AGP Executive Report

French Investment Push: Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir urged deeper French investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, space, technology and pharmaceuticals, and called for more legal labour mobility as France’s envoy met him. Solar Cost Relief: NBR cut solar equipment import tax to 1% from 17% for 180 days, aiming to speed renewable expansion and cut fossil dependence. Consumer Protection Upgrade: Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said DNCRP will get more manpower, technology and digital services to better protect safe, quality products. Energy & Boro Pressure: BPDB sought Tk 9,750cr subsidy release to clear power producer dues and keep electricity steady for irrigation ahead of Boro season. Metro Rail Cost Blowout: DMTCL said two metro projects’ costs jumped Tk 1.1tn (118%) due to maintenance burden and higher Japanese-linked contractor prices; MRT Line-5 (Gabtoli–Dasherkandi) is set at Tk 455.03bn. Trade/Logistics: India supplied about 47 lakh litres of diesel to Bangladesh via the Friendship Pipeline; VAT intelligence seized 316,400 illegally imported foreign cigarettes in Dhaka. Hospitality Skills: Bangladesh Housekeepers Association sought greater recognition for housekeeping professionals, highlighting competitions and digital participation during International Housekeeping Week. EV Import Row: Barvida announced a nationwide shutdown over the ban on used and reconditioned EV imports, including stopping BRTA registrations and related services. Security & Migration: Laos suspended new work permits for Bangladeshis until end-2026, while Kerala police arrested four more Bangladeshi women over alleged illegal stay and work at a spa.

Digital Payments & Banking: Rupali Bank signed a deal with Visa to expand its Visa card portfolio across consumer and commercial segments, aiming to boost digital payments in Bangladesh. Garment Trade Competitiveness: Bangladesh’s garment export prices to the EU are under half of Vietnam’s, with exporters blamed for low-end product mix and domestic price competition. Industry Finance for SMEs: Trust Bank will roll out SME working-capital loans under Bangladesh Bank’s Tk 5,000 crore CMSME refinance fund, offering financing at 9% interest. Fertiliser Supply for Boro: The government cleared 9.2 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertiliser imports via private firms for the Boro season, including DAP, MOP and TSP, to protect farm input availability. Gas Relief for Industry: Gas supply improved across industrial areas after PM directives, with textile millers reporting higher capacity and renewed production. Energy Procurement & Costs: Cabinet approvals include relaxed fuel import procurement rules and an in-principle recommendation for extra 695,000 tonnes of fuel oil (gas oil/jet fuel) for Sep-Dec. Export Bottlenecks: Stakeholders flagged high compliance gaps, logistics delays, certification costs and air-freight charges as key hurdles to vegetable exports. Capital Market Watch: BSEC fined Dominage Steel directors and ex-officers Tk 5.10 crore over alleged IPO fund diversion and forged proxy votes. Trade & Logistics Infrastructure: ECNEC approved metro rail projects worth about Tk 2.50 lakh crore, including MRT Line-5 Southern Route. Upcoming Trade Fair: BATEXPO 2026 returns after 12 years, set for Nov 18-19 in Dhaka to showcase garment and textile progress.

Energy & Industry: Bangladesh’s gas supply is improving for industrial users, with reports of higher grid volumes and expectations of steadier power delivery, while BTMA says better gas and electricity conditions are helping primary textile mills protect production and jobs. Solar Push: BPDB plans to add 689MW of grid-connected solar by 2030, including a 442MW Rampal project awaiting approval, plus more rooftop solar on state facilities. RMG Financing: DSE and Swisscontact held a workshop on expanding long-term capital market financing for the RMG sector, urging more bond-market and capital-market options beyond bank loans. Halal Trade Policy: BCI proposes a dedicated Bangladesh Halal Development Authority to streamline certification, testing and mutual recognition to help Bangladesh capture a bigger share of the fast-growing global halal market. Macroeconomic Signal: Moody’s upgraded Bangladesh’s outlook to “stable” from “negative,” citing reduced political uncertainty and a stronger external position. Fertiliser Pressure: Farmers report continued difficulty buying fertiliser despite stock claims, with protests and calls for better distribution. Food Prices: Bread and biscuit price hikes were temporarily put on hold after talks with the commerce ministry. Nuclear Commitment: The science minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s peaceful use of nuclear technology at the IAEA.

Industrial Gas Relief: Gas supply to industrial units is improving as pipeline pressure rises in Chattogram and is expected to return to normal in most areas by tonight/early tomorrow, easing pressure on manufacturers. RMG Under Strain: BKMEA says about 55% of knitwear factories faced order cancellations or reductions due to the energy crisis, triggering shipment delays, higher costs and loan-default risk. Energy Risk Premiums: Red Sea tensions are pushing up war-risk insurance costs, raising import costs for food grains and fertiliser routes. LNG Outlook: Executives expect LNG demand in Pakistan, China and India to rebound after the Middle East supply crunch eases and prices fall. Fertiliser Supply & Dealer Terms: Govt reports a 1.584m-tonne fertiliser surplus for Rabi/Boro and raised dealer commission by Tk 1–3 per kg (farmer prices unchanged), aiming to curb alleged hoarding. Food Prices Watch: Proposed bakery price hikes for biscuits and bread were put on hold while a committee reviews raw material, tax and marketing costs within seven days. Trade & Markets: Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the US rose 11.42% in July-August; stocks rebounded on bargain hunting. Construction & Solar Expos: Four international expos on construction, wood and solar will run in Dhaka Sept 17-19. Health & Skills: Govt plans nursing and dental colleges in Shahjadpur; Sakhawat seeks Chinese investment for hospital expansion; KU won top-five at BD Innovation Fair-2026.

Fertiliser Supply Oversight: The Department of Agricultural Extension has set up a fertiliser management control room to monitor supply, stock and distribution round-the-clock, with daily reporting via email/WhatsApp to tighten oversight. Gas & Power Roadmap: PM adviser Mahdi Amin says Bangladesh is tackling the gas and electricity crisis with short-, medium- and long-term steps, including repairing an idle FSRU, adding a third before 2028 and drilling about 150 new gas wells, plus a second 150-well phase. Regional Diplomacy (BIMSTEC): Humaiun Kobir urged BIMSTEC members to look beyond bilateral tensions and widen engagement, ahead of Bangladesh hosting the next summit in Dhaka in 2027. Industrial Push via Germany: Bangladesh seeks German investment and technology cooperation in leather, shipbuilding and light engineering, with a focus on export-oriented, eco-friendly production and international standards. EV Export Deal: Piton Industries signed an MoU with Oman’s Star Drones to export EV bikes and explore a local assembly line for Middle East demand. Innovation Funding: Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026 concluded with 10 innovations getting Tk 100,000 each to move from prototypes toward commercialisation. Food Safety Enforcement: BSTI mobile court fined Taza Live Bakery Tk 10,000 in Rajshahi for producing confectionery without required approval. Energy Trade Link: India approved electricity exports to Nepal for 18 hours a day until Dec 31 after flood damage. Counterfeit Crackdown: Customs intelligence seized counterfeit cigarettes and processed tobacco in Kaliakair, with investigations ongoing into supply chains. Governance Concern: A report alleges officials flout rules by using project vehicles from the Planning Commission, raising conflict-of-interest questions.

Rooftop Solar Push: Bangladesh targets up to 4,000 MW of rooftop solar in a year, with a Tk 10.50 per unit tariff for surplus generation and a RESCO model to speed up financing and rollout. Energy Cost Pressure: The power minister warned high LNG prices are squeezing industrial development, while Bangladesh’s spot LNG is nearing $30 per MMBtu—pushing import bills higher as Middle East supply risks persist. Gas Supply Relief for Industry: PM Tarique Rahman said gas and power to industries should return to the previous level from tomorrow night after resolving issues at a floating LNG terminal. LNG Risk Management: Bangladesh Bank introduced commodity price risk hedging for importers, reducing the need for case-by-case approvals. Garment Sector Coordination: BKMEA urged a high-level committee to coordinate garment policy and improve competitiveness, including a practical Fair Code for Bangladesh. Smart Logistics for RMG: Avery Dennison opened an automated smart warehouse at Dhaka EPZ to boost label supply efficiency for apparel and footwear makers. Insurance Crackdown: Finance Minister Khosru Mahmud said 57% of insurers are failing to pay claims and warned firms may be forced to sell assets; IDRA also paid Tk 37.54cr to thousands of policyholders. EV Export Deal: Piton Industries and Star Drones signed an MoU to export EV bikes to Oman, with plans for local assembly. Industrial Infrastructure: Bangladesh and Russia agreed to expedite Rooppur nuclear plant construction to move toward grid power generation sooner. Safety Incident: A fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital killed six and injured 20 after starting in the lift control room. Market/Trade Watch: India approved electricity exports to flood-hit Nepal, highlighting regional energy cooperation that also matters for Bangladesh’s power planning.

Tourism & Investment: The 3-day 13th Asian Tourism Fair (ATF) 2026 opens in Dhaka on Thursday at ICCB, with 200+ organisations from 10 countries, nearly 300 booths, B2B sessions and a “Bangladesh Tourism Investment Showcase” aimed at new linkages and deals. Business Climate: The government is set to improve the cost and ease of doing business by deregulating, fully digitalising investment services through BIDA-OSS, and expanding BanglaBiz for faster approvals, alongside an export push targeting $63.4bn in FY26-27. Trade Rules for Industry: Bangladesh Bank issued guidance to implement the Import Policy Order 2026-2029, allowing importers to use sales contracts without LCs for allowable goods and introducing open account payments, while exporters get updated bonded warehouse/back-to-back LC options. Textile Supply Chain: The Commerce Ministry suspended a move to withdraw bonded facilities for 10-30 count yarn imports, pending review—important for yarn access for exporters. Energy & LNG Costs: With LNG supply hit by the US-Iran war and Red Sea risks, Asia’s developing buyers including Bangladesh face sharply higher spot LNG costs, pushing a rethink of long-term LNG dependence. Power Crunch Context: Analysis says Bangladesh’s worst power crisis since February 2026 is driven mainly by gas supply shortfalls and external shocks, with load shedding exceeding 3,500MW at the peak. RMG Workforce: PMO adviser Mahdi Amin said 100% local employment is possible in the RMG sector without foreign officials, stressing skills and a sustainable education system. Circular Economy in Textiles: CIRCO Hub Bangladesh concluded Track 4, training textile and RMG firms on circular business models to move beyond “take-make-dispose.” Transport Infrastructure: Dhaka’s MRT Line-5 Southern Route (Tk 45,503.77cr) is awaiting ECNEC approval, with a planned corridor from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi. Gas Sector Interest: Chevron said it wants to invest more in Bangladesh’s gas sector, including exploring new fields and boosting ageing field output. Consumer & Market Tensions: Dozens were injured in a clash between sacked Islami Bank employees and the Sachetan Grahak Forum outside the bank’s head office, with both sides blaming each other. Hilsa Trade Watch: India exported about 500 tonnes of hilsa to Bangladesh in two months, while Benapole imports reached 3.52 lakh kg in July-August; traders warn of confusion and mislabeling in markets.

Import & FX Rules: Bangladesh Bank issued guidance to AD banks to implement the Import Policy Order 2026-2029, now allowing importers to buy allowable goods via sales contracts without opening LCs, with open-account payment options and updated bonded warehouse provisions for exporters. Capital Market Push: A dialogue in Chattogram discussed how to boost corporate participation in Bangladesh’s capital market by easing listing pathways for IPOs and direct listings, aiming to reduce bank dependence. Banking for SMEs: Prime Bank will join BB’s Tk 5,000cr working capital refinance fund for CMSMEs, while BB also rolled out a KPI framework for bank MDs/CEOs focused on solvency, asset quality, governance and financial inclusion. Youth Entrepreneurship: BB launched “Udyog” to finance up to Tk 20 lakh for upazila-based youth entrepreneurs across sectors like agri, food processing, light engineering and renewable energy. Textile Supply Tension: Commerce ministry suspended the decision to withdraw bond facility for 10–30 count cotton yarn imports, pending review after exporter concerns. Industry Finance: GPH Ispat approved a Tk 967.77cr rights issue to repay loans. Energy & Trade Costs: Red Sea tensions are raising import costs; Bangladesh also resumed power imports as Adani restarted supply of 1,046.73MW to the grid. Agri Focus: PM urged boosting domestic farm output to cut import dependence, while BCIC inaugurated a 10,000-tonne buffer warehouse in Barishal to support fertiliser supply.

Banking Stability: National Bank’s crisis is deepening as customers face cash withdrawal troubles and ATMs run dry, with Bangladesh Bank citing a near Tk 19,874 crore provisioning shortfall, NPLs over half the portfolio, and governance failures; an emergency liquidity support of Tk 1,000 crore was released for 90 days. Port & Trade Logistics: Global air cargo volumes slipped 1% week-on-week as Middle East tensions and holiday disruptions hit demand, while pricing stayed steady amid fuel surcharge pressure. Textile Supply Chain: A privately run US cotton warehouse in Chattogram (AmeriBangla) is set to start operations on Nov 18, aiming to cut lead times for spinning mills with an initial 80–100 tonnes inventory. RMG & Energy Risk: Bangladesh’s garment makers are under pressure from unreliable gas and electricity, forcing costly generator use and disrupting production schedules and shipment commitments. Industrial Zones: Karnaphuli EPZ marks 20 years, reporting cumulative exports above $14bn and nearly 80,000 jobs, highlighting its shift from the former Chittagong Steel Mills site. Capital Markets: GPH Ispat plans a Tk 967.77 crore rights issue (2:1 at Tk10) to repay loans, with AGM approval pending. Sustainability in Manufacturing: Fakir Fashion won an ESG award for carbon emission control, citing solar, BESS, and flue gas capture initiatives. Urban Living: CDA is proposing measures to ease Chattogram traffic congestion and pollution, including decentralisation, modern transport, multi-storey parking, and tighter regulation of encroachments.

Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the three-day fair at Novo Theatre, pushing “Innovate to Market” with 1,000+ showcases and links between universities, startups, industry and investors. Education for Industry: The education adviser said AI, robotics, machine learning and cybersecurity will be added to textbooks for grades 6-10, while technical education becomes compulsory. Tech Parks Under Scrutiny: Stakeholders warned high-tech parks built at big cost have failed to deliver jobs and investment due to weak skills, poor industry-academia links and governance gaps. Export & Trade Push: Bangladesh firms (14 apparel/textile/leather) are showcasing in Milan’s “Ready to Show,” backed by EPB, while the South Korean envoy urged CEPA to translate into joint ventures and investment-friendly tariffs. SME Financing: Bank Asia and Mercantile Bank signed with Bangladesh Bank to lend CMSMEs at 9% under the Tk 5,000cr refinance fund. Energy & Power: ECNEC approval is expected this week for a 442MW Rampal solar project, and Bangladesh targets more US investment—$5b in five years. Environment & Industry Compliance: PRAN-RFL inaugurated a zero discharge plant at its Habiganj industrial park. Capital Market Watch: DSEX fell 146 points amid energy worries and earnings concerns, while foreign investors reduced holdings in August.

Parliament & Governance: Bangladesh’s 13th Jatiya Sangsad 3rd session wrapped up after passing six key bills, including the Enforced Disappearance Bill, plus measures on property transfer and bank resolution. Innovation & Industry: PM Tarique Rahman inaugurated the 3-day Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026, pushing home-grown ideas into commercial products and linking innovators, SMEs, universities and investors; over 1,000 innovations are on display. Food Security: Bangladesh’s food grain stock rose by 148,484 MT in six months to 23.59 lakh MT, with storage and “safe stock” benchmarks revised upward to strengthen resilience. Energy & LNG: At the Tokyo LNG conference, a state minister said Bangladesh plans to add 1,600 mmcfd LNG regasification capacity by 2030 via a 600mmcfd FSRU (by 2028) and a 1,000mmcfd land terminal (by 2030), as gas demand outpaces domestic supply. Fisheries Modernisation: The fisheries minister said eco-friendly tech will be rolled out across government fish farms, including solar power at a seed production facility to cut costs and emissions. Trade & Industry Zones: Karnaphuli EPZ in Chattogram says 39 of 46 factories are operating at full capacity, employing 80,000+ people and attracting $786m+ in investment. AI & Cyber Risk: Anthropic’s report on Claude misuse flags automated scams, surveillance and influence operations, with Bangladesh appearing in a detailed case study.

Energy & LNG Infrastructure: Bangladesh plans to develop two new LNG terminals by 2030, including a new floating storage and regasification unit by 2028 and a land-based terminal at Matarbari, as LNG demand is projected to rise sharply through 2040. Gas Supply Update: PM Tarique Rahman says gas supply should improve within 5–7 days, after disruptions linked to declining local pressure and an accident at an FSRU. Power Crunch: Adani’s Godda plant supply to Bangladesh fell below 800MW after Unit-2 shutdown, worsening an already large demand-supply gap. Regional Electricity Cooperation: Experts at a BIMSTEC policy roundtable urged harmonising policies and regulation to advance cross-border power trade among member states, including Bangladesh. Trade & Agriculture Exports: Bangladesh will send a trade delegation to Sri Lanka to explore potato and onion imports, responding to Sri Lanka’s interest and Bangladesh’s surplus after meeting domestic demand. AI & Cybersecurity: Anthropic says it disrupted misuse of its Claude AI in cyberattacks, espionage, surveillance, scams and influence operations, including a reported automated fake-news operation targeting Bangladesh. Fisheries & Tech: Fisheries officials urged expanding modern technology and boosting government fish seed farms, including solar power use, to raise fish production. Innovation & Academia: Bangladesh Agricultural University will showcase 36 research projects at the Bangladesh Innovation Fair-2026, aiming to push agri-tech to grassroots users. Culture & Industry Skills: A robotics team at Pulchowk Engineering Campus built a mud-removal machine overnight to support Chilime tunnel clearing, highlighting practical engineering problem-solving.

Energy & Industry: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman says the government is taking steps to end Bangladesh’s gas and power crisis, pushing a long-term solar plan so the country can move from importing electricity to producing it domestically. Nuclear Project Update: Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction and commissioning are continuing uninterrupted after a Sept 7 fire at a temporary building; documents and IT equipment were partially damaged, with an investigation committee formed. City Governance & Public Health: DSCC warns of stern action over negligence in mosquito control ahead of a nationwide dengue prevention drive starting Sept 12. Trade & Business Regulation: The Commerce Ministry cancelled the licence of the Bangladesh Agrochemical Manufacturers Association (BAMA) and ordered it to merge with the Bangladesh Crop Protection Association (BCPA) to streamline pesticide-sector representation. SME Finance: IFIC Bank will provide SME loans under a Tk 5,000cr refinance fund. Garment Safety: 300 fashion brands and retailers renewed the International Safety Accord, covering about 2,000 factories and 3.4m workers in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Market Watch: Jackfruit prices in Gazipur have jumped from Tk 10 during the season to Tk 500–1,000 after supplies dwindled. Tech & Security: Anthropic says it blocked misuse of Claude AI for bioweapons and surveillance, detailing alleged misuse attempts.

Trade & Investment Diplomacy: Commerce Minister Khondaker Abdul Muktadir told the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong that Bangladesh is pushing export diversification, productivity-led growth and green, production-oriented investment—beyond RMG into pharma, leather, agro-processing, light engineering, IT and man-made fibres. Bilateral Connectivity: India’s envoy Dinesh Trivedi met President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and shipping/rail officials to deepen ties, focusing on railways, shipping and connectivity projects. Metro Rail Safety: Parliament heard that 27 of 730 Dhaka Metro bearing pads are critical and cracks were found in 46 piers; BUET will assess risks and all 27 pads are set to be replaced by Nov 30. Urban Water & Pollution Control: LGRD state minister Mir Shahe Alam ordered faster canal excavation and sewage treatment operations to restore river flow and cut pollution around Dhaka. Food & Farm Supply: CCGP approved imports for TCB—9,000 tonnes chickpeas and 10m litres refined rice bran—while government also okayed 110,000 tonnes of fertiliser (MoP, DAP and granular urea) to keep farm inputs steady. Poultry Prices: Fisheries and livestock state minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku urged poultry farmers to raise egg and meat output with quality checks and tighter antibiotic use. Digital Finance: A BIBM seminar highlighted how digital lending can expand financial inclusion via lower costs and alternative borrower assessment, though the market is still concentrated in nano-loans. Agribusiness Success: A Dinajpur youth reported off-season yellow watermelon success using mulching and DAE support.

RMG Financing Push: Swisscontact will support promising garment firms to raise long-term funds via Bangladesh’s capital market, with DSE stressing bond-market expansion beyond IPOs. Capital Market Mood: Dhaka Stock Exchange slipped slightly as cautious investors stayed on the sidelines amid gas and electricity worries; turnover also fell. Trade & Investment Deals: Bangladesh and Hong Kong signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, while Bangladesh-China ties were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership with multiple projects flagged. Energy Security Drive: PM Tarique Rahman outlined plans to boost domestic gas via new wells and LNG terminals, aiming to protect industry from the current gas crunch. Import Policy & EVs: Auto dealers urged the government to allow controlled imports of used/reconditioned EVs after a policy ban, warning it could limit affordable options. Industry Operations: BEPZA Economic Zone-2 began operations with its first export shipment; CCEA gave in-principle approval to a Chattogram waste-to-energy PPP. Agriculture Pressure: Opposition renewed calls for action over fertiliser distribution as farmers fear a food crisis; PM said stocks are sufficient. Governance & Banking: Parliament passed the Bank Resolution (Amendment) Bill, removing a loophole that could let former bank owners reclaim control. Urban Services: PM will inaugurate a nationwide dengue prevention campaign on Sept 12, running for three months.

Textile Supply Chain & Trade: Customs at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized 1,655 mobile phones worth about Tk 5 crore hidden in a consignment declared as knit fabrics, highlighting ongoing smuggling risks in RMG-linked imports. Cotton Access for Garments: A privately run US cotton warehouse in Anowara, Chattogram, is set to start operations in mid-November, aiming to cut lead times for spinning mills and reduce reliance on long shipment cycles. Port & Infrastructure Governance: Economist Prof Anu Muhammad warned that handing over Chittagong Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal to DP World without a tender could jeopardize national interest, calling it a repeat of past “investment” controversies. Business Climate Signals: Bangladesh’s Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 49.9 in August, with manufacturing and services slipping into marginal contraction while agriculture expanded and construction returned to growth. Energy & Industry Operations: Fire damaged the internal server at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, disrupting internal internet services for two days, though officials said backups exist. Transport Connectivity: Bangladesh and India held positive talks on resuming the Maitree Express, with next steps expected through coordination between relevant authorities. Agri-Income Innovation: In Narail’s Sadar upazila, fish-scale collection and drying is turning “waste” into extra income for dozens of fishing families. Public Health Pressure: A dengue surge in Khulna has overwhelmed hospitals, with a record 334 admissions in 24 hours.