In an unprecedented move, the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has hiked gold prices by up to Tk 6,299 per bhori, just 12 hours after announcing a price reduction. With this latest adjustment, the price of high-quality gold has soared past the Tk 2.55 lakh mark for the first time in the country’s history.
The new rates, announced in a press release on Friday (January 23), came into effect at 12:15 PM.
A Sudden U-Turn: Why the Quick Reversal?
The rapid policy shift caught the market by surprise. Only on Thursday night, BAJUS had reduced the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 3,149, setting it at Tk 249,318. However, that reduction lasted less than half a day.
Dr. Dewan Aminul Islam Shahin, Chairman of the BAJUS Standing Committee on Pricing and Monitoring, explained that the global market shifted drastically overnight.
“When we met yesterday, international prices were on a downward trend, leading to our 9 PM announcement. However, global gold prices began to surge rapidly shortly after. To protect the interests of both buyers and sellers, we held an emergency meeting today to re-adjust the rates.”
Geopolitical Tensions Driving Global Prices
BAJUS leaders have attributed the historic spike to escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. As the situation in the Middle East intensifies, investors are flocking to gold as a “safe-haven” asset.
According to global monitoring site Goldprice.org, the international price of gold surpassed $4,950 per ounce at 1:00 PM Bangladesh time today.
New Gold and Silver Rates in Bangladesh (Effective Jan 23)
The following table outlines the updated prices for gold and silver as per the BAJUS announcement:
| Category | Gold Price (Per Bhori) | Silver Price (Per Bhori) |
| 22-Carat | Tk 2,55,617 | Tk 6,882 |
| 21-Carat | Tk 2,44,011 | Tk 6,532 |
| 18-Carat | Tk 2,09,136 | Tk 5,599 |
| Traditional | Tk 1,71,869 | Tk 4,200 |
Note: A government-mandated 5% VAT and a minimum 6% making charge are applicable on top of these prices.
Market Outlook
Domestic jewelers noted that the price of Tejabi (pure gold) in the local market has mirrored the international surge, leaving them with no choice but to hike prices to maintain market equilibrium. This marks the 12th price adjustment in Bangladesh within the first 23 days of 2026, highlighting extreme volatility in the precious metals sector.
