Bangladesh Imports 5x More Than It Exports to SAARC

• Bangladesh Beats Competitors in RMG Export Growth to US — Exports rose 45.93% YoY to $799.65M, driven by higher tariffs on Chinese goods. Source

• Remittance Inflow Surges Amid Forex Reserve Crisis — $814.29M sent in the first 8 days of March, a 23.8% increase from last year. Source

• Japan Lending Bangladesh $581M — Funding goes to the Matarbari Power Project and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority upgrade. Source

• Pharma Exports Rise Despite February Slump — Exports grew 7.1% YoY to $145.46M, driven by demand from the US, Europe, and Australia. Source

• Bangladesh’s Current Account Deficit Drops 87% — Deficit shrinks to $552M, aided by rising remittances and a narrowing trade gap. Source

• Govt Raises $250M Through Sukuk Bonds — Funds allocated for rural bridge construction, with the bond oversubscribed 3.6x. Source

• Sri Lankan Investors Show Interest in BD’s Stock Market — Colombo Stock Exchange officials seek partnerships with BSEC. Source

• Bangladesh Imports 5x More Than It Exports to SAARC — Calls for policy measures to boost regional trade and reduce reliance on Indian imports. Source

• Bangladesh Bank Relaxes Loan Exit Policy for Defaulters — Down payments cut to 5%, with extended repayment periods to support struggling borrowers. Source

• Land Registration Taxes May Fall in Next Budget — NBR considers lower taxes to stimulate property transactions and revenue growth. Source

Economy & Banking

• Bangladesh's Economy Expands at Slower Pace: The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 64.6 in February, signaling slower growth, with agriculture thriving but construction and services lagging. Source

• Private Sector Credit Growth Hits Decade-Low: Credit growth fell to 7.15% in January, with high interest rates and cautious bank lending stifling industrial expansion. Source

• Food Prices Drive 53% of Inflation: Inflation dropped to 11.1%, but food prices continued to pressure consumers, with wage growth failing to keep pace. Source

• Foreign Exchange Reserves Dip Below $20bn: Reserves fell to $19.7bn after a $1.75bn ACU payment, with IMF's BPM-6 standard excluding some holdings. Source

• Remittance Inflow Surges Amid Forex Crisis: Bangladeshi expatriates sent $814.29M in March’s first week, with private banks receiving the largest share. Source

• BB Governor to Visit UK for Asset Recovery: Efforts are underway to recover $75–100bn of laundered assets through global cooperation. Source

Energy & Infrastructure

• Adani Resumes Full-Scale Power Supply: The company restored 1,362 MW to Bangladesh after resolving payment backlogs with BPDB. Source

• US Oil Major Expands Gas Operations: Chevron proposed developing new gas blocks, which could increase output by up to 1,350 mmcfd. Source

• Incomplete Projects Face Deadline: The government pushes to complete two delayed infrastructure projects by fiscal year-end. Source

Trade & Commerce

• Bangladesh Leads RMG Export Growth to US: Apparel exports rose 45.93% to $799.65M, benefiting from US tariffs on China and Mexico. Source

• Pharma Exports Grow Despite February Slump: Exports increased 7.1% to $145.46M, but February saw a temporary decline due to US aid cuts. Source

• Rice Shipments Arrive from Vietnam & India: 38,880 tonnes of rice arrived to stabilize local prices amid rising domestic food costs. Source

• Vessels Face Delays at Chattogram Port: Container handling disruptions continue due to unresolved disputes over onboard handling charges. Source

• Bangladesh Imports 5x More Than It Exports to SAARC: The country’s trade deficit with SAARC nations remains high, with import payments reaching $9.76bn. Source

International

• China-US Trade War Escalates: New tariffs on US agricultural products intensify trade tensions, with China's export growth slowing. Source

• Ukraine Open to 30-Day Ceasefire: The US plans to resume military aid and present a ceasefire proposal to Russia. Source

• EU to Impose Tariffs on US Goods: Counter-tariffs worth $28bn will take effect on April 1 in response to US steel and aluminum duties. Source