AGP Executive Report

UNGA Leadership & Multilateralism: Bangladesh’s FM Khalilur Rahman chairs the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, opening with calls to restore trust and manage global transformation amid conflicts, climate stress and humanitarian crises. Energy & Markets: Brent crude pushed above $100 a barrel as Middle East tensions raised fears of oil-flow disruptions. Bangladesh Economy Watch: The August Purchasing Managers’ Index slipped to 49.9, pointing to marginal contraction in manufacturing and services, while agriculture grew and construction returned to expansion. Public Health Pressure: Dengue admissions surged, with Khulna hospitals reporting record overcrowding (334 patients in 24 hours) as cases and deaths hit yearly highs. Infrastructure Disruption: A fire at Rooppur’s PIONEER Base damaged server rooms and kept electricity/internet disrupted for 43 hours. Gas Supply: Titas Gas will suspend gas for eight hours tomorrow (10 Sept) in parts of Dhaka for pipeline relocation and tie-in work under the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project. Policy & Compliance: The High Court rejected a plea to issue NID without a photograph, keeping photo requirements mandatory. Environment Enforcement: PM Tarique Rahman ordered tougher action against polythene and plastic use. Digital ID Debate: A World Bank report highlights that 2.8 billion people still lack access to government-recognised digital IDs, while Bangladesh pushes for a lifelong One-ID system. Trade & Business: Daraz launched its 9.9 Anniversary Sale with up to 80% discounts nationwide. Port Governance: Economist Anu Muhammad warned that handing Chittagong Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal to a foreign operator without a tender could endanger national interest.

Rice & Food Security: Bangladesh cut aromatic rice export quota by 50% and set a minimum FOB price of $1.60/kg to steady domestic supplies and retail prices. Capital Market Watch: DSE and broker bodies met to restore stability and investor confidence amid market concerns, with focus on investor protection and more IPOs. Banking & Depositors: Sammilito Islami Bank continued deposit repayments, disbursing Tk 670cr in two days as thousands of customers withdrew funds. FX & Macroeconomy: Forex reserves rose sharply—gross reserves up 46.6% in two years—while PMI showed economic activity slipping to a 23-month low in August. Trade Signals: Exports to India grew 7.67% in July-August, and a World Bank analysis flags big gains from tariff reforms and FTAs ahead of LDC graduation. Infrastructure & Transport: Tender for MRT Line-1 rolling stock and depot equipment is set to open Oct 12; Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express resumption date is expected soon. Public Health: Dengue cases surged again—1,571 new infections and 9 deaths reported in 24 hours—prompting a new prevention campaign. Energy/Industry: Fertiliser supply remains a flashpoint as farmers report rationing and dealers refuse sales; experts also push better tannery solid-waste compliance to unlock export value. Diplomacy: Bangladesh assumed UNGA presidency as FM Khalilur Rahman took charge of the 81st session.

Food & Packaging Expo: BAPA FoodPro International Expo 2026 opens Thursday at ICCB Dhaka, running till Sept 12, with 200+ brands from 27 countries and 4,000+ tech solutions on processing, packaging, cold chain and AI automation. Energy & Industry: BPDB plans a 442 MW solar plant on the unused Rampal-adjacent site, while Walton and PRAN-RFL push local solar inverter and lithium-ion battery manufacturing to cut import dependence amid the energy crunch. Capital Markets: DSE rebounds as bargain hunters return, but earlier sell-off wiped out billions—plus DSE plans a derivatives market launch by Jan 2028. Banking & Finance: Bangladesh Bank’s currency printing cost nearly doubles to Tk 459 crore in FY26; BB also lists 131 eligible collateral valuation firms and moves to tighten bank compliance. Trade & Connectivity: India-Bangladesh rail officials begin talks in Dhaka to resume suspended passenger services. Remittance & Forex: UNCTAD flags Bangladesh’s high remittance costs (7–8%); forex reserves exceed $36b in August. Policy & Social: Govt vows Hindu community protection ahead of Durga Puja; International Literacy Day highlights Bangladesh’s literacy rate at 77.9%.

Capital Markets: Dhaka Stock Exchange staged a V-shaped rebound as bargain hunters returned, with DSEX ending up after a mid-session slump; the bourse also reiterated plans to launch exchange-traded derivatives by January 2028, stressing the need for a functional central counterparty and stronger risk controls. Banking & Trade Finance: City Bank met ITFC (IsDB Group) to expand Shariah-compliant trade finance, including export and green financing. Deposit Repayment Stress Test: Sammilito Islami Bank began principal repayments after Bangladesh Bank provided Tk5,000 crore; about 6,000 customers collected Tk250 crore on day one. Energy & Policy: Cabinet approved duty-tax waivers for solar equipment imports and a Hong Kong investment pact; Petrobangla eased spot LNG supplier entry rules to widen sourcing amid shortages. Business Regulation: Commerce Minister said the Companies Act needs updating and stakeholders urged time-bound RJSC decisions with deemed approvals. Human Capital & Social Protection: “Child, Not Bride” campaign launched to curb child marriage; literacy targets set for 2031 with adult functional literacy pilots. Infrastructure & Safety: Study flags Dhaka–Chattogram highway as the most accident-prone among major routes, urging urgent safety interventions.

Forex & reserves: Bangladesh’s forex reserves climbed to about $36bn, helping explain why fuel can be bought at higher prices, though analysts warn the bigger issue is weak demand momentum rather than just dollar supply. Banking stress: Sammilito Islami Bank is set to start disbursing withdrawals after 75,000 depositors sought about Tk 3,925cr in four days, with Bangladesh Bank providing Tk 5,000cr liquidity support. Digital ID push: The government shared implementation details for the One-ID digital identity platform under the World Bank-backed D-STAR programme, with a Tk 748m budget and plans for around 200m chip-based cards. Trade & markets: Bangladesh and Vietnam outlined strategic economic targets, including raising bilateral trade to $2bn, plus tourism cooperation. Transport & safety: Road crashes in August killed 481 people and injured 664, with motorcycles and regional roads taking the biggest toll. Energy & projects: DMTCL is still waiting for Korea Exim Bank’s feasibility report for MRT Line-4 (Kamalapur–Madanpur). Social policy: Govt announced honorariums and allowances for workers at mosques, temples, churches and other worship centres.

Dhaka Stock Exchange Shock: Panic selling wiped out Tk6,781cr as DSEX plunged 103 points to 5,558, with 89% of stocks falling amid gas/electricity worries and unsettled large trades. Central Bank Moves: Bangladesh Bank raised the annual foreign travel forex entitlement to $18,000 (from $12,000) and introduced short-term e-payment credit up to Tk10,000 for utility bills, recharges and other payments. Remittance & Reserves: Remittances hit nearly $6bn in July-August and gross forex reserves reached $36.38bn, giving about 4.8 months import cover. Public Debt Snapshot: Per capita public debt stood at Tk1.29 lakh as of March 31, 2026, with the finance minister citing revenue gains and disciplined borrowing. Banking & Deposit Safety: Sammilito Islami Bank received Bangladesh Bank funds to repay deposits as small depositors’ withdrawals begin; meanwhile, Janata Bank leads state banks’ bad-loan burden. Trade & Finance: Standard Chartered and UKEF discussed boosting Bangladesh–UK trade and export diversification; EU urged a level playing field in Biman’s aircraft procurement. Energy & LNG Options: Novatek proposed a $950m offshore LNG terminal concept for Petrobangla as Bangladesh weighs supply security. Health Alert: Dengue hit record daily numbers—1,558 hospitalised and 4 deaths in 24 hours—prompting a nationwide social movement for mosquito control.

Stock Market & Corporate News: Aamra Networks shares slid 10.61% after the IT firm reported losses in FY25-26 Q3 and declared only a one-paisa cash dividend for shareholders, the lowest payout in three years. Energy & Industry: Bangladesh’s gas crunch is pushing the ceramics sector to the brink, with over 30 factories facing severe supply disruptions, output down to about 35% capacity, and export orders at risk. RMG Policy: The government has halted knit fabric imports under a new Import Policy Order, sparking fears among knitwear exporters; BGMEA and BKMEA want the restriction withdrawn. Banking & Finance: Bangladesh Bank is set to launch interest-free digital credit, while BRAC Bank rolled out CORPnet for faster corporate banking. Public Health: Dengue remains concentrated in Dhaka South City Corporation, which recorded 39 deaths and thousands of cases, adding pressure to hospitals. Water & PPP: Chattogram WASA and Max Foundation/Max Social Enterprise signed a PPP to pilot a new water-supply service model in two wards. Policy & Development: Private economic zone developers asked for a Tk 10,000 crore low-cost, government-backed fund at 4.5% interest to make zones investment-ready. Legal: The High Court granted bail to Bidisha Ershad and Bidisha Siddique in fraud cases, clearing the way for release.

Power & Energy Security: Bangladesh faces a fresh squeeze as Adani’s coal supply disruptions cut India-linked electricity deliveries, while Nepal’s Bhotekoshi floods have halted hydropower exports to zero, leaving Bangladesh receiving far below contracted levels. Banking & Cashless Push: Bangladesh Bank is set to launch an “e-Payment Credit” for eligible customers (Tk 50–Tk 10,000) usable only for digital bill payments, with short repayment tenures and service fees. RMG Under Pressure: Gas and power shortages are forcing garment and other factories to cut output, shift schedules, and rely more on rooftop solar—raising costs and threatening export deadlines. Apparel Trade Update: Bangladesh retained No. 2 spot in US apparel exports (Jan–Jul), even as China’s shipments to the US fell sharply. Capital Market/Banking Products: BRAC Bank launched the CORPnet mobile app for corporate approvals and real-time visibility; Vanguard Rupali Bank Fund set an Oct 26 SGM to convert from closed-end to open-end. Industrial Expansion: Nearly half of Jashore EPZ plots are ready for allocation, while Eastern Refinery’s modernization gets $1bn IsDB financing to treble capacity. Public Health & Cities: Dengue cases surged again (988 new cases, 2 deaths), and Khulna authorities stepped up mosquito control; DSCC’s plastic-waste-for-groceries drive generated about Tk 1 crore in two years.

Opposition Mobilisation: Bangladesh’s 11-party alliance has kicked off a 246-km motor “long march” from Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar toward Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan, demanding a Gono Vote/referendum, justice over July killings, and action on gas, electricity, fuel, fertiliser shortages, rising prices, extortion and corruption. Energy & Cost Pressure: A new report highlights how Bangladesh’s energy crunch has deepened after LNG and gas supply disruptions, pushing households and factories into longer outages and higher living costs. Housing for Officials: The government is moving ahead with a Tk3,542.77 crore Sher-e-Bangla Nagar housing plan for 1,512 flats for public officials and employees, scheduled March 2026–Feb 2030. Banking for RMG: BRAC Bank inaugurated a new banking booth at the BGMEA complex to serve garment-sector entrepreneurs and staff with 24/7 ATM and cash deposit services. Customs Recovery: Chattogram Customs revenue rebounded 29.2% year-on-year in August to Tk7,092 crore, though it still fell short of the two-month target. ESG Reporting: Palmal Group published its first ESG reports for 2024 for three business units, following GRI standards with Swisscontact and SGS support. Education & Nutrition: Commentary backs midday meals as a right, stressing quality, regular supply and accountability. Public Safety: A man died after being hit by a train in Karwan Bazar; authorities are conducting legal procedures and an autopsy.

Capital Market Push: BSEC Chairman Masud Khan says large multinational firms must be listed on Bangladesh’s capital market, starting with voluntary moves but with legal authority if needed. Energy & Industry: Bangladesh and IsDB sign a $1bn financing deal for Eastern Refinery modernization/expansion, while Rooppur’s grid integration milestone advances via control-system links to the national grid. Power & Climate Resilience: BERC Chairman urges renewable energy scale-up with policy support and low-cost financing to ease the electricity crisis, and calls for scrutiny of quick-rental power corruption allegations. Cyber Governance: ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub seeks stakeholder input to finalize the Cyber Security Act, Personal Data Protection Act and National Data Management Act. Justice System: Govt forms 22 narcotics tribunals across districts/metropolitan areas to speed up trials. Food Prices: Dhaka markets see continued pressure on edible oil, sugar and vegetables amid supply tightness. Livestock Health: A locally developed LSD vaccine is set to reduce farmers’ costs and dependence on imports. Regional Business Link: Nepal flood response continues after 10 days, with major damage and ongoing tunnel rescues.

IsDB Partnership Talks: Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman met IsDB Group Chairman Muhammad Al Jasser to map the next 2027-31 partnership strategy, with priorities spanning energy, food security, transport, digitalisation, jobs and private-sector growth. Development Financing for Social Impact: Al Jasser also met Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus at the Yunus Centre to discuss financing models that turn entrepreneurship into poverty and unemployment reduction. Eastern Refinery Deal: Bangladesh signed a $1bn IsDB loan agreement to expand the Eastern Refinery, aiming to cut refined fuel import costs; project completion targeted by Nov 2030. Energy & Trade Costs: LNG prices surged on Middle East tensions, with Bangladesh turning to spot purchases; separate reports flag coal supply disruptions affecting power supply. Investment Climate Recognition: UNCTAD highlighted Bangladesh’s reform delivery discipline as a model, focusing on removing practical barriers and tracking progress on an 180-day plan. Capital Market Move: BSEC plans to widen direct listings to attract stronger large companies and improve liquidity, while also reviewing the IPO framework. Companies Act Reform: Govt drafts amendments to make beneficial ownership disclosure mandatory and tighten anti–money laundering controls, alongside easing rules for small businesses. Border Trade Restart: Hili land port import-export activity is set to resume after a five-day halt caused by an Indian traders’ strike. Fertiliser Crackdown: Kurigram authorities seized 2,150kg of illegally stockpiled fertiliser and fined two people. Tech for Consumers: Lenovo launched AI-powered all-in-one PCs in Bangladesh, signaling more local demand for on-device AI. Digital Services Ecosystem: A report highlights how UDC and municipal digital centres act as the “human bridge” for citizens using government e-services. Nepal Flood Relief: Bangladesh provided $1m to Nepal’s disaster relief fund after the Bhotekoshi floods, as global climate-risk warnings intensify.

Trade & Tariffs: India said it will finalise its US trade deal only after Washington offers Indian exporters a preferential tariff edge over competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, keeping the focus on market access and competitiveness. UK Finance for Bangladesh: UK Export Finance offered up to £2bn to back Bangladeshi buyers using British goods and services across transport, agriculture, healthcare, airports, manufacturing, renewables and infrastructure. Remittances: Bangladesh received $35.59bn in FY26 remittances, up 17.35%, with Saudi Arabia the top source. Banking & Capital Markets: Bangladesh Bank widened collateral rules for hi-tech park firms and foreign-currency deposits held with OBUs; BSEC held talks on draft direct listing rules. Entrepreneurship & SME Credit: BB launched UDYOG, offering up to Tk 20 lakh (loan+grant) for young entrepreneurs without collateral. Garment Jobs Pressure: Over 400 garment factories shut in three years, blamed on global shocks, liquidity issues and buyer preferences. Leather Export Risk: CETP capacity and compliance gaps threaten leather export targets; government plans a new CETP. Energy & Commodities: Soybean oil pricing will track global prices plus domestic processing costs; stocks stayed range-bound as profit-taking capped recovery. Sports Business: BCB doubled domestic match fees and is mulling a new three-format franchise tournament. Governance & Courts: ACC approved a case over alleged Tk 276.30cr CSR embezzlement; a bill to amend bank resolution rules was placed in parliament.

IsDB Energy Deal: Bangladesh signed a $1bn Islamic Development Bank loan for Eastern Refinery expansion, aiming to cut refined fuel import costs and boost domestic refining capacity. Governance & Procurement Risk: An ACC complaint targets an LGED senior engineer over alleged tender fraud, commission-taking and wealth accumulation, including claims of improper bridge rehabilitation specifications. Banking Stress: Non-performing loans again crossed Tk 6 trillion, with reporting linking the rise to repeated rescheduling, weak new lending and pressure from the energy crisis. RMG Policy Push: BGMEA met the President seeking policy support for the garment sector, highlighting financing and customs steps while urging further measures to protect competitiveness. Energy Cost Debate: Finance adviser Titumir blamed past import-dependent energy policies for today’s crisis, while the government faces pressure to stabilise supply. Trade & Exports: FLAXA said leather and footwear exports could reach $5bn by 2030 with reforms and a shift to higher-value and non-leather products. Maritime & Shipbuilding: GRSE signed MoUs with DNV and Damen to expand advanced shipbuilding and dredger capabilities, including work relevant to Bangladesh’s inland water transport. Labour Migration: Malaysia will reopen recruitment from Bangladesh with 10,000 workers under a zero-cost arrangement, warning jobseekers not to pay brokers. Consumer Watch: Govt formed an expert committee to test microplastics and harmful chemicals in toothpaste. Market Pulse: Gold prices rose again after recent cuts, with BAJUS increasing 22-carat rates. Transport Disruption: Dhaka–Jamalpur bus services were suspended after attacks on transport workers following a fatal accident.

Energy & Policy: Bangladesh rolled out rooftop solar incentives with a Tk 0.086/kWh tariff for surplus power fed to the grid for three years, as the country battles a severe power crunch and seeks a cleaner, less import-dependent energy mix. Clean Power for Industry: EU envoy Michael Miller said garment competitiveness will increasingly hinge on access to reliable clean energy as global supply chains tighten low-carbon requirements. Crisis Response: Business leaders urged bringing idle coal, furnace-oil and diesel plants back online to ease gas pressure on power generation, while PM Tarique Rahman outlined a 10-year power and energy roadmap. Banking & Finance: Mutual Trust Bank joined BB’s Tk 41,000cr refinance package to support priority sectors; BRAC Bank secured a $50m IFC facility for women-led MSMEs and agriculture; Dhaka Bank and Visa teamed up to expand card growth. Capital Market: BSEC approved Tk 45.9cr preference shares for Desco against govt equity, as DSEX saw sharp swings in August. Food & Fertiliser: Govt approved importing 70,000 tonnes of fertiliser for the Aman season and also cleared other procurement including lentils and palm olein. Regional Climate Shock: Nepal’s Bhotekoshi flash floods killed over 1,200 and disrupted hydropower exports, hitting Bangladesh via the regional power supply chain. Governance: A 25-member National Committee on Climate Finance was formed with the PM as chair to coordinate climate finance and carbon trading.

Rooftop Solar Push: Bangladesh introduced a Tk 10.50/kWh incentive for surplus power from net-metered rooftop solar with battery storage, paying eligible consumers for three years (install by Feb 28, 2027) to ease load-shedding and fuel import pressure. Gold Market Update: Bangladesh Jewellers Association cut gold prices again by Tk 4,374 per bhori; 22-carat gold (VAT included) now Tk 2,31,880 per bhori, with revised rates for other carats. Power & Energy Context: With peak shortages near 4,000MW in August, the solar scheme targets energy security amid gas constraints and global fuel risks. Climate Finance Demand (Regional): Nepal asked the Loss and Damage Fund for urgent support after the Aug 26 Bhotekoshi flash floods, framing recovery as climate justice rather than charity. Sea-Level Risk Warning (Regional): A UN report flags Kolkata and Mumbai (and Dhaka) as facing immediate displacement risk from rising seas, with millions potentially losing homes. Capital Market Reform (Bangladesh): BSEC moved to reshape the capital market with reforms including direct listing pathways and derivative trading plans. Trade Watch: Commerce ministry sought exporters’ inputs on India-US market access amid tariff uncertainty, aiming to reduce order volatility. Remittance Signal: Remittance inflow rose 22% in August, offering some support to foreign exchange inflows.

Capital Markets Reform: BSEC has approved draft rules to allow direct listing for eligible firms without an IPO, including government- and foreign-owned companies and banks/financial institutions/insurers with Tk 500cr+ turnover, aiming to widen market access. Export Momentum: Bangladesh’s merchandise exports rose 13.14% YoY to $4.43bn in August, led by a 13.92% RMG rebound; however, exports fell 6.30% MoM from July. Energy & Industry Pressure: Commodity suppliers warn gas and electricity disruptions are already hurting production and could trigger wider supply-chain problems; gas supply hit a decade-low in August. Banking & Recovery Framework: Bangladesh Bank urged parliament to move fast on amendments to the Money Loan Court Act and a new Distressed Asset Management Act to speed loan recovery and clean up bank balance sheets. Renewables Push: Govt announced a rooftop solar incentive with Tk 10.50 per unit (Tk 8 base plus profit/premium) for systems with battery storage, valid until Feb 28, 2030. Regional Climate Risk: UN warned Kolkata and Mumbai face “immediate” displacement risk from rising seas, with over 14 million people at stake across South Asian deltas. ADB Funding: ADB approved $175m for Chattogram Hill Tracts power upgrades to expand grid access and modernise distribution networks.