As the country’s top revenue authority intensifies monitoring of tax deducted at source (TDS), it should ensure that compliant businesses are not subjected to unnecessary harassment, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) said in a statement yesterday.

The call comes a day after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said it has deployed special teams under its tax zones to monitor and verify source tax deduction and deposit.

The revenue authority said it has empowered officials under Section 147(2) of the Income Tax Act 2023 to inspect business premises, examine account books and records, and access computer systems, including by breaking passwords or encryption where necessary.

Reacting to the development, the DCCI said if implemented properly, the NBR initiative would help boost revenue collection and widen the tax net.

The chamber, however, cautioned that compliant businesses should be spared unnecessary harassment during the exercise, and that businesses yet to achieve full compliance should be given adequate time and a fair opportunity to do so.

Both the revenue collection target and a business-friendly environment can be achieved simultaneously, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said, calling for constructive dialogue between the NBR and the business community.

The effective adoption of automation and digitalisation across the revenue administration is essential to widen the tax net and meet collection targets, he added.

Such measures would significantly reduce the compliance burden on the private sector while making the tax system more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly, he said.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has published a draft amendment to "Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Margin) Rules, 2025" and invited opinions, suggestions and objections from stakeholders, according to a press release issued by the commission today (20 July).

The draft amendment has been published in national daily newspapers as well as on the BSEC website, with stakeholders given two weeks from the date of publication to submit their feedback to the commission.

The commission said the consultation is a legal requirement and under the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969, and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 1993, seeking opinions from stakeholders is a mandatory process whenever any rule is framed or amended.
BSEC said it would give due importance to all opinions, suggestions and objections received, and the rules would be finalised after necessary revisions, additions or modifications before being enacted through a government gazette notification.The commission clarified that the currently published draft is merely a proposal and not a final amendment, stating there is no scope for confusion or concern based on various assumptions, speculation or incomplete information regarding the draft.BSEC said it always attaches the highest importance to the interests and safety of investors, adding that the objective of the proposed amendment is to make the existing rules simpler, more practical, business-friendly and effective.

The commission said the final rules would be investor-friendly and aimed at ensuring overall market development and stability, taking into account the opinions and suggestions of all stakeholders.

The commission expressed hope that stakeholders would provide constructive feedback and that the media would present the draft amendment and the legal process appropriately, avoiding unnecessary confusion or concern among investors.

Brent crude hit its highest price since June on Monday due to renewed fighting between the United States and Iran, while Asian equities were mixed as investors weighed the fallout of a prolonged Middle East war.

Crude has surged over the past week as Washington and Tehran traded fire, raising fears of a sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries around a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil.

Both Brent crude and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate extended their gains after climbing more than four percent at the end of last week. Brent rose above $91 a barrel, its highest price since June 11.

The latest moves came after another weekend of escalating fighting, with the United States carrying out fresh strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran responding with attacks on regional military assets in the Gulf.

Higher crude prices have revived concerns that inflation could remain elevated and complicate the path to lower interest rates, but some analysts argue the broader economic backdrop is becoming more supportive.

“Markets are once again being forced to trade two seemingly contradictory stories on the same screen,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.

While the renewed rise in oil prices has injected a fresh geopolitical risk premium into markets, he said cooling underlying US inflation and a softer labour market suggested the energy shock would not necessarily trigger a new cycle of broad-based inflation.

Instead, the biggest risk would come if elevated oil prices persist long enough to erode household spending and weigh on economic growth.

In Asia, the market was mixed.

Chinese markets outperformed as investors extended a recent rally on expectations Beijing will unveil further measures to support the economy after last week’s economic data.

Hong Kong added more than two percent, while Shanghai ended the day’s trade in the green. Manila and Jakarta edged higher.

Caution prevailed elsewhere.

Seoul closed 4.46 percent down. Taipei was down, as was Sydney, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

London, Paris and Frankfurt also opened in the red.

The mellow performance followed another weak session on Wall Street, where all three major indexes finished lower on Friday as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares while keeping a close watch on developments in the Gulf.

Adding to worries about tech, Chinese startup Moonshot AI released on Friday a model that experts said could rival some of the more advanced offerings from US labs.

“Having had the weekend to digest the launch of Moonshot’s Kimi K3 model and its potential implications for the pricing power of the major US AI labs... markets appear to be taking a more measured view,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.

Gold eased despite the geopolitical uncertainty, falling 0.25 percent, while silver advanced a little over one percent.

The country's premier bourse ended on a largely flat note yesterday as buying support for sector-specific large-cap scrips provided a necessary cushion against a persistent sell-off in the insurance sector.

The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) inched up marginally to settle at 5,857 points, effectively pausing a broader market correction that had emerged in recent sessions.

However, the blue-chip DS30 index edged down slightly to 2,208 points, reflecting a selective approach by investors who preferred to stay on the sidelines ahead of potential regulatory shifts.

The day's trading session was characterised by significant intraday volatility. Market analysts from EBL Securities noted that the indices opened under pressure but managed to stabilise as opportunistic investors took positions in fundamentally strong large-cap stocks. The broader sentiment, however, remains watchful as market participants await the finalisation of proposed revisions to margin lending rules. This cautious stance was further compounded by renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which weighed on the risk appetite of institutional and high-net-worth investors.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited observed that while selling pressure dragged the benchmark index to an intraday low of 5,855 points during the morning hours, a recovery emerged from the mid-session onwards. This turnaround was primarily driven by selective buying in banking stocks, fueled by positive expectations surrounding the upcoming half-year earnings season. Additionally, investors are calculating potential benefits for certain sectors under the draft margin rule amendments currently being reviewed by the securities regulator.

On the sectoral front, returns remained mixed with a stark contrast between performers and laggards. The Service and Real Estate sector emerged as the top gainer, posting a 2.28% return.

Conversely, the Insurance sector was the day's worst underperformer, shedding 2.31% of its value.

Market insiders attributed the heavy selling in insurance scrips to growing fears among investors that many of these companies might be excluded from margin loan eligibility under the new proposed price-to-book value criteria.

Despite the price fall, turnover remained concentrated in textiles, pharmaceuticals, and insurance, which collectively accounted for nearly half of the day's total trading volume.

Market participation saw a 10% decline compared to the previous session, with total turnover settling at Tk966 crore.

The market breadth also remained negative, as 182 issues declined against 148 that managed to advance, while 58 scrips remained unchanged on the DSE floor.

Among individual performers, mutual funds like LR Global Mutual Fund One and MBL First Mutual Fund hit the upper limit of the circuit breaker, while Sonargaon Textile and NCCBL Mutual Fund-1 also featured prominently on the gainers' list.

On the flip side, the losers' chart was dominated by insurance firms, including Provati, Karnaphuli, Takaful, and United Insurance.

The bearish sentiment in specific sectors was also reflected at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) ended 23 points lower at 9,615, and the All Share Price Index (CASPI) dipped by 10 points to settle at 15,738.

Bangladesh’s industrial output fell in the January-March quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, the first such decline since the pandemic-hit fourth quarter of FY20, as gas and electricity shortages, weak export demand and high borrowing costs squeezed factories.

Industrial production contracted 0.28 percent in the third quarter of FY26, reversing 3.33 percent growth in the same period a year earlier, provisional data published yesterday by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed.

Output had slumped 14.94 percent in the April-June quarter of FY20 during the nationwide Covid lockdown, then stayed positive through subsequent quarters until this latest contraction.

Economists attributed the latest decline to prolonged uncertainty that has discouraged businesses from investing and expanding.

Md Deen Islam, a professor of economics at the University of Dhaka, said the contraction reflects deep-rooted structural weaknesses rather than a temporary dip.

“A negative industrial growth rate is a clear signal that production capacity is being constrained by supply-side bottlenecks,” he said.

“Persistent shortages of gas and electricity have significantly reduced factory utilisation, while high borrowing costs and weak private investment have further suppressed industrial activity.”

Towfiqul Islam Khan, additional research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said the fall in manufacturing output was likely linked to declining exports.

The industrial downturn dragged overall GDP growth down to 2.22 percent in the January-March quarter, from 4.53 percent a year earlier.

Agriculture and services also lost momentum. BBS data shows that agriculture growth eased to 1.74 percent from 4.61 percent a year earlier, while services — which account for more than half of GDP -- slowed sharply to 3.52 percent from 7.32 percent, reflecting broad-based weakness across the economy.

Prof Deen said the government’s stimulus package and budget incentives could offer some relief to entrepreneurs, but their effectiveness would depend on timely implementation and complementary reforms.

“Providing subsidised credit is necessary, but it is not sufficient,” he said. “Manufacturers cannot expand production if they do not have reliable access to energy. The real challenge is ensuring that financial support is matched by uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies and a stable business environment.”

He also pointed to the need to revive private investment.

“Banks have become increasingly risk-averse, with much of their liquidity flowing into government securities instead of productive private-sector lending,” the economics professor said. “Unless confidence returns and credit begins flowing to industries, industrial recovery will remain slow despite fiscal incentives.”

With Bangladesh approaching its graduation from the group of least developed countries, Deen said strengthening industrial competitiveness should be an immediate policy priority.

“The country is entering a more competitive trading environment where industries will no longer enjoy many of the preferential market access benefits they have relied on,” he said.

“This is precisely the time to raise productivity, improve infrastructure, and reduce the cost of doing business. Otherwise, the current slowdown could have lasting implications for exports, employment and long-term economic growth,” he added.

Ashikur Rahman, principal economist at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) of Bangladesh, linked the slowdown to the political transition.

“The election created a wait-and-see environment, prompting businesses to postpone investment decisions amid heightened uncertainty,” he said. “When investors lack policy certainty, private investment naturally slows, and that is reflected in the growth numbers.”

He added that political uncertainty, compounded by external shocks, kept the economic environment weak through the third and fourth quarters.

Referring to the IMF’s projection that Bangladesh’s growth may stay below 3.5 percent without reforms, Ashiur said the forecast should be read as a warning rather than merely a projection.

“Bangladesh cannot expect stronger growth simply through macroeconomic stabilisation. It needs a credible reform agenda that restores confidence among domestic and foreign investors,” he said.

He argued the country appears trapped in a low-growth, high-inflation equilibrium that fiscal consolidation or financial sector reforms alone cannot fix.

“The government also needs productivity-enhancing reforms to improve the investment climate, strengthen institutions, develop skills and remove structural bottlenecks,” said the PRI principal economist. “At the same time, it must present a credible macroeconomic roadmap that brings back predictability and certainty. Once confidence returns, investment, employment and growth will gradually recover.”

The BBS had earlier put the country’s provisional GDP growth for FY26 at 4.14 percent, up from 3.49 percent in the previous fiscal year.

Multilateral lenders have offered a mixed outlook. The World Bank, in its June 2026 Global Economic Prospects, projected Bangladesh’s GDP growth at 3.9 percent, citing persistent macroeconomic challenges and weak private investment. The Asian Development Bank lowered its forecast to 3.7 percent in its July 2026 Asian Development Outlook Update, citing slower industrial activity and continued uncertainty.

The IMF has kept a comparatively more optimistic forecast of 4.7 percent in its April 2026 World Economic Outlook, though it has repeatedly stressed that sustaining higher growth will require comprehensive structural reforms, stronger private investment and macroeconomic stability.

The IMF has also projected that Bangladesh’s economy will grow by 3.5 percent in the current fiscal year (2026-27) amid continued fiscal and financial sector pressures.

Bangladesh's insurance industry continues to struggle with claim settlements, with more than seven out of every 10 claims remaining unpaid as of March this year, despite a legal requirement to settle valid claims within 90 days.

According to the latest data from the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (Idra), insurers had received claims worth Tk10,611 crore across the life and non-life segments by the end of March 2026. Of that, Tk7,779 crore, or 73.31%, remained unsettled.

The situation is particularly alarming in the non-life segment, where insurers settled only 11.3% of claims, leaving Tk3,369 crore, or 88.70% of total claims, unpaid.

Life insurers performed relatively better but still left Tk4,410 crore, or 64.73% of claims, unsettled out of Tk6,813 crore received by the end of March 2026.

Industry insiders say persistent delays in claim settlements have badly eroded public confidence in the insurance sector. Many policyholders who pay their premiums regularly do not receive compensation on time.

The crisis has been compounded by insurers' weak financial health, poor corporate governance, underperforming investments, and delays in recovering reinsurance claims.

Regulator moves to clear Tk4,000cr backlog

Against this backdrop, newly appointed Idra Chairman Mir Nadia Nivin recently declared the settlement of long-pending insurance claims as the regulator's top priority.

She said Idra has already begun working to clear nearly Tk4,000 crore in outstanding claims owed by the country's seven most financially distressed life insurance companies. Under the plan, the companies' land, government treasury bonds, fixed deposits held with financially sound banks and other marketable assets will be liquidated in phases, with the proceeds used to pay policyholders.

According to Idra officials, the regulator has already held separate meetings with the sponsors, boards and chief executive officers of the seven companies to review their assets, liabilities, investments and overall financial condition. Fresh valuations have also been ordered where questions exist over asset values. At the same time, Idra is coordinating with Bangladesh Bank to recover deposits of insurance companies that remain stuck in financially troubled banks.

Among life insurers, Baira Life recorded the highest unsettled claim ratio at 99.91%. It was followed by Fareast Islami Life Insurance 99.12%, Homeland Life Insurance 98.97%, Sunflower Life Insurance 98.65% and Padma Islami Life Insurance 98.63%. Nearly all claims filed with these companies remained unpaid through March.

The situation is similarly concerning among non-life insurers. Dhaka Insurance reported the highest unsettled claim ratio at 99.85%, followed by Bangladesh Co-operatives Insurance 99.79%, Northern Islami Insurance 98.86%, Asia Pacific General Insurance 98.29% and Peoples Insurance 98.27%.

Reinsurance delays blamed

Beyond financial weakness, industry stakeholders say structural flaws in the reinsurance system are a key reason for delayed claim settlements in the non-life insurance sector.

Under Bangladesh's insurance law, valid claims must be settled within 90 days. In reality, however, many policyholders wait months or even years for compensation after accidents, fires or other insured losses, leaving individuals and businesses under severe financial strain.

Industry insiders identify the state-owned Sadharan Bima Corporation as a major bottleneck. Existing regulations require non-life insurers to reinsure 50% of their risks with SBC, while the remaining 50% can be placed with foreign reinsurers.

Insurance companies allege that Sadharan Bima often takes a long time to settle its share of claims, preventing insurers from making timely payments to policyholders.

An Idra official, requesting anonymity, told TBS, "One of the main reasons companies cite for delayed claim settlements is the slow settlement of reinsurance claims by Sadharan Bima. We have informed the corporation about the issue, and its new leadership is working to reduce the backlog."

Industry officials say foreign reinsurers generally settle claims on time, while delays are more common at Sadharan Bima. To safeguard their reputation and maintain customer confidence, many private insurers pay claims from their own funds before receiving reinsurance recoveries.

Sadharan Bima officials, however, argue that the delays are not entirely their responsibility. They say insurers often fail to submit complete documentation or pay reinsurance premiums on time, resulting in longer processing times.

A managing director of a leading non-life insurance company, requesting anonymity, said, "Reinsurance claims through Sadharan Bima require additional documentation, which makes the process slower. In many cases, insurers have to settle policyholders' claims from their own funds before receiving payments from the reinsurer."

A senior official at the Bangladesh Insurance Academy said incomplete documentation and claims tied up in lengthy court proceedings are also major reasons behind delayed settlements.

"It is not reasonable to expect claims to be settled when premiums remain unpaid. Meanwhile, ongoing court disputes continue to delay the process. Without coordinated efforts by insurers, reinsurers, regulators and policyholders, the situation is unlikely to improve significantly," he said.

Bangladesh currently has 82 insurance companies, including 36 life insurers and 46 non-life insurers. Of them, 58 are listed on the country's stock exchanges.

The country’s construction sector is facing one of its worst slowdowns in years as weaker public development spending, slower private investment and high borrowing costs reduce demand for housing and construction materials.

Once driven by mega infrastructure projects, rapid urbanisation and a booming housing market, the sector is now struggling with rising costs, financing constraints and policy uncertainty.

Industry leaders said the downturn has affected not only construction companies but also around 269 related industries, including steel, cement, ceramics, bricks, electrical equipment, transport and furniture.

Construction material manufacturers are cutting prices, absorbing losses and operating below capacity as sales decline and financial pressure rises.

Sector insiders said weaker public development spending is a major reason behind the slowdown. The implementation rate of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) dropped to its lowest level in five years in FY2025-26.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), ministries and divisions implemented projects worth Tk 100,764 crore during July-May, accounting for 48 percent of the revised ADP allocation.

Private investment has also slowed due to political uncertainty, high borrowing costs and weak business confidence, further reducing demand for construction work.

HOUSING MARKET UNDER PRESSURE

The housing sector has been hit hardest, with weaker sales and rising financing costs delaying projects. Developers focused on premium apartments are facing greater challenges as buyers remain cautious.

Anup Kumar Sarker, executive director (marketing) of Concord Group, said sales of premium apartments have weakened as buyers are adopting a wait-and-see approach.

Although transaction volumes have remained relatively stable, revenues have declined due to lower demand for expensive homes.

He said demand for mid-market apartments has remained comparatively stable, but smaller developers that depend heavily on bank loans are facing growing pressure.

“The slowdown is largely due to bank lending rates rising to around 14-15 percent from 9-11 percent previously,” Anup said.

“Most businesses depend on bank financing. With interest rates this high, it has become very difficult to generate enough profit to cover financing costs,” he added.

STEEL MAKERS CUT PRICES AMID FALLING SALES

The slowdown in construction has sharply reduced demand for steel products, forcing manufacturers to lower prices and sell below production costs.

Sumon Chowdhury, secretary general of the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association, said producers initially offered discounts of Tk 500 to Tk 1,500 per tonne before reducing base prices as sales continued to fall.

Rebar prices in Dhaka have declined by around Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 per tonne, while MS rod sales have dropped by up to 45 percent due to lower public spending, weak private construction, high inflation and recent floods.

“Factories still have to operate to cover fixed costs such as loan repayments and electricity bills, even though sales have fallen sharply,” Sumon said.

He added that many mills are holding large inventories and selling below production costs to maintain cash flow. Some manufacturers are losing Tk 5,000 to Tk 7,000 per tonne as they struggle with higher electricity tariffs and other production costs.

CEMENT INDUSTRY OPERATING BELOW CAPACITY

Cement producers are also struggling as slower economic growth and reduced construction activity weaken demand.

Mohammad Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement Mills PLC and president of the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association, said government infrastructure work has declined by around 80 percent, while demand for urban housing has fallen sharply.

Although rural construction has provided some support, the industry is currently operating at around 60 percent of its installed capacity, rising to about 70 percent during stronger months.

Amirul said the sector has been hit by several challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, taka depreciation, financial sector problems and the recent Middle East crisis.

These factors have increased business costs and discouraged investment, he said.

“Without stronger economic growth, demand for construction materials such as cement, steel, tiles, glass and timber products will remain weak,” he added.

CERAMIC INDUSTRY ALSO HIT

High interest rates and falling purchasing power are further affecting developers and homebuyers.

Md Mamunur Rashid, additional managing director of X Ceramic Group, said high inflation, rising construction costs and weaker purchasing power have significantly reduced housing demand.

Many apartment buyers are struggling to repay loans as lending rates have climbed to 14-15 percent.

He estimated that apartment sales in Dhaka have fallen by 25-30 percent, affecting developers, especially smaller firms. Demand for ceramic products has also declined by 20-30 percent.

Manufacturers are cutting prices and, in many cases, selling below production costs to repay bank loans and avoid defaults.

Mamunur urged the government to withdraw supplementary duty on ceramic tiles, saying they have become an essential construction material rather than a luxury item.

He said reducing taxes on tiles would help lower construction costs and support a recovery in the housing market.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has asked administrators of five merged banks to submit their exit plans as the newly appointed chairman and managing director of Sammilito Islami Bank assumed office.

Five troubled banks -- Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, First Security Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank -- were merged into the newly formed Sammilito Islami Bank under the Bank Resolution Act, 2026.

The central bank sought the exit plans during two separate meetings yesterday at its headquarters -- one with the administrators, and another with Sammilito Islami Bank’s new chairman and managing director.

Md Kabir Ahmed, deputy governor of BB and head of the Bank Resolution Department, presided over both meetings.

In their exit plans, the administrators will have to submit progress reports on their respective banks, including financial indicators, central bank officials said on condition of anonymity. BB had appointed temporary administrators to each of the five banks in November last year.

Since the new managing director has already joined while the five banks remain under administrators, the dual leadership could create administrative complications and operational inefficiencies, industry insiders said.

However, according to sources familiar with the meeting, authorities are considering whether the administrators could continue to be involved with the banks in some other capacity even if their current role ends.

The new board of directors of the Sammilito Islami Bank formally assumed office last Thursday, when the new managing director also took charge; the board held its first meeting the same day.

Earlier last month, the government appointed Quazi Shairul Hassan as chairman of the bank’s board of directors and Abedur Rahman Sikder as managing director and chief executive officer. The new chairman and managing director met BB Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman after Sunday’s meeting.

Paramount Insurance Company Limited reported a 145% year-on-year increase in profit for the second quarter (April–June) of 2026, driven by higher premium income and lower net claims.

According to a disclosure published today (19 July), the insurer's earnings per share (EPS) rose to Tk0.98 for the quarter, up from Tk0.40 in the corresponding period last year.

For the first half (January-June) of 2026, EPS increased to Tk2.19 from Tk1.58 a year earlier.

Despite the strong earnings growth, the company's share price fell 3.39% to Tk62.70 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange today.

Net operating cash flow per share climbed to Tk1.95 during the first half, compared with Tk0.45 in the same period last year. The company attributed the improvement to steady growth in premium income and higher premium deposits.

Net asset value per share also increased to Tk29.86 as of June, from Tk27.53 a year earlier, supported by higher reserves for exceptional losses and the investment fluctuation reserve.

In 2025, Paramount Insurance posted a profit of Tk8.90 crore with an EPS of Tk2.19. Based on its performance, the company declared a 10% cash dividend for shareholders.

The Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) has sought a ban on exports of jute sliver, alleging that some mill owners are using the product to dodge restrictions on raw jute exports and pocket a 10 percent government cash incentive.

Raw jute exports have been effectively restricted since late 2025. Despite this, mill owners have been exporting jute sliver in large volumes, claiming an incentive meant for other products, the association’s Chairman Khandaker Alamgir Kabir said in a letter to the commerce secretary on July 15.

The BJA stated that jute sliver is a basic industrial input, processed abroad into yarn and other finished jute goods, and is not a high-value product. The 10 percent cash incentive applies to exports of jute diversified products containing at least 50 percent jute.

It noted that jute sliver has no separate HS code and does not qualify as a “Jute Diversified Product” under the incentive rules, yet its exports continue to receive the incentive.

The Bangladesh Jute Mills Association and the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association had jointly sought a similar ban in a letter to the then adviser for commerce, textiles and jute on October 28, 2025, according to the letter.

It added that the practice has allowed mill owners to control the jute market, depriving farmers of fair prices while draining government funds and harming the wider jute sector.

The commerce ministry amended the Export Policy 2024–27 in September 2025 to move raw jute onto the “conditional export” list, requiring prior approval for all shipments, in a bid to protect supplies for domestic mills and control rising prices.

At the time, mill owners backed the move to restrict exports, saying it served the national interest. Traders disagreed, warning it would hurt farmers by denying them fair prices without fixing the supply problem.

However, amid the opposing demands from the two sides, the ministry, in October 2025, allowed 12 firms to export nearly 3,000 tonnes of raw jute.

United Insurance, a listed insurer, reported a 45% year-on-year rise in earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of 2026, driven by higher underwriting profit, sending its shares to the daily upper circuit.

The company's shares gained 9.81%, or Tk4.70, to close at Tk52.60 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

DSE data showed that at the beginning of trading sessions, United Insurance shares adjusted opening price was Tk47.90 each, while trade begun, shares jumped at Tk52.10 each.

According to a disclosure published today (19 July), its EPS surged to Tk1.75 during the April-June quarter, at the same time of the previous year, it was Tk1.21.

Its disclosure also said, it's EPS, in the half-year during the January to June period, stood at Tk1.99, which is 20% growth over the same time of the previous year.

Its net operating cash flow per share also significantly jumped to Tk2.99, which Tk0.93 at the same time of the previous year.

Meanwhile its net asset value per shares increased to Tk34.76 at the end of June 2026.

The insurer attributed the rise in net asset value to an increase in the fair market value of its investment in United Finance shares, while stronger premium collections boosted cash flow.

In 2025, United Insurance made a profit of Tk15.38 crore with an EPS of Tk3.46.

Based on the growth of its profit, it had paid a 15% cash dividend for its shareholders.

As of June, out of its total shares, sponsor-directors held 59.90% stake while institutional investors 20.09% and the general investors 20.01%, according to the DSE.

Rice prices have climbed in Dhaka and Chattogram over the past week, particularly for fine varieties, as traders blame higher paddy prices, flood damage to Aus crops and Aman seedbeds, and uncertainty over rice imports from India.

Although traders said rice supply remains adequate for now, economists warn that crop losses and possible market speculation during the lean season could push prices higher unless authorities strengthen market monitoring.

In Dhaka’s kitchen markets, fine rice is selling at Tk 72 per kilogramme (kg), up from Tk 70 a week ago. Coarse rice, which is generally more affordable and widely consumed by lower-income households, has increased to Tk 50 per kg from Tk 48.

Mohammad Bacchu, a wholesaler and retailer at Karwan Bazar, said the wholesale price of a 50 kg sack of fine rice rose to Tk 3,200 from Tk 3,000 within a week. This means the price increased by about Tk 4 per kg.

“Millers are saying the increase is due to higher paddy prices. But there is no shortage of rice in the market yet, and supply and demand are balanced,” he said.

He added that coarse rice prices have remained unchanged so far, though they are showing an upward trend.

In Chattogram, fine rice prices have increased more sharply over the past month due to concerns over flood-related supply disruptions and uncertainty over Indian imports.

Traders said some Indian exporters have warned that their government may tighten export rules or restrict shipments of certain rice varieties. However, there has been no official announcement or indication from the Indian government regarding such measures.

At the retail level in Chattogram, fine rice is selling at Tk 95 per kg, up from Tk 85 a week ago.

Yasir Hossain, owner of Babul Store at CDA Market, said Nazirshail rice prices have increased by Tk 10 per kg over the past week to Tk 93-95 per kg, while coarse rice prices have remained unchanged.

Wholesale traders said fine rice prices have also increased by around Tk 10 per kg over the past month. “The market has become volatile due to flood-related supply concerns and uncertainty over Indian rice imports,” said Khatunganj trader Shanta Dasgupta.

Rice prices have also increased in other parts of the country. Data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) show fine rice prices rose 1.29 percent and coarse rice prices 1.85 percent over the past week.

Nirod Boron Saha, a rice miller and president of the Rice and Paddy Stockists and Wholesalers Association in Naogaon, a major rice trading hub in the north, said fine rice is now selling at Tk 2,700 to Tk 2,800 per maund (37.32 kg) in the local wholesale market, up by around Tk 50 per maund (Tk 1.34 per kg) over the past week.

“The market is now in the lean season, as nearly three months have passed since the harvest,” he said, adding that coarse rice prices have remained stable.

In Bogura, rice miller Abul Mansur Khan said fine rice prices have increased over the past 10 days, with a 25 kg sack now selling for Tk 1,850 to Tk 1,900, compared with Tk 1,700 to Tk 1,800 a week ago.

The increase is mainly due to higher paddy prices, he said.

Heavy rains have affected agricultural production in 43 districts, including Chattogram, Noakhali, Cumilla, Barishal, Khulna and Sylhet, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.

More than five lakh farmers have suffered losses, while over 87,000 hectares of farmland -- about 7 percent of the country’s 13 lakh hectares of cultivated land -- have been damaged.

The affected crops include Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, summer vegetables, ginger, turmeric and papaya. Of the damaged land, 52,767 hectares were under Aus paddy, 10,504 hectares under Aman seedbeds and 17,834 hectares under summer vegetables.

Agriculturists said the flood damage could tighten food supplies, particularly rice, and make it harder to control inflation.

Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam Khan told The Daily Star that around 15 percent of the Aus crop has been damaged, which could reduce rice production by about 4.5 lakh tonnes.

Although Aman seedbeds can be replanted, the process may still put pressure on supply and affect the market, he said.

“This is the lean season. Traders may try to take advantage of the situation by manipulating the market and pushing up prices,” he added.However, Jahangir said the situation could be managed through effective market monitoring, adding that the government has sufficient food stocks and can intervene if necessary.

The country's capital market began the week on a bearish note as the benchmark index retreated further today (19 July), driven by a sharp sell-off in insurance stocks.

Investor sentiment was rattled by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission's recent proposal to tighten margin lending regulations specifically for the insurance sector.

The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange plunged by 44 points, or 0.75%, to close the session at 5,855, while the blue-chip DS30 index slipped 16 points to settle at 2,210.

Market insiders noted that the insurance sector's dismal performance was a direct reaction to the exchange commission's draft amendment of margin rules, which has been released for public opinion.

Under the proposed guidelines, the regulator intends to cap the margin loan ratio for life insurance companies at 1:0.25, a stark contrast to the 1:1 ratio available for other firms.

Furthermore, the draft introduces strict price-to-book (P/B) value criteria for margin eligibility. While banks and non-bank financial institutions are allowed a maximum P/B of 3x, insurance companies would be restricted to a maximum P/B of 1x, triggering widespread concern among investors that a vast majority of insurance scrips could be excluded from margin facilities, leading to a potential liquidity crisis in the segment, according to the market insiders.

The impact was evident across the board as 52 out of the 58 listed insurance companies witnessed a sharp decline in their share prices. Only four insurance firms could post gains, while two were unchanged.

Analysts from EBL Securities observed that the capital bourse extended its corrective momentum from the previous session due to a profit-taking frenzy. They added that broad-based selling reflected heightened caution surrounding the proposed margin amendments, which exerted sustained pressure on the market's upward trajectory.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited, in its daily market review, highlighted that the market's performance was also shaped by the re-escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Although the session saw several early recovery attempts supported by selective buying, the selling pressure intensified significantly from the mid-session onward.

This resulted in a bearish market breadth, with 245 issues declining compared to 98 advances and 49 remaining unchanged.

Trading activity also cooled slightly, with total turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange edging down by 4% to stand at Tk1,070 crore.

On the sectoral front, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and textiles remained the focus of trading, but the insurance sector dominated the narrative of the day's decline. Top traded stocks included Malek Spinning, Techno Drugs, Sharp Industries, BSRM Steel, and LankaBangla Finance.

In the individual scrip segment, Green Delta Mutual Fund and United Insurance were among the few gainers, while Meghna Insurance, Global Insurance, and Agrani Insurance featured prominently on the losers' list.

The bearish sentiment was mirrored at the Chittagong Stock Exchange, where the Selective Categories' Index ended 61 points lower at 9,639. The All Share Price Index at the port city bourse dropped 66 points to finish at 15,748, while turnover plunged by 52% to settle at a modest Tk8.82 crore.

The government has ruled out organising overseas roadshows to promote Bangladesh's offshore licensing round, saying it will instead engage directly with international energy companies while pursuing a lower-cost approach to attracting investment.

"I have no plan to arrange such overseas roadshows for the offshore bidding round. That was an Awami League-style practice that misused public money," Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmood told The Financial Express on Sunday.

He said roadshows were not an appropriate use of resources for a developing country like Bangladesh.

"Instead, I will speak directly with the top executives of potential international oil companies (IOCs), if necessary," the minister said.

The minister's decision is in line with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's austerity measures aimed at reducing government expenditure across various sectors.

Last week, state-run Petrobangla and the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) proposed organising promotional roadshows in three key energy and financial centres - Houston in the United States,

A global consultancy firm had offered to organise the events at a cost of more than Tk 200 million (US$1.62 million), a senior Petrobangla official said.

The previous Awami League government organised similar roadshows in New York, London and Singapore during December 2009 and January 2010 to attract IOCs to offshore exploration blocks and various power and energy projects.

However, no IOC subsequently signed exploration agreements with Petrobangla for hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal, the official said.

Officials said Petrobangla launched the long-awaited offshore bidding round on May 24, offering 26 hydrocarbon exploration blocks to international oil companies under significantly improved contractual terms.

So far, around half a dozen companies - including Singapore-based KrisEnergy, Norway-based Rystad Energy, Japan's ONODO Inc, Beringia Power BD Ltd and Peal Energy and Construction - have purchased the information package, signalling interest in participating in the bidding process.

In addition to publishing notices in local newspapers, Petrobangla has emailed around 106 international oil companies worldwide, inviting them to participate. The bidding notice has also been published through Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The BNP-led government launched the offshore bidding round within its first 100 days in office in a bid to attract foreign investment into the energy sector amid growing concerns over Bangladesh's long-term energy security.

The initiative is intended to reduce the country's vulnerability to global fuel market disruptions arising from the prolonged Middle East conflict and restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Petrobangla has also revised the model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) to revive international interest after previous offshore tenders failed to attract major global energy companies.

Of the 26 offshore blocks on offer, 11 are located in shallow waters and 15 in deep waters of the Bay of Bengal.

The shallow-water blocks are SS-01 to SS-11, while the deep-water blocks are DS-08 to DS-22.

The deadline for bid submission is November 30, 2026.

To make the contracts more attractive, the government has reduced the mandatory contribution to the Workers' Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) to 1.5 per cent from the previous 5.0 per cent.

Other incentives include relaxed obligations relating to pipeline construction following commercial discoveries, full repatriation of profits, the removal of signature bonuses and royalties, and wellhead gas prices linked to international Brent crude benchmarks, with floor and ceiling prices based on the lowest and highest average Brent prices over the previous five years.

Contractors will also be entitled to mutually agreed pipeline tariffs, payable by the buyer, to support investments in pipeline infrastructure for both shallow- and deep-water blocks.

The contracts further provide exemptions from duties on equipment and machinery imported for petroleum operations during both the exploration and production phases, while contractors' corporate income tax liabilities will be borne by Petrobangla.

Sources said the previous offshore bidding round launched by the Awami League government failed to attract any bids from international oil companies, although several firms had purchased bidding documents.

Industry insiders attributed the poor response to limited confidence among investors and inadequate geological data on the offshore blocks.

Petrobangla had kept that tender open for nine months after launching it on March 10, 2024, offering exploration rights for 24 offshore blocks - 15 deep-water and nine shallow-water blocks.

Before the current round, Bangladesh had launched only one offshore bidding round during the previous decade, in 2017, covering just three deep-water blocks, according to Petrobangla.

Although South Korea's Posco-Daewoo was awarded deep-water Block DS-12, the company withdrew in 2020 after completing a two-dimensional seismic survey.

Earlier, in 2012, Petrobangla awarded contracts for three shallow-water blocks and one deep-water block through another international bidding round.

At present, two international oil companies hold active production-sharing contracts in Bangladesh, either independently or through joint ventures.

US energy major Chevron is exploring and producing natural gas from three onshore gas fields under Blocks 12, 13 and 14, while Singapore-based KrisEnergy produces gas from the Bangura field under Block 9.

Bangladesh's commercial aviation industry is gearing up for its largest-ever fleet expansion. Spurred by the massive capacity created by Dhaka airport's upcoming Third Terminal, four domestic airlines plan to increase their combined fleet by 78.4% by 2027.

According to airline officials, the combined fleet of the state-owned flag carrier and three private operators will grow from 51 to 91 aircraft by 2027, driven by the induction of 40 leased planes.

The simultaneous expansion by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Air Astra, and Novoair aims to capitalise on critical infrastructure upgrades at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). While the airport's existing terminal was designed to handle 80 lakh passengers annually, it stretched to accommodate 1.27 crore travellers in 2025—up from 1.25 crore in 2024 and 1.17 crore in 2023.

The Third Terminal, which the government plans to inaugurate either on December 16 this year or in early 2027, will add annual capacity for 1.2 to 1.6 crore additional passengers and nearly 5 lakh tonnes of cargo.

Bridging the capacity gap

The aggressive expansion comes as local airlines push to claw back market share from foreign carriers, which currently control roughly 65% of Bangladesh's international passenger market despite 38 foreign airlines operating in the country.

Aviation analyst and former Biman board member Kazi Wahidul Alam noted that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects passenger traffic through Dhaka could nearly double to 2.5 crore within the next decade. "The biggest-ever fleet expansion is now a commercial necessity," Alam said.

To meet this demand, local operators are bringing in a mix of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Boeing 777s, Boeing 737-8s, and ATR 72-600 turboprops. The network strategy targets routes across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat welcomed the growth, noting that increased aircraft operations will boost aviation sector revenues, enhance competition, and improve service quality.

Biman eyes 10 leased jets ahead of mega-purchase

National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines plans to lease 10 aircraft to expand its current fleet to 29 by 2027, representing a 52.6% increase.

This short-term expansion relies on leased aircraft to bridge the gap until newly manufactured aircraft become available after 2030, keeping it separate from Biman's proposed $3.7 billion purchase of 14 Boeing aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2031 and 2035.

The state-owned carrier has already invited international proposals to dry lease three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for six years, targeting delivery by January 2027. To ensure transparency, the government has initiated the appointment of an international consultant, vetting around 40 applications to select a qualified firm to oversee the leasing process.

State Minister Millat said, "We want to ensure that the Biman leasing process is conducted with complete transparency. To that end, we have initiated the appointment of an international consultant".

Biman currently serves 22 international destinations and is planning further expansion into East Asia, Europe and North America, its officials said.

Private carriers accelerate regional and long-haul ambitions

US-Bangla Airlines, already the largest domestic carrier with 25 aircraft, is planning the largest private fleet acquisition in the country's history by adding 21 leased Boeing 737-8 aircraft – an 84% increase valued at $1.11 billion.

Partnering with Boeing for a formal announcement on July 29, US-Bangla aims to transform Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet into regional hubs.

"US-Bangla intends to operate direct international flights from the two cities in the future, reducing passengers' reliance on transiting through Dhaka," Kamrul Islam, spokesperson of the carrier, said.

Initially, the carrier plans to launch new services to Jeddah, Madinah, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Colombo, Kathmandu and Johor Bahru, while Europe, Toronto and Sydney remain part of its longer-term network strategy.

Expanding into Europe is part of the airline's next phase of growth, Kamrul said, adding that US-Bangla aims to launch flights to Italy by 2028, followed by services to Toronto in Canada and Sydney in Australia by 2030.

Air Astra, which currently operates four ATR 72-600 turboprops, plans to expand its fleet to 10 aircraft, marking the highest growth rate in the local industry.

Besides adding two more turboprops, the airline will enter wide-body operations by introducing four leased Boeing 777 aircraft starting in April 2027.

Air Astra officials said the airline is preparing to launch international flights, including services to Nepal, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore.

Imran Asif, chief executive officer of Air Astra, explained that the Third Terminal has fundamentally changed the industry's growth outlook.

"Previously, terminal and parking capacity limited fleet expansion. Now that capacity is available, local airlines must expand. Otherwise, foreign carriers will take advantage of the additional capacity and increase their market share," he said.

Meanwhile, Novoair is returning to growth mode after struggling for several years to secure leased aircraft.

Managing Director Mofizur Rahman confirmed the airline plans to induct two leased aircraft by November or December this year, followed by a third six months later. Currently operating three aircraft, Novoair is evaluating Boeing and Airbus options to support an international rollout to Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore) and the Middle East (Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat).

Global lessors show high confidence

Industry executives credit the massive expansion to Bangladesh's improved standing among global aircraft leasing companies. The domestic aviation sector's clean record of zero aircraft repossession cases, combined with stricter regulatory oversight and the implementation of the Cape Town Convention, has given international lessors the confidence to offer newer aircraft on highly competitive terms.

However, long-term infrastructure challenges remain. State Minister Millat cautioned that even with the Third Terminal, a single runway will eventually be insufficient to handle long-term passenger growth, meaning Bangladesh will ultimately require an entirely new, larger airport to sustain its aviation ambitions.

Samsung Electronics has cut jobs at its US display, phone and other consumer electronics operations — affecting workers mainly in New Jersey and Texas, according to documents and two people familiar with the matter.

The South Korean tech giant said on Sunday in a statement to Reuters that 739 roles in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, have been affected by plans by Samsung Electronics America (SEA) — which is focused on consumer electronics and does not include chips — to move its headquarters to Texas.

A majority of people affected have received relocation offers, but others were let go, it added without elaborating.

At SEA's Plano, Texas office, some 100 workers, including staff in its mobile division, have been let go, according to one person who said they were among the employees laid off. Sources declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The cuts — though related to the shift in headquarters — underscore diverging fortunes within the South Korean tech giant, with its chip division skyrocketing to record profit but its consumer electronics units languishing as chip costs surge.

Samsung's decision to shift SEA's headquarters is striking because SEA employees in New Jersey only moved to new offices with much fanfare less than a year ago. SEA employs about 1,200 workers in New Jersey, according to a press release by US Representative Josh Gottheimer, who attended an event to mark the opening of the new offices in September.

While the precise extent of the layoffs at SEA could not be learned, documents seen by Reuters show that the unit notified some employees on 30 June of an "enterprise-wide reduction-in-force", adding that there were a "significant number of impacts".

LinkedIn posts reviewed by Reuters also show more than 30 workers, including senior sales and marketing officials in both Texas and New Jersey as well as a few in other US locations, said they have been let go or left the company over the past couple of weeks.

Details about the job losses at SEA have not previously been reported.

Samsung said in its statement that the shift of SEA's headquarters "may lead to changes in our workforce structure, such as employees who are unable to relocate, or certain functions that are optimised to ensure our roles align to key business priorities."

Chip division soars, but mobile may post loss

Samsung has flagged it will likely post a 19-fold jump in second-quarter profit on strong AI-driven chip demand. It also announced plans last month to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new chip plants.

Its mobile division, however, is expected to post its first-ever loss, as it grapples with intense competition from Apple. Chinese rivals like TCL and Hisense are also challenging Samsung in televisions and home appliances. Higher chip costs due to the AI boom have weighed on earnings for all of its consumer electronics products.

Samsung's job cuts mirror moves by other global firms including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta, which have shed jobs while redirecting spending towards AI infrastructure.

It has also joined Tesla, Oracle and other tech companies in moving headquarters or major operations to Texas, known for lower taxes and business-friendly regulations. The state is already home to Samsung's chip factories and a mobile hub in Plano.

Samsung workers are concerned the recent job cuts could be followed by additional layoffs and a consolidation of the company's appliance, home entertainment and mobile divisions, as it focuses resources on chips, a current SEA employee said.

Samsung said in its statement there was currently no broad, global restructuring underway within its consumer product business.

The relocation of the unit's headquarters is intended to foster "stronger collaboration and optimise the organisation by bringing more teams together within a growing technology and AI ecosystem," it said.

Samsung Electronics had 11,770 employees in the United States as of the end of 2025, which includes workers in its chip division.

Samsung's IT services affiliate Samsung SDS America has flagged that 179 roles could be cut at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, according to a June notice required under the state's laws.

Those personnel changes are due to the relocation of Samsung SDS' North American headquarters and had nothing to do with layoffs or restructuring, Samsung said.

Bangladesh's import settlement growth remained virtually stagnant in the just-concluded fiscal year, rising only 0.09% year-on-year to $70.4 billion, reflecting subdued demand for industrial raw materials and capital machinery amid economic uncertainty and financial distress among major business groups.

According to Bangladesh Bank's Economic Indicators report, import settlements through letters of credit reached $70.4 billion in FY26, up marginally from $70.3 billion in the previous fiscal year.
The muted growth in import payments came despite a sharp increase in import orders. The opening of letters of credit rose 7% year-on-year to $74.7 billion in FY26, suggesting that businesses remain cautious about expanding production even as future import demand shows signs of recovery.
Economists attributed the weak import performance to a combination of domestic and external pressures, including geopolitical tensions, uncertainty surrounding the national election, high interest rates and the financial difficulties facing several large corporate groups.

Industrial imports continue to weaken

Imports of industrial raw materials, a key indicator of manufacturing activity, fell 3.33% year-on-year to $23.18 billion in FY26 from nearly $24 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Imports of capital machinery, often seen as a gauge of long-term investment, declined even more sharply, falling 10.68% to $1.80 billion from $2 billion a year earlier.

Consumer goods and intermediate goods imports also weakened during the fiscal year, declining by around 7% each to $6.31 billion and $4.17 billion, respectively.

Petroleum products were the only major category to record growth. Import settlements for petroleum rose 6.42% year-on-year to $10.68 billion in FY26.

What experts say

Bankers and economists said the slowdown in industrial imports reflected a broader deterioration in business confidence and production activity.

Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, told The Business Standard that both import and export growth remained largely stagnant during FY26 because of global conflicts and policy uncertainty linked to the country's election period.

"The new fiscal year will also be challenging. Alongside LDC graduation, geopolitical uncertainty, including the Iran conflict, continues to pose risks," he said.

According to Mustafizur, Bangladesh should focus on resolving domestic constraints within its control by reducing the cost of doing business, streamlining logistics and the single-window system, and improving trade facilitation.

"Our competitor countries are continuously diversifying and upgrading their exports. Bangladesh also needs to move in that direction, while accelerating free trade agreements," he said.

"Global conflicts and geopolitical tensions are beyond our control. What we can do is resolve our domestic constraints and strengthen the country's competitiveness."

A deputy managing director of a private bank said many businesses scaled back or shut down operations following the fall of the Awami League government, sharply reducing demand for bank credit.

The banker said factories owned by several major business groups, including Nassa Group, Beximco Group and Gazi Group, had closed, while many others were operating at only 30%–40% of capacity.

"When factories were operating normally, they imported capital machinery. Now even those that remain open have cut production by 60%-70%," he said.

A senior commercial banker said sustainable banking growth ultimately depends on private-sector credit expansion rather than investment in government securities.

While treasury bills and bonds currently offer attractive returns, declining yields in the future could reduce banks' investment income, making stronger private-sector borrowing essential for both the financial sector and the wider economy, he added.

Export growth also loses momentum

The slowdown in imports of production-related goods was reflected in Bangladesh's export performance.

Merchandise exports declined 0.58% year-on-year to $48 billion in FY26 from $48.28 billion in the previous fiscal year.

The ready-made garment sector, which accounts for more than 80% of the country's merchandise exports, earned $38.7 billion during the year.

Exporters attributed the weak performance to reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States, intensifying competition in European markets, sluggish global demand and lower purchase orders ahead of the national election.

Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said high interest rates, energy shortages and logistics bottlenecks continued to undermine the country's export competitiveness.

He also warned that free trade agreements between the European Union and countries such as India and Vietnam would create additional pressure for Bangladeshi exporters, although he expressed optimism that exports would recover if domestic constraints were addressed.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and president of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation, echoed similar concerns, saying duty-free access to the European market for India and Vietnam from next year would intensify competition for Bangladesh's apparel exporters.

Remittances bolster external sector

Despite weak trade performance, robust remittance inflows helped strengthen Bangladesh's external position.

During the first 11 months of FY26, the financial account recorded a surplus of $4.16 billion, compared with a deficit of $214 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The trade deficit widened to $23.98 billion during July-May from $19.38 billion a year earlier. However, the current account deficit narrowed sharply to $301 million, supported by strong remittance inflows.

Bangladesh received a record $35.5 billion in remittances in FY26, up 17.3% from $30.3 billion in FY25.

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur said remittances played a crucial role in improving the country's external balance, although he cautioned that inflows weakened in June after several months of strong growth.

The country's foreign exchange reserves also improved significantly. Under the BPM6 methodology, reserves stood at $32.9 billion at the end of June 2026, up from $26.7 billion a year earlier, an increase of more than $6 billion driven largely by stronger remittance inflows and restrained import growth.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has proposed sweeping amendments to its margin loan regulations, easing several key provisions in an effort to improve liquidity in the capital market while strengthening the overall risk management framework.

Market participants say the proposed reforms could inject much-needed liquidity into the market by expanding margin financing capacity and making the facility accessible to a wider pool of investors. However, they also express caution that easier access to leverage could encourage speculative trading and increase market risk if not accompanied by effective regulatory oversight.

The securities regulator approved the draft amendments to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Margin) Rules, 2025 on 14 July. The draft was published on the commission's website today (19 July) for public consultation, with stakeholders invited to submit their opinions within the next two weeks.

Financing capacity set to expand

The most significant amendment would raise the maximum margin financing limit for stockbrokers, merchant banks and portfolio managers from three times to five times their core capital or net worth, whichever is higher.

According to market participants, the existing ceiling has limited the ability of many institutions to meet investor demand for margin loans. Raising the limit is expected to expand financing capacity, improve market liquidity and support trading activity at a time when the capital market continues to face a prolonged liquidity shortage.

The regulator has also proposed lowering the minimum investment threshold required to qualify for a margin loan from Tk5,00,000 to Tk3,00,000, making the facility accessible to a larger number of retail and mid-sized investors.

The draft further revises margin call provisions. If an investor's equity falls below 70% of the financing amount, the margin financer will issue a margin call and provide three trading days for the investor to restore the required equity. If the investor fails to do so, no additional financing can be provided, while the financer may sell securities to rebalance the account. If equity drops below 50%, the financer will be allowed to liquidate securities without prior notice.

To discourage leveraged investment in fundamentally weak or overvalued stocks, the regulator has retained and clarified the eligibility criteria for marginable securities. Companies with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio above 30 or negative earnings per share (EPS) will remain ineligible for margin financing.

For banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and other financial service providers, price-to-book (P/B) ratio will replace the P/E ratio as the valuation benchmark. Securities with a P/B ratio above 3, and insurance companies with a P/B ratio above 1, will not qualify for margin financing.

The draft also states that only eligible securities listed on the main board will qualify for margin financing. Securities listed under the G, N and Z categories, as well as those on the SME, ATB and OTC platforms, will remain ineligible.

Among other proposals, investors will be allowed to maintain both a cash account and a margin account with the same margin financer. Margin agreements will be automatically renewed unless terminated by either party. In addition, a margin financer will not be allowed to invest more than 20% of its total outstanding margin portfolio in a single security, while margin financing will remain capped at a 1:1 equity-to-loan ratio for general securities and 1:0.25 for listed life insurance companies.

Experts welcome reforms but urge caution

Md Ashequr Rahman, managing director of Midway Securities, said the proposed amendments are significantly more flexible than the existing margin loan framework and are likely to improve liquidity in the capital market.

He welcomed the move to determine the margin eligibility of banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and insurance companies based on the price-to-book (P/B) ratio, saying it is a more appropriate valuation metric for financial institutions.

He also said reducing the margin call threshold from 75% to 70% would give investors greater flexibility to withstand short-term market volatility. Raising the financing cap to five times a margin financer's core capital or net worth would expand lending capacity and help ease the market's prolonged liquidity shortage.

However, Ashequr cautioned that easier access to margin loans could also encourage speculative trading if not backed by strong regulatory oversight. Recalling the 2010 stock market crash, he stressed that effective risk management and supervision are essential to prevent excessive leverage and avoid repeating past mistakes.

Akramul Alam, head of research at Royal Capital Ltd, said the proposed amendments are logical and better aligned with current market realities.

He believes the revised rules make the margin financing framework more flexible, which should gradually improve liquidity in the capital market over the long term.

Alam welcomed the decision to replace the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio with the Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio for banks, NBFIs and other financial institutions, calling it a more appropriate and internationally accepted valuation method.

However, he noted that the P/E threshold for other sectors has been reduced from 40 to 30, making the eligibility criteria stricter. Overall, he said the amendments strike a better balance between boosting liquidity and containing risk, creating a stronger framework for margin financing.

The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) slipped below the 5,900-point mark on Sunday, as investors booked profits in recently rallied stocks while assessing the potential impact of proposed changes to the country's margin financing rules.

Market analysts say broad-based selling pressure hit major sectors, including insurance, engineering, food, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and banking, following weeks of strong gains.

The DSEX had climbed above the 5,900-point level for the first time in nearly two years last week, buoyed by a series of regulatory reforms and capital market-friendly government policies that boosted investor confidence.

"The recent rally prompted many short-term investors to lock in profits," said a leading stockbroker.

He added that investors were also evaluating the implications of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission's (BSEC) proposed amendments to the margin financing rules, which temporarily dampened market sentiment.

Insurance stocks came under notable selling pressure after the BSEC proposed revising margin financing eligibility criteria by replacing the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio with the price-to-book (P/B) ratio for banks, financial institutions and insurance companies.

Under the draft rules, banks and financial institutions with a P/B ratio above three and insurance companies with a P/B ratio above one would no longer qualify for margin financing, raising concerns that demand for some shares in those sectors could weaken.

According to EBL Securities, the market extended its corrective trend as persistent selling reflected investors' cautious reaction to the draft margin financing rules.

"Although selective buying initially helped cushion early losses, renewed selling pressure emerged after the publication of the proposed amendments, keeping the market under pressure throughout the session," the brokerage said in its daily market commentary.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, declined by nearly 45 points, or 0.76 per cent, to close at 5,856.18, extending its cumulative loss to about 71 points over the past two trading sessions.

The DS30 Index, which tracks blue-chip stocks, fell 17 points to 2,210, while the DSES Index, comprising Shariah-compliant companies, shed nine points to 1,197.

Among the major contributors to the index decline were Walton Hi-Tech Industries, BRAC Bank, Square Pharmaceuticals, BSRM Steels and Olympic Industries, which together accounted for nearly 14 points of the DSEX's fall.

Despite the correction, trading activity remained healthy. Turnover on the premier bourse stayed above the Tk 10 billion mark, although it eased from the previous session. Total turnover stood at Tk 10.70 billion, compared with Tk 11.18 billion in the preceding trading day.

Market breadth remained firmly negative, reflecting widespread selling pressure. Of the 392 issues traded on the DSE, 245 declined, 98 advanced and 49 remained unchanged.

Malek Spinning Mills topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 269 million changing hands, followed by Techno Drugs, Shepherd Industries, BSRM Steels and LankaBangla Finance.

Among the day's performers, Green Delta Mutual Fund emerged as the top gainer, advancing 10 per cent, while Meghna Insurance suffered the steepest decline, falling 8.86 per cent.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower. Its All Share Price Index (CASPI) dropped 66 points to 15,748, while the Selective Categories Index (CSCX) lost 61 points to close at 9,639.

Bangladesh spent 85 percent more on fuel imports in the first 11 months of the recently concluded fiscal year 2025-26 as higher global energy prices due mainly to the war in the Middle East pushed up the country’s import bill.

The cost of importing crude oil rose 93 percent year-on-year to $1.13 billion in the July-May period. Spending on petroleum products, oil and lubricants climbed 84 percent to $7.89 billion over the same period, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.

The latest data on import volumes are not publicly available. However, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) had projected the country’s fuel oil demand at 74 lakh tonnes for the last fiscal year.

Bangladesh imports about 95 percent of the petroleum products it consumes each year and nearly one-third of its gas. Around 60-65 percent of its crude oil and 55-60 percent of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) come from the Middle East, according to a World Bank report published in June.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar supply most of the country’s fuel.

The rise in import costs has added to concerns as renewed conflict in the Middle East in early July has pushed oil prices higher and raised fears over energy supplies.

“The renewed conflict could affect Bangladesh through several interconnected channels,” said Selim Raihan, executive director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (Sanem).

Those are higher fuel and fertiliser prices, rising freight and insurance costs, possible shipping disruptions, weaker export demand, and pressure on remittance flows from the Middle East, said the economist.

He said the result could be a larger import bill, renewed inflation, greater pressure on foreign-exchange reserves, and weaker household purchasing power.

A Sanem research suggests that a combined shock from higher energy prices, freight disruptions, weaker exports and lower remittances could reduce the country’s GDP by around 3 percent, cut exports by nearly 6 percent and lower real wages by more than 2 percent, while pushing consumer prices up by more than 6 percent.

“These are scenario estimates rather than forecasts,” said the Sanem executive director, adding, “They show the scale of Bangladesh’s exposure.”

In its June report, the World Bank said that the conflict has already disrupted energy markets. Five of state-owned Petrobangla’s six LNG supply contracts had been declared force majeure, while spot LNG prices had risen to $24-$28 per MMBtu (metric million British thermal unit), more than double previous levels.

The multilateral bank projected Bangladesh’s energy subsidies would rise to 2.8 percent of GDP in FY26, with the total subsidy bill reaching between $2.5 billion and $4.8 billion, up from about $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in recent years.

That would leave less room for social spending and emergency support.

“These pressures are also contributing to disruptions in power generation, domestic fertiliser production, and industrial activity,” said the World Bank, which has approved $350 million to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security.

Last month, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told parliament that subsidies for oil, gas, electricity and fertiliser alone would require an additional Tk 42,600 crore in FY26 because of the war in the Middle East.

Apart from the increased subsidy pressure, the rise in oil prices is affecting Bangladesh through three main channels -- higher inflation, increased costs for industry and agriculture, and greater pressure on the balance of payments (BoP).

“The greatest pressure is likely to fall on transport and logistics, power and gas, energy-intensive manufacturing, construction, fertiliser-dependent agriculture, food processing, and export-oriented sectors such as RMG,” said Selim, who is also an economics professor at Dhaka University.

He said, “Higher diesel, gas, electricity, fertiliser, and shipping costs would raise production costs across the economy and could quickly pass through to food and consumer prices.”

Fertiliser imports have also become more expensive as the war has disrupted production and supplies.

Bangladesh spent $3.60 billion on fertiliser imports during July-May of FY26, up 43 percent from a year earlier, adding to pressure on the country’s external balance.

The World Bank said Bangladesh’s farming sector depends heavily on fertiliser, using nearly 392 kilograms per hectare, more than twice the global average.

That makes food production highly vulnerable to disruptions in global fertiliser supplies and price swings.

The country depends heavily on imported urea, diammonium phosphate, triple super phosphate and muriate of potash. Domestic urea production also relies on a stable supply of gas, the report said.

The conflict has already disrupted that system. Five of the country’s six urea plants have been shut because of gas shortages, while urea prices have risen by about 30 percent. Prices could double if disruptions continue, the report added.

Meanwhile, Selim said the government should secure enough fuel and fertiliser, diversify suppliers and shipping routes, build strategic reserves and ensure enough foreign currency for essential imports.

He said support should be targeted and temporary, focusing on public transport, irrigation, small farmers, essential food supply chains and vulnerable households.

At the same time, he said the crisis should be used to speed up investment in renewable energy, reduce transmission losses, improve industrial energy efficiency and cut long-term dependence on imported fossil fuels.