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 30th September 2026.

Five banks to raise Tk 3,500 crore via bonds

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approved bond issuance proposals by five private commercial banks to raise a combined Tk 3,500 crore on Tuesday. The regulatory decision aims to strengthen institutional capital bases and expand financing capacity.

The debt instruments comprise subordinated bonds for One Bank, Southeast Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank and Bank Asia, alongside a zero-coupon green bond for BRAC Bank. Proceeds will reinforce Tier-II capital under Basel III compliance, while supporting environmental refinancing projects.

BRAC Bank received approval to issue Tk 1,000 crore at an estimated discount rate of 8.5 per cent. Bank Asia and Southeast Bank will each issue Tk 800 crore, while Al-Arafah Islami Bank and One Bank will raise Tk 500 crore and Tk 400 crore respectively.

All five debt securities will be issued through private placement to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, BSEC said in a press statement. The securities will subsequently be listed on the main boards of the stock exchanges.

Source: The Daily Star

BB caps Islamic card withdrawals at 50 per cent

Bangladesh Bank issued operational guidelines for Islamic credit cards on Tuesday, prohibiting lenders from generating extra revenue from debt or payment delays. The central bank permitted scheduled Islamic banks to issue local cards, requiring specialised licences for foreign currencies.

Under the framework, credit transactions and delayed payments must operate as interest-free loans, barring banks from levying interest or percentage-based fees. Institutions may only charge fixed service fees reflecting actual direct costs, while deposit funds cannot finance card operations.

Late payment penalties must be fixed upfront as charitable donations rather than corporate earnings. The guidelines also established a five-day cooling-off cancellation window for consumers, alongside requiring a 30-day notice before lenders alter fees or cardholder terms.

Cash advances are capped at 50 per cent of credit limits, with merchant category codes automatically blocking non-compliant transactions including gambling and cryptocurrency. Scheduled banks must conduct annual Shariah audits, submitting compliance reports to Bangladesh Bank within two months of year-end.

Source: UNB

IMF finds flaws in NBR plan seeking $4 billion loan

The International Monetary Fund identified flaws in revenue reform proposals submitted by the National Board of Revenue for a new $4 billion lending programme. Officials said the Fund judged the plan undependable for sustained long-term tax collection.

IMF representatives said the revenue authority prioritised immediate targets for the current fiscal year while failing to outline required structural measures for subsequent years. A delegation led by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will address these gaps in Bangkok.

The Finance Division decided to arrange a virtual tripartite meeting between ministry officials, the revenue board and the lender to resolve differences. A senior official said low revenue generation continues to hold back necessary state financing and development.

The government previously scrapped an earlier $5.5 billion programme negotiated by the preceding administration after receiving $3.595 billion, terming key reforms unfeasible. Formal negotiations for the new credit package will proceed following the annual meetings next month.

Source: The Financial Express

ACI to invest Tk 69 crore in joint ventures

Advanced Chemical Industries PLC approved a Tk 69 crore investment on Monday to expand operations. The listed firm decided at its 232nd board meeting to launch a new venture and fund an existing entity, officials said.

Under the plan, ACI will invest Tk 9 crore for a 60 per cent stake in ACI-Ichinen Bangladesh Limited. The entity will have authorised capital of Tk 50 crore and paid-up capital of Tk 15 crore, filings showed.

The board also approved an additional equity investment of Tk 60 crore in existing joint venture ACI Co-Ro Bangladesh Limited. Company officials said the injection brings total planned capital allocations across both corporate units to Tk 69 crore.

Both investment decisions and the company formation remain subject to approval from relevant authorities. In the stock market, ACI shares closed slightly lower at Tk 182 on Tuesday compared with Tk 184 in the previous session.

Source: New Age

Remittance inflows surge 13.5 per cent to $8.35 billion

Remittance inflows to Bangladesh rose 13.5 per cent year-on-year to $8.357 billion between 1st July and 28th September 0f the current fiscal year. Bangladesh Bank data confirmed that total receipts expanded by $992 million over the previous year.

During the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, the country received US$7.365 billion in expatriate earnings. Central bank records showed that the latest influx maintained a strong flow of remittances during the early months of FY27.

Between 1 September and 28 September, workers' remittances reached $2.532 billion, registering a 2.7 per cent expansion from $2.465 billion recorded in 2025. Expatriate Bangladeshis transferred US$98 million on 28 September alone to elevate the monthly sum.

The sustained growth in workers' remittances contributed directly to foreign exchange inflows while supporting the country's overall external-sector position. Official data confirmed that regular overseas transfers remained essential to maintaining foreign exchange liquidity across the financial system.

Source: BSS

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