Business
Rice Imports Resume Through Benapole After Four Months
Rice imports through Benapole land port resumed on Thursday (August 21) after a four-month pause, with 315 metric tons arriving in nine Indian trucks.
Importers said the move is expected to ease rice prices in the domestic market, potentially reducing costs by Tk 5–7 per kilogram. Premium slender rice may stabilize between Tk 67–70 per kg, while Swarna rice could range from Tk 50–52.
Abdus Samad, owner of Messrs Haji Musa Karim & Sons, confirmed the first consignment and said more trucks loaded with rice are waiting to enter. “With import permits and LCs issued, rice imports are expected to rise further from Sunday,” he added.
Shamsur Rahman, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said this marks the first consignment since April 15. Plant quarantine officials have already begun sample testing to expedite clearance.
From Tuesday (September 30), the price of gold in Bangladesh has been set at Tk 195,384 per bhori (11.664 grams), following an increase of Tk 2,415 announced by the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) on Monday.
BAJUS stated that while the global and local prices of pure (tezhabi) gold have fallen, domestic prices have been readjusted considering overall market conditions.
According to the new rate, 22-carat gold will be sold at Tk 195,384 per bhori, 21-carat at Tk 186,496, 18-carat at Tk 159,855, and traditional method gold at Tk 132,725 per bhori.
Additionally, buyers must pay a mandatory 5% government-imposed VAT and a 6% minimum wage charge set by BAJUS. The wage may vary depending on jewelry design and quality.
With this adjustment, gold prices in Bangladesh have now been revised 59 times in 2025 alone—41 increases and 18 decreases. In 2024, the market saw 62 revisions, with 35 hikes and 27 cuts.
Educational institutions across Bangladesh will remain closed for 12 consecutive days during the upcoming Durga Puja festival. According to the latest circular from the Ministry of Education, schools and colleges will observe holidays from 28 September to 7 October.
Students will enjoy an extended break as the weekly holidays on 26 and 27 September fall just before the official vacation. In addition, 6 October, the day of Laxmi Puja, has been declared as an optional holiday for schools and colleges.
The holiday package also covers other religious occasions, including Fateha-i-Yaj Daham, Prabarana Purnima, and Sri Sri Laxmi Puja. However, universities, being autonomous, will set their own vacation schedules through their respective syndicates.
Meanwhile, office employees will enjoy a shorter holiday period. They will get three consecutive days off — beginning with the official holiday on 2 October for Bijoya Dashami, followed by the regular weekend holidays on 3 and 4 October.
A rare 2.5-kg hilsa was caught in the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata and later sold at auction for Tk 8,850. The fish, caught on September 8, was brought to the Alipur fish market on September 11, where it was sold at Tk 3,550 per kg.
Fisherman Masum Billah said the hilsa got trapped in his net and was later auctioned at the local market. Kuakata Fresh Fish owner P.M. Musa purchased it and plans to send it to the home of a US expatriate in Gazipur.
Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Opu Saha said the arrival of such large hilsa is good news for local fishermen and reflects a positive trend in coastal fishing.
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