Today’s top 5 business stories

Beyond Headlines brings together the five biggest business stories of the day in one concise business digest to keep readers informed about the developments that matter. Here’s the business digest for 8th October 2026.

BERC raises domestic jet fuel price to Tk 182.71

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission raised domestic jet fuel prices by Tk 17.06 to Tk 182.71 a litre on Wednesday night. Effective at midnight, the decision pushed costs up nearly 40 per cent since July.

According to BERC data, domestic rates rose by Tk 51.72 across three months from Tk 130.99 in July, following a September price of Tk 165.65. Meanwhile, international flight fuel was fixed at almost $1.19 a litre.

BERC said the October rates were determined by international Platts benchmark prices and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation exchange rates. The regulator said calculations also incorporated local transport adjustments for tankers and lorries resulting from diesel price revisions.

Despite sequential increases since August, the October tariff remains Tk 44.37 or 19.5 per cent below the annual peak of Tk 227.08 reached on 7 April. The regulator previously lowered fuel prices to Tk 130.99 in July.

Source: bdnews24.com

BB orders National Bank to resume withdrawals from 15 October

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman instructed National Bank today to allow depositors to withdraw funds according to demand from 15 October. The directive followed reported improvements in the troubled lender's liquidity situation.

The instruction came during a morning meeting with National Bank Chairman Melita Mehjabeen and acting official Zahidul Haque. The governor said the bank must ensure adequate cash at all branches and automated teller machines to meet client needs.

National Bank previously faced severe liquidity shortages from financial irregularities, preventing relocation to its newly built head office. Under an exemption from company law, Bangladesh Bank allowed the lender to rent out the building in July.

According to unaudited financial statements, the lender incurred Tk 22.86 billion in losses in early 2026, driven by non-performing loans and money laundering. The deficit widened from a Tk 9.85 billion loss during the same period in 2025.

Source: bdnews24.com

Food prices push September inflation to 8.34 per cent

Overall point-to-point inflation rose to 8.34 per cent in September from 8.26 per cent in August, ending two months of gradual easing. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data released on Wednesday, food inflation climbed to 7.22 per cent amid recent fuel price increases.

Non-food inflation eased slightly to 9.30 per cent, while rural households experienced higher price pressures at 8.38 per cent compared to 8.26 per cent in urban areas. Sectoral data showed hotel and restaurant expenses recorded the steepest increase at 13.26 per cent, followed by utilities and transport.

Dhaka University Economics Professor Deen Islam said disinflation remains fragile, urging combined fiscal and monetary policies to shield low-income citizens. Centre for Policy Dialogue Distinguished Fellow Fahmida Khatun said public relief programmes should expand.

Bangladesh Bank maintained its policy repo rate at 9.5 per cent, citing Middle East conflicts and civil service wage adjustments. Concurrently, the World Bank projected national inflation to average 8.6 per cent this fiscal year, driven by high fertiliser import dependency and currency depreciation.

Source: The Daily Star

SpaceX seeks $40 billion financing to purchase Nvidia chips

SpaceX is negotiating with banks and asset managers to raise $40 billion to acquire Nvidia artificial intelligence chips. The Elon Musk-led aerospace enterprise plans to secure approximately $10 billion in bank loans and $30 billion in investment-grade debt.

Private equity firm Apollo is expected to lead the transaction alongside asset manager PIMCO to place the debt among institutional investors. The massive debt package highlights accelerating computing demands, with Morgan Stanley estimating artificial intelligence infrastructure will require $1.5 trillion in external financing by 2028.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said SpaceX plans to use Nvidia processors exclusively to construct upcoming data facilities. Musk said the Colossus 2 facility could double its chip inventory by December.

Following the funding reports, SpaceX shares declined 2 per cent in early trading while Nvidia stock gained 0.5 per cent. The discussions follow Nvidia forming financing alliances with major investment managers in August to mobilise more than $500 billion for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Source: Reuters

BB raises outbound traveller cash limit to $3,000

Bangladesh Bank raised the foreign currency cash limit on Thursday, allowing licensed money changers to sell up to $3,000 to outbound Bangladeshi travellers. The revised policy replaces the previous $2,000 limit to facilitate the immediate financial requirements of outgoing citizens.

According to a Foreign Exchange Policy Department circular, the dollar notes and coins will be deducted from the annual private travel entitlement of each customer. Money changers may disburse the remaining entitlement balance using other freely convertible foreign currencies subject to availability.

The regulatory adjustment updates previous foreign exchange guidelines established in November 2024. Authorities implemented the measure to ease difficulties outbound passengers frequently encounter when securing adequate foreign cash before international travel.

The central bank instructed all financial institutions to display the updated notification prominently to inform prospective clients. All other existing provisions governing currency exchange procedures remain unchanged under the newly issued regulatory framework.

Source: The Business Standard

That concludes today’s briefing. Stay with Beyond Headlines for in-depth news and analysis, explainers, opinion pieces, long reads, and more.