United News of Bangladesh

Ha-Meem Group on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Robonauts Ltd. to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and develop a future-ready workforce for Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both organizations. Representing Ha-Meem Group were  Rohit Gopalakrishnan Nair, Chief Operating Officer; Mr. M M Motiur Rahman, Zonal Executive Director – Tonzi Zone; Mr. Nizam Uddin, Assistant General Manager, Human Resources; and Mr. Washiful Islam Shadvi, Strategic Management and R&D Officer. Representing Robonauts Ltd. were Md Moonzoor Morshed, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Ishraque Rafin, Chief Business Officer; and Mr. Tonmoy Khan, Executive Director. The partnership aims to combine Ha-Meem Group's manufacturing expertise with Robonauts' capabilities in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial automation and engineering education to strengthen the competitiveness of the country's apparel industry. According to the companies, the collaboration will focus on three key areas: workforce development, industrial automation and industry-academia collaboration. Under the agreement, Robonauts will design and implement upskilling programmes for both white-collar and blue-collar employees, covering robotics, AI, automation systems, digital manufacturing, smart factory operations and other Industry 4.0 practices. Leadership development programmes will also be introduced to help managers lead digital transformation initiatives. CEO of Robonauts Md Moonzoor Morshed said the partnership will also support the adoption of robotics, AI, machine vision, intelligent sensors and other smart manufacturing technologies across Ha-Meem Group's operations. Planned initiatives include automation assessments, process optimisation, AI-based quality inspection, predictive maintenance, automated material handling, production monitoring and customised automation solutions for the RMG sector. The two organisations also plan to work with universities, engineering institutions and research organisations to promote innovation, research, internships and industry-academia collaboration, aiming to develop the next generation of engineers and technology professionals. COO of Ha-Meem Group Rohit Gopalakrishnan Nair said the initiative reflects its long-term strategy to embrace Industry 4.0 and strengthen its global competitiveness through technology-driven manufacturing. The companies said the partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration to promote innovation, knowledge sharing and sustainable industrial growth, while supporting Bangladesh's ambition to remain a global leader in intelligent and technology-driven apparel manufacturing. Robonauts Ltd. also expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Sajid Azad, Director of Ha-Meem Group, for his vision, encouragement and valuable support in making the collaboration possible.

The DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) has welcomed the initiative of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to amend the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Margin) Rules, 2025. In a message on Saturday, the DBA said the pragmatic and market-friendly initiative marks a positive step for the country's capital market. It said the amended Margin Rules, 2025 would help establish a balanced, modern and forward-looking regulatory framework that would play a significant role in ensuring the orderly, transparent and sustainable development of Bangladesh's capital market. The association expressed hope that the draft of the amended margin rules would soon be published to seek public opinion, adding that it would submit detailed feedback and recommendations to the commission after reviewing the draft, if deemed necessary. DBA President Saiful Islam said the association fully supports the reform initiatives undertaken by the BSEC to make Bangladesh's capital market stronger, more modern and investment-friendly. He said the DBA would remain ready to work closely with the BSEC on all necessary reform initiatives for the development of the country's capital market in the future as well.

China signaled on Friday that the United States could restore Hong Kong 's preferential privileges, saying Washington confirmed it will not renew an executive order that revoked the city's special trading status. The Commerce Ministry said that the U.S. made commitments on Hong Kong issues and other matters during the U.S.-China trade talks in Madrid last year. The U.S. recently confirmed to China that the President’s Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization would end, the ministry said in a statement responding to media questions. “The U.S. side’s actions represent an important step in fulfilling the consensus reached during the bilateral economic and trade talks. China appreciates it,” it said. It is not immediately clear what all the implications of the decision are. The White House referred questions about the executive order lapsing to the Treasury Department. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement Friday that the national emergency declared in the executive order had expired and that it delisted people who were sanctioned under the order. But it said people who remain sanctioned under another act related to Hong Kong have been added to a different sanction list. The statement showed Hong Kong leader John Lee and his predecessor, Carrie Lam, were removed from the first list but added to the second one. The U.S. decision came two months after President Donald Trump met with his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. It could warm ties between them ahead of Xi's expected visit to the U.S. later this year. Earlier this month, a pastor of a prominent underground church who was detained in China in October was released after Trump brought up his case with Xi. Trump signed the now-expired executive order in July 2020, during his first term in response to Beijing imposing a national security law that year. Trump's order was last renewed for a year in July 2025. Under the order, Trump said Hong Kong was no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to mainland China under certain laws. It eliminated the preferential treatment for Hong Kong to the extent permitted by law and in the national security, foreign policy, and economic interest of the United States. China considers the national security law for Hong Kong necessary to restore stability in the city after massive anti-government protests in 2019. The pro-democracy movement back then posed one of the biggest challenges to the Communist Party in Beijing and the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Six years after the law's introduction, many leading activists, including pro-democracy former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, were imprisoned under it. Critics say the Western-style civil liberties that Beijing promised to maintain for 50 years after the handover have declined. Hong Kong government said in a statement that it noted the “positive shift in the U.S. policy” toward the city. “Safeguarding Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability serves the common interests of China and the US, and also aligns with the general expectation of the international community,” it said. It said it hopes the U.S. will respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong and resume normal economic and trade exchanges with the city.

US-Bangla Airlines, one of the leading airlines in Bangladesh, on Friday stepped into its 13th year of operations, marking 12 years since its launch with plans to expand its fleet and international network over the coming years. The airline, which began commercial operations on July 17, 2014 with flights on the Dhaka-Jashore route using a Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, now operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, including three Airbus 330-300 and nine Boeing 737-800, serving 20 domestic and international destinations, according to a press release. US Bangla Group launches new venture ‘Take Trip’ travel agency It has maintained an on-time performance rate of over 90 percent since its inception, the airline claimed. US-Bangla currently operates domestic flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Saidpur and Rajshahi, and vice versa. The carrier entered the international market on May 15, 2016 with flights to Kathmandu and has since expanded its network to Kolkata, Chennai, Male, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Guangzhou. US-Bangla Airlines is set to add few more Boeing 737-8 and Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft to its fleet soon. In addition, it is moving forward with plans to operate flights to various middle east destinations, including Dammam, Madinah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kathmandu, Colombo, Johur Bahru and Penang of Malaysia, Hong Kong by 2027 and European destinations, including London and Rome by 2028, and to New York, Toronto and Sydney by 2030. US-Bangla was recently awarded the Best Domestic Airline in 2025. It has achieved Best Domestic Airline awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as well. It also won the Best Domestic Airline award in 2015. On the occasion, US-Bangla Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mamun said, "In a competitive world, we are ready to take on any kind of competitive challenge. In today's world, there is no alternative to modern aircraft to provide proper service to passengers. US-Bangla is constantly adding new aircraft to its fleet to ensure comfortable service to passengers.”

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union (EU) slumped by 18.89 percent year-on-year to €7.28 billion ($8.33 billion) in the first five months of 2026 (January-May), marking the steepest decline among the region's major global suppliers. According to Eurostat data analysed by Mohiuddin Rubel, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, the country is facing a critical "dual weakness," losing ground on both shipment volume and unit price simultaneously. During the period, Bangladesh's apparel export volume to the EU fell by 10.46 percent, while its unit price dropped by 9.41 percent. Both figures are roughly double the global average decline. Overall EU Demand Shrinks The downturn reflects a broader contraction in the EU apparel market. Total EU apparel imports from the world fell by 9.96 percent year-on-year to €33.84 billion ($38.71 billion), down from €37.58 billion ($43.00 billion) in the same period last year. The global decline was driven by a 6.46 percent drop in volume and a 3.74 percent decline in unit prices, suggesting that weaker consumer demand and softer pricing contributed almost equally to the market contraction. However, Bangladesh’s performance in May alone showed worsening vulnerability, with export value sliding by 17.12 percent, volume down by 13.55 percent, and unit prices dropping by 4.13 percent. Mixed Performance Among Competitors While Bangladesh struggled on both fronts, its global competitors showed mixed resilience by adopting different market strategies. China – the leading supplier – recorded the smallest value decline of 4.20 percent. It was the only major exporter to grow its shipment volume, which rose by 1.96 percent, defending its market share through a 6.05 percent price cut. Vietnam emerged as the most resilient exporter, with its export value dipping just 1.51 percent. Despite a sharp 12.27 percent drop in volume, it defended its value through premium positioning, pushing its unit price up by 12.26 percent. Pakistan’s export value fell by 17.01 percent despite a 3 percent increase in volume, suffering from a major unit price collapse of 19.43 percent. India experienced a milder version of Bangladesh's dual weakness, with its export value declining by 13.33 percent. Turkey and Cambodia faced volume-led declines of 17.17 percent and 15.13 percent, respectively, though their unit prices saw upward adjustments. Indonesia experienced the sharpest volume contraction among all suppliers, plunging 23.76 percent. Sustained Structural Concerns Highlighting the gravity of the data, Mohiuddin Rubel noted that Bangladesh is currently the only major apparel supplier losing on both volume and price at this scale – contrasting sharply with Vietnam’s price-resilience and China’s volume-resilience. He warned that because this dual weakness has persisted from April into May, it points to a sustained structural problem within Bangladesh's apparel sector rather than a temporary, one-month blip.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), held a divisional workshop in Khulna on Thursday to introduce the "Survey of Industries in Bangladesh." The event, held at a hotel in Khulna, brought together government officials, private sector representatives, and local business leaders to discuss promising regional sectors, identify barriers to investment, and seek stakeholder cooperation in verifying industrial data. The survey led by BIDA, funded by ADB, and technically supported by SANEM—aims to identify investor grievances, resolve systemic bottlenecks, and establish a unified investment database to assist the government in evidence-based policymaking. Addressing the workshop as the chief guest, Ms. Sifat Mehnaz, Additional Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Division, emphasized the need for efficient land use and the adoption of modern agricultural technologies to boost the economy. She pointed out that approximately 30 percent of export-potential fruits are currently lost to post-harvest damage, and suggested the establishment of cold storage facilities to safeguard foreign earnings. BIDA Director General Gazi AKM Fazlul Haque, who chaired the session, highlighted that the survey would replace scattered and redundant records with a clearer, unified database to help the government frame effective industrial policies. "We must first make our domestic investment environment strong and keep local investors satisfied, which will naturally attract foreign investors," he said, noting that local business leaders have urgently requested a centralized portal for investment-related information. Tasnim Alam, Public Sector Economist at ADB Bangladesh, who joined the session online, noted that with Bangladesh set to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in about three years, the private sector must step up to lead economic growth. He stressed the importance of easing investor burdens through initiatives like BIDA's One-Stop Service (OSS). Md. Tariqul Islam Zaheer, Managing Director of Achia Sea Foods Limited and guest of honour, discussed Khulna’s industrial potential in jute, sugar, shipbuilding, and cold storage sectors. He advocated for establishing eco-friendly industries near the Sundarbans and integrating modern technologies into local enterprises. He also welcomed the survey, warning that the country’s growing debt is a heavy load being passed to future generations. Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director of SANEM and Economics Professor at Dhaka University, explained that Bangladesh is simultaneously navigating three major structural shifts: energy, technology, and economic composition. He stated that building a unified investment database integrated with BIDA’s OSS portal is critical to overcoming the country's weak evidence base and fragmented records. The industrial study is being executed through five work streams: collecting investment data, verifying it, building a standardized database, producing analytical reports, and preparing a national investment compendium. SANEM Programme Director Zubayer Hossen highlighted that the survey covers all major economic sectors and ownership models across all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team concluded a five-day visit to Dhaka on Thursday, projecting Bangladesh's economic growth to moderate to 3.5 percent in FY2026-27 and weaken further below 3 percent over the medium term in the absence of decisive reforms. The visit, which took place from July 12 to 16, 2026, was led by Ivo Krznar following a request from the Bangladesh government for a new Fund-supported economic reform program. The mission aimed to take stock of recent developments and discuss the authorities' policy plans and reform priorities. "Bangladesh continues to face significant fiscal, financial, and inflationary challenges, which have been compounded by the war in the Middle East," Krznar said in a statement issued at the end of the visit. He noted that higher global commodity prices and supply disruptions have renewed inflationary pressures, increased subsidy costs, and further constrained the country's limited fiscal space. Elevated banking sector stress and external pressures also continue to weigh on the economy, despite strong remittance growth. The IMF warned that risks to the economic outlook remain tilted to the downside due to the potential interaction of banking sector strains, fiscal challenges, and external pressures. To address these compounding weaknesses and safeguard macro-financial stability, the IMF team recommended several priority policy measures.  Revenue and Subsidy Reform: Stronger revenue mobilization and subsidy rationalization are needed to create fiscal space for priority social and development spending. Well-targeted social support should be implemented to protect vulnerable households. Monetary and Fiscal Stance: The government should maintain tight monetary and prudent fiscal policies to tame inflation and rebuild foreign exchange reserves. Exchange Rate Flexibility: Consistent implementation of the crawling peg regime adopted in 2025 is essential to enhance exchange rate flexibility and safeguard external stability. Banking Sector Cleanup: Restructuring of the banking sector should be anchored in a credible, comprehensive strategy with a well-managed cleanup to support investment. Looking ahead, Krznar indicated that discussions on the possible parameters of a new arrangement—including its size and associated reform commitments—will take place in the coming months.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has extended special loan rescheduling and restructuring facilities for the borrowers of non-bank finance companies until September 30, 2026, aiming to help struggling businesses recover, reduce non-performing loans (NPLs), and improve liquidity in the financial sector. According to a circular issued on Thursday by the central bank’s Finance Company Regulation and Policy Department (FCRPD), this policy support is aligned with the benefits previously granted to the clients of commercial bank companies. Under the new directive, finance companies can now provide special rescheduling and restructuring facilities for affected borrowers based on the financial institution-client relationship. The facilities will be guided by the instructions issued under BRPD Circular No. 07 (dated September 16, 2025), BRPD Circular Letter No. 26 (dated November 24, 2025), and BRPD-1 Circular Letter No. 16 (dated May 7, 2026). The central bank emphasised that finance companies must ensure compliance with the provisions of the Finance Company Act, 2023, and relevant department circulars while executing these facilities. The entire process, including receiving applications from affected borrowers and obtaining official approval from the respective finance company's Board of Directors, must be completed by September 30, 2026. The BB stated that this initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to assist viable but financially distressed businesses, enabling them to return to profitable operations, which in turn will secure loan recovery for the financial institutions. The move is also expected to inject momentum into the country's overall economic activities.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on Thursday clarified that the proposed amendments to the margin rules remain in draft form and have not been finalised, describing what it called incomplete and misleading media reports on the matter. In a press release, it said the 1,020th commission meeting approved a draft proposal to amend the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Margin) Rules, 2025. However, before the draft could be published for public feedback, several media outlets carried incomplete, confusing and unrealistic information about the changes, creating unwarranted uncertainty among investors, it said. The commission said the core objective of the amendment is to remove practical and operational complications that have emerged during implementation of the existing rules, and to make the regulations simpler, more effective and more realistic, thereby easing their application for stakeholders across the market. The BSEC noted that in drafting the amendment proposal, it took into account the opinions and practical experiences of margin facility users, stock brokers, merchant banks, and other market intermediaries and stakeholders. The commission's goal, it said, is to establish an effective, realistic and investor-friendly margin management framework. The regulator further clarified that the amended draft rules have yet to be finalised. The draft approved by the commission will soon be published in national dailies and on BSEC's website for public opinion. Only after reviewing feedback from stakeholders and the general public, the amendment to the Margin Rules, 2025 will be finalised, it said. The BSEC urged all concerned to refrain from publishing speculative or partial information about the amended rules before the public opinion process begins, saying such reports create unnecessary confusion. The commission expressed confidence that once the actual draft is published, all stakeholders will get a clear picture of the purpose, scope and rationale behind the amendment. The BSEC said it has always worked to give top priority to the interests and safety of investors, and that the amendment to the margin rules is a continuation of that same policy.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a structured framework to govern import transactions into Free Trade Zones (FTZs), aiming to facilitate trade while ensuring prudent risk management by banks, according to a circular issued on Thursday. The Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1 (FEPD-1) circular directs all Authorized Dealers (ADs) and Offshore Banking Units (OBUs) to follow the new instructions when providing financial services for FTZ-related transactions, in line with existing foreign exchange regulations. Under the framework, imports into FTZs can be undertaken by industrial enterprises engaged in manufacturing or export-oriented production, authorized importers on record, and licensed logistics service providers operating within the zones. Goods brought into FTZs for storage, warehousing or distribution may be imported on a consignment basis, with ownership remaining with foreign suppliers until the goods are either used in production or sold to ultimate buyers. For financing and exposure purposes, banks will not treat such goods as owned inventory of FTZ enterprises until either event occurs. The circular also sets out rules for purchase and sale transactions. Purchases of goods from FTZs by buyers in Bangladesh, including those in specialized zones or other FTZs will be treated as import transactions requiring standard IMP formalities. Where such purchases involve industrial raw materials, usance import facilities of up to 270 days will be permitted under FE Circular No. 51 of December 29, 2025. Sales of finished or semi-finished goods by FTZ enterprises to buyers in Bangladesh will be treated as export transactions for sellers and import transactions for buyers, with both EXP and IMP procedures to be followed accordingly. All such payments must be settled in freely convertible foreign currency, though FTZ enterprises may retain sale proceeds in designated foreign currency margin accounts for onward settlement of import obligations abroad. On tenor, goods imported into FTZs under consignment arrangements may remain in the zone for 48 to 60 months, subject to regulatory compliance, while usance import transactions, including those backed by buyer's or supplier's credit will carry a maximum tenor of 270 days. The circular further allows ADs to extend financing to FTZ entities in a manner similar to facilities available to enterprises in specialized zones. However, for consignment-based imports, ADs and OBUs will not recognise or assume exposure on FTZ entities for goods where ownership remains with the foreign supplier, such consignments will only be recognised as imports once ownership transfers through production use or sale, supported by documentation including a bill of entry. For usance imports, ADs may arrange buyer's or supplier's credit facilities with a tenor not exceeding 270 days, while OBUs may provide such financing in foreign currency. On risk management, the central bank instructed that all admissible financing be backed by appropriate documentation aligned with underlying transactions, and directed ADs and OBUs to conduct due diligence on FTZ clients, including assessing contracts with foreign suppliers and buyers, verifying ownership structures, and evaluating production and sales cycles. Banks have been asked to bring the contents of the circular to the notice of relevant stakeholders.