AGP Executive Report

Insurance Reform Push: Finance Minister Amir Khosru says 57% of life insurers are failing to pay claims and warns firms may be forced to sell land and assets; amendments to the Insurance Act 2010 and a crisis-resolution framework are set for Parliament. Central Bank Moves: Bangladesh Bank introduced automated account verification for savings certificate payments to cut errors, and also allowed commodity price risk hedging for importers without case-by-case approvals. Power & Energy Roadmap: PM Tarique Rahman urged business support to implement power and gas plans without instability, while officials said gas supply to industries should improve and rooftop solar delivery targets are being scaled up. Rooftop Solar Scale-Up: Govt aims to add up to 4,000 MW rooftop solar in a year with a tariff incentive and RESCO-style models. Trade/Industry Signals: BB and banks are easing rules for foreign borrowing for BIDA-registered firms; Avery Dennison opened a smart warehouse at Dhaka EPZ to boost apparel supply chains. Remittance Boost: Expatriates remitted $1.42b in the first 13 days of September, lifting forex reserves. Court/Banking Case: Court ordered freezing of Shamim and his wife’s bank/BO/savings certificate accounts over alleged money laundering. DUCSU Probe: Dhaka University formed committees to investigate DUCSU website, monuments, and museum displays. EV Export Deal: Bangladesh signed an MoU to export EV bikes to Oman for delivery fleets, with plans for local assembly. Public Health: Measles-rubella vaccination reached 1.97 crore children in five months, with another campaign due from Sept 26.

Business Climate & Investment Push: The government is planning deregulation and faster, fully digital business approvals, including integrating services into BIDA-OSS and expanding BanglaBiz, while targeting $63.4bn exports in FY26-27 and highlighting new BEPZA investment commitments. Energy for Industry: FBCCI says gas and power supply to industrial units should improve from tomorrow after talks with the PM, as factories have been hit by shortages. Public Procurement Modernisation: BPPA is prioritising 100% e-GP rollout, stronger procurement capacity, and AI integration, with tighter rules on offline tenders. Banking Watch: A Bangladesh Bank profit story is drawing scrutiny, while dismissed Islami Bank officials and customer groups clashed outside Islami Bank HQ, leaving dozens injured. Infrastructure Pipeline: MRT Line-5 (Southern Route) worth Tk 45,503.77cr is awaiting ECNEC approval. Energy Investment Talks: Chevron says it wants to invest more in Bangladesh’s gas sector, including new and ageing field exploration. Trade & Food Supply: Hilsa trade has flipped—Bangladesh is importing about 500 tonnes from India in two months amid local shortages. Health Coverage: Measles-rubella vaccination has reached 1.98 crore children in five months, with another campaign set to start Sept 26. Public Safety & Crime: DMP raids illegal auto-rickshaw garages over power theft; separate investigations follow a dismembered body found in a briefcase and sack. Tourism & Events: Dhaka hosts the 3-day Asian Tourism Fair 2026 starting Thursday, aiming to build business linkages and investment in tourism.

Import Policy Relief: Bangladesh Bank issued guidelines to implement Import Policy Order 2026-2029, allowing importers to use sales contracts and open-account payments without LCs for allowable goods, while updating bonded warehouse and back-to-back LC rules for exporters. Banking Accountability: BB introduced a KPI framework for bank MDs and CEOs, scoring solvency/liquidity, asset quality, governance, profitability and financial inclusion to shape remuneration and tenure decisions. Youth & SME Finance: BB launched “Udyog” to finance up to Tk 20 lakh for up to age-28 entrepreneurs across all upazilas, plus Prime Bank and other banks’ participation in BB refinance funds for CMSMEs and agri hubs. Capital Market Push: A dialogue in Chattogram focused on easing listing pathways and boosting corporate participation in the capital market to reduce bank dependence. RMG Jobs & Wages: PMO adviser Mahdi Amin said 100% local employment is possible in RMG without foreign officials, while unions renewed calls for a higher 2027 minimum wage. Energy & Trade Costs: Red Sea tensions are driving longer routes and higher import costs, with a Bangladesh-bound oil tanker detouring around the Cape of Good Hope. Dengue Control: DNCC collected Tk 1.77 lakh in fines after Aedes larvae were found in 28 cases during mobile court drives. Diplomacy Reset: Bangladesh said it wants to “reset” ties with India through bilateral talks, after strained relations linked to Hasina’s exile and BRICS participation. Corporate Moves: FinExcel appointed Selim Barkat as chairman; GPH Ispat approved rights shares to raise about Tk 968cr.

Banking Stress: National Bank’s crisis is deepening as liquidity support and restructuring efforts fail to stop cash shortages, with a provision shortfall of about Tk 19,874 crore and NPLs swallowing over half the portfolio. Trade & Shipping Risk: Houthi control around Bab el-Mandeb is raising fears for Bangladesh’s fuel and import costs as Red Sea disruptions force longer routes, potentially adding 15–30 days and pushing freight rates up 40–50%. RMG Energy Crunch: Garment output remains under pressure from unreliable gas and electricity, with factories facing costly generator power and shipment delays. Aviation Costs: US-Bangla flags high taxes, fuel and Dhaka airport runway congestion as key drivers of rising airline fares. Capital Market Move: GPH Ispat plans a Tk 967.77cr rights issue to repay loans, with AGM set for Oct 25. City Management: CDA proposes measures to ease Chattogram traffic and pollution via decentralisation, modern transport and multi-storey parking. US Cotton Supply: A private US cotton warehouse in Chattogram will start in Nov, aiming to cut lead times for textile mills. Policy Watch: Fertiliser dealer policy changes disrupted distribution despite ample stocks, leaving farmers in queues and facing higher prices. Health System Reform: Zubaida Rahman calls for a centralised digital health system to identify risks early and improve accountability.

SME Finance Boost: Bank Asia, Prime Bank, SBAC Bank, Mercantile Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank all signed Bangladesh Bank deals to tap refinance schemes—CMSMEs get working-capital support at around 9% and exporters get export diversification backing. Export Push to Europe: 14 Bangladeshi apparel, textile and leather firms are showcasing at Milan’s “Ready to Show” fair, backed by EPB and the Bangladesh missions. Innovation for Market: Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026 opened in Dhaka with 1,000+ ideas; RUET students brought 7 projects and UNOPS highlighted green, climate-resilient construction. Aviation & Investment Outlook: Civil Aviation Minister said Bangladesh is moving toward a regional aviation hub; Commerce Minister targets an extra $5b US investment in five years. Energy Update: ECNEC approval is expected this week for a 442MW Rampal solar project. Policy & Business Climate: High-tech parks “failed to deliver” without skills and industry links, while BSEC urged more capital-market use. Health Watch: Dengue deaths and hospitalisations continue to rise.

BRICS Diplomacy Shock: Bangladesh says PM Tarique Rahman wasn’t invited as Bangladesh’s leader—only as BIMSTEC chair—raising questions over Dhaka’s absence from the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi. Innovation Push: PM Tarique Rahman inaugurated the Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026 in Dhaka, urging innovators and businesses to move ideas into markets. Public Health Drive: The PM launched a three-month nationwide dengue prevention and cleanliness campaign (Sept 12–Dec 12), calling for weekly home and workplace cleaning and removal of stagnant water. Food Security Update: Bangladesh’s food grain stock rose by 148,484 MT in six months to 23,59,154 MT, with safe reserve benchmark revised to 16 lakh MT. Business & Finance: Bangladesh Bank got global awards for financial inclusion and gender-inclusive finance; gold prices jumped again by Tk 1,050 per bhori after recent cuts. Crime & Compliance: A businessman’s employee was allegedly robbed of Tk 26 lakh by men posing as RAB personnel in Savar; separately, LHC petition challenges rising petrol prices. Policy & Skills: Bangladesh is overhauling medical education to fix faculty, clinical training and quality assurance gaps.

Dengue Surge: Bangladesh reported 790 fresh dengue cases and 2 deaths in the last 24 hours, with the highest hospitalisations in Dhaka division (249) and Chattogram (196), pushing this year’s toll to 141 deaths and 49,220 infections. Religious Funding in Dhaka-17: PM Tarique Rahman handed cheques to 28 mosques (Tk 2.47 lakh each) and 10 temples (Tk 3 lakh each) in Dhaka-17 ahead of Durga Puja, citing support for smooth community activities. Energy & LNG Pressure: PM Tarique said gas supply should improve within 5–7 days, while Asian LNG spot prices hit the highest since Dec 2022 as Middle East tensions tighten global supply—Bangladesh remains a key buyer. Trade Push to Sri Lanka: Bangladesh plans a trade delegation to Sri Lanka after the island expressed interest in importing potatoes and onions, aiming to tap surplus and new market demand. AI in Bangladesh Marketing: AdZoic, an AI-powered ad-buying platform, launched in Bangladesh alongside the Umbrellax ecosystem, targeting more data-driven ad spending for brands. Women’s Empowerment via Family Cards: A government programme is expanding Family Cards issued in women’s names to strengthen economic security and empowerment. Regional Security Cooperation: South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network adopted the “Kathmandu Declaration” to curb illegal wildlife trade using intelligence sharing and financial investigations.

Gold Market Watch: Bangladesh Jewellers Association cut 22-carat gold by Tk 2,158 per bhori to Tk 2,31,880 (VAT included), with 21-carat at Tk 2,21,441 and 18-carat at Tk 1,90,123; silver prices were also reduced. Farmer Support Rollout: In Chattogram, 17,326 farmers will receive “Farmer Cards” in the first phase, linked to a unique 14-digit Farmer ID and functioning as a banking debit card, with PM inauguration set for Sept 17. Agri Innovation: A Bagerhat entrepreneur turned fallow saline land into an off-season watermelon field, using mulching paper and modern methods learned online—sparking interest among nearby fish and shrimp farmers. Private Sector Push (Nepal): Nepal PM Balen Shah met entrepreneurs, promising a more effective government-private sector partnership to tackle economic challenges and improve the investment climate. WHO Leadership Shake-up: Saima Wazed resigned as WHO South-East Asia regional director after a committee recommended termination amid fraud allegations; she denies wrongdoing. Recruitment Crackdown: Authorities raided Tripple A Overseas over an unauthorized Malaysia-bound job interview drive, sealing the office and fining it Tk 50,000. Energy Security Angle: A new report warns Bangladesh’s energy unreliability is increasingly hurting investment decisions, industrial output and long-term business confidence.

Banking & Exports: Trust Bank signed up under Bangladesh Bank’s Tk 3,000cr export diversification refinance scheme, while Al-Arafah Islami, Citizens and IFIC Banks joined the Tk 5,000cr CMSME working-capital refinance—each offering financing at 9% profit to support production and jobs. Banking Governance: Bangladesh Bank ordered Bangladesh Commerce Bank to take top administrative action against 13 officials over Tk 4cr “deposit incentive” irregularities, directing legal steps and recovery. Deposit Stress: Sammilito Islami Bank’s refund process continues as 36,000+ customers withdrew Tk 1,431cr in four days, with new applications and payments also ongoing. Energy & Investment: Norway signalled interest in Bangladesh renewables and offshore exploration, while AmCham pushed for a predictable energy roadmap to unlock another $5bn in US investment. Trade & Markets: Bangladesh’s forex reserves rose to $36.27bn; remittance inflows climbed (BB data cited). Food & Industry: BAPA FoodPro International Expo opened in Dhaka, with the government reiterating food security and quality control. Policy & Tech: Invest Bangladesh invited views on draft policy for state-owned asset transfers, including a proposed edge for unsolicited proposers. Sports: India beat Bangladesh by 40 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, booking the final.

WHO Leadership Shake-up: Saima Wazed, WHO’s Southeast Asia regional director and Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, resigned amid fraud investigations by WHO and Bangladesh authorities, with allegations tied to travel reimbursements, academic credentials, and a land acquisition—she denies the claims. BRICS Diplomacy: Bangladesh’s foreign ministry says PM Tarique Rahman wasn’t invited to the BRICS summit in New Delhi; the invitation is linked to Bangladesh’s BIMSTEC chair role, leaving room for only a possible government representative. Remittance Boost: Bangladesh received $18.94bn in workers’ remittances in March–August, up 13.1% year-on-year, signaling stronger formal inflows. Rohingya Push for Shared Responsibility: Humaiun Kobir urged the international community to move beyond solidarity and ensure sustained political engagement to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Flood Relief in Chattogram: Five flood-affected families in Banshkhali received newly built homes as part of a relief and rehabilitation phase. Public Health Focus: Experts stressed stronger tobacco control to cut NCD deaths and meet SDG targets. Local Safety & Tourism Impact: Kolkata issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels/guest houses over fire safety violations, affecting Bangladeshi medical tourists. Agriculture & Prices: Fisheries and livestock officials urged poultry farmers to raise egg and meat output while maintaining quality to curb prices.

Stocks & Markets: Dhaka stocks stayed range-bound as investors waited for earnings cues; DSEX inched down to 5,538 and turnover slipped to Tk 5.2bn, with textiles leading activity. Tax & Compliance: NBR’s Directorate of Audit detected VAT evasion by online retailer Alpha e Shop, estimating around Tk 2 crore in evaded revenue after raids. Remittances: Workers’ remittance inflow rose 16.4% y/y in FY27’s first 71 days to $6.73bn, with $133m received on Sept 8 alone. Food Security Procurement: CCGP approved TCB imports of 9,000 tonnes chickpeas and 10m litres refined rice bran to support subsidised and open-market sales. Fertiliser Supply: Govt cleared import of 110,000 tonnes of fertiliser (MoP, DAP and granular urea) to keep farm inputs flowing. Financial Inclusion & Fintech: BIBM seminar highlighted digital lending’s potential to widen inclusion, while Bangladesh Bank data showed bank sub-branches rising to 5,033 by June 2026. Banking Policy: Parliament passed the Bank Resolution (Amendment) Bill, scrapping a provision that could let former bank owners regain shares. Trade & Investment: Bangladesh and Hong Kong signed an investment protection deal; Commerce Minister Muktadir urged Hong Kong investors to scale up in priority sectors. Energy/Trade Risk: UNCTAD flagged that smaller firms in developing countries face higher import costs, worsening competitiveness amid global shipping shocks.

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.