30 September 2026
Bangladesh Bank announced its quarterly monetary policy statement for the October-December quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year and left the repo rate unchanged at 9.50 per cent.
The Standing Lending Facility rate stays at 11.00 per cent and the Standing Deposit Facility rate at 7.50 per cent.
The decision was taken at the fourteenth meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee on 23 September 2026 and was presented by Deputy Governor Md Habibur Rahman.
The central bank said premature monetary easing could reignite inflation expectations, with headline inflation at 8.26 per cent in August 2026.
It also recorded private sector credit growth of 4.75 per cent in August 2026 and real GDP growth of 4.14 per cent for FY26.
Repo rate:
9.50 per cent
Standing Lending Facility rate:
11.00 per cent
Standing Deposit Facility rate:
7.50 per cent
Period covered:
October-December 2026
MPC meeting:
14th meeting, 23 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Policy rates of India's neighbouring central banks are standard comparison questions in bank and UPSC papers.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Repo rate Repurchase rate — The rate at which the central bank lends short-term money to commercial banks against securities.
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The committee inside a central bank that decides the policy interest rate.
SLF Standing Lending Facility — A window where banks can borrow from the central bank at a rate above the repo rate.
1 October 2026
Bangladesh Bank data show that remittances in the July-September quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year were 8.59 billion dollars, 13.3 per cent higher than 7.59 billion dollars in the same quarter a year earlier.
September 2026 brought in 2.77 billion dollars, a 3 per cent rise over September 2025 but the lowest monthly figure in eleven months.
Monthly inflows were 2.82 billion dollars in June 2026, 2.86 billion dollars in July and 2.97 billion dollars in August.
Remittances in the 2025-26 fiscal year totalled 35.59 billion dollars, against 30.33 billion dollars the previous year.
The highest single month on record was March 2026 with 3.75 billion dollars.
Quarterly remittances:
8.59 billion dollars
Growth over a year earlier:
13.3 per cent
September 2026:
2.77 billion dollars
Fiscal 2025-26 total:
35.59 billion dollars
Record month:
March 2026, 3.75 billion dollars
Why it matters for exams: Remittance inflows are a recurring balance-of-payments question and Bangladesh is among the largest recipients in South Asia.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Remittance Remittance — Money sent home by citizens working abroad, counted in the current account of the balance of payments.
Fiscal year Financial year — Bangladesh's fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June, so 2026-27 began in July 2026.
5 October 2026
The Cabinet Division announced that the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved a five-day holiday for Sharadiya Durga Puja from 20 to 24 October 2026.
To make up for the added day, government offices will remain open on Saturday 17 October 2026.
The existing holidays were 20 October for Navami and 21 October for Bijoya Dashami, with 23 and 24 October falling on the weekly holidays; 22 October was newly declared.
The Ministry of Public Administration will issue the notification giving effect to the decision.
The government also raised the grant to the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust for Durga Puja to Tk 50 million against a request for Tk 40 million, and the grant to the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust for Kathin Chibar Dan to Tk 30 million against a request for Tk 20 million.
Holiday period:
20 to 24 October 2026
Working Saturday:
17 October 2026
Newly declared holiday:
22 October 2026
Grant for Durga Puja:
Tk 50 million
Grant for Kathin Chibar Dan:
Tk 30 million
Why it matters for exams: The Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration are the bodies that declare Bangladesh's public holidays, a frequently tested point of administrative structure.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Cabinet Division Cabinet Division of the Government of Bangladesh — The division that services cabinet meetings and announces their decisions.
Bijoya Dashami Bijoya Dashami — The concluding day of Durga Puja, when the idols are taken for immersion.
Kathin Chibar Dan Kathin Chibar Dan — A Buddhist ceremony in which robes woven within a day are offered to monks.
Taka Bangladeshi taka — The currency of Bangladesh, issued by Bangladesh Bank.
Background
The United Nations member-states list gives Bangladesh's date of admission as 17 September 1974.
The Commonwealth page for Bangladesh says it joined the Commonwealth in 1972, after independence from Pakistan.
The World Trade Organization says Bangladesh has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995.
The same WTO page says Bangladesh has been a member of GATT since 16 December 1972.
The capital city is Dhaka.
UN admission:
17 September 1974
Commonwealth:
1972
WTO member since:
1 January 1995
GATT member since:
16 December 1972
Capital:
Dhaka
Why it matters for exams: Membership years of international bodies are a staple of country-profile questions, and the UN, GATT and WTO dates are easily confused.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade — The multilateral trade agreement that preceded the WTO.
Background
The capital city of Bangladesh is Dhaka.
The Commonwealth profile says Bangladesh is surrounded by India to the west, north and east.
It borders Myanmar in the south-east, and the Bay of Bengal lies to the south.
Bangladesh is mainly low-lying delta, but mountains separate it from Myanmar and parts of India.
There is a large area of swamp forest in the south.
The profile gives the area as 147,570 square kilometres.
Capital:
Dhaka
Land neighbours:
India, Myanmar
Water to the south:
Bay of Bengal
Area:
147,570 square kilometres
Why it matters for exams: Capital, neighbours and basic physical geography are the opening questions in every country-profile set.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
UNESCO's World Heritage Convention page for Bangladesh lists two cultural and one natural property.
The Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat is listed as a cultural property, with the year 1985.
The Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur is also a cultural property, with the year 1985.
The Sundarbans is the natural property, with the year 1997.
The page also records state-of-conservation reports on the Sundarbans.
Cultural properties:
Bagerhat (1985), Paharpur (1985)
Natural property:
The Sundarbans (1997)
Why it matters for exams: World Heritage lists are asked by category (cultural or natural) and by year of inscription.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
International Mother Language Day is observed on 21 February.
UNESCO says the idea of celebrating it was the initiative of Bangladesh.
It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference.
It has been observed throughout the world since 2000.
UNESCO ties the day to its mandate for peace, preserving cultural and linguistic differences.
Date:
21 February
Approved at:
1999 UNESCO General Conference
Observed worldwide since:
2000
Why it matters for exams: International days and the country behind them are regular recall questions, and this one links Bangladesh to a global observance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — The UN agency that approved this international day.
Background
Maitri Setu is built over the Feni river, which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura State and Bangladesh.
The 1.9 Km long bridge joins Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
It was built by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd at a project cost of Rs. 133 Crores.
PIB says Chittagong Port is just 80 Kms from Sabroom.
PIB calls the Agartala-Akhaura railway project the first railway project between the North Eastern States and Bangladesh.
The alignment is 5.46 km in India and 6.78 km in Bangladesh, at a total cost of Rs.972.52 crore.
The rail link was inaugurated on 1 November 2023.
Bridge:
Maitri Setu over the Feni river
Bridge length:
1.9 Km
Joins:
Sabroom (India) and Ramgarh (Bangladesh)
Rail link alignment:
5.46 km in India, 6.78 km in Bangladesh
Why it matters for exams: India's neighbourhood connectivity projects with Bangladesh are asked as names, rivers, places and agencies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IRCON Indian Railway Construction Company — The firm through which Ministry of Railways built the Indian portion.
Background
A Ganga/Ganges Waters sharing Treaty was signed with Bangladesh in 1996.
It covers the sharing of Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka.
PIB describes Farakka as the last control structure on river Ganga in India.
As per the Treaty, the waters are shared during the lean period, from 1 January to 31 May every year.
Sharing is on a 10-day period basis, as per the formula provided in the Treaty.
Treaty year:
1996
Sharing point:
Farakka
Sharing period:
1 January to 31 May
Basis:
10-day period
Why it matters for exams: India's water treaties with its neighbours are asked by year, river, location and the sharing period.
Kerala PSCUPSC