Prayer Timings (2024-09-02)

BSEC forms body to probe irregularities

The securities regulator has formed a five-member committee to investigate irregularities in the stock market, including allegations concerning the issuance of Beximco Green Sukuk Bond and IFIC Granted Sreepur Township Green Zero Coupon Bond.The panel will also investigate the process...

FSIB board reconstituted

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has dissolved the board of First Security Islami Bank and reconstituted it appointing Md Abdul Mannan, former managing director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd (IBBL), as the chairman of the new board. The central bank on Sunday...

Big-deal Tk 15.52b loan for Orion solar project blocked

Everything was set to approve a loan worth Tk 15.52 billion for Orion solar-power project bypassing certain conditions, including the single-borrower exposure limit. But following the change of government through student-people uprising the Financial Institution Division of the Ministry of...

Remittances rise 39pc to $2.22b in Aug

Bangladesh received $2.22 billion in remittances in August, in a year-on-year rise by 39 per cent, according to the latest monthly data that bring some solace about forex reserves.With the higher remittance inflow, as per the statistics Bangladesh Bank (BB)...

IMF may lend $3.0b more

International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials were found positive about a Bangladesh proposal seeking US$3.0 billion more in budget support in addition to the ongoing loan package, said the Finance and Commerce Adviser. "The IMF wanted to know about the interim...

Export-oriented units to get loan for employee salaries

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Sunday announced that it would allow loan facilities to export-oriented units for the payment of employee salaries. These units have been facing difficulties due to the recent domestic political situation and the global economic environment.As a...

MoUs with India await review

A slew of memoranda of understanding signed with India during the past government, which include a latest one on rail transit, await a review. Dhaka will also make a move for extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina--staying in India...

QatarEnergy to double annual urea production

DOHA, Sept 1 (Reuters): State-owned QatarEnergy will boost its production of urea to more than 12.4 million tons annually from 6 million tons currently, its CEO said in a press conference on Sunday, without giving a timeframe.Saad Al-Kaabi, also Qatar's...

Egypt's Sisi ordered huge wheat purchase fearing new supply crisis

CAIRO/DUBAI, Sept 1 (Reuters): Egypt's biggest ever wheat tender, nearly 20 times its usual size, stemmed from food security concerns sparked by an intelligence briefing given to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to three security and government sources.Egypt, one of...

India plans to raise veg oils import taxes

MUMBAI, Sept 1 (Reuters): India is considering an increase in import taxes on vegetable oils to help protect farmers reeling from lower oilseed prices, two government sources said on Wednesday.The move, which is likely to be announced in the coming...

Phone search by police violates human rights

In the digital age, privacy is more critical than ever. Mobile phones have become extensions of our personal lives, storing intimate details ranging from private messages to financial information. Given their importance, the search and seizure of these devices must...

Stop rickshaws from plying on main roads

The recent surge in traffic congestion in Dhaka is alarming. Over the past month, the situation has worsened, primarily due to the unchecked movement of slow-moving rickshaws. These rickshaws, along with battery-run auto-rickshaws, are now plying the main roads and...

Developments for and against anti-discrimination movement

Bliss it was in that dawn to be aliveBut to be young was very heaven Nothing could be more appropriate for Bangladesh right at the moment than the famous couplet penned by William Wordsworth in his The Prelude. Living in...

Industrial security is highly important

Threat to security of factories and industries continues to dominate the minds of the business community dampening its enthusiasm to carry forward trade, investment and overall business activities. Although the law and order situation has improved somewhat compared to the...

Will there ever be a sustainable solution of the Rohingya crisis?

On Aug. 25, 2017, hundreds of thousands of refugees started crossing the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, entering Bangladesh on foot and by boats amid indiscriminate killings and other acts of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Those fleeing attacks and...

CA to announce roadmap for reform after dialogue with political parties

Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus will roll out a roadmap of his government after the dialogue with the political parties, special assistant to the CA Mahfuz Alam said on Saturday.The roadmap will incorporate reform plans of...

BNP has no relations with extortionists, says Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fahrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said there is no relation of his party with extortionists, calling upon all to handover those to police who were found involved in extortion in the name of BNP, reports BSS."If...

Japan wants its hardworking citizens to try 4-day workweek

TOKYO, Aug 31 (AP): Japan, a nation so hardworking its language has a term for literally working oneself to death, is trying to address a worrisome labor shortage by coaxing more people and companies to adopt four-day workweeks. The Japanese...

Dissolve boards of BGMEA, BUFT

A group of members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday urged the authorities concerned to dissolve the current boards of the trade body and the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT).They also alleged that...

This is the gloomy picture of Gulshan lake, which underwent a clear-out even months ago, as filth floats in its water again

This is the gloomy picture of Gulshan lake, which underwent a clear-out even months ago, as filth floats in its water again. The reservoir has returned to its former shape only to vitiate the local environment. The snap was shot...

Editors' Council sits with Student Movement leaders

A view exchange meeting between the Editors' Council and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders was held at The Daily Star Centre on Thursday.Representatives from the Liaison Committee and Coordination Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement participated in the meeting.During the...

BD to extend int'l offshore bidding time by 3 months

Petrobangla is going to extend the submission date of the international offshore block bidding round by three months to get a better response, reports UNB."We have moved to extend the bid submission time by three more months", Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra...

BB forms body to probe BIBM corruption

Bangladesh Bank has formed an investigation committee to examine allegations of nepotism, arbitrariness, and corruption at the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM). The committee will focus on the activities of certain faculty members, officers, and employees of the institute...

Domestic borrowing short of FY24 target

The government's domestic borrowing fell significantly short of its annual target last fiscal year primarily due to the central bank's efforts to curb inflationary effects on the economy.The Bangladesh Bank is implementing a tighter monetary policy, leading to a reduction...

Briefing 2024-09-01

DSE nominates seven independent directors to revitalise board The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has submitted a list of seven nominees for appointment as independent directors to its board, aiming to make it functional, as suggested by the securities regulator after...

Israeli strikes kill at least 48 in Gaza

CAIRO/GAZA, Aug 31 (Reuters): Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 48 people in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health authorities said, as clashes took place in central and southern areas of the enclave ahead of the planned start of a...

Bangladeshis in doldrums about jobs in Europe

About 10,000 Bangladeshis are facing uncertainty about their jobs in Europe due to the suspension of Indian visas, as they have to obtain their visas from India for their western destinations.Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania and Portugal do...

Push for rewriting Constitution

Speakers at a discussion suggested on Saturday that the Constitution be rewritten to establish good governance, rules of law and real democracy in the country.They also advocated for independence of the judiciary, prevention of constitutional dictatorship and freedom of speech.They...

Flood costs Tk 33.5b in crop losses in south-east

The deluge in south-east and other parts has devastated the key staple rice and other crops in 23 districts, damaging 1.0-million tonnes of produce worth Tk 34 billion so far.Agriculture ministry in its primary projection, released on Friday night, said...