Economists urge the next government

Although the BNP swept to a landslide victory in the February 12 national election, business leaders say the new government will inherit an economy that allows little time for celebration.

A trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States on February 9, just days before a national election, has drawn sharp criticism from economists and policy observers.

Bangladesh’s recently signed trade deal with the United States promises slight tariff relief but carries deeper implications for fiscal stability, foreign policy and democratic transparency, according to Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Customs officials say they had no objection, as the matter does not fall under their jurisdiction

It is expected to provide safely managed sanitation services to 550,000 people and improve solid waste management to 500,000 people

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said that there are several complex issues involved in approving the proposal aimed at strengthening Bangladesh Bank’s (BB) autonomy, and that they will be handled by the elected government.

Elections rarely spark dramatic rallies in Bangladesh’s stock market. The trend has been consistent at least in the last six parliamentary elections. Yet, stakeholders hope this time will be different.

The gap between what Bangladesh buys and sells abroad, known as trade deficit, grew over 18 percent in the first half (H1) of the current fiscal year 2025-26, driven by rising imports and declining export earnings.

Bangladesh will buy $3.5 billion worth of US agricultural products and $15 billion of energy under a broader reciprocal trade agreement with Washington, signed on Monday.

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Monday argued the Trump administration’s policy of trade tariffs has proved more benign than many had feared, in comments that argued that foreigners and their firms are the ones primarily paying for the tax hikes, rather than Americans.

India is in talks with Brazil, Canada, France and the Netherlands over deals to jointly explore, extract, process and recycle critical minerals, sources said, as it broadens its global outreach to secure supplies of key raw materials.

The government’s food grain stock has climbed to its highest level in six years, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said yesterday.

Oil prices edged down on Tuesday as traders gauged the potential for supply disruptions after US guidance for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz kept attention squarely on tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Planned or under-construction solar and wind projects slowed last year, analysis showed Tuesday, casting doubts on whether countries will hit a goal of tripling renewable capacity by decade-end.

United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB) has appointed M Latif Hasan to the post of deputy managing director (DMD) and head of structured corporate.

To improve access to public health services in underdeveloped and developing countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) first published a list of 200 medicines in 1977, identifying them as essential medicines.

As Bangladesh heads towards the February 12 parliamentary election, agriculture has found prominent space in the manifestos of political parties.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has fixed new office and transaction hours for banks across the country during the holy month of Ramadan in 2026, according to a circular issued yesterday.

PRAN-RFL Group, a leading conglomerate in Bangladesh, is set to invest Tk 500 crore over the next three years to manufacture and market motorcycles and electric scooters.