5 key events of the economy last week

Bangladesh's economy last week revolved around the prospect of a new IMF loan, higher RMG incentives for using local yarn, rising dollar prices, intraday trading approval, and falling apparel exports to the EU and US.

The following is a recap of those major stories as covered by Star Business.

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New IMF loan may come next January, say officials (July 12)

A new International Monetary Fund loan programme for Bangladesh, focusing on revenue growth and banking sector reforms, may start next January, officials said. An IMF mission began a five-day visit to Dhaka on July 12 to review the country's economic reform plans.

RMG exporters to get 5% incentive for using local yarn (July 13)

The government has raised the cash incentive for export-oriented garment manufacturers using locally produced yarn or fabric to 5 percent from 1.5 percent. The decision aims to support the domestic textile industry and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.

Dollar hits Tk 123 in inter-bank trade (July 14)

The US dollar hit Tk 123 in the inter-bank market on Monday, amid mounting pressure from government import payments and a slowdown in remittance inflows after Eid, according to Bangladesh Bank data. Banks were trading the dollar between Tk 122.70 and Tk 123.75.

BSEC approves intraday trading (July 15)

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the introduction of intraday trading to modernise the capital market and improve trading efficiency. The decision allows investors to buy and sell stocks within the same day.

Apparel exports to EU, US tumble in Jan-May (July 17)

Bangladesh's apparel exports to the EU and the US fell sharply in the first five months of 2026 due to weak global demand. Shipments to the EU plunged 18.89 percent to €7.28 billion, while exports to the US dropped 8.08 percent to $3.25 billion.