Former Dhaka University professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar has been sworn in as a new member of the Advisory Council of the interim government. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered his oath at Bangabhaban on Wednesday morning. During the brief ceremony, Abrar first took the oath for the advisory position and then the oath of secrecy. Following the ceremony, he signed the oath book. He was taking the helm of the education ministry, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing said on Facebook.

Meanwhile, two more individuals were appointed as special assistants to the chief adviser, with the rank of state minister: Sheikh Moinuddin will be at the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, while Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb will be at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. The Cabinet Division issued a notification to this effect, saying that during their tenure as special assistants, they will receive the rank, salary, allowances and other benefits of a state minister.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia were the top sources of remittance inflows to Bangladesh in the first seven months of the 2024-25 fiscal year. According to Bangladesh Bank, total remittance inflows from the top 30 countries stood at $15.96 billion during the period. Remittance inflows peaked in December before declining in January, before bouncing back again with a record month in February, adding $2.53 billion - the highest ever recorded in the shortest month of the year, as well as the 4th-highest monthly inflow since records started.

The United States led with $2.9 billion in remittances from July 2024 to January 2025. Monthly inflows from the US peaked at $565.04 million in December before falling to $407.52 million in January. The United Kingdom ranked second, with inflows totaling $1.47 billion. Migrant Bangladeshis in the UK sent home $273.4 million in January. Saudi Arabia followed closely, contributing $1.99 billion during this period.

Bangladesh and India held a two-day meeting to review Indian-funded projects which have been running behind schedule in Bangladesh. Officials from the two countries participated in the meeting at Dhaka's Economic Relations Division (ERD) aiming to resolve complexities and expedite the long-delayed projects. It was the first such meeting since the student-led mass uprising ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 last year, forcing her to flee to the neighbouring country.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed reiterated that projects under Indian line of credit (LoCs) would continue. "As project implementation was delayed, many assumed we would shut those down. But that is not the case. It's not possible," he told reporters after a meeting of the advisory committee on government purchase. He said it does not matter which government initiated these projects because they are necessary. "So, we have decided to continue them," he added. Projects with zero to one percent progress will be reviewed, but they will not be cancelled at this stage, he added.

The government will clear its arrears with international energy suppliers within the next two months, according to Fouzul Kabir Khan, energy adviser of the interim government, in disclosing the government's plan in this regard. He mentioned that the Finance Ministry has assured him of providing all necessary support for making the payments. "We hope there will be a substantial breakthrough in clearing the arrear bills to international companies," he told our sister newsagency UNB.

Bangladesh has been struggling to pay international companies for its purchases of oil, gas, and electricity due to a shortage of foreign currency, as its reserves have dropped to around $20 billion since 2024 from $48 billion in 2022. According to official sources, approximately $700 million in overdue payments is owed to international oil companies (IOCs), including Chevron Bangladesh and QatarEnergy. If dues to power companies are included, the amount will exceed $2 billion, according to sources at the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources.