Shortly after signing an agreement with Boeing, the government is set to buy 10 more from European manufacturer Airbus for national flag carrier Biman. "We are buying 10 Airbus aircraft. Inshallah, the agreement will be signed in October," Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat announced at a press briefing this week. The order would comprise four A350-900s and six of the A321neo variety, with a combined catalogue value of about $2.05 billion.

If the deal is inked, Biman will have 35 new planes in its procurement pipeline, including 25 Boeing jets. Of the planes, 19 aircraft are for long and high-demand routes and 16 jets for regional and medium-haul services. Biman does not currently have any Airbus aircraft in its fleet of 19 aircraft. Millat, however, said two were close to being "grounded", effectively leaving 17 available, while much of the existing fleet would need to be replaced over the next decade.

The securities regulator has decided to allow Beximco Pharmaceuticals to overhaul its board with nine members proposed by the company, subject to the withdrawal of cases filed challenging the appointment of independent directors across the listed companies of the conglomerate. The proposed board structure excludes the company's Vice-Chairman Salman Fazlur Rahman, who has been in jail since the change in the political landscape in August 2024.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on Tuesday (Sep. 29) decided to accept the board restructuring proposal at a meeting at the BSEC office. The decision was made considering the interest of the drug manufacturer and its investors. The proposed board structure complies with the corporate governance code. It will include three sponsor-directors - Ahmed Sohail Fasihur Rahman, Osman Kaiser Chowdhury, and Iqbal Ahmed. The company has a significant foreign stake - 27 percent - and is listed on a platform of the London Stock Exchange.

Attacks, vandalism and arson broke out in the Mirpur-10 roundabout area of the capital during a drive to clear illegally occupied pavements. The incident began at around 9.30 am today, Wednesday, when the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) launched an eviction drive to clear illegal occupiers from the pavements. According to eyewitnesses, a mobile court of the city corporation arrived in the morning to evict pavement stalls, accompanied by police. At one point, the pavement traders became agitated and attacked city corporation vehicles, vandalising and setting them on fire.

At around 11.45am, the traders were seen gathered in front of Mirpur Ideal College, while police were positioned at the Mirpur-10 roundabout. According to eyewitnesses, tensions prevailed in the area even after 11.45am. Police then fired tear-gas shells, while pavement traders continued to throw bricks and stones. The traders outnumbered the police, forcing officers to retreat in the face of the barrage of brick chips.

The government has kept the retail prices of diesel, octane, petrol and kerosene unchanged for October 2026. According to a notification issued by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday, the existing prices will remain effective throughout October. Under the latest rates, diesel will sell at Tk 135 per litre, octane at Tk 165, petrol at Tk 160 and kerosene at Tk 155 per litre. The prices were fixed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division through a notification issued on September 20, and the same rates have now been retained for October with the approval of the competent authorities.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said fuel prices in Bangladesh will be reduced once the international market stabilises and the Middle East crisis eases. "The fuel price hike is an unavoidable consequence of the global situation. It was not a deliberate decision by the government, but a necessary step taken amid the global economic crisis and in the interest of border security," he said.