Qatar has agreed to renew a previously expired MoU with Bangladesh for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and advance discussions on a land-based LNG terminal in Cox’s Bazar. Under the existing SPA signed in 2017, Bangladesh imports 1.5–2.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG for 15 years, with a second SPA signed in June 2023 for an additional 1.5 MTPA starting in January 2026. Qatar currently supplies 40 LNG cargoes annually, with potential to scale up. Bangladesh plans to build an LNG terminal and pipeline in Matarbari to accommodate up to 115 cargoes per year. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Al Kaabi confirmed long-term supply commitments and noted potential LNG price reductions as Qatar aims to double production. Discussions also included increasing urea exports to Bangladesh. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan emphasized restructuring Bangladesh’s energy sector with Qatar’s collaboration to enhance supply security and infrastructure.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) signed a Tk 61.96 billion contract with a Japanese joint venture (Penta-Ocean Construction and TOA Corporation) to build Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port at Matarbari, as part of the revised Tk 243.81 billion Matarbari Port Development Project. The port, located in Cox’s Bazar, will feature a 300m multipurpose berth, 460m container berth, and a 14.3km channel with 16m depth and 350m width. It includes civil works, extension of the North Breakwater by 397m, procurement of cranes and tugboats, and construction of road, rail, and river links. Initiated in January 2020 and scheduled for completion by December 2029, the project is 73.7% financed (Tk 179.69 billion) by JICA. Once operational, it will handle 0.6–1.1 million TEUs, increasing to 2.2–2.6 million by 2041, and berth ships up to 8,200 TEUs, reducing reliance on transshipment hubs, boosting trade efficiency, and positioning Bangladesh as a strategic maritime gateway.

Over the past seven years, 56 companies raised Tk5,178 crore through IPOs in Bangladesh, but 24 of them—collectively raising over Tk2,000 crore—have been downgraded to the Z and B categories due to poor financial performance. These firms, including Global Islami Bank (Tk425 crore, 2021), Ring Shine Textile (Tk150 crore, 2019), and Lub-rref Bangladesh (Tk150 crore, 2021), have failed to deliver promised returns, with many not paying regular dividends or publishing financial reports. In 2019 alone, 9 IPOs raised Tk640 crore, with 6 firms—over Tk500 crore worth—now in the Z category. Regulatory bodies like BSEC have taken actions such as board dissolutions and are now pursuing legal measures. Experts attribute the crisis to manipulated financials and weak oversight, alleging that some listings under past commissions were influenced by corruption. This misuse of IPO funds and market manipulation has eroded investor confidence and raised concerns about the integrity of Bangladesh’s capital market.