Bangladesh is now confronting a "triple burden" of malnutrition, with undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and a rapidly growing prevalence of obesity posing a major public health challenge, experts warned yesterday (3 August).

They said malnutrition is reducing economic growth by 8% annually, but every Tk1 invested in nutrition could generate more than Tk23 in long-term economic returns, underscoring the need for stronger public-private partnerships to improve nutrition services.

The observations came at a roundtable titled "Integration of Nutrition Action in Primary Healthcare System through Public-Private Platforms in Bangladesh," organised by Max Foundation Bangladesh. The Business Standard was the media partner of the event.

Poor diets, maternal malnutrition fuel crisis

Presenting the keynote paper, Saiqa Siraj, public health nutrition specialist, said nearly 70% of Bangladeshis still depend on cereal-based diets despite years of awareness campaigns, while nutrition services remain inadequate in marginalised areas, including chars, haor regions and urban slums.

She said the nutritional needs of child brides, garment workers, persons with disabilities and older people continue to receive insufficient attention, calling for stronger public-private partnerships and coordinated initiatives involving local entrepreneurs.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, said one in four Bangladeshi children under five remains stunted. New research shows stunting begins in the womb rather than after six months of age, with maternal malnutrition – particularly during adolescence – being a major contributor.

Unsafe water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene, which lead to environmental enteric damage, are also driving childhood stunting, he said, adding that increasing public health spending from the current 1% of GDP to 3-5% could reduce the stunting rate from 24% to 12%.

He also said around 4 lakh children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, although only 6-7% require hospitalisation, with the remainder able to recover through community-based care.

Govt plans preventive healthcare overhaul

Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, director general of the DGHS, said Bangladesh has yet to achieve its nutrition goals despite launching the National Nutrition Programme in 1974.

He said 60-70% of Bangladeshis rely on private providers for primary healthcare, while child wasting stands at 13%. Anaemia affects 53% of pregnant women and 55.5% of women of reproductive age, and malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which now account for about 70% of all diseases in the country.

To strengthen preventive healthcare, the government plans to introduce artificial intelligence-based support into the healthcare system, Dr Pravath said.

Dr Mohammad Eunus Ali, director of the Institute of Public Health, said the institute continues to implement the Vitamin A Plus Campaign and enforce the Breast-milk Substitutes Act.

He also proposed integrating data on children suffering from severe acute malnutrition into the government's central database through NGOs and Upazila Health Complexes to eliminate duplicate records and improve service delivery.

Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, special assistant to the prime minister on health affairs, said Bangladesh has never developed a sustained national commitment to nutrition despite multiple initiatives since the National Nutrition Council was established in 1974.

He said policy decisions have often been driven by development partners rather than strong government ownership, limiting long-term progress.

Dr Ziauddin said the government is shifting from a treatment-oriented healthcare model to preventive care by establishing Primary Healthcare Units in every union and urban ward.

The government will recruit an additional 100,000 health workers, expanding the existing workforce of 43,000. Every citizen will receive a digital health card to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

He added that the government would propose establishing a National Nutrition Commission.

Dr ATM Tariqul Islam, country director of Max Foundation Bangladesh, said the organisation is working to bring together the government, private sector and civil society to scale up successful pilot initiatives.

Dr Rudaba Khondker, Country Director of GAIN Bangladesh, said Bangladesh's health and food systems continue to operate in parallel despite the country's heavy climate burden, with weak linkages between the two.

She said transforming the food system would be impossible without the private sector, which produces most of the country's food. Yet there is no reliable data on private sector investment, making effective public-private partnerships difficult to design.

Market-based solutions, she added, must be aligned with government systems and bring the private sector within a clear regulatory framework.

Iqbal Kabir, a public health nutrition specialist, said integrating nutrition into primary healthcare is not a new concept. However, achieving Universal Health Coverage now requires strengthening that integration through effective public-private partnerships.

Prof Kaosar Afsana, head of the Humanitarian Hub at the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said nutrition, health, agriculture, the environment and food systems are closely interconnected, requiring a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.

Improving nutrition cannot be left to the health sector alone, she said, stressing the need for coordinated action by ministries responsible for agriculture, food and related sectors. Ensuring healthy diets also depends on strengthening the entire food system.

Prof Afsana said policy alone is not enough. Effective action requires active participation from the private sector, development partners and community organisations. She also stressed the need to strengthen the science-policy interface so researchers can engage policymakers from the outset, helping translate evidence into effective policies and action.

Dr Rawshan Zahan Akhter Alo, deputy director of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN); Dr Santhia Ireen, deputy director at the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health; Prof Kaosar Afsana, head of the Humanitarian Hub at the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health; Mohammad Solaiman Rasel, CTO and CBO of Grameen Health Tech Ltd (Shukhee); Dr Rudaba Khondker, country director of GAIN; and ASM Shahidul Alam attended from SMC, also spoke.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal to revoke the Essential Medicines List 2026 and the Drug Pricing Mechanism 2026, citing procedural irregularities in their formulation.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat yesterday (3 August).

According to a handout issued by the Press Information Department (PID), the government remains committed to ensuring the availability of safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines.

The 2026 Essential Medicines List and Drug Pricing Mechanism were formulated without seeking the advice of the National Drug Advisory Council, a requirement under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023.

The two policies were introduced in January 2026 during the tenure of the interim government. Their legality was later challenged before the High Court, where the matter remains under judicial consideration.

The cabinet noted that the National Drug Advisory Council was formally constituted on 29 June in accordance with the 2023 law. It also approved a proposal to include the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as a member of the council.

Despite the cancellation of the 2026 policies, the 1994 Essential Medicines List and the government-approved pricing system for those medicines will remain in force.

The government also decided to update the essential medicines list and formulate a revised pricing mechanism to ensure medicines remain affordable for consumers while maintaining healthy competition in the pharmaceutical market.

Yeakin Polymer has reapplied to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), through its Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid, seeking approval to transfer 21.50% shares held by three sponsor-directors to FCS Holdings Ltd after securing the required no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the company's lenders.

The fresh application was submitted to the regulator on Tuesday, nearly a year after a similar proposal failed to move forward because the required NOCs relating to the company's defaulted loans had not been obtained.

The share price of the company closed at Tk25.10 on the Dhaka stock exchange yesterday (1 August).

The proposed transaction involves the transfer of 1,58,52,993 shares, equivalent to 21.50% of Yeakin Polymer's total outstanding shares, from three sponsor-directors to FCS Holdings, a real estate and investment company.

The shares to be transferred include 71,07,562 shares held by Chairman Chakladar Rezaunul Alam, 72,69,950 shares owned by Director Kapita Packaging Solutions Ltd, and 14,75,481 shares held by Director Didarul Alam.

Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid, who holds the remaining 8.60% of the sponsor-directors' combined 30.10% stake, is not part of the proposed transfer. He will continue as managing director even after the ownership change, if the transaction receives regulatory approval.

Under the proposed arrangement, FCS Holdings will not pay cash for the shares. Instead, it will assume Yeakin Polymer's outstanding liabilities with Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IIDFC), as well as certain supplier dues currently borne by the sponsor-directors.

Yeakin Polymer currently has outstanding loans of around Tk52 crore with banks and financial institutions. Of the total, around Tk43 crore is owed to Islami Bank and Tk9 crore to IIDFC. The company has already secured NOCs from both lenders, fulfilling the key regulatory requirement that prevented the previous application from proceeding, said Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid to The Business Standard.

If approved by the BSEC, FCS Holdings will become a sponsor shareholder and nominate representatives to Yeakin Polymer's board of directors.

As part of the proposed ownership transition, FCS Holdings plans to undertake a Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) programme to modernise the company's operations. It has also committed to resolving all pending compliance issues covering the 2022-2026 period after the share transfer is completed.

FCS Holdings had earlier sought to acquire the same sponsor stake in September last year. However, the BSEC did not proceed with the proposal because the required NOCs from lenders relating to the company's defaulted loans were not submitted.

The latest application comes after that regulatory hurdle has been removed.

Yeakin Polymer has remained under financial stress despite a change in ownership last year.

In June 2024, the current board acquired a 30.52% stake in the company from the previous management led by Quazi Anwarul Haque. However, due to a shortage of working capital and its inability to reschedule bank loans, the company failed to restore normal operations, leaving shareholders waiting for a turnaround.

The ownership transfer process has also witnessed repeated delays over the past few years.

On 12 May 2022, the BSEC approved an earlier transfer of sponsor shares after the company's stock price surged around 140% in January 2022 amid speculation over a possible ownership change. However, the transfer was not completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The commission granted the first extension on 21 December 2023, but the parties again failed to complete the transaction. The company again witnessed a notable rise in its share price during that period.

On 9 June 2024, the BSEC approved another one-month extension to complete the share transfer process.

Yeakin Polymer raised Tk20 crore through an initial public offering (IPO) in 2016 to expand its business. However, its business later declined after the government promoted the use of environmentally friendly jute sacks instead of polymer bags.

Since its listing, the company has declared only a 1% cash dividend on one occasion. In February last year, it was downgraded to the "Z" category on the stock exchanges.

According to the latest shareholding data as of 30 June 2026, sponsor-directors jointly hold 30.10% of the company's shares, of which 21.50% is proposed to be transferred to FCS Holdings, while Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid will retain his 8.60% stake. Institutional investors hold 17% of the shares and general shareholders own the remaining 52.90%.

Yeakin Polymer has reapplied to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), through its Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid, seeking approval to transfer 21.50% shares held by three sponsor-directors to FCS Holdings Ltd after securing the required no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the company's lenders.

The fresh application was submitted to the regulator on Tuesday, nearly a year after a similar proposal failed to move forward because the required NOCs relating to the company's defaulted loans had not been obtained.

The share price of the company closed at Tk25.10 on the Dhaka stock exchange yesterday.

The proposed transaction involves the transfer of 1,58,52,993 shares, equivalent to 21.50% of Yeakin Polymer's total outstanding shares, from three sponsor-directors to FCS Holdings, a real estate and investment company.

The shares to be transferred include 71,07,562 shares held by Chairman Chakladar Rezaunul Alam, 72,69,950 shares owned by Director Kapita Packaging Solutions Ltd, and 14,75,481 shares held by Director Didarul Alam.

Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid, who holds the remaining 8.60% of the sponsor-directors' combined 30.10% stake, is not part of the proposed transfer. He will continue as managing director even after the ownership change, if the transaction receives regulatory approval.

Under the proposed arrangement, FCS Holdings will not pay cash for the shares. Instead, it will assume Yeakin Polymer's outstanding liabilities with Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IIDFC), as well as certain supplier dues currently borne by the sponsor-directors.

Yeakin Polymer currently has outstanding loans of around Tk52 crore with banks and financial institutions. Of the total, around Tk43 crore is owed to Islami Bank and Tk9 crore to IIDFC. The company has already secured NOCs from both lenders, fulfilling the key regulatory requirement that prevented the previous application from proceeding, said Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid to The Business Standard.

If approved by the BSEC, FCS Holdings will become a sponsor shareholder and nominate representatives to Yeakin Polymer's board of directors.

As part of the proposed ownership transition, FCS Holdings plans to undertake a Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) programme to modernise the company's operations. It has also committed to resolving all pending compliance issues covering the 2022-2026 period after the share transfer is completed.

FCS Holdings had earlier sought to acquire the same sponsor stake in September last year. However, the BSEC did not proceed with the proposal because the required NOCs from lenders relating to the company's defaulted loans were not submitted.

The latest application comes after that regulatory hurdle has been removed.

Yeakin Polymer has remained under financial stress despite a change in ownership last year.

In June 2024, the current board acquired a 30.52% stake in the company from the previous management led by Quazi Anwarul Haque. However, due to a shortage of working capital and its inability to reschedule bank loans, the company failed to restore normal operations, leaving shareholders waiting for a turnaround.

The ownership transfer process has also witnessed repeated delays over the past few years.

On 12 May 2022, the BSEC approved an earlier transfer of sponsor shares after the company's stock price surged around 140% in January 2022 amid speculation over a possible ownership change. However, the transfer was not completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The commission granted the first extension on 21 December 2023, but the parties again failed to complete the transaction. The company again witnessed a notable rise in its share price during that period.

On 9 June 2024, the BSEC approved another one-month extension to complete the share transfer process.

Yeakin Polymer raised Tk20 crore through an initial public offering (IPO) in 2016 to expand its business. However, its business later declined after the government promoted the use of environmentally friendly jute sacks instead of polymer bags.

Since its listing, the company has declared only a 1% cash dividend on one occasion. In February last year, it was downgraded to the "Z" category on the stock exchanges.

According to the latest shareholding data as of 30 June 2026, sponsor-directors jointly hold 30.10% of the company's shares, of which 21.50% is proposed to be transferred to FCS Holdings, while Managing Director Mohammad Harunor Rashid will retain his 8.60% stake. Institutional investors hold 17% of the shares and general shareholders own the remaining 52.90%.

Individual taxpayers can now enjoy a tax rebate of up to 5 percent, capped at Tk 25,000, if they file their income tax returns by September 30.

The incentive was introduced through the Finance Act 2026.

Taxpayers filing their returns between July 1 and September 30 will qualify for a tax rebate of 5 percent of the tax payable, up to a maximum of Tk 25,000, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said in a press release yesterday.

No rebate will be available for returns filed between October 1 and December 31. Moreover, taxpayers who submit their returns after December will have to pay additional tax.

Those filing returns between January 1 and March 31, 2027, will have to pay an additional tax equal to 2 percent of the tax payable or Tk 3,000, whichever is higher.

For returns filed between April 1 and June 30, 2027, the additional tax will rise to 5 percent of the tax payable or Tk 5,000, whichever is higher.

The NBR said the new incentive is intended to encourage early filing, strengthen voluntary tax compliance and make tax administration more efficient and orderly.

The move comes as the tax authority seeks to broaden the country’s narrow tax base and improve compliance amid persistent revenue collection challenges.

The NBR launched its e-Return service for individual taxpayers for the 2026-27 tax year on July 22.

Taxpayers can file their returns online through the etaxnbr.gov.bd portal and pay taxes digitally using bank transfers, debit and credit cards, mobile financial services and other digital payment methods.

After successfully submitting an accurate return, taxpayers can instantly download an acknowledgement receipt and an income tax certificate.

The revenue authority said its officials would provide assistance through the NBR call centre and other electronic channels during office hours on working days if taxpayers encounter any difficulties while filing returns online.

The country's premier bourse witnessed a significant surge in liquidity today (2 August) as investors reacted to the central bank's first policy rate cut in nearly two years.

Market turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange jumped by 21% to reach Tk1,257 crore, compared to the previous week's average, as participants initially cheered the shift towards monetary easing.

However, despite the liquidity injection and a strong start that saw the benchmark index scale an intraday high of 5,938 points, the market failed to sustain its momentum.

Broad-based profit-taking in the final hour of trading, coupled with persistent concerns over domestic industrial challenges and geopolitical jitters, dragged the index back to close on a largely flat note, according to the market insiders.

The benchmark DSEX index ended the day at 5,895 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index managed a marginal gain of 3 points to settle at 2,213.

Market breadth remained positive as 193 issues advanced, 149 declined, and 45 remained unchanged.

According to the daily market review by EBL Securities, the benchmark index remained afloat throughout most of the session but lacked the necessary buying conviction to consolidate above the psychological 5,900-point threshold.

The brokerage noted that even the long-awaited policy rate cut could not fully offset investor anxiety regarding domestic energy supply disruptions and the evolving situation in the Middle East. Heavyweight scrips faced intensified selling pressure towards the close, which eroded the morning's substantial gains.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited highlighted that the market's performance was primarily shaped by an early buying frenzy followed by gradual distribution. The brokerage pointed out that while the central bank's move to ease interest rates provided a temporary lift, the ongoing gas supply crisis and uncertainty surrounding proposed margin lending rule amendments prompted many investors to lock in profits after the early peak.

On the sectoral front, the textile sector dominated market activity, accounting for 21.4% of the day's total turnover, followed by general insurance and pharmaceuticals, both contributing 11.9%.

In terms of returns, mutual funds emerged as the top-performing sector with a 5.6% gain, followed by jute and services. Conversely, the cement, life insurance, and banking sectors faced corrections, with several large-cap lenders acting as primary index draggers, including Islami Bank Bangladesh, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, and National Bank.

Individual stock performance was highlighted by Green Delta Mutual Fund, which hit the 10% upper circuit limit. Other top gainers included Usmania Glass, Prime Insurance, and Queen South Textile.

On the flip side, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels was the top loser, shedding 7.85% of its value, followed by BIFC and Sena Insurance.

The positive sentiment was partially mirrored at the Chittagong Stock Exchange, where the broad CASPI index rose by 33 points to reach 15,794. However, the port city bourse saw a sharp 79% decline in trading volume, with turnover settling at a mere Tk9.82 crore.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has announced a tax incentive of up to 5 per cent for individual taxpayers who file their income tax returns by September 30, aiming to encourage voluntary tax compliance and timely submission of returns.

Under a new provision of the Income Tax Act, 2023, individual taxpayers and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) that file their returns between July 1 and September 30 will receive a tax rebate equivalent to 5 per cent of the tax payable, subject to a maximum benefit of Tk 25,000.

However, no tax incentive will be available for returns filed between October 1 and December 31.

The revenue authority has also introduced penalties for delayed filing. Taxpayers submitting returns between January 1 and March 31 will have to pay an additional tax equivalent to 2 per cent of the tax payable or Tk 3,000, whichever is higher.

Those filing returns between April 1 and June 30 will have to pay an additional 5 per cent of the tax payable or Tk 5,000, whichever is higher.

In a press release issued on Sunday, the NBR said the incentive is expected to encourage taxpayers to file returns at the beginning of the filing season, strengthen the culture of voluntary tax compliance and improve the efficiency of tax administration.

The NBR also reminded taxpayers that its e-Return service for the 2026-27 tax year was launched on July 22. Taxpayers can file their returns online through the e-tax portal and pay taxes using bank transfers, debit and credit cards, as well as mobile financial services such as bKash, Nagad and Rocket.

The revenue board said taxpayers would receive instant acknowledgement receipts and income tax certificates after successfully submitting accurate returns online. It added that officials would provide assistance through the NBR call centre and other electronic platforms during office hours, except on government holidays.

The NBR urged taxpayers to file their returns by September 30 to avail themselves of the tax rebate, as no incentive will be available for returns submitted after the deadline.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has reduced its key policy rate (repo rate) by 50 basis points to 9.50 percent from 10 percent, aiming to boost private sector credit flow, spur investment, and accelerate economic recovery and employment generation.

The central bank issued a circular on Sunday (August 2) to the managing directors, chief executive officers, and administrators of all banks and finance companies, confirming that the new rates take effect immediately from August 2, 2026.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held on July 30, 2026, superseding the earlier policy rate corridor set in February 2026.

Under the re-aligned policy rate corridor, the upper limit—the Standing Lending Facility (SLF) rate—has also been slashed by 50 basis points to 11.0 percent from 11.50 percent.

However, the lower limit of the corridor, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate, remains unchanged at 7.50 percent.

According to the circular signed by Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam Sarkar, Director of the Monetary Policy Department (MPD), the downward adjustment in policy rates is intended to facilitate private credit growth and create a more favorable environment for job-creating investments across the country.

Recent policy-rate cut, meant to spur sagging economic activity with availability of funds, pushes down treasury yields, call-money rate and also deposit interest in a domino effect on the money market.

To accelerate growth in credits to the private sector, the lifeline of Bangladesh's US$500-billion economy, from months of economic sluggishness, Bangladesh Bank on July 30 lowered the benchmark repo rate by 50 basis points to 9.50 per cent after 22 months with effect from Sunday.

On the first day of the post-policy-rate-cut regime, the yields on treasury bills plummeted by in-between 46 and 50 basis points while call-money rate dropped 23 basis points.

Such massive fall in the yields on government treasuries frustrates the commercial bankers as the scope of making some risk-free gains amid squeezing investment avenues due to prolonged economic slowdown keeps shrinking.

In an immediate effort to pass on the policy-rate cut, commercial banks start lowering the deposit rate, too, in-between 50 basis points to 1.0-percentage points.

According to BB sources, the yields on 91-day, 182-day and 364-day treasury bills dropped to 9.30 per cent, 9.53 per cent and 9.53 per cent from last week's count of 9.79 per cent, 9.99 per cent and 10.03 per cent respectively.

The government has borrowed Tk 70 billion on the days through issuing these three categories of the bills to meet its budgetary shortfalls.

The situation is almost same on the interbank call-money market where banks borrow and lend surplus funds among themselves on an overnight or short-notice basis to manage daily liquidity requirements.

The rate on call money dropped to 9.52 per cent on Sunday from last Thursday's rate of 9.75 per cent.

Seeking anonymity, a BB official said the regulator cut the policy rate to boost lending growth through discouraging risk-free investment like in treasury bills and bonds in a bid to revive the overall economic growth.

"The fall in the yields of treasury bill is a good sign for the economy. If it continues, it will force the banks to concentrate on lending to private sector, which is the main objective of the banks," the central banker told The Financial Express.

On condition of not being quoted by name, the treasury head of a private commercial bank said the demand for private-sector credits dropped significantly over the months for various factors, leading to the sluggishness.

On the other hand, he said, the commercial lenders became very cautious in approving loans to the entrepreneurs because of higher non-performing loan (NPL) buildups. "So, there are very limited lending scopes."

Government securities were the only area where banks could make some gains through putting their funds into the risk-free investment instruments, he said.

"This opportunity is also squeezing. If the private-sector credit does not grow expectedly due to the existing energy crisis, it will be a huge blow to the banks for sure," he added.

About the deposit-cost adjustment in line with the policy-rate cut, he said his bank decided to cut deposit rate as much-by 50 basis points. "Some banks cut 100 basis points on deposit. But the lending rate is expected to be lowered later. It may take at least three months."

Director-General of Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) Dr Md. Ezazul Islam said the credit appetite of the private sector is expected to increase in the coming months due to various benefits like easy monetary-policy stance, Tk 600-billion stimulus package for reopening the shut industrial units and easy exit policy.

He noted that the volume of imports started increasing in recent days, which will certainly enhance the demand for trade financing. "So, I think things will improve in the coming days."

About the upcoming trend in yields on government securities, the economist said the yields would probably move close to the policy rate in the coming days.

The securities regulator has taken another step towards deregulating the capital market by decentralising its internal operations and restoring regulatory powers to the stock exchanges, aiming to speed up services and strengthen market oversight.

The latest move came last week when the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) allowed market participants to submit routine applications and documents directly to the executive directors of the relevant departments instead of routing them through the commission chairman.

Under a directive issued on Thursday, self-regulatory organisations (SROs), listed companies, registered market intermediaries and other capital market-related entities and individuals will now submit general applications, reports, statements and correspondence directly to the executive directors of the respective BSEC departments.

Previously, such applications had to be sent to the BSEC chairman, resulting in delays as documents were processed through the chairman's office and signed by the BSEC chief and the commissioners before being forwarded to the relevant departments.

When asked for comment, BSEC Chairman Masud Khan said the change was part of the regulator's broader deregulation agenda aimed at ensuring greater accountability among officials and faster resolution of stakeholders' issues.

"Every day, around 100 to 150 general applications are submitted to the chairman before being forwarded to the concerned departments. The process wastes a lot of time," he said.

"It will be much faster if the letters go directly from the dispatch section to the concerned executive director."

Mr Khan said only specific complaints or policy matters should require the attention of the chairman or commissioners.

"As part of our mandate and the government's commitment to deregulation, the capital market will gradually see greater delegation of authority within the regulatory bodies to ensure quicker disposal of issues," he said.

Mr Khan said responsibility should rest with the officials entrusted with a particular task.

"If I intervene myself, they will avoid their responsibility," he said.

The commission is also shifting supervisory responsibilities back to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), allowing it to exercise powers already provided under existing regulations.

According to the BSEC chairman, the DSE will now be responsible for routine inspections of brokerage firms, while the commission will focus on investigations and formal inquiries.

When the DSE cited manpower shortages, Mr Khan said, he suggested appointing five or six audit firms to inspect high-risk brokerage houses under an annual schedule.

Using a standard operating procedure (SOP), the audit firms would examine issues such as deficits in consolidated customers' accounts (CCA), compliance with margin lending rules and the adequacy of back-office software before reporting their findings to the exchange, he added.

"This is another example of deregulation. The DSE should not have to seek my permission for inspections. The BSEC should intervene only after irregularities are identified," he said.

Mr Khan added that further measures to decentralise powers within the BSEC would be introduced in the coming months.

The regulator has already restored several powers to the DSE.

In July, the BSEC clarified the listing regulations, removing ambiguity over the exchange's authority to suspend trading of companies experiencing abnormal price movements unsupported by fundamentals.

The clarification followed a series of speculative rallies in weak companies, including Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries, where prices surged on rumours before collapsing, leaving many retail investors with heavy losses.

Following the clarification, the DSE has begun suspending trading in companies showing unexplained price movements.

A senior DSE official said the move would help protect investors from speculative trading.

"Investors will now remain cautious because trading in a company can be halted at any time if abnormal price increases are not supported by fundamentals," the official said.

Last month, the BSEC also restored the exchanges' authority to determine circuit breaker limits for listed securities.

Although the listing regulations had already empowered the exchanges to set market control parameters independently, a regulatory directive issued in June 2021 had effectively curtailed that authority.

BSEC officials said the exchanges should be allowed to exercise powers already granted under their own regulations.

Meanwhile, the commission has agreed in principle to allow the stock exchanges to conduct immediate inspections of listed companies without prior regulatory approval where there is prima facie evidence of wrongdoing.

The move follows complaints from the exchanges that they were unable to inspect companies despite indications of mismanagement, financial irregularities or credible information from shareholders and insiders.

DSE officials said they submitted a draft amendment to the BSEC last month seeking inspection powers over listed companies.

After reviewing the proposal, the regulator requested a comprehensive amendment to the listing regulations, which is expected to take about two months to finalise, they said.

Print-outs of articles about the global memory chip shortage are pinned beside a price list at a Hong Kong computer shop, offering an explanation to confused customers feeling the pinch.

Price rises for goods such as laptops and smartphones, with cars potentially next, have been an unwelcome side-effect of the artificial intelligence gold rush -- and the squeeze is far from over.

Samsung Electronics’ chief financial officer said this week shortages of microchips that store digital data will likely deepen in 2027 and stay tight through 2028.

The crunch has been nicknamed “RAMaggedon” after the components called RAM, or “random-access memory”.

It is caused as profit-hungry chipmakers pivot to producing high-bandwidth memory (HBM) -- a more advanced type of computer memory in huge demand to help train and run AI tools.

The articles on display at In-Technology Services -- one of many compact vendors crammed into Hong Kong’s Wan Chai Computer Centre -- are to inform customers who “don’t know what happened,” manager Wade Lam told AFP.

The centre’s shops sell tech equipment of all sorts, from computer parts to gadgets and games consoles.

Ken Tam, manager of Videocom Computer, which specialises in custom-built PCs, said business has halved since price rises began in September.

Sixteen gigabytes of RAM used to cost HK$300-400 ($40-50) but the price has now hit HK$1,500, he said.

“When it suddenly gets so expensive, customers have a psychological barrier,” Tam told AFP.

“If they need it, they will buy it,” but otherwise they will wait, or “lower their standards” and buy a less high-performing memory chip, he said.

Analyst Ellie Wang at the Taiwan-based market research firm TrendForce said memory prices for PCs and smartphones were up around five to six times compared to a year ago.

The AI boom has brought humungous profits and share price jumps to the world’s top three memory chip makers: South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, along with US giant Micron.

In fourth place is ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), which became mainland China’s most valuable company on Monday when it made its market debut in Shanghai -- another sign of how red-hot the sector has become.

CXMT, as a relative newcomer, “remains in a follower position regarding leading-edge technologies”, James Zhao, senior principal analyst at Omdia, told AFP.

HBM is used in data centre servers to support other powerful chips -- such as those made by US titan Nvidia -- that execute the dizzyingly complex calculations of AI systems.

But when it comes to conventional RAM, and a type for computers called DRAM, “the current supply-constrained market environment” could bring CXMT “late-mover advantages”, he said.

At a shopping centre in a different part of Hong Kong, customer Henry Wong, an investment banker, said he had chosen to upgrade the RAM in an older laptop instead of buying a new one with even better specs.

“After upgrading the memory, I found it ran really smoothly, and I stopped wanting to buy a new computer,” he told AFP.

Automakers say they are facing rising costs for in-vehicle computer systems, which could also soon push up the price of new vehicles.

In Tokyo’s tech hub of Akihabara, Charles Brousse, a 30-year-old graphic designer and custom PC builder from Belgium, said prices for RAM, graphics cards and motherboards have hit “ridiculous levels”.

For his “PC & Chill” service, Brousse does not buy parts to pre-build machines -- as it is too expensive -- but he requires clients to purchase their own that he assembles.

The chip shortage is pushing people to buy cheaper laptops than desktops, which can last up to a decade, said Brousse, in Tokyo on his honeymoon.

“I’m not sure that’s a good thing; people end up buying products with shorter lifespans, which fuels a cycle of consumption.”

Brousse added that the fact it is driven by the “speculative bubble” of AI is also frustrating, “because I’m a graphic designer by trade, so AI has a real impact on my profession.”

The port city bourse CSE has yet to launch operation of the country's maiden commodity exchange (CX), as regulatory approval for licences of commodity brokers and products has been remaining pending for around one year due to shareholding complications involving its strategic partner.

On installation of basic infrastructure needed for operations of the CX, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) sought approval for commodity items from the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) in July last year.

The commodities selected by the port city bourse are gold, silver and crude oil.

The CSE also submitted seven applications to the securities regulator in October, 2025 seeking licences for commodity brokers.

But the port city bourse has not yet received any regulatory approvals for brokers as well as commodities.

When asked, CSE Managing Director M. Shaifur Rahman Mazumdar said the previous commission had refrained from issuing any licence and approving the commodities until the complications over the strategic partner's stake were resolved.

As per rules set for the CX, the exchange's strategic partner is not allowed to hold more than 25 per cent shares of the exchange.

ABG Ltd., a company of Bashundhara Group, became the CSE's strategic partner by purchasing the 25 per cent stake of the exchange.

The company also owns a brokerage firm, Stock & Brokerage Linkway, with a 0.51 per cent stake in the port city bourse.

As a result, the shareholding of the CSE's strategic partner -- ABG Ltd. -- has exceeded the stipulated ownership ceiling.

After resignation of immediate past BSEC chairman and commissioners, the new commission led by its Chairman Masud Khan took the charge in early June last.

The CSE managing director said they talked about the pending issue of broker licence and commodity items with the BSEC officials.

Asked, a BSEC official said on anonymity that the regulator realised the importance of the CX.

He said the regulator would analyse the complications to find out a solution required to commence operation of the CX.

To break the deadlock, Bashundhara Group will have to surrender the ownership of the brokerage firm to another party.

Mr Rahman said the conglomerate was ready to transfer the additional shares, but the National Board of Revenue (NBR) stopped the transfer of its assets.

"That's why the whole matter of the commodity exchange is hanging in the balance."

After the fall of the Awami League-led regime, the NBR in October 2024 requested the Department of Joint Stock Companies and Firms to suspend share transfer by seven groups, including Bashundhara, to prevent tax evasion. Since then, Bashundhara's share transfer has remained suspended.

The CSE managing director said the regulator had ways to resolve the complications involving the strategic partner's shareholding.

The regulator could either offer a waiver on mandatory shareholding by the strategic partner or could issue licences for the brokers alongside approving the commodities with a condition of resolving the shareholding complexity before commencing operation at the CX.

"Then the commodity brokers could complete necessary preparations before resolving the shareholding complications," Shaifur said.

The companies that applied for broker licences are LankaBangla Securities, BR Rich, Sohel Securities, Island Securities, Royal Capital, UCB Stock Brokerage, and NLI Securities.

They are operating on both Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges.

Similar to TREC (Trading Right Entitlement Certificate) holders of the bourses, a company will require a broker licence from the securities regulator to conduct trading at the CX.

As per rules, the minimum paid-up capital of a commodity broker will be Tk 100 million.

Apart from brokerage firms, other companies can also become commodity brokers by fulfilling the requirements.

A CX is a legal entity that determines and enforces rules and procedures for trading in standardised commodity contracts and related investment products.

US tech giants are pouring huge sums of money into building infrastructure to maintain their leadership in AI technology. Since the rise of AI in 2023, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta have invested a total of 110,000 crores, or more than 1 trillion dollars, in the sector as of last June, according to the FT.

A large portion of tech giants' AI investments are being spent on data centers, advanced chips, and the power systems needed to run this infrastructure.

The report, by Ryan McMorrow, Rafe Rosner-Uddin and Hannah Murphy, says that investment in the technology sector, centered on AI, will increase further in the coming days. The four companies plan to spend a combined $745 billion this year.

Ryan McMorrow's team says that big tech companies are rapidly moving into AI infrastructure-based businesses. Running AI models and providing computing power to customers requires a huge amount of data centers, servers, and chips. As a result, the cost of building infrastructure is also rapidly increasing.

According to market analysts, the trend of increasing spending on AI infrastructure is unlikely to stop anytime soon. However, how quickly the huge money spent on AI will translate into revenue and profits is now a big question for investors. At the same time, it has become important for companies to ensure that new investments do not put pressure on existing businesses.

In the meantime, big tech companies are starting to reap some of the benefits of their huge investments in AI. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have seen their cloud businesses grow. They are providing computing capacity to organizations for AI use. Among their customers are AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic. As AI usage increases, demand for cloud computing is also increasing. As a result, the three companies are seeing revenue growth from this sector.

The pressure to invest in AI infrastructure is also not small. Due to the huge investment, there has been pressure on the supply system. The prices of various materials have increased. There has been a shortage of memory chips. This has also affected Apple's business.

Despite not investing heavily in the AI ​​race, rising chip prices have put pressure on Apple's product sales and profits, which has also had an impact on the stock market.

In the case of Meta, the picture of revenue from AI is a little different. The company does not have its own cloud business. However, the company is trying to reach customers more specifically by increasing the use of AI in the advertising business. As a result, Meta's total revenue in the second quarter (April-June) increased by 28 percent compared to the same period last year to $ 60.1 billion.

Meta's large investment in AI infrastructure has, however, raised some concerns among investors, with the company's shares falling 8 percent after the release of second-quarter results.

According to analysts, investors are now not just interested in seeing how much money is being spent on AI. They are also interested in seeing how much this huge expenditure can ultimately increase revenue and profits.

Meanwhile, the huge investment is having a direct impact on the companies' cash flow or 'free cash flow'. Last year, the amount of cash on hand of the four companies was $200 billion, which is less than the $237 billion in 2024.

Analysts believe that this situation may deteriorate further in the coming days. Because companies are now focusing more on infrastructure development, thinking about the future rather than profits. As a result, the companies' income margins are under pressure and they are having to take on large amounts of debt.

The report also found that Google is under similar pressure. The company's cloud business generated $11.1 billion more revenue than last year, but its free cash flow, or cash flow after expenses, has been squeezed by a massive investment in AI infrastructure.

Amazon CEO Andy Jascio told investors that building out its AI infrastructure will put pressure on the company's free cash flow for some time, as it builds multiple data centers at once. It can take about two years for a data center to be up and running and generate revenue for customers.

As a result, big tech companies' investments in AI are now facing two realities: on the one hand, revenue from cloud and advertising businesses is growing as AI usage increases, while on the other hand, huge spending on data centers, chips, and power infrastructure is putting pressure on cash.

Gold slid 2 percent on Friday as the US dollar rebounded from a more than one-month low hit in the previous session,
though the metal was still on track for its first monthly gain in five as weaker inflation data reduced expectations of further US rate hikes.
Spot gold was down 1.3 percent at $4,049.83 per ounce at 1:40 p.m. EDT (1740 GMT), after falling 2 percent earlier in the session.US gold futures for August delivery dropped 1.3 percent to $4,107.
Gold has gained 1.1 percent so far this month, its biggest monthly increase since February.

The gains have been primarily driven by softer inflation data, which led traders to scale back expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes for the year and as oil prices retreated to pre-Iran war levels earlier this month.“Although gold is on the cusp of ending a four-month losing streak, the precious metal has struggled to carve a bigger gap above the psychological $4,000 level,” said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Bybit.
The metal remains supported above $4,000 by expectations that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh may broaden the central bank’s focus beyond its preferred inflation measures and rate increases, Tan said.

Data on Thursday showed US inflation slowed in June, but the easing was likely temporary as renewed hostilities in the Middle East lifted oil prices.
Warsh this week pledged an unwavering commitment to bring inflation down without signaling a readiness to raise interest rates.The dollar was steady after dropping about 2.4 percent on Thursday, in its biggest one-day drop since January 2023.A stronger dollar makes bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.Traders see a 65 percent chance of a rate hike in September, versus a more than 80 percent chance a week before, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Elsewhere, China’s market regulator urged solar companies to resist “vicious” price competition in a price compliance guidance meeting on Friday, a statement showed.

Foreign aid disbursements to Bangladesh fell in the last fiscal year while repayments on external debt continued to rise, reducing the country’s net inflow of foreign funds, shows government data.

Total foreign aid disbursements fell 5.8 percent year-on-year to $8.07 billion in fiscal year 2025-26 from $8.57 billion a year earlier, according to provisional data released by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) yesterday.

During the same period, external debt servicing rose 10 percent to $4.49 billion from $4.09 billion.

Economists say the trend could add to pressure on foreign exchange reserves at a time when high energy import bills, weaker export earnings and slower remittance growth are weighing on external finances.

In FY26, the net inflow of foreign funds fell to about $3.58 billion from $4.48 billion in the previous fiscal year, a decline of around 20 percent, according to ERD data.

The fall in disbursements was driven mainly by lower project assistance, which dropped to $8.02 billion from $8.52 billion, despite an increase in grants.

Of the total amount, about $3.5 billion was disbursed in June alone, with most of it coming as budget support. It points to a slowdown in regular project loan disbursements.

At the same time, debt repayments continued to increase as the country entered a period of higher repayments on external loans taken out in previous years.

Economists said Bangladesh needs to improve project implementation and speed up the use of committed foreign loans to support development spending while easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

The issue has become more pressing as the country continues to spend billions of dollars each year on fuel and other essential imports, making steady foreign currency inflows vital for maintaining external sector stability.

Despite a strong finish in June, export earnings for FY26 stood at $48 billion, down 0.58 percent from the previous fiscal year.

ERD data also show that foreign aid commitments fell sharply during the year. Total commitments dropped to $5.24 billion from $8.32 billion a year earlier, largely because of lower loan commitments for development projects.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s pipeline of committed but undisbursed foreign loans shrank to $39.26 billion, reflecting weaker fresh loan commitments.

Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at local think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said the figures reflect growing pressure on Bangladesh’s external sector as foreign aid disbursements slow while debt servicing obligations continue to rise.

“One of the main reasons for lower disbursements is weak implementation of ADP [Annual Development Programme],” he said. “Although nearly $3.5 billion was disbursed in June, much of it was budget support. Without that, total disbursements would have been even lower.”

Mustafizur said Bangladesh still has around $42 billion in committed but undisbursed foreign loans, highlighting the need to improve project implementation and speed up the use of the existing pipeline.

“Debt servicing will continue to increase as many large infrastructure projects undertaken around 2015 and 2016 have moved beyond their grace periods. We are now repaying both principal and interest, which is pushing up external debt servicing,” he said.

He said net external borrowing will continue to shrink unless loan utilisation improves.

“This will have negative implications for the balance of payments, foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate stability, especially if import demand picks up,” he said.

Mustafizur also stressed the need to negotiate future external borrowing on favourable terms, saying Bangladesh’s recent sovereign credit rating downgrade could raise borrowing costs.

“The government must improve ADP implementation, ensure projects are completed on time and deliver good value for money, while securing better borrowing terms from development partners,” he added.

The World Bank remained the country’s largest source of foreign aid in FY26, disbursing $2.07 billion, according to ERD data. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) followed with $1.91 billion, while the Asia, JEC and F&F wing provided $1.55 billion.

Europe accounted for another $1.31 billion in disbursements, while development partners under the America and Japan wing released $795.32 million.

A nationwide social movement is needed to speed up the adoption of renewable energy in Bangladesh, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, adviser to the prime minister on finance and planning, said on Saturday.

He said public demand, rather than government policy alone, would drive the country’s transition to clean energy and reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Speaking at a discussion titled “Distributed Renewable Energy: The Future Solar Solution for Bangladesh” at the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) auditorium in Dhaka, Titumir said renewable energy should become a shared public cause to ensure a livable planet for future generations.

“Our first priority should be to build a social movement. We need collective and public action to make access to renewable energy a right,” he said.

The discussion was organised by the Economic Reporters’ Forum in collaboration with the Distributed Renewable Energy Platform (DREP).

Titumir said Bangladesh’s shift to renewable energy should start by creating public demand, arguing that the market will respond when people want cleaner energy.

“If we can create the demand, the supply system will follow,” he said, urging civil society organisations, NGOs and microfinance institutions to help expand access to distributed solar technologies.

He said renewable energy could lower household energy costs, leaving families with more disposable income for other needs and investments.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s reliance on imported fuels, Titumir said wider use of rooftop solar systems could significantly reduce gas and LPG consumption and improve the country’s energy security.

“Energy is sovereignty,” he said. “We must move away from the culture of dependence and build a culture of self-reliance.”

The adviser also stressed the need to develop local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment, including solar panels, batteries and inverters, to support the sector’s long-term growth.

He said the government has introduced fiscal incentives and policy reforms to encourage investment in renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle manufacturing.

Titumir also called on NGOs to include renewable energy financing in their microfinance programmes, saying development organisations could help speed up the adoption of clean energy across the country.

“The success of this transition depends on a social movement,” he said. “Every household, school, hospital, office and shop should gradually become part of the renewable energy journey.”

He added that expanding distributed renewable energy would reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on imported fuels, cut the import bill, strengthen energy security and support sustainable economic growth.

Others who spoke at the event included Khondaker Golam Moazzem, coordinator at DREP; Md Mehadi Hasan Shamim, research associate at CPD; ASM Munir, company secretary of the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association; Hasan Mehedi, chief executive officer of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network; Ishtiaque Ahmed, director of engineering and innovation at SOLshare; Abul Azad, manager of Just Energy Transition at ActionAid Bangladesh; Doulot Akter Mala, president of the ERF; and Abul Kashem, the forum’s general secretary.

Bangladesh received $2.86 billion in remittances in July, the first month of FY27, marking a 15.79% year-on-year increase, according to the Bangladesh Bank data released today (2 August).

The country received $2.47 billion in remittances in July of the previous fiscal year while inflows stood at $2.82 billion in June this year.

Despite the annual growth, July recorded the second-lowest monthly remittance inflow in the past nine months, central bank data showed.

Dr Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, migration expert and associate professor at North South University, said the Middle East war may have affected remittance flows.

"Since the Middle East is the main hub for remittances, the war could have had an impact. It is important to examine which countries recorded lower inflows. During conflicts, hundi networks often become more active by offering better exchange rates, so the government should investigate whether remittances are shifting to informal channels," he told this newspaper.

Bankers said remittance inflows over the past two months have fallen short of expectations, largely due to the conflict in the Middle East, warning that weaker inflows could add pressure to the country's foreign exchange market.

A managing director of a private bank told TBS that the US dollar has continued to strengthen, with many banks settling import letters of credit at Tk123.95 last week.

"The dollar appreciates when demand outpaces supply," he said.

The central bank has also suspended dollar purchases from commercial banks for the past one and a half months as the taka faces depreciation pressure.

During FY26, the regulatory bank bought $6.4 billion from banks when the taka was under appreciation pressure. Its last dollar purchase was on 4 June. Bangladesh received a record $35.5 billion in remittances in FY26.

Economists say the strong remittance inflow has helped improve the country's current account balance by narrowing the external deficit.

Most listed non-life insurance companies in Bangladesh posted stronger earnings in the April-June quarter of 2026, driven by lower operating costs following the zero-commission policy, improved underwriting, stronger marine insurance business and higher investment income, industry stakeholders said.

An analysis of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) data shows that 41 of the country's 43 listed non-life insurers have so far published their unaudited April-June financial statements.

Of them, 31 reported higher earnings per share (EPS), while 10 posted lower EPS. Two companies have yet to disclose their quarterly results.The stronger earnings have also lifted investor sentiment, with shares of several insurers rising after the release of their quarterly results.
Islami Commercial Insurance posted the highest profit growth among listed insurers, with quarterly EPS surging 350% to Tk0.63 from Tk0.14 a year earlier. Its January-June EPS rose to Tk0.94 from Tk0.35.

The company said higher net profit after tax drove the earnings growth. However, net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) fell to Tk0.12 from Tk0.16 due to lower premium income and higher claim payments. Net asset value (NAV) per share increased to Tk18.31 as of 30 June 2026 from Tk17.36 at the end of December 2025. Its share price gained 1.79% to Tk34.20 on the DSE yesterday.

Express Insurance posted the second-highest growth, with quarterly EPS jumping 279% to Tk0.53 from Tk0.14. Its first-half EPS increased to Tk0.87 from Tk0.43, while NOCFPS improved to Tk0.92 from Tk0.78.

Asia Insurance reported a 200% rise in quarterly EPS to Tk0.33 from Tk0.11. The company attributed the growth to the elimination of agent commission expenses and the absence of additional provisions against investments in listed shares. These factors also lifted first-half NOCFPS to Tk1.36 from Tk0.66.

Other strong performers included Global Insurance, whose EPS rose 184%; Phoenix Insurance, 176%; Paramount Insurance, 145%; Agrani Insurance, 143%; Takaful Islami Insurance, 129%; and City Insurance, 119%.

Among the larger companies, Peoples Insurance reported a 91% increase in EPS, followed by Pioneer Insurance (74%), Provati Insurance (58%), Karnaphuli Insurance and Nitol Insurance (55% each), Eastland Insurance (54%), United Insurance (45%) and Bangladesh National Insurance (42%).

On the other hand, 10 companies posted lower earnings during the quarter.

Infographic: TBS
Infographic: TBS
Sonar Bangla Insurance posted the steepest earnings decline, with consolidated EPS dropping 42% to Tk0.26 from Tk0.45. Despite weaker earnings, consolidated NOCFPS rose to Tk0.69 from Tk0.21, while consolidated NAV per share increased to Tk20.54 from Tk20.02.

Other insurers reporting lower EPS were Republic Insurance (down 14%), Purabi General Insurance, Mercantile Islami Insurance and Northern Islami Insurance (9% each), Dhaka Insurance (8%), Prime Insurance (7%), Crystal Insurance (4%), Bangladesh General Insurance (2%) and Sena Insurance (1%).

Industry stakeholders said recent regulatory reforms have begun strengthening the sector's financial health.

Newly appointed Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (Idra) Chairman Mir Nadia Nivin has made the settlement of long-pending insurance claims the regulator's top priority.

Idra has already started settling nearly Tk4,000 crore in outstanding claims owed by the country's seven most financially distressed life insurers by liquidating land, government treasury bonds, fixed deposits with financially sound banks and other marketable assets.

The regulator is also working with Bangladesh Bank to recover insurers' deposits trapped in financially troubled banks.

Industry insiders said the zero-commission policy has sharply reduced excessive commission expenses, unnecessary policy sales and the practice of artificially inflating premium income. As a result, operating costs have fallen, while insurers' underlying underwriting performance has become more transparent in their financial statements.

They also said easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East during the April-June quarter helped revive international trade and shipping, supporting marine insurance business. Meanwhile, the capital market's recovery boosted investment income for many insurers, contributing to stronger profitability.

However, they cautioned that insurers with higher claim settlements continue to face earnings pressure. Sustaining the sector's recovery, they said, will require stronger corporate governance, sound risk management, disciplined underwriting and continued cost control.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has decided to issue its Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) on a quarterly basis, replacing the current six-month cycle, in an effort to make monetary policy more responsive to rapidly changing domestic and global economic conditions.

The central bank is expected to implement the new system from September. Officials said the move is intended to make the MPS more realistic, timely, and inclusive, as macroeconomic developments have become increasingly volatile.

Bangladesh Bank had introduced an annual MPS during the tenure of former Governor Fazle Kabir. The frequency was later revised to a half-yearly schedule under former Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also recommended more than a year ago that Bangladesh Bank adopt a quarterly MPS framework to improve policy responsiveness and strengthen monetary management.

The proposal was recently discussed at a meeting of the relevant parliamentary standing committee, which endorsed the initiative, paving the way for the central bank to formally introduce quarterly monetary policy statements from September next.

A monetary policy statement is an official document released by a central bank that outlines its economic stance, inflation targets, and key interest rates to manage the money supply.

Seeking anonymity, a BB official said they decided to issue MPS on a quarterly basis probably from September next. "We are planning to issue a press release very soon to update our stakeholders," he said.

The central banker said the monetary policy committee normally meets in every three months to assess global and domestic macroeconomic indicators before making any adjustment for betterment of the money market.

He said the IMF earlier as part of its 4.70 billion US dollar lending package recommended the banking regulator to go for quarterly issuance of MPS replacing the existing six-month ones.

It is known that the BB has already been analysing MPS of its peer countries to make it a better one.

Individual taxpayers can now enjoy a tax rebate of up to 5 percent, capped at Tk 25,000, if they file their income tax returns by September 30.

The incentive was introduced through the Finance Act 2026.

Taxpayers filing their returns between July 1 and September 30 will qualify for a tax rebate of 5 percent of the tax payable, up to a maximum of Tk 25,000, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said in a press release today.

No rebate will be available for returns filed between October 1 and December 31. Moreover, taxpayers who submit their returns after December will have to pay additional tax.

Those filing returns between January 1 and March 31, 2027, will have to pay an additional tax equal to 2 percent of the tax payable or Tk 3,000, whichever is higher.

For returns filed between April 1 and June 30, 2027, the additional tax will rise to 5 percent of the tax payable or Tk 5,000, whichever is higher.

The NBR said the new incentive is intended to encourage early filing, strengthen voluntary tax compliance and make tax administration more efficient and orderly.

The move comes as the tax authority seeks to broaden the country’s narrow tax base and improve compliance amid persistent revenue collection challenges.

The NBR launched its e-Return service for individual taxpayers for the 2026-27 tax year on July 22.

Taxpayers can file their returns online through the etaxnbr.gov.bd portal and pay taxes digitally using bank transfers, debit and credit cards, mobile financial services and other digital payment methods.

After successfully submitting an accurate return, taxpayers can instantly download an acknowledgement receipt and an income tax certificate.

The revenue authority said its officials would provide assistance through the NBR call centre and other electronic channels during office hours on working days if taxpayers encounter any difficulties while filing returns online.

Foreign aid commitments fell sharply in fiscal year 2025-26 while debt servicing climbed to a record high, highlighting the country's tightening external financing conditions as it grapples with slowing concessional inflows and rising repayment obligations.
Predictable policies key to attracting FDI
Total foreign assistance commitments dropped 37 percent to $5.24 billion in FY26 from $8.32 billion a year earlier, according to provisional data from the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

The fall was driven by a sharp reduction in project loan commitments, which declined to $5.01 billion from $7.94 billion a year earlier. Grant commitments also fell to $233.78 million from $381.65 million.

Foreign aid disbursements also declined, though at a slower pace.

Bangladesh remittance inflow stays below $3b for second consecutive month
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Bangladesh remittance inflow stays below $3b for second consecutive month
Bangladesh received $8.07 billion in foreign assistance during FY26, down from $8.57 billion in the previous fiscal year. Project aid disbursements fell to $8.02 billion from $8.52 billion, while grant disbursements increased to $553.95 million from $454.56 million.

Meanwhile, the country's external debt-servicing burden continued to rise.

Bangladesh paid $4.49 billion in principal and interest on foreign loans during FY26, up from $4.09 billion a year earlier, an increase of nearly 11 percent.

Principal repayments rose to $2.95 billion from $2.60 billion, while interest payments increased to $1.54 billion from $1.49 billion. In local currency, total debt servicing climbed to Tk 54,957 crore, compared with Tk 49,391 crore in FY25.