Macro
Forex reserves rebound to $21b, propelled by export, remittance
Rising inflow of remittances and export receipts largely prop up Bangladesh’s foreign-exchange reserves with the figure crossing the US$21-billion mark set in IMF arithmetic on the country’s macroeconomic parameter. A sustained growth in export earnings also helped out. The country’s export earnings in the first seven months (July-January) of the fiscal year (FY’25) increased by 11.68 per cent to $28.97billion, according to the data of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Exports fetched $25.94 billion during the same period of time last fiscal (FY’24).
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/first-page/forex-reserves-rebound-to-21b-propelled-by-export-remittance-1740679440

July-Nov fiscal deficit Tk 387b
Bangladesh’s fiscal deficit rose to approximately 0.7 per cent of GDP, or Tk 387.72 billion, in the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year in a rise from last year’s 0.03 per cent, according to official statistics. The surge in interest payments has significantly strained public finances, thereby raising concerns about debt sustainability. Interest payment, a major component of operating expenditure, stood at Tk 712.13 billion, nearly 460 per cent higher than a year earlier. Of the amount, Tk 636.2 billion was spent on domestic interest payments, while foreign interest payments stood at Tk 75.9 billion.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/july-nov-fiscal-deficit-tk-387b-1740766607

Govt pays more foreign debts as commitments, disbursements decline
Commitments and disbursements from development partners have declined in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, while increased foreign debt repayments remain a fresh challenge for the government. According to Economic Relations Division (ERD) data, commitments fell by 67.2% to $2.35 billion during the July-January period, compared to $7.17 billion in the equivalent period last year, while disbursements decreased by 10.4% and debt repayments rose by 30.3%.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/govt-pays-more-foreign-debts-commitments-disbursements-decline-1080486

Bank
Stabilisation fund within BB reserves stock planned
Bangladesh Bank now plans to establish a stabilisation fund within its gross foreign -exchange reserves to forestall any volatility on the forex market. The move comes amid rising concerns over exchange- rate fluctuations that have put pressure on import costs, inflation, and overall stability in the economy. The proposed fund, estimated to range between $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion, will be deployed as needed to support banks in financing essential imports, particularly during periods of liquidity stress.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/stabilisation-fund-within-bb-reserves-stock-planned-1740849198

High tax, low yield turn banks off
The central bank’s liquidity-sterilisation instrument, called Bangladesh Bank (BB) bills, has failed to attract commercial banks’ attention, leaving the regulator’s move to mop up high-powered money in doubt, officials and bankers have said. They said commercial banks mostly borrowed money from the central bank amid persistent liquidity tightness at policy rate (now 10 per cent) and invested in government securities – treasury bills and bonds. BB sources said BB bills’ last auction held on February 26 ended without a single bid by any commercial bank.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/high-tax-low-yield-turn-banks-off-1740766562

Tk3,000cr 5th investment Sukuk auction on 12 March
The central bank is set to hold the auction for Tk3,000 crore 5th Bangladesh Government Investment Sukuk (BGIS) on 12 March this year. The Social Impact Sovereign Sukuk, BGIS-5, will be issued for the project titled “Construction of Important Bridges on Rural Roads Phase 2 (CIBRR-2)”, according to a Shariah proclamation signed by the Shariah Advisory Committee of the Bangladesh Bank on 27 February. Investors will enjoy a 9.25% profit annually against using the sukuk asset, reads a press statement issued in this regard.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/tk3000cr-5th-investment-sukuk-auction-12-march-1080021

Islamic banks’ liquidity surges amid BB bailout
Excess liquidity in Islamic banks surged by Tk 9,272 crore in December compared to September 2024, mainly due to the Bangladesh Bank’s massive bailout to crisis-hit shariah-based banks. According to a Bangladesh Bank report titled Quarterly Report on Islamic Banking in Bangladesh, excess liquidity in Islamic banks jumped to Tk 9,435 crore at the end of December, a sharp rise from just Tk 163 crore in September 2024.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/banking/258940/islamic-banks-liquidity-surges-amid-bb-bailout

Fuel & Power
Energy division seeks Tk 22.25b for dev projects
The energy division has requested the government to earmark Tk 22.25 billion in the next fiscal year for drilling wells to enhance gas and oil production, conducting seismic surveys, and exploring mineral resources, officials have said. In the fiscal year 2025-26, the energy division secretary sought an allocation of Tk 3.0 billion to install ERL unit-2, Tk 2.0 billion to construct the Bhola-Barishal-Khulna gas pipeline, Tk 1.0 billion to dig wells in five areas of Bhola district, and Tk 2.0 billion to conduct 3D seismic surveys in Charfesson, Monpura, and Hatia upazilas.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/energy-division-seeks-tk-2225b-for-dev-projects-1740766885

Textile
Govt to pay Tk525cr in salaries to Beximco’s laid-off workers: Labour adviser
The government will pay Tk525.46 crore in salaries to 33,234 employees laid off by Beximco from its 14 factories, Shipping and Labour Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said on 27 February. He said of the total amount, the Ministry of Finance will provide Tk325.46 crore from its operational budget, while the Ministry of Labour will contribute the remaining Tk200 crore as a loan.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/industry/govt-pay-tk525cr-salaries-beximcos-laid-workers-labour-adviser-1079901

Stocks
Titas to issue preferred stock amid record-breaking losses
State-owned Titas Gas is going to issue preference shares worth nearly Tk 3.52 billion against funds received from the government to comply with a four-year-old regulatory order. In this regard, Titas Gas will hold a board meeting on March 6 for fixing the date of extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to receive the shareholders’ approval, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday. Titas Gas, which enjoys a monopoly on pipeline gas distribution in Dhaka and Mymensingh, will issue nearly 352 million irredeemable non-cumulative preference shares at the face value of Tk 10 each in favour of the government.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/bangladesh/titas-to-issue-preferred-stock-amid-record-breaking-losses

Ring Shine’s revenue jumps 161% in Q2
Ring Shine Textiles posted an impressive revenue growth in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, driven by rising exports. In the October-December quarter, it generated revenue of Tk67.33 crore, a 161.27% increase from Tk25.77 crore in the same period a year ago, according to company officials.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/ring-shines-revenue-jumps-161-q2-1080476

Zaheen Spinning posts Tk 12.29 crore loss in Q2
Zaheen Spinning’s losses piled up in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024-25 as lower sales and higher production costs dented its earnings. It reported a loss of Tk 12.29 crore in the October-December quarter of 2024. The company’s loss per share stood at Tk 1.08 for the quarter, up from Tk 0.11 a year ago, according to a disclosure on the Dhaka Stock Exchange website (DSE) on Thursday.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/zaheen-spinning-posts-tk-1229-crore-loss-q2-3835371