VAT automation stuck in foreign grip as local expertise lags
The country's Value Added Tax (VAT) automation has remained monopolised by Vietnamese firm FPT, as the online platform was developed on software for which there is no local expertise.The contract with FPT, signed in 2015 at a value of US$33.6 million, is the largest turnkey IT contract in Bangladesh's history....
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Banks' H1 CSR spending drops 51pc
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure of banks fell by nearly 51 per cent in the first half (H1) of 2025 compared to the previous half (July-December 2024), according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.During the January-June period, banks spent over Tk 1.50 billion on CSR activities, while the expenditure had stood...
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Yunus hopes bilateral relations to reach new height
Bangladesh and China on Wednesday celebrated the golden jubilee of their diplomatic ties, pledging to deepen cooperation in peace, development, and mutual prosperity. The occasion also coincided with the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, marked by a commemorative program in Dhaka attended by Chinese...
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ECNEC okays 13 projects worth Tk 83.33b
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 13 projects worth Tk 83.33 billion aimed at strengthening energy exploration, upgrading infrastructure, and supporting social development across the country.To strengthen the state-owned energy exploration company Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), ECNEC approved the procurement...
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Experts suggest constitutional order to implement July Charter: Ali Riaz
National Consensus Commission (NCC) Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz on Wednesday said an expert panel has recommended that the Commission issue a "constitutional order" to implement the July Charter, with final approval from the people through a referendum."A coordinated opinion has been received from experts on implementing the constitutional recommendations of...
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NBR seizes 2 more bank lockers of Hasina
The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday seized two more bank lockers belonging to Sheikh Hasina at Agrani Bank.The lockers, numbered 751 and 753, are at the principal branch of Agrani Bank PLC, CIC sources say.Last week, the CIC had seized another locker...
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57m severely hit by extreme heat in country, says study
Bangladesh ranked among the countries hardest hit by abnormal heat this summer, with 57 million people-over a third of the population-facing dangerously high temperatures, according to a new report by international research organization Climate Central released Wednesday, reports UNB.The study found that from June to August, human-driven climate change exposed...
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Polytechnic students block a major road at the city's Satrasta intersection
Polytechnic students block a major road at the city's Satrasta intersection on Wednesday, disrupting vehicular movement during peak hours. — FE Photo by K Asad-Uz-Zaman
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