The British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCCI) plans to establish a British-Bangladesh Trade Centre in London to strengthen trade, investment and business ties between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

The proposed centre will connect businesses from both countries, facilitate investment and help build commercial partnerships, the chamber said in a press release yesterday (12 September).

The announcement was made at the BBCCCI Business Reception 2026 and the inauguration of its newly elected committee at the Ivy Hill Hotel in London.

The trade centre will support businesses seeking to enter the Bangladesh and UK markets and organise programmes focused on trade, investment, entrepreneurship development and bilateral business cooperation, according to the chamber.

"The main objective is to turn connections between British and Bangladeshi businesses into trade and create new business opportunities," BBCCCI Director General Musleh Ahmed said.

He said the centre would help businesses identify potential partners, explore new markets and expand their operations through joint ventures and other forms of cooperation.

BBCCCI President Muhib Chowdhury said the proposed centre reflected the chamber's commitment to building a modern and ambitious organisation.

He said the BBCCCI would play a leading role in strengthening commercial relations between Bangladesh and the UK.

M Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's acting high commissioner to the UK, was the keynote speaker at the event.

The chamber said growing interest among businesses in accessing international markets, exploring investment opportunities and building strategic partnerships had created a need for stronger institutional support.

It expects the proposed trade centre to deepen economic relations between Bangladesh and the UK and potentially become an important hub for bilateral trade and investment.

BBCCCI advisers, members of the chamber's election commission, businesspeople, professionals, journalists and representatives of various professional organisations attended the programme.

Bangladesh has outlined a $1.85 billion investment plan to execute an equitable green economic transition, becoming the first country in Asia to incorporate a dedicated Just Transition chapter into its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).

The framework translates the country's climate targets into actionable and bankable investment opportunities, according to an action plan presented at a national high-level dialogue in Dhaka on Thursday.

The dialogue was jointly organised by the Department of Environment, International Labour Organisation (ILO), South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) and the Embassy of Sweden.

The strategy was developed through a cross-mapping of 14 national strategy documents, including the Eighth Five-Year Plan, Perspective Plan 2041 and Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. It consolidated 258 commitments into 33 core priorities.

These priorities form an action matrix containing 69 traceable and time-bound activities across six key sectors-energy, transport, construction, agriculture, waste management, and industrial processes and product use (IPPU).

The final implementation plan will be incorporated into NDC 3.0 this month before being presented to international development partners and global investors at COP31 in November.

SANEM Executive Director Dr Selim Raihan and ILO Just Transition Technical Officer Elisa Benistant Fremigacci jointly presented the action plan and its annexes at the dialogue.

Speaking as the chief guest at the event, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam said the government was focusing on field-level measures to clean major rivers and reduce air and noise pollution.

Referring to his recent visits to facilities in Rajshahi, he stressed the need to improve occupational safety and health standards for factory and waste-management workers.

Workers are central to economic growth and therefore need fair wages, stronger social protection and skills upgrading to cope with technological changes, he said.

Bangladesh is also targeting 10,000 MW of renewable energy within five years as part of its clean-energy transition, including through wind power projects such as those in Cox's Bazar.

The government is forming an inclusive, multi-sectoral team to present strong research and policy positions at COP31, the state minister added.

Speaking at a panel discussion, Dr Fahmida Khatun, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said a just transition must focus on creating employment through the green transition.

She called for sector- and occupation-level mapping to identify where jobs would be gained or lost and proposed adding a green jobs module to the Labour Force Survey to establish a reliable baseline. She also stressed the need for data disaggregated by sex, age, geography, and formal and informal employment to better target social safety-net programmes such as the Family Card.

Emission-reduction tracking should be paired with employment and decent-work indicators, she said, calling for an institutional mechanism to integrate data across the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, government ministries, employers and worker organisations.

Moustapha Kamal Gueye, director of the ILO's Just Transition Priority Action Programme, said climate ambition requires building human capacity among workers, businesses and communities to transform energy, agriculture and transport systems.

Social justice and decent work are essential to climate mitigation and adaptation rather than merely additional benefits, he said, stressing that social dialogue should be formally institutionalised instead of remaining ad hoc.

Bangladesh Employers' Federation Secretary General Farooq Ahmed said a just transition required a whole-of-society approach involving all stakeholders, not just employers and workers.

He noted that Bangladesh accounts for only 0.47 per cent of global carbon emissions, yet remains disproportionately vulnerable to climate change because of its geographical position.

He identified three key responsibilities: raising public awareness, mobilising financial and technical resources, and developing a framework for resilience and preparedness.

He also called for climate issues to be communicated in simple and accessible language and stressed the need to build the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to adapt to environmental and technological changes.

Mesbahuddin Ahmed, chairman of the National Coordination Committee for Workers' Education, recalled past industrial disruptions caused by globalisation and cautioned against repeating instances where workers lost jobs without opportunities for retraining.

The current green transition must prioritise worker reskilling and involve worker organisations from the outset, he said.

Sector-level specialisation is also crucial to understanding future workforce needs and designing appropriate training, he added, stressing that a just transition must go beyond policy documents to deliver real jobs, job security and effective skills transfer.

ILO Country Director Max Tunon moderated the panel discussion.

Bangladesh needs more quality companies to enter the capital market to deepen the market and reduce businesses' heavy reliance on bank financing, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan said today (12 September).

"Good companies need to enter the capital market. We have to encourage them to do so," he said while speaking as the chief guest at the Capital Market Growth Dialogue at the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) conference hall in Chattogram this afternoon.

CCCI and IDLC Investment Limited jointly organised the dialogue.

Khan said Bangladesh's stock market remains relatively small compared with several regional markets when daily trading is measured against total market capitalisation.

Citing recent figures, he said the ratio was around 0.14% in Bangladesh last week, compared with 0.19% in Pakistan, 0.23% in Thailand, 0.26% in India and 0.21% in Vietnam.

"If our daily trading volume reaches Tk1,500 crore, the ratio would rise to around 0.39%," he said, stressing that increasing both the number and quality of listed companies is essential for sustained market growth.

The BSEC chairman said the regulator was working to simplify the process of bringing good companies to the market and considering new options for initial public offerings (IPOs) and direct listings.

He also said the commission planned to move fully towards an international-style book-building mechanism to improve price discovery.

Masud stressed the need for a clear distinction between the money market and the capital market.

According to him, banks should primarily provide short-term financing, while businesses should rely on the capital market for longer-term funding.

"Banks taking deposits for one year and lending for eight years is highly risky," he said, referring to the asset-liability mismatch created by long-term bank lending.

He said Bangladesh's underdeveloped capital market had forced banks to take on a larger role in long-term corporate financing, creating additional pressure on the banking sector.

CCCI President Amirul Haque urged the BSEC to change its institutional approach towards businesses and treat companies as partners rather than subordinates.

He called for fair treatment of listed and prospective companies, saying bureaucratic hurdles and inconsistent treatment discourage businesses from entering the capital market.

IDLC Chairman Kazi Mahmood Sattar said Bangladesh also needs to develop the debt segment of the capital market alongside equity financing.

Companies undertaking large infrastructure and development projects often require financing for 15 to 20 years, which banks cannot efficiently provide, he said.

"The capital market has two sides. We need to operate not only on the equity side but also on the debt side," Sattar said.

Developing long-term bonds, mutual funds and other capital market instruments would help finance large projects while reducing pressure on commercial banks, he added.

DSE Chairman Mominul Islam and CSE Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman also spoke as special guests at the dialogue.

The Dhaka bourse closed the week's last session in the red, extending its losing streak to three consecutive sessions.Geographic Reference

Apart from a correction in the broad index, turnover value remained insignificant as investors stayed hesitant about fresh participation amid intensifying macroeconomic tensions and the lowest credit growth of 4.47 per cent.

The market opened the day's session positively, but the DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), soon lost its momentum.

The DSEX eventually closed at 5,515 points, down 22 points from the previous session, while turnover value rose 4.75 per cent to Tk 5.44 billion.

The broad index lost 52 points over the last three sessions.

Insiders said both the newly emerging macroeconomic tensions and issues linked to regulatory inspections had made investors worried about the future direction of the capital market.

There are fears of a further rise in inflation following a fresh surge in oil prices in the global market. International oil prices crossed $100 per barrel this week.

Consumers will have to bear the adjusted prices of products following the rise in oil prices. For example, the association of the country's bakery owners has already decided to adjust the prices of bakery products from Saturday.

As a result, fresh worries over rising expenditure on basic needs weighed on investors.

All sectors of listed companies, except mutual funds, declined marginally on the premier bourse on Thursday.

Grameenphone, British American Tobacco Bangladesh and Square Pharmaceuticals were among the top index draggers.

As the majority of blue-chip stocks declined, the DS30 index lost 7.71 points to close at 2,095 points.

Meanwhile, investors are awaiting disclosures of quarterly statements for July-September with bated breath.

Manufacturers, who have been enduring a steep energy crisis and may have cut production as a result, are likely to report compromised bottom-line growth.

According to insiders, some regulatory measures, such as the exchange's move toward more frequent inspections of brokerage firms, have also played a role in reducing speculative transactions.

Mutual funds dominated the list of top 10 gainers on Thursday. All funds saw appreciation as investors took positions ahead of liquidation to realise profits based on NAV (net asset value).

CAPM BDBL Mutual Fund 01 was the top gainer, rising 9.72 per cent, while Reliance Insurance was the worst performer, declining 3.96 per cent on the DSE.

Pubali Bank PLC's board of directors has recommended doubling the bank's authorised capital to Tk4,000 crore from Tk2,000 crore, subject to approval from shareholders and Bangladesh Bank.

The decision was taken at a board meeting held today (10 September).

To facilitate the increase, the bank will raise its total number of ordinary shares to 400 crore from 200 crore, with a face value of Tk10 each. The board has also proposed amendments to relevant provisions of the bank's Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The proposals will be placed before an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled for 25 October, which will be held virtually through a digital platform. The record date for the EGM has been set for 29 September.

Following the price-sensitive disclosure on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Pubali Bank shares remained unchanged at Tk37.70 today.

Earlier, Pubali Bank posted robust financial growth in the second quarter and first half of 2026. The bank's consolidated earnings per share (EPS) rose to Tk2.95 for April–June 2026, from a restated Tk2.51 in the same period a year earlier. For the January–June period, consolidated EPS increased to Tk4.39 from Tk3.70. The bank attributed the growth in earnings to higher investment income, increased commissions, exchange and brokerage fees, and other operating revenues.

Consolidated net operating cash flow per share experienced a notable upward trend, surging to Tk48.78 for January–June 2026 from Tk32.28 in the corresponding period of 2025. This improvement was driven by a strategic focus on high-yield lending, fee diversification, cost optimisation, digital transformation, and increased customer deposit collections.

Additionally, the bank's consolidated net asset value (NAV) per share reached Tk48.90 as of 30 June, 2026, up from a restated Tk45.27 at the end of December 2025, propelled by higher retained earnings and paid-up capital additions from stock dividends.

The country's equity market suffered a sharp pullback last week as persistent concerns over an ongoing energy crisis, a weakening corporate earnings outlook, and fragile investor sentiment continued to weigh heavily on trading activity.

The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange plummeted by 146 points, or 2.59%, to settle at 5,515. Mirroring the broader market slump, the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 45 points, or 2.12%, to close at 2,095. Overall market capitalisation contracted significantly, wiping out Tk5,400 crore over the week.

Broad-based selling pressure dominated the floor, resulting in 310 issues declining against only 60 advancing, while 16 remained unchanged.

Daily average turnover on the Dhaka bourse dropped 9% to Tk554 crore, reflecting cautious participation from both institutional and retail investors.

According to a weekly market review by EBL Securities, the capital bourse ended the week in negative territory as investors remained wary of the adverse impact of persistent gas and electricity shortages on industrial production and corporate profitability.

The week opened on a subdued note, with the prolonged bearish trend dragging the intraday DSEX index below the 5,500-point mark. Although bargain hunters attempted to stage a reversal mid-week as declining stock valuations offered attractive entry points, broader concerns over macroeconomic uncertainty quickly outweighed buying interest, sustaining the downward momentum through subsequent sessions.

Sheltech Brokerage Limited noted in its weekly report that the market performance was primarily shaped by strong initial selling pressure, which led to the sharpest single-session decline seen in the last five months. While opportunistic buying emerged toward the middle of the week, it failed to trigger a meaningful recovery and was eventually offset by persistent profit-booking and risk aversion.

Investor activity was heavily concentrated in the textile sector, which accounted for 29.5% of total turnover, followed by general insurance at 14.2% and pharmaceuticals at 10.4%.

Sector-wise performance was overwhelmingly negative across the board. The ceramics sector suffered the steepest decline, falling 5.9%, followed by paper and life insurance, which dropped 5.6% and 5% respectively.

Amid the widespread downturn, the mutual fund sector stood out as a notable exception, gaining 3.7% as short-term-oriented investors sought quick-gain opportunities.

Top turnover leaders for the week included Sharp Industries, Envoy Textile, Malek Spinning, Saiham Cotton, and Saiham Textile.

Envoy Textile led the weekly gainers' chart with a 20.4% surge, followed by Phoenix Finance First Mutual Fund at 20.3%, Exim Bank First Mutual Fund at 13.8%, Mercantile Insurance at 11.8%, and Reliance Insurance Mutual Fund One at 10.6%.

Conversely, Al-Haj Textile emerged as the top loser, tumbling 16.9%, alongside Information Service Network, Orion Infusion, Samata Leather, and Desh Garments.

Since the political changeover in August 2024, Bangladesh has experienced significant political and social changes. Under the interim government, uncertainty remained over policy direction and the predictability of administrative procedures. It was certainly not an easy business environment for foreign companies.

Yet Japanese companies continued their operations. More importantly, some even announced new investments or business expansions during this period. One reason may be that Japanese companies do not assess Bangladesh solely on the basis of short-term political developments. They are looking beyond the immediate political risks: the country’s large population, rising income levels, competitiveness as a production base and the expansion of its domestic market. In other words, they are looking at what Bangladesh could become over the next 10 or 20 years.
Bangladesh is gradually becoming more than a low-cost production base for Japanese companies. It is also a country where they see potential for future sales and business growth.

The 2025 JETRO Survey on Business Conditions of Japanese Companies Overseas provides some evidence. Of the Japanese companies surveyed in Bangladesh, 50 percent expected to be profitable in fiscal 2025, while 56.9 percent said they planned to expand their business over the next one to two years. At the same time, 94.4 percent identified political and social instability as an investment risk. These figures suggest an interesting contrast: Japanese companies are clearly aware of the risks, yet many continue to see opportunities for expansion.

The reason is not simply low labour costs. Bangladesh offers Japanese companies an established business base today, while its large population, rising incomes and expanding domestic demand offer the possibility of a much larger market tomorrow. In this sense, Bangladesh is gradually becoming more than a low-cost production base for Japanese companies. It is also a country where they see potential for future sales and business growth.

From this long-term investment perspective, the establishment of the Invest Bangladesh authority is an important development. On August 20, the government brought the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 into effect through a gazette notification, merging BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority into a new organisation. This is an important step towards consolidating investment promotion functions.

However, this merger does not mean that Bangladesh’s investment administration has become a unified system. Institutions such as BEPZA and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), which also play important roles for investors, remain outside the new organisation. Moreover, the issues faced by investors do not end with investment promotion agencies. They may need to coordinate with various government agencies on matters ranging from work permits to tax, customs and foreign-exchange regulations.

This is why I believe the potential role of Invest Bangladesh goes beyond managing the three organisations brought together under the new authority. It could become a coordinating “control tower” that addresses cross-government issues from the investor’s perspective.

For example, information submitted by an investor could be shared across relevant agencies. Digital procedures could also create clear records of applications and decisions, reducing room for different interpretations by individual officials. The real objective should not simply be to create “one organisation”, but to create “one administration from the investor’s perspective”.

Japanese companies have continued to see Bangladesh’s long-term growth potential. If the new organisation can play this cross-government coordinating role and improve the investment experience for companies, it could further strengthen that long-term confidence.

The Invest Bangladesh authority has the potential to make Bangladesh’s investment administration simpler, more transparent and more predictable from the perspective of businesses. That is a development worth watching closely.

US President Trump has announced new import bans and 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods as tensions between the two countries intensify. This comes a day after Ottawa's retaliatory tariffs on US products took effect.Canadian dairy products, motorcycles and alcoholic beverages face import bans in the United States, while other goods from across the border will be hit with 50% tariffs, the White House said Tuesday, as President Donald Trump escalates a trade war with Ottawa.
The import ban is scheduled to take effect on September 29.

Trump also ordered a 50% tariff on additional Canadian goods, including mattresses, motorboats and golf carts, starting September 15.The latest moves came after Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on about $20 billion (€17.2 billion) of US goods on Monday, following Washington's decision last month to levy 50% tariffs on selected Canadian imports.
Why is Trump imposing an import ban?

The White House said the alcohol ban was partly in response to provincial boycotts of US alcohol. Canadian provinces have removed many US wines and spirits from store shelves amid a widespread boycott of American goods, a move Trump called "discriminatory."

"President Trump is doing this to make sure, again, that we keep a level playing field, deter retaliation, and of course protect American production," a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on a call.

Trump also directed the US General Services Administration to exclude Canadian products from its long-term government procurement contracts unless Ottawa restores what he called "full and fair reciprocity" for American farmers and companies.

On Monday, Trump threatened to block Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier from selling planes in the US unless it manufactures them in the United States.
What did Canadian Prime Minister Carney say?

Nearly 68% of Canadian exports headed to the US this year, with about 80% of those shipments entering duty-free under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) exemptions, data showed.

However, the latest escalation also cast a shadow on the future of the three-nation trade pact.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country would accelerate efforts to reduce its dependence on the US.

"It's about ensuring that no country can hold us hostage. And that we can live how we want to live," Carney said on Tuesday.

Aside from tariffs, Canadians were also irked by Trump's repeated reference to their country as the 51st US state and an order renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Trump pushes Canada toward EU

Trump wielding tariffs as a tool to force smaller partners to agree to lower tariffs in return for market access, investment pledges or alignment with US policy has other governments watching to see how Canada's standing up to Trump plays out.

Recent developments have pushed Ottawa to explore a deeper relationship with the European Union.

Next week, Carney is due in Strasbourg, France, and scheduled address the European Parliament.

Benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose past $100 a barrel on Wednesday, hitting a more than six-week high and breaching the symbolic threshold for the first time since July 24 as intensifying conflict in the Middle East heightened concerns about oil flows from the region.

Brent crude futures were up $2.01, or 2.05 percent, at $99.93 a barrel by 0802 GMT, after earlier touching $100.19, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.49, or 1.60 percent, at $94.52 a barrel.
Brent crude prices have risen by a quarter since early last month as hopes fade for a permanent resolution to the six-month-old US-Iran conflict.Since the Iran war began on February 28, Brent has surged as high as $126.41 a barrel, a peak reached on April 30.

This week, attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi energy facilities set oil installations ablaze, threatening a significant expansion of the conflict.

The attacks also threaten crude shipments via the Red Sea, which has been a key alternative route to the crucial Strait of Hormuz, where oil flows have been severely curtailed since the February 28 start of the Iran war.

Market participants appear to be pricing in a more prolonged conflict in the Middle East as well as the risk that the latest escalation in military strikes disrupts oil flows from the Middle East, said Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

The key risk is whether the recent attacks on oil tankers lead to fewer ship-to-ship transfers taking place in the Gulf of Oman, which have so far played a key role in providing oil to global markets and keeping a lid on prices.

A growing number of banks, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and HSBC, have raised their crude price forecasts in recent days.

In the week before a resumption in fighting on August 30, roughly 8 million to 9 million bpd had flowed through Hormuz, double the previous week's volume, according to Rystad Energy's Chief Economist Claudio Galimberti, although more recently it had fallen below 2 million bpd.

I think the market is trying to treat this rise in energy prices as a one-off. It's not. This is structural. It's not going away, and it's part of what I would argue as a security premium. And it's only going to get bigger, said Jeffrey Currie, co-chairman at Abaxx Markets.

While non-OPEC oil producers including the United States, Canada and Guyana have ramped up output, the International Energy Agency said last month it expected global oil supply would fall this year by 4.3 million bpd, or about 4 percent.

The United States banned a broad swath of Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products from import on Tuesday, sharply escalating an already acrimonious trade spat.

The import bans, which go into effect on September 29 and were published on the White House’s website, came after Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs on US goods took effect after midnight on Tuesday.
Those Canadian levies themselves followed 50 percent tariffs that the United States imposed on some $20 billion of Canadian goods last month, after several rounds of negotiations collapsed.The breakdown has widened a rift between the longtime allies, who have blamed each other for the failed talks, spurred Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to urge a further shift away from Canada’s biggest trading partner, and cast doubt on the viability of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.“We have everything we need to pivot and prosper,” Carney said on Tuesday in a video posted on YouTube. “That pivot will come at a cost. There’s always a cost to action. But it doesn’t come close to the cost of standing still,” he said.

The import bans came after Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs on US goods took effect after midnight on Tuesday

The US bans appeared to cover most alcohol products, including beer and various types of wine, whisky, bourbon, rum, vodka, vermouth, tequila, mezcal, and brandy. The dairy ban covers whey protein, invert molasses, cane molasses and non-alcoholic beer, per notices on the White House’s website. In addition to the import bans, various cheese products were added to a list of products subject to a 50 percent tariff, but not banned outright.

Some paper, aluminum, wood, furniture, lighting and other products were also added to the list.

A US official said President Donald Trump’s pre-existing threat to increase tariffs on Canadian autos from 25 percent to 50 percent on January 1 remained in effect.

The official added that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had spoken with Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for bilateral US trade, over the past couple of days, and the pair were expected to speak again in the coming days to see if there was an alternative path for the two countries.

In a social media post on Tuesday night, LeBlanc criticized the latest US measures and said he was in contact with Greer regarding a path forward.

“As has been the case for the last 18 months, our first priority remains on protecting and supporting Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses from these unjustified actions,” he wrote.

OTTAWA STRIKES BACK

Ottawa’s retaliatory measures, which in turn provoked Washington’s move on Tuesday night, were designed to put economic and political pressure on Washington, Canadian government officials said.

Those counter-tariffs cover some $20 billion of US goods, with duties ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent across products from steel and furniture to clothing and electronics, and are expected to hit sectors in some competitive states such as Michigan and Ohio, ahead of US midterm elections in November.

While the tariffs affect a small amount of exports compared with total trade between the US and Canada, some analysts worry the standoff could destabilize the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free-trade pact that succeeded NAFTA.

Together they have underpinned commerce across North America for decades.

“What we are worried about is an escalatory spiral,” said Michael Harvey, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and a member of Carney’s advisory committee on bilateral US economic relations.

“But at the same time, we totally understand that the prime minister needs to find areas of leverage.”

Trump has been lobbing various attacks at Canada on Truth Social in recent days.
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On Monday, he said Canadian private jet maker Bombardier would no longer be allowed to sell its planes in the United States unless it started manufacturing in the country.

He also shared a map of North America draped in the US flag, including Canada and Mexico, and an AI-generated image reviving a running jab at Carney, calling him “Governor,” a reference to his repeated taunt that Canada should become the 51st US state.

On Tuesday, hours before the latest import bans, Trump directed the General Services Administration, a US government body responsible for providing services for the federal government, to coordinate with the US Trade Representative and “REMOVE Canadian-origin products from GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules unless Canada restores full and fair reciprocity for American Farmers and Companies.”

VARIOUS SECTORS HIT

Trump’s tariffs implemented last month hit sectors including wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment, covering $20 billion, or 5 percent, of Canadian exports to the US.

A Sapporo spokesperson said the brewer is considering moving a limited amount of production of non-alcoholic drinks from Canada to the US due to tariff risks, but no final decision has been made.

Sapporo owns Ontario-based Sleeman Breweries.

Canada accounts for more than half of the Japanese firm’s overseas beer sales.

According to Canadian and US government data, Canada has shipped almost 68 percent of total exports to the US this year, out of which roughly 80 percent moved duty-free due to exemptions under the USMCA pact.

Protections under the agreement have provided the domestic economy some resilience.

Last month’s tariffs, imposed under a Depression-era US law, do not allow Ottawa to exercise USMCA exemptions.

Concerns about the USMCA’s future have fueled uncertainty about investment and growth, as Canada wages a trade war against an economy 13 times its size.

Polls also show Carney has broad support from Canadians, but that could disappear within months as the consequences of the trade war sink in, according to political analysts.

A new poll from Angus Reid on Tuesday showed that approval of Carney’s performance jumped 11 points to 62 percent from an August poll.

Meanwhile, just 20 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Trump threatened last month to raise US tariffs on all cars, trucks and automotive parts from Canada to 50 percent starting January 1, and signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America.

How much oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz? Traders, energy executives and government officials are all trying to figure it out – but are reaching wildly different conclusions. It is, however, increasingly clear that this mystery has introduced a residual risk premium into crude prices that could remain deeply entrenched for months.

Benchmark Brent crude futures breached $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July 24 as ​escalating attacks in the Middle East, including on tankers, stifled hopes of a normalisation of oil shipping in the region.The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman has become the focal point of the conflict amid competing US and Iranian blockades.

Before the war erupted in February, flows through the world’s most important energy artery were largely taken for granted. While never perfect, flow estimates were remarkably reliable, even after accounting for Iran’s longstanding practice of switching off tanker transponders to evade Western sanctions.

For years, the consensus barely changed: Hormuz transited roughly 20 million barrels per day, equivalent to about one-fifth of global oil consumption. That certainty has disappeared.

Today, ​armies of analysts, along with increasingly sophisticated AI systems, are sifting through vast streams of information to determine how much oil is actually moving through the strait. Satellite imagery is cross-checked against port records, tanker drafts, loading ​schedules, refinery receipts and vessel-tracking data to reconstruct movements previously monitored in near real time.

The challenge has become exponentially harder because of the surge in “dark crossings,” when tankers switch ​off navigation and identification systems while approaching, transiting or leaving the strait. A US request for commercial satellite firms to delay imagery from the Gulf has further clouded the picture.

As a result, nobody can say with confidence exactly how much ​oil is flowing through Hormuz on any given day.

There are growing signs that Iran’s grip on the strait may be weakening. Months of tit-for-tat military exchanges have degraded Tehran’s radar systems and strike capabilities near Hormuz. US demining operations and a ​growing US-protected shipping corridor along Oman’s coast have allowed more vessels to enter and leave the Gulf.

The multi-billion-dollar question is how many vessels?

This uncertainty was highlighted by conflicting estimates from the Trump administration.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on September 2 that more than 17 million barrels transited the strait on August 31 under US Navy supervision, a figure that would represent the highest level recorded since the war began. The claim left traders and analysts scratching their heads.

More than a week later, ship-tracking firm Kpler, which uses satellite imagery, transponder ​signals, port logs and commercial shipping intelligence, suggested that perhaps only 6 million barrels crossed Hormuz that day.

Kpler estimates crude flows through Hormuz in August averaged only around 4.3 million barrels per day, rising to nearly 5 million bpd ​during the first six days of September. It also notes that transits appear to have fallen sharply in recent days.

One possible explanation is that the administration is including exports from the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah terminal, located outside the strait and supplied by Abu Dhabi’s ​bypass pipeline. Moreover, ​a single day’s observation says little about broader trends.

Wright admitted as much, saying on Sunday that flows through Hormuz were averaging more than 9 million bpd, though he did not specify the period.

That would be in line with Kpler’s estimates when Hormuz flows are combined with exports moving through alternative routes that bypass the strait.

To complicate matters further, tankers can remain dark for days or even weeks before and after crossing the strait, so actual volumes could ultimately prove to be significantly higher than current estimates suggest.

The new Hormuz may therefore be carrying half its pre-war volumes, or it may be carrying considerably more. That caveat illustrates the broader problem.

For perhaps the first time in modern oil market history, ​participants cannot accurately measure flows through the world’s most important ​energy corridor. The consequences extend far beyond academic debates over ​tanker movements.
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Oil prices are supposed to reflect fundamentals. Yet it is difficult to assess fundamentals when one of the world’s largest supply arteries has effectively disappeared from view. In effect, uncertainty itself has become a fundamental.

The result is a persistent risk premium that is likely to remain embedded in prices for months. Clarity is likely to improve only with a resolution ​to the US-Iran stand-off. But whether that resolution is closer or farther away remains an open question.

Iran’s economy has come under severe strain after months of war, especially ​since Washington imposed a blockade on ​Iranian exports on July 14 and ratcheted up sanctions. The Trump administration likely aims to use economic pain to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table. But Iran’s clerical leadership continues to demand sanctions relief and maintains hopes of eventually collecting fees from ships crossing the strait.

Moreover, Iran retains the capacity to disrupt maritime traffic. Iran-linked forces have targeted 27 vessels since early July, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The Islamic Republic has also vowed to announce a new restricted zone in the ​Gulf in coming ​days.

In other words, more uncertainty.

Philosophers have long asked: If a tree falls in a forest and nobody hears it, does it make a ​sound? In today’s oil market, the equivalent question is whether a tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz can influence global supplies if nobody can see it. The answer is far from obvious.

More than 10,000 customers of Sammilito Islami Bank withdrew their funds on the third day of the bank's repayment programme, taking the total number of customers paid to 26,056 over three days.

Yesterday (9 September), 10,697 customers withdrew a total of Tk381 crore.

Since the repayment programme began, 26,056 customers have withdrawn a total of Tk1,040 crore over three days. At the same time, fresh funds have continued to flow into the bank alongside the repayments to customers.

Earlier, among customers who applied to withdraw funds on 1 September, 8,125 withdrew a total of Tk319 crore on 7 September.

On that day, the bank received Tk93 crore in cash and another Tk51 crore through RTGS, BFTN and clearing, bringing total inflows to Tk141 crore. A total of 16,600 transactions were completed through cash and other channels that day.

Among customers who applied on 2 September, 7,234 withdrew a total of Tk340 crore on 8 September.

The bank received Tk90 crore in cash and Tk105 crore through BFTN, RTGS and clearing that day, resulting in total inflows of Tk195 crore. A total of 16,050 transactions were completed.

Overall, 58,745 customers applied between 1 and 3 September to withdraw a total of Tk3,304 crore. Against these applications, 26,056 customers withdrew Tk1,040 crore between 7 and 9 September.

This means around 31.5% of the amount applied for has so far been paid to customers.

The bank authorities said funds continue to flow into the bank alongside customer repayments. Regular transactions through personal accounts are continuing as normal and will remain operational.

The bank also said repayments are being made according to customers' applications. A significant number of customers are withdrawing their funds every day, while the flow of funds into the bank and normal banking operations continue.

Parliament today (9 September) passed the Bank Resolution (Amendment) Act, 2026, abolishing a provision that allowed former directors or owners of merged or merger-bound banks to regain ownership.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury moved the amendment bill, which was passed by voice vote. Deputy Speaker Kaisar Kamal presided over the session.

The amendment repeals Section 18A of the Bank Resolution Act, 2026, which had allowed former owners or directors of banks undergoing or listed for merger to regain ownership by paying 7.5% upfront of the money invested by the government or Bangladesh Bank. The remaining 92.5% was to be repaid within two years with 10% simple interest.

The provision was not included in the ordinance issued by the interim government. The current government later added it to the law, drawing widespread criticism from analysts, who said it created an opportunity for those accused of looting banks to buy back ownership in instalments.

Why the provision was scrapped

In a statement explaining the amendment, Khosru said Section 18A was introduced as a market-based alternative to existing resolution tools, allowing banks under resolution to remain operational while being restructured.

He said the provision also aimed to address capital and liquidity shortages, protect depositors and investors, reduce the government's financial exposure and account for the banking sector's prevailing conditions.

However, no individual or institution had applied after the law came into force while fulfilling all the conditions of the provision, he said. Therefore, repealing Section 18A was considered appropriate and necessary.

The minister subsequently moved the bill for passage, and it was approved by voice vote.

Brief disturbance in parliament

The amendment came amid a brief uproar after independent MP Rumeen Farhana criticised the government over rising loan defaults, saying BNP rule was historically marked by corruption and crises.

"The BNP will come to power, and there will be no gas, electricity or fertiliser crisis – that cannot happen. Bangladesh will not become the champion in corruption – that is also not possible," she said.

Government lawmakers shouted from their seats. Rumeen later questioned Section 18A, saying it could benefit lawmakers with loan-default records.

Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman criticised the disruption, saying MPs must be allowed to speak, while the Speaker could rule on any remarks deemed unparliamentary or the relevant minister could respond.

The value of internet banking transactions in Bangladesh grew by 6.22 percent month-on-month to Tk 1.84 lakh crore in June 2026, driven mainly by sharp increases in two payment systems, according to a recent central bank report.

The total had stood at Tk 1.73 lakh crore in May 2026.
The transactional values of Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) rose while Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN) fell, according to the e-Banking and e-Commerce Statistics review by Bangladesh Bank.RTGS, NPSB and BEFTN are BB-operated interbank payment systems, but they serve different purposes.

BEFTN is for scheduled batch transfers, NPSB is for real-time card and account transactions, and RTGS is for high-value, instant gross settlement-- all three route transactions among the country’s scheduled banks and mobile financial service providers.

Among the individual channels, RTGS transactions rose 26.09 percent to Tk 50,461 crore in June, up from Tk 40,022 crore in May. NPSB transactions increased 2.70 percent to Tk 57,480 crore in June from Tk 55,967 crore in May, the report showed.

BEFTN transfers, by contrast, declined to Tk 11,638 crore in June from Tk 12,987 crore in May. “It is clear that a large number of customers are using internet banking to access financial services,” BB said in the report.

However, the total number of internet banking customers fell slightly during the same period, decreasing 0.64 percent to 2.27 crore in June from 2.28 crore in May.

The data also showed that among the internet banking customer base, 1.78 crore were male, 44 lakh were female, and 4.7 lakh were registered under “other” in June.

As of June, 58 scheduled banks were offering internet banking services in the country.

Ten banks accounted for more than 72 percent of the banking sector’s total non-performing loans, according to the central bank, showing that the country’s 61 commercial lenders are not equally responsible for the sector’s financial distress.

As of June this year, bad loans in the banking sector stood at a whopping Tk 6,06,555 crore, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bank (BB). Of this, the 10 distressed lenders held Tk 4,39,527 crore in NPLs.

The lenders are Islami Bank Bangladesh, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank, IFIC Bank, National Bank, AB Bank, First Security Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, Social Islami Bank and Union Bank.

In terms of volume, Islami Bank Bangladesh has the highest level of bad loans in the banking sector. Until June this year, its NPLs stood at around Tk 98,914 crore, or 52.15 percent of its disbursed loans.

The bank was taken over by S Alam Group in 2017. The controversial conglomerate later extended around 80 percent of the bank’s total loans to its own companies and associated firms, violating banking rules and regulations.

After the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 in an uprising, the bank was freed from the group’s control and is now operating under the supervision of the BB.

At the end of December last year, Islami Bank’s bad loans stood at Tk 92,115 crore, or 49 percent of its disbursed loans. In the six months to June, its bad loans increased by Tk 6,799 crore, according to BB data.

Contacted, Md Altaf Hossain, acting managing director of Islami Bank, said that a large share of its defaulted loans is linked to the S Alam Group, with recovery remaining minimal.

He said that the bank is trying to recover loans from other borrowers, but progress has been limited.

“We are trying to recover the loans through cash payments and rescheduling. When we find no other way, we ultimately resort to filing cases against the customers,” Altaf told The Daily Star.

The acting managing director said the bank regularised Tk 5,885 crore this year through rescheduling, while it recovered Tk 749 crore from classified loans.

Scam-hit Janata Bank ranked second in terms of bad loan volume. Its NPLs stood at Tk 75,729 crore, or 75 percent of its disbursed loans.

Seeking anonymity, Janata Bank officials told The Daily Star that a major portion of the bank’s bad loans is concentrated among a small number of powerful business groups.

They said that about 80 percent of its bad loans are stuck with its top 20 defaulters, including Beximco, S Alam and AnonTex.

Beximco Group alone accounted for about Tk 25,000 crore of the bank’s exposure. Other major defaulters include Crescent Group and Thermex Group.

Agrani Bank, another state-run lender, also struggles with a heavy NPL burden. Its NPLs stood at Tk 32,133 crore, or 43.98 percent of its disbursed loans, show BB data.

At EXIM Bank, bad loans stood at Tk 38,052.53 crore, nearly 71 percent of its total disbursed loans, according to central bank data.

The bank was largely influenced by Nazrul Islam Mazumder, chairman of Nassa Group and former chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB). Lending irregularities and weak corporate governance have pushed the lender towards a merger with four other troubled banks.

Among lenders linked to the S Alam Group, First Security Islami Bank reported NPLs of Tk 60,645 crore, or 97 percent of its total disbursed loans.

Social Islami Bank’s bad loans stood at Tk 29,799 crore, or 78 percent of its disbursed loans, while Union Bank’s NPLs stood at Tk 27,134 crore, or 96 percent of its disbursed loans.

The boards of the two lenders were also largely dominated by the S Alam Group.

AB Bank’s NPLs stood at Tk 20,325 crore, or 56.04 percent, while National Bank reported Tk 28,276 crore, or 65.46 percent, according to BB data.

Bad loans at IFIC Bank stood at Tk 28,520 crore, or 63.38 percent of its disbursed loans. The bank was dominated by Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group and an influential adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Md Ezazul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), said the country’s NPL situation shows that the problem is concentrated in a handful of Islamic and state-owned banks.

“The main reason for the rise in NPLs is that loans have become concentrated among a small number of corporate borrowers. The banking sector needs to move away from this excessive loan concentration,” he told The Daily Star.

Ezazul, a former official of the central bank, said that around 10 percentage points of the banking sector’s NPL ratio, which has now reached 30 percent, can be attributed to economic factors, while the remaining 20 percentage points are the result of willful default, irregularities and corruption.

The government will import 18 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from France-based energy company TotalEnergies over the next nine months, with two cargoes scheduled each month from October this year to June next year.

The government may also purchase additional LNG cargoes from the company if needed, subject to mutual agreement between the two sides.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the LNG procurement proposal at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today (9 September).

The LNG will be procured through the direct purchase method for international procurement.

Each LNG cargo from TotalEnergies will be priced at the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) plus $0.06 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), according to the government.

The rate is slightly lower than the price agreed with US-based Gunvor for 14 LNG cargoes to be imported between 2026 and 2028. Under that arrangement, the price was set at JKM plus $0.0875 per MMBtu.

The TotalEnergies procurement received policy approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to meet urgent gas demand amid heightened geopolitical instability stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Ministry of Finance's Public Relations Department.

Bangladesh has long-term LNG supply agreements with Qatar and Oman. However, supplies under the contracts have been disrupted amid the Iran conflict, contributing to the country's ongoing gas shortage.

Against this backdrop, the government has been buying LNG from the spot market at relatively high prices while seeking alternative sources to bolster supplies.

As part of that effort, the government has also approved a proposal to sign a long-term LNG import agreement with US-based Gunvor through 2038.

Under the approved arrangement, Bangladesh will import 14 LNG cargoes from Gunvor between 2026 and 2028 at JKM plus $0.0875 per MMBtu.

Bangladesh has set a target to generate at least 20% of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30% by 2040 to curb dependence on imported fuels and prioritise renewable energy to meet growing demand, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament today (9 September).

Under the government's National Renewable Energy Development Strategy for 2026-2030, he said, the country aims to generate 5,500 megawatts of electricity from rooftop solar systems and 4,500MW from ground-mounted solar projects by 2030.

Another 450MW to 550MW is targeted from wind, waste-to-energy, hydropower, floating solar, and agrivoltaics, among other technologies, he added.

The prime minister disclosed the targets in a written response to a question from Meherpur-1 MP Md Tajuddin Khan during the question-answer session of the third session of the 13th parliament.

"Considering the country's growing electricity demand, the government has identified renewable energy as a priority sector to reduce dependence on imported fuel," said the prime minister.

The prime minister also said the government has also introduced incentives to encourage electricity generation from renewable sources, including conditional exemptions from various duties and taxes on solar panels, inverters, batteries and supporting structures used for solar installations.

He said the maximum generation cost for rooftop solar systems with batteries was set at Tk8 per unit on 1 September 2026.

As part of a special incentive package, the government has fixed the purchase price of electricity supplied to the national grid at Tk10.50 per unit, taking into account a 20% profit margin on generation cost and an 11.25% premium.

Under the notification, consumers who install rooftop solar systems by 28 February 2027 in accordance with the Net Metering Guideline 2025 and supply surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting their own consumption needs will receive Tk10.50 per unit for the following three years, until 28 February 2030.

The prime minister also told parliament that the government has formulated several policies and guidelines to expand renewable energy.

These include the "Guideline for Development of Renewable Energy Projects on Land Owned by Government Agencies under the PPP Model, 2026," the "Policy for Increasing Private Participation in Renewable Energy-Based Power Generation, 2025," the "Renewable Energy Policy, 2025," the "Net Metering Guideline, 2025" and the "National Rooftop Solar Programme, 2025."

He said guidelines have also been formulated on business models for waste-to-energy generation, onshore wind development and carbon credit processing.

A fresh US$81.68-million capital is going to be funneled into Janata Bank's UAE operations to avert wind-down of its business following persistent capital-shortfall-triggered regulatory restrictions on its reserve accounts.

To this effect, the Financial Institutions Division (FID) Tuesday sent to the Finance Division a letter seeking approval for the government bailout for the state-owned bank's overseas outfit, sources said Wednesday.

Earlier, the UAE central bank had threatened to freeze Janata Bank's UAE operations and force a three-year wind-down of the business over its persistent capital shortfall, sources said.

The fund will be sourced from Janata Bank's head office in Dhaka and routed through its local office to the United Arab Emirates.

Contacted, an official of the Finance Division said, "We are working on the issue and necessary approval would be issued shortly."

Janata Bank's UAE operations have been running for 52 years since 1974 and currently it operates four branches and a chief executive office, making it the second-largest foreign bank in the UAE by branch count.

The bank serves roughly 70,000 depositors, 3,800 loan and advance customers, and close to one million remittance senders.

In 2021, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) raised the minimum capital requirement for foreign banks from AED 40 million to AED 400 million.

Janata Bank's UAE unit had paid-up capital of only AED 100 million, plus AED 83 million in retained earnings, well short of the new threshold, even though it had repatriated no profits in the intervening time while trying to build up capital.

Citing the persistent shortfall, the CBUAE imposed restrictions on debit transactions from Janata Bank's reserve accounts held at the central bank, effective July 8, 2026.

A week later, on July 15, the UAE regulator formally asked Janata Bank to begin a rollback to be completed within three years and appoint an administrator.

The CBUAE warned that failure to appoint an administrator and start wind-down proceedings by September 14, 2026 would lead to a permanent freeze of the bank's reserve accounts and the appointment of an administrator by the authority.

Bangladesh's ambassador to the UAE met the CBUAE assistant governor on August 18 to seek a resolution.

The ambassador recommended that the Finance Ministry pledge an AED 2.0-billion capital injection and that Janata Bank immediately meet the AED 100-million minimum capital requirements per branch.

The UAE operations' CEO informed the authorities on September 1 that the CBUAE would begin the winding-down process on September 8 and review progress on the administrator appointment and other compliance measures.

In a September-6th letter to the FID, Janata Bank Chairman Md Fazlur Rahman said the board, at its 900th meeting on September 5, 2026, had decided that the UAE operation was profitable and "should not be closed in national interest".

An official of Janata Bank who deals with the issue has said, "We hope to send capital to the UAE unit of state-owned Janata Bank by the deadline set by the CBUAE."

The closure of Janata Bank's UAE operations could disrupt banking services for around 70,000 depositors, one million remittance customers and 3,800 borrowers, while putting nearly Tk 9.0 billion in outstanding loans at risk of turning non-performing, according to an assessment by the bank's board.

The board's assessment, cited in a letter, warns that shutting down the UAE operations would also disrupt a major formal channel for remittances to Bangladesh.

Janata Bank currently channels an estimated Tk 80 billion to Tk 100 billion in remittances annually from the UAE, the assessment said.

"A closure could disrupt formal remittance flows and affect sales of the government's Wage Earners' Development Bond and dollar bonds.

"The UAE accounts for around 70 per cent of current CIP (remittance) recognitions," the assessment reads.

The board has warned that closure could damage the bank's international reputation, too, jeopardise correspondent banking relationships (RMA) and affect head-office trade-finance operations.

The three-year winding-down would also incur costs for asset disposal, customer liabilities, staff separation, contract termination and IT relocation, while the head office could have to cover administrator fees, salaries and legal expenses.

It could also affect the government's Probashi Card programme, for which Janata Bank has first-phase distribution responsibility in the Middle East.

Against this backdrop, the board approved transferring US$81.68 million (AED 300 million) from head-office assets into the UAE operations as capital, subject to government and central-bank approval.

It also approved a commitment letter to the CBUAE and a request to the Finance Ministry for the full AED 2.0-billion capital injection recommended by the Bangladesh ambassador.

The board further approved a request for ministry assistance to meet the capital shortfall, with all correspondence cleared for dispatch under the chairman's signature.

The FID's approval on Tuesday cleared the immediate AED300-million tranche, which officials say would meet the CBUAE's per-branch minimum capital requirement and avert the September-14th deadline for initiating formal rollback.

The number of women working in Bangladesh's banking sector continues to rise, but their representation in senior positions remains comparatively low, according to a Bangladesh Bank report.

At the end of January-June this year, the number of female officers and employees at 61 scheduled banks stood at 35,971, up 910, or 2.60%, from the previous six-month period.

The findings were published in the central bank's semi-annual report on gender equality by its Sustainable Finance Department.

According to the report, the 61 scheduled banks had a total workforce of 2,17,818 employees at the end of January-June 2026. Women accounted for 35,971 of them, or 16.51% of the total workforce.

In July-December 2025, the number of female employees in the banks was 35,061, meaning their number increased by 910 in six months.

Among different categories of banks, private commercial banks employed 23,524 women, accounting for 16.12% of their 145,898-strong workforce.

State-owned commercial banks employed 9,471 women, representing 17.06% of their total workforce – a higher proportion than that of private commercial banks.

Foreign commercial banks had a comparatively smaller number of female employees, with 931 women working across nine banks. However, they had the highest proportion of women in their workforce, at 24.81%.

Women's representation remains low at senior levels

Despite the increase in the overall number of female employees, women's representation in senior positions remains relatively low, the report found.

During January-June, women accounted for 13.14% of bank board members. Their representation was 16.99% at entry-level positions and 16.37% at mid-level positions.

In contrast, women accounted for only 10.55% of employees at senior-level positions.

This means women's representation remains lower at senior levels than at entry and mid-level positions.

Age-wise, the data showed stronger participation among younger female employees. Women accounted for 21.10% of employees aged below 30, compared with 11% among employees aged above 50.

The report also showed that the employee turnover rate among female workers in the banking sector stood at 13.87% during January-June.

Banks take initiatives to support women employees

Banks have taken various initiatives to improve the working environment for female employees.

According to the report, all scheduled banks provide six months of maternity leave for female officers and employees.

All banks also have policies on preventing sexual harassment and raising awareness about the issue.

Of the 61 scheduled banks, 37 have established childcare facilities, either independently or jointly, for the children of female employees.

In addition, 36 banks have their own transport facilities to help female employees commute after designated working hours.

During January-June 2026, 49 scheduled banks organised awareness training on gender equality.

The Bangladesh Bank report said that although women's participation in the banking sector is increasing, there is still scope to improve their representation in senior positions.

The central bank is encouraging banks to take various initiatives to create a supportive working environment for female employees and ensure greater gender equality in the banking sector.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China have been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (CSCP) because of expanding two-way trade and strategic reasons, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said yesterday.

Seventeen important agreements have been signed recently between the two countries, under which various projects -- including the modernisation of Mongla Port and the establishment of a Chinese economic and industrial zone in Chattogram -- are being implemented. Muktadir made these remarks as a panellist at a policy dialogue held during the 11th Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit in Hong Kong.

He also said that Invest Bangladesh has taken an initiative to establish the country’s first overseas investment office in China as part of efforts to strengthen investment ties with the country.

Describing Hong Kong as one of Bangladesh’s important commercial gateways, the minister said Bangladesh must leverage Hong Kong’s role as a bridge between mainland China and global markets.

He said the global economy of the future can be strengthened not through isolation, but through mutual cooperation, sustainable development, and an open trading system.

Speaking at the session on “Building Resilient Trade and Investment Frameworks in a Diverse Global Landscape,” the minister also said that for developing countries like Bangladesh, economic resilience is not merely about responding to crises.

Rather, it means creating a system capable of adapting to global changes while generating employment and new opportunities, according to a statement from the commerce ministry.

Referring to the preparations for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category, Muktadir said Bangladesh is now moving towards growth driven by productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

Four areas are being given particular priority to achieve this goal. These include export diversification, development of connectivity infrastructure, attracting productive investment, and a green economic transition.

Alongside ready-made garments, Bangladesh is working to integrate pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, agro-processing, light engineering, information technology, and man-made fibre industries into global value chains.

The minister said Bangladesh welcomes investment that can facilitate technology transfer, skills development, and the integration of local industries into international supply systems.

Under the BRI framework, he noted, there are significant opportunities for partnerships in economic zones, logistics, and renewable energy.

He also emphasised expanding digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, and digital payment systems to connect small and medium-sized enterprises, women entrepreneurs, and local businesses with global markets.

Calling for future trade and investment frameworks to be made more environmentally sustainable in response to climate change, he said low-carbon production, sustainable logistics, and green infrastructure would form the foundation of the future economy.

In his speech, the minister emphasised export diversification, investment in productive sectors, and stronger sustainable partnerships to address global challenges such as geopolitical instability, supply-chain disruptions, and climate change.

Bangladesh has also highlighted the need to expand regional and global connectivity while building a green and inclusive economic framework to maintain competitiveness in a changing global economy.