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Beyond Headlines brings together the five biggest business stories of the day in one concise news digest to keep readers informed about the developments that matter. Here’s the news digest for 24th October 2026.
The Bangladesh Bank website remained offline for a second consecutive day following a global cybersecurity alert regarding critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language. The central bank suspended public access to the platform on Thursday at noon as a precautionary measure.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan said authorities kept the platform offline to ensure its full security. He confirmed that digital financial connections between the central bank and commercial lenders remain completely unaffected and are operating smoothly.
The preemptive shutdown followed international warnings after cybersecurity firms Calif and Wiz identified severe flaws in PHP using artificial intelligence tools. The central bank's information technology department is actively addressing the issue, though officials have not provided a specific timeline for restoring public access.
The domestic financial regulator has faced significant cybersecurity challenges previously, including a 36-hour precautionary shutdown of some internal web-based services in 2023 and a 2016 cyberheist that diverted 101 million dollars from its Federal Reserve account.
Source: BSS
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will embark on a four-day official visit to Japan on Monday to attract fresh investment and accelerate ongoing infrastructure projects.
The Economic Section of the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka welcomed the upcoming trip, noting that investor sentiment is improving amid the new government's pro-business policies. Officials expect the diplomatic engagement to strengthen the bilateral Strategic Partnership established in 2023.
Tarique Rahman will hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on 27 October. He will deliver a keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet leadership from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan External Trade Organization.
Authorities plan to discuss implementing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in February 2026, alongside potential memorandums of understanding covering civil aviation, agriculture and trade. The itinerary also includes visits to a Chiba liquefied natural gas terminal, the Uniqlo headquarters and a Nagoya Toyota factory.
Source: BSS
Trade operations between Bangladesh and India resumed at the Benapole and Sonamasjid land ports on Saturday morning following a week-long suspension for the Durga Puja holidays.
At Benapole, nearly 3,000 workers returned to handle cargo after the closure halted the daily movement of around 500 goods trucks. According to the Benapole Port Importers and Exporters Association, the extended suspension resulted in an estimated government revenue loss of around Tk 160 crore.
Association President Mohsin Milon said the prolonged closure caused border traffic congestion, leaving thousands of loaded trucks waiting to enter the port.
Commercial activities simultaneously restarted at Chapainawabganj's Sonamasjid land port, which had remained closed since 17 October.
Sonamasjid Land Port Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association Member Secretary Ruhul Amin said internal cargo handling continued during the closure, which coincided with a holiday declared by India's Mahadipur Land Port Exporters Association.
Despite the halt in freight transport, cross-border passenger movement through the immigration checkpoints remained unaffected throughout the festive period.
Source: UNB
Global benchmark Brent crude exceeded $115 per barrel to hit a five-month high on Friday, while international equity markets retreated amid corporate earnings and artificial intelligence valuation concerns.
Oil prices surged on speculation of renewed US-Israeli military strikes following the November United States midterm elections. The ongoing Middle East conflict, escalating Ukraine tensions and anticipated winter energy demand further elevated global fuel costs.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 1 per cent. European markets also dropped significantly, with Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars plunging over 26 per cent and announcing 2,500 global job cuts following a third-quarter loss.
AJ Bell financial analysis head Danni Hewson said global markets were contending with concerns regarding surging oil prices and the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending. An unidentified analyst noted that elevated energy costs keep inflation and interest rate concerns prominent, while higher borrowing costs independently threaten debt-financed artificial intelligence development. FOREX.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada said strong financial results no longer satisfy investors if future corporate outlooks miss demanding market valuations.
Market focus will now shift to upcoming interest-rate policy meetings at the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank next week.
Source: AFP
Bangladesh's government debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to remain at approximately 40 per cent for 2026, remaining significantly lower than several major South Asian economies amid challenging global conditions.
According to an International Monetary Fund dataset, the projected debt ratio stands at less than half of India's estimated 83 per cent. Regional comparisons place Pakistan at around 70 per cent, Sri Lanka at 95 per cent and Nepal at 49.36 per cent. Meanwhile, government debt in Bhutan and the Maldives is projected to exceed their annual economic output at 116 per cent and 131 per cent respectively.
A comparatively moderate debt burden can provide a country with greater flexibility to finance essential public services, healthcare, education and infrastructure development, provided borrowing remains sustainable. However, maintaining this favourable position for Bangladesh will require strengthened revenue mobilisation, improved expenditure efficiency and productive new investments.
The analysis highlighted the critical need to manage debt-servicing costs efficiently as governments across the region face mounting pressure to finance development priorities while navigating persistent inflation and external economic uncertainty.
Source: BSS
That concludes today’s briefing. Stay with Beyond Headlines for in-depth news and analysis, explainers, opinion pieces, long reads, and more.
Beyond Headlines brings together the five biggest business stories of the day in one concise news digest to keep readers informed about the developments that matter. Here’s the news digest for 22th October 2026.
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Beyond Headlines brings together the five biggest business stories of the day in one concise news digest to keep readers informed about the developments that matter. Here’s the news digest for 20th October 2026.
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