The Election Commission brought changes in the election code a week before the parliamentary polls, relaxing the provisions for the use of microphones or loudspeakers and the content of voter slips. According to the revised Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates Rule, 2025, a candidate or anyone on his or her behalf can use the necessary number of microphones or loud speakers in a rally instead of only three, as previously stipulated.

The Commission amended the code of conduct on January 29 last but its gazette was uploaded in the EC's website on Wednesday (Feb. 4). As per the changed code, voter slips (maximum 12cm by 8cm) with the names of a contender and symbol can be distributed among the voters. In the original code, the name and symbol of a candidate couldn't be given on the voter slip. The EC brought the change in the content of voter slips following a demand placed by the BNP.

Private sector credit growth in Bangladesh dropped to 6.1 percent in December, the lowest level in more than two decades, as political uncertainty and prolonged economic stress continued to weigh on business activity. Bangladesh Bank data, available since 2003, showed that private credit growth had never fallen this low, even during earlier financial crises or periods of political turmoil.Experts said that the sustained slowdown reflected a combination of political instability, structural weaknesses in the banking system and weakening business confidence.

They said that many businesses have adopted a cautious stance and are delaying investment decisions while waiting for an elected government and clearer economic signals. The national election is scheduled for February 12. After a marginal uptick in November, the downward trend resumed in December. The slowdown began early in 2024 and intensified after the political transition in August that year.

The High Court upheld the interim government's decision to appoint UAE-based DP World through a direct selection process to operate and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port under a public-private partnership. In its full verdict, the court said bidding is optional, not mandatory, under the PPP Act, 2015, the G2G Policy, 2017, and the Procurement Guidelines, 2018. The court rejected demands for mandatory public tendering for the project.

A single-member bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed dismissed a public interest writ petition filed in 2025 by Bangladesh Juba Arthanitibid Forum president Mirza Walid Hossain, challenging the interim government's decision on the deal. It held that authorities acted lawfully in opting for direct selection and that a judicial review court cannot replace decisions taken by bodies empowered under law. The court ruled that the MoUs are valid legal documents and not ultra vires the PPP Act. It also noted that the law allows state-owned entities to act as private partners.

Bangladesh Bank purchased an additional $171 million from 16 commercial banks on Wednesday (Feb. 4) as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the country's foreign exchange market. The dollars were bought at a cut-off rate of Tk 122.30 per US dollar, a central bank official said. This intervention follows a major purchase on Monday when the central bank acquired $218.5 million from 16 banks at the same rate. Throughout the current fiscal, Bangladesh Bank has been actively buying dollars to curb rapid Taka appreciation and strengthen foreign exchange reserves.

The total purchases for 2025-26 fiscal have reached $4.32 billion. Arif Hosain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed the latest purchase, noting that the central bank employs an auction-based system to manage liquidity. Banking insiders say that while the dollar crisis of previous years has eased, active participation by the central bank remains critical to prevent market volatility and ensure a predictable exchange rate for trade planning.