Bangladesh’s halal industry has grown in recent years, but weak regulations, institutional gaps and costly certification processes are preventing exporters from benefiting from the rapidly expanding global halal market, businesses said at an event yesterday.
They said companies have invested heavily to obtain halal certification, but the process remains expensive and time-consuming due to separate certification fees for each product, repeated inspections and additional testing requirements.Exporters also pointed out that some required laboratory tests are not available in Bangladesh, adding further costs for manufacturers.The remarks came at a discussion titled “Halal for Export Diversification”, organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) at its office in the capital to explore ways to boost halal exports.
Khurshid Ahmad Farhad, general manager for international business and corporate affairs at Bombay Sweets and Company Limited, said the biggest challenge is the lack of international recognition for Bangladesh’s halal certification.

Many importing countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, require halal certificates from internationally accredited certification bodies. Since Bangladeshi certification bodies are not recognised by some of these countries, exporters often have to obtain additional certification from foreign organisations.

“This increases costs, duplicates the certification process and makes Bangladeshi products less competitive in global markets,” he said.

Khurshid added that the lack of internationally recognised accreditation has also affected exports. In some cases, companies had to remove halal logos from product packaging because importing countries did not accept Bangladesh’s certification.

This resulted in costly repackaging and delays in entering those markets, he said. Zia Hayder Mithu, chairman of Easy Cook Food Processing Limited, alleged that exporters are asked to make additional payments when applying for halal certificates from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).

“When you go to get a halal certificate from BSTI, they ask for extra money. They ask for a contribution based on how many tonnes will be exported,” he said. He said many foreign buyers, after learning about the additional charges, simply ask exporters to print “Halal” on product packaging instead of obtaining a certificate.

“There’s no need for such a certificate. Rather, these certificates should be issued free of charge,” he said.

Ahmad Asif, chief executive officer of Bengal Meat Processing Industries Limited, and two other business representatives raised similar concerns.

Responding to the allegations, SM Abu Sayed, deputy director of the Halal Certification Wing at BSTI, denied any wrongdoing.

“Their allegation that bribery took place is entirely false, fabricated, and without any basis. We categorically reject this allegation,” he told The Daily Star.

NEED FOR A COMPLETE HALAL ECOSYSTEM

Md Mominul Islam, assistant professor of marketing at the College of Business Administration of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, said the global halal market is currently worth around $3.5 trillion and is expected to reach $9.45 trillion by 2040.

He said Bangladesh needs a complete halal ecosystem covering supply chains, education, certification and industry collaboration to develop the sector.

Malaysia has built a successful Shariah-compliant, knowledge-based halal economy, and Bangladesh can learn from its experience, he added.

Bangladesh has several advantages, including a strong agricultural base, competitive labour costs, industrial capacity and a Muslim-majority population, Mominul said.

However, policy gaps, limited academic preparedness and a lack of specialised education in halal science, supply chain management and marketing are preventing the country from fully using these strengths, he added.

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Md Deen Islam, professor of economics at the University of Dhaka, said the halal economy should not be viewed only as a religious concept but also as an economic opportunity based on quality, safety and consumer confidence.

Although the global halal market is worth around $3.3 trillion, Bangladesh’s presence remains limited despite having one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, he said.

Bangladesh has around 300 halal-certified manufacturers and 600-700 certified export products, while halal exports remain below $1 billion, he said.

As a result, the country’s share of the global halal market is still very small, he added.

Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of BCI, said the ready-made garment (RMG) sector alone accounts for nearly 82 percent of Bangladesh’s exports, earning $38.28 billion, while halal exports stand at only $850 million.

However, Bangladesh has significant potential in the halal market as it has the world’s third-largest Muslim population, with around 91 percent of its population being Muslim, he said.

“Bangladesh needs its own halal branding. If we look closely, after Indonesia, Bangladesh could have a domestic halal market worth $125 billion. Indonesia has created huge local demand by making halal certification mandatory in its domestic market,” he said.

Mohammad Hasan Arif, vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, said export diversification is crucial in the current situation, and halal products are among the key sectors with strong potential.

He said halal is not limited to agro-based and food products but covers a wide range of products and opportunities that Bangladesh can explore.

Shabbir A Khan, former president of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also spoke at the event.

The Ministry of Commerce has issued a strong reminder to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) over an inordinate delay in submitting an updated feasibility study report required to push forward a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with MERCOSUR, the South American trade bloc.In an official letter issued recently by the ministry's FTA-4 branch, the BTTC has been directed to submit the long-pending updated report by July 25, 2026.

Official documents show that the commerce ministry initially requested the commission to update and send the feasibility study report on February 2, 2026, to advance formal executions for the high-potential trade pact. However, the ministry received no response or report from the trade watchdog in the intervening five months, prompting the latest official reminder.

Signed by Md. Sirajul Islam, Deputy Controller at the Ministry of Commerce, the urgent notice was forwarded to the Chairman of the BTTC, alongside copies to senior ministry officials, including the Private Secretary to the Commerce Secretary and the personal officers of the Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary overseeing FTA wings.

MERCOSUR-comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay-represents a massive consumer market in South America. Bangladesh has been actively exploring an FTA or a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the bloc to diversify its export destinations, particularly for ready-made garments (RMG), and to secure competitive access to crucial commodities like soybean oil, sugar, and corn.

Trade analysts note that bureaucratic bottlenecks and delays in conducting critical feasibility assessments often stall Bangladesh's trade integration efforts. As the country prepares for its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status, accelerating bilateral and regional trade pacts like the MERCOSUR FTA is widely deemed essential to cushion against the loss of duty-free market access.

The commerce ministry's strict July 25 deadline underlines growing internal urgency to fast-track trade negotiations as global economic shifts demand swifter execution of international trade policies.

Bangladesh has established a strong foothold in the US and European markets, but it continues to struggle in Japan -- one of the world's largest economies.

Export earnings from Japan have remained trapped between $1 billion and $1.5 billion for the past 11 years.

Even the much-anticipated Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan has yet to deliver the expected boost. Instead, exports have declined.

An analysis of the latest Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data shows Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.36 billion to Japan in the fiscal year ending Jun 30, 2026, down 3.65 percent from the previous year and 18.56 percent below the official target.

Of that total, $1.16 billion came from readymade garments.

In FY2024-25, exports to Japan stood at $1.41 billion, while the interim government had targeted $1.67 billion for FY2025-26.

Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever export earnings from Japan in FY2022-23, when shipments reached $1.45 billion, up 7.1 percent year-on-year. Garments accounted for $1.25 billion of that figure.

Despite repeated government and industry initiatives, exporters have failed to unlock Japan's vast market, where annual apparel demand alone is estimated at $25 billion. Bangladesh supplies only about 5 percent of that market.

A stronger presence in Japan, exporters say, would reinforce Bangladesh's position in global trade.

Muhammad Yunus, who led the interim government after the fall of the Awami League, discussed expanding exports during his visit to Japan in May last year.

That momentum led to Bangladesh signing its first-ever EPA with another country on Feb 6, five days before the national election.

The agreement was signed in Tokyo by then Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii Iwao.

The deal grants duty-free access to 7,379 Bangladeshi products, yet exports have failed to gain momentum. Ironically, Japan remains Bangladesh's largest bilateral development partner.

Former BKMEA president Fazlul Haque told bdnews24.com, "To be honest, we focused far more on the US and European markets. Despite Japan being a huge market, we never gave it enough attention. That failure belongs to both the government and exporters. Had we acted together, exports could have reached $5 billion. Instead, we haven't even crossed $1.5 billion."

Fazlul, also managing director of Plummy Fashions and JCX Knitwears, believes the EPA alone will not transform exports because garments already enjoyed duty-free access.

"The real additional benefit is the single-stage transformation rule," he said.

"Exports won't grow if we sit idle. We must identify what went wrong and redesign our strategy."

BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan said Bangladesh must diversify its product basket.

"Japan has strong demand for sportswear. We cannot rely on the same products we sell in Europe and America. We need to supply what Japanese consumers actually want," he said, adding that Japan's quality-conscious fashion market could open new opportunities.

Trade expert Mustafizur Rahman of CPD said the EPA remains strategically important beyond tariffs, covering services, investment and technology.

He said the new single-stage rules of origin would significantly benefit garment exporters, while urging Bangladesh to expand supply capacity, diversify exports and improve competitiveness to maximise duty-free access.

Mustafizur called for a joint public-private strategy to raise exports to $5 billion within five years, including leveraging the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar.

RAPID Chairman MA Razzak said the EPA also protects Bangladesh after its graduation from least developed country status, preventing a 10 percent tariff on products currently enjoying duty-free access, while strengthening Bangladesh's trade credentials with other countries.

A big backing comes from the European Union (EU) and the Group of 77 and China (G77) to Bangladesh in its try for smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation from the least- developed country (LDC) category with extended time.

According to a government news release issued Friday, the assurances came during separate meetings at the United Nations Headquarters between Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, and Chair of the Group of 77 and China and Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre.

The minister was accompanied by State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Footwear, Leathergoods and Accessories Exporters' Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) President Syed Nasim Manzur and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan.

During the meetings, the commerce minister explained the rationale behind Bangladesh's request for a three-year extension of the LDC-graduation-preparatory period, citing the country's ongoing economic and political transition, global economic uncertainty, energy challenges and the need to consolidate structural reforms.

He reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening governance, reforming the financial sector, improving infrastructure, enhancing domestic resource mobilisation and creating a more investment-friendly business environment.

"The additional time would help consolidate reforms, remove infrastructure bottlenecks, strengthen industrial competitiveness and ensure that Bangladesh's graduation remains smooth, sustainable and irreversible," the minister was quoted as saying.

Ambassador Lambrinidis has welcomed the government's commitment to good governance and sustainable development and expressed the EU's continued support for Bangladesh's graduation process.

He also welcomed the launch of discussions on a Bangladesh-European Union Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) and stressed the importance of stronger public-private cooperation to facilitate the transition, according to the press release.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Lasserre acknowledged the strength of Bangladesh's case for extending the preparatory period and praised the government's pragmatic reform agenda.

She reaffirmed the G77's support for Bangladesh and proposed a dedicated briefing for G77 member- states on the country's graduation strategy, a proposal welcomed by the Bangladesh delegation.

Following the meetings, the ERD Secretary, Shahriar Kader Siddiky, described the discussions with the EU delegation as "productive", saying that the bloc reiterated its continued support for Bangladesh's smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation from the world's poor-country club.

The European Union must have bigger banks if the 27-nation bloc wants to catch up with rivals in the United States, Brussels said Friday.

The EU published a report looking at the banking sector as part of its efforts to boost the European economy by unlocking more money for different industries.
Brussels said it wanted to ease rules for the European banking sector including lower capital requirements.In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-2008, a top international banking supervisory authority -- known as the Basel Committee -- set new global standards to ensure banking system stability.But European banks have long criticised the EU’s overzealous application of the rules, which they say put them at a disadvantage compared to foreign banks since they had the rules on top of national regulations.The banks argued this hindered their ability to finance the European economy. US regulators also proposed loosening some capital rules earlier this year.

A senior European official said the EU did not want to weaken the rules, but wanted to apply them “in a way that optimises the benefits for the EU economy”.

“European banks need the opportunity to scale up in their domestic market like the US have,” the official said.

NGO Finance Watch said the EU had the “right diagnosis, wrong remedy”. “Cutting capital requirements would give banks one-time room on their balance sheets. But this does not mean more productive investment in the economy, it means undermining banks’ lending capacity in the future,” Julia Symon of Finance Watch said in a statement.

EU financial services commissioner Maria Luis Albuquerque told journalists the European banking sector was “still too fragmented across national lines”, which “prevents banks from reaching the scale needed to compete globally”.

The report appeared to criticise German objections this year to Italian lender UniCredit’s hostile takeover of Commerzbank.

“Unjustified interventions at the national level too often hinder the ability of EU banks to consolidate,” the EU said without naming any country.

“As a result, those banks are prevented from scaling up at the EU level.”

The EU executive will propose new banking rules in the first half of 2027.

Gold rose on Friday but was on track for its biggest weekly loss in six. This came as escalating US-Iran tensions drove energy prices higher. The situation fuelled inflation fears and reinforced expectations of US interest rate hikes.

Spot gold was up 1 percent at 4,011.29 dollars per ounce by 2:20 p.m. EDT. Prices touched their lowest level since June 30 earlier in the session. They were down around 2.6 percent so far for the week.

US gold futures for August delivery settled 0.7 percent higher at 4,018.80 dollars. The US dollar rose for a second straight session. This made bullion more expensive for overseas buyers.

Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at EverBank, commented on the trend. He said the main drivers of the selloff in gold have been a stronger US dollar and higher global inflation fears.

He added that these factors have sent global interest rates higher. The US escalated its renewed bombing campaign on Iran on Friday. It hit bridges and an airport.

Tehran responded with strikes on US bases across the Middle East. Brent crude oil prices were up around 16 percent for the week following the attacks. Bullion has fallen about 25 percent since the US-backed war began.

The war with Iran started in late February. It has pressured gold by raising expectations that war-driven inflation could keep interest rates higher for longer. While gold is a hedge against inflation, higher rates typically weigh on it.

The non-yielding metal faces pressure from climbing global interest rates. Gaffney said recent data decreased the probability of a rate hike at the next FOMC meeting. However, global interest rates continue to climb.

He noted the recent increase in oil prices could drive the Federal Reserve to take a more hawkish stance on US interest rate policy. Traders see about a 58 percent chance of a US interest rate hike in September.

This calculation is according to the CME FedWatch Tool. On Thursday, Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson suggested he would be open to raising rates. This would happen if there was no near-term improvement in inflation.

Goldman Sachs said in a note that gold’s share in private portfolios remains low. It added that recent geopolitical developments, including Iran and broader tensions, may accelerate diversification.

Boeing projected Friday a global commercial fleet of 50,000 planes in 2045, more than 90 percent of which will be more fuel-efficient “new-generation” aircraft.

That compares with today’s global fleet of 28,000 airplanes, reflecting higher long-term demand due to economic growth and additional travel routes. Plane manufacturers must build nearly 44,000 new planes over the next two decades to meet new growth and replace older planes, according to Boeing’s new annual forecast.The figures, released ahead of next week’s Farnborough Air Show in Britain, are similar to those in Boeing’s 2025 outlook, which also highlighted favorable travel demand dynamics in light of rising GDP.In 2045, an estimated 92 percent of the fleet will have the environmental benefits of the newer fleet, estimated to use about 20 percent less fuel. About 32 percent of today’s fleet is composed of new-generation aircraft.

This year “isn’t going commercially from an industry airline perspective like I think a lot of us expected coming into 2026,” Boeing Vice President of Commercial Marketing Darren Hulst said at a briefing.

“However ... the fundamentals for air travel and demand for air travel are completely intact,” he added.

Hulst now expects 2026 travel demand to be “about half or even a little bit less” than what was expected heading into the year.

Boeing was surprised at how quickly airlines rerouted traffic from the Middle East to other markets due to the conflict, Hulst said.

“We saw, for example, passengers using hubs in Europe or Asia, or in some cases even North America, to transit their long-haul travel patterns,” said Hulst.

Between 2026 and 2045, Boeing’s forecast projects four percent annual passenger traffic growth and 2.5 percent global economic growth.

As with last year, Boeing’s outlook highlights the gap between new plane production and demand in light of supply chain difficulties since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hulst said this “deficit” will probably not clear for single-aisle planes until the end of the 2020s and will go into the early 2030s for widebody jets.

The country's premier bourse maintained its robust recovery for another week as the benchmark index successfully reclaimed the psychological 5,900-point threshold for the first time in 22 months.

Driven by high expectations of market-friendly regulatory reforms and a significant spike in liquidity, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw its market capitalisation swell by Tk7,000 crore over the last five trading sessions.

The benchmark DSEX index gained 96 points, or 1.65%, to settle the week at 5,900. This marks the highest closing for the broad index since August 2024. The blue-chip DS30 index also mirrored the bullish trend, advancing by 49 points to close at 2,227.Market breadth remained in favour of the bulls, with 216 issues posting gains against 155 decliners, while 18 scrips remained unchanged.

According to the weekly market review by EBL Securities, the rally was underpinned by sustained investor confidence in a series of capital market development initiatives and a constructive near-term outlook. The week opened on a strong note, fueled by optimism over potential revisions to margin loan rules and measures to enhance market velocity through faster trade settlement cycles and the introduction of scrip netting (intraday trading) facilities. These factors pushed the daily turnover above the Tk1,600 crore mark during the peak of the week's trading.

Market participation saw a healthy rise, with the daily average turnover increasing by 6.58% to reach Tk1,474 crore, compared to Tk1,383 crore in the previous week.

Analysts at Sheltech Brokerage Limited noted that the performance was primarily dictated by investors' continued buying interest, particularly in blue-chip stocks. Although a bout of profit-taking emerged during the final session of the week, it only served to moderate the gains rather than derail the recovery momentum, as buying conviction remained resilient across the floor.

On the sectoral front, trading activity was most concentrated in the general insurance and textile sectors, each accounting for 13.3% of the total weekly turnover, followed by the pharmaceutical sector at 10.6%.

In terms of returns, the cement sector emerged as the star performer with a 7.1% gain, followed by mutual funds and the tannery sector, both rising by 5%.

Conversely, the information technology sector faced a correction of 2.0%, while the paper and travel sectors also saw marginal declines.

Individual stock performance was highlighted by Renwick Jajneswar, which led the gainers' list with a 27.3% price surge, followed by Sharp Industries and Golden Jubilee Mutual Fund.

On the liquidity front, Lovello Ice-cream, Malek Spinning, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, BRAC Bank, and LafargeHolcim Bangladesh were the most sought-after stocks of the week.

On the losing side, Sunlife Insurance faced the steepest decline, shedding 13.5%, followed by Shurwid Industries and Sonargaon Textile.

The Middle East conflict may push 1.2 million more people into poverty in Bangladesh, according to a new report of UNICEF on Thursday. L

Up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty by the end of the year, as ongoing tensions in the Middle East and related shipping disruptions continue to have a damaging and potentially irreversible impact on children, it added.

"Across Bangladesh, the rising cost of staple foods such as rice, lentils, cooking oil, vegetables, fish and poultry, is putting increasing pressure on families, and an estimated 1.2 million more people could fall into poverty," said the UN agency.

The impact of the war in the Middle East on children in monetarily poor households draws on data from over 167 countries and highlights how rising food and energy prices, and broader economic shocks resulting from escalating hostilities - including disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - are eroding what households can afford to buy. Children in the poorest households are disproportionately affected.

"Children are paying the price for the escalating conflict in the Middle East, including children far beyond the region," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

"The longer this continues, the worse the consequences will be. Rapidly rising costs are making food and education unaffordable for many families. For children already living in poverty, these shocks deepen deprivation and can cause harm that lasts a lifetime," Russell continued.

The report examined two possible scenarios: adverse and severe poverty.

The adverse scenario reflects a moderate economic shock that could push an additional 18.3 million children into monetary poverty, while the severe scenario assumes stronger, more prolonged disruptions to prices and economic activity and projects that 23.4 million additional children could be pushed into monetary poverty if the war continues.

The analysis showed that child monetary poverty is highly sensitive to macroeconomic shocks. Increasing food and energy costs, combined with limited fiscal space in many countries, are directly reducing families' ability to meet basic needs.

The largest proportions of the global increase in monetary poverty are in Asia and Africa, with the two regions accounting for around 80 per cent of the total increase. Both continents reflect high baseline poverty rates and high vulnerability to external shocks.

UNICEF is calling on national governments, donor governments, and international financial institutions to protect children from the worst impacts of the crisis.

Shares of Al-Arafah Islami Bank and Peoples Leasing and Financial Services rose sharply today (16 July) as investors reacted positively to news of board restructurings, which many hope will restore operational efficiency and improve governance.

Defying a broader market correction, Al-Arafah gained 7.45% to close at Tk17.3, while Peoples Leasing climbed 8.33% to Tk1.3 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

The rally in Al-Arafah Islami Bank shares followed a major decision by Bangladesh Bank. On Wednesday, the central bank appointed 14 new directors to the bank's board, expanding it from five to 19 members.

The move effectively allows Al-Arafah's founding shareholders to regain control after nearly a year under a board dominated by five independent directors appointed in August 2024 following a political transition and regulatory intervention.

At the same time, Peoples Leasing informed the bourses that its board had given in-principle approval to a proposal to bring back its original sponsors.

During its board meeting, the company noted it had received expressions of interest (EOIs) from certain sponsor shareholders willing to be included in the board.

The management has decided to forward the matter to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court for final consideration and appropriate orders, a step viewed by the market as a potential move toward stabilising the scam-hit institution.

Despite the gains in the two financial stocks, the broader market ended lower as the benchmark DSEX index fell 25 points to close at 5,900, snapping a five-day winning streak. The blue-chip DS30 index also dropped 15 points to finish at 2,227.

Market analysts from EBL Securities noted that the capital bourse retraced into a corrective phase as persistent intraday selling across major scrips exerted sustained downward pressure. While the market opened with some volatility, profit-taking in recently appreciated stocks gathered momentum throughout the session, dragging the majority of scrips into negative territory.

Market participation also saw a significant contraction, with daily turnover dropping by 26% to stand at Tk1,118 crore.

The market breadth remained bearish, with 240 issues declining compared to 103 that advanced, while 52 remained unchanged.

On the liquidity front, Techno Drugs emerged as the most traded stock, followed by Summit Alliance Port and Malek Spinning.

Among individual stocks, Techno Drugs and Global Heavy Chemical were also among the day's top gainers, alongside the rallying financial institutions. Usmania Glass and Zeal Bangla Sugar, meanwhile, ranked among the session's biggest losers.

The DSE brokers association of Bangladesh (DBA) has welcomed the steps of the capital market regulator to amend the margin rules, 2025, calling it a realistic and market-friendly move for the country's capital market.

In a press release today (18 July), the association said under the leadership of BSEC Chairman Masud Khan, the regulatory body is actively pursuing updates to the policy, drawing praise from capital market stakeholders.

The DBA believes that the amended margin rules will help establish a balanced, modern, and forward-looking regulatory framework, which will play a crucial role in the orderly, transparent, and sustainable development of Bangladesh's capital market.
The DBA expressed hope that the draft of the amended margin rules will soon be published for public opinion. After reviewing the draft, the DBA will submit its detailed feedback and recommendations to the Commission if necessary.DBA President Saiful Islam stated that the DBA fully supports the reform activities undertaken by the BSEC to make Bangladesh's capital market stronger, more modern, and investor-friendly.

"The DBA remains ready to work closely with the BSEC in all necessary reform activities for the development of the country's capital market in the future," he said.

In an official statement, the DBA expressed deep appreciation for a stakeholders' meeting organised by the BSEC on 13 July. The meeting brought together representatives from both the DBA and the Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA).

Capital market leaders praised the chairman and the BSEC commissioners for listening to their proposals, suggestions, and operational concerns regarding the draft framework.

According to the DBA, the market regulator's reassurance that stakeholder feedback will be integrated into the reform process signals a highly positive, market-friendly approach. The association believes that the upcoming revised Margin Rules will pave the way for a modern, balanced, and sustainable regulatory framework, crucial for ensuring long-term transparency and orderly development in Bangladesh's capital market.

On 14 July, the BSEC approved draft amendments to the Margin Rules, 2025, relaxing several restrictive provisions introduced last November to improve market liquidity and make margin lending more accessible.

The volume of foreign grants received by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Bangladesh hit a seven-year high of US$838.25 million in the last fiscal year (FY) 2025-26.

The amount was 5.46-percent higher than that of the previous fiscal, according to the NGO Affairs Bureau data.

Previously, NGOs operating in the country received $955.35 million worth of grant in FY2018-19, the highest annual disbursement in recent years, according to the data, which was sent to the Economic Relations Division (ERD) by the Bureau.

Meanwhile, the volume of fresh grant commitments through NGOs surged 44.62 per cent year-on-year to a record $1.15 billion in FY 2025-26, the highest ever annual commitment since the bureau began maintaining records.

In contrast, the availability of inward foreign grants for government-implemented development projects showed a downward trend in recent years, with both its disbursements and commitments showing lower than that of NGOs, the official data revealed.

The ERD secured foreign grant commitments amounting to $158.78 million during the first 11 months of FY 2025-26, reflecting a 58.32 per cent fall from that of $380.98 million in the matching period of the previous fiscal year.

Although the disbursements of grants for government projects rose 14.31 per cent year-on-year to $433.81 million during the July-May period, the amount was nearly half of the $838.25 million released in the entire fiscal year 2024-25.

The trend in the inward foreign grant reflected a major shift of channelising grants from government projects to NGO-run ones in the past decade.

Foreign grants received by the government-run projects were nearly double that of NGOs in consecutive three fiscal years starting from 2001, official figures showed.

The government projects maintained their dominance in the receipts of foreign grants until FY2013, while NGOs became the dominant channel from FY2014.

However, their gap started widening sharply in FY2018-19 and FY 2019-20 when NGO receipts were more than three times higher than that of government projects, according to the data.

Although the amounts of grants received by the government projects exceeded NGOs' receipts in FY2023-24 and FY 2024-25, the trend reversed in FY 2025-26, with the grants received by NGOs reaching $838.25 million during the first 11 months of the fiscal year.

The government projects received nearly $433.81 million worth of grants during the July-November period of last fiscal, according to the data.

Huarun Tex Co Ltd, a Chinese company, will invest $30 million to build a textile manufacturing plant at the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram.

The factory will be built on a 36,000-square-metre site, according to a press release.

Once operational, it will produce 24,000 tonnes of yarn and 20 million metres of grey woven fabric each year, creating jobs for 580 Bangladeshi nationals.

Bepza and Huarun Tex signed a land lease agreement on July 16 at the Bepza Complex in Dhaka.

The agreement was signed by Md Tanvir Hossain, member (investment promotion) of Bepza, and Bin Wang, managing director of Huarun Tex, on behalf of their respective organisations.

Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, executive chairman of Bepza, thanked Huarun Tex for choosing Bangladesh, particularly the Bepza Economic Zone, for its investment.

He said Bepza is committed to providing a safe, modern and business-friendly environment for investors and assured the company of full support to ensure smooth operations.

Senior Bepza officials, including Abdullah Al Mamun, member (engineering), and ANM Foyzul Haque, member (finance), attended the signing ceremony along with representatives of Huarun Tex.

Bengal Biscuits Limited, listed on the SME board of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, has recommended a 10% cash dividend for all shareholders for the financial year ended 30 June 2025.

The decision was approved during a board meeting held on 15 July, where the company finalised its audited financial statements for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

According to the disclosed financial statements on the Dhaka bourse, the company's net profit after tax rose to Tk2.24 crore, up from Tk2.07 crore recorded in FY24. Concurrently, its earnings per share (EPS) increased to Tk2.83, compared to Tk2.61 in FY24.

The company's net asset value (NAV) per share also improved significantly, reaching Tk15.90 by the end of June 2025, up from Tk 4.07 in the prior year. However, its net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) witnessed a decline, dropping to Tk4.48 in FY25 from Tk5.94 in FY24.

Bengal Biscuits has set 6 August, as the record date for the entitlement of the recommended dividend. The company's annual general meeting (AGM) is scheduled to take place on 3 September.

The company got listed on the SME platform in 2021 from the over the counter (OTC). Its shares closed 4.63% lower at Tk82 on Thursday.

According to the shareholding report as of June, sponsors and directors hold 29.64% shares in the company, while 9.36% by the institutional investors and the remaining 61% held by public shareholders.

The second session of the 13th Parliament and the 2026-27 budget session have ended.

Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal read out President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s prorogation order on Wednesday evening, formally closing the session.

The session began on Jun 7 and ran for 26 working days. The budget was presented on Jun 11 and passed on Jun 30.

General discussions on the budget lasted 14 working days, with 316 lawmakers taking part in 48 hours and 51 minutes of debate.

Ten government bills were passed during the session.

A total of 715 notices were submitted under Rule 71, with 24 accepted and discussions held on 22. Lawmakers also discussed 125 notices under Rule 71(A).

Eleven committees, including a special committee on constitutional amendments, were formed.

Bangladesh risks falling behind in the rapidly changing world of work unless it urgently strengthens skills development, social protection and policy implementation to address the impacts of automation and artificial intelligence (AI), experts warned today (15 July).

The webinar, titled "Work in Flux: Foresight for the Future of Work in the Global South," was organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue, LIRNEasia, JustJobs Network, Southern Voice and the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, with support from Canada's International Development Research Centre.

Presenting CPD's latest foresight study, Towfiqul Islam Khan, additional research director at CPD, said Bangladesh recently lost around 1.3 million jobs, with women accounting for nearly 90% of those losses. He warned that up to 1.22 million RMG jobs could be threatened by automation by 2041, particularly affecting low-skilled female workers.

He also criticised Bangladesh's low investment in education, noting that public spending remains around 1.3% of GDP, while technical and vocational education and training remain poorly aligned with future labour market demands.

Chairing the session, Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at CPD, said Bangladesh's biggest challenge is not the lack of policies but weak implementation and poor coordination among institutions.

As industries automate to remain competitive after LDC graduation, he said, adequate protection for displaced workers remains absent.

"The technological transition must be actively managed by the state," Debapriya said, warning that failure to do so could deepen inequality.

Helani Galpaya, CEO of LIRNEasia, said the growing gig economy should not be viewed as a universal solution, pointing to the digital divide that limits women's access to online work.

She also argued that digital platforms often shift financial and occupational risks onto workers.

Sabina Dewan, president and executive director of JustJobs Network, urged policymakers to prioritise the quality of jobs rather than simply increasing employment numbers. She called on global brands driving automation in supply chains to help finance worker reskilling, saying a "just transition" requires preparing workers before technology replaces them.

Representing the ILO, Gunjan Bahadur Dallakoti stressed that small and medium enterprises need greater support to adopt digital technologies while formalizing employment and strengthening labour institutions.

Drawing on Latin American experience, Ramiro Albrieu of Argentina's CIPPEC said countries in the Global South must invest in digital skills to fully utilise their demographic advantage and adopt long-term foresight planning rather than reacting to crises.

The speakers agreed that Bangladesh's future competitiveness will depend not only on technological adoption but also on coordinated policies that ensure automation creates inclusive, resilient and decent employment rather than widening inequality.

Bangladesh Bank has made prior approval from the chief inspector of Boilers mandatory for the import of boilers and boiler components, in line with a directive from the Ministry of Industries.

The central bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department issued a notification yesterday (14 July), instructing authorised dealer (AD) branches of all banks engaged in foreign exchange transactions to comply with the new requirement.

The notification said the fresh directive follows a memo issued by the Boiler Wing of the Ministry of Industries on 28 June, 2026, and has been made effective for all boiler and boiler component imports accordingly.

According to the notification, boiler manufacturers must complete construction within a maximum of 12 months from the date of drawing and design approval.

Manufacturers must also hand over all documents and certificates required for registration to the buying entity after supply or sale of a boiler, and must inform the chief inspector of Boilers in writing of the buyer's name and address.

The directive further requires that occupational health and safety of factory workers be ensured, with all relevant provisions of existing labour law to be followed.

Under the new instructions, prior approval from the chief inspector of Boilers must be obtained through a prescribed application form before any import of boilers or boiler components.

On receipt of an application, a designated officer will verify the necessary documents and submit a report to the Chief Inspector, who will grant or reject the import approval after reviewing the report.

If approved, the deputy chief inspector of Boilers will issue the approval letter.

If an application is rejected, the applicant must be informed in writing of the reasons within seven working days, after which they may reapply upon rectifying the deficiencies and paying the requisite fee.

The notification added that the concerned authority may also inspect a manufacturer's factory or production process, if required, to ensure the quality of boilers.

A high-level Saudi delegation today (15 July) met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed interest in investing up to $1 billion in Bangladesh's ports, railways and other key infrastructure projects.

The meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said a press release issued by the PM's Press Wing.

The delegation was led by Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Transport and Logistic Services Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations, investment opportunities and ways to expand cooperation in infrastructure development.

Members of the delegation also expressed their commitment to further strengthening ties between the two countries.

The prime minister said Bangladesh's long-standing friendly relations with Saudi Arabia are of great importance to his government.

The delegation informed Tarique Rahman that Red Sea Gateway Terminal International is interested in investing $180 million to develop a Bay Terminal in Bangladesh and increasing its overall investment in the country's port sector to $1 billion.

They also said Red Sea Gateway Terminal International and several other Saudi companies are keen to invest in various sectors in Bangladesh.

The prime minister briefed the delegation on his government's investment-friendly policies and initiatives aimed at attracting greater foreign investment.

The delegation said it explored investment opportunities in Bangladesh's ports, railways and several other sectors, adding that detailed discussions could be held at a future joint meeting between the two countries.

The Prime Minister thanked the Saudi delegation for visiting Bangladesh and for showing strong interest in investing in the country.

In response, the delegation said they are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Saudi Arabia.

Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

The Saudi delegation also included Assistant Deputy Minister for Investment Engineer Ammar Al-Taff, Red Sea Gateway Terminal International Board CEO Amer Reda, Red Sea Gateway Terminal CEO Lars Vang, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H bin Abiyah and other senior officials.

India approved a new semiconductor programme on Wednesday, offering more than $13 billion in financial assistance to accelerate local chip production, as it seeks to become a global electronics powerhouse.

India’s Union Cabinet approved the “Semicon 2.0” initiative, expanding on a drive launched five years ago to reduce reliance on imports and attract investment in one of the world’s most strategically important industries.
It comes as countries race to secure semiconductor supply chains following pandemic-era disruptions and growing geopolitical tensions that exposed vulnerabilities in global chip production.The programme will focus on strengthening the local semiconductor ecosystem, encouraging domestic production of key materials and attracting global manufacturers to establish fabrication plants in India.

The plan recognised the need for “sustained and long-term support” to the industry and aimed to place India “on the semiconductor map of the world”, the cabinet said in a statement, without providing more details on how the money will be used. An earlier semiconductor incentive scheme “Semicon 1.0”, which was unveiled in 2021, offered support covering up to half the cost of setting up chip projects.

The incentives helped launch 12 manufacturing projects across fabrication, packaging and related segments, with at least three already entering commercial production. Among them is a semiconductor assembly and test facility established by US memory giant Micron Technology.

India’s chip market has grown from about $38 billion in 2023 to an estimated $45 billion-$50 billion in 2024-25.

The government is targeting a market size of $100 billion-$110 billion by 2030.

Bangladesh Bank eased regulations on external borrowing by fully foreign-owned industrial enterprises, allowing them to access loans from parent companies, associates, and shareholders abroad under a general authorisation framework.

According to a circular issued yesterday, eligible manufacturing and service-sector enterprises operating both within and outside specialised zones, including export processing zones (EPZs), economic zones (EZs), and High-Tech Parks, will be able to obtain short-, medium- and long-term foreign loans subject to specified conditions.

For short-term borrowings of less than one year, companies outside specialised zones may obtain interest-free loans for working capital purposes without prior approval from Bangladesh Bank.

They may also avail cost-bearing loans at a total cost of up to 3 percent “per annum” for “bona fide” business purposes, including input procurement.

Such loans must be repaid in a single lump sum at maturity and may be extended, up to a maximum term of three years.

For medium-term borrowings of one to five years, Bangladesh Bank allowed interest-free loans of up to $50 million and cost-bearing loans of up to $5 million for capital expenditure, including the purchase of machinery and equipment, as well as construction-related expenditure.

Long-term borrowings of more than five years will also be allowed, with borrowing costs capped at 3 percent “per annum” where applicable.

The circular also allows outstanding borrowings to be converted into equity subject to existing regulations.

As per industry insiders, the new measures are expected to improve access to affordable overseas financing and encourage greater foreign investment in Bangladesh.