ADP Implementation Hits Record Low of 4.75% in Q1 FY25

The government is planning to convert several closed jute, sugar, and textile mills into economic zones to better utilize idle land and attract industrial investment. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) has identified three initial candidates-Karim Jute Mills in Dhaka, Kushtia Sugar Mills, and Mohini Textile Mills in Kushtia-for this transformation.

The government will return nearly 12,000 acres of forestland in Cox's Bazar to the Forest Department, aiming to curb illegal occupation and environmental degradation. Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced the initiative, highlighting that no construction will be permitted in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) without approval from the Department of Environment, Forest Department, and District Administration.

Bangladesh's premature graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by November 2026 could significantly harm its economy, poverty levels, and industrial competitiveness, experts warned. Despite meeting UN graduation criteria, economists like Prof. Mushtaq Khan emphasized the lack of a preparedness roadmap and urged presenting data-driven appeals to Ecosoc to delay the transition.

In March, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) expanded its fleet of subsidised food trucks from 70 to 410, aiming to support more low-income citizens amid near double-digit inflation. Each truck now serves 400 individuals daily—double the previous capacity.

The government has increased the monthly salaries of outsourced workers in state-owned and state-run organizations for the first time in six years, raising pay by Tk 570 to Tk 1,102 depending on city and job category. The finance ministry’s new circular also introduces three additional job categories, bringing more types of specialized workers under the revised pay structure.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) is set to launch the Bangladesh Business Portal, a unified digital platform to streamline all trade and investment-related services. Currently, Bida’s One Stop Service (OSS) platform hosts 134 services from 44 agencies, but many key services are still missing, causing confusion among users.