Macro
RMG exports to EU jump by 61% to €1.91 billion in January
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union kicked off 2025 with a remarkable 60.9% jump to reach €1.91 billion in January, compared to €1.19 billion in the same month of 2024.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/rmg-exports-eu-jump-61-eu191-january-1097096

Slowdown in private credit growth raises alarms
Credit flow to private firms registered its lowest growth since at least 2015, achieving just 7.15 percent in January this year, as per Bangladesh Bank data. The figure is 2.65 percentage points lower than the central bank’s target of 9.80 percent for the second half of the ongoing fiscal year (FY).
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/slowdown-private-credit-growth-raises-alarms-3852706

Next budget to focus on curbing inflation
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday said the interim government will not incorporate any mega projects that cost billions of dollars in the next budget for FY2025-26.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/national-budget/news/next-budget-focus-curbing-inflation-3852856

Remittance up yet reserves static for meeting growing needs
Sources at Bangladesh Bank (BB) have said the additional inflow of remittances helps stop forex bleeding by making the international reserves stable amid payment buildups over the years. They say the increased remittance has been used to meet foreign- currency obligations of banks because of growing government imports, overdue payments by the banks, public debt-servicing and to minimise the gap between imports and exports.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/remittance-up-yet-reserves-static-for-meeting-growing-needs

NBR begins spot assessment
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has launched a new Spot Assessment programme to simplify the tax payment system to expand the tax net. Tax zones have actively started conducting Spot Assessment at district and upazila level of the country.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/economy/260488/nbr-begins-spot-assessment

Social security coverage, allowances to increase in FY26: Finance adviser
Salehuddin said immediate steps will be taken in the budget to leave a lasting impact, such as increasing the coverage of social security and allowances. Extra attention will be given to the education, health, and technology sectors, alongside initiatives to expand trade and commerce.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/social-security-coverage-allowances-increase-fy26-financial-adviser-1097046

Food & Allied
Cigarette price won’t increase in budget: NBR
National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said that the price of cigarettes will not be hiked in the upcoming budget for the financial year 2025-26. He also said there has been a recommendation to reduce the number of cigarette segments from four to three, which is feasible.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/economy/260489/cigarette-price-wont-increase-in-budget-nbr

Banks
Islamic banks witness deposit shift
Islamic wings of conventional banks have become the preferred choice for religiously inclined depositors as many full-fledged Shariah-based banks struggle with a crisis of trust. In 2024, deposits at National Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank rose by only 13.04 percent to Tk 25,410 crore. However, deposits in its Islamic wing soared by a record 110 percent, the highest in the banking sector. Similarly, at the end of last year, Pubali Bank’s total deposits stood at Tk 70,637 crore. While the bank recorded a 21 percent deposit growth overall, its Islamic wing saw a 91.18 percent rise.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/islamic-banks-witness-deposit-shift-3852716

Troubled banks seek liquidity support
According to central bank sources, at least six banks have requested for Tk 50 billion (5,000 crore) in liquidity assistance to cope with the increased demand. But the central bank has advised them to borrow from financially stable banks under the Bangladesh Bank guarantee scheme. Meanwhile, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank and National Bank have signed agreements with Bangladesh Bank to secure loans under this scheme.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/troubled-banks-seek-liquidity-support-1742405581

Financial Institutions
NBFIs see drop in loan recovery
Data from the Bangladesh Bank showed that NBFIs recovered Tk 6,715 crore in loans and advances in the October-December quarter of 2024, down 3.2 percent year-on-year. However, it represented 1.99 percent growth in recoveries compared to the July-September quarter of the same year.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/nbfis-see-drop-loan-recovery-3852686

Fuel & Power
OVL gets third extension until Feb 2027
ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), an Indian company that has been awarded Bangladesh offshore exploration contracts, has gotten its tenure extended for the third time although it could not delineate any potential hydrocarbon reserve over the past one decade.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/ovl-gets-third-extension-until-feb-2027

Telecommunication
Telcos urge NBR to cut telecom tax
Mobile network operators in Bangladesh have urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to reconsider the high tax burden on the telecommunication sector, noting that continuous tax hikes have led to a significant decline in mobile and internet users.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/telcos-urge-nbr-to-cut-telecom-tax-1742405476

Capital Market
Stock market task force to propose sweeping reforms to public issue rules
A task force on the country’s capital market reforms is set to deliver a series of recommendations aimed at overhauling public issue rules to attract good companies to the stock market and enhance its depth. Under the task force’s plan, issuer companies and issue manager jointly would set an indicative price based on their own valuation, allowing eligible investors (EIs) to bid above or below this benchmark. The EIs will be allotted shares at their respective prices they bid for and the cut-off price will be the value at which the allocation for EIs would be exhausted.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/bangladesh/stock-market-task-force-to-propose-sweeping-reforms-to-public-issue-rules

National Tea’s placement share subscription resumes today
The National Tea Company’s placement shares subscription will resume today and continue until March 27 for raising capital of Tk 2.80 billion. Earlier, the stock market regulator has given consent to the extension of the time until March 31 for raising the said amount.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/bangladesh/national-teas-placement-share-subscription-resumes-today

BSEC fines a dozen manipulators Tk80cr
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) in February imposed fines totalling Tk79.92 crore on a dozen individuals and entities on a charge of manipulating share prices in three listed companies: Sonali Paper & Board Mills, Fine Foods and Fortune Shoes Limited.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/bsec-fines-dozen-manipulators-tk80cr-1097071

BSEC plans to boost bond market
BSEC Commissioner Farzana Lalarukh stated that the government is actively working to strengthen the bond market by taking various initiatives and making necessary decisions. She made the remark at a meeting titled ‘Role of Trustee in Ensuring Compliance in Bond or Sukuk Issuance’ was held on Wednesday at the BSEC multipurpose hall, according to a press release issued by the stock market regulator.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/stocks/260487/bsec-plans-to-boost-bond-market

Stocks
Sinha Fashions to sell 26.27 lakh LafargeHolcim shares
Sinha Fashions Limited – a corporate sponsor of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh – has announced its intention to reduce its stake in the cement manufacturer by selling 26.27 lakh shares. A subsidiary of the once-prominent apparel conglomerate Sinha-Medlar Group, Sinha Fashions owns 2.78 crore shares, equivalent to a 2.40% stake in the multinational company as of February 2025.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/sinha-fashions-sell-2627-lakh-lafargeholcim-shares-1097081