market capitalisation of Samsung Electronics' common stock surpassed $1 trillion on Wednesday, making it the second Asian company after TSMC to reach the milestone.

Samsung Electronics, the world's top memory chipmaker, saw its market value reach 1,500 trillion won ($1.03 trillion) in early trading in Seoul on Wednesday, tracking sharp gains of AI-related stocks in the US overnight.

Shares of the South Korean chip giant were up 12% at 09:52 am (0052 GMT) in Seoul, outstripping the benchmark Kospi's 5.4% gain.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq notched record-high closes on Tuesday, lifted by Intel and other AI-related stocks, as a US-Iran ceasefire held and investors focused on strong quarterly earnings.

Bangladesh has settled an import bill of $1.51 billion for the March-April period under the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), a move that is expected to reduce the country's foreign exchange reserves.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Aref Hossain Khan confirmed the payment today (6 May).

According to central bank data, the country's gross reserves stood at $35.33 billion at the end of 6 May. Under the International Monetary Fund's BPM6 calculation method, reserves were recorded at $30.64 billion.

Reserves typically decline after ACU payments, and a similar trend is expected this time. However, officials noted that it takes a few days for adjustments to be reflected, meaning the immediate impact may not be visible.

Earlier, Bangladesh paid $1.36 billion for the January-February period. The ACU bill stood at $1.53 billion for November-December of the previous year, while $1.61 billion was paid for September-October that year.

The ACU is a regional payment arrangement among several Asian central banks that facilitates the settlement of import and export transactions among member countries every two months.

Bangladesh conducts trade settlements with ACU member states-including India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan and the Maldives-through this mechanism, while transactions with other countries are generally settled immediately.

Oil prices extended declines ​on Wednesday, slumping to two-week lows after a Pakistani source said that the ‌United States and Iran were nearing an initial peace deal.

Brent crude futures fell by $9.08, or 8.3%, to $100.79 a barrel by 1205 GMT, having earlier dropped below $100 for the first time since 22 April. US West Texas ​Intermediate lost $9.12, or 8.9%, to $93.15.

Both benchmarks were on track for their biggest daily ​declines in absolute and percentage terms since mid-April and hit their lowest in ⁠two weeks, having shed about 4% in the previous session.

A source from mediator Pakistan ​said the United States and Iran were closing in on an agreement on a one-page memorandum ​of understanding.

US media outlet Axios reported that the US expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours, citing sources saying this was the closest the parties had come to an agreement ​since the war began.

Iran had said earlier that it would only accept a fair and comprehensive ​agreement.

The US military said on Monday that it destroyed several Iranian small boats as part of efforts to ‌help stranded ⁠ships to exit the Strait of Hormuz.

Crude oil supply losses from halted marine traffic through the strait since the war began in February have driven up prices, with Brent trading last week at its highest since March 2022.

The Strait of Hormuz closure has resulted in a ​drawdown in global oil ​and fuel inventories ⁠as refineries try to offset production shortfalls.

US crude oil inventories fell for a third week, while gasoline and distillate stocks also declined, market ​sources said on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures.

Crude stocks fell ​by 8.1 ⁠million barrels in the week ended 1 May, the sources said. Gasoline inventories were down by 6.1 million barrels from a week earlier and distillate inventories fell by 4.6 million barrels, the ⁠sources said.

Official ​numbers from the EIA, the statistical arm of the ​US Department of Energy, are due at 1430 GMT.

Vacuum cleaners and vapes could get more expensive if the Iran war drags on for much longer, Chinese factory owners and traders warn, as the world’s manufacturing hub reels from “crazy” costs.

Weeks of US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have choked Asia’s oil supply, stymieing the production of plastic -- derived from oil -- across the region.

Manufacturing giant China has been comparatively sheltered from fuel shortages thanks to oil reserves and renewable energy, but local factories are picking up a ballooning raw materials bill.

“Basically, we’ve been losing money on all our orders,” said Bryant Chen, a manager at vacuum cleaner factory RIMOO in southern Guangdong province’s Foshan.

The price of plastic has risen roughly 50 percent since before the Iran war, Chen told AFP as workers behind him fastened suction tubes to metal tanks.

“The costs of the products that we are making are being very greatly affected,” the 42-year-old said, listing plastic, copper for the vacuum’s motor and raw materials in its power cords.

“Typically at this time we’d be entering peak season, but compared to the same period previously, shipment and production data aren’t very optimistic.”

Two hours away, plastic traders in storage hub Zhangmutou said price fluctuations were the worst they’ve seen in decades.

“It has never been this crazy,” said Li Dong, 46, who entered the industry two decades ago.

The plastic, rice-sized pellets he buys for local phone case and EV battery factories jumped wildly in March, triggering days of panic that jammed the small town’s roads as factories rushed to stock up.

‘MUTUAL STATE OF DECLINE’

Exporters in Zhangmutou showed AFP a vast range of products their pellets would become, including drones and badminton birdies.

One trader sifted through pink, green and purple beads that she said would be moulded into e-cigarette casings sold in the Middle East.

The Iran war has hit plastic production even harder than bottlenecks caused by the Covid pandemic, when ships could not come and go from China, Li said.

Some sellers cashed in on the plastic panic, he added, fighting to take advantage of surging costs.

Li said the price of plastic had dropped around 10 to 20 percent from its height, but he cautioned against further oil hold-ups.

“The factories we supply to will suffer the most because their direct costs will rise,” he said.

For exporters, the Middle East crisis has added to the hangover still lingering from Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs last year.

The US Supreme Court struck down those levies as illegal, but tolls on Chinese goods entering the US still sit at around 20 percent.

On the outskirts of Guangzhou, one garment factory owner lamented the chaos triggered by the US President’s trade war.

Overseas clients are afraid to place orders, while Chinese manufacturers cannot pin down changing costs.

“As a result, everyone is in a mutual state of decline,” garment boss Zhou, 55, said.

While 80 percent of his clients have returned, the fabrics scattered on his factory floor made into sweatpants headed for Europe and North America have risen 10 to 20 percent in cost due to the Middle East war.

As overseas orders dropped, seamsters went months without a job.

‘TENSIONS RISE, ORDERS DISAPPEAR’

Migrant worker Jingjing returned to her hometown in Hubei province for two months, where she made half the 400 yuan ($60) she now earns in Guangzhou’s garment factories.

“When tensions rise... orders suddenly disappear,” the 42-year-old said.

But this year she said she always has something to do.

In a damp back alley, Jingjing joined job-seekers milling about leisurely, haggling for higher wages while garment bosses perched on scooters brandished hiring signs, desperate for day labourers.

Chen, the vacuum factory manager, said he was “still worried” about surging shipping costs should the Iran war drag on.

“If shipping costs rise, it will cause the final costs for our customers to increase sharply,” he said.

They “will have no way to sell normally, because the costs are just too high”.

Chen said RIMOO plans to expand to other markets beyond the Middle East where around 60 percent of its customers are based.

“We are still optimistic,” he said. “The market demand still exists.”

But analysts warn the war’s impact on costs will be felt for months.

“The problem is all of these costs will filter through the supply chains for the rest of the year,” said supply chain consultant Cameron Johnson.

“The longer it goes on, that kind of cascades into much bigger problems, particularly if there’s not enough oil in general to run stuff.”

The country's financial account recorded a surplus of more than $3.81 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY26), a sharp increase from the $570 million recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Central bank data indicate that the repatriation of overdue export proceeds primarily drove this growth. The trade credit position, a key component of the financial account, shifted from a deficit of $1.61 billion in FY25 to a surplus of $3.23 billion during the July-March period of FY26. This reversal reflects an increase in the repatriation of previously stalled payments, providing a significant boost to the country's capital flows.

Trade deficit widens

Despite the strong financial account performance, the trade deficit widened by 24.16% to reach $19.17 billion at the end of March. This increase, amounting to approximately $4 billion over the previous year, was driven by a 4.60% rise in imports alongside a 4.40% decline in exports.

Import payments rose to $51.55 billion from $49.31 billion, while export earnings fell to $32.38 billion from $33.87 billion in the corresponding period of the prior year.

A notable factor in the rising import bill was the surge in petroleum imports, which grew by 81.10% to reach $936 million.

Zahid Hussain, former lead economist at the World Bank's Dhaka office, told TBS that while the trade credit position has significantly improved the financial account, there is no guarantee that this trend in trade credit will remain unchanged in the long term.

Current account deficit narrows

The current account deficit saw a marked improvement, narrowing to $397 million from $878 million in the previous fiscal year. This recovery was largely supported by a robust 20.30% growth in remittances, with the country receiving $26.20 billion in the first nine months compared to $21.78 billion in the prior year. In April alone, the country witnessed more than $3 billion in remittances, which experts believe has provided essential support to the balance of payments.

Zahid observed that although the current account balance remains negative, the situation is not yet concerning. He highlighted that the improvement in the current account is particularly significant given the increase in the trade deficit, largely credited to the influx of the greenback through secondary income and transfers.

Overall balance of payments returns to surplus

The overall balance of payments (BOP) moved into a surplus of $3.66 billion during the July–March period, a substantial recovery from the $1.10 billion deficit recorded in the same period of FY25.

This surplus suggests that the country is currently receiving more foreign exchange than it is paying out, which helps strengthen the external sector.

Zahid said, "The worst phase of the global economy has not yet had an impact on the balance of payments up to March."

The country’s trade deficit widened by 24 percent in the July-March period of the current fiscal year, due mainly to stronger import growth and weaker export earnings.

The gap between imports and exports stood at $19.17 billion in the first nine months of FY 2025-26, up from $15.44 billion in the same period a year earlier.

In the July-March period, import payments rose 4.6 percent year-on-year to $51.55 billion, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.

Within this, petroleum imports increased sharply by 54 percent to $6.29 billion. Crude petroleum alone jumped 81 percent to $933 million, according to the central bank.

Economists linked the rise to volatile global fuel prices in March amid the US-Israel war on Iran and wider conflict across the Middle East.

During mid-March, crude oil prices climbed to about $102-$109 per barrel, compared with below $100 in the previous month, pushing up the import bill.

Export earnings fell 4.4 percent to $32.38 billion over the same period.

Despite the wider trade gap, the country’s current account deficit narrowed. This indicator tracks net flows of goods, services and income between a country and the rest of the world.

The deficit stood at $397 million in July-March of FY26, compared with $878 million a year earlier.

Industry insiders said higher remittance inflows helped ease pressure on the current account. Expatriates sent more than $3 billion a month for five consecutive months up to April, according to BB data.

The financial account also strengthened during the period. It rose to a surplus of $3.81 billion from $570 million a year earlier, reflecting increased inflows from loans, credit and other cross-border financial transactions.

Analysts said the surplus was largely driven by borrowing and trade credit rather than stable investment. Foreign direct investment remained moderate, while portfolio investment stayed negative, reflecting weak investor confidence.

During the period, net foreign direct investment stood at $1 billion, down from $1.31 billion in the same months of the previous fiscal year.

Net trade credit rose to $3.23 billion during the nine months, compared with a negative $1.61 billion a year earlier.

According to industry insiders, the growing reliance on debt-based inflows could increase repayment risks in the future.

These developments together pushed Bangladesh’s overall balance of payments (BoP) into a surplus of $3.65 billion, compared with a deficit of $1.10 billion in the same period last year.

Bangladesh today (6 May) called for increased Chinese investment in priority infrastructure projects, including the long-discussed Teesta River initiative, while reaffirming its firm support for the One-China policy during high-level talks in Beijing.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, held as part of Rahman's first official visit to China from 5 to 7 May.

According to a joint press release, Bangladesh sought China's "involvement and support" in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), aimed at improving water management, preventing floods and boosting agricultural productivity in northern regions.

The move reflects Dhaka's broader effort to attract foreign investment for critical infrastructure. China expressed willingness to deepen practical cooperation and encouraged its enterprises to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in infrastructure, water resources, digital economy and green development.

During the talks, Bangladesh reiterated its commitment to the One-China principle, affirming that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and expressing opposition to any form of "Taiwan independence."

Wang Yi described Bangladesh as a "reliable partner" and said Beijing is ready to align its Belt and Road cooperation with Bangladesh's development priorities, adding that China's engagement in South Asia is not directed at any third party.

Bangladesh welcomed Chinese enterprises and pledged to ensure a "stable, sound and predictable" business environment to facilitate investment. It also appreciated China's continued support for its development.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the Middle East situation and the Rohingya crisis. China reiterated support for continued dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar to facilitate the repatriation of displaced people.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, and peaceful dispute resolution, while pledging to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Earlier today, Rahman also met Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, where both sides emphasised expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and development.

Foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md Nazmul Islam were present at the meeting.

Rahman arrived in Beijing on Tuesday on a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing high-level engagement.

Gold prices climbed more than 2 percent ‌on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump indicated a possible peace deal may be reached with Iran, sending the dollar and crude lower as inflation concerns ebbed somewhat.

Spot gold jumped 2.7 percent to $4,680.91 per ounce, ​as of 0811 GMT, having hit its highest since April 28. US gold ​futures for June delivery rose 2.7 percent to $4,693.20.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of ​Hormuz, citing progress toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

Iran will only accept “a fair and comprehensive ​agreement” in its negotiations with the US on ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Gold gained as “oil prices retreated on reduction in geopolitical risk premium, after the US ​confirmed that the ongoing fragile ceasefire between Iran is still intact, despite the skirmish that ​was seen at the start of this week,” Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst at OANDA, said.

“Any signs ‌of re-escalation of tension between the two of them, you will see gold prices seeing some form of profit-taking, or for short-term speculators to unwind their near-term net long position in gold,” Wong added.

A weaker US currency makes dollar-priced metals cheaper for holders of other ​currencies.

Elevated crude oil prices ​can stoke inflation, increasing the likelihood of higher interest rates. While gold is considered an inflation hedge, high interest rates make yield-bearing assets more attractive, weighing ​on its appeal.

Investors await US non-farm payrolls later this week which will ​test whether the economy remains resilient enough to keep the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy on hold.

“Factors such as economic growth risks, worsening geopolitical relations, currency volatility and downside risks to equity markets will continue ​to support gold’s role as a portfolio diversifier,” ANZ ​said in a note.

An alliance representing more than 12,000 depositors of six distressed non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) has urged the Bangladesh Bank (BB) to take immediate steps to facilitate the return of their long-frozen funds.

The six NBFIs -- FAS Finance, Premier Leasing, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, People’s Leasing, and International Leasing -- are now under liquidation.

Over the years, several NBFIs collapsed amid widespread mismanagement, weak governance, and heavy exposure to non-performing loans. Poor regulatory oversight and delayed action by the central bank deepened the crisis and ultimately led to liquidation.

Yesterday, in a memorandum submitted to the BB governor in Dhaka, the platform titled “Alliance of Depositors of 6 NBFIs for Recovery” said depositors have been facing acute financial hardship, mental distress, and a humanitarian crisis, as their savings have remained locked up for nearly seven years.

“Many depositors are unable to access treatment for critical illnesses such as cancer, kidney disease, and heart conditions due to a lack of funds,” the memorandum said, adding that several depositors have already died without receiving necessary medical care.

As the regulator of banks and NBFIs, the central bank bears the highest responsibility to safeguard public deposits, the alliance said, calling for urgent intervention to resolve the crisis.

The alliance outlined three key demands, including an immediate announcement of a clear, realistic, and actionable roadmap in line with the previously declared July 2026 deadline for refunding depositors’ money.

The other two demands are the introduction of an effective mechanism to prioritise repayments for individual depositors and the arrangement of a meeting between the governor and three to four representatives of the depositors to formally present their demands.

The depositors expressed hope that the central bank would take swift, effective, and humane measures to address the crisis and ensure the protection of public savings.

They also called upon the government, the central bank, and all relevant authorities to take urgent and effective steps to restore confidence in the financial sector and ensure justice for affected depositors.

In January this year, BB decided to liquidate six of the country’s 35 non-bank financial institutions due to poor financial health.

The current BB governor, Md Mostaqur Rahman, appointed by the BNP-led government, has said reforms will continue, including those liquidations.

The bearish sentiment at the country's premier bourse intensified yesterday as the benchmark index extended its losing streak for the second consecutive session.

Driven by broad-based selling pressure, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed a significant erosion of its total valuation, with the market capitalisation dropping by approximately Tk6,300 crore over the last three trading sessions alone.

By the close of today's (6 May) trading session, market capitalisation stood at Tk6.79 lakh crore, underscoring a cautious investor sentiment amid prevailing uncertainties and the absence of fresh catalysts to propel the indices higher.

The benchmark DSEX index shed 18 points, or 0.34% yesterday, to settle at 5,248. The downturn was mirrored in the blue-chip segment, where the DS30 index, which comprises 30 prominent companies, ended 8 points lower at 2,009.

Market breadth remained heavily skewed toward the bears throughout the session, with 216 issues declining against 108 gainers, while 67 scrips closed unchanged on the DSE floor.

Market participation also saw a notable decline, with daily turnover on the DSE dropping by 8% to stand at Tk767 crore. The drop in trading activity indicates that many investors are staying on the sidelines, awaiting clearer signals on the sustainability of current price levels before deploying fresh capital.

Despite the overall market gloom, certain stocks managed to attract significant investor interest. Monno Ceramic led the turnover chart, followed by Dominage Steel, Malek Spinning, Techno Drugs, and GQ Ball Pen.

On the gainers' chart, Monno Ceramic led the rally with a price hike of 9.68%, followed closely by Yeakin Polymer and Mozaffar Hossain Spinning, both of which surged by over 9.6%. Silco Pharma and Sikder Insurance also featured among the top performers of the day.

Conversely, the non-bank financial institution (NBFI) sector faced the brunt of the sell-off. Premier Leasing, Fareast Finance, and International Leasing all recorded a sharp decline of 8.69%, while United Insurance and Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company (BIFC) also faced notable corrections.

The negative trend was mirrored at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the CSCX index edged down marginally to finish at 9,109 points. The CASPI, the broad index of the port city bourse, ended 14 points lower at 14,801.

Interestingly, while the key indices dipped, the CSE saw a significant 37% jump in turnover, which stood at Tk20.72 crore.

State-owned Eastern Refinery Limited is set to resume operations on 8 May as a vessel carrying 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil is scheduled to reach the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port today (6 May).

Located in Patenga near the port, it is Bangladesh's sole refinery and has remained shut for over three weeks due to crude shortages.

Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, deputy general manager (planning and shipping), said preparations were in place to resume operations from the morning of 8 May.

He said up to three lighter vessels can unload crude oil each day, each carrying around 4,000 tonnes. Operations will begin once at least 8,000 tonnes are received.

The crude shipment is being transported by MT Ninemea, which departed on 21 April from Yanbu Port, a vital Saudi Arabian energy hub located on the Red Sea coast. The vessel is due to arrive at around 11am.

Captain Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, general manager (chartering and tramping) at Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, said the arrival time may vary slightly but unloading will begin immediately using lighterage vessels.

According to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, refining operations at the plant were suspended on 14 April due to a lack of crude supply.

The last shipment arrived on 18 February. Subsequent imports were disrupted by the Iran war, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for crude shipments from the Middle East to Asia.

A planned 1 lakh tonnes cargo from Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia on 3 March was cancelled, along with another shipment from Abu Dhabi, worsening the supply crisis.

Officials at the refinery said they had continued limited operations using around 5,000 tonnes of crude left in the Single Point Mooring pipeline at Maheshkhali, along with residual stock from five storage tanks.

Typically, about 1.5 metres of crude remains as dead stock at the bottom of tanks, becoming unusable below one metre. As reserves fell below usable levels, operations were halted from 14 April.

Another 1 lakh tonne due this month

After months of supply disruption, a second 1 lakh tonne of crude shipment has been scheduled. The cargo will be imported from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and will consist of Murban crude.

The vessel is expected to be loaded at Fujairah Port on 10-11 May before sailing for Chattogram port. Chartering firm Bangladesh Shipping Corporation has already dispatched a tanker for the operation.

Captain Mujibur Rahman said the vessel is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on 22-23 May.

According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, the country imports 65-68 lakh tonnes of fuel annually, with diesel and crude accounting for the largest share.

Around 15 lakh tonnes of crude are imported from the Middle East each year and processed at Eastern Refinery, which produces 16 types of products, including LPG, petrol, octane, kerosene, diesel and furnace oil.

In addition to crude, Bangladesh imports about 45 lakh tonnes of refined fuel annually from India and China. The refinery typically processes around 4,500 tonnes of crude per day. However, output was reduced to about 3,500 tonnes daily last month due to supply shortages.

By 4 March, usable crude stocks at the refinery had fallen below 2,000 tonnes. The plant mainly processes Arabian Light crude from Saudi Arabia and Murban crude from the UAE, with limited capacity to handle other grades.

Amid the supply crisis, the government approved a proposal in March to purchase 1 lakh tonnes of crude from Malaysia-based Abir Trade and Global Markets, but the deal was not finalised due to uncertainty over supply assurance.

Oil prices eased ​1 percent on Tuesday after climbing by as much as 6 percent in the previous session on signs the US Navy ‌is loosening Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, potentially opening up supply from the Middle East.

The US on Monday launched a new operation aimed at reopening the strait to shipping. Maersk later said the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged vehicle carrier, exited the Gulf via the strait accompanied by the US military, easing ​some supply disruption fears.

Brent oil futures for July fell 51 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $113.93 per barrel at 0622 GMT after ​settling up 5.8 percent on Monday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.55, or 1.5 percent, to $104.87, after gaining 4.4 percent ⁠in the previous session.

"The successful escorted exit of the Maersk-operated vessel has helped ease some immediate supply disruption fears," said Tim Waterer, ​chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"It shows that limited safe passage is possible under current conditions and helps chip away at some of ​the worst-case supply disruption fears. However, it's still very much a one-off event rather than a full reopening," he said in an email.

Still, Iran launched attacks in the Gulf on Monday to counter the US move as they wrestle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to wider markets ​and typically carries oil and gas supply equal to about 20 percent of global demand every day.

Several commercial vessels were reportedly struck in ​the area, while a key oil port in the United Arab Emirates was set ablaze after an Iranian strike. Trump's attempt to use the US ‌Navy ⁠to free up shipping is the war's biggest escalation since a ceasefire was declared four weeks ago.

The US is pushing to open Hormuz to ease a massive disruption to global energy supplies since Iran mostly shut the strait after the US and Israel started the war on February 28.

Some analysts attributed the slight drop in oil prices on Tuesday to profit-taking moves.

"The recent dip does look like a bit ​of profit-taking after a strong ​run-up, rather than a structural ⁠shift in the backdrop," said Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. "The geopolitical risk premium tied to the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in place, so the downside is likely to stay ​limited."

"In the very near term, prices could see some consolidation or mild pullback as markets reassess ​positioning and react ⁠to mixed diplomatic signals."

On Monday, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth said physical shortages in oil supply would begin appearing around the world because of the Hormuz closure.

Because of the disruptions, global oil stocks are approaching their lowest level in eight years, Goldman Sachs said on Monday, warning that ⁠the speed ​of depletion was becoming a concern as supplies remained restricted.

"With the world rapidly ​burning through commercial stockpiles, strategic reserves, and crude held in floating storage, the underlying supply squeeze remains a potent tailwind for oil prices," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore ​said in a note.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman has called on commercial banks, mobile financial service (MFS) providers and payment service providers to accelerate efforts to build a more widespread cashless society in the country.

The call came during a meeting today (5 May) between the governor and heads of cashless units from the institutions.

Speaking to The Business Standard, central bank spokesperson and Executive Director Aref Hossain Khan said building a cashless society and introducing Bangla QR codes is now a "national agenda," no longer limited to the central bank alone.

"Everyone needs to come forward to implement this agenda," he added.

He noted that while MFS providers have made significant progress in onboarding small merchants, banks have lagged behind despite having broader networks. "The central bank now wants banks to increase their contribution in expanding digital transactions."

Arif Hossain Khan also said institutions have been urged to adopt Bangla QR codes universally after 30 June. "All companies will be required to have Bangla QR codes, and MFS providers will need to shift from their own separate QR systems to the unified standard."

He further said, "To support implementation, the central bank is considering forming a dedicated committee to oversee the transition to a cashless ecosystem."

A senior Bangladesh Bank official told TBS that wider adoption of Bangla QR codes would make transactions more accessible and interoperable, especially as many banks still lack their own apps. "Strengthening digital platforms alongside QR integration is expected to accelerate the shift toward a cashless economy."

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday purchased $50 million from three commercial banks through multiple auction methods.

According to central bank data, it bought dollars at the rate of TK 122.75.

Accordingly, total purchases stood at $80 million in May 2026 and $5,753.50 million in FY 2025-26.

Sources said the BB purchased the dollars as part of its strategy to stabilize the TK against the US dollar and revitalize remittance and export inflows.

A significant portion of Bangladesh’s population continues to face unmet healthcare needs, driven largely by rising out-of-pocket expenditures, according to a study of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.Geographic Reference

Although unmet healthcare needs persist across all segments of society, the financial burden falls disproportionately on the poor, it showed.

The research by Abdur Razzaque Sarker of BIDS underscored that OOP spending remains the dominant mode of healthcare financing in the country, with its share reaching an alarming 79 per cent in 2024.

The study titled ‘Re-thinking unmet healthcare needs and dynamics of out-of-pocket expenditure in Bangladesh,’ was conducted under BIDS’ population studies division.

The study utilised data from the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022, comprising 14,400 households and 62,387 individuals where descriptive statistics were employed to analyses and summaries the percentage of unmet need, service utilisation across providers.

The distribution of benefits from public spending and progressivity/regressivity is assessed using benefit and financing incidence analysis.

The findings revealed that around 22 per cent of the population reported a need for healthcare services on a monthly basis. Among them, 15 per cent experienced unmet healthcare needs, accounting for 65 per cent of the total need.

Unmet needs were found to be significantly higher in rural areas compared to urban centres—68 per cent versus 59 per cent. Regionally, the highest levels of unmet need were recorded in Narail, 81 per cent, and Habiganj, 80 per cent, while the lowest was observed in Feni, 18 per cent.

On average, Bangladeshi households spend Tk 3,454 per month on healthcare, representing about 11 per cent of total household expenditure. Medicines and diagnostic services were identified as the primary cost drivers.

The study noted that while public healthcare services are relatively equitably utilised, private healthcare services remain disproportionately concentrated among wealthier groups.

Despite higher absolute spending among the rich, poorer households bear a significantly heavier financial burden.

Healthcare expenses account for about 35 per cent of total income for the poorest households, compared to just 5 per cent for the wealthiest, indicating a regressive healthcare financing system.

The heavy reliance on OOP payments often leads to catastrophic health expenditures, limiting access to necessary care and pushing vulnerable households further into poverty.

The study concluded that although unmet healthcare needs persist across all segments of society, the financial burden falls disproportionately on the poor.

To address these challenges, the researcher recommended urgent reforms in healthcare financing, particularly the development and implementation of risk-pooling mechanisms such as social health insurance.

Such measures, the study suggested, are essential for reducing inequality in healthcare access and achieving Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh.

Brent crude futures retreated on ​Tuesday but held near $114 a barrel following fresh hostilities in the Middle East, while investors ‌monitored developments in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The US and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades, shaking a fragile truce.

Brent crude futures eased 93 ​cents, or 0.8 percent, to $113.51 per barrel at 0719 GMT after settling up 5.8 percent on Monday. ​US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $2.16, or 2 percent, to $104.26, after gaining 4.4 percent in the previous session.

“Prices continue to trade in a highly volatile range, driven largely by ongoing tensions in the ​Strait of Hormuz,” said Phillip Nova’s senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva.

“While prices have eased slightly in recent ​sessions, this is not due to any real improvement in fundamentals, but rather a temporary relief after the US launched ‘Project Freedom’,” she added.

The US on Monday launched a new operation aimed at reopening the strait to shipping. Maersk later said the ​Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged vehicle carrier, exited the Gulf via the strait accompanied by the US military.

“It shows ​that limited safe passage is possible under current conditions and helps chip away at some of the worst-case supply disruption ‌fears,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade in an email.

“However, it’s still very much a one-off event rather than a full reopening,” he added. Still, Iran launched attacks in the Gulf on Monday to counter US moves for control over the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to wider markets and typically ​carries oil and gas ​supply equal to about 20 percent of global demand every day.

Several commercial vessels were reportedly struck in the area, while a key oil port in the United Arab Emirates was set ablaze ​after an Iranian strike. Trump’s attempt to use the US Navy to ​free up shipping is the war’s biggest escalation since a ceasefire was declared four weeks ago.

“Markets may find some relief today following President Trump’s overnight comments suggesting the conflict could continue for another two to three weeks,” said ING analysts in ​a client note.

However, there is considerable scepticism in the market ​on this view, given the recent escalation and the repeated extensions of projected timelines for ending hostilities since the conflict began, they ​added.

State-owned Janata Bank recorded a substantial loss of Tk3,931 crore in 2025, marking a 28% increase compared to the previous year, according to its audited financial statements.

The significant loss has pushed the bank's net asset value further into negative territory, standing at Tk108.51 per share.

The downturn was largely driven by a sharp deficit in net interest income, which reached a negative Tk5,903 crore, alongside a surge in classified loans totaling Tk72,800 crore.

By the end of 2025, the bank's loss per share rose to Tk169.90.

Stocks today (5 May) witnessed sell-offs, with prices declining for 58% of the scrips traded on the bourse, dragging down the DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), by 11 points.

A day after returning to positive territory on Monday snapping a two-session losing streak, stocks ended on the red.

According to data of EBL Securities, among the top ten index draggers, eight were banking stocks, with City Bank leading the decline by shaving off 5 points. It was followed by BRAC Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh, Pubali Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Square Pharmaceuticals, NCC Bank, Bank Asia, and Grameenphone.

On the upside, Beximco Pharmaceuticals emerged as the top index gainer, contributing 11 points, followed by Beacon Pharmaceuticals, United Commercial Bank, Dominage Steel Building Systems, and Uttara Bank, the EBL data showed.

With a decline of 11 points, DSEX closed at 5,267 points, while DSES, the shariah index, surged 6 points to 1,060, and DS30, the blue-chip index, fell 6 points to 2,017, the DSE data showed.

A total 393 stocks traded today, while 227 stocks or 58% saw price decline, 107 stocks price surges and 59 stocks price remained unchanged.

Turnover, one of the major indicator, posted a decline around 5% to Tk876.95 crore and market cap, the value of total shares of the listed companies downed by Tk732 crore to Tk6.80 lakh crore.

EBL Securities said the benchmark index of the Dhaka bourse resumed its downward trajectory as broad-based selling dominated the session, with banking stocks exerting a notable drag after post–record date adjustments.

"Although the indices remained afloat through mid-session, the market lost traction in the final hour as broad-based selling pressure eroded earlier momentum, ultimately dragging the indices into negative territory by the close," it said.

On the sectoral front, Pharmaceutical and Chemical sector accounted for the highest share by 15.9% of turnover, followed by Bank 13.8% and Engineering sector stocks by 12.4%.

Sectors mostly displayed mixed returns, out of which life insurance, tannery and services exerted the most corrections, while ceramic, paper and pharma exhibited some positive returns on the bourse today.

Monno Ceramics topped the gainer chart as its shares price surged by 9.95% to Tk95 each, followed by Beximco Pharmaceuticals by 7.69% to Tk126 each, Dominage Steel Building Systems by 7.32% to Tk70.3 each, Sikder Insurance by 4.98% to Tk29.5 each, and Monno Agro by 4.46% to Tk348.9 each.

While on the loser from, Apex Spinning was top loser as its shares price fell 8.59% to Tk330.6 each, followed by Premier Leasing by 8% to Tk2.3 each, GSP Finance by 6.97% to Tk4 each, Bay Leasing by 6.38% to Tk4.4 each, and Energypac Power Generation by 5.85% to Tk17.7 each.

The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), also settled on a negative territory.

The Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) and All Share Price Index (CASPI) lost 16.9 points and 31.9 points, respectively.