Macro
GDP may cross $500b for first time in FY26
The finance ministry is likely to project that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will surpass the $500-billion mark for the first time in the upcoming fiscal year (FY), anticipating an economic rebound in FY 2025-26. The Finance Division estimates that Bangladesh’s GDP at current prices will reach $517.7 billion (Tk 6,315,923 crore) in FY26. For the ongoing fiscal year, the initial GDP projection was $491 billion (Tk 5,597,414 crore) at current prices.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/gdp-may-cross-500b-first-time-fy26-3825141

ADP execution rate in Jul-Jan 21.52pc, lowest in 12 years
Implementation of development projects during the first seven months of this fiscal year (FY 2024-25) dropped to only 21.52 per cent of the FY’s total allocation, the lowest in 12 years. The execution rate was even poorer than the COVID-19 affected performance in FY2021 – the worst adverse impact on record previously. During July-January period of FY25, the government agencies spent Tk 598.77 billion, 21.52 per cent of the total Tk 2.78 trillion ADP, available data of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) showed on Thursday.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/last-page/adp-execution-rate-in-jul-jan-2152pc-lowest-in-12-years-1739472645

Inflation notably erodes people’s savings capacity
igh inflation is undermining Bangladeshis’ inherent saving habit that gives economists to believe that deeper financial problems may be forthcoming as high prices of commodities dent household savings and investments. In the fiscal year 2024, gross domestic savings (GDS) declined to 23.96 per cent of GDP, shedding 1.8-percentage points from the previous year, the national statistical agency mentions in its latest report released last week.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/inflation-notably-erodes-peoples-savings-capacity#google_vignette

NBR plans to ease duty-free imports for small, non-bonded exporters
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is considering letting small-scale exporters without bonded warehouse licences import raw materials duty-free using a bank guarantee for the applicable taxes. This aims to speed up exports, support diversification, and make doing business easier. Initially, the NBR’s customs wing is considering offering the benefit to exporters with annual exports under $5 million, aiming for implementation by next June.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/nbr-plans-ease-duty-free-imports-small-non-bonded-exporters-1069426

Now PCBs to get state guarantee against LCs to import essentials
Like state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs), the government has decided to issue state guarantees in favour of private commercial banks (PCBs) too to facilitate import of essential commodities, aiming to ensure smooth supply of such items in the local market, sources said. However, such security will be provided in local currency only to the banks with good ratings, they added.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/now-pcbs-to-get-state-guarantee-against-lcs-to-import-essentials-1739643087

5th Sukuk bond coming in Mar to raise Tk 30b
The government is going to raise Tk 30 billion by issuing the fifth Sukuk bond in the third week of March 2025 as part of its effort to implement a development project smoothly. The decision was made at the first meeting of the central bank’s Shariah Advisory Committee at the banking regulator’s headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday, with Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahmed in the chair.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/first-page/5th-sukuk-bond-coming-in-mar-to-raise-tk-30b-1739471922

Banking
Banks’ un-invested cash wanes again after buildup
The volume of un-invested cash in the banking sector dropped again after a significant buildup following direct credit feeding by the central bank to revive the liquidity-starved commercial banks. According to data with the Bangladesh Bank (BB) uninvested excess cash in the banking system stood at Tk 193.29 billion at the end of June 2024. The amount plummeted to Tk 57.08 billion by September and Tk 58.91 billion in October. But in November, such cash rebounded to Tk 192.37 billion. It dropped again in December with the figure reaching Tk 176.75 billion.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/banks-un-invested-cash-wanes-again-after-buildup-1739643127

Ease of use, essential services boost MFS transactions by Tk3.84 lakh crore YoY
Mobile Financial Services (MFS) are gaining substantial traction, with transactions soaring by Tk3.84 lakh crore in 2024, a 28.42% increase from the previous year, driven by the ease of use and new customer-focused offerings. Latest Bangladesh Bank data shows that transactions via MFS reached Tk17.37 lakh crore in 2024, up from Tk13.52 lakh crore in 2023.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/ease-use-essential-services-boost-mfs-transactions-tk384-lakh-crore-yoy-1068386

December sees highest overseas card spending by Bangladeshis in 2024
In December last year, Bangladeshi nationals spent Tk834 crore abroad on goods and services via credit and debit cards, marking the highest expenditure recorded for the year, according to Bangladesh Bank data. Although year-on-year spending via cards declined by just over 10%, with overseas Bangladeshis spending Tk929 crore in December 2023.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/foreign-transactions-thru-cards-reaches-one-year-high-tk834cr-spent-dec-1069191

Fuel & Power
Adani agrees to restore full power supply
Adani Power has agreed to fully restore supply from a 1,600 MW India power plant to Bangladesh in a few days after a gap of three months but has rejected Dhaka’s request for discounts and tax benefits, two sources told Reuters.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/adani-agrees-to-restore-full-power-supply-1739642820

BERC to hold hearing on proposals Feb 26
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has arranged a public hearing on the proposed gas-tariff hike for new industries and extended units of existing industries on February 26. It requested the interested persons and institutions to enlist their names with the commission by February 20 to take part in the hearing.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/last-page/berc-to-hold-hearing-on-proposals-feb-26-1739472671

Textile
RMGs secure strong orders, defying odds over last six months
Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry remains resilient, securing steady export orders over the last six months through January. Most buyers are ramping up purchases amid strong retail demand in key markets such as the US and EU. The shift of orders from China, driven by the US government’s plan to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, has further helped the sector.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/rmgs-secure-strong-orders-defying-odds-over-last-six-months-1068411

Telecommunication
29 IIG operators still owe Tk 205cr to BTRC
A total of 29 international internet gateway (IIG) service providers in Bangladesh still owe the country’s telecom regulator about Tk 205 crore collectively even though the monthlong window to clear their dues has long passed.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/29-iig-operators-still-owe-tk-205cr-btrc-3825121

Capital Market
BSEC to crackdown on Tk300cr brokerage scam
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has decided to seek legal opinions on initiating action against four brokerage firms for embezzling Tk300 crore of investors’ money using a fraudulent software database. The decision was taken at a commission meeting in late January. The four firms set to face legal actions are Tamha Securities Ltd, Banco Securities Ltd, Crest Securities Ltd, and Shah Mohammad Sagir & Company Ltd.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/bsec-crackdown-tk300cr-brokerage-scam-1068376

Stocks
Lub-rref rebounds to profit in Q2
Lub-rref (Bangladesh), a publicly listed fuel and power firm that incurred losses in the first quarter, returned to profit in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. In the December quarter, it made a profit of Tk3.34 crore, with an earnings per share (EPS) of Tk0.23, almost double the Tk1.74 crore profit and EPS of Tk0.12 recorded in the equivalent period of the previous fiscal year.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/lub-rref-rebounds-profit-q2-1068321

BASIC Bank moves to auction Emerald Oil’s assets again
After multiple attempts to recover loans, BASIC Bank Limited, a state-owned lender, is once again auctioning off the assets – land and machinery – pledged as collateral by Emerald Oil Industries. Previously, Emerald Oil’s assets were put up for auction at least three times, but no bids met the bank’s expectations, according to sources at BASIC Bank.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/basic-bank-moves-auction-emerald-oils-assets-again-1069391

Global Islami Bank downgraded to Z after failure to hold AGM
Global Islami Bank, a private sector lender, has been downgraded to the Z or junk category by the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) due to its failure to hold its 2023 annual general meeting (AGM). The downgrade came into effect on 13th February, in compliance with a directive from the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) issued on 20 May 2024, according to a disclosure.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/global-islami-bank-downgraded-z-after-failure-hold-agm-1068346